Breaking Open the Word

Introduction

The first reading taken from Exodus explains the second greatest commandment, namely, loving one’s neighbors, especially the underprivileged, as one loves oneself. This passage comes from a section of Exodus called the Book of the Covenant, a collection of the laws governed by Israel. Part of the law code deals with social morality, and in today’s reading treats two issues: the treatment of immigrants, widows and orphans and lending money to the poor. As a motivation to be compassionate and just toward aliens in their midst, the code calls the Israelites to remember that they were once aliens in Egypt. Like immigrants of refugees, the widow and the orphan were among the most vulnerable in ancient societies, so they also merit God’s protection.

The section on lending does not forbid all interest on loans, the law allows charging interest to Gentiles, for example. The issue here is taking advantage of the misfortunes of the poor to enrich oneself. A loan to a poor Israelite is to be an act of compassion, not a business deal. The used of the cloak as a pledge for a loan may have symbolized that. The cloak, which was also used as a blanket must be returned before nightfall.

After freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, God made a covenant with them in the Sinai desert. The Ten Commandments are the best known part of the Sinai Covenant. The laws in this passage protect those members of society who have few resources and family connections and are thus in danger of suffering from material need and exploitation. Although the Sinai Covenant was between God and the Israelites, non-Israelites weren’t excluded from it. If aliens/foreigners were doing no harm to God’s people, then they were to be treated well. Just because God’s people were mistreated in Egypt doesn’t mean they have the right to mistreat others.

God instructs his people to shelter widows and orphans. In the Bible these people are symbols of the poor because they often had no means of securing their own income. God warns that if stronger members of the society don’t help weaker ones, then he won’t help the strong. God wants debts to be repaid, but debts shouldn’t become painful burdens on the borrower. These commandments are a sample of the many laws that instruct God’s people to help others in the same way that their just, compassionate God helps them
The second reading is from Paul’s 1st letter to the Thessalonians. This reading seems like a commentary on last Sunday’s passage. After giving thanks to God for the Thessalonian’s conversion, Paul proceeds to describe that conversion in more detail. Paul suggests that he and his companions were models for the Thessalonians because the Gospel is the basis of their lives. So to imitate them is to imitate the Lord. This imitation is a combination of affliction and joy, an experience of sharing Christ’s cross and his resurrection.