Words of Judgment

Monday, December 11, 2006 -- Week of Advent 2, Year 1

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117
An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 936)
Psalms 25 (morning) // 9, 15 (evening)
Isaiah 5:8-12, 18-23
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Luke 21:20-28

Today's scripture is full of foreboding, judgment, and woe.

Isaiah speaks judgment to the comfortable, powerful, and wealthy. He condemns their love of entertainment and drink. He condemns their large houses and land holdings. He condemns their competitive and greedy business practices. He condemns their dishonesty and their piety. Isaiah predicts that God will judge and punish because of the deeds of these powerful people.

Paul also speaks with anticipation of an end time. This is one of his early letters, and it captures the eager expectation of the return of Christ. Paul calls his congregation to vigilance and sobriety, grounded in the virtues of faith, hope and love.

In Luke's writing, Jesus uses many of the phrases and warnings from the ancient prophets to comment on the present time. Scholars think that it is likely that Jesus expected an imminent apocalyptic, decisive event of God. Several of the gospel writers saw the Roman invasion of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple in 70 BCE as the fulfillment of Jesus's warnings.

Underneath all of these dire passages is an ultimate faith in the providential justice of God. God will right all wrongs and bring judgment to wrongdoers. The consistent advice is for God's people to remain faithful and vigilant. We are to live trusting in the values of God even when we see injustice triumph and violence threaten. Beyond all of the woe, there is deliverance.

The other side of that coin is the message to the wealthy, powerful, and arrogant. Beware! God is not going to put up with your stuff forever.
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The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR