Over the next two months (Aug 6 – Sept 24) we will follow the Revised Common Lectionary. Although we will not observe an “official” worship series, all of our readings will wrestle with a particular theme. We will follow the Book of Genesis, the letter to the Romans, and the Gospel of Matthew. This week we will wrestle with the concept of “legacy” in both the ancient world and our modern lives:
Genesis 32:23-31
23 (Jacob) took them and everything that belonged to him, and he helped them cross the river. 24 But Jacob stayed apart by himself, and a man wrestled with him until dawn broke. 25 When the man saw that he couldn’t defeat Jacob, he grabbed Jacob’s thigh and tore a muscle in Jacob’s thigh as he wrestled with him. 26 The man said, “Let me go because the dawn is breaking.”
But Jacob said, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.”
27 He said to Jacob, “What’s your name?” and he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name won’t be Jacob any longer, but Israel,[a] because you struggled with God and with men and won.”
29 Jacob also asked and said, “Tell me your name.”
But he said, “Why do you ask for my name?” and he blessed Jacob there. 30 Jacob named the place Peniel,[b] “because I’ve seen God face-to-face, and my life has been saved.” 31 The sun rose as Jacob passed Penuel, limping because of his thigh.
Romans 9: 1-5
I’m speaking the truth in Christ—I’m not lying, as my conscience assures me with the Holy Spirit: 2 I have great sadness and constant pain in my heart. 3 I wish I could be cursed, cut off from Christ if it helped my brothers and sisters, who are my flesh-and-blood relatives. 4 They are Israelites. The adoption as God’s children, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the worship, and the promises belong to them. 5 The Jewish ancestors are theirs, and the Christ descended from those ancestors. He is the one who rules over all things, who is God, and who is blessed forever. Amen.
Matthew 14: 13-21
13 When Jesus heard about John, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. When the crowds learned this, they followed him on foot from the cities. 14 When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them and healed those who were sick. 15 That evening his disciples came and said to him, “This is an isolated place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16 But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.”
17 They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves of bread and two fish.”
18 He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them and broke the loaves apart and gave them to his disciples. Then the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 Everyone ate until they were full, and they filled twelve baskets with the leftovers. 21 About five thousand men plus women and children had eaten.
Review these resources:
For the next eight weeks we will follow the lectionary texts through the book of Genesis, the letter to the Romans, and the Gospel of Matthew. To understand our texts we must first understand the historical context in which they were written and the literary styles of the authors. Please watch these videos and review other resources by the The Bible Project to gain a better understanding of our sacred texts.
Consider these questions:
- Jacob wrestled with an angel to secure his legacy, but the encounter left him limping. What are you currently wrestling with in your life? Sometimes the very thing that causes us to feel weak is also what brings about a positive legacy.
- In Romans the apostle Paul speaks of his relatives and their legacy as Israelites, descendants of Jacob. He points out that Jesus, the one who brings all people to Himself, is from that lineage. Why do you think Paul made this connection for his audience in Rome? What was he trying to tell them about history and legacy as it relates to unity in Christ?
- At the beginning of this text in Matthew, Jesus learned about the death of his cousin, John (the Baptist). Jesus was his cousin John’s greatest legacy. Although Jesus was grieving the loss of his cousin and mentor, he multiplied fish and bread until everyone had enough to eat. The 12 leftover baskets represent abundance for the 12 tribes of Israel. Jesus left a legacy of abundance even while grieving personal loss. Sometimes we can grieve loss and celebrate legacy at the same time. How and when have you experienced grief and celebration in your life?