Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande Study +++ January 2, 2017
The First Sunday after Epiphany (Year A)
As you read the Gospel of Matthew aloud in full during the twelve days of the Christmas season, especially if you share your reading with others, you will personally be answering prayers for the spread of Christianity. And you will be following the direction given by Jesus in the Ascension scene Matthew describes at the end of his gospel. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)
Matthew bookends his text by making sure the hearer never doubts for a moment that "God is with us." (Matthew 1:23) We are reminded of this message every Christmas. "Emmanuel" means that God is with us. This is not just a nice first century idea; in reality, God is actually with us for always and forever. Take the time to think about this. Let it guide you through your full reading of Matthew's remarkable gospel. Remember, too, that the word "gospel" means good news. And best of all, the good news of the Bible is present in God's Christmas present of the baby Jesus Christ, who comes into the world in our thoughts every year to remain with us always.
THE CHRISTMAS STORY IN HISTORY:
In this 2016 Christmas season, we are aware that we live in a world of great uncertainty. We tend to cope with personal malaise by filling our everyday lives with busyness, that often has little meaning. These actions make us no different from the people in biblical times, who lived with stresses that cast them into a survival mode, simply to exist day-to-day. Bible readers in the 21st Century seldom pause to contemplate the setting for the stories that scriptural writers are telling. Existence was not easy; the first century future was as uncertain as ours is today.
When God created all life, as Genesis 1 tells us, it was good. However, human-controlled activity missed God's point, and life ended in the perfect Garden of Eden. Then, beginning with centuries long ago, our human existence was set into a perpetual survival mode.
In love, our creator God chose to be born as a helpless babe to gain understanding of our human plight, by living a fully complete life. Matthew's belief in the real presence of God in our midst is woven into all his telling of the good news. This gospel, embellished with references from the ancient OT Septuagint used by NT authors, tells us unequivocally that through Jesus Christ all life is returned to its original goodness. Matthew's Christmas story is the key to our acceptance of God's gift. Are you ready to hear and act on it?
THE CHRISTMAS STORY FOR TODAY:
International news sources and even neighborhood gossip tell us that now, more than ever, God's presence is needed on earth. Christians throughout the world, and even some known in our own lives, are suffering from undeserved persecution and touching personal tragedies.
Though distress of the masses challenges us, the traditional focus of the Christian church has been on vulnerable women and children. Yet our religious eyes seem to be blinded now by the overwhelming needs of all suffering folk in the world. What can one person do to make a difference?
Begin by reflecting on Matthew's tale of the birth of one fragile baby. In the singular, unique person of Jesus Christ, who is Emmanuel, we are reminded that we are never alone. God is always with us. And as the angel Gabriel says in Luke's telling of the Christmas story, we are empowered to act, "For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)
Continue listening to Matthew describe the ministry of Jesus. This detailed text, from beginning to end, is filled with incidents and words worth digesting. With Matthew, you will be fed the food you need to fully follow the leadership of Jesus. And share Matthew's good news with others. That is how Christianity grew in the beginning and will grow today. Nothing is impossible with God.
Jesus Christ is one person who made a difference across all time. You are one person, working for God today, who can make a difference that will change the future, too. Are you ready to begin? God is with you! Emmanuel has come!
Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande Study +++ December 18, 2016
Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande Study +++ December 5, 2016
The Third Sunday of Advent (Year A) +++
With the beginning of Advent every year, we enter into a new series of Sunday gospel readings. Now in Lectionary Year A, most of those selected scriptures will come from Matthew. Year B is devoted to Mark; Year C is drawn from Luke. In all three years, John becomes a special accent point.
MATTHEW'S MISSION:
Plan on interesting reading in the year ahead. The unknown gospel writer, who tradition calls Matthew, spins his tale of the life of Jesus to make us realize that the hero of his story was not only a man, but was THE CHRIST. Jesus was fully human and fully God; both perspectives are important. Matthew is dedicated to making this combination of dual reality an essential teaching for all hearing his message.
To us, it may seem difficult to transport ourselves back to the times of early Christianity. We must discard 2000 years of biblical transmission, translations, and theories, to imagine ourselves in the situations that the gospel writers confronted. Their audiences would have been skeptical, just as we are today. Questions would abounded. How could one person be both human and God, unless he was the emperor, of course, as the secular society taught.
MATTHEW'S PERSPECTIVE:
The Gospel of Matthew, the text starting our printed copies of the NT, was not the first Christian document written. It was composed in the middle of all the NT writings that are included in our Bibles today. Matthew, as well as the other three gospels in our printed, or electronic, Bible versions, tell the narrative story of the life of Jesus in an impactful way that many other "presumed" or disputed gospel-type texts from early Christianity do not.
The Gospel of Matthew is a successful public relations biography. It is filled with dramatic details leaving no doubts, in the minds of the first century hearers, that Jesus was uniquely special, a man both earthly and divine. As you read Matthew's words during all of Year A, set yourself in the place of the original hearers. Discard the 2000 years of comments, informed or otherwise, that have been laden on top of this text. Listen for the truth that Matthew is telling you. Jesus is the Christ, the one and only God-man!
MATTHEW'S TECHNIQUE:
All of the short scripture selections from Matthew used in Year A during Advent utilize the writer's best skills of persuasion. Reflect on them. Now, in week three, with Matthew 11:2-11, the lure into a deeper meaning comes in the way the story's groundwork is constructed. Note how the urgent details about John conclude with the most important message that the gospel writer wants to get across. This passage is a prime example of the technique Matthew applied throughout his text.
So what did the actual writers of the Bible gospels like Matthew know first hand about Jesus Christ? They did not actually experience the physical presence of Jesus. They knew the truth of what had been told to them, by those who did. As good news spreaders, their mission was to tell the story in a way that would impact others. What a challenge Matthew had! He had to make current to his hearers what had happened 50 to 70 years before.
Consider this contrast: As Americans, how clear is the picture we are now able to patch together of the actions that led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We're lucky; we have both audio and visual recordings of events. Matthew had to reconstruct his tale only from impassioned stories past on from eyewitnesses of earlier generations.
MATTHEW'S BELIEF:
Matthew, in his heart and mind, was totally convinced that Jesus was the Christ. He wants all receiving his writing to fully believe that, too. Listen to the Gospel of Matthew with your whole heart and mind. Read your Bible aloud! Hear Matthew's voice in your voice. Matthew's powerful words are as potent today as they were when they were first written down.
Together, thanks to Year A and the efforts of Matthew, we are blessed with the real meaning of Christmas. For unto us a Child is born, and his name is Emmanuel, which means, "God is with us."
Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande Study +++ November 28, 2016
The Second Sunday of Advent (Year A) +++
In Advent, there are many ways, beyond the secular money-spending ones, to prepare for Christmas and for the life changes you want the Christian New Year to bring, before the civic calendar New Year of 2017 starts. Here are three, simple suggestions to try in your busy life this Advent.
1) Gift yourself with 5 minutes a day for reading and soaking in the one-page Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families on pages 136-140 in your BCP (Book of Common Prayer). They are mini-worship services that can easily provide you with a spiritual uplift.
2) Place your four Advent candles near the table where you eat your meals. Light the candles daily, so you experience them as the presence of something wholly and holy sharing your dining space.
3) Read and reread, again and again, during each of the four Advent weeks, the only brief accounts of the Christmas story in the Bible. (Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-21) Reflect on their differences. Imagine yourself as part of two distinctive communities hearing of the birth of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago. What do these stories mean to you today?
SCRIPTURE ON SUNDAYS:
One of the goals of the WDRG Study is to give you background and insights for the Bible lessons that will be read in your church on Sundays. As worship has developed over the centuries and informative media has become more vast and complex, people have become less and less familiar with Bible contents and detail. In past generations, the Bible was often one of the few, precious books in homes. It was read, shared, and discussed daily, offering insights and guidelines for everyday life.
In our age of explosive information, it is easy to understand how the Bible has been overcome, literally, by too much competition. For many people, the Bible has no relevance for life today. So our study is designed to punch and poke you into rediscovering the wisdom of the ages that may be perched at the back of your bookshelf. God's message of love is packaged in our Bibles, just waiting for you to discover it. The Bible, like God, is timeless in its power for today.
With the Bible, where do you begin? Compared to other information sources contemporary to our time, the Bible does not have an obvious, enticing entry point. Unfortunately, all the presentations in your church-world, place you into what seems like the middle-of-the-story, with no logical plot line visible for you to grab onto.
Considering this complication of starting in the middle, some of us are better at faking Bible expertise than others. Remember, God's gift of the Bible is so expansive and all inclusive, that no human being can comprehend all of its wonders. Only God's mind can master it totally. For us, the Bible is a single volume holding many books to be read and treasured over a lifetime. Just begin!
SCRIPTURE IN YOUR LIFE:
Make this Advent your time to begin a new, precious relationship with the Bible. It offers you a marvelous world to explore, populated by amazing people. Ah, the stories the Bible tells!
Where else, but in the Bible, do you come face-to-face with a guy like John the Baptist? You meet him in Matthew 3:1-12. Though he is not dressed properly for most congregations, you will encounter him again in your church on the Second Sunday in Advent. What an incredible guy! What a strong message! Are you ready to hear it?
Repent! The word means look back and around. Become so familiar with your life in the world that you are ready to see it in a new way. Lifting a character like John out of the Bible can jolt you into reflecting on your own personal universe. What is happening in your life? Why is John calling out to you? With John, you are challenged to examine your past. Do not stop there.
Christmas is coming. Our loving God, who has been with all human beings from the beginning, will soon be born anew in our thoughts and minds. Discover that we are always living in the fullness of God's time. Let John wake us up to truly inhabit the eternity that is ever full of new beginnings. Alleluia, Advent is here! Christmas is coming!
Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande Study +++ November 20, 2016
The First Sunday of Advent (Year A) +++
Happy New Year! Happy Advent! Happy Church New Year!
We're at an exciting time of new beginnings. Hop aboard our time train, because we are off to a quick start, remembering that the Latin meaning of Advent is "to come," giving us a push ahead to the excitement of Christmas awaiting us. And remember that Christmas is the "Christ Mass," when we celebrate the birth anew of God as a person on our earth.
WHAT HAPPENS IN ADVENT?
Aside from the frantic, secular shopping and purchases overloading the space under the Christmas tree, Christianity provides us with a peaceful time of contemplation toward renewal. Treasure Advent. Claim it as a season that is important to you, because it is to the spirit of calm that the Holy Spirit brings to you.
Advent begins with the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and it comes to a sparkling end, when the dark of night is broken by the brilliance of sky stars and the candles of New Mexico luminarias. Then, candles on our Christmas Eve altars announce that the Christ, the light of the world, is reborn into our midst.
During Advent, the royal look of purple sanctuary hangings and clergy vestments predominates. Or you may connect with the tradition some parishes recall, when you see the blue that comes from the ancient Advent-color usage at Salisbury Cathedral. Think ahead to the bright Christmas white with embellishments of gold and silver that echo, along with magnificent hymns, the sky glow that became music, as the songs of angels are replaced by heavenly voices here on earth.
WHAT DOES ADVENT MEAN THEOLOGICALLY?
While we are tuned to anticipate the celebration of Jesus's birth, the readings of Advent should give us pause to think about our own birth here on earth and our ultimate birth into the heavenly realm we think of as eternity. Listen carefully to the Sunday readings for depth you may not have heard before. All of them are about both God's joining our place in the cosmos as the tiny, baby Jesus; and also about the reflections of God's glory found in us, as we live out to the fullest every minute of our lives before our birthday into heaven.
The Year A Lectionary, on the First Sunday of Advent, begins with Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, and Matthew 24:36-44.
WHAT IS BEHIND THE YEAR A BEGINNING OF ADVENT?
From 1969 through 1974, the Episcopal Church joined other mainline western Christian churches (Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Methodist) to begin to unite structures for all of Christianity. All of these churches already shared the traditional use of an annual liturgical calendar of seasons: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. However, different denominations had varying customs about how readings for Sunday worship were chosen.
Into this situation, leaders of a group called the Consultation on Church Union (COCU) studied scripture, with the objective of creating a cycle of readings that could be shared annually by all of Christendom. Thanks to these efforts, in most Christian communities throughout the world today, worshippers are hearing the same scripture lessons on Sunday mornings.
With so many possible Bible cuttings to be read, the group decided on setting up a three-year pattern of readings, based on the synoptic Gospels, all biographies of Jesus that use similar ancient sources. So, Matthew was assigned Year A; Mark became Year B; and Luke became attached to our just completed Year C.
Because the sources and style of John is quite different, this gospel has been used as an accent point for special emphasis in the schedules for all three years. And as companions for all three Lectionary years, lessons from the Old Testament and NT epistles were chosen book-by-book to complement the intent of all the gospel selections.
WHAT DOES BEGINNING ADVENT MEAN FOR US?
Understanding how and why our worship was created gives us a new appreciation for the many, unnamed Christians who came before us and set out an orderly plan to help us glorify God. Our annual Bible lessons are truly a gift that guides us to recognize God's presence in our lives and our world. In Advent, we begin the our readings that prepare us to welcome Christmas--the Christmas that makes the Christ Child's coming a central, loving part of our lives.
Welcome to your new beginning and to the arrival of Advent. Get ready to rejoice!
The First Sunday after Epiphany (Year A)
As you read the Gospel of Matthew aloud in full during the twelve days of the Christmas season, especially if you share your reading with others, you will personally be answering prayers for the spread of Christianity. And you will be following the direction given by Jesus in the Ascension scene Matthew describes at the end of his gospel. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)
Matthew bookends his text by making sure the hearer never doubts for a moment that "God is with us." (Matthew 1:23) We are reminded of this message every Christmas. "Emmanuel" means that God is with us. This is not just a nice first century idea; in reality, God is actually with us for always and forever. Take the time to think about this. Let it guide you through your full reading of Matthew's remarkable gospel. Remember, too, that the word "gospel" means good news. And best of all, the good news of the Bible is present in God's Christmas present of the baby Jesus Christ, who comes into the world in our thoughts every year to remain with us always.
THE CHRISTMAS STORY IN HISTORY:
In this 2016 Christmas season, we are aware that we live in a world of great uncertainty. We tend to cope with personal malaise by filling our everyday lives with busyness, that often has little meaning. These actions make us no different from the people in biblical times, who lived with stresses that cast them into a survival mode, simply to exist day-to-day. Bible readers in the 21st Century seldom pause to contemplate the setting for the stories that scriptural writers are telling. Existence was not easy; the first century future was as uncertain as ours is today.
When God created all life, as Genesis 1 tells us, it was good. However, human-controlled activity missed God's point, and life ended in the perfect Garden of Eden. Then, beginning with centuries long ago, our human existence was set into a perpetual survival mode.
In love, our creator God chose to be born as a helpless babe to gain understanding of our human plight, by living a fully complete life. Matthew's belief in the real presence of God in our midst is woven into all his telling of the good news. This gospel, embellished with references from the ancient OT Septuagint used by NT authors, tells us unequivocally that through Jesus Christ all life is returned to its original goodness. Matthew's Christmas story is the key to our acceptance of God's gift. Are you ready to hear and act on it?
THE CHRISTMAS STORY FOR TODAY:
International news sources and even neighborhood gossip tell us that now, more than ever, God's presence is needed on earth. Christians throughout the world, and even some known in our own lives, are suffering from undeserved persecution and touching personal tragedies.
Though distress of the masses challenges us, the traditional focus of the Christian church has been on vulnerable women and children. Yet our religious eyes seem to be blinded now by the overwhelming needs of all suffering folk in the world. What can one person do to make a difference?
Begin by reflecting on Matthew's tale of the birth of one fragile baby. In the singular, unique person of Jesus Christ, who is Emmanuel, we are reminded that we are never alone. God is always with us. And as the angel Gabriel says in Luke's telling of the Christmas story, we are empowered to act, "For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)
Continue listening to Matthew describe the ministry of Jesus. This detailed text, from beginning to end, is filled with incidents and words worth digesting. With Matthew, you will be fed the food you need to fully follow the leadership of Jesus. And share Matthew's good news with others. That is how Christianity grew in the beginning and will grow today. Nothing is impossible with God.
Jesus Christ is one person who made a difference across all time. You are one person, working for God today, who can make a difference that will change the future, too. Are you ready to begin? God is with you! Emmanuel has come!
Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande Study +++ December 18, 2016
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Christmas Day (Year A) +++
It is almost here! Next Sunday is Christmas Day, the time for celebrating The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This moment, when the Light of God breaks through the winter darkness in the northern hemisphere, is the traditional beginning of the Christmas season days that come to a festive end on Twelfth Night, as the January 6 feast of The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, begins.
The stories giving birth to this holy-day time are found in the Gospel of Matthew. In fact, only in Matthew, in all of the Bible, will you find the account of the wise men from the East. They followed the beacon of a star that lured them to encounter, worship, and leave--filled with the knowledge that they had experienced the presence of the King of Kings. These three humans were not local to the Holy Land, Jewish, or even believers in a single god. They were outsiders, gentiles, and pagans. They came, saw, and believed. Have you ever wondered what convinced them?
MATTHEW'S MESSAGE:
Give yourself the gift of reading the Gospel of Matthew aloud, in full, during the twelve days of Christmas this year. You will discover how this first-century author, who never personally experienced Jesus during his earthly lifetime, was able to present the reality of the Christ, informing non-believers in such a convincing way, that they became Christians. Matthew, who wrote in Greek, voiced his story to those in a world that was not the Holy Land, was not Jewish, nor even peopled by believers in a single god. The miraculous part is that, against all odds, Matthew was successful.
How did Matthew do this? You can discover his message for yourself. All you have to do is to read all of the Gospel of Matthew aloud, listen, and learn.
MATTHEW'S DIVISIONS:
The prologue beginning Matthew's gospel is the birth narrative. Because, during Advent, you have read Matthew 1-2, you are now ready to hear the amazing, convincing reports of the ministry of Jesus. Read and rejoice, as you will encounter the origins of some of the most important belief quotations of Christianity.
Because this text is rooted in Jewish origins, Matthew has chosen to set his descriptions into a format that echoes the Torah, or OT law, with its five sections. For those familiar with the story of Moses, Matthew drew parallels in his narratives about Jesus, thereby endowing Jesus with the archetypal, heroic qualities of Moses. Creating a relationship between Moses and Jesus was important to Matthew, who wanted to inform people about this unique situation: a God who chose to fully love all humanity by entering our world as a human himself.
To schedule your time to cover Matthew's gospel in full, you may want to break your reading into these divisions. Plan on spending about 30 minutes of reading-aloud time for each of them:
MATTHEW'S CONCLUSION:
As the ministry accounts come to a close, you are ready to end with the reading of Matthew 26-28, about the final days in the earthly life of Jesus. This division includes the Passion, or suffering of Jesus, that projects us forward into the stunning resurrection and the triumph of the Ascension.
Where does Matthew leave you? Having heard his message of good news, you are to pass it on. Matthews' words, read aloud, are now a living part of you. Because of the Gospel of Matthew, you have learned, as did the early Christians, that you are totally united with God. Rejoice! You are hearing the Christmas message ringing through eternity. "I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20b)
It is almost here! Next Sunday is Christmas Day, the time for celebrating The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This moment, when the Light of God breaks through the winter darkness in the northern hemisphere, is the traditional beginning of the Christmas season days that come to a festive end on Twelfth Night, as the January 6 feast of The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, begins.
The stories giving birth to this holy-day time are found in the Gospel of Matthew. In fact, only in Matthew, in all of the Bible, will you find the account of the wise men from the East. They followed the beacon of a star that lured them to encounter, worship, and leave--filled with the knowledge that they had experienced the presence of the King of Kings. These three humans were not local to the Holy Land, Jewish, or even believers in a single god. They were outsiders, gentiles, and pagans. They came, saw, and believed. Have you ever wondered what convinced them?
MATTHEW'S MESSAGE:
Give yourself the gift of reading the Gospel of Matthew aloud, in full, during the twelve days of Christmas this year. You will discover how this first-century author, who never personally experienced Jesus during his earthly lifetime, was able to present the reality of the Christ, informing non-believers in such a convincing way, that they became Christians. Matthew, who wrote in Greek, voiced his story to those in a world that was not the Holy Land, was not Jewish, nor even peopled by believers in a single god. The miraculous part is that, against all odds, Matthew was successful.
How did Matthew do this? You can discover his message for yourself. All you have to do is to read all of the Gospel of Matthew aloud, listen, and learn.
MATTHEW'S DIVISIONS:
The prologue beginning Matthew's gospel is the birth narrative. Because, during Advent, you have read Matthew 1-2, you are now ready to hear the amazing, convincing reports of the ministry of Jesus. Read and rejoice, as you will encounter the origins of some of the most important belief quotations of Christianity.
Because this text is rooted in Jewish origins, Matthew has chosen to set his descriptions into a format that echoes the Torah, or OT law, with its five sections. For those familiar with the story of Moses, Matthew drew parallels in his narratives about Jesus, thereby endowing Jesus with the archetypal, heroic qualities of Moses. Creating a relationship between Moses and Jesus was important to Matthew, who wanted to inform people about this unique situation: a God who chose to fully love all humanity by entering our world as a human himself.
To schedule your time to cover Matthew's gospel in full, you may want to break your reading into these divisions. Plan on spending about 30 minutes of reading-aloud time for each of them:
Matthew 3:1-7:28
Matthew 8:1-11-1
Matthew 11:2-13:53
Matthew 13:54-18:35
Matthew 19:1-25:46
Listen carefully to Matthew's words. You will hear them in a new way, because you are not reading disconnected fragments, the way these texts are sometimes presented. You are encountering Matthew's message, as it was originally told, with a directional plot line. Imagine listening to this gospel for the first time. Think about what it must have meant to the first century hearers. What did it say to them? What does it say to you? MATTHEW'S CONCLUSION:
As the ministry accounts come to a close, you are ready to end with the reading of Matthew 26-28, about the final days in the earthly life of Jesus. This division includes the Passion, or suffering of Jesus, that projects us forward into the stunning resurrection and the triumph of the Ascension.
Where does Matthew leave you? Having heard his message of good news, you are to pass it on. Matthews' words, read aloud, are now a living part of you. Because of the Gospel of Matthew, you have learned, as did the early Christians, that you are totally united with God. Rejoice! You are hearing the Christmas message ringing through eternity. "I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20b)
Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande Study +++ December 12, 2016
The Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year A) +++
Here we are at the Fourth Sunday in Advent in mid-December. Consider it an early Christmas gift, as you have extra days to prepare this year because Christmas Day falls on Sunday, a circumstance occurring occasionally in secular calendar years. So let the elongated countdown lead you into twelve glorious days of Christmas.
It is hoped that your preparations are well underway and that you are feeling blessed with multiple readings aloud of the two very different Christmas gospel accounts in Matthew 1:18-2:12 and Luke 2:1-21. A birth narrative is totally missing in Mark, the earliest gospel text. A decade or two later, it was natural for people to want more information, and this may be the reason the writers of Matthew and Luke chose to flesh out their stories. On the other hand, for John’s community, Christ’s earthly birth was told in a symbolic way (John 1:1-18), using spiritual "sign" language well worth pondering.
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS:
Another present to give yourself, one that will truly enrich your life, comes with opening your Bible and reading the full text of the Gospel of Matthew over your twelve Christmas holy days ahead. It will take you several hours to read it in full aloud. So find an easy chair, a warm beverage to sip, and family and friends to join with you in listening to the reading aloud of this extraordinary account of the life of Jesus.
From the beginning of Matthew, you become aware of just how Jewish this gospel is. You'll need to know your OT to understand the complex genealogy with a catalogue of biblical names seldom used today. Matthew knew his OT scriptures, and he assumed that those hearing his story did, too. His audience in the last half of the first century of the Common Era (CE), would have been very familiar with the scriptures he quoted. This allowed him to firm-up a solid foundation for his message about Jesus being the Christ, the anointed Messiah pre-figured in Jewish scriptures.
OT references are sprinkled generously throughout the Gospel of Matthew. A Christmas present to wish for, if you do not already use one, is an annotated study Bible with good footnotes directing you to source passages. An even better gift with no price tag, that will give you a lifetime of value, is living out your own long-range commitment to read the OT in full. Only with the background of the Jewish texts will you have a proper historical context for what NT writers are saying.
CHRISTMAS PLANS:
Because the process of creating any of the NT writings in the first century was so complex and time consuming, a smoothly flowing presentation was nearly impossible. And that can discourage readers in our time, this choppiness making Bible reading quite challenging. However, let this uneven style work in your favor as you read. It will give you opportunities to pause for reflection.
Because of the length of Matthew, plan time over the holy days ahead to fully read Matthew from beginning to end. To give you guidance for doing that, next week our study will have suggestions you may want to use to time your reading.
CHRISTMAS REWARDS:
The only way to receive the full picture that any Bible writer wants you to get, is to read each book of the Bible as a total work and to read it aloud. But don't make the reading of the full Gospel of Matthew aloud a task; consider it a Christmas treat.
In hearing Matthew's voice through your voice, you will discover that this text is trying to get you to reflect on yourself and your way of life. Matthew gives us a very personal text filled with knowledge of human frailty and poor judgment. His penetrating perspectives and practical guidelines, drawn from the Jewish OT, will inspire wonder in you. Matthew's NT account of the life of Jesus Christ confirms how the presence of God is always with us.
Matthew's story is full of reality, understanding, compassion, and loving forgiveness. Read this gospel in full, and in that way, make this your best Christmas ever. In the words of Matthew, not only is the Jesus Christ born unto us, but Jesus Christ is with us always, and that means right now. God's presence is in your present. All you have to do is unwrap it.
The Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year A) +++
Here we are at the Fourth Sunday in Advent in mid-December. Consider it an early Christmas gift, as you have extra days to prepare this year because Christmas Day falls on Sunday, a circumstance occurring occasionally in secular calendar years. So let the elongated countdown lead you into twelve glorious days of Christmas.
It is hoped that your preparations are well underway and that you are feeling blessed with multiple readings aloud of the two very different Christmas gospel accounts in Matthew 1:18-2:12 and Luke 2:1-21. A birth narrative is totally missing in Mark, the earliest gospel text. A decade or two later, it was natural for people to want more information, and this may be the reason the writers of Matthew and Luke chose to flesh out their stories. On the other hand, for John’s community, Christ’s earthly birth was told in a symbolic way (John 1:1-18), using spiritual "sign" language well worth pondering.
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS:
Another present to give yourself, one that will truly enrich your life, comes with opening your Bible and reading the full text of the Gospel of Matthew over your twelve Christmas holy days ahead. It will take you several hours to read it in full aloud. So find an easy chair, a warm beverage to sip, and family and friends to join with you in listening to the reading aloud of this extraordinary account of the life of Jesus.
From the beginning of Matthew, you become aware of just how Jewish this gospel is. You'll need to know your OT to understand the complex genealogy with a catalogue of biblical names seldom used today. Matthew knew his OT scriptures, and he assumed that those hearing his story did, too. His audience in the last half of the first century of the Common Era (CE), would have been very familiar with the scriptures he quoted. This allowed him to firm-up a solid foundation for his message about Jesus being the Christ, the anointed Messiah pre-figured in Jewish scriptures.
OT references are sprinkled generously throughout the Gospel of Matthew. A Christmas present to wish for, if you do not already use one, is an annotated study Bible with good footnotes directing you to source passages. An even better gift with no price tag, that will give you a lifetime of value, is living out your own long-range commitment to read the OT in full. Only with the background of the Jewish texts will you have a proper historical context for what NT writers are saying.
CHRISTMAS PLANS:
Because the process of creating any of the NT writings in the first century was so complex and time consuming, a smoothly flowing presentation was nearly impossible. And that can discourage readers in our time, this choppiness making Bible reading quite challenging. However, let this uneven style work in your favor as you read. It will give you opportunities to pause for reflection.
Because of the length of Matthew, plan time over the holy days ahead to fully read Matthew from beginning to end. To give you guidance for doing that, next week our study will have suggestions you may want to use to time your reading.
CHRISTMAS REWARDS:
The only way to receive the full picture that any Bible writer wants you to get, is to read each book of the Bible as a total work and to read it aloud. But don't make the reading of the full Gospel of Matthew aloud a task; consider it a Christmas treat.
In hearing Matthew's voice through your voice, you will discover that this text is trying to get you to reflect on yourself and your way of life. Matthew gives us a very personal text filled with knowledge of human frailty and poor judgment. His penetrating perspectives and practical guidelines, drawn from the Jewish OT, will inspire wonder in you. Matthew's NT account of the life of Jesus Christ confirms how the presence of God is always with us.
Matthew's story is full of reality, understanding, compassion, and loving forgiveness. Read this gospel in full, and in that way, make this your best Christmas ever. In the words of Matthew, not only is the Jesus Christ born unto us, but Jesus Christ is with us always, and that means right now. God's presence is in your present. All you have to do is unwrap it.
Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande Study +++ December 5, 2016
The Third Sunday of Advent (Year A) +++
With the beginning of Advent every year, we enter into a new series of Sunday gospel readings. Now in Lectionary Year A, most of those selected scriptures will come from Matthew. Year B is devoted to Mark; Year C is drawn from Luke. In all three years, John becomes a special accent point.
MATTHEW'S MISSION:
Plan on interesting reading in the year ahead. The unknown gospel writer, who tradition calls Matthew, spins his tale of the life of Jesus to make us realize that the hero of his story was not only a man, but was THE CHRIST. Jesus was fully human and fully God; both perspectives are important. Matthew is dedicated to making this combination of dual reality an essential teaching for all hearing his message.
To us, it may seem difficult to transport ourselves back to the times of early Christianity. We must discard 2000 years of biblical transmission, translations, and theories, to imagine ourselves in the situations that the gospel writers confronted. Their audiences would have been skeptical, just as we are today. Questions would abounded. How could one person be both human and God, unless he was the emperor, of course, as the secular society taught.
MATTHEW'S PERSPECTIVE:
The Gospel of Matthew, the text starting our printed copies of the NT, was not the first Christian document written. It was composed in the middle of all the NT writings that are included in our Bibles today. Matthew, as well as the other three gospels in our printed, or electronic, Bible versions, tell the narrative story of the life of Jesus in an impactful way that many other "presumed" or disputed gospel-type texts from early Christianity do not.
The Gospel of Matthew is a successful public relations biography. It is filled with dramatic details leaving no doubts, in the minds of the first century hearers, that Jesus was uniquely special, a man both earthly and divine. As you read Matthew's words during all of Year A, set yourself in the place of the original hearers. Discard the 2000 years of comments, informed or otherwise, that have been laden on top of this text. Listen for the truth that Matthew is telling you. Jesus is the Christ, the one and only God-man!
MATTHEW'S TECHNIQUE:
All of the short scripture selections from Matthew used in Year A during Advent utilize the writer's best skills of persuasion. Reflect on them. Now, in week three, with Matthew 11:2-11, the lure into a deeper meaning comes in the way the story's groundwork is constructed. Note how the urgent details about John conclude with the most important message that the gospel writer wants to get across. This passage is a prime example of the technique Matthew applied throughout his text.
So what did the actual writers of the Bible gospels like Matthew know first hand about Jesus Christ? They did not actually experience the physical presence of Jesus. They knew the truth of what had been told to them, by those who did. As good news spreaders, their mission was to tell the story in a way that would impact others. What a challenge Matthew had! He had to make current to his hearers what had happened 50 to 70 years before.
Consider this contrast: As Americans, how clear is the picture we are now able to patch together of the actions that led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We're lucky; we have both audio and visual recordings of events. Matthew had to reconstruct his tale only from impassioned stories past on from eyewitnesses of earlier generations.
MATTHEW'S BELIEF:
Matthew, in his heart and mind, was totally convinced that Jesus was the Christ. He wants all receiving his writing to fully believe that, too. Listen to the Gospel of Matthew with your whole heart and mind. Read your Bible aloud! Hear Matthew's voice in your voice. Matthew's powerful words are as potent today as they were when they were first written down.
Together, thanks to Year A and the efforts of Matthew, we are blessed with the real meaning of Christmas. For unto us a Child is born, and his name is Emmanuel, which means, "God is with us."
Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande Study +++ November 28, 2016
The Second Sunday of Advent (Year A) +++
In Advent, there are many ways, beyond the secular money-spending ones, to prepare for Christmas and for the life changes you want the Christian New Year to bring, before the civic calendar New Year of 2017 starts. Here are three, simple suggestions to try in your busy life this Advent.
1) Gift yourself with 5 minutes a day for reading and soaking in the one-page Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families on pages 136-140 in your BCP (Book of Common Prayer). They are mini-worship services that can easily provide you with a spiritual uplift.
2) Place your four Advent candles near the table where you eat your meals. Light the candles daily, so you experience them as the presence of something wholly and holy sharing your dining space.
3) Read and reread, again and again, during each of the four Advent weeks, the only brief accounts of the Christmas story in the Bible. (Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-21) Reflect on their differences. Imagine yourself as part of two distinctive communities hearing of the birth of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago. What do these stories mean to you today?
SCRIPTURE ON SUNDAYS:
One of the goals of the WDRG Study is to give you background and insights for the Bible lessons that will be read in your church on Sundays. As worship has developed over the centuries and informative media has become more vast and complex, people have become less and less familiar with Bible contents and detail. In past generations, the Bible was often one of the few, precious books in homes. It was read, shared, and discussed daily, offering insights and guidelines for everyday life.
In our age of explosive information, it is easy to understand how the Bible has been overcome, literally, by too much competition. For many people, the Bible has no relevance for life today. So our study is designed to punch and poke you into rediscovering the wisdom of the ages that may be perched at the back of your bookshelf. God's message of love is packaged in our Bibles, just waiting for you to discover it. The Bible, like God, is timeless in its power for today.
With the Bible, where do you begin? Compared to other information sources contemporary to our time, the Bible does not have an obvious, enticing entry point. Unfortunately, all the presentations in your church-world, place you into what seems like the middle-of-the-story, with no logical plot line visible for you to grab onto.
Considering this complication of starting in the middle, some of us are better at faking Bible expertise than others. Remember, God's gift of the Bible is so expansive and all inclusive, that no human being can comprehend all of its wonders. Only God's mind can master it totally. For us, the Bible is a single volume holding many books to be read and treasured over a lifetime. Just begin!
SCRIPTURE IN YOUR LIFE:
Make this Advent your time to begin a new, precious relationship with the Bible. It offers you a marvelous world to explore, populated by amazing people. Ah, the stories the Bible tells!
Where else, but in the Bible, do you come face-to-face with a guy like John the Baptist? You meet him in Matthew 3:1-12. Though he is not dressed properly for most congregations, you will encounter him again in your church on the Second Sunday in Advent. What an incredible guy! What a strong message! Are you ready to hear it?
Repent! The word means look back and around. Become so familiar with your life in the world that you are ready to see it in a new way. Lifting a character like John out of the Bible can jolt you into reflecting on your own personal universe. What is happening in your life? Why is John calling out to you? With John, you are challenged to examine your past. Do not stop there.
Christmas is coming. Our loving God, who has been with all human beings from the beginning, will soon be born anew in our thoughts and minds. Discover that we are always living in the fullness of God's time. Let John wake us up to truly inhabit the eternity that is ever full of new beginnings. Alleluia, Advent is here! Christmas is coming!
Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande Study +++ November 20, 2016
The First Sunday of Advent (Year A) +++
Happy New Year! Happy Advent! Happy Church New Year!
We're at an exciting time of new beginnings. Hop aboard our time train, because we are off to a quick start, remembering that the Latin meaning of Advent is "to come," giving us a push ahead to the excitement of Christmas awaiting us. And remember that Christmas is the "Christ Mass," when we celebrate the birth anew of God as a person on our earth.
WHAT HAPPENS IN ADVENT?
Aside from the frantic, secular shopping and purchases overloading the space under the Christmas tree, Christianity provides us with a peaceful time of contemplation toward renewal. Treasure Advent. Claim it as a season that is important to you, because it is to the spirit of calm that the Holy Spirit brings to you.
Advent begins with the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and it comes to a sparkling end, when the dark of night is broken by the brilliance of sky stars and the candles of New Mexico luminarias. Then, candles on our Christmas Eve altars announce that the Christ, the light of the world, is reborn into our midst.
During Advent, the royal look of purple sanctuary hangings and clergy vestments predominates. Or you may connect with the tradition some parishes recall, when you see the blue that comes from the ancient Advent-color usage at Salisbury Cathedral. Think ahead to the bright Christmas white with embellishments of gold and silver that echo, along with magnificent hymns, the sky glow that became music, as the songs of angels are replaced by heavenly voices here on earth.
WHAT DOES ADVENT MEAN THEOLOGICALLY?
While we are tuned to anticipate the celebration of Jesus's birth, the readings of Advent should give us pause to think about our own birth here on earth and our ultimate birth into the heavenly realm we think of as eternity. Listen carefully to the Sunday readings for depth you may not have heard before. All of them are about both God's joining our place in the cosmos as the tiny, baby Jesus; and also about the reflections of God's glory found in us, as we live out to the fullest every minute of our lives before our birthday into heaven.
The Year A Lectionary, on the First Sunday of Advent, begins with Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, and Matthew 24:36-44.
WHAT IS BEHIND THE YEAR A BEGINNING OF ADVENT?
From 1969 through 1974, the Episcopal Church joined other mainline western Christian churches (Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Methodist) to begin to unite structures for all of Christianity. All of these churches already shared the traditional use of an annual liturgical calendar of seasons: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. However, different denominations had varying customs about how readings for Sunday worship were chosen.
Into this situation, leaders of a group called the Consultation on Church Union (COCU) studied scripture, with the objective of creating a cycle of readings that could be shared annually by all of Christendom. Thanks to these efforts, in most Christian communities throughout the world today, worshippers are hearing the same scripture lessons on Sunday mornings.
With so many possible Bible cuttings to be read, the group decided on setting up a three-year pattern of readings, based on the synoptic Gospels, all biographies of Jesus that use similar ancient sources. So, Matthew was assigned Year A; Mark became Year B; and Luke became attached to our just completed Year C.
Because the sources and style of John is quite different, this gospel has been used as an accent point for special emphasis in the schedules for all three years. And as companions for all three Lectionary years, lessons from the Old Testament and NT epistles were chosen book-by-book to complement the intent of all the gospel selections.
WHAT DOES BEGINNING ADVENT MEAN FOR US?
Understanding how and why our worship was created gives us a new appreciation for the many, unnamed Christians who came before us and set out an orderly plan to help us glorify God. Our annual Bible lessons are truly a gift that guides us to recognize God's presence in our lives and our world. In Advent, we begin the our readings that prepare us to welcome Christmas--the Christmas that makes the Christ Child's coming a central, loving part of our lives.
Welcome to your new beginning and to the arrival of Advent. Get ready to rejoice!