Friday • 7/26/2024 •
Friday of Proper 11
This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalms 40 & 54; Joshua 9:22–10:15; Romans 15:14-24; Matthew 27:1-10
This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 10 (“The Second Song of Isaiah,” Isaiah 55:6-11; BCP, p. 86); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 18 (“A Song to the Lamb,” Revelation 4:11; 5:9-10, 13, BCP, p. 93)
Judas’s bad end. It is sober enough to think of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal in its own right. Despising the high privilege of being a part of Jesus’s circle of twelve, and thinking little of being appointed treasurer of the band that is heralding the coming of God’s kingdom, Judas commits one of the most treacherous acts in all of recorded history.
Perhaps even sadder is the way he handles his self-discovery. The NRSV’s translation at Matthew 27:3 is not exactly inaccurate, but it is a bit misleading: “… he repented.” The Greek term is metamelesthai, and it means literally “to experience a change in what matters.” In this context, the REB’s translation more accurately conveys its nuance: “he was overcome with remorse.” What’s sad is that Judas’s remorse—his “change in what matters”—doesn’t drive him to God. His remorse leads to two dramatic, but empty, gestures: casting away the blood money, and the self-canceling act of suicide. Genuine repentance, rather than mere remorse, might have led to the simplest of prayers: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” But that’s all in the land of what-might-have-been.
Paul’s reflection on God’s good grace. Today’s reading of Judas’s bad end juxtaposes with Paul’s meditation on his life’s work: “the grace that was given me” (Romans 15:15).
… a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles … — Romans 15:16. The word that Paul uses to describe himself here—leitourgos (“people” + “worker”)—is someone who carries out a “service to people,” a leitourgia. Our word liturgy comes from this Greek term. The kind of service depends on the venue—from religious or liturgical service (see Exodus 31:10; 38:21 LXX; Ezra 7:24) to private service ( see 2 Kings 4:43; 6:15). In the Greco-Roman world, the word was used for someone who was called upon to perform any sort of public service—from underwriting the paving of a road to overseeing civic games. Paul regarded himself as an unworthy recipient of grace. But because of that grace, he would serve not himself, but other people. Lord, give us grace to do likewise.
… in the priestly service of the gospel of God… — Romans 15:16. This is the only—really, the only!—time that any Christian in the New Testament is referred to as doing something “priestly.” (Lest there be any confusion, Episcopalians derive their word “priest” from the Greek word presbuteros, which is usually translated “presbyter” or “elder”—see, for instance, Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 5:18; Titus 1:5). And Paul’s priestly service is not performing what we would think of as “liturgical” acts—it’s not overseeing the sacraments, or giving assurance of the absolution of sin, or offering a blessing. Well, except that Paul is offering the Gentiles to God—those who have accepted the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, who has ushered them into the blessing of becoming children of Abraham by faith, part of “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:15). This is a wonderful note of the way that God can use any person in “priestly service,” through praying for and sharing the good news with those who do not yet know the Lord.
… I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news… — Romans 15:20. This is one of Paul’s most daring statements, ever. The word translated “I make it my ambition” is philotimeisthai, and it means “love of honor” or simply “ambition.” According to classical social-historian, Ramsay MacMullen, philotimia (“love of honor”) was the social capital of the pagan world; the term is not used to translate any words in the Old Testament canon. Nonetheless, Paul says here, in effect, “I make it a point of honor to proclaim the good news where nobody else has.” Not all of us have such a pioneering spirit. Not all of us are given that same call. But each of us can rightly consider our own distinct call, the particular place we are to serve Christ and his Kingdom. And each of us can “make it my ambition” to be true to that call.
I pray that the grace given will enable each one of us, like Paul, to “love the honor” of offering our own “priestly service,” in the spaces where the Lord has called us.
Be blessed this day,
Reggie Kidd+