Two different visions (Matthew 3:1-12; Romans 15:4-13; Isaiah 11:1-10)
I'm always amused when folk are keen enough to notice the worship whiplash to which the tradition so often subjects them.
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It is something I learned to watch for at the beginning of my pastoral ministry. One of those early Sundays, right after rising to the lectern and praying that all would “hear with joy” what was being said in the scriptures, the liturgist began what was supposed to be an amended version of Psalm 137. But because he was reading from his personal Bible, he missed the sticky note with “STOP HERE” written in red marker. So, he continued on to verse nine, where the writer delights in rock-dashing infantcide.
