Matthew 21:33-41

“They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’” vs. 41

The religious leaders were quick to give Jesus the right answer when he asked them about the parable of the vineyard. The tenants had acted in such a despicable way that they deserved the wrath of the landowner. What the Pharisees didn’t get was that the parable was about them, and that the landowner’s son was Jesus. So in condemning the tenants they were actually condemning themselves. We can’t judge them too harshly. When we do our best to lead decent and god-fearing lives it’s often hard to understand our own culpability in any societal shortcomings. For instance, folks who have lived in White communities with little contact with people of other races often have difficulty acknowledging any degree of racism in themselves. In fact it’s offensive to them when it’s implied that they might have racist attitudes. That’s why it’s been difficult for many to even begin to understand the rage and violence that has erupted in Black neighborhoods over police killings in recent months. And when it’s implied in our White congregations that our attitudes have contributed to the divisiveness in the country, there’s often a wave of righteous indignation. There’s a general unwillingness to even have discussions about issues of race–we’d rather cling to our own righteousness and believe that it’s just not our problem. Our inner Pharisee is always close at hand!

Thought for the Day: How do I feel when it’s implied that I’m a racist?

Philippians 3:10-14

“Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” vss. 13-14

There are some who believe that life in this world is a kind of qualifying test for the new life that has been promised to us in Christ Jesus. If we live well, we will be rewarded in the life to come. It’s a logical assessment, one that is fully in accord with the basic principles of our culture, i.e. hard work brings success. And it seems to agree with what Paul wrote to the Philippians. Of course that’s not likely what Paul means–it just doesn’t fit with his heavy emphasis on grace! And if that is what he meant, how could we ever know that we’ve done enough? No, it’s much more likely that Paul is talking about the challenges of life in this world. The road ahead is cloaked with mystery–and none have yet arrived at our journey’s end. So, forgetting what lies behind, we push on toward the goal–and it is there we receive the prize of new life in Christ. The prize isn’t contingent on how we’ve lived–it isn’t a reward! It’s a gift and it’s ours by grace, and there’s nothing in all creation that can separate us from that love that is ours in Christ Jesus.

Thought for the Day: Why do some prefer for there to be winners and losers in the game of life?

Philippians 3:4b-9

“More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ…” vs. 8

When Paul, the zealous credentialed Pharisee, was encountered by the Risen Christ, the trajectory of his life changed completely. It wasn’t that he’d been a shameful sinner, he’d in fact lived a life that was beyond reproach. He was blameless with regard to the law, what we would call a pillar of society. And he gave up his own righteousness and became known instead as the “chief of sinners.” His story is a shocker, mostly because it’s the opposite of what we’ve been taught to aspire to. Our congregations and our culture have told us that the way to salvation is an upward journey, that as we put aside our sinful nature and practice obedience, we grow in favor with God. Like Jacob’s ladder, every rung leads us higher and higher and one day we will attain righteousness. In truth, the way to enlightenment and salvation is a journey downward–we put aside our own righteousness in order to be embraced by the Friend of Sinners. And that experience of being loved for who we are, and not for who we should be, is worth more than any honor or degree the world can bestow. We don’t have to go up to meet Jesus; he comes down to where we are! Praise God!

Thought for the Day: Why does a blameless person even need to know Jesus?

Psalm 80:7-15

“Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” vs. 7

The psalmist didn’t understand why Israel had fallen on hard times. From his perspective the Lord had gone to a lot of work to insure its prosperity. Using the metaphor of a vine he describes how God brought the root out of Egypt and planted it deep in good ground so that it would grow and fill the land. But then God had abandoned it and left it defenseless against pillaging predators. And the psalmist doesn’t know why–he only craves restoration, a return to the good old days when Israel enjoyed God’s favor. Some of us know that feeling! Many have experienced it in their churches. It’s wonderful when times are good and growth is obvious–people come, programs flourish, and worship fills our hearts with joy. But then things change. Other congregations pluck most gifted members, and everyone else gets old. Staffs shrink and no matter what is tried, the past remains a dream. It’s easy to wonder how God has let this happen–we debate reasons for the decline. Surely it’s nothing that we have done! And it isn’t just the church that’s affected–families change too, and we miss the past–and so we pray with the psalmist, “Let your face shine, restore us!” It’s a common plea–and then one day we realize that God has not gone away. Times have changed, but a new day is coming, and God will never stop smiling on us.

Thought for the Day: What were the good old days like?

Matthew 21:28-32

“Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.’”

Jesus’ question was so easy that even his opponents got the right answer. We don’t need to be rocket scientists to know that actions speak louder than words. It’s a truth that we learn in kindergarten. And yet for centuries people claiming to be followers of Jesus have developed a system that puts the emphasis on what we say. They have told us that unless we say the right words and confess the creeds in exactly the right way, we will never be able to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

That obvious lie has gained traction in every generation because of our human desire for exclusivity. We want our group to be “special” and not open to every sinner who comes along. And so we’ve dreamed up religious passwords, empty rituals and elaborate theologies to weed out the undeserving. Jesus has some words for those who form such “clubs”! “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.” Our companions in Christ, now and forever, are people of every folk and nation, all who do the will of the Lord. They include Buddhists, Muslims, Jews and Christians, and millions of others, all who love kindness, do justice and walk humbly with their God.

Thought for the Day: Does it ever make any difference what we say?

Matthew 21:23-27

“When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’” vs. 23

The question of authority was important for the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. Authority was what legitimized a person’s words and actions, it was what ordered the hierarchy and established a chain of command. In their eyes if Jesus lacked proper authority for the things he was doing, he was violating sacred boundaries and should be disregarded. The Church has long struggled with that same issue. We’re very particular about credentials when it comes to congregational practices. Unless a person has been properly authorized we are reluctant to allow them to officiate at our rituals or to preach from our pulpits. We are not to cross certain sacred boundaries without having a stamp of approval from our particular denominational hierarchy. Now to some extent this is understandable–proper order and proper credentials are important to our life together. But sometimes we forget that this is all human convention, and has virtually nothing to do with how the Spirit of God operates. As the gospel of John puts it, “The Spirit blows where it wills…and you do not know where it is going or where it is coming from.” Rather than doggedly following our time-worn practices, as followers of Jesus we should always stand ready to be surprised by God.

Thought for the Day: What are the signs of true spiritual authority?

Philippians 2:4-13

“Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” vs. 12 

These words from Paul to the Philippians have been much debated through the centuries. If salvation is by grace and a gift from God, what might it mean for them to “work out (their) own salvation with fear and trembling?” Obviously reactions to that question have been legion. In fact, Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, known as the Father of Existentialism, titled one of his major works, Fear and Trembling, a book in which he worked out his perspectives on Paul’s imperative. Understanding Kierkegaard’s thesis might be difficult for most people, but Paul’s instructions do deserve careful reflection. It is true that all have been gifted with salvation, but our journey toward salvation is very much an individual matter. And we won’t know where we are going until we get there, sometimes after a lifetime of painful struggle. In other words, following Jesus requires action–it’s not a passive enterprise. Kierkegaard wrote, “If anyone on the verge of action should judge herself according to the outcome she would never begin.” The Philippians didn’t have Paul around to tell them what to do–each of them had to figure it out. And so it goes with life–we’re all just “figuring it out,” and we do it with fear and trembling. And the good news is, at the end we will have our salvation!

Thought for the Day: What do I know now that I wish I’d known long ago?

Philippians 2:1-4

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” vss. 3-4

As Paul bares his soul to his friends in the Philippian community, we see clearly what he desires for them in their life together. Living in Christ will be different from life in the world. No longer will they be dominated by desires to accumulate power, prestige, and wealth. Instead, coming from every level of society, they will adopt new standards and put aside their selfish ambitions and petty conceits. In essence they will be the Body of the Risen Christ, full of humility and love, and looking only to the interests of others. Some of us have been blessed to be a part of such communities, and it is a truly wonderful thing to experience. Our congregations have included people from all walks of life: CEO’s, executives, police, teachers, workers, servants, bosses, artists, people with a variety of gifts and talents, but in their community of faith each of them have sought only to love and serve, following the example of Jesus. There’s no flaunting of wealth or power and people don’t know GPA’s or credit scores. Members of such a community come together in a mutual love of the Lord and a desire to assist others in times of need. This is life in Christ as Paul imagined it, and when it happens God is glorified.

Thought for the Day: Where have I experienced community as Paul described it?