Update: Now that the Episcopalian bishops have rejected Anglican leaders’ call to repentance and orthodoxy, Wednesday’s lectionary readings are fascinating too.
I hate the double-minded, but I love your law. … You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain. (Ps. 119)
But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. (Ps. 81)
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler – not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” (1 Cor. 5)
There are some readings especially relevant for orthodox Anglicans meeting in Pittsburgh today, too. Among the issues on their mind is whether to fight for property as they leave the Episcopal Church.
When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? … To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? (1 Cor. 6)
“You have heard that it was said, ?An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. … If you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (Matt. 5)
(Yesterday’s readings after the jump)
Considering the issues at stake in New Orleans today, it’s hard to find a more appropriate commentary than today’s lectionary readings in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.
Among the Scriptures today:
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans. … And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. … Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor. 5)
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. ? Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. (Matt. 5)
In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror. (Psalm 78)
(Thanks to TitusOneNine)
