Sermons

Sometimes faith is simple. But sometimes it’s messy and nuanced – more complex than black or white, one thing or the other. This Lent, we are letting the Gospel of Luke guide us to the “in-between” nature of following Jesus.

This weekend’s story focuses on Zacchaeus. The crowds grumble at Jesus’ self-invitation to stay at his house, and their righteous indignation isn’t without cause. As a tax collector, Zacchaeus has extorted money and acted in collusion with the empire, using his position to oppress his own people. It is important to call out oppression, and yet, Jesus offers mercy. That mercy then begets more mercy as Zacchaeus, unprompted, offers to return what he took, and then some.

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4th Sunday of Lent
Sometimes faith is simple. But sometimes it’s messy and nuanced – more complex than black or white, one thing or the other. This Lent, we are letting the Gospel of Luke guide us to the “in-between” nature of following Jesus.

This weekend we focus on the Parable of the Lost Sheep. Herding sheep is a never-ending task. As soon as one is found, another may go missing. Our lives have a similar ebb and flow—in one moment we might feel like we have it all together, and in the next, we’re struggling to survive. The promise of this parable is that no matter how “lost” we feel, the Good shepherd is by our side.

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Sometimes faith is simple. But sometimes it’s messy and nuanced – more complex than black or white, one thing or the other. This Lent, we are letting the Gospel of Luke guide us to the “in-between” nature of following Jesus.
In the parable of the vineyard, the gardener knows the fig tree needs rest, nutrients, and time—and it also needs to produce fruit. Both things are true, which is also true for us. If we are always striving for more growth without taking time to rest, we will burn out. But if we are only ever resting, we won’t bear fruit or grow. It is often the in-between time—of nurture before fruit—where transformation begins.

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Sometimes faith is simple. But sometimes it’s messy and nuanced – more complex than black or white, one thing or the other. This Lent, we are letting the Gospel of Luke guide us to the “in-between” nature of following Jesus.

Today Jesus comes to the home of Martha and Mary. Hospitality! In many translations, Jesus says that “Mary has chosen the better part,” which has been used to create a divide between Mary and Martha. However, in the Greek, Mary has chosen the “good portion,” and Martha’s tasks are called “ministry.” We need the Word. Come Lord Jesus! By faith we serve Jesus in the world.

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Sometimes faith is simple. But sometimes it’s messy and nuanced – more complex than black or white, one thing or the other. This Lent, we are letting the Gospel of Luke guide us to the “in-between” nature of following Jesus.

Today we hear the story of the “Good Samaritan.” This parable begins and ends with the question, “Who is my neighbor?” and the answer is, surprisingly, “the stranger.” The Samaritan, whose place of worship and customs are different from the scribe who questions Jesus, is both a stranger and a neighbor to the man who was beaten and left in a ditch. In our world, many of our physical neighbors are strangers to us, and many of our neighbors—those closest to us—feel like strangers. If we align our intentions and actions, then maybe we need to reconsider who we consider “stranger,” and ask ourselves if we have acted as good neighbors.

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Witnesses to the glory of God in the face of Jesus reflect that glory in the world. It was true for Moses. It was doubtless true for Peter, James, and John. We pray that it will be true of all of us who see God’s glory in the word and in the supper and who are being “transformed into the same image” by God’s Spirit.

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Mercy. Mercy. Mercy. Joseph lives it in Egypt. Jesus preaches it in the gospel. The Spirit guides us into merciful lives with the power of forgiveness to reconcile what is fractured and divided. Such merciful living is the baptismal blessing of having put on Christ. It is the gift of the life-giving Spirit. It is a reflection of God’s glory revealed in Christ.

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While the early church expected the coming of God’s Realm to take place fairly soon, Luke prepares the community for a delay. Jesus’ followers are to live in the present on the basis of the values and practices of the Realm. We cannot do this on the strength of our own will; God empowers us with the Holy Spirit.

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In a world where we are constantly being told that we are insufficient—that we do not have enough, know enough, or matter enough—God’s trust in us seems misguided, almost irrational. God calls us to bear the good news of Christ to a hungry, hurting world.

Why would God entrust such an important mission to us? Because God also equips the called. Caught up in God’s abundant grace, Jesus provides all we need. Each day. We follow trusting that it’s not about us, but God’s abundance and faithfulness.

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