Scattered, Disconnected Thoughts on This Week's Gospel Reading, part 1

I haven't blogged in a while - summer busy-ness and vacation have prevented me from doing much reflection or writing. Now that things look to be calming down a little and having returned from vacation, I hope to get in a rhythm on this blog. My thinking initially is that I would post 2-3 times a week, one post focused on whatever Scripture I'll be preaching on the next Sunday (or Bible study topic), one post on a theological topic that I'm currently kicking around in my head (and heart), and possibly one non-ministry related topic. I'm hoping to get back to my first intentions. So here goes…

The Gospel passage for this Sunday is Luke 12:32-40, which is basically some teachings of Jesus concerning readiness and watchfulness (which will most likely be my sermon focus this week). Here's the text:

32"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell 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. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


35"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36be 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. 37Blessed 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. 38If 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 what hour the thief was coming, he would have not let his house be broken into. 40You must also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."

This passage is part of a much larger section of teaching going back to the beginning of chapter 11. Jesus continues in verse 32 by telling his "little flock" (his disciples) not to be afraid. This is important encouragement, considering what is to follow. On first glance, this seems to be a string of disconnected thoughts until you really starting pondering what Jesus is getting at here. What threw me off initially was the move from verse 34 to 35 and then the differing images in the last two "sections". But, as I'm thinking about it, it's starting to come together a little.

Verse 32 hearkens back to Luke 6:20 - "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God." The 'little flock', this little band of followers who left families, jobs, lives to follow after a travelling preacher who proclaimed himself the "Son of Man" - they're going to be given the kingdom? Unbelievable. It is pleasing to God to give the kingdom to these people - imperfect, sinful, soon-to-be betrayers and deniers. In a word, us. We, too, are that little flock. And simply acknowledging that does not prevent us from denying Jesus (see: Peter) or betraying him when we misunderstand his mission (see: Judas, or at least that's my interpretation). We spend a lot of time talking about our faith in God, but it's more amazing that God has faith in us.

What I like about this passage is that it connects the actions of a disciple (verse 33 - a particular emphasis in Luke - take care of the poor) to the state of the heart (verse 34) to our readiness for "action" (v. 35) to the willingness of God to serve those who are ready (v. 37) to our watchfulness (v. 40). This seems like a jumble, but here's what I'm seeing here: the way you live your life is (of course) connected to the condition of your heart. What you value, whatever you hold in highest regard will order your actions and your decisions. So, of primary importance to the Christian is helping the poor (oh, if all Christian Americans would discover anew this aspect of Jesus' teaching - and it's not just about writing checks!). Why? Because we have a responsibility to one another, we have been commanded to love each another - this is how God intends life to go.

We are then, by stages, freed from those things that would keep us from following after Jesus with our whole heart, whatever those things are. The key concept here is that following Jesus frees us from idolatry. We are able to be ready and watchful - but for what? The coming of the Son of Man. And here's where things get a little complicated. I generally try to avoid too much conversation about "end times" stuff, because it has been my experience that some folks cling to their understanding with a tenacity and self-assurance that can be a little off-putting.  Again, I trust Jesus: "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own..."  I'm not sure that I have the room in this post to go into the whole issue of eschatology (which is the theological study of the end times).  Maybe later...