The Daily Lectionary with Commentary for Saturday, November 25, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary

with Commentary
Saturday, November 25, 2023

The Universality of God's Love and Family

Psalm 100; Ezekiel 34:25-31; Matthew 12:46-50
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
  (Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Introduction

The following three passages from Psalm 100, Ezekiel 34:25-31, and Matthew 12:46-50 convey a powerful and unified message about the encompassing and universal love of God, and how this divine love transforms our understanding of family and community. Psalm 100 invites us to joyfully recognize and embrace God as our creator and shepherd. Ezekiel 34:25-31 depicts God's promise to restore and protect His people, symbolically demonstrating His role as a loving and caring shepherd. In Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus expands the definition of family, asserting that all who do the will of His Father in heaven are His brothers and sisters. Together, these passages invite us to understand God as our loving parent and to see each other as part of a broader, spiritual family united by faith and love.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 100
We are the people of God’s pasture

Psalm 100 is one of the most cherished and recognized psalms in the entire Psalter. Often referred to as a "Psalm of Praise," it invites all of the Earth to come before the Lord with joy and thanksgiving. With its short span of only five verses, it is concise, yet its message resonates deeply with profound simplicity. Echoing the thematic essence of worship, the psalm serves as a universal call for all peoples to recognize the sovereignty of God, and to approach Him with a heart full of gladness.

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2      Worship the Lord with gladness; *
    come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the Lord is God.
        It is he who made us, and we are his; *
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
        and his courts with praise; *
    give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; *
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Heavenly Father, we come before you with joyful hearts, singing praises to your name. You are our Creator and we are your people, the sheep of your pasture.

Lord, we enter your gates with thanksgiving and your courts with praise, giving thanks to you and praising your holy name.

We thank you, Lord, for your goodness and your unfailing love that endures forever. Your faithfulness continues through all generations.

We ask that you would fill our hearts with gratitude and our mouths with praise, that we may honor you in all we do.

Be with us today and every day in Jesus Christ, Who taught us to pray:

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”

Ezekiel 34:25-31
A covenant of peace to come

Ezekiel 34:25-31, nestled within the broader context of the Book of Ezekiel, touches upon God's promise of restoration and peace for His people. The prophet Ezekiel lived during a tumultuous time in Israel's history, specifically the Babylonian exile. This passage presents a stark contrast to the earlier parts of the chapter where God condemns the shepherds (leaders) of Israel for their neglect and abuse of the sheep (the people of Israel). By the time we reach verses 25-31, the tone shifts to one of hope and assurance as God promises to personally shepherd His people and grant them safety and abundance.

34 25 “‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of savage beasts so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety. 26 I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. 27 The trees will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them. 28 They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid. 29 I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. 30 Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. 31 You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

Commentary

Ezekiel 34:25-31 is a prophetic declaration of God's future blessings upon Israel, emphasizing His unwavering commitment and faithfulness. A few key themes stand out:

1. Covenant of Peace (v. 25): The mention of a covenant of peace is a deep assurance of God's commitment to establish harmony and wholeness among His people. This peace extends beyond mere absence of conflict; it promises total well-being and prosperity.

2. Protection and Safety (vv. 25, 28): God pledges to rid the land of threats and assures the Israelites of security. The imagery of sleeping safely in forests, which are traditionally seen as places of danger, portrays a profound level of protection.

3. Bountiful Provision (vv. 26-29): The recurrent theme of showers, fruitful trees, and abundant crops symbolizes God's material and spiritual provision. It also underscores the reversal of prior conditions where famine and lack were prevalent.

4. Recognition of the LORD (vv. 27, 30): A crucial outcome of this divine intervention is that the people of Israel will unmistakably recognize the Lord's hand in their restoration. Their deepened understanding of God reinforces their identity as His chosen people.

5. Affirmation of Identity (v. 31): The chapter concludes with a powerful affirmation, You are my sheep…and I am your God. This mutual recognition reinforces the intimate relationship between God and His people.

In conclusion, Ezekiel 34:25-31 is a passage of profound hope, restoration, and assurance. It serves as a reminder of God's unwavering commitment to His people and His power to turn their situations around, from despair to abundance. This theme of restoration not only applies historically to the Israelites but resonates deeply with all believers who seek God's protection, provision, and peace in their lives.

Matthew 12:46-50
The true kindred of Jesus

The Gospel of Matthew consistently intertwines the teachings and actions of Jesus with the expectations and traditions of the Jewish community. In Matthew chapter 12, readers witness a series of confrontations and teachings that showcase the growing tension between Jesus and the religious authorities. As Jesus continues to redefine concepts of faith, discipleship, and the Kingdom of God, He often challenges traditional notions and boundaries. The passage from verses 46-50 records a significant moment in Jesus' ministry, when He redefines the concept of family in a spiritual context. As Jesus is speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers arrive and wish to speak to Him. Jesus responds in a way that may seem surprising, using the opportunity to teach a valuable lesson about the nature of spiritual kinship and the true family of God.

12 46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Commentary

In these verses, Jesus is not denouncing His biological family. Instead, He is expanding the definition of family to include those who follow the will of God. This passage provides an intriguing moment of clarity regarding the concept of spiritual family. Jesus, in the midst of His teachings, is approached with a mundane familial concern—His mother and brothers wish to speak with Him. His response, however, goes beyond the conventional bounds of biological ties.

In verses 48-49, Jesus's rhetorical question and subsequent gesture towards His disciples emphasize that family, in the Kingdom of God, is not determined solely by blood relations. Instead, Jesus introduces a revolutionary idea: spiritual kinship, based on a shared commitment to the will of God, is as significant, if not more so, than biological kinship.

Verse 50 encapsulates this principle, stating that those who commit themselves to the will of the Father in heaven are indeed part of Jesus's spiritual family. This not only elevates the disciples (and by extension, all true followers of Christ) to the esteemed status of family but also underscores the inclusivity of God’s Kingdom. It suggests that anyone, irrespective of their lineage, cultural background, or societal status, can become part of this divine family by aligning themselves with God’s will.

For early Christian communities and even for believers today, this message serves as an empowering reminder. It reassures them that in Christ, they find a spiritual kinship that transcends earthly distinctions and invites them into a deeper relationship with the divine. The passage challenges believers to prioritize their spiritual journey and commitment to God, as this bond becomes the true marker of familial connection in the eyes of Jesus.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Commentaries are by Kenny Sallee, ThM.

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2023, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2022 was Year A. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Lectionary with Commentary for Saturday, November 25, 2023
The Universality of God's Love and Family
Psalm 100; Ezekiel 34:25-31; Matthew 12:46-50
The following three passages from Psalm 100, Ezekiel 34:25-31, and Matthew 12:46-50 convey a powerful and unified message about the encompassing and universal love of God, and how this divine love transforms our understanding of family and community. Psalm 100 invites us to joyfully recognize and embrace God as our creator and shepherd. Ezekiel 34:25-31 depicts God's promise to restore and protect His people, symbolically demonstrating His role as a loving and caring shepherd. In Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus expands the definition of family, asserting that all who do the will of His Father in heaven are His brothers and sisters. Together, these passages invite us to understand God as our loving parent and to see each other as part of a broader, spiritual family united by faith and love.