Throughout this month, in both Old and New Testaments, we hear the voice of the Lord speaking, sometimes gently, sometimes in rebuke, sometimes reassuring, sometimes warning – and all as valid for now as it was for those who first heard His words.
August 7th: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 1:1,10-20 or Genesis 15:1-6; Psalm 50:1-8,22-23 or Psalm 33:12-22; Hebrews 11:1-3,8-16; Luke 12:32-40
The Word of the Lord
Come, let us reason together! Isn’t it amazing that the high and holy creator would stoop to speak so intimately and so often to his creation! The Psalmist hears him: we can give him nothing that is not his already (50:9-12). Isaiah hears him, rebuking the people for bringing ‘meaningless offerings’ (1:13) and celebrating pagan festivals, all of which leads God to disregard their worship (v15). But he wants to talk to them and to make them see reason (v18); if only they were willing they could be fully restored. But as they will so often be warned, right up until Jesus speaks on his final journey to Jerusalem, failure to listen will lead them into situations which will be disastrous for them.
And as the writer to the Hebrews remembers (v8), Abraham hears God calling him to travel to an unspecified place, and has the faith to begin the journey. The alternative Old Testament reading tells of another occasion on which God speaks to Abraham, and of the ensuing conversation and covenant.
Huge crowds gather to listen to Jesus (Luke 12:1) but maybe only his disciples really hear him. In this passage he’s talking directly to the ‘little flock’: Do not be afraid (v32). Verses 33-34 require a level of trust: disciples should prepare for the coming of God’s kingdom, and the promised heavenly treasure, by holding less tightly to what they have now; and always be ready (35-40), as the master of the house (let’s read that as the Lord – see verse 40) could return at any time. As servants trust in their master’s provision, so should we. And as I heard once, we may not know when he’s coming back, but one thing’s certain: his return is nearer now than it ever was!
Lord, give me the faith to believe you when you speak. May I be ready for whatever you call me to. Amen.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us / all your purposes, for your glory. (StF 161)
August 14th: Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 5:1-7 or Jeremiah 23:23-29; Psalm 80:1-2,8-19 or Psalm 82; Hebrews 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-56
Dark times
Imagine listening to Isaiah as he stands maybe in the market place and begins to chant this ‘love song.’ It catches your attention because it’s about a vineyard – an important feature of life where you are, and often used as a metaphor for a (hopefully fruitful) bride. But what’s this? The vineyard in Isaiah’s song has produced nothing but wild grapes despite loving care and attention. And it gets worse: the owner is going to stop taking care of it. Then comes the explanation: The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the house of Israel… (v7). This is no wedding song, but it is the song of a loving God for his rebellious people. These are words you’d rather not have heard. There’s something similar in Psalm 80 – a psalm of lament. There are two possible dates for its composition; if the earlier one is correct, Isaiah may have had it in mind. If the psalm was composed later, the psalmist could be remembering Isaiah 5.
Jesus is also speaking words which are difficult to listen to. He has come to bring not peace but division (Luke 12:50.) Families will be split apart. What a let-down that must be for those who want to believe that Jesus will solve everything and rescue their country from the occupying forces! They are reading the signs of the times incorrectly (v54-56). And if we read the next few verses, not included in the Lectionary, we find a parable which is a warning, not just at a personal level, but also for Israel as a whole. Dark times indeed.
The Hebrews passage makes for difficult reading. So many believers have suffered for their faith – and will continue to suffer, as we know from the lives of Christian martyrs, who even in their darkest hours refused to give up their faith. The reader is encouraged to stand firm in times of difficulty, as they did (12:1-2) .
Lord, I know life can’t always be easy; but I know you’ll be with me in the dark times. Thank you for that. Amen.
Blessèd be your name on the road marked with suffering, though there’s pain in the offering, blessèd be your name. (MP 1036)
August 21st: Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 1:4-10 or Isaiah 58:9b-14; Psalm 71:1-6 or Psalm 103:1-8; Hebrews 12:18-29; Luke 13:10-17
The consuming fire
What – me?? Jeremiah is one of several people who question God’s wisdom when they are called. He’s intimidated by the scale of the task and raises objections: I’m too young! But God’s ways and thoughts are not ours (Isaiah 55:8-9); God knows and has chosen Jeremiah since before his birth. And Jeremiah will speak as he’s directed; it will be like a fire in his heart which he cannot hold in (Jeremiah 20:9).
The Hebrews passage refers to the meeting with God on fiery Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18) – a terrifying sight. But Christian believers meet with God on a different, more welcoming mountain (12:22-24). However, warnings still have to be issued: 1) when Jesus speaks, don’t refuse him; and 2) our God, who does not change (Malachi 3:6), is still a consuming fire, as he was in Moses’ day, and is due acceptable, humble worship.
We might, with all reverence, observe that, like Jeremiah, an unquenchable fire is burning in Jesus’ heart. And with all reverence, we might compare his humble obedience to his Father with Jeremiah’s obedience to his God. Jesus regularly flouts conventions, and in today’s Gospel he show the importance of compassion over rules when he singles out a woman, speaks to her, and heals her on the Sabbath. The hypocrisy of the leaders who insist on following the rules and criticise him (indirectly! They actually address the worshippers. Perhaps they’re afraid to be too critical of Jesus in public!) and this is exposed when Jesus points out that even though no work is allowed on the Sabbath, anyone with an animal will take care of it on that day.
Women were regarded as of lesser importance than men, and this woman may have been regarded as sinful because of her long illness (incidentally, try functioning with your head at the level of other people’s kneecaps and you get an idea of her suffering for eighteen years!); but Jesus further affirms her by calling her a daughter of Abraham, as deserving as a man would have been of being freed from what has bound her for so long. It’s unfortunate for the religious leaders that they don’t heed the One who is speaking, and thus miss the grace of God (Hebrews 12:15). The quotation from Haggai (Hebrews 12:26) promises a shaking which will remove all that is imperfect so that only the perfect will remain. Let the reader take note…
Awesome God, will you please burn away all in me that’s not holy or true. Amen.
King of heaven, we will answer the call, / We will follow, bringing hope to the world…
(StF 407)
August 28th: Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 2:4-13 or Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 10:12-18 or Proverbs 25:6-7; Psalm 81:1,10-16 or Psalm 112; Hebrews 13:1-8,15-16; Luke 14:1,7-14
God’s priorities
When I was at university we ate together in the evenings; we could sit where we liked, but the staff sat at the top table. Every week a list was posted on the general notice board with the names of the students who were being invited to join the staff at their table – a privilege which some had mixed feelings about! But no one would have sat at the top table unless invited to do so. Jesus counsels against valuing oneself too highly: better to undervalue yourself and be called to come up higher than to be sent from the top table to the bottom! Take the least important seat and then see what happens! Needless to say, Jesus is talking about, not actual seats and tables, but about one’s attitude to life. Genuine humility (not like that of Dickens’ Uriah Heep who was so proud of being ‘umble!) is a quality to be valued. Proverbs 25:6-7 has the same advice.
My people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols. (Jeremiah 2:11). Appalling ingratitude after all God has done for them! What has happened to their values? The things the people have deserted him to go after are as unreliable as a leaky water tank (v13.) Psalm 81 also laments their unwillingness to listen or to obey.
In Hebrews we read of the value of sacrificial living (13:15-16); the value of hospitality; the value of compassion; the value of faithfulness; the value of contentment. Such were, and should still be, the values of those who follow a master who described himself as humble and gentle (Matthew 11:29). Such are God’s priorities.
Lord Jesus, I know how proud and selfish I can be. You can change me; please make me willing. Amen.
Lord, we thy presence seek; May ours this blessing be;
Give us a pure and lowly heart, A temple meet for thee. (H&P 724)
