1st Reading (Track 1): 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
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| Jesus as a child in Jerusalem (Jesus MAFA) |
The first five chapters of 2
Samuel tell the story of David consolidating his power, and finally being
accepted as king by the elders of Israel.
At the time of this acceptance, Hebron was Israel’s capitol. (Hebron is
about 20 miles south of Jerusalem).
Jerusalem was still held by a Canaanite tribe called the Jebusites. David conquered it and claimed it as his
capitol. This was strategic in that it
was neutral territory, not previously held by the Israelites, and stood between
the two groups of tribes that had emerged, Judah and Israel.
5:1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at
Hebron, and said, “Look, we are your bone and flesh. 2 For some time, while Saul was king over us,
it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my
people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king
at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over
Israel. 4 David was thirty years
old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years
and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah
thirty-three years. 9 David
occupied the stronghold [of Jerusalem], and named it the city of David. David
built the city all around from the Millo inward. 10
And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.
Psalm
48 (Track 1)
Psalm 48 is a hymn of praise to the God who dwells in
Zion (Jerusalem). Mount Zion is one of
the hills on which Jerusalem is built.
The heathen may attack God’s city, but it will not be overthrown. The psalm ends with the call for a procession
around the great city.
1 Great is the Lord,
and highly to be praised; *
in the city of our God is his holy hill.
2 Beautiful and lofty, the joy of all the earth, is the hill of
Zion, *
the very center of the world and the city of the great
King.
3 God is in her citadels; *
he is known to be her sure refuge.
4 Behold, the kings of the earth assembled *
and marched forward together.
5 They looked and were astounded; *
they retreated and fled in terror.
6 Trembling seized them there; *
they writhed like a woman in childbirth,
like ships of the sea when the east wind shatters them.
7 As we have heard, so have we seen,
in the city of the Lord
of hosts, in the city of our God; *
God has established her for ever.
8 We have waited in silence on your loving-kindness, O God, *
in the midst of your temple.
9 Your praise, like your Name, O God, reaches to the world’s end;
*
your right hand is full of justice.
10 Let Mount Zion be glad and the cities of Judah rejoice, *
because of your judgments.
11 Make the circuit of Zion;
walk round about her; *
count the number of her towers.
12 Consider well her bulwarks;
examine her strongholds; *
that you may tell those who come after.
13 This God is our God for ever and ever; *
he shall be our guide for evermore.
Or this
1st Reading (Track 2): Ezekiel 2:1-5
Ezekiel was called to
his ministry as a prophet when many of the people of Judah were being sent into
exile in Babylon. This passage indicates
God’s judgment on the people; they are “a nation of rebels.” The word “nation” in Hebrew is an insult. The
word used is Israel’s word for the pagan nations that surrounded it (it is
sometimes translated “gentiles”). The
prophet proclaims they are no better than them.
2:1 The Lord said to me: O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will
speak with you. 2 And when he spoke
to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard him speaking
to me. 3 He said to me, Mortal, I
am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled
against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very
day. 4 The descendants are impudent
and stubborn. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, “Thus says
the Lord God.” 5 Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for
they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet
among them.
Psalm
123 (Track 2)
Psalm 123 is one of the Songs of Ascents (psalms
120-134), songs sung by pilgrims on their way to worship in the Temple at
Jerusalem. Psalm 123 is a prayer for
deliverance from one’s enemies, including the scorn of the rich.
1 To you I lift up my eyes, *
to you enthroned in the heavens.
2 As the eyes of servants look to the hand of
their masters, *
and the eyes of a maid to the hand
of her mistress,
3 So our eyes look to the Lord our God, *
until he show us his mercy.
4 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy, *
for we have had more than enough
of contempt,
5 Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich,
*
and of the derision of the proud.
2nd Reading:
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
In much of Second Corinthians Paul is dealing with the
Corinthians having been taken in by a group of rival missionaries who are very
critical of Paul, calling him weak and ineffective. Paul defends himself vigorously, especially
in chapters 11 and 12. As this passage
begins, Paul refers to someone who had an incredible spiritual experience. We can assume Paul is speaking of
himself. In Paul’s day there were
thought to be three “levels” of heaven, the third being the highest, the
experience of pure ecstasy. But it is
not this experience in which he will boast. He boasts only in his weakness
because it is this very weakness that is his sharing in the power of
Christ. This passage includes his
well-known comment on the “thorn” in his flesh, an ailment about which there
has been much speculation, although there is no way of knowing what it was.
12:2 I know a person in Christ who
fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out
of the body I do not know; God knows. 3 And
I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know;
God knows—4 was caught up into
Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted
to repeat. 5 On behalf of such a
one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my
weaknesses. 6 But if I wish to
boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain
from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard
from me, 7 even considering the
exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too
elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me,
to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three
times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient
for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more
gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses,
insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for
whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
Gospel Reading: Mark 6:1-13
In our Gospel
reading Jesus returns home to Nazareth and is not well received. He is too well
known to be taken seriously. He then
teaches in nearby villages and, for the first time, sends the twelve disciples
out on their own. Given his own
experience in Nazareth, he warns them to expect rejection, but to simply move
on when they do. They are successful in
exercising his authority to heal. Note the ancient use of oil in prayers for
healing, a practice we continue to this day.
6:1 Jesus left that place and came
to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2
On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who
heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is
this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by
his hands! 3 Is not this the
carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon,
and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not
without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their
own house.” 5 And he could do no
deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and
cured them. 6 And he was amazed at
their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching. 7 He called the twelve and began to send them
out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He ordered them to take nothing for their
journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9 but to wear sandals and not to put on two
tunics. 10 He said to them, “Wherever
you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 If any place will not welcome you and they
refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a
testimony against them.” 12 So they
went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13
They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were
sick and cured them.
The Scripture readings (except for the
psalm) are from the New Revised Standard
Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of
the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by
permission. All rights reserved. The Psalm translation is from The Book of Common Prayer. Commentaries are copyright © 2018
Epiphany ESources, 67 E. Main St., Hornell, NY 14843. www.EpiphanyEsources.com. All rights
reserved. Permission is given to copy for congregational use with this
attribution.
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