Lectionary for Pentecost 19.
Long ago God spoke to our forebears by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son. Hebrews 1:1-2
Collect. Loving God, you have made us in your image, creating us male and female; and you have given us the covenant of marriage that we may fulfil one another in love. Pour down your grace on all husbands and wives, that, keeping the promise of faithfulness to each other, they may continue to grow in their love and reflect in their lives your love for us all; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading. Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-11. The letter to the Hebrews is written to Jewish converts and so it draws much inspiration from Old Testament tradition and understanding. As Gentile readers we have to keep that fact in mind as we try to understand what the writer is trying to convey. In the Old Testament God spoke primarily through the prophets, but now in this new age God is speaking to the Christians through the one who has always been destined to inherit all of creation. This highest authority is none other than Jesus who is God’s Son. In other words the one speaking to Christians now is speaking directly from God because he is God. Through the prophets God has always been actively speaking to his people but now the one who is speaking is the one who was always destined to be the highest authority of all. Therefore the message that is now being received is of the highest order. The message in this portion of Hebrews is that in the coming world, all things will be subject to humanity. Though we do not yet see this authority ratified, Jesus the Pioneer is already enthroned in glorious power. As we are, Jesus was once subject to be lower than the angels but now he is far above them in authority. In like manner in the coming world humanity will no longer be subject to the angels but will be elevated along with the glorified Jesus as his brothers and sisters. What an honour that will be! As this is the destiny for all believers, now is the time to begin to prepare to live in close harmony with Jesus Christ and with each other, in order to be prepared for the responsibilities that lie ahead. Jesus was victorious because he relied fully on God. In the same way we too need to rely fully on God to equip us for without God we will not, indeed we cannot succeed.
Prayer. O Lord you are our strength and our shield; the one who protects when we are in need and guides us when we are lost. Let your light shine on us, that we do not lose our way; take our hand and lead us safely. You have brought us healing and wholeness through your Son; Now Lord grant that we may live in the goodness of your grace and serve Him alone. Day by day, equip us with the power to trust only in the merits of Jesus Christ. May we drink from the Living Fountain; a fountain that restores and refreshes. In all things may we live to honour you and give you all glory. Amen
Reading. Mark 10:2-16. Mark reminds us that the question posed by the Pharisees was designed to test Jesus, that is they were trying to trap Jesus not to explore lawful ways of acting. There were two contrasting views on divorce prevalent at this time. The most common view was that a man could divorce a woman for any cause, while the more orthodox view was that divorce was only possible in cases of adultery. Many of the Pharisees took the former view and so divorce was relatively common. Jesus takes the Pharisees back to the original intention of marriage by saying, “from the beginning”. In that instance divorce was not permitted for any reason, not even adultery, making marriage a lifelong covenant. Jesus reminded the Pharisees that the concession that Moses made to the marriage law was due to “hardness of heart”. In the ancient world divorce was especially hard for a woman who needed the security of a man, either a husband or a male relative, to give her a home and protection.
In verse 10 Mark makes it clear that Jesus was no advocate for divorce or re-marriage. However before we rush to make that a law we need to consider the context of the passage. In Mark’s Gospel this is the only trip that Jesus makes to Jerusalem and so his earthly ministry is coming to a climax. In Mark’s record of Jesus’ progress he has already begun to prepare the disciples for his sacrificial death. The question of divorce arose in order to trap Jesus so the answer may be addressing a wider issue. Jesus reference to “hardness of heart” reminds us of how people treat each other not only in marriage but in life itself. The dominant requirement for Christians who take Christ as their lead is to love one another. If loving one another was truly practised then broken relationships would be much rarer than they are: subsequently the need for divorce would be greatly diminished. Sadly our propensity to be hard hearted springs from our selfishness and so broken relationships form part of our life experience. Jesus came to usher in the new era that God had determined, an era of harmony and concord which would grant a new beginning to everyone and every thing. In this coming era all things will be reconciled and so the question about how to deal with broken relationships would be irrelevant because it would be a thing of the past. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new. 2 Corinthians 5:1.
Prayer. Holy Lord, as we consider the brokenness of our world we bow before you to ask once again for your forgiveness and mercy. From you alone comes the wholeness that we need in order to truly live a life which is in harmony with your will and way. In strength or in weakness help us always to rely on you for the guidance and the grace to live in harmony with one another. Grant that we may continue in all situations to put what you require of us before all other. Give to us humility of heart and mind which will cause us more and more to rely on you in all things. Grant that we may always work for the coming of your Kingdom, honouring Jesus in word and deed. To you be all glory, now and forever. Amen
Collect. You touch us in our place of need, Jesus, elder Brother; help us not to turn our faces, but to receive you as you come, that we may be channels of your grace now and for ever. Amen.
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