Lection Reflections: 5th Sunday after the Epiphany

"Lection Reflections" is a short review of the themes of the coming Sunday's scripture readings as written in the Common Lectionary, Year B. For more information on the Lectionary, and how it can work to aid your Bible knowledge, click here!

The common theme of Sunday's readings is personal crisis. (Remember, sometimes a common theme cannot be found, so don't fret if one does not present itself.)

The reading from the Psalms (142) requires the most background in order to fully appreciate. This background may be found in the Old Testament book of I Samuel, Chapter 22, where we read of a personal crisis of David that led him to hide in a cave. Psalm 142 is David's prayer for God's help, and a good one at that!

The Old Testament reading, II Kings 4: 8-37 (please note that I am using the recommended expanded reading, because I think these readings give me the context, which is invariably helpful), is about a woman's kindness to the prophet Elisha, which leads to God giving her and her husband a child, despite their advanced years and childlessness. The trouble begins when the child suddenly dies and the grief-stricken mother presents herself to Elisha with a plea to remedy the situation.

The Gospel reading (Mark 1: 29-39) recounts the healing of Peter's mother-in-law by Jesus -- and the deluge of people who arrive to have their sick friends and relatives healed, too. This passage has many facets, such as the observation of Mark that the busy healer took time to be with God in prayer.

The final lection is found in I Corinthians 9: 16-23. In this passage, Paul defends his right -- based on biblical evidence and common practice -- to make a living from his work as a preacher and a teacher. He also defends his freedom to not receive money for his work, which was his preferred status. The underlying crisis here was the poisonous atmosphere that is often created when a concern for money is guiding the conversation, and its adverse effect on work that benefits people. Paul's response is to do all things for the sake of the Gospel, meaning, "what's good for God's "good news" message of help and hope is good for him." We see this theme repeated in Paul's letters, regardless of the crisis he is facing at the time.

In the words of Thomas Paine: "These are the times that try men's souls." Paine's anti-church writings notwithstanding, he was right.

In our day, the bedrock of our crisis is not financial, political, or social; although growing numbers of our friends and family members are experiencing dark futures and financial hardship. At its foundation, ours is a crisis of the soul. Sunday's readings are a beginning toward a new way of facing personal crises.