Third Sunday after the Epiphany, January 23, 2022 (C)—1 Corinthians 12:12–31a; Luke 4:14–21

Lectionary Poems, Year C: Even More Surprising Grace for Pulpit and Pew, which has all these poems for the year, 150 of them, including seven new hymn texts, with two indices of scriptural references and titles, is available from Wipf and Stock, Amazon, or, the least expensive, from me, signed and inscribed, for only $11 (which includes tax) and $3.19 postage. Check or Venmo. Write me at scott.l.barton[at sign]gmail[dot com]!  —S.L.B.

 

1 Corinthians 12:12–31a

 

Can “Religion” = Re-ligament Again?

 

A Jewish friend once wrote to me

About the news from Canterb’ry;*

He thought that Justin Welby seemed

Reactionary, since the seams

Of Anglicans had now been frayed

From sanctions over matters gay.

 

I told him Welby’s job was tough,

Consid’ring some had had enough,

Preferring the Americans

Would go their separate way, again,

And leave a great and worldwide fold,

A purer church to then behold.

 

It’s painful that some matters rank

So high to some, they’d draw a blank,

Forgetful of this chapter, where,

Paul says we must with others bear

When they are diff’rent!—since in Christ,

All parts that are in him, suffice.

 

My friend, no synagogue attends,

And frequently with me contends

Religion is no tie that binds,

But rather splits both hearts and minds;

Sometimes I fear that he is right,

And wish this text be heeded, quite.

 

Scott L. Barton

 

(*http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/15/world/europe/anglican-archbishops-sanction-us-episcopal-church-over-gay-marriages.html?)

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

 

Luke 4:14–21

from Franco Zefirelli’s film, “Jesus of Nazareth” (1977)

 

Tickled by the Word

 

I think that they were thrilled to find

The hometown boy, who made them proud;

Their oohs and aahs, like him, not shy,

Were happily to all avowed.

 

He pulled no punches, thus they fixed

Their startled eyes in pleased delight.

When from the heart, a reader reads,

The reader, list’ners’ faith invites.

 

Don’t jump ahead yet to next week,

When too much boldness flipped their switch;

For now, remember to proclaim!

For that’s the scratch that cures our itch.

Scott L. Barton

 

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, 

because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. 

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives 

and recovery of sight to the blind, 

to let the oppressed go free, 

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”