A CHRISTMAS PRAYER

God give us grace. . .

to see
beyond the gleam and glitter
of our tinseled trees
a dim lit stable
not at all like these,

to hear
above the clash and clamor
of the market throng
an angel's call for peace 
in silent song,

to feel
in all the merry madness
of our festive cheer
the Savior's presence
in our hearts this year.

(from Now, That's a Miracle!)

SO DON’T ASK!

Luke 18:16 (NRSV) - But Jesus called for them and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs."

To give a "children's sermon"
is quite a daunting task,
and many pastors stumble
when they begin to ask
some simple sounding questions,
their preaching skills to flaunt.
What happens when they don't get
the answers that they want?
With sometimes shocking candor
and innocence a child
can make a congregation
go absolutely wild.
So those who ask a question
of children must have nerve.
If it's too open-ended,
they'll get what they deserve!

LET THE LITTLE ONES COME

Luke 18:15-17 (NRSV) - People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. 16 But Jesus called for them and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it."

It has always been a mystery to some
why the twelve refused to let the children come
close enough to feel the touch of Jesus’ hand.
If one thinks about it, one might say off-hand,
the disciples were like us in that respect,
who assume that busy people will object
to a child’s consuming any of their time
as if such an interruption were a crime.
There are some adults, who, though it is absurd,
think that children should be neither seen nor heard!
How removed from those who think like that was he
who said, “Let the little children come to me. 
For to such as these God’s kingdom does belong.
Not to let the children come to me is wrong.”
Those who don’t receive the kingdom as a child
will not enter it.” ---for love has been defiled.

PRAYING CONTRAST

Lectionary text: Luke 18:9-14 (NRSV) - He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."


To some who trusted in themselves, Jesus described one day    
two men who went up to the holy temple just to pray.
“I thank you, God, that I am not like other people, who
are thieves, adulterers, and rogues ---that tax collector,  too.
I give a tenth of my income.  I fast two times a week.”
Thus proudly and self-righteously the Pharisee did speak.
But standing at a distance without lifting up his head,
         the tax collector beat his breast: “Have mercy, God,” he said,
“on me, a sinner.” Jesus then the parable applied:
        “I tell you, this man, not the Pharisee, was justified.
For all who do exalt themselves will be humbled,” he said,
        “But those who have humbled themselves, God will exalt instead!

WILL THERE BE FAITH?

Lectionary text: Luke 18:8b (NRSV) ". . . And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

                                             The question Jesus asked the twelve
now hear for what it’s worth:
                                             Whene’er the Son of Man shall come,
will he find faith on earth?

KEEP ON PRAYING

Lectionary text: Luke 18:1-8 - (NRSV)  Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'" 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

The Master told a parable about an unjust judge
who, when a woman came to him for justice, would not budge,
because he had no fear of God, for people no respect.
But her persistence finally had its desired effect.
“Because she bothers me,” he said, “I think it would be best,
before this woman wears me out, that I grant her request.”
Then Jesus said, “Listen to what that unjust judge has said.”          
He made sure that this message sticks in each and every head:
Will God not grant his chosen ones, who pray both day and night,
the help and justice they deserve for striving to do right?”
So keep on praying, knowing that the God who cares is there,
and all the faithful can be sure God answers every prayer,
not necessarily the way we might have hoped he would,
        but through the eyes of faith we'll see God's way is always good!

DON’T LOOK BACK!

Luke 17:32 (NRSV) -  Remember Lot's wife.

Once you have joined the race of faith and started down the track,
        just fix your eyes upon the goal ahead, and don’t look back.
A glance behind is all it takes to throw you out of whack
        by causing you to stumble or to swerve, so don’t look back.
For sin is always in pursuit and seeking to attack.
        But sin can never overtake you, if you don’t look back.
“Remember Lot’s wife,” Jesus said. What was that woman’s fault?
        She looked back longingly, and so became a post of salt.
Of Sodoms and Gomorrahs in this world there is no lack.
        So leave them all behind you, and remember: DON’T LOOK BACK!

THE SECOND SHORTEST VERSE

Luke 17:32 (NRSV) - Remember Lot's wife.

When through the entire Bible you have diligently swept,
you’ll find the shortest verse consists of two words: “Jesus wept.”
But if to cite the second shortest verse you’re sometime beckoned,
Luke 17 verse 32, with just three words, is second!

THE DAYS ARE COMING!

Luke 17:22-30 (NRSV) - Then he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 They will say to you, 'Look there!' or 'Look here!' Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25 But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them 30 --it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.


Left: One of many artists' renderings of the Second Coming of Christ



The days are coming when you’ll long the Son of Man to see,
        but do not heed the lying claims or false rumors that he
is here or there, for as a lightning flash lights up the sky,
        so will the coming of the Son of Man be to the eye.
The day of his revealing will come unexpectedly.
        For many, who are unprepared, destruction there will be.
As in the days of Noah, when the flood drowned nearly all,
        and in the days of Lot, when all the Sodomites did fall.
The people in both cases had been living normally,
        not knowing their extinction would be coming suddenly.
These words are not intended to condemn us from the start,
        but to exhort us always to be ready ---mind and heart.
For Jesus’ Second Coming, whether it be soon or late,
        demands we live each day as his disciples, while we wait.

WITHIN OR AMONG?

Luke 17:21b (NRSV) ". . . For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you."

The kingdom is within you,
some Bible versions say.
The kingdom is among you
or in your midst, some say.

Within you or among you,
translate it either way.
What Jesus said about it
has meaning for today.

GOD’S KINGDOM IS AMONG YOU

Luke 17:20-21 (NRSV) - Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you."

 Painting by James Tissot

The Pharisees demanded    
that Jesus tell them when
God’s kingdom would be coming.
He cautioned them again:
Do not spend time predicting
when God’s kingdom will come.
As to the time and season,
it’s better to be dumb.
Don’t look for signs, said Jesus,
to tell you when and where.
The kingdom is among you,
and you should seek it there.

APPRECIATION RATIO

Lectionary text: Luke 17:17 (NRSV) - Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?

Ten lepers Jesus healed one day, but only one returned
to thank him, and because of that another blessing earned.
We tend to think that one came back to thank the Lord is fine,
but Jesus said, "Were not ten cleansed?  Where are the other nine?"
Among the blessings God bestows there's one I recommend.
Appreciation is a gift of God, I do contend.
Just think about it, and you'll see exactly why I say,
appreciation is a gift God gives to give away.
How few there are who bother to express their gratitude.
Their failure to give thanks reflects a thoughtless attitude.
Why, hardly anyone these days will take the time to write.
Folks act as if each favor they receive is theirs by right.
The people who express their thanks give other folks a lift,
and that is why I view appreciation as a gift
that one both has and also gives, as faithful stewards do.
So when God's gifts you're listing, add "appreciation," too.

"WHERE ARE THE NINE?"

Lectionary passage: Luke 17:11-19 (NRSV) - On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

Ten lepers sought cleansing from Jesus one day.

Ten lepers were healed, as they went on their way.

One leper returned to give thanks and rejoice.

Nine lepers went off without raising their voice.

One leper thanked Jesus, who was saturnine:

“Ten lepers were cleansed,” he said. “Where are the nine?”

One leper, a foreigner, did what was right.

Nine lepers took off and were soon out of sight.

Ten lepers were cleansed of their illness that day.

One leper gave thanks, while the rest walked away.

That leper was told that his faith made him well.

Nine lepers went off.  Were they heading for hell?

SHADES OF DIOGENES

lLectionary passage: Luke 17:7-10 (NRSV)  - "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? 8 Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"

Diogenes looking for an honest man.

I remember how my father thought it queer
and resented it whenever he would hear
someone praised for being honest, and he would
always comment on why anybody should
be commended just for doing what is right.
Everyone should have been honest, in his sight.
But as I’ve become more worldly-wise, I’ve found
there are too few truly honest folks around.

IF YOU HAVE FAITH

Lectionary text: Luke 17:6 (NRSV) - The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."

“If you had just a grain of faith, you could say to this tree,”  
said Jesus, “‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’
and it would then obey and do exactly as you willed.”
Some people think that feats like this by faith can be fulfilled.
But Jesus did not want his words used so capriciously.
He was employing, as he often did, hyperbole
to make a point he knew demanded greater emphasis,
the sense of which, it seems to me, would be something like
        this:
If you had faith no greater than a tiny mustard seed,
you’d find that God is able to work miracles indeed.

INCREASE OUR FAITH, O LORD!

Lectionary text: Luke 17:5 (NRSV) - The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

                                                Because of Luke’s expression
that “the apostles said,”
                                                this text was written after
Christ was raised from the dead.

                                                But still its truth is sharper
than any two-edged sword,
                                                and still our constant prayer is,
“Increase our faith, O Lord!”

SINNERS IN THE CHURCH

Luke 17:3-4 (NRSV) - Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. 4 And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, 'I repent,' you must forgive.

There are too many members in too many churches
who should be but never have been
brought to task for improper behavior or morals
and asked to repent of their sin.

Those who exercise discipline (elders or deacons)
should care how their church members live.
Jesus says you must always rebuke an offender,
and when there’s repentance, forgive.

But he adds for all Christians this word of precaution
it is most important to give:
If a person has sinned against you many times, and
repents, you must always forgive!

AMBASSADORS FOR HELL

Luke 17:1-2 (NRSV) - Jesus said to his disciples, "Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! 2 It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble."

Most people know that life cannot be lived in a safe box,
and on the pilgrimage of faith there will be stumbling blocks.
“But woe to those who put them there!” said Jesus.  “It would be
better if they were bound with weights and cast into the sea,
than that they should cause any followers of mine to sin.”
To cause someone to stumble thus may cause God more chagrin
than being one who stumbles, as we all have surely been.
Just think of all the sordid types whom Christ indicts herein ---
drug dealers and pornographers, and film producers who
make violence and immorality appealing, too.
But more, these words of Jesus do indict all those as well
who by their bad example are ambassadors for hell.

LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN

Lectionary passage: Luke 16:19-31 (NRSV)  "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' 25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' 27 He said, 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house-- 28 for I have five brothers--that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' 29 Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' 30 He said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31 He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Lazarus lay at the rich man’s gate,
covered with sores, in a sorry state,
longing for crumbs from the rich man’s stores
even as dogs came to lick his sores.

Weaker he grew, till at last one day
Lazarus died and was borne away,
carried by angels where he would be
with Abraham in eternity.

Soon the rich man passed away as well.
Lost in his sin, he was sent to hell
by the one Judge who alone can damn.
Then he looked up and saw Abraham.

Lazarus was by Abraham’s side.
In agony, “Abraham,” he cried,
“let Lazarus in the water dip
and cool my tongue with his finger tip.”

Abraham said, “In your lifetime you
had the good things, but this poor man who
had a hard life, but has here, you see,
comfort, while you are in agony.

“And the great gulf between us and you
could not be crossed if one wanted to.”
Then the man thought of his family,
having great fear for their destiny.

So he then begged Abraham to send
warnings that they might avoid this end.
Abraham said, “They should listen to
Moses, and they have the prophets, too!”

“No, father Abraham,” the man said,
“but if one goes to them from the dead,
they will repent.” Abraham replied:
“Even if one rises who has died,

they will not be satisfied, since they
don’t listen to what the prophets say.”
Does this part mean there are always some
who won’t believe, though the Christ should come

back from the dead, as Jesus foretold?
Yes, there were those in the days of old,
just as there are in the world today
those who ignore what the Scriptures say.

THREE UNRELATED VERSES

Luke 16:16-18 (NRSV) - "The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped. 18 "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery."

For someone who was rendering an “orderly” account,

Luke linked three diverse sayings of our Lord, which no amount
of scholarly research can ever possibly make clear,
as to the reason for their having been inserted here.
One must agree the verses do not tie together well,
and why they were included in this context, who can tell?
We know about the kingdom’s being preached since John, of course.
But what’s it mean to say that people enter it by force?
And why right after that did Jesus then go on to say,
it’s easier for heaven and the earth to pass away
than for one jot or tittle of the law of God to fail?
Was Jesus saying that it should be followed in detail?
If so, his tribute to the law ---was its intent to please
the ones who were the experts in the law, the Pharisees?
The subject of the next verse shifts abruptly to divorce,
remarriage after which becomes adultery perforce.
Again, it’s difficult to know what this verse has to do
with either what has come before or what will follow, too.
One thing about this verse, however, one should note with care,
is that, for Jesus, marriage is a permanent affair.
To marry after one’s divorced becomes adultery;
but Matthew adds except when there has been unchastity.
Which ever version one may choose to guide one through the deeps,
the truth remains that marriage should ideally be for keeps.