Leaning Into Luke

 

On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.  The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him.  Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” He got up and stood there.  Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?”  After looking around at all of them, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored.  But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.  Luke 6:6-11

First the grain and now the healing.  Does Jesus not know how to turn down the temperature rather than elevate the tension in the room?  Why does Jesus keep poking the bear and provoking people?  And what will the children think when he keeps on trampling on the rules we have been trying to teach them?  (That last question was a joke, by the way).

But, this passage causes me to pause and ponder, what would Jesus challenge me on?  What precious peril of righteousness to do I cling to, convinced I am right, which Jesus might call me to let lose my grasp upon?  We all want to have the right way, but Jesus seems to challenge religious understandings, so what might he say about our church?

Those are difficult questions?  But heartfelt ones.  Scripture doesn’t only confirm us, the words of scripture can challenge.  The wisdom I hold onto is the second I think I have scripture understood, I should be sent back to the start, do not pass, “Go,” and do not collect two hundred dollars.  I don’t know why Jesus is trying to push the boundaries of what was kosher and clean.  I do not know why Jesus is provoking people.  I do know that I want to be careful to assume that God is on my side and to stay open to God’s work in the world.  And, if the answer when I read scripture is too often, “Yup, got it all under control.  Nothing to see here.”  There is probably something sacred to see there which might change me.

How might I stretch out my hand, empty my heart, open my life so that Jesus’ wisdom and God’s light of love can shine brighter?

May that question sit in my life and your life today with more than a trace of God’s grace.  Amen.