Break Open the Word

The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 9, 5 July 2020   Track 1 Or Track 2 Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 Psalm 45: 11-18 or   Song of Solomon 2:8-13 Romans 7:15-25a Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30   Zechariah 9:9-12 Psalm 145:8-15 Romans 7:15-25a Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30   The Collect   O  God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.   Background: Marriage in the Ancient Near East   There was a definite pattern of steps in arranging and celebrating marriage in the ancient near east. There was the deliberative stage during which a family would search for a suitable bride for their son. That was followed by a prenuptial stage during which choices were made by...

The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 8, 28 June 2020 Track 1 Or Track 2 Genesis 22:1-14 Psalm 13 Romans 6:12-23 Matthew 10:40-42 Jeremiah 28:5-9 Psalm 89:1-4,15-18 Romans 6:12-23 Matthew 10:40-42 The Collect Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. Background: Prophets One of the problems we have with understanding the prophets is the very word that we use to describe them. Our word “prophet” comes from the Greek combination of pro (in advance of) and the verb phesein (to speak or tell), thus prophetes. The Hebrew, however, has a dif...