The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time
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Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13
We only hear from this minor prophet twice in the Sunday liturgy cycle, probably because he is one of those fire and brimstone sort of prophets. But there are some passages, like today’s, that are more uplifting.
It’s a time of religious and social degradation. Idols are in fashion and alliances with enemies are approved. This was as much Zephaniah’s world as it seems to be our own.
In troubled times, the humble prevail. Think of someone you know who is humble. What do you most admire about them and how might you imitate that in your own journey towards humility?
2:3 says that perhaps God will respond. This is not a doubt about God’s ability or even willingness. Rather, it’s about the audience: will they seek God through humility and observance of the law? Jeremiah 29:13-14 says “When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me.” It’s never a matter of wondering whether we can find God or whether he will love us. But it is up to us to take that first step of turning to God.
Matthew 5:1-12a
During Ordinary Time, I’ll cover the Old Testament and then the Gospel readings as a pair so that we can better see the connections.
This week we move into the section of Matthew’s gospel called “Blessings, Entering the Kingdom.” This is a section where Jesus expands on the Law (you have heard it said…. but I say….). We’ll spend four weeks in chapter 5 alone which will see us through to Lent this year.
Last week we read of the call of some of the disciples. For the next 4 weeks we will read instructions on how to be disciples. And that begins with rearranging our notions of what it means to be blessed by God. Culturally, the ancients believed that wealth and financial security were outward signs of God’s blessings and this is no less true in our American culture today. Jesus challenges that notion again and again throughout his ministry.
We have to reach a certain maturity before we can call “blessed” those who are not cool, who abjure power, who deflate their own arrogance, who don’t call attention to their piety, to those who know they are dunderheads but forge on cheerfully anyway (adapted from Brian Doyle, “The Inarguable Assignment,” January 2017 Give Us This Day). Basically those who turn away from being important, famous, powerful to being weak, and merciful.
Verses 3 and 10 have the same result: “the kingdom of heaven is theirs” – the kingdom of heaven brackets all.
The poor, etc are happy (blessed) not because they are morally better than others but because of God’s special care for them.
All of these beatitudes were rooted in Jewish teaching. Matthew wants, above all, to show that Jesus is a continuation of the work God began with Israel. It makes sense, then, that Jesus’ primary teachings would be in continuity with what God had already revealed.
In a sense, this is poetry and it follows the form of much of Old Testament poetry: one line will make a statement; the next line will expand on that or repeat in a different way. For example,
Verse 3 the notion of power
Verse 4 inner turmoil
Verse 5 the notion of power
Verse 6 inner turmoil
Laying it out this way helps us see that poor in spirit and meekness are related as are mourning, hungering and thirsting.
Verses 3 and 5 also link the kingdom of heaven with the land here and now.
If we were writing these, we might be tempted say something more like “if you are poor in spirit, you will be blessed with the kingdom of heaven.” But Jesus says you are blessed right here and now in your poverty of spirit – that is where the blessing is. The reward is not delayed – it is in the very identification of poverty of spirit.
Who is our supreme model for being poor in spirit, meek, mourning, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure of heart, peacemaker? Jesus.
Don’t make the mistake of separating these beatitudes into nine distinct groups of people. Don’t picture one group over there poor in spirit and another group over here who is merciful. Think instead of this as the picture of one person with many attributes – like Jesus.
Some years ago on a retreat I received a rendering of the Beatitudes that was very meaningful to me. I’ve never been able to track it down to a book or person but I offer it here for your prayerful reflection: The Integral Way.
Pick one of the beatitudes to focus on this week. Look for ways it manifests in your life already. Look for ways you manifest the opposite sometimes. Look for ways in which the fulfillment of it is evident.
Pray imaginatively with this passage. Put yourself in the crowd on the hill. See Jesus sit down and experience the excitement to hear what he will say. Listen to his preaching. How do you feel? What would you like to say to Jesus in response?
Old Testament / Gospel Connection
How are the Old Testament and Gospel readings connected? Each week I will offer my views on this but I encourage you to first read the passages and look for your own connections!
The focus on humility in both readings is obvious. But also the fulfillment in the here and now. We always await the ultimate fulfillment of seeing God face to face. But don’t forget that God is in our midst here and now.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
See detailed background on the book here.
For this bit of Ordinary Time, we’ll be in Part I of this letter: Divisions in the Community 1:10-4:21. This particular passage is “God has different standards” 1:18-31.
In this passage, Paul suggests that most of his audience were uneducated, plebeian and socially uninfluential. We might be a little offended to have any of these labels applied to us. But Paul says that it’s these very people whom God chose. This is one of those instances where all three readings seem to line up: God has different standards, the kingdom uses different measurements if you will.
Paul often structures his writing very poetically. You can see the symmetry of this reading:
Not many of you were wise by human standards,
not many were powerful,
not many were of noble birth.
Rather,
God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and
God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and
God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something,
Questions to ponder
Think of someone you know who is humble. What do you most admire about them and how might you imitate that in your own journey towards humility?
Pick one of the beatitudes to focus on this week. Look for ways it manifests in your life already. Look for ways you manifest the opposite sometimes. Look for ways in which the fulfillment of it is evident.
Pray imaginatively with the Gospel passage. Put yourself in the crowd on the hill. See Jesus sit down and experience the excitement to hear what he will say. Listen to his preaching. How do you feel? What would you like to say to Jesus in response?
Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
© 2023 Kelly Sollinger