Strive For the Prize

Once again we are reminded that Jesus is wasting no time in making his way to Jerusalem: “He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem.” (Luke 13:22-30) Because we know the end of the story, the very mention of Jerusalem strikes an ominous chord since it meant rejection by his followers and the horror of the cross. Along the way some unnamed person in the crowd asks Jesus, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” Whatever his motives, the enquirer may have been aware of the increasing opposition from some religious leaders and he might have sensed that the crowds, despite superficial interest in Jesus’ message, tended to side with their leaders. But he asked a follow-up question, “Are there just a few who are being saved?” Jesus did not answer the question directly but in typical fashion answered his question with a question and asked, “Will the saved be you?”

Jesus was speaking to a crowd made up mostly of religious Jews. Almost without exception, they believed in the one true God. They were not agnostics; they were faithful to the Hebrew Scriptures and lived in basic accordance with them. In giving his answer, Jesus was not addressing a Godless audience. He was talking to a “church” crowd, most of whom assumed that they would go to heaven because they were good Jews. He gives us and them church folks some important and practical lessons on the subject of his Kingdom which he says requires our earnest effort, our urgent attention, and our careful self-examination. It requires our earnest effort because the entrance door is narrow. It requires our urgent attention because the door is soon to be closed. It requires our careful self-examination because once it is closed, the door will be eternally-closed.

Our Lord did not say, “Good question sir! Now, let’s divide up into groups and come up with a consensus as to what each of you thinks about what I said and report back.” Jesus was in a hurry; he’s moving quickly, his time is limited and he wasn’t interested in speculation about theology. He was concerned about the personal salvation of his listeners. So, rather than opening it up for discussion, Jesus gave a command that applied the question to his hearers’ hearts: “Strive to enter by the narrow door.”

Strive implies a great deal of effort. How a propos the word, strive, considering the ongoing Olympic games in Rio. How I marvel at the dedication of the athletes and especially Michael Phelps, who despite his relative “advanced age” strived to find whatever it took to medal in his events. Gold medals are not won by being passive. You never hear an athlete receiving the gold medal, who says, “I had never worked out or ran in a race until a few weeks ago. I thought it would be fun, so here I am.” Every athlete who wins strives to win. He invests great energy and effort into winning. It is not an accident if he wins. It is the result of deliberate and sustained effort and commitment.

The fact that the door is narrow implies that it takes some deliberate thought and effort to go through it. There aren’t many doors into the “place,” so that you can’t take your pick. There is one and only one door, which is Jesus Christ. He alone is the way, the truth, and the light. “No one comes to the Father except by Him” says John. There isn’t one great big door that’s easy to find and stroll through without thinking about it. There is one narrow door. You might not like the fact that it is narrow. You may think that it’s too exclusive. You may say, “I believe that God is loving and that He will accept everyone who tries to do his best. I believe that all sincere people will get through the door.” But, according to Jesus it is narrow, not wide. He made it narrow without checking with us for our ideas about how wide it should be. Jesus is asking, “Are you striving to enter the narrow door? Are you making your faith a matter of deliberate and sustained effort? Are you sure that you’re entering the narrow door as defined by Jesus and not a broad door of your own choosing?” You say, “Whoa! I thought that my salvation is a free gift, received simply by grace through faith, not a matter of our effort. How does this harmonize with striving for it?”

Jesus isn’t talking about being united with God by works or human effort. He is talking about our attitude toward it. He has been telling us all along that nothing takes precedence over our relationship with God. Nothing on earth should get in the way and that our relationship with Him and our quest be not just good for an occasional stimulating theological discussion but living in the love of Jesus’ teachings. Our journey is not easy and we, like the Olympic athletes, must dedicate our lives to the goal and strive to enter by the narrow door every day of our lives.

 

I came to bring fire to the earth

Luke’s Gospel (Luke 12:49-53) appears to be a departure from his preceding accounts. In earlier writings he reminds us not to be “foolish” and to be at the ready but He also tells us that the God’s Kingdom is ours. So this stern message is a departure from what preceded: I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!
 History by its very definition is an account of the past which while a recording of what has transpired, cannot be separated from the time and events of the day in which it is written. Nor for that matter, can it be read in a vacuum. Likewise, history’s account is influenced by the author’s own perspective. And so it is with Luke, who while conditioned by traditions that he has inherited, is focused on his goals for relating the story of Jesus to his community.

While as stated, history is by definition retrospective, what we learn from history is projected forward and applied to our own personal experience. As interesting as the historical context of Luke’s day may be, we ask what we can learn from this account and what does it say about us and our lives today. Jesus’ words set in the time of Luke were written for an audience that lived almost a century after Jesus died. This period reflects the turmoil of Luke’s day: there was wealth; poverty; political domination; dissension among the ranks of the new Christian communities, and a growing impatience created by the delay of Jesus’ anticipated return.

No doubt that Luke is providing insight for what is in store for Jesus as he makes his way to Jerusalem. Here, we get a glimpse of Jesus’ humanity when he says what stress I am under until it is completed! Jesus proclaims that the Kingdom of God is a “new world order” that is centered on the power of love not the love of power. As with the “rich fool” those governed by wealth, status and power will live in a “house divided" on so many different levels.

Families, nations and communities will live in turmoil. There is no other way to peace but through love, forgiveness and humility. So, when we look at our world beset by radical terrorism with thousands of people seeking refuge and asylum, and we see and hear the political turmoil that divides friends and families in our country today, how does this gospel speak to us this day in August,  2016?

For Where Your Teasure is, There Also Will be Your Heart

 
Last week’s Gospel reminded us to keep our “eye on the prize” and not be distracted from anything that gets in the way of our relationship with God. As in Mark’s Gospels, Luke’s narration (Luke 12:32-48) of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem does not linger and is focused. The message is clear in its words and its cadence. There’s no time to waste on earthly distractions and useless baggage that only serve to get in the way. These gospels teach us that the essence of discipleship is living the Word of Jesus that in time defines who we are as it becomes an integral part of our human behavior. The Word has become “flesh” in us.

In last week’s reading the foolish farmer learned that for all his self-directed future plans for additional wealth and surplus, he would not have time to “eat, drink and be merry.” This was to be his last day on earth.
This week’s reading is more assuring as Jesus tells us:
Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom…
Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven
that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.

In these readings we are assured that there’s nothing we can do to earn God’s unconditional love; it’s God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom for no other reason than it simply pleases Him. It’s not because of what we’ve done or really, who we are but simply because it pleases God to do so. One of the messages here is to trust in God’s love and we will be free of all anxiety, guilt and unworthiness.

It is beautiful to be loved for ourselves isn’t it? However, Jesus’ message as Luke continues to narrate Jesus journey to Jerusalem is not to start living recklessly but to be prepared…the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.
So, we are asked to travel light; to free ourselves of those things that get in the way of our being God centered and not us-centered. Living fully human does not mean living unto ourselves as did the rich farmer who had to have more of those things that were as finite as his fragile life.

Suppose we ask, what if we too started giving things away just for the pleasure of it as God does for us?

Greed is Good???

 

 

Most of us are familiar with the expression “greed is good” coined by Michael Douglas in his role, Gordon Gekko in the 1987 Oliver Stone movie, Wall Street. The movie’s impact and specifically Gekko’s character eventually became synonymous with unrestrained greed, especially with regard to corporate finance. The movie has had a pervasive effect on our culture as it has often been used to illustrate greed and not always related  to the finance sector. 

So here now almost 30 years later, we still cite the phrase as we frame our discussion regarding greed in our gospel, (Luke 12:13-21). I believe that greed is one of those words that by definition simply has no positive meaning. Only the most callous could find a place in which greed can be good. Of course, most of us will agree with that, but our sometimes our behavior reveals an altogether different creed. Let’s face it, we are all products of a culture which is rooted in “consumerism,” and a society that is preoccupied with the acquisition of things. 

Last week our gospel (Luke11:1-13) and its discussion focused on prayer and our call to be persistent in our asking God for what we “want” and we know that our prayers are always answered, albeit in accordance with God’s plan, not ours. Not coincidentally, this week’s reading of Luke 12: 13-21, Jesus asks us to temper our desire for those self-centered acquisitions and attachments that serve as distractions and do not contribute to living in the Jesus way. While we are asked to be persistent in our petitions, we are asked to be considerate as to our motives and the things that we request of God.

So, why is the rich farmer in our story called a fool? One could easily argue that the rich man is being prudent and responsible. He has a thriving farm and his land has produced so abundantly that he does not have enough storage space in his barns for his abundance. As such, he plans to pull down his existing barns and build bigger ones in order to store his grain and goods. Then he will have ample savings set aside for the future and will be all set to enjoy his “golden years.”

Isn’t this what we are encouraged to strive for? Isn’t it wise and responsible to save for the future? The rich farmer would probably be a good financial planner as he seems to have things figured out. He has worked hard and saved wisely. Now he can sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of his labor, right? No, the rich farmer is a fool not because he is wealthy or because he saves for the future, but because he appears to live only for himself, and because he believes that he can secure his life with his abundant possessions. 

As we reflect on this gospel and our lives we ask where does this pre-occupation come from and how do we free ourselves from it? Without trying to oversimplify, it seems to me that the source of our greed may stem from a lack of satisfaction with life. We just don’t seem to be able to look at where we are, what we have, what we’re doing, and admit to ourselves that life is good and all things considered, just fine the way it is. There’s always something we want to change and there’s always another “golden calf” out there that we imagine will be the thing that will make our lives complete. But will it? No matter how much stuff we manage to acquire, it will never be enough. There would still be an empty place within that won’t be filled with newer, nicer, better things.

St. Augustine said, “Thou hast formed us for thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” This ancient truth provides the answer to how we can be free from the obsessions that fail to satisfy us. The steadfast unconditional love of God is a love that surrounds and holds us constantly. It is a love that is like the very air we breathe. If God’s love can be found in something so basic to our very existence as air, surely it can be found in the other aspects of our lives as well. We only need the desire and eyes to see it.


 
 

Lord Teach Us How to Pray

As with most new fathers I had no idea what to expect as to my feelings toward the new baby would be after the child was born. Naturally, all the attention was understandably focused on the new mother to be. No one had any words of wisdom for me or shared his insight as to what I was likely to experience, but then, what was there to say? I like most “fathers-in-waiting” just sat on the sidelines and silently wondered what it would be like. So, when my son was born, I was overwhelmed by these new feelings and sensations and by the strength of my love for him, almost from the very beginning of his life.

Then as the birth of my second child approached, I was uneasy about my feelings and filled with false guilt as I secretly wondered how I could possibly love her (it was to be a girl), as much as I loved my son. There’s no way, I thought, I could duplicate those “feelings?” However, after my daughter was born, I realized that my love for her was just as great…I learned that I did not have to divide my love in order to share it, or consciously love one more or less than the other. It was already there, “pre-packaged” for me in both of my children. Today, I reflect on those years of parenting, and marvel at how much greater is the love of God for each one of us.

In our Gospel (Luke 11:1-13), Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. Over the years I’m sure his lesson created considerable controversy and raised much doubt about all prayers being answered: So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is this really true?

Our children provide a unique model for us as we try to comprehend how much God loves us. Over the years, my children would ask for many things. All requests were heard and I know all their requests were answered, if not always to their satisfaction. In some cases they received what they asked for; in many they did not. Often, however, my alternate suggestion, which they may have resisted at first, turned out to be an even better “gift” than what they had originally requested. I don’t remember ever not listening to their requests, despite how outlandish some may have been or I thought they were. I don’t remember not answering them one way or another. Even when they were denied for whatever reason, I listened, and our mutual love for each other never suffered albeit some difficult encounters.

Luke’s Gospel us that this is the way it is with God: If you then...know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?

Jesus, Mary amd Martha

 

 

The Story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42) occurs as Jesus "set his face to go to Jerusalem" and dispatches the seventy disciples ahead with no provisions; instructs them to waste no time; to travel lightly and to depend on the hospitality of anyone who would welcome them on their journey. Likewise, immediately preceding the visit to the home of Martha and Mary, Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan, which reveals an example of extraordinary compassion for a complete stranger in need and leaves no doubt as to “who is my neighbor.”

So, in the context of these preceding stories, are we not just a little taken aback with Jesus admonishing Martha and siding with Mary as to Mary’s not helping in the kitchen? Our initial instincts tell us that Jesus should not take sides as he affirms Mary’s choice to join the disciples and not be distracted with less important matters. After all what is Mary doing in the living room with men? Shouldn’t she be in the kitchen in keeping with her gender’s “pre-ordained” role? A few weeks ago Jesus took Simon to task for being less than attentive to the needs of his “honored” guest (Luke 7:36). His affirmation of Mary and his criticism of Simon seems inconsistent.

So, how can we explain his behavior? We certainly can relate to Martha wanting the meal to go well, especially since we can assume that both sisters were well aware of Jesus’ notoriety as an important religious teacher and they were honored to be able to host him…why else would they risk breaking the law by having a man in the house without the presence of a male relative? After all, isn’t Martha doing what is expected of her as a good hostess? 

Last week Jesus took the lawyer’s bait and did not equivocate regarding the question, “who is my neighbor,” and now in this reading, he is likewise resolute as to the kingdom of God as our first priority with no earthly tasks getting in the way.

Like the lawyer and Martha, we sometimes need to have our expectations challenged in order to hear…really hear… what Jesus is trying to tell us.

Who is My Neighbor

 

The Parable of The Good Samaritan is one of the most beloved gospel stories in the Bible. The story (Luke 10:25-37) tells of a man who is savagely beaten and robbed in going from Jerusalem to Jericho and given up for dead in a ditch. A priest and a Levite pass by without helping him. But a Samaritan stops and cares for him, taking him to an inn where the Samaritan pays for his care. The parable’s overarching theme teaches that enemies can have compassion for enemies; compassion has no boundaries, and that judging people on the basis of their religion or ethnicity can leave us dying in a ditch. 

So who were the Samaritans, really? We are told that they were not simply outcasts. They were the despised enemies of the Jews. So in this parable in which Jesus’ audience would have expected a Jew to be the hero of the story, they were likely shocked to hear that it was a Samaritan instead. Only by understanding this pivotal paradox does the powerful message of the parable come through for them then and us today.

Scripture scholar James Martin defines a parable as a “metaphor or a simile drawn from nature or common life arresting the hearer by its vividness or strangeness and leaving the mind in sufficient doubt about its precise application in order to tease it into active thought.” He goes on to explain that parables are poetic explanations of spiritual concepts impossible to comprehend fully. For example the reign of God is far too rich to be encompassed by any one definition, no matter how theologically accurate. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, a man from a hated ethnic group was ultimately revealed to Jewish listeners as the good guy who cares for the stranger. As with this parable, many run counter to the expectations of the audience and therefore are subversive to “conventional wisdom.” (Martin, p 200)

The lesson in this parable springs from an answer to a question posed to Jesus by a lawyer, likely an expert in the Mosaic Law and not a court lawyer of today. The lawyer’s question was, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus takes this opportunity to define what His disciples’ relationship should be to their neighbors and in typical fashion, Jesus answers the question with a question.  “He asks ‘What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?’" By referring to the Law, Jesus refers the man to an authority they both would accept as truth, the Old Testament. In essence, He is asking the lawyer, what does Scripture say about this and how does he interpret it? In so doing Jesus avoids an argument or being “trapped” and puts Himself in the position of evaluating the lawyer’s answer instead of the lawyer evaluating His answer.  

The lawyer answers correctly and Jesus acknowledges that he has given an orthodox answer, but doesn’t stop there. He tells him that this kind of love requires more than an emotional feeling; he would need to “practice what he preached.” As an educated man the lawyer realized that he could not possibly keep this law, nor would he have necessarily wanted to. There would always be people in his life that he could not love. Thus, in an effort to limit the law’s command by limiting its parameters, he asks the question “who is my neighbor?” The word “neighbor” in the Greek means “someone who is near,” and in the Hebrew it means “someone that you have an association with.” This allows for a limited interpretation of neighbor as fellow Jew and would have excluded Samaritans, Romans, and other foreigners.  

Jesus uses the parable of the Good Samaritan to correct the lawyer’s limited definition of “neighbor” and corresponding duty to his neighbor. By ending the encounter in this manner, Jesus wants us to follow the Samaritan’s example in our own lives in that we are to show compassion and love for those we encounter in our everyday activities. We are to love others regardless of their race or religion. As for reaching out to help, the criterion is need. If they need and we have the supply, then we are to give generously and freely, without expectation of return. This is a seemingly impossible obligation for the lawyer, and often for us. We cannot always keep the law because of our human condition; our heart and desires are mostly of self and selfishness. Our ego strives to keep us in our comfort zone and not get involved. 

Thus, the lessons of the Parable of the Good Samaritan are three-fold: (1) we are to set aside our prejudice and show love and compassion for others. (2) Our neighbor is anyone we encounter; we are all creatures of the creator and we are to love all of mankind as Jesus has taught. (3) Keeping the law in its entirety with the intent to save ourselves is an impossible task; we need help, and Jesus is all too eager to be there for us. (based on Matt Slick, Grace Bible College)