Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20
or Deuteronomy 30:15-20
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Matthew 5:21-37
Psalm 119:1-8
The Collect O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Collect The Collects are ancient in origin from the usage of Sarum, Salisbury, adopted elsewhere in England, this collect is one of only two added with the 1662 BCP because the prior BCP did not provide for Epiphany 6. Epiphany usually is around five weeks with a ‘last’, but it can extend as far as eight with a ‘last’, most years these last are not used. RCL C in its first rotation for instance used only five weeks and thus the 6th Sunday was the ‘last’ and not Epiphany 6. The central theme of the collect is “in our weakness we can do nothing good without you” The Collect RCL A’s reading from 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 concerning spiritual infants and RCL B’s healings of Naaman in Kings and the Leper in Mark and in RCL C the OT reading from Jeremiah 17:5-10 “Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals” All deal in one manner or another with the revelation that it is only God on which we can rely, and that all other reliance is illusory. This week’s art…. None of this week’s lessons suggest particular works of art. So, prior to reading the lessons, we will instead look at personifications of Virtues (the Vices must wait for another day). These are by Giotto, from 1306. Giotto,
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua, 1306
Fresco
The main images are about the Life of Mary, Life of Jesus, and the Passion of Jesus. A Last Judgment is on the back wall.
Along the bottom row are images of the 7 Virtues and 7 Vices The Seven Virtues: Prudence
Prudence (Prudentia) sits at a broad writing desk. A quill in her hand, she gazes into a mirror, which symbolizes knowledge. The Seven Virtues: Fortitude
Fortitude is a woman in armor against the dark marble and behind her raised shield. She raises her weapon forcefully, prepared for attack, in order to defend virtue. The Seven Virtues: Temperance
Temperance is a female figure who stands very casually in her niche. She very calmly wraps a ribbon around the hilt of a sword. The Seven Virtues: Justice
Justice (lustitia) is enthroned on a wide Gothic seat. She holds punishment and clemency on scales in her hands. Peaceful life develops under her reign - this is displayed in the scene on the pedestal under the throne. The figures of Justice and Injustice are larger than those of the other Virtues and Vices, and occupy central positions. The Seven Virtues: Faith
Faith (Fides) is showing the viewer a cross-staff and scroll. The Seven Virtues: Charity
Charity (Caritas) holds a basket of wonderfully painted fruit in the one hand, and with the other receives a heart handed to her by God the Father. The Seven Virtues: Hope
Hope (Spes) is portrayed as winged female figure, receiving a crown from God the Father. Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20 [Sirach] If you choose, you can keep the commandments,
and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.
He has placed before you fire and water;
stretch out your hand for whichever you choose.
Before each person are life and death,
and whichever one chooses will be given.
For great is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power and sees everything;
his eyes are on those who fear him,
and he knows every human action.
He has not commanded anyone to be wicked,
and he has not given anyone permission to sin. Introduction to EcclesiasticusThe book is also known as Sirach, the Latin title, Ecclesiasticus, probably means “the ecclesiastical or church book,” because it was used so widely in the Christian liturgy. Sirach is the most extensive portion of Israelite wisdom literature preserved in the Bible. Modeled in great part on Proverbs. Sirach is a compilation of materials from ethical maxims to pointed observations about Jewish life and religious mores in the second century BC. Sirach Sirach is one of the rare books of the Hebrew Bible that was actually written by the author to whom the book is ascribed. Sirach known as “Jesus , son of Eleazar, son of Sira hence, the name Ben Sira, or Sirach, which is found in the title of the book in Greek. The book was written in Hebrew, but only copies in Greek were known until the discovery of old manuscripts in the 19thcentury. The Text The reading is a part of a dialogue with Wisdom. The superscription for this section is entitled “Freedom of Choice” Each person has the freedom to choose life and death. And no one is forced to be evil. An ancient Hebrew version of the local Free Will Baptist Church, perhaps. What about Grace? While its hard to see grace in this reading there is a hint. The Lord keeps eye on those who fear him – if fear means faith. Perhaps there is a hint? “his eyes are on those who fear him” Fear. Throughout the Bible, references to fear occur in nonreligious as well as in religious contexts, with two distinct areas of meaning. The first involves emotional distress and alarm. The other area of meaning relates to allegiance to and regard for the deity. These focus upon worship as an event of profound respect with the implication of awe. Deuteronomy 10.12–13. “People who feared God” became an expression for the truly religious. Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Moses said to all Israel the words which the Lord commanded him, "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. Deuteronomy 30:15-20 But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." Introduction to Deuteronomy Deuteronomy means the “second law” and is the reaffirmation of the covenant between God and the people of Israel. The setting is that Israel is encamped in the plains of Moab, prepared for an attack upon Canaan, at the end of Numbers. Deuteronomy purports to be Moses’ farewell address to the people before the attack. The Text The reading is actually a part of the third address of Moses on the consequences of disobedience. The choice is delivered in stark terms – life and prosperity vs. death and curses. Deuteronomy and Sirach Sirach was known as a great scholar and his text for the day and the law as delivered by Moses, are certainly both consistent. In both grace is hard to find, outside the fact that both seem to press the reader to choose belief in the Lord as the way of life and lack as a path to doom. Do you see this as grace? Or is it still a human choice to believe and obey? Psalm 119:1-8 Page 763, BCP
Aleph: Beati immaculati 1 Happy are they whose way is blameless, *
who walk in the law of the LORD! 2 Happy are they who observe his decrees *
and seek him with all their hearts! 3 Who never do any wrong, *
but always walk in his ways. 4 You laid down your commandments, *
that we should fully keep them. Psalm 119:1-8 Page 763, BCP
Aleph: Beati immaculati 5 Oh, that my ways were made so direct *
that I might keep your statutes! 6 Then I should not be put to shame, *
when I regard all your commandments. 7 I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *
when I have learned your righteous judgments. 8 I will keep your statutes; *
do not utterly forsake me. Psalm 119 The Psalm is 176 verses long, and we mercifully have only 8 verses, as a whole it is a Meditation on the law of God, in the form of an acrostic based on the Hebrew alphabet. Each line contains the word Law or a synonym. Our section today is entitled a prayer for aid in observing the law. 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, "I belong to Paul," and another, "I belong to Apollos," are you not merely human? 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building. The Text The superscription for this text is: “On Divisions in the Corinthian Church” Still on Paul and Apollos Paul feels that he has been wrongly criticized for preaching too simple a Gospel as opposed to Apollos. Paul explains that he had to be ‘simple’ because they were not ready for more. Apparently, when Apollos arrived later he could deliver a more ‘mature’ shtick, as they were farther along. Sort of blaming the audience for the quality of the presentation! Relationship The prior readings have all related to choices and Paul seems be laying out a choice between fleshly inclinations and a more spiritual inclination. Where do you see grace in Paul’s letter? Do you see a relationship to the OT selections? Matthew 5:21-37 Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, `You shall not murder'; and `whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, `You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, Matthew 5:21-37 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:21-37 "You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. Matthew 5:21-37 "It was also said, `Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, `You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ Matthew 5:21-37 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be `Yes, Yes' or `No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one. Illustrations of the true understanding of the Law Remember for Matthew a principal role of the Messiah was the true interpretation of the Law. As the Sermon continues Matthew shows Jesus as the exponent of the correct understanding of the Law. Oxford Annotated – Topic List Concerning Anger Concerning Adultery Concerning Divorce Concerning Oaths The Court The council or court referred to was a local Jewish council established in every town or city in accordance with the command in: Deuteronomy 16.18. Municipal Judges and Officers 18 You shall appoint judges and officials throughout your tribes, in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall render just decisions for the people. 19 You must not distort justice; you must not show partiality; and you must not accept bribes, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of those who are in the right. 20 Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Adultery This appears in both lists of the Ten commandments in Exodus and Deuteronomy. Adultery. Adultery is voluntary sexual intercourse by either a married man or a married woman with someone other than his or her spouse. In ancient Israel, both the man and the woman would be considered guilty, the penalty for this crime was death. Adultery was probably considered sufficient grounds for divorce in ancient Israel. If a man suspected his wife of adultery but did not have any evidence, he could require her to submit to trial by ordeal, which would both determine her guilt or innocence and incorporate a physical punishment in the case of her guilt In the Gospels, adultery is the only acceptable reason for divorce. The text The phrase “you have heard that it was said” occurs six times here each followed by a reference to one of the commandments in the Hebrew Bible. In three of these “antitheses,” Jesus’ purpose is not to abrogate but to expand on the Law. In fact He doubles down on a code of conduct that was already harsh. Now a thought is as bad as a deed. These are rules we cannot keep. Oops What’s going on here The rules of conduct were hard enough to follow under the traditional law, but under this teaching, impossible. However, could anyone really have followed the law, even before this? Perhaps, Jesus is pointing out the obvious, we cannot on our own please God. Yet we are assured that He does love us. The Rules Perhaps Jesus was not giving a divorce code, but rather a new and higher level of conduct? In this code the desire for your neighbor’s property is as bad as actually taking it! David’s desire for Bathsheba was as bad as the next part of the story. What do you think the forest or the trees [and which is which. . . .] Or perhaps. . . In the sermon on the mount, we are being shown a glimpse of life as it could be…. A foreshadowing of the Kingdom of God A world where divorce, adultery, murder and reconciliation simply aren’t relevant any more. Those things are in this life as it is full of disruption, but in the age to come we are being told it will be different. Or perhaps. . . We are being shown why we need grace. Why the journey of Jesus into our world was necessary. Grace
