THE BIBLE- LISTENING TO MATTHEW
COMMENT FOR EPIPHANY 4 – 03.02.08
Exodus 24: 12-18
Confronting Moses was the formation of the basic rules of Hebrew life. The story of the escape to freedom was at a crisis point. So Moses hands over responsibility for day to day leadership and sets out for the mountain: a place rarely visited; a place of cloud and mystery; a place of meeting with the spiritual centre of their tribal life. Time seems to stand still, but he goes ever higher (vv 17-18) for Moses has moved into a new level of understanding of the spiritual life – a heightened awareness.
Psalm 2
This Psalm was probably composed for a new Israelite King to say at his enthronement after the death of King David. All around other nations would be reviewing their relationships and strategies. (OT Library, The Psalms, Arthur Weiser p 109 ff). The author asserts that the real power lies in the transcendent grandeur of the Hebrew God, and other nations should realise their insignificance and peril. For us these images of imperial power and its exercise are awkward when we would direct our thoughts to the spiritual, loving, living energies of the God of the twenty-first century.
2 Peter 1: 16-21
This passage in Peter’s letter reads like a story which he has told again and again. It is a basic story of his authority to speak for the Gospel. He then goes on to assert that Scripture has at its heart the movement of the Holy Spirit, which is like the voice heard on the mountain. All this is confirming what he describes as being, along with others, “eyewitnesses” to the majestic glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a great picture to take with us as we leave the season of Epiphany.
Matthew 17: 1-9
Matthew gathers up another Old Testament theme in this reading. Jesus, like Moses, seeks a place of mystery and heightened spiritual awareness. This time there is a voice affirming that the whole purpose and movement of the Hebrew people will be brought to its intended next phase by the work of this Jesus of Nazareth. All the power of the Law of Moses and the strengths of the prophets, especially Elijah are in full agreement. Now it will be in the real world where the final conflict will take place.
THE BIBLE- LISTENING TO MATTHEW
COMMENT FOR LENT 1 – 10.02.08
Genesis 2: 15-17, 3: 1-7
Out of pre-history times there comes the next instalment in the creation story. It concerns the creation of wild life, but especially the human race and how people differ from other created living things. There are now rivers and trees, even a garden. All living things stay within the limits of their physical being, but not the humans – they question, reason and choose. Then they have to bear the consequences of their choice – especially the tension now in their relationship with their God.
Psalm 32
The themes of penitence, forgiveness and thanksgiving are worked into the worship in this Psalm. The deeply personal terms are present throughout because the only way for the worshipper to stand before the holy God is to be truly honest with himself. There can be no areas of resentment or hostility hidden away. That is when the experience of being forgiven brings with it the grace of God. So the Psalm ends on a truly joyous note.
Romans 5: 12-19
Paul personalises the disobedience of Adam in the creation story for the dramatic effect, but especially so he can emphasise the action of Christ in understanding the meaning of the cross and the resurrection. In this whole letter however, he is showing how both Jew and Gentile can share in the spiritual grace which results. Paul understands the negative, destructive and spoiling influences which run through our shared humanity. But stronger than these are the spiritual loving energies made available to all through the life and action of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 4: 1-11
This is a story which can only have come from Jesus himself. We must wonder how Jesus throughout his ministry must have asked himself in his times of prayer the very questions dealt with in this account. These were lively questions in his time: the importance of food; of miracles as signs of his spiritual power and of group loyalty as against another group. He chose to think of these as symptoms of the basic needs of what it means to be human, and therefore to meet in himself all that hinders us from understanding and accepting the full free grace of God.
THE BIBLE- LISTENING TO MATTHEW
COMMENT FOR LENT 2 – 17.02.08
Genesis 12: 1-9
Throughout recorded history there are stories of family groups or tribes driven out of areas and who then have to go in search of food and living space. But as Abraham leaves, about 2200 years before Christ, he has a conversation with his God, so he feels as he travels south from the headwaters of the Euphrates River that his God is with him all the way. He then builds an altar to his God in his new home, in much the same way as people build a church, or as people support a church in their new area. This becomes the new spiritual centre in a life's journey.
Psalm 121
The first verse sets the task and sees the problem in this pilgrim song – the hazards of the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The panicky question arises: How can I get the help I need to go the distance? After that first verse, the rest is reassurance for those who put their faith in the spiritual power that brought forth this good earth. The pilgrim song is for people who ask such anxious questions as: how will I meet this surgery? How will I get through this (family) crisis? How will I get another job? How will my finances stretch? Just look again at verse 7.
Romans 4:1-7
Paul knows what he is talking about here, for his earlier life had been dominated by the Law of Moses and its practices. But then he had this dramatic encounter with Jesus Christ and his life became a faith response to God. He says that this is like the faith response of Abraham which came before the Law of Moses. Now for him there are no limits to the spiritual growth in faith or service. Does this help us understand the importance of "Sorry Day" where we have learned to deal with every person on the basis of a shared humanity?
John 3: 1-17
Nicodemus is impressed by what he understands in Jesus as signs of God's Presence and power. But Jesus tells him that he has to let go of any such credits and accept the Kingdom of God with wholehearted gratitude as if he were a helpless baby. He also tells Nicodemus that as a renowned teacher of Scripture where the basic Hebrew word for spirit, breath and wind is the same, he should have been prepared for changes in wind direction and strength. For there is something mysterious operating here, where the powerless victim, Jesus, suffers under the human power structures and emerges the victor, thus completing the purpose of creation.
THE BIBLE- LISTENING TO MATTHEW
COMMENT FOR LENT 3 – 24.02.08
Exodus 17: 1-7
Living in a dry continent we understand how these Hebrews felt without water. But as the saga of their migration to Palestine unfolds they were learning what it meant to be a united people. Also their leadership in the world was unique, for it was Moses, a visionary, spiritual man dedicated to the God of the Abraham Covenant, who was re-establishing the Abraham dream. There had been a crisis over food, and this time it was water. This is a key story in the development of the Hebrew people.
Psalm 95
There has long been truly ecumenical use of this Psalm. It is such a joyous, wholehearted celebration of God. We are invited to recognise our dependence on the spiritual power which sustains us, and to realise how dependable this power is in our daily journeys. Then comes the reminder of what happened in the Exodus story which resulted in none of those who began the trek entering the land of promise at the end.
Romans 5: 1-11
This great passage comes up as Paul wants the Roman Christians to understand the significance of that action in Jesus – his death and resurrection. It was the planned event in the work of the Holy Spirit with the Hebrew people from the time of Abraham, whose faith shows the way. For the Christ of the crucifixion, in conflict with all that degrades humanity, stands out in human history as an action of such spiritual power that we today can live in the peace of God. This is something which has happened through the initiative of the loving power of God.
John 4: 5-42
This remarkable and beautiful story shows Jesus ignoring rules of behaviour which separate people from one another, and challenging a person to grasp new ideas. He then spoke of God in words which resonate today – “God is Spirit”. In thinking over what Jesus said and did, the excitement shows through the story as John tells it. There is an appeal to a shared humanity and a sense of God’s free grace on offer which makes the story come alive in today’s cruel and callous world.
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