Expectant Living (29)
Lectionary, Year C, Proper 14
Christopher B. Harbin
Luke 12:32-40
Many voices of fear surround us. On the political left, there is fear of Nazism and the loss of democracy. On the political right, it is of an encroaching communism, to replace democracy and freedom. Socially, there is fear-mongering on issues of education, of sexuality, of social transformation, of escalating responses to most any disagreement or perceived threat. We hear of encroaching civil war and calls to revolution. We hear urging for defense against the ‘‘other.’’ It may become easy to lose heart. What is our outlook on life? Does it fall in line with so much fear and anxiety, or does it flow from an expectant hope in God?
Shifting from Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians, we will be looking at Luke’s portrayal of Jesus over the next few months. In today’s passage, Jesus calls on those who would follow him to set fear aside from any role in directing our steps. In the earlier portion of this chapter, Jesus equated fear with worry as interwoven parts of a whole. Anxiety and worry are the products of fear in regard to the future. Rather than live in fearful uncertainty, however, Jesus calls us to center our lives on God’s goodwill on our behalf. He talks as though if we actually trust God there is no reason at all for any fear.
‘‘It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom-’’ the full experience of God’s reign. God’s will, God’s purpose, God’s character, God’s authority, and God’s power to bring that all about ties it all together in a vision of hope. This hope would grant us a confidence that should not be impacted by fear of any kind. Jesus, however, perceived the need to tell us repeatedly not to fear but to trust God as a loving father with our best interests in mind at every step of life’s journey. Do we trust this message? Do we trust both that God wants what is best for us and is willing to bring it about?
I had a conversation this week wit ...
Lectionary, Year C, Proper 14
Christopher B. Harbin
Luke 12:32-40
Many voices of fear surround us. On the political left, there is fear of Nazism and the loss of democracy. On the political right, it is of an encroaching communism, to replace democracy and freedom. Socially, there is fear-mongering on issues of education, of sexuality, of social transformation, of escalating responses to most any disagreement or perceived threat. We hear of encroaching civil war and calls to revolution. We hear urging for defense against the ‘‘other.’’ It may become easy to lose heart. What is our outlook on life? Does it fall in line with so much fear and anxiety, or does it flow from an expectant hope in God?
Shifting from Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians, we will be looking at Luke’s portrayal of Jesus over the next few months. In today’s passage, Jesus calls on those who would follow him to set fear aside from any role in directing our steps. In the earlier portion of this chapter, Jesus equated fear with worry as interwoven parts of a whole. Anxiety and worry are the products of fear in regard to the future. Rather than live in fearful uncertainty, however, Jesus calls us to center our lives on God’s goodwill on our behalf. He talks as though if we actually trust God there is no reason at all for any fear.
‘‘It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom-’’ the full experience of God’s reign. God’s will, God’s purpose, God’s character, God’s authority, and God’s power to bring that all about ties it all together in a vision of hope. This hope would grant us a confidence that should not be impacted by fear of any kind. Jesus, however, perceived the need to tell us repeatedly not to fear but to trust God as a loving father with our best interests in mind at every step of life’s journey. Do we trust this message? Do we trust both that God wants what is best for us and is willing to bring it about?
I had a conversation this week wit ...
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