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Lectionary Reflection
Year C, Proper 15
Standard (Episcopal) Lectionary
Revised Common Lectionary
Gospel Lesson
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Luke 12:49-56
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Jesus
said, "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how
I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with
which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until
it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring
peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!
From now on five in one household will be divided, three
against two and two against three; they will be divided:
- father against son
- and son against father,
- mother against daughter
- and daughter against mother,
- mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
- and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
He
also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising
in the west, you immediately say, `It is going to rain';
and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing,
you say, `There will be scorching heat'; and it happens.
You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance
of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret
the present time?"
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Reflection on
Luke 12:49-56
by the Rev Dcn Helen B. Hanten
In this Gospel Reading we hear
Jesus say that people will be divided, even family members won't
agree as people fail to heed the signs of the times. While prophets
didn't do personal fortune telling or see the future, prophets
interpreted the signs of the times and foretold what would be
ahead if trends continued. Most people today know clouds may bring
rain or snow. Where we live in Minnesota, south winds on hot summer
days bring storms. Jesus' question about how his followers could
fail to interpret the present time can certainly be the question
we ask the world as climate continues to change and more species
are threatened. While it is true, as some will argue, that the
earth has experienced times of fluctuations of temperatures all
the way from ice ages to the seas covering much more of the land,
the changes now are happening faster than in the past and the
acceleration is interpreted to be leading to impending drastic
consequences. Everyone has heard about it. Most believe it is
happening, but too few are doing anything to change their own
lives, or even to advocate for the changes in society that would
slow down the global warming.
How is it we can do so well in
advancing transportation, communication, medical advances and
reproductive technologies, but fail to respond in appropriate
ways to the impending drastic change to our planet Earth? Is it
too convenient and comfortable to wrap our lives around the transportation,
communication and technologies? Is the "Inconvenient Truth"
too much to embrace?
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Reflections
on other Readings
[Standard (Episcopal) and Revised Common Lectionary]
for Year C, Proper 15
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Revised Common Lectionary
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Standard (Episcopal) Lectionary
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| Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: |
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| Psalm: |
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| New Testament Reading: |
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Hebrews 12:1-7(8-10)11-14
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no reflection available
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| Gospel: |
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The
Rev Helen B. Hanten, was a deacon emeritus of St. Andrew's
By-The-Lake Episcopal Church, Duluth, MN, when she originally
wrote this reflection in 2007. Helen and we welcome
your comments. Please address your comments or additional
reflections to the
Rev Helen B. Hanten or any MEESC
member, or mail them to:
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MEESC
c/o C. Morello
4451 Lakeside Drive
Eveleth, MN 55743-4400 USA |
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The MEESC assumes
that all correspondence received is for publication on this
web site. If your comments are not for publication, please
so note on your correspondence. The MEESC reserves the right
to decide which items are included on the website.
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This page last updated
2007-09-10.
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