Are You Looking To The Future In The Right Way?

Are You Looking To The Future In The Right Way?

Good Morning Friends,

Today’s lectionary selection is about the hope of our children and the child in each of us. And the back drop for it is a prophecy of Zechariah and a promise of God, which was written after the Babylonian exile, when the people of Judah had returned to Jerusalem and were in great danger. And the Gospel passage matched with it is an object lesson of Jesus in response to his disciples as they were contending as to who would be greater in the kingdom of God. They combine to give us today’s question. Are You Looking To The Future In The Right Way?

Scripture: The word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts? Thus says the Lord of hosts: I will save my people from the east country and from the west country; and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.

Zechariah 8:1-8 (NRSV)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.

Matthew 18:1-5, 10 (NRSV)

Message: In every age, there are enemies of the God. Today’s scripture envisions a future but also applies the lessons to the contemporary scene of the context when the words were first shared on how to deal with this problem. They apply to a magnificent far-distant hope as the basis for immediate inspiration and encouragement of people afflicted by poverty, hardship, and persecution but also to problems of pride and prejudice in the face of transitions in power. Thus, we have an important lesson that is intertwined with moral applications and spiritual challenges to this present day. And so, the hearers of the Word need to take hope in the belief that God Himself will one day reign and bring in an age of peace and prosperity. Just like those in the time of Jesus and Zachariah we need to remember that our God is all-powerful. God can do anything. So, when we confront a seemingly impossible task, we are to remember and believe that, with God all things are possible if we but humble ourselves like little children so God can mature us in the right way. The context of today’s Gospel reading is important. Each one of the disciples had some reason to believe that they would be great in the kingdom. Peter had always been the spokesman for the group, and so he thought that things should continue as always, and he would be the greatest. Judas carried the bag, and therefore he expected to be the heavenly Treasurer. Simon and Jude were almost family to Jesus, so they anticipated that a high office would be given to them. John, the beloved disciple, the favorite of the Lord, hoped that Jesus would say he is the greatest. Andrew was the first one called, so why not he also be first in heaven. So, this is a good time for Jesus to do some teaching about humility. And the beauty is that there was never a greater pattern for humility than Jesus, and there was never a greater preacher of it, than Jesus. On several occasions, Jesus had talked to his disciples and followers about it. But even though Jesus had recently predicted His death and resurrection, they still expected that the kingdom would begin then, at His death and not some future date. And they believed that it was the time for them to put in for their place in the kingdom. They as in the time of Zachariah needed a vision of a hope that was not caught up in worldly ambition. They needed the image of little child to lead their motivations.

Pray we believe that a great restoration that is more like a playground than a battleground awaits us. Pray
that new generations will daily grow in faith and charity so that this century can truly be a time of witness, and of conversion and healing, for a culture and society in desperate need of both. Pray we have a childlike faith in Jesus that is not intent on just playing King of the Hill. Pray we are born again so we might see the Kingdom of God with new eyes. Pray our way of thinking is changed, so we become fit for heaven. Pray our attitudes of pride, ambition and the need to dominate others is reformed. Pray we become as little children with a desire for the Word of God. Pray we not worry but instead depend upon God to take care of us and mature us into creations the glorify God with love. Pray we believe in the promise and embrace a long-term goal ideal for the skills we have that results in not just success but significance in the eyes of God.

Blessings,

John Lawson