The year was 1979. I
was a senior in High School. Iran was
holding 52 Americans hostage in Tehran.
Reinstatement of registration for the military draft was being discussed. War felt immanent. It was a fearful time. My
girlfriend at the time invited me to join her for church one Sunday
morning. That day, the preacher spoke
about the fear. It was warranted, he
said. The end times were upon us. Christians should hunker down, cling to one
another and to their faith, and wait for the Lord to return. Even at the time, his advice didn’t ring true
to me.
We still live in fearful times. I’ve come to the conclusion that, for the
most part, we always do. At least, some
always do. But, is the Christian
response to fearful times to hunker down and wait for the end? I don’t think so. Throughout Chapter 12 of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus
is talking to his disciples about facing the fearful and difficult days ahead
(Jesus had told them that they were heading for Jerusalem and a cross). The whole chapter is full of assurance and
hope, a call to reconsider and reorient one’s priorities and to be ready to
face whatever comes. This week’s passage
is no different. The parable in vss. 41-48
expands the idea of watchfulness and preparedness in vss. 35-40. Jesus adds
a call to faithfulness in carrying out one’s tasks to his call to readiness. Cowering in fear is not an option. Why would it be? We have the promise of God’s Reign. We have the gift of the Holy Spirit. We have the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Our response to the fearful realities of life are the same
as they always have been. First, we need
to dress ourselves in the very promises I just mentioned. Through worship, the study of the Word,
prayer, devotion and the mutual support of our brothers and sisters in faith, we clothe
ourselves in hope. But, it is not enough just to be dressed in
hope. Because we know the end of the
story, we can be strengthened to live in the story as it unfolds around us –
fearful as it can be sometimes. Like the faithful slave in vss. 40-48, we
need to be about our master’s business.
For those who call Jesus “master” (i.e. “Lord”) that means caring for
those in need, standing with those who are marginalized, crying out for justice,
working for reconciliation and embodying the love God has for God’s world. It means getting out of our church buildings
and engaging the fearful world knowing that there is nothing to fear, because
God is already at work “out there”.
Have no fear little flock!
The Kingdom is yours! Get
dressed! Get going! Get serving! God is with you… to the end of the age!
Peace,
Bishop Mike
Thanks for reading.
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