mamabishop: Sunday, November 6th, 2022

Proper 27 - November 6th, 2022

The Collect

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Old Testament Job 19:23-27a

Job said, "O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book! O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved on a rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another."

Psalm 17:1-9

1 Hear my plea of innocence,

O LORD; give heed to my cry; *

listen to my prayer, which does not

come from lying lips.

2 Let my vindication come

forth from your presence; *

let your eyes be fixed on justice.

3 Weigh my heart,

summon me by night, *

melt me down;

you will find no impurity in me.

4 I give no offense with

my mouth as others do; *

I have heeded the

words of your lips.

5 My footsteps hold fast

to the ways of your law; *

in your paths my feet

shall not stumble.

6 I call upon you, O God,

for you will answer me; *

incline your ear to me

and hear my words.

7 Show me your

marvelous loving-kindness, *

O Savior of those who take refuge

at your right hand from those

who rise up against them.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; *

hide me under the shadow of your wings,

9 From the wicked who assault me, *

from my deadly enemies who surround me.

The Epistle 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

The Gospel Luke 20:27-38

Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and asked him a question, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally, the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her." Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed, they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive."

I am late in writing this reflection, as I usually prepare Sunday's lessons on Saturday. We arrived late yesterday afternoon from a time with the good folks in the Diocese of Albany. Good folks who are doing the challenging work of thriving amidst difference. I came back feeling very hopeful and encouraged. I am also very exhausted. And today, even though I am exhausted and aching, I take great joy in Jesus' words that to God we are all alive - robustly alive - despite our frail, very human nature.

A Sunday Litany

Gracious Creator, you are ruler of the living

we are yours in our lifetime and in our death

you hold us in your loving arms of love

when we are dancing for joy and bent in sorrow.