Today's theme would seem to be the nature of our commitment as Christians. One of today's Commentators at Working Preacher quotes a bumper sticker: "If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict your." Much of the language used in today's lessons utilizes hyperboles and exaggerations for emphasis in making the point, they are not to necessarily be taken literally.
The calling of Elisha provides a commentary on the nature of vocation and discipleship. Unlike other prophets there is no anointing with oil, no visions, no blinding lights,no burning bushes, no dreams; Elijah tosses him his mantle and Elisha begins a life of service to his mentor, beginning with the slaughtering of the bullocks with which he had been plowing and the cooking of their flesh by burning his farm implements to make fire. As Jesus told his Disciples to "Follow me" so Elisha leaves his former life behind and learns his new trade by becoming Elijah's servant. There is little romance here, but Elisha does hang onto the mantle and later uses it in the performance of 'miracles'.
The Psalm lays out the benefits of a life lived in God's service and the pitfalls of straying from that path.
In the Epistle Paul lays out the limitations of the Freedom given us by the New Covenant. There is no such thing as absolute freedom as such license would lead to licentiousness. If we submit to the self-discipline of the rubric, "You must love your neighbour as yourself" in Gal 5:14 then we have freedom to live within that discipline, "There is no law against such things" Gal 5:23. He goes on to list the seven deadly sins and more besides, then the seven virtues plus. Those who live by these precepts are guided by the Spirit.
In the Gospel we join Jesus as he heads toward Jerusalem and his eventual crucifixion. The essential truth here is that to follow Jesus is to enter the Kingdom of Heaven; to be in the world but not of this world. Jesus' Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom and to enter it is to put our past lives behind us. We don't necessarily have to abandon our homes and professions as stated in the text but our goals and objectives, our wealth and possessions will become focused on Heavenly riches not earthly wealth, fame and fortune. The Kingdom of Heaven is not pie in the sky bye and bye but a state of mind we enter in the here and now. It sets our sights on heavenly goals rather than earthly ones for in a sense we have already entered Heaven.
For, Mat 25:40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
Mat 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
Mat 25:36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.
Such is our calling.
The calling of Elisha provides a commentary on the nature of vocation and discipleship. Unlike other prophets there is no anointing with oil, no visions, no blinding lights,no burning bushes, no dreams; Elijah tosses him his mantle and Elisha begins a life of service to his mentor, beginning with the slaughtering of the bullocks with which he had been plowing and the cooking of their flesh by burning his farm implements to make fire. As Jesus told his Disciples to "Follow me" so Elisha leaves his former life behind and learns his new trade by becoming Elijah's servant. There is little romance here, but Elisha does hang onto the mantle and later uses it in the performance of 'miracles'.
The Psalm lays out the benefits of a life lived in God's service and the pitfalls of straying from that path.
In the Epistle Paul lays out the limitations of the Freedom given us by the New Covenant. There is no such thing as absolute freedom as such license would lead to licentiousness. If we submit to the self-discipline of the rubric, "You must love your neighbour as yourself" in Gal 5:14 then we have freedom to live within that discipline, "There is no law against such things" Gal 5:23. He goes on to list the seven deadly sins and more besides, then the seven virtues plus. Those who live by these precepts are guided by the Spirit.
In the Gospel we join Jesus as he heads toward Jerusalem and his eventual crucifixion. The essential truth here is that to follow Jesus is to enter the Kingdom of Heaven; to be in the world but not of this world. Jesus' Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom and to enter it is to put our past lives behind us. We don't necessarily have to abandon our homes and professions as stated in the text but our goals and objectives, our wealth and possessions will become focused on Heavenly riches not earthly wealth, fame and fortune. The Kingdom of Heaven is not pie in the sky bye and bye but a state of mind we enter in the here and now. It sets our sights on heavenly goals rather than earthly ones for in a sense we have already entered Heaven.
For, Mat 25:40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
Mat 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
Mat 25:36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.
Such is our calling.
No comments:
Post a Comment