Day 23: Individual and Communal Impact

    

March 12

by Michael Lovett

Readings:

Jer 7:23-28

Luke 11:14-23

Reflection:

Jeremiah 7 is another powerful, direct exposure of the condition of Judah's heart.  It is a passage in which God is speaking to Jeremiah, instructing him on what to say and why.  Today's reading is just a snippet.  The larger context of what is happening is that the larger Israelite people and nation are nearly at an all-time low.  The northern kingdom of Israel/Ephraim had been exiled to Assyria 100 years earlier.  Judah, where Jeremiah witnessed this, still had pernicious issues with idolatry.  God was not their only God, and their hearts were not changing.  God keeps it simple. He is saying, in effect, "I want your total devotion and obedience--for your own good. And you keep doing foolish, harmful things."  Earlier in Jeremiah 7, the impact is made clear: 

"If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. 8But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless."

Through Jeremiah, God is insisting on change...WHY?  Is God an angry overlord?  No, he is a caring father who will not let injustice last.  Justice, freedom for the oppressed, care for those without parents, care for the widowed, and idolatry (reliance on anyone/thing other than God) are the impacts of the sin of the people.  People get hurt when we turn away from God.  The powerless, the "least of these," require our engagement, care, and wholehearted obedience to God.

Lent returns us to the heart of the matter.  Our shared and private choices have consequences; we return now to evaluate our impact as a people and as a spiritual community.

In Luke 11, Jesus responds to the thoughts of the hearts of his critics.  Here is a little breakdown of the symbols in the story and who they represent:

Jesus is confidently asserting himself as the "Stronger Man" in his mini parable.  In the spirit of Jeremiah 17, he's boldly claiming there is no neutral; you are actively bringing good or supporting evil. We support evil or good.  We do this by inaction towards the oppressed.  We collaborate with Jesus, or we don't.  When we don't collaborate with God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus. We are, in fact, against Jesus.  He takes it personally.  This whole passage in Luke 11 is painting a picture of some of Jesus' clearest teachings. Today's passage in Luke is pivotal.

Song:

Secret Place – Jonathan Ogden

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