And it's only 12:50! Here it is:
Job and Judas. An odd couple don’t you think? When I first took a look at today’s readings I thought, “What in the world do Job and Judas have to do with each other?” Well, they both had intimate experiences with Satan, even though neither of them knew it. They both suffered terrible tragedy and disappointment. But it seemed like there was more to be found about these two. As persons, they are on two far ends of the spectrum! We have Job the blameless and upright. God speaks higher of him than almost anyone else in scripture! And then we have Judas, the cursed. Jesus himself said it would have been better if he had not been born!
I struggled with these passages for quite some time and then, in one of my many rereadings of the Job passage, an odd statement popped out at me. Verse five, “And when the feast days had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, ‘It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.’ This is what Job always did.” Immediately questions swirled around my head. Why would Job feel the need to offer sacrifices for his children? Why was he so worried about them? Were they as concerned about their sin as their father was? Now, one could make the case that maybe in Job’s culture, he was a foreigner, not Jewish, in case you missed that, maybe in his culture it was customary for the head of the household to offer sacrifices on behalf of his family. But on such a regular basis and always after one of their many parties? The author makes sure to point out that “This is what Job always did.” What was Job so worried about? Was he worried that he may have been failing as a father? Was he worried that his children may not have been turning out quite the way that he had hoped they would? “Worried”, that word kept coming up and I realized that Jesus used that word as well in our gospel lesson for today. Ah ha! Maybe I’m on to something I thought. Maybe not. So, I kept plugging away. But I was not done with Job just yet. It really doesn’t matter what Job was so worried about. What I noticed was that his worry led him to act. As misguided as his actions may have been, I mean, how much could his sacrifices have really been helping his children’s upbringing? Nevertheless, his worries led him to action. Now, hold that thought as we jump to our gospel lesson.
Poor old Judas. He gets such a bad rap doesn’t he? Does he deserve it? Honestly, I really don’t think so. But the gospel writers sure did! You better believe that they were still holding a grudge long after these events occurred. Now, put on your imagination caps for a moment and imagine the gospels were recorded on video instead of paper and Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were each narrating their own version. Poor Judas couldn’t walk on screen without some kind of snide remark from them. If Judas so much as accidentally walked in front of the camera you would hear a comment like, “Oh, and that was Judas, the one who betrayed our Lord.” Or imagine Judas way in the background of a shot doing something mundane like getting a drink from a well and you would hear something like, “And in the background you can see Judas, the betrayer!” Read for yourself sometime all the passages where Judas appears and you will see it too. They could not cut him any slack. Except for maybe Luke.
Interestingly, our gospel reading begins toward the end of the chapter. If you start reading from the beginning of the chapter you will find what is basically the apocalypse according to St. Luke. Jesus speaks of all these terrible things that are going to happen: buildings crumbling, nations against nations, earthquakes, famines, plagues, the arrest and persecution of believers. I’m sure everyone in the crowd hearing this was like “Where do I sign up! Pick me! Pick me Jesus!” Jesus ends this apocalyptic description in our reading for today by not just telling us not to worry but by telling us not to worry about this life. It is not this life that should be our focus. Luke then moves immediately from “do not worry about this life” to the possession of Judas by Satan.
Many scholars believe that Judas was merely disappointed with the direction that Jesus’ mission was going. Judas, like most of Jesus’ followers believed Jesus would become an earthly king and lead the Jews out from under the oppression of the Romans. So, Judas’ “betrayal”, as the gospel writers call it, was actually his way of pushing Jesus toward what Judas thought was Jesus’ mission. I have no qualms with this theory and I think Luke may have had the same hunch as well. Luke describes Judas as being possessed. Possessed by Satan. “Satan entered into Judas” are Luke’s words. I shared this with my teenager at home over dinner and the look on her face was as if the rug had been ripped from beneath her. I thought she was going to spit all her drink out of her mouth like they always do on sitcoms. “Judas was possessed?” she asked in bewilderment. “I have always thought the worst of him”, she said. “I hated him for what he did to Jesus! You mean it wasn’t all him?” she asked. No, it wasn’t all him. But what we can see in Judas is a person whose worries got the best of him. A man worried about his nation. Worried about his people. Worried about Jesus’ mission. Take your pick but the fact remains that once again we see someone’s worries leading to some kind of action. And for Judas, his actions led to fatal consequences.
To me, it is a difference between a human reaction and a spiritual reaction. The difference between a raw, instinctual reaction and a spirit led reaction. Let’s face it, we worry. We worry about everything. We worry about finances, family, health, whether our cars are gonna last another year, we worry about worrying too much! It’s inevitable. And Jesus knew that. What we don’t always realize is that worrying is going to lead us to some kind of action. Worry is a powerful emotion, because it can slip under our radar so easily. It’s not like anger which can be so visible, or sadness which can bring tears. No, worry simmers just beneath the surface until in a moment of desperation it raises its ugly head. I’ve worked in the mental health field for quite some time now. I’ve worked with children and youth that were either juvenile delinquents, autistic, or having some kind of mental or behavioral challenge. I’ve urged them, as well as my own children, to find an outlet for their emotions because they will find a way to escape. It is our choice to give them a vehicle of our choosing with which they can express themselves or ignore them and let them find their own way out like Job and Judas did.
Jesus’ words of hope to not worry about this life point us to the kingdom. He’s not saying that we shouldn’t care about the here and now but that it is not the end all be all of our existence. We were made for more than this. No matter what circumstances we may find ourselves in, no matter the chaos that falls upon us so unexpectedly, it’s as if Jesus is saying, I got this! Don’t worry about this. Look ahead. Keep your eye on the kingdom. Don’t play into Satan’s hands by worrying about the various inconsequential road bumps that occur in this life. Jesus has got this under control.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Question 2
How do we combat the message given by society that beauty is on the outside and it only takes the form of what is seen on TV and in magazines?
Question
I began to mention this in class yesterday...Do you think that we are approaching a generation that will have struggles with interpersonal communication due to their constant use of technology to communicate?
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Worrying
This is not a rough draft, but merely me thinking outloud...er...on the keyboard...
"Worrying" seems to be a common theme that keeps coming to mind every time I read these passages. Job and Judas seem an odd couple for the lectionary to pair in this days readings. What do they have in common, if anything? They both have intimate experiences with Satan, even though they don't know it. They both suffer tragedy and disappointment. However, I think there is more to these two than meets the eye.
The lectionary begins the reading in the middle of the chapter. The half that it doesn't reveal on this day is all about the terrible things that will happen to the world and especially believers. So, it is no wonder that Jesus urges us to be ready, beware, be alert, and not to worry about this life.
Interestingly, Luke goes from this cautionary tone right into the possession of Judas by Satan. Why did Satan choose Judas? What made Judas so susceptible to Satan? Many have debated Judas' motives. Many believe that it was merely Judas' disappointment with Jesus that drove him to "betrayal". I personally like this angle and I think that the Bible supports the idea that there was more than just Judas' personal motives at work in this. I'm not sure if I would go as far as to say he was just an innocent pawn in this story but one could easily make pretty good case for it. My point here is that worrying got the best of Judas. Worrying for his people. Worrying for his nation. Worrying for what he thought Jesus mission was. Take your pick.
We all know of Jesus warning against worrying and what good can come from it. Yet we all do it. We worry about everything. We even worry about worrying. Are we playing right into Satan's hands? What we don't always realize is that this worrying leads to some kind of action. In Judas' case, his worrying led him to try to push Jesus' mission where it wasn't meant to go, an earthly kingdom. We can debate Judas' motives til our internet connection fails but what remains is Judas' emotions leading to actions that had dire consequences. To me this is the difference between a human reaction and a spiritual reaction. We are always going to act. Even non-action can be seen as a premeditated action. It is how we act that matters.
Good old Job is so revered in our minds. But we all have lessons that need learned. Why would Job be any different? The one thing that really is standing out to me from this reading is that Job would offer burnt offerings for his children because he was worried that they may have sinned and "This is what Job always did." Well, here again we find someone worrying and the actions that this worry caused. Why would he worry that his children may have sinned? And even if they did, why wouldn't they take care of their own sin? Could it be that he was afraid that he had failed as a father? Now I'm not saying that Job could have prevented all his calamity, again there were other powers at work here. But merely that Job's actions were based on a worry and like Judas', they were a bit off the mark.
I haven't done any other research yet, these are merely my initial grapplings.
"Worrying" seems to be a common theme that keeps coming to mind every time I read these passages. Job and Judas seem an odd couple for the lectionary to pair in this days readings. What do they have in common, if anything? They both have intimate experiences with Satan, even though they don't know it. They both suffer tragedy and disappointment. However, I think there is more to these two than meets the eye.
The lectionary begins the reading in the middle of the chapter. The half that it doesn't reveal on this day is all about the terrible things that will happen to the world and especially believers. So, it is no wonder that Jesus urges us to be ready, beware, be alert, and not to worry about this life.
Interestingly, Luke goes from this cautionary tone right into the possession of Judas by Satan. Why did Satan choose Judas? What made Judas so susceptible to Satan? Many have debated Judas' motives. Many believe that it was merely Judas' disappointment with Jesus that drove him to "betrayal". I personally like this angle and I think that the Bible supports the idea that there was more than just Judas' personal motives at work in this. I'm not sure if I would go as far as to say he was just an innocent pawn in this story but one could easily make pretty good case for it. My point here is that worrying got the best of Judas. Worrying for his people. Worrying for his nation. Worrying for what he thought Jesus mission was. Take your pick.
We all know of Jesus warning against worrying and what good can come from it. Yet we all do it. We worry about everything. We even worry about worrying. Are we playing right into Satan's hands? What we don't always realize is that this worrying leads to some kind of action. In Judas' case, his worrying led him to try to push Jesus' mission where it wasn't meant to go, an earthly kingdom. We can debate Judas' motives til our internet connection fails but what remains is Judas' emotions leading to actions that had dire consequences. To me this is the difference between a human reaction and a spiritual reaction. We are always going to act. Even non-action can be seen as a premeditated action. It is how we act that matters.
Good old Job is so revered in our minds. But we all have lessons that need learned. Why would Job be any different? The one thing that really is standing out to me from this reading is that Job would offer burnt offerings for his children because he was worried that they may have sinned and "This is what Job always did." Well, here again we find someone worrying and the actions that this worry caused. Why would he worry that his children may have sinned? And even if they did, why wouldn't they take care of their own sin? Could it be that he was afraid that he had failed as a father? Now I'm not saying that Job could have prevented all his calamity, again there were other powers at work here. But merely that Job's actions were based on a worry and like Judas', they were a bit off the mark.
I haven't done any other research yet, these are merely my initial grapplings.
Sermon Texts
My next sermon will be at my teaching parish, St. Matthew's, Hanover, at a wednesday night service. I have never been to one of these services so I have no idea what kind of crowd it gathers. I will try to make it a point to attend one before I have to preach. I am toying with the idea of using two texts that are found in the daily lectionary for that day. I am not sure if this is too much to bite off but thier seems to be such a strong connection between the two texts. They are as follows:
Job 1:1-22
There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and very many servants; so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4His sons used to go and hold feasts in one another's houses in turn; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5And when the feast days had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts." This is what Job always did.
6One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." 8The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil." 9Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." 12The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!" So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
13One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother's house, 14a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, 15and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you." 16While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you." 17While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you." 18While he was still speaking, another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, 19and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you."
20Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
22In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.
Luke 21:34—22:6
34Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
37Every day he was teaching in the temple, and at night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called. 38And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the temple.
22Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. 2The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. 3Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; 4he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. 5They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. 6So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present.
Job 1:1-22
There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and very many servants; so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4His sons used to go and hold feasts in one another's houses in turn; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5And when the feast days had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts." This is what Job always did.
6One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." 8The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil." 9Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." 12The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!" So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
13One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother's house, 14a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, 15and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you." 16While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you." 17While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you." 18While he was still speaking, another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, 19and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you."
20Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
22In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.
Luke 21:34—22:6
34Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
37Every day he was teaching in the temple, and at night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called. 38And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the temple.
22Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. 2The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. 3Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; 4he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. 5They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. 6So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present.
Questions and Answers
I had a WOW moment while reading Flickering Pixels that just blew me away. Hipps tells of a guy with whom he had a conversation with about religion and faith. This guy claimed that he just didn't need Jesus because scripture had no authority for him. After throwing every evangelistic tool at this guy Hipps realized that he "had all the answers to the questions no one was asking." Wow! What a revelation. I find this myself in my discussions with friends who are not believers and especially with youth. Their perspective is so different than mine. Their questions are so foreign, and their answers even more so. It is almost as if I have to set aside all I know and believe and would die for and look at life through totally different eyes to even begin to relate to them. I hope this does not sound condescending at all because it really is not meant to be. I find a non-believer's questions and take on life to be so refreshing, so real, so raw. I think many of us believers have forgotten the thrill of the chase and the ecstasy of the find.
Disciples vs. Believers
In Flickering Pixels, Shane Hipps makes a great distinction between believers and disciples (followers). He tells of a friend that can't seem to get to the belief in the divinity and resurrection fo Christ but in every other way you would never no he wasn't a believer. He was a devout "follower" of Christ and probably more in tune with his faith than many "believers". So the big question is: If he can't get to the resurrection, is he going to hell? We Lutherans don't like to ask such questions, but many of our parishioners do and will. How are we to answer this? It's so easy to flip through scripture and find a "difinitive" answer but is that what we are called to do? I'm really not sure either way. I know so many people, from my own family even, that are without a doubt believers, but I would be hard pressed to know if they are followers. What does this say about someones faith? Does it say anything? Hipps ends this discussion with pointing out that Jesus commanded us to make disciples, not believers.
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