For Sunday, December 22
Episode 42
Welcome to the Pulpit Fiction Podcast, where two local pastors discuss the lectionary reading for the week. We are well aware that “What” is not a country, and we’ll try not to say it again. This is episode 42 for Sunday December 22, Advent 4A. We will be discussing:
Check-in
Primary Scripture - Matthew 1:18-25- An Angel visits Joseph
“If a man is found having sex with a woman who is married to someone else, both of them must die—the man who was having sex with the woman and the woman herself. Remove such evil from Israel! If a young woman who is a virgin is engaged to one man and another man meets up with her in a town and has sex with her, you must bring both of them to the city gates there and stone them until they die—the young woman because she didn’t call for help in the city, and the man because of the fact that he humiliated his neighbor’s wife. Remove such evil from your community!
But if the man met up with the engaged woman in a field, grabbing her and having sex with her there, only the man will die. Don’t do anything whatsoever to the young woman. She hasn’t committed any capital crime—rather, this situation is exactly like the one where someone attacks his neighbor and kills him. Since the man met up with her in a field, the engaged woman may well have called out for help, but there was no one to rescue her.
If a man meets up with a young woman who is a virgin and not engaged, grabs her and has sex with her, and they are caught in the act, the man who had sex with her must give fifty silver shekels to the young woman’s father. She will also become his wife because he has humiliated her. He is never allowed to divorce her.”
Secondary scripture - Isaiah 7:10-16 - Immanuel
Virgin vs. young woman- does it matter? most likely the young woman was already pregnant “The child will be born to a "young woman" (Heb. 'almah) who is already pregnant and will give birth in the near future, as suggested by the Hebrew construction harah weyoledet ("is with child and shall give birth," v. 14).” - J. Blake Couey - Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Feasting on the Word – Year A, Volume 1: Advent through Transfiguration. Is this miracle more important than bringing peace to the earth, sight to the blind, good news to the poor, letting the oppressed go free, etc.? Matthew, Luke and other early Christians ascribe the name “Immanuel” to Jesus, this does not mean Isaiah was thinking of Jesus what he says this. Early Christians gave Jesus this name because he was a symbol of the hope embodied in this prophecy, just as “Son of Man” was a symbol of the faithfulness seen in King David (also known as the “Son of Man”) In opposition to the Greek and Roman Gods coming down to rape or have sex with women and cause general pain, brokenness and discord the divine coming to Earth is for healing, hope, and peace - not lust, oppression, coercion and war. For more on this see Born Divine Message of reassurance at the brink of doom Assyrians and Ephraimites are coming in to make Judah a puppet state or destroy them All is hopeless Or is it? Ahaz must ask for a sign - but won’t afraid he won’t receive an answer unwilling to trust in God Ahaz was unfaithful - worshiped pagan God, set up a pagan altar in the temple YET- God still will give anything to make the King trust in him Parallel images of a growing child and a growing world- the Eschatological growth of the world= the biological and psychological growth of a child Questions that Preach: What is the true miracle of Christmas? That a virgin conceived and bore a son OR that a child was born and showed us the saving WAY of non-violence, love and grace? Are we willing to ask God for a sign in the midst of despair? Are we still willing to turn to God over economic, political, or militaristic solutions? What are the signs God is giving us today at this moments that “God is with us”?Closing -
TY: listeners
Opening Music: O Come, O Come Emmanuel by Bad Religion
Transition Music: “Purple Rain” covered by Dred Scott
read more about Dred Scott and his music here!
Theme Music: Dick Dale and the Deltones “Misirlou”
TY: Closing music, Paul and Storm, “Oh No”
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