THE BIBLE – TODAY’S TREASURE HUNT
COMMENT FOR PENTECOST 23 – 12-11-06
RUTH 3: 1-5; 4:13-17
This love story of Naomi and Ruth and Boaz notes the quiet triumph of family life at the time of the eleventh century BCE. Two women use their love and intelligence, quietly risking their future, convinced that the Spirit of their God was with them. This story stands out amongst all others of the time where the use of military strength and strategy decides the outcome.
PSALM 127
Here are wisdom sayings which are like our proverbs, and are of timeless value: our lives or the life of a city depends ultimately on the purpose of God for security. However, verses 3-5 apply to societies where people rely on masculine strength and military prowess to provide the values of their security. But we live in one world and there is one human race so that the combative militarism of war has passed its use by date.
Hebrews 9 24-28
This wonderful paper – ‘To The Hebrews’ was addressed to the early Christians who grew up as Hebrews in a world full of ideas from Greek philosophy. Therefore the ideal, or the heavenly reality, was considered more important than the imperfect physical copy. This principle is now applied to the sacrifice of Jesus which has a heavenly reality, and a once for all time sacrifice in the true sanctuary – the Throne of God.
Mark 12: 38-44
In Mark’s story Jesus has come to Jerusalem from country Galilee and the final conflict looms. The prophet’s message of “good news for the poor” is here ignored by the religious elite. He notes how widows without social welfare and destitute will yet make their contribution to the Temple treasury. For Him rich and poor are brothers and sisters in the one family, this is basic to the justice of God.
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