Self Righteous Judgment

Scripture: 

• Joel 2:23-32 and Psalm 65  • 
• Sirach 35:12-17 or Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22 and Psalm 84:1-7  • 
• 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18  • 
• Luke 18:9-14

The last few weeks we have considered lessons in "faith living." We have read and discussed scripture and articles which have provided things to consider in living out the gospel innately, so that it becomes so much a part of us that we manifest God's presence and love.

Some of the lessons we have learned are: (1) keep it simple, and go about our work and what is expected of us, with our "hand to the plow" - the reward will come; (2) go about our work with a spirit of humble and joyous thanks and praise for God's gift of a present hope and blessing; (3) and, as we considered last week, the lesson of keeping our faith through persistent prayerful relationship with God, which builds trust and assurance that God's will will be done in God's good time, and God's purpose for us will be fulfilled.

Last week we considered Jesus' parable of the unjust judge. This week, the next lesson in "faith living" concerns our judgment of others, and the trap of being self righteous in the process. What are the consequences? In our judgment of others how can we avoid being self righteous?

Consider Bruce Maples' article "Seeing Others as Zeros," and The Rev. Joseph Pagano's Modern Day Donatism and the Church  

Unjust Judges, Faith, Prayer, and Perseverance

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:27-34 and Psalm 119:97-104  •  Genesis 32:22-31 and Psalm 121  •  2 Timothy 3:14-4:5  •  Luke 18:1-8

The headlines have been full of negative political attack ads and corrupt, or dishonest politicians. This week Jesus continues "faith lessons" with a story of a widow who persists in calling on the unjust judge who gives her justice so she won't wear him out by continually calling on him. Jesus tells us how much quicker God will grant justice to those who call on him day and night.

We have had a series of lessons about faith the last few weeks. I have often thought how we can carry out God's call to us, to live in discipleship without having to think about it, or rationalize it, so that it is such an innate part of us, that God's compassion, love, mercy and justice are manifest in and through us in all we say or do.

Two weeks ago, part of that answer was given - keep it simple, like servants who know what is expected of them, and continue to work without regard for the reward. Last week, we were told to go on living our lives joyously, in thankfulness and praise, and not let the opportunity to hear God's call slip by, even in the midst of crisis, uncertainty - even in exile, and even when we need an exodus. Through all of this, Jesus tells us "Your faith has made you whole."

Drawing on the 2nd letter to Timothy and the gospel reading for this week, The Rev. Nils Chittenden in "Patina of Faith," discusses "tradition" and "reason" and building a trusting relationship with God through persistent calling on him.

The Rev. Kate Huey, in "Ask Boldly, Live Justly/To Speak and Be Heard,"puts this week's gospel in context when she tells us what the word "widow," in that ancient culture, meant and signified. God hears the persistent cries, and prayers of "the silent one," one who is unable to speak, because society considers them unworthy - people without a voice. Sound familiar? The very people Jesus associated with, healed, fed, and liberated by his teaching, love, compassion, and the grace and mercy of his sacrifice on the cross.

This third step of faith enabling us to act out God's love and faith innately, without a second thought, is praying and building a relationship with God which results in trust, and gives us hope that God's will be done in God's time.

Living in the Shadows and Thankfulness

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 and Psalm 66:1-12  •  2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c and Psalm 111  •  2 Timothy 2:8-15  •  Luke 17:11-19

In this week's gospel Jesus heals ten lepers, outcasts living in isolation who cry out "Unclean!" to passers by, and who seek Jesus' healing. In "A Foreigner's Praise," Debie Thomas tells us that this story is much more than just thankfulness. Why did the one return to give thanks to Jesus, and the others didn't? What was missing in the leper's life? In our lives? What does it take to find what matters most? To be healed? To get on with our lives? How does this affect others we commune with, associate with, who we see as others or foreigners, who we include and exclude? Who of us misses the mark (ἁμαρτία - the Greek word for "sin")? Who is worthy of healing, love, forgiveness, acceptance? What stands in the way?

What is faith?

Scripture link.

What did Jesus just say? He's at it again. In Luke's gospel we have considered some hard stories to hear. Squandering, philandering sons, dishonest managers and beggars getting rewards! And this week, hard working slaves are told to come to the table only after they have finished their work, and rather than to expect to be commended for their work, they are to say "We have only done what we ought to have done!"

As Christopher Burkett says, it is no wonder the disciples said to Jesus, "Increase our faith!" What is the point of these parables? Consider The Rev. Rick Morley's "keeping it simple -  a reflection on Luke 17:5-10"; and Christopher Burkett's "Love bade me welcome." 

What is it to have faith? What does Jesus mean in his response to the disciples plea to oncrease their faith? Read  Debie Thomas' "If You Have Faith."

The Great Chasm

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 and Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16  •  Amos 6:1a, 4-7 and Psalm 146  •  1 Timothy 6:6-19  •  Luke 16:19-31

In this Sunday's Scripture, the prophet Amos and Paul's first letter to Timothy warns us of the dangers of the inequitable gap between the lives of the rich and the poor, and that money is the root of all evil. This follows last week's lesson where Jesus tells his disciples that you cannot serve both God and wealth. But in Jesus' parable of the rich man and Lazarus, and the great chasm between the two in the afterlife, is the parable really just another parable about money or wealth?

Read Debie Thomas' incisive "The Great Chasm" for her thoughts on the matter. Why is there, and who is responsible for "the great chasm?" What can be done about it? How can we see as Jesus sees? What is involved in seeing as Jesus sees?

Wealth and Serving God

Scripture: 

Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9  • 

Amos 8:4-7 and Psalm 113  • 

1 Timothy 2:1-7  • 

Luke 16:1-13

This week Jesus gives his disciples the parable of the dishonest manager. Scholars, preachers and teachers have a myriad of difficulties with this text. Why did the master of the dishonest manager commend him? Some say it has to do with being shrewd in times when shrewdness is needed. What if the dishonest manager is otherwise a good husband, father, or mother? Are we to write the person off as a bad person? What about the teaching that one who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest in much? Or, the flip side, one who is faithful in a very little is faithful in much? How do we reconcile these teachings? How are we reconciled in conflicts within ourselves, and with others? Humans are complex, not just simply one thing or another.

What about forgiveness? Can one serve both wealth and God?  

Consider Debie Thomas' honest grappling with this Sunday's gospel in "Notes to the Children of Light."

The Rev. Marshall A. Jolly in "Shrewdness," calls attention to our tendency to label people, saying, " We have labels...: a person who commits a crime ceases to be a person and instead becomes a criminal or an inmate. A person who enters the country illegally is reduced to an illegal immigrant. A person caught in the cycle of addiction disintegrates into the lexicon of addict or user or pill head. The language we use to refer to people whose behavior we find morally or ethically objectionable betrays us. They become something less than a person; something unworthy or unfit for our care and concern." Words matter.  How often do the rich blame the poor for their poverty? How often do we blame the victim? For a comprehensive look at Jesus' parable see Dan Clendenin's "Lovers of Money"

What is it to be Lost... and Found?

Scripture: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 and Psalm 14  •  Exodus 32:7-14 and Psalm 51:1-10  • 1 Timothy 1:12-17  • Luke 15:1-10

Jesus tells the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin to the tax collectors and sinners who were coming near to hear him, and to the scribes and Pharisees who were grumbling and disdainfully saying that Jesus welcomed and ate with sinners. 

The lesson is about being lost, and then found. Who are the lost in these parables? We have all suffered loss. How do we deal with loss.  How many ways can, or do we, get lost? What is it like to be found, to find someone or something of value? How do these parables help us when we become lost? What do these parables have to say about what we value, how we are valued? About our relationship with God, each other, and our church?

Debie Thomas has an excellent article "On Lostness," which helps put things into perspective.  Kirk Kubicek has some surprising things to say about the God who throws a party for those or that which was lost in his The Wrath of God