Saturday, August 13, 2011

Psalm 68.1-6, 1 Samuel 31.1-13, 1 Corinthians 7.1-24 - Lectionary for 8/13/11

Today's readings are Psalm 68.1-6, 1 Samuel 31.1-13, and 1 Corinthians 7.1-24.

Our passage today from 1 Corinthians 7 is sometimes used to suggest that Paul gives his opinion on divorce but that it is not binding. He says in 1 Corinthians 7.10 that he, not the Lord, says we who are married should remain married. It may be helpful to us to observe that 1 Corinthians may well have been written before any of the Gospels. However, if we consider that Luke 1 and John 21 suggest there were collections of sayings and deeds of Jesus prior to the composition of the canonical Gospels, it is easy to take away the idea that Paul could not find a specific quote from Jesus about this situation but that the overall thrust of Scripture and apostolic teaching pointed him to this conclusion.

How seriously do we take our marriage vows? What of our other obligations? Do we trust our Lord can work through our situation and use us no matter what? Or do we act as though Jesus' death on the cross had nothing to do with the sin and failings we and those around us show every day? May the Lord give us grace to deal with whatever situation he has given us. May we be his instruments of peace and reconciliation in this world, though all our vocations, every day.

No comments: