Psalm 87, 90 * 136; Hosea 1:1-2:1; Acts 20:1-16; Luke 4:38-44After Jesus heals Simon Peter's mother, and she gets up and starts serving her son and his guests, the townspeople flock to Jesus. They bring with them their sick and diseased for Jesus to heal, which he does by laying hands on each of them. Jesus then leaves the town to get some peace, but the crowds follow him and try to prevent him from leaving but Jesus insists that he must move on.
Those folks in Peter's mother's home town did not want to let go. So much of Jesus' ministry illustrates this point: the need to let go, to keep moving, to not get stuck living in the past, but to keep growing and learning and bringing this important news of God's work in the world to those who have yet to experience this mystery. By doing so, we continue to morph, to grow and change.
I am not suggesting this task illuminated by today's reading from Luke is easy or comfortable to practice. I paint as a hobby. The paintings that "work" in the end are ones where I have "let go" and not gotten stuck in strictly controlled techniques, methods and structures. Of course there are limitations, but the paintings that speak my voice, that other people actually hear, and the ones that last, are those where I have successfully let go of preconceptions of how I have to "do" (accomplish) the task of getting the vision in my head onto the canvas.
I wonder if that same concept can be applied to the work of "church-land" and the building of the kingdom that Jesus continues to move on accomplishing in today's reading. Something fun to think about today.
jfd+
Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.
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