Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
This poem, entitled Jabberwocky, is found in Chapter 1 of Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. The...
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
This poem, entitled Jabberwocky, is found in Chapter 1 of Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. The...
While some pericopes assigned for the season of Epiphany throughout the three-year cycle show the Son of God to be powerful, this Sunday demonstrates the vulnerability of Jesus, especially as it applies to him the images of "servant" and "lamb." These images, whether or not they were meant originally to prophesy the Christ, prove to be powerful testimonies in light of the suffering and rejection of Jesus, especially as he died for the sake of all humanity.
The focus on vulnerability is always necessary in our proclamation because it is not a value in the world of business, politics, athletics, or anything else. Even theories of evolution are based upon the survival of the fittest, that is, the strong. Yet our pericopes will help us focus on the power of God through weakness and...
The focus on vulnerability is always necessary in our proclamation because it is not a value in the world of business, politics, athletics, or anything else. Even theories of evolution are based upon the survival of the fittest, that is, the strong. Yet our pericopes will help us focus on the power of God through weakness and...
The second "Servant Song" continues the theme of the universal intent of the God of Israel and thus of Israel. To this day it is difficult for Israel and for the church to define what is meant by the universal. Only a few times in the Hebrew scriptures does the theme of salvation beyond Israel or of God's care for the outsider come up. Amos 9 has the Lord asking, "Are you not like the Ethiopians to me?" Who was taking care of the Philistines and the Aarameans? But these are rather dim unfoldings of divine purpose compared to the theme here: "I will give you as a light to the nations."
A modern Jew was asked: Do Jews believe all the world will be saved when it all turns to the faith of Israel? "No," he said, "Jews believe that the world will not be saved if we are not...
A modern Jew was asked: Do Jews believe all the world will be saved when it all turns to the faith of Israel? "No," he said, "Jews believe that the world will not be saved if we are not...
Wayne Brouwer
Schuyler Rhodes
Mine is a family of book lovers. Early on, my wife and I encouraged our daughters to read and bought them books we thought they'd enjoy. It was no surprise to us that in their younger years the girls often chose books by the look of their covers. But as they grew to love the quality of the stories they read, the appearance of a book became less important. Now they understand that "you can't judge a book by its cover."
English is full of proverbs like that -- still waters run deep, beauty is only skin deep, looks can be deceiving, good things come in small packages. We learn quickly to distrust appearances because too often they don't tell the whole story.
English is full of proverbs like that -- still waters run deep, beauty is only skin deep, looks can be deceiving, good things come in small packages. We learn quickly to distrust appearances because too often they don't tell the whole story.
Sandra Herrmann
Isaiah 49:1-7
The Servant's Mission (NRSV)
The Old Testament selection describes what it is to be called to be a prophet. Scholars refer to this author as Second Isaiah, the middle section, which begins with chapter 40. It was written during the exile, for the purpose of holding the Jewish captives in a community of faith, whereas the first part of Isaiah was an indictment and warning that Jerusalem would fall to Babylon if the nation continued in the path they had chosen. Our author goes by the same name as the originator of the work now known simply as "Isaiah," which may mean that the original prophet founded a school of prophets, much as John the Baptist did in the New Testament. His students carried on the tradition of the first Isaiah.
The Servant's Mission (NRSV)
The Old Testament selection describes what it is to be called to be a prophet. Scholars refer to this author as Second Isaiah, the middle section, which begins with chapter 40. It was written during the exile, for the purpose of holding the Jewish captives in a community of faith, whereas the first part of Isaiah was an indictment and warning that Jerusalem would fall to Babylon if the nation continued in the path they had chosen. Our author goes by the same name as the originator of the work now known simply as "Isaiah," which may mean that the original prophet founded a school of prophets, much as John the Baptist did in the New Testament. His students carried on the tradition of the first Isaiah.
Wayne Brouwer
The only way to defeat pride is to make it irrelevant. Once, when conductor Arturo Toscanini was preparing an orchestra and chorus for a performance, he was forced to work with a rather temperamental soprano soloist. His every suggestion was turned aside by her haughty opinions. At one point she loudly proclaimed: “I am the star of this performance!”
Toscanini looked at her with quiet pity. “Madam,” he said, “in this performance there are no stars.” And in that moment her pride became irrelevant. It was swallowed up in the larger glory of the music. Personal arrogance was like a third left shoe. Who needs it?
So too with us, as we hear the voices of scripture proclaim the suffering servant of God who came among us as “the Lamb who takes away the sins of the...
Toscanini looked at her with quiet pity. “Madam,” he said, “in this performance there are no stars.” And in that moment her pride became irrelevant. It was swallowed up in the larger glory of the music. Personal arrogance was like a third left shoe. Who needs it?
So too with us, as we hear the voices of scripture proclaim the suffering servant of God who came among us as “the Lamb who takes away the sins of the...
Frank Ramirez
There’s that old rhyme associated with weddings, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe.” These were the things the bride was supposed to wear to her wedding to ensure prosperity and good luck.
Regardless of the origin and history of this rhyme, it’s worth noting that we are the bride of Christ, and in these lectionary scriptures for this Sunday we are being given something old, something new, and something borrowed. I’m not going to worry about anything being blue, and it’s too hard for some of us to put our hands on a sixpence.
Regardless of the origin and history of this rhyme, it’s worth noting that we are the bride of Christ, and in these lectionary scriptures for this Sunday we are being given something old, something new, and something borrowed. I’m not going to worry about anything being blue, and it’s too hard for some of us to put our hands on a sixpence.
David Kalas
The medieval proverb declared that “all roads lead to Rome.” For a thousand years or so, Rome was the political and military center of the Mediterranean world and Europe. The empire was also the architect of an advanced and excellent network of roads — so much so that miles of those ancient roads survive to this day. It is easy to imagine, therefore, a model in which Rome was the great hub of a network of highways — much like Chicago was to trains in an earlier generation. Whatever road one was on, one might expect to see a sign indicating how many miles to Rome.
So, take that image of Rome at the center of a network of roads — or Chicago at the center of a web of trains — and change the picture just this much: put Jesus in the middle. All roads lead to Rome. And all things...
So, take that image of Rome at the center of a network of roads — or Chicago at the center of a web of trains — and change the picture just this much: put Jesus in the middle. All roads lead to Rome. And all things...
R. Craig Maccreary
One of my favorite British situation comedies is Keeping Up Appearances. It
chronicles the attempts of Hyacinth Bucket, pronounced "bouquet" on the show, to
appear to have entered the British upper class by maintaining the manners and mores of
that social set. The nearby presence of her sisters, Daisy and Rose, serve as a constant
reminder that she has not gotten far from her origins in anything but the upper class.
At first I was quite put off by the show's title with an instant dislike for Hyacinth, and a fondness for Daisy, Onslow, and Rose who are what you see as vulnerable and with no capability of putting on airs. Certainly, Rose has a dream of finding perfect love and Daisy has a dream of making a passionate lover out of her oafish husband, Onslow. Yet,...
At first I was quite put off by the show's title with an instant dislike for Hyacinth, and a fondness for Daisy, Onslow, and Rose who are what you see as vulnerable and with no capability of putting on airs. Certainly, Rose has a dream of finding perfect love and Daisy has a dream of making a passionate lover out of her oafish husband, Onslow. Yet,...
William H. Shepherd
"Who's your family?" Southerners know this greeting well, but it is not unheard of above, beside, and around the Mason-Dixon line. Many people value roots -- where you come from, who your people are, what constitutes "home." We speak of those who are "rootless" as unfortunate; those who "wander" are aimless and unfocused. Adopted children search for their birth parents because they want to understand their identity, and to them that means more than how they were raised and what they have accomplished -- heritage counts. Clearly, we place a high value on origins, birth, and descent. We long for a place to call home.
Lectionary Commentary and Sermon Illustrations
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For each week, Emphasis writers delve into the heart of the lectionary readings, providing you with several fresh, solid ideas -- based squarely on the lectionary texts -- for creating sermons that speak powerfully to your audience. They look for overall themes that hold the readings together. Then, they zero in on the themes and the specific scripture links, suggesting directions for the sermon and worship service. Since a single idea each week may not provide what you are looking for at that particular time, writers suggest several, giving you the opportunity to select the one that matches your specific needs.
