“he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call”
Overview
Today, on Bible Sunday, we give thanks for the Bible; for who all worked to translate, interpret and share the word of God with all people; and for the power of God’s word to transform us and give us life.
Both of our readings express mixed responses to the word of God: In Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 8-12, the people wept and in Matthew 24:30-35, all the tribes of the earth mourn.
And yet, both readings also affirm that the word of God brings life. Nehemiah tells the people to rejoice, to choose life, to eat and drink and to share what they have “with those for whom nothing is prepared”. Similarly, in Matthew, Jesus (God’s Word) compares his coming to the coming of the summer, when the trees put forth their leaves.
These passages reflect the dynamism of the Word: we move from a realisation that our lives and our world do not reflect the life God offers us; through a desire for change; towards a commitment to building a life-giving community.
There can be no one correct interpretation of scripture because the work of scripture is dynamic. Engaging with the Bible will always be a struggle because through it God desires to change us.
There is, however, one guiding principle: at the heart of our understanding of scripture is the belief that God’s word is most perfectly revealed in his Son, the Word made flesh. Jesus lives out the life-giving, healing, reconciling nature of God’s word; never excluding, never coercing, always inviting, always seeking the good of others. This is work of love.
The Bible is only of any use to us if we grapple with it, asking hard questions, opening ourselves to change so that the Word may become flesh in us and, through us, continue the loving and life-giving work of God.
FIRST READINGS
Nehemiah 8:1-4,8 -12
All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose
So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, ‘Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.’ And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
GOSPEL
Matthew 24:30-35
Jesus said to his disciples:
“The sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see “the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven” with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
