The Story
October 20, 2019
19th Sunday after Pentecost

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

Gospel Reading: Luke 18:1-8

---

Something to Do

Proclaim the Message

Our baptismal vows include the promise to proclaim, in word and deed, the Good News of God in Christ? Fulfilling this promise requires us to know what that Good News is – and each of us will have a slightly different answer.

Whatever our answer, though, we are called to proclaim the message – not whisper or suggest or allude to the message. Proclaim it. Your challenge this week is to find a way to do that.

Bonus points if you tell someone from your church community about what you tried and how it felt!

More proclaiming…but less daunting

Choose a Bible passage you really love and proclaim it. This is more than just reading it out loud – it’s about reading it out loud because it’s important and exciting and good news. Read it in such a way that any one who hears you will be drawn to actually listen.

And again with the bonus points: commit it to memory! Something very interesting happens when you memorize even a short passage (more than a verse – it needs to have some sweep) and proclaim it from heart.

---

Something to Wonder

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful…

How do you react to this claim? Are there parts of scripture that make this hard to believe? If so, which ones and why? How do you explain their inclusion in the Bible?

If you happily embrace this claim, how would you explain your feelings and ideas to a fellow Christian who did not?

Be persistent

Who are the persistent evangelists who have shaped you, patiently teaching and guiding you to deeper understanding and greater faith?

Who are the persistent evangelists of our age and what is their message? Are they teaching truth or just telling stories people want to hear?

What is the message God has entrusted to you? Have you been persistent in sharing it?

---

Something to Learn

Biblical Storytelling

The Network of Biblical Storytellers provides resources and training in this particular art form. See some of their storytellers at work. Learn about what they do and why they do it.

3 Reasons Why the Bible is Worth it

Pete Enns is a biblical studies professor, author, and speaker. His blog is full of witty and thoughtful reflections on the nature and content of the Bible, its lack of inerrancy, and the joys that brings. This entry is particularly lovely: 3 Reasons Why the Bible is Worth It.

---

Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.

The Story
October 13, 2019
18th Sunday after Pentecost
Thanksgiving Weekend

Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” 

---

Something to Do

Prostrate Yourself

Prostrating yourself (lying face down on the ground) is not something we do very often. It’s a very dramatic gesture which takes some effort to execute and leaves us very vulnerable and pretty uncomfortable. It signifies an intensity of emotion and a complete self-giving, whether in service or in gratitude or in despair. In this week’s Gospel, the healed Samaritan prostrates himself before Jesus as an act of radical gratitude.

Prostration is sometimes used liturgically. In some diocese, ordinands prostrate themselves during the prayers that come right before they are ordained. In some churches, the clergy prostrate themselves at the beginning of the Good Friday service during a time of silent prayer.

I don’t think we are going to introduce prostration into our liturgy at Ascension but you could try it out during a time of private prayer (or have your kids try it out while you say a prayer of thanksgiving and/or dedication). It will probably feel silly at first but hold on for a little and see what happens. What other feelings rise within you? What does the prayer become?

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back…

Sometimes, we don’t say thank you because we don’t notice the gifts we have been given. Spend some time this week taking stock of where you have experienced healing or growth. Say thank you to the people who have contributed to that gift. Say thank you to God (maybe while lying prostrate…)

---

Something to Wonder

Your faith has made you well

This is a familiar refrain in the Gospel healing stories but, in this story, it comes after the healing has been received which suggests that the wellness that has come through faith is about more than the physical healing.

In what ways has your faith made you well?

Ten Lepers

Imagine how the lepers felt when they saw Jesus coming into their village. They had obviously heard of him and knew he had a reputation as a powerful healer. I wonder if they were sceptical or hopeful or nervous or…

And how did they feel when all he did was tell them to go and show themselves to the priest. And when they realized that they were healed?

What do you think the 9 lepers who did not return to Jesus did?

---

Something to Learn

Speaking of Samaritans…

The Jewish Encyclopaedia offers a long but skimmable article on the history of the Samaritan people and their relationship with the Jews.

And CNN has a short and fascinating article on the very tiny modern Samaritan community that continues to live in Israel and Palestine today.

---

Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.