Wealth, Possessions, and Worry

 Scripture: Hosea 11:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-9, 43  • Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 and Psalm 49:1-12  • Colossians 3:1-11  • Luke 12:13-21

The Greek word for greed in Jesus’s parable this week is πλεονεξία (pleonexia). It is the type of avarice that is the insatiable desire to have what rightfully belongs to others. What does Jesus have to say about wealth, possessions, and worry? Paul calls it idolatry in this week's Epistle to the Colossians, when the desire for wealth begins to take over one's life. 

In "Soul Investment" The Rev. Kathryn M. Matthews asks us what makes us secure, and what is of value to us - what do our possessions mean to us, and what do we do with them.

Notice the contrast between Joseph storing up grain in preparation for famine and the rich farmer in Jesus' parable. What are the differences in perspective, what they do, and who they do it for?

What do we worry about? This is particularly relevant today, not only in finances and economics, individually, nationally and internationally, but in terms of security. What is Jesus' answer to our priorities, and worry?

As Debie Thomas says in "Rich Toward God,"we don't like talking about money. She wrestles with Jesus' answer to the perfectly good request of the man who asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide an inheritance with him. He was not asking for unfairness or something unreasonable. What was Jesus' reply? It helps to see what Jesus sees - what is going through the man's mind and experience. What do you get from the parable of the rich man who planned to build more barns to store his wealth to enjoy in his retirement, but whose life was taken from him that night. So it is, Jesus says, with those who store up treasures for themselves, but are not "rich toward God." What does he mean? As Debie Thomas says "Be rich toward God. Don't shy away. Be brave and wrestle with what this invitation means, because the richness we spend on God is the only richness we'll keep in the end."

Starting with the life of St. Francis, Dan Clendenin gives an excellent account of the complexities of life issues concerning wealth, possessions, and greed in "Be On Your Guard. "

When We Pray

 Scripture: Hosea 1:2-10 and Psalm 85  •  Genesis 18:20-32 and Psalm 138  •  Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)  •  Luke 11:1-13

What do you pray for, when you pray? The disciples in this week's gospel ask Jesus to teach them to pray. What is it they see and experience in Jesus that leads them to ask this question? As observant Jews, they knew how to pray. 

What does Jesus mean when he says to ask, and it will be given to us? Seek, and you shall find? Knock, and the door will be open to you?

Debie Thomas, in "When You Pray," gives us an excellent lesson on what Jesus means when he says these things, and as he taught his disciples to pray. Do you believe God answers prayers? How and in what way? How does God answer prayers?

In What Is God Like?, Dan Clendenin tells us Jesus says, when you pray, trust in what God is like. What does he mean? 

Hospitality

 Scripture: Amos 8:1-12 and Psalm 52  •  Genesis 18:1-10a and Psalm 15  •  Colossians 1:15-28  • Luke 10:38-42

This week we learn about God's hospitality from the Genesis account of Abraham's hospitality to the three men and the blessed news of a child to be born, to the story of Mary and Martha's hospitality to Jesus. While Martha diligently worked to make Jesus comfortable, Jesus tells her Mary has chosen the "better part." What did Jesus mean?

In "Sir, please do not go beyond your servant," John W. Martens says that Paul, in his letter to the Colossians,  tells us that the greatest gift of hospitality any of us can offer is to invite all to participate in the welcoming of Jesus as his servants, in order "to make the Word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generation, but has now been revealed to his saints."

In "Watching Til the Ego Yields," Peter Woods challenges us to go beyond artificial and superficial hospitality, and helps us get beyond our egos, in order to invite the Christ into our lives, like Mary, so that we might share his gift of eternal life, love and forgiveness with

others.

In "Living with Martha," The Rev. Stephanie Frey turns the tables on us , so to speak, as Jesus often does, and helps us see past our own agendas, even when we think we are "doing the Lord's work." We are called to realize that Jesus, not us, is the host. What is the significance of that?

Read Debie Thomas' "Only One Thing," as she wrestles with the text and values in Martha's hospitality work, and Martha sitting at Jesus feet, listening. She says "I wonder if we can hear Jesus’s words to Martha, not as a criticism, but as an invitation.  Not as a rebuke, but as a soothing balm.  Jesus knows that we ache to be whole.  Jesus knows that we place brutal and devastating expectations on ourselves.  Jesus knows that our resentments, like Martha’s, are often borne of envy. Martha longed to sit where Mary sat. She longed to take delight in Jesus’s words.  She longed to surrender her heavy burden and allow Jesus to host her.  Maybe we long for these good things, too.”

Jesus is visiting his dear friends, but he is the Host of God's hospitality for all of us.

Do we overcomplicate our life choices?

 Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-14 and Psalm 30  •  Isaiah 66:10-14 and Psalm 66:1-9  •  Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

I don't know about you, but a lot of times I tend to make things harder than they need to be. At first, I was put off by the topic of Debie Thomas' article , "Choosing What is Easy," but as I read how she interwove the story of the military leader Naaman's healing and Jesus sending out the seventy carrying no purse or sandals, speaking peace one on one, I get the point. Why do we over complicate, over think things? As in the healing of Naaman, what do we need to do for healing? What is the task, as we are sent out as followers of Christ to those we meet in our everyday lives? What do we need to do to accomplish the task?

I love the way The Rev. Jazzy Bostock uses the story of the healing of Naaman, luring us into the story through the eyes of the many characters in the story, and through them, inviting us into various prayers through the characters. Read her "Healing of Naaman"for prayers which lead to healing, and what needs healing. What do you pray for? What should we pray for?

Love your neighbor

 Scripture: Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82  •  Deuteronomy 30:9-14 and Psalm 25:1-10  •  Colossians 1:1-14  •  Luke 10:25-37

This week Jesus gives us the parable of the good Samaritan.  What is a good Samaritan? What is involved in being a good Samaritan? See The Rev. David Lose's "Who is our neighbor?" for an interesting insight into what Jesus says, not only about our neighbors, but also about caregivers - about all of us.

In "Meeting the Good Samaritan," The Rev. Dr. Thomas Long also tells us there's something deeper going on here than the moral of helping those in need. He says something has to happen to us to be good Samaritans. What does he mean? Why do we have "Good Samaritan laws? As in most parables, Jesus teaches us to examine ourselves. What will we find?

Debie Thomas in "Afflicting the Comfortable," asks, “Is that all there is?” To be good, kind, compassionate, like the good Samaritan? Considering the bitter hatred the Jews of Jesus' audience had for the Samaritans, she suspects Jesus is telling us there is much more to learn - more importantly, to live out, as we heed his parable. She asks, “What if we were the helpless victim in the story?” Would it matter who our rescuer is? What implications does this have in our bitterly divided society, country and world?