Lectionary Reflection
Year A, Epiphany 2
Standard (Episcopal) Lectionary Revised
Common Lectionary
Gospel
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John 1: 29-41(Standard)
and John 1: 29-42 (RCL)
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[Start Both Lectionaries] John saw
Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This
is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who ranks
ahead of me because he was before me.' I myself did not
know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason,
that he might be revealed to Israel." And John testified,
"I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove,
and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but
the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me,
`He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the
one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I myself have
seen and have testified that this is the Son of God."
The next day John again was standing
with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk
by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!"
The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed
Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said
to them, "What are you looking for?" They said
to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher),
"where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come
and see." They came and saw where he was staying,
and they remained with him that day. It was about four
o'clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John
speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We
have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed).
[End Standard Lectionary]
He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said,
"You are Simon son of John. You are to be called
Cephas" (which is translated Peter).
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| New
Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989
by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Church of Christ in the
USA, and used by permission. |
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Reflection
on John : 29-42
by the Rev Wanda Copeland
Twice in this
passage, John refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God. In an allusion
to the Jewish sacrifices required by the Law, John connects
Jesus to that sacrificial animal which atones for human sins.
Yet even many Jewish people had become complacent in their understanding
of the ritual. It was only the outward sign that remained. The
inner cleansing needed really did not happen. How like our Hebrew
faith ancestors we are. Approximately 75% of Americans believe
they are concerned about the environment. Yet we continue to
drive SUVs, purchase fruit grown and shipped across the globe,
and build larger and larger homes requiring more and more resources
to furnish and service. Being "green" means more than purchasing
a license place or sending $10 annually to the Sierra Club.
We must educate ourselves about alternative fuel sources, insist
on mass transportation, buy cooperatively and learn from our
children about what they learn in school. I recently heard that
by 2040 all known sources of fossil fuels in the earth will
be depleted. Now is the time to make sacrifices to our God that
are substantive, that come from the heart, that will impact
the future of all life forms on our earth. Those who are called
by God are called to a higher standard.
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The
Rev Wanda Copeland was rector of Holy Trinity Church, Elk
River, MN, and Co-chair of MEESC, when she originally wrote
this reflection in 1999. Wanda and we welcome your comments.
Please address your comments or additional reflections to Wanda
Copeland or any MEESC
member, or mail them:
MEESC
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Eveleth, MN 55743-4400 USA |
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