Deuteronomy 34:1-12
The word Deuteronomy means repetition of the law. This book primarily focus is on the transition of power from Moses and the ending of his life to the leadership of Joshua. This passage tells the story of Moses death and the leadership of Joshua. Note in vs.9 how that power is transferred with the laying on of hands. This strong image will set the course for prophets, kings and anointed leader both in Judaism and Christianity, even in the sacrament of baptism and prayers for healing.
Psalm 90:1-17
The subtitle of this psalm is: A prayer of Moses, the man of God. As you read this psalm, how does this seem to speak of the life of Moses and the experiences of Moses with God?
Matthew 22:34-46
In Matthew 22:23-33 Jesus is approached by the Sadducees with a question that they assumed he could not answer or whose answer would betray him as a false teacher, but Jesus refutes their question. In 34-46 the Pharisees decide that they will outdo the Sadducees with another question that will surely be unanswerable or revealing of Jesus as a false teacher. Their question is about the greatest commandment in the Law. Jesus gives the answer that has become imbedded in our faith to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is to love your neighbor a yourself. Jesus affirms that all the Law and the Prophets hinge on those two commandments.
While the Pharisees are still there, Jesus pushes a question towards them: What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he. They answer quickly, “David!” Jesus furthers the plot by quoting David and asking the question, “If David calls him, ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” and they could not answer him and stopped trying to stump him.
What is the juncture between true faith trying to prove we know about faith?
I Thessalonians 2:1-8
When Paul and friends came to Thessalonica, they had already been treated badly at Philippi. They could easily have been traumatized sufficiently to stop trying, but they had gone onto Thessalonica and Paul said we fully invested ourselves in you.
How does Paul’s statement to the folks at Thessalonica set a pattern for anyone who struggles with witnessing, being a missionary, supporting the church?
Prayer: Lord God, your claim upon our lives is strong and powerful. If it were not so, there would be many times when we would simply give up. Make strong all of us as you did Moses and Joshua and Jesus and Paul. Amen.