Ordinary Time June 16

Today’s Scriptures: Lectionary selections from the Revised Common Lectionary Year C 1 Kings 21:1-21 2 Samuel 11:26-12-10, 13-15 Psalm 5 Psalm 32 Galatian 2:15-21 Luke 7:36-8:3

Today’s Reflection: The passages from the Old Testament and the Gospel could have been written from the headlines with leaders from around the world replacing the names of the Biblical characters. The corruption that comes with power plays itself out in our news, literature, and scripture. Regardless of one’s view of the Bible as a literal history or a collection of stories for educational purposes, one fact that remains true is that human nature does not change. Likewise, fortunately, God’s love for us does not change either. The Kings and Samuel passages present two gross abuses of power by the king over Israel. Despite the king’s responsibility to protect the powerless and avenge injustice, both leaders let themselves be driven by their lust to do despicable acts. The justice that should have come at the hand of the king ended up coming at the hand of God. Paul, in Galatians, drives home the idea that we are forgiven through the grace of God, rather than through the law. We are incapable of living up to the law, so we are subject to God’s justice, but through grace, we still have access to God through Christ. During the dinner with the Pharisee, Jesus teaches how access to grace comes through demonstrating love. It is only through love that we gain grace through Christ. We are incapable otherwise of meriting anything from Christ. Our natures do not change. Neither does the nature of God. Justice will happen: that is the nature of God. It is necessary then, that we learn to love in the way God loves us.

Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org