Gaining Perspective

A very short reflection on the lectionary readings for the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost.

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I have been traveling this past week and haven’t prepared a proper reflection.  But as I have some quiet time before we begin today’s adventure and I read the lessons for today, I am again reminded how important it is to make time to get out of our regular routines so that we can observe the patterns and rhythms of our lives from a distance.  Based on Jesus’ parable and what Paul tells Timothy, letting the atmosphere of our culture blind us to the ways of God’s Kingdom-on-earth-as-in-heaven isn’t anything new to our day and time.  

The judge in the parable dismissed the widow who was asking for justice.  He was only interested in maintaining his own power and comfort.  But the widow did not give up.  She kept her eyes on God and held the judge accountable by not letting his dismissive attitude diminish her faith nor her confidence in God’s justice.  Even as our world seems to going to hell in a handbasket we must be encouraged by God’s love and justice to work toward what we know is right.  

The whole of our scriptures tell stories of the injustices of this world juxtaposed with God’s love and justice.  Like the persistent widow, we must keep our eyes on God and not put blinders on in order to maintain our own comfort level.  We learn from God and the earthly ministry ofJesus what it is to be on-earth-as-in-heaven.  We are called and taught to live ‘as if’.  Even as others seek to bolster their own power at the expense of the wellbeing of many, we follow Jesus into the Kingdom.  

We must receive from the Spirit the eyes to see and hears to hear when we are mired down in the unjust, fearful, coercive ways of the world and to recognize when we are setting aside the wisdom of the Kingdom.  We must never give up on calling out the injustices we witness.  Our work is to participate with God in building up the Kingdom.  The power of God’s Kingdom is Love revealed through justice and compassion for all people.  

Paul tells Timothy that “All scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for good work.”  

This is the way to know if a person is living with the wisdom of God – if they are doing good and equipping others to do good, too.  So, have courage.  Seek the wisdom of God.  Tend to each other’s needs.  God hears us and sees us and wants the best for us; we all belong to God.  We are all God’s beloved children and our best response to God’s love for us is to live in the here and now grounded in and guided by love.  

Keep your eyes on Jesus and your feed in line with his.  Keep loving louder than the hate.