THE BIBLE – LISTENING TO MATTHEW
COMMENT FOR EASTER 7 – 4.05.08
1 Peter 4: 12-14; 5: 6-11
Embedded in the Christian faith is concern for the marginalised and powerless. So Peter is anxious for the slaves who find a welcome and acceptance among the Christians, but who then attract resentment in their ordinary lives (With Love to the World. Vol 12. No 2. P 52) but Christians think of the human race as one family under God, so the weakest member of the family attracts more care and share of the family’s resources. This is the ideal which will be tested more and more as global warming threatens our planet.
Psalm 68: 1-10, 32-35
Those first three verses are a problem. Who are the enemies of God today? Our world is in danger whenever we think of “us and our enemies” as a factor in how to act. But the rest of this psalm encouraged the covenant people to be concerned about all those who are pushed aside in life’s accidents and competition. The wonderful view of the God of the clouds and the heavens is still the God who is beyond and above us in our mental imagery though we no longer believe in a flat earth. Rather our God is concerned with the homeless and all who suffer from the cruelty and disregard of others.
Luke 24: 44-53 – Ascension
This interesting ending of Luke’s Gospel connects it with his next volume – the Acts of the Apostles. While Luke does not say very much of the ministry of Jesus between the Resurrection and Pentecost, the three verses 45-47 must be a good summary of what was said. The questions of Thomas given by other writers must have been typical of their anxiety, even while they were vividly aware of his presence. The concept of heavens in the world above is present in the Ascension scene. But more significant for us is that he leads them to where the most reassuring highlights of his ministry occurred and then “withdraws from them”. As if one minute Jesus is so vividly present with us and the next we get on with the mission in faith.
John 17:1-11
The hour has come for the man from Nazareth. He prays for himself, for his disciples and for all those who will catch the vision of his life. He was once offered the false glory of the kingdoms of this world (Matt. 4-8) but now these kingdoms are set to get their revenge in his crucifixion. But he prays he will reveal another glory and stand as one authentic human being made in the image of God (Gen 1-27). He is whole and complete. He offers nothing in his defense. When offered sour wine and myrrh he does not take it. He offers paradise to the dying thief, forgiveness to his tormentors and commits his Spirit to the Eternal Spirit who gave it. This is the glory of God and it outlasted creaturely decay and became the resurrection story..
THE BIBLE – LISTENING TO MATTHEW
COMMENT FOR PENTECOST – 11.05.08
1 Corinthians 1 2: 3b – 13
Martin Luther stressed 3b as the work of grace in the human heart. He said, “I believe I cannot of my own reason and strength believe in Christ my Lord, or come to him”. Everything is the work of the Spirit with its multitude of gifts. But then the problem in the Corinthian congregation was disunity. Paul writes to deal with this, explaining that unity was both the will and the gift of the Spirit.
Psalm 104: 24-34, 35b
This is a joyous nature-hymn about how everything came to be and how the creation works. It all depends on the benevolent creating power. In verses 29 and 30 we have this great picture that when God holds his breath (Spirit) everything stops. They only begin moving again when the power that moves everything continues breathing. In the happiness of this created world there is a jarring note in verse 35a where the wicked are impatiently brushed aside as we might deal with particularly annoying pests.
Acts 2: 1-21
At Pentecost (fiftieth day after Passover) Jerusalem was crowded with local and overseas visitors for the harvest thanksgiving. At the same time the spiritual tension which had been building up in the disciples was released and suddenly everything made sense. They were filled with love for everyone within sound of their voices. Entirely gone was the old dream of being a separate and special nation and everyone became the object of the loving energy of God by whom Jesus had brought this miracle to life. The Spiritual power of God was creating a new humanity, inclusive and sharing. Compare the Jerusalem of today.
John 20: 19-23
The poor disciples are still in shock, guilty and ashamed from the Good Friday disaster. Then on Sunday morning they were totally confused by the “Hey: He’s alive” story. Now in the evening they take no chances and lock the doors, only to become aware that the one they had abandoned was right there with them. He proves his identity and brings his message of peace. But he has to say it again and give them CPR to start them breathing once more. In a new creative act reminiscent of Genesis 2:7 this breath (Spirit) brings all the loving spiritual energies of God, replacing the hates and revenges (9/11, Iraq, etc) with peace and forgiveness.
THE BIBLE – LISTENING TO MATTHEW
COMMENT FOR TRINITY – 18.05.08
Genesis 1: 1-2, 24a
In this beautiful creation story God – the Supreme Spiritual Power creates, step by step out of a formless void, a living breathing world. God is shown as a loving caring intelligence at work. The highest life form – humankind – is gifted with reason and the intelligence to have “dominion over” all created things, that is, to be responsible for the created world, so continuing the loving caring work of the creator. But the creative power of God never rests. Something the man from Nazareth taught us.
Psalm 8
This would be a popular song for the covenant people; glorifying God as creator. At the same time man, the creature, unable to demand anything of God, feels he is the object of Spiritual loving care. This incomprehensible grace is at the heart of the meaning of human life. This gives rise to the conviction that every human life, of whatever race, is sacred, though terrorists, warmongers, and the Burmese Generals do not know it.
2 Corinthians 13: 11-13
Paul had real concerns, and sometimes hard things to say to the congregation at Corinth. But this little gem appears at the end of his second letter. Here there is good order, the love and peace of God reigns, and people greet each other lovingly – the physical contact expressing the warmth of feeling. Then comes the formula of the Trinity, which explains the rich source of the Spiritual loving care which pervades the gathered group and which stays with each one as they leave.
Matthew 28: 16-20
The importance of this reading is Matthew’s witness to what has yet to happen with the coming of the third person of the Trinity at Pentecost. The reading is about the farewell meeting in Galilee after the resurrection. Jesus is meeting them as promised but some are doubting their own capacity to respond to something quite beyond their understanding. They had yet to discover the power of the Spirit’s companionship. Then they would undertake the great commission.
THE BIBLE – LISTENING TO MATTHEW
COMMENT FOR PENTECOST 2 – 25.05.08
Isaiah 49: 8-16a
In beautiful poetry the writer struggles with two concerns. First the dreadful fact that the remnant of the covenant people have been carried off as exiles to Babylon; and second, that Jerusalem the city, symbol of God’s presence, is in ruins. He then develops the theme of the Servant of God – the Shepherd of the people – who will surely bring them home. The care with which this is done is as important as the action. Then he uses a tender human analogy to reassure them that Jerusalem will not be forgotten.
Psalm 131
This Psalm is a little gem, and read slowly the significance of each phrase increases. These are the honest thoughts arising out of a mature faith. The lofty dreams of youth did not survive the battles and traumas of life. It is enough to know that the mysteries of life are there safe in the being of God. The confession of this psalm concludes with an appeal to the covenant community to take this experience of God into its corporate life.
1 Corinthians 4: 1-5
The mystery religions current at the time had an influence in the development of factions in the Church at Corinth, each one claiming some secret special knowledge. Paul points out that the Apostles are servants of Christ and steward’s of God’s mysteries. So while he understands their criticism and desire for something different, Christ is the true light and everything will be revealed for what it is in the light of Christ. And they would find the richness of their life together as they encouraged one another.
Matthew 6: 24-34
Matthew listens to the quiet words of this man from Nazareth as he describes what life would be like if people actually put “the Kingdom of God and his righteousness first” in their everyday lives – that is: live by love. It certainly won him over. But we live in such a hothouse environment where: “enjoy now, suffer later if I have to” is more the general rule. In faith communities like ours, however, commitment to try God’s way of love and support for each other and encouragement from others can work wonders for those who try.
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