The way of imagination

“…when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Luke 14.13-14)        Jesus and the disciples continue to journey towards Jerusalem.   The number of people thronging around Jesus is increasing (Lk. 11.14, 29; 12.1; 13.22; 14.25), and so is the tension between Jesus and the obstinate members of “his generation”.   The tenor of Jesus’ teaching is often severe.      Once again, we find Jesus being a dinner-guest in the home of a Pharisee (Lk. 14.1; cf. 11.37).   A “blessing” pronounced by another guest – “Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” (14.15) – is situated between two parables told by Jesus which compare the kingdom to a (wedding) banquet (Lk. 14.7-24; cf. 13.22-30).   Both parables have the same punch-line, which is an admonition for t...

“I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze!  I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!” (Luke 12.49-51)        Jesus and the disciples continue to journey towards Jerusalem.   The number of people thronging around Jesus is increasing (Lk. 11.14, 29; 12.1; 13.22), and so is the tension between Jesus and the obstinate members of “his generation”.   The tenor of Jesus’ teaching is often severe.        Jesus uses many different metaphors to describe the fate which awaits him in Jerusalem.   He refers to it as an exodus (Lk. 9.31), a baptism (Lk. 12.50; cf. Mk. 10.38-39), casting fire on the earth (Lk. 12.49) and “finishing his work” (Lk. 13.32).   Again, Jesus’ fate is tied up with that of the nation; indeed, his demise ...

  ·         Biblical texts : Exodus 29.42-46; Psalm 133; Ephesians 4.1-16 Introduction      What am I doing here?   Who are these people?   What is going on?   These are normal questions for someone who is visiting a church for the first time, or perhaps finding themselves inside a church for the very first time.   These are also good questions for those of us who are long-time church goers.   Have we perhaps forgotten why we’re here?   We need to constantly be reminded of what the Church is for and why we’re a part of it.   For those of us who are new to (this) church, you may well wonder what is going on and why .   As you look around, you will probably think to yourself – these are not the type of people I usually hang around with.   As the old expression goes, “Birds of a feather flock together”.   And yet, in church – if things are working properly – you wil...

  “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12.39-40)      Jesus and the disciples continue to journey towards Jerusalem.   The number of people thronging around Jesus is increasing (Lk. 11.14, 29; 12.1), and so is the tension between Jesus and the obstinate members of “his generation”.   The tenor of Jesus’ teaching is often severe.   Many readers of his Gospel continue to interpret passages like this one as referring to Jesus’ second coming (Lk. 12.37-40).   Read this way, these passages become warnings to the (future) Church to be alert and prepared for the unexpected return of Christ.      As Luke has told us, Jesus’ crucifixion will be the equivalent of the Exodus from Egypt (Lk. 9.31) [1] , and – in a painful irony – the eq...

  “Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them.   If he comes during the middle of the night or near dawn and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.” (Luke 12.37-38)      Jesus and the disciples continue to journey towards Jerusalem.   The number of people thronging around Jesus is increasing (Lk. 11.14, 29; 12.1), and so is the tension between Jesus and the obstinate members of “his generation”.   The tenor of Jesus’ teaching is often severe.   In spite of the fact that Luke has given us the “key” early on in his narrative, many readers of his Gospel continue to interpret passages like this one as referring to Jesus’ second coming (Lk. 12.37-40).   Read this way, these passages become warnings to the (future) Church to be alert and prepared for the unexpected return of Christ (cf. the song “I wish we’d all...

  “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  (Luke 12.32-34)      Jesus and the disciples continue to journey towards Jerusalem.   The number of people thronging around Jesus is increasing (Lk. 11.14, 29; 12.1), and so is the tension between Jesus and the obstinate members of “his generation”.   The tenor of Jesus’ teaching is severe (cf. Lk. 11.47-51).   However, in chapter 12, Jesus turns his attention to the disciples and exhorts them to be free of fear. ·         “ do not fear those who kill the body” (Lk. 12.4) ·         “ do not be afraid ; you are of more value than many spa...