Scripture Meditation for June 11th

Scripture for June 11, Wednesday of Tenth Week in Ordinary Time. I Kings
18:20-39. Psalm 16:1-2.4.5.8.11. Matthew 5:17-19. Lectionary # 361:

Within the last few decades several good books have appeared on the
Jewishness of Jesus. This is a good approach especially for the social
location of Jesus both today and in his times. It like the geography of
Israel and the Holy Land is like a fifth Gospel in helping us to interpret
better many of the sayings of Jesus and his parables. Since we are in the
richest field of such sayings during this week and next week, it would be
helpful to keep in mind this heritage of Jesus among the Chosen People of
God, Israel. This will give us an appreciation for the Land and for Jesus
who loved both the Land where he was born and the religious heritage he
received from the fullness of the Hebrew Scriptures--the TANACH.
Certainly the Sermons of Matthew are to be explored in the light of
Jesus' Jewishness and many of the scenes and discourses in John. In
today's very short reading we have the motive for doing this and it is
Jesus himself who leads us to appreciate him as an Israelite from the
lineage of David. He tells us he has come not to change the Torah; not
even in the minutest way. Neither an iota or a tittle would be tampered
with on the part of Jesus. Rather he has come to live out the whole of the
Scriptures with his life, his example and behavior, and his actions. He
found the will of God in every part of the Hebrew Scriptures. Perhaps,
John's Gospel had a good insight in introducting him as the Word of God.
"And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14).
After his resurrection we have the beautiful story of meeting two of
the disciples on their way to Emmaus. We read, "And beginning then with
Moses and with all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the
Scriptures the things referring to himself." (Luke 24: 27). We too should
have the same feeling as the disciples, "Was not our heart burning within
us while he was speaking on the road and explaining to us the Scriptures?"
(Luke 24:32).
We as Chistians should know and love both the Hebrew Scriptures (the
Old Testament) and our own, the New Testament. There is a harmony in the
history of salvation within the Scriptures based on the covenant of love
God has for all of God's peoples. As Christians we are obliged to have a
good love and knowledge of both testaments. The commandments that are the
greatest flow from the first testament into the second and it is Jesus who
interprets them in this unified way with his own words.
Perhaps, we can improve on our own respect for the whole of Scripture
and learn more about Jesus through reading one of the books that treats of
Jesus as a Jew. Preferably, one written by a Jewish scholar would be best.
Certainly we would be able to go deeper into the meaning of the Sermon on
the Mount by such a reading. Amen.