Ash Wednesday, Cycle B (2015)
THEME OF THE DAY
Sorrow for sin in the midst of meaninglessness. The day is about an awareness of Sin, Justification by Grace, and the Repentance (Sanctification) which follows from grace.
Psalm 51:1-17
This is a lament Psalm for healing and moral renewal, traditionally ascribed to David after being condemned by Nathan for sexual transgressions with Bathsheba. Of course as we have previously noted it is unlikely that David is the author of the psalms attributed to him (Brevard Childs, Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture, p. 512). In fact some scholars conclude that references to David in the psalms may be a way of using him to represent the inner life of all his subjects and so of all the faithful (Ibid., p. 521). In that sense this lament and plea for healing and renewal is our song.
The psalmist urges God to have mercy [chanan, to be gracious] according to his steadfast love [chesed, lovingkindness] and cleanse [taher] our sin (vv. 1-4, 7, 9). Reference to being purged with hyssop in verse 7 suggests a ceremony of sprinkling such as those reported in Exodus 12:22 and Leviticus 14:51. The psalmist notes that God has no interest in sacrifice (vv. 16-17). He adds that sin is only sin if committed against God (v. 4). Presumably ordinary guilt is not sin. A reference is made to being born in sin (suggesting the Christian doctrine of Original Sin) (v. 5) and also to being rejected by the Holy Spirit (v. 11). The psalmist proceeds to note that God desires inward truth/steadfastness [emeth] and wisdom [chokmah] (v. 6). After reiterating the plea for deliverance and mercy (even from physical distress), the psalmist pleads for joy and gladness that Elohim would hide his face from the sins we have committed (vv. 7-9; cf. v. 12). This leads to hope for transformation that the forgiven sinner be given a new and right heart [leb] and a willing/steadfast spirit. Reference to the Holy Spirit [ruach qodesh] given to the believer seems to be a reference even in this Old Testament context to God’s sustaining presence (vv. 10-11). Such a transformation will lead to evangelism (v. 13) and praise of God with contrition [dakak, a bruised heart] (vv. 15, 17).
Application: The psalm affords occasions for sermons on Original Sin, on the need for a life of penance and/or doing evangelism (Sanctification), which results from the Spirit’s work as well as transformation by the mercy and love of God and also on Justification by Grace (both as giving us a new heart [transforming the faithful] or as overlooking our sin). Sermons on the work of the Holy Spirit and the joy of Christian living (Sanctification) are also appropriate.
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
The book reports on the ministry of a cultic prophet who did his work in the Jerusalem Temple probably during the period of Persian domination after the return of the Babylonian exiles (539-331 BC). (Some speculate that the concluding sections of the book [2:28ff] may be the work of an editor of the period of the Maccabees in the second century BC.) The book’s historical theme is the plague of locusts that had destructively descended on Israel (1:4). It is also characterized by apocalyptic/eschatological elements — references to the day of the Lord (2:1-11, 28-32; 3:1-3, 9ff). There is an evolution in this concept from being a day of judgment, not one of salvation, to the suggestion that it is a theme of hope and salvation (3:1ff).
The text is a cry of alarm since the cataclysmic day of the Lord is coming. Reference to a great and powerful army and to the clouds of thick darkness is probably a way of talking about the plague of locusts ravaging the land (though they might just symbolize the eschatological cataclysm) (vv. 1-2). Yahweh even seems at the head of this plague in verse 11, but then the prophet abruptly changes to a more gentle tone. He proceeds to make a call to repentance by which the calamity might be averted (vv. 12-17). Fasting, weeping, mourning, and offerings in the temple are commended, but above all a repentance [shub, a turning back] of the heart is exhorted (vv. 12-13, 15). Yahweh is said to be gracious and merciful [rachum] (a phrase often attributed to the Lord as it is rooted in Israel’s ancient formulations of faith [Exodus 34:6; cf. Nehemiah 9:17, 31; Psalm 86:5]). An assembly to sanctify [qadesh, to set apart] the people is called (vv. 15-16). These verses and the one continuing to the end of the lesson take the form of a traditional liturgy. Priests (also called “ministers [sharath] of the Lord”) are called on to weep for the people in the temple (especially in the inner court reserved for priests — between the vestibule and the altar) and urge God to spare the people, so that the truth of their commitment to Yahweh is no longer questioned by Gentiles (v. 17).
Application: This text offers an opportunity to extol the love of God and how its power in forgiving sin is so potent that it changes lives (sets the faithful apart). Justification by Grace and Sanctification are key themes, with repentance portrayed as a necessary fruit. These themes should be framed by Realized Eschatology, by Joel’s sense of impending urgency.
2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:10
This epistle was written by Paul to address relations with the Corinthian church that had further deteriorated during the period after 1 Corinthians had been written. Chapters 10-13 of the book are so different in style and tone from the first chapters (in which the lesson is located) as to lead scholars to conclude that they are the “severe letter” mentioned in 2:4. In this text Paul is either responding to critics or writing part of a letter of reconciliation.
Paul begins the lesson by urging the Corinthians for Christ’s sake to be reconciled [katallasso, to be changed thoroughly] to God (5:20b); Christ, it is noted, became sin (assumed our sinful nature [Romans 8:3]), though not a sinner, so that we might become the righteousness of God (5:21; cf. 1 Corinthians 1:30). Justification and righteousness [dikaiosune] are here woven together. They have a similar Greek root, for Justification [dikaioma] resembles the Greek equivalent for the term righteousness. You cannot be declared right without “rightness” or “justice.” There is much controversy in New Testament scholarship about what Paul means by “righteousness of God,” a tendency to critique the idea that it entails God declares us righteous. This argument is made on grounds that there are no Old Testament precedents for such an idea. But the concept of righteousness as not having to do with distributive justice but with relationships (with God’s relationship with the faithful and so salvation) is an Old Testament concept (Nehemiah 9:8; Isaiah 57:1; Gerhard von Rad, Old Testament Theology, Vol. 1, p. 371). And New Testament scholarship tends to understand the concept this way — in terms of a restored relationship (Rudolf Bultmann, Theology of the New Testament, Vol. 1, p. 271). Consequently it seems appropriate in this text (and elsewhere in Paul’s writings) to interpret God’s righteousness in terms of his faithfulness to his relationship with his people; it is his righteousness which restores the relationship (Psalm 71:2; von Rad, p. 373). The concept of “reconciliation” [katallasso] in verse 20b as being thoroughly changed supports this idea. God’s righteousness, restoring our relationship with him, thoroughly changes the faithful. And even the Pauline idea of the righteousness of a righteous one being given to those who have fallen (a vicarious death) is itself a Hebrew concept. (see 2 Maccabees 7:37-38; 4 Maccabees 6:28; 17:22).
The apostle proceeds to urge that we not accept God’s grace [charis] in vain (6:1). Citing Isaiah 49:8 about God listening at an acceptable time and helping the faithful on the day of salvation, Paul notes that now [nun] is the moment to act (the end is near) (6:2). No obstacle will be put in the way of any believer, and so no one can rightly criticize his ministry (6:3). He accounts the suffering and persecution he has experienced in ministry (6:4-7). In antiquity, hardship and virtue were closely linked. The apostle concludes with seven antithetic clauses illustrating the hiddenness of the gospel — finding its presence under dishonor, death, suffering, sorrow, poverty (vv. 8-10).
Application: The text invites sermons on Christ’s Atoning Work, the implications of his full engagement in our sinful condition, and Justification by Grace (especially the meaning for everyday life of the gift of God’s righteousness). The hidden character of this good news and our continuing struggle with Sin (Sanctification) are other possibilities.
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
The lesson reports a segment of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, teaching practical piety. Most of the text is peculiar to Matthew and his efforts to address Jewish Christians in Antioch who were no longer in communion with the synagogue. Jesus begins with a warning against a hypocritical piety (especially doing merciful deeds; Matthew usually has the Pharisees in mind when referring to “hypocrisy”) that aims for others to notice one’s faith (v. 1). Likewise it is said to be better to give alms (eleemosune, gifts of charity in synagogues, the foremost act of piety in the eyes of first-century Jews) without fanfare but so that “the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing” (vv. 2-4). In a similar manner it is said to be better to pray privately than ostentatiously in public (vv. 5-6). Adult Jewish males in this era were expected to pray morning and evening in the direction of Jerusalem thrice daily, as well as before and after meals.
After a critique of long public prayers (vv. 7-8), teaching the Lord’s Prayer (vv. 9-13), and exhorting forgiveness [aphesis] (vv. 14-15), Jesus urges that fasting not be done ostentatiously so that only the Father knows (vv. 16-18). (In this era, pious Jews fasted twice a week.) Here we observe Matthew’s anti-Pharisaism coupled with a moral strategy. Jesus critiques trust in worldly goods, which are prone to destruction (vv. 19-20). In ancient times a large part of wealth consisted of costly garments liable to destruction by moths. Then Matthew has Jesus add that one’s treasure is indicative of one’s heart [kardia] (v. 21), i.e. one’s moral priorities (see 9:4; 12:34; Psalm 24:3-4).
Application: This lesson provides opportunities to explore the insidious character of Sin, how it is evident in our best actions, along with the good news of forgiveness (Justification by Grace) and how a life oriented by the right priorities blossoms from such grace (Sanctification).
