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Showing posts from September, 2013

The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 21, 29 September 2013

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The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 21, 29 September 2013 Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16    Or Amos 6:1a, 4-7 Psalm 146 I Timothy 6:6-19 St. Luke 16:19-31                                                                                     Background: Timothy Timothy, whose name means “honored by” or “honoring God” was a companion of St. Paul.  He accompanied Paul throughout Asia Minor and in Eastern Europe, mainly Greece.  He was the son of a Greek man and his mother Eunice was a Jew, who was described as “a believer).  Paul first comes into contact with Timothy in Lystra where Timothy was a disciple.  He then follows Paul for the next few years, serving as an assistant and organizing congregations on Paul’s behalf.  Tradition has it that Paul appointed Timothy as bishop of Ephesus around 65 CE.  He died in 90 CE.  He is honored in the calendar on 26 January, along with Titus and Silas as Companions of Saint Paul.

The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 20, 22 September 2013

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The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 20, 22 September 2013 Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 Psalm 79:1-9    Or Amos 8:4-7 Psalm 113 I Timothy 2:1-7 St. Luke 16:1-13                                                                                     Background:  Amos Amos, a wealthy farmer (sheep and sycamore figs) served as a servant to the word of G-d, and did most of his work for a limited period of time around 760 BCE not in his native Judea, but north, in the Kingdom of Israel.  Unlike the prophets who came before him, his word (directed by the word of G-d) is spoken not to individuals (as was the case with Nathan) but rather to the entire nation.  Earlier prophets were inspired by the Spirit, but Amos receives the word of God. Finally, he is not a professional.  He belongs to no guild or school, nor is he a member of the royal court, called from his daily life to deliver G-d’s word to a specific time and place.  He is also the first of the so-c