Lectionary Reading Introduction
This site provides something different: many sites and books provide a brief summary of the reading - so that people read out or have in their pew sheet an outline of what they are about to hear. They are told beforehand what to expect. Does this not limit what they hear the Spirit address them? This site provides something different - often one cannot appreciate what is being read because there is no context provided. This site provides the context, the frame of the reading about to be heard. It could be used as an introduction, printed on a pew sheet (acknowledged, of course), or adapted in other ways. This is an experimental venture and I will see how useful it appears.
Acts 1:1-11
Luke in the Gospel locates the ascension on Easter Day. In his second volume (scroll) which we call the Acts of the Apostles, he places it forty days later. This provides a help for how he expects his readers to interpret the literal-historical nature of this event. He uses the term ατενιζοντες (Acts 1:10) "looking intently", exactly paralleling the vision of Stephen (Acts 7:55) as he looked intently up to heaven and "saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." This parallel again underscores how the original author understood the perception he was describing.
Ephesians 1:15-23
The human body is a primary metaphorical source in the scriptures. As in so many cultures today, the left hand was used for sanitation. The right hand was used for ordination, taking vows, and represented strength. We still use the concept of "right hand man".
Luke 24:44-53
The law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms indicate the three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures TNK. Luke in the Gospel locates the ascension on Easter Day. In his second volume (scroll) which we call the Acts of the Apostles, he places it forty days later. This provides a help for how he expects his readers to interpret the literal-historical nature of this event.