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The sense of estrangement seems prominent as the starting point in today’s psalm, the second lesson (1 Kings 19), and in the gospel narrative. We may begin in estrangement in the human predicament, but through God’s saving actions, we need not remain stuck there. In all of the cases hope looms large and transformation becomes a possibility.

PSALM 42 (43)-LONGING FOR GOD

Psalm scholars refer to the 42nd and 43rd as instructions for the community as they face exile. Clearly we see deep pathos and emotion as the psalmist longs for appropriate worship space. Exile certainly makes this psalm more accessible; When shall I come and behold the face of God, suggests that the people have been removed from the Temple where God’s presence abided. In the phrase, while people say to me continually, ‘Where is your God?’, we can imagine the psalmist surrounded with polytheism and nature, royal, or animal idolatries. When asked for tangible proof of their God, the psalmist would be hard pressed to answer. Catch though the wonderful intimacy that the psalmist claims with God; what a powerful relational prayer that can serve us even yet as a model for intimate conversation with God.

1 KINGS 19:1-4; (5-7), 8-15a-GOD OF THE WHIRLWIND

This is the story of Elijah’s great flight from the wrath of Jezebel. With a death-thread hanging over his head, Elijah skedaddles from Mt. Carmel to Beersheba, the southernmost town at the edge of the desert. Naturally, he is exhausted so he stops to rest asking for death. Instead God nourishes Elijah to prepare him for a long journey. Batteries recharged, the prophet now heads to Horeb (Sinai) and the birthplace of Israel’s religion and the very place where God appeared to Moses. At Horeb, Elijah complains to God that he is the sole survivor of prophets, yet in a soft whisper God’s presence envelops him and he covers his face. Renewed and empowered Elijah rises to embrace a triple mission-anoint Hazael of Aram, Jehu of Israel, and Elisha as his prophetic successor.

GALATIANS 3:23-29-THE DISCIPLINARIAN

This is the famous passage in which the Law is our paidagôgos, our tutor or disciplinarian (NRSV) that leads us to faith. Paul describes Law and Faith as sort of day one and day two resources. The law provided boundaries and offered the path of righteous living, but faith in Jesus Christ provided birth into God’s community through baptism. In the new community of God, gone are the distinctions that kept people isolated, arrogant, separated, and distant from one another, for you are one in Christ Jesus, says Paul.

LUKE 8:26-39-A HOLY TRANSFORMATION

Jesus now enters into Gentile territory-his first venture into this new place of ministry-and in doing so demonstrates what he has been teaching about sowing the seeds of the kingdom (cf. 8:4-8; 11-15). Note the terrific transformation of the supplicant-from demonized, naked, out of control, living among the dead to saved, clothed, in his right mind, submissive to Jesus as his disciple, and commissioned for missions!