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We have wonderful, though little interrelated, passages for this Sunday. Themes range from praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 66) to long distance snail mail correspondence (Jeremiah 29 and 2 Timothy 2) to a gripping story of transformation and response. Such themes can only challenge and inspire congregations in their discipleship journey.

PSALM 66:1-12-PRAISE THROUGH THANKSGIVING

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth, urges the psalmist. Through personal testimony and keen observation, the writer praises God for God’s providential deliverance. Thanksgiving-which provides the context or "why" of praise-alternates with the sheer exuberance of praise. On the thanksgiving side of the page, God has demonstrated great power, controls the nations, sustains those in precarious situations, and leads people into a spacious place. On the alternating page, praise rules through the appropriate phrases as: joyful noise, how awesome are your deeds!, sing praises, and rejoice!

JEREMIAH 29:1, 4-7-LETTER FROM HOME

This is the first of several letters that Jeremiah sends to those who had been deported to Babylon in 597 bce. Up to this point we’ve seen the foreboding, ominous words of Jeremiah speaking bluntly about the impending sack of Jerusalem and its resultant exile. Now, a gentler, pastoral Jeremiah instructs the deported community to settle down into normalcy. This will be their home-away-from-home for a very long time. Get married, Jeremiah says; plant your gardens and enjoy their harvests; raise your families through several generations and multiply. Later, the letter of Jeremiah instructs, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place (v. 10).

2 TIMOTHY 2:8-15-UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE GOSPEL

Paul warns Timothy to keep faith with the gospel that Paul has delivered to him. Paul’s gospel-in-a-nutshell-Jesus Christ raised from the dead, a descendant of David-is the cause for Paul’s imprisonment and suffering. Yet Paul can endure anything dished out to him, for through his efforts, others will gain the salvation that Jesus Christ embodies. A brief snippet of an ancient Christian hymn capsulates Paul’s understanding of the gospel he preaches and then the lesson concludes with a strong exhortation to do your best to be approved in as one of God’s worker-a fine teacher not ashamed (v. 15).

LUKE 17:11-19-WHERE’S THE GRATITUDE?

This story is unique to Luke-the ten lepers who approach Jesus and soon discover their transformation-they are healed. They all skedaddle off for a new life without their isolating skin disease with no intention of returning to thank the one who initiated such a remarkable cure. That is, except one-"the outsider." Jesus converses with the lone returning leper and wonders about such ingratitude. Jesus blesses the Samaritan and sends him on his way: Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well (v. 19).