the race set before us

Good morning sisters and brothers,
This morning gives us plenty to chew on. Our passage from Hebrews wraps up our tour of the heroes of scripture and leads us forward in faith. One of the things I love here is that these saints aren't mentioned as a model to be blindly followed or as a past for us to cling to. Instead they are seen as companions for the journey forward. They are examples, but our faithfulness in our time will look different. In all things we look ahead to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith so that we can run with perseverance the race set before us. This reading fits well with Jesus' words in Luke about interpreting the present age. These words have been especially important in the various movements of liberation theology. We are called to look specifically at our time in applying our faith. What is God up to now? What does God call us to do today? How do we respond to the challenges of our surroundings with justice and love for all people?

Jesus' words in Luke are challenging: "I come not to bring peace but division." I guess Jesus means that he proclaims the coming of God's kingdom in a new way. Some people will hear and respond to the radical faith in God he calls for and others will cling to lesser loyalties. We certainly see that in Jesus life: some follow enthusiastically; others oppose Jesus violently. At the same time I wonder what about those who are somewhere between these extremes. Jesus is always calling us, always demanding a decision to follow. In that sense we are either for or against Christ. At the same time God is at work within all of us to bring us closer, so even those who reject or can't hear Jesus' invitation now can be part of God's love working its way out in the world. God's love and invitation never end; we can always decide to follow.

God bless you in your discipleship today,
Sam

Hebrews 11:29-12:3
29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. 31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.

32And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. 36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— 38of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.

*Sunday Luke 12:49-59
49"I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

54He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'It is going to rain'; and so it happens. 55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? 57“And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58Thus, when you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle the case, or you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison. 59I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”