Tag Archives: Commitment

Greener Grass

Living in the Spirit
October 14, 2017

Scripture Reading: Matthew 22:1-14

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. –Matthew 22:1-7

I had agreed to accompany a girlfriend on a canoe float trip down the Illinois river with a larger group when a guy I liked called with what I considered a better offer. I told my friend at the last minute; I would not be going. The thing is in a canoe two rowers are important. She went anyway, and a young teenager with his family was excited to get the chance to row. Fast forward 40 years, my girlfriend and I are still good friends in spite of my fickle behavior. I do not have a clue where the guy is or what he is doing.

To our peril, humans tend to seek greener grass in all aspects of our lives. Christ calls us to an eternal commitment. In our parable today some invited to a banquet put work first, others pursued criminal behavior. What appears to have the greatest short-term value may not be good for us at all.

In our world today, we seem to be blind to the long-term consequences of our actions until we are brought up short by some disaster. Loving others takes priority over selfish gain. Family is more important than a house. Our parable suggests that when we get our priorities straight in alignment with God from the start, we will grasp the abundant life to which Christ calls us.

Prayer: Lord, turn our dissatisfaction in life into energy to seek and find the life you provide, if we only respond to your invitation. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Chance of a Lifetime

disciples fishing Epiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 25, 2015

 Scripture Reading: Mark 1:14-20

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. — Mark 1:16-20

Was this a sudden total response or had these men heard John and then Jesus before they left everything to follow Jesus? Was John’s arrest the last straw for these young men? What would it take for us to walk away from family and the security of a job and take a different path? Did they expect to be away only for the day or a few days or did they know that their decision would alter their entire lifetimes?

The Book of Mark ends rather abruptly with the resurrection and an add-on about the disciples being sent forth. The book of John says these four, Andrew, Peter, James, and John and others returned to their boats and their nets following Jesus’ death and resurrection until they had an encounter with the Risen Lord by the seaside. (See John 21:1-14) I suppose before that encounter they thought that they had given Jesus’ message their best shot but that their best shot was not enough. They learned from the Lord that they had not even begun to fulfill their call.

We have not either. As discouraged as I become at times, particularly about issues related to justice, I know that God does not want us to ever give up. When we dare enough to press forward, our Advocate is always by our side. We may never know what difference we are making but we are making a difference when we live into assuring justice for all.

Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, create in us clean hearts and right spirits so that are actions toward justice represent your will and your way. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.