Day 25: He is Always Near

There's a little story at the beginning of Luke 21 -- the widow and her two coins.  We often use her as an example of good stewardship, because she gave all she had.  But she's not an example of good stewardship.  She's a victim of the corrupt temple system; she's taken advantage of by unscrupulous religious leaders who use her offerings to build up the temple (which is just going to be destroyed anyway)

And, she's also a picture of Jesus, who gave up everything to set us free from the power of sin and death.

Because He is always Near.  Keep alert.  Keep Awake. 

This chapter immediately precedes the beginning of the passion story, starting with Jesus celebrating the passover with his disciples.  Before that, Jesus warns the disciples that they need to always keep alert, because the end will come like a thief in the night, and they need to be ready always.  There are signs everywhere of his presence -- in the stars and the changing of the seasons, in the fig tree, in the widow and her two coins.

The end is always near.

Then the story becomes familiar:  Jesus eats with his disciples, and one of them goes to betray him.  He predicts Peter's denial; he prays, and they cannot keep their eyes open.  He is arrested, and he is mocked, and Peter does deny Jesus, and finally, he is brought before the religious leaders.

The end is always near.
We fall asleep, but he prays for us, and keeps telling us:  keep your eyes peeled.

Where do you see him? 

Day 9: The End of the Parables, the Beginning of the Passion

The Parable of the wise and foolish virgins, the parable of the talents, the parable of the sheep and the goats:  all of Matthew chapter 25 is taken up with these stories.  The last of the three is the most well known: sheep and goats standing before the King at the end of time, judged and separated by how they treated the hungry and homeless, the imprisoned and the stranger.  As you have done (or not done) it to the least of these, so you have done it to me. 

It's almost a little too easy to draw moral lessons from the parable of the talents.  "Use your talents -- or else!" the story seems to shout. And it is hard not to feel sorry for that poor third servant, who loses is one measly talent, and wonder what kind of a master he has.  But remember it's a parable, which means it defies easy explanations, and works on us in strange ways.  Remember that a talent really is money, and that one talent is actually quite a lot of money.  Remember that the harsh words the servant has for his master -- they aren't necessarily a true description of the Master.  But it's what the servant believes.    Every time I read this particular parable, I am offended, frightened, and I also see something new:  perhaps today I heard something about what I trust, and am willing to risk.  Maybe yesterday I considered the question, "What if it the gospel itself that is being buried, not shared, hidden in the ground, or within the walls of our churches?"

The story of the suffering and death of Jesus begins immediately after these three parables, with events well known, and a few details we may not have noticed.  There is the woman who anoints Jesus' head, and his words that everyone would remember her action.  There is the plot by Judas, immediately followed by Jesus sharing the Passover with his disciples.

There is the prediction of betrayal, the prayer in the garden, disciples falling asleep, the soldiers coming, and Jesus' words that if he asked, his Father would send legions of angels.  But he will not ask.

There's the trial, where the Pharisees have trouble finding someone who will testify against Jesus.  But, finally they do.

And, at the end of chapter 26, the prediction is fulfilled:  Peter denies his friend and his Teacher.

Until tomorrow, friends. 

Just how well do you know this story, the story of Jesus' suffering and death?  Were there any details that seemed new to you as you read today?

Which of the three parables in chapter 25 is most challenging for you?  Why do you suppose they are all together in chapter 25?  (It is almost as if Jesus disappears inside the parables in chapter 25, only to re-emerge at the beginning of chapter 26.)