January 22, 2007
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Each week we see a different aspect of the life and teaching of Jesus that reveals God's presence in the world. The Gospel passage for this Sunday recounts a time when Jesus' bold teaching in his home town of Nazareth stirs up antagonism that led to an attack on his life.
THEME FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY:
The Scripture passages this Sunday highlight those who are called to be prophets of God's word and truth. The reading from Jeremiah stresses God's role in the prophet's birth and development: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah at first recoils from this responsibility: "Then I said, 'Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.' But the LORD said to me, 'Do not say, "I am only a boy"; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you, Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.' Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me, 'Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.'"
Psalm 71 can be seen as a prophet's prayer for strength when facing adversity and persecution: "In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be ashamed ... For you are my hope, O Lord GOD, my confidence since I was young. I have been sustained by you ever since I was born; from my mother's womb you have been my strength."
The apostle and prophet Paul, writing to the Corinthians, speaks of the type of speech that builds up the church, stressing that it is more important to be understood, rather than to dazzle by speaking in tongues: "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults."
In the Gospel passage from Luke, Jesus returns to his home town of Nazareth where he gives a sermon that does not endear him to his listeners. Here is how Luke tells it: "When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way."
Jesus is a prophet who could "afflict the comfortable" as well as "comfort the afflicted." How does the teaching of Jesus afflict the comfortable today? Do we protect and insulate ourselves so as not to be afflicted by the teaching of Christ?
Sincerely,
David A. Killian
Rector
* * * * *
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, January 28, 2007
Sermon:
Saturday, January 27, at 5:00 pm: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling
Sunday, January 28, at 10:30 am: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling
Sunday, January 28, at 6:00 pm: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling
* * *
An invitation ...
Please join us for the Parish Luncheon and Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 4, 12 noon to 2:00 pm in the Dining Room. Please RSVP to Mary Downes at office@allsaintsbrookline.org to let us know if you will be attending the luncheon.
For the Collect of the Day, Scripture Readings, and Psalm, click here.
For a note on the Music at the Sunday 10:30 am service, from All Saints Music Director Donald Teeters, click here.
For a Story from this Sunday's Gospel by Becky Taylor, Director of Children's Youth, and Family Ministry, click here.
For a note on the Sunday 6:00 pm 'Episcopal Evening' service from Assistant Rector, the Rev. Leslie K. Sterling, click here.
To browse past issues of the All Saints Weekly, click here.
For "All Saints Smiles" and news about events, activities, programs, ministries and the staff of our parish, please click on the All Saints website: www.allsaintsbrookline.org.
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