February 2022 – A Preacher’s Ponderings

Seeing and not seeing

Last Sunday after Epiphany; 27 February 2022; Last Epiphany C (RCL); Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99; 2 Corinthians 3:12 – 4:2; Luke 9:28-43a.

Paul turns the story of Moses’ face on its head, and makes it into a condemnation of Israel, for its failure to see Jesus as the Christ. In its initial setting, the story of Moses’ face was meant to show him as a true ‘friend of God,’ who could gaze on God’s glory without fear. The rest of us poor mortals couldn’t even gaze at Moses.

Forgiveness?

Seventh Sunday after Epiphany; 20 February 2022; Epiphany 7C (RCL); Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38.

I suspect the designers of the lectionary linked the Genesis reading to the Gospel reading, figuring that Joseph was a good example of forgiving egregious wrongs. However, I find the figure of Joseph rather troubling, and I suspect the editors of the Pentateuch also found him troubling.

The two ways

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany; 13 February 2022; Epiphany 6C (RCL); Jeremiah 17:5-10; Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 6:17-26.

We are used to hearing the Beatitudes in Matthew’s version, and Luke’s version is a little shocking. Matthew’s Jesus addresses the Beatitudes to a third-person, plural group — blessed are those people. Luke’s Jesus addresses his to a second-person, plural audience — blessed are you all. Matthew’s Jesus spiritualizes the Beatitudes — blessed are the poor in spirit; blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Luke’s Jesus speaks directly to real situations — blessed are you poor; blessed are you hungry.

Who, me?

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany; 6 February 2022; Epiphany 5C (RCL); Isaiah 6:1-13; Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11.

Isaiah must have been a little bit of crazy — Here am I, send me. No other prophet ever volunteered for the job, because almost by definition, it won’t go well. This call narrative places Isaiah’s call in the year King Uzziah died, which was really the last good year for the southern kingdom of Judah. Aram and Ephraim began expansionist tendencies almost immediately. And then it was Assyria, and then Babylon. Isaiah narrates his call against this background.