Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Feb. 19, 2017
Ruth gleaning in the fields of Boaz, oil on panel by Barent Pietersz Fabritius, Holland, 1660. The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.
As we near the end of Epiphany season, our readings continue to show us how to follow in God’s way. In this first reading we learn that we are to be holy because God is holy. This brisk summary begins with our duty to leave a share of our bounty over for poor and hungry people and for immigrants, “the alien” – a duty that calls us just as strongly now as it called Israel then. Then, in a quick series of exhortations not to steal, lie, swear falsely, defraud, cheat the disabled, judge unfairly, slander or gain from your neighbor’s loss, we hear strong echoes of the Commandments that God requires of us.
We now encounter another portion of Psalm 119, the long Psalm that we heard at its beginning last Sunday. The entire Psalm celebrates love for Torah, God’s teaching, which, because it comes from God, bears the force of law: a law that we love. In these verses the Psalmist reminds us that we are called to be both humble and generous. We should turn away from selfish gain and avoid worthless things, striving instead to follow God’s ways in life-giving righteousness. We will hear Torah’s teaching echoed in the caring way of life that Jesus teaches us.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23
Paul uses a variety of striking metaphors as he urges the Corinthians to give up their factions and unite. Last week he likened them to children who must have milk before they can eat solid food, and then an empty field that must have seeds and water before it can bear fruit. Now, he says, he has laid a strong foundation through the grace of God. All who want to build there must use that foundation only, because it is Jesus. We are God’s temple, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and even if the world calls us “fools” for our belief, we all belong not to human factions but directly to God through Christ.
Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48
In today’s excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus continues showing us new ways to understand God’s teaching. Regardless of what we have heard in the past, Jesus says, he restates God’s commandments as firm guides for our relationship with God and our neighbors. “An eye for an eye” may have been a startling idea in its time, a relatively humane response when “death for an eye” was the usual rule. But now Jesus tells us to go beyond even mere equity to reach radical forgiveness, not only loving our brothers and sisters but all our neighbors. Jesus then calls us to be perfect, as God is perfect. That seems an impossible goal, but happily for us, the Greek word used here carries the possibly more achievable connotation of “mature,” “complete,” or even “hitting the target.” In this, at least, we can and should try our best.