Reading the Gospels for Lent

 

Read ~ Luke 8-10

 

An overview of these three chapters, we begin with parables ~ stories Jesus is telling about the ways of God.  Parables are not neat and tidy; they are messy and can make us uncomfortable.  An example is the Good Samaritan ~ Samaritans were the “others,” those people who had been pushed to the fringe and fray, the ones you avoided, the ones who pushed your buttons.  What in the name of all that is holy is Jesus doing calling a Samaritan, “Good”??  If you hold the Bible close to your ear you might still hear the audible gasp from people when it is the Samaritan ~ not the good religious pious people ~ who stops to offer care.  This is offensive.  This is subversive.  This trinity of chapters begins with women following Jesus, note this!  And ends in chapter 10 with Mary taking the posture of a disciple to learn from Jesus.  This isn’t the only subversive part of these chapters.  Jesus upends the economic system by driving a herd of swine into the water ~ think of all that bacon that is lost!  Right after that, Jesus upends death itself by restoring life to a young girl.  Hold these stories for the profound power in these words.  Jesus also upends the idea of what it means to save the world is not just success after success but means suffering and death (Luke 9:21-27) ~ this message is amplified in his transfiguration as well as saying to the disciples, “Become childlike.”  More on this in just a moment.

 

Three questions to ponder prayerfully: What seeds are being sowed in your life right now?  The beautiful subversiveness of Luke 8:4-8 is that God, the Sower of seeds in life, is so generous placing seeds even where the practicality and possibility of that seed growing is next to nothing.  God, the Sower of seeds, is willing to scatter love and grace in places where they won’t get past the surface ~ I think of our own busyness and focus on being productive that causes us to miss the traces of God’s grace as we quickly skim the surface of life like a speedboat.  The transfiguration is a reminder that God is in the transformation business.  Faith is not a transaction or something we consume, but a fierce force of Holy love that changes us.  Where have you felt most fully alive so you glowed with God’s presence?  Where are you, like Mary, learning?  What are you reading or listening to or watching?  Where are you curious and want to know more?

 

A few comments on the chapters: I recently heard someone reflect on the difference between being childlike and childish.  Childlike is full of wonder and whimsy, willing to even look foolish and not completely in control.  Childish is throwing tantrums and insisting on your own way ~ that you’ve got it all figured out.  The author went on to say that there is also a difference between being adult-like and adult-ish.  Adult-like people can embrace the prayerfulness and playfulness of life.  Adult-ish people might present themselves as having it all together, but live life with joyless urgency ~ constantly pointing out the less-than-perfectness of life.  In what ways this Lent can you hold the good news of Jesus inviting us into a child-like way of being?  In some ways, Mary reminds us of that prayer posture of being a learner ~ an openness and curiosity about what God is up to in our lives.  Reading the gospels over Lent is one way to embrace and embody this; reading a good book; going for a walk in God’s creation without headphones; listening to someone from a different point of view (for we all have views from one single point), and so many other ways.  How might you and I let loose our inner-Mary for the sake of the world in these days?  Let that question guide you this day.  Amen.