Showing posts with label Luke 10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Luke 10. Show all posts
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Better Part
SCRIPTURE
Time after Pentecost - Lectionary 16
Luke 10:38-42 (NRSV)
Choosing the better part
Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
SERMON
I have long been intrigued by this passage of scripture. On the surface it seems like a story with a very simple meaning.
In the past, many have rendered the life lesson from the story to mean that it is always right and proper to sit at the feet of Jesus. I have heard people say that Martha was wrong to be scurrying around trying to get things together for Jesus. I have heard others say that Mary was the better and more spiritual sister.
I used to agree with all of this interpretation, but now I do not. The longer I live and the more I work in the church, the more I empathize with Martha. After all, we do know that radical hospitality is a godly virtue. The Bible teaches us that we should practice kindness to friends and strangers alike since we may be entertaining angels unaware.
We do know that inviting Jesus into your home could never be a bad thing. After all, it appears that Jesus (and likely his disciples) appeared unannounced. If you read the scripture closely it says, “Now as THEY went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.
See, he entered the village and then got the invitation! What boldness Martha displayed! I don’t know about you, but my house is not always as clean and ready as I would like it to be if I were going to entertain the Son of God and His friends. (giggles)
So, I hope we will pardon Martha for inviting them in (which was the right thing to do) and then running around like a chicken with her head cut off, trying to accommodate them.
Did she have enough food? Was the couch cleared off? Were there enough chairs? Was a simple meal going to have to become more complex? Did she have enough wine? Maybe she had time to dust a little bit while Jesus wasn’t looking? (HA!)
As a woman, I can only imagine what was going through Martha’s mind…but as she prepared to feed Jesus and his crew, she became angrier and angrier as she observed her sister sitting in the living room, shooting the breeze with the guys.
Can you blame her? There was work to be done!
You know, this happens in churches too, doesn’t it? There are always a handful of people, who do most of the work in any congregation. They serve on the church council, a couple of teams, and are always ready to volunteer whenever things need to get done.
You know who these folks are, we all do. They bake bread, serve communion, usher, sing in the choir, sit on the leadership team, trim the bushes, welcome the visitors, and even scrub the toilets when the church has need.
Most of the time these folks serve with great joy! But, every once in a while, WE (and I will boldly include myself), WE get crabby, as we watch others come to church week after week for worship and then go home, never having DONE ANYTHING to help out!
Martha was feeling crabby when she approached Jesus and basically said, “Don’t you care that I’m doing all the work? Make my sister help me!”
And in response, Jesus said, “you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
Humph! I’m sure Martha didn’t like that answer…Was she wrong for working for Jesus? Of course not!
So, what was the one thing she needed and did not have? What was it that Mary had and she did not?
I don’t think the answer is an unwillingness to work. I think the answer is a single-minded devotion to loving Jesus!
See, Mary had her mind fixed on Jesus. She sat at his feet and listened to what he was saying out of her love for Jesus. She was not worried or distracted. She simply liked being in the presence of her friend.
Martha, however, was not single-mindedly devoted to loving Jesus. She had allowed her worry, fear, and anxiety of not providing adequate hospitality, to cloud her vision. She was worrying, while she worked. She was distracted, while she worked. She was not focused on her love for Jesus, while she worked.
Her work was not the issue! Someone had to prepare food! Someone had to prepare drink! Someone had to prepare the hospitality that Jesus and his disciples needed at that time.
But, she could have worked in peace. She could have worked in joy. She could have worked with love overflowing in her heart for Jesus, the disciples, and yes, even her sister!
A few weeks ago my friend Pastor John talked about the importance of being BOTH a disciple and an apostle. In this story, Mary is the disciple. She is sitting at Jesus’ feet and learning from him. Martha is an apostle. She has been sent out to prepare the things that Jesus needs to share the good news!
In both postures—disciple and apostle--our single-minded devotion ought to be our love for Christ! This love overshadows our worries. It overshadows our distraction. It overshadows our fear.
The Bible says that perfect love casts out all fear and it is true!
When we allow LOVE to be our guiding motivation, then our work becomes our worship! Mary was worshipping at the feet of Jesus and that was so grand that Jesus refused to take it away from her.
But, in saying, “Martha, you have neglected one thing…”, Jesus was reminding his friend that her work could be her worship as well.
When our work is our worship, we whistle while we work. When our work is our worship, we serve with a smile on our face. When our work is our worship, we don’t get crabby with our neighbors who need to be disciples for a while. When our work is our worship, we don’t mind being apostles—or bearers of the good news—by any means necessary.
As Christians, it is my fervent prayer that we will be raising up disciples and apostles who have a single-minded devotion to loving God and neighbor as ourselves.
It is my prayer that all of us would find time to sit at the feet of Jesus through worship, prayer, and Bible Study AND that all of us would make time to be apostles—sent out ones—who share the love of God through service, relationship, and the giving of our time, talent, and treasure to God and neighbor.
None of this can be accomplished without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that causes us to act, not out of obligation, but out of love! When we allow ourselves to be seated in the heart of God, and to be motivated by the power of LOVE, we will find that God’s love for us will overflow out of our hearts and into the lives of others!
May all of us be so single-mindedly devoted to our love for Christ that the call to discipleship and the call to apostleship will be easily answered with a joyful and RESOUNDING YES!
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen…
Let us pray: Oh Holy God, please give me the heart of Mary who sits at your feet and listens to your words and the heart of Martha who was willing to serve you. In both postures, give me a heart that is singularly devoted to loving you! I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Go and Do Likewise
SCRIPTURE
Time after Pentecost - Lectionary 15
Luke 10:25-37 (NRSV)
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
DEVOTION
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
Our Lord and Savior taught that if we simply love God and neighbor, we will inherit eternal life.
Isn't it sad that as human beings we are always trying to find the loophole in this simple commandment?
Like the lawyer who sought to justify himself, we ask the question, "Exactly who is my neighbor?"
Is the person who doesn't share my race or ethnicity really my neighbor? Is the poor man or woman dependent upon the charity of others really my neighbor? Is the non-Christian, Muslim or Jewish person really my neighbor? Is my enemy really my neighbor?
In response to our desire to find the loophole, so we can act in hatred toward others without guilt, Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan.
In that story, we quickly realize it was not the people who should have helped (e.g., religious folks) who ultimately helped him. Instead, it was the good Samaritan who went out of his way to assist the stranger in need.
Jesus told us that those who love God and neighbor will inherit eternal life. Jesus taught us that we must act with love toward our neighbors, always choosing the path of mercy.
Just as Jesus loved us when we were yet his enemies; so too are we called to love those whom it would be easier to hate.
As we walk in love and mercy, we will be so filled with Spirit that our journey will be made easy. As we mediate on the love of God revealed to us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, Spirit will cause us to do good works and acts of mercy in response to God's Amazing Grace toward us!
It is never easy to show love to those whom we perceive to be different than us, or in enmity toward us. But, this is the call of the Christian.
After all, the only way non-Christians will know that we are Christians, is by our love!
LOVE is what ultimately sets us apart from the rest of the world and it is God's love through us that will ultimately change it!
Go in peace, serve the Lord! (Thanks be to God!)
Let us pray: God, please fill up my heart with you love and Spirit so that I will be compelled to answer the call to love you and neighbor as myself. I desire to follow your commandment and do your will. Please forgive me for failing to love in the past and please empower me to do love in the future. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
*Special Note: Today is my wedding anniversary! I love you honey! You are the best husband and father in the world. It is such a blessing to share my life with you...
Sunday, July 4, 2010
SENT AHEAD...
SCRIPTURE
Time after Pentecost - Lectionary 14
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 (NRSV)
Jesus sends out seventy disciples
After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.' ...
"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
DEVOTION
Today I am struck by the words, "After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go."
I love this verse because it reminds me that anyone can be sent out ahead of Jesus to the places that GOD wants to go!
So often we imagine that only the 12 disciples were "sent," to do the work of Jesus; but in today's reading we find that seventy others were sent out to "bring the kingdom of God near" to those in need of it!
As followers of JESUS, we are still being sent out in 2010. Spirit leads us to every town and place that God wants to go. Spirit helps us to share the good news about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Spirit helps us to bring a foretaste of the Kingdom of Love to the very hearts of our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
Often, as we share Jesus, we will witness spectacular things! We may see bodies, minds, or spirits healed in Jesus' Name. But, let us not lose sight of the most important thing which is sharing the love of Jesus and encouraging our loved ones to put all of their hope in Him.
Isn't it amazing that our "names are written in heaven?" This is the most incredible miracle of all!
It is my sincerest desire for every person I meet to have their names written in heaven too! Because of this God-given desire, I take my joy in overcoming my fear of rejection, as I boldly share, "Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ shall come again!"
If you are nervous about sharing your good news message, take a Christian friend with you! After all, Jesus sent out his followers 2-by-2. There's nothing wrong with grabbing a buddy and sharing the love of Jesus in your community!
Let us pray: Good and gracious Lord, I am so honored that you send me out to the places that you wish to go. I know that you want to fill up the hearts of everyone whom I meet. Please help me to share your love liberally and please help me to rejoice in the good news that you love, give, and save, every single day! I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
SPECIAL NOTE: Today is Independence Day in the United States of America. To all of those people celebrating, I pray that your day will be blessed and that you will use your liberties and privilege to be a blessing to others today--and always! Go in peace and serve the Lord! (Thanks be to GOD!)
Time after Pentecost - Lectionary 14
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 (NRSV)
Jesus sends out seventy disciples
After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.' ...
"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
DEVOTION
Today I am struck by the words, "After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go."
I love this verse because it reminds me that anyone can be sent out ahead of Jesus to the places that GOD wants to go!
So often we imagine that only the 12 disciples were "sent," to do the work of Jesus; but in today's reading we find that seventy others were sent out to "bring the kingdom of God near" to those in need of it!
As followers of JESUS, we are still being sent out in 2010. Spirit leads us to every town and place that God wants to go. Spirit helps us to share the good news about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Spirit helps us to bring a foretaste of the Kingdom of Love to the very hearts of our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
Often, as we share Jesus, we will witness spectacular things! We may see bodies, minds, or spirits healed in Jesus' Name. But, let us not lose sight of the most important thing which is sharing the love of Jesus and encouraging our loved ones to put all of their hope in Him.
Isn't it amazing that our "names are written in heaven?" This is the most incredible miracle of all!
It is my sincerest desire for every person I meet to have their names written in heaven too! Because of this God-given desire, I take my joy in overcoming my fear of rejection, as I boldly share, "Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ shall come again!"
If you are nervous about sharing your good news message, take a Christian friend with you! After all, Jesus sent out his followers 2-by-2. There's nothing wrong with grabbing a buddy and sharing the love of Jesus in your community!
Let us pray: Good and gracious Lord, I am so honored that you send me out to the places that you wish to go. I know that you want to fill up the hearts of everyone whom I meet. Please help me to share your love liberally and please help me to rejoice in the good news that you love, give, and save, every single day! I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
SPECIAL NOTE: Today is Independence Day in the United States of America. To all of those people celebrating, I pray that your day will be blessed and that you will use your liberties and privilege to be a blessing to others today--and always! Go in peace and serve the Lord! (Thanks be to GOD!)
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Blessed Eyes
SCRIPTURE
Luke 10:21-24 (NRSV)
Blessed are the eyes that see what you see
At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."
DEVOTION--Today is Saturday Psalmody; the mediation is offered as a psalm from my heart! If you would like a more traditional devotion, please search the archives for a title that appeals to you! (smile)
BLESSED EYES
Blessed are my eyes
for the see you
Blessed are my ears
for the hear you
In
and amongst
a deaf
and blind
people
I have abilities
others
only dream of...
I see you
High and lifted up
I hear you
wise words
eternal WORD
made flesh
dwelling amongst us
I see you
arms outstretched
in love
to humanity
I hear you
calling...
calling...
saying, "whosoever will"
Let her come.
Blessed are my eyes
for they see you
Blessed are my ears
for they hear you
In
and amongst
a deaf
and blind
people
I must be hope
Be help
Be sound
Be sight
Translating...
This I see
This I hear
This I know
and we believe...
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
I've Got A New Name!
Today, I am sharing the sermon that I will be preaching at a Theological Conference for pastors in Minnesota. This sermon will be proclaimed at a worship service on October 20, 2009, at 11:00 am CST. I solicit your prayers. Thank you for reading good news as you are able and sharing good news as you are led. Peace be with you!
SCRIPTURE
Luke 10: 25-37
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’
SERMON
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is a story that all of us are familiar with. I will confess that I knew a moment of true anxiety as I prayed about how to proclaim the good news in this story in a way that would breathe new life into a group of ELCA pastors.
But, as I was meditating on this scripture, I began to see it with new eyes. We all know the story. A lawyer stands up to test Jesus. He asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus catechizes him regarding the requirements of The Law. In response the lawyer states, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.” In response Jesus tells the man that if he does these things he will live.
Now, one would like to think that this would be the end of the story, but we know that it is not because in response to Jesus’ commentary on his recitation of The Law, the lawyer has the nerve to ask, “And just who is my neighbor?...”
Here, I can imagine Jesus grinning, winking, and then saying, “Let me tell you a story…”
Now, I don’t know about you, but I believe it took some real boldness for the lawyer to ask Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
But, I also truly believe that it is a question that people are asking in our churches on a weekly basis. Are the Somalis are neighbors? The Hmong? The Mexicans? Are the poor our neighbors? The homeless? The drug addicted? Are gays and lesbians our neighbors? Lord, who is my neighbor?
See, how we answer this question, can affect how we choose to do ministry within the communities that we serve. If we’re honest, as pastors we ask this question in the midnight hour as we toss and turn on our beds trying to figure out an effective outreach strategy that will introduce our neighbors to Jesus, whilst also filling our pews and our collection plates.
Yesterday, we were presented with a graph that detailed the radical decline of attendance in mainline American Christian Churches since 1990. I’m sure that we all wish that we could boast that we know nothing about that graph and that our churches are all busting at the seams, but alas, for most of us this simply is not true.
Across the prairies, out into the suburbs, and inside of our cities, good and faithful church folks are struggling to find ways to make the good news story understandable and relevant to a new generation of human beings making a life in the United States of America.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that there are a lot of “Vic Tims” laying on the side of the road of life broken, bruised, bloody, and left for dead. They have been victimized by a ruthless gang of thugs named “Bankruptcy, Job Loss, Divorce, Addiction, Wayward Children, Home Foreclosure, Disease, Mental Illness, Racism, Classism, Sexism, Nihilism--to name just a few.
This gang of hoodlums has beaten down our neighbors and left them for dead on the side of the road! And as blood bought believers in Jesus Christ, we must confess that The Church has not always been a good neighbor to people in need.
Like the priest and the Levite, our sin-fullness sometimes causes us to see some Vic Tim’s as neighbors and others as road kill. Again, we are back to this fundamental question, “Exactly who is my neighbor?”
See, how we answer this question, has everything to do with how we choose to prioritize our time, talent, and treasure within our churches. Who we deem valuable, redeemable, and savable will determine who gets served and who does not.
After all, we have 24 hours a day, a limited number of volunteers, and budgets that are already over stretched. Who will we invest in and why?
Well, this is a hard question, right? After all, we don’t want to identify with the priest and the Levite, do we? We don’t want to admit that, like them, we feel that we have good reasons to pass up our neighbor as they lay dying on the side of the road.
See, the priest and the Levite had legitimate reasons for not helping Vic Tim. They didn’t know who he was. They didn’t know if the robbers would come back. They didn’t know if he was dead or alive. They couldn’t risk becoming ritually unclean by touching him if he was dead. They were busy. They were important. And they were rushing to cover the 16 miles to Jericho before night fall!
Now all of these are good, common sense reasons for crossing the street, looking away, whispering a prayer, but failing to stop, right? But, our Jesus doesn’t praise the priest and the Levite for observing common sense. He praises the “Good Samaritan” for choosing to be neighborly to a person in need despite the possible consequences and the cost to himself.
See, being a Good Samaritan requires the best of who we are and the best of what we have. Scripture teaches us that the Samaritan saw Vic Tim and was moved with pity—or compassion. His feelings caused him to utilize his own resources in time, talent, and treasure to offer succor and aid to the broken, helpless, and defenseless man.
Like the people in our own communities, this Vic Tim just needed some good news! He needed someone to see him, extend compassion, and love him well.
I think that it is worth noting here that the person who did these things was a Samaritan, an outsider, a man some would have called a dog, others would have called unclean. It was this man who showed forth the true love of God, who offered authentic ministry of person and presence, and who made a real difference in the life of someone in need.
Martin Luther once said whilst preaching from this passage, “we are all neighbors among one another, both he who does another a kindness, as well as he who is in need of a kindness.”
This statement reminds me that as The Church reaches out to Vic Tims along the road, helping and healing them in the Name of Jesus, those Vic Tims will ultimately take on the new name Vic Tor. As they hear and believe the good news that God loves the world so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life, they will be transformed—just as we have!
But, as The Church of Jesus Christ, we must be strong and very courageous as we touch the untouchable, love the unlovable, and reach out to those who are very, very different than we imagine ourselves to be.
My dear friends, look around this room. There is someone missing! There are many someone’s missing! Like many denominations in the United States, the members of the ELCA are worshipping in churches that are largely segregated by race and by class.
As pastors and as Christians we affirm that God’s good news message revealed to us in Jesus Christ is for everyone! Man, woman, boy, girl, rich, poor, red, yellow, black, white, English-speaking, non-English speaking, recent immigrants or not so recent immigrants—all of God’s children need to know that God loves, God gave, and God saves!
Let me admit to you that this type of evangelism strategy takes prayer, courage and vision. After all, in the early days of our relationship with Vic Tim, he will not have the wherewithal to give of his time, talent, and treasure. He will lay upon his bed of affliction as he struggles just to get well.
But, Spirit invites us to look at loving people as an investment strategy.
I have often wondered what became of Vic Tim once he was fully recovered. I can only imagine how he must have been changed as a result of his experience. I bet he was stronger, more loving, more committed, more engaged with his life than ever before!
Once he was no longer Vic Tim, but Vic Tor, I wonder what he had to offer his community of faith, city, and world by way of a renewed commitment to love God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love his neighbor as himself.
I don’t know about you, but I can say uncategorically that I am a different person having experienced the love, care, and compassion of Jesus when I was bruised, broken, bleeding, and left for dead on the side of the road. When Jesus bandaged me up, put me on his donkey, and took me into the shelter of his love—I was fundamentally transformed!
Jesus gave Himself totally away—without counting the cost-- in order to win us back to God. As we follow his example, we are called and challenged to do God’s Work with our hands as we recklessly and selflessly give ourselves away in love and service to our neighbors.
Who was neighbor to the man named Vic Tim? The one who had mercy upon him…
Go! And do likewise…
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
THE INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus."
SCRIPTURE
Luke 10: 25-37
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’
SERMON
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is a story that all of us are familiar with. I will confess that I knew a moment of true anxiety as I prayed about how to proclaim the good news in this story in a way that would breathe new life into a group of ELCA pastors.
But, as I was meditating on this scripture, I began to see it with new eyes. We all know the story. A lawyer stands up to test Jesus. He asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus catechizes him regarding the requirements of The Law. In response the lawyer states, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.” In response Jesus tells the man that if he does these things he will live.
Now, one would like to think that this would be the end of the story, but we know that it is not because in response to Jesus’ commentary on his recitation of The Law, the lawyer has the nerve to ask, “And just who is my neighbor?...”
Here, I can imagine Jesus grinning, winking, and then saying, “Let me tell you a story…”
Now, I don’t know about you, but I believe it took some real boldness for the lawyer to ask Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
But, I also truly believe that it is a question that people are asking in our churches on a weekly basis. Are the Somalis are neighbors? The Hmong? The Mexicans? Are the poor our neighbors? The homeless? The drug addicted? Are gays and lesbians our neighbors? Lord, who is my neighbor?
See, how we answer this question, can affect how we choose to do ministry within the communities that we serve. If we’re honest, as pastors we ask this question in the midnight hour as we toss and turn on our beds trying to figure out an effective outreach strategy that will introduce our neighbors to Jesus, whilst also filling our pews and our collection plates.
Yesterday, we were presented with a graph that detailed the radical decline of attendance in mainline American Christian Churches since 1990. I’m sure that we all wish that we could boast that we know nothing about that graph and that our churches are all busting at the seams, but alas, for most of us this simply is not true.
Across the prairies, out into the suburbs, and inside of our cities, good and faithful church folks are struggling to find ways to make the good news story understandable and relevant to a new generation of human beings making a life in the United States of America.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that there are a lot of “Vic Tims” laying on the side of the road of life broken, bruised, bloody, and left for dead. They have been victimized by a ruthless gang of thugs named “Bankruptcy, Job Loss, Divorce, Addiction, Wayward Children, Home Foreclosure, Disease, Mental Illness, Racism, Classism, Sexism, Nihilism--to name just a few.
This gang of hoodlums has beaten down our neighbors and left them for dead on the side of the road! And as blood bought believers in Jesus Christ, we must confess that The Church has not always been a good neighbor to people in need.
Like the priest and the Levite, our sin-fullness sometimes causes us to see some Vic Tim’s as neighbors and others as road kill. Again, we are back to this fundamental question, “Exactly who is my neighbor?”
See, how we answer this question, has everything to do with how we choose to prioritize our time, talent, and treasure within our churches. Who we deem valuable, redeemable, and savable will determine who gets served and who does not.
After all, we have 24 hours a day, a limited number of volunteers, and budgets that are already over stretched. Who will we invest in and why?
Well, this is a hard question, right? After all, we don’t want to identify with the priest and the Levite, do we? We don’t want to admit that, like them, we feel that we have good reasons to pass up our neighbor as they lay dying on the side of the road.
See, the priest and the Levite had legitimate reasons for not helping Vic Tim. They didn’t know who he was. They didn’t know if the robbers would come back. They didn’t know if he was dead or alive. They couldn’t risk becoming ritually unclean by touching him if he was dead. They were busy. They were important. And they were rushing to cover the 16 miles to Jericho before night fall!
Now all of these are good, common sense reasons for crossing the street, looking away, whispering a prayer, but failing to stop, right? But, our Jesus doesn’t praise the priest and the Levite for observing common sense. He praises the “Good Samaritan” for choosing to be neighborly to a person in need despite the possible consequences and the cost to himself.
See, being a Good Samaritan requires the best of who we are and the best of what we have. Scripture teaches us that the Samaritan saw Vic Tim and was moved with pity—or compassion. His feelings caused him to utilize his own resources in time, talent, and treasure to offer succor and aid to the broken, helpless, and defenseless man.
Like the people in our own communities, this Vic Tim just needed some good news! He needed someone to see him, extend compassion, and love him well.
I think that it is worth noting here that the person who did these things was a Samaritan, an outsider, a man some would have called a dog, others would have called unclean. It was this man who showed forth the true love of God, who offered authentic ministry of person and presence, and who made a real difference in the life of someone in need.
Martin Luther once said whilst preaching from this passage, “we are all neighbors among one another, both he who does another a kindness, as well as he who is in need of a kindness.”
This statement reminds me that as The Church reaches out to Vic Tims along the road, helping and healing them in the Name of Jesus, those Vic Tims will ultimately take on the new name Vic Tor. As they hear and believe the good news that God loves the world so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life, they will be transformed—just as we have!
But, as The Church of Jesus Christ, we must be strong and very courageous as we touch the untouchable, love the unlovable, and reach out to those who are very, very different than we imagine ourselves to be.
My dear friends, look around this room. There is someone missing! There are many someone’s missing! Like many denominations in the United States, the members of the ELCA are worshipping in churches that are largely segregated by race and by class.
As pastors and as Christians we affirm that God’s good news message revealed to us in Jesus Christ is for everyone! Man, woman, boy, girl, rich, poor, red, yellow, black, white, English-speaking, non-English speaking, recent immigrants or not so recent immigrants—all of God’s children need to know that God loves, God gave, and God saves!
Let me admit to you that this type of evangelism strategy takes prayer, courage and vision. After all, in the early days of our relationship with Vic Tim, he will not have the wherewithal to give of his time, talent, and treasure. He will lay upon his bed of affliction as he struggles just to get well.
But, Spirit invites us to look at loving people as an investment strategy.
I have often wondered what became of Vic Tim once he was fully recovered. I can only imagine how he must have been changed as a result of his experience. I bet he was stronger, more loving, more committed, more engaged with his life than ever before!
Once he was no longer Vic Tim, but Vic Tor, I wonder what he had to offer his community of faith, city, and world by way of a renewed commitment to love God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love his neighbor as himself.
I don’t know about you, but I can say uncategorically that I am a different person having experienced the love, care, and compassion of Jesus when I was bruised, broken, bleeding, and left for dead on the side of the road. When Jesus bandaged me up, put me on his donkey, and took me into the shelter of his love—I was fundamentally transformed!
Jesus gave Himself totally away—without counting the cost-- in order to win us back to God. As we follow his example, we are called and challenged to do God’s Work with our hands as we recklessly and selflessly give ourselves away in love and service to our neighbors.
Who was neighbor to the man named Vic Tim? The one who had mercy upon him…
Go! And do likewise…
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
THE INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus."
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html
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