Talking About the Passion: Sermons from Holy Cross Lutheran Church

God won’t stop at anything less than complete transformation of the world, putting things back to the way he intended them to be from the very beginning. 

And we see a vision of this transformation in the poetry of Isaiah—lambs lying down with wolves and babies playing with snakes. 

Everyone has something to contribute to the life of the Christian community! This isn't an argument grounded in arguments about economics, politics, or philosophy about human nature. It's an argument rooted in the person & work of Jesus Christ. Each baptized person has something to give, and in giving, the powerful love of Jesus is made known to the world.

In Christ, there is always enough for you and for me.

The promise of Zaccheus is that ANYONE who desires it will see Jesus and be transformed!

Paul is confident and joyful in the face of death, not because he's done anything so great. But because he sees his life as a gift given for the life of the world. God wants us to see our lives in like fashion-- as gifts to be poured out for others.

Jeremiah pronounces a promise of hope: God’s promise not just to tweak this sinful world or to make minor adjustments to our attitudes, or to change our minds about some important facts. No. God promises remake us from the inside out. 

Today's lesson is not a lesson on manners. It's a call to see Jesus for who he really is. When we do see him, we will want to draw near to him. And we'll be unable to do anything but give thanks to him for all he's done, is doing, and promises yet to do!

Jesus is telling  you and me today: “Be more like the crooked bookkeeper. Sense the urgency of the times. Be energetic and creative with your resources—not for your own interests but for the purpose of God’s reign!”

We have much to do, individually and corporately: jobs, caring for our families, a broken & sin sick world to reach with Jesus' love and healing.

The earliest disciples of Jesus had much to do, too:
Sick people to heal.
 Despondent to reach with the life-giving power of the gospel.
 Lost people to search out.
 
 Like us, these disciples felt the pressure
 of all those heavy tasks.
 And they frequently screwed up, failed, fell short of their call.
 
 But for all my searching, I have yet to find an instance in the gospels  where the Lord Jesus chides them  for not doing enough.
 
 The task to which he call and re-calls them, again and again.
 Is faith. Trust.  Belief in his life giving power and divine direction.
 He reminds the disciples over & over,
 and he is reminding us today
that we need not fear being lost 
 when our hearts find their rest in him.

Jesus calls us to make sacrifices to follow him, not because he is a masochist. Rather, he wants us to know the joy that comes from being his disciple. When we order our other commitments around HIM, we truly know the life, healing and divine purpose that come from God.