The Next Up

Gospel: Luke 6: 12-16

Jesus spent an entire night in prayer with God before selecting twelve individuals for a special task in being sent out to carry on his work in the world.  By now we know all too well their faults and misdeeds, both individual and collective.  This collection of men is unremarkable, coming from fishing towns, tax collector booths, and family members.  We might well wonder what criteria Jesus used in deciding who would carry on his work in the world.

Perhaps, though, there is no criteria, and perhaps that is the point.  Jesus chooses people almost at random, and the only criterion is whether they respond to the call.  There is work that has to be done.  People need to be healed.  They need to be liberated from their demons.  They need to be fed in body and soul.  Someone has to do this work, or else people will remain infirm, in bondage, and hungry.  The only criterion is whether we are willing and able to do the work.

Despite all their faults and failings, these people answered the call.  They wanted to do the work of Jesus in the world.  They had no special status or talents - and neither do we or anyone else.  Nothing can prepare a person for this work except following Jesus and watching what he does, imitating his example and carrying it out in our time and place.  The apostles and saints of the past stepped in to answer the call.  Now it is our turn.  We are the next ones up.   

What is the Kingdom Like?

Gospel: Luke 13: 18-21

Consider the mustard seed.  It is a tiny seed, but once planted, fed, and cultivated it becomes a large tree shrub that provides shelter and food for birds of all kinds.  This small, unassuming, and humble little seed somehow grows into this large entity.  Everything within that large tree shrub exists within that tiny little seed.  All that is needed for the transformation to take place is being embedded in the right soil and the proper cultivation.  

In the same way the kingdom of God within us is a tiny organism of faith.  It too is small, humble, and unassuming.  But given the right conditions and cultivation, this humble seed can grow to become a great entity with branches that provide shelter and nourishment for all.  The kingdom of God is not an exclusive club for the few, but rather a vast, wide tree with large branches that is open to all people who need shelter and food.  

If our faith is authentic, if we are on the right track in our pilgrimage to the kingdom of heaven, then our faith must mirror the mustard seed.  Our development must be along the lines of this parable.  Our growth in the spiritual life should be one of greater and greater expansion of love so that our branches extend outward to all, enabling everyone to nest and find nourishment.  Today's parable invites us to reflect on our development and growth of the kingdom of God within us.   

An Unwelcome Place

Gospel: Luke 13: 10-17

Jesus does not fare well in places of worship.  Every time he attends or leads a worship service Jesus faces opposition from the audience and religious leaders.  In each instance of attending a house of worship Jesus attempts to heal someone of an infirmity or liberate them from a demon.  A house of worship is supposed to be a place of healing, so one would think that such actions would be welcomed therein, and yet it is not.  The irony is not unique to Jesus' times.

How many people attend worship services at any type of religious institution and find similar dynamics?  Are people being healed and liberated in these places, or is something else going on in these hallowed halls?  Would a different-than-thou person find healing, liberation, and welcome in a modern house of worship, or would they instead find judgment and exasperation at interrupting the rehearsed and choreographed service, creating inconvenience and discomfort?  

Today's Gospel portion and its many parallel passages lead us to a challenging reflection about houses of worship and religious institutions in general.  What are they for?  What is it we are doing in these buildings?  Are we gathering to find healing and liberation, and providing it to others?  Or are we just another institution seeking power, influence, and wealth as religious toadies to empire, statecraft, and business interests who fund our enterprises?