Sunday, June 17, 2018

11^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (4^th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 6)

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:

First Reading: I Samuel 15:34-16:13, Psalm 20
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13) 14-17
Gospel Reading: Mark 4:26-34

The liturgical color for the day is: Green

The story from Samuel takes place in Bethlehem—of all places—you will remember that small place.  It appears later in scripture as the place where the angels send the shepherds to the one “wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.  In Sunday’s lection, the Lord has sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king.

Having passed by all of the other sons, Jesse finally brings forward David, the youngest.  He is not strong.  He is not powerful.  He does not look the part.  He would be the last of the pickings!

Samuel—looking upon him—hears that voice, “This is the Lord’s.  Anoint him.”  Samuel takes the horn of oil and pours it over David.  David shall be the king who is to reign over all Israel.

This is how God works.  One gets the idea that David would not have stood out in the crowd.  Furthermore, one also gets the idea that David was so far down on the birth order and on the pecking order that it is the reason that he was not even invited to the party to begin with.

He is the last pick.  It is how God works.  In the world’s view he is the last pick.  Yet, he is God’s pick.

Anointed.  The language matters and is significant.  In Hebrew the word for anoint is messah—or Messiah.  In Greek the word for anoint is quite literally christas—so the term Christ means Anointed One.  We tend to use the term Christ as more of a surname for Jesus.  No, it is a title.

Jesus the Anointed One.  When they were crying for a Messiah—they were asking for the one that the Lord would anoint.  It makes that sign which was placed on the cross when Jesus was crucified even more poignant.  Kings were anointed and Jesus, the Anointed One—what did it say, “King of the Jews.”

In our living life (and being the Church, too) the figure of Samuel is the Holy Spirit and we are David.  Who would think that it would be us—but as the Spirit comes to us there is this proclamation—“Yes, this is the one, anoint!”

When we claim this reality, this begin set apart by God…  We are living into the joy of knowing that it is God’s doing—God’s will—God’s choice way more than it is ours—oh, then we are living the life that God has for us.

Imagine yourself David.  Imagine it…

Imagine the surprise and the joy to feel that oil running down YOUR face.  Your face!!

Imagine yourself David.  Because you are.  Anointed.  In your baptism.  At the Lord’s Table.  You are David.  Chosen.  You are picked by God to be the love and justice in this world.  You.  You are the Body of the Anointed One.

You.  You are God’s pick.  You are anointed.  May we live into that.

Daris Bultena
General Presbyter