Tuesday April 23 Easter 4
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Psalm 47
God reigns over history and over the nations and has protected us. Praise to God!
Psalm 48
A song of praise for how Jerusalem has been blessed by God— the forces which would destroy us are overcome.
We might understand this psalm as rejoicing in the beauty of creation, and of our own self as a glorious city, made possible by God’s commitment to justice.
Exodus 32.21-34 What’s Exodus about?
The Levites were the tribe from which priests were selected. Moses’ command that they should slaughter their relatives in punishment for worshipping money, as if presiding over a sacrifice, appears at first to be a blood-thirsty response to the people’s disloyalty. However, for the ancient Israelites this story was meant to convey the fact that a society that lives for money (symbolized by the golden calf) and for priorities that are not about justice (as summarized in the 10 commandments) will suffer disaster. The story is intended to convey how absolutely seriously societies must take God’s command for justice.
Matthew 5.11-16 What’s Matthew about?
Writing in a time when Christians were being rejected as unfaithful Jews, Matthew understands that Jesus had predicted persecutions. Jesus says that isn’t a time to feel sorry for ourselves but to be delighted that we have a chance to present alternative priorities to our society. We are to be salt and light—both highly valuable. Salt was rare and extremely valuable and wasn’t for making food taste nice, but for preserving food. Light was also valuable—lamps were fragile and required constant purchase of oil. Jesus’ point is that our following of his sacrificial love makes the world strong (through justice, for example, a society will have a secure supply of food) and our example shines light on how the future of the world can be made secure. Christians can provide long-term food and long-term light when the rest of the society has lost its way in self-serving greed and injustice. Our critique of society is a joy, not a hardship.
This week’s collect:
O God of peace,
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
by the blood of the eternal covenant,
make us perfect in every good work to do your will,
and work in us that which is well-pleasing in your sight;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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