THE BIBLE – LISTENING TO MATTHEW
COMMENT FOR PENTECOST 25 – 2.11.08
Joshua 3: 7-17
The people crossed the Jordan with elaborate ceremony, with Joshua giving the orders. He had replaced Moses as leader. The Ark of the Lord had the sacred objects of the people’s relationship with their God. Its carriage was with ceremony like a modern country’s use of their flag. The river waters were suspended indicating that the land was a gift to them from their God who now was acknowledged as Lord of all the earth (v 13). But look at the number of people who were to be driven out!
Psalm 107: 1-7, 33-37
There is rejoicing with the whole community coming together in thanks under the goodness of God. A fitting Psalm for All Souls Day, or, as With Love to the World has it, a Festival of All Humanity. It is for people who live scattered or wandering lives but maintain shared values and loyalties. As trade by land and sea developed and there were safer conditions for travellers, more and more people were coming to Jerusalem for the major festivals. There grew this sense of everyone standing under the protecting love of God.
1 Thessalonians 2: 9-20
Paul is a bit defensive as he thinks back over those few weeks of his missionary stay in Thessalonica. As with most well-to-do Jewish families of his day he had learnt a trade. His choice was tent making. It was his habit to work for his living in any new community where he stayed any length of time. But giving the good news of a resurrected Christ was his real work. It was just this, however, that withdrew members from the local synagogue in support of his message, with division in the town as a result.
Matthew 23: 1-12
Jesus had to honour the Pharisees for keeping religious faith alive for the Jews. But he was disappointed with them for they concentrated on process, on the legal aspects, and the public display for securing support. For Jesus it was a heartfelt response to the love of God, and then living that love in daily life. In this way the Pharisees could have taught how to put justice and mercy into everyday life.
Revelation 7: 9-17
This is a great day for the church, especially the UnitingChurch which brings together the many traditions: reformed, evangelical, charismatic, catholic and orthodox. In this reading for All Saints Day there is this visionary spectacle of people who lived in the grace of God being reunited with the Father, Saviour and the Spirit in eternal glory.
THE BIBLE – LISTENING TO MATTHEW
COMMENT FOR PENTECOST 26 – 9.11.08
Joshua 24: 1-3a, 14-25
About a thousand years had gone by since Abraham led his family south from the headwaters of the EuphratesRiver, and about sixty since Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. So he gives a history lesson to a whole new generation interested in Amorite farming and worship practices. As the people spread out over the new country he wanted them to think and remember what was unique in their family and tribal story. He points out that it was the stable spiritual relationship with their God who had walked with them, and now it was time to make a commitment to serve that God in their future life.
Psalm 78
We only use 7 verses of this Psalm which runs to 72 in all. First the author wants to get an atmosphere of serious thinking, then we focus on two questions or riddles. The first is why the people, despite knowing what made them safe, would at times take up local animistic practices. The second is why the people would make so little attempt to pass their real story to the younger generation, leaving them unaware of the mystery of divine wisdom and grace.
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18
This letter would be among the earliest that Paul wrote, so it reflects the themes those early Christians were talking about. One was the expectation of the early return of Christ. Even today that theme has a certain fascination. We see it in the theme of the “end times”. But Paul had to deal with a worry about what would happen to those who died before the expected return of Christ. He explains how he was thinking about that event, and sketches images to describe something spiritual. He notes that faith in Christ is faith in a resurrection spiritual relationship. The enrichment of that relationship is the primary focus.
Matthew 25: 1-13
Jesus would have taken this example from the actual wedding practices of the time. It was such a man’s world that everyone waited for the procession of the bridegroom, and he came when he was good and ready. The focus in this parable was not the event of the Day of the Lord, but on being ready when it happened. We can see how this would add to the expectation of the Return of Christ. But over the years Christians have been alert for the presence of God in human affairs and it is better to look for the risen Christ in our everyday lives.
THE BIBLE – LISTENING TO MATTHEW
COMMENT FOR PENTECOST 27 – 16.11.08
Judges 4: 1-7
After Joshua there was no one to lead the covenant people as a whole. As the tribal groups moved out over the land some problems developed. The response allowed strong people to emerge as leaders. One such was Deborah, a prophetess. Her solution was a military response through armed conflict in the name of their God of the covenant; an appropriate reading for Remembrance Day. Imagine the distress of our loving compassionate God as there rolled over us this past week the remembrance of the dying during armed conflict; the death penalty; Iraq and Afghanistan; the Middle East and the Congo!!
Psalm 123
There is deep sincerity in this short pilgrim song. The worshipper is directed to look to divine, spiritual power in complete humility and trust believing that he or she will receive the needed help. That goes for life in a hostile world. The verses 3 and 4 might be understood as reflecting the status of Judah after the exile when under the power of Persian rule. There is no specific request, which again reflects the servant status of the worshipper.
1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11
Paul now connects the return of Christ with the Old Testament Day of the Lord. That event also came suddenly but with cosmic effect and judgement. But it is different for Christians who are children of light and wide awake as in the day. This topic covers the last point of what Timothy had reported. The last remark in our reading draws from Paul a compliment for their faithful loving support of each other.
Matthew 25: 14-30
This is another strong appeal made by Jesus to the Jewish nation as the final conflict drew near in Jerusalem. Most attention is given to the unprofitable slave. The people would understand that he was accusing them of receiving into their hands the Law of Moses and leaving it just as they had received it. Its majestic concepts of God and its spiritual and justice implications were undeveloped. This left them satisfied with what they had and unready to embark on a new understanding of a God of Love. That same charge meets us as a challenge to understand our own faith concepts at a deeper level.
THE BIBLE – LISTENING TO MATTHEW
COMMENT FOR CHRIST THE KING – 23.11.08
Ezekiel 34: 11-16, 20-24
By 580 BC the “promised land” was under foreign control, the people were mostly in exile in Babylon, but some were with Jeremiah in Egypt, while others were with Ezekiel in Tel-Abib (Aviv) where “we sat stunned for a week” Ezek. 3:15. Now, in our reading the priest Ezekiel revives the shepherding tradition with its caring for the weak and the lost, and developing a community where the love and justice of God will prevail. One gets the sense in reading this prophecy that the Spiritual Power which has nurtured the Hebrew people has not given up on them.
Psalm 100
Our hymn book has four settings of this Psalm, because it has been echoing in worship down through the centuries. Its first use must have been in the ancient Temple where the celebration would have begun with shouts of joy, affirming the Old Testament faith that Yahweh alone is God. The joy lifts the hearts of people, confirming in everyone their faith and trust in the mystery of a creator’s care in their very history from day to day.
Ephesians 1: 15-23
Paul has time while a prisoner in Rome to write a general statement of the spiritual power of the Christ of the resurrection. He is keenly aware of the power and divisions of the Gentile world and explains his faith that Christ had died to bring the whole discordant world into a harmonious unity. That means thinking through what it means to be Christian; using the resources of wisdom and love; searching the Scriptures; and so giving effect to the loving purposes of God. He makes the church living proof of the mystery of God in the world.
Matthew 25: 31-46
The disciples must have held their breath as the first verses of our reading were spoken. The enormous power of these words was a direct challenge to the strong of the human race. Four times the question is asked: what was your response to human need? There is no escape clause like: “I was getting what I wanted and just never noticed.” The question ranges from the most ordinary to those which challenge both communities and nations. After the Man from Nazareth went to his Cross and Resurrection no one questioned his Kingship.
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