Old Testament: Isaiah (64:1-9)
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry O Lord, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people.
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Taken from the third part of Isaiah (Chapters 56-66) — after the exile.
- Israel was destroyed earlier by Babylon.
- The people plea for God’s help, but they are still his people.
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The Response: Psalm (80:1-7, 16-18)
1 Blessed be the God of Israel
who comes to set us free
and raises up new hope for us:
Branch from David’s tree.
So have the prophets long declared
that with his mighty arm
God would turn back our enemies
and all that wish us harm.
2 With promised mercy will God still
the covenant recall,
the oath once sworn to Abraham;
from foes to save us all;
that we might worship without fear
and offer lives of praise,
in holiness and righteousness
to serve God all our days.
3 My child, as prophet of the Lord
you will prepare the way,
to tell God’s people they are saved
from sin’s eternal sway.
Then shall God’s mercy from on high
shine forth and never cease,
to drive away the gloom of death
and lead us into peace.
- Psalms of Aesop… one of the musicians of the court of Solomon.
- Reflects the northern tradition — Joseph tribe for example.
- Verse 16: Can be interpreted as one of the kings or of Israel as a whole.
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The Epistle: Corinthians (1:3-9)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Getting ready for the coming of Jesus.
- Conflicts within Corinth — who is the most important?
- Includes speech, knowledge, etc., but everything is a gift from God.
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The Gospel: Mark (13:24-37)
Jesus said, “In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
- Sometimes called “Mark’s Apocalypse.”
- “In those days” refers to the end of time.
- Return to primordial chaos.
- Daniel (7:13): The Son of Man coming in the clouds.
- Expected Jesus to return “any day now.”
- The actual time is unknown, so be watchful.
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