Break Open the Word

The First Sunday in Lent - 17 February 2013 Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 Romans 10:8b-13 Saint Luke 4:1-13        Background:   The First Readings in Lent When looking at all the readings from the Hebrew Scriptures assigned for the Sunday’s in Lent, we begin to see a pattern that might enable both devotion and preaching during Lent.   The center is Egypt, a place both of slavery and salvation.   The journey into Egypt for food, and the journey from Egypt for freedom is the journey that these readings describe.   On the First Sunday in Lent, that journey is described in detail as the requirements for the Offering of the First Fruits is described by the Elohist, which verses become a part of the Passover Haggadah.   The Second Sunday focuses on Abraham, the “wandering Aramean” who cuts one of several covenants with the God who will deliver his family from Egypt.   The Third ...

Ash Wednesday - 13 February 2013 Joel 2:1-2, 12-17   Or Isaiah 58:1-12 Psalm 103 II Corinthians 5:20b – 6:10 Saint Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21        Background:   Ashes Oddly enough, this day is one of the most commonly celebrated liturgical days in the West, but what are the roots of this practice?   For peoples of the ancient near east, sprinkling ashes upon oneself or sitting in ashes signaled to the society that one was in a state of humiliation, penitence, or grief.   When mourning, the ashes were put on the head.   One example is Tamar’s public reaction to her rape by Amnon, “ Tamar put dust on her head, tore the magnificent dress which she was wearing, laid her hand on her head, and went away, crying aloud as she went .” (II Samuel 13:19.)   Another example is the reaction of the people of Nineveh to the sermon by Jonah, where they repent in sackcloth and ashes.   Job (42:6) gives a...