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Environmental Stewardship Commission

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Lectionary Reflection

Year A, Epiphany 2
Standard (Episcopal) Lectionary – Revised Common Lectionary
Gospel

John 1: 29-41(Standard) and John 1: 29-42 (RCL)

[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).

 

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.

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:

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