Eighteenth Sunday - Pentecost • Year A

Historical Collect

O Almighty and most Merciful God, through your bountiful goodness, keep us from all things that may hurt us, that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things that you would have us do. Grant this, we pray, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th Century)

Thematic Collect

Heavenly Father, when called to do your will, we often respond with enthusiasm, yet in our human weakness, we fail to follow through. Strengthen us with your grace poured out through your Son, so that we may overcome our weakness and follow you in the way of life; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Common Thread

Since all souls belong to the Lord, he determines what happens to them. His verdict is that all who sin will die. Instead of complaining about how unfair God is, we need simply to return to him, to repent of the sin that has estranged us from our Maker. He is not only holy and righteous, he is also salvation, the forgiver of sin. He is just to do so, for while divine, he took upon himself this human nature. While sinless, he even died on a cross for our sins, the death that symbolized alienation from God. Having been exalted, Christ now works within our natures through his Spirit and his word of life. All this he does for us through the authority of his Father. 

First Reading • Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32

The main points of the Reading are verses four and 32: “The soul who sins shall die,” and “I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” Here is law and grace at work in the same passage.

One may cry foul—that God is not fair, for no one is perfect. We hear it all the time. Yet it is the transgressor who is unfair and unjust. God is indeed holy and just, forgiving the sins of those who turn to him.

Psalm • Psalm 25:1-10

If keeping the law is the only way to live, there is no hope unless God provides an escape. There is no hope because no one keeps even the most basic parts of the law. The greatest commandment, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deut 6:5) is echoed by Jesus in Matthew 22:37. Yet, we cannot maintain the first part of that commandment. We do not love the Lord with all our heart. Part of our hearts are reserved for other loves. Some of them even get in the way of our love for God.

If life is determined by our keeping the commandments, and we cannot keep even part of the chief commandment, all hope is lost—unless God’s grace prevails. It does. We may lift up our souls to God, trusting in his gracious mercy and steadfast love. Instead of remembering our sins, he promises to remember us.

Second Reading • Philippians 2:1-4, 5-13, 14-18

There are many demands in this Reading. Unity, putting the needs of others before one’s own, humility, a cheery disposition, peaceableness, innocence, and sacrifice are in the list. As an old friend is wont to say, “Good luck with that!”

These are nevertheless, God’s expectations of us. Still, there is one other duty that stands out from the list. Hold fast to the word of life (Phil 2:16). When you fail to keep even one item in the list, hold fast to the word of life, and remember that God loves “failures” so much that “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8) for the sake of sinners like us.

Doing the other things on the list will not provide you with life. Attempting them is the by-product of your adherence to that word that brings life by the grace of God in Christ.

Gospel • Matthew 21:23-27, 28-32

The chief priests and the elders of the people demanded to know by what authority Jesus taught and performed miracles. Readers may wonder why Jesus did not simply answer their question. Perhaps it was because he was about to empty himself, submitting to the authority of those who questioned him. In doing so, he purchased the salvation of all who believe—and was given all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt 28:18).