Holy Week prayer & readings

Prayer for Palm Sunday
Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Readings for Holy Week

16 Isaiah 45:21-25; Ps 22; Phil. 2:5-11; Matt. 26:36-27:66
17 Psalm 12; Matthew 26:1-5
18 Psalm 13; Matthew 26:6:13
19 Psalm 14; Matthew 26:14-19
20 Psalm 15; Matthew 26:20-75
21 Psalm 16; Matthew 27:1-56
22 Psalm 17; Matthew 27:57-66

righteousness (Mt 25:31-46)

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Psalm 11; Matthew 25:31-46


"'Come you who are blessed by my Father...'
Then the righteous will answer him, saying 'Lord, when did we see you...?'
And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'"

We heard a strong and inspiring message on this text Thursday evening at the first Men's Barn Ministry Supper by Chaplain and Pastor Mike Thomas. He reminded us of sins of commission and of omission, of poor man Lazarus and the rich man who neglected him, of the priest and Levite and the Good Samaritan... Thank you Mike. And last night Brooke and I were privileged to hear Bill Clark from the International Justice Mission (www.ijm.org). Bill shared about what IJM is doing around the world to rescue people from human trafficking, slavery, sexual violence, and widow land seizure. Indeed God's heart is with the poor and powerless, and he wills that justice roll down like rivers; this ministry has exploded in the last ten years, and young people especially, are all over the vision and the work. Thanks be to God.

This parable of the sheep and the goats is not only the last parable Jesus tells in Matthew, but may be the best known - certainly the best known of the last three eschatological parables.

First, let me link you to a site where you can download an excellent sermon on Injustice from James 2 by Tim Keller. You'll find a number of sermons there, all of which relate to his new book "The Reason for God" which answers skeptics' various criticisms of Christianity.
Keller on Injustice

Now for a few comments:

First, I want again to highlight this term "righteous" and the way that Jesus in Matthew emphasizes that what we do matters. In fact, that what we believe and what we do are connected, hearts and actions are inseparable... eg. that a good tree bears good fruit. The theme is all through the Sermon on the Mount. This term, "righteous," is one way of talking about those who relate rightly in all their relationships, not only with God but especially with those in need in the community. It's all through the prophets, the psalms and proverbs; it's alluded to in the psalms for yesterday and today (more in how the wicked pursue and oppress the poor and powerless, in other places we see that the righteous do the exact opposite... just like the LORD):

In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor...
He sits in ambush in the villages;
in hiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket;
he lurks that he may seize the poor;
he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.
The helpless are crushed, sink down,
and fall by his might... (10:2, 7-10)
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand;
forget not the afflicted.
Why does the wicked renounce God
and say in his heart, "You will not call to account?"
But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless commits himself;
you have been the helper of the fatherless... (10:12-14)
O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart;
you will incline your ear
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more (10:17-18).

For the LORD is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face (11:7).

Second, I note that the blessed righteous were just as surprised as the cursed and doomed "omitters". Jesus calls the "sheep" blessed - was it because they did all this stuff? Or did they attend to those in need because they were blessed?? They weren't all self-congratulatory, "Oh good, we were hoping you noticed all the good that we did" or "we certainly are more righteous than those goats, and deserve to inherit the kingdom!" It seems more a natural outflow of being blessed by their Father in heaven. Just as sheep follow the shepherd, listening to his voice and going where he leads, so these listened to and followed Jesus. As they had received grace and mercy, so they extended grace and mercy; as they had been loved unconditionally, so they loved unconditionally.

Jesus is "deadly" serious about his followers being like God, and being like him, in all relationships - not absolute moral perfection, but on the Way with a heart firmly set in that direction. God is making all things right, which includes justice for the poor and powerless - one day he will fully and finally do so. For now, we, the church, are to be doing so... like Mike Thomas and IJM, and all those blessed who don't even realize they are ministering to Jesus in sharing what they've received through him, grace and mercy, unconditional love, and tangible help in the midst of real need.

the master's joy (Mt 25:14-30)

Friday, March 14, 2008

Psalm 10; Matthew 25:14-30


"'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'"
(Matthew 25:21,23)

The second "eschatological" parable Jesus tells regarding being prepared for the end and for his return has this economic dimension. Of course, perhaps the first one had an economic aspect to it in that the five foolish virgins were too cheap initially to bring extra oil...

While all three have to do with readiness and preparation, the first uses the image of wedding / celebration / relational / anticipation of union and joy while the second uses the stewardship of another's resources to make the point.

We have been taught to listen for the "gotcha" in a parable, that a parable has this one jolting twist that was supposed to reverberate in your heart and head as you walked away. I'm pretty sure that in today's parable it has to do with the one talent servant, either his wimpiness or the master's harshness with him.

But what I'm "stuck" on is how much this man entrusted to his servants ("to each according to his ability" v. 15). A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years wages for a laborer. Translated into our day, that would be anywhere from $300,000 (@ $7.50/hr) - $600,000 ($15/hr) or more.

That's a lot of money for a servant / slave to be entrusted with! And not only that, when the master comes to settle accounts, he says "you have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much." The first servant received anywhere from $1.5 million to $3 million. "At once" he went and traded with them and doubled his master's resources. Granted, the master knew that this guy had the ability to be entrusted with so many resources (this much money could employ a lot of laborers for a long time), but he also had the intrepidity, the fearlessness to just go out and start trading it. I guess the terminology in stock trading terms is that this guy had a "high risk tolerance."

I'm wondering what the "little" the servants were entrusted with is in reference to: how much the master actually owned, or to how much he was consequently entrusting to the servant. Either way, to me 3 million dollars is not a little! It's a lot of money with which to freely trade "at once" - no research, no dividing up the assets and letting some of it be risked in a high-yield potential investment, putting some in consistent performing mutual funds, and preserving a part for safe investing in bonds or CD's or even a money market or savings account.

The first two servants are addressed as "good and faithful," the third as "wicked and slothful." The first two did what was expected of them. Their faithfulness seen in both using their abilities to add value to their master's estate and in their seeming recklessness in trading with his money. Somehow they were confident and fearless; they knew either that this money was nothing compared to the master's vast resources, or that the master would be blessed by their seeking to not only manage, but multiply, his money. They knew that being entrusted with the master's possessions required an accounting, in fact, it required that they do something - ie. servants serve.

The wickedness and slothfulness of the last servant was not really in his doing nothing, he went to the effort of digging in the ground and hiding his master's money. It was, then, in what little he did, and his motivation for doing so - "I was afraid..." (v. 25). He did do something - but he did not serve his master, but himself. What he did was contrary to the purpose of the stewardship, contrary to the purpose of the talents. This reminds us of early on in the gospel when Jesus says that people do not "light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all the house" (5:15). [But lest we "over-spiritualize" this parable, let me be clear that I do think at least part of Jesus' point here is that there will be a material, economic accounting to be made on that day.]

So, do we enter into the joy of our master because we've been "good" (moral uprightness, avoiding sin, converted lots of people, added economic value to God's kingdom, etc.), because we were successful and have plenty to show for our efforts for the Lord? It's not payment for our work, but it does seem to be reward for faithfulness, and simple wisdom on the master's part in the stewardship of his stuff.

It's interesting how "faithful" and "slothful" seem to be antonyms here, as they parallel each other in the designation of the servants.

Good and faithful
Wicked and slothful

Fearless and faithful
Afraid and slothful

There's a real sense that in Christ we have already entered into the joy of our master. If we are baptized into him, then God says to us also, "You are my beloved child, with whom I am well pleased." Thankfully, Jesus did not remain "hidden" in heaven, but was faithful; he is the son who took on the very nature of a servant, and in faithfulness and in fearlessness risked everything on our behalf, and he has gained everything.

So we too, working with God who so powerfully works within us, cooperating with the Spirit who indwells us and who is transforming us into the image of Christ, with our hearts set on the goodness and faithfulness of God towards us, and on the joy set before us and his joy over us, use what has been entrusted to us to the glory of God.

"Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand;
forget not the afflicted.
Why does the wicked renounce God
and say in his heart, "You will not call to account"?
But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless commits himself;
you have been the helper of the fatherless..."
(Psalm 10:12-14)

ready, set, wait (Mt 25:1-13)

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Psalm 9; Matthew 25:1-13


"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
(Matthew 25:1-13)

Jesus now shares three parables to conclude his discourse on the last days. He has just said in 24:50 that "the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

This first parable follows that thought, "Then" or "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom..." (25:1). Five of them are unprepared, thoughtless, and dishonor the wedding party. These girls (virgins, perhaps not even teenagers yet, or very young teenagers) were to light the way to the bride's home, in celebration, for the bridegroom to ceremonially come to get his bride. The virgins were sharing in the joy of the bride and anticipating their own weddings. It was not uncommon however, once the torchbearers were ready for the ceremony, for the groom to be delayed. That's his prerogative on his special day, the procession members were not there for themselves - it wasn't their celebration - they were there for the bride and groom.

Their unwillingness to wait and watch in readiness was evidenced by not bringing flasks of oil for their lamps, thus in effect saying they'll participate if the bridegroom comes on their timetable and is not delayed. And such would be a huge insult to the bride and to the groom - and indeed they would not be welcome to share in the families' joy.

Jesus is saying in a number of ways that we are to live in readiness and expectation, and that we can expect that his coming to make all things right may be delayed. I think he's also inferring that to insist on our schedule, our plan, our way of conducting our lives, is to be a "wicked servant" (24:48) and a foolish members of the wedding party.

How often do we think God is going to do something in a certain way at a certain time? And when that does not happen as we expected, or planned for, or prayed for, we are disappointed, or angry, and even rebellious in our attitude? This can be something as little as how we relate to those closest to us ("because you did that, I'll respond this way!"), to hurts or griefs ("this justifies getting drunk..."), to major decisions in our life ("I really believed I was supposed to get that job, or get into that school, I'm not going serve the Lord so seriously for a while...").

Perhaps by extension we could also say that to live in such a way insults not only the Lord but also his church. For this is the great event we look for and long for:

"Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like th roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure" -

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." (Revelation 19:6-9)

Once again, a core issue before us is relationship and heart attitude. A right relationship, love with all one's heart, is all about the attitude, intention and desires of the heart. And this heart attitude manifests itself in outward actions (righteous deeds). I think this is what Jesus is getting at, metaphorically giving us graphic pictures that impact us and reveal his heart for his people - not to scare them with "do this or else!" but to describe faithfully living through times of waiting and suffering and wondering, and especially the Time of trial and testing and tribulation.

But the LORD sits enthroned forever;
he has established his throne for justice,
and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness.
The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you...
(Psalm 9:7-10)

servant (Mt 24:36f)

This was probably my favorite Larry Norman song.
It too ties in with today's reading...

I am your servant

be ready (Mt 24:36-51)

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Psalm 8; Matthew 24:36-51


"Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
(Matthew 24:44)

This is the third passage now the speaks of the "coming of the Son of Man." Jesus says that no one knows the day and hour, not the angels nor the Son, only the Father.

The main point today is to "be ready" - and we do that as we "stay awake," watching for him, and by doing what we has told us to do. Noah did this. God called him and told him what to do, he did it; God told him to get into the ark, and he did it.

Are we looking to him and looking for him? Are we doing what he's told us to do? This begins, first and foremost, with "Repent and believe the good new of the kingdom." It also includes loving the Lord with all our hearts and loving our neighbor as ourselves. If we love someone who has gone away, we will watch for them or for signs that they are returning: whether post cards or letters, phone calls, reports from mutual friends, or like the prodigal father, keep looking out over the horizon for a glimpse of the returning son.

And if we love them, we will do whatever we can to honor their wishes and desires as they come to us. Like our daughter-in-law Monica asked us before our visit to Atlanta about what we wanted to eat or drink, and how Mark and Monica have us sleep in their room in the good bed.

This seems like the sense of this final part of the discourse before the three parables that close it. Jesus also uses the words "wise" and "faithful" and "servant" to describe the dynamic going on here. Again, he is not throwing us in a maze and saying I hope you can find your way out before the bus leaves or you'll be left forever! He is not saying it's all work, work, work out of fear, guilt, and anxiety. He's simply saying something like, "be in relationship with me, be listening and looking. Be faithful and wise. Love me. Have a heart to serve me, and others, and you'll know when I'm coming, and you'll be ready."

A couple of weeks ago Larry Norman died. He was 60 years old and a Christian rock-and-roll legend. Two of his most famous songs were "Why should the devil have all the good music?" (Jesus is the rock and he rolled my blues away...) and "I wish we'd all been ready." That second one I still remember from about thirty years ago (it was actually written 39 years ago!), it's a sad song, and frankly I don't agree with the the whole "Left Behind" theology it foreshadows, but it's apocalyptic and foreboding tone still ring loudly, like Jesus' imagery in our reading today (check it, and other Larry Norman songs, out on YouTube - just listen, the slide show has it's good parts and goofy parts...):

Life was filled with guns and war, everyone got trampled on the floor
I wish we'd all been ready
Children died the days grew cold, a piece of bread could buy a bag of gold
I wish we'd all been ready

There's no time to change your mind, the Son has come and you've been left behind

A man and wife asleep in bed, she hears a noise and turns her head, he's gone
I wish we'd all been ready
Two men walking up a hill, one disappears and one's left standing still
I wish we'd all been ready

There's no time to change your mind, the Son has come and you've been left behind

Life was filled with guns and war, and everyone got trampled on the floor
I wish we'd all been ready
Children died the days grew cold, a piece of bread could buy a bag of gold
I wish we'd all been ready

There's no time to change your mind, how could you have been so blind
the Father spoke the demons dined, the Son has come and you've been left behind


"Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes."
(vs. 45-46)

gathered (Mt 24:29-35)

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Psalm 7; Matthew 24:29-35


"And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matthew 24:31)

Tribulation, the sun, moon, and stars failing, every tribe mourning when the sign of the Son of Man appears in heaven, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. They will see him as clearly as lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west (v. 27). This may be the main reason Jesus referred to himself as the "Son of Man" in the gospels; it is a reference to Daniel 7:13-14,

I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
that all people, nations, and languages should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.

If indeed this whole section concerns three different things, (1) the destruction of the Temple / Jerusalem, (2) the last days, and (3) the Coming of the Son of Man, then this paragraph would seem to refer to the last days immediately being followed by his coming, which will be unmistakable and in which his people will, without doubt, participate.

What is much less clear is what Jesus means by saying that "this generation will not pass away until all these things take place" (v. 34). Again, I think we need to hold these things lightly and onto Jesus tightly - but I'll share what I briefly read from the "NET" Bible footnotes (http://www.bible.org/netbible/). This is one of the hardest verses in the gospels to interpret. "Generation" could mean (1) the race of the Jewish people, (2) humanity, (3) the people living when they see the portent in the heavens (v.29). None of these is particularly satisfying, though probably the third makes the most sense. Similar to this is Matthew 16:28 where Jesus says that "there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." Perhaps we'll get some more clarity on this by the end of Matthew's Good News.

Finally, Jesus assures us that "heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (v. 35). The tone of all this is assurance - Jesus is not trying to frustrate or confuse or frighten us. When he says that he will send his angels to gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other, he is assuring us that his chosen ones, his own, the ones he has his eye and his heart on, will be gathered to himself. They will be intentionally and definitively sought out and found and brought to him. None lost finally. Whether "lost" at sea, or burned at the stake, or dismembered or beheaded; whether forgotten in a prison cell, or buried in an unmarked grave; or whether just an "insignificant" Christian, whose life didn't seem to make a difference... The glorious, victorious Son of Man will commission his angels and we will be brought home.

* * * * *

Again, it's amazing how these "random" Scriptures complement each other...

O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge;
save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,
lest like a lion they tear my soul apart,
rending it in pieces, with none to deliver...
Arise, O LORD, in your anger;
lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies;
awake for me; your have appointed a judgment.
Let the assembly of the people be gathered about you;
over it return on high...
I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness,
and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.
(Psalm 7)