Weekly Bible Notes

21st Sunday in Ordinary

Year B, Green

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Opening Verse of Scripture桺salm 34:18,22

The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit, The Lord redeems His servants; no-one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned.

Collect Prayer for the Day桞efore we read we pray

Merciful God, grant that your Church, being gathered by your Holy Spirit into one, may reveal your glory among all peoples, in the honour of your name; through Christ our Lord.  Amen

First Bible Reading  Joshua 24:1-2a,14-18

Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. Joshua said to all the people, 揘ow fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.?Then the people answered, 揊ar be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we travelled. And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.?nbsp;  (This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God)

Second Reading John 6:56-69

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live for ever.?He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. On hearing it, many of his disciples said, 揟his is a hard teaching. Who can accept it??Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, 揇oes this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.?For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, 揟his is why I told you that no-one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.?From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 揧ou do not want to leave too, do you??Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, 揕ord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.?nbsp; (This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God)

Post Communion Prayer

God of our pilgrimage, you have willed that the gates of your mercy should stand open for those who trust in you: look upon us with your favour that we who follow the path of your will may never wander from the way of life: through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Commentary: Making Tough Choices

In both of the bible passages today we see that God wants any decision to follow Him to be a completely free choice, not one born of guilt, obligation, or half-interest. As Joshua makes clear, the Israelites were free to choose idols and false gods if they wished: "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve ?quot;.

In the end, the Israelites do choose Yahweh, who liberated them from slavery; the one who is "close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit".  The God who had led them into the Promised Land.  Perhaps it was an easy choice for them, a no-brainer as the American抯 might say.  But choices are not always easy.  No one knew this better than Jesus, who met the doubt of his followers with sober acceptance: "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there some of you do not believe". And as some of the Israelites must have done, some followers of Jesus opt out of the call to discipleship. The choice, or its implications, was just too tough. 

Part of our responsibility as Christians is to make sure we are presenting the same choices that Jesus makes clear in the gospels to our society today. Choices that will lead some to the cross and discipleship, and others to turn and walk away. The 憆oles and responsibilities?are distinct, although we sometimes find it hard to separate them. Ours is the responsibility to present the choices; the people who then make decisions must take the responsibility for them; and God will take the responsibility for the eternal outcomes.  So often we feel responsible for the outcome of a choice of faith that someone else has taken rather than leaving it to God. It抯 right that we feel concern and compassion for others in their decisions, especially when we see close friends or family making what we believe to be a wrong choice.  But ultimately choice is a personal thing, especially when it comes to personal destiny.  Joshua presented the choices to the Israelites and then led by example.  For Simon Peter the choice was very stark.  He realized that if He didn抰 follow Jesus there really wasn抰 anywhere else to go.  It was only Jesus who offered any hope for the future, the words of eternal life. 

Even with choices some things never change. Despite what the world might desire it is only Jesus who ultimately offers eternal life, if we choose to accept His offer.      

Meditation

Not all of Jesus?teaching is easy. We are free to choose God or not, but Jesus makes clear that we must be ready and prepared for the enormity and the eternal implications of that choice.

 

Hymns   (Hymns & Psalms)

1. Jesus the name high over all, 385
2. God is good, 185
3. Thou art the way, 695
4. As the deer pants for the water, 691
5. Fill thou my life, 146
   

Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead

Lord, send us prophets in the church today, as in the days of old, to make known your living truth in the power of the Holy Spirit. Give them a clear vision of your purpose for the life of the world; enable them to peak the word with boldness; and through their words and their actions recall your people to simpler discipleship, holier living and to more dedicated service for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Help your servants Lord to be people of God, people of reconciliation, people of truth and people of prayer. Keep them ever humble in your service for your mercy抯 sake. Amen

Lord of all good life, be with those who are now absent from us, seeking rest and change on holiday. Keep them in safety and renew their strength that they may return refreshed in body mind and spirit. Amen

The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. Amen
 

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Additional Material

Verse of scripture

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Eph 6:10

Collect Prayer for the Day桞efore we read we pray

Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions make them to ask such things as shall please you; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Post Communion Prayer

God of our pilgrimage, you have willed that the gate of mercy should stand open for those who trust in you: look upon us with your favour that we who follow the path of your will may never wander from the way of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Commentary

Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-24 (the reading has been extended to include some extra important verses) The book of Joshua concludes with another covenant ceremony - - this one at the ancient shrine of Shechem. This is where Jacob ordered all the "foreign gods" (handily portable stone idols) harbored by members of his household to be "put away" (see Genesis 35:1-4). The confiscated stones were then buried under the oak at Shechem. Joshua is not concerned with the people hearing and promising to obey every jot and tittle of the Law. Now, near the end of his life of leadership and service, Joshua desires to hear a much more basic commitment from the people. Joshua is speaking to a selected audience of "the elders, the heads, the judges and the officers of Israel" -- in other words, the elite of leadership, the best minds and hearts of Israel. Nevertheless, after delivering a quick historical synopsis of all the Lord has already done for Israel (vv.2-13), Joshua challenges these leaders to "choose this day whom you will serve" (15). His words suggest that some of these high-ranking Israelites had already been observed worshiping the gods of their ancestors or the local Amorite deities.In verse 2 Joshua introduces the brief history he gives with "thus says the Lord" -- an indication that the following are not Joshua's words but God's. Though old and weary, Joshua is still the Lord's chosen mouthpiece to the Israelites. With this in mind, it is easy to see what a tremendous influence Joshua's assertion in verse 15, "as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord," had on his listeners. And perhaps that is also why, despite the impressive confession of loyalty the Israelites make in verses 16-18, Joshua reveals he is still not convinced (v.19). The words sound too much like what an eager-to-please people might mouth to their respected leader. The people demonstrate remarkable awareness of all God has done for them. Yet their promise to serve appears to be based only on a sense of tit-for-tat -- God does good things for us so we will serve him. Joshua's bitter response to these sweet-sounding words still shocks readers today -- think how stunned the Israelites must have been as he threw these words in their faces: "You cannot serve the Lord for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins" (v.19). God is not some celestial meet-your-needs sugar-daddy for the Israelites -- God is God, and that is why God should be served. Furthermore, Joshua continues, there can be a definite downside to swearing service to this jealous God. Faced with disloyalty and disobedience, this God will "turn and do you harm" (v.20), regardless of the good God has done before.It is not out of a sense of full-bellied well-being that the people confess their service to the Lord once again (v.21). Joshua's sharp words have reminded them of the consequences that lie behind their words. Yet Joshua's response is ambiguous -- it is still not clear whether he is convinced that this confession will hold. When he declares the people to be "witnesses against yourself," Joshua still seems to be challenging the people's conviction. It is not until verse 23 that Joshua finally indicates what might have been the whole impetus behind this dialogue. After the people glibly agree that "we are witnesses," Joshua drops his bombshell: "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel." Despite all their confessions, both these Israelites and Joshua know that lurking in the backs of their tents, lying underneath their pillows, there are stone idols, which are being worshiped in secret. The conclusion of this scene is strangely unsatisfying -- for there is no gathering of these foreign gods, no record of their burial. Instead, the people simply confess their intended loyalty once more, and Joshua now makes "statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem" (v.25). Perhaps Joshua realized that while he can be a leader and example for his people, he cannot be their conscience or their nursemaid. In the end, both the people's ability to serve only the Lord and Joshua's ability to trust their words are matters of faith.

Prayers for Sunday

Govern all by your wisdom, O Lord, so that my soul may always be serving you as you will, and not as I may choose. Do not punish me, I beg you, by granting what I wish or ask if it offends your love which should always live in me. Let me die to myself, so that I may serve you; let me live for you, who in yourself are the true life. St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

Lord our God, all truth is from you, and you alone bring oneness of heart. Give your people the joy of hearing your word amid the din of human noise, and of longing for your presence more than for life itself. May all the attractions of a changing world point us to the peace of your kingdom, a peace which this world does not give. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, stay with us; let no word cross our lips that is not your word, no thought enter our minds that is not your thought, no deed ever be done or entertained by us that is not your deed. Malcolm Muggeridge (b.1903)

Dr. Martin Luther's Sacristy prayer, "O Lord God, Thou hast made me a pastor and teacher in the Church. Thou seest how unfit I am to administer rightly this great and responsible office ; and had I been without Thy aid and counsel I would surely have ruined it all, long ago. Therefore do I invoke Thee. How gladly do I desire to yield and consecrate my heart and mouth to this ministry ! I desire to teach the congregation. I, too, desire ever to learn and to keep Thy Word my constant companion and to meditate thereupon earnestly. Use me as Thy instrument in Thy service. Only, do not Thou forsake me, for if I am left to myself, I will certainly bring it all to destruction. Amen. "

God of the Spirit of kindness,
in the glory of the earth and the sea and stars,
in the kaleidoscope of colour and shade and shapeliness,
in the patterns of humour and tenderness and touch,
we celebrate your generosity.

Forgive us when we forget the gift in our every breath,
the care that sustains our every moment,
that grace that can transform our every day.

Set us free from the prison of grudging hearts,
mean desires,
resentful spirits,
give us courage to act with justice and generosity,
and draw us into love that does not calculate or keep scores.

Hymn for this Sunday (Mission Praise)

• All people that on earth do dwell 20
• Make Way 457
• Come down O love divine 89
• Thanks be to God (on notices?tune Lobe Den Herren)
• Come let us worship Christ 96

I am aware that it might have been a good idea this week to have included 'Will you come and follow me if I but call your name', it fits well with the Joshua reading

 

 

 

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