Black's Blog

March 31, 2010
Luke 11:5-8

Have you ever had a persistent family member or friend? They are really not so nice to have around. They may push for that family reunion which you have no time to attend, ask you to be a part of an intervention with them, or just be disappointed in you being too busy to be a part of their everyday life. All of the while their persistence may be a sign of commitment to you, your family, or your friendship.

Persistence is definitely encouraged in today’s parable when it comes to a pray-er approaching God. Jesus’ parable lifts up someone who asks for bread from a friend who has “closed up shop” for the night who will receive it not because of friendship, but because of persistence and need. So we are encouraged to never tire of asking God for things we need in our prayers.

Notice though that our persistence should be about “needs” and not about “wants.” The key difference is that telling God our needs is asking God into our lives. That is certainly commendable and God (who is far beyond any human friend) never tires of our persistence in prayer. In fact we have a great friend in Jesus, who not only knows our needs, but has gone to the “wood” for us in fulfilling our greatest need, forgiveness for all of our sins.

On this Holy Wednesday it is like the day before a family trip. We have planned for the Three Days (Maundy Thursday-Easter evening) over the whole season of Lent. We are ready for the fully celebration of Easter. These four first days of April this year can well launch us into a different kind of living, where we include God in our daily lives as the friend that is brought to mind through today’s parable. More than that we know our gracious God never closes the door or goes to bed, but is there for us 24/7. So we should be there for God in some way, shape or form every day of our lives.

March 30, 2010
Luke 15:8-10

The penny may be in trouble in the next several years in terms of its viability as a coin in our system. After all, what can you get for a penny? Perhaps we could round down to a nickel in a similar way in which we round down from forty nine cents or up from fifty-one on our income tax forms. After all, would we miss the penny?

According to Jesus’ parable today the woman who loses a drachma, a coin worth considerably more than a penny (about one day’s wages) searches carefully to find her one lost coin. But more importantly when she finds it she not only is glad for her own sake, but throws a party for her friends and neighbors over her discovery. So God rejoices in the same way over one sinner who repents.

What marks the lost coin as being different than the lost sheep or the lost son? The coin can do nothing for itself, but is dependent on the finder to discover it. So the woman needs to have company to rejoice over the lost since the coin will not do it. So we need the Christian community to rejoice over our being found by our gracious God.

When I was in seminary in the seventies there was a movement in the church that emphasized “I found it.” By that phrase those who created the saying meant that the individual ultimately needs to find God. In response the Lutheran seminary that I attended emphasized “God found me.” Although there probably shouldn’t be too great of a contrast made between these two positions, this parable clearly is on the side of “God finds us.” We can be thankful that it does not rest on our GPS abilities, because if left to ourselves we may just remain lost. But our loving God can find us no matter where we might be lost. That is something for which we can be eternally grateful.

March 29, 2010
Luke 15:3-7

The parable of the lost sheep is one that convinces us that truly each parable is told to have one central point. This is because it makes very little sense for a shepherd to leave ninety-nine sheep in the wilderness to go find his one lost, stray sheep. How foolish that would be for a shepherd might lose two or three of his sheep to the wolves or to who knows what while he seeks after the one lost sheep. Additionally, if the parable was taken to mean each thing equals another thing (allegorically) someone might also reason it would be hard for one shepherd to care for one hundred sheep. But the point of the matter is that the shepherd rejoices over finding his lost sheep and invites others to rejoice as well. So Jesus says our gracious God rejoices greatly over one “notorious” sinner who repents—more than finding sheer joy over ninety-nine who remain faithfully in the fold.

Often pastors are compared to shepherds because the church is compared to a flock. I have been a pastor who seeks to bring back those who have strayed from the fold, and now how tireless the work is in trying to reach them. The results are usually not forthcoming and if you really wanted to be sensible with your time you would spend far more time on the faithful in the parish. But the fact of the matter is that the model that Jesus gives is that of spending time calling the lost home. And as Philip Keller, a former Australian shepherd puts it; these sheep nearly always “nibble themselves lost”. They aren’t bad people but they gradually get away from their roots. How joyous it is when they/we are restored back into the fold. It should lead to throwing a party.

Each and every one of us can nibble ourselves lost. But we rejoice that we have gracious God who never gives up on us…who will seek us out and do everything short of taking away our freedom to respond in faith to gain us back. How grateful we can be, whether we are the one lost sheep now or are planted in the middle of His flock.

March 27 2010

Matthew 13:47-50

            I have only gone fishing once. I went along with a high school friend, but it was with a fishing pole and I did not catch anything. Certainly I do not understand what fishing with nets would be like. But I do understand sorting tomatoes or strawberries or sweet corn to see which produce is suitable for selling. My family did this when I was growing up and I participated in sorting out the good from the bad. I remember feeling a little bit of empathy for those which made it to the bad pile, but at least I knew what would be for supper.

            The series of parables in Matthew 13 speak about what the kingdom of God is like. The final one appropriately is about the end of time. It is either a parable of grace or judgment depending upon which of the piles in which you may find yourself. The encouragement for the listener is to respond to the kingdom now and do what the kingdom (and the king) requires so that you will not be thrown away with the half-rotten tomatoes and strawberries or the not-quite-ready-for-prime time sweet corn.

            When I hear the parable for today I think it is a call to spiritual wisdom and maturity. If God will do some sorting at the end of time, the wise and mature thing to do spiritually would be to stay close to the King during this time so that you will not be found on that discarded pile. The best way to do this is to read His Word, pray, and worship. As we near the beginning of Holy Week there will be plenty of opportunity to do all of these things. From the passion narrative of Luke on Palm/Passion Sunday through the passion narrative of John on Good Friday we will hear the story of the king who went from the adulation of the crowds on a Sunday to the condemnation of the authorities, spurred by the crowds, on Good Friday. Quite a trip to the discard pile for Jesus, but one done to save us discards from being discarded. What better news could there be than that grace wins out over judgment if we draw near to the One who is the King who went to the Cross for us and was raised for the dead.

            Being a prize tomato is a wonderful thing. God thinks each and every one of His followers are first choice, not just better boy (and girl), but best boys (and girls).

March 26, 2010
Luke 12:35-48

Along with the parable of the ten virgins this is a strong reminder to be ready for the coming of the kingdom just as we should be ready for the master who returns from the wedding banquet. It is the prudent thing to do, but it is also that which will put us in good stead with the Lord.  The fact of the matter is that it is also the only way to be ready when the master does come because that return will happen at an unexpected time. So our waiting is to be accompanied by being good stewards at all times because you never know when the master will come.

In a way I think of this parable as being like the officer(s) coming to inspect the military barracks. I am not too fond of that hierarchical point of view and it could lead to high anxiety for us plebes. On the other hand, the fact of the matter is that our relationship to the “master” is not egalitarian. There are some expectations that our gracious God has for us and we ought to pursue those expectations with a certain “spit polish.” Don’t we want to be part of the big celebration? Don’t we want to be part of the kingdom of God? If we do, we need to adopt kingdom ethics and make the most of what we have been given

Taken together these parables that talk about “being watchful for the Lord’s return” are the least connected parables to my/our life today. We have become lackadaisical about when or if Christ will come again. However, I hear Jesus saying that this is easy even in the first century and can be avoided only by being vigilant and faithful. My only wonderment of others is whether or not that kind of vigilance makes them anxious or whether you take it seriously at all?

March 25, 2010
Luke 17:26-36

There will be a time of reckoning as there was for everyone else but Noah and his family on the day of the flood. That is the clear message of the comparison “parable” today. It is not for us to like or not like. But… on the one hand, I like it because it is good to know that those who are so faithless and prosper will get their just recompense. On the other hand, what does this judgment say for me because can I be certain of my faithfulness?

Like it or not, the vein of judgment runs deep and consistently through Scripture. The later point that is made is that” whoever loses one’s life (in Christ) will preserve it. It is obvious that if we want to raise our chances of being found on the blessed side of judgment we will try to follow the path of faithfulness, emptying our selves of “self” and pouring ourselves into our relationship to Christ.

Interestingly for me this comparison story parallels the text for last night’s midweek service in Matthew 25:31-46. In this parable we will be judged on seeing Christ in our neighbor. We will be judged faithful by how we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and help the homeless.” Jesus says “whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me.” It leads me to want to reach out and help our neighbor. It leads me to think that perhaps the health care plan just passed is in keeping with Matthew 25. Do we sometimes put too much of our “self” into our opinions on public policy? Does it really matter whether or not something is good for us if it is good for our neighbor? Certainly something to think about on these two texts. But in the end time, and the judgment of God, will reign supreme.

March 24, 2010
Matthew 25:1-13

One of my favorite songs by the St. Olaf Choir is “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning.” That seems to be the main point of the parable of the ten virgins. We need to live each day intentionally because you never know when the bridegroom will be coming. And if you are not properly prepared you will not be let into the wedding banquet. Consequently, you will be left out of the kingdom of God.

What does it mean today to “keep our lamps trimmed and burning?” I think we would be talking about lifestyle. I’ve never really liked the four questions of Campus Crusade which begin with “If you died tonight, where would you go, heaven or hell?” Still I think any self-examination of our lives as to whether or not we are living as Christ would have us live is good. It should not, however, be something that makes us overly anxious (unless we are totally out of synch with the Ten Commandments and Jesus’ rephrasing of it in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Rather, it should be recalling back to the basics just like each New Year’s Eve is for many people. The difference is that our resolutions should be commitments to “love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and mind” and to “love our neighbors as ourselves.”

What needs to be trimmed in your life? Where is the light of Christ fading in your life? Only you would know. But this parable tells us to all to get in shape so that we may illuminate Christ to the world…so that we can be heralds for the king as He ushers in His kingdom.

March 23, 2010
Luke 12:16-21

            The parable of the “rich fool” is a great example of how much better a story can drive home a point than just a saying. Jesus has just said “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Certainly He is being straightforward and clear. But now the story tells of how a rich farmer is so good at what he does that he builds bigger and bigger storehouses for what He has grown. He is looking forward to a long and prosperous life enjoying the fruits of his labor. But then just as he is settling in God says to him “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And what will happen to all you have gathered?” Zowie!” Jesus certainly pulls no punches. Riches will not get you into the kingdom of heaven. They may get in the way of following Him.

To me as a farmer’s son, this seems to be a parable fit for the family farmer today. Many who grew up on farms will tell you what a nice way of life it is. As long as the goods were sellable at good prices, as well as seed and fertilizer and energy costs were low, it was a wonderful way of making a living. But when there was a glut of produce, whether it be corn or soybeans or oats, and especially the other costs went sky high, the bubble was burst. Their ways were like Wrong Way Corrigan running to his own end zone and scoring a touchdown for the opposition.

The positive point made here is that we ought to be wise enough to invest into that which is not perishable. We are to “be rich toward God” by growing in our relationship to God daily. So as Lent nears its end in less than two weeks, how have you grown closer to God during this time? What plans do you have to grow closer to God in the future? How about studying a book of the Bible or doing daily Bible reading beyond Lent? How about reading daily devotions or adding a quiet time to your daily life? And if you are thinking you will do it tomorrow, consider this rich fool. Don’t put off to tomorrow what you should be doing today!

March 22, 2010
Luke 21:29-33

            Apparently Luke remembered everything Jesus did with fig trees. During Lent (March 6^th blog) we’ve heard Him tell a parable about a fig tree which had produced no fruit to date. The point of the parable there was to repent now so that you may bear fruit and be spared from judgment. Here the figgy “parable” is that as a growing living organism when you see it sprouting, along with all of the trees, you know that summer is already near. That is how near the kingdom of God is.”

I have always taken this to reflect Jesus’ full humanity at this point. After all, didn’t He prove to be wrong? His generation did pass away before the end to time. Overall though I would take it reflective of basic organic thinking. One thing follows another, grows out of another. It is not so much a matter of time because as 1 Peter says to God “a thousand years are like one day and one day like a thousand years.” The days are surely coming…when Christ will return and bring all things to Himself.

The last verse is encouraging to me: “heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” This is a promise that words such as “If I live, you will live also” are true and will come to pass. Taken in this context—sayings about the end of time—it is the assurance that Christ is King and will reign forever. When I look around at the world today, with all of its wars and polarizations, it is reassuring to me that this will not be how it will be forever. God will have the last word!

March 20, 2010
Matthew 18:23-35

            Forgiveness seems to be a requirement in this parable, and I am always uncomfortable with requirements. Yet doesn’t it seem natural to forgive another person who owes far less to you after you have forgiven a humongous debt by another person? The parable draws us in to think that that would be least you could do. So when the punch line is given by Jesus “So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you (torture you), if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart” we tend to not be as offended because the forgiven one just simply has not gotten it and forgiven others.

            This parable calls to mind the petition in the Lord’s Prayer about forgiveness. That petition comes to us in two versions in Scripture. In Matthew’s version from the Sermon on the Mount we read “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” In Luke’s version from chapter 11 we read “forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.” The first seems like it is a choice, but the second says that it is a consequence. I like the second, but I must admit that the first coming from Matthew’s gospel (the same source of the parable) seems to be more consistent. It is something we need to do in order to “do the will of our heavenly Father.” Even though our being forgiven is a great incentive to forgive not everyone will do it.

            In practical Christianity I take this parable to be a strong encouragement to forgiveness. We may take God’s grace (undeserving love) as our incentive and motivation and therefore have really no choice but to forgive, but when it comes down to it human nature holds on the grudges, declines to reconcile, and generally is more about
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” As someone once said, that will leave us blind and toothless. But guided by God’s grace we can indeed forgive. As we do it over and over again, even to those who make it difficult to forgive, we will indeed make our gracious God happy. “To err is human; to forgive is divine.”