Any Cliff Will Do! Luke 4:14 - 21

This coming Sunday's Gospel lesson is taken from Luke 4:14-21. The event marks Jesus' first appearance in his hometown synagogue since his baptism and commissioning. Imagine all of the townsfolk who gathered to hear what the local boy had to say. At first blush, it seems that Jesus spoke words of hope and promise. But then he answered a question posed by someone, and by the time he finished his answer, the local folks were in search of the highest cliff over which to toss him. And so, a question arose in my sometimes fertile imagination: When we ask God to speak to us, or offer us a sign of God's presence for our lives, do we really want that? Or do we want God to confirm what it is we already believe? Are we open to being surprised, even ticked-off, by the Spirit? I cannot help but think that"localized" Christianity, that is, the brand of Christianity that each of us identifies with, wants answers that feel familiar, and safe and that legitimate that which we already believe. After all, the folks in Nazareth were, at first, really happy that the "anointed" one came from their locale. However, once he began to speak in the synagogue, many of them wished that he belonged to another synagogue in another town. My first parish assignment was just four miles from home. On the whole, folks were very welcoming of this "kid" fresh from divinity school, whose father was born in that very town. But I recall clearly an open meeting when the construction of a new post office was being discussed. Behind the scenes, much was already decided upon before the required open meeting was held. When I expressed my reservations about the plan and the process, a man in the front row told me to shut up or he would kick my.........well, you get the picture. At that moment, I realized with horror that said town had seven hills from which I could be tossed. Our faith should make us uncomfortable at times, or else, it may not be, truly, our faith, but a hand- me- down set of beliefs that we simply accepted without thinking about their ramifications in real life. So, read the Lukan passage again and picture yourself there. Would you have been the one reading and offering commentary on the Isaiah passage, or would you have been a member of the crew scouting for a precipice?

Not All Alone - Ever!

This week's Gospel reading is from Luke, chapter 3, and deals with Jesus' baptism. The main difference between Luke's account and the accounts in the other synoptic Gospels has to do with the fact that Luke's Gospel has no human actor actually performing the baptism. Luke mentions that John was imprisoned by this time due to his mouthing off to Herod. Mark and Matthew mention John's performing the baptism, while Luke and John do not. What are we to make of this? Probably not much, except that Luke and John remind us that God can do things without us. They describe Jesus being baptized with the Holy Spirit, indicating God's direct action. When I was ordained, it was a long time before I could get my head around the fact that I could "officially" baptize folks and consecrate communion elements. It bothered me for a while; after all, who was I that I should get to do such things? I still think about it, but have made peace with it in that I am an instrument used to convey the reality of what God has already done. Whoever performed your baptism, God was there first and was present at the baptism. The Church has decreed that persons be set apart for sacramental duties, which for Protestants usually include Baptism and Communion, or the Eucharist. So, that refers to people like me. However, we would do well to remember the old saying that a church has one pastor, and many ministers. All of us can be channels of God's love and grace to others. If there is a sin which we tend to repeat as a body, it is forgetting, or denying that reality, opting instead for some sense of false modesty or humility. We are not all ordained, but we are all called. So, remember your baptism, both the one with water and the one which, I believe, is on-going, when God's Spirit infuses us with the strength and ability to live lives worthy of emulating. You may be someone's introduction to the manifestation of God's love and the embodiment of the Christian faith. Don't worry, God was there before you, and is there with you. Have a great week!

The Best New Year's Resolution.

I was thinking today, while sweating away in the gym, about New Year's resolutions. This is the time of year when folks are encouraged to buy that workout device, available for six easy payments of $19.95, plus shipping and handling (in other words, an extra $25 just for fun). Or perhaps you will start a new diet, or decide to read that book or write that memoir. I began a regular exercise routine when I graduated from divinity school, but it was not a new year's resolution. I just thought I should work to remain fit, and believe me, it gets harder each year, and the results are never what I hope for, but I keep on keeping on. For better or worse, this is the body God, and my mom, gave to me, so I need to take care of it. But what about taking care of one another, is that ever a resolution for us? So, as I was peddling furiously and going nowhere in the gym this morning, I thought of the best resolution of all. Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment. He gave a two-for-one answer: "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and mind and soul. And love your neighbor as yourself." It seems to me that no new year's resolution can improve on that. If we would just incorporate this simple, yet difficult commandment into our personal and corporate lives, imagine what the results might be. From the kitchen table, to the workplace, to the halls of Congress, perhaps folks might behave in a more civil manner. Happy New Year!