A few weeks ago, if you recall, we began to read a section of Luke where Jesus is having a meal with some local Pharisees. We saw that Jesus recommended that we take the lowest seat at a banquet so that we could be moved to one of more prominence. At that time, I spoke to you about how meals were very important in the world of the first century and how one could be ‘equalized’ by sharing a meal with another or could be ‘brought into the family”. We saw how Jesus ate with the Pharisees, and so must have been seen to be on an equal par with them. We also saw how important family was for the Mediterranean of the first century. Family was there to protect, to help in times of need, to lie for you even, if necessary. Family was also there to help you in your old age when you were no longer able to work to support yourself. What can this mean for us? We need this week to focus more attention on our goal, even if it means giving up some of the things we on which we depend or are accustomed. Take some time out this week to do some spiritual reading, or to pray and meditate. Start to change your priorities by looking at the end goal. Be like the construction worker who knows what kind of building he wants, but makes sure that he has the capital necessary to get it done. And if you don’t have it right now, start accumulating the capital in order to make it happen. To follow Christ you and participate in his mission and his kingdom, you have to give up your dependence on family,on possessions and of your very life! In our second reading today we get an example of someone who has been looking at the goal and has lived his life in that way. Paul was an old man when he wrote this letter today, and he is obviously carrying his cross. He is imprisoned. He has had great help from a slave named Onesimus to make his prison stay easier, but he is not dependent on Onesimus and, in fact, is sending the slave back to his master. Paul asks the slave owner to no longer treat Onesimus like a slave but to treat him as he would Paul himself. Paul is thinking of others now and not himself. Paul, then, is the perfect example of one who tries to follow the path of Jesus. What can this mean for us? We need this week to focus more attention on our goal, even if it means giving up some of the things we on which we depend or are accustomed. Take some time out this week to do some spiritual reading, or to pray and meditate. Start to change your priorities by looking at the end goal. Be like the construction worker who knows what kind of building he wants, but makes sure that he has the capital necessary to get it done. And if you don’t have it right now, start accumulating the capital in order to make it happen. To follow Christ you and participate in his mission and his kingdom, you have to give up your dependence on family,on possessions and of your very life!
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 11:16:12 +0000
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