Being dishonest!?

Last week's gospel reading would have to be one of the most difficult to interpret: the parable of the dishonest manager (Luke 16: 1- 13). At face value it seems to be commending some form of dishonesty. Most of the commentaries that I consulted seem to conflict with each other about the right interpretation for this parable. So, it is up for grabs, really.

My own interpretation seems to align with Eugene Peterson's tranlsation/interpretation in 'The Message': 'Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law abiding citizens...I want you to be smart in the same way - but for what is right...' (Luke 16: 8 - 9). My take: be smart and realize the ways of the world around you. Be alert of the greed that exists and don't be taken in by it, because when it runs out you will still be welcome
into the reign of God.

So now, what's your interpretation of this difficult text?

Chris

Grace

'This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them', so the Pharisees and scribes grumbled about Jesus (Lk: 15: 1 - 10). Grumbling for us means a minor moan about something small and insignificant, but here it means they were really annoyed with Jesus. A moan that would ultimately lead the Pharisees to seek Jesus' life. To answer their grumbling, Jesus told them two parables about finding lost things and rejoicing over the find. He says it twice, 'there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents...'. Joy is the result of finding what was lost.

So much of our thinking about repentance and salvation is shaped by Christendom. We often associate it with coming to our senses, straightening out our act, giving up our bad behaviours, and trudging along the 'narrow' way. In this mindset, repentance also means abiding by rules and regulations often set for us by others. We act Christianly, and put on the right appearance, following the rules of Christian convention. However, I'm not sure Jesus quite sees it that way. What did repentance mean for the sheep in his parable, which didn't come to its senses and turn back, and for the coin, which cannot actually do anything but just be found? Is not the emphasis here on being found, rather than our act of turning back? Is it not about God's grace, rather than our righteousness?

Often God finds us while we are busy doing other things, and then leads us back to him bit by bit. Like the coin we can be buried under so many things that God needs to sweep away the garbage that is hiding the real us. When God does find us, the real us, the sinner and the outcast us, there is real joy, not only for God and heaven, but for us as well.

'I once was lost, but now I am found...' Amazing Grace!

Chris

Discipleship

Last week's gospel reading was very difficult: 'Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and life itself, cannot be my disciple...' (Luke 14: 25 - 35. Well, that puts an end to 'family values'!

However, what does Jesus really mean by this? Eduard Schweizer in his commentary on Luke states that 'hate' here does not mean an emotion but 'as radical objective subordination'. In other words, Jesus is saying that these family ties must come second to discipleship to him. Jesus is calling for radical discipleship that involves not only our families, but also ourselves and our possessions. A big call; a big challenge! Now, I am humbled.

Chris

Schweizer, E (1984), The Good News according to Luke, (SPCK, London)

Humble like me!

Humility has always been one of my strong points! A joke, obviously, but when I sometimes start a sermon by saying this the serious looks I get suggest that some people either believe me or, more likely, they have already switched off. That is the trouble with humility. If you say you have it, you obviously don't.

Last week's Gospel reading, Luke 14: 7 - 14 encourages us to be humble. It says to be humble means taking the lowest place, but surprisingly then being moved up to higher place of honour. Is that a catch 22? I will pretend to be humble in the hope that I will then be exalted. However, if that is my motivation, then I will not be exalted, but humbled once again. Perhaps, the main point of this teaching of Jesus is about not pushing ourselves forward or thinking too highly about ourselves. In God's eyes, the poor, the crippled, and the lame will have a special place at the table (Luke 14: 13).  For me, it is about being grateful that God invites me too, and letting the seat allocation be done by him.

This Sunday at connecT we are exploring that difficult passage, Luke 14 : 25 -35. I'm glad it wasn't the text for Fathers Day!

Chris