January 6, 2000 - Epiphany

(See end of this note for a way you can help support Jenee in her wonderful ministry)

This direct link to the weekly resources page for Epiphany, Year C
(January 6, 2000):
http://www.textweek.com/yearc/epiphdc.htm
will point you toward a number of resources for general study of the
lectionary texts, and worship and liturgy resources. Many of these
general resources are available close to the date of the lectionary
week, and are posted at The Text This Week after they are up at
others' sites.

I've compiled pages of links to artwork depicting the following themes:

Nativity
http://www.textweek.com/art/nativity.htm

Magi
http://www.textweek.com/art/magi.htm

Madonna and Child/Holy Family
http://www.textweek.com/art/holy_family.htm

If you're interested in movie scenes showing contemporary
representations, check out these pages:

Seeing/Not Seeing/Seeing Differently
http://www.textweek.com/movies/seeing.htm

Incarnation
http://www.textweek.com/movies/incarnation.htm
___

Chris Haslam's "Comments." (Commentary, clippings for more in-depth
study, and introductions to the readings, for use in worship.)
http://www.montreal.anglican.org/comment/index.shtml

Commentary on Texts for Epiphany, 2001, Associated Mennonite Biblical
Seminary.
http://www.ambs.edu/advent5.htm

Journey to New Life, Day of Epiphany, by Bill Fletcher. Commentary
with Resources for Liturgical Leaders.
http://www.ake.quik.co.nz/termon/jnl109.html

Living the Word by Jim Rice. Lectionary-based scripture commentary
from Sojourners OnLine, 1998.
http://www.sojourners.com/soj9801/980149.html

Gathering, Day of Epiphany, from the United Church of Canada.
Includes homiletical suggestions, liturgical ideas, "with children,"
hymn suggestions, etc.
http://www.uccan.org/gathering/january06.htm

Resources for Epiphany at Bass Mitchell's Special Days and Services
site.
http://www.homiliesbyemail.com/Special/Epiphany/epiphany.html

Laughing Bird Liturgical Resources, Epiphany, by Nathan Nettleton,
Uniting Church in Australia. Prayers, blessings, Eucharistic prefaces
and scripture paraphrases.
http://www.laughingbird.net/

Resources: Based on the Revised Common Lectionary. Prayers, Collects
and Litanies by Bruce Prewer, Uniting Church in Australia.
http://www.alphalink.com.au/~nigel/b_rcl.htm

Sermons and Liturgies for Year C, Richard J. Fairchild, United Church
of Canada.
http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/year-c-sermons.html

The Billabong by Rev Jeff Shrowder, Uniting Church in Australia:
Hymn suggestions
http://www.ruralnet.net.au/~shrowder/hymns/epiphany_h.html#c
Responsive Liturgical Paraphrases of Lectionary Psalms
http://www.ruralnet.net.au/~shrowder/archive/epiphany.html#abc

Prayers of the People, Year C - Day of Epiphany. General
intercessions for Sundays and Feasts, by Ormonde Plater, Archdeacon of
the [Anglican/Episcopal] Diocese of Louisiana.
http://members.home.com/oplater/abcepiph.htm

Metrical Psalms. Lectionary Psalms set to popular hymn music by Dale
A. Schoening.
http://www.homestead.com/metricalpsalms/index.html

Matthew 2:1-12
http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt2a.htm

Primary texts about the Herod's Reign of Terror from (Rutgers
University Dept of Religion) Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own:
Perspective on the World of Jesus companion to the historical study of
Christian texts.
http://religion.rutgers.edu/iho/text2.html#Herod

King Herod
http://members.aol.com/FLJOSEPHUS/ntparallels.htm#KingHerod
and Slaughter of the Innocents:
http://members.aol.com/FLJOSEPHUS/ntparallels.htm#innocents
New Testament Parallels to the Works of Josephus. From G.J.
Goldberg's Flavius Josephus Home Page. (Some of these "parallels" are
speculative.)

>From the Catena Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas.
http://www.ccel.org/a/aquinas/catena/Matthew/ch02.htm

"A Camel on the Roof," Commentary, Animating Illustrations,
Quotations, and Childrens Sermon. Homiletics Online, 1991.
http://www.homileticsonline.com/Installments/jan0691.htm
"With Epiphany comes the question, "Where does one look for God?"
While two different ways of addressing this question are explored in
this week's material, both focus on the surprising, sometimes
shocking, nature of God's presence in this world."

"First Thoughts on Year B/C Gospel Passages in the Lectionary:
Epiphany," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in
Australia.
http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MkEpiphany.htm
"The more immediate allusion, however, is to the prophecy of Balaam,
who refused to cower to the murderous intentions of the evil king
Balak towards Israel, prophesying instead that a star would arise from
Jacob, a sceptre from Israel (Numbers 24:17; a passage applied
messianically also in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Testaments of the
12 Patriarchs)."

"Where Was Jesus Born?" Biblical Archaeology Society's Bible Review,
February/March 2000.
http://www.bib-arch.org/brf00/born.html
O Little Town of ... Nazareth?, Steve Mason
http://www.bib-arch.org/brf00/born_nazareth1.html
"Passages in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke that describe Jesus'
birth in Bethlehem have been seamlessly woven together in modern-day
Christmas pageants, but the Gospels of Mark and John leave the reader
with the distinct impression that Jesus was born not in Bethlehem
after all, but in Nazareth."
Bethlehem ... Of Course, Jerome Murphy-O'Connor
http://www.bib-arch.org/brf00/born_bethlehem1.html
"If the early church thought of Jesus in terms of Davidic
messianism—and it certainly did—it was not because of anything he said
or did but because of who he was and where he came from. And he came
from Bethlehem."

"The Meaning of the Wise Men," Bishop John Shelby Spong, at
belief.net, January 2000.
http://www.beliefnet.com/frameset.asp?boardID=981&pageloc=/story/5/sto
ry_581_1.html
"The commentary of the rabbis on the Torah had suggested that a star
appeared in the sky when Abraham was born, when Isaac was born and
when Moses was born. In the Book of Numbers, the prophet Balaam speaks
of a star that shall come out of Jacob. Stars were believed to be
signs from God designed to announce important events. So the
brightness of the light to which kings are drawn in Isaiah becomes a
star in Matthew."

"The Misguided Search for the Star of Bethlehem," Marcus Borg.
beliefnet.
http://www.beliefnet.com/frameset.asp?pageLoc=/story/3/story_351_1.htm
l
"Was it a supernova? A falling star? It really doesn't matter."

The Wise Men and the Star of Christ, a multi-page
historical/theological site by Rev. Phil Greetham.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/p_greetham/wisemen/home.html

"The Birth of Jesus in the Light of the Gospels," from The Messiah in
the New Testament in the Light of Rabbinical Writings, Risto Santala,
trans Michael G. Cox. Full text online.
http://www.kolumbus.fi/hjussila/rsla/Nt/NT09.html

"The Babe and the Babes of Bethlehem," James T. Dennison Jr., in
Kerux: The Online Journal of Biblical Theology (Reformed)
http://www.kerux.com/documents/KeruxV3N3A4.asp
"But beyond the pathos of infant death, Matthew focuses on the life
of an infant-- an infant spared (at least for a time) from the point
of sword or spear. The life of one babe predominates and that life
finds itself inseparably meshed with the story of Israel."

"An Unexpected and Hidden Glory," Charles G. Dennison, in Kerux: The
Online Journal of Biblical Theology (Reformed)
http://www.kerux.com/documents/KeruxV01N3A4.asp
"When Hezekiah, king of the Jews, was delivered from a fatal illness,
Merodach-baladan of Babylon sent emissaries with gifts. We could
safely judge them less than honorable. Didn't they really come for
political reasons? for a treaty perhaps designed to harass the
Assyrians? Was there an element of intrigue? Did they wish to "spy out
the land?" Hezekiah, victim of messianic delusion, parades before them
the wealth of his house, just the stuff to attract the Babylonian eye.
One hundred years later, according to the Lord's judgment, the
Babylonians returned to cart off the treasures of David's house (cf.
Isa. 39)."

"Balaam, The Magi, and Herod," Stuart Jones, in Kerux: The Online
Journal of Biblical Theology (Reformed)
http://www.kerux.com/documents/KeruxV10N1A1.asp
"Examining the text more closely, we notice that the exposition of
Micah, pointing to Bethlehem as Messiah's birthplace, is not related
to the Magi by the expected source, viz., the scribes. It is rather
Herod, informed by the Jewish leaders, who transmits this information
in secret. Again we have some sermon points that are possible. God
requires that we consult special revelation to find the Christ, but he
is not limited in how that revelation can be delivered. His sovereign
power means he can make his enemies prophetic voices for the truth.
Though this sounds like a pious addendum which does not constitute the
central theme of the chapter, it is an observation with a striking
similarity to the Balaam situation in Numbers 22-24."

A page of links about Herod the Great.
http://cs1.presby.edu/~gramsey/Herod.html

Environmental & earth-centered reflections, Rev Wanda Copeland, from
the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota Environmental Stewardship
Commission.
http://www.env-steward.com/lectionary/lecta/a-ep-go.htm
"In what ways does nature still acknowledge Jesus¹ birth? In the
lengthening of days (coming of the light from the darkness, warming of
the earth for those in the Northern Hemisphere.) The signs of welcome
and rejoicing are many, if we but take the time to look."

Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary
and Homily, 2000.
http://www.agreeley.com/homilies00/jan02.htm
"During the early years of Christianity, the Greeks celebrated the
incarnation as a festival of the "manifestation" (epiphanos) of God in
Jesus on January 6 while the western Church celebrated it as the feast
of Jesus’ birth on December 25. Eventually the two feasts became
combined. In the west the time between them became "Twelfth Night" as
in the "Twelve Days of Christmas.""

"Reprioritizing Authority," analysis and reflections by Steve Kuhl,
in Sabbatheology by The Crossings Community of St. Louis.
http://www.crossings.org/theology/theolo149.htm
"For the Magi (and us) that means returning to neighbors, spouses,
children, even our old Magi craft, whatever that may be. It even means
exercising gentile authority, only now with a difference: "not in
order to be served, but to serve.""

Herod the Great, basic background from Wayne Blank's Daily Bible
Study.
http://www.execulink.com/~wblank/herod.htm

Star of Bethlehem Site.
http://www.shaka.com/~johnboy/sitemap.htg/sitemap.htm
"The essence of the information and charts published here is that the
Star of Bethlehem and the capstone of The Great Pyramid are both
ancient astrological configurations."

"The Gift of the Magi," by O. Henry
http://www.night.net/christmas/Gift-Magi.html

"Stars for Signs: Astrology in the Christian Bible", by "Astrologer
Michael Star" in Astrology Online.
http://home.istar.ca/~starman/astrology-bible.shtml

Bethlehem, article and photos at Walking in Their Sandals, Journey
through the Land of the Bible.
http://www.ancientsandals.com/overviews/Bethlehem.htm
_____

Isaiah 60:1-6
http://www.textweek.com/prophets/isaiah60.htm

Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Commentary on Texts for Epiphany, 2001, Rebecca
Slough, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.
http://www.ambs.edu/advent5.htm
"Central to the announcement of chapter 60 is that God has acted on
the city despite the actions of her people. Zion’s new day is God’s
gift and the fulfillment of a promise. It was not arranged by
political negotiations or diplomatic maneuverings."

A New Day Dawns: Verse Commentary on Isaiah 60:1-3, 15-22, Dennis
Bratcher, Christian Resource Institute.
http://www.cresourcei.org/isa60.html
"These are feminine forms in Hebrew, as they are throughout the
chapter. We find out later in the chapter that the message is to the
city of Jerusalem (v.14). The poetic imagery personifies Jerusalem as
a beautiful woman (51:17-52:2). The historical background of this
passage concerns the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem in the
time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Biblical writers often use "Jerusalem" and
"Zion" as poetic symbols for the entire people of God (Matthew
23:37)."

"Not the Way It's S'posed to Be: A Breviary of Sin," Cornelius
Plantinga, Jr., Calvin Theological Seminary. Theology Today, July
1993.
http://www.weblications.com/theologytoday/jul1993/v50-2-article2.htm
"As the great writing prophets of the Bible knew, sin has a thousand
faces. The prophets knew how many ways human life can go wrong because
they knew how many ways it can go right."

Isaiah 60:1-6, in Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary's An
Exegetical Study of the Common Lectionary, coordinated by Prof. John
E. Alsup, features rough translation, disposition, immediate context,
broader context, hermeneutical bridge, and contemporary address.
http://home.netcom.com/~jealsup/ot1b.html#Jan6
"The arrival of the outsiders, including the return of "dispersed
Israelites (see xlix22)," McKenzie (Anchor Bible), and the gifts they
bring provoke praise of the Lord."
_____

Ephesians 3:1-12
http://www.textweek.com/pauline/eph3a.htm

"The Calling and Design of the Church: A Study in Ephesians," by
Lehman Strauss at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
http://www.bible.org/docs/nt/books/eph/design.htm
"The household of God must be managed according to a particular plan;
therefore it was a high honor bestowed upon Paul when God entrusted
His plan to him."

"God is Counting on Us!" Dennis A. Anderson, President, Trinity
Lutheran Seminary, November 1, 1998, All Saints' Day &
Lutheran/Reformed Celebration.
http://www.trinity.capital.edu/Sermons/981101-DAA.html
"The church is never an end in itself. Karl Barth says, "When the
church becomes an end to itself, it acts pious and begins to turn
sour. Anyone with sensitive nose will smell that and find it
dreadful.""
_____

Psalm 72
http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm72.htm

Responsive Liturgical Paraphrase at The Billabong by Rev Jeff
Shrowder, Uniting Church in Australia: Epiphany A, B, C
http://www.ruralnet.net.au/~shrowder/archive/epiphany.html

Psalm 72 -- Commentary on Texts for Epiphany, 2001, Rebecca Slough,
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. "Righteousness in Old
Testament understanding is more specific and less legalistic than most
of our current notions of the word. To act righteously was to fulfill
obligations within one’s social network of relationships, that is, to
act rightly toward those people to whom one is accountable."
http://www.ambs.edu/advent5.htm
_____

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_____
May the Peace of Christ be with you all, and may your study be
prayer,
Jenee

Jenee Woodard -- Jackson, Michigan
mailto:jeneewd@d...
http://www.textweek.com