Posts Tagged ‘Matthew 5:13-20’
Social Justice and the Glory of God – Br. David Vryhof
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Isaiah 58:1-12, Matthew 5:13-20
The green vestments and altar frontal indicate that we have moved into what the Church calls “ordinary time.” But in spite of the change of color, we haven’t left the season of Epiphany completely behind. This is the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany and in just two weeks, we will conclude the season of Epiphany with the celebration of the Feast of the Transfiguration, in which the disciples see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ when they are with him on the mountain. So the theme of Epiphany – the revelation of the Divine Nature in the person of Jesus – is still present in our appointed readings for today.
Why, then, do we have this sober passage on fasting from the book of Isaiah? What does this passage on social justice have to do with Epiphany?
If we take a closer look at this passage and its context, we may begin to understand the connection between social justice and the revelation of the Glory of God.
Over time, the majority of biblical scholars have come to recognize in the book of Isaiah three distinct parts, which some have conveniently labeled “First Isaiah” (referring to chapters 1-39), “Second Isaiah” (consisting of chapters 40-55) and “Third Isaiah” (chapters 56-66). “First Isaiah” is sometimes referred to as the “real” Isaiah because it is grounded in the age in which the prophet actually lived. “Second” and “Third Isaiah” describe later periods and, scholars tell us, have been added to the original text. “Second Isaiah” is written during the time of Israel’s captivity and describes the vision of the New Israel which God was to establish after the return of the people from their exile in Babylon. “Third Isaiah” – from which today’s reading is taken – reveals that this glorious vision did not materialize as anticipated, and expresses the disappointment of God’s people. God had delivered them from their captivity in Babylon, but Israel had not been restored to its former glory, as had been expected. They were back home, but their home was in shambles. To adopt the campaign slogan of a certain U.S. President, how could they make Israel great again?
Out of the Saltshaker – Br. Luke Ditewig
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Matthew 5:13-20
1 Corinthians 2:1-16
“You are the salt of the earth.” Salt has many uses. It preserves, purifies water, helps heal wounds and brings out flavors. In Jesus’ day, salt was particularly valuable. Privileged places at the table were closest to the salt. People have been paid in salt, the origin of the word salary. In the Old Testament, salt signified both our gift to God, bringing out flavor in the burnt offerings and salt was God’s gift to us, a sign of a lasting contract.(1) Salt has been a commodity for exchange, so valuable that merchants routinely traded it, even ounce-for-ounce with gold. Read More