000 Allen FMT (i-xxii) - The Presbyterian Leader

Second Sunday after the Epiphany/Year B 131
see the light and in doing so give glory to the people Israel, recognizing
that Christ is a gift to us from the God of Israel and the Israel of God.
Today’s passage ends with the forth-telling that God will “rejoice” over
Israel. In Ephesians 2:12–13, Paul reminds us Gentiles that before Christ
“you were . . . aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to
the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near.”
Now even we are “citizens with the saints [Israel] and also members of the
household of God” (Eph. 2:19). We, too, should rejoice over Israel.
Second Sunday after Christmas Day/Year B
For comments on the readings for Second Sunday after Christmas
Day/Years ABC, please see Second Sunday after Christmas Day/Year A.
Epiphany of the Lord/Year B
Isaiah 60:1–6
For comments on this passage, please see Epiphany of the Lord/Year A.
First Sunday after the Epiphany/Year B
Baptism of the Lord
Genesis 1:1–5
For comments on this passage, please see Trinity Sunday/Year A.
Second Sunday after the Epiphany/Year B
1 Samuel 3:1–10, (11–20)
As backdrop for this passage, see Proper 28 and First Sunday after
Christmas/Year C. The note that Samuel was young when this call took
place implicitly contrasts the wisdom and obedience of the youthful
Samuel with the foolishness and disobedience of the older sons of Eli—
Hophni and Phinehas. Since the word of God and visions were “rare in those
days” the coming of such a word to Samuel testifies to Samuel’s trustworthiness
as the recipient of such an important occurrence (1 Sam. 3:1–2).