Ordinary Time Week 20

Psalm: Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 or Psalm 1 

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 or Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 

Gospel: Matthew 22:34-46 

Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

What is the greatest commandment? If you were a Pharisee or Sadducee in 1^st century Palestine, this is the type of question which might preoccupy your time? Rabbis have calculated that there are 613 commandments for a Jew to follow. Just thinking of that number makes it seem impossible to remember, let alone follow them all. So it is natural to wonder what commandment is the greatest, which can then help interpret all the others. The question itself is not usual and was something rabbis discussed. But what is unique about this encounter from perhaps other discussions amongst the rabbis was this question was meant to “test” Jesus. The word used in Greek is “peirazo” and can also mean to tempt, or entice one to sin. This is the same word used by Matthew to describe the devil coming to tempt Jesus in the Wilderness.

Ordinary Time week 19

Psalm: Psalm 99 or Psalm 96:1-9, 10-13 

Old Testament: Exodus 33:12-23 or Isaiah 45:1-7 

Gospel: Matthew 22:15-22 

Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Last week we discussed the passage from Exodus, so I figured this week we would discuss the reading from Isaiah. What is interesting about this chapter is that Cyrus, the king of Persia, is declared to be God’s anointed. This is the same word used to describe King David and others in the line of kings as being chosen by God for their task. Ultimately, this word is used to describe Jesus as God’s Anointed. Christ, in Greek, is the same word for Messiah in Hebrew. In fact, if you look at the Septuagint, which was an Old Testament text used when the New Testament was being written, Isaiah 45:1 uses the word “Christ” to describe Cyrus.

Ordinary Time Week 18

Psalm: Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 or Psalm 23 

Old Testament: Exodus 32:1-14 or Isaiah 25:1-9 

Gospel: Mathew 22:1-14 

Epistle: Philippians 4:1-9

This week we are presented with a very interesting story from the life of Moses. At this point in the story in Exodus 32, Moses has been on Mount Sinai for 40 days, and the people of Israel left at the bottom are so fickle, they have already turned to idolatry. They are building a golden calf to worship as their liberator from Egypt. God is so angry that he decides to destroy them all and start over with Moses’ descendants as the new People of God. It actually kind of seems like a good idea considering Israel is barely out of slavery and has already forgotten all the miracles God did for them. It does not bode well for their future faithfulness. But, Moses argues with God and says that if he would destroy Israel, his name would essentially be besmirched in Egypt and elsewhere since he led his people out of bondage only to destroy them. Moses also reminds God that he made a promise with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and he can’t break that promise. That is the story, but it brings up so many interesting ideas.

Ordinary Time Week 17

Psalm: Psalm 19 or Psalm 80:7-15 
Old Testament: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

  or Isaiah 5:1-7 

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-46 

Epistle: Philippians 3:4b-14

In today’s readings, we kind of see the transition from Israel as the sole people of God, to the gradual change of the Gentiles being grafted into the family. Israel was always called to be a witness and bring people to the knowledge of God, but since they never really lived faithfully to the covenant, it was nearly impossible for them to fulfill their mission in the world. The theme this week revolves around the idea of a vineyard, a metaphor for God’s Kingdom.

In Isaiah chapter 5, we have the prototype of the image of Israel as a Vineyard. God is seen as the beloved farmer who puts his whole self into the vineyard. He does everything correctly in terms of agriculture and provides for defense from invaders. He evens builds a wine press for when the harvest comes. Naturally, he is expecting that when harvest time comes he will get good grapes. In verses 3-4, Isaiah places an indictment on Israel: Why, when God did everything to prepare for good grapes, is he getting worthless ones, or “wild ones?” Despite God’s preparing and calling of Israel, it is as if he had done nothing and he is getting the opposite of cultivated usable grapes. The grapes inside the Vineyard, Israel as a nation and as a territory, are no different from those from the heathen nations who don’t know God.