Day 1 (Monday)

Tobit 4:1-21 (Tobit Gives Advice to his Son)

Last time we saw Tobit and Sarah both pray to God in moments of deep sadness, asking for whatever mercy they might receive from Him, and we saw God send the Archangel Raphael to help them and bring them comfort and peace. This week we will see Tobit remember that he isn’t quite as destitute as he had been thinking, as the rest of the book is set in motion.

Tobit Instructs Tobias

1 On that day Tobit remembered the silver he had entrusted to Gabael at Rages of Media. 2 So he said to himself, “I requested death for myself. Why do I not call my son Tobias to make this known to him before I die?” 3 So he summoned him and said, “My son, if I die, bury me, but do not disregard your mother. Honor her all the days of your life. Do what is pleasing to her, but do not grieve her. 4 Remember, my son, that she experienced many dangers for you while you were in the womb. When she dies, bury her beside me in the same grave.

5 My son, remember the Lord our God all your days, and do not desire to sin or to disobey His commandments. Do righteousness all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of wrongdoing. 6 For if you walk in the truth, you will be successful in your works. 7 Do almsgiving from your possessions to all who do righteousness. When you do almsgiving, do not let your eye be envious. Do not turn your face away from any poor man, so the face of God will not be turned away from you.

8 Do almsgiving based on the quantity of your possessions. If you possess only a few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. 9 You are storing up a good treasure for yourself in the day of necessity. 10 For almsgiving delivers us from death and prevents us from entering into the darkness. 11 Indeed, almsgiving is a good gift for all who do it before the Most High.

12 “My son, guard yourself from all fornication, and above all take a wife from among the seed of your fathers. Do not take a foreign woman who is not from the tribe of your father, for we are sons of the prophets. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are our fathers from of old. Remember, my son, that all these took wives from among their brothers and were blessed in their children. Their seed will inherit the land.

13 So now, my son, love your brothers and do not be arrogant in your heart against your brothers, the sons and daughters of your people. Take a wife for yourself from them, for arrogance brings destruction and great disorder, and in such worthlessness there is loss and great defect. For worthlessness is the mother of famine. 14 “Do not keep overnight the wages of any man who works for you, but pay him immediately. If you serve God, He will pay you.

Give heed to yourself, my son, in all your works, and be disciplined in all your conduct. 15 What you yourself hate, do not do to anyone. Do not drink wine unto a state of drunkenness, and do not let drunkenness become your traveling companion. 16 From your bread, give to him who is hungry, and from your clothing, give to the naked. If you have more than you need, do almsgiving, and do not let your eye envy the almsgiving when you do it. 17 Spread out your bread on the grave of the righteous, but do not give it to sinners.

18 “Seek counsel from every sensible man, and do not treat any useful advice with contempt. 19 At every opportunity bless the Lord God, but more than this ask that your ways may become straight, and that all your paths and purposes may prosper. For not every nation has understanding. But the Lord Himself gives all that is good, and as He desires He humbles whomever He will.

Money Left in Trust with Gabael

Now my son, let none of my commandments be removed from your heart. 20 “Now let me point out to you the ten talents of silver I entrusted to Gabael the son of Gabrias, in Rages of Media. 21 Do not fear, my son, that we have become poor. For you are very rich if you fear God. Stay away from every sin, and do what is pleasing before Him.”

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Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that this entire passage is a summary of how we should live our lives, in a very direct and practical way. It’s not theological or intellectual, but is deeply rooted in the truth of Who God is, and what He has created and called us to do. Tobit outlines in careful and essential detail what that means, on an every day level. There are a lot of these things that are hard for us to hear. We don’t like being told that we should limit who we marry, that it matters what faith they hold. We struggle with the insistence on generous almsgiving; it is extremely easy to come up with religious excuses to NOT be generous, far easier than it is to simply follow the commandment. What Tobit outlines, though, is ultimately very simple. If we wish to be faithful to God, then we need actually to live faithful lives, and set the fear and the love of God above every other desire and principle and love.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the highest level, the anagogical reading (in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, opening up to us the grand scope of God’s great work of salvation in and for us) sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 2 (Wednesday)

St. Andrew of Crete on St. John the Forerunner – Part 1

St. Andrew of Crete was born in Damascus in the late 600’s A.D., and became a monastic at the monastery of St. Savvas in the Holy Land. There he began to compose canons for liturgical services, which poetic form eventually became normative for Orthodox worship services; the Canon remains one of the central elements of the Orthros service (although it is often omitted in parish practice for reasons of time). Because of his many talents, he was one of the representative sent from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem to the 6th Ecumenical Council in Constantinople in 680; after the council ended, he remained in Constantinople, and in ~700 he was elevated to be the Metropolitan bishop of Gortyna in Crete. He lived out his remaining days there, and fell asleep in the Lord some years later. His Great Canon of Repentance is a central feature of the Lenten services of the first week of the Great 40 Days of Lent. Today and next week, we will read a homily which he preached on St. John the Forerunner, the feast of whose Nativity we celebrated last Wednesday.

https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2020/01/epithets-of-saint-john-baptist-in.html

Homily on the Beheading of the Honorable Forerunner – Part 1

By St. Andrew of Crete

Many, excellent and great are the epithets and titles of the Honorable Forerunner, which he is called in the Gospels and by Christ Himself.

That which he is first called is “Son.” Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. (Lk. 1:13) When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. (Lk. 1:57)

The next is “Baby.” When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. (Lk. 1:41-44)

Another name is “Child.” And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. (Lk. 1:76) And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel. (Lk. 1:80)

He was even called “Great.” He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. (Lk. 1:14-15)

And “John.” On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” (Lk. 1:59-63)

And of course, “Prophet.” What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. (Matt. 11:7,9,13)

The Lord called him “Elijah.” And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. (Matt. 11:14) And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah. (Lk. 1:17)

Many called him “Teacher.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” (Lk. 3:12)

They even called him “Prodromos.”* And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him. (Lk. 1:76)

And he was called a “Preacher.” And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And this was the message he preached: “After me comes the one more powerful than I.” (Lk. 1:4,7)

He described himself as a “Voice.” He was asked by men sent from the Pharisees: “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” (Jn. 1:22-23)

He is and was called a “Baptist.” Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. (Matt. 3:13) And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mk. 1:4)

Undoubtedly he is a “Martyr.” He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.** (Jn. 1:7,8) His testimony was sealed with the martyrdom of blood, when his honorable head was cut off, because he preached the truth, and rebuked all lawlessness.

He was also called “Righteous” and “Holy.” Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. (Mk. 6:20)

He called himself an “Apostle.” “You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’”*** (Jn. 3:28)

Another excellent name of his is “Evangelist.” And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.**** (Lk. 3:18)

He is even called a “Nymphagogos,”***** who leads souls to the Bridegroom Christ, as he once said: “The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must increase; I must decrease.” (Jn. 3:29-30)

He is also called a “Lamp.” John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. (Jn. 5:35)

He also had the title of “Rebuker of Herod.” For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” (Mk. 6:18) But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done. (Lk. 3:19)

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Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note how St. Andrew takes the opportunity of speaking about the Forerunner to recount what are effectively all of the Scriptural references to St. John the Baptist. This is a sermon intended for the Faithful; it is not for the highly educated, but for all of us together, to reflect on the person and the role of the Lord’s herald. It is accessible, but also lifts us up to honor the Baptist and to recognize him as one of the greats among the Saints.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Luke 13:18-35; 14:1-6 (Parables of Mustard Seed, Yeast, and Narrow Door, Lament over Jerusalem)

Last time we saw the Lord speaking with His followers about some tragedies that had occurred recently; they seem to be assuming that these bad things happened to them because they were worse sinners than everyone else; the Lord corrects the point and urges EVERYONE He encounters to repentance, to receive the Gospel and to follow Him. This time, He will continue with a parable about a mustard tree, to further explain how it is that grace and holiness grow in our lives).

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

The Parable of the Yeast

20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.”

The Narrow Door

22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And some one said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’”

27 “But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!’ 28 There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

The Lament over Jerusalem

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came, and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Jesus Heals the Man with Dropsy

14 One sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. 2 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not?” 4 But they were silent. Then he took him and healed him, and let him go. 5 And he said to them, “Which of you, having an ass or an ox that has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on a sabbath day?” 6 And they could not reply to this.

Reading 31
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Discussion Questions

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out that there are several different parables and points here that Jesus makes, and all of them are getting at the same basic point, that the people to whom He is preaching are distracted by many unimportant, or even sinful things, and they need to repent and turn to God immediately. This is difficult for them to believe, because nothing in the world around them looks like it is changing, so He tells them the parable of the mustard seed and the yeast, two things that act so slowly that, if you sit and watch them, you would swear that nothing is happening…but in truth, from a tiny beginning, a huge change takes place. He is telling them that with His presence in the world, everything is changing, and they, and we, need to take part in the Lord’s transformation of the world, and not make ourselves God’s enemies in holding onto the world as it is.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the anagogical reading, in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 1 (Monday)

Tobit 2:1 – 3:17  (Tobit Becomes Blind, Tobit & Sarah Pray to God)

Last time we read the first chapter of Tobit, and saw how he was taken into captivity when Israel was given over to the Assyrians, and how he remained faithful throughout every circumstance in his life, even when doing so brought consequences. He had to flee when the Assyrian king was trying to kill him for burying other Jews that had been killed and left lying in the streets or refuse heaps, and then was able to return when a new king took the throne. This is where our story picks up today.

The Charitable Tobit Becomes Blind

1 When I arrived at my house, my wife Anna and my son Tobias were given back to me. It was the Feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven weeks. A good dinner was prepared for me, so I sat down at the table to eat. 2 When I saw the abundance of meat, I said to my son, “Go and bring whomever you may find of our needy brethren who are mindful of the Lord. Behold, I will wait for you.” 3 But he came back and said, “O father, one of our people was strangled and thrown into the marketplace.” 4 So before I even tasted anything, I jumped up and carried the corpse into a room until sunset. 5 Then I returned, bathed myself, and ate my bread in sorrow. 6 Then I remembered the prophecy of Amos, how he said,

“Your feasts will be turned into mourning,
And all your gladness into a song of grief.”

So I wept.

7 When the sun went down, I departed, and after digging a grave, I buried him. 8 My neighbors laughed at me and said, “He is no longer afraid to be put to death for doing such a thing. He ran away before, and now, behold, he is burying the dead again.” 9 On the same night that I buried him, I returned home. But since I was defiled, I slept by the wall of the courtyard with my face uncovered. 10 However, I did not see the sparrows on the wall, for while my eyes were open the sparrows discharged their droppings into my eyes, and they became white films in my eyes. I went to physicians, but they could not help me. Then Ahikar supported me until he left for Elymais.

11 Then my wife Anna worked for hire at what women do. 12 She would send her work to the owners and they would pay her. On one occasion they paid her wages and also gave her a small goat. 13 But when she returned to me, it began to bleat. So I said to her, “Where did this goat come from? Is it not stolen? Return it to the owners, for it is unlawful to eat what is stolen.” 14 But she replied, “It was given to me as a gift. It was in addition to my wages.” But I did not believe her, telling her to return it to its owners. I blushed in embarrassment for her sake. So she answered and said to me, “Are your acts of charity and righteous deeds lawful? Behold, you are a know-it-all!”

Tobit’s Prayer

1 Then I wept in my sorrow, and with pain I prayed, saying: 2 “O Lord, You are righteous. So too are all Your works. All Your ways are mercy and truth. Your judgments are true and just forever. 3 Remember me and look upon me with favor. Do not punish me for my sins and my ignorance, nor those sins of my fathers which they committed against You. 4 Because they disobeyed Your commands, so You gave us as spoil, captivity and death. You made us a byword of disgrace among all the nations in which we were scattered. 

5 Now Your judgments concerning my sins are many and they are true, because I did them, and so did my fathers. For we did not keep Your commandments. Indeed we did not walk in truth before You. 6 Now do with me as is best before You. Command that my spirit be taken up, so I may be released and become soil, since it is better for me to die than to live. For I have heard false insults, and there is much sorrow within me. Command that I be freed from distress to now enter into the eternal place. Do not turn Your face away from me.”

7 On the same day, in Ecbatana of Media, Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, happened to be insulted by her father’s maids. 8 She was married to seven husbands, but before they could be with her as a wife, Asmodeus, the evil demon, killed them. So they said to her, “Do you not recollect that you strangled these husbands? You have already had seven husbands, but you received no profit from any of them.† 9 Therefore, why punish us? If they are dead, go with them. May we never see a son or daughter of yours.” 10 When she heard this, she was so distressed that she considered hanging herself. But she said, “I am the only one of my father. If I do this, it will be a disgrace to him, and I will bring down his old age with sorrow into Hades.”11 So she prayed by her window and said: 

Sarah’s Prayer

“Blessed are You, O Lord my God. Blessed is Your holy and precious name unto the ages. May all Your works bless You forever. 12 Now, O Lord, I offer myself completely to You. 13 Command that I be released from the land, that I may not hear such disgrace any more. 14 O Lord, You know that I am innocent of any sin with a man. 15 I have not defiled my name nor the name of my father in the land of my captivity. I am my father’s only offspring. He has no other child who will be his heir. Neither does he have a brother close at hand, nor an adopted son that I might keep myself as a wife to him. Seven of my husbands have already perished. What should I live for? But if it does not seem good to You to kill me, command that I be looked upon with favor, and that mercy be shown to me, so I may no longer hear disgrace.”

16 The prayer of both was heard in the presence of the great glory of Raphael, 17 and he was sent to heal the two of them: to remove the white films from Tobit; to give Sarah of Raguel to Tobias the son of Tobit as a wife; and to bind Asmodeus the evil demon, for it fell upon Tobias to inherit her. At that same time Tobit returned and entered his house, and Sarah of Raguel came down from her upstairs room.

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Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that we see two things here. The first is the further heightening of the tension we started to see last week. Tobit and Sarah are both righteous, and seem to be innocent of any great sin themselves…but they are suffering anyway. This is a common reality for us to see and experience in this world. The second point, and the more important point, is how they each respond to this suffering. Both of them pray, turning the matter over to God. They speak honestly, with a pain that is raw and evident, but they confess that the suffering they are receiving is just, both as a punishment for the sins of the people, and their own particular sins. Then they both  entrust themselves to God, accepting the suffering, but asking for vindication, for mercy, or at least for an end. And it is therefore especially important that we see God acting immediately to answer their prayer. We can see an example of how we should pray here in their two prayers. First, by confession of sin. Second, by entrusting ourselves to God’s will. Third, by asking for mercy. This is what repentance looks like; this is what our relationship with God should look like. You may notice, too, that this is exactly how the prayers of the Church are written. Finally, we should note what the names mean. Asmodeus is uncertain, but may mean something like “the destroyer.” Raphael means “God heals,” and he is one of the seven archangels.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the highest level, the anagogical reading (in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, opening up to us the grand scope of God’s great work of salvation in and for us) sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Letter of St. Ignatius to the Ephesians – 6

Last time, Ignatius warned the Christians in Ephesus against false teaching, and especially against the teaching of secret knowledge contrary to what had been already revealed to them. This time he explains to them that the great secrets of Christianity are mysteries indeed, but have been revealed for all who are willing to see. In this passage he develops further the idea he began a few weeks ago, talking about the silence of God, and how the Lord goes about preparing the salvation of the world.

The Mystery of Jesus’ Death

My spirit is a humble sacrifice for the cross, which is a stumbling block to unbelievers but salvation and eternal life to us. Where is the wise? Where is the debater? Where is the boasting of those who are thought to be intelligent? For our God, Jesus the Christ, was conceived by Mary according to God’s plan, both from the seed of David and of the Holy Spirit. He was born and was baptized in order that by his suffering he might cleanse the water.

Now the virginity of Mary and her giving birth were hidden from the ruler of this age, as was also the death of the Lord – three mysteries to be loudly proclaimed, yet which were accomplished in the silence of God. How, then, were they revealed to the ages? A star shone forth in heaven brighter than all the stars; its light was indescribable and its strangeness caused amazement. All the rest of the constellations, together with the sun and moon, formed a chorus around the star, yet the star itself far outshone them all, and there was perplexity about the origin of this strange phenomenon, which was so unlike the others.

Consequently all magic and every kind of spell were dissolved, the ignorance so characteristic of wickedness vanished, and the ancient kingdom was abolished when God appeared in human form to bring the newness of eternal life; and what had been prepared by God began to take effect. As a result, all things were thrown into ferment, because the abolition of death was being carried out.

Promise of a Second Letter

If Jesus Christ, in response to your prayer, should reckon me worthy, and if it is his will, in a second letter that I intend to write to you I will further explain to you the subject about which I have begun to speak, namely, the divine plan with respect to the new man Jesus Christ, involving faith in him and love for him, his suffering and resurrection, especially if the Lord revels anything to me.

All of you, individually and collectively, gather together in grace, by name, in one faith and one Jesus Christ, who physically was a descendant of David, who is Son of Man and Son of God, in order that you may obey the bishop and the council of presbyters with an undisturbed mind, breaking one bread, which is the medicine of immortality, the antidote we take in order not to die but to live forever in Jesus Christ.

Personal Greetings and Parting Requests

I am devoted to you and to those whom for the honor of God you sent to Smyrna, from where I am writing to you, with thanksgiving to the Lord and love for Polycarp as well as for you. Remember me, as Jesus Christ remembers you. Pray for the church in Syria, from where I am being led to Rome in chains, as I – the very least of the faithful there – have been judged worthy of serving the glory of God. Farewell in God the Father and in Jesus Christ, our shared hope.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that Ignatius begins this passage with a clear reference to the 1st Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, where he says that “The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the very power of God.” The idea developed here is that God is working salvation for the world in plain sight, for everyone to see, but those who are opposed to God can’t see what He is doing, because they don’t understand how God works, and what He values. God’s weakness, and suffering, accomplish the very destruction of death and the abolition of the dominion of demonic powers over humankind…but it happens both secretly, and in plain sight.
Leader should also note that Ignatius is leaving them with what is most important, in case he never speaks to them again. He tells them to imitate Christ, to follow Him in humility and suffering, and in obedience to remain always in communion with the bishop and the presbyters and all the Faithful, celebrating the Eucharist for as long as they remain in this life, looking always to the life of the age to come. These points are indeed the core of what it means, practically, for all of us to follow Christ. We have to imitate Christ, and we need to be faithful to the Christian life within the communion of the Church.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Luke 13:1-17 (Repent or Perish, Parable of Barren Fig Tree, Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman)

Last time we saw Jesus tell His disciples to always be ready for His return, giving them several examples to help them understand that His Kingdom is the true reality, and that it is overtaking and transforming everything else, so that anyone who ignores the Kingdom, or lives as though anything else is more important, is opposing God, and coming under judgment. This time, He continues with the same point, preaching that change and transformation and judgment are coming, and coming quickly, and already at the door, so that it is time NOW to repent.

Repent or Perish

13 There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? 3 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Silo′am fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. 9 And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman

10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” 13 And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.”

15 Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” 17 As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

Reading 30
424 words

Discussion Questions

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out a few items. First, this event that is referred to in the first paragraph is an important demonstration of the Roman governor’s character (and at this time it would indeed be Pontius Pilate), and helps us not to read his actions during the trial of the Lord correctly; historically, what seems to have happened was that there was a threat of a rebellion at Passover, so Pilate ordered a number of people to be arrested and crucified, effectively at random, in order to discourage any further violence. Second, the larger point that the Lord is making, in His first answer and in the subsequent parables, is that EVERYONE is called to repentance and faithfulness, not just those who are suffering or being punished. We are all called to bear fruit in keeping with repentance, whether we are being persecuted, or are in authority over others, or are crippled, or are in charge of the synagogue which that crippled woman attends. We are all either on the path of salvation or the path of destruction, and it is our choices, our actions in response to God’s call to us, which determine the path on which we walk.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the anagogical reading, in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 1 (Monday)

Tobit 1:1-22 (Tobit’s Introduction)

As we move into the summer, we will read one of the books from the so-called Apocrypha, books that we don’t read aloud in the Church, and which aren’t included in many English-language Bibles, but which have always been understood to be a part of the Old Testament in the Orthodox Church. The book of Tobit lets us see what happens to a family that is faithful to God in the northern nation of Israel, even after the sins of the kings and majority of the people result in God giving them into the hands of the Assyrian Empire. The nation of Israel no longer exists as we begin the book of Tobit, but God is still faithful to those who hold fast to Him.

Book of Tobit – Chapter 1

1 The book of the acts of Tobit the son of To′biel, son of Anan′iel, son of Ad′uel, son of Gab′ael, of the descendants of As′iel and the tribe of Naph′tali, 2 who in the days of Shalmane′ser, king of the Assyrians, was taken into captivity from Thisbe, which is to the south of Kedesh Naph′tali in Galilee above Asher.

Tobit’s Youth and Virtuous Life

3 I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I performed many acts of charity to my brethren and countrymen who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nin′eveh. 4 Now when I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, while I was still a young man, the whole tribe of Naph′tali my forefather deserted the house of Jerusalem. This was the place which had been chosen from among all the tribes of Israel, where all the tribes should sacrifice and where the temple of the dwelling of the Most High was consecrated and established for all generations for ever.

5 All the tribes that joined in apostasy used to sacrifice to the calf Ba′al, and so did the house of Naph′tali my forefather. 6 But I alone went often to Jerusalem for the feasts, as it is ordained for all Israel by an everlasting decree. Taking the first fruits and the tithes of my produce and the first shearings, I would give these to the priests, the sons of Aaron, at the altar. 7 Of all my produce I would give a tenth to the sons of Levi who ministered at Jerusalem; a second tenth I would sell, and I would go and spend the proceeds each year at Jerusalem; 8 the third tenth I would give to those to whom it was my duty, as Deb′orah my father’s mother had commanded me, for I was left an orphan by my father. 9 When I became a man I married Anna, a member of our family, and by her I became the father of Tobi′as.

Taken Captive to Nineveh

10 Now when I was carried away captive to Nin′eveh, all my brethren and my relatives ate the food of the Gentiles; 11 but I kept myself from eating it, 12 because I remembered God with all my heart. 13 Then the Most High gave me favor and good appearance in the sight of Shalmane′ser, and I was his buyer of provisions. 14 So I used to go into Media, and once at Rages in Media I left ten talents of silver in trust with Gab′ael, the brother of Gabri′as. 15 But when Shalmane′ser died, Sennach′erib his son reigned in his place; and under him the highways were unsafe, so that I could no longer go into Media.

Courage in Burying the Dead

16 In the days of Shalmane′ser I performed many acts of charity to my brethren. 17 I would give my bread to the hungry and my clothing to the naked; and if I saw any one of my people dead and thrown out behind the wall of Nin′eveh, I would bury him. 18 And if Sennach′erib the king put to death any who came fleeing from Judea, I buried them secretly. For in his anger he put many to death. When the bodies were sought by the king, they were not found. 19 Then one of the men of Nin′eveh went and informed the king about me, that I was burying them; so I hid myself. When I learned that I was being searched for, to be put to death, I left home in fear. 20 Then all my property was confiscated and nothing was left to me except my wife Anna and my son Tobi′as.

21 But not fifty days passed before two of Sennach′erib’s sons killed him, and they fled to the mountains of Ar′arat. Then Esarhad′don, his son, reigned in his place; and he appointed Ahi′kar, the son of my brother An′ael, over all the accounts of his kingdom and over the entire administration. 22 Ahi′kar interceded for me, and I returned to Nin′eveh. Now Ahi′kar was cupbearer, keeper of the signet, and in charge of administration of the accounts, for Esarhad′don had appointed him second to himself. He was my nephew.

752 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that we are seeing Tobit sum up the final result of the sins that Ahab and Jezebel led the nation of Israel into; the kingdom was conquered by the surrounding nations, bit by bit, until the Assyrian Empire completely overthrew the Hebrew kings of Israel, and led them into captivity. The Assyrians conquered many people, and what they did to pacify those peoples was a series of population exchanges, so that half of the people from any given region would be resettled elsewhere, throughout the Assyrian Empire, and replaced with people similarly displaced from other conquered areas. This is how, for instance, Tobit ends up in Ninevah, but Gabael ends up in Rages in Media. The other thing to point out is what Tobit does that shows his faithfulness. While he is still in Israel, he does not worship Jereboam’s golden calves, but instead goes to the Temple in Jerusalem, and gives three tithes of all his produce as commanded in the Law. After he goes into exile, he does not eat the food sacrificed to idols, and he cares for poor and needy Jews, and he buries those who are denied burial, at the risk of his own life and freedom and prosperity. In short – he remains faithful to God, even in exile.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the highest level, the anagogical reading (in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, opening up to us the grand scope of God’s great work of salvation in and for us) sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Letter of St. Ignatius to the Ephesians – 5

Last time, Ignatius urged the Christians in Ephesus to devote themselves above all to the giving of thanks together, which is to say, to the celebration of the Eucharist (which means thanksgiving) as one body of Faithful. He said that this action, as often as possible, was the best and most appropriate response to evil in the world, and that the peace He gave to them, which they would receive within themselves and amongst themselves as they celebrated the Eucharist, would bring an end to all warfare. In short, he tells them not to try to fight the brokenness of the world, but to offer themselves to the Lord in thanksgiving, and to be reconciled to Him themselves, and that in so doing, they will become vessels of the Lord’s grace and action in the world to heal all that is broken. In these paragraphs that follow, he continues to develop this point.

Words versus Actions

None of these things escapes your notice, if you have perfect faith and love toward Jesus Christ. For these are the beginning and the end of life: faith is the beginning and love is the end, and the two, when they exist in unity, are God. Everything else that contributes to excellence follows from them. No one professing faith sins, nor does anyone possessing love hate. The tree is known by its fruit; thus those who profess to be Christ’s will be recognized by their actions. For the work is a matter not of what one promises now, but of persevering to the end in the power of faith.

It is better to be silent and be real than to talk and not be real. It is good to teach, if one does what one says. Now there is one Teacher, who spoke and it happened; indeed, even the things that He has done in silence are worthy of the Father. The one who truly possesses the word of Jesus is also able to hear His silence, so that he may be perfect, so that he may act through what he says and be known through his silence. Nothing is hidden from the Lord; even our secrets are close to Him. Therefore let us do everything with the knowledge that He dwells in us, in order that we may be His temples, and He may be in us as our God – as, in fact, He really is, as will be made clear in our sight by the love that we justly have for Him.

The Stench of Evil Teaching

Do not be misled, my brothers and sisters: those who adulterously corrupt households will not inherit the kingdom of God. Now if those who do such things physically are put to death, how much more if by evil teaching someone corrupts faith in God, for which Jesus Christ was crucified! Such a person, having polluted himself, will go to the unquenchable fire, as will also the one who listens to him.

The Lord accepted the ointment upon his head for this reason: that he might breathe incorruptibility upon the church. Do not be anointed with the stench of the teaching of the ruler of this age, lest he take you captive and rob you of the life set before you. Why do we not all become wise by receiving God’s knowledge, which is Jesus Christ? Why do we foolishly perish, ignoring the gracious gift that the Lord has truly sent?

442 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that in this passage, we see Ignatius further developing the point that their life, and our life, as Christians, is not about what we do, but rather is about God’s action and life within us. The fruit that will be seen in our lives, then, is not something that we seek to take credit for; it is the fruit that the Lord will bring forth in us and through us when we offer ourselves truly to Him. We can see this difference more clearly if we notice what Ignatius is NOT saying. He’s not telling them to raise a ruckus, to knock on doors, to write letters or organize demonstrations or plan revolts or rally the oppressed. He’s telling them to devote themselves to worship, to faith, to love, to be silent and real, and to offer themselves to God in thanksgiving, and to then see what the Lord will accomplish. The point is God’s action, not ours; what we need to do is surrender ourselves to God.

Leader should also note that the evil teaching to which Ignatius refers may be either false teaching about God, what we might refer to as theological heresy, or false moral teaching, the sort of lax and permissive idea that we can partake of the pleasures and values of this world and still be faithful to God. It is important to hold fast to the essential truths of the Christian Faith, that Jesus is truly both God and Man, that He both died and rose, and that He calls us to holiness and transformation. It is also important to not be led astray by the many temptations of the world, the “teaching of the ruler of this age,” which tells us that we can follow our “natural” desires to happiness and fulfillment and self-actualization, rather than following Christ and taking up our cross. He is making the firm point that the Christian life and the “fulfillment” the world offers are mutually exclusive.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Luke 12:35-59 (Watchful Slaves, Faithfulness, Other Teachings)

Last time we saw the Lord talk to His disciples about the many things that the world thinks are important (the good opinion of others, safety, and possessions), and how what is truly important is the Kingdom of God, because all of the things of this world do not last; so He urged them to be faithful to Him, and to seek first His kingdom in all things. This time, He will continue to teach them (and us) how to live, being watchful and ready, and not being led astray by the many temptations of this world.

Watchful Slaves

35 “Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have been awake and[e] would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

The Faithful or the Unfaithful Slave

41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. 44 Truly, I tell you, he will set him over all his possessions.”

45 “But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful.”

47 “And that servant who knew his master’s will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. 48 But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.

Jesus the Cause of Division

49 “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; 52 for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; 53 they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Interpreting the Time

54 He also said to the multitudes, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Settling with Your Opponent

57 “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last copper.”

Reading 29
624 words

Discussion Questions

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out that Jesus is warning them that even though He is coming to preach and establish reconciliation between God and humanity, the result of this is not going to be peace within humanity. Rather, every one of us has to choose whether we are on the Lord’s side or not; and when we choose to be faithful to God, there will be many people who object, who think we should care more about them and their priorities than about the things of God. This is what creates division. The world at large cares about money, and power, and popularity, and pleasure, and any number of other things; and anyone who doesn’t care about these things, and hopes rather in God, is a threat and a disruption. So we need to be faithful to God, and we also need to understand that this will be difficult, that we will suffer for this…and also we need to understand that it is both the only right thing to do, and that God will not abandon us when we are faithful to Him, and that the Kingdom of God is worth losing the things of this world.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the anagogical reading, in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 1 (Monday)

4 Kingdoms (2 Kings) 2:1-22 (Elijah Taken Up, Elisha Succeeds Him)

Last time we read in 3 Kingdoms/1 Kings 19 about how Elijah fled out into the desert when Jezebel was trying to kill him, and how God spoke to him, encouraged him, and gave him further instructions to anoint the next kings of Syria and Israel, and to anoint Elisha as the prophet to succeed him. In the several intervening chapters, things have gone from bad to worse in the kingdom of Israel, and Ahab has actually already died in battle. This time, we will see Elijah’s story come to an end (almost), and Elisha succeed him as God’s prophet and representative to the sinful nation of Israel, bringing help from God to those who were faithful, and judgment to those who rejected God.

Elijah Ascends to Heaven

2 Now when the Lord was about to take Eli′jah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Eli′jah and Eli′sha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And Eli′jah said to Eli′sha, “Tarry here, I pray you; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Eli′sha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Eli′sha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; hold your peace.”

4 Eli′jah said to him, “Eli′sha, tarry here, I pray you; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Eli′sha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; hold your peace.”

6 Then Eli′jah said to him, “Tarry here, I pray you; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Eli′jah took his mantle, and rolled it up, and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed, Eli′jah said to Eli′sha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Eli′sha said, “I pray you, let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Eli′jah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Eli′sha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.

Elisha Succeeds Elijah

Then he took hold of his own clothes and rent them in two pieces. 13 And he took up the mantle of Eli′jah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Eli′jah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Eli′jah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other; and Eli′sha went over.

15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him over against them, they said, “The spirit of Eli′jah rests on Eli′sha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him. 16 And they said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men; pray, let them go, and seek your master; it may be that the Spirit of the Lord has caught him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send.” 17 But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men; and for three days they sought him but did not find him. 18 And they came back to him, while he tarried at Jericho, and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, Do not go?”

Elisha Performs Miracles

19 Now the men of the city said to Eli′sha, “Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful.” 20 He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it, and said, “Thus says the Lord, I have made this water wholesome; henceforth neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” 22 So the water has been wholesome to this day, according to the word which Eli′sha spoke.

814 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that Elijah receives something almost unprecedented, to be brought up into heaven without dying. We see from this an indication that his questions to God that we read last time were not a sign of faithlessness, but simply of deep sorrow and uncertainty as he faced the costs of being faithful to God. We see him again, of course, once again on a mountain, in the New Testament, at the Transfiguration of the Lord, as Christ discusses with him and with Moses the final act of God’s work of salvation, His impending Crucifixion and Resurrection. In Elijah, we see what it means to be faithful to God, to be a citizen not of this world, but of the kingdom of God.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the highest level, the anagogical reading (in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, opening up to us the grand scope of God’s great work of salvation in and for us) sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Letter of St. Ignatius to the Ephesians – 4

So far, St. Ignatius has been warning the Christians in Ephesus about how they should trust and submit to their bishop, and be wary of false teachers coming in to lead them astray. At this point in the letter, he turns to more practical matters, and gives guidance in how they should interact with those outside of the Church, especially when being mistreated by them. Since the Christians at this time were undergoing an active persecution, this is not just theoretical advice, but very real. Ignatius’ advice would have a strong authority on this subject, since he was himself DOING what he tells others to do here.

Response to Maltreatment

Pray continually for the rest of humankind as well, that they may find God, for there is in them hope for repentance. Therefore allow them to be instructed by you, at least by your deeds. In response to their anger, be gentle; in response to their boasts, be humble; in response to their slander, offer prayers; in response to their errors, be steadfast in the faith; in response to their cruelty, be civilized; do not be eager to imitate them. Let us show by our forbearance that we are their brothers and sisters, and let us be eager to be imitators of the Lord, to see who can be the more wronged, who the more cheated, who the more rejected, in order that no weed of the devil may be found among you, but that with complete purity and self-control you may abide in Christ Jesus physically and spiritually.

The Last Times: Both Cosmic and Personal

These are the last times. Therefore let us be reverent; let us fear the patience of God, lest it become a judgment against us. For let us either fear the wrath to come or love the grace that is present, one of the two; only let us be found in Christ Jesus, which leads to true life. Let nothing appeal to you apart from him, in whom I carry around these chains (my spiritual pearls!), by which I hope, through your prayers, to rise again. May I always share in them, in order that I may be found in the company of the Christians of Ephesus, who have always been in agreement with the apostles by the power of Jesus Christ.

Who Ignatius Is

I know who I am and to whom I am writing. I am a convict; you have received mercy. I am in danger; you are secure. You are the highway of those who are being killed for God’s sake; you are fellow initiates of Paul, who was sanctified, who was approved, who is deservedly blessed – may I be found in his footsteps when I reach God! – who in every letter remembers you in Christ Jesus.

Frequent and Harmonious Meetings

Therefore make every effort to come together more frequently to give thanks and glory to God. For when you meet together frequently, the powers of Satan are overthrown and his destructiveness is nullified by the unanimity of your faith. There is nothing better than peace, by which all warfare among those in heaven and those on earth is abolished.

421 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that the way of living that St. Ignatius advises here is exceptionally difficult. It might be worth asking everyone to reflect on what this might look like in their own lives, if there is an example of a situation in which they are being mistreated or mocked in which they could follow this example of St. Ignatius, and bear witness to Christ and the transforming power of His love by patient endurance of mocking, mistreatment, and suffering. It doesn’t have to be on account of our Faith for us to bear witness to Christ, either…we are called to love our enemies, regardless of why they make themselves our enemies. This is an important discussion, so we purposely selected a shorter selection so as to allow for more time for this.)

Leader should also note how we are to treat even our enemies with love and graciousness, because these are the last times, and nothing matters except remaining faithful to the Lord. Certainly revenge and “fairness” and so forth are entirely irrelevant when weighed against the imminent coming of the Lord. As encouragement to ourselves to be faithful, then, we can choose either fear or love: fear of the judgment to come, or love and gratitude for the grace of the Lord. But we must choose one or the other, lest we instead give ourselves over to the many broken things that seem natural to us: anger, defensiveness, and hatred of those who wrong us. We must follow Christ, even to the Cross, even when, or rather especially when, it seems unnatural or impossible to do so.

Leader should also note that Ignatius is effectively telling them how they should go about combating the evil around them: by gathering more often to worship God. He says that when they gather for the Eucharist (since that is what it means to give thanks), the love of God in their midst overthrows and abolishes all destruction, all evil, all warfare, and brings peace to both heaven and earth. This is, in short, the same lesson that we see throughout Scripture, and that we will see in the book of Tobit that we will begin reading next week…thanksgiving and worship of God drive away sickness and demonic assaults and bring peace and wholeness where there had been death and brokenness before. The same remains true now…if we are troubled by anything that we see around us in the world, the remedy is to be faithful, to pray, and to gather for worship, celebrating the Eucharist, and reconciling ourselves with the Lord. This is the only certain way for us to make the world a better place.))

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Luke 12:13-34 (Parable of the Rich Fool, Do Not Worry)

Last time we saw the Lord denounce the Pharisees and exhort those following Him to walk in actual faithfulness, following Him truly, in heart and in action, and not simply in word and in show. This time, He will continue with a parable which expresses this same warning, and follow it up with an explanation of where true fullness and peace are to be found.

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Do Not Worry

22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life?26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?

27 Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin;[c] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be of anxious mind. 30 For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his[d] kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well.

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Reading 28
493 words

Discussion Questions

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out how Jesus is talking about what is truly our source of security and peace in this world. We tend to chase after wealth and possessions in this world, but the Lord tells us that these serve only to distract from what is real and true. He shows how one can gain great wealth in this life, and still have nothing that matters when death comes, and assures His disciples that, if they serve God faithfully, He will take care of them. We should note that that doesn’t mean we can be lazy and God will take care of us…just that we should not chase after possessions, but should seek God and His kingdom in all that we do, doing the work of each day with prayer and with love and with our eyes fixed on the Lord, not on the things of this world that don’t last.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the anagogical reading, in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 1 (Monday)

3 Kingdoms (1 Kings) 19:1-21 (Elijah Flees from Jezebel)

Last time we saw Elijah confront Ahab and the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, and challenge them to see whose god was true. He prepared one sacrifice, and they prepared another, and both called on their god to send fire from heaven. The prophets of Baal tried all morning and into the afternoon, but there was no fire. Elijah prayed once, and Yahweh immediately sent fire from heaven. The people who were assembled confessed that Yahweh was the true God, and the prophets of Baal were killed. It looked like a great victory had been won, and the people would return to the Lord. What we’ll see this time, however, is that it ended up very different from how Elijah hoped it would go.

Elijah Flees from Jezebel

19 Ahab told Jez′ebel all that Eli′jah had done, and how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jez′ebel sent a messenger to Eli′jah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.”

6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you.” 8 And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

Elijah Meets God at Horeb

9 And there he came to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the Word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Eli′jah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the people of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thy altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

11 And he said, “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

13 And when Eli′jah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Eli′jah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the people of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thy altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, you shall anoint Haz′ael to be king over Syria; 16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel; and Eli′sha the son of Shaphat of A′bel-meho′lah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And him who escapes from the sword of Haz′ael shall Jehu slay; and him who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Eli′sha slay. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Ba′al, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Elisha Becomes Elijah’s Disciple

19 So he departed from there, and found Eli′sha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Eli′jah passed by him and cast his mantle upon him. 20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Eli′jah, and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?” 21 And he returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Eli′jah, and ministered to him.

767 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that Elijah was having a hard time in this chapter; perhaps he thought the victory on Mt. Carmel would change things, but it didn’t seem to change anything, and he was all alone, with Jezebel’s soldiers chasing him to kill him. What he learned in the wilderness was that he wasn’t alone, that God would bring justice to Jezebel, and that there were in fact many people in Israel who were faithful to God as well. Elijah had thought he was going to win a final victory, but what he learned was that the victory was God’s, and he only had to fulfill his part and be faithful, and others would be raised up to continue the work. This is a good lesson for all of us; we don’t need to fix the world, we just need to be faithful to God, and leave the end result in God’s hands. A couple other points; we see both the Angel of the Lord and the Word of the Lord spoken of here…both of these are Jesus Christ Himself, present and encouraging Elijah prior to His Incarnation, preparing the ground for His own coming into the world in the flesh several centuries later.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the highest level, the anagogical reading (in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, opening up to us the grand scope of God’s great work of salvation in and for us) sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Letter of St. Ignatius to the Ephesians – 3

Last time we saw St. Ignatius urge the Christians in Ephesus to be careful to preserve their unity with their bishop, and to make sure not to abandon the gatherings of the Church to celebrate the Eucharist. We got some hints about what sort of problems the Church in Ephesus was experiencing, and in this coming passage, we will see still more, about false teachers who were there disrupting the unity of the Church and stirring up disagreements against the bishop and the Gospel.

Warnings about Teachers of Error

For there are some who are accustomed to carrying about the Name maliciously and deceitfully while doing other things unworthy of God. You must avoid them as wild beasts. For they are mad dogs that bite by stealth; you must be on your guard against them, for their bite is hard to heal. There is only one physician, who is both flesh and spirit, born and unborn, God in man, true life in death, both from Mary and from God, first subject to suffering and then beyond it, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Therefore let no one deceive you, just as you are not now deceived, seeing that you belong entirely to God. For when no dissension capable of tormenting you is established among you, then you indeed live God’s way. I am a humble sacrifice for you and I dedicate myself to you Ephesians, a church that is famous forever. Those who belong to the flesh cannot do spiritual things, nor can those who are spiritual do fleshly things, just as faith cannot do the things of unfaithfulness, nor unfaithfulness the things of faith. Moreover, even those things that you do according to the flesh are in fact spiritual, for you do everything in Jesus Christ.

But I have learned that certain people from elsewhere have passed your way with evil doctrine, but you did not allow them to sow it among you. You covered up your ears in order to avoid receiving the things being sown by them, because you are stones of a temple, prepared beforehand for the building of God the Father, hoisted up to the heights by the crane of Jesus Christ, which is the cross, using as a rope the Holy Spirit; your faith is what lifts you up, and love is the way that leads up to God. So you are all participants together in a shared worship, God-bearers and temple-bearers, Christ-bearers, bearers of holy things, adorned in every respect with the commandments of Jesus Christ. I too celebrate with you, since I have been judged worthy to speak with you through this letter, and to rejoice with you because you love nothing in human life, only God.

369 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that Ignatius is warning the Christians in Ephesus about a real danger, people who claim to be teaching about God, but are in fact wrong. The language he uses about them is strong: “mad dogs, whose bite is hard to heal.” The point is that, both then, and now, there are many people who claim to be preaching the truth about Jesus Christ, and many of the things they say will seem true, and right, and reasonable…or at least very appealing to us. But if they contradict the Faith we have received, we have to reject them, and hold fast to the Faith the Lord delivered to the Apostles, and take time to learn the truth about what we have heard. He is, in short, making a strong argument for Orthodoxy, the right and correct way of thinking and living and being, and for the dangers of being led astray by teaching that is not Orthodox. Besides this, if no one else has commented on it, the leader should make sure to make note of the metaphor of the building, with the Cross as the construction crane of Jesus Christ. It’s an unusual, but vivid, and beautiful image.)

2) What do we learn about God in this reading?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Luke 11:45-54; 12:1-12 (Jesus Denounces Pharisees & Lawyers, Warning against Hypocrisy, Exhortation to Fearless Confession)

Last time, we saw the Lord preaching to the people on His way to Jerusalem, speaking about the sign of Jonah, a prophecy of His Resurrection, and urging His disciples to walk in the light. He also began to denounce the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, teaching others to do things that they did not do themselves. In what follows, we will see Him continue to speak of the consequence of the faithlessness of the teachers of the Law, and to warn His disciples not to imitate them.

Jesus Denounces Pharisees & Lawyers continued

45 One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying this you reproach us also.” 46 And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! for you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe to you! for you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 48 So you are witnesses and consent to the deeds of your fathers; for they killed them, and you build their tombs.”

49 “Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 50 that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechari′ah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it shall be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard, and to provoke him to speak of many things, 54 lying in wait for him, to catch at something he might say.

A Warning against Hypocrisy

12 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that they trod upon one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Exhortation to Fearless Confession

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

8 “And I tell you, every one who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; 9 but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And every one who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Reading 27
530 words

Discussion Questions

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out that Jesus is really making two essential points in this passage. First, He is continuing to speak to the leaders of the people in particular, calling them to account for their arrogance and faithlessness, fixating on particular elements of the Torah but neglecting the core point of communion with God, in continuation from what He was saying to the Pharisees last time. Second, He is first telling His disciples not to worry about what other people think, since that is the source of hypocrisy and self-righteousness, but that they should focus on what is pleasing to God, who knows everything, and that they only need to be faithful to Him. And to all of them, when He speaks of how those who blaspheme against the Son of man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not, He is saying that, for all that this warning to them is true and real, this is not in fact their last chance; they will be forgiven for rejecting Him (as He will pray to the Father from up on the Cross that those who crucify Him will be forgiven)…but when the Holy Spirit comes, then that will in fact be the last chance for the religious leaders and for the people of God as they have been up to that point. Those who reject Him then, and refuse the offer of forgiveness from the Holy Spirit in the first decades of the Church after Pentecost, will finally come to destruction and judgment, as we see actually happened in A.D. 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the anagogical reading, in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 1 (Monday)

3 Kingdoms (1 Kings) 18:1-47 (Elijah at Mount Carmel)

Last time, we saw Elijah sent by God to Ahab, to proclaim a drought, making an open show of the weakness of Baal, the false god Ahab had begun to worship. During the years of this drought, Elijah was sheltered in the home of a widow, where the Lord sustained them miraculously despite the famine and drought, and where Elijah raised the widow’s son from the dead, and then, after at least two years, God sent Elijah back to Ahab, as the time of warning and instruction was coming to an end, and a day of judgment and decision was arriving. This time, we will see what that day of judgment looks like for Ahab and those who have led Israel into evil with him.

Elijah’s Triumph over the Priests of Baal

20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel, and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Eli′jah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Ba′al, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Eli′jah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord; but Ba′al’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.”

23 “Let two bulls be given to us; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it; and I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, and put no fire to it. 24 And you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.”

25 Then Eli′jah said to the prophets of Ba′al, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 And they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Ba′al from morning until noon, saying, “O Ba′al, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped about the altar which they had made.

27 And at noon Eli′jah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is musing, or he has gone aside, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice; no one answered, no one heeded.

30 Then Eli′jah said to all the people, “Come near to me”; and all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down; 31 Eli′jah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name”; 32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering, and on the wood.” 34 And he said, “Do it a second time”; and they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time”; and they did it a third time. 35 And the water ran round about the altar, and filled the trench also with water.

36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Eli′jah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that thou, O Lord, art God, and that thou hast turned their hearts back.”

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” 40 And Eli′jah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Ba′al; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them; and Eli′jah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there.

The Drought Ends

41 And Eli′jah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Eli′jah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again seven times.”

44 And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising out of the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” 45 And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezre′el. 46 And the hand of the Lord was on Eli′jah; and he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezre′el.

918 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (There is a lot going on in this reading. There is a subtext, though, that needs to be teased out. Baal is not a false god, in the sense of a made-up and imaginary god, but a false god in the sense that he is a fallen angel, who rebelled against God. He is trying to fight against God in the one way that matters; he is trying to take God’s chosen people away, to enlist them as allies in his rebellion, and ultimately to destroy them. Everything that happens here, then, needs to be seen in that light. God sends Elijah immediately to call the Israelites back to Him; he talks to the king at first, but now he is talking to all the people. Everything that Elijah does shows the weakness of Baal and the power and love of Yahweh, the Lord. And after the fire comes down, when Elijah kills all the priest and prophets of Baal, it is precisely as an exorcism, a destruction of those who are leading Israel into destruction. For anyone in Israel who is paying attention at all, it is crystal clear that Yahweh is real, that He has not forgotten His people, and that He remains faithful to them, and calls them to be faithful to Him. This is God’s response when Israel begins to reject Him; He comes and calls them back, but does not force them back.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the highest level, the anagogical reading (in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, opening up to us the grand scope of God’s great work of salvation in and for us) sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Letter of St. Ignatius to the Ephesians – 2

Last time we began to read the letter of St. Ignatius to the Ephesians. He wrote this letter from Smyrna, where he had been visited by a delegation from the Church in Ephesus, led by the bishop of Ephesus, Onesimus. He began his letter by congratulating the church in Ephesus on what a pious and faithful bishop they had, and continues here by urging them to obey him, to remain in active communion with their bishop.

Obedience to the Bishop

I am not commanding you, as though I were someone important. For even though I am in chains for the sake of the Name, I have not yet been perfected in Jesus Christ. For now I am only beginning to be a disciple, and I speak to you as my fellow students. For I need to be trained by you in faith, instruction, endurance, and patience.

But since love does not allow me to be silent concerning you, I have therefore taken the initiative to encourage you, so that you may run together in harmony with the mind of God. For Jesus Christ, our inseparable life, is the mind of the Father, just as the bishops appointed throughout the world are in the mind of Christ.

Thus it is proper for you to run together in harmony with the mind of the bishop, as you are in fact doing. For your council of presbyters, which is worthy of its name and worthy of God, is attuned to the bishop as strings to a lyre. Therefore in your unanimity and harmonious love Jesus Christ is sung.

You must join this chorus, every one of you, so that by being harmonious in unanimity and taking your pitch from God you may sing in unison with one voice through Jesus Christ to the Father, in order that he may both hear you and, on the basis of what you do well, acknowledge that you are members of his Son. It is, therefore, advantageous for you to be in perfect unity, in order that you may always had a share in God.

For if I in a short time experienced such fellowship with your bishop, which was not merely human but spiritual, how much more do I congratulate you who are united with him, as the church is with Jesus Christ and as Jesus Christ is with the Father, so that all things may be harmonious in unity. Let no one be misled: if anyone is not within the sanctuary, he lacks the bread of God.

For if the prayer of one or two has such power, how much more that of the bishop together with the whole church! Therefore whoever does not meet with the congregation thereby demonstrates his arrogance and has separated himself, for it is written: “God opposes the arrogant.” Let us, therefore, be careful not to oppose the bishop, in order that we may be obedient to God.

Furthermore, the more anyone observes that the bishop is silent, the more one should fear him. For everyone whom the Master of the house sends to manage his own house we must welcome as we would the one who sent him. It is obvious, therefore, that we must regard the bishop as the Lord himself. Now Onesimus himself highly praises your orderly conduct in God, reporting that you all live in accordance with the truth and that no heresy has found a home among you. Indeed, you do not so much as listen to anyone unless he speaks truthfully about Jesus Christ.

514 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that Ignatius sees the active Communion of the Saints, each Christian’s participation in the communal and sacramental life of the Church, as the most important thing for a Christian to do…and that he sees it as impossible to do this without living in obedience to the bishop. He makes a few arguments to support this. The latter one is simply that the bishop is the direct representative of Christ, and that therefore, we need to treat the bishop like we would treat Christ Himself. The former is that the Church is called to operate like a musical chorus, and that a musical chorus requires a director, and the bishop is that director; so it is impossible for the Church to do and be what it is called to do and be unless everyone is in perfect harmony with the bishop. It is important to note, as well, that Ignatius doesn’t make this argument on the basis of his own authority…he speaks humbly, as one still learning, but also with certainty, as one describing something that is universally known to all. This reflects, then, a truth that was clearly established even at this early date, but also a struggle and challenge that has existed in the Church from the beginning.)

2) What do we learn about God in this reading?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Luke 11:29-44 (Sign of Jonah, Light of the Body)

Last time we saw Jesus teach His disciples to pray, and show them that He had the power over demons and evil spirits that only God Himself could have. This time He will begin to speak in a clear judgment of the people of the day, both the people at large, and especially those with power and authority. Things are beginning to move toward His Passion and death in Jerusalem.

The Sign of Jonah

29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin′eveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nin′eveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

The Light of the Body

33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a bushel, but on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is sound, your whole body is full of light; but when it is not sound, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

Jesus Denounces Pharisees and Lawyers

37 While he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so he went in and sat at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of extortion and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you.

42 “But woe to you Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! for you love the best seat in the synagogues and salutations in the market places. 44 Woe to you! for you are like graves which are not seen, and men walk over them without knowing it.”

Reading 26
417 words

Discussion Questions

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out that the way that Jesus is speaking makes clear that something has changed. There were hints as He was sending out the 12 and the 70 in the last few chapters that the preaching of the Gospel was a moment of crisis, presenting everyone who heard with a choice of whether to receive Him or reject Him. Now, He is speaking directly to both the people and to their religious leaders, making clear that this is the last chance before judgment will come. Reading this together with the Old Testament, we see that God has been patient with His people since He first revealed Himself to them on Mt. Sinai, but with the approach of His Passion, the opportunity for them to repent and avoid disaster is coming to an end. Ultimately, the disaster comes some 40 years after the Crucifixion, when the Temple is destroyed after a Jewish rebellion against the Romans. Those who embrace the Lord are saved, and the Church survives and thrives. But for those who reject Him (especially the Sadducees), the destruction of the Temple abolishes their faithless authority over the people, and their time comes to an end.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life? (This reading should make us think long and hard about ourselves, and whether we are responding to the preaching of the Gospel and following the Lord as we should. He is patient and forgiving and loving, but it is very possible for us to harden our hearts and destroy completely our desire to receive His grace.  If we become so hardened that we no longer want what God gives to us, then at a certain point it will not matter that God is loving and forgiving, because we will have destroyed the ability in ourselves to receive His love. For us, this reading is a call to beware, and to repent.)

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the anagogical reading, in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 1 (Monday)

3 Kingdoms (1 Kings) 18:1-47 (Elijah Comes Back)

Last time, we saw Elijah sent by God to Ahab, to proclaim a drought, making an open show of the weakness of Baal, the false god Ahab had begun to worship. During the years of this drought, Elijah was sheltered in the home of a widow, where the Lord sustained them miraculously despite the famine and drought, and where Elijah raised the widow’s son from the dead. This time, we will see what happens when Elijah is sent back to Ahab.

Elijah’s Message to Ahab

18 After many days the word of the Lord came to Eli′jah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.” 2 So Eli′jah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samar′ia. 3 And Ahab called Obadi′ah, who was over the household. (Now Obadi′ah revered the Lord greatly; 4 and when Jez′ebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadi′ah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

5 And Ahab said to Obadi′ah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys; perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals.” 6 So they divided the land between them to pass through it; Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadi′ah went in another direction by himself.

7 And as Obadi′ah was on the way, behold, Eli′jah met him; and Obadi′ah recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is it you, my lord Eli′jah?” 8 And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Eli′jah is here.’” 9 And he said, “Wherein have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?”

10 “As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom whither my lord has not sent to seek you; and when they would say, ‘He is not here,’ he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you. 11 And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Eli′jah is here.”’”

12 “And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you whither I know not; and so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have revered the Lord from my youth. 13 Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jez′ebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the Lord’s prophets by fifties in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?”

14 “And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Eli′jah is here”’; and he will kill me.” 15 And Eli′jah said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.” 16 So Obadi′ah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Eli′jah.

17 When Ahab saw Eli′jah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel; but you have, and your father’s house, because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and followed the Ba′als. 19 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the four hundred and fifty prophets of Ba′al[a] and the four hundred prophets of Ashe′rah, who eat at Jez′ebel’s table.”

543 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that we might have the impression that Elijah was hiding from Ahab in order to escape the king’s anger, as though God couldn’t or wouldn’t protect him. But if that were the case, then God would not send him back to Ahab at this point, and this gives us an insight into what is actually happening with this period without rain. This is, like the plagues in Egypt, an opportunity for Ahab to repent, to see that the storm god Ba’al, whom he had chosen for his god, was not in fact the master of the weather. Ahab had rejected Yahweh the God of Israel, the Most-High Creator and Ruler of all, in favor of this false god who claimed dominion of the weather…and he (and all Israel with him) are being shown, in real time, that Ba’al’s claims are lies, and he could not grant fertility to the crops. Elijah is therefore hidden from Ahab to keep Ahab from destroying his opportunity for repentance…and now, as the time of decision arrives, Elijah is sent back to Ahab. We should be remembering God’s patience with Pharaoh in Egypt at this point…and next week, we will see the confrontation arrive.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the highest level, the anagogical reading (in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, opening up to us the grand scope of God’s great work of salvation in and for us) sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Letter of St. Ignatius to the Ephesians – 1

Now that we have read the Didache, we’ll take the chance this summer to read another piece of early Christian writing, from the letters of St. Ignatios of Antioch. St. Ignatios was the bishop of Antioch in the period just after the Apostles; he was himself a disciple of St. John the Evangelist, and possibly of Sts. Peter and Paul as well. During the reign of the Emperor Trajan, between A.D. 98 and 117, he was arrested and tried, and when he refused to renounce Christ before the Emperor himself, he was condemned to death by wild beasts in Rome, since the emperor didn’t want to martyr him in his own city, but in a distant and humiliating obscurity far away. During the long journey to Rome, as he passed through the cities of Asia Minor, he was visited by delegations from several of the churches in that region, and in turn he wrote letters to several of them, as well as a letter to the Church in Rome. These letters have been preserved in the Church since that time, and give us a priceless glimpse of the life of the Church in the first decades of the 2nd century. We will be reading his letter to the Ephesians.

Salutation

Ignatius the God-bearer to the church at Ephesus in Asia, blessed with greatness through the fullness of God the Father, predestined before the ages for lasting and unchangeable glory forever, united and elect through genuine suffering by the will of the Father and of Jesus Christ our God, a church most worthy of blessing: heartiest greetings in Jesus Christ and in blameless joy.

Thanks for Visit and Assistance

I welcomed in God your well-beloved name, which you possess by reason of your righteous nature, characterized by faith in and love of Christ Jesus our Savior. Being imitators of God, once you took on new life through the blood of God you completed perfectly the task so natural to you. For when you heard that I was on my way from Syria in chains for the sake of our shared name and hope, and was hoping through your prayers to succeed in fighting with wild beasts in Rome – in order that by so succeeding I might be able to be a disciple – you hurried to visit me.

Since, therefore, I have received in God’s name your whole congregation in the person of Onesimus, a man of inexpressible love who is also your earthly bishop, I pray that you will love him in accordance with the standard set by Jesus Christ and that all of you will be like him. For blessed is the one who has graciously allowed you, worthy as you are, to have such a bishop.

Now concerning my fellow servant Burrhus, who is by God’s will your deacon, blessed in every respect, I pray that he may remain with me both for your honor and the bishop’s. And Crocus also, who is worthy of God and of you, whom I received as a living example of your love, has refreshed me in every way; may the Father of Jesus Christ likewise refresh him, together with Onesimus, Burrhus, Euplus, and Fronto, in whom I saw all of you with respect to love.

May I always have joy in you – if, that is, I am worthy. It is proper, therefore, in every way to glorify Jesus Christ, who has glorified you, so that you, joined together in a united obedience and subject to the bishop and the council of presbyters, may be sanctified in every respect.

387 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that we see Ignatius present himself as a man facing death as a test, a trial, a completion of a life lived in faithfulness to Jesus Christ. He calls himself the God-bearer, and does not come across as a man who is afraid of death, but rather as a man who is intent on finishing his chosen course well, but also is concerned about the well-being of those he leaves behind. He is writing to this church to encourage them to be faithful themselves, and giving them specific instructions in how to do so. One final point – the bishop of Ephesus, Onesimus, is one of the many disciples of St. Paul that are named in the New Testament, which emphasizes for us the closeness of this time to that of the Apostles, as not only Ignatius himself, but many of the other leaders of the Church in Asia Minor and throughout the world, would have been themselves catechized and baptized by the Apostles.)

2) What do we learn about God in this reading?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Luke 11:1-28 (Lord’s Prayer, Perseverance in Prayer, Jesus & Beelzebul, Return of the Unclean Spirit, True Blessedness)

Last time we read the parable of the Good Samaritan and saw Jesus visit Martha and Mary. As we move forward in St. Luke’s Gospel, we leave that sequence behind and see Jesus and his disciples in what appear to be several unrelated “scenes” in this chapter. Broadly, however, this chapter deals with prayer and with the problem of demons.

The Lord’s Prayer

11 He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say:

“Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread; 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation.”

Perseverance in Prayer

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs.”

9 “And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Jesus and Beelzebul

14 Now he was casting out a demon that was dumb; when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Be-el′zebul, the prince of demons”; 16 while others, to test him, sought from him a sign from heaven.

17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and house falls upon house. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Be-el′zebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Be-el′zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.

20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace; 22 but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil. 23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

The Return of the Unclean Spirit

24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest; and finding none he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when he comes he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”

True Blessedness

27 As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Reading 25
655 word

Discussion Questions

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out the examples that Jesus gives of prayer, of people who pester and bother others to get what they need. The point isn’t that God doesn’t want to answer our prayers, but that we need to be persistent, and truly seek the mercy and grace of God, in order to be able to receive the good gifts that He gives to us. The final point about demons, the story about the “return of the unclean spirit,” explains clearly why, when we fast, we need to also pray and fill our minds and hearts with godly things. If we make a space in our lives, and don’t fill it with good things, other things will rush in to fill that vacuum. But if we fill our lives with the things of the Lord, we will always be safe from unclean spirits.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here? (He doesn’t work in the way that we expect, and He doesn’t care if we know the right answer if we don’t LIVE the right answer).

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us? (We have a very hard time not getting completely mixed up and confused in how we are supposed to follow God).

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this story make you think that you need to change anything in your life? (Hopefully everyone sees that Jesus isn’t just asking us to be “good people.” He wants us to actively and truly follow Him, to be radically changed, to be transformed. That involves doing “good things,” but will as often involve living in a way that drives the people around us nuts, not least because even in living in that way, it will condemn them for their failure to actually follow Jesus).

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the anagogical reading, in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 1 (Monday)

3 Kingdoms (1 Kings) 16:29-33, 17:1-24 (Ahab Rules, Elijah Warns, Raises a Dead Boy to Life)

Over the past few months, we have been reading about the Exodus and the journey through the wilderness of the children of Israel, and we had just seen them arrive at the Promised Land and then refuse to go in, because they did not trust the Lord to grant them victory. Because of their rebellion, that generation wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, led and fed and protected by God, until the entire generation that had rebelled had died. Then their children were led into the Promised Land by Joshua, Moses’ longtime assistant and successor. We will here sum up what happened next; they entered in, and as long as they were faithful to God, He gave them the victory, and they settled in the land. But over time they began to adopt the religion and practices of the people who had been there before them, and over the centuries things went from bad to worse. At first God ruled over them directly, sending judges to lead them when necessary, but after several hundred years, they asked for a king, like the nations around them. God warned them that it wouldn’t go well, but when they insisted, He gave them kings; first Saul, who fell quickly into disobedience, and then David, who loved God and was faithful to Him, and repented when He fell away, so that God promised David that his line would never fail, and his descendants would be great kings and usher in a time of prosperity and peace. David’s grandson, however, was a foolish king, and as a result 10 of the 12 tribes went into rebellion against him, choosing someone else to be their king, and beginning to worship the gods that the Canaanites had worshipped. We will pick up the story at the time of David’s great-great-grandson Asa, who was king in Jerusalem about 100 years after David died, as a new king rises to power in Israel, and leads them into great wickedness. We will see God send a prophet to that king to call him to repentance, and what will follow after.

Ahab Reigns over Israel

29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all that were before him. 31 And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Ba′al, and worshiped him.

32 He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him… 34 In his days Hi′el of Bethel built Jericho; he laid its foundation at the cost of Abi′ram his first-born, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.

Elijah Predicts a Drought

17 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of the Lord came to him, 3 “Depart from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord; he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. 7 And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

The Widow of Zarephath

8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.”

11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a cruse; and now, I am gathering a couple of sticks, that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”

13 And Elijah said to her, “Fear not; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord the God of Israel, ‘The jar of meal shall not be spent, and the cruse of oil shall not fail, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 And she went and did as Elijah said; and she, and he, and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of meal was not spent, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord which he spoke by Elijah.

Elijah Revives the Widow’s Son

17 After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; and his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!” 19 And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her bosom, and carried him up into the upper chamber, where he lodged, and laid him upon his own bed.

20 And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, hast thou brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?” 21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s soul come into him again.” 22 And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Elijah said, “See, your son lives.” 24 And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”

880 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that Baal was the Canaanite god of the sky, of thunder and of rain, corresponding to the Greek God Zeus, and also was understood to have his palace in the underworld, in the place of the dead, and to have power over the dead. He is the pagan god usually understood to be the devil. So in declaring that there would be no rain, Elijah is declaring to Ahab that his god is false and has no real power, and that Yahweh is the one true God. The remaining events of this chapter highlight this point. Wherever Elijah is, God provides him with food, even in the middle of a famine. He sends Elijah to a city of Sidon, NOT an Israelite city, where Baal was worshipped by everyone, and finds there someone who is willing to trust in Yahweh, and they then have food when no one else does. And when the child dies, coming directly under the power of Baal, God raises him from the dead, showing that even in death, Baal’s power is nothing before Him.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the highest level, the anagogical reading (in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, opening up to us the grand scope of God’s great work of salvation in and for us) sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) – 6

This week we finish with the Didache, the earliest text from the life of the Church outside of the New Testament. The Didache has two parts: the first describes the Way of Life and the Way of Death, and the second gives general instructions for the life of the Church. This time we will read some final guidance to the Christians about how they should treat each other, and how they should always keep their lives focused on the imminent coming of the Lord, after which the text speaks of the Last Days, and warns the Faithful that there will be many troubles in the future, and that it will be a time of testing, but that at the end, the Lord will return. This tells us, then, of what the early Church expected to happen to the world, and to them, and what they were preparing for…it tells us, too, what we should expect, and how we should prepare.

Call to Follow the Gospel

Furthermore, correct one another not in anger but in peace, as you find in the Gospel; and if anyone wrongs his or her neighbor, let no one speak to that person, nor let that one hear a word from you, until he or she repents. As for your prayers and acts of charity and all your actions, do them all just as you find it in the Gospel of our Lord.

Watch over your life: do not let your lamps go out, and do not be unprepared, but be ready, for you do not know the hour when our Lord is coming. Gather together frequently, seeking the things that benefit your souls, for all the time you have believed will be of no use to you if you are not found perfect in the last time.

Mini-Apocalypse

For in the last days the false prophets and corrupters will abound, and the sheep will be turned into wolves, and love will be turned into hate. For as lawlessness increases, they will hate and persecute and betray one another. And then the deceiver of the world will appear as a son of God and will perform signs and wonders, and the earth will be delivered into his hands, and he will commit abominations the likes of which have never happened before.

Then all humankind will come to the fiery test, and many will fall away and perish; but those who endure in their faith will be saved by the Accursed One Himself. And then there will appear the signs of the truth: first the sign of an opening in heaven, then the sign of the sound of a trumpet, and third, the resurrection of the dead – but not of all; rather, as it has been said, “The Lord will come, and all his saints with him.” Then the world will see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven.

322 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that the Apostles taught a high standard of behavior for the Church; this instruction to not speak to someone who had wronged someone else until they repent is the way that they upheld that. The point is not to cut people off from the Church, but rather to bring them back into the Church by showing them that they have cut themselves off from the Church by their action, and by inviting them to return through repentance. It is an important point to understand, that Christian love does NOT in fact mean that any of us can live however we want, do whatever we want to do, and treat people however we want, and the Church just has to accept us and our actions because God is love. If we sin, we will always be welcome to come back to the Church, but the only way back is through repentance.)

Leader should also note that what the final paragraphs of the Didache describe is very intense, but we can break it down to a few central elements. First, the Apostles expected the troubles in the last days to reach inside the Church. This is the meaning of the “sheep will be turned into wolves, and love to hate.” Second, the “deceiver of the world” will appear as a son of God, which is to say, as an angel, a god, and will lead humanity into great sin; this is following the same pattern as we saw in the Old Testament readings with the giants, the demonized human beings, but the Apostles expect it to be worse than ever. Whether the deceiver of the world will be a human being, a demon, or an alliance between them, is not clear, but certainly an alliance between rebellious angels and rebellious humanity is what is being talked about. Third, the “Accursed One” who will save those who endure is Christ Himself, Who the world considers to be accursed because of His humiliation and death on the Cross, but Who saves us, even as we are suffering, through His own suffering. Finally, this text speaks clearly about the Resurrection of the Lord’s Faithful as the final sign of His coming, which matches with the final words of the Creed: “I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come.”)

2) What do we learn about God in this reading?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Luke 10:25-42 (Good Samaritan, Jesus Visits Martha & Mary)

Last time we saw Jesus send out the 70 Apostles, and when they came back He talked to them about how God always chooses to reveal Himself and work through simple, weak, ignorant, and even foolish people, and how finally, what had been desired by all the great saints of the Old Testament was being revealed to them, those who were following Him and listening to Him. Let’s see what happens next.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered right; do this, and you will live.”

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, 34 and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed mercy on him.” And Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Jesus Visits Martha and Mary

38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; 42 one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Reading 24
425 words

Discussion Questions

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out how these two stories illustrate the point Jesus was making before. The lawyer knows the right answer, but he struggles to live it; Jesus shows what it actually looks like to love God and to love our neighbor. Then, He shows Mary and Martha that the things the world thinks are important aren’t as important as listening to and following Him. In both cases, the “normal” rules of the world are turned upside down.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here? (He doesn’t work in the way that we expect, and He doesn’t care if we know the right answer if we don’t LIVE the right answer).

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us? (We have a very hard time not getting completely mixed up and confused in how we are supposed to follow God).

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this story make you think that you need to change anything in your life? (Hopefully everyone sees that Jesus isn’t just asking us to be “good people.” He wants us to actively and truly follow Him, to be radically changed, to be transformed. That involves doing “good things,” but will as often involve living in a way that drives the people around us nuts, not least because even in living in that way, it will condemn them for their failure to actually follow Jesus).

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the anagogical reading, in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 1 (Monday)

Proverbs 3:19-35; 4:1-27

As we begin the summer, we will start with another selection from the book of Proverbs. In this passage, the writer of Proverbs reflects on the foundational nature of Wisdom, how all that is is built upon her, and then proceeds to give several tenets of wisdom to his son. The repeated point of the book of Proverbs is the importance of attending regularly, with discipline and care, to the things of God, as a way of actively turning away from this world and turning towards the Lord.

God’s Wisdom in Creation

19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke forth,
and the clouds drop down the dew.

The True Security

21 My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion;
let them not escape from your sight,
22 and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely
and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you sit down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

25 Do not be afraid of sudden panic,
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes;
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor
who dwells trustingly beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways;
32 for the perverse man is an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are in his confidence.

33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the abode of the righteous.
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he shows favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get disgrace.

Fatherly Advice

4 Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain insight;
2 for I give you good precepts:
do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he taught me, and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live;
5 do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

Get wisdom; get insight.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a fair garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

Admonition to Keep to the Right Path

10 Hear, my son, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered;
and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Keep hold of instruction, do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.

14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made some one stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble.

20 My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to him who finds them,
and healing to all his flesh.

23 Keep your heart with all vigilance;
for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Take heed to the path of your feet,
then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.

Selection 3 – 750 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that Wisdom, in the Old Testament, and especially in the book of Proverbs and similar books, is associated with the Word of God Himself, with our Lord Jesus Christ. The book of Proverbs itself makes this explicit in chapter 8, that Wisdom here is not just the idea of wise-ness, but a Person, God Himself, Who speaks in wisdom and cries out to human beings that they should return to Him. If we think of these words being spoken by Jesus Christ as we see Him in the Gospels, we find, I think, that the tone and voice are much the same as we have been hearing from Him throughout the Gospel of Luke. It should also be noted that the word for Wisdom in both Hebrew and Greek is grammatically feminine, which is why the feminine pronoun “she” is used here; so we aren’t saying that Jesus is a woman, but that this title of His, Wisdom, is grammatically feminine in Greek (σοφία), just as the word for road in Greek (ὁδός) is feminine, and the word for world (κόσμος) is masculine, but that doesn’t mean that the road is a woman, or the world is a man.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the highest level, the anagogical reading (in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, opening up to us the grand scope of God’s great work of salvation in and for us) sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) – 5

We continue with the Didache, the earliest text from the life of the Church outside of the New Testament. The Didache has two parts: the first describes the Way of Life and the Way of Death, and the second gives general instructions for the life of the Church. We talked last time about how the Eucharist was celebrated at this time; now we will begin to talk about how each Church community should treat Christian teachers who visited them, and how they need to be careful not to be led astray; we will also see how the Apostles instruct the Church to worship on Sunday, Κυριακή, the Day of the Lord.

Concerning Teachers

So, if anyone should come and teach you all these things that have just been mentioned above, welcome him. But if the teacher himself goes astray and teaches a different teaching that undermines all this, do not listen to him. However, if his teaching contributes to righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, welcome him as you would the Lord.

Concerning the Lord’s Day

On the Lord’s own day gather together and break bread and give thanks, having first confessed your sins so that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one who has a quarrel with a companion join you until they have been reconciled, so that you sacrifice may not be defiled. For this is the sacrifice concerning which the Lord said, “In every place and time offer me a pure sacrifice, for I am a great king, says the Lord, and my name is marvelous among the nations” (Malachi 1:11,14)

Bishops and Deacons

Therefore appoint for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men who are humble and not avaricious and true and approved, for they too carry out for you the ministry of the prophets and teachers. You must not, therefore, despise them, for they are your honored men, along with the prophets and teachers.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that this passage and what follows after tells us that, in the early Church, Christian communities might be visited frequently by traveling teachers. The Apostles are making a point to give guidance to the Church about how to be careful and test these teachers, to make sure that they are not teaching a different gospel than what they themselves had taught from the beginning. We should note that they don’t tell the Church to ignore the teachers if they say anything new, but rather urge them to watch what the fruit of the teaching is. If it undermines the essentials we have already seen in the Didache, then the teacher is a false teacher. But if the new teaching builds the Church in righteousness and the knowledge of God, then the teacher is a faithful teacher of the Lord’s Gospel. So we see that change isn’t always bad, but we have to watch and see what direction it is going, and what fruit it will bear.)

Leader should note that this passage shows us that the early Church worshipped on the same day as we do, on the 1st Day of the Week, the day that the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead, the day that we call Sunday, but that they called the Lord’s Day, Κυριακή in Greek. We see too that the Apostles assume that everyone will participate, everyone will offer themselves in thanksgiving to God, and everyone will receive Communion, and are simply instructing the people to confess their sins first and to reconcile themselves with anyone they were quarreling with before Communion. These are important things for us to do as well.)

2) What do we learn about God in this reading?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Luke 10:1-24 (Mission of the Seventy, Woe to Unrepentant Cities, Return of the Seventy)

Last time we saw Jesus talking to the Twelve Disciples after the Transfiguration, and correcting some mistaken ideas they had about how they were better than everyone else. This time, we will see Him expand the program of preaching, and send out not twelve, but seventy others to preach.

The Mission of the Seventy

10 After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road.”

5 “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; 9 heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”

10 “But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

Woes to Unrepentant Cities

13 “Woe to you, Chora′zin! woe to you, Beth-sa′ida! for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it shall be more tolerable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Caper′na-um, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.

16 “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

The Return of the Seventy

17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus Rejoices

21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. 22 All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Reading 23
585 words

Discussion Questions

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out how the instructions Jesus gives the seventy are similar to those He gave the twelve, but there seems to be more detail. Also, we can see Jesus starting to warn those who refuse to listen to Him at this point, indicating that there is a limited period of time in which they will be able to repent. He also warns the disciples not to rejoice or take pride in the authority He has given to them, but only to rejoice that their names are written in heaven.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here? (We learn that even in the New Testament, there is still a reality of judgment, just as we see in the Old Testament. We also see Jesus pray to His Father, with a revelation of the Holy Trinity to His disciples that we haven’t seen so clearly yet in Luke.)

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us? (We see that too many of those who heard the word preached reject the preaching of the apostles and of Jesus, and that the apostles continue to be tempted by pride).

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. Some may be confused why Jesus rejoices that the secrets of the kingdom are hidden to the wise and the powerful, and are being revealed rather to the weak and the foolish. It is worth noting that this is ALWAYS how God works. Reference can be made to 1 Corinthians 1:27, where Paul says “God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise”).

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the anagogical reading, in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 1 (Monday)

Numbers 14:10b – 45 (People Rebel against God, Failed Invasion)

Last time we saw God direct Moses to send twelve spies to explore the Promised Land, and how when they came back, ten of the twelve gave a bad report and urged the people to return to Egypt, because the people in the land were too strong for them to defeat. Only Moses & Aaron, and the two faithful spies, Caleb & Joshua, remained faithful; all the other people rebelled. This week we will see God’s response to their rebellion.

God Responds to Unbelief

14:10b Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? 12 I will strike them with pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”

Moses Intercedes for the People

13 But Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for in your might you brought up this people from among them, 14 and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O Lord, are in the midst of this people; for you, O Lord, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go in front of them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night.

15 Now if you kill this people all at one time, then the nations who have heard about you will say, 16 ‘It is because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land he swore to give them that he has slaughtered them in the wilderness.’ 17 And now, therefore, let the power of the Lord be great in the way that you promised when you spoke, saying,

18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love,
forgiving iniquity and transgression,
but by no means clearing the guilty,
visiting the iniquity of the parents
upon the children
to the third and the fourth generation.’

19 Forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have pardoned this people, from Egypt even until now.”

20 Then the Lord said, “I do forgive, just as you have asked; 21 nevertheless—as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord— 22 none of the people who have seen my glory and the signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have tested me these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their ancestors; none of those who despised me shall see it.

24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me wholeheartedly, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. 25 Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.”

An Attempted Invasion is Repulsed

26 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying: 27 How long shall this wicked congregation complain against me? I have heard the complaints of the Israelites, which they complain against me. 28 Say to them, “As I live,” says the Lord, “I will do to you the very things I heard you say: 29 your dead bodies shall fall in this very wilderness; and of all your number, included in the census, from twenty years old and upward, who have complained against me, 30 not one of you shall come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

31 But your little ones, who you said would become booty, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have despised. 32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day a year, you shall bear your iniquity, forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.” 35 I the Lord have spoken; surely I will do thus to all this wicked congregation gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.

36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report about the land— 37 the men who brought an unfavorable report about the land died by a plague before the Lord. 38 But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh alone remained alive, of those men who went to spy out the land.

39 When Moses told these words to all the Israelites, the people mourned greatly. 40 They rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the Lord has promised, for we have sinned.” 41 But Moses said, “Why do you continue to transgress the command of the Lord? That will not succeed. 42 Do not go up, for the Lord is not with you; do not let yourselves be struck down before your enemies. 43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites will confront you there, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.” 44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, even though the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, had not left the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them, pursuing them as far as Hormah.

969 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that even in this reading that shows God’s judgment on the people, there is still a great mercy that God shows to them. He forgives them when Moses asks Him to be merciful, and does not forsake the people, but He gives judgment to those who have rejected Him “ten times,” despite having seen all His wonders in the wilderness. So the children of those who were adults when they left Egypt will grow up in the desert and enter into the Promised Land to receive it, but all those who, being adults when they left Egypt, who rejected God and rebelled against Him, will die in the desert. This is a hard reading, to see God’s judgment finally come on the people we have been reading about, but we should notice too that, in the end, God gives them exactly the judgment they had chosen when they doubted Him, “the very things He heard them say.” For all of us, this is how it works. If we reject God and choose the things of this world, the very things we choose instead of God will become the means by which we are judged.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the highest level, the anagogical reading (in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, opening up to us the grand scope of God’s great work of salvation in and for us) sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) – 4

We return now to the Didache, the earliest text from the life of the Church outside of the New Testament. The Didache has two parts: the first describes the Way of Life and the Way of Death, and the second gives general instructions for the life of the Church. We actually began the second part last week, with the basic guidance for how to fast, etc. We continue with other instructions for the Christian life, including how to baptize, when to fast, and how to pray.

Concerning Baptism

Now concerning baptism, baptize as follows: after you have reviewed all these things, baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in running water. But if you have no running water, then baptize in some other water; and if you are not able to baptize in cold water, then do so in warm. But if you have neither, then pour water on the head three times in the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. And before the baptism let the one baptizing and the one who is to be baptized fast, as well as any others who are able. Also, you must instruct the one who is to be baptized to fast for one or two days beforehand.

Concerning Fasts

But do not let your fasts coincide with those of the hypocrites. They fast on Monday and Thursday, so you must fast on Wednesday and Friday.

Concerning Prayer

Nor should you pray like the hypocrites. Instead, pray like this, just as the Lord commanded in his Gospel:

“Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
And forgive us our debt, as we also forgive our debtors;
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one;
For yours is the power and the glory forever.”

Pray like this three times a day.

Concerning the Eucharist

Now concerning the Eucharist, give thanks as follows. First, concerning the cup:

We give you thanks, our Father,
For the holy vine of David your son,
Which you have made known to us
Through Jesus, your son;
To you be the glory forever.

And concerning the broken bread:

We give you thanks, our Father,
For the life and knowledge
That you have made known to us
Through Jesus, your son;
To you be the glory forever.

Just as this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains and then was gathered together and became one, so may your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom; for yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever.

But let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist except those who have been baptized into the name of the Lord, for the Lord has also spoken concerning this: “Do not give what is holy to dogs.”

And after you are filled, give thanks as follows:

We give you thanks, Holy Father, for your holy name, which you have caused to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality that you have made known to us through Jesus your servant; to you be the glory forever.

You, almighty Master, created all things for your name’s sake, and gave food and drink to humans to enjoy, so that they might give you thanks; but to us you have graciously given spiritual food and drink, and eternal life through your servant. Above all we give thanks to you because you are might; to you be the glory forever.

Remember your church, Lord, to deliver it from all evil and to make it perfect in your love; and from the four winds gather the church that has been sanctified into your kingdom, which you have prepared for it; for yours is the power and the glory forever.

May grace come, and may this world pass away. Hosanna to the God of David. If anyone is holy, let him come; if anyone is not, let him repent. Maranatha! Amen.

But permit the prophets to give thanks however they wish.

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should note that the details of exactly how baptism is done can vary depending on what is possible, but the intent behind the baptism is essential, that it be in the communion of the Faithful, and that it be done in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. As for the fasting, we see here the earliest mention of Wednesday and Friday as Christian days for fasting, distinguished from the days on which the Old Covenant had fasted. When the Didache talks about the days on which the “hypocrites” fasted, it is talking about the people of the Old Covenant, the Jews, and it calls them hypocrites because they had claimed to follow the law, but didn’t accept Christ, Who fulfilled the law, and even at this very point in history they were changing their Scriptures and getting rid of any texts that talked too clearly about Jesus as the Messiah, which is to say, they were saying one thing, and doing another, which is the essence of hypocrisy. Leader should also note that we see here very early guidelines for how to prepare Holy Communion – the Bread and Wine are each blessed in turn, then those present receive, and then they give thanks for what they have received. Special note should be given to the line about “as this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains and then was gathered and became one,” which seems to refer to the Last Supper, when the Lord broke the bread and gave it to the disciples, after which they almost immediately scattered on the Mount of Olives when He was arrested, only to be brought back together after the Lord’s Resurrection. We should note as well the connection with David; this is making the point that Jesus is the Messiah, the long-awaited King, and that the Christians are His people, the new Israel. The reference to the prophets being able to “give thanks,” that is, to celebrate the Eucharist, reflects a usage in the early Church whereby each bishop would have his own version of the prayers of consecration and thanksgiving. Over time, the prayers of certain bishops became normal, which is why we have the Liturgies of St. Basil and St. John Chrysostom.)

2) What do we learn about God in this reading?

3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?

Day 3 (Friday)

Luke 9:43b-62 (Jesus Foretells His Death, True Greatness, Another Exorcist, Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus, Would-be Disciples)

For the last several weeks, we have been reading the later chapters of the Gospel of Luke, leading up to and including the Lord’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. We had begun those readings at the end of January, after we saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain, and then saw Him come down and drive a demon out of a young boy. We will continue now from that point, and see the Lord foretell His coming passion and death for the second time to the Disciples, but they will not understand, after which we will see a series of not explicitly related stories that follow, perhaps to illustrate how the Disciples do not yet understand, and how Jesus continues to teach them despite their misunderstanding.

Jesus Again Foretells His Death

But while they were all marveling at everything he did, he said to his disciples, 44 “Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

True Greatness

46 And an argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But when Jesus perceived the thought of their hearts, he took a child and put him by his side, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

Another Exorcist

49 John answered, “Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you is for you.”

A Samaritan Village Refuses to Receive Jesus

51 When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him; 53 but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 And they went on to another village.

Would-Be Followers of Jesus

57 As they were going along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Reading 22
442 words

Discussion questions:

1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (Leader should point out how often Jesus does what His disciples don’t expect here. He tells them that caring for children is important, and that the least among them is the greatest. He doesn’t let them destroy the Samaritans, even though they rejected Him. And His words to the three people who say they want to follow Him are very hard for us to hear, but they certainly remind us that we can’t choose to both follow Christ and still hold on to the things of this world that are important to us.)

2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here? (We learn that He is different from what we expect Him to be.).

3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us? (We see that we want to be the greatest, that we like thinking of other people as our enemies, and that we struggle to actually follow Christ when it means leaving other things we love behind).

4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. I think the most difficult piece is the part where he tells the man who wants to bury his father to “let the dead bury their own dead.” The point here, I think, is that we can’t put Christ second to anything, even to good things. We have to seek first the Kingdom of God; and then, very often, the way that we follow Christ will be by loving and serving those who are dear to us. But Christ has to be first.).

5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life? (It is hard to put Christ first…but it is necessary, for all of us).

6) “What is the a) literal, b) allegorical, c) moral/ethical, d) anagogical/eschatological meaning of this text? (Think of these questions as a mountain which we can ascend, or as layers of meaning upon which we can reflect. Oftentimes, as we reflect upon a text in this way, we may find that the anagogical reading, in which we see the text as revealing the glory of God and His kingdom in a deeper manner, sheds new insights on the lower levels of interpretation.)