An Age Old Tale

Gospel: Luke 11: 42-46

Crisis clergy exist across the religious spectrum.  They go about telling people that said religious institution is in crisis.   They create narratives around their idea of the crisis.  Then they sell people on a solution to the crisis which, surprise, involves following them and supporting their movement to eradicate the crisis.  It is a pattern borrowed from the political world, a place modern Christianity is very comfortable and from which it was given existence.  

Jesus condemns the religious leaders of his own day as well as those of every generation.  They are not about the love and mercy of God extended to others.  They are not about the easing of burdens, the cancelling of debts.  They are about power and control over others.  They love public appearances with the rich and powerful.  They even run for political office themselves, preferring the seats of power to the service of the lowly and humble.  

So it has always been, and so it will always be.  The choice we have is whether we follow the example of the Lord Jesus, living a life in service to the poor and needy through deeds of mercy and loving kindness.  Or, will we become chaplains to power and wealth which is the dominant path of religion in the world.  The way of Jesus is not a popular one.  It does not come with seats of power, fine religious regalia, or wealth.  But it is the only way to the kingdom of God.   

Hosting a Dinner

Gospel: Luke 11: 37-41

A Pharisee invites Jesus to his house for dinner.  Jesus accepts the invitation.  So far so good.  Then, however, the Pharisee uses the opportunity to criticize Jesus for his failure to perform the required ritual ablutions before dinner.  Rather than focus on the presence of Jesus and learn from him during table ritual, the Pharisee instead takes the opportunity to find fault with Jesus over a lesser matter of the law.  Was the intention for the meal all along just an occasion to find fault with Jesus?

Lest we become smug with indignation, consider how often we act in the same manner to other people.  How often have we found fault with people invited to the Lord's table rather than celebrate their attendance at all?  We look for all sorts of opportunity to criticize others: we don't deem them worthy to partake of the meal; we find fault with their dress attire; we cannot abide their posture or attitude or any other thing.  We neglect their presence entirely, and wonder why they don't come back.  

Is our attention on the presence of the Lord at his table, or is it on lesser things? What do these distractions of fault finding with others say about ourselves and our lack of attention on the Lord and the lack of attention on rejoicing in the presence of others at the table? The Pharisee in these stories is more often than not ourselves.  The Pharisee, ironically, becomes the one unworthy of being in the Lord's presence, not anyone else.  But Jesus will still accept their invitation to the table.  He will continue to give them - to give us - more chances to get it right at table. 

A Wicked Generation

Gospel: Luke 11: 29-32

Jesus calls his own generation a wicked one for failing to heed the prophetic message he brings.  In this passage Jesus provides two examples that provide context.  The first is Jonah.  At his preaching the people of Nineveh repent - yet the context in which Jonah's mission took place provides more insight.  It occurred at a time when towns and villages throughout Israel were rejecting and executing prophets.  Jonah was not at all optimistic that a foreign city would accept him, and yet they did.

Similarly, the second example Jesus provides is the Queen of Sheba who comes from a foreign land in order to hear and accept the wisdom of Solomon.  Yet, throughout Israel people were not heeding Solomon's teaching.  Solomon himself does not even follow his own advice.  These examples mirror those from Jesus' earlier sermon to Nazareth where he pointed out where God's word was received by foreigners and outsiders while those who saw themselves as God's chosen were hard of heart.

So, the moniker of a wicked generation is applied not to all who live in that time or any other.  It refers to to those who regard themselves as the privileged ones of God and who fail to listen to the invitation to mercy and the command to show mercy to others.  Our own generation is similarly wicked.  When Christians applaud the abuse of immigrants, migrants, and refugees - when they call for public executions, rejoice when food aid and health care is deprived of the poor, and protect pedophiles, the wickedness is glaringly evident.