Luke 12:32-40
Pastor Doug Holtz
Grace
and peace from God our Father and the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
So
what is in today’s readings anyway?
“Don’t
be afraid?”
Sell your possessions
Be dressed for action
You must be ready
Sure.
Sounds great.
Can’t we do any better today?
Sounds like things you’d put on a
sign…
Not those people
Sounds like things Fred
Phelps and his merry band might use
And
I suppose living in today’s world
These do come up a bit empty.
Let’s
try one more from today’s gospel:
It’s your Father’s good pleasure to give
you the kingdom.
Bam!
Right in the middle of all those others.
Funny how we never see that on a protest
poster.
Those words change the tone of all the
others.
They are words of hope; not
warning.
Which
makes all the other words hope; not warning.
Suddenly, being dressed for action
Selling your possessions
Are not to cause anxiety
But bring us true hope.
It’s
your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
So it’s not to be alert because otherwise
there is trouble.
It’s to be alert because something awesome
is just around the corner.
So
if we’re given the kingdom, what more do we need?
Or as a certain company asks: What’s in
your wallet?
A look through mine finds nothing
unusual:
A VISA card or two (one from that
very company!)
A few business cards
Kwik-Trip (gotta love the rebate)
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Prescription Insurance
Proof of Auto Insurance
AAA Membership
Pastor ID card (in case they don’t
believe me!)
Don’t
be afraid?
Like everyone else we have modern needs
Let go and let God?
Hardly.
And
all those cards?
Yes. This purse WILL wear out.
So
what is this purse that doesn’t wear out.
Maybe it’s where we keep more important
stuff.
The things they can never take away.
Memories of loved ones helping and
caring for us and others.
of favorite smells from holiday
gatherings gone by
of time spent just doing nothing
with friends
of that first taste of communion
(complete with sour face)
God is there in those memories
They are God’s goodness and grace
given to you
By parents, grandparents, friends,
neighbors
Maybe even someone you didn’t
even know
Have
you all thought of something?
Write it down on the post-it closest to
you.
Now either yourself or someone around
you.
Go put it on the door.
These are the kind of
blessings I was talking about last week.
And
these blessings are exactly how God shows you his kingdom.
These are the hopes and dreams.
These are stories of faith.
And you haven’t forgotten.
Have
no fear little flock.
Have good cheer little flock.
It is the Father’s good pleasure to
give you the kingdom.
And just like these memories
These BLESSINGS!!!
They can never be taken
away.
And
just like those memories.
The kingdom can’t be taken away either.
Just as apostle Paul says in Romans 8:
For I am convinced that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to
come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Keep
your lamps trimmed and burning.
Because the Son of Man is coming at an
unexpected hour.
And don’t be afraid.
Because oh what an hour it will
be.
Or
as the Impressions might have sang:
People get ready, there's a train a
comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord.
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment