Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 5th February 2023
Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 58 v1-9a; Psalm 112 v1-9; 1 Corinthians 2 v1-12; Matthew 5 v13-20
Understanding the mind of God.
Jesus said, “Don’t suppose that I came to do away with the Law and the prophets. I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning.” (Matthew 5 v17).
This verse comes immediately after the verses about ‘salt and light’, and seems to have no direct bearing on them. But Matthew is drawing the attention of his intended readership (fellow Jews), to a highly contentious matter.
In Jewish society at that time, respect was demanded by Jewish leaders and paid by devout Jews, to the interpretation(s) of Hebrew Scripture (The Law and the prophets) gleaned from learned Rabbis of generations past.
Jesus was claiming to possess a better understanding of the mind of God. This claim was to put Jesus on a collision course with Temple leaders that lead eventually to his crucifixion.
The apostle Paul was in no doubt that God, and the Holy Spirit spoke with one voice via Jesus.
In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul argues that those who have been baptised in the name of Jesus have been blessed with God’s Holy Spirit and are therefore able to understand the mind of God.
Paul says, “God’s Spirit has shown you everything, even what is deep in the mind of God. You are the only one who knows what is your own mind, and God’s Spirit is the only one who knows what is in God’s mind. But God has given us his Spirit. That’s why we don’t think the same way that the people of this world think. That’s also why we can recognize the blessings that God has given us.”
(1 Corinthians 2 v10-12).
Those who have been blessed by God’s Spirit should be able to avoid the type of hypocrisy concerning false worship, highlighted by Isaiah in today’s passage from the Old Testament.
Isaiah said, “But on those same days that you give up eating you think only of yourselves, and you abuse your workers. You get angry and ready to fight. No wonder God won’t listen to your prayers!” (Isaiah 58 v4).
Isaiah continues, “I’ll tell you what it really means to worship the Lord. Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused! Share your food with everyone who is hungry, share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don’t turn away relatives. Then your light will shine like the morning sun and you will quickly be healed.” (Isaiah 58 v6-8).
Jesus said, “Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5 v16).
Hymn writer, Katie Wilkinson says, (from Singing the Faith 504 v1,2).
May the mind of Christ my Saviour live in me from day to day,
by his love and power controlling all I do or say.
May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour,
so that all may see I triumph only through his power.
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.