Psalm 1 - Pentecost 22

Matthew 22. 34-36; Lev 19.1-2, 15-18; Ps. 1; 1Thess 2. 1-8. E.H. 2023

Psalm 1 is considered by most scholars to have been placed intentionally at the beginning of the Psalter, providing an introduction and encapsulating the  Torah’s teaching, to wit - happiness is to be found in keeping God’s laws.

Leviticus is a book of laws – the third book of the Torah, and thought to have been written around 538 BC, towards the end of Israel’s long exile in Babylon. It records the rites of the faith; requirements for holy living; and laws of the Lord; summed up in the ancient, ancient, commandment – ‘love your neighbour as yourself’. (Lev.19)

Life in exile could not have been easy, and while desperate conditions often bring out the best in people, as Australians know from times of floods and fires  – if difficult circumstances are extended, it becomes increasingly difficult – and even dangerous -  to love one’s neighbour ‘as oneself’. For instance, although  many people risked - and even lost - their lives for Jewish neighbours in WWII, there are also stories of betrayal, indifference and cruelty towards Jewish neighbours, when human nature gave way under the pressures of fear.

Our Gospel today has a lawyer, a Torah scholar, testing Jesus’ knowledge. Jesus responded by quoting from the Law himself –Deuteronomy and Leviticus –  affirmeing the priority of the Great Commandment.

Demonstrating neighbourly love has a long tradition at St Peters.  Through the generosity of succeeding congregations many a hungry stomach has been filled, and many a heart lifted from despair into hope.

Our neighbours are in extraordinary need right now. Not even a hermit can remain unaware of the multiple crises facing humanity. It seems to me that Christians bear a special responsibility for our neighbours when the ground is shaking under their feet.  This past week 3 people have described their experiences of unease like this: a sense of oppressive darkness; a dark cloud –like a pall – covering us all; and a feeling of deep sadness, respectively. One asked how to reconcile a belief in a loving God with the suffering around us. They prompted me to think about the task before Christians in our changing world. Loving my neighbour in these days of fear and anxiety seems to demand new depths of commitment to, and understanding of, my faith: more time in prayer, listening to God’s voice.

Leviticus records the Lord instructing Moses – “Tell the people: you shall be holy, for I the Lord your God, am holy.’ (Lev. 19)  Listening to and obeying God is the path to holiness. Jesus reiterates this, saying: ‘if you love me you will obey my commandments… ‘ (John 14)

I think of Jesus’ response to Judas’ criticism of Mary’s extravagant act at Bethany, when she anointed his feet with costly ointment. Leave her alone… He said…You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. (Mark 14) Her example of love for Jesus reminds me that people need models of holiness; of what it looks like to love Jesus, in order to awaken their own love and faith.

We are those models: for some we may be the only person they know who is a practising Christian.

In a coffee shop last Tuesday, the woman at the next table was crying, and I ended up listening to her troubles. When I ventured to ask if she was a praying person, she replied No, I wouldn’t know how to pray. It quite threw me - to think that someone could say that – I wouldn’t know how to pray.

When things are not going well, we turn to prayer – but what about people who don’t know how to pray?

Our neighbours material needs are urgent and we cannot afford to neglect them, but we do not live by bread alone, the human spirit or soul also needs nurture. ( Matthew 4) First we  - I – must open my own heart and soul to God, and renew my faith and love for we cannot share with others what we do not have ourselves.

Taking the psalter as an analogy of a human life or the human experience generally, after Psalm 1’s insight that happiness is found only in obeying God’s laws, we see a person or group clinging to these, through trouble, prosperity, danger and joy, doubt, anger, sorrow and faith, repentance and abandonment, finally emerging triumphant in Ps 150, singing a paeon of praise to God.

I believe the Holy Spirit is calling us all into deeper prayer, into the joyful possession of the ‘Peace that passes understanding’ (Phil. 4), grounded in faith and love, that carries mature Christians through turbulence and fear.

The ability - by God’s grace - to share this peace with anxious neighbours is not limited to words, it can be a kind of aura or vibe. Like the fragrance of an unseen flower alerts us to its presence, so our peace can alert others to the presence of God.

Ecclesiasticus 39 expresses it beautifully:

Listen to me my faithful children

and blossom like a rose

growing by a steam of water.

Send out fragrance like incense

and sing a hymn of praise;

bless our God for all creation.

Carol Owens had another way of putting it:

God forgave my sin, in Jesus’ name

I’ve been born again, in Jesus name

and in Jesus name I come to you

to share his love as he told me to…

He said

freely,freely, you have received,

freely, freely give.

Go in my name and because you believe,

others will know that I live.

God’s peace be with you

Mthr. Pirrial