The Collect of the Day
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from
your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to
embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your
Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.
By
now God’s promise to Abram has become old and stale. God responds to Abram’s lament (vv.2-3) by
reiterating the promise—and Abram believes (again)! Then there is a strange
covenant ceremony, the origin of which we do not know. It may have something to do with the fact
that the Hebrew word for “make a covenant” literally means “cut a covenant.” Verse 6, “He believed the Lord, and the Lord
reckoned it to him as righteousness,” is a critical moment both in the Abraham
story, but for biblical faith as a whole.
Psalm 27 (attributed to David) begins as a song of trust. In verse seven, however, it becomes a cry for help. Then by the end is another expression of confidence. This echoes the reality dealt with in the first reading of our need to trust in the promise in spite of present circumstances.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? *
the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *
it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army should encamp against me, *
yet my heart shall not be afraid;
4 And though war should rise up against me, *
yet will I put my trust in him.
5 One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek; *
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life;
6 To behold the fair beauty of the Lord *
and to seek him in his temple.
7 For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter; *
he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling
and set me high upon a rock.
8 Even now he lifts up my head *
above my enemies round about me.
9 Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation
with sounds of great gladness; *
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
10 Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; *
have mercy on me and answer me.
11 You speak in my heart and say, “Seek my face.” *
Your face, Lord, will I seek.
12 Hide not your face from me, *
nor turn away your servant in displeasure.
13 You have been my helper; cast me not away; *
do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.
14 Though my father and my mother forsake me, *
the Lord will sustain me.
15 Show me your way, O Lord; *
lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.
16 Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, *
for false witnesses have risen up against me,
and also those who speak malice.
17 What if I had not believed
in the land of the living!
18 O tarry and await the Lord’s pleasure;
be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; *
wait patiently for the Lord.
2nd Reading: Philippians 3:17—4:1
Paul
begins this passage by setting himself up against the “enemies of the cross of
Christ.” We do not know who these people
are. “Their God is the belly” is too vague to tell us much. Their minds, Paul says are “set on earthly
things.” The church’s identity is in
heaven, i.e., it lives by a vision outside of itself. This is not, however, to say only heaven
matters. Quite the contrary, Paul is stating emphatically that it is our vision
of the future that enables our lives in the present.
3:17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. 4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
Gospel Reading: Luke 13:31-35
Our Gospel reading
begins with a helpful warning from some Pharisees, who are generally seen in a
more positive light in Luke’s Gospel. Yet Jesus dismisses their warning, saying
“I am headed for Jerusalem.” There, he implies, he will meet his death. He then
laments over the city, citing Psalm 118:26, which the crowds will shout as he
enters the city on Palm Sunday. Note Jesus’ use of feminine imagery in
describing his work.
13:31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
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