NOT ON MY DAY OFF!

Lectionary passage: Luke 13:14-15 (NRSV) - But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day." 15 But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water?

Jesus heals a woman on the sabbath.
Picture by Standard Publishing

The leader of a synagogue      
while acting like a demagogue,
said to a cripple “Go away!
We don’t cure on the sabbath day.
Our tasks for six days we don’t shirk,
but on the sabbath we don’t work.”

What if you heard your pastor say
“Don’t bother me on my off day.
Don’t have an accident or die
on Monday, when you know that I
am not available to call
for any reason ---none at all!”

How can a Christian minister
dare say to a parishioner
“I’m on the job six days a week,
so do not call me up or seek
my help in some emergency
the day I’ve set aside for me.”?

A DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM

Painting by Paulo Veronese

Lectionary passage: Luke 13:10-17 (NRSV) - Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment." 13 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. 14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day." 15 But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?" 17 When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.


He is teaching on the sabbath, when she suddenly appears
        with her body bent, because she has been crippled eighteen years.
When he sees her, Jesus calls her and says, “Woman, you are free.”
        Then he lays his hands upon her and she stands straight instantly!
But the leader of the synagogue is saying to the crowd,
        “There are six days when a healing of this nature is allowed.
Come on those days to be cured, but don’t come on the sabbath day.”
        Such an overbearing attitude prompts Jesus then to say,
“O you hypocrites, do you not lead your animals away
        on the sabbath to get water?  And if you can act that way,
should this woman who’s a child of Abraham not be set free
        from her eighteen years in Satan’s disabling captivity?”
With these words of Jesus his opponents are all put to shame,
        while the people are rejoicing, and are praising Jesus’ name
for the words they have been hearing and the things they’ve seen him do.
        What a shame those legalistic leaders cannot see it, too!

SUFFERING AND SIN

Luke 13:1-5 (NRSV) - At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them--do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."

To a purist’s consternation and a moralist’s chagrin
Jesus taught that suffering is not a measure of one’s sin.
Lest some think that those who suffer are worse sinners than the rest,
he declared that all are sinners and repentance is the test.
Thus he contradicted what the Pharisees and Scribes believed;
viz., that suffering was punishment that those who sinned received.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Lectionary passage: Luke 12:54-56 (NRSV) - He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'It is going to rain'; and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?


When we see clouds rising in the west, we’re very quick to say,
“It’s going to start raining,” and it happens just that way.
When we feel the south wind blowing, then with confidence we know
that a heat wave soon will follow, and it always happens so.

If we know how to interpret the appearance of the sky,
and can tell that rain is coming, or a scorching heat wave, why
can we not interpret all the signs before our eyes these days
of the judgment that is coming if we do not mend our ways?

THE PRINCE OF PEACE?

Lectionary passage: Luke 12:49-53 (NRSV) - "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52 From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

What irony to hear the Prince of Peace declare that he
        had come to bring not peace on earth but just disharmony,
and those in the same house would be divided over him.
        To people who believed in him this must have sounded grim,
but what he said has happened. Will the conflict never cease?
        Must there still be division as regards the Prince of Peace?

STEWARDSHIP PRINCIPLE

Luke 12:48 (NRSV) - But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

This principle of stewardship
should always be respected:
Of those who have been given much
will much more be expected.

STEWARDSHIP

Luke 12:41-48 (NRSV) - Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?" 42 And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. 47 That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.
                     
Stewardship is managing another’s property.
        It’s recognizing what I have does not belong to me.
Stewards are accountable for everything they do
        with all of their possessions and their time and talent, too.
Stewardship is trusteeship. It’s my acknowledging
        that all I have is held in trust. I don’t own anything.
Stewards know from everyone to whom much has been given
        much more will be required of them to please the God of heaven.
And from the one to whom has been entrusted even more
        will much more be demanded by the One who keeps the score.

THE SECOND COMING

Lectionary passage: Luke 12:35-40 (NRSV) -  "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36 be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39 "But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."

Greek icon of Second Coming, c. 1700
(Wikipedia)

About the parousia we                                              
do not know how or when,
but Christ has given us his word
that he will come again.

Be dressed for action with lamps lit.
Live in the Spirit’s power.
The Son of Man is coming at
an unexpected hour.

We don’t know when the Lord will come;
  it may be soon or late.
The Master wants his servants to
be ready while they wait.

And since the Second Coming may
be not too soon but late,
the Lord expects his servants to
be faithful while they wait.

WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS

Lectionary passage: Luke 12:32-34 (NRSV) - "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“In heaven seek your treasure,
where thieves can never go.
Wherever is your treasure,
your God will be also.”
This oft-repeated passage
needs to be double-checked,
for what our Lord was saying
is not what we’d expect.
Most fund-raisers would put it
the other way around,
but faithful Christian stewards
in their giving have found
this principle of Jesus
to be completely true,
for where you put your money
your heart will be there, too.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Luke 12:22-31 (NRSV) - He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you--you of little faith! 29 And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Your food and drink and clothing, all
        are needed, it is true.
But do not concentrate on them,
        as worldly people do.

For life is more than these things, and
        anxiety is hell.
But if you seek God’s kingdom first,
        God gives these things as well.

The One who feeds the ravens and
        who clothes the lilies, too,
O you of little faith, will not
        your God provide for you?

So rather than be anxious, serve
        your God with words and deeds,
and God will prompt you what to pray
        and satisfy your needs.

BIGGER AND BETTER?

Lectionary text: Luke 12:18 (NRSV) -  Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

Hear this, you proud go-getter:
  Bigger does not mean better,
and getting more and more
is not what you’re here for!
(I wonder if they teach that rule
        at any well-known business school?)
             

BEWARE OF GREED

Lectionary Text; Luke 12:13-21 (NRSV) - Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." 16 Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' 18 Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."

Parable of the Rich Fool, painting by Rembrandt, 1627

Beware of greed,
as it can lead
to dangerous obsessions.
For life does not consist
in the abundance of possessions.
Remember Jesus’ parable
about the wealthy man
who thought,
“I’ll build much larger barns
to store up all I can.
Then I’ll relax
and do the things
I’ve always yearned to do.”
But then God said,
“You fool!”
This night
life will depart from you.
And all these things

COMFORTING WORDS TO A WITNESS

Luke 12:11-12 (NRSV) - When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say."

Paul before Festus (Goodsalt Standard Publishing)

My life so far has never been at stake
when I have been “on trial” for Jesus’ sake.
But situations there have been when I
have had to tell someone the reason why
I now believe in him, or first believed,
and I can testify that I’ve received
the Holy Spirit’s help time and again.
I think I’m at a loss for words, and then
somehow I know exactly what to say,
and I am well aware there is no way
such thoughts as that I ever could have known
or been a faithful witness on my own.
O what relief to know that in that hour
I can depend upon the Spirit’s power!

A PERPLEXING PASSAGE

Luke 12:8-12 (NRSV) - "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; 9 but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say."

Painting by James Tissot

“Whoever says a captious word against the Son of Man
        will be forgiven,” Jesus said.  Does that mean someone can
speak ill of Christ, deny his truth, or use his name in vain
        and not be held accountable for showing such disdain?
Before responding, take a look at what Jesus said next;
        we have to see his words in their immediate context.
“The person who blasphemes against the Spirit,” he went on,
        “will never be forgiven.”  What conclusion can be drawn
from this austere assertion, which the Lord himself has made?
        Among the Bible scholars much attention has been paid
to this perplexing saying, and they all do not agree.
        A plausible solution to the text, it seems to me,
can be gained from the passages in which these words are used
        in Mark’s and Matthew’s Gospels.  We will be much less confused.
The sin against the Holy Ghost occurs when one denies
        the goodness and the truth of God before one’s very eyes.
The question that this raises, as I think about a case
        where someone having met the living Jesus face to face,
had seen his works and heard his words, but still did not believe,
        is whether such a person did forgiveness yet receive.
Denying the plain truth of God in every word and deed ---
        would that not be a sin against the Spirit?  Yes, indeed!