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The intent of Pilgrim Processing is to provide commentary on the Daily Lectionary from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. The format for the comment is Old Testament Lesson first, Gospel, and Epistle with a portion of one of the Psalms for the day as a prayer at the end.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

8 September 2015


Now that the kingdom is divided, we have to read the books of Kings and Chronicles with multiple kings, capitols and worship places in mind.  Omri began ruling Israel (the northern kingdom) in the thirty-first year of Asa’s reign as king of Judah.  It was Omri who established the capitol in Samaria, which will become yet another way of referring to the northern kingdom.  Omri walked in the ways of Jeroboam in re the worship of idols and, when he died, left the kingdom to his son, Ahab.  Ahab was more wicked than those who came before him.  To the worship of the golden calves, he also worshiped Baal, the god of his wife, Jezebel as well as setting up an Asherah.  Baal and Asherah cults were associated with fertility and their worship entailed sexual imagery as well as actions, temple prostitutes were commonly part of the scene.  In this time also a man named Hiel determined to break the law given through Joshua that prohibited the rebuilding of Jericho and he persevered in this although it cost him two of his sons in keeping with the oracle Joshua had spoken. These sons were, figuratively, sacrificed on the altar of disobedience.

“But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee.”  Tell his disciples “and Peter”.  What does that mean and why did he say it that way?  Was Peter ostracized by the disciples after his denials?  Would Peter not have gone had he not been personally mentioned?  At any rate, it was important that Peter be a part of the group and that he needed to be restored.  This would have reminded Peter that he had sinned but it was also a call of grace on offer.  We believe Mark to be Peter’s scribe, this is the Gospel Peter would have written, probably much of his own memories are here.  Those last verses, from 9-20 are not part of the oldest manuscripts and certainly the verses about snakes and poison are not prescriptive for worship as some in our region have practiced it.  Mark’s version of the Great Commission here were, however, part of the inspiration for St Francis.  This version says to proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation and Francis took that literally.  We should too, for Paul writes that all creation groans in anticipation of the revelation of the sons of God.  Proclaiming the Gospel should be about more than speaking it, it is also living it.

Imagine that, Paul says that his imprisonment has led to the advance of the Gospel, not just a hashtag campaign to get him out of prison. Not only that, he believes his imprisonment has led “most of the brothers” to become more bold to speak the word without fear.  Paul admits that he would rather die and be with Christ but his concern isn’t primarily for himself so he concludes it is better for them for him to remain so he resolves to remain.  What kind of man is this?  Paul believes that all believers should be prepared to suffer and shows the way to do that well and like a man of God.  We have lost a theology of suffering in the church.  We don’t have room for it in the prosperity gospel which Paul would say is no real Gospel.  The resurrection should tell us that we no longer should trust in or hope in these things.  We’re too busy with our own idolatry to think about suffering properly.


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