06-08-21

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
June 8, 2021
Scripture: Luke 14:1-4
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy. And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, “Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?” But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him, and sent him away.

Thought for the Day: Jesus would not have shown up unannounced, and so we need to understand that the leader of the Pharisees had invited Jesus to a meal. So often we draw these firm lines between Jesus and the Religious Leaders as if there was no positive interaction, but there was. Yet the question Jesus put before some of these Religious Leaders was in fact an easy question. Sabbath was to be honored, but never at the expense of someone in need. They’re refusal to answer was probably complicated, but the complication was rooted in the challenges of dealing with institutional power structures and opinionated people. Have you ever known what was right, but you hedged your response because the relationships or institutional structures were complicated? Did you choose to bite your tongue to simplify your life as you knew that speaking up would require all kinds of time and energy defending and explaining your words? Relationships, whether with individuals are institutional structures, are complex. Yet often our decision to be silent helps to reduce the complications only in the short term. That has probably been one of my greatest learnings in serving the church. Don’t get me wrong, I have chosen silence or a slight linguistic dance move to avoid what could have been an explosive situation. But so often the avoidance has only delayed the explosion. Choosing love and compassion for those who are most vulnerable must always rise above trying to keep others and the institution happy.

Prayer: Provide me a discerning spirit alongside some courage to do what is right, Holy God, even if someone will most certainly be upset. Amen.

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