Hi everyone,
Sorry for the late post this week, but as you may have read in the sermon for yesterday, it’s been a busy week so frankly I was too tired to really think much more about eating and hanging out with my kids. And literally that is all we did. I sat there as they played games. Every now and then they would say something and I would respond. Then we had some food and I turned on Iron Man 2 on Netflix and we watched it. It was nice.
So don’t get me wrong, I’m in no way, shape, or form complaining about how busy things were last week. I was tired, yes, but I felt thoroughly fulfilled with the work that we did together (as mentioned in the sermon yesterday as well). It was great to see our community pull together, work together, and do something that most others would just rather not.
But I guess it makes sense that we would, I mean we love Bonnie. So of course we would go all out for her and her memory. Personally, I felt it an honour to know Bonnie and to be included in her life, and to be able to have some sort of role in her community and family. But beyond that, because she was and remains to be a lot for us, so we continue to do a lot for her, her family, and her community.
Honestly, it’s the kind of thing I would do for free (but I’m still going to keep my paycheque).
Here are the readings for next week:
1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21
Psalm 16
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Luke 9:51-62
Here we have two seemingly contradicting texts, and then another about how the Spirit moves us (oh and the Psalm, but we don’t always… or ever… talk about the Psalm). The contradiction is how Jesus says in Luke that no one who puts a hand on a plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God, and that is exactly what Elisha does in the first reading, with Elijah’s blessing to do so as well.
So what gives? Why is the New Testament telling us something different from the Old Testament (you know, something that has never ever never happened before… ever)?
Well, I think it is kind of clear that Jesus isn’t talking literally here. He isn’t talking about an actual plow (although it seems like it) and actually looking back. Instead, I think Jesus is talking about our motivations.
Why do we do what we do? Why do we not do what we don’t do? Why do we sometimes make excuses to get out of doing the things that we know we should do?
It’s what motivates us. What drives us. What gets us up in the morning to do the things we do that might not make sense to others. For many of us in the church, it is that fruit that the Spirit brings to us. The love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that comes out from us because of the Spirit is what drives us to do, to don’t, and to be.
Thanks be to God! For God’s kingdom and Spirit continues to drive us to be better, work harder, and invest more into our community and relationships!
Have a great week, everyone!