The 26th Sunday after Pentecost (Year C)
Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016
Theme: Consumed
Reflection: “Be calm and serene, masters of yourselves,
and superior to all irrational and disquieting passions. By keeping the
government of your spirits, you will both avoid much misery, and guard the
better against all dangers.” John Wesley
It’s a hard week to settle down and study the lectionary.
Distractions are everywhere. The Chicago Cubs winning the World Series for the
first time in 108 years. And the presidential race in the home stretch, with
its overflow of propaganda – from the news, to my mailbox, as well as the staff
breakroom.
The
church year is in the home stretch, too, with Reformation and All Saints’
Sundays, and just one more week before Christ the King Sunday closes out the
year. The lectionary provides frenetic texts – full of worries and warnings.
Consumed – this is the verb that
caught my eye in the Living Bible translation of the two short verses of
Malachi. “The proud and wicked will be
burned up like straw; like a tree, they will be consumed, roots and all.”
How
fine the line between fired up and flamed out, between passion and exhaustion.
Good work becomes overwork, followed by frustration and burnout. A healthy
pursuit – maybe eating nutritiously or exercising – becomes an all-consuming
compulsion that leads a person from joy to bondage.
Today’s
lessons identify extreme examples, whirling dervishes of negative energy.
People who feed on pride, anger, greed, gossip and fear. The warnings are for
the people of God – don’t go there! Caution – Danger Ahead! Malachi, Paul and
Jesus provide sound advice, since falling prey to such habits destroys people,
consuming them from the inside.
Malachi
doesn’t say God will burn up the proud and wicked. People filled with conceit
and rage are their own worst enemies, fueling a host of mental and physical
health issues. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians warns people to stay busy
with work, rather than becoming habitual busybodies. People need meaningful
work to avoid depression, not to mention financial challenges. Gossips live in
the aftermath of broken relationships. And Jesus warns his followers not to be
alarmed by natural disasters and other signs. Anxiety results from a constant
focus on fear and tragedy.
The
texts provide the wisdom and balance we need to hear to steady us:
•
“Do your work quietly and earn your own living.” Do the work God
has given you to do, without arrogance or complaint. Keep your head down and
your mouth free from gossip. Earn what you need to live.
•
“Beware you are not led astray.” Don’t get hooked in the trap of
fear and anxiety over this world’s disasters. Don’t listen to those who try to
tie them to biblical prophecies.
•
“Not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will
gain your souls.” Your hope and your faith rest in God alone, not in anything
the world promises. Stay focused.
In
short, the text says “Stay on this side of the line. Be ablaze with passion for
God, but not burned up or burned out. Live well and live free.”
Faith
App: When your
head and heart are overwhelmed, unplug. Tune out and take a day or two away
from television, social media or the internet. Refocus with reading, prayer or
just relaxing and listening to the Spirit.
HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS
What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine, ELW
774
Jesus Call Us; o’er the Tumult, ELW
696
Just a Closer Walk with Thee, ELW
697
All My Hope on God is Founded, ELW
757
Day by Day, ELW 790
We Place Upon Your Table, Lord, ELW
467
Bread of Life from Heaven, ELW
474
Shout to the Lord, ELW 821
Live Like You’re Loved, Hawk Nelson
You Never Let Go, Matt Redman
Love Come to Life, Big Daddy Weave
My Hope Is in You, Aaron Shust
LESSONS
Malachi
4:1-2a The
sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings
Psalm
98 Make a
joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth
2
Thessalonians 3:6-13 Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
Luke
21:5-19 Beware
that you are not led astray
Summary
of the Lessons: In every age, Jesus’
followers have faced distractions – politics, wars, gossip, extravagance – and
other challenges that lead them astray. Don’t fall for it. Stay focused.
OPENING
LITANY based on Psalm 98
L: Sing out a new song to
the Lord –
C: For creation is a
masterpiece beyond belief.
L: God keeps working to
set the world right;
C: Telling the nations –
here’s how it will be.
L: The Lord has a deep,
abiding love for Israel,
C: But all the people
have God’s saving grace.
L: Sound off, brothers
and sisters, shout loud!
C: Break out
rejoicing—sing grateful praises!
L: Sing with guitars,
break into four-part harmony;
C: Celebrate with
ensembles, with full symphonies.
L: Let the seas respond with
a roar of applause,
C: And the hills and
plains echo a joyful “Bravo!”
L: For the Lord is
coming, with change in the air;
C: God is on the way to
make all things right.
CONFESSION
L: Lord, how can you
expect us to pay attention –
C: When no sound bites
accompany your words,
L: When no special
effects answer our prayers,
C: You just can’t compete
with our digital feeds.
L: Lord, how can you
suggest we not be terrified –
C: When faith in our
elected leaders is broken,
L: When rock-solid
governing institutions are shaken,
C: You can’t expect us to trust you completely.
L: And Lord, how can you
keep telling us to testify –
C: When people have hurt
and excluded in your name,
L: When compassion and
service have slipped away,
C: You can’t believe our
small actions can change that.
(Silent reflection)
L: In our confession, we
pray together,
C: Most Merciful God …
Our world is full of distractions – sights and sounds that can take our
attention from you. Keep turning us back to the important things: the work you
give us to do, the people who need to feel your healing touch and the ways you
want us to show love and mercy to all we meet. Let us never become weary in
doing what is right.
Here is Good News: The things of this world
are temporary, but the love of God in Christ Jesus is forever. Stay dedicated
to God and help bring in the kingdom. Live in the love of a God who never lets
go, who has forgiven you and set you free.
In the name of …
Amen.
PRAYER OF
THE DAY
L: We pray together,
C: Ever Patient God … You know us and our
wandering ways, how easily we can be led astray. But we know the world can’t
quell our fears and quench our desires – only you can do that. Fill us with the
energy and passion to work with joy and love in your name – with our families,
in our vocations, and for the people you would have us serve. Keep us steadfast
in doing what is right, today and always.
Amen.
COMMUNION
BLESSING
L: We pray together,
C: We give thanks, most gracious God, for your
steadfast love that comes to us, week by week in this meal, renewing our hearts
to live and love for you. Keep us from being consumed by this world’s
distractions, and send us, like beacons, shining constant light for all to see
and follow. Amen.
SENDING
L: Work hard and live well,
C: Toil quietly in your service for God,
L: Burn brightly, but don’t burn out,
C: Keep shining to show others the light of
Christ.
L: Go now, signs of God’s kingdom, to love and
to serve the Lord,
C: Thanks be to God!
First Reading Malachi 4:1-2a (NRSV)
Setting
the Scene:Malachi
was the last of Israel’s prophets. As the last of his oracles come to an end,
he tells the people to be prepared: repent and wait for the day of the Lord.
See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the
arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them
up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with
healing in its wings.
Second
Reading 2
Thessalonians 3:6-13 (NRSV)
Setting
the Scene: Today’s
reading is not a social commentary on people who are unable or unwilling to
work. Paul is warning the church to steer clear of those who work to create
chaos within the followers.
Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not
according to the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know
how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, and we did
not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked
night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we
do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you
this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. For we hear that some of
you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such
persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly
and to earn their own living. Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing
what is right.
Gospel Luke 21:5-19 (NRSV)
Setting
the Scene: Luke
wrote his Gospel after the second destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. But
these words from Jesus were not meant as predictions, but advice. Buildings and
kingdoms of this world are temporary; hold fast to what is eternal.
When some were speaking about
the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to
God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not
one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”
They asked him, “Teacher, when
will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And
he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and
say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.
“When you hear of wars and
insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but
the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes,
and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents
and great signs from heaven.
“But before all this occurs,
they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues
and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my
name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not
to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that
none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be
betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will
put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not
a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.
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