Proper 23 10.14 lectionary
barbara...@gmail.com
Sunday, October 14, 2007 Proper 23 - Year C Page 1 of 2
Ruth 1: (1 - 7) 8 - 19a
2 Timothy 2: (1 - 5) 6 - 14
Luke 17: 11 - 19
Psalm 113 Gratitude: for a committed relationship
“Let the name of the Lord be blessed, from this time forth for
evermore.”
OPENING EXERCISE
Think about the following two questions:
1. Have you ever been so committed to a cause or relationship that you
would have died for it? Please describe.
2. Did/do you expect that such commitment should be met with
gratitude? Why or why not…and in what form?
APPOINTED PASSAGES
Ruth 1: (1-7) 8-19a
(NRSV) 1:1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in
the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to
live in the country of Mo'ab, he and his wife and two sons. 2 The name
of the man was Elim'elech and the name of his wife
Na'omi, and the names of his two sons were Mah'lon and Chil'ion; they
were Eph'rathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went
into the country of Mo'ab and remained there. 3 But Elim'elech, the
husband of Na'omi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4
These took Mo'abite wives; the name of the one was Or'pah and the name
of the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten
years, 5 both Mah'lon and Chil'ion also died, so that the woman was
left without her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the
country of Mo'ab, for she had heard in the country of Mo'ab that
the LORD had considered his people and given them food. 7 So she set
out from the place where she had been living, she and her
two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the
land of Judah. 8 But Na'omi said to her two daughters-in-law,
"Go back each of you to your mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly
with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9
The LORD grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of
your husband." Then she kissed them, and they wept
aloud. 10 They said to her, "No, we will return with you to your
people." 11 But Na'omi said, "Turn back, my daughters, why will
you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become
your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go your
way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was
hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear
sons, 13 would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then
refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far
more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has
turned against me." 14 Then they wept aloud again. Or'pah
kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
15 So she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people
and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." 16 But Ruth
said, "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following
you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die,
I will die-- there will I be buried. May the LORD do
thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!"
18 When Na'omi saw that she was determined to go with
her, she said no more to her. 19 So the two of them went on until they
came to Bethlehem.
What do you think that Ruth found in Na’omi that inspired such a
strong relationship?
Love would be required, but in addition, a strong sense of trust
and belief in the relationship would seem to have evolved
from something more. Do you agree? If so, what is that…”more” that you
expect Ruth experienced?
What sort of things would inspire a strong relationship such as
that Ruth seemed to feel? Please describe.
2 Timothy 2:(3-7) 8-15
(NRSV) 3 Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No
one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs;
the soldier's aim is to please the enlisting officer. 5 And in the
case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according
to the rules. 6 It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have
the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the
Lord will give you understanding in all things. 8 Remember Jesus
Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David--that is my
gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being
chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10
Sunday, October 14, 2007 Proper 23 - Year C Page 2 of 2
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they
may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with
eternal glory. 11 The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful--
for he cannot deny himself.
14 Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to
avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only
ruins those who are listening. 15 Do your best to present yourself to
God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be
ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.
What does it mean to “share in suffering”? Empathy or actual
experience? Does commitment require empathy?
The saying seems to define commitment of a personal nature (i.e.,
to a person). Do you agree?
Marriage also requires commitment….(the phrase “…’til death do us
part” comes to mind). Is commitment to a (spiritual)
leader the same as that to a life partner – or mother in law (as in
Ruth above)?
What does the level of commitment from the person making it say
about their character?
Might the quality of the relationship between the one making the
commitment and the one receiving it be defined by the level
of the commitment? If so, how is it measured or evaluated?
Does commitment require a decision?
Luke 17:11-19
(NRSV) 11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region
between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village,
ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out,
saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 When he saw
them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as
they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them,
when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud
voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked
him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made
clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of
them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19
Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith
has made you well."
Note the phrasing “….as they went, they were made clean.” What do
you imagine happened? How long do you imagine the
healing took?
In some ways, we all at times have felt that we are outcasts (as a
leper would be in early days). Could we attribute our
“healing” to our faith? If so, we should legitimately be grateful. How
should we express that gratitude?
Is a prayer sufficient, or is action required? If action, what
sort?
Do our relationships with others require us to periodically be
grateful for their commitment to us?
QUOTES FOR TODAY:
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from
another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep
gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”
Albert Schweitzer
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest
appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
John F. Kennedy
“The relationship between commitment and doubt is by no means an
antagonistic one. Commitment is healthiest when it is not
without doubt but in spite of doubt.”
Rollo May
Setz...@aol.com
daughters-in-law to inspire such committment. I think I learned this
when my husband's grandfather died suddenly and unexpectedly and I
felt more hurt than if it had been my own grandparent. I questioned
my feelings, as my own grandparents were good people as well. But the
difference was the unconditional love and acceptance that I always
felt from Papa Dwight. We cannot help but give love when it is given
to us in this way. I hope that lesson stays with me forever and I
remember that while everyone that I love will not love me back, that
is the surest way to receive.
As for committment, we all believe that we are that committed to our
children, and most of us are. I have a business that I am fully
committed to and it has required many sacrifices in order to protect
others who have given their life to it. The sacrifices are not only
of time and money, but making difficult and unpopular decisions. I am
struggling with some difficult decisions at this time and would
welcome the prayers of all who will join me.
Regarding the Gospel lesson, I find it surprising and confusing. I
find myself sympathizing with the 9 who did not go back. After all
they were just doing what He told them to do, going to show themselves
to the priest. I think perhaps the thing is that they were actually
healed immediately, and only DISCOVERED it while on their way. That
may be the lesson, that God answers prayers and we sometimes do not
pay close enough attention to see the results. We do have to believe
and rarely does He require that we do something in order to receive
the healing. They seem to think that they must show themselves to the
priest in order to complete the healing. I remember times in my life
when I was going through something difficult and praying my way
through it and one day I realized that I had turned the corner. I
didn't know exactly when, but the crisis was over. I hope I
remembered to thank the Lord then, and hope I will in the future.
On Oct 13, 3:55 pm, barbara.lad...@gmail.com wrote:
> More questions from Mark in LA
> Sunday, October 14, 2007 Proper 23 - Year C Page 1 of 2
> Ruth 1: (1 - 7) 8 - 19a
> 2 Timothy 2: (1 - 5) 6 - 14
> Luke 17: 11 - 19
> Psalm 113 Gratitude: for a committed relationship
> "Let the name of the Lord be blessed, from this time forth for
> evermore."
> OPENING EXERCISE
> Think about the following two questions:
> 1. Have you ever been so committed to a cause or relationship that you
> would have died for it? Please describe.
> 2. Did/do you expect that such commitment should be met with
> gratitude? Why or why not...and in what form?
> from something more. Do you agree? If so, what is that..."more" that you
> Marriage also requires commitment....(the phrase "...'til death do us
> part" comes to mind). Is commitment to a (spiritual)
> leader the same as that to a life partner - or mother in law (as in
> Ruth above)?
> What does the level of commitment from the person making it say
> about their character?
> Might the quality of the relationship between the one making the
> commitment and the one receiving it be defined by the level
> of the commitment? If so, how is it measured or evaluated?
> Does commitment require a decision?
> Luke 17:11-19
> (NRSV) 11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region
> between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village,
> ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out,
> saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 When he saw
> them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as
> they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them,
> when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud
> voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked
> him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made
> clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of
> them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19
> Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith
> has made you well."
> Note the phrasing "....as they went, they were made clean." What do