Lectionary Links: Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011

26^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A:  September 25^th, 2011

First Reading:  Exodus 17: 1-7

I Will Surprise My Friend!  by Mo Willems

(Written for ages 4-8 )

Comment:  This story from Exodus contains an awesome surprise.  Just when the Israelites are most thirsty, just when they’re complained to Moses and God and still seen no water, just when Moses brings them to a ROCK of all things—the Lord surprises them.  Water springs from the rock!  Life in God is full of surprises, of treasures in unexpected places.  Piggie and Elephant in I Will Surprise MyFriend also know the joy of surprises.  They have an argument, but afterward they see two squirrels surprise each other and decide that would be fun to surprise each other, too.  They both hide…and wait…and wait.  Finally, both decide that the other has left and get up to leave and—surprise!  Piggie and Elephant surprise each other and the Lord surprises the Israelites.  Oour God is full of surprises.

Second Reading:  Philippians 2: 1-13

Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss

(Written for ages4-8)

Comment:  Paul exhorts the Philippians “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.”  He reminds them of Christ’s example of humility as the one we must follow.  In Dr. Seuss’s famous story Yertle the Turtle, the king is not humble.  In fact, he stands on the backs of the other turtles of the kingdom until one, Yertle, can’t take it anymore.  The ensuing rebellion leaves the king down in the mud because he was too proud and not humble.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 2123-32

The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson

(Written for ages 4-8 )

Comment:  In Jesus’ parable, two brothers have very different reactions.  One tells his father “Yes, I will go to the vineyard” but does not go.  The other says, “No I will not go” but does, ultimately, go.  The story shows us that one’s actions speak louder than words.  What you do is more telling than what you say.  In The Other Side, Annie and Clover do something VERY telling—they cross a forbidden fence dividing whites and blacks, and sit on it together, as friends.  When their friends question them, their answers don’t matter.  They are together are friends and their actions speak for themselves, just as the brothers’ actions spoke for them in Jesus’ parable.