Lectionary Class Yr B Pentecost 24

Lectionary for Sunday between November 13 and 19 Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost 1 Samuel 1:4-20; 1 Samuel 2:1-10 or Psalm 113; Hebrews 10:11-25; Mark 13:1-8

(1 Samuel) – Today we read the story of Hannah, the mother of Samuel. This story is set in a time of political chaos. After the time of Joshua, the people were led by a series of Judges. The Judge was not a legal arbiter but a charismatic leader. When an enemy attacked, God would raise up a judge who would unify the people to overcome the threat. The judge also called the people to faithfulness in God and away from apostasy. However, as in many stories in the Bible, God chooses to deal with these larger problems by focusing on a personal problem - the barrenness of Hannah. As you read the story of Hannah, how would “diagnose” her problem? In her distress, Hannah prayed to God (v. 11). What do you think of her vow / prayer? What do you think of the men in the story (Elkanah and Eli)? How do they respond to Hannah’s distress? Near the end of the passage (v. 18) Hannah’s countenance was no longer sad. What changed for Hannah? Who do you indentify with in this passage? (1 Samuel) – This week, Hannah’s song replaces the psalm. Following the birth and weaning of Samuel, Hannah brought the boy to serve the priest Eli at the Sanctuary. This song records Hannah’s words after “she left him there for the Lord.” These words are similar to those Mary sang after she heard the greeting of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:46-55). This song is really a very profound description of God. As you read this song, mark the various characteristics of God you find revealed there. What new attributes of God do you find in these verses? What old ideas of God are challenged by these words? (Hebrews) – For the past several weeks we have been reading Hebrews and the description of Jesus as our Great High Priest. In today’s reading, we reach an import word: “Therefore” - what follows are the consequences for us of having Jesus as our Priest. The author then lists three things that flow from Jesus. Each is introduced by the phrase, “Let us.” Read these sentences carefully - what are we called to do? (Mark) – Chronologically, these verses are during Holy Week when Jesus is in Jerusalem preparing to celebrate Passover. Accordingly, the temple would have been adorned for the Festival and many people would have been in the city. These verses begin a whole chapter where Jesus talks about the end times and is Jesus’ last major teaching in the Gospel of Mark. Many people look to Jesus’ words for clues as to the date and time of the apocalypse and many people throughout the ages have believed that they were living in the last days.

Many current doomsday predictions are now focusing on Dec 21, 2012, but similar images can be found in the Left Behind series of books. What does our popular culture have to say about the end times? How do these images compare to Jesus’ own words? What does Jesus tell us to do in unsettled times?

Next Week’s Lectionary Lectionary for the Sunday between November 20 and 26 Christ the King Sunday 2 Samuel 23:1-17; Psalm 132:1-12; Revelation 1:4b-8; John 18:33-37