Luke 12: 8 – 12 A Warning About the Holy Spirit
"Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say."
This passage troubles me. Jesus holds out his harshest criticism, the harshest of punishments – denial of God’s forgiveness – his very mercy and love - for those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. Why such condemnation?
Jesus goes on to remark on the role of the Holy Spirit in the coming of his Kingdom. The Holy Spirit is to be the apostles’ teacher and guide in time of trouble, and Jesus knows that there is trouble ahead. Jesus understands the important role the Holy Spirit will have in the formation of his church. From the Holy Spirit will come courage, wisdom, knowledge, faith, etc., all vitally important in the continuation of his mission after Jesus has ascended to heaven. Without the Holy Spirit, the gifts the Spirit brings and the apostles' acceptance and belief in those gifts, Jesus mission might have come to a quick end because of the power of fear and doubt. Instead the power of the Holy Spirit helped to found Christ’s great movement - to preach the coming of the Kingdom, reliance on God’s mercy and justice, and love for one another. Come Holy Spirit!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Luke 12: 4 – 12 Be Not Afraid
Luke 12: 4 – 12 Be Not Afraid
I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
In this passage Jesus speaks about a condition that we all, unfortunately, have vast experience with in our time – fear. Fear is one of the most powerful of emotions. When improperly manipulated it causes us to do great harm to ourselves and others – even in extreme instances start wars. Jesus tells us that there is nothing in this life that we should fear. He says that flat out: “do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more”. Then he says it again most eloquently in the parable about the smallest, most insignificant of birds – sparrows. If God cares for the physical wellbeing of these small creatures, how much more will he care for us whom he created in his own image? Who are we to fear? Jesus tells us we should fear “the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna”. What the heck does that mean? I guess Gehenna is what we would call Hell. I have to say right now that I am not high on Hell as a place of unending fiery torment. That concept just doesn’t square with the God of mercy and love and justice that I believe in. It sounds too vengeful, too mean. I prefer to think of hell as eternally being apart from God and knowing that it didn’t have to be that way. But I digress. Back to the topic at hand – who we have to fear. (I think) this is the person (or thing) that has the power to keep us from eternal life, from our place in the Kingdom. The person we should fear is that who will keep us from claiming our rightful place with God, who tells us we are not worthy of God’s love and mercy, who encourages us to despair, lose hope, be inattentive, squandering our time and energy in this world. When I get right down to it I have to say that I believe that person is most likely ourselves – our self doubt, our actions or inactions.
I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
In this passage Jesus speaks about a condition that we all, unfortunately, have vast experience with in our time – fear. Fear is one of the most powerful of emotions. When improperly manipulated it causes us to do great harm to ourselves and others – even in extreme instances start wars. Jesus tells us that there is nothing in this life that we should fear. He says that flat out: “do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more”. Then he says it again most eloquently in the parable about the smallest, most insignificant of birds – sparrows. If God cares for the physical wellbeing of these small creatures, how much more will he care for us whom he created in his own image? Who are we to fear? Jesus tells us we should fear “the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna”. What the heck does that mean? I guess Gehenna is what we would call Hell. I have to say right now that I am not high on Hell as a place of unending fiery torment. That concept just doesn’t square with the God of mercy and love and justice that I believe in. It sounds too vengeful, too mean. I prefer to think of hell as eternally being apart from God and knowing that it didn’t have to be that way. But I digress. Back to the topic at hand – who we have to fear. (I think) this is the person (or thing) that has the power to keep us from eternal life, from our place in the Kingdom. The person we should fear is that who will keep us from claiming our rightful place with God, who tells us we are not worthy of God’s love and mercy, who encourages us to despair, lose hope, be inattentive, squandering our time and energy in this world. When I get right down to it I have to say that I believe that person is most likely ourselves – our self doubt, our actions or inactions.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Luke 12: 1-3 Into the Light
Luke 12: 1-3 Into the Light
Meanwhile, so many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. He began to speak, first to his disciples, "Beware of the leaven--that is, the hypocrisy--of the Pharisees. "There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Maybe it’s just me but I hear Jesus speaking against hypocrisy a lot. How do I define hypocrisy? My off the cuff definition would be – saying one thing in public and doing another thing in private. At its most basic it is lying, but even more foolishly, it is not just lying to others but to yourself. The first is bad enough – it could involve abuse, manipulation, fraud, cheating, etc. But the second – lying to yourself – is even worse. If you lie to yourself you are really lost – in false pride, in delusions, in ignorance. If you cannot even admit to yourself your true motives and situation, how will you ever straighten your life out? In this scripture, Jesus sounds a warning saying that everything hidden will be made known and everything we say and do in the “dark” will be brought out into the daylight. That should give all of us “pause”. It’s not easy to look at our lives in “full daylight” and then seek God’s mercy. In spreading the good news about the Kingdom, Jesus always asked his listeners to start with themselves, to look at themselves, and repent. This seemed to be a necessary first step to moving forward. We are all going to arrive at that moment of facing up to ourselves, to our actions and intentions sooner or later. Unfortunately, such a moment is not a once in a lifetime event but the first of many. Struggling is part of the human condition. And it’s an ongoing condition. I think Jesus knows this and doesn’t give up on us. It’s the hypocrisy that he has no patience for.
Meanwhile, so many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. He began to speak, first to his disciples, "Beware of the leaven--that is, the hypocrisy--of the Pharisees. "There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Maybe it’s just me but I hear Jesus speaking against hypocrisy a lot. How do I define hypocrisy? My off the cuff definition would be – saying one thing in public and doing another thing in private. At its most basic it is lying, but even more foolishly, it is not just lying to others but to yourself. The first is bad enough – it could involve abuse, manipulation, fraud, cheating, etc. But the second – lying to yourself – is even worse. If you lie to yourself you are really lost – in false pride, in delusions, in ignorance. If you cannot even admit to yourself your true motives and situation, how will you ever straighten your life out? In this scripture, Jesus sounds a warning saying that everything hidden will be made known and everything we say and do in the “dark” will be brought out into the daylight. That should give all of us “pause”. It’s not easy to look at our lives in “full daylight” and then seek God’s mercy. In spreading the good news about the Kingdom, Jesus always asked his listeners to start with themselves, to look at themselves, and repent. This seemed to be a necessary first step to moving forward. We are all going to arrive at that moment of facing up to ourselves, to our actions and intentions sooner or later. Unfortunately, such a moment is not a once in a lifetime event but the first of many. Struggling is part of the human condition. And it’s an ongoing condition. I think Jesus knows this and doesn’t give up on us. It’s the hypocrisy that he has no patience for.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Luke 11:45 – 54 Off the Hook?
Luke 11:45 – 54 Off the Hook?
Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, "Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too." And he said, "Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them. Woe to you! You build the memorials of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute' in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter." When he left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
When I first read this passage I thought Jesus was speaking about lawyers. Upon reading it again I thought instead he was referring to the religious authorities of his day. Anyhow, Jesus had just laid the hammer down on the Pharisees, a religious group that was “full of themselves” to say the least. Now he moves on to their teachers, the religious authorities, those who believe they know the truth about the Scriptures and God, and use that control to ensure their status and power in society. He condemns them for “imposing heavy burdens” on average folks and for “taking away the key to knowledge”. Are you getting the impression that Jesus dislikes having worship of his Father turned into a power play used to exclude and include people? I am. Jesus faults these “scholars of the law” for taking advantage of their positions. He judges them especially harshly for placing barriers in the way of ordinary people who want to know about God. Jesus has a great relationship with his Father without the assistance or the interference of the religious authorities of his day. Although it is clear from his familiarity with scriptures and the law that he has studied them and learned from many teachers, he has clearly moved beyond them. His faith, a mature faith, is based more on his relationship with the Father and not on what experts and authorities have told him. Of course it is easier to just take what someone tells you on faith than it is to put in the work a relationship demands. I think in this passage Jesus is laying down a challenge - to those who seek and to those who think they have found God.
Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, "Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too." And he said, "Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them. Woe to you! You build the memorials of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute' in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter." When he left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
When I first read this passage I thought Jesus was speaking about lawyers. Upon reading it again I thought instead he was referring to the religious authorities of his day. Anyhow, Jesus had just laid the hammer down on the Pharisees, a religious group that was “full of themselves” to say the least. Now he moves on to their teachers, the religious authorities, those who believe they know the truth about the Scriptures and God, and use that control to ensure their status and power in society. He condemns them for “imposing heavy burdens” on average folks and for “taking away the key to knowledge”. Are you getting the impression that Jesus dislikes having worship of his Father turned into a power play used to exclude and include people? I am. Jesus faults these “scholars of the law” for taking advantage of their positions. He judges them especially harshly for placing barriers in the way of ordinary people who want to know about God. Jesus has a great relationship with his Father without the assistance or the interference of the religious authorities of his day. Although it is clear from his familiarity with scriptures and the law that he has studied them and learned from many teachers, he has clearly moved beyond them. His faith, a mature faith, is based more on his relationship with the Father and not on what experts and authorities have told him. Of course it is easier to just take what someone tells you on faith than it is to put in the work a relationship demands. I think in this passage Jesus is laying down a challenge - to those who seek and to those who think they have found God.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Luke 11: 37 – 44 Keeping Up Appearances???
Luke 11: 37 – 44 Keeping Up Appearances???
After he had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, "Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you. Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk."
Yikes! Here we find Jesus angry and not pulling any punches. He goes after the Pharisees, a prominent religious group of the time, listing out their sins . . . putting more store in empty rituals, neglecting justice, pride, rapaciousness, lying to themselves and others, etc. However tempting it would be to relate these flaws to the Church or to any organized religion (and it is) I must own up to the fact that (I think) I am meant by Jesus to be his “church”. (I’m not sure I even know what that word actually means . . . Any ideas???) When Jesus was on earth the last thing on his mind was to form some giant structure of dos and don’ts. Jesus dealt with individuals. He asked individuals to repent, to seek the Kingdom of God, to be generous and forgiving. He gave us the example of his life, how he treated people to inspire us. He chose ordinary fallible people to help him in his mission and spread the word. He eschewed pride and injustice. So let me not take false refuge in anger and inaction. I(we)are the true church. By my/our actions or inactions I/we represent Jesus Christ on earth.
After he had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, "Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you. Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk."
Yikes! Here we find Jesus angry and not pulling any punches. He goes after the Pharisees, a prominent religious group of the time, listing out their sins . . . putting more store in empty rituals, neglecting justice, pride, rapaciousness, lying to themselves and others, etc. However tempting it would be to relate these flaws to the Church or to any organized religion (and it is) I must own up to the fact that (I think) I am meant by Jesus to be his “church”. (I’m not sure I even know what that word actually means . . . Any ideas???) When Jesus was on earth the last thing on his mind was to form some giant structure of dos and don’ts. Jesus dealt with individuals. He asked individuals to repent, to seek the Kingdom of God, to be generous and forgiving. He gave us the example of his life, how he treated people to inspire us. He chose ordinary fallible people to help him in his mission and spread the word. He eschewed pride and injustice. So let me not take false refuge in anger and inaction. I(we)are the true church. By my/our actions or inactions I/we represent Jesus Christ on earth.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Luke 11:33-36 Parable of the Lamp.
Luke 11:33-36 Parable of the Lamp.
"No one who lights a lamp hides it away or places it (under a bushel basket), but on a lamp stand so that those who enter might see the light. The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is sound, then your whole body is filled with light, but when it is bad, then your body is in darkness. Take care, then, that the light in you not become darkness. If your whole body is full of light, and no part of it is in darkness, then it will be as full of light as a lamp illuminating you with its brightness."
This passage is all about “light” Jesus uses the word light, lamp, eyesight. This last, eyesight, seems especially important. If our eyesight is sound, our whole body operates in the light. But if our eyesight is bad, our body lives in darkness. Where our vision/perspective comes from is very important, making our eyesight key among our senses. It gives us a sense of where we are, who we are with, etc. Without it we are lost.
How do we look out onto the world? Do we look out onto the world in fear and anxiety, anger and mistrust? Jesus seemed to look out onto the world with eyes of mercy and trust and love. As human beings I believe our eyes reflect a lot of what is going on inside us. What we hold within must ultimately shine through our eyes and be shown to the world. Jesus’s basic goodness and love shone out through his eyes onto all who met him. He seemed to be all-knowing and at the same time both compassionate and loving. No wonder people were drawn to him. I think the idea of meeting Jesus, looking into his eyes, being known for just who you are, and at the same time being loved, must have been an incredibly powerful and humbling experience. To be known, forgiven, loved . . . oh boy, I think that experience would be the experience of a lifetime. No wonder people followed him. Any of us would have basked and grown and unfurled in the light of that gaze. But how do we experience that light/love today? I’m not sure. Through faith and trust in him?
"No one who lights a lamp hides it away or places it (under a bushel basket), but on a lamp stand so that those who enter might see the light. The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is sound, then your whole body is filled with light, but when it is bad, then your body is in darkness. Take care, then, that the light in you not become darkness. If your whole body is full of light, and no part of it is in darkness, then it will be as full of light as a lamp illuminating you with its brightness."
This passage is all about “light” Jesus uses the word light, lamp, eyesight. This last, eyesight, seems especially important. If our eyesight is sound, our whole body operates in the light. But if our eyesight is bad, our body lives in darkness. Where our vision/perspective comes from is very important, making our eyesight key among our senses. It gives us a sense of where we are, who we are with, etc. Without it we are lost.
How do we look out onto the world? Do we look out onto the world in fear and anxiety, anger and mistrust? Jesus seemed to look out onto the world with eyes of mercy and trust and love. As human beings I believe our eyes reflect a lot of what is going on inside us. What we hold within must ultimately shine through our eyes and be shown to the world. Jesus’s basic goodness and love shone out through his eyes onto all who met him. He seemed to be all-knowing and at the same time both compassionate and loving. No wonder people were drawn to him. I think the idea of meeting Jesus, looking into his eyes, being known for just who you are, and at the same time being loved, must have been an incredibly powerful and humbling experience. To be known, forgiven, loved . . . oh boy, I think that experience would be the experience of a lifetime. No wonder people followed him. Any of us would have basked and grown and unfurled in the light of that gaze. But how do we experience that light/love today? I’m not sure. Through faith and trust in him?
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