Pastor John Wright

Our readings for this coming Sunday are again very moving. The key to reading them is recognizing the biblical categories for humanity: (1) One humanity, created good in the image of the Triune God seen in its fullness in Jesus Christ; (2) the fragmentation of this human solidarity into various groupings by the fall and human sinfulness that affects us and in which we participate; (3) with the promise to Abram, the basic division of Israel, the heirs of the promise, the Jews, and the rest of humanity, the Gentiles; and (4) the renewal of one humanity in common solidarity through the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ in which the categories fall away amidst the church as a sign for the renewal of the solidarity of humanity at the end of all things in God.

Yet even as we nowexperience the vestiges of #1 in every human, we also experience the results of #2 in #3 and #4. This is why the OT reading is an important background to hear the necessity of the call in the Epistle reading. The Gospel reading continues to push on and describe the mission of Jesus in response to his disciples engaging in mission.

Isaiah 57:14b-21

To understand Isaiah 57, it might be good to go back to Isaiah 40:1-5. As the book of Isaiah unfolds, Isaiah 57 presupposes this text and calls forth Israel to continue that task that God has begun in Isaiah 40. The key passage between the two is Isaiah 53, where the suffering servant gives his life so that his followers might continue in the task of Isaiah 40.

What is the command given to Israel here? How does it relate to Isaiah 40:1-5. The rest of the passage comes as the direct Word of God, describing God's "preferences" amidst Israel. Who is God in the passage? Where does God dwell? How is this related to the command at the beginning of the passage? Who received God's judgment? Why? What is God's ultimate intent to bring about the preparing the way? Why is there no peace for the wicked?

Ephesians 2:11-22

Why should this passage begin with a call to "remember"? To whom is the call given? What is it exactly that they should remember? Why should they remember? What sort of response does that elicit? The passage hinges on the "But now". What is the difference? How did this group move from one to another? What has Christ done? For whom has Christ done this? How does the passage summarize Jesus Christ's mission on earth? What is the result of Jesus' life, death and resurrection now for us? To whom has Jesus joined us? What has happened to our citizenship? With whom do we live in solidarity? What do the apostles and prophets have to do with it? What then has God made us in Christ?

Mark 6:30-44

Why would Jesus, following the return of the disciples from their mission, call them away with him to a deserted place? What does this tell us? What is the role of reflection, contemplation in our lives? How is it related to the above passages? What then happens and how does Jesus respond? Why? How do the disciples respond? Follow the dialogue between Jesus and the disciples. What is the significance of the ending of the passage?

How does the Gospel reading relate to the above passages? How do we prepare the way? What is the relationship between the mission of the people of God and the necessity for contemplation? Do you notice who initiates the call to contemplation/rest? Who intiates the call to action?

Have a wonderful time together!