Open-ended,
Life-centred,
Gospel-Focused Explorations of the Hebrew Bible Readings set for the
Eucharist in the Australian Prayer Book.
Baptism
of Our Lord, Year C... IS43:1-7...For the Gospel
(LK 3:14-22) scroll on site.
NOTES: 1]Always
read the Hebrew Bible in the light
of our understanding of God in the New Testament.2] The
unnamed Prophet who wrote this is often referred to as Deutero, or
Second IS
& wrote
Ch.40-55 about the mid 500's BC. 3] Our
passage is addressed to a people 'blinded' by God speaking through Ist
IS (see 6:9-10). See also 42:18+. 4] We're dealing with poetry again
here. 5] Ransom in vv.3 &
4 refers to the need to redeem first-born by sacrifice under Mosaic Law. WARMING UP: Do we
ever feel 'blinded', 'dumb', etc., in any sense about anything?
TREASURES OLD & NEW:
Identify God at work in anything this week?
ENTERING INTO THE STORY:
1-2 Do we ever discern God saying, "But
now....." to us,
indicating our relationship to him
has changed? In which case, does it change for the better more than for
the worse, or vice versa? Or is our relationship more a constant? In
today's more scientifically educated world, how conscious are we of our
very being being 'created', 'formed' by God, or has all that kind of
thing gone by the board? How much is our / any relationship with God
dependent upon such an awareness (not necessarily in a fundamentalist
sense)?
How much
of a part does 'fear' play in our relationship with God? What if we
simply 'fear' life? What does that say about any relationship we have
with God, directly, or through others? How conscious are we of God
'calling us by name'? If we're not, might this mean we're still among
the 'blind'?
How aware are we of God being with us when we 'pass through the waters'
(of danger)
or the 'fires' (of trial & testing)? In terms of imagery, does
either 'water' or 'fire' speak to us more than the other?
3-4 Do we think
enough in terms of God as a) Lord, b) the Holy One (of Israel)? c)
Saviour? Do we ever try to pick & choose between these
'descriptions' of God as we see / feel the need for them to apply in
our own life? How well do we cope with translating the 'of Israel' bit
into the reality of life in our own country, culture, & so on?
How
do we respond today to ideas like ransoming one person or people by
giving up another? Isn't the whole practice discredited, distasteful?
If so, how are we to interpret what IS says here in Christian terms?
What about Christians who prefer not to understand Jesus' death for us
as a
ransom (as per the Jewish imagery reflected here) by a Father
sacrificing his Son, so much as self-sacrifice on Jesus' part in
keeping
with his teaching & practice of totally self-giving love?
5-7 How are we to
interpret the coming home, giving them back, gathering together,
imagery here? Does this reflect God's politics? If so, what must we do
to respond to the way God establishes his
Rule?
