Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost 2023

Postfestive Day of the Dormition

The Holy Prophet Samuel

The Holy King Stephen of Hungary

Ambon Prayer 62

Dismissal: "May Christ our true God, risen from the dead, have mercy on us and save us, through the prayers of his most holy Mother, whose Dormition we gloriously celebrate . . .

Title

Jesus Asks for Everything

Outline

Paul makes the faith simple

Romans chapter 10 states that it is commitment to Jesus as Lord (versus Caesar as Lord) based on a belief that God raised him from the dead, i.e. that he is alive and can therefore be served as Lord

Our Gospel lays out the resurrection part in some detail: our faith is empty, says Paul, if it does not include this. Christ really died “for our sins,” was really buried, and was really raised to life. Then he goes on to cite evidence that Jesus was alive and experienced in a variety of settings by a variety of his followers over a period of time, including his appearance to Paul. This is the universal faith: “Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”

If Jesus is the living Lord, that what does he ask of us?

Matthew’s narrative starts with a question about the good, which is a great start; Jesus responds with citing the Ten Commandments (likely as he interpreted them in Matthew 5). Oh, says the man, I have done that. Is he still not satisfied or does he expect Jesus to say, Then you are OK?

Jesus then moves on from obedience to total commitment, from the less personal to the very relational: “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” What an invitation: come, follow me; but to do it you will have to give up all your attachments. And the man cannot do it, “for he had great possessions.”

Jesus then points out the difficulty possessions present: “Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” It is as impossible as driving an eighteen-wheeler through a keyhole. The disciples are astounded: if those blessed by God cannot be saved, who can? Ah, says, Jesus, it is impossible for human beings, but do not underestimate the power of God’s grace.

That is, the “stuff” in our lives, good stuff, not just evil stuff, becomes our security, our focus, our god. You cannot serve God and Mammon and Jesus is the living Lord, the one we should be serving. He calls for a total choice that requires detaching ourselves from anything other than him, although we may still use that “stuff” at his direction (coram deo). It is a delicate balance.

Brothers and Sisters, this is the call of Christ

It is a call for total dedication to him, for loving what he loved on the cross and rejecting what he rejected.

It is a call that will be the same at heart, but look differently in each one’s situation in life.

It is a call that will be developed over time, as Jesus shows us that this or that is an attachment holding us back from following him and only him

But it is a call that brings us into the kingdom now and into a deeper joy and freedom than we have ever known.

Let us pursue with singleness of heart our relationship to our living Lord.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 8-27-2023: Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

EPISTLE

1 Corinthians 15:1–11

1 Now I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, 2 by which you are saved, if you hold it fast—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 8-27-2023: Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

GOSPEL

Matthew 19:16–26

16 And behold, one came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which?” And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have observed; what do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (8-20-2023: Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2023 | OCTOECHOS

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 8-27-2023: Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Matins Gospel Matthew 28:16–20

Epistle 1 Corinthians 15:1–11

Gospel Matthew 19:16–26