[Uucf-bible] readings for reflection, discussion, from this Sunday's lectionary

[William Secor]

Yes, rather than looking in oneself or in other, and doing the hard work here on earth (and yes it is hard work) many want it to be "out there" somewhere, or "up there" somewhere, i have been very impressed by the gospel of Thomas, which give in many ways a very different picture of Jesus, and his message. yes, it takes hard work
 
Bill 

RevRonRobinson at aol.com wrote:

Getting back to posting readings from the lectionary, just in time for the 
ending of Eastertide, Ascension Sunday, and soon Pentecost. 
Here in Acts, among other things, there is one of my favorite scenes in the 
Christian scriptures, where the disciples are rebuked for staring up into the 
clouds looking for Jesus, the Holy, etc. instead of looking for him in carrying 
out his mission back in the dust and heat of their own lives and world. 
Wonderful anti-Rapture, seems to me.
Then a classic Psalm, one of those liberation texts about whose side God is 
on. 
And then a bit of classic essence of Johanine Christology too, with it seems 
to me more than a hint of universal salvation and one-ness of all. 
Enjoy! 
God Bless,
Ron

Acts 1:6-14
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time 
when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 7He replied, ‘It is not for you to 
know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But 
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be 
my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the 
earth.’ 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a 
cloud took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing 
up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, ‘
Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has 
been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him 
go into heaven.’ 
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is 
near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13When they had entered the city, 
they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and 
James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of 
Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14All these were 
constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary 
the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. 
Psalm 68
1 Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee 
before him. 
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, 
let the wicked perish before God. 
3 But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be 
jubilant with joy. 
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon 
the clouds—his name is the LORD— be exultant before him. 
5 Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 
6 God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to 
prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land. 
7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the 
wilderness, Selah 
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the 
God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel. 
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage 
when it languished; 
10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided 
for the needy. 
11 The Lord gives the command; great is the company of those who bore the 
tidings: 
12 "The kings of the armies, they flee, they flee!" The women at home divide 
the spoil, 
13 though they stay among the sheepfolds— the wings of a dove covered with 
silver, its pinions with green gold. 
14 When the Almighty scattered kings there, snow fell on Zalmon. 
15 O mighty mountain, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of 
Bashan! 
16 Why do you look with envy, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God 
desired for his abode, where the LORD will reside forever? 
17 With mighty chariotry, twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands, the 
Lord came from Sinai into the holy place. 
18 You ascended the high mount, leading captives in your train and receiving 
gifts from people, even from those who rebel against the LORD God's abiding 
there. 
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah 
20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from 
death. 
John 17:1-11
17
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, 
the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2since 
you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom 
you have given him. 3And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the 
only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4I glorified you on earth by 
finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5So now, Father, glorify me in your 
own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world 
existed. 
6 ’I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They 
were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they 
know that everything you have given me is from you; 8for the words that you 
gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth 
that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9I am asking on 
their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those 
whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are 
mine; and I have been glorified in them. 
11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am 
coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, 
so that they may be one, as we are one. 
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