THE BIBLE – DISCOVERY YEAR 07
– WITH LUKE’S GOSPEL
COMMENT FOR PENTECOST 5 – 01-07-07
2 Kings 2: 1, 2,6-14
The focus of the story is on Elijah as he is driven by the Spirit,  re-enacting significant events in the journey of the Hebrews as a separate people.  On his mysterious death Elisha, as the eldest son, inherits the prophet’s power, having proved himself a worthy recipient. Again the imagery of the fire plays a powerful part in the story.
Psalm 77
This is a Psalm for life’s travellers.  In the first verses the writer is in big trouble. His God seems to have left him behind and moved on. But the complaint goes on until in Verse 10- the realisation comes that he has just stopped trusting this new God of the whole world.  So in his growing understanding of the forces of nature he finds that behind these forces is the spiritual power of a God he can trust.
Galatians 5:1, 13 -35
The freedom Paul talks about was very important for these early Christians.  It was freedom from the cultural practices of the Jewish law, and also from the cultural practices and expectations of the Gentiles.  The Christians were now living out a spiritual freedom in Christ.  For us as well Paul would call us to live free of the cultural pressures of modern life – free to be God’s people of the 21st century.
Luke 9: 51-62
This reading is like an episode on the road to Jerusalem/ peace or to spiritual awareness. Sometimes the response is so hardhearted it is like being in another country.  The disciples advise the Elijah response of 2 Kings l: 10. But Jesus just moves on.  Working and living for the human/spiritual values of life require the patience and integrity of long term commitment.
 What does this say about the intervention in the N.T. and elsewhere?
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