Embedded Files
. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Proper 24 Yr C
Fortt, Annette Gandy (gallery https://annettefortt.com/) . Jacob and the Angel (mixed media), from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56023 [retrieved September 23, 2022].
Published date 10/14/2025
Editor's note: During the season of Pentecost, churches that use the Revised Common Lectionary have two options. One, often called "semicontinuous" or "Track 1", provides more detail about the Old Testament stories. The other, called "complementary" or "Track 2", more closely marries the Old Testament lesson to the gospel reading.
Introduction
Introduction
In the most recent four weeks (this included), the Lectionary reveals “characteristics” of faith.
The first characteristic comes from “The Rich man and Lazarus” story. In this story, the poor man Lazarus reaps a heavenly reward when his life ends, while the rich man leaves the "good life" to a life of torture and punishment. From the story's conclusion, we learn that "Moses and the prophets" have told us all that we need to do to gain the good heavenly reward. In other words, everything we need to learn—EVERYTHING—has already been said. We must listen to learn the way.
Then, there's the parable of the “Mustard seed”. It too is pretty simple. A tiny (mustard) seed is the beginning of a gigantic, large tree. If we have the confidence that we have been assured is already ours, our good works will be truly phenomenal. So confidence is important to our faith.
“Naaman and his servant” takes a slightly different approach with no less clarity. We are given instructions on the behaviors we must engage in that assure we are following Christ: the “how to” is clearly described. A bit of self-importance here makes it diffitult for us to think it could be so simple; but it is. Follow the instructions.
Lastly, Jacob wrestling with the angels gives us a characteristic that we often turn away from: persistence. In other words, even against overwhelming odds, don't give up. How many of us would simply hold onto the angel until the angel gives in. Really, just hold on, don't give up!
So there we have it. In essence the four rules of life. 1) do what is the right thing to do (and you don't have to ask, you know it). 2) don't assume that you cannot accomplish great things; be confident. 3) Follow the simple instructions. 4) we see persistence in Jacob’s continuing to keep the angel from leaving and in the widow’s continuing to come before the judge. And the letter to Timothy encourages persistence “whether the time is favorable or unfavorable.”
What have you gleaned from these past four weeks?
Comments welcome.
Genesis 32:22-31
Genesis 32:22-31
The same night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.
From sermon4kids.com: “Jesus said that we should always pray and not give up. Perhaps God just wants us to show that we are really serious about what we are asking of Him. ”
Scripture: October 19, 2025 (Proper 24, Year C)—Jeremiah 31:27-34 (image); Psalm 119:97-104 (image); Genesis 32:22-31 (image); Psalm 121 (image); 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 (image); and Luke 18:1-8 (image).
Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection:
Track 1: Luke’s parable of the widow (Luke 18:1–8) who continually came to the judge seeking justice encourages us not to lose heart. We are to pray and to be persistent in the life of faith on behalf of the justice God intends. God is pictured in contrast to this unjust judge who doesn’t care a bit about justice but does care about his own peace of mind! God, of course, has no peace of mind without justice. If we think of ourselves as the widow in this parable, then few of us have her stamina in the hard, exhausting work of seeking justice on behalf of the powerless. Perhaps this is the reason Jesus asks the closing question of the parable: “. . . when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Will he find faith in us—persistent, tireless faith seeking justice? Margit Ernst-Habib* invites us to think that the widow represents not only our need to pray relentlessly but also to see the Holy Spirit in this insistent widow. The Spirit is at work, earnestly, unrelentingly encouraging us to pray. What causes you to lose hope in your own prayer life? What might the Spirit be urging you to pray and work for on behalf of someone else?
Track 2: The author of Second Timothy declares, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (4:7). What does that look like in your life? How does your church keep the faith, even in the face of all the world’s challenges?
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C, Volume 2 © 2013 Westminster John Knox Press)
Practice: In what ways has your persistence toward a goal paid off? Be persistent in your praise as well as your petition to God. If you are so moved, share.
*Margit Ernst-Habib, “Theological Perspective” on Luke 17:11–19, in ibid., 166, 168.
A visual/audio journey. Thanks to Joe McFalls for reading.
Images enhancing
the scripture
alabaster sculpture “Jacob and the angel” by Jacob Epstein
“Jacob and the angel” by Ken Katzen
“Jacob and the angel” by Joe Brenman
Music founded
in the scripture
“Jacob wrestled with the angel“, kids song (and video)
“O love that will not let me go” by Matheson
“Come, O thou traveler unknown” by Erik Roiutley
Other voices
about the scripture
commentary and artwork “Wrestling” by Lynn Miller
poem “Jacob wrestles with the angel” by Malcolm Guite
several poems from a poetry contest whose topic was “Jacob wrestling with the angel”
Movies representing some part of the scripture
"Chicken Run" (2000, animated, G); “It’s not the fences around the farm that keep us here; it’s the fences around your brains”, animated, a fun show, not just for children, Review
Editor's note: This week has several very good stories to choose from.
For families: Study guide and activities (based on Jeremiah) (former guide: widow, Jacob). group activity, kid video—widow, Jacob
For children: See family guide/activities (activity widow; activity Jacob); bulletin—widow, Jacob;
For middlers: See family guide/activities (activity widow; activity Jacob); bulletin—widow, Jacob
Coloring: girl praying; Jeremiah
For youth: Create a prayer list of people, concerns, thanksgivings, etc., to keep at home to help in your prayer time. Keep notes, at home, for your eyes only, of things you notice about yourself that are changing as a result of your consistent (constant) prayer. Comments welcome.
Today, Jesus uses a parable to teach about prayer. In it, an unjust judge grants his petitioner’s plea only because she will not leave him alone until he does. Jesus says that God will also grant the prayers of those who cry to God day and night. The point is not that God, like the judge, will only be responsive to those who nag. It is, as Luke says, to teach us the need to pray always and not lose heart.
Track 1: We continue with Jeremiah today. His word from God is a solemn promise by God to restore Israel and Judah. God promises in the days still to come to make a new covenant with the people, a covenant that will be written in their hearts. Never again, God promises, will they be ignorant of God’s will and God will forgive all their sins.
Track 2: The first reading describes Jacob’s tenacity in wrestling with the stranger in the dark. Jacob was not able to win the match because the stranger was God. Yet, Jacob’s persistence brings him his new identity as the forebear of God’s people. He is given a new name, Israel, which means “he who strives with God.”
In today’s reading from the second letter to Timothy, this early church leader is called to persevere in teaching and preaching the faith he has been given both by his family and in his study of the scriptures. This letter was written in a time when an aberrant form of Christianity was being proclaimed. Timothy is to stick with what he has learned from the scriptures and from Paul.
Our baptism has called us into a life characterized by the need never to give up our search for God. Faithfulness involves a giving of all that we are and all that we have. God asks us never to lose heart and to give all of our time, treasure, and talents to the ministry of God in this world.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
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