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Event Series Event Series: Proper 25 – Year B

Proper 25 – Year B

27 October All day

Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them, plus prayers and sermons based on them.

Bible Readings (paraphrased)

Lections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville, TN 37203-0003, USA. Used with Permission.

After the LORD had spoken, Job replied:

“LORD, I know that you can do anything,
and that once you set your mind to something,
nothing can stop you.

You asked why I talk so much when I don’t have clue.
You’re right. I was talking through my hat!
I couldn’t begin to understand such deep matters.

You put me in my place and told me to listen;
You hit me with a raft of questions
to show me how little I knew.

In the past I only knew of you second hand;
but now I have met you face to face.
So now I am ashamed of myself. I’m eating dirt!
I won’t go down that track again.”

After this, the LORD turned Job’s luck around again and gave him everything. If he was well off before, he was twice as well off now! All his relatives and old friends came and shared a great feast with him at his place. They offered their condolences and comforted him for all he had suffered through the acts of God. Everyone gave him presents – money and gold jewellery and the like. From that time on the LORD blessed Job more than ever. His stock runs held massive herds and flocks and were highly productive. He became the father of seven sons and three daughters. He named the girls Jemimah, Keziah, and Keren Happuch, and they grew up to be the most beautiful women in the land. Job gave them an equal inheritance in his will, along with their brothers. He lived for another hundred and forty years – long enough to see his great-grandchildren having children of their own. By the time he died, he’d had the kind of innings most people only dream of.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

I will speak up in your favour, every chance I get, LORD.
Every time I open my mouth, I’ll sing your praises.

Everything I’m proud of is your doing, LORD;
the news of your goodness puts a smile on the face of the helpless.

I’ll put the spotlight on you, LORD;
and gather a crowd to spread the word.

When I pounded on your door, LORD, you opened up;
you calmed my fears and put my mind at rest.

Those who look to you light up with joy;
their faces never grow dark with shame.

When I had nothing, I cried out, LORD, and you answered;
you got me out of some serious trouble.

You station your angels to watch over those who trust you;
they watch us, guard us, and get us safely through.

May everyone taste for themselves how good you are, LORD;
may everyone find shelter in you and be happy.

Your people endure as much suffering as anyone else, LORD,
but you ensure that they make it through.

Like a vigilant bodyguard,
you see that not a bone is broken.

Evil is lethal to those who drink their fill of it;
those who despise the straight and narrow will stumble to destruction.

But you, LORD, are always ready to bail out those who serve your cause;
no one who runs to you for safety will be handed over to death.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We have had lots of priests in the past, but none of them ever lasted. They kept dying and having to be replaced. Now though, Jesus is our priest, and the job is his for keeps because his life is forever. This means that now and always, Jesus is ready, willing and able to save the lives of everyone who reaches out to God through him. Appealing to God on their behalf is what Jesus lives for, and he’s always on the job.

If you listed everything anyone could possibly want in a high priest, Jesus would fit the bill perfectly. He is completely dedicated to God. There is no blood on his hands and no skeletons in his closet. When it comes to resisting sin, he’s in a league of his own. Even in heaven he has the highest honour because no one else can compare with him. Unlike any other high priest, he doesn’t need to keep offering the same old sacrifices, day after day. And unlike them, he doesn’t have to concentrate on himself and his own sins before he can get around to offering sacrifices for anyone else. Jesus offered himself as the ultimate sacrifice, and so dealt with all the sacrifices required for sin once and for all. The legislation that covered the appointment of the high priests was never able to do anything about the human weaknesses that limited their ability to do the job. It is different now though, because God has made a promise that has superseded that old legislation. This promise sees a Son appointed as permanent high priest, and he is perfectly suited to the job.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Jesus and his followers travelled through Jericho with a large crowd in tow. As they were leaving town, there was a destitute blind man sitting at the side of the road begging for money from the passers-by. He was known only as Bartimaeus – a reference to his father. Bartimaeus picked up that it was Jesus of Nazareth going past, and he began to shout at the top of his lungs, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy. Help me!”

People tried to stand over him and shut him up, but he just upped the volume even more: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy. Help me!”

Jesus pulled up in his tracks and said, “Call him over.”

So the people called him, saying, “Come on! It’s your lucky day. Jesus is calling you.”

Bartimaeus was on his feet in a flash. He didn’t even bother picking up his things. He just hurried over to Jesus. Jesus asked him, “What can I do for you?”

The blind man answered, “Teacher, I want to see again.”

Jesus said to him, “Done! Your faith has paid off, making you whole.”

And sure enough – just like that – Bartimaeus regained his vision and began to follow Jesus on the way.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Prior to the revision of the Lectionary in 1992, the 1st reading and the psalm that responded to it were chosen to link thematically with the gospel reading. After hearing the critique of those who said that the Hebrew Scriptures, from which the first reading is usually chosen, should be allowed to speak with their own voice rather than just add support to the gospel reading, the Lectionary was revised so that during Ordinary Time, the 1st reading runs in its own semi-continuous series, working through various books of the Hebrew Bible. The older themed series continues to be available as an alternative.

The weekly prayers offered here at LaughingBird Resources are based on the four readings above, and do not draw on the themed 1st reading and psalm.

This is what the LORD has to say:

Sing and celebrate with God’s people.
Raise the shout for the number one nation.
Broadcast the news and give due credit,
for I, the LORD, have come to save my people,
the few who have remained faithful.

See, I am going to bring them home from across the border.
I will gather them from the ends of the earth.
I won’t only bring the strong and agile ones,
but the blind and the crippled,
the one’s who are heavily pregnant
and those with small children clinging to their ankles.
I will bring them all back here,
the whole mob of them.

There will be floods of tears as they return,
but I will reassure them and lead them home.
I will make sure there are refreshments available along the route,
and that the road is clear and easy to follow,
for I have made these people my own children,
and I love them as my one and only.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

When you brought us home to Zion from exile, LORD,
    we had to pinch ourselves to be sure it wasn’t a dream.

Laughter and singing kept bubbling up in us;
    we were just over the moon!

Even the nations around us had to admit
    that you must have taken our side, LORD.
Indeed, we could only celebrate and thank you
.    for the wonderful things you had done for us.

LORD, we need your help again;
    we are like dry creek-beds in need of rain.

We have worked with sweat and tears;
    let us reap the rewards with celebration.

Let those who laboured with heavy hearts,
    expecting nothing but despair,
come home with pride renewed,
    celebrating unimaginable success.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Prayers

Let us lift up our hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise, O God,
for you save all those who keep faith,
and bring healing and wholeness to all who seek your help.

You created the heavens and the earth
and no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Your mysteries are more than we can comprehend,
and though even the good endure great trials,
you come in person to rescue and restore them.

You have come to us in your Son, Jesus Christ,
who embodied your compassion
for all who suffer the darkness of a broken world.
In the face of the forces of evil and death,
he offered himself, once and for all.
You raised him to life again,
making him our perfect high priest,
and exalted him above the heavens
where he now prays for us, day and night,
that he might save all who approach you through him.

Therefore with .....

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We give thanks for your Son, Jesus Christ,
who offered himself, once and for all.
You raised him to life again,
making him our perfect high priest,
and exalted him above the heavens
where he now prays, day and night,
for the salvation of all.

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)

We give you all thanks and praise, O God,
for you save all those who keep faith,
and bring healing and wholeness to all who seek your help.

You created the heavens and the earth
and no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Your mysteries are more than we can comprehend,
and though even the good endure great trials,
you come in person to rescue and restore them.

You have come to us in your Son, Jesus Christ,
who embodied your compassion
for all who suffer the darkness of a broken world.
In the face of the forces of evil and death,
he offered himself, once and for all.
You raised him to life again,
making him our perfect high priest,
and exalted him above the heavens
where he now prays for us, day and night,
that he might save all who approach you through him.

Therefore, with our hearts lifted high,
we offer you thanks and praise at all times
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Jesus is able to save all who approach God through him.
He has offered himself for the forgiveness of sin,
once and for all,
and now he lives to pray for us,
and present us, forgiven, to God.

Sisters and Brothers,
  your sins are forgiven;
    be at peace.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Go out with your eyes opened to the presence of God
and follow Jesus on the way.
Drink in the richness of God
and enjoy the strength of the Lord.

And may God give you a long and full life;
May Christ Jesus open your eyes to the wonder of life;
and may the Holy Spirit fill you with the faith that makes you whole.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
   In the name of Christ. Amen.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Sermons

Sermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website.

  1. Saved? From What?
    A sermon on Hebrews 7: 23-28 by Nathan Nettleton
  2. What if you could see clearly?
    A sermon on Mark 10:46-52 by Nathan Nettleton
  3. Seeing Clearly
    A sermon on Mark 10:46-52 by Nathan Nettleton
  4. When It All Becomes Clear
    A sermon on Mark 10:46-52 by Nathan Nettleton
  5. Standing Up to the Silencers
    A sermon on Mark 10:46-52 by Nathan Nettleton
  6. Happy Ever After, or not
    A sermon on Job 42:1-6, 10-17 & Mark 10:46-52 by Nathan Nettleton
  7. Beauty, Freedom, Healing, and Wisdom
    A sermon on Job 42:1-6, 10-17 by Nathan Nettleton

Details

Date:
27 October
Series: