The Third Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 5A), June 5, 2005

BCP: Hosea 5:15-6:6; Psalm 50 or 50:7-15; Rom. 4:13-18; Matt. 9:9-13

RCL: Gen. 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:19 or Deut. 11:18-21, 26-28; Psalm 46 or 31:1-5, 19-24; Rom. 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31); Matt. 7:21-29

There is no love anywhere like God’s love, for his love alone is perfect. Many in our culture and our Church are quick to enjoy and preach about the love of God, and, of course, it is right to do so.

It is far less popular and even often rejected to teach that the love of God will sometimes be expressed in wrath and punishment. The lesson from Hosea begins with the last verse of the fifth chapter of that book. It says that God will wait in his own place for the people of Israel to confess their guilt and seek him. It is vital, however, to today’s lesson that we realize that this verse is the culmination of more than two full chapters of denunciations by God of the waywardness and rebelliousness of the people of Israel — the priests, the royal family, and the general citizenry. The condemnation, threats, and promised punishments are described in detail. The prophet does not sugarcoat anything. He makes it clear that the nation is due for supreme suffering as punishment for indescribable obduracy. The love of God for his people brings down upon them his fiery wrath for their blatant disobedience to his commandments and hypocrisy in worship.

The gospel lesson picks up where Hosea leaves off. Great sinners — whether individuals, families, nations, or churches — eventually suffer the consequences of their rebellion. It is at that point, many times, that the message of repentance can finally be heard. The image of Jesus sitting with the "sinners" who are the companions of Matthew is one of the most attractive and moving in the gospels. These tax collectors — traitors to their own nation and sycophants of the occupying Roman forces — knew that Jesus was approachable and that he had something of vital importance to tell them. They, who had been cursed and sloughed off as worthless by the religious leaders of their day, found in Jesus a teacher who honored them and treated them as if they were valuable to God. To be sure, Jesus agrees with the Pharisees that these people are sinners. He never ignores that or says that it is not important. What is important is that, sinners though they are, they are eager to hear the word of God. In that, they are far ahead of the religious leaders of their nation. Whether it is punishment for the willfully sinful or acceptance and mercy for the penitent, the love of God is unbounded, relentless and unlimited.

Look It Up

Psalm 50:14, part of today’s lectionary, is often used as an offertory sentence. Taken in the context of the entire psalm, does it take on deeper meaning?

Think About It

Think of a time when a call to repentance has made a huge difference in your life. What did it take to get your attention? What happened when you heeded the call? And what does it mean if you cannot think of such a time?

Next Sunday

Fourth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 6A), June 12, 2005

BCP: Exodus 19:2-8a; Psalm 100; Rom. 5:6-11; Matt. 9:35-10:8(9-15)

RCL: Gen. 18:1-15, (21:1-7) or Exodus 19:2-8a; Psalm 116:1, 10-17 or Psalm 100; Rom. 5:1-8; Matt. 9:35—10:8, (9-23)