Things Are Gonna Get Dicey!

Today's Readings

"So [they] said to him, 'You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?' Jesus said to them, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.' So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area. - John 8: 57-59

I am not a Scripture Scholar, and I don't play one on TV, but taking a quick glance at the eighth chapter of the Gospel of John, I can say with some sense of surety that one could entitle this chapter, "And Christ Did Push Their Button!"

There are four distinct sections or moments in this chapter, "The Woman Caught in Adultery", "The Light of the World", "Jesus, the Father's Ambassador", and "Jesus and Abraham".  Three of the four sections end with "THEM" wanting to STOP him from being Jesus, if you know what I mean.  

I AM CALLING YOU OUT!  "The Woman Caught in Adultery": The story of the woman ends with Christ telling "THEM" to go ahead and own up to their own sinfulness. (v. 11)  They departed the grounds outside the Temple with a grumble. (John 8: 1-11)  

WE'RE CALLING THE COPS!  "The Light of the World": Christ then visits the treasury area in the temple area, and reminds us of his place in the world as being light to dispel the darkness. (v. 12)  You can almost hear "THEM" saying, "Wait a second!  Are you telling us that this area is the "darkness" that you are dispelling?"  Needless to say, THEY weren't happy.  He wasn't arrested, but it sure sounds as if someone had the phone in THEIR hand ready to call "the cops"! (John 8: 12-20)

WHERE DID YOU GO TO DIPLOMAT SCHOOL?  "Jesus, the Father's Ambassador":  Christ's opening line as "Ambassador" would not gain him a degree in most of today's Schools of Diplomacy.  He opened with, “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin.  Where I am going you cannot come.”  Ouch!  But of the four sections, this third interaction with "THEM" had a somewhat nice ending in that "many [of THEM] came to believe in him."  This is a chance to highlight the reality that all Jesus was trying to do was talk straight to THEM, letting the world know that he was truly sent by the Father, to do the Father's will, making him the  "I AM" (v. 28) that THEY all have been seeking since the days of Abraham.  (John 8: 21-30)

I AM!  "Jesus and Abraham":  This final section continues his conversation with "those who believed in him", with Jesus affirming that they have been "set free", (v. 31-32) but THEY seemed to resent being called SLAVES.  They probed, and Jesus answered back, probing even deeper!  The idea that Christ could come to THEM and proclaim himself "I AM" was getting too much to handle.  One more time, Jesus tries to connect the reality that he has come from God, the Father who sent him, but then notices that THEY just can't understand, prompting one of the harshest responses that most "diplomats" learn never to use:  "You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies." (v. 44)  Can you hear THEM?  THEY yelled back, “Now we are sure that you are possessed." (v. 52)  Jesus tried to continue his line of Truth, but the logic was just too much, "so they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area." (v. 59) (John 8: 31-59)

Things are gonna get a little dicey this coming week!  Jerusalem, New York, Hong Kong, Toronto, Moscow, Brisbane, Buenos Aries, Birmingham, L.A., London, Afghanistan, Rome, Siagon, and ... Look out "WORLD", here he comes!

From the Back Pew: No More Armageddon!

Today I am writing from the back pew of St. John's Catholic Church in Madison, Alabama (my home) just before the start of our evening session of our Parish Lenten Mission...

Today's Readings

"A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. " Psalm 51:12

The story of Jonah is certainly popular enough that I don't need to re-tell it, but remember that there's more to that story than just him living inside a whale. The real truth of the matter was that Jonah couldn't hide from God's desire to want him to change and become a man of His Word, so he could move others to do the same! Nineveh was most certainly the beneficiary of God's desire and Jonah's YES!

Christ came to do the same, and much more, as he recalled that "at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and [then said] there is something greater than Jonah here.” (Luke 11:32). Many of us share in the desire for a clean heart, and a strong spirit, and we never want to be far from God. Yet, we get a little lazy with all of our perks, thinking that we've got all that we need. Jesus the Christ, has come to the world and to you and me, to announce the Good News of God's love, calling us to real conversion. This is what Lent is truly about... Making the change!

Jonah made that sort of change, and then took on the task of helping God to change His world! We as Christians, are called to embrace this change of self, and make the same kind of proclamation to our world that needs God's love so desperately. Threats of Armageddon are not necessary, we need to simply share God's love!

And the Answer Is...

“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” (Luke 7: 41-42)

Like a game show, today’s Gospel asks one of those questions that makes you yell at the TV and say, “OMG!”...

So answer the question... Which one?

Possible Answer #1: The guy who owed 500 days wages! This would definitely be the “No Brainer” right? The guy who owes the most is the one with the most relief. So, the analogy follows that you who have the most “debt”, or problems in life must appreciate your being saved more than those who do not have as many problems or sins to deal with... Right? “That is correct!”

Possible Answer #2: The guy who owed 50 days wages! One would think that this would be an incorrect answer, and hence you would get that “Price is Right” sound... (Click here then back click), but think about it; the guy who has the debt of 50 days wages, is also no longer is in debt.

So in conclusion, its never been about the amount, just the debt. Jesus didn’t die for the “what”, He died to conquer the “sin”. We all have had a debt to pay, and we’ve all been freed of the debt, no matter the details. That makes both answers correct, and all of us winners! YEAH!!! (Cue Game Show Music)