Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 26, 2006
BCP: : 2 Chron. 36:14-23, Psalm 122, Eph. 2:4-10, John 6:4-15
RCL: Num. 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22; Eph. 2:1-10; John 3:14-21
The readings from the two lectionaries, which are usually pretty close, are today all over the biblical map. However, Ephesians is in common and holds the rest together.
Paul says that we are “created in Christ for good works” (Eph. 2:10). John expresses the same idea by the theme of light. In effect those who walk in the light are those who do good works. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert and the people lived, the Son of Man must be lifted up that we may have eternal life (Numbers 21:9 and John 3:14-15). John goes on to make clear that this eternal life is characterized by light. “But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God." (John 3:21) Our deeds are characterized by saturated light. Paul in turn, with his more philosophical language, knew that we were created for such luminosity.
John does not have the Eucharist at the last supper. Instead we find his Eucharistic theme here in chapter 6, in the feeding of the five thousand. Paul says we are saved through faith. It is not our own doing. It is a gift from God. (Eph. 2:8) Just as all are invited to sit on the grass and eat freely as a gift, all are invited to the banquet in the kingdom to freely participate.
Think of the kingdom as near and not in terms of the afterlife. We have the gift of the banquet and thereby are saturated with light so that we may go into the world to spread light by good works. We are not saved by the works but it is who we are, light-saturated people. We can do nothing else but shine. Paul and John may use different vocabulary, but they were thinking along the same lines.
Look It Up
Read from the Book of Common Prayer (pp. 285-287) the Lighting of the Paschal Candle and the Exsultet for the themes of Christ the light, eternal life, light given to us to enlighten our deeds.
Think About It
At the end of our Eucharistic service we are dismissed to go out into the world. How seriously do we take our role as light-saturated people, freely gifted at the banquet lawn with luminosity? Does our light shine Monday through Saturday?
Next Sunday
Fifth Sunday in Lent, April 2, 2006
BCP: Jer. 31:31-34, Psalm 51 or 51:11-16, Heb. 5:(1-4)5-10, John 12:20-33
RCL: Jer. 31:31-34, Psalm 51:1-13 or 119:9-16, Heb. 5:5-10, John 12:20-33
