{"id":1114,"date":"2017-07-03T15:31:59","date_gmt":"2017-07-03T15:31:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/batkol.info\/?p=1114"},"modified":"2017-07-03T15:31:59","modified_gmt":"2017-07-03T15:31:59","slug":"14th-sunday-of-the-year-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/2017\/07\/03\/14th-sunday-of-the-year-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"14th sunday of the year 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

14th Sunday of the Year (9 July 2017)<\/p>\n

Lectionary readings<\/p>\n

Zec 9:9-10; Ps 145; Rom 8:9.11-13; Mt 11:25-30<\/p>\n

Theme: Spreading Shalom<\/p>\n

Download<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

After church on Father\u2019s Day, our family visited the local zoo. Even though we now have teenagers and pre-teens in tow, the animals still capture their attention and interest, and a zoo visit always is a great way to spend an afternoon together. On this particular day, we spent extra time watching the ostriches, and began discussing whether they actually stick their heads in the ground to \u201chide\u201d. While we determined that ostrich myth wasn\u2019t actually true, when faced with today\u2019s political headlines and frustrating realities, we thought the response does seem tempting. But, the more I thought about sticking one\u2019s head in the sand, the more I realized this ostrich-response to pain, calamity and problems reminds me of the false prophets in Jeremiah 6:14 who cry, \u201cPeace, peace\u201d even when there is no peace.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

But such is not the response of God in this week\u2019s passages in Zechariah 9 and Psalm 145. While the Zechariah passage is more commonly read on Palm Sunday, it\u2019s interesting to read it within its original context. As warring countries surround and threaten Jerusalem, God promises a coming king who will remove the chariots, warhorses, and battle bows. This humble, righteous and victorious king will announce peace – shalom – to all the nations. A shalom that spreads across the entire earth.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Toward that day – when shalom is spread across the earth – we long and pray. This is a promise we still anticipate, and have no doubt whether it has yet been achieved. But as we await and imagine that promised shalom, may we read Psalm 145 as a beautiful illustration of what will be. In Psalm 145 we read the realities of shalom spread across the earth.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The starting place of this shalom is God\u2019s very own character – a character of goodness, mercy, compassion, patience, majesty, power, love, justice and might. Shalom is greater than ignoring problems or falsely proclaiming manufactured peace; it is built upon the foundation of God. As God\u2019s people recognize, proclaim, worship and embody these qualities, shalom is further spread. And shalom becomes contagious as God provides, fills, loves, draws near, satisfies, hears, delivers and protects (Ps 145:15-21).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

But what shall we do in the interim, as we await that day when we shall finally, fully see shalom across the earth? This week\u2019s New Testament readings provide encouragement. When we feel weary, burdened, and tired by the strife, heartache and pain, Jesus invites us to come unto him, to find rest in him, and to take upon his yoke – and in that – God will be revealed unto us – the very same God whose character is the foundation of shalom (Mt 11:25-30). And Romans 8:11 reminds us that none of this is done in our own power, but in the power of God – the very same life-giving, death-overcoming power – which raised Jesus from the dead.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Let us be those who boldly embrace such life-giving power, eagerly take Jesus\u2019 yoke and rest upon us, and actively become shalom spreaders.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Reflection and Discussion: In what ways do you understand Psalm 145 illustrating shalom? How does this Psalm expand your understanding of shalom in today\u2019s world? What areas in your life, work, or home need to experience Jesus\u2019 promised rest? What would it look like to take upon his yoke? Where do you need his life-giving, death-overcoming power?<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

This week\u2019s Sunday Gospel Commentary was prepared by<\/p>\n

Rev. Kristen B Marble, MDiv, MEd, Bat Kol Alumni 2013<\/p>\n

Senior Pastor, West Morris Street Free Methodist Church, Indianapolis IN
Email address: kristen@kristenmarble.com<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

[Copyright \u00a9 2017]<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

PLEASE NOTE: The weekly Gospel commentaries represent the research and creative thought of their authors, and are meant to stimulate deeper thinking about the meaning of the Sunday Scriptures. While they draw upon the study methods and sources employed by the Bat Kol Institute, the views and conclusions expressed in these commentaries are solely those of their authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of Bat Kol.\u00a0 Questions, comments and feedback are always welcome<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

Bat Kol Institute for Jewish Studies, Jerusalem<\/p>\n

1983-2017<\/p>\n

\u201cChristians Studying the Bible within its Jewish milieu, using Jewish Sources.\u201d<\/p>\n

gill@batkol.info Website: www.batkol.info<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

14th Sunday of the Year (9 July 2017) Lectionary readings Zec 9:9-10; Ps 145; Rom 8:9.11-13; Mt 11:25-30 Theme: Spreading Shalom Download \u00a0 After church on Father\u2019s Day, our family visited the local zoo. Even though we now have teenagers and pre-teens in tow, the animals still capture their attention and interest, and a zoo…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":1115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1114"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/46"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1114"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1114\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}