This week's lectionary readings

LEVITICUS 19:1-2, 15-18. These brief excerpts from the Holiness Code (Lev. 17-26) assume that Moses authored the first five books of the Old Testament. In all probability, they were composed over a long period of time during the development of Israel's religious rituals and social conventions. The purpose of the Holiness Code was to fulfill the requirements of the formula defined in vss. 1-2 presumed to have been dictated by God to Moses. This passage included references to several of the Ten Commandments.

PSALM 119:33-40. This section of the psalm is the fifth in the sequence of 22. Each line of its acrostic form begins with the Hebrew letter he, roughly equivalent to our e. The theme presents an assurance that the faithful Israelite fully obedient to the Law will be fully rewarded. An alternate
reading of vs. 33 does say as much: ". that I may follow it for its reward." However, such a reading does not seem to be in keeping with the rest of the section. Observing the Law is not for selfish ends, but for the joy of serving God in a holy life.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:10-11, 16-23. This well-known passage brings forth several sermon texts. Vss. 10-11 continues the theme of the earlier verses but with a different metaphor, that of a construction site. This metaphor continued into vss. 16-17 referring to the building of a temple. The distinction Paul made was that this temple was of a spiritual nature, not material. Furthermore, it existed in the faith community, not in a single individual. Paul also included a warning against those who might have been tempted to destroy this 'temple' by dividing it into warring factions. Vss. 18-23 picks
up on the theme with which the apostle began his letter, the wisdom of God in contrast to the foolish wisdom of the world.

MATTHEW 5:38-48.   In this passage Jesus spoke of incidents that could have occurred every day in any part of Galilee. In hearing what he said, his audience would have been as shocked as we are today. What he said carried the application of the law much farther than anyone could be expected to go in ordinary living. Did he really expect that of his fellow Jews in Galilee or Jerusalem? Moral perfection is far beyond anything we are capable of achieving, isn't it? Is this what keeping both the letter and the spirit of the law requires? Is this what his challenge really means to go beyond the
basic requirements of holy living?