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Voice of truth

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This Sunday’s Gospel reading is of Peter walking on water with Jesus. In preparation of that, here is the song “Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns:

Oh, what I would do to have the king of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I’m in onto the crashing waves,
To step out of my comfort zone into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is, and he’s holding out his hand

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I’ve tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me time and time again “Boy, you’ll never win, you’ll never win…”

But the Voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says “Do not be afraid!” and the Voice of truth says “This is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaVg0cWkgAw

Lectionary Notes, August 7th

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19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a

The events of this passage take place after Elijah has defeated the Prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:22-40). As a result of this humiliating defeat, Princess Jezebel has sworn to kill him (1 Kings 19:1-2). Elijah flees into the desert where, dejected and overcome by fear, he tells God that he may as well let him die (1 Kings 19:3-4). He then goes to sleep, but is awoken twice in the night by an angel who gives him bread and water. Strengthened by this food, he travels for 40 days to Mt. Horeb (1 Kings 19:5-8), also known as Mt. Sinai, the mountain where God revealed the Law to Moses.

Whereas Moses interceded for the Israelites (Exodus 32:11-13), Elijah appears to have reached the end of his tether (1 Kings 19:10). Elijah complains about his lack of success, saying that the people have abandoned God and he effectively condemn them. In saying this, there is the subtle implication that God’s promises have failed…

Then in the passage assigned for this Sunday, God reveals Himself to Elijah, indicating his patience, mercy and gentleness with His people. In the text that follows afterwards, God gives Elijah instructions as to what to do next.

At the mountain of God, Horeb, Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter. Then the LORD said to him, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.”

A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD— but the LORD was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake— but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

After the earthquake there was fire— but the LORD was not in the fire.

After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Suggested Questions:

  • What is this “mountain of God” mentioned? Does it have another name? What other events have also taken place there? Why does Elijah go there?
  • What do you think is the significance of the “wind…earthquake…fire”? Why was the Lord not “in” them?
  • What do you think is the significance of the “tiny whispering sound”?
  • Why does Elijah hide his face?

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Lectionary Notes: Feeding The Hungry

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Things have been a bit non-stop this last week, so I’m afraid these notes are late, slightly shorter than usual and a little bit rushed, but as GK Chesterton said, “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing badly”…

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 31st July, 2011

Reading 1: Isaiah 55:1-3

After Jeremiah, Isaiah is my favourite prophet. This book is often called “The Fifth Gospel” and, with a passage like this, it’s easy to see why. Here, God gives a beautiful invitation to His people to come and be satisfied, to return to Him, to come and be filled free of charge! Why settle for anything less?

When we recognize our hunger and our dependence on God, He will fill us and give us life.

Thus says the LORD:

“All you who are thirsty, come to the water!
You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat;
Come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk!

Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy?
Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare.
Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life.
I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David”

Suggested Questions:

  • What is the general invitation of this passage?
  • What does this food and drink cost? What does this say about God?
  • What do you think the “water” here represents?
  • What do you think the “grain” here represents?
  • What do you think the “wine” here represents?
  • What do you think the “milk” here represents?
  • In what way do we “spend [our] money on what is not bread”?
  • Why do we do spend our “wages for what fails to satisfy”?
  • What is promised together with this food?
  • What was the promise God made to David?
  • How do we experience the invitation of this passage today?

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Lectionary Notes: The Seed of Life

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15th Sunday In Ordinary Time: 10th July, 2011

Each week I produce notes for the upcoming Sunday Gospel for the Bible Study at St. John’s.

It’s a mixture of my own random thoughts, combined with what I’ve found in commentaries, sermons. I’m toying with the idea of publishing them here each week, so this is a bit of a test-drive…

If you think you’d find it helpful if I posted this each Monday evening, please let me know.

The Readings for this week focus around Jesus’ “Parable of the Sower”…
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The Martyrdom of St. Polycarp

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Amy Donahue (http://www.thisisamy.com)

I’ve previously written about one of my favourite Early Church Fathers, St. Polycarp and I’ve just finished preparing the account of his martyrdom that we’re going to be reading in the JP2 Group, starting next week.

Whenever we read documents from the Early Church I always work hard to try and produce the most readable translation for us to study. I do this by comparing many of the different translations and I do this in an attempt to eliminate all possible barriers to people reading, engaging with and actually enjoying these early Christian writers.

If you would like to view this document, links are provided below. The document is available in both Microsoft Word (.docx) and Adobe Reader formats (.pdf).

I’ve also recorded this document in an MP3 fjle because I personally learn best when I use audio. So…if you’re looking for something to listen to while you’re sunbathing at Pacific Beach over Memorial Day Weekend, look no further!

Martyrdom of Polycarp (DOCX | PDF | MP3)

If you would like to join us in our study, we will begin on 2nd June at St. John the Evangelist.

Chapter 3

Breaking with the past 1: Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord… He exhorts the Philippians again, as he has throughout this letter, to joy. 1: …To write the same things to you is not irksome to me, and is safe for you. The reference to “writ[ing] the same things” could refer to what Paul has just said, but I think

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Introduction

Before we begin reading any kind of document, it is important to ask some basic questions about that document: Who wrote the document? What do we know about that person? Where was the document produced? When was the it written? What was the situation at the time (political, social etc)? For whom did the author write the document? What do we know

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