The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 23 - 14 October 2012


Amos 5:6-7, 10-15
Psalm 90:12-17
Hebrews 4:12-16
St. Mark 10:17-31

                                                                                   
Background: Hebrews
Raymond Brown, in his time the preeminent commentator on Biblical literature, called Hebrews “one of the most impressive works in the New Testament.”  He also called it “a conundrum”.  The background to the book is not all that well known, and is difficult to determine.  The book was probably written somewhere between 60 and 80 CE, more likely to the latter part of that era.  The author is not identified.  There was a period of time when the Church attributed the book to Paul, but that position really does not obtain any longer.  The addressees are not identified either, although the content would indicate that those addresses are people who are attracted to Judaism, more than likely living in Rome.  The major argument of the book is the superiority of Christ over all that has come before.  In this argument the author contrasts two points of view: 1) the revelation of the prophets, and 2) the revelation of the pre-existing Son.  Major sections of the book are: a) The superiority of Jesus as God’s Son, b) the superiority of Jesus’ priesthood, c) the superiority of Jesus sacrifice, d) accessing Jesus’ priestly work, and e) practical concerns.

Amos 5:6-7,10-15

Seek the LORD and live,
or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire,
and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it.
Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood,
and bring righteousness to the ground!
They hate the one who reproves in the gate,
and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.
Therefore because you trample on the poor
and take from them levies of grain,
you have built houses of hewn stone,
but you shall not live in them;
you have planted pleasant vineyards,
but you shall not drink their wine.
For I know how many are your transgressions,
and how great are your sins--
you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe,
and push aside the needy in the gate.
Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time;
for it is an evil time.
Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;
and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you,
just as you have said.
Hate evil and love good,
and establish justice in the gate;
it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts,
will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.



In a time of prosperity toward the midst of the eighth century BCE, this prophet, who was also a Judean herdsman, delivered a series of oracles and visions at Beth-El and at Samaria.  Today’s reading, an oracle or “The First Woe” strikes at the judges who have debased the system of civil justice and thereby have taken away justice from the poor and the oppressed.  He notes the luxury of the time “houses of hewn stone” and contrasts it with their behavior, “you that turn justice to wormwood.”  Deuteronomy ruled against outrageous “fees” of grain from those who farmed the owners land.  It is clear that all the social justices lifted up by the Law of YHWH are being ignored.  Justice is to be brought back to the “gate”, namely the city gate – the place where judges sat to hear the pleas brought by common folk.

Breaking open Amos:
  1. How do our days compare to those of Amos?
  2. Do the poor and the oppressed get a fair shake in our courts today?
  3. How can you make for changes of justice?

Psalm 90:12-17 Domine, refugium

So teach us to number our days *
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

Return, O LORD; how long will you tarry? *
be gracious to your servants.

Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; *
so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.

Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us *
and the years in which we suffered adversity.

Show your servants your works *
and your splendor to their children.

May the graciousness of the LORD our God be upon us; *
prosper the work of our hands;
prosper our handiwork.



This psalm is unusual in that it is ascribed to Moses, although there are six other occurrences of Moses’ name in this fourth book of the psalms.  Here, Moses is lifted up as any other human being, limited by death, and living within the consequences of his actions.  Given that perspective, the psalm teaches us to “number our days,” and to realize the limitations of the stage upon which we operate and live.  Such limitations are contrasted to the eternity of God, who seems to either be absent or late.  Yet the cry is to God to come and save and to be present (even more so to be evident in the works of God’s hands).  The psalm closes with the prayer that our works, and our hands might be equally productive and helpful to others.

Breaking open Psalm 90
  1. Why does the psalmist want to make Moses an ordinary man?
  2. How is your life mirrored in the psalm?
  3. How is your handiwork similar to God’s

Hebrews 4:12-16

The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.



The author of the Hebrews calls us in this reading to a sense of spiritual renewal.  The opening theme of the two-edged sword gives us a sense of discernment, the sword being capable of parting the different aspects of the existential dilemma.  It is a tool applied to our very souls so that we might be seen by God for what we are.   Dred might invade our souls, with this thought, but the author is quick to supply a remedy.

Jesus, the great high priest, is quick to aid, to “sympathize with our weaknesses.”  Jesus is pictured as having been tested, just as we are being tested.  With that example in our minds and hears, we can then enter into the ministry of prayer and supplication for ourselves and for others as well.

Breaking open Hebrews:
  1. How do you make judgments in your life?
  2. Does the Word of God play any role?
  3. How is the testing of your life like the testing of Jesus?

St. Mark 10:17-31

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'" He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."

Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age--houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions--and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."



Jesus continues his discussion on the practicum of daily life, here with some sayings on riches and earthly relationships.  The first of these sayings is about the young lawyer.  He begins with flattery, “Good teacher”, which Jesus discards with “No one is good…”.  The question is about inheriting eternal life, and Jesus reviews the commandments with him.  There is one implicit commandment (and here compare the message of Amos) that is now commanded by Jesus.  “Sell what you own…give to the poor.”  The greed and possessions of the young man condemn him to leave.

Jesus then expounds on the example, using the example of the eye of the needle and the camel, an impossible situation.  To the improbability of this Jesus applies not the ability of mortals, but the ability of God, for whom “all things are possible.”  Peter carries the situation further, and Jesus does as well, promising a future filled with good things.

Breaking open the Gospel:

  1. What possessions do you have that would be particularly difficult to part with?
  2. What have you given up to follow Jesus?
  3. Has something come back to you because of your faith?

After breaking open the Word, you might want to pray the Collect for Sunday:

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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