Do not be afraid. Fear not. Cast away your fears.
Easier said than done, isn't it? Is this naieve comfort spoken by the inexperienced or young? Is it just whistling-in-the-dark comfort? Or do these words spoken by God's prophets through the ages and by gospel writer Luke (Luke 12: 32-40) have any real and valid assurance for us? We can easily spool off our fears. As pastor I fear confrontation or preaching bad theology or saying the wrong thing at a critical time or having people leave the church when they get mad. What do you fear? Not enough money for all your medical expenses? Serious injury to your child? Losing your job to downsizing? Having your spouse leave you? Being discovered in that white lie you told?
God's response to "Fear not" is: "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12: 32) Is this more "too-good-to-be-true" news? God's kingdom is our greatest treasure! A clue to finding/seeing/claiming this greatest treasure is in verse 34: "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." If our hearts are with Jesus Christ, there we will find our treasure. If our hearts are filled with a little or a lot of faith, there we will find our treasure. God's kingdom is ours through our faith - a faith of grace that we cannot earn or deserve or achieve or create for ourselves. It is God's good gift through God's good grace.
The rest of Luke 12: 32-40 challenges us to respond to this promise by being ready - being expectant - being alert. Like a faithful Scout, we are to be prepared. Being ready and alert doesn't mean waiting around, patiently doing nothing. We ready ourselves for the good gift of God's kingdom by living each day as if God's kingdom is already here. We prepare by giving away ourselves - our time, our talents, our material treasures, our gifts of kindness/humility/compassion. We find fun in giving ourselves away just as God delights in giving to us. Today's scripture ends with the master (translate: Jesus) fastening his belt (ie. pulling his long flowing robe up out of the way by tucking it into his belt), inviting his guests to sit and eat, and then SERVING them. The unexpectedness of the master serving the guests is the topsy turvey nature of God's kingdom, which we discover as we serve others. Thus, Jesus shows us the pattern for our discipleship in which we receive and respond to God's gift of the kingdom here on earth.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Shelley
