Voting in our Neighbors’ Shoes – 25 October, 2020

What does it really mean to love our neighbor?. . .

How would we vote if we were standing in our neighbors’ shoes?

In Jesus’ sandals? –– Robin K. Brown

Matthew 22:34-46

A lawyer asks Jesus to summarize the law, a common practice fraught with pitfalls. Since all commandments come from God, one risks challenging God’s authority and wisdom when setting one (or a category) of them over all others. Indeed, some thought any attempt to summarize the 613 Torah commandments was a futile exercise in human presumption. By offering two commandments to the lawyer’s request for one, Jesus gives a Christological response to a rabbinical question. Specifically, Jesus speaks of the love of God (quoting Deut 6:5) and neighbor (quoting Lev 19:18), linking the two indissolubly with the word “like.” –– Fritz West

The interchange between Jesus and the religious leaders ends with his question to them about the Messiah. We may not appreciate the scriptural ploy that Jesus used to trap the Pharisees in their answer about David. Many of us grew up being suspicious of so-called proof texting and this at first feels like Jesus out-dueling the players at their own game. However, Jesus was just as serious in his discussion of scripture as were the Pharisees. For all of them it was worth delving into the word of God and discussing the matter at hand in light of the study.

Classic Jewish writings are full of lively discussion aimed at being faithful from day to day. Sometimes these discussions reopened matters thought to be decided and closed. One such topic was the Messiah’s identity as the son of David. While this could be accepted as true, Jesus was proposing that there was more truth about the Messiah. Jesus’ use of Psalm 110:1 invites his debaters to step outside that box and consider the Messiah to be even greater. That greatness would not be an extension of David’s military and political achievements. As Jesus would demonstrate, the Messiah would be revealed in rejection, suffering, and death. On many days, we stand with the Pharisees, stuck inside the box of Messianic expectations that avoid the cross. The last question is still waiting for an answer—from us. –– Stephen C. Kolderup

Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18

The Revised Common Lectionary supports Matthew 22:34–46 with Leviticus 19, whose central theme is holiness, regarded as the end of law. Israel becomes holy (1:1) as it meets the norms God set in the law and participates in divine intent. To emphasize this point, each exhortation to obey God’s commands is followed by the declaration, ‘‘I am the Lord.’’ This emphasis on holiness and its ethical import serves as a midrash upon the first line of the Shema, quoted by Jesus as the first commandment. –– Fritz West

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Paul and his companions, when proclaiming the Gospel, persevered despite difficulties (2:1–2), distinguished themselves from contemporary philosophers (2:3–6), and nurtured the Thessalonian Christians as one would a child (vv 7b–8). Paul preached that the saving event, made known in Jesus Christ, was yet to be (soon) fulfilled. –– Fritz West

Robin K. Brown, a Lutheran pastor, is the Associate Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal at the ELCA headquarters in Chicago.

Stephen C. Kolderup recently served as interim pastor for South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church in Florida.

Fritz West, a liturgical author and retired pastor of the United Church of Christ living in Minnesota, serves as the Presiding Member of the Association for Reformed & Liturgical Worship Steering Committee.

Homily Service 41, no. 4 (2008): 90-99.