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.