Elderly Couple in an Interior, Frans van Mieris, c. 1650-1655 (Leiden Collection Catalogue)
FIRST READING
Leviticus 19:1–2, 17–18
February 23, 2020
This week we read from the Book of Leviticus for the first time. It is one of the books of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, and literally means the book of the tribe of Levi. This tribe was given the responsibility of maintaining the Temple and its worship, and not unsurprisingly, most of the book pertains to cultic matters. It will however show us that, for the Jews, worship and justice are both needed for holiness and the road to holiness may seem a detour from what we find truly important.
Leviticus begins where the book of Exodus ends. There is little action in the book, and it is mostly composed of the LORD speaking to Moses. More importantly is the time of its composition and final edition. We have seen many times before that the historical books of the Old Testament were competed after the return of significant numbers of the Jewish leaders to Jerusalem from Babylon. The first group went between 538 and 515 BC and another about 450 BC. Their concerns may be found in prophets such as (Third) Isaiah, Zechariah, and Haggai and in the historical writings of Ezra and Nehemiah. Through them, we have examined the nature of God’s reign in history, the relationship of the Jews to other peoples, and the developing notion of the Messiah.
They were recreating their society, and this was reflected in rebuilding their temple. Leviticus was written after the work of Ezra and Nehemiah. These were officials sent by the Assyrian king when it had become obvious that the colony was failing. They recognized that this was more than a management issue but required a return to tradition. Leviticus is composed of basically two parts: “The Priestly Book” (Chapters 1-16) and the “Holiness Codes” (Chapters 17-26). The priestly book defines sacred space and what is needed for worship. The holiness code shows how the sacred can be integrated into life.
It is in the holiness code that the Jewish calendar is formalized, literally making the sacred a part of daily life and the rhythm of the seasons. This is done in mind-numbing detail which is one reason why it not often read in church. Yet in the opening section we read today, the author is careful to give us the full and beautiful picture of holiness and its consequences. Continue reading “7th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Wasting Time with the Lord” →