The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus moves along to its end.
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. (Luke 16:19-21) The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. (Luke 16:22) In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so and no one can cross from there to us.' (Luke 16:23-26) He said, 'Then father, I beg you to send him to my father's house - for I have five brothers - that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' He said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead. (Luke 27-31)
Everyone seems to want special attention or another chance or a special event to come about to bring everything in line with how we would like the world to be. Don't you think it odd that this rich man still wants Lazarus to be involved in the saving of his brothers? Lazarus was pretty much ignored while he was alive - his hunger and sores and poverty completely missed - none of those associated with the rich man probably even knew he died. So...that would be like sending a poor person to deliver a message - who is going to listen to Lazarus even now. More important for all of us the note that what needs to be heard is what is already available. Go to the writings you have. Here it is Moses and the Prophets. It is enough. From those scriptures and adding now the Christian scriptures we are handed a gift for life - life always - life eternal. These writings are not as so much filled with what we must do; they are filled with the reminder of who we are in relationship to God. That identity is what creates transformation. If I see my self as a rich man and my wealth defines me, there is a good chance that I will not let my identity as a beloved child of God rule my life. Too often the concrete stuff around us begins to rule us very quickly and quite thoroughly. I find the rich man to be like someone who expects solve the conditions of the world with a plan. He may be one of the original backers of self-help books. "If only...I had read...If only I bought...If only I made that team." No. Rather than stepping forward into life we make for ourselves, it is better for us to step back into the story that is eternally for us. Nothing can defeat that word - or separate us from its life - death - resurrection.
Connection: The story telling of our lives is the story in which we are setting off today. It has already started - it is already blessed - it is a part of who and whose we are. It can make a difference in how we move through the gift that is this day.
We give you thanks, O God, for the simple gift of you story of love that is the power to halt us and pull us and deliver us into the power of your Reign of love and peace and justice. You give us eyes to see how your love is the light for this day. Amen.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Tuesday 1 May 2007
Let's continue with The Rich Man and Lazarus.
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. (Luke 16:19-21) The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. (Luke 16:22) In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so and no one can cross from there to us. (Luke 16:23-25)
Well, here we are in the land of the dead and some things just haven't changed. The rich man having created a great chasm between his life and the life of the poor - such as Lazarus - is not able to see the chasm that he created. It is simply amazing how much we can see when we are put in the right situation to look at life from an angle that is not so "turned-in-on-self." During life, Lazarus had only one thing he could do - trust that God did and would abide with him even when the world around him was nothing more that sheer separation. The separation is something on which the Rich Man worked his whole life. Yes, he became rich and yes, he was able to make for himself (make for himself) a life of luxury without consideration for those around him who could have been rescued by his attention. But now...the separation he created becomes a reminder of what he has been building for himself. This is a story about life - not death. Or maybe, it is a story about the death we continue to embrace without stepping through it into a life that is quite contrary to the standard pattern of life in the world.
Connection: Even as I sit here writing, I realized that there are people in this day I need to approach so that I can take a look at the chasm I have been building...or at least allowing to exist.
Lord of the Living and the Dead, it is within your embrace that we are encouraged to become more than people seeking life for ourselves. Trusting in you, we become open to trusting others and we are thus moved from isolation to community in more and more expanding ways. We treasure your love for us. Amen.
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. (Luke 16:19-21) The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. (Luke 16:22) In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so and no one can cross from there to us. (Luke 16:23-25)
Well, here we are in the land of the dead and some things just haven't changed. The rich man having created a great chasm between his life and the life of the poor - such as Lazarus - is not able to see the chasm that he created. It is simply amazing how much we can see when we are put in the right situation to look at life from an angle that is not so "turned-in-on-self." During life, Lazarus had only one thing he could do - trust that God did and would abide with him even when the world around him was nothing more that sheer separation. The separation is something on which the Rich Man worked his whole life. Yes, he became rich and yes, he was able to make for himself (make for himself) a life of luxury without consideration for those around him who could have been rescued by his attention. But now...the separation he created becomes a reminder of what he has been building for himself. This is a story about life - not death. Or maybe, it is a story about the death we continue to embrace without stepping through it into a life that is quite contrary to the standard pattern of life in the world.
Connection: Even as I sit here writing, I realized that there are people in this day I need to approach so that I can take a look at the chasm I have been building...or at least allowing to exist.
Lord of the Living and the Dead, it is within your embrace that we are encouraged to become more than people seeking life for ourselves. Trusting in you, we become open to trusting others and we are thus moved from isolation to community in more and more expanding ways. We treasure your love for us. Amen.
Monday 30 April 2007
A bit of a delay today - but we still continue with the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. (Luke 16:19-21) The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. (Luke 16:22)
It was not my intention to stop at this point in the story for today. Then, it struck me. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham...the rich man died and was buried. Hum. Is this the difference between one who is known and has means to provide for proper burial and one who has nothing. What happens to the poor - the homeless - the forgotten when life finally comes to an end? I remember taking part in a funeral in Detroit in which one of the young men who had been a part of our congregation was killed. There was no money for a "proper burial" and so when we went to the graveside, it was a long trench in which two or three levels of caskets were placed. There was no special place, well-marked, and available for the family to visit in the future. His casket would sit on top of another, and then another would be placed on top of his. Everything would be covered over and the graves would be noted by numbers posted on the fence at the edge of the graveyard - a paupers field. What a contrast to a funeral in which the deceased was placed in what was the most expensive of caskets and the most well-sealed vault. Lazarus is taken up because - as is the case of the poor - no one is there to oversee a burial. What a powerful picture of how God remembers and keep close the poor even as they are again forgotten - at death. As far as the rich man - well, we all know that burial...we all are a part of that scene...much to be done and said on behalf of the loved one now gone.
Connection: There are people all around us without an identity - they have one...but we are not aware of it. These do not have to be strangers. They can be people with whom we walk through life...they can be in our congregations. Eyes open can create a new world.
We give you thanks, O God, for you alone keep us within your loving embrace even when we are forgotten and ignored by the world. You keep your promise...you hold us...you remember us...you treat us to the wonder and kindness of your Reign - forever. Amen.
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. (Luke 16:19-21) The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. (Luke 16:22)
It was not my intention to stop at this point in the story for today. Then, it struck me. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham...the rich man died and was buried. Hum. Is this the difference between one who is known and has means to provide for proper burial and one who has nothing. What happens to the poor - the homeless - the forgotten when life finally comes to an end? I remember taking part in a funeral in Detroit in which one of the young men who had been a part of our congregation was killed. There was no money for a "proper burial" and so when we went to the graveside, it was a long trench in which two or three levels of caskets were placed. There was no special place, well-marked, and available for the family to visit in the future. His casket would sit on top of another, and then another would be placed on top of his. Everything would be covered over and the graves would be noted by numbers posted on the fence at the edge of the graveyard - a paupers field. What a contrast to a funeral in which the deceased was placed in what was the most expensive of caskets and the most well-sealed vault. Lazarus is taken up because - as is the case of the poor - no one is there to oversee a burial. What a powerful picture of how God remembers and keep close the poor even as they are again forgotten - at death. As far as the rich man - well, we all know that burial...we all are a part of that scene...much to be done and said on behalf of the loved one now gone.
Connection: There are people all around us without an identity - they have one...but we are not aware of it. These do not have to be strangers. They can be people with whom we walk through life...they can be in our congregations. Eyes open can create a new world.
We give you thanks, O God, for you alone keep us within your loving embrace even when we are forgotten and ignored by the world. You keep your promise...you hold us...you remember us...you treat us to the wonder and kindness of your Reign - forever. Amen.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Friday 27 April 2007
Today we begin a look at a parable that isn't noted directly as being a parable in Luke. But...it sure feels like one - the rich man and Lazarus.
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. (Luke 16:19-21)
I was going to stop today with the simple description of the rich man. What a picture of abundance and wealth this is! At this point in the story there is nothing wrong with the picture. Wealth is not bad in and of itself. In fact, most often across our globe, those who are wealthy are often the ones others consider blessed and hard-working and even, honorable. It is not until we see this wealth side-by-side with the poverty of Lazarus and the conditions poverty creates. Today I'm simply struck once again at how wealth and poverty, rich and poor, play into the central concerns of Scripture. I know this is the case in Luke...but it is throughout the Bible. I'm finishing up the book "Infidel" by Ayann Kirsi Ali and noticing how much of the daily routine of life deals with sex and sexuality - as though it is the most important concern of religious people. I mention this because though it is a book about a woman breaking free of the culture of Islam and what she sees as its oppressive manner of looking at sexuality and especially that of women, it is much like how much time and energy Christians spend on sexuality. And yet, it allows both religions to forget about the oppressive and daily separation between the rich and the poor. In this parable, we have a person by whom the rich man or his family and slaves would walk regularly. Lazarus was not an unknown part of the culture. And yet, he living as a dog next to the wealth of the rich man - a dog willing to eat scraps from the table while the other dogs like his wounds. The contrast is amazing. And yet the contrast is not one unknown to us. While we often say much about sex and point fingers and use words that degrade sexuality and sexual identity, we would do well to turn our attention to that which is right in front of us and most pressing. But then....who could be blame for the evil in the world?!?
Connection: I'm not sure how we each can bring a bit of life and fellowship and kindness across the border between the rich (most of us) and the poor (most of the people in our world). Again, it begin with today and it begins with working with others in order to open all of our eyes and lives.
Lord of all, it is by your Spirit that we step out of our routines and begin to engage the world around us and the many people around us from whom we have let ourselves become separated. It is so easy to stay separated and ignore others...and yet, we hear your command to love our neighbor - all of them. By the power of your Spirit, give us the eyes of compassion that will not walk by those who are your beloved and also our brothers and sisters. Amen.
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. (Luke 16:19-21)
I was going to stop today with the simple description of the rich man. What a picture of abundance and wealth this is! At this point in the story there is nothing wrong with the picture. Wealth is not bad in and of itself. In fact, most often across our globe, those who are wealthy are often the ones others consider blessed and hard-working and even, honorable. It is not until we see this wealth side-by-side with the poverty of Lazarus and the conditions poverty creates. Today I'm simply struck once again at how wealth and poverty, rich and poor, play into the central concerns of Scripture. I know this is the case in Luke...but it is throughout the Bible. I'm finishing up the book "Infidel" by Ayann Kirsi Ali and noticing how much of the daily routine of life deals with sex and sexuality - as though it is the most important concern of religious people. I mention this because though it is a book about a woman breaking free of the culture of Islam and what she sees as its oppressive manner of looking at sexuality and especially that of women, it is much like how much time and energy Christians spend on sexuality. And yet, it allows both religions to forget about the oppressive and daily separation between the rich and the poor. In this parable, we have a person by whom the rich man or his family and slaves would walk regularly. Lazarus was not an unknown part of the culture. And yet, he living as a dog next to the wealth of the rich man - a dog willing to eat scraps from the table while the other dogs like his wounds. The contrast is amazing. And yet the contrast is not one unknown to us. While we often say much about sex and point fingers and use words that degrade sexuality and sexual identity, we would do well to turn our attention to that which is right in front of us and most pressing. But then....who could be blame for the evil in the world?!?
Connection: I'm not sure how we each can bring a bit of life and fellowship and kindness across the border between the rich (most of us) and the poor (most of the people in our world). Again, it begin with today and it begins with working with others in order to open all of our eyes and lives.
Lord of all, it is by your Spirit that we step out of our routines and begin to engage the world around us and the many people around us from whom we have let ourselves become separated. It is so easy to stay separated and ignore others...and yet, we hear your command to love our neighbor - all of them. By the power of your Spirit, give us the eyes of compassion that will not walk by those who are your beloved and also our brothers and sisters. Amen.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Thursday 26 April 2007
Today we bring this parable to an end - for now.
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. (Luke 16:1-3) I have decided what to do when so that, people may welcome me into their homes.' So summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' then he asked another, ''And how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it eighty.' (Luke 16:4-7) And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. (Luke 16:8)
The manager took the day...and lived to the fullest. He entered the time left as though it was a gift and he literally gifted others. Grace is something that goes around - it must - it cannot be contained. Most often, we simply forget about the time that is ours today - blessed and broken and ready to become life anew. The master can see the brimmed full vision of this guy and the way he took a vision and a gift and turned it into life. We are people of grace and we are invited to take the time at hand and deal with it as though our character will become known by a graciousness that transforms all things. We must get by the note of this being a dishonest manager and begin to see through him to the the story that allows for new life in the middle of the great messes of our lives. I think it is a humorous story that does shake us up and make us wonder about this God of ours.
Connection: Well...the day is at hand. How will the gracious Reign of our God become the very breath of life that make us a gracious people? Prayerfully consider this movement of the power of grace to create life.
Come, O Spirit of Life, it is by your wind that we begin to be moved to see the day in a fresh way and then to step within it as though we have a great opportunity to be a gift to the world. Grant us vision to move now...in your name. Amen.
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. (Luke 16:1-3) I have decided what to do when so that, people may welcome me into their homes.' So summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' then he asked another, ''And how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it eighty.' (Luke 16:4-7) And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. (Luke 16:8)
The manager took the day...and lived to the fullest. He entered the time left as though it was a gift and he literally gifted others. Grace is something that goes around - it must - it cannot be contained. Most often, we simply forget about the time that is ours today - blessed and broken and ready to become life anew. The master can see the brimmed full vision of this guy and the way he took a vision and a gift and turned it into life. We are people of grace and we are invited to take the time at hand and deal with it as though our character will become known by a graciousness that transforms all things. We must get by the note of this being a dishonest manager and begin to see through him to the the story that allows for new life in the middle of the great messes of our lives. I think it is a humorous story that does shake us up and make us wonder about this God of ours.
Connection: Well...the day is at hand. How will the gracious Reign of our God become the very breath of life that make us a gracious people? Prayerfully consider this movement of the power of grace to create life.
Come, O Spirit of Life, it is by your wind that we begin to be moved to see the day in a fresh way and then to step within it as though we have a great opportunity to be a gift to the world. Grant us vision to move now...in your name. Amen.
Thursday 26 April 2007
Today we bring this parable to an end - for now.
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. (Luke 16:1-3) I have decided what to do when so that, people may welcome me into their homes.' So summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' then he asked another, ''And how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it eighty.' (Luke 16:4-7) And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. (Luke 16:8)
The manager took the day...and lived to the fullest. He entered the time left as though it was a gift and he literally gifted others. Grace is something that goes around - it must - it cannot be contained. Most often, we simply forget about the time that is ours today - blessed and broken and ready to become life anew. The master can see the brimmed full vision of this guy and the way he took a vision and a gift and turned it into life. We are people of grace and we are invited to take the time at hand and deal with it as though our character will become known by a graciousness that transforms all things. We must get by the note of this being a dishonest manager and begin to see through him to the the story that allows for new life in the middle of the great messes of our lives. I think it is a humorous story that does shake us up and make us wonder about this God of ours.
Connection: Well...the day is at hand. How will the gracious Reign of our God become the very breath of life that make us a gracious people? Prayerfully consider this movement of the power of grace to create life.
Come, O Spirit of Life, it is by your wind that we begin to be moved to see the day in a fresh way and then to step within it as though we have a great opportunity to be a gift to the world. Grant us vision to move now...in your name. Amen.
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. (Luke 16:1-3) I have decided what to do when so that, people may welcome me into their homes.' So summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' then he asked another, ''And how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it eighty.' (Luke 16:4-7) And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. (Luke 16:8)
The manager took the day...and lived to the fullest. He entered the time left as though it was a gift and he literally gifted others. Grace is something that goes around - it must - it cannot be contained. Most often, we simply forget about the time that is ours today - blessed and broken and ready to become life anew. The master can see the brimmed full vision of this guy and the way he took a vision and a gift and turned it into life. We are people of grace and we are invited to take the time at hand and deal with it as though our character will become known by a graciousness that transforms all things. We must get by the note of this being a dishonest manager and begin to see through him to the the story that allows for new life in the middle of the great messes of our lives. I think it is a humorous story that does shake us up and make us wonder about this God of ours.
Connection: Well...the day is at hand. How will the gracious Reign of our God become the very breath of life that make us a gracious people? Prayerfully consider this movement of the power of grace to create life.
Come, O Spirit of Life, it is by your wind that we begin to be moved to see the day in a fresh way and then to step within it as though we have a great opportunity to be a gift to the world. Grant us vision to move now...in your name. Amen.
Wednesday 25 April 2007
We continue with the parable of the dishonest steward from Luke's gospel.
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. (Luke 16:1-3) I have decided what to do when so that, people may welcome me into their homes.' So summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' then he asked another, ''And how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it eighty.' (Luke 16:4-7)
At this point in the story, even though this manager has now acted in an unethical manner again, everyone should do well. The debtors have all received a "break" of approximately the same worth of product. The rich man, though losing some of his income, will be seen by all as a benevolent person - almost beyond expectation. The manager, moving quickly to get it all done, has a village of people for whom he will appear to be a friend. Remember from yesterday...this all comes out of a window of a sliver of grace when the rich man does not fire the manager immediately but lets him go and put the "books" in order. In that bit of time...right now...without waiting...in the face of an unknown future, the manager acts within that "grace period." Ah...isn't that what we are all given even now...a "grace period." Isn't the time at hand the time of the Reign of God already breaking in upon us and yet there is opportunity at hand to live as though we are betting our lives on this grace of God that is wider and higher and deeper than all things? Now is the time to live within the realm of God's grace - now...without hesitation - now...for the benefit of all you could say.
Connection: The other day our plane took off and as we were beginning to rise over Columbus, the fire alarm started going off and smoke started coming out into the cabin. Obviously, we were told we were returning to Columbus. A bit of an anxious moment...made more precarious by an awkward landing and the appearance of fire trucks and ambulances. We live today in the domain of grace - how will it go for you - how will this grace of our God shape the time at hand?
By your grace, O God, we are pulled into a life becomes your a witness to your grace. By your grace we are given the opportunity to live within a blessed time. Encourage us to consider the wealth of this time and live boldly within its domain. Amen.
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. (Luke 16:1-3) I have decided what to do when so that, people may welcome me into their homes.' So summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' then he asked another, ''And how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it eighty.' (Luke 16:4-7)
At this point in the story, even though this manager has now acted in an unethical manner again, everyone should do well. The debtors have all received a "break" of approximately the same worth of product. The rich man, though losing some of his income, will be seen by all as a benevolent person - almost beyond expectation. The manager, moving quickly to get it all done, has a village of people for whom he will appear to be a friend. Remember from yesterday...this all comes out of a window of a sliver of grace when the rich man does not fire the manager immediately but lets him go and put the "books" in order. In that bit of time...right now...without waiting...in the face of an unknown future, the manager acts within that "grace period." Ah...isn't that what we are all given even now...a "grace period." Isn't the time at hand the time of the Reign of God already breaking in upon us and yet there is opportunity at hand to live as though we are betting our lives on this grace of God that is wider and higher and deeper than all things? Now is the time to live within the realm of God's grace - now...without hesitation - now...for the benefit of all you could say.
Connection: The other day our plane took off and as we were beginning to rise over Columbus, the fire alarm started going off and smoke started coming out into the cabin. Obviously, we were told we were returning to Columbus. A bit of an anxious moment...made more precarious by an awkward landing and the appearance of fire trucks and ambulances. We live today in the domain of grace - how will it go for you - how will this grace of our God shape the time at hand?
By your grace, O God, we are pulled into a life becomes your a witness to your grace. By your grace we are given the opportunity to live within a blessed time. Encourage us to consider the wealth of this time and live boldly within its domain. Amen.
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