THE BIBLE-DISCOVERY YEAR 07-WITH LUKE’S GOSPEL

COMMENT FOR PENTECOST 14 – 02.09.07

Jeremiah 2: 1-13

The comment in “With Love to the World” page 12, explains the many shades of meaning in this vigorous passage. With the Kingdom of (male) Israel destroyed 120 years ago, what will happen to (female) Judah? It is a sad story of infidelity and loss. At its heart is divine disappointment that a people with such promise over their history satisfied themselves with the trivialities of local deities and sacred places.

Psalm 81: 1, 10-16

This Psalm would have been part of the liturgy of the covenant people in the Autumn Festival. It reminded them of strong times in their past and called on them to follow their God. There were generations in their past when they lost their way and suffered for it. Therefore the lesson was that in following along the pull of God’s word for them they found their peace and safety.

Hebrews 13: 1-16

It seems that by the time this letter appeared standards for the Christian community were well developed and challenged the cultural life of the time. The honoured obligation of hospitality had greater emphasis in Jesus command to love one another ignoring the divides of race, class and wealth. Further, instead of dedicating a possession for sacrifice, the offering was personal – a life of loving, spiritual service.

Luke 14: 1, 7-14

These dinner conversation discussing laws and traditions were very popular and symbolised being present at God’s heavenly feast. In Luke’s Gospel Jesus attacks the beliefs of the Pharisees: that they would get the good seats. In Mary’s song the powerful give way to the weak. Then in his home town he challenges the Purity Code of Leviticus 21:16-23 because now the outcasts, the disabled and weak, are the ones who gain the highest places at the heavenly feast.