Scripture Introductions

Pentecost 4 June 28. 2009 Scripture Introductions by Stewart Clarke
Sunday's first reading has a lament. Laments don't seem popular today. At a funeral, we may place more emphasis on a eulogy, even though we are aching inside. Seldom do we find a list of hymns under the heading of "Lamentation." Yet people still sing the Blues, and, especially in hospital, I still share a "compressed prayer" of "GRRRRR. Amen;" and it is usually accepted with a nod of the head a wry smile, and "Amen." Perhaps we could spend more time in lamentation until we were ready to moving to eulogy or relief! [2] From last Sunday's reading in First Samuel, we move to Second Samuel, moving from a focus on Saul to David. We have also moved from David's introduction to Saul's court to David as a guerrilla leader waging his own campaign. He has been one of Saul's champions, but fled because of Saul's murderous jealousy. Jonathan, ("God's Gift"), one of Saul's sons, remained a close friend of David through all this time, even as it became more and more risky. At the battle of Mount Gilboa [3], against the Philistines, the Israelites were defeated and Saul and Jonathan were killed. [4] The way was now clear for David to become king of Israel and Judah, but we find him consumed with grief. He laments the death of Saul, and, especially, of the ever generous and loyal Jonathan. Let us listen as David speaks from his broken heart, in 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 You may wish to hold your acclaim until after the Gospel reading, or use traditional words after each, or say something like: May we take the story to heart and, even in grief or sorrow still praise the Lord, as in "Hallelujah Anyhow." Amen.
The Psalm is a cry from despair, with a promise of hope. (As a Song of Ascents, it would be sung as pilgrims trod their way up to the holy city.) Let us.. Psalm 130 (VU p.852-3)
Paul could write very forcefully, but in today's Epistle reading, we hear him writing gently to the church in Corinth, praising them and inviting, rather than pressuring, them to contribute to help the church in Jerusalem. He offers a model of stewardship for them, and for us. Let's listen to this diplomatic Paul, in: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 May we listen closely and learn, even more, of generosity.
The Gospel reading tells of Jesus responding to the needs of a woman and a young girl. [5] The woman has a chronic ailment. The girl is declared dead. Jesus is touched by the woman, but he touches the girl. At first reading, we may not understand how very radical this bit of scripture really is. Both death and blood made one ritually unclean, and Jesus, as he did over and over again, crossed the boundaries of his culture, and touched them, bringing them healing, and us Good News. (We could wonder how others would respond to this unclean healer, including the leader of the synagogue who, surely, when he asked for Jesus' help, did not expect him to be caught in the haemorrhage event!) Let us rise to honour and be open to the Good News in: (Or: Let us listen closely for the Good News for us in:) Mark 5:21-43 May we praise God for the grace Jesus taught and lived. Amen. It is appropriate to follow the readings with thanks and praise.
Notes:
  1. With thanks to MRR.
  2. Roger Régnier teaches stages in grief: shock, destabilization, incubation, re-organization and re-investment.
  3. I understand that Mt. Gilboa is a ridge in northern Israel. Ziklag is in southern Judah. The messenger travelled a long and difficult way with his news! We skip David's response, saving us the challenge of explanation!
  4. You may note that the messenger was an Amalekite, and that David had been fighting "the Amalekites."
  5. In the book on The Last Week by Borg and Crossan they note that this illustrates Mark's use of "frames" in this and many other stories. So the story of the girl is framed by two bits of the story about the woman. It tends to show that both have the same goal (healing a woman who would not normally considered important enough for his attention. MRR)
(Comments to Stew at stewclarke@eastlink.ca.)