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New Year, new beginning-And the Ten became One-Getting Proactive about Reconciliation. All these reflect some of the action going on in the lessons for this week. In light of our own dangerous world, such passages may speak anew to us in prophetic and powerful ways: new beginning-love-reconciliation-authority. Enjoy!

Exodus 12:1-14-Rosh Hashanah and the Passover

The lectionary committee has undoubtedly included the Passover narrative on this Sunday primarily because of its historical connection to Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year Festival (September 7th), which was to be celebrated on the first day of the month of Tishri (Sept.-Oct.). The New Year Festival observance also appears in Lev. 23:23-25 and Numbers 29:1-6. But herein lies a problem: Exodus 12 says that the month of Abib (later known as Nisan; March-April) is the first month of the year; yet no mention is made of such a festival in the Passover instructions. Indeed, the Mishnah identifies four New Years celebrations on the Jewish calendar. No matter. This lesson portrays a powerful re-dramatization of God’s mighty deliverance of the oppressed from the oppressors, which suggests a new beginning for the Israelites.

Romans 13:8-14-What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love . . .

This lesson falls into two identifiable parts: ethical obligations based on love and moral exhortations to be alert and live in a state of heightened awareness in light of the brevity of time allotted until the day of the Lord. In the first piece, Paul sees the Jewish / Christian obligation to love one’s neighbor as one’s self as the single rule that encapsulates all other laws and commands. To be guided by such a law may lack specific context, but holds up a brilliant moral and ethical light in a very dark world-as the second piece suggests.

Matthew 18:15-20-Three Strikes and You’re Out?

The lectionary committee has wisely reattached what many have torn asunder-the sinning believer passage with the over-claimed promise of Jesus’ presence. They go together. Do not cut, copy, paste, or deleteth them apart. In the first paragraph, the Matthean Jesus provides a process for reconciliation based on the if-then construction. In the unfortunate event that reconciliation fails, then the community itself has to make a decision with the full of authority of Jesus in force.