Illuminations on the Lectionary readings for July 31, 2022 (Pentecost 8C)

First Reading (Track One): Hosea 11:1-11

“Do not store up treasures for yourselves without being rich toward God.” Hold Jesus’ warning to the rich fool in Sunday’s Gospel in your thoughts as we hear the day’s other Lectionary readings.

The Parable of the Rich Fool (1627), oil painting on oak wood by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669). The Gemäldegalerie, Berlin. (Click image to enlarge.)

In our Track One first reading, we return to Hosea, an early prophet who wrote around 750 BCE, probably following soon after Amos, whose dire warnings we heard earlier this month. Hosea, too, warns of the coming destruction of Israel, the Northern Kingdom, if its people don’t return to their covenant with God. In beautiful imagery that contrasts sharply with last week’s reading, Hosea envisions Israel as a child, with God as a loving but perhaps exasperated parent. The parent knows that the misbehaving offspring deserves punishment, but won’t give up on them entirely. Eventually they will come home to a happy reunion.

First Reading (Track Two): Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23

“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” ​In reflecting on this familiar passage in the mysterious book of Ecclesiastes,​ ​think of “vanity” in the sense of the original Hebrew word: “breath” or “vapor,” something barely visible that veils the light. We spend our lives futilely toiling under the scorching sun in pursuit of something that we can’t grasp, the poet sings: “chasing after wind.” The first-person narrator, “I, the Teacher” (“Qohelet” in Hebrew), is traditionally understood as King Solomon. But the book was almost certainly written centuries after Solomon’s time, long after the people’s return from exile, and some modern scholars see a feminine aspect in Qoholet.

Psalm (Track One): Psalm 107:1-9, 43

The Israelites returning from exile might have sung a hymn like Psalm 107, which our New Revised Standard Edition titles, “God’s Compassion Despite Israel’s Ingratitude.” Three times in these few verses the people praise God’s “steadfast love,” a poignant Hebrew word – “chesed” – that may also be translated as “compassion,” “faithfulness,” “kindness,” “mercy” or “grace.” Also, take note of the phrase in Verse 9, “the hungry [God] fills with good things”? The Magnificat, the song of Mary, uses those same words as Mary thanks God for choosing her as the mother of Jesus.

Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 49:1-11

The selected portion of Psalm 49 touches on similar ideas as the parable of the foolish rich man in the Gospel for the day. The Psalmist scorns the wickedness and stupidity of those who trust in their riches. Biblical ideas like this surely formed Jesus and his mother, Mary, who often expressed hope that the hungry would be filled up and the rich sent away empty. “We can never ransom ourselves, or deliver to God the price of our life,” the Psalmist sings, calling out to high and low, to rich and poor alike.

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-11

In the last of our four readings from Colossians this season, the author continues his instruction to the new believers in the ancient church at Colossae, reminding them that once Christ is revealed in our lives, we are called to put away evil ways and clothe ourselves in a new life in Christ. In words resembling Paul’s invitation to the Galatians to put away all differences among humankind, the author reminds us that “there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!”

Gospel: Luke 12:13-21

“You can’t take it with you.” Jesus’ parable of the foolish rich man, which we hear only in Luke’s Gospel, shares this simple homespun folk wisdom. The rich man’s land produced such a large crop that he wants to build larger barns to store it in. With all this wealth in hand, he plans to “relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God responds with grim, unexpected news: The man will die that very night, having no use for all the cherished goods. Jesus, whose constant theme centers on bringing good news for the poor, shows little patience with those who think only about their own wealth and comfort.