A Jealous Hunger Luke 9:28-43

I have always struggled with the Transfiguration. Reading about what Peter, John and James were privileged to see of Christ transfigured usually leads us down the path to our own moments of where we recognize Christ’s presence in our lives. While these are nice, they pale in comparison to what they saw. We might even feel shortchanged because faith would be so much easier if we saw what they saw, right?

This is the problem we have with glory. We consider it a value to possess and control. Glory is about us and how we see it. We worship the glory rather than what lies behind the vision that overwhelms our sight. Yes, Peter, John and James had an amazing vision of Christ’s glory but it was quick. Jesus’ glory was his coming down to us to redeem us from the shrieking, life denying, convulsive evil that is all around us. He came down to us to show us that the glory isn’t found in our search for mountain top experiences. Glory goes to the One who alone will finally bring us, this world and all creation to completion through Christ’s cross and resurrection.

The verses prior to this Jesus is teaching his disciples about the need to take up the cross and follow him. What good does it do to seek glory on human terms but fail to recognize that the glory of Christ is his coming down to save us? What good does it do to sell our souls for the glory that is now and miss out on the glory that is yet to be?

I am going to look at the Transfiguration not as a frantic search for mountain top experiences and say that is glory. I am going to look at the Transfiguration as a glorious vision of what will be. Transfiguration is a jealous hunger. To one day look upon Christ in the fullness of his glory means that death will be no more, swallowed up completely in his resurrection. To one day look upon Christ in the fullness of his glory, is to have the shrieking, life defying and convulsive presence of evil silenced forever. To look upon Christ in the fullness of his glory, means we and this world and all creation will have been brought to completion in Christ. The Transfiguration for me is a jealous hunger to one day look upon the glory of Christ who has come down to save us.

What is the Transfiguration to you?

Peace.

A Jesus Kind of Radical Luke 6:27-38

If you wanted to be a radical that really wanted to change things, whether it be in your church or community or even the world, what steps would you begin to take?

Would you start a blog to refute ‘fake news’ or what you consider to be ‘fake news?’

Would you grab a sign and join in with others to form a protest march?

Would you become politically active to support the candidates that share your views of how the world should function?

Jesus gave some radical ideas from this reading out of Luke. The type of ideas that are guaranteed to get push back. Jesus said, “Love your enemies.” But if we do this, who will we hate? Who will we demonize and use to scare others into following our political views?

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This is a wimpy idea. How are we ever going to end up on top if we are looking out for the benefit of others?

Jesus said, “Do not judge.” This is ridiculous. How are we ever going to feel superior to others if we don’t judge them as lesser? How can we justify the lousy ways we treat others if we don’t first judge them worthy of such treatment? How can we be confident of our salvation if we don’t judge other certain for damnation?

Jesus’ words in Luke seem so ridiculous. They are too far out on the fringe. They are too radical to be taken seriously in the world and how it works. This is precisely the point. Jesus is speaking about the reign and the coming rule of the kingdom of God. The ways of God require the endless cycle of hate and abuse and manipulation, etc come to an end. Jesus didn’t come to bless what we bless but came to redeem and make all things new in the resurrection.

So Jesus is inviting us to be radicals for the kingdom of God. It sounds impossible but he isn’t let us off the hook. If we long and hunger for the reign of God to be over us, then we need to be Jesus kind of radicals. In the end we are promised that life will be known that is truly overflowing. The measure of life we grant to others is the measure of life we’ll receive in return.

Peace.

Blessings and Woes Luke 6:17-26

When talking about being blessed, what comes to mind? Don’t we usually default to what is normally defined by blessing in the world? Normally, blessing involves having big numbers in the checking account at the bank. Blessing is being free from much of life’s trials and struggles – life goes easy. Blessings are what we call all of our friends and family. This is what we consider being blessed.

So we come to the words of Jesus and we are confused because he says just the opposite. He is teaching that blessed are the poor, those who mourn and weep as well as those persecuted because of him. Furthermore, Jesus announces ‘woes’ to those who are rich, happy and regarded with a good reputation by lots of people. Jesus is obviously out of sync with what the world values and we so often define as being the blessed by God.

This reading is Luke’s version of the Beatitudes. What makes Luke’s version different is that Jesus comes down to the level plane. He isn’t sitting like a teacher on a hill as a teacher did instructing the students. He came down to the level plane to share with us in the flesh. He came down to stare directly face to face with our humanity and our reality. The good news of the incarnation is that God has not abandoned us in our sin and death but has come to us in Christ Jesus to bring us salvation and the resurrection.

What is important to notice is that Jesus didn’t speak these Beatitudes to the crowds amazed by the healing and casting out of their demons. Jesus was looking at the disciples. He was directing these words to the church. The people of the kingdom. Those who take to heart his ministry which he announced as good news to the poor and release to the captives and of the year of the Lord’s favor which emphasized forgiveness of debts and a rebooting of economic structures. Blessed are those concerned with the kingdom’s presence.

Blessed are the poor for they will know the fullness of the kingdom.

Blessed are those who mourn and weep over the lies and killing and race baiting and hate etc. because they long for the kingdom to be realized by all.

Blessed are those who speak like the prophet of old to the kings of old of the injustice and the trampling of the poor that defined their rule.

Blessed are those devoted to the kingdom. Blessed are those longing for the salvation that only Christ brings. Blessed are those seeking the new life of Christ’s resurrection to be known by all of creation.

Have a blessed day.

Peace.

A New Way Luke 5:1-11

Imagine a struggling company invites a consultant to come and make recommendations of what they could do better. After a lengthy and expensive analysis, the consultant’s advice is to just keep doing the same things. You can only guess at the complaints leveled like: “We’ve been doing that same thing for a long time and gotten no where. Don’t you have any new ideas?”

“We’ve been doing that same thing all night and caught nothing,” was Simon’s response to Jesus’ instructions of putting the nets down in the deep water. Simon along with James and John were professional fishermen. This was their business. It was how they made a living. So when Jesus recommended putting the nets down again, this was just doing the same old hoping for different results. This time was different. The nets were so full of fish that both boats were at the point of sinking. Peter fell to his knees confessing his sin and calling Jesus as Lord. Jesus gave Simon a new purpose which was to catch people for the kingdom of God.

Jesus had been teaching about the good news of the kingdom of God. Now was a perfect time for this to be shown in all its net bursting fulness. We in the church could learn from this as well. We have been casting nets in our surrounding communities with nets full and with nets empty. We search for marketing techniques and business models that will guarantee a full house every Sunday. Are we merely hauling people in the doors or are we bringing people into the kingdom of God? There is a difference.

Jesus announced his ministry would be good news for the poor and for the oppressed to be set free and for a reversal of economic systems that forever keep the poor in poverty. This is the good news of the kingdom of God and marks a striking contrast between caught up into the kingdom and being only a number.

Jesus as Lord is the bringer of the kingdom and as the living Word the voice to let down the nets. May we know the difference.

Peace

Jesus was a lousy politician Luke 4:21-30

Jesus really seems to mess things up in the lesson from Luke. He had his chance to unify his political base but it was lost instead. Politics. We have likely played the game at one time or another. We have also likely been played. Politics goes like this:

The right phrases or code words are used to get your base’s attention. Emotions are tugged at, especially fear. Fear is a good one. Fear of change. Fear of our neighbor. Fear of those with different ideas. Yes, fear is a good one to rally the base behind you. You need to say what will bring the people together.

Jesus was getting a lot of good attention from those in the synagogue. They spoke highly of Jesus and how gracious his words were that he spoke. The people were amazed at how far Jesus had come from being a simple carpenter’s son. The people were ready to follow but then Jesus messed up.

He announced the beginning of his ministry by quoting from Scripture. Did he quote Scripture that reinforced the feelings of nationalism and rebirth of the nation of Israel? Nope. Did he quote Scripture that emphasized God’s preference of Israel over the other nations, namely Rome? Nope. Instead, Jesus quoted from the prophet Isaiah of good news brought to the poor, freedom to the prisoner, oppressed were released and of the year of the Lord’s favor when society was rebooted and all debts were cancelled. The result of the widening gap between the rich and poor was made more level.

The people still were interested until Jesus told of God sending Elijah to a widow in Zarephath during a famine and not to Israel. Also of Elisha cleansing Naaman’s leprosy and none other. These two were Gentiles. The people were furious and tried to throw Jesus off a cliff to kill him.

Just before this Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. One of the big temptations was to have all the nations of the world if Jesus would only worship the devil. He could have had the people if he only played the game of politics. They would have lifted him up high if Jesus only would go for the power of the world. In the end, the people lifted him high on a cross but he was raised on the third day. The power of God is greater than our sin. The power of God is what can raise up new life from our passion for death.

Jesus came to announce good news to the poor, the oppressed and the prisoner. He came to announce the year of the Lord’s favor. He came to save us and make this world new. Jesus was a lousy politician. This is good news.

Peace

What were they thinking? Luke 4:14-21

This has been called by many as Jesus’ inauguration speech. He is setting the stage for what his work and ministry will be in the future. He was in the synagogue and reads from the prophet Isaiah about good news preached to the poor and freedom to the prisoners and the recovery of sight to the blind and release of the captives and the year of the Lord’s favor. As the eyes of all were fixed on Jesus, he announced that this Scripture was fulfilled in their hearing of it.

Their eyes were fixed on Jesus but I wonder if they were thinking this was good news for them. I am wondering if we also look at the same reading as good news for today? After all, what do we think about when the idea of the coming of the Lord is talked about? Don’t we think about blessing. The Lord will bless us and the blessing is defined as keeping our positions of power and control in society. We think about wealth. We think about maintaining what is or a possible return to an idealized glory of the past. We think we know what the coming of the Lord will be like but the Lord’s thinking is not always in tune with ours.

The Scripture Jesus read was nothing less than the rebooting of society. The year of the Lord’s favor (Jubilee) was the cancellation of debts and return of even the land to previous owners. The poor and imprisoned are no longer under the boot of the powerful. This is the Lord’s way of bringing blessing to society.

Now those present spoke well of Jesus. In other words they were trying to get on his good side and graces. However, Jesus told of how God’s graces reached out to a poor Gentile widow and Naaman the Syrian, not to Israel. They were enraged and tried to throw Jesus off a nearby cliff to kill him. Jesus didn’t fit with their thinking of blessing.

Jesus announced the start of his ministry by reading from Scripture of the rebooting of society. The rich are brought down with the poor raised up. All debts are cancelled. This is how society will be blessed in his ministry. What do you think about this?

Peace

Does a child frighten you? Matthew 2:1-12

As another Christmas season passes and the decorations begin to be put away in the closet for next year, the images of the magi visiting the baby Jesus are common. We see them in the crèches on church lawns and in front of the neighbor’s house across the street. Maybe you joined in singing a verse from “We Three Kings of Orient Are.” The image is serene, calming and pastoral. Amazing how culture has taken such a divisive scene and stripped it of the challenge forced upon us with this baby born, King of the Jews. The passage from Matthew is frightening to many.

Those who studied the night sky and searched the heavens for knowledge or wisdom saw stars align telling them of the birth of a king, the King of the Jews. They packed gifts worthy of a king and ventured westward to ask Herod where to find this king. When they found the child Jesus, they worshiped him.

Herod’s rule as king was a political appointment from Rome. He was not the legitimate heir to the throne of David and he knew it. He acted like it too. His plan was to deceitfully use the magi as a means to kill his challenger to the throne. Herod’s approach was no different from what we hear about today in the news. Political challengers and journalists critical of authoritarian governments end up missing or dead. Herod’s tactics are nothing new.

The story of the magi and Herod is a word against the Jewish people of the time for rejecting their king. In contrast, the Gentile magi knew who Jesus was and worshiped him. This passage also challenges us to recognize Jesus as King of the Jews and Lord of all. Will we recognize his legitimacy as King and Lord?

The birth of Jesus is frightening because it challenges the power and legitimacy of the kingdoms of this world. The magi knew it and Herod did too. Do we?

Peace

Mary’s Treasure and Ours Too Luke 2:41-52.

Mary has received a lot of news about this child of hers. She burst into a song of praise to the Lord when Elizabeth called her blessed for having believed the message of the angels regarding her giving birth to the Christ child. She pondered and treasured in her heart the news which the shepherds passed on from the angels. On the eighth day she and Joseph presented the baby Jesus in the Temple where Simeon and Anna spoke of blessing but also that a sword will pierce her own soul as well. Twelve years later Jesus turns up missing on their annual trek to observe the Passover. He was found debating theology with the teachers of the Temple. Mary again treasured this in her heart even though Jesus announced that the Temple was his Father’s house.

Mary has received a lot of news about this child of hers but how much do you think she understood? Yes, she sang the praises and treasured the hoped for blessings that are coming in Jesus’ birth. However was she really understanding what the sword in her soul would be? A mother’s pain of seeing her child killed on a cross.

This time of year we have heard much about the Christ child born in a manger. We are invited to embrace him and take him into our world. We do it with praise on our lips because here is the Son of God come down to us. Here is love that has and continues to be poured over us. As we embrace him, are we also prepared for a sword in our soul as well? Jesus’ birth was not to bless what we have made for ourselves but to bless us with the reign of God. The two are not one in the same.

So we join with Mary as we respond to the blessing that is born to us in Jesus. We can treasure this news in our hearts. We can sing the news with praise on our lips. How will this blessing unfold and take place? John the Baptist will now set the stage.

Peace

What are you wishing for? Luke 1:39-55

“What are you wishing for?” is the kind of question we get often this time of year. It often comes from those looking to fill in the hole behind our name on their gift list. So what is on your wish list for the year but lets get serious. The wishes that go beyond what can be wrapped and placed under the tree. The serious wishes often fall outside of our capacity to make happen. The serious wishes might include health for a friend spending too much time in the hospital this last year. A country less divided…a lot less hatred in words and actions…a calmer Wall Street could also be on our list wishes. So, “What are you wishing for?”

Elizabeth and Mary had their own personal wishes. Elizabeth and her husband were at the age where wishing for a child had changed to wishing for the child that could have been. Yet, she was pregnant. A new life was going to be born when reality had no hope. The kind of wish for the advent, the coming of God.

Mary was also pregnant under circumstances considered scandalous. However, she broke into song that announced the wishes of what was an insignificant young woman living under the dictates of others far more powerful. The wishes made possible because of the child she was carrying. The coming of God to bring new life to those with no hope. The coming of God to make new a world where the wishes of the lowly get filled.

The proud are scattered in the thoughts of their hearts…

The powerful are removed from their thrones…

The lowly are lifted up…

The hungry are filled with good things…

The rich are sent away empty…

The wishes of Elizabeth and Mary were made possible by the advent of God, namely the Christ child soon to be born.

What do you wish for? Seriously, “what do you wish for?” with the coming of Christ?

Peace

Good News Preached Luke 3:7-18

Wow! John the Baptist sure knows how to be publicly correct. Calling people a brood of vipers and telling of an ax ready to chop down those not producing good fruit is going to get a bunch of people agitated. You can almost hear them hissing in protest, can’t you.? This was John the Baptist’s strategy. The people were coming to be baptized by him in anticipation for the coming of the Lord. He was pushing them to become what their actions meant.

Who wouldn’t want the coming of the Lord? Especially, if it means the Romans get kicked out of the region and you are given power and wealth and blessing and…. Who wouldn’t want this good news! Yet, John the Baptist is calling them a brood of vipers. So what gives?

We live in a season of expectation that defines good news and blessing by gifts received and parties attended. However the words of John the Baptist are still echoing for us to hear and heed. If good news is to be good news, then it must be for everyone. He is pushing us to become what is that good news.

John the Baptist describes the coming of Christ who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Christ will separate the chaff from the wheat with the chaff being burned with unquenchable fire. This is good news because this means everything will be changed and a new reign, the Kingdom of God will be established over us. This is going to be as dynamic a transformation as death giving way to resurrection.

So what should we do? If someone is hungry, feed them. If someone is shivering in the cold then find them warmth. If you are in a position of power then quit rigging the system to your advantage… quit using your power to profit at the expense of others. This is a radical change from what is happening in the daily news.

So with such news John the Baptist exhorted the people and preached good news to them. The good news of the Kingdom of Heaven which we welcome in Christ. It is good news because it is good news for all.

Peace