The scriptures read are Exodus 22-24, Psalm 24, and Matthew 25.
Exodus 22. For the rest of the Pentateuch, we are going to be hitting large blocks of law on our way to the next bit of narrative. And the laws are not always grouped into sections on one topic. So we get laws on stealing, mixed with animal control, rape, bestiality, etc. You get civil laws next to religious rituals next to moral laws. I find it fascinating to see these basic building blocks of a lawful society some 3000+ years ago and the awareness of nuance and mitigating circumstances. But I especially like it where God shows compassion and takes it personally if his people don't do the same. Some gems in this chapter: don't take advantage of aliens in your land, don't abuse widows and orphans, don't keep a man's coat as security overnight lest that's all he has to sleep in, don't gouge the poor with interest. I'm looking at you, Wall Street!
Exodus 23. I love if that God says if you hate someone, don't take it out on his beasts. If you see his donkey trapped under a load, help the poor thing out.
No gossip. The Bible comes down very strongly on sins of the tongue. They are mentioned at least 50 times in the scriptures. A lot more than some things people make a big deal about. And yet I don't recall ever hearing a lot of sermons about the evils of gossip and slander. But they can tear a family or a church apart.
God is going to clear the country of all the pagan peoples so his folks can have the land. This is not the venue for wrestling with something some Christians find disturbing. I will point out that this only applies to Ancient Israel. There's no warrant to see this as a justification for anyone else in another time or place to do the same.
Exodus 24. I totally forgot about this theophany, or appearance of God, to the 70 elders of Israel. And they eat and drink in his presence. Why doesn't this come up more often when discussing the Eucharist?
Moses ascends higher on the mountain to spend 40 days and nights in the cloud to receive the tablets of stone. Prepare for major info-dump.
Psalm 24. A song about ascending the mountain of God! In this case, it is a liturgical psalm about going up Mt. Zion to enter the temple. I can't read the last section without hearing Handel's version from the Messiah.
Matthew 25. The parable of the virgins, smart and dumb. Another story about being ready for Jesus' return. Wedding processions were elaborate affairs with the groom being carried on a litter to his bride's house and then the couple being paraded through all the streets in town so everyone could get a look at them. It ended at their new home. Must be a big town for the procession to take so long. But the smart virgins were prepared with extra oil so they could replenish their lamps. The dumb virgins missed out on the big wedding party because they had to go get more oil. Again Jesus compares the kingdom to a big wedding feast. Don't miss the party, dude! (Or dudette!)
A lot of people think the parable of the talents is an endorsement of ruthless capitalism. But it's really about using what God gives you to serve him boldly. This really goes back to what Jesus said about hiding your light under a basket. God gave each of us at least one gift. Use it or lose it!
A final judgement story. And the criteria is compassion in action. We humans are created in God's image. True it's been marred. But in Jesus we see the very Spirit and image of God in man. What we do to each other, we do to Jesus and thus to God. What we neglect to do for each other, we neglect to do to Jesus and thus to God. Think about that next time you are tempted to dismiss or denigrate someone.
No comments:
Post a Comment