prayer – A Preacher’s Ponderings

The days are coming

The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost; 16 October 2022; Proper 24C (RCL); Jeremiah 31:27-34; Psalm 119:97-104; 2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:5; Luke 18:1-8.

I’ve always thought this parable presented an odd comparison (or contrast) between the unjust judge and God. It is a form of the argument from lesser to greater. If it’s true in this case, imagine how much more true in that case. But the judge’s motivation seems pretty suspect. And our English translation misses the point: the judge says “otherwise, she will wear me out by her continual coming.” In the Greek it says something closer to “lest she give me a black eye by her continual coming.” The issue is honor and shame.

Pray without shame

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost; 24 July 2022; Proper 12C (RCL); Hosea 1:2-10; Psalm 85; Colossians 2:6-18; Luke 11:1-13.

The metaphor of the relation between husband and wife for the relationship between God and Israel, while seemingly tender, is problematic. In the honor/shame context of ancient Israel, a wife’s adultery brought shame on her husband’s family, and so he was justified in methods of controlling her sexuality that we would find problematic at the least.