Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Year C
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 66:10-16
Thus says the Lord: "Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her-- that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious bosom. For thus says the LORD: I will extend prosperity to her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm, and dandled on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bodies shall flourish like the grass; and it shall be known that the hand of the LORD is with his servants, and his indignation is against his enemies. For the LORD will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to pay back his anger in fury, and his rebuke in flames of fire. For by fire will the LORD execute judgment, and by his sword, on all flesh; and those slain by the LORD shall be many."
- This passage paints a very maternal picture of God. Where else in scripture do we see maternal images of God?
- How do these images fit with our understanding of God as our Father?
Psalm 66:1-8 Page 673, BCP
1
Be joyful in God, all you lands; *
sing the glory of his Name;
sing the glory of his praise.
2
Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! *
because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.
3
All the earth bows down before you, *
sings to you, sings out your Name."
4
Come now and see the works of God, *
how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.
5
He turned the sea into dry land,
so that they went through the water on foot, *
and there we rejoiced in him.
6
In his might he rules for ever;
his eyes keep watch over the nations; *
let no rebel rise up against him.
7
Bless our God, you peoples; *
make the voice of his praise to be heard;
8
Who holds our souls in life, *
and will not allow our feet to slip.
- What is the purpose of verse 5 in this Psalm?
Epistle Reading: Galatians 6:14-18
May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule-- peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
- What are the “marks of Jesus” Paul is talking about?
- What marks do we bear for Christ?
The Gospel: Luke 10:1-12, 16-20
After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, `Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.' I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town. "Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
- How can we be more like lambs in the midst of wolves?
- What gives us this ability?