Sunday, October 14, 2012: “Today’s Scripture Readings”

 

A Reading from the Book of Job (23:1-9, 16-17)

 

Job said: “Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling! I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me. There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge. If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; If only I could vanish in darkness, and thick darkness would cover my face!”

 

> Job is finally going to complain.

> Pleads his innocence

> Looking for God – but God is absent

> Reached depth of frustration and anger

> This may answer why bad things happen to good people.

 

 

Psalm 22:1-15

 

1  My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? *

    and are so far from my cry

    and from the words of my distress?

2  O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; *

    by night as well, but I find no rest.

3  Yet you are the Holy One, *

    enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

4  Our forefathers put their trust in you; *

    they trusted, and you delivered them.

5  They cried out to you and were delivered; *

    they trusted in you and were not put to shame.

6  But as for me, I am a worm and no man, *

    scorned by all and despised by the people.

7  All who see me laugh me to scorn; *

    they curl their lips and wag their heads,  saying,

8  “He trusted in the Lord; let him deliver him; *

    let him rescue him, if he delights in him.”

9  Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, *

    and kept me safe upon my mother’s breast.

10 I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; *

    you were my God when I was still in my mother’s womb.

11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near,*

    and there is none to help.

12  Many young bulls encircle me; *

     strong bulls of Bashan surround  me.

13 They open wide their jaws at me, *

    like a ravening and a roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water;

    all my bones are out of joint; *

    my heart within my breast is melting wax.

15 My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd;

    my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; *

    and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.

 

> Used during Holy Week and Good Friday

> Describes Jesus’ suffering and death

> In the last part of the Psalm the result is trusting in God

> In this reading we are left hanging.

> An individual cries out but the action applies to many.

> Ends with a feeling of near death.

 

 

 A Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (4:12-16)

 

The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

 

> Starts off with a poem or hymn praising God.

> Introduces Jesus with the theme of him being the high priest.

> He lived in the heavens, came to earth to save us, will return in glory to heaven.

> Wants us to pray with confidence.

 

 

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark (10:17-31)

  

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’”  He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”  They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.” Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

 

> The theme deals with wealth and the kingdom of God.

> In the Old Testament wealth was seen as a sign that God loves you and has rewarded you.

> But according to Jesus, wealth is an obstacle to being close to God.

> Eternal life means the same as the kingdom of God.

> This person is wealthy and calculating what he needs for eternal life.

> Mark uses the term “defraud” as many landowners defrauded the peasants who rented their land.

> This story is unique in the New Testament — the only person to reject Jesus’ calling to follow him.

> After the man refuses, Jesus turns to his followers and gives the “camel through the eye of a needle” story.

> Only by the grace of God can the kingdom be obtained.

> You may inherit the kingdom of God but may also still have sufferings here on earth.