Tuesday, December 1, 2009

On Alert; Luke 12:35-48

It seems so un-American this passage. In a society where everything is designed to push us to sit back and enjoy, to relax, to take it easy, this teaching is out of place.

Jesus tells us to be alert to his presence and his needs. He calls us to be attentive at all times. He calls us to never be caught spiritually asleep.

At the end, he adds another un-American idea. He concludes not only with punishment being distributed, something that we struggle with in a tolerant society, but also he unapologetically says that more is demanded of some than of others. This seems so unfair. We feel that all are to be treated equally.

As is consistent with the nature of God, he does not mix equal and fair, as we tend to do. What is fair may not be that which is equal.

Thus we are called to respond to God at all times in the way that corresponds to our very own giftedness. Fair but not equal.

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