neither will they be convinced

Thursday, March 20, 2014 Lenten Weekday

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Jeremiah 17:5-10 Psalm 1:1-4, 6 Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:31 He said to him, `If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'"

I know that it is probably not proper to be offended as a Christian.  But, I can't help but be offended when I read this passage.  What occurs to me is we have an historical record of Jesus being raised from the dead.  I find it rather strange that this piece of information is pretty much ignored, or not taken seriously, by those who doubt the Christian faith.  If they did take it seriously it seems this would be life changing.
So, why does that offend me?  Because it implies that our record is a lie.  By ignoring the Resurrection the skeptics are saying that our history doesn't matter, or isn't true.  That means they are saying that I am a liar, or at least an idiot if I believe such fanciful stuff and spread it to others.  I might as well believe that Snow White and the 7 dwarfs are real as well.
I think Jesus' message here is true.  Even if someone were to come back from the dead they would not believe. Have we become so sophisticated with our "science" that we don't trust eye witness accounts anymore?  If I see something happen and tell someone, and they tell me it never happened because it doesn't fit their scientific understanding of the world, somehow I am the idiot?
This Lenten season, it might do us well to take a serious look at what we have and what we believe.  I don't think Jesus went into the wilderness to do battle with the devil, only trusting in the scientific knowledge of the day.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to fully believe in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus, and to trust the accounts of his disciples that they saw and touched him, and not to be discouraged by the limited knowledge of those who think they know everything.   Amen

... you say, `The way of the Lord is not just.'

Friday, March 14, 2014 Lenten Weekday

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Ezekiel 18:21-28 Psalm 130:1-8 Matthew 5:20-26

Ezekiel 18:25

"Yet you say, `The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

I often hear the same excuses from people why they will not go to church or become people of faith:  "I don't want the guilt", "I don't want a god like that",  "If god is so loving, why all the pain and suffering in the world?", "god is not fair". 

Let's put aside for a moment the idea that if the Bible is true and there is an all powerful god that intervenes in our lives, then these excuses are ridiculous. But let's zero in on the idea that this god is somehow unfair. I think that the notion of being unfair is the real obstacle to people coming to faith.  But what is fair?

Fairness, or justice is really quite relative.  What is fair is what satisfies me.  What is just is what gets me what I want.  That is the way the world defines it.  People say they will not believe in a god that is unfair.  What they are really saying is they will not believe in a god that does not give them what they want, or what they think they want.

I think if an example where a child has a birthday party coming up and all his friends are invited. Because he has a case of the sniffles his mother doesn't let him go out and play but rather encourages him to rest so that he will be healthy when the party comes.  The child of course says mom is not fair because she will not let him play with his friends. They are all outside playing.   But, on the day of the party, he is healthy and has a lot of fun.  If he were to get what is "fair", that is what he wants, to go out and play, and then is sick the day of the party, he loses out on the fun and the gifts and being with his friends.

So what is fair?

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to see that what I think I want may not be what I really want, or need.  Help me to have the peace and the faith to follow you no matter what.   Amen