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19th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Our lessons bring us to a variety of literary forms and contexts—from a memorial
service to give tribute to a great leader, to a walk through memory lane by Paul
concerning his early days at Thessalonica, to testy ennui between Jesus and the Pharisees.
With some coercion, perhaps all could be made to mesh into a single homily, but much
easier would be a conversation between the first and second lessons. Enjoy!
Deuteronomy 34:1-12—Eulogy to a Great Leader
The book of Deuteronomy, the Torah—Genesis through Deuteronomy—and the era of
Israel’s foundations all come to an end with the death of Moses. He has guided his
nomadic tribal community through a harsh wilderness, taught them the law that God gave
them and interceded when they did not keep the commandments. Whatever the
circumstance—whining, rebellion, plagues, Moses has proven to be the servant par
excellence. Now at his death we hear a eulogy tucked inside a bare bones report and learn
that their great leader has died with his boots on—still having keen eyesight and
youthful stamina. More, however, is the tribute paid to this leader when the writer says
of Moses that "never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses . . . he
was unequaled" (v. 10-11). Amen.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8—Through it All . . .
Paul moves from his admiration of the Thessalonians’ progress in faith and example
to his memories of the circumstances of his initial encounter with them. The beginning had
not been hopeful—mistreatment in the previous town (Philippi) and great opposition in
their efforts to proclaim the gospel. The itinerant Paul party might have been classed
with the wandering philosophers of the day—but with at least one important
distinction: they had never proclaimed Christ in order to pass the hat. Their motives had
been pure and above board from the beginning. They had a deep investment in this
congregation that even money couldn’t buy.
Matthew 22:34-46—This is a test . . . testing . . . testing . . . testing
One after another, Jesus’ adversaries have gone down swinging. The Sadducees most
recently have struck out, but now the Pharisees step up to the plate with a question of
orthodoxy: which is the greatest commandment? Jesus’ response pulls together the
vertical and horizontal dimensions of relationship and apparently satisfies the
questioners. But Jesus is apparently not finished with the discussion. He throws them a
curve ball that catches them at a loss of how to respond—"What is your opinion
about the Messiah?" Jesus asks them. The discussion ends in silence—"not a
one could say a word in reply . . . and from that day forward no one dared ask him another
question" (vs. 46). To be continued . . .
