where are the Nine?
Below, scroll down, copy-and-pasted, are our readings for this coming Sunday, October 9, 2022. Especially do I like the Jeremiah reading: through the prophet Jeremiah, it's an oracle from God encouraging God's people in Babylonian Exile to make lemonade of the sour situation in which they find themselves.
Even with their theology that the Babylonian Exile is God's punishment for Judaean wickedness, make the best of it, turn bad news to good news, prosper and thrive wherever they find themselves. Excusing those who'd rather be mad, it's good advice for laying bitterness aside and finding happiness and contentment.
A fine text for preaching, though most of us probably will preach on the Gospel, Luke telling a story of Jesus, who is on his way to Jerusalem, evidently in Samaria, encountering a group of lepers, perhaps conveniently ten so the reader/hearer can quickly do the math, and pronouncing them healed simply by turning their faith back upon them. They are all healed. Likely all ten are Samaritans, to Luke's audience they are not pure Jews but despised and contemned half-breeds and foreigners, from the earlier Assyrian conquest, dispersal, and resettling of the Northern Kingdom. Of the ten lepers healed, only one has the decency, upon a twinge of conscience, to come back and thank Jesus while the other nine run off happily.
Sunday's preacher might tackle this story from any of a number of directions. Some preachers will use it as part of their annual stewardship preaching series. Me, I'm not the rector and it isn't my job to preach the tithing and pledging sermon, so maybe I'll do my own thing with it. If you aren't there, no worries: supposedly, the ten-thirty service will go out live on our parish Facebook feed, and, keeping a long time promise to a dear and faithful friend, I'll post whatever I say here on +Time, and on my Facebook page, and on the parish Facebook page. Not out of pride, just that a promise is a promise.
RSF&PTL
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The Lessons for Sunday, October 9, 2022
The First Reading: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 66:1-11 Jubilate Deo
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.
9 For you, O God, have proved us; * you have tried us just as silver is tried.
10 You brought us into the snare; * you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.
11 You let enemies ride over our heads; we went through fire and water; * but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.
The Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David-- that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;mif we are faithless, he remains faithful-- for he cannot deny himself.
Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Sequence Hymn “God is Love, let heaven adore him” Hymn #379
Then, all standing, the Deacon or a Priest reads the Gospel, first saying
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (17:11-19)
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."
The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.