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Monday, March 05, 2007
All Due Disrespect
Psalm 27:1-14; Luke 13:31-35
Jesus led his disciples through one town after another, pressing on towards Jerusalem for a showdown with his religious opponents. How surprising, then, that this week's Gospel story has some of his most stubborn opponents tipping him off to coming danger. They were Pharisees, members of a sect committed to obeying God's laws at all cost. And they believed Jesus' teachings would make people all too happy to break those laws. They heard him say, "Love God and love people... the rest is commentary," and envisioned a slippery ethical slope that led to spiritual disaster.
But here they are, warning that King Herod is out to get Jesus if and when he gets to Jerusalem. His answer is quick and wicked: "Tell that fox Herod...." That fox!? The king!? Them's fighting words, Jesus!
Put yourself in his disciples' sandals... "Hoo boy, now we're really in for it." "I can hardly wait to walk into Jerusalem now." "What in heaven's name is he thinking?!?"
What, indeed.
Listen to the GODblog!
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I have a friend in a critical care unit right now, just barely conscious four long days after open heart surgery. The surgeon assured him the procedure was no big deal anymore and he'd come through it just fine -- at least that's the way for 90% or so patients. My friend is number 91, I guess.
I have another friend who started thrice-daily home dialysis a few weeks ago. He's had some incredibly painful side-effects, all predictable and (one hopes) treatable. Lately, he writes a lot of poems about mortality.
I have another friend who's halfway through his second year of dealing with metastasized prostate cancer. The doctor who diagnosed his disease predicted at the time that he would likely live about two more years.
I have another Friend whose death was guaranteed the day he called the king a worthless rascal. My friend Jesus had no respect for King Herod, and refused to be scared off by his threats if he ever set foot in the royal city. Facing his coming fate, he made sure that everyone who heard him out would come to terms with their own sure death.
Luke tells us (chapter 13, verses 24-25) that God's door of opportunity in this life is swinging shut, so we'd better do everything we can to find it and get through it while there's time.
He warns against two deadly mistakes:
1. Don't assume there's a miles-wide gateway into God's good graces. Unlike Rome, all roads do not lead to Heaven. Jesus discourages the spiritual smorgasbord approach to faith. "It seems good to me..." "One sincere idea's as good as another..." "Who's to say..." There's one door, and it's narrow. Opening that door cost Christ his very life; entering it costs you and me our lives, too. They're God's property!
2. Don't assume there's years of time for getting right with God. Each morning, when your eyes open from sleep, you can be sure of one more day in which to live, and maybe to die. Jesus warns us to make sure now that we get in on all God's promises before our time runs out.
The bad news in Luke 13 is that Jesus' hearers that day could find themselves locked out. The good news there is that other people could hear the invitation and gather from all points of the compass to accept it.
That's a prophecy about, among others, this all-American mongrel Jack getting in on the promises of a Jewish Messiah. And millions more like me all around the world and down through the centuries. Yay God! Amazing grace.
The friends I've mentioned have the ironic advantage of knowing how close to home their death has come. They're counting down through every day and night. So they assume nothing about much of anything these days. And they come to terms with -- well, everything that's ultimately important.
Truth be told, you and I have no more guarantee than these good people that we'll see next year, next week, or tomorrow. We too are wise to assume nothing. And to come to terms. Today.
posted by Jack Buckley at
4:08 PM
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