Love Binds Everything Together – 26 December 2021
Luke 2:41-52
By echoing Samuel, Luke prompts the reader to hear the story of Jesus in a way similar to that of Samuel. Luke often uses the narrative of a character from the. . . First Testament as a lens for interpreting the ministry of Jesus (and the ministry of the church in the Book of Acts). Luke stresses continuity between the classical prophets and Jesus. Indeed, for Luke, Jesus is the prophet of the coming realm of God.
The faithful Samuel spoke the truth to the unfaithful people of his day. When confronted with the desire of the people to have a monarch so they could be like the other peoples around them, Samuel warned the people that such a decision would eventually bring curse upon them . . . The faithful Jesus announced to the people of his day . . . that the realm of God was on its way. Just as Samuel’s words came true, so the people could expect Jesus’ words to come true.
Luke recognized a delay between the time of Jesus and the second coming . . . Although Jesus’ followers might be tempted to follow the path of Hophnia and Phineas as well as those who sought a ruler over Israel, Luke uses the stories of Samuel and Jesus to encourage the congregation to remain faithful. –– Ronald J. Allen
1 Samuel 2:18–20, 26
When Israel was obedient to the covenant, the Israelites’ life was blessed, but when they disobeyed, curse resulted. According to the deuteronomic preachers, Israel was exiled because the people disobeyed God. When the exile ends, the deuteronomic preachers want the community to be obedient and, hence, to be blessed.
Today’s reading . . . sets forth themes of both disobedience and obedience. Eli, priest at Shiloh, had children (Hophni and Phineas) who should have succeeded him as priest. But they were disobedient . . . Such disobedience invoked curse: Hophni and Phineas soon died (2:34). By contrast . . . Samuel grew into a faithful priest, a prophet, and a judge.
During most of Samuel’s life, Israel as a people was organized as a theocratic confederacy. However, when Samuel was old, the elders of Israel asked Samuel to make them like the other nations of their time and to anoint a monarch (1 Sm 8:4–5). Samuel resisted. . . . Before appointing the new ruler, Samuel obediently warned the people that their desire would lead to the destruction of their national life (8:10–22). The words that Samuel spoke came true. The people disobeyed God, insisted on a monarch, and set on a path that led them from the halcyon days of the confederacy to exile in Babylonia. –– Ronald J. Allen
Colossians 3:12–17
This passage provides guidance for the obedient life while the congregation awaits the final revelation of Christ (Col 3:4). This faithful life should be marked by compassion, kindness, humility, patience, bearing with one another, forgiveness, love, and peace. –– Ronald J. Allen
Ronald J. Allen is a former professor of preaching and New Testament at Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Homily Service 43, no. 1 (2009): 52-62