Bible Study: Proper 23 (C) – 2025

RCL: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7; Psalm 66:1-11; 2 Timothy 2:8-15; Luke 17:11-19

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7

Jeremiah prophesied to the Judean exiles in Babylon that they would not be restored quickly to Jerusalem. Later in chapter 29, he tells them that it will be 70 years before the children or grandchildren of the exiles return to Jerusalem. In this passage, he tells them that they should make their peace with that and get accustomed to living where they are. Build houses, have children, marry off their sons and daughters, and see the next generation born. But most importantly, they are to live among the Babylonians and be a blessing to them, for in blessing Babylon, they will find that they are blessed.

In this passage, I hear echoes of the commandment to love one’s neighbors. The prophets tell the Israelites that they were sent into exile because they failed to honor God and obey God’s commandments. God, through Jeremiah, is telling them that they should learn to live faithfully while in exile and seek not only their own wellbeing, that of the families and fellow Israelites, but also the well-being of the Babylonians, strangers and outsiders who are now their neighbors. We can also read in this a repetition of the theme of being strangers in the land of Egypt. They were told not to mistreat the stranger or oppress the foreigner; now they must live as foreigners once again and remember the commandments of God.

• How can the prophets and the Gospel inform how we treat those who are of a different ethnicity or nationality than us?
• How are we called to be a prophetic voice in our own country, reminding people that the well-being of those who live in our towns, cities, states, and the nation will be the key to our own well-being, regardless of where each of us was born?

Psalm 66:1-11

This psalm begins and ends with words of praise. The psalmist recounts how God saved the people of Israel, yet also acknowledges that God watches over all of the nations and all of the people. It also takes a turn from verse 9 to the first half of verse 11, stating that God leads people into difficult situations, snares, and heavy burdens, even letting enemies ride over their heads. There are certainly times when we might question why God lets things happen, especially when terrible things happen to innocent and faithful people. For some, it may even cause them to lose their faith. Finally, after acknowledging that life can be difficult even for the faithful, the psalmist bears witness to the saving and redeeming power of God. God does not leave his people, for God is always faithful.

• Have you experienced times when your faith was tested?
• How have you been a witness to God’s redeeming power in your life or in the life of someone close to you?

2 Timothy 2:8-15

In Paul’s letter to his friend Timothy, a faithful coworker in spreading the Gospel and founding Christian communities, the author encourages him to continue in their work and follow the example set for him. The letter is both personal and pastoral. In this passage, Paul talks about the suffering that he is enduring for the sake of the Gospel as an emulation of the suffering of Christ. Paul proclaims the faithfulness of God as the truth upon which every Christian can depend. He conveys in so few words his own experience of full identification with and his sense of oneness with Christ; for Paul, the Gospel is participatory: “We have died with him, we will also live with him.” Paul tells Timothy not to wrangle over words; he needs only to tell people what he himself has experienced, leading and teaching by example, so his way of living will speak more clearly than any words.

• Have there been times in your life when you have felt Christ’s presence?
• How do you and your faith community participate in the life and work of Christ?

Luke 17:11-19

In this vignette in Luke’s Gospel, he recalls one of Jesus’ many healing miracles. In his telling, like the story of the man attacked and left for dead on the Jericho road, it is a foreigner, a Samaritan, who honors God most faithfully. When Jesus heals ten lepers, only one turns and thanks him. Presumably, the other nine do as they are instructed and immediately leave to show themselves to the priests, so that they may be readmitted into the community. Certainly, their excitement at the prospect of returning to society after living as outcasts is understandable. And yet there was one – a Samaritan – who, upon realizing that his life had been changed, stopped and praised God in a loud voice and thanked Jesus extravagantly. Jesus tells him that his faith has made him well, and by asking after the other nine, he makes it clear that the foreigner who is looked down upon in Judea has honored God more faithfully than his Judean counterparts.

• Have you witnessed the faithful gratitude of someone who has been marginalized and has had their dignity restored?
• When our prayers are answered, do we stop and first thank God before continuing to go about our lives?

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