Sunday Homily, March 1, 2020, 1st Lent
John sharing his research on Matthew & the Jewish environment.
Readings:
Genesis 2, 7-9; 3. 1-7, The Lord God planted a garden in Eden.
Psalm 51, Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Romans 5, 12-19, Through one man sin entered the world.
Matthew 4, 1-11.
Hi, Betsy.
The Gospel of Matthew and the Jewish Synagogue—Talk One
This is the first part in a short series on the relationship between the Jewish synagogue and the Gospel of Matthew. My primary source is John Shelby Spong’s book titled, Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy, published 2016.
Ash Wednesday at Marlene's house.
Spong is a retired Episcopal Bishop and a Biblical scholar. Other references include The Catholic Study Bible, published 2011, edited by Donald Senior, C.P.; and the Constitution Dei verbum in 1965 by Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI at the 2nd Vatican Council.
Ash Wednesday, Lynda & Tom.
Pius XII’s encyclical, Divino Afflante Spiritu (tr. “Inspired by the divine spirit”) in 1943, encouraged all Catholics to read the Bible, and that Biblical study should be in the original languages. And he allowed for the use of the historical-critical method for understanding Biblical texts.
The Choir on the stairs.
The 2nd Vatican Council’s Constitution Dei verbum (tr. “Word of God”), in 1965, was set up by Pope John XXIII when (before he died) he nixed the first draft by a Vatican-only group, and asked for another draft from a group balanced with conservative and progressive biblical experts.
Jackie reading.
The second draft, accepted by Vatican II and approved by Paul VI, is progressive, acknowledging that Biblical interpretation requires the insights of historical analysis and literary analysis, and an understanding of the purposes of the text as written for its original audience.
Frank reading the Gospel.
Bishop Spong begins his study with the necessity of being knowledgeable about Jewish culture, Jewish symbols and Jewish storytelling; otherwise we are unable to understand the Gospels. Most Christians are unaware of the Jewish context of the Gospels. We need to know how the gospel stories would have been understood by the Jewish gospel authors and by the Jewish audiences they originally were written for.
Remember, you came from dust & you will return to dust.
Being Jewish, Jesus and his disciples attended the Jewish synagogue during Jesus’ lifetime and for 2 generations following Jesus’ death, about 55 years. It follows naturally that the memories of Jesus were deeply associated with the synagogue.
Ashes for you, Dearest Mabel.
People often overlook that the original disciples and the followers of Jesus were—like him—Jewish. As Jews they would participate in the life of the synagogue and the weekly Sabbath liturgy. As a result, the synagogue became the setting where the teachings of Jesus and the stories about him were recalled and passed on.
Sandra reading from Genesis.
It’s commonly accepted that the split between the synagogue and the followers of Jesus didn’t happen until the year 88 of the CE. This means that Paul died as a Jew, his missionary goal being to open up Judaism to the Gentiles. So, when Paul’s converts gathered on the Sabbath to ‘break bread’ it wasn’t as a step toward founding a new religious movement (a church), but to add a whole new dimension to life in the synagogue.
Carrie reading from Romans.
The timing of all this also means that the earliest gospels, Mark and Matthew, written before 70 CE, existed while the Christian movement was part of the life and practice of the synagogue. To end this first talk, let me repeat these three amazing facts:
Happy Birthday, Michelle
1) Jesus’ followers were members of the Jewish synagogue for about 50 years following Jesus’ death; the split between the Jewish synagogue and the followers of Jesus happened in the year 88 CE;
2) Paul died as a member of the Jewish synagogue in about 63 CE, over 20 years before the split happened;
3) the gospels of Matthew and Mark, even perhaps Luke and Acts, were written while the Christian movement was still part of the life and practice of the Jewish synagogue.
Rosemary reading her Blessing of the Week.
No mid-week blog this week. Gone to Mexico.