We are what we
love. There is no difficulty in understanding and recognizing the truth of
the statement from Luke’s Gospel that where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.
It is worth the time to consider where it
is that our hearts are truly placed, or, misplaced. In this life we are, all
too often, confronted by a deep personal loss or the starkness of unexpected tragedy
in natural disasters or dreadful episodes of random violence. We are reminded
in the Gospel, that earthly life is startlingly, and all too often,
abruptly short. But one day
turns to another and many of us are busy accumulating this and that and those
other. Sometimes that material treasure can distract and disconnect us from the
path to that Heavenly Country prepared for us by God.
There is much to do to be ready for the return of the Son of Man. In
arranging our lives around what is truly important, placing far less emphasis
on the material and much more on the spiritual, the unfailing treasure in
heaven is the goal for which we were created. But, let’s not worry
about that now…there’s always tomorrow, right?!
In Genesis 12, God has told Abram, not yet
Abraham, to leave his home country without even knowing where he was headed. In
this passage from Genesis 15, we are reminded of the strength of Abram’s faith and
we know that God’s promise to him was fulfilled through the innumerable
descendants from two old people who seemed to be nearly as good as dead. Sometimes
we forget that those descendants comprise the three Abrahamic religions
of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
Faith
work seems especially hard in these days and times with so many delicious or
frustrating or fearful distractions that keep us from centering ourselves on
our soul's vocation: Full-Time Faithful Followers of Christ.
The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews (few
serious Biblical scholars believe it was Paul) was likely addressing a
community of Jewish Christians whose faith was faltering and may have strongly
considered the return to Judaism. By using the history of the one who became
Abraham, the writer reminds the audience of his time, and we in ours, how
Abraham embodied his faith. In saying faith is the assurance of things hoped
for, the conviction of things not seen… it is to say that hope is a
necessary ingredient for, of, and in faith. Even the most devout people have
moments of uncertainty and so we move through those times with hope, however
shaky.
Then
Luke brings us to the reality of examining the focus of our hearts. Where is our
primary emphasis in everyday life? I regularly consider reducing the
accumulation of unnecessary things, activities, and diversions as I have loads
of all of that! It’s past time to consider and begin to do. Another is to begin
and end each day in prayer and find moments throughout the day to offer thanks
(in between asking for help) or just a quick acknowledgment of God's Presence.
Another is genuine, unplugged (electronically and otherwise) Sabbath time. Let
us put ourselves in God's way and allow God to get in ours. Yes, yes, I know I
must, I'm working on it, I'll get to it as soon as I finish writing this,
cleaning that, paying the bills, checking on-line bargains, texting, arguing on
social media posts, and posting that hilarious cat video...
Part-time Christianity isn't what God has in mind for me or for you. Our
Heavenly Broker is all about: Vocation Vocation Vocation ~ using our life's
work as preparation for the unexpected hour when we will be
called to the City of God. Light that lamp. Be heart-dressed for
action, now. Be prepared to abandon earthly
appointment calendars to be called forward into an unknown destination. Don't let time slip by unnoticed.
Several times a day take a long slow deep
breath in as you think: “Dear Lord!” And then, as you slowly let that breath
out think: “Thank You for this Breath!” There are more variations of “breath
prayer” than any one can imagine, you can search online for them...but not this
moment! Stop, breathe deeply, and wonder about the state of your faith.
And,
most of all, do not be afraid, as God said to Abram, and Jesus
to his disciples. Now is the time to be energized by the love of God in Christ
continually flowing through us. Faith is the assurance of
things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen now and in an
unexpected hour. Time to rethink: What is the treasure now calling my heart? Those
that are real, here, and now, or those I spend time imagining? Think about the
family all accounted for in that flood, tornado, hurricane, or fire that destroys
the house and everything in it ~ where would your heart be?
BUT hey, we can still make time to laugh at
a funny cat video! There is always a fun part of Creation that makes a heart
happy.
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O God, our
Help and our Shield, our souls need not wait for Your love that is already
within us and around us every moment of our lives. As we rejoice in Your
loving-kindness, guide us to awaken each day ready to abandon our human plans
in obedience to Your call, unafraid, even toward an unknown destination.
Most Loving Lord
RESPONSE:
We put our trust in You
~
O God, our Help and our Shield, open and fill us with true conviction to
stand among all who lead in this world, this nation, and our community seeking
the assurance and the delivery of things hoped: justice, the rescue of the
oppressed, and the defense of those made helpless through ignorance, poverty,
and greed. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Most Loving Lord
We put our trust in You
~
O God, our Help and our Shield, release from despair all who suffer
in body, mind, or spirit, and grant peace to all loving helpers. We now
join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions
Most
Loving Lord
We
put our trust in You
~
O God, our Help and our Shield, our sorrow lifts as we know our loved ones live
again in the boundless joy of Your Heavenly Country, and the City You have
prepared for them in eternity. We pray especially for… add your own petitions
Most Loving Lord
We put our trust in You
~
O God, our Help and our Shield, we pause in this moment to offer
You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials,
aloud or silently…
Most Loving Lord
We put our trust in You
~
O God, our Help and our Shield, we give You thanks for those You have
called to gather us, Your flock, in Your Holy Name. Grant that our hearts
become the purse of Your unfailing treasure that radiates divine love to friend
and stranger, beloved or divided. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Most
Loving Lord
We
put our trust in You
The
Celebrant adds: Creator,
Almighty, you are the Architect and Builder of all that is, seen and unseen. In
our short and temporal sojourn, urge us to prepare our souls continuously for
the unexpected hour when the Son of Man returns. We ask in the name of Christ
Jesus, the Living Word; and the Holy Spirit, the Revealer of Truth; who
together with You are One God, infinitely, eternally, forever. Amen.
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