Most of the things we focus on in the world, said Jesus, are distractions. Concentrate on being ready for the visit of the Holy Spirit.
Here’s a transcript:
I’m thinking about the twelfth chapter of Luke’s Gospel (Luke 12:32-40). This passage follows up on the one that we read last week: Jesus’ story about the wealthy man, all of whose riches served him very little in the end.
There is a passage that the lectionary editors skipped over, and that’s a familiar one: the one about the ravens whom God feeds and the lilies of the field that are more beautiful than anything that king Solomon had ever done. And God, said Jesus, takes care of all of these.
And so we enter into this passage, where Jesus advised being ready. Jesus advised distributing one’s possessions as alms for the poor. Jesus compared the Christian life to servants in a great house whose master was away. These servants, if they are ready when the master comes home, will be rewarded, not just with thanks. The master, said Jesus, would invite them to sit at the table and the master would serve them.
That is the world turned upside down.
Jesus, in telling a hopeful heir to some portion of his father’s holdings, had advised people not to be concerned with money or with wealth. And Jesus followed up on that with the comparison with the birds and with the lilies. Jesus followed up on that by urging his followers to leave behind even what they had, and to distribute that to those who had even less.
Readiness, said Jesus, is all. Preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Preparation for the reign of God.
The reign of God is not going to be found in riches, and it is not going to be found in worry. The reign of God is not going to be found in anxiety, it is not going to be found in flurried preparation. The reign of God is going to be found when we set aside those things that distract us, which summon us away from God.
The reign of God is going to be found when we are ready, and the door is flung open so that the Holy Spirit may come in.
That’s what I’m thinking. I’m curious to hear what you’re thinking. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you.
