Sunday, 25 October 2020

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings are laid out as for the continuous form of the lectionary. Alternative related readings (OT and psalm only) are below. Hymns marked with an asterisk (*) are suggested for more than one reading.

Deuteronomy 34: 1-12

Come, let us join our friends above (StF 744)
God who sets us on a journey (website only)
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah (StF 465)
In heavenly love abiding (StF 736)
Moses, I know you’re the man (StF 473)
The world we thought we knew is changing fast (website only)
There is a new heaven, there is a new earth (StF 738)

Psalm 90: 1-6, 13-17

Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme

Everlasting God, the years go by (StF 46)
How long, O Lord, will you forget (StF 630)
I sing the almighty power of God (StF 107)
Lord of the boundless curves of space (StF 111)
Lord, you have been our refuge (Psalm 90) (StF 816) responsive reading
O God, our help in ages past (StF 132)
O worship the King, all-glorious above (StF 113)
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation (StF 88)
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases (StF 66)

1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8

And I will wait now (website only)
Away with our fears! (StF 458)
Before I take the body of my Lord (StF 575) communion hymn
God, who made the stars of heaven (StF 7)
Go to the world! Go into all the earth (StF 402)
*Hear the call of the kingdom (StF 407)
Put peace into each other’s hands (StF 712)

Matthew 22: 34-46

Abba, Father, let me be yours and your alone (StF 439)
Beyond these walls of worship (StF 547)
Christ, our King before creation (StF 318)
Come, thou long-expected Jesus (StF 169)
God is love: his the care (StF 403)
Hail to the Lord’s anointed (StF 228)
*Hear the call of the kingdom (StF 407)
He became poor that we may be rich (StF 344)
I come with joy, a child of God (StF 588)
Send down the fire of your justice (StF 413)
What shall I do my God to love, my loving God to praise? (StF 436)
What shall I do my God to love . . . (StF 516)

Alternative related readings:

Leviticus 19: 1-2, 15-18

God, how can we forgive when bonds of love are torn? (StF 613)
Holy, holy, holy Lord (StF 789)
In an age of twisted values (StF 703)
Lord, your Church on earth is seeking your renewal from above (StF 410)
When I needed a neighbour (StF 256)
When our views are varied (website only)
You call us out to praise you (website only)

Psalm 1

Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme

As water to the thirsty (StF 441)
God, when I came into this life (StF 535)
I was on your mind long before you formed the earth (StF 468)
The King of love my shepherd is (StF 479)
We are marching in the light of God (StF 483)

The Revd Phillip Poyner writes:

Jesus is asked, “Teacher which commandment of the law is the greatest?” Jesus gives two, but as we cannot love God without loving our neighbour can we not reduce the two commandments to one? Jesus treats the two commandments as distinct, though interdependent. Clearly Jesus is reminding us of the importance of human love; however, love for God is primary and enriches/sustains our human loving (Psalm 1:3). Our loving is both human and divine. 

R.T France (Matthew, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) comments about the apparently “academic” question of Matthew 22: 42. He writes that to name the Messiah as the son of David “is inadequate, if not misleading, as a guide to the nature of Jesus’ Messianic mission. He is no mere successor or replica of David, but rather he is David’s Lord. . . Son of God in power”. Jesus is both human and divine.

Verse 8 of the Epistle emphasises that love which is divinely inspired is not exploitative or self-gratifying but self-giving and gentle.

With All Saints and All Souls Day approaching, the Continuous readings (Deuteronomy and 1 Thessalonians) speak of the leadership of Moses and Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy, and provide an opportunity to reflect on our heritage of faith, leaders and servants who loved God and their people.