Certain biblical passages never show up in the Sunday morning readings. Sometimes, as lectionaries are revised, new passages are added and others removed. Many of us have grown up thinking that if we go to church on Sunday, we will hear the entire Bible over the course of the three-year lectionary cycle. It’s not even close.
A Jesuit priest, Fr. Felix Just, calculated how much of the Bible is read after going through the cycles of Sunday and Major Feast readings. The Roman Catholic Lectionary is quite similar to the Anglican version, as well as to the other main three-year cycle lectionaries in use by various denominations.
Some of the passages are different, but the amount of Scripture included is about the same.
He determined that over the course of three years, parishioners hear just 3.7 percent of the Old Testament (not including Psalms), with many of the books getting no passages included at all (e.g., Judges, 1 Chronicles, Ruth, Esther, Lamentations, Obadiah, and others).
The New Testament fares better, but still gives us nothing from Jude or from John’s 2nd and 3rd letters, for just 25.4 percent, not including the Gospels. Of the Gospels passages available in Scripture, just 57.8 percent make it into the lectionary.
For those intrepid souls who follow the Daily Office readings each weekday, the Scripture percentage increase, but is still lacking woefully: 13.5 percent for the Old Testament, 54.9 percent for the New Testament letters, and 71.5 percent for the Gospels.
The lectionaries are a tool covering a broad range of Scripture, ensuring that pastors preach a broad spectrum of theological issues, instead of repeating the same eight topics throughout the year. It is not meant to portray the full breadth of the Bible. Hence the need for our own personal Bible reading time at home.
Our recently developed Anglican Lectionary leaves out a portion of the Letter to the Hebrews that used to be included, and that I think is significant in our Christian journey, so that segment is this week’s Fore Word, as it precedes the passage we see this Sunday.
In Hebrews 10:15-18, we read the following:
And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,” he also adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. — Heb 10:15-18
This passage has three critical parts. First is the understanding of covenant. Second, that God’s laws are written in our hearts and minds. Third is the permanence of forgiveness.
A covenant differs from a contract in that under a contract, a breach by one party releases the other party from their obligation to perform. If I stop paying my electric bill, APS will stop providing electricity.
A covenant, on the other hand, is a promise to perform, regardless of other party’s performance. God gives us a covenant, not a contract. He promises to be faithful even when we’re not.
God’s laws for us are written in our hearts and minds. Not the 613 commands he gave the Israelites through Mose, but rather the guidance he promised through the Holy Spirit. We instinctively hide bad behavior, even as toddlers, and even lie about it. And we don’t need to realize we are committing a sin for it to be one. Throughout the Old Testament we see Yahweh telling Moses to tell the Israelites what they should do for an offering when anyone sins unintentionally (Leviticus 4 and 5 list multiple means of restoring Israel’s relationship with Yahweh following unintentional sin. He points to our culpability for our commissions and omissions regarding his guidance for us.
If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD’s commands, even though they do not know it, they are guilty and will be held responsible. — Lev 5:17-18
So, we are all sinners, deliberately or inadvertently. John reminds us of this in his first letter also.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. — 1 John 1:8-10
Yet, if we repent and turn back to God, he forgives us.
I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. — Heb 10:17-18
It’s a once for all time forgiveness, because if our forgiven sins are no longer remembered by God, no offering can be required by him for them.
Forgiveness is redemption, and redemption is permanent. Luke reminds us of this in the statement by John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah.
[John’s] father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.” — Luke 1:67-68
Way back in the 1960s and ’70s, there were companies that provided retailers with stamps that were given to their customers with their purchases (Like MacDonald’s Plaid or S&H Green Stamps). Customers would paste the stamps they received after each purchase in a special book provided that held about 1,200 stamps (representing about $120 in purchases). Customers could redeem those full books for premium items like toys, furniture, or appliances. Those redemptions were permanent. You didn’t need to return each month or year to re-redeem those items.
The offerings by the Israelites were temporary and had to be repeated each year for atonement. Christ’s sacrifice for us was redemptive, once for all time, and is a permanent forgiveness.
With the consumer green and plaid stamps, you had to fill up the books first before you could redeem them for anything. Christ, however, redeemed us while we were still sinners.
As Paul describes in his letter to the Colossians:
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. — Col 2 13-14
God forgives the sins of believers on the basis of the once for all sacrifice offered by Jesus Christ on the cross. Believers’ sins are no longer held against us on account of the atoning death of Jesus Christ.
And that is Good News.
Your Brother in Christ,
Fr. Austin