Above: Paul Raiseth Eutychus to Life, 1728
Image in the Public Domain
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The Collect:
Almighty God, your Son came into the world to free us
from all sin and death. Breathe upon us the power
of your Spirit, that we may be raised to new life in Christ
and serve you in righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ,
our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 28
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The Assigned Readings:
1 Kings 17:17-24 (29th Day)
2 Kings 4:18-37 (30th Day)
Psalm 143 (Both Days)
Acts 20:7-12 (29th Day)
Ephesians 2:1-10 (30th Day)
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Some Related Posts:
1 Kings 17:
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/proper-5-year-c/
2 Kings 4:
Ephesians 2:
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2011/07/26/fourth-sunday-in-lent-year-b/
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My spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is desolate.
–Psalm 143:4, Common Worship (2000)
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The assigned readings for these two days pertain to death and restoration to life. Elijah raised a widow’s son from the dead. So did Elisha. These deeds benefited the mothers in that society, making them less vulnerable economically. Acts 20 tells us that St. Paul the Apostle, who probably spoke for too long into the night, restored young Eutychus, who had fallen asleep and fallen from a third-story window, to life. Certainly the young man was important to his faith community.
The metaphor coexists with the literal fact in Ephesians 2:1-10. Through Jesus, the text tells us, we who die in our trespasses find spiritual rebirth. Although the Apostle does not say so in this passage, we then carry a mandate to bless others—to pass it on, to pay it forward. We are responsible to and for each other.
May we act accordingly.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
NOVEMBER 27, 2013 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT JAMES INTERCISUS, ROMAN CATHOLIC MARTYR
THE FEAST OF HENRY SLOANE COFFIN, U.S. PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGIAN
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Adapted from this post:
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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