Jesus is critical of the behavior of some of the scribes, who were teachers of the law. He is highly critical of how they oppress the poor, even while they expect esteem.
1st Reading (Track 1): Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
Ruth is a story about
two valiant women, Naomi and her servant Ruth, who make a life for themselves
after the death of all the males in the family.
Widows were without social power in the ancient Near East, but their
commitment to each other carries them through and Ruth eventually makes a good
marriage to Boaz, and is celebrated in history as the great-grandmother of King
David.
3:1 Naomi her mother-in-law said to Ruth, “My daughter, I need to seek
some security for you, so that it may be well with you. 2 Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose
young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the
threshing floor. 3 Now wash and
anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing
floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating
and drinking. 4 When he lies down,
observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down;
and he will tell you what to do.” 5 She
said to her, “All that you tell me I will do.” 13
So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came
together, the Lord made her
conceive, and she bore a son. 14 Then
the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord,
who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned
in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a
restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who
loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in
her bosom, and became his nurse. 17 The
women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to
Naomi." They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of
David.
Psalm
127 (Track 1)
Psalm 127 is one of the Songs of Ascent (psalms
120-134), most likely songs for pilgrims making their way to the Temple to
celebrate one of the major feasts. Psalm
127 is a wisdom psalm; it reads much like a collection of proverbs.
1 Unless the Lord
builds the house, *
their labor is in vain who build
it.
2 Unless the Lord
watches over the city, *
in vain the watchman keeps his
vigil.
3 It is in vain that you rise so early and go
to bed so late; *
vain,
too, to eat the bread of toil,
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
4 Children are a heritage from the Lord, *
and the fruit of the womb is a
gift.
5 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior *
are the children of one’s youth.
6 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of
them! *
he shall not be put to shame
when he contends with his enemies
in the gate.
2nd Reading:
Hebrews 9:24-28
Our passage from the Letter to the Hebrews today
continues the use of the image of the high priest for Jesus. Here the Day of Atonement is again referenced
(as it was in last week’s reading), the one day when the high priest enters the
inner sanctuary to plead for the people.
Jesus has done this once and for all, offering his own self. He will also come again at the time of
judgment, not to condemn but to save.
9:24 Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands,
a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear
in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor
was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy
Place year after year with blood that is not his own; 26 for then he would have had to suffer again
and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once
for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for mortals to
die once, and after that the judgment, 28 so
Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second
time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Gospel Reading: Mark 12:38-44
The larger unit of Mark’s Gospel, 11:1—13:37, in which this
passage is found, tells of Jesus’ time in Jerusalem, particularly in the
Temple, where he does some teaching. Our
reading today has two parts. First, Jesus
is critical of the behavior of some of the scribes, who were teachers of the
law and the equivalent of lawyers. He is
highly critical of how they oppress the poor, even while they expect esteem. In the second part, Jesus seems to praise a
widow whom he observes placing her offering in the Temple treasury. But is
he? It is quite possible he is
critiquing the Temple system itself, carrying on his denunciation of a
religious system that exploits the weakest.
Indeed, he goes on to predict the destruction of the Temple (13:1-2).
12:38 As Jesus taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk
around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the best seats in the
synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They
devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They
will receive the greater condemnation.” 41 He
sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the
treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42
A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are
worth a penny. 43 Then he called
his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in
more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them have contributed out of
their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all
she had to live on.”
The Scripture readings (except for the
psalm) are from the New Revised Standard
Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of
the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by
permission. All rights reserved. The Psalm translation are from The Book of Common Prayer. Commentaries are copyright © 2018
Epiphany ESources, 67 E. Main St., Hornell, NY 14843. www.EpiphanyEsources.com. All rights
reserved. Permission is given to copy for group study with this attribution. Bulletin inserts are available by
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