THE BIBLE – TODAY’S TREASURE HUNT
COMMENT FOR PENTECOST 22 – 05-11-06
Ruth 1: 1-18
This gentle story comes towards the end of the 200 turbulent years as the Israelites settled into their promised land. A widow from Bethlehem, Naomi, and her widowed Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth, combine their love and intelligence risking a future in a man’s world. They are accepted, and Ruth, now married, has a child who becomes the grandfather of King David.
Psalm 146
This is a great hymn of praise for the creator God. Verse 3 could refer to times under Persian rule with the earthly power structure unconcerned about the people’s welfare. Here the creator God is understood as deeply caring for all the human creation. The justice of God has special concern for the prisoners (the protestors), the poor and the hungry.
Revelation 21: 1-7 (All Saints Day)
We need to read this passage again and again, and let its imagery fill our minds. Imagine a few people believing in Jesus so bravely they saw a spiritual revolution transforming their cities and their lives under persecution. Compare our position in our post 9/11 world dominated by fear, in our polluted, threatened earth.
Hebrews 9: 11-14
Here the writer probes the questions of how far the Hebrew people acknowledged past wrongs and were met with forgiveness. He then shows how Jesus steps into that priestly role, and offers himself as a sacrifice. In doing so, Jesus at last gets our attention and we can feel forgiven at the deepest level of our understanding.
Mark 12: 28-34
Perhaps the Scribe’s question arose from feeling the eternally creative spirit of God. But then a judicial prudence took over, and the responsible view of the law of Moses was accepted as enough. All through the history of the church there is a like tension between the careful management of the church’s resources and the risk taking energies of the spirit of life and love in the name of Jesus.
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