Morning Devotion for the Season of Advent
Wednesday December 15, 2021
The Invitatory
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end.
Amen.
Our king and Savior now draws near; Come let us adore him.
Reading: Matthew 24:45-51
“Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that wicked slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. He will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Meditation – Michael Palmisano
Are you surprised that these words came from Jesus’ mouth (supposedly)? They appear to be about as harsh of words as any other that can be found within Scripture concerning the possibilities of temporal and eternal punishment. I do think however, that these words need some redeeming, or at least some contextualization.
First, we must never forget that all the words of Jesus throughout the gospels are interpretations. What I mean is that the authors are projecting a version of Jesus whom they experienced firsthand and/or by word of mouth. Their narratives, like any recorded biographies, are the product of a compiler who is not entirely unbiased or removed from their subject. With the evangelist, Matthew we are undoubtedly receiving a version of Jesus with a particular slant – in this case a particularly hostile Jewish-Christian enthusiasm.
Second, we must always be careful when we read biblical texts isolated from the broader narrative from which they are a part. Any texts from Matthew must be understood with the wider Matthean narrative as their context, and further yet, anything from Matthew must be understood within the wider scope of the entire biblical narrative. The many and varied texts of the Bible are the very same metaphoric keys for unlocking the multiple meanings across the canon.
How then might we interpret this text of doom and gloom? I’m particularly struck that the warnings about bodily harm are prefaced by Christ’s own warning not to fear those who can harm the body (Matthew 10:28). I also find little coincidence in the fact that the “wicked slave” is found dining with drunkards just like Jesus Himself (Matthew 11:19). These are not my attempts to “explain away” aspects of today’s text but are rather my attempts at muddying the waters a bit.
We must be careful not to read parables as commands or solvable riddles. The parables are a unique teaching mechanism which can hold the extremities of ideology and belief in rhythmic union. They are not meant to be resolved, but are rather a means of holding the great, terrible, and unresolvable mysteries of life, ethical behavior, and right worship in one piece. Life is not as simple as the dichotomies of “faithful” and “wicked” as today’s parable might lead us to believe. Surely Jesus, the One who was punished despite His faithfulness must have comprehended this troubling and unresolvable reality.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer
Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your [Church], for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
