14 Aug SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2022
In the Book of Luke, frustration has been mounting. After Jesus tells the parable of the watchful slaves who ought to keep their lamps lit, Peter asks, “Lord, was that meant for us or everyone?”
Because I’m of a similar persuasion to Peter, I wonder if rather than seeking actual clarification, he was looking for disciples to be the exception. Jesus doesn’t fall for it. He continues by describing what’s expected of the faithful, the prudent and those given responsibility.
The passage concludes, “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” I wonder if that answered Peter’s question. Decide for yourself into which category you fall, those who know what God wants, or those who do not know.
Jesus uses the model of master and slaves to illustrate what in our case, isn’t the master’s will but God’s. Slaves equal disciples, and disciples are anyone who claims to follow Jesus and desire instruction.
By this point in the conversation, Jesus is a bit discouraged. He concludes that most servants will not act according to the master’s will. Each will receive a beating whose severity depends upon how much they knew, but upon which, failed to act.
From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.
So far, the Bible mentions two topics of current events. First, the need for prudence: acting with care or showing thought for the future. And, second: the fact that punishment takes into account how much a person knew, but failed to act upon. No wonder, Jesus is a little fired up himself as he begins to speak of fire.
Fire produces heat and speeds up the time things take to get done. Perhaps Jesus is getting impatient. People are focusing narrowly on things that only affect their plans like the weather. They spend time talking about dreams, but fail to act with care or show they’re thinking about the future. They are failing to act upon what they already know, perhaps Jesus wishes to kindle a flame and turn up the heat.
This passage is spoken discourse, a common way that Jesus communicates. Maybe he’s tired of debating authorities and being questioned, even by his disciples. Words of fire throw down a challenge. They confront the listener. If you are not cooperating with the plan, then it seems you’re opposing it.
Jesus’ mission is stressful. He can’t rest ‘til it’s complete. He doesn’t want things to be more difficult than necessary. All people seem to want is peace, which means they want no conflict, no bother, or be forced to choose sides. And yet, the whole world seems energized by division, taking a stand and saying who or what you’re against. How can we thrive on stressful inefficiency?
What really bothers Jesus is hypocrisy. Hypocrites are actors playing parts who aren’t actual characters. Their story isn’t the real story, it’s a made up one. The plot is designed to entertain, not necessarily engage. Jesus, like politicians, is looking for engagement. People willing to act with care and show they’re thinking about the future, an issue important to God.
But unlike politicians, Jesus is not interested in talk or personal gain. His mission is God’s mission. He needs folks who are willing to become informed and apply their knowledge to God’s will.
Luke always makes the point that concerns cannot focus on advancement without considering weaker, less powerful members of society. Jesus suggests that interpreting the appearance of things without interpreting what they mean to our present time, the division they cause, or prudently acting with care giving thought to the future isn’t okay.
Jesus’ mission and message is for the sake of both disciples and everyone else. The baptism he refers to is his own intense suffering, dipping and sinking into death. He’s come to make change and things happen, not just talk.
Though willing, he grows tired of explaining parables to both the knowledgeable and the ignorant. He wonders why people ask for explanations if they’re not going to follow up, change or act with prudence, with care giving thought to the future.
Jesus said that his work won’t be done until it is complete, at an end, and fulfills its purpose. He argues that the kind of peace and harmony we seek is individualized and that world peace cannot merely be based on common objectives. You might say that Jesus expects disunity when people stand up for what they believe is right.
He notes that people will split in various ways, for and against. Houses will be divided when they stand for what’s important, God’s will. We argue God’s will entails freedom of choice. Jesus asks us to think about when individual choices impinge upon everyone’s freedom to choose.
Let’s recite Psalm 82 again. Jeremiah said, “Let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully.” Jesus said, “Let that one not only speak, but act upon it faithfully.”
Jeremiah asked what straw has in common with wheat. Are they interchangeable? Not hardly. One you can lie down upon, one you can survive on, yet both are consumed by fire. Fire cannot damage rock to pieces, but a hammer can. What will it take to see God’s will breakthrough and the fulfillment of Jesus’ completed mission on earth so that the words, “Thy will done, thy kingdom come,” come true?
According to the second reading, through faith, comes obedience. People pass through water, as if dry land. By faith, walls fall. By faith, people are saved from perishing. They are received in peace. Faith conquers foes, administers justice, obtains promises, shuts the mouths of lions, and quenches raging fires only when people act.
When people act, it permits others to escape the sword, gain strength from weakness, become mighty and send armies away. Are we willing to obey and sacrifice, even do without to help the persecuted, tortured and tormented?
I know my own hesitancy comes from not trusting those who administer funds. I question the agenda of those with power or the wisdom of those in need. Listen again to words found in a so-called Letter to the Hebrews.
God provides something better than rewards for obedience and faithfulness. The promise is for a better resurrection. Most importantly, none of us are made perfect apart from each other. We are not made good or complete apart. People together bring God’s kingdom to fulfillment and bring Jesus’ work to a complete end.
The notion of fire evokes many images. It’s scary when out of control and beautiful when contained. It purges and refines, though destruction of one in favor of another may be part of the process. It can provide heat, light and energy.
Did anyone see the recent episode of, “United Shades of America: California is Burning?” On that show, I learned that preventing and putting out every forest fire isn’t just a slogan Smokey the Bear made popular. It was inspired by the logging industry. Perfect solutions must consider ancient wisdom and not issue directives apart from it. God provides something better so we are not made perfect or complete apart from wisdom or each other.
To expect and even set some forest fires under controlled circumstances is necessary to reduce the amount of fuel that feeds wildfires. Better to destroy leaves, undergrowth and smaller trees than larger trees and towns. Forests are not made perfect by focusing narrowly on things that only affect some people’s plans without acting with care or showing thought for the future.
We learned that there’s an incredible shortage of firefighters in part because under prison reform, there are less prisoners available. Those who once worked as firefighters while incarcerated aren’t considered qualified upon release. Nothing happens in a vacuum. Prison reform that focuses narrowly on release, but not reentry lacks thought for the future, so is not prudent.
Let’s read verse two of chapter twelve from Hebrews together. Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of not only our faith but of wisdom. How do we act with care and show thought for the future without letting division cause further damage? Might we consider the larger picture or what’s best for the whole earth and sky, not just for convenience or profit?
Jesus sees the world through an eternal lens, knowing exactly how the decisions we make will have impact throughout time. He foresaw wildfires as a result of drought and extreme heat. He knew that mismanagement of land, corporate greed and climate change would take a toll by increasing fire’s intensity and size.
He came and brought fire to earth to ultimately preserve it. He understood how a prescribed measure of death could prevent utter devastation. He understood the stress of trying to control forces that unmanaged seek to only consume and destroy. Jesus is a wildfire/sin control mastermind.
We are foolish if we continue to focus narrowly or play at acting, interpreting the present time only according to our wishes and not the will of God. Jesus offers guidance, wisdom and the means to restore and replenish. So does the small country of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica has renewed its commitment to thrive economically and ecologically. It’s a model of hope after suffering the loss of what God once established there, forests covering up to 75% of land filled with wildlife. A host of industries and land misuse caused forests to dwindle by a third to one half as of 1987.
According to Stewart Maginnis, global director of the nature-based solutions group at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), [twenty-five years of] “good governance, a strong democracy, respect for human rights and a solid education system” were vital for success. Former vice-minister for the environment, Madrigal-Cordero added, “ the secret to Costa Rica’s environmental triumph is a generation of peace. She says, “nature is in our DNA.” https://earth.org/how-costa-rica-reversed-deforestation/
Let us pray. Lord, please don’t let wildfires, natural disasters, industries or greed destroy wildlife and livelihoods around the world. Kindle the fire of your nature and God’s will in our DNA, sparking our hearts to bring Christianity to full expression.
Help us incorporate ancient wisdom including that of tribal natives. Let us focus attention on ways to use land and fire to bring peace, not only wealth. Help us reform ways of being, so we interpret what’s happening on earth and in the sky with divine knowledge.
May we act responsibly, prudently, caring for the future, so that your kingdom comes, and thy will is done. In your holy name we pray. Amen.