Mt. 26: 6-16
From the words Jesus spoke to us, we know the characteristics of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is not logical, but it is beautiful. It is not what we expect, but it is what we need. It is not our own vision of a kingdom, but it is so much more.
The perfume was worth a high price, other books say almost a full year's wages. Would not the expected move of the church be to give such a large gift to the poor and celebrate it greatly? One would expect the good, Christian use of the gift would be as a donation, but God's plan often differs greatly from our own.
Of course such a huge rift from the norm will anger those who trust the own sense of right over their faith that God is always in control. Evidently Judas was one of these people, as he does not go to betray Jesus until after this event. Judas trusted his own vision of the use of our gifts: the logical, expected, usual.
Therefore, have faith. For "wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will be told, in memory of her."
We remember both. But who do we remember as good, Judas or the woman?
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Due Justice
Mt. 20: 1-16
What is justice? What is fairness? Are we so bold as to define these terms by our own experience?
This passage causes my mind to reel even as I read it. It appalls my sense of fairness. Why should those who have worked for so long, done so much more, be paid the same as those who have done almost nothing?
This is just proof of how flawed my ideas of what is "due" me, of what I feel I "deserve".
What do I deserve? What do we all deserve? God has clearly told us our deserved wages. "For all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." "The wages of sin are death." This is what we are owed, the true payment for our work. Because we cannot earn the wages we want. We fell short much too long ago.
The wages of the work we have done are pain, suffering, loneliness, agony, and death. So, if I ask God to pay me what is FAIR, what is OWED to me, I will reap my own destruction accordingly.
But, as is evident by Christ's own words, God chooses not to pay us what we deserve. God gives us the exact opposite. If I want peace, joy, righteousness, comfort, and the kingdom of heaven I know I must quiet my flesh and open my Spirit.
For, this passage isn't about the workers in the field. It's about the mercy of the Master. A kingdom that's upside down, where sinners are paid as kings.
"So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
What is justice? What is fairness? Are we so bold as to define these terms by our own experience?
This passage causes my mind to reel even as I read it. It appalls my sense of fairness. Why should those who have worked for so long, done so much more, be paid the same as those who have done almost nothing?
This is just proof of how flawed my ideas of what is "due" me, of what I feel I "deserve".
What do I deserve? What do we all deserve? God has clearly told us our deserved wages. "For all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." "The wages of sin are death." This is what we are owed, the true payment for our work. Because we cannot earn the wages we want. We fell short much too long ago.
The wages of the work we have done are pain, suffering, loneliness, agony, and death. So, if I ask God to pay me what is FAIR, what is OWED to me, I will reap my own destruction accordingly.
But, as is evident by Christ's own words, God chooses not to pay us what we deserve. God gives us the exact opposite. If I want peace, joy, righteousness, comfort, and the kingdom of heaven I know I must quiet my flesh and open my Spirit.
For, this passage isn't about the workers in the field. It's about the mercy of the Master. A kingdom that's upside down, where sinners are paid as kings.
"So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
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