Pericope Study

Easter 3A

Presented by Richard M Burgess

Introduction

This is a pericope study presented in an effort to assist in studying the lectionary as part of sermon preparation. Therefore, while I am responsible for the content, it does not necessarily directly reflect my opinions or theology, though it might. My intention is to provide some information and direction in your attempt to hear God’s Word and sense the Spirit’s movement.

Ecumenical Lectionary Concerns: (The ELCA lessons are used for this pericope study.)

     RCL           Acts 2.14a, 36-41        Ps 116.1-4, 12-19        1 Pet 1.17-23        Lk 24.13-35

     ELCA         Acts 2.14a, 36-41        Ps *116.1-3, 10-17      1 Pet 1.17-23        Lk 24.13-35

     LBW          Acts 2.14a, 36-47        Ps 16                           1 Pet 1.17-21        Lk 24.13-35

     BCP           Acts 2.14a, 36-47        Ps 116                         1 Pet 1.17-23        Lk 24.13-35

                       or Is 43.1-12                or *116.10-17             or Acts 2.14a, 36-47 

     Catholic    Acts 2.14a, 22-28        Ps 16.1-2, 5, 7-11        1 Pet 1.17-21        Lk 24.13-35

*note that Psalm verse numbers in the LBW & BCP are sometimes slightly different than other English translations. Here the ELCA & BCP Psalm verses are the same as in the RCL, just numbered differently.

Collect / Prayer of the Day

O God, by the humiliation of your Son you lifted up this fallen world, rescuing us from the hopelessness of death. Grant your faithful people a share in the joys that are eternal; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (66)

Lesson I: Acts 2.14a, 36-41 [NRSV]

[14] But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them,

[36] Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified."

[37] Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" [38] Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." [40] And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." [41] So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

Outline / Structure:

2.14a, 36   introduction: Peter spoke – God made Jesus Lord and Messiah, and you crucified him.

2.37          audience’s question: what should we do

2.38-40     Peter’s reply

2.38-39           repent and be baptized so sins forgiven and receive the Holy Spirit

2.40                save yourselves from this corrupt generation

2.41          conclusion: about 3000 heard and were baptized, ie, added to the community

Notes, Observations, and Thought Questions:

2.27 cut to the heart In what sense? ‘Got the attention of”? “Hurt”? “Convicted”?

2.36 Lord A Jewish euphemism, still used today, for the tetragrammaton, God’s personal name, Yahweh. After his resurrection Jesus is now equated with God. What kind of nuanced Christological or Trinitarian spin is needed in proclaiming this?

2.38 Repent, and be baptized . . .so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Are repentance and baptism necessary or sufficient for receiving forgiveness and the Spirit? The Greek for “so that” is eiV, “to the extent of”, “with a view to”, or “in the use or service of”.

2.39 for you, for your children, and for all who are far away The promise includes those who are far away in both time and space, ie, everyone in the most all inclusive sense possible.

2.41 about 3000 Is this number significant or is it merely a historical fact?

Psalm: Psalm 116.1-4, 12-19 [NRSV] (LBW / BCP: 116.1-3, 10-17)

[1] I love the LORD, because he has heard

my voice and my supplications.

[2] Because he inclined his ear to me,

therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

[3] The snares of death encompassed me;

the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;

I suffered distress and anguish.

[4] Then I called on the name of the LORD:

"O LORD, I pray, save my life!"

[12] What shall I return to the LORD

for all his bounty to me?

[13] I will lift up the cup of salvation

and call on the name of the LORD,

[14] I will pay my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people.

[15] Precious in the sight of the LORD

is the death of his faithful ones.

[16] O LORD, I am your servant;

I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.

You have loosed my bonds.

[17] I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice

and call on the name of the LORD.

[18] I will pay my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people,

[19] in the courts of the house of the LORD,

in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Praise the LORD!

Outline / Structure:

116.1-2a          psalmist loves YHWH because YHWH heard his prayer

116.2b                  therefore, the psalmist will call on YHWH as long as he lives

116.3-4           psalmist in danger of death and called on YHWH

116.12-14             therefore, the psalmist will worship YHWH

116.15-16a      life / death of the faithful is important, and the psalmist is one of the faithful

116.16b                therefore, YHWH freed the psalmist from this danger

116.17-19a                 Therefore the psalmist will worship YHWH in the temple, amidst YHWH’s people

19b                 conclusion: Hallelujah!

Notes, Observations, and Thought Questions:

In addition to the theme of thanks, note the prominence of worship in this Psalm: 116.2b, 4, 13-14, 17-19.

116.12-14, 17-19 The LBW offering response found on p 67, 87, and 108 is based on these verses, albeit a little scrambled. Of the many causes for and passages on thanksgiving in the Bible, what makes these verses particularly appropriate?

116.15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones. What is precious – the death or the lives of the faithful? Perhaps “the lives of the faithful up until and through death”?

Lesson II: 1 Peter 1.17-23 [NRSV]

[17] If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. [18] You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. [20] He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. [21] Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.

[22] Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. [23] You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

Outline / Structure:

1.17a         if worship God the Father,

1.17b              then live “in reverent fear” during time on earth

1.18-19     because you have been saved from futile ways of ancestors by blood of Christ

1.20                and Christ was destined before creation, but revealed at this end of the ages for our sake

1.21                therefore we have come to trust in God, and thus our faith and hope are set on God

1.22          our souls have been purified, therefore we have mutual love and should love accordingly

1.23                because we have born anew through the living Word of God

Notes, Observations, and Thought Questions:

1.17 the time of your exile Ie, our time on earth “in exile” from our heavenly home. What kind of future or eschatological view does this imply?

1.18 ransomed This refers to the practice of purchasing a slaves freedom from their master. How does this dynamic work in the ransom “from the ways inherited from (our) ancestors”? What is paid to whom?

1.18 the futile ways inherited from your ancestors Original sin? The Law and its inability to save? Does this phrase imply Jewish or Gentile recipients of the letter?

1.19 a lamb without defect or blemish Cf Ex 12.5 where the first Passover required lambs “without blemish”, though it may be either a sheep or a goat.

1.20 the end of the ages When God saves God’s people, not necessarily any specific time or sequence.

1.22 you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth Does this contradict the doctrine of justification by faith? How are purification of souls, justification, and sanctification involved here? What are the distinctions to be made?

1.23-22 A case could be made that justification by the living word (1.23) produces love for one another (1.23) and that the audience is being encouraged to build on and increase this love. What do you think?

1.22 genuine mutual love, love one another . . . The two loves here are different. The genuine mutual love is “brotherly love (filadelfian) without hypocrisy” and loving one another is “having agape”. Is there a significance to this distinction, perhaps an exhortation to make genuine love even deeper and more self-giving?

1.23 not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God How is God’s word “seed”? Compare this to the Parable of the Sower in Mt 4.1-9. Note the definition of “word” in 1.25: “That word is the good news that was announced to you.”

As is frequently the case, this passage is part of a reading of the book of 1 Peter during this Easter season and not necessarily always linked to the other lessons. Is this passage related to the material in Acts or Luke?

Gospel: Luke 24.13-35 [NRSV]

[13] Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, [14] and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. [15] While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, [16] but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. [17] And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. [18] Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" [19] He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, [20] and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. [21] But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. [22] Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, [23] and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. [24] Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." [25] Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! [26] Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" [27] Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

[28] As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. [29] But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. [30] When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. [32] They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" [33] That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. [34] They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" [35] Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Outline / Structure:

24.13-27   setting: post mortem of the Passion, with Christ’s (unrecognized) guidance

24.28-31   miracle: Christ’s presence made known in the breaking of bread

24.32-35   response: understanding and witness to Christ’s presence

Alternate Outline / Structure:

24.13-14   disciples come from Jerusalem

24.15              Jesus comes to disciples

24.16                    disciples don’t recognize Jesus

24.17-30                     words and meal with Jesus

24.31a                  disciples recognize Jesus

24.31b            Jesus disappears

24.32-35   disciples return to Jerusalem

Notes, Observations, and Thought Questions:

I have outlined this passage in the form of a miracle story. What is the significance of the form to the content of the story? What is the significance of the chiasm surrounding words and meal with Jesus?

24.13-35 David Tiede’s summary of this passage in the Harper Collins Study Bible: “The story of the appearance of the risen Christ reveals the disbelief of the disappointed even when they hear.” How are we inclined to not believe when we most need to?

24.16 their eyes were kept from recognizing him Cf Jn 20.14 where Mary Magdalene doesn’t recognize Jesus until he speaks her name. Assuming Luke is using a divine passive, what is God’s purpose in keeping people from recognizing Jesus when he is right there in front of them? Why is witnessing the resurrected Christ not enough? (Note that in 24.19-24 they also knew the right “words” about the resurrection, but the words weren’t enough to point them to the resurrected Christ.)

24.26 Theology of the cross: Christ must suffer in order to attain his glory.

24.27 Moses and all the prophets . . . all the scriptures Note the comprehensiveness of the scriptures about Christ.

24.30 Note the Eucharistic sequence: take, bless, break, distribute. (Compare to the similarity to our (ELCA) worship as presented in With One Voice: Gather, Word, Meal, Send.)

24.31-32 Christ’s presence here is not so much his physical presence as in the word (24.32) and meal (24.31). Note that he does not linger, but instead the witnesses are moved to share the good news with others.

24.31 Why did Jesus vanish as soon as the disciples recognized him? Was he ever really (not) there?

24.32 Were not our hearts burning . . . on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us? Did they know this while on the road? Why is this now mentioned only in retrospect? What is the relation of “opening the scriptures” on the road and having their eyes opened at the meal?

24.33 that same hour Note the sense of urgency. How can we instill that in our congregations? Ourselves?

If you were to dramatize this scene, how would you portray “Jesus”in different parts of the story?

What kind of a “resurrection” does this story imply? Physical? Spiritual? Metaphorical?

Note that full understanding of Jesus and his significance did not have to precede the meal, it came during it and because of it. Therefore, first communion should occur at age . . .

The progression of understanding Jesus’ identity:

     24.19        Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet mighty in words and deeds

     24.26        Jesus tells he (himself) is the Messiah and needed to suffer and then enter into glory

     24.34-35   Jesus is “the Lord”, ie, God

*I do not necessarily advocate using these as titles for real sermons, but rather present them in the hope that you might stumble over them and fall upon some useful ideas. Enjoy.

Recommended Resources:

Easter 3A

Burgess, Richard Pericope Study for Sunday 4/10/5 (this document)

http://www.geocities.com/richardmburgess/pericope-study-ea3a.htm

Woodard, Jenee The Text This Week

http://www.textweek.com/yeara/eastera3.htm

Nelson, Dan Text Studies

http://sio.midco.net/danelson9/yeara/easter3a.htm

Nuechterlein, Paul Girardian Reflections

http://girardianlectionary.net/year_a/easter3a.htm

Luke 24.13-35

Stoffregen, Brian Exegetical Notes.

http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/luke24x13.htm

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Copyright © 2005 by Richard M Burgess                                                         latest revision: April 4, 2005