PENTECOST IXX

Caravaggio David with Goliath's Head

Caravaggio Jesus prepared for crucifixion

Deuteronomy 34:1-12Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
or
Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18
Psalm 1

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8Matthew 22:34-46

The Collect from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer that accompanies the readings for this week includes this petition – “that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command”. The prayer is a very ancient one, dating back to the 5^th century. Translated by Archbishop Cranmer for the original Anglican Prayerbook of 1549, its enduring appeal over the centuries still secures it a place nearly 500 years on.

With Cranmer’s gift for succinctness these few words brilliantly express a prayer of extraordinary depth, but very great difficulty. It is easy to say (in the beautiful words of the first Psalm) that “Happy are they who . . .  delight is in the law of the LORD. . . They are like trees planted by streams of water. . . with leaves that do not wither”. In reality, though, it is often very hard to long sincerely for those things that God in his wisdom and goodness offers us. The Gospel for this Sunday provides an important instance. After re-affirming the heart of God’s law in the two great commandments, Jesus engages in what seems like a puzzling bit of word play with his Pharisee critics. There is nonetheless an important point to it.

Those who looked to David’s line for a future Messiah, a ‘Son of David’, had a certain hope in mind –  the emergence of a Jewish leader whose exceptional military prowess would restore national integrity. Jesus reminds them, however, that David owed everything he accomplished to a LORD who was his sovereign. God would send a Messiah of his own choosing, not of theirs.

In his Epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul is making a closely related point. It is easier to win the approval and support of others by offering what is popular, rather than what is right. Yet, anyone who truly believes that they have “been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel" must speak “not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts”.