Some Notes for Week Beginning 27 August 2007 s1

Some notes for Week beginning 22 January 2016

Ordinary week 3, Year 2 (lectionary vol. 2, p. 484 and following)

General This week, both sets of readings continue the same pattern as we found last week: 1st readings from the 2nd book of Samuel, and the story of David, who, in Monday’s first reading is chosen as king instead of Saul. The gospels continue from Mark, with opposition to Jesus coming from all quarters – even his own family. Thursday is the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, with its own proper readings,

Monday’s readings (22 January):

2 Samuel 5:1-7. 10 At Hebron, the tribes ratify God’s choice of David as king in succession to Saul. Whereas Saul had been a human choice and not God’s, David is first and foremost the one chosen by God to shepherd his people.

Mark 3:22-30 Opposition to Jesus grows. Scribes have come to Galilee from Jerusalem, and accuse Jesus of casting out devils by the power of the devil (called Beelzebul here). But Jesus, in a statement that harks back to the triumph of his testing in the desert, asserts that his ability to cast out Satan is a demonstration of his greater strength than Satan’s. The sin against the Holy Spirit seems to indicate the blatant refusal of the scribes to recognise Jesus’ power as Gods’ power.

Tuesday’s readings (23 January):

2 Samuel 6:12-15. 17-19 The last time we heard of the Ark of the Covenant, it had been captured by the Philistines. Now, David places the Ark in his own citadel, amid much rejoicing.

Mark 3:31-35 These words of Jesus are harsh. He dismisses his own family, but previously these were the ones who had previously tried to lock Jesus away because they thought he was mad. Does Mark want us to think his family (including his mother) and the scribes have something in common in their opposition to his ministry? It seems likely. His true family do God’s will.

Wednesday’s readings (24 January):

2 Samuel 7:4-17 David now wants to build a permanent house (Temple) for the Ark of God – that potent symbol of God’s presence on Israel. But the prophet Nathan says that this is not to be David’s task; rather, he will found the Royal House from which the Messianic figure will come.

Mark 4:1-20 This is the first of a series of parables we read this week. This one is usually called the parable of the sower, but it could easily be called the parable of the soil receiving the seed. It tries to address the problem: how can people hear the Word of God and not respond to it?

Thursday’s readings (25 January; Feast: Conversion, St. Paul. Lect. Vol 2, p. 928):

Acts 22:3-16 There are three accounts of Paul’s conversion in the New Testament; two in the Acts of the Apostles, and one on the letter to the Galatians. This passage is the second from Acts, in which Paul describes his own conversion.

Mark 16:15-18 This part of Mark’s gospel was probably added to the original ending at a later stage. It is like a summary of the resurrection stories found in the other gospels, but more importantly for today’s feast, it describes what will happen to disciples. In fact, all of these happened to Paul, according to the information we read in Acts and Paul’s letters

Friday’s readings (26 January, Memorial; Sts. Timothy & Titus):

2 Samuel 11:1-10. 13-17 And now we have the other side of David – just as self-centred as Saul ever was. David’s fault begins because he is not doing what he is supposed to be doing. It is the time of year when kings go to war; but David is at home! His actions with Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite - are despicable. And yet, it will be another son of David and Bathsheba who will continue the line of David: not, as we would expect, David’s first-born son (see the relevant part in the genealogy in Matthew 1:6). Clearly, God is not bound by human sinfulness!

Mark 4:26-34 Yet another parable (or rather, group of parables) tell us about the growth of the kingdom of God. The seed sprouting, and the mustard see growing from small to huge should remind us of our all-too-frequent obsession about numbers. These are the only biblical models we have (as far as I am aware) for the growth of the Kingdom of God.

Saturday’s readings (27 January):

2 Samuel 12:1-7. 10-17 The prophet Nathan tells a parable that brings David to a state of remorse, a story that would move the hardest of hearts. David acknowledges his sin. The child falls sick, and David does penance, hoping to save the child’s life.

Mark 4:35-41 In this miracle story, Jesus demonstrates his divine power over wind and waves. With a word, he calms the chaos of the elements – just as God had done in the Creation narrative of Genesis. Jesus rebukes the frightened disciples for their lack of faith: they had accused him of not caring that they were about to die because of the storm!