A Meditation for Trinity 21
Matthew 22: 34-40
34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ 37He said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” 38This is the greatest and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’
Reflection
Matthew’s Gospel tells many stories of Jesus teaching – in particular, addressing the misconceptions and misuse of the Law of Moses, in respect to the religious hierarchies and leadership of the time. The Pharisees (the middle- and professional- classes) believed in oral traditional as well as the written law, and interpreted it often to suit themselves; the Sadducees (more upper-class religious leaders) insisted on Literal interpretation; and the Herodians, (who were loyal to the Jewish King – a puppet controlled by the Roman occupiers) didn’t want the boat rocked for fear of Roman retribution. All of them had reason to oppose Jesus as a threat to their own position. Despite their differences, they were united in their wish to get rid of Him.
Last week’s Gospel described the Pharisees trying to trick Jesus by questioning His loyalty, using a post-Mosaic legal question “is it lawful to pay taxes to Ceasar or not?”. It didn’t work. The Sadducees then had a go, questioning the theology of Resurrection; when both failed – with a degree of humiliation – the Pharisees tried another tack, this time referring to an interpretation of the ten Commandments given to Moses – “which is the greatest Commandment?”.
Jesus, by this time I suspect heartily sick of them, gives it to them straight. ‘It’s quite simple’ He says. All the Law – and the way you behave in applying it in everyday life – must be in accordance with the foundation underpinning the Law’s intention, whether written or oral. Love, He said. Love God. Love your neighbour. That’s it – everything you do can be, and must be, derived from these two commandments.
It is worth remembering what Jesus meant by love – the word in Greek is ‘agape’ – endless, unconditional love. The love He will show in accepting torture, ridicule and death for the redemption of all created humanity, whether they deserved it or not. This would be completely beyond the understanding of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians – not to mention religious ‘leaders’ up to and including today. Servant leadership demands putting oneself last – even to death on a cross. I don’t see much of that in today’s News headlines.
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Salvation.
It can’t be earned. No-one can get more than the next person. There are no degrees of salvation. Salvation is personal and unique to each human being. It is the complete gift – all you can ever need.
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Our responsibility in the Christian life is to prepare people for receiving the Gospel – remembering that they are able to meet Christ themselves directly in prayer and scripture. We cannot meet Him on their behalf, and in His walk alongside them they will grow as His body on earth.
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Cambridge dictionary definition: ‘Conform’ – to behave according to the usual standards of behaviour that are expected by a group or society.
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We share the shame of both if we fail to address the divisive hatred within our own purportedly Christian ‘tribe’ before condemning others. For Scripture also says Judge not lest ye yourself be judged (Matthew 7:1). Jesus Himself makes it clear that hypocrisy has no place in a Kingdom founded upon love.
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Trusting Jesus and obeying His call takes commitment, it takes faith, it takes the courage to face antagonism, discomfort and sometimes suffering.
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Just cling to the promise that neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord
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We define hope as ‘to want something to happen or to be true, and have a good reason to think that it might’.
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But the real task to which godparents promise is to ensure that the newly-baptised are supported in their Christian growth, by prayer, advice and example.
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We obey His command, but not as slaves – instead, he invites us to be willing servants, alongside the freedom to always ask and reason together with Him as we choose our actions. Therein lies the path to Wisdom, and in God’s Wisdom lies gentleness, humility and rest for our souls.