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.
Paying Together 17th August 2025
We ask that our faith is strengthened in the power of the Spirit when it is tested – and that we will have the courage to live as the Body of Christ, who alone offers life.
Praying Together 10th August 2025
And while we think of the things we value most, do we remember that we are of such value to God, that His Son was prepared to go into the flames for us?
Praying Together 27th July 2025
In a word, it is all prayer, a rich sequence, choreographed in different moments of gathering, praise, listening and communion.
Praying Together 20th July 2025
Jesus comes to us in many ways and with many faces. Are we aware we may ‘entertain Angels without knowing it?
Praying Together 13th July 2025
May we never miss meeting your gaze,
in the eyes of our sibling, the stranger.
Praying Together 6th July 2025
Always remember that ‘success’ is simply doing His will – it’s not necessarily achieving the outcome we would ourselves consider to be ‘successful’. Leave that definition with Him.
Praying Together 29th June 2025
Jesus is looking for commitment. Absolute, unconditional, commitment. When I think of what that means, I’m always minded of Martina Navratilova’s remark: “The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.”
Praying Together 22nd June 2025
As Christians, may we never regard mercy and compassion towards others as weakness, naivety or gullibility, but display the traits which demonstrate that we follow a Saviour who came to rescue those left behind.
Praying Together 15th June 2025
You couldn’t fly a kite inside a church building –for the Kite to fly you’d have to go into the windy street outside. Where does that place the need for the Spirit to act?
Praying Together 8 June 2025
Of all the strange things happening on the Day of Pentecost, perhaps the most puzzling is when God appears to have second thoughts. In Genesis 11, He makes it difficult for people to understand each other’s language
Praying Together 1st June 2025
The song by Mary Black, ‘Bless the Road’, while written as from a parent whose child is leaving home alone for the first time – maybe first day at primary school, going to college, beginning an independent life – always puts me in mind of the thoughts and blessing of Jesus as He prays for His disciples before His Ascension.
Praying Together 25th May 2025
‘Peace I give to you… do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.’
His peace is not remote and only there at the end of things – His Peace is with us now.