The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (Year C), Jan. 28, 2007
BCP: Jer. 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-17 or 71:1-6, 15-17; 1 Cor. 14:12b-20; Luke 4:21-32
RCL: Jer. 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-6; 1 Cor.13:1-13; Luke 4:21-30
It is easy to be distracted from God’s love. Jesus himself went to the synagogue at Nazareth, and he proclaimed that Isaiah’s prophecy of a messiah was fulfilled that day. But the people could not hear him, even though he spoke directly to them. They thought they knew him. He was from their town, and they knew his family. They had him situated by their preconceived notions of him, and there was no room in their minds for any other possibilities.
It was a sad day in Nazareth. Jesus found himself without honor in his own hometown. The people thought they knew enough about Jesus to make a judgment, and they could not recognize God’s love in their midst.
Paul urgently reminds the church in Corinth that love must come first for Christians. All kinds of spiritual achievements, powers, and understandings are worthless without love. Loveless words of great faith are just a “noisy gong,” and even the utmost generosity is nothing if the giving is without love. Prophecies and knowledge will come to an end, but love never ends. Real love is not self-centered, pushy or manipulative. We can do good things for selfish reasons and still be turned away from God. We will be distracted if the focus is on ourselves instead of sharing God’s love.
Our ministries are never ends in themselves, no matter how much appreciation and recognition they may generate. But our gifts and works become significant when they express our love and when they lead us to know God’s love more deeply. Instead of evaluating a gift by its apparent value to us, we may look to the loving heart of the giver.
Look It Up
The marriage service in the BCP (p. 429) includes prayers for the couple that they may seek each other’s forgiveness “when they hurt each other,” and that their life together may be “a sign of Christ’s love to this sinful and broken world.” How can this also be applied to the life of a parish, and other relationships shared by Christians?
Think About It
Tertullian once said that people outside the church are impressed by the love of Christians for each other: “See how they love one another.” Is love visible in your church when a newcomer arrives? Do parish meetings, priorities, and decisions reflect the love of Christ?
Next Sunday
The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (Year C), Feb. 4, 2007
BCP: Judges 6:11-24a; Psalm 85 or 85:7-13; 1 Cor. 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11
RCL: Isaiah 6:1-8(9-13); Psalm 138; 1 Cor. 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11
