Scripture/Sermon of the Day. March 20, 2022

Luke 13:1-9

Repent or Perish

At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Reflection/Sermon:

I. In the song I just sang, “Where Do Bad Folks Go When They Die,” a woman from Duluth “was bit by a dog with a rabid tooth, she went to her grave a little too soon and she flew away howling at the yellow moon.” WHY? WHY WAS SHE BIT AND NOT HER HUSBAND? Was she bad? Did God punish her because she drank too much and was mean to people?

II. The reading today from Luke showed two events where people died; one tragedy was human made, like the one happening now in Ukraine, and one was a natural disaster. Jesus said no one in either disaster “deserved” what happened to them. They didn’t sin more than anyone else. Even he couldn’t explain the apparent randomness of it.

III. Sometimes Christians say they know why awful things happen.The WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH in Kansas is famous because the members there say God punishes homosexuals, atheists, Jew, Muslims, transgender people, and on and on. In fact, THEY SAY EVERYONE who is NOT LIKE THEM IS GOING TO HELL. God will punish and torture them forever. Some ministers said the AIDS epidemic was God’s punishment to people for being gay. God used a viral infection to attack the immune system and torture and kill millions of people because of their sexual orientation. WHICH IS REALLY STRANGE because God made them that way — why would God punish people for living the way he made them? Many Christians condemn PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT from them.

IV. Does Jesus ever say, “I came here to condemn the world”? Doesn’t he do the opposite? It was his enemies that condemned everyone — even Jesus! We get things all twisted up. WHEN HE FED THE 5000, did Jesus say, “OK — I’m just going to feed the good people who are like me — only good Jews. No Buddhists, no Romans, no gays or lesbians, no Samaritans, Syrians, Sidonians — NO SINNERS!” I think we miss the point of why the feeding of the 5000 was a miracle. It wasn’t the multiplying of the loaves and the fish — it was the fact that JESUS INVITED EVERYONE TO THE PICNIC! No requirements, no exceptions! Dark and light skinned people, people with or without masks, vaccinated or unvaccinated, lepers, rich, poor, gay straight — Jesus wanted everyone to celebrate God’s love with him. The miracle was the absolute inclusiveness of Jesus’ love. Even the most evil people could not make Jesus not love them. Even they were included in the feast!

V. This is what our spiritual practice is supposed to lead us to — THE MIND OF JESUS CHRIST that absolutely and unconditionally loves everyone. So he tells people in our reading this morning: “Don’t try to figure out why some people suffer tragedy and some don’t. BECAUSE YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO REPENT — TO PRACTICE THE WAY OF LOVING, FORGIVING, SHOWING MERCY. “And one more thing” — Do you still want to know where bad folks go when they die? They go where we all go — and where we are right now — into the hands of God who loves us every second and holds us up and blesses us with amazing grace. THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO PROCLAIM.”