Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
Continue reading Genesis 43-46. In today's passage, one of Jacob's sons, Judah, pleads with Joshua to take the place of his youngest brother and bear the punishment for a crime that he did not commit. Judah was looking after his youngest brother Benjamin and was willing to sacrifice his safety for the safety of his brother. In the early 1970s, there were six of us in the car. I was sitting in the front seat between my sister Jodie and my brother Eric. I don't know if the car had seatbelts - I don't remember us wearing seatbelts much in the '70s. It was snowy and icy, and as we made our way through the traffic light, a truck was unable to stop at the red light. The semi skidded uncontrolled directly for us. As my sister made some split-second, life-saving driving decisions that reduced the collision to the back of the car, my brother instinctively threw himself on me. I can still feel his weight, holding me down, as the car spun out of control, doing everything he could to protect me from harm. Who has been Judah for you? Has someone put their safety aside to save you? Not everyone has those instincts. Pray today about those times you have helped others or others have helped you. Peace, Dean
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Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
As we enter into a new week, please consider an alternative reading and reflection schedule. I encourage you to read fully the story of Joseph reuniting with his brothers from Genesis 43-45 over the next three days. Remember, Joseph's brothers had sold him to merchants out of jealousy and told their father that he had been killed by wild animals. They could never have imagined that Joseph would rise to the highest offices in Egypt. Dressed as an Egyptian, the brothers did not recognize him as he asked about his father and his youngest brother. Follow this drama this week. We will reflect upon it Thursday. The Council in Jerusalem from Acts 15 is a pivotal moment in the Christian church. The Apostles, including Paul, were witnessing the power of the Gospel at work in the world. Large numbers of conversions followed the work of the evangelists sharing the Word in the world. Many were Gentiles - those who were not Jewish and were not circumcised. The tradition and law held circumcision to be the sign of the covenant. One faction argued that the law is the law, and new converts must undergo circumcision. Another group argued that circumcision was not necessary. Not only would it dissuade people from following Christ, but it also ignored how God was still speaking to the people. Rather than stick to rules and regulations that excluded people from faith in Christ, the Council in Jerusalem decided to welcome in all the people of the world. The decision was to Draw the Circle Wide. And that work continues today. What are your thoughts about the issues that tend to divide the church today? How might God be at work to bring the good news to more people? What are the hardest things about doing things in a new way? Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
Read Psalm 133. We will focus on this Psalm during worship this Sunday. What is God saying to you today through this Psalm? Revelation 15 seems to be a relevant place to focus this morning. The coronavirus has altered the way we live. With a COVID-19 related death in the US every 80 seconds the threat is real. Add an economic crisis, disruption of travel and altering of interactions, face masks as the new norm, worshiping in ways that protect the vulnerable, children parents and teachers sorting out school options, the postponement of football, and the pending descent of locusts, it’s hard to keep from gazing at Revelation with eyebrows raised. The Book of Revelation is a complex, coded work written at a time of social and political unrest. What might God do when the world is coming to an end? What forces could God unleash to finally wrestle creation away from the powers of this world to ultimately bring about the kingdom of heaven? Every age and time has had to grapple with Matthew 24. Jesus speaks of the end of the age. There will be wars and rumors of wars, etc. He also says, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." Some faith traditions focus intently on the signs of the end of the age. Pentecostal and evangelical traditions emphasize getting yourself ready for the end of the world so that you can enter into heaven. The United Methodist and other mainline protestant traditions do not ignore the call to repentance and readiness for the coming of Christ. But the clarion call is to recognize Christ in the world here and now and to work to bring peace to all through the love and care of others. Do the work Jesus has given us to do and trust God in all things. Are we living in a time when the seven angels are bringing the seven plagues? Who knows. God is in control and there is nothing to fear. Whether or not all that is happening and the things that are yet to come are signs of the end of the age or are challenges we will need to overcome, we can respond. We can love one another and serve others as Christ has taught us. What does that look like for you? Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
Joseph had many gifts. He was a likable person. While he was in prison, the guard enjoyed talking with Joseph and gave him extra privileges. Joseph also had the gift of interpreting dreams. We have touched on this before in our daily reflections. For many, this time of the pandemic has made our dreams more vivid and intense. And our dreams have left us wondering, what was happening? Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could share your dream with someone and they could help you understand its deeper meaning? Unless that is, you are the chief baker. Joseph called them as he saw them, the good, the bad, and the ugly. In no way can I vouch for the website www.dreammoods.com, besides the fact that it was fun to explore. According to this site, if you are playing table tennis in your dream you might be wrestling with a decision and going back and forth. To dream you are making a casserole symbolizes new ideas or a new phase in your life. To hold or be at a garage sale in your dream indicates that you are recycling past experiences and finding use for your old skills and ideas. You are learning from your past and making productive use of the lessons you have learned. If you are interested in what is happening in your dreams, try to keep a dream journal. Write them down first thing in the morning. You can compare your dreams to what is happening in your life, with your family, in the country, etc. and perhaps identify some parallel meanings. Maybe this time is helping you clear out the junk. Or, maybe God is speaking to you. What do you think? Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A Romans speaks of the nature of God as one who chooses compassion and mercy. God is like a potter with the power to form from a lump of clay whatever the artist decides to create. Creator God cannot be judged as unjust in the way that God is active in the world. One who is all-knowing is beyond our human comprehension. While we do not understand all that God does we can say with certainty that God is Love. From the first pages of Genesis through the covenant with a people that would descend from an aged Abraham and Sarah we experience God as love. From the Exodus through the songs of David we experience God as love. At the core of every story and every word in the Bible is God at work to bring love into the world. This love is personified in Jesus Christ. We understand God's love through the ministry of compassion, servanthood, justice, and healing of Jesus. Brené Brown speaks about this love in the video, Love Made Flesh from The Work of the People. How do you experience God's love as dangerous? How will you find the courage to live into this kind of love as you live out your life in this world? Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
It's amazing, isn't it? A story from Genesis 34 that was written over 3,500 years ago can be so relevant today. Have you ever been jealous? Have you ever acted out in anger? Have you ever told a lie to cover up for your misdeeds? This story involves God's blessings, a father's love, resentful brothers, diabolical plans, and overwhelming grief. All in seven verses. Joseph was Jacob's precious son, born in his old age, the 11th of 12 children. The twelve brothers would eventually become the twelve tribes of Israel. God spoke to Joseph through dreams. His father Jacob gave Joseph the gift of a multi-color robe, and his brothers grew jealous and resentful. They threw him in a pit and then sold him to merchants. Unbeknownst to the brothers, the merchants took Joseph away to Egypt. The brothers covered the unique coat of many colors with blood and convinced their father wild animals killed him. Where do you see stories today that reflect the story of Jacob's family? Jealousy can be a powerful force for destruction. So can deceitfulness. Could the brothers have known the depth of grief their lies would cause in the heart of their father? Could they ever have imagined the course their little brother's life would take? Today in prayer, consider the burden you might be carrying from trying to cover up for something you knew was wrong. Ask God for forgiveness and make amends. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
Resources can help the Bible come alive. Developing the discipline of reading scripture every day can enrich your life and inform your faith. Praying that God will open up the scripture to you is the first step. Sometimes insight comes after a quick read of the text. Other times it helps the read the verses slowly several times, allowing the scripture to say what it needs to say. Reading from several translations can illuminate the word. Some Bibles contain commentaries that are intended to provide context for the scripture and cross-references to explore how some stories originate. A concordance can help trace a particular word, phrase, or concept through the whole Bible. As we look at the Book of Acts today, we find Paul traveling. Paul and Silas meet Timothy in Beroea, and then Paul is shipped off to Athens. Paul's missionary work can make more sense when following his travels on a map. Does your Bible have maps located at the end? Keep this site handy and go back to it whenever we come to a story of Paul's travels. It can help to put the work of Paul in context and will provide details of his work on the road. You might also come away with a deeper appreciation for Paul's extraordinary work to share the Gospel with as many people as he could. As you look at the map of Paul's work through the Greco-Roman world, think about the places you have traveled. Where along the way have you had an opportunity to talk with someone about Christ? Where were you when God spoke to you? Find a map and plot your journey on behalf of Jesus Christ. Peace, Dean Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A Isaiah 43 gives a full display to God's promise to help us when hardships come. God is at work, restoring what has crumbled. In the early '80s, youth from United Methodist churches in the Detroit East District came together to perform the musical "Two Sides of the Mountain." It was a lot of work, hours upon hours of rehearsals. It was a lot of fun. Youth like to do things that are hard. And it was spiritually formative. The premise of the musical was a journey up the mountain of the Old Testament to the point where Abraham almost sacrifices his son Isaac. Then we journey down the other side of the mountain, where Jesus serves those in need, dies, and is raised to save all people. Take a look, if you would like. The musical is filmed with camcorders on VHS. While I can remember almost all the lyrics and dialogue, I am sure it will be difficult to make out some of what is being said. But, perhaps, you will capture the Spirit. If nothing else, go to the 20-minute mark. That's my brother Keith. He had a gift. His singing voice is amazing, but better yet is the way he carried a song in his heart. He offered his heart, love, and faith in song. As Keith sings about Father Abraham remember the words from Isaiah: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. |
REv. Dean N. PrentissI am blessed to be the Pastor at Wesley Park UMC. Find Daily Lectionary Readings Here. Archives
February 2021
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