Friday, February 18, 2011

Epiphany 7a - conclusion

Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18; Psalm 119:33-40; 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23; Matthew 5:38-48
Why is it just about the point when your body has been boot camped into shape the instructor decides to kick it up a notch? Such was the case yesterday when “Oh my goodness” boot camp Aubree told us we’d reached a plateau and needed to do something about it. Apparently the plateau is a bad place for boots to camp. So instead of the routine to which my body has grown accustomed, previously underused muscles were asked to get with the program and catch up with the rest of me waiting on the plateau. Which means I’m having trouble today standing up from a seated position. If we take the lessons for Pentecost 7a seriously they don’t allow us to get too comfortable. Even those who consider themselves spiritually fit cannot coast in the practice of faith but listening to Leviticus exercise holy living by loving neighbor as self. Every verse of the psalm begins with an action verb as the psalmist praying the longing of the heart is taught, guided, directed so that the promise of God might be fulfilled. The Corinthian church builds with care on the foundation of Jesus Christ when they give up wise ways of the world for the foolish practice of the cross. And in the Gospel, Jesus quoting the word of the ancients kicks them up a notch lest anyone pitch a tent on the plateau. Do not resist evil doers, give to all who ask, turn the other cheek, love your enemies asks underused muscles of faith to get with the program and do some heavy lifting. Thankfully the really heavy lifting was done for us and like boot camp no one who takes the class expects to ever be as good as the instructor.

No comments:

Post a Comment