Sermon for Sunday, October 9, 2011
In today’s reading Exodus (32:1–14), when Moses ascended the mountain to receive God’s Commandments, he is gone for a very long time. The people, not knowing what happened to him, and feeling that he is not coming back asked Aaron to make for them an image of gold to be their new God. Aaron did so! He made for them a golden calf which they worshiped, proclaiming it their savior, and giving it credit for having rescued them from their slavery in Egypt. Even though the people had not yet received the Ten Commandments from God, the Second of which prohibits the making of , images and worshiping them God became extremely angry with His people and threaten to destroy them. And he would have done so if Moses had not asked God to stay his hand.
This seems rather harsh since God had not actually given Moses the commands yet. Moses had not yet returned to the people with the two stone tablets upon which God had inscribed his commandments. Yet the people had seen the power of God. They had seen the plagues that God had brought down upon the Egyptians in order to convince Pharaoh that he must let the enslaved Hebrew people go. They had seen God part the Red Sea that they might cross safely, and how the Egyptian army had been drowned while attempting to pursue them. How they could then attribute the wonders they had personally witnessed to an image they had just made with their own hands seems incomprehensible.
Idolatry is a terrible sin! The apostle Paul points out in his epistle to the Romans (1:18-23) that the nature of the true God is evident through his creation. His invisible attributes, eternal power, and divinity can be understood and perceived in what he has created. As a result men actually have no excuse for not knowing him. Therefore not giving him, “the true God” the glory, and thanking him, instead of giving glory due only to Him – the creator -, to images of creatures made by human hands, whether of men, or birds, or four-legged animals. This is a grievous transgression, and foolishness of the highest order.
Though the actual words of the second amendment are, “You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: You shall not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them” the actual prohibition is not against the making of images, but against idolatry. This is evident from the paragraphs both preceding and following this reading in the book of Exodus, and also in the book of Deuteronomy.
In Exodus (20:22-25) the LORD tells Moses, “Thus shall you speak to the Israelites: You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven. Do not make anything to rank with me; neither gods of silver nor gods of gold shall you make for yourselves. And in Deuteronomy (4:15–20) He says, “You saw no form at all on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire. Be strictly on your guard, therefore, not to degrade yourselves by fashioning an idol to represent any figure, whether it be the form of a man or a woman, of any animal on the earth or of any bird that flies in the sky, of anything that crawls on the ground or of any fish in the waters under the earth. And when you look up to the heavens and behold the sun or the moon or any star among the heavenly hosts, do not be led astray into adoring them and serving them. These the LORD, your God, has let fall to the lot of all other nations under the heavens; but you he has taken and led out of that iron foundry, Egypt, that you might be his very own people, as you are today.
But in Exodus (25:1-22), prior to giving Moses the commandment not to make graven images, “for to worship them” the LORD said to Moses: “Tell the Israelites to take up a collection for me. From every man you shall accept the contribution that his heart prompts him to give me. These are the contributions you shall accept from them: gold, silver and bronze; violet, purple and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; rams’ skins dyed red, and tahash skins; acacia wood; oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; onyx stones and other gems for mounting on the ephod and the breastpiece. “They shall make a sanctuary for me, that I may dwell in their midst. This Dwelling and all its furnishings you shall make exactly according to the pattern that I will now show you. “You shall make an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. Plate it inside and outside with pure gold, and put a molding of gold around the top of it.
Cast four gold rings and fasten them on the four supports of the ark, two rings on one side and two on the opposite side then make poles of acacia wood and plate them with gold. These poles you are to put through the rings on the sides of the ark, for carrying it; they must remain in the rings of the ark and never be withdrawn. In the ark you are to put the commandments which I will give you. “You shall then make a propitiatory of pure gold, two cubits and a half long, and one and a half cubits wide. Make two cherubim of beaten gold for the two ends of the propitiatory, fastening them so that one cherub springs direct from each end. The cherubim shall have their wings spread out above, covering the propitiatory with them; they shall be turned toward each other, but with their faces looking toward the propitiatory. This propitiatory you shall then place on top of the ark. In the ark itself you are to put the commandments which I will give you there I will meet you and there, from above the propitiatory, between the two cherubim on the ark of the commandments, I will tell you all the commands that I wish you to give the Israelites”.
In apparent contradiction to what God said in his second commandment, here He is telling Moses to make two Golden Cherubim, and place them on top of the Ark of the Covenant. Now these are obviously graven images, “of things that are in heaven above”. Is God himself ordering Moses to violate his second commandment? Of course not! The difference here is that the cherubim, though they are indeed graven images of gold, are being used as decorations not as idols to be worshiped. This is not an isolated incident. Examples abound throughout the Bible. Here are a few other biblical examples of graven images in use for purposes other than idolatry.
In Solomon’s temple 1 Kings (6:10–38) “And he made in the oracle two cherubim of olive tree, of ten cubits in height. One wing of the cherub was five cubits, and the other wing of the cherub was five cubits: that is, in all ten cubits, from the extremity of one wing to the extremity of the other wing. The second cherub also was ten cubits: and the measure, and the work was the same in both the cherubim: That is to say, one cherub was ten cubits high, and in like manner the other cherub. And he set the cherubim in the midst of the inner temple: and the cherubim stretched forth their wings, and the wing of the one touched one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall: and the other wings in the midst of the temple touched one another. And he overlaid the cherubim with gold”.
“And all the walls of the temple round about he carved with divers figures and carvings: and he made in them cherubim and palm trees, and divers representations, as it were standing out, and coming forth from the wall. And the floor of the house he also overlaid with gold within and without. And in the entrance of the oracle, he made little doors of olive tree, and posts of five corners, And two doors of olive tree: and he carved upon them figures of cherubim, and figures of palm trees, and carvings very much projecting; and he overlaid them with gold: and he covered both the cherubim and the palm trees, and the other things, with gold. And he made in the entrance of the temple posts of olive tree foursquare: And two doors of fir tree, one of each side: and each door was double, and so opened with folding leaves. And he carved cherubim, and palm trees, and carved work standing very much out: and he overlaid all with golden plates in square work by rule. And he built the inner court with three rows of polished stones, and one row of beams of cedar”.
In (1 Kings 7:23-29) Is found the description of “the bronze sea” used in the temple for ritual purposes “it was made with a circular rim, and measured ten cubits across, five in height, and thirty in circumference. Under the brim, gourds encircled it, ten to the cubit all the way around; the gourds were in two rows and were cast in one mold with the sea. This rested on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east, with their haunches all toward the center, where the sea was set upon them. It was a handbreadth thick, and its brim resembled that of a cup, being lily-shaped. Its capacity was two thousand measures. Ten stands were also made of bronze, each four cubits long, four wide, and three high. When these stands were constructed, panels were set within the framework. On the panels between the frames there were lions, oxen, and cherubim; and on the frames likewise, above and below the lions and oxen, there were wreaths in relief. As you can see from above, images abounded in and around the temple.
In the book of Numbers (21:4–9) we read, ” From Mount Hor they set out on the Red Sea road, to by-pass the land of Edom. But with their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you. Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if anyone who has been bitten looks at it, he will recover.” Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he recovered. Here the bronze serpent, also obviously a graven image ordered to be constructed by God himself in apparent contradiction to his second commandment serves the purpose not of an idol to be worshiped, but as an object that when gazed upon by the victim of a poisonous snake bite served to produces faith in the victim which heals him.
In the New Testament book of John, (3:11–16) Jesus himself, rather than condemning “as idolatry”, the incident mentioned above, says this, “Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life”. As can be seen from this, the bronze serpent was a type of the crucifixion itself. Those of us who have been bitten by that ancient poisonous serpent the devil, and are in danger of spiritual death look upon the crucifixion, upon Jesus, raised up on the cross and we are healed.
We Christians of the “Universal”, Catholic and Orthodox churches are often accused of idolatry because we decorate our churches with paintings, icons, and statues representing heavenly things, the Angels, Saints, Mary, crosses, crucifixes of the Lord Jesus. But I assure you, that contrary to what you may think, we are intelligent enough to know the difference between a painting, an icon, a statue, and the real thing. We believe that what is essential in understanding the true purpose of the Second Commandment is the part that follows the, “do not make any graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or on earth below”. That is. ”and bow down and worship it”! We believe that to make and use, “likenesses” is not prohibited by the second commandment as long as these objects are not worshiped. It only becomes idolatry if the objects are worshiped. Contrary to what many may believe we do not worship Mary, or the saints.
Lectionary Readings for Sunday, October 9, 2011
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2011 | AFTER PENTECOST
PROPER 23
YEAR A
Old Testament & Psalm
Old Testament Exodus 32:1–14
Psalm Psalm 106:1–6, 19–23
New Testament
New Testament Philippians 4:1-9
Gospel Matthew 22:1-14
OLD TESTAMENT
Exodus 32:1–14
Chapter 32
1 When the people became aware of Moses’ delay in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will be our leader; as for the man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.”
2 Aaron replied, “Have your wives and sons and daughters take off the golden earrings they are wearing, and bring them to me.”
3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron,
4 who accepted their offering, and fashioning this gold with a graving tool, made a molten calf. Then they cried out, “This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.”
5 On seeing this, Aaron built an altar before the calf and proclaimed, “Tomorrow is a feast of the LORD.”
6 Early the next day the people offered holocausts and brought peace offerings. Then they sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.
7 With that, the LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved.
8 They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them, making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it, sacrificing to it and crying out, ‘This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’
9 I see how stiff-necked this people is,” continued the LORD to Moses.
10 “Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them. Then I will make of you a great nation.”
11 But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying, “Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand?
12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent he brought them out, that he might kill them in the mountains and exterminate them from the face of the earth’? Let your blazing wrath die down; relent in punishing your people.
13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.’”
14 So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.
PSALM
Psalm 106:1–6, 19–23
Chapter 106
1 Hallelujah
Give thanks to the LORD, who is good,
whose love endures forever.
2 Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
proclaim in full God’s praise?
3 Happy those who do what is right,
whose deeds are always just.
4 Remember me, LORD, as you favor your people;
come to me with your saving help,
5 That I may see the prosperity of your chosen,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your heritage.
6 We have sinned like our ancestors;
we have done wrong and are guilty.
IV
19 At Horeb they fashioned a calf,
worshiped a metal statue.
20 They exchanged their glorious God
for the image of a grass-eating bull.
21 They forgot the God who saved them,
who did great deeds in Egypt,
22 Amazing deeds in the land of Ham,
fearsome deeds at the Red Sea.
23 He would have decreed their destruction,
had not Moses, the chosen leader,
Withstood him in the breach.
to turn back his destroying anger.
NEW TESTAMENT
Philippians 4:1–9
Chapter 4
1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to come to a mutual understanding in the Lord.
3 Yes, and I ask you also, my true yokemate, to help them, for they have struggled at my side in promoting the gospel, along with Clement and my other co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!
5 Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.
6 Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
7 Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.
GOSPEL
Matthew 22:1–14
Chapter 22
1 Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying,
2 “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
3 He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come.
4 A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
5 Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.
6 The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.
7 The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
9 Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
10 The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, † and the hall was filled with guests.
11 But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
12 He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence.
13 Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’
14 Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Where Love Is! God Is!
Hello! I’m Father John Montanez; pastor of Saint Raphael the Archangel Parish, Panama City Florida. I am a graduate of the University of Massachusetts who after 30 years working as a registered nurse am now a priest in the Roman Orthodox Church of America. I have done hospice care the last 5 years, first for my father who passed away 2 ½ years ago. Almost without interruption I then began hospice care for my mother, for whom I am presently the sole care giver.
