We are constantly discerning in our private and
public lives what it is that God requires of us. With so many demands on our
time and attention, we can get lost in the options, incapacitated. Or we might
find the quandaries to be a fine excuse for complacency.
Jesus’ clarity cuts through our stagnant directions,
and Stephen Kolderup’s assessment of the readings for this day steer us toward
what we might call the plumb line, or the Ground Zero, of Jesus’ way as we
consider our tasks at this annual time of Reformation celebration.
“On these two commandments hang
all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40). Jesus' answer about the law is
foundational to any attempt to reform the church. The movement around the
sixteenth century was primarily a clearing of debris that obscured the love of
God and love of neighbor. One of the watchwords in training for the LOGOS
after-school program was “keeping the main thing the main thing.” We can build
up such a complicated structure of programs and customs and procedures, some of
which do little to follow the will of God. Once I saw an agenda planner for
church meetings that asked, “How will what we decide here affect the poor?”
Keeping Kolderup’s admonitions and slogans in mind,
these readings can help clear our own debris out of the way as we seek to
preach the two great commandments Jesus’ lived.
Matthew 22:34-46
The religious leaders hope to catch Jesus off-guard
and put him down. Instead, Jesus clarifies what the commandments demand and
catches the leaders in a puzzle by setting the Messiah beyond all
understanding.
The interchange
between Jesus and the religious leaders ends with his question to them about
the Messiah. We may not appreciate the scriptural ploy that Jesus used to trap
the Pharisees in their answer about David. Many of us grew up being suspicious
of so-called proof texting and this at first feels like Jesus out-dueling the
players at their own game. However, Jesus was just as serious in his discussion
of scripture as were the Pharisees. For all of them it was worth delving into
the word of God and discussing the matter at hand in light of the study.
Classic Jewish writings are full of lively discussion aimed at being faithful
from day to day.
Sometimes these
discussions reopened matters thought to be decided and closed. One such topic
was the Messiah's identity as the son of David. While this could be accepted as
true, Jesus was proposing that there was more truth about the Messiah. Jesus'
use of Psalm 110:1 [in vs. 44] invites his debaters to step outside that box
and consider the Messiah to be even greater. That greatness would not be an
extension of David's military and political achievements.
As Jesus would
demonstrate, the Messiah would be revealed in rejection, suffering, and death.
On many days, we stand with the Pharisees, stuck inside the box of Messianic
expectations that avoid the cross. The last question is still waiting for an
answer—from us.
– Stephen C. Kolderup
Leviticus
19:1-2,15-18
If this is indeed going to be a Sunday where other leaders
in the faith are celebrated, Moses is an excellent starting place. If the
Reformation was about leaders who sought to focus on what is central in God's
salvation, Moses can be honored as one who most intimately lived the covenant
relationship between God and Israel. Their returning to the center of the faith
was tied to his continuing instruction and intercession.
– Stephen C.
Kolderup is a pastor serving South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church in
Florida.
We may want to preach today about the difference
between law and gospel. The religious leaders hope Jesus will trip up over the
law. Instead, he speaks to them of love. Reform should move us as people of
faith toward greater love – for God and neighbor.
Augustine taught that the goal of any sermon ought to
be to increase the hearer’s love of God and love of neighbor.
Homily Service 41,
no. 4 (21 July 2008): 90-99.
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