Break Open the Word

Epiphany VIII Isaiah 49:8-16a Psalm 131 I Corinthians 54:1-5 Saint Matthew 6:24-34 John Singer Sargent - "Prophetic Frieze" BACKGROUND – Prophets III The Hebrew word nabi (prophet) is probably a “loan word” from the Akkadian word for “sent one” or “one made to speak”.   To whom was this word applied?   Initially it is applied to Moses, and secondarily to his brother Aaron, and to his sister Miriam.   To understand what was initially meant by the term, a look at Numbers 11:24-30 will be helpful.   In these verses we can get an idea of what the so-called “ecstatic prophets” were like.   These individuals, and groups of individuals used music, and dance to set up a circumstance of ecstasy to deliver a message of patriotism and loyalty to God.   See Exodus 15:20-21 for the example of Miriam’s prophetic behavior at the Red Sea.   Later on, this term, will take on other meanings.   In the time of Moses, however, (and we must remi...

In my sermon for the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany , I quoted George Herbert's Poem on the Holy Communion.  Several asked for the complete version, which I am supplying here: N Ot in rich furniture, or fine aray,                      Nor in a wedge of gold,                      Thou, who for me wast sold,            To me dost now thy self convey; For so thou should’st without me still have been,                      Leaving within me sinne: But by the way of nourishment and strength                      Thou creep’st into my breas...

The Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 Psalm 119:33-40 I corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 Saint Mathew 5:38-48                                                                                         BACKGROUND Readings from the Book of Leviticus in the Eucharistic Lectionary are limited to two Sundays, both in Ordinary Time, and consisting, largely, of the same reading.   It might be a good time, therefore to uncover this book for us.   In this day and age, Leviticus enters into the conversation largely to mine its comments on...