Investment

Luke 19:11-27 (The Message)

11 While he had their attention, and because they were getting close to Jerusalem by this time and expectation was building that God's kingdom would appear any minute, he told this story:

12-13 "There was once a man descended from a royal house who needed to make a long trip back to headquarters to get authorization for his rule and then return. But first he called ten servants together, gave them each a sum of money, and instructed them,

'Operate with this until I return.'

14 "But the citizens there hated him. So they sent a commission with a signed petition to oppose his rule: 'We don't want this man to rule us.'

15 "When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done.

16 "The first said, 'Master, I doubled your money.'

17 "He said, 'Good servant! Great work! Because you've been trustworthy in this small job, I'm making you governor of ten towns.'

18 "The second said, 'Master, I made a fifty percent profit on your money.'

19 "He said, 'I'm putting you in charge of five towns.'

20-21 "The next servant said, 'Master, here's your money safe and sound. I kept it hidden in the cellar. To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid. I know you have high standards and hate sloppiness, and don't suffer fools gladly.'

22-23 "He said, 'You're right that I don't suffer fools gladly—and you've acted the fool! Why didn't you at least invest the money in securities so I would have gotten a little interest on it?'

24 "Then he said to those standing there, 'Take the money from him and give it to the servant who doubled my stake.'

25 "They said, 'But Master, he already has double . . .'

26 "He said, 'That's what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.

27 "'As for these enemies of mine who petitioned against my rule, clear them out of here. I don't want to see their faces around here again.'"

This is a major parable from Jesus, and it's deeply compelling.

What would you do if someone from the "royal family" gave you some money and put you in charge of a portion of the kingdom in their absence?

How would you rule if you were suddenly "the man?"

We have to remember that Jesus is trying to prepare his disciples for what is coming next. They've had thoughts about who will be most powerful when Jesus "comes into his kingdom." What they don't understand yet is the nature of that kingdom, and what Jesus will be asked to sacrifice.

And so, this parable.

What happens when the master trusts his servants with his treasure?

This scripture seems to say that the master doesn't want servants who play it safe. He expects the investment to multiply...or maybe he at least expects that his servants will trust him enough to take a chance and try.

What keeps us from trying? What keeps us afraid?

What makes us just put our portion of the kingdom under the mattress for safekeeping?

Perhaps we think it's better to keep what we have than to risk loss, and the wrath of the master.
But as followers in the way of Jesus, that's not the kind of master we have. His preference is that we trust enough to risk.

That's good news in these troubling times...right? We can't get so afraid that we stop trying to build the kingdom. We just can't. Fear can't win.

Perfect love removes fear...and we don't fear our master.

Prayer: Father, we pray that you would show us how to take chances in multiplying the love and grace of Jesus in our world.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Restoration

Luke 19:1-10 (The Message)

1-4 Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho.

There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich.

He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn't see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.

5-7 When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home."

Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him.

Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, "What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?"

8 Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned.

He stammered apologetically, "Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I'm caught cheating, I pay four times the damages."

9-10 Jesus said, "Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost."

I know people who are good at restoration.

What a great word. It's a wonderful thing for us to practice in our lives, and especially with our economic and environmental challenges.

The skill of "restoration," whether it's with cars, furniture, art...it means seeing the intrinsic value of something that might otherwise be cast off and thrown away.

Restoration is the best way to recycle. I've seen people who can walk through a junk store, find a steal that nobody wants, go to work on it, and turn it back into a treasure.

How many people would have liked to throw Zaccheus away? How many folks just walked by him, sure that he was headed for the trash heap?

Almost all of them (us).

After all, he was a tax collector (still not most folks' favorite person even today). He was a "short man," and nobody was making a way for him in the crowd.

Nobody saw the intrinsic value of what could be restored...except for Jesus.

Think about this...the best and brightest of Jericho may well have been in that crowd. Maybe there were already dinner plans. Certainly there were prominent folks who planned to invite Jesus to their homes.

And Jesus invites himself to Zaccheus' place.

Restoration was the reason.

Zaccheus had a heart turned toward repentance. He was willing to find a new way of life. And Jesus was willing to honor that turn...and help him find a new way.

If we're willing to put ourselves in Zaccheus' shoes, the great good news is that his story can be our own.

What kind of sycamore tree would we be willing to climb? For restoration...to be all that God has made us to be...restored...with our real value shining brightly in the world.

Prayer: Thank you for the example of Zaccheus. May he remind us of the intrinsic value of all people, and that we have a value of our own that only you can make complete.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Blind

Luke 18:31-43

31-34 Then Jesus took the Twelve off to the side and said, "Listen carefully. We're on our way up to Jerusalem.

Everything written in the Prophets about the Son of Man will take place. He will be handed over to the Romans, jeered at, made sport of, and spit on.

Then, after giving him the third degree, they will kill him. In three days he will rise, alive."

But they didn't get it, could make neither heads nor tails of what he was talking about.

35-37 He came to the outskirts of Jericho. A blind man was sitting beside the road asking for handouts. When he heard the rustle of the crowd, he asked what was going on. They told him, "Jesus the Nazarene is going by."

38 He yelled, "Jesus! Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!"

39 Those ahead of Jesus told the man to shut up, but he only yelled all the louder, "Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!"

40 Jesus stopped and ordered him to be brought over. When he had come near, Jesus asked, "What do you want from me?"

41 He said, "Master, I want to see again."

42-43 Jesus said, "Go ahead—see again! Your faith has saved and healed you!"

The healing was instant: He looked up, seeing—and then followed Jesus, glorifying God. Everyone in the street joined in, shouting praise to God.

Things are getting serious. We're now taking the turn for Jerusalem in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus is going there for one purpose...his crucifixion and resurrection.

And he wants to let his closest friends in on what is going to happen.

But he can't.

It's not for lack of trying...they just don't have the ability to "see" what he's saying.

They heard him...but they didn't "see."

It would take a blind man for that.

The blind man somehow sensed, or heard, who was coming. He cried out for help, "Jesus have mercy on me!"

What did Jesus' disciples and "handlers" have to say?

"Those ahead of Jesus told the man to shut up...but he only yelled all the louder"

He yelled the loudest, because even though he was physically blind, his spiritual sight was better than anyone else surrounding Jesus.

Why would things be any different today? It shouldn't, necessarily. And that really tells me something.

It tells me that I need to take the time to really look...to really listen...to not only hear...but to ask whether I am "seeing" as Jesus would have me to.

I recently heard a colleague in ministry speak about the blind hymn-writer Fanny Crosby. She was one of the most prolific writers of the 19th century, and many of her songs spoke of what she would "see," even though she was blind.

A lot of us have heard these words before:

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

If we're going to really see, maybe we've got to become blind.  Or
maybe just admit what we're missing, and just ask for Jesus' help.

Prayer:  Father God, we pray for the vision that can only
come from you. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.
World without end.  Amen. 

Bonus

Luke 18:27-30 (The Message)

27 "No chance at all," Jesus said, "if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."

28 Peter tried to regain some initiative: "We left everything we owned and followed you, didn't we?"

29-30 "Yes," said Jesus, "and you won't regret it. No one who has sacrificed home, spouse, brothers and sisters, parents, children—whatever—will lose out.

It will all come back multiplied many times over in your lifetime. And then the bonus of eternal life!"

My wife told me a wonderful story yesterday.

As she dropped our children off at elementary school, she couldn't help noticing the shivering teacher who was working in the drop-off line.

No jacket, no gloves, unseasonably cold morning for October.

Holly reached into her jacket (and yes, she's probably going to kill me for telling you this), grabbed a pair of her own gloves and quickly handed them to the teacher. "Here, take these, you need them."

"Really?"

"Absolutely."

"Wow! Thank you so much!"

Later, as she waited for over an hour, outdoors in the line for early voting, she was really wondering whether she'd made the right decision about those gloves.

That is, until the mail came.

Out of the blue, an unexpected $50 refund check arrived at our house. The same mail carried other letters full of good news.

Did God pay Holly $50 for the good deed of giving away her gloves?

I don't know. I usually don't think of life quite in those terms.

I just know this. The truth of what Jesus promises his followers is undeniably true.

You will not "lose out" when you decide to share with others. God simply will not let it happen. There is blessing after blessing in this life, and the best ones come once we stop clutching at our possessions and learn that we can share.

We can share because we can be confident that God will provide. What would happen today if the people of Shepherd of the Hills and Christians around the world decided to see life in these abundant terms?

Ministry budgets could be met. Poverty could be addressed. Burdens could be eased. But most of all...people might learn to trust God...and break free from the chains of "stuff," and the worry, fear and shame that comes with it.

Prayer: Father God, we live this day in gratitude for the amazing ways that you care for us. You are more ready to give than we ever can be. Teach us to trust you in this life, so that we might learn your lessons of abundance, both now and in the eternal life that is to come.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Deserve

Luke 18:18-27 (The Message)

18 One day one of the local officials asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to deserve eternal life?"

19-20 Jesus said, "Why are you calling me good? No one is good—only God. You know the commandments, don't you? No illicit sex, no killing, no stealing, no lying, honor your father and mother."

21 He said, "I've kept them all for as long as I can remember."

22 When Jesus heard that, he said, "Then there's only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me."

23 This was the last thing the official expected to hear. He was very rich and became terribly sad. He was holding on tight to a lot of things and not about to let them go.

24-25 Seeing his reaction, Jesus said, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who have it all to enter God's kingdom? I'd say it's easier to thread a camel through a needle's eye than get a rich person into God's kingdom."

26 "Then who has any chance at all?" the others asked.

27 "No chance at all," Jesus said, "if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."

I feel sympathy for this good, successful, "local official" who comes to see Jesus.

He seems earnest in his question about eternal life. But it's just the wrong question.

"What must I do to deserve eternal life?"

Another way to say that same thing is, "what do I need to do to earn eternal life?"

How much fun would Christmas be if your kids came and asked what they need to do to "earn" their presents?

Well, then again, that might be nice for the pocketbook...but it sure would take the fun out of gift-giving.

If I've earned something, then it's certainly not a gift at all. It's just what I deserve. I got it under my own power.

Many times, we're tempted to see this encounter as a commentary on wealth. And certainly, to some degree, that's what it is.

But it's only a commentary on wealth, in that wealth can trick us into believing that we are somehow autonomous, and independent of God.

It's also a good reminder of the attachment that the things of this world can hold for us.

What is Jesus trying to say to his disciples? Why is it easier to put a camel through the eye of a needle? Why such strong language?

Jesus, as always, gives us the answer...

"No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself...every chance in the world if you trust that God can do it."

The lesson?

Learn to let go. If it's all a gift...undeserved...then I can afford to be dependent. It means I'll have to stop defending my pride and my false ideas of self-worth. But what a glorious freedom that would bring.

Prayer: Teach us the lessons of this rich official. Forgive us for trying to do it ourselves, and blaming you when things go wrong. May we learn to be humble, free in you, and totally aware of our own dependence.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Child

Luke 18:15-17 (The Message)

15-17 People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back.

"Let these children alone. Don't get between them and me. These children are the kingdom's pride and joy.

Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in."

What would it mean to accept the kingdom, "like a child?"

I'm not sure, but I really do want to find out. After all, Jesus says that "these children are the kingdom's pride and joy."

As a younger man, there was a time when this scripture bewildered me. It confused, and sometimes even frustrated me.

I was pursuing knowledge. I was trying to climb and achieve in the world. How could it be wrong for me to try to "become an adult?" Don't we have to grow up sometime?

I have the sense that the disciples could have felt the same way. They were being very "grown up." They were showing that they were in control of the situation. They'd earned their security clearance. They were acting as Jesus' guardians, and "shooing" these little, unimportant people away from Jesus.

That's when Jesus did what he always does. He turns the tables.

The little ones...they're the most important. The "simple" ones...they're the most aware. These children...they're the heart of the kingdom...and they have the kind of heart that we need as well.

I think I understand this better now.

I've finally lived long enough to give knowledge a run for its money. I've ridden that horse as far as it can go. In every life, faith has to make the long journey from the head to the heart.

When I see the beauty with which my own little children experience and accept the world...and God...I think I begin to have a clue about what Jesus meant.

It's time we all lay down our sense of being proudly "grown up." No matter how much we think we know...there is infinitely more that we don't. The space between us and our children...maybe it's not so far as we'd like to imagine.

And Jesus says that can be a good thing...the best thing.

Prayer: We pray for hearts that are simple, pure and trusting. We ask you to protect our ability to believe, save us from cynicism, and preserve our wonder at your mighty works and steadfast love.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Better

Luke 18:9-14 (The Message)

9-12 He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people:

"Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.'

13 "Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, 'God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.'"

14 Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."

There's a lot of talk these days about "elitists," and "Joe the Plumber."

Politicians, of both political parties, will always work hard to paint themselves as friends of the "common man," while working hard to make you think that the other side considers itself "better than" you.

Nobody like somebody who thinks they're "better than."

The problem is, we all think we're "better than" somebody. Trust me, you may not think you do...but you almost certainly do.

That goes for me, too. It goes for all of us. It especially goes for all of us who go to church and call ourselves Jesus-followers. We're susceptible to the sin of "better than."

At least, that seems to be Jesus' opinion of the religious establishment of his time. And now, guess what? WE Christians are the religious establishment.

So, Jesus decided to tell a story.

If nobody likes those who think they're "better," then nobody really likes a "tax collector."

Yet, in Jesus' story, it's the tax collector who comes out on top?

Why?

Because he knows how much he needs God's grace and forgiveness.

That gives me pause. It makes me think. It might just soften my heart a bit. It might cause me to become a little bit more thoughtful, and a lot more humble.

The world could always use a little more thoughtful humility.

Prayer: God our Father, may you change our hearts in such a way that the world would know your followers by our humility, gratitude and generosity. You alone are fit to be the judge.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Persistent

Luke 18:1-8 (The Message)

1-3 Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit.

He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: 'My rights are being violated. Protect me!'

4-5 "He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, 'I care nothing for what God thinks, even less what people think.

But because this widow won't quit badgering me, I'd better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I'm going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.'"

6-8 Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won't step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help?

Won't he stick up for them?

I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet.

But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?"

What do you really want? What will you do to get it?

I know what our 20 month old son wants.

He wants blues clues. He wants juice. He wants his blankie.

How do I know?

He asks. Repeatedly. Trust me.

"Juice. Juice. Juice. Juice. Juice. Juice. Juice! Juice! Juice! JUICE!! JUICE!! JUICE!!"

After just a few "JUICES," it's pretty clear what he wants. And, it's not an unreasonable demand. We give him juice. And, he will keep asking until he gets it. I'm not sure how many times he might be willing to repeat the word juice, but my hunch is that it's probably about 549.

Jesus tells us this might just be a model for our prayer lives. Isn't that remarkable?

The widow in Jesus' story has one clear feature in her personality: persistence.

She knows what she really wants...justice. And she's willing to knock on the door of that unjust judge until she receives it.

Now, God is not "unjust." Jesus is saying that if even a bad person will eventually respond to persistence, how much more (and sooner) will our good Father respond?

What Jesus questions is whether there is any real persistence to be found?

We do give up pretty easily, don't we? If we don't receive the first time, we grow discouraged or uncertain. But this scripture reminds me that if we are convinced that God wants us to pray over a certain situation...or even for a certain outcome...we should not grow weary.

We should ask. We should be encouraged by the Holy Spirit...to be persistent.

Prayer: God we pray first that you would show us the right place to put our persistent energies and prayers. We pray for your Holy Spirit, that we will not grow weary in pursuing what is right. Most of all, we pray that you will give us an unending hunger for righteousness, justice, peace and joy.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Cling

Luke 17:24-37 (The Message)

24-25 "You know how the whole sky lights up from a single flash of lightning? That's how it will be on the Day of the Son of Man. But first it's necessary that he suffer many things and be turned down by the people of today.

26-27 "The time of the Son of Man will be just like the time of Noah— everyone carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ship. They suspected nothing until the flood hit and swept everything away.

28-30 "It was the same in the time of Lot—the people carrying on, having a good time, business as usual right up to the day Lot walked out of Sodom and a firestorm swept down and burned everything to a crisp. That's how it will be—sudden, total—when the Son of Man is revealed.

31-33 "When the Day arrives and you're out working in the yard, don't run into the house to get anything. And if you're out in the field, don't go back and get your coat. Remember what happened to Lot's wife! If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you'll lose it, but if you let that life go, you'll get life on God's terms.

34-35 "On that Day, two men will be in the same boat fishing—one taken, the other left. Two women will be working in the same kitchen—one taken, the other left."

37 Trying to take all this in, the disciples said, "Master, where?"

He told them, "Watch for the circling of the vultures. They'll spot the corpse first. The action will begin around my dead body."

The imagery of this scripture is amazing, and it just has to set us thinking...imagining...

Two are fishing in the same boat, when something so sudden and catastrophic takes one away and leaves the other still there.

Two are working in the kitchen, when an overwhelming moment leaves only one behind.

Jesus is intent on preparing his followers ...calling us to be ready at a moment's notice...for whatever God might do.

Don't "cling" to this life, Jesus says.

When the moment (whatever, whenever that moment might be) finally arrives, there won't be time to "run back and get your coat." Clinging to the things of this life is the opposite of the spiritual readiness that God requires.

What is this big event Jesus is talking about? Is it some far-off, apocalyptic return of the messiah? Will it be heralded with trumpets and fanfare?

He gives us an example of exactly what he means.

The 12 disciples were about to see their lives turn on a dime. They must have wondered about his seeming morbid "over my dead body" kind of prophecy.

Soon, he would be arrested and crucified. Then, the resurrection.

It was time for those 12 to stop "clinging." Almost time for things to change...time for them to fly on their own, with Jesus' presence and power enabling them in a new and completely different way.

What about us?

Any illusions of permenance that we have about this life are just that...illusions.

Are we ready? Ready...to go, to change, to learn, to move, to run?

The things that we cling to...they're the only things that might stop us from really experiencing life more fully, and opening up more completely to the truth and presence of God.

Can we begin to learn to let go?

Prayer: Through your power, God our Father, we ask for release from the things we cling to, and those things that cling to us. May we be prepared...may we long within our hearts...to see you face to face, and to learn more of who you are, and who we are called to be.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Receive

Luke 17:20-24 (The Message)

20-21 Jesus, grilled by the Pharisees on when the kingdom of God would come, answered, "The kingdom of God doesn't come by counting the days on the calendar. Nor when someone says, 'Look here!' or, 'There it is!'

And why? Because God's kingdom is already among you."

22-24 He went on to say to his disciples, "The days are coming when you are going to be desperately homesick for just a glimpse of one of the days of the Son of Man, and you won't see a thing.

And they'll say to you, 'Look over there!' or, 'Look here!' Don't fall for any of that nonsense.

The arrival of the Son of Man is not something you go out to see.

He simply comes.

Long ago, when my faith was something I was just starting to grow into (and of course we're always "growing into it"), and pastoral ministry was just a faint possibility on some distant horizon, a very wise Christian said to me, "learn to observe your life...and just when you need it, and maybe when you least expect it...God will always send an encourager."

I have found that statement to be absolutely true.

When you least expect it...when you most need it...God's encouragers will show themselves.

This, it seems, is partly the very nature of God.

You don't go "attend" God, or "show up" for a "showing" of the Holy Spirit.

But isn't that what we do with church? We "show up" and "attend" worship?

Yes...but what we do on Sunday morning is gather together to witness to the ways that God is moving freely among us and in the world. We don't say, "look here, God, perform for us now!"

Why? "Because the Kingdom of God is already among you," and "the arrival of the Son of Man is not something you go out to see." Instead, "he simply comes."

And that is a beautiful thing.

Following in the way of Jesus means learning to become more receptive. It means that we practice the art of receiving God's gift. It means that we learn something about the beauty of grace, and we admit that we are not in control...of anything.

Here's your spiritual idea for the day...don't try to control God.

Don't try to control God and don't strive to control your life and experiences. Observe. Move as the Holy Spirit opens space and allows. Wait for encouragers. They will arrive. Treat them as the divine gift that they are, and be thankful.

Prayer: Forgive us when we make demands on your schedule and expect you to play by our rules. Teach us to look for your encouragers, to become more receptive to your kingdom, and to trust you more fully.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Grateful

Luke 17:11-16 (The Message)

11-13 It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him.

They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

14-16 Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests."

They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God.

He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so grateful. He couldn't thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.

Have you ever felt like an outsider? Can you think of an experience in your life that left you feeling worthless or dishonored?

Can you imagine a society that systematically worked to reinforce those feelings?

For Samaritans in Jesus time, that's exactly how Jewish religious society worked.

It was made very clear to them, from birth, that they were not "clean." Their very personhood, they were taught, was dirty and offensive to God.

That's a lot to take in. It makes you wonder what that could do to a person?

I think it might make me angry, or perhaps just obedient and subservient. Or maybe just sad.

Now...imagine yourself as a samaritan...leper. If any character in all the Bible has a double-whammy against them, certainly it is this person.

Samaritan...leper.

Worthless...not in the eyes of God...we know that. But we also know this.

He was the only one who said thank you.

Gratitude. It flourishes best in the places where ego and pride have died away.

When you really need help...you really value receiving it.

So...I think I want to be a Samaritan leper when I grow up. How about you? That may just be what it's all about.

Prayer: Help us to be grateful. Help us to be humble. Fill us with your grace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Servant

Luke 17:7-10 (The Message)

7-10"Suppose one of you has a servant who comes in from plowing the field or tending the sheep.

Would you take his coat, set the table, and say, 'Sit down and eat'?

Wouldn't you be more likely to say, 'Prepare dinner; change your clothes and wait table for me until I've finished my coffee; then go to the kitchen and have your supper'?

Does the servant get special thanks for doing what's expected of him? It's the same with you.

When you've done everything expected of you, be matter-of-fact and say, 'The work is done. What we were told to do, we did.'"

In the sanctuary at First United Methodist Church of Thomson, Georgia, there is a fabulous stained glass window that's been there for well over 100 years.

I first saw it when I served in the Augusta District and attended various meetings in Thomson.

There are two windows, actually. They're very prominent in the architecture of the sanctuary and can't be missed. Each window holds the likeness of a man and woman, pillars of that church in the 19th century.

There's a single line of text beneath each picture. I can't remember what it said under the man's face. But I'll never forget the words that lay beneath the stony, weary, tough-as-nails expression of his wife.

"She hath done what she could."

That's really what it says. I couldn't make this up. For more than 100 years, this woman's final testimony has stood fast.

"She hath done what she could."

That always struck me as hilarious. If I was ever at a meeting that got a little boring, I could just look over at Mrs. "She-hath-done-what-she-could," and laugh on the inside.

I always wondered about her life. I wondered how she came to feel like that statement should be the best way to sum up her whole life's experience.

But I'm a little older now, and I'm starting to see some wisdom in the statement.

SOTH's visitation ministry has taught me a lot about this concept. We go out into the community and knock on doors...but we do it differently. We're not there to get anything out of anybody. We're not there to talk to them about heaven and hell. We're not thumping Bibles. We're there because we feel that God does call us to go out and meet our neighbors. We're supposed to reach out to people with love, and you can't do that if you just wait for them to walk through the door.

The first thing we were taught about this ministry? It's not about ego...it's about obedience. It's simply about doing what God calls us to, and expecting nothing in return. The victory comes when we leave the parking lot.

Jesus reminds us...just serve...and be content.

Have you ever gone out in life and really expected nothing in return?

It's not easy...but that total lack of ego...at the end of our lives...it might mean that "he (she) did what he (she) could" would be enough.

Prayer: Father, we pray that just being your servant could be enough. Teach us to leave our egos, in exchange for peace and grace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Seed

Luke 17:3-6 (The Message)

3-4"Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him.

Even if it's personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, 'I'm sorry, I won't do it again,' forgive him."

5The apostles came up and said to the Master, "Give us more faith."

6But the Master said, "You don't need more faith. There is no 'more' or 'less' in faith.

If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, 'Go jump in the lake,' and it would do it."

Would you like to have "more faith?"

I know that there are times that I've prayed that prayer. It's a way to express an honest longing in our hearts --- to know God more completely, to believe more fully, and to better experience the power of God in our lives.

But look what Jesus says in this translation of Luke 17: "there is no 'more' or 'less' in faith."

What?

Surely I can think of people who have more faith than me, right?

If I'm being honest, and feeling particularly judgmental, I probably think that I could name those who have less, too.

Well, maybe what Jesus is saying is that you can't have a "little" faith...if faith is understood as connection to the very power and presence of God himself.

How do you have just a "little" of that?

Go outside and find the nearest sycamore tree. Can you tell it to jump in the lake and watch it obey? Jesus tells us that a poppy seed's worth of his presence and power made known in our own lives holds that kind of possibility.

It seems impossible. And maybe he didn't mean it literally. I don't know.

What I do know is this. It isn't too easy to forgive someone either. And restoring relationships that have hit hard times...that might be even more impressive and important than sycamore-moving.

So do we need "more" faith? According to Jesus, what we need is not more...what we need is to nurture and trust the tiny seeds that we may have...forgiveness lies just around the corner.

Prayer: We pray that the seeds of faith within us might blossom into restored relationships and real forgiveness. May we see you move that sycamore tree of brokenness from our lives.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Little

Luke 17:1-2 (The Message)

He said to his disciples, "Hard trials and temptations are bound to come, but too bad for whoever brings them on!

Better to wear a millstone necklace and take a swim in the deep blue sea than give even one of these dear little ones a hard time!

Whatever Jesus is talking about in these verses seems pretty important, doesn't it?

"...too bad for whoever brings them (hard trials and temptations) on!"

He even says that it would be "...better to wear a millstone necklace and take a swim in the deep blue sea" than to make things difficult on the "little ones."

None of us want to wear that "millstone necklace."

So...we need to keep from making things hard on the little ones.

Does Jesus mean children? Perhaps. Or maybe he means the "little ones" of low station in life.

But it seems even more likely that he means the "little ones" of faith.

Remember, he's talking to the leaders of the religious establishment of his time, and making comment about that work that they are doing in God's name.

All too often, the people were made to serve the temple, instead of vice-versa. Religious leaders had become interested in power and wealth. They had turned the laws that God gave us to keep us safe and well...into a trap and trick that stole life and peace from the people.

What about us?

How can those who are already following the way of Jesus set stumbling blocks in the paths of others?

Well, I'm sure that there are lots of ways. Maybe as many possibilities as there are people.

Here are a few I can think of: gossip, negativity, selfishness, judgmentalism.

Anytime that we make following Jesus about ourselves...about rule-keeping...about our own way...when we manipulate and coerce...when we present opportunities for a "little one" to say, "I always knew that's how those Christians really are..."

We are only human. We are certainly imperfect. That's why we should stop, pray, and ask for God's help each and every day.

Prayer: God our Father, we ask that you help us keep from placing stumbling blocks in our brothers' and sisters' paths. Teach us the way of Jesus...peace, justice, truth and grace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Reversal

Luke 16:19-31 (The Message)

19-21 "There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption.

A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man's table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores.

22-24"Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, 'Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I'm in agony in this fire.'

25-26"But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It's not like that here. Here he's consoled and you're tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.'

27-28"The rich man said, 'Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won't end up here in this place of torment.'

29"Abraham answered, 'They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.'

30"'I know, Father Abraham,' he said, 'but they're not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.'

31"Abraham replied, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the Prophets, they're not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.'"

There's a lot of talk on tv these days about who "gets it."

It is election time, after all.

In this parable, Jesus tells us an important story about "getting it."

In his society (amazing how things change but stay the same), the rich were honored and their success was generally considered a sign of God's favor. Abundance was cherished, and thought to be a worthy goal.

But throughout the Bible, in both Old and New Testaments, God takes a different view. God constantly honors the poor...and reminds all of his people to look after one another.

Scripture works hard to remind us that we should never take our station in life for granted...and to know that we should never, ever think that we are somehow separate, different, or above one another.

Most striking? The fact that there are several "great reversals" to be found throughout the Bible, including the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.

Jesus is imploring us to "get it" while we still can.

Life is eternal, and it's not found in the abundance of things. Life is mercy, grace, love, patience. Sometimes, it may mean poverty. God sees...and God will set all things right.

Prayer: Teach us humility. Teach us to love one another. Teach us to have your priorities.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Authentic

Luke 16:14-18 (The Message)

When the Pharisees, a money-obsessed bunch, heard him say these things, they rolled their eyes, dismissing him as hopelessly out of touch.

So Jesus spoke to them: "You are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others, but God knows what's behind the appearance.

What society sees and calls monumental,
God sees through and calls monstrous.
God's Law and the Prophets climaxed in John;
Now it's all kingdom of God—the glad news
and compelling invitation to every man and woman.
The sky will disintegrate and the earth dissolve
before a single letter of God's Law wears out.
Using the legalities of divorce
as a cover for lust is adultery;
Using the legalities of marriage
as a cover for lust is adultery.


Appearances can be deceiving.

Jesus is teaching this lesson in a powerful way. Things that appear holy, appropriate, or even "monumental," can sometimes remain "monstrous" on the inside.

Studies show that if you ask young adults today what they most look for in a church, they're likely to say something like, "authentic."

In essence, it's a way to say..."just let things be what they claim to be."

"Hypocrisy" is the most cited reason given by people who don't attend a church. Anytime a group gets together and aspires to great things, a certain amount of hypocrisy is the risk that is taken.

So, what can we do?

I think we start by listening to Jesus, not "rolling our eyes," like the Pharisees. Then, we forget about trying to get power, control, or authority over other people. We do the hard work of divesting of our egos, and we make humility our way in the world.

We pray, develop a real relationship with God and humbly ask that he give us the gift of authenticity.

Don't worry...we'll fail. We'll fall short. That's why there is grace.

Nobody out there really expects us to be perfect. They do expect us not to act like it.

Let's act like who we are called to be...imperfect vessels, filled by God's grace. Slowly but surely, healing...growing stronger...humbled by God's goodness, and willing to extend that love toward others.

Prayer: God, we ask you to empty us of ego and pride. Help us not to make false claims about who we are. Show us how to live the lives you have made for us. Help us to love one another as you have loved us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.