PENTECOST 18AOCTOBER 12, 2014

Exodus 32:1-11Philippians 4:1-9Matthew 22:1-14

Samuel Schereschewsky

施约瑟

Bishop of Shanghai6 May 1831 – 15 October

1906

Collect for Pentecost 18ALord, we pray that your grace may always precede & follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives & reigns with you & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen.

 

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA -- Adult Lectionary Forum 2014

Prayer for Pentecost 18A O God, who called Joseph Schereschewsky from his home in Eastern Europe to the ministry of this Church & sent him as a missionary to China, upholding him in his infirmity, that he might translate the Holy Scriptures into the Chinese language: Lead us, we pray, to commit our lives & talents to you, in the confidence that when you give us work to do, you also supply the strength to do it; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives & reigns with you & the Holy Spirit, one God, forever.

Samuel Isaac Joseph

Schereschewsky

Recommended Reading:Muller, James Arthur, Apostle of China: Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky (New York: Moorhouse, 1937)Eber, Irene, The Jewish Bishop & the Chinese Bible: S.I.J. Schereschewsky, (1831-1906) Leiden; Boston: Brill, 1999).

PENTEC

OST 18A

: WH

ILE YOU

WER

E AWAY [EXO

DU

S 32:1-11]

Time Stamp: 1491/13th Cent BC

The people lose faith and break their covenant with the Lord by worshiping an idol. Moses pleads with God to spare them from punishment.

Importance of Good Leadership•Ill effect of Moses’ absence < 40 days•--Weary of waiting for his return•--Weary of waiting for Promised Land•--Weary of waiting for divine institution•--Aaron lacks Moses’ vision/charisma•Calf represents Egypt’s gods [Vv 3-4]•Aaron calls it Feast for Jehovah [V 5]•But they sacrifice to calf, not God [V 6]

Intimate Relationship with God•God alerts Moses [Vv 7-8]•God intends to intervene [Vv 9-10]•Moses intercedes [Vv 11-13]•--Why kill them & give Egypt a win?•--Didn’t you promise…?•--Let me handle it•God relents [V 14]7 And the Lord said to Moses, Go down; for your people, who you brought out

of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves … 11 And Moses asked the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why does your wrath wax hot against your people, who you brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? … 14 And the Lord repented of the evil which he considered doing to his people. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2014

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

PENTEC

OST 18A

: NEED

FOR

UN

ITY [PHILIPPIA

NS 4:1-9]

Time Stamp: 62 AD

Christ's followers should rejoice rather than worry, since God grants them peace beyond all understanding.

Christians’ Duties•Be steadfast [V1]•Be united in Spirit [V 2]•Support one another [V 3]•Praise God always [V 4]•Be candid & gentle [V 5]•Don’t be fearful—Trust God [V 6-7]•Seek good in all things [V 8]

Paul’s Himself is an Example•Rejoices in ministry success [V 10]•Not me, but God at work [Vv 11-12]•Christ is our strength [V 13]

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2014

6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer & supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts & your minds in Christ Jesus.8Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

11…I have learned to be content with whatever I have.12I know what it is to have little & I know what it is to have plenty. In any & all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed & of going hungry, of having plenty & of being in need.13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.3He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come.4Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: …come to the wedding banquet.’ 5But they made light of it … seized his slaves … & killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers & burned their city.

PENTEC

OST 18A

: RO

YAL W

EDD

ING

[MATTH

EW 22:1-14]

SynopsisJesus’ parable of a wedding banquet illustrates who is worthy of God’s kingdom.

RSVP•Parable addresses Jews’ rejection of Jesus’ message & invitation to Gentiles•--Initial invitees ~ Jewish community •--Servants ~ Old Testament prophets•--Later servants ~ John the Baptist•--V 4: Dinner feast = privileges of church-membership, blessings of new covenant, pardon of sin, God’s favor, peace of conscience, Gospel promises & riches contained therein, throne of grace, the comforts of Spirit, hope of eternal life. •V 7: Portends ruin to befall Judaism•Vv 8-9: Gentiles replenish His Church•V 10: But not all Gentiles•Vv 11-14: doomed guest who lacked proper attire = danger of hypocrisy in professing one’s faith

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2014

11“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man who was not wearing a wedding robe,12 & he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ He was speechless.13Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand & foot & throw him into the outer darkness … 14For many are called, but few are chosen.”