Third Sunday After Epiphany, Year A in 2020: Epistle Passage – Who brings or bestows the Light of the Divine?

“Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.” (1 Corinthians 1:10 – 11)

We, meaning humanity, like to belong. Moreover, we like to belong and be amongst people who are liked minded. That is, that reflect our perspectives and our values. We organize ourselves into groups, clubs, and institutions that reflect to others, and represent who we are and what we are about. That is not a bad thing, unless we become so firmly entrenched in our own groups and cliques that we dismissed, disregard, and disrespect other people and the groups that they find important in their lives.

“What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)” (Verses 12 – 16)

Some of the believers in Corinth (according to Paul’s writing you would almost assume it was most everyone) identified themselves by the spiritual fore-bearer who brought them to faith. Speaking as a member of a large group who organized themselves around one dominant voice of faith, it is not a good idea to be so “cliquish”. There are many expressions of Christian faith, and since Paul’s time what he exhorted against have become quite the norm. What would Paul say if he knew that Christianity had evolved to so many facets and flavors. I am reminded especially, as I write this, about the United Methodist Church – a very large Protestant denomination that is looked at a significant splitting in their ranks. The denomination is dividing along/because of, for them, a significant faith issue. The division is happening so that the denomination and the churches within the denomination can survive without imploding.

And again, I cannot point a finger without four others reflecting back on my faith tradition; the Anabaptists divided from their parent faith family on the issue of baptism. I am not sure what Paul would say about that either!

“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.” (Verse 17)

Paul’s message of the gospel was very simple. Christ was the Messiah, the representative of the Divine on earth. He lived, died, and rose from the dead to teach humanity what faith in the Lord God looked like, and to show humanity a way out of sin and death. Paul took from what he heard the other apostles say that Christ commanded and what Paul himself learned from the Divine, and applied that to how one lives out one’s faith. Paul was more about the why than the how. Although he did have plenty to say about how! Most of the time, however, you get the sense that Paul assumed coming to faith would naturally lead to living a Christian life.

“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (Verse 18)

The other thing I thought of while I was pondering this passage was political parties. Now there is a group of institutions that definitely takes their lead from those who brought them into what ever “belief” circle that one espouses membership in. And if you do not think that members of political groups believe the leader or “icon” of their political party is the only one who brings “light” – then you obviously do NOT read much social media!

Beloved reader, I would not say we live in “dark times”. Or at least I don’t like to believe we do. Some days it seems though it is hard to find one’s way. I have on my bedside a small battery-powered candle. When the lights of my room are on, it is hard to see its flickering battery-powered flame. But when the lights are out, and I am lying in the darkness thinking over the days events and wondering what tomorrow will bring, that little flickering light comforts me – and reminds me that even if I cannot see the light by which to make my way, the Divine will at the proper time supply one for me. Selah!

Third Sunday After Epiphany, Year A in 2020: Old Testament Passage – The Coming of the Light of the Divine

“But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.” (Isaiah 9:1)

Each winter I eagerly await spring. One of the hallmarks, for me, that spring is coming is that the light of the sun lasts longer into the afternoon. I mourn the passing of summer/fall when it is getting dark by the time I get home after a full day of work. But the coming of spring means there is still daylight left at 5 pm. Soon after that realization comes daylight savings time, and the darker hours are pushed off, and there is still light as the early evening passes. The light during the summer continues each day until the tasks of the day are completed and I am ready for a night’s rest.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined.” (Verse 2)

I have spoken before that the realization of the need for Jesus Christ and the Lord God was made known to me at an early age. Just as the dawn of light of cognitive reasoning and understanding came to me, so did the desire for a relationship with the Divine. I craved it and longed for it. Others’ faith stories are different from mine; for everyone who claims Christianity, there was a point in their lives when they knew it was time. It may have been a coming to the “light”, or a desire for “light”; the light may have come at baptism, before or after. One’s faith story & faith journey may be of many twists and turns.

“You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.” (Verses 3 – 4)

In the history of the called and chosen people “the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali” was located at the Sea of Galilee. The tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali were the first tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel deported by the Assyrians. In other words, their “darkness” came early for them. Imagine living at the site of where your ancestors were taken away. You are there on ancestral ground, but it is still not yours to control. The Jews there were intermingled with Gentiles and foreigners, and the government was controlled by another nation. In Jesus time the government was Roman. The bitterness and lack of hope had a long a history. What Isaiah was promising and promoting then was the same thing that Jesus was promising during his ministry. That fact may make it easier to understand why the Jews of his time put little faith in his message. It had been preached to them for so long the promise had become meaningless. Or that they may have felt it would only come true by toppling the current government, as many of the sects of Judaism had tried to do in the past. But . . . . I am getting ahead of myself and the scope of this passage. Remember this, however, beloved reader; remember that the message of hope was put forth centuries ago. A promise of light was given, but not the timing of the coming of light. Shalom!