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.
Praying Together 30th April 2023
Jesus uses the metaphor of the sheep and the shepherd to describe the relationship between leaders and the people they lead.
Praying Together 23rd April 2023
He comes to us in so many ways in order that we may see Him.. In creation. In forgiveness. In salvation. In love. In new life. All these free gifts of grace – but it is up to us to choose to see them, with every one of our senses.
Praying Together 16th April 2023
However it may happen, when we see Him, we proclaim Him in the same words as Thomas – ‘My Lord and my God’ and award Him our trust. Forever.
Praying Together Easter Day 9 April 2023
The only way that we know that the victory over death is permanently won is if we accept that the tomb is empty.
Praying Together 2nd April 2023
And just as the donkey is a figure at the beginning of the Gospel story, so a donkey is present at its end.
Praying Together 26th March 2023
We have to ask ourselves if, like Thomas, we are prepared to follow Jesus at whatever cost
Praying Together 19th March 2023
Perhaps, then instead of just giving chocolate and flowers on Mothering Sunday, we might resolve to offer love in return throughout every day of the year
Praying Together 12th March 2023
The story of the woman at the well has been described as one of the most significant to our understanding of the Gospel message.
Praying Together 5th March 2023
This day is all that is good and fair.
It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations to waste a moment on yesterdays.
Praying Together 19th February 2023
If suffering did not exist, we could never know joy. If there was no ‘evil’, we wouldn’t be able to recognise ‘good’.
Praying Together February 12th 2023
Faith means little when God’s plan is the same as our plan. Faith is everything when it isn’t. When we don’t understand, when the things of the world tempt – and often overcome – us. When disaster happens.
Praying Together February 5th 2023
Goddess or Saint? The stories are interwoven, in many cases feeding off each other. But whatever the reality, Brigid’s care for the poor is the common theme – living a life of love and service, for all creation.