Hi First Presbyterian Church,
It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Did you miss your opportunity to win a one-pound Hershey’s chocolate bar on Sunday because you didn’t bring your completed crossword puzzle to worship? Never fear! You have another opportunity to win one this Sunday! Simply download the attached crossword puzzle, complete it, bring it with you to worship, and enter it into the basket in the narthex for your chance to win! If you want a hint to complete the crossword puzzle, then refer to Sunday’s Psalm reading from our one-year Bible reading plan.
Today is Day 87 in our one-year Bible reading plan. We’ve started the book of Deuteronomy and the Gospel of Luke. So, let me take a minute to give you some context for those books as you’re reading them.
Book of Deuteronomy
The Book of Deuteronomy is the last of the five books of the Old Testament Law - the Torah. This final book is written to the children and grandchildren of the Israelites who escaped from Egypt. The first generation had died, and now their descendants are preparing to enter the Promised Land. Think of Deuteronomy as Moses’ farewell speech to this new generation of Israelites before he dies and they enter Canaan. The content of the book may seem familiar because it is mostly a recapping of everything that had happened to the older Israelites, for the benefit of the younger Israelites. The point of Deuteronomy is to reinforce what is most important for the Israelites to know and believe before they enter the Promised Land. As you read this book, ask yourself: Why would the Israelites need to know this before entering the Promised Land?
Gospel of Luke
The Gospel of Luke includes many of the same details that Matthew and Mark do, but the focus is slightly different. Luke clearly intends his Gospel for “outsiders.” His original audience was probably mostly Gentiles, and so he includes more stories about Gentiles. He also includes more stories about women and other marginalized groups than Matthew or Mark do. His main point is: Jesus is for everyone. As you read this Gospel, ask yourself: Who is included in God’s plan of salvation?
To illustrate this point about the Gospel of Luke, I want to briefly comment on two passages that we read yesterday - from Luke 7:36-50 and Luke 8:1-3. In the first story, Jesus is dining in the home of someone named Simon when a woman who is simply described as a “sinner” entered the home and anointed Jesus’ feet with scented oil. This may be another version of the same story we read about in Mark 14:3-9. However, in Luke’s account, he wants us to see just how scandalous this moment was. The fact that this woman is called a “sinner” is probably a euphemism implying she is a sex worker. The people hosting this dinner are appalled that Jesus would let this woman come anywhere near him! They’re probably wondering, “How does Jesus even know this woman? Doesn’t he care how it makes him look to have her touching him??” The reality is: Jesus doesn’t care how it makes him look! He cares about offering forgiveness and mercy to those who seek it. He cares about acknowledging and loving those whom society has written off as lost causes. Sometimes, doing the work of God takes you into situations where you will have to decide: Do I care more about what observers will think of me or about helping people to find the love and grace of God?
Similarly, in Luke 8:1-3, Luke tells us that many women had become disciples of Jesus. This is not an incidental observation. In the days of Jesus, women were not typically welcomed to become students or disciples. Yet, Jesus invited everyone to follow him, regardless of who they were or whether society deemed them acceptable. Again, Jesus cared more about inviting people into relationship with him, not about how society would have viewed him based on the type of people who associated with him.
Likewise, Jesus calls us to follow his example. Whoever you are, Jesus wants you to follow him. Jesus also wants you to extend his love and grace to those who need it most. As his followers, let’s ignore the opinions of others and simply go where he leads us, knowing that God’s opinion of us is the only one that matters.
Peace to you,
Pastor Aaron