SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 2024 | EPIPHANY - Fourth Sunday after The Epiphany (B)

Insights

Deuteronomy 18:15–20 NRSV

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” Then the Lord replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.”

Located in a long list of laws: preceded by Child-Sacrifice, Divination, and Magic Prohibited

and followed by Laws concerning the Cities of Refuge.

1 Corinthians 8:1–13 NRSV

Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him. Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.” Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. “Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.

Mark 1:21–28 NRSV

They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Jesus’ authority is revealed - the emphasis is on authority. He teaches not merely as a teacher or religious leader....he has authority!

Good morning,

We continue with Mark and his down to the business narrative - Mark is not wasting any time with long exposition and so Jesus’ ministry is as just action-packed. And this text also shows that Jesus is the real deal and means business - he knows his stuff, but actually also has the authority!

It is easy to get stuck on the supernatural element of the story, the unclean spirit manifesting and interacting with Jesus. And we could spend a looot of exposition on that - is it really demon possession, then undiagnosed illness, a merely symbolic demonstration of Jesus' authority and power over the forces of evil and oppression, or perhaps the unclean spirit represents the oppressive systems and structures that Jesus came to confront and dismantle. Many, many good options. A spread of options like a charcuterie board if you will. It depends where you stand on things that cannot be explained - does it really hurts your post-enlightenment mind or tickles your fancy? Or perhaps somewhere in between? However, digging in would be better in the context of a Bible study.

The point, as it is customary in the season of Epiphany, is revelation. In this case, revelation of the authority that Jesus has over, well, everything, including what would we refer to as evil forces, forces that are not of God. His power is on display, really highlighting that he not only seem to have authority as he teaches, but also actually has it as he performs miracles such as this one. In him, God’s promises are being fulfilled like never before.

And yeah, that may as well include things we cannot quite explain away with science or fully comprehend with our minds. Personally, I think that if you can explain everything in your faith and there is no mystery left, it is more of a worldview or a personal philosophy, perhaps.

I think it is a good time as any to be reminded of the power of God, maybe even more so. Just looking at some of the headlines - Alabama executing an inmate using untested nitrogen gas, allegedly suffering for several minutes; far right is on the rise in Germany, Slovakia, and elsewhere; disturbing accounts of femicide and gender-based violence (in 2022, at least 34% of women polled experienced physical violence) coming out of Kenya; ...

We do need to hear that God is above all that and that God doesn’t approve and sends messengers and prophets to counter this destruction at the hands of the broken humanity - I believe it is through God’s mercy and influence that our world is yet to collapse and degrade back to pre-civilization times despite, well, everything. In conflict, there are still people and organizations that do not only play favoritism to one or the other side, but they actually care about and for civilians caught in the middle of it as we can see in Gaza for example; Ukrainian’s defense remains strong and discontent grows in Russia; people notice and protest the rise of the toxic far right nationalism; there are still many of us that advocate for an end to the primitive practise of capital punishment; and women and their allies chip away at patriarchy and misogyny day by day, continuing the ongoing struggle...

God points us to hope and I also believe gives us the means to work on getting closer to the hoped for change. Just as Jesus taught and then often demonstrated what it is like to experience God’s mercy and love. Despite everything, let us rejoice that the struggle for God’s kingdom continues! Change and progress is God-ordained - it is about moving forward, perhaps while holding fast to worthy traditions, but it is not about going back to some safe past. Amen.

Council members installation:

A reading from First Peter: Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 4:10-11)

A reading from Luther on the priesthood of all believers:

There is no true, basic difference between laymen and priests . . . between religious and secular, except for the sake of office and work, but not for the sake of status. They are all of the spiritual estate, all are truly priests, bishops, and popes. But they do not all have the same work to do.”

In the presence of this assembly will you accept this commission

and commit yourselves to this new trust and responsibility,

in the confidence that it comes from God?

Response:

I will, and I ask God to help me.

Will you carry out this ministry in accordance with the holy scriptures

and with the confessions of the Lutheran church

and in harmony with the constitutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America?

Response:

I will, and I ask God to help me.

Will you endeavor in all things to conduct yourselves

as is fitting for an ambassador and servant of Jesus Christ?

Response:

I will, and I ask God to help me.

Will you be faithful, understanding, and loving

as you accompany the people whom you will co-lead with?

Response:

I will, and I ask God to help me.

Almighty God, who has given you the will to do these things,

graciously give you the strength and compassion to perform them.

The assembly responds:

Amen.

The presiding minister addresses the assembly.

People of God,

will you support these council leaders,

Will you pray for them, help and honor them for their work’s sake,

and in all things strive to live in peace and unity in Christ?

We will, and we ask God to help us.

Gracious God, as you have called workers to varied tasks in the world and in your church, so you have called these servants to this ministry of congregational council. Grant them joy and a spirit of bold trust, that their work may stir up each of us to a life of fruitful service; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.