The Days are Surely Coming: A Lectionary Kaleidoscope
Reign of Christ
I had a kaleidoscope as a child and it fascinated me to turn the cardboard tube which allowed small pieces of stained glass to tumble around each other, forming brilliant patterns as light poured through the glass from behind. As I reviewed the scripture texts for this week’s lectionary readings, I was struck by the beauty and the intertextual connections of some of my favorite lines of scripture. I decided to play with these lines a bit to see what might come of it. There is a chorus or a refrain because it resounded in my mind as I read the other portions. I unashamedly cherry-picked my favorites and then experimented with moving the texts around in conversation with each other.
Like a kaleidoscope in which the bits of colored glass move and never quite make the same image twice in a row, these scripture text pieces can be reconfigured in many different ways to allow the light to shine through the darkness and illuminate our imaginations as we anticipate the coming of Advent next week.
You might try reading this aloud, whether on your own or with your weekly study group. Listen for the connections and let the beauty of these ancient words seep into your soul. I also encourage you to try moving around the pieces of these familiar texts for yourself. I would love to hear what you come up with.
The Days Are Surely Coming
Thus says the Lord: “Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing.”
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
"Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth."
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
He, Jesus, is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers--all things have been created through him and for him.
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
He himself, Jesus, is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
On the cross, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."
Then the criminal next to him said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Glory and praise to God the Father, to Jesus the Christ, and to the ever present Holy Spirit, for the mercy promised to our ancestors and for remembering his holy covenant. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Thanks be to God; the days indeed are surely coming. May we be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may we be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.