Reflection on Luke 11:1-13

Luke 11:1-13 (NRSVue)

1 [Jesus] was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”2 So he said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father, may your name be revered as holy. 

May your kingdom come.  

3 Give us each day our daily bread.  

4 And forgive us our sins,  

for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.   

And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

5 And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything out of friendship, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

 9  “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for a fish, would give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asked for an egg, would give a scorpion? 13 If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Reflection

Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying (ELW 752)

“Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord send your Spirit in this place; Lord, listen to your children praying, send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.”

Her prayer was simple: “Please let me eat more than ketchup soup today.”  How did she get to this point of subsisting on free convenience store condiments anyway?  The past was not important right now, what was important was the growling of her belly.  She grabbed her small, cardboard “Food Please” sign and went to the street.

Her prayer was amazingly answered almost right away as a group of teenagers with a box of leftover pizza passed by.  They happily gave it to her and were on their way.

She opened the box.  There were four small slices!  She would have had those four small slices gone in seconds, if it were not for the vision of her elderly neighbor intruding in her mind.  The neighbor, she knew, was also hungry. 

“Give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3).  She prayed it every morning and evening, the “us” echoing over and over again in her mind as she stared at the still warm food.

Her stomach said, “You need it all.  You will get nothing else today.”

The Spirit of the Lord said, “Give us…”  “Us.”  Morning and night her prayers reminder her that the gifts she gets (the gifts “we” get) are not for “me.”  Rather, we pray that the gifts be for “us.”  “Give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3).

The Spirit of the Lord won this battle, as she knocked on the door and ate the tiny feast with her elderly neighbor.  This meant that she would, again, be praying for bread, but in that moment God’s kingdom had come.

Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying (ELW 752)

“Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord send your Spirit in this place; Lord, listen to your children praying, send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.”

The woman’s prayer led to the kingdom coming, in a very small way, as she ate with her hungry and lonely neighbor.  If God’s kingdom comes as a shower of rain, this was but a tiny drop.  But, as we all know, the accumulation of tiny drops are what create lakes, rivers, and seas.  Praying for the kingdom to come might result in a single drop of kingdom goodness.  But, if you pan out to see multiple drops coming down…if you pan out and see the world as the Lord sees it, the Lord’s kingdom is a sea of grace and love.

But, let us not pan out too far.  Let us not make our faith something that is too big for our minds to comprehend.  Let us zoom back in to that small feast.  Our faith becomes real at tables with two woman eating pizza freely handed as a gift.  Our faith becomes real as love is shared through words spoken while eating at old wooden tables with coffee stains and pen marks from the ghosts of children long moved away. 

When we pray for the kingdom to come, Jesus shows up.  He shows up in teens walking on the street.  He shows up in a hungry woman willing to share.  He shows up in the elderly woman seeking food and friendship.  He shows up in the table fellowship of the blessed.

Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying (ELW 752)

“Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord send your Spirit in this place; Lord, listen to your children praying, send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.”

Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta once reflected:

“We read in the Gospel that Jesus made himself the Bread of Life to satisfy our hunger for love.

For he says:

‘Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me’ (Matthew 25:40)

How wonderful it is!

We all long, we all want,

even the disbeliever wants to love God in some way or another,

and where is God?

How do we love God, whom we don't see?

To make it easy for us, to help us to love,

He makes himself the hungry one, the naked one, the homeless one.

And you will, I'm sure, ask me: ‘Where is that hunger in our country?’

Yes, there is hunger.

Maybe not the hunger for a piece of bread, but there is a terrible hunger for love...

Here, too, in the whole world there is a terrible hunger for God, among the young especially.”

from Harvard's Class Day Exercises, June 9, 1982

We pray for God’s kingdom of love to come where the least and the lost are invited to feast (Luke 14:15-24).  We pray for “us” to have what we need to truly live.  We pray for Jesus to be present.  And, where love is shared, Jesus is present. 

“So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.  God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them” (1 John 4:16).

Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying (ELW 752)

“Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord send your Spirit in this place; Lord, listen to your children praying, send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.”

“Us” echoes once again in Jesus’ prayer as we pray, “And forgive us our sins,  

for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us” (Luke 11:4a).

Notice how the reminder for “us” to have forgiveness comes after the request for bread.  A speaker at a world hunger conference that I attended once said plainly, “What is the point of asking the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of how someone got into the terrible situation they are in if they will be soon be dead from hunger?  Needs come before judgment.  Bread comes before forgiveness.  It is right there in Jesus’ prayer.

The woman’s stomach would not allow her to look at the cause of her situation.  She needed food.  And, she was given food.  Perhaps forgiveness will follow close behind.

Refusing to help someone who desperately prays for food is the definition of failing the time of trial.  It is failing the test of loving neighbor.  Telling people to straighten out their lives first, giving them a test, giving them a trial that they need to pass first, is forgetting that the prayer to “not bring us to the time of trial” has an “us” in it as well (Luke 11:4b).

First we pray that we can have bread.  Then we pray that we can have forgiveness.  And then we pray that we will not face tests of our worthiness.  After-all, none of us are worthy.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  But, all of us are given the goodness of God who “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45).

Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying (ELW 752)

“Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord send your Spirit in this place; Lord, listen to your children praying, send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.”

“And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’  And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’  I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything out of friendship, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs” (Luke 11:5-8).

Most of us hear this parable and assume that we are the ones knocking on the door, asking that God hear our prayer.  But, what if it is Jesus knocking on the door, over and over, all night long, until we get up and provide whatever he needs?  After-all, there is little doubt that God will listen to our prayers.  God pours grace on us with abundance.  If there is any doubt of someone listening, it is us.

So we pray.

We pray that God’s name be held up above other concerns through us.

We pray that God’s desires might fall like refreshing drops of rain on us and through us.

We pray that the needs of all of us are met, just as we provide for our neighbor’s needs.

We pray that the sins of all of us are forgiven, just as we forgive our neighbor’s debts.  

And, we pray that none of us be tested.  Rather, that all people be loved first.

In short, we pray for “us.”

And, when we do, “everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, [will have a door] opened” (Luke 11:10).

So, let us take a moment to pray for “us.”

“O Lord, Hear My Prayer” (ELW 751)

O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord hear my prayer: when I call, answer me.  O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord hear my prayer: come and listen to me.

All Scripture quotes are from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflection on Luke 10:38-42

 

Luke 10:38-42

38 Now as [Jesus and his disciples] went on their way, he entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at Jesus’s feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her, then, to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, 42 but few things are needed—indeed only one. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.

Reflection

“Don’t be such a Martha!”

I first heard that phrase as a kid.  We were visiting friends of the family, and the man of the house was sitting in the living room, beer in hand, watching football on the TV while talking about football players and football plays with the other men in the room.  The woman of the home came into the room and asked if the man could help in the kitchen. 

“Hold on, I gotta' finish this story,” he said and then proceeded to continue to discuss football.

The woman stood there for a moment, waited, and then reiterated, “Now?”

And, then he uttered the phrase that became such a mystery to my young self.

“Don’t be such a Martha!”

I had no idea at the time what he was referencing.  And, considering that we were in a small town, and I had never seen him in church, I assume that he probably had no idea either.

Poor, bossy, and distracted Martha.  She would enjoy football more if only she just sat down.

Just for fun, I Googled the phrase, “Don’t be such a Martha” and the phrase is all over the place.  Most often, it is the first line found on pastor’s newsletter articles and blogs.  And, they all seem to share the same lame joke as well, “Don’t be such a Martha, unless your name is Martha.”

And, as of today, the phrase and lame joke is in yet another pastor’s online sermon blog.  Mine.

Given the bad rap that Martha seems to get, I would just like to mention right away that there is nothing wrong happening in this story between Mary, Martha, and Jesus.  In fact, a lot is going right in this story. 

Jesus has come as a guest, and is sharing what guests are supposed to share in the ancient world, stories and wisdom.  That is good. 

Martha appears to be a great hostess.  The Bible makes sure to note in Luke 10:38 that she “welcomes him,” in contrast to Simon the Pharisee who in Luke, chapter 7 very pointedly does not show hospitality to Jesus.  Simon tries to embarrass him by not welcoming him and not washing his feet as was customary.  Simon tries to discount Jesus.  But, Martha loves Jesus and is doing many things around the home, including, presumably cooking a meal, so that her guest is well fed and made to feel comfortable and loved.  That is good.

And, let us not forget her sister, Mary, who is sitting “at Jesus’ feet and listening to what he [is] saying” (Luke 10:39). Mary is with Jesus, making him feel welcome and attended to.  That is good.

The hosts are serving and entertaining, the guest is sharing, there just simply is nothing wrong going on in this scene.  In fact, it is all going quite perfect.  There is so much going right.

But, as you know all too well, perfection in life usually lasts for but a moment.  Like an audience member who decides to sing along at the concert, one step lower than those who actually know what how to sing, Martha decides that she has something to say to Jesus.

Pointing to Mary, who is sitting at Jesus’ feet, Martha says to Jesus, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me" (Luke 10:40).  I guess the scene is not so perfect.  In Martha’s mind, there is a slacker on the loose.  Mary is just sitting there while she, good old dependable Martha, does all of the work! 

I have actually seen this exact story play out after I became a pastor and was invited into a family’s home.  Do not worry, it was none of you.  I was talking to one of the adults in the home, and it was a nice conversation.  Notice I am not indicating whether it was the man or the woman, to protect the guilty.  The other adult walked in from the kitchen and said politely in my presence, “Excuse me, honey could you please come in and make yourself useful.” 

I do have to admit that it was the kind of polite voice that is actually quite the opposite of polite.  You know what I mean.  It was the kind of polite that uses a nice tone but is accompanied by murderous eyes. 

After the eye daggers, both adults were gone and I was just sitting there listening to the uncomfortable bickering unfolding in the kitchen.  Trying not to listen to the not so quiet hushed tones, I was left alone in the living room to look at the artwork on the walls and appreciate it for a really, really, really, long time.  There is only so long that you can appreciate a little bridge with autumn leaves, created by the fine artists of trailer home art.  Eventually, little fingers came out of nowhere holding a stuffed animal and a little voice said, “Pastor, do you want to come to my room and help me put lotion on my teddy bear, he’s really dry.”  Who can pass up the offer to help put lotion on a teddy bear?

Now, let me stop and say that there is nothing wrong with serving other people.  Heck, we just heard the story of the Good Samaritan last week where Jesus encourages us to serve our neighbors.  Doing something for another person’s wellbeing is very good.

But, in Martha’s case, there is a problem.  In an effort to serve her guest more efficiently, Martha actually forgets about her guest.  Jesus is right there in the room, and she misses out completely on what Jesus has to offer her as the guest.  She is distracted from the stories and wisdom.  God is right there with her, and she does not pay attention. 

Jesus tells Martha, “You are worried and distracted by many things” (Luke 10:41).  Martha sees that Jesus is there, of course.  She even goes as far as blaming Jesus for keeping Mary from helping.  “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?”  (Luke 10:40).  She sees that he is there, but she fails to allow him to truly be with her.  Jesus is graciously in the room, that is the good news, but Martha is distracted from him, that is that bad news.

In our modern world of amazing technology and smart appliances, it is amazing just how that technology free us from our work so that we can spend time with the people who really matter, and never get distracted!  I wish that were true. 

You have seen our culture.  If you could choose one word to describe us as a culture these days, you could quite rightly choose, “distracted.”  We have all seen the couple out on the romantic dinner date, texting instead of looking and talking with one another. 

We have all seen the family in the park with the three year old balancing on the swing set, six feet in the air, and the rest of the family sitting in the grass with their heads in their phones.  Listen, I am not pointing fingers.  I am just as guilty. 

You do not even need a smart phone to be distracted.  We have all seen the schedules that most families are trying to hold together: soccer, meetings, volunteering, family obligations, friends, music lessons, confirmation lessons, horse lessons, the list of activities go on and on and on.  We are a distracted people.  And, retirees, you do not get to look so smug.  We all know that the word retired is a conjunction of two words meaning “tired again.”  Re-Tired.

“Don’t be such a Martha.”

Listen.  To all of us Marthas out there, it is not that any of these things are necessarily bad.  Soccer and baseball expose kids to teamwork (a Christian ideal by the way; modeling the body of Christ).  And, children’s activities expose kids to another adult, someone outside of the family, who loves them and cares…the coaches and teachers.  This is important, meaningful stuff.  This is holy stuff. 

Time spent volunteering for the arts, or at the food bank, or teaching children to read is all good.  Spending time taking care of family members who are ill, or who just need someone there, is all good.  The problem is not that these tasks are bad.  They are all very good.

The problem is that we get so distracted by accomplishing our tasks that we often fail to see that Jesus is sitting right there with us as we do them. 

Mary sees Jesus.  Mary truly sees that is Jesus is with her.  Mary sees what a gift Jesus is.  Jesus tells Martha that “Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).  Our savior will not be taken from us.  The love of Jesus is there for us and will not ever be taken away.

The problem is that we so easily get lured into the idea that we are defined by what we do.  Our value is based on our accomplishments rather than who we are.  We are God’s beloved children.  We are people with whom Jesus wants to spend time and teach and love.  We are God’s beloved children.

Do you sometimes forget that?  I know that I do.  So, I ask: “Who are you?”  Are you someone with a million tasks to get done?  Are you someone who has accomplished a million tasks?  Is your life defined by what you do? 

Let me pitch an idea your way.  It is a lovely and freeing idea.  Jesus actually wants to define who you are.  You are a child of God.  You are more than your tasks.  You are more than your accomplishments.  You are more than your distractions.  You are someone loved by Jesus the Christ.  You are someone worth dying for on a cross.  That is who you are.  And, Jesus desperately does not want you to get distracted from that.

A while back, I heard the story of a young family, whose busy lives were getting so out of control that they got everyone together and held a family meeting.  They looked at their list of family activities, ranked them in order of importance of how meaningful they were, and the ones that showed up on the bottom were to be cut from family life. 

After the family ranked what they did, to their shock, they found that church was at the very bottom of their list.  Though it seemed almost immoral, they decided that they would let their pastor know that they were really considering leaving the church.  It just was not a priority in their lives.

Now, there are many conclusions you can derive from this story.  You can conclude that the church needs to better connect with people’s lives.  You can despair that people are losing a sense of Sabbath, and do not see the need for rest in this busy world.  As I said, there are many conclusions you can derive from this story.  What I would like to point out is that this family’s list of meaningful things was defined by what they did.  It was not defined by who they were. 

There is only one way of discovering who you truly are.  You find out who you are by sitting with Jesus and allowing him to teach you who you are.  You find out by hearing his words of grace and listening to his teachings.  That is how you find out who you are. 

I am not trying to condemn this family by any means.  Thankfully, this family went to their pastor with their concerns.  And, I will have you know that they did not leave their church.  Rather, this was the wakeup call, awakening them to their distractions.  They were distracted from Jesus.  They were distracted from who they were. 

It is easy to become distracted and forget who you are.  But, if you see Jesus in the room, take a seat at his feet.  Jesus will tell you who he is and who you are.  Jesus will tell you that you are a child of grace and love.  Rather than allowing the things that distract you to shape who you are, Jesus will shape the many things that you do.  With Jesus, you are no longer held hostage to the many distractions.  You are not your distractions.  You are a child of God.

So, allow Jesus to draw you away from the distractions, and take a seat at his feet.  After-all, Jesus is in the room.  Listen to the gift he has to offer you as the guest in your home, and discover who you truly are; O children of the most high.

 

Reflection on Luke 10:25-37

 

Luke 10:25-37 (NRSVue)

25 An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

 29 But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and when I come back I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Reflection

God provides, and sometimes God even uses our hands.

I do not remember where I first heard that expression, but it is one that has stuck with me.  God provides, and sometimes God even uses our hands.  No doubt the idea comes from Ephesians 2:10 which states: “We are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works.”  Ephesians picks up on this idea that we exist in Christ Jesus, and because we live in him, the good works of Jesus naturally flow out of us to others.  In other words, “God provides, and sometimes God even uses our hands.”

This phrase was echoing in the back of my head as I read again this parable of the Good Samaritan.  And, what actually started the echo was a phrase in the parable that just jumped out at me like an old friend who jumps out of from nowhere with a party hat and a bottle of wind in his hand saying “Surprise!”  Actually is the mention of oil and wine that jogged my memory.  Listen close to the story.

If you remember, in Jesus’ parable he tells of a man who gets beat up and left to die on the side of the road.  A priest walks by, taking a wide path around the carnage.  Likewise, a worker in the temple also takes the long way around the poor guy.  But, a Samaritan comes along, and overcome with compassion, rushes over to the man, bandages his wounds, and…here it is…treats “them with oil and wine” (Luke 10:34).  

Oil and wine; Jesus is so specific here.  Now, you might think that Jesus put it in the story because alcohol disinfects and oil moisturizes and heals.  And that is part of it, but I happen to know that Jesus intentionally sticks those two items in the story for another reason.  He wants you to think of another well-known piece of scripture from the Bible.  The ancient people knew it well and so do you.  It is Psalm 23.  In particular, Jesus wants you to think about this section:

“You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

    my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5).

As you ponder on the goodness that the Samaritan is literally pouring on the poor man, Jesus wants you to think about how God makes a feast for us, enemies standing around the house but not daring to move any closer.  In their sight, God tends to us, makes us an honored guest, anoints our heads with oil, and fills our cups of wine to overflowing with the best wine.  Jesus wants us to think about this image of safety, good life, and abundance that God provides when enemies are around.  And, Jesus wants us to see that the Samaritan is the one who provides it.

The enemies have struck.  They could still be lingering in the ditches, waiting for another victim, using the man as a lure.  Fear of the enemy on the road to Jericho was very real, and it caused a priest and temple worker to decide to not get involved.  But, the Samaritan provides the feast.  The Samaritan provides the safety and provides the oil and wine as the enemy lingers.  “In the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

An expert in the law asks Jesus what he needs to do in order to be a permanent part of the holy life, and Jesus tells the story of someone who provides that sort of life to someone in need.  Do you want to be a part of God’s holy life?  Then allow God to draw you into the holy actions that give life to the people and creatures of this world.  In other words, help the guy on the side of the road.

God provides, and sometimes God even uses our hands.

But, Jesus’ point goes even further than that.  More to Jesus’ point: God provides, and sometimes God even uses the hands of our enemies.

This is the shocking part of the story. 

The Samaritans were no friends of the Israelites and the Israelites were no friends of the Samaritans.  And, though they were not at war, they stayed well away from one another.  The Jews had their towns and the Samaritans had their own towns.  Jews talked to Jews and Samaritans talked to Samaritans.  There are reasons for this, and you can ask me those reasons later.  The only thing you need to understand is that when the expert in the law asked, “And, who is my neighbor?” Jesus intentionally responded by telling a story with his enemy as the hero.

God provides, and sometimes God even uses the hands of our enemies.

It is easy to assume that your enemy is evil.  It is easy to mark some people as “in” and others as “out.”  It is easy to lump people into categories of good and bad. 

Evil Samaritans

Evil Jews

Evil Blacks

Evil Whites

Evil Police

Evil Protestors

Evil Iranians

Evil Israel

Evil Palestinians

Evil Russians

Evil Ukrainians

Evil ICE Agents

Evil Undocumented Immigrants

Evil Educated Elitists

Evil Backcountry Hicks

Evil Druggies

Evil Narcs

Evil Men

Evil Women

Evil Pastors

Evil Churchgoers

Evil Old People

Evil Teens

Evil Towanda Knights

Evil Wyalusing Rams

Have I offended you yet?  Have I raised your blood pressure a little?  If so, take the one that shook you a little, and put one of those individuals in the place of the Good Samaritan in Jesus’ story, because it is that sort of impact that Jesus wants the story to have on you and on me.  Truly do this.

Once there was a man who was left for dead by some robbers on the side of a dangerous highway, and a pastor, who was driving along, saw him, but out of fear chose to drive a little quicker.  The church organist also saw him, but did not feel safe to stop.  But, a ___fill in the blank__ “when he saw him he was moved with compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine” just as Jesus would have done for you (Luke 10:34-35).

After-all, sometimes you are the enemy of God.  Sometimes, you refuse to do what is right and good and refuse to love as Jesus loved.  And, Jesus still saved you.  As the Apostle Paul reminds us: “God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  Not only that, Jesus still uses you.

God provides, and sometimes God even uses the hands of our enemies.

Sometimes our “enemies” are actually real people who are a mix of both good and bad, just like us.  Sometimes our “enemies” do not even know that they are our enemy; we never told them, we just got mad.  Sometimes our “enemies” are just people trying to do what they think is right and messing it all up.  Sometimes our “enemies” are people who could turn their lives around if they had a good neighbor who refused to pass on by, but instead showed some compassion and mercy.

In 2019, an evil robber snatched the money from an old woman who had just withdrawn money from an ATM.  In his haste, he snatched both the money and the receipt.  But, the surveillance video shows that the evil robber stopped in his tracks when he looked at the receipt and saw that the balance was zero.  As I mentioned before, the victim was an elderly woman.  But, she was not a victim, because right then and there he had compassion on the woman and immediately gave the money back.  The man was arrested, but I just want to point out that even an enemy can have compassion. 

Even an enemy is able to turn to good.  Even an enemy is a neighbor, for whom we can show some compassion, if we are just willing to allow God to make us stop and see them for who they really are, instead of who we need them to be. You see, sometimes we need them to be an enemy, for our own purposes.

But, Jesus teaches: “I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28).

“Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36).

God provides, using his hands on a cross to embrace us all, the good and bad.

God provides, and sometimes God even uses the hands of our enemies.

God provides, and sometimes God even uses our hands.

And, when God does, life flows out of cups and makes the world taste so much better.

Reflection on Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

 

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ 6 And if a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on that person, but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’

16  “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” 18 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 Indeed, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Reflection 

“You can have all this world.  Give me Jesus.”

I have loved the words of the song "Give Me Jesus" for a long time.  I think it is because it reflects the childhood relationship that I had with Jesus.  Like many of you, I did not have a whole lot when I was young.  I would stare at the big toys on the upper shelves of the toy aisle, and I would dream of what it would be like if I could have one of those big toys.  But, I knew those big toys were not in the cards for me.  You do not need to ask your parents (who are doing the best that they can to scrape by) if you can have one of those big toys too many times before you learn that the big toys are not for people like you.

Do not feel too bad for the childhood me.  I could not have the big toys, but I could have the biggest person I could image.  I could have God.  I could have Jesus right there with me at all times.  Not only could I, but I did have Jesus right there with me at all times.  I honestly think that I had a stronger faith when I was a kid than I have ever had as an adult.  I am not exaggerating. 

I talked with Jesus all of the time.  I talked with Jesus while riding my bike, discussing the struggles that I faced as I road round and round the farm.  Granted, it is not like I had drastic concerns.  My parents were great.  My friends were loyal.  But, I still had concerns none-the-less.  I had worries about family members’ health.  I had struggles with trying to follow the rules.  You know, I had everyday kid struggles.  And, I talked with Jesus about every single one.  I thanked Jesus for the beautiful clouds I saw and for the wondrous animals I followed in the woods.  At no point did I ever even slightly think that Jesus would not be right there with me, listening to my every word. 

“You can have all this world.  Give me Jesus.”  The words of that song were my life.  I could not have the big toys, but I had Jesus.  Those words were my reality.

What happens when we become adults?  I fear that the lyrics, “You can have all this world.  Give me Jesus,” are likely more of a prayer for many adults than they are a reflection of daily experience.  The words of the song reflect more a desire to be able to give up everything in this world and trust in Jesus than they are a declaration that we have actually pulled it off.

After-all, we know that the story found in Genesis, chapter 3 is the very real story of our lives.  When Adam and Eve choose to listen to a voice of darkness, the snake, and choose to trust their own wisdom, rather than God’s wisdom, it results in them being pushed out of the garden where God resides.  The gate to the garden is shut, cherubim guard the gate, and flames obscure the entrance.  The faith of their youth is shut away, and they look back, yearning for those good times walking and talking with God.

And, people still look back toward the gates to the garden today.  People still yearn for what is beyond the gates.  People still have a desire for the kingdom of peace that is found there.  People are ready to have an encounter with the holy; to have a share in the life of the kingdom.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;” Jesus says (Luke 10:2a).  People are ready to share in that kingdom life.  People are still looking for Jesus. 

I just want to note that many people who are looking for Jesus have not lived a life that remotely resembles a kingdom life.  They have lived rough lives, with rough morals.  Many people who are looking for Jesus come from a pretty dark place.

I remember talking with a woman who was desperate to help feed her children.  Not only that, she was desperate for a new life and wanted a new life.  But, when she came into a Christian aid organization, seeking help and prayer, the literal word for word response she got was, “Why should we help you?  You needed to spend your money better, and then you would have money for your children.”

Sobbing, she told me, “I know I needed to spend my money better.  I know my life has been terrible.  That is why I went to them for help!  I thought I would find Jesus.  I didn’t.”

Maybe, there is a reason that Jesus plans to send his disciples out with nothing.  Maybe, they need to understand what it is to come with hands open, with no way to help their own situation; completely dependent on others; completely dependent on God.  People are still looking for Jesus, and they hope to not be turned away from God’s grace.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2).

People absolutely still yearn for the love and life that Jesus has.  So, Jesus is going to need some followers who actually depend on him, people who actually desire to provide his healing, and who actually desire to share Jesus’ vision for what life could be like.  He needs followers who will not get distracted and simply do whatever they want to do.  And, that means that his followers will not be getting the big toys.

“Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road” (Luke 10:3-4).

A number of years back I did a confirmation trip with a student where I wanted him to understand this type of trust.  We set out on a three day road trip to learn about Jesus and experience what it is to trust God.  Though I did have destinations in mind, no planning was done, no meals were packed, no housing was secured, and no contacts were made.  We just got in the car and drove.  We had to trust that God would provide for our needs and we had to be open to whatever hospitality God had put into the hearts of the people we would encounter.

To be completely honest with you, I did secretly pack a tent in the back of the trunk, just in case.  In some ways, my confirmation student probably had more trust than myself.

But, amazingly, all three days we were welcomed into people’s homes, given meals, and they were all more than willing to participate in the confirmation lessons and learn with the student about Jesus. 

With our concerns for student safety these days, this is not an experience that will ever happen again, but it was one of the most profound experiences of trusting and serving in Jesus’ name that I have ever experienced.  We never lacked for food or water.  We never were stranded or cast away.  In fact, someone even treated us to a nice meal at a Mexican restaurant.  How great is that!  Who knew that tacos could convince someone that Jesus was with us?  And, they all wanted to learn about Jesus with the confirmation student.  The whole experience made it feel like I was a kid again with Jesus right there beside me.  On that trip, we both learned to depend on Jesus, and we both learned to share our faith with those who welcomed us.

We did not need to shake any dust off of our feet in protest of anyone’s lack of hospitality, as Jesus suggests when running into resistance.  Instead, Jesus taught us to trust in him.

“The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning’” (Luke 10:17-18).

The seventy-two men and women returned, astonished that they had connected with those who were searching for God; astonished that they were accepted into their homes and given food and a bed to sleep in; astonished that they were able to help these people with whom they were staying; astonished that Jesus was able to provide healing through their very own hands; astonished that Jesus was able to cast out demons through the words of their lips; and astonished that they were a part of God’s cosmic plan to bring light into dark places.  God is good.  God is God.

“Indeed, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

God’s light conquers the darkness, and these disciples saw it happen right before their very eyes.  People were healed because Jesus was using their very own hands to recreate his Garden of Eden kingdom right where they were.  The stories of these healed and restored people are the stories that these disciples are going to tell over and over again to their children and their children’s children.

“Hey, listen up.  Once Jesus sent me to stay with a family, who we found had a boy who was suffering a demon hidden away in the back room.  I do not know how Jesus did it, but when I was able to duck the flailing arms of the boy and get my hands on his head, the boy calmed right down and was back to normal, just as he was when he was much younger.  God is good!  Jesus is Lord!”

Jesus uses the disciples to smash the dark and dangerous scorpions of the wild.  Jesus uses the disciples to step on the head of the ancient chaos snake, bringing light and order to people’s dark worlds.  But, it is not the disciples who have this power; it is the power of Jesus at work in their lives.  It is the presence of God’s Eden kingdom seeping into our world.  Rejoice, whenever you are able to be a part of that kingdom’s seeping.  “Rejoice that you names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). 

As Jesus says: “Do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).