We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on January 7, 2021.
Reading As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22) Reflection The beginning of Luke chapter 3 is The Proclamation of John the Baptist. Crowds came to see and hear him. He was quite a sight and he certainly had a lot to say. What were their expectations? In the wilderness, of all places, he calls the people a brood of vipers and warns them of being thrown in the fire – probably not what they expected. So, the crowds were filled with questions. I noticed it says they were all asking in their hearts if John was the Messiah; seemingly afraid to speak up out loud. But John knew and answered the one coming will be more powerful and John not even worthy to untie his sandals. Which probably led to more questions of who this may be. Expectations and questions. Jump ahead a few verses to the second part of our reading – The Baptism of Jesus. It sounds like Jesus was being baptized along with everyone else - no band, parade, flag waving or fanfare which is probably what the crowds would have expected. Then the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended and a voice spoke – unexpectedly answering all the questions and/or creating more. What are your expectations and what if what happens is not at all what you expected? What are the questions in your heart and what if you end up with more? Notice one more thing. The answers came when Jesus was praying. (Luke 3: 21) What else would you expect? Good question. --Alice Yeakel Prayer Dear God, while Jesus prayed you spoke. Speak to our expectations and questions as we pray. Amen Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Epiphany, Christ is revealed, the disciples are called, and we see the early ministry of Jesus.
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