We remain in the season of Pentecost, now heading into the 22^nd week of it.  We’ll press on until the end of November and then finally get to Advent.  Until we do, here’s what the lectionary has for us this week:

Deuteronomy 34:1-12
 Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
 Matthew 22:34-46

A lot for me to wrap he head around in our Old Testament lesson.  Moses dies, upon God’s command as the Scripture tells us.  Of course, the death doesn’t come until God shows him the promised land and tells him that he can’t go.  This may seem like the ultimate tease, but if we remember all the previous OT readings we have had recently, we can recall just how much Moses cared about the people, more so than himself.  Yes, there’s a twinge of consequence here in this story and a reason that Moses is denied going into the promised land, but this moment where he gets to see it is a wonderful gift from God.  Moses can end his physical life knowing that he has been a faithful enough servant, good enough leader, and outstanding advocate for the people of Israel.  They will in fact inherit the land promised to their ancestors.  Moses gets a pat on the back from God.  What an exquisite moment.  Instead of beaming with pride, I have to imagine that Moses is beaming with relief and thanksgiving.

Wow is the Psalm a pretty read this week.  I could probably say that each week, but the imagery and the flow of this Psalm is so very powerful.  The words ring in my ears a bit stronger this week than most as I prepare for a funeral tomorrow.  This life is fleeting in the grand scheme of things and while truly insignificant on the eternal timeline, we still have a God who calls us individually by name and is our personal place of refuge.  I particularly enjoy the prayer ending to the reading and one I am saying to myself this morning, “May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; prosper the work of our hands; prosper our handiwork.”

The Epistle lesson really had me thinking about something Peter said in 2 Peter 1:16. The preaching and teaching, the exhortation was not done to trick people to build some giant group or membership, instead it was because they had been “entrusted” with the message of the Gospel.  There’s a calling on your life.  There’s a sense of call and to duty on Paul’s part here.   I just keep coming back to that part about being entrusted with the message of the Gospel and how by having that entrusted to you, it is not to keep for yourself but to share freely and openly and in the case of Paul and some others, share it at one’s own peril.  Pray for those who are in countries and situations now where their faith and proclaiming the Gospel could lead to as Paul gently puts it “great opposition.”

The passage in Matthew is one that should be another great calling, but instead has been weaponized in recent years.  I’ve likely shared previously a sermon or a snippet of one from Alistair Begg about how this Scripture ties in to the 10 commandments.  How these commandments from Jesus encompass all of the law God had handed down to the people centuries before.  The commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.  For many, they treat this like every other commandment and forget that the thou in "thou shalt" is them.  If you’re yelling at someone that they should love their neighbor, perhaps you need to step back and begin with yourself.  I’m never going to agree with everyone else and everyone else is never going to agree with me on some things, but that isn’t a time to abandon the greatest commandment, it is the time I need to lean into it the most.  There could be a commercial for therapy and counseling in this text.  If deep inside, you do not love yourself, it’s going to be awful hard to love someone else.   When we push hate or sow seeds of disagreement, how much of that is coming from a place within ourselves that struggles to see the good?  Remember that God loves you, you’re worthy of his love and of the love of others.   Reflect that love.  Just as we said about sharing the Gospel, don’t keep it to yourself, give freely and proclaim love to others.

As is the case every Monday morning, these are my initial thoughts as I sit down with the lectionary texts and give them a quick read-through.  I urge you all to spend some time with Scripture this week.  Spend time asking yourself what call God has put on your life, but also spend time basking in the joy that it is to be loved by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hope to see you all soon.