Epiphany 7B

Sun Feb 15 18:03:23 EST 2009

Dear Gulf Coast Leaders,

February 22 – Transfiguration B

 <http://www.textweek.com/history/2kgs2.htm> 2 Kings 2:1-12 – Elijah taken
into heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha begs for a double portion of his spirit,
then takes up his mantle, parts the Jordan and walks across.
 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm50.htm> Psalm 50:1-6
 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/2cor4a.htm> 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 – The
gospel veiled to unbelievers. We do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ
as Lord.
 <http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/mark9a.htm> Mark 9:2-9 – Transfiguration
with Moses and Elijah, and resurrection prediction.

Pastors’ Reports – Pastor’s
<http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organizatio
n/Office-of-the-Secretary/Congregation-Administration/Rostered-Leader-Report
s-to-the-Synod-Bishop.aspx>  reports are due today. I have set aside time
tomorrow and Tuesday to read them. Looking forward to it.

Lent ideas – Need a last minute Lenten resource? The Southwestern Texas
Synod’s Peace Not Walls Task Force has produced a Lenten resource called
Holy Land, Holy Lent, Holy People. You can find it at
http://images.acswebnetworks.com/1/498/HolyLentHolyLandHolyPeople.doc. This
journey through the Sermon on the Mount provides themes, Scriptures, hymn
suggestions, Biblical reflections and homiletical ideas from Bishop Younan
(of Jerusalem), Bishop Mark Hanson, Pastor Mitri Raheb (Christmas Lutheran
in Bethlehem) and others. Or call Pastor Kim Littlebrooks, who is doing a
series based on David Haas thoughtful hymn on Psalm 23: Shepherd me O God,
beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life… Or check out the
2009
<http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organizatio
n/Global-Mission/Engage-in-Global-Mission/LentenSeries.aspx>  Global Mission
Lenten Series. Or good ol’ Ed Markquart from Grace Seattle has some stuff at
http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/lenten_dramas.htm.  Or use Richard Foster’
s Celebration
<http://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Discipline-Path-Spiritual-Growth/dp/00606
28391/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234734230&sr=8-1>  of Discipline
to talk about Prayer, Fasting, Silence, Almsgiving, etc. Or take parts of
the Small Catechism and involve students: OT, NT, LP, 10 Comm, AC. Helpful
liturgical notes for Lent can be found at
http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship/Planning/Lent.aspx. 

Epiphany reflections

As Epiphany comes to a close I these reflections are not so much directed to
Transfiguration but to Epiphany as a whole. We’ve been camped out in Mark 1.
And the thing that strikes me the most is how little preaching Jesus does in
this first chapter. Consider his ministry:

·         Immediately after his Baptism (which we celebrated January 11)
Jesus is driven into the wilderness for 40 days of temptation, fasting and
prayer. Jesus’ ministry begins with prayer (and ends with it too).

·         Then after that, the first thing he did was go to Capernaum and
call the disciples. He pulled together at team. Even Jesus needed a team. He
knew he could not (and should not) accomplish what God had called him to do
alone. I have a growing conviction that the work God has called us to do is
so great, that we cannot possibly accomplish it alone. Not alone as
Christians, and not alone as congregations. Global mission and the
preparation of pastors are sufficient examples. It takes a team. If Jesus
needed at team, than it’s not unreasonable to assume we will too.

·         Jesus doesn’t call clergy. Not one of the disciples is clergy as
far as we know. Fishermen, a tax collector and who knows what else. The
ministry of the laity is vital. Indispensable. Their everyday work
experience will come in handy as Jesus teaches them to fish for people. Our
clerical/chaplaincy model for ministry is not only not Biblical, it’s
ineffective. A church with only one minister can’t accomplish what God has
called us to do. But a group of 100 people? 1 billion…

·         Then Jesus starts a-healin’, starting in the Capernaum synagogue.
Demon-possessed, blind people, crippled, even Peter’s mother-in-law with a
fever, who gets up and immediately begins serving. 3 lessons: 1. We’re
healed to serve. 2. Jesus cuts no one any slack. (Take up your pallet and
walk.) 3. Your ministry begins at home. 

·         There are so many people gathered around that Jesus is swamped,
and working into the night. We’re told that he gets up before everyone else,
while it’s still dark, to pray. Where will you get the energy to do the
ministry to which God has called you? What well are you drawing from? Jesus
knew his strength came from God. His ministry begins and ends with prayer.
If we set out to do God’s work of the kingdom and don’t have the spiritual
resources, we will dry up, burn out, faint, grow weary. “But they who wait
upon the Lord will renew their strength… they shall run and now be weary…
they shall walk and not faint… they shall mount up with wings like eagles…”

·         Jesus doesn’t preach that much in Mark 1. No Sermon on the Mount
here in Mark’s gospel. In fact, after mentioning that Jesus is preaching at
the beginning of his gospel: the kingdom is near; repent; believe the good
news (Lent 1’s gospel), Mark doesn’t mention it again for some time. The
only person who preaches is the guy in this morning’s gospel, after being
explicitly instructed to keep his mouth shut. Jesus is not wanting the word
out yet. He’s letting his actions speak for him. But in the end, his
followers, those who have benefitted from his healing ministry, can’t seem
to shut up. They preach for him. 

What hits me in all of this is that Jesus’ evangelism program seems to be
his healing ministry in the community. He addresses the pressing suffering
of the day: leprosy, blindness, mental, spiritual and physical illness. His
ministry echoes Isaiah: the blind shall see; the lame shall walk. Consider
this question: How powerful would Jesus preaching of the kingdom have been,
if it had not been accompanied by his healing ministry in the city and
countryside? How effective would his words have been had they not been
accompanied by his actions, his life? 

What does this mean for the church? What is our healing ministry in the
community? Perhaps our evangelism programs (sic) will only be as effective
as our ministry in the community. Our words about the healing of the nations
will fall on deaf ears if they are not accompanied by a vibrant ministry of
global mission. Our words about hope and wholeness will fall on deaf ears if
we are not engaged in the suffering of the neighborhoods around us. We must
re-root in the community. As we address addiction, divorce, financial
problems like debt, our communities will see that we care, and our
ministries will begin to look a little more like Jesus’ ministry.

שלומ سلام Peace,

Mike Rinehart 

Michael Rinehart, bishop

The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

12707 I-45 North Frwy, Suite 580

Houston, TX 77060-1239

281-873-5665

www.GulfCoastSynod.org <http://www.gulfcoastsynod.org/> 

cid:image001.jpg at 01C8E732.76E2DF60

Lent 2009

February 25 – Ash Wednesday

 <http://www.textweek.com/prophets/joel2a.htm> Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 – Blow the
trumpet; sound a fast. 

or  <http://www.textweek.com/prophets/isaiah58a.htm> Isaiah 58:1-12 – The
fast I choose is that you loose the bonds of injustice, share your bread
with the hungry, invite the homeless poor into your house…
 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm51.htm> Psalm 51:1-17 – Create in me
a clean heart O God…
 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/2cor5_6.htm> 2 Corinthians 5:20b - 6:10
 <http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt6a.htm> Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 – Beware of
practicing your piety before others. Give secretly. Wash up when you fast. 

March 1 - Lent 1B

 <http://www.textweek.com/pentateuch/gen7_8_9.htm> Genesis 9:8-17 – Noah’s
covenant (age 600)
 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm25.htm> Psalm 25:1-10 – Do not
remember the sins of my youth, or my transgression.
 <http://www.textweek.com/epistlesrevelation/1peter3.htm> 1 Peter 3:18-22 –
Appeal for a good conscience. V. 19 “descended to the dead” passage. Baptism
like water that saved Noah.

 <http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/mark1c.htm> Mark 1:9-15 – Baptism,
temptation, preaching of Jesus

March 8 – Lent 2B

 <http://www.textweek.com/pentateuch/gen17.htm> Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 –
Abram’s covenant (age 99)
 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm22.htm> Psalm 22:23-31 – My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?
 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/rom4b.htm> Romans 4:13-25 –Abe wasn’t
saved by the law. He’s reckoned as righteous because he believes God’s
promise of progeny. 
 <http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/mark8.htm> Mark 8:31-38 – Confession of
St. Peter, crucifixion prediction, cost of discipleship or
<http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/mark9a.htm> Mark 9:2-9 – Transfiguration
again.

March 15 – Lent 3B

 <http://www.textweek.com/pentateuch/ex20b.htm> Exodus 20:1-17 – Moses’
covenant (age 80?) The 10 Commandments
 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm19.htm> Psalm 19 – Let the words of
my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You…
 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/1cor1c.htm> 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 –
Message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us it
is the power of God.
 <http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/jn2b.htm> John 2:13-22 – Trashing of the
Temple; resurrection prediction.

March 22 – Lent 4B

 <http://www.textweek.com/pentateuch/num21.htm> Numbers 21:4-9 – Moses lifts
up the serpent in the wilderness. Murmuring. Fiery serpents.
 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm107.htm> Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 – They
cried to the Lord in their trouble and he saved them from their distress…
 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/eph2a.htm> Ephesians 2:1-10 – Dead in your
trespasses, for by grace you have been saved by faith… for good works.
 <http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/jn3b.htm> John 3:14-21 – Just as Moses
lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up.
For God so loved the world…

March 29 – Lent 5B

Jeremiah 31:31-34 <http://www.textweek.com/prophets/jer31c.htm>  – I will
make a new covenant with the house of Israel. Law on their heart. Remember
their sin no more.

 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm51.htm> Psalm 51:1-12 – Create in me
a clean heart O God… or  <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm119.htm>
Psalm 119:9-16 – Happy are those whose way is blameless…
 <http://www.textweek.com/epistlesrevelation/hebrews5.htm> Hebrews 5:5-10 –
Jesus the great high preist. Order of Melchizedek. 
 <http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/jn12c.htm> John 12:20-33 – Some Greeks
come to see Jesus. Those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

April 5 – Liturgy of the Passion

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm118.htm>  – Open
the gates of righteousness that I may enter.
Mark 11:1-11 <http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/mark11.htm>  or John 12:12-16
<http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/jn12b.htm>  – The Triumphal Entry.

 <http://www.textweek.com/prophets/isaiah50.htm> Isaiah 50:4-9a – I gave my
back to those who hit me; my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard. I did
not hide my face from insult and spitting.
 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm31.htm> Psalm 31:9-16 – Into your
hands I commend my spirit…
 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/phil2.htm> Philippians 2:5-11 – Have this
mind among that was in Christ, who emptied himself and became obedient to
death on a cross.
 <http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/mark14_15.htm> Mark 14:1 - 15:47 or
<http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/mark14_15.htm> Mark 15:1-39, (40-47) – The
Passion

The Three Days 2009

April 9 – Maundy Thursday

 <http://www.textweek.com/pentateuch/ex12.htm> Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14
– God establishes Passover as a day of remembrance.
 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm116.htm> Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 – What
shall I return to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the
cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows…
 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/1cor11.htm> 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 – For I
received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that on the night in
which he was betrayed our Lord took bread…

 <http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/jn13.htm> John 13:1-17, 31b-35 – Washing
of the disciples’ feet.

April 10 – Good Friday

 <http://www.textweek.com/prophets/isaiah52_53.htm> Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 –
Song of the Suffering Servant

 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm22.htm> Psalm 22 – My God, my God,
why have you forsaken me?
 <http://www.textweek.com/epistlesrevelation/hebrews10b.htm> Hebrews
10:16-25 – Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice for sins. New covenant (quoting
Jeremiah). Access to the holy of holies.

or  <http://www.textweek.com/epistlesrevelation/hebrews4_5.htm> Hebrews
4:14-16; 5:7-9 – Because he suffered, we now approach the throne of grace.
 <http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/jn18_19.htm> John 18:1 - 19:42 – The
Passion.

April 12 – The Resurrection of our Lord

 <http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/acts10a.htm> Acts 10:34-43 or
<http://www.textweek.com/prophets/isaiah25.htm> Isaiah 25:6-9
 <http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm118.htm> Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
 <http://www.textweek.com/pauline/1cor15a.htm> I Corinthians 15:1-11 or
<http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/acts10a.htm> Acts 10:34-43
 <http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/jn20a.htm> John 20:1-18 or
<http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/mark16.htm> Mark 16:1-8

Looking ahead: 

Ascension – Thursday, May 21 (or move to Sunday, May 24)

Pentecost – May 31

Holy Trinity – June 7

 When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and
love has always won. 

There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible,
but in the end, they always fall - think of it, always.

- Mahatma Gandhi

God has shown the strength of his arm; 

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungryy with good things, 

and sent the rich away empty.

- Luke 1:51-53

GOSPELS

Canonical Gospels

1.	Gospel of Matthew (80-100)
2.	Gospel of Mark (65-80)
3.	Gospel of Luke (80-130)
4.	Gospel of John (90-120)

These dates represent the earliest and latest estimates. To keep them all
straight I think of Mark as A.D. 70, Matthew as 80, Luke as 90 and John as
100. Close enough for a Texas pastor.

Non-canonical gospels

1.	Gospel of Thomas (50-140)
2.	Signs Gospel (50-90)
3.	Oxyrhyncus Gospel 1224 (50-140)
4.	Egerton Gospel (70-120)
5.	Gospel of Peter (70-160)
6.	Gospel of the Egyptians (80-150)
7.	Gospel of the Hebrews (80-150)
8.	Oxyrhynchus 840 Gospel (110-160)
9.	Gospel of Mary (120-180)
10.	Gospel of the Savior (120-180)
11.	Gospel of Judas (120-170) spoken of by Irenaeus (125-202) i, 31, 1.
But Justin Martyr is his real source (140). Likely dating of the original is
about 120. Certainly not written by Judas himself. Found in 2005.
12.	Infancy Gospel of James (140-170)
13.	Infancy Gospel of Thomas (140-170)
14.	Gospel of Truth (140-180)
15.	Dura-Europos Gospel Harmony (170-200)
16.	Gospel of Philip (180-250)

Gospels that once existed but are lost to history

1.	Gospel of Bartholomew
2.	Gospel of Thaddeus, mentioned in the decree of Pope Gelasius
3.	Lost sayings Gospel Q (40-80)
4.	Fayyum Fragment (70-200) The Rainer Gospel Papyrus was discovered in
1885 by G. Bickell in the papyrus collection of Archduke Rainer in Vienna.
This is only a small fragment, a little more than one hundred characters in
Greek. Since it came from the Fayum in Egypt it is sometimes known as the
Fayum Fragment. It is judged to belong to the last decades of the third
century. The text is plainly parallel to Mt 26:30-35 = Mk 14:26-31. 
5.	Gospel of the Nazoreans (100-160). We only have fragments in the
writings of Jerome

6.       Gospel of the Ebionites (100-160) In The Other Gospels, Cameron
observes: "The Gospel of the Ebionites (Gos. Eb.) is a gospel harmony
preserved in a few quotations in the writings of Epiphanius (4th C). The
original title of this gospel is unknown. The gospel was probably used by
the Ebionites, a group of Greek-speaking Jewish Christians who were
prominent throughout the second and third centuries. Epiphanius incorrectly
entitles this the 'Hebrew' gospel, and alleges that it is an abridged,
truncated version of the Gospel of Matthew. Whereas the Gospel of the
Ebionites is indeed closely related to Matthew, examination of the extant
fragments reveals that much of the text is a harmony, composed in Greek, of
the Gospels Matthew and Luke (and, probably, the Gospel of Mark as well).
Although Irenaeus (late in the second century) attests to the existence of
this gospel, we are dependent solely upon the quotations given by Epiphanius
for our knowledge of the contents of the text." Like Mark, the Gospel of the
Ebionites omits the infancy narratives. The gospel presents both John the
Baptist and Jesus as vegetarians, and Jesus says that he has come to abolish
sacrifices. Cameron says, "Together with the sayings about the passover,
this intimates a polemic against the Jewish Temple." This indicates that the
Gospel of the Ebionites, like the Gospel of Matthew, addresses the issue of
"Jewish identity after the destruction of the Temple." The solution offered
to this problem is "to believe in Jesus, the true interpreter of the Law."
Cameron suggests that the Gospel of the Ebionites was written in the
mid-second century in Syria or Palestine.

7.	The Gospel of the Texans (Gos. Tx, 1836). Unlike the Ebionite
gospel, this gospel (fragment Codex Brenhamiticus) presents John and Jesus
not as vegetarians but as carnivores. After Peter swims to the shore, it is
not fish that Jesus is slow cooking over an open fire, but brisket.

8.       Secret Mark (70-160) Known only from a reference in a letter of
Clement of Alexandria found by Morton Smith in 1958 at the Mar Saba
monastery near Jerusalem.

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