Lent-Day 9
Lent 2010: A Season for Listening
2/26/10-Day 9
Listening to the Sermon on the Plane: Part 8
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?”- Luke 6:46
Why is it that we think we can pick and choose as if Holy Scripture was some sort of buffet? Obviously there are passages that are not meant to be taken literally (but still should be taken seriously), some are hyperbolic statements of effect, and others that are expressions of opinion but this is not the case with any and all difficult parts of scripture.
For the past few days we have been confronted with Jesus’ commands to love, give, and speak kindly. I have had no luck in seeing any of these as polite suggestions or self-improvement tips. These are unavoidable rules for those who would follow Jesus. If it were impossible to keep these instructions, I don’t think the Teacher of the easy yoke and light burdens would have given them. Can this be difficult and costly, yes; impossible, no.
Likewise, I am amazed at the people who can sit and hear the words of Jesus week after week and remain untouched and unmoved by the simple elegant beautiful power of them. Why are we so willing to grieve the Holy Spirit and not respond to God’s leading? In my years of ministry I have never had someone respond to a call to full time ministry. Often I have struggled just to fill the positions within the church. Sometimes I have done this with the full knowledge that someone else was supposed to be taking the task, but they we unwilling to do so. And we all suffer unnecessarily from a general unwillingness to do what Christ tells us to do.
Today we consider the unanswered and unheeded commissions of Christ in our lives. Today we will spend time not only confessing what has gone undone, but seeking vision and guidance as to what it would take to faithfully respond. The journey might be long, we might have to learn new skills and change life paths. The road might be steep, we might have to go to places we don’t want to go and do things we don’t want to do. But today we focus only on that critical first step, lifting our heads and saying, “Yes, Lord”. It is still not too late! There is still time to hear and obey! Christ still calls and waits to go on these new journeys with us. Lord, help us. – Rev. John Mattox
Lord,
It has been your command since the beginning that we should love one another, that we should care for the widows and the orphans,
that we should love you first above anything else.
Let us truly love you, so that we will listen to your voice, and eagerly do what you would have us do.
Open our eyes to opportunities to share your love with others.
Amen. -Rev. Katie Mattox
