THE BIBLE – DISCOVERY YEAR 07 – WITH LUKE’S GOSPEL
COMMENT FOR PENTECOST 3—17-06-07
1Kings 21:1-21a
Here is a classic story of the abuse of power from Hebrew society of the 9th century BCE.   King Ahab’s Canaanite born wife, Jezebel, develops a successful plan. Elijah, however, tells Ahab that such cruel injustice will have consequences because nothing is done outside the sight of the God of the covenant people. In our complex society, does the culture favour the “Ahabs” or the “Elijahs’?
Psalm 5: 1-8
The content of this psalm is a person’s intent conversation with God.  Everywhere he/she is met by lies, half truths, deceit and violence. With God, however, there must be complete honesty and the whole truth.  The Psalmist finds this in his/her prayers and in the Temple. This is no place for the spin doctors because the conversation is speaking the truth.
Galatians 2: 15-21
The Galatians were finding it hard to leave behind the categories of race and law which had nurtured their young lives and made them distinct.   Paul is telling them that with Jesus they received the spiritual gift of God’s free grace which made the old categories with their rules irrelevant.  They now live a life of faith in the spiritual power of God’s inclusive love. This cares for all those pushed aside in life’s fast moving race.
Luke 7:  36-8: 3
Luke has just described the inclusive and welcoming society that God’s love creates.  Now he shows in this glimpse of cultural life the contrasts, and what happens when God’s accepting and forgiving love is taken seriously.  There is healing and forgiveness, but only for those who open their lives to this love.  What is the opposite of such a society today? --- Baghdad or Palestine?  Or both?
Visit: http://www.mosmanuniting.org
 

webmaster@mosm anuniting.org

 

MOSMAN UNITING CHURCH