Lectionary # 483. Oct. 31, 2008

Scripture: Friday of 30th week. Philippians 1:1-11.Psalm 111:1-2,3-4, 5-6. Luke 14:1-6: An octave of readings from Philippians greets us and we have learned that this is Paul's favorite community. The epistle is named as a letter of joy and prayer. In fact, if we want to enter into the prayer of Paul, this is the place to start. The first chapter follows the ordinary format of an epistle: Paul to those addressed at Philippi and then the "Thanksgiving" which is today's and tomorrow's selection. This is the area where we learn about the way in which Paul prayed. This first chapter is an excellent model for our own prayer since it deals with praise of God, praise of God's people, and thanksgiving to God for this particular believing church and community of faithful and generous people. Paul opens his heart and shares his love and prayer with the readers and listeners--those who will hear this prayer in a gathering or koinonia (fellowship) at a local house church. Throughout the centuries Christians have read this epistle as addressed to them and we today do the same. Psalm 111 is similar in tone and spirit to what Paul prays. The wonders of God are the object of this prayerful psalm: "How great are the works of the Lord." Jesus is performing a work of the Lord on a sabbath. The setting is at a home where Jesus has been invited to supper. He has cured the man with dropsy and now is listening to the complaints of the people present, probably from the host who had invited him. This offers Jesus an opportunity for showing that the Father works until now even on the Sabbath when it is a question of helping one of God's poor or afflicted ones--the 'Anawim of the Psalms. Doing good for a neighbor is the fulfillment of the greatest of commandments as we have learned already through the response of Jesus to the one who posed that question. The one healed is thus permitted to participate in the joy of the Sabbath thanking God because of the work wrought through Jesus. "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." Jesus observes the spirit of the law not the letter. The spirit of the law gives life and joy. That is what the Sabbath is all about. Amen.