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January 16th, 2011
Epiphany 2
Read today's Higher Things Daily Reflection
January 16, 2011 - The Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Today's Reading: John 2:1-11
Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 38:1-23; Romans 7:1-20
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. (John 2:6)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus came to fulfill the Law. He came to bring a New Testament. He begins it with His first miracle of changing water into wine. Notice what He uses―waterpots of the law. The purification jars of the Jews. He has them filled with water and they draw out wine. Here we are reminded that the Law was given to be fullfilled by Christ because we could not keep it.
Some say we can. There are preachers who say, “God wouldn't have given us His commandments if we couldn't keep them.” But that contradicts St. Paul who says the Law was given to show us our sin. (Galatians 3). When Jesus has those jars filled with water that turns into wine, He's teaching us that He has come to do what we could not: keep the Law. Love God. Love neighbor. He did both. Perfectly.
And what is the result of His filling up of the Law? They drank and were merry! An open bar at a wedding! This miracle is a picture of what Christ truly does for us by dying for our sins. He fulfills the Law. He loves God the Father. He loves His neighbor by dying for us. And we drink of that salvation in the holy Sacrament where the wine is given to us to drink the very Blood of Christ.
The miracle of the water into wine is also a reminder that what Christ is doing on Calvary is also about having a Bride, His holy church. Just as the wedding party went from water to wine in celebration of their marriage, so Christ's church is made alive by Baptism, and celebrates through His Holy Supper that He has redeemed her. That's you. You are the Bride of Christ. The ones for whom He gave His life. The ones for whom He turned the jars of God's Law into a saving and refreshing drink of grace even as He Himself fulfilled that Law.
This, the first of the signs that Jesus did, points to Him as the true Savior and Bridegroom. Your Savior and Bridegroom. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Almighty and everlasting God, Governor of all things in heaven and earth, mercifully hear the supplications of Your people and grant us Your peace in our time; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for Epiphany 2)
Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflectons Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.
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Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Introit
Antiphon:
All the earth shall
worship You,*
and sing praises to
You, O God.
They shall sing praises
to Your name;*
to Your name,
O Most High. (Psalm 66:4, 92:1)
Psalm:
Make a joyful shout to God,
all the earth!*
Sing out the honor of His name; make His praise
glorious.
Say to God, "How awesome
are Your works!*
All the earth shall sing prais-
es to You."
Come and see the
works of God;*
He is awesome in His doing toward the
sons of men.
Blessed be God, who has not turned a-
way my prayer,*
nor His mercy
from me! (Psalm 66:1-5, 20)
Old Testament: Ex. 33:12-23
Moses’ Intercession
12Moses said to the LORD, "See,(A) you say to me, 'Bring up this people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said,(B) 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.' 13Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please(C) show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is(D) your people." 14And he said,(E) "My presence will go with you, and(F) I will give you rest." 15And he said to him,(G) "If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people?(H) Is it not in your going with us,(I) so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?"
17And the LORD said to Moses, "This very thing that you have spoken I will do,(J) for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." 18Moses said, "Please(K) show me your glory." 19And he said,(L) "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD.' And(M) I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for(N) man shall not see me and live." 21And the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22and while my glory passes by I will put you in a(O) cleft of the rock, and I will(P) cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall(Q) not be seen."
Cross references:Exodus 33:12 : Exodus 32:34 Exodus 33:12 : Exodus 33:17 Exodus 33:13 : Psalm 25:4; Psalm 103:7 Exodus 33:13 : Deut 9:29; Joel 2:17 Exodus 33:14 : Josh 1:5; Isa 63:9; Exodus 40:34-38 Exodus 33:14 : Deut 3:20; Josh 21:44; 22:4; 23:1; Psalm 95:11 Exodus 33:15 : Exodus 33:1-3 Exodus 33:16 : Num 14:14 Exodus 33:16 : Exodus 19:5, 6; 1 Kgs 8:53 Exodus 33:17 : Exodus 33:12, 13 Exodus 33:18 : Exodus 33:20; 1 Tim 6:16 Exodus 33:19 : Psalm 31:19; Jer 31:14; Exodus 34:5-7 Exodus 33:19 : Cited Rom 9:15 Exodus 33:20 : Gen 32:30; Deut 5:24; Judg 6:22, 23; 13:22; Isa 6:5; Rev 1:17; Exodus 24:10, 11 Exodus 33:22 : Isa 2:21 Exodus 33:22 : Psalm 91:1, 4 Exodus 33:23 : Exodus 33:20; John 1:18; 1 Tim 6:16; 1 John 4:12
Gradual:
He sent His word and
healed them,*
and delivered them from their de-
structions.
Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His
goodness,*
and for His wonderful works to the child-
ren of men! (Psalm 107:20–21)
Epistle: Rom. 12:6-16
6(A) Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if(B) prophecy,(C) in proportion to our faith; 7if(D) service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity;(E) the one who leads,[a] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with(F) cheerfulness.
Marks of the True Christian
9(G) Let love be genuine.(H) Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10(I) Love one another with brotherly affection.(J) Outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not be slothful in zeal,(K) be fervent in spirit,[b](L) serve the Lord. 12(M) Rejoice in hope,(N) be patient in tribulation,(O) be constant in prayer. 13(P) Contribute to the needs of the saints and(Q) seek to show hospitality.
14(R) Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15(S) Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16(T) Live in harmony with one another.(U) Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.[c](V) Never be wise in your own sight.
Footnotes:Romans 12:8 Or gives aid Romans 12:11 Or fervent in the Spirit Romans 12:16 Or give yourselves to humble tasks
Cross references:Romans 12:6 : 1 Cor 12:4; 1 Pet 4:10, 11; 1 Cor 7:7; 12:7-11 Romans 12:6 : 1 Cor 12:10; Acts 13:1 Romans 12:6 : 2 Tim 2:15 Romans 12:7 : Acts 6:1 Romans 12:8 : 1 Tim 5:17; 1 Cor 12:28 Romans 12:8 : 2 Cor 9:7 Romans 12:9 : 2 Cor 6:6; 1 Tim 1:5; 1 Pet 1:22 Romans 12:9 : Psalm 97:10; 101:3; Amos 5:15; 1 Thess 5:21, 22 Romans 12:10 : Heb 13:1 Romans 12:10 : Romans 13:7; Phil 2:3; 1 Pet 2:17 Romans 12:11 : Acts 18:25 Romans 12:11 : Acts 20:19 Romans 12:12 : Romans 5:2 Romans 12:12 : Heb 10:36 Romans 12:12 : Acts 1:14 Romans 12:13 : Romans 15:25; 1 Cor 16:1, 15; 2 Cor 9:1, 12; Heb 6:10; 13:16; 1 Tim 6:18 Romans 12:13 : Matt 25:35 Romans 12:14 : Matt 5:44; 1 Pet 3:9 Romans 12:15 : 1 Cor 12:26; Job 30:25; Heb 13:3 Romans 12:16 : Romans 15:5; 2 Cor 13:11; Phil 2:2; 4:2; 1 Pet 3:8 Romans 12:16 : Romans 12:3; Psalm 131:1; Jer 45:5 Romans 12:16 : Romans 11:25; Prov 3:7
Verse
Alle-
luia.*
Alle-
luia.
Praise Him, all His
angels;*
praise Him, all His hosts! Alle-
luia. (Psalm 148:2)
Gospel: John 2:1-11
The Wedding at Cana
1On(A) the third day there was a wedding at(B) Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Jesus also was invited to the wedding with(C) his disciples. 3When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4And Jesus said to her, (D) "Woman,(E) what does this have to do with me?(F) My hour has not yet come." 5His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
6Now there were six stone water jars there(G) for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty(H) gallons.[a] 7Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it. 9When the master of the feast tasted(I) the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now." 11This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested(J) his glory. And(K) his disciples believed in him.
Footnotes:John 2:6 Greek two or three measures (metr&emacron;tas); a metr&emacron;t&emacron;s was about 10 gallons or 35 liters
Cross references:John 2:1 : John 1:29, 35, 43 John 2:1 : John 4:46; 21:2 John 2:2 : John 1:40-49 John 2:4 : John 19:26 John 2:4 : 2 Sam 16:10 John 2:4 : John 7:30; 8:20; 13:1 John 2:6 : John 3:25; Mark 7:3, 4 John 2:6 : 2 Chr 4:5 (Gk) John 2:9 : John 4:46 John 2:11 : John 1:14 John 2:11 : John 2:2
Offertory
Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul, Alleluia. (Psalm 66)
Daily Lectionary
First Reading: Ezek. 38: 1-23
Prophecy Against Gog
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2(A) "Son of man,(B) set your face toward(C) Gog, of the land of(D) Magog, the(E) chief prince of(F) Meshech[a] and(G) Tubal, and prophesy against him 3and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold,(H) I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech[b] and Tubal. 4(I) And I will turn you about and(J) put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and(K) all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. 5(L) Persia,(M) Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6(N) Gomer and all his(O) hordes;(P) Beth-togarmah from(Q) the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—(R) many peoples are with you.
7(S) "Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. 8(T) After many days you will be mustered.(U) In the latter years you will go against(V) the land that is restored from war, the land whose people(W) were gathered from many peoples upon(X) the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them. 9You will advance, coming on(Y) like a storm. You will be(Z) like a cloud covering the land, you and all your(AA) hordes, and many peoples with you.
10"Thus says the Lord GOD: On that day,(AB) thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme 11and say, 'I will go up against(AC) the land of unwalled villages. I will fall upon(AD) the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates,' 12to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against(AE) the waste places that are now inhabited, and(AF) the people who were gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. 13(AG) Sheba and(AH) Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all(AI) its leaders[c] will say to you, 'Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?'
14"Therefore,(AJ) son of man, prophesy, and say to(AK) Gog, Thus says the Lord GOD: On that day when my people Israel are(AL) dwelling securely,(AM) will you not know it? 15You will come from your place out of(AN) the uttermost parts of the north, you and(AO) many peoples with you,(AP) all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mighty army. 16You will come up against my people Israel,(AQ) like a cloud covering the land.(AR) In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog,(AS) I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
17"Thus says the Lord GOD: Are you(AT) he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? 18But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD,(AU) my wrath will be roused in my anger. 19For(AV) in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day(AW) there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20(AX) The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth,(AY) shall quake at my presence. And(AZ) the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. 21(BA) I will summon a sword against Gog[d] on all my mountains, declares the Lord GOD.(BB) Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22With pestilence and bloodshed(BC) I will enter into judgment with him, and(BD) I will rain upon him and(BE) his hordes and the many peoples who are with him(BF) torrential rains and hailstones,(BG) fire and sulfur. 23So I will show my greatness and my(BH) holiness and(BI) make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then(BJ) they will know that I am the LORD.
Footnotes:Ezekiel 38:2 Or Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech Ezekiel 38:3 Or Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech Ezekiel 38:13 Hebrew young lions Ezekiel 38:21 Hebrew against him
Cross references:Ezekiel 38:2 : Ezekiel 2:1 Ezekiel 38:2 : Ezekiel 6:2 Ezekiel 38:2 : Ezekiel 39:1, 11; Rev 20:8 Ezekiel 38:2 : Ezekiel 39:6; Gen 10:2; Rev 20:8 Ezekiel 38:2 : Ezekiel 39:1 Ezekiel 38:2 : Ezekiel 27:13 Ezekiel 38:2 : Ezekiel 38:4, 9 Ezekiel 38:3 : Ezekiel 13:8 Ezekiel 38:4 : Ezekiel 39:2 Ezekiel 38:4 : Ezekiel 29:4 Ezekiel 38:4 : Ezekiel 38:15 Ezekiel 38:5 : Ezekiel 27:10 Ezekiel 38:5 : Gen 10:8 Ezekiel 38:6 : Gen 10:2 Ezekiel 38:6 : Ezekiel 38:22 Ezekiel 38:6 : Gen 10:3; Ezekiel 27:14 Ezekiel 38:6 : Ezekiel 39:2; Ezekiel 32:30 Ezekiel 38:6 : Ezekiel 38:4 Ezekiel 38:7 : Isa 8:9, 10 Ezekiel 38:8 : Isa 24:22 Ezekiel 38:8 : Ezekiel 38:16 Ezekiel 38:8 : Ezekiel 11:17 Ezekiel 38:8 : Ezekiel 6:2 Ezekiel 38:8 : Ezekiel 34:25, 27, 28 Ezekiel 38:9 : Isa 28:2 Ezekiel 38:9 : Jer 4:13 Ezekiel 38:9 : Ezekiel 38:6 Ezekiel 38:10 : Ezekiel 11:5 Ezekiel 38:11 : Zech 2:4, 5 Ezekiel 38:11 : Jer 49:31 Ezekiel 38:12 : Ezekiel 38:8 Ezekiel 38:12 : Ezekiel 5:5, 7, 14, 15 Ezekiel 38:13 : Ezekiel 27:22 Ezekiel 38:13 : Ezekiel 25:13; 27:15 Ezekiel 38:13 : Ezekiel 32:2; Psalm 17:12 Ezekiel 38:14 : Ezekiel 2:1 Ezekiel 38:14 : Ezekiel 38:2, 3 Ezekiel 38:14 : Ezekiel 38:8 Ezekiel 38:14 : Ezekiel 38:11 Ezekiel 38:15 : Ezekiel 38:6; Ezekiel 39:2 Ezekiel 38:15 : Ezekiel 38:6, 9, 22 Ezekiel 38:15 : Ezekiel 23:6 Ezekiel 38:16 : Ezekiel 38:9 Ezekiel 38:16 : Ezekiel 38:8 Ezekiel 38:16 : Ezekiel 38:23; Ezekiel 39:13; Ezekiel 20:41 Ezekiel 38:17 : Jer 6:22, 23 Ezekiel 38:18 : Psalm 18:8 Ezekiel 38:19 : Ezekiel 5:13 Ezekiel 38:19 : Hag 2:6, 7; Rev 16:18 Ezekiel 38:20 : Hos 4:3 Ezekiel 38:20 : Psalm 114:7 Ezekiel 38:20 : Jer 4:24 Ezekiel 38:21 : Jer 25:29 Ezekiel 38:21 : Judg 7:22 Ezekiel 38:22 : Ezekiel 17:20 Ezekiel 38:22 : Psalm 11:6 Ezekiel 38:22 : Ezekiel 38:6, 9 Ezekiel 38:22 : Ezekiel 13:11, 13 Ezekiel 38:22 : Psalm 11:6; Ezekiel 39:6; Rev 20:9 Ezekiel 38:23 : Ezekiel 38:16 Ezekiel 38:23 : Ezekiel 36:23; 37:28 Ezekiel 38:23 : Ezekiel 6:7
Second Reading: Rom. 7:1-20
Released from the Law
1Or do you not know, brothers[a]—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2For(A) a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.[b] 3Accordingly,(B) she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.
4Likewise, my brothers,(C) you also have died(D) to the law(E) through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead,(F) in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work(G) in our members(H) to bear fruit for death. 6But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the(I) new way of(J) the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.[c]
The Law and Sin
7What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law,(K) I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if(L) the law had not said, "You shall not covet." 8But sin,(M) seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness.(N) For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10The very commandment(O) that promised life proved to be death to me. 11For sin,(P) seizing an opportunity through the commandment,(Q) deceived me and through it killed me. 12So(R) the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
13Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh,(S) sold under sin. 15For I do not understand my own actions. For(T) I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with(U) the law, that it is good. 17So now(V) it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells(W) in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19(X) For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want,(Y) it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
Footnotes:Romans 7:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 4 Romans 7:2 Greek law concerning the husband Romans 7:6 Greek of the letter
Cross references:Romans 7:2 : 1 Cor 7:39 Romans 7:3 : Matt 5:32 Romans 7:4 : Romans 7:6; Romans 6:2 Romans 7:4 : Romans 8:2; Gal 2:19; 5:18; Eph 2:15; Col 2:14 Romans 7:4 : Eph 2:16; Col 1:22 Romans 7:4 : Romans 6:22; Gal 5:22; Eph 5:9 Romans 7:5 : Romans 6:13 Romans 7:5 : Romans 6:21, 23 Romans 7:6 : Romans 6:4 Romans 7:6 : Romans 2:27, 29; 2 Cor 3:6 Romans 7:7 : Romans 3:20 Romans 7:7 : Romans 13:9; Exodus 20:17; Deut 5:21 Romans 7:8 : Romans 7:11; Gal 5:13 Romans 7:8 : 1 Cor 15:56 Romans 7:10 : Romans 10:5 Romans 7:11 : Romans 7:8 Romans 7:11 : Gen 3:13; Heb 3:13 Romans 7:12 : Psalm 19:8, 9; 119:137; 2 Pet 2:21; Romans 7:16 Romans 7:14 : 1 Kgs 21:20, 25; 2 Kgs 17:17; Isa 50:1; 52:3 Romans 7:15 : Romans 7:18, 19; Gal 5:17 Romans 7:16 : 1 Tim 1:8; Romans 7:12 Romans 7:17 : Romans 7:20 Romans 7:18 : Gen 6:5; 8:21; Job 14:4; 15:14; Psalm 51:5 Romans 7:19 : Romans 7:15 Romans 7:20 : Romans 7:17
Sunday Father Reading
"Moses was a type of Christ, our Savior. The manna is a type of the heavenly Food. The water from the rock a type of the saving Blood. For as the children of Israel, after they had crossed the Red Sea, were given unusual food and water beyond their expectation, so we, having received our saving Baptism, are made partakers of the Holy Mysteries." [Theodoret. "Investigation 27 on Exodus." 5th Century]
All Scripture Readings: English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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