December 27, 2021 — Luke 10:1-12 – “Riding Shotgun”

“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.” Luke 10:1-12 

“Riding shotgun:” Back when stagecoaches existed as the “Uber” and “Taxi” mode of transportation of its day, the seat immediately next to the driver was reserved for individuals holding (of course) a shotgun. Such a strategic spot allowed the “shotgun toting protector” to better ward off any bandits attempting to loot passengers. As engineering marched on into motor vehicles, the vernacular designation for the coveted spot stayed the same. 

Of course, Jesus was the first to send out his disciples with a “shotgun” position. He did not send them out individually — he sent them out in pairs, in the original “Buddy System” role — either could be in the “shotgun” position depending on the situation. We still teach this role today — even when we go out to evangelize for the church, we go out in pairs — like Jesus’ disciples entering the darkness of the role of evangelizing prophet — one was there to support the other.  

We never need to go out in this world alone to preach the word — in fact Jesus encourages we take someone with us. When one is tired, the other is there to pick them up. When one does not know what to say, the other is there to speak the word. There is no need to go it alone when speaking G-d’s word, and why would we want to anyway.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, give us the words to speak – and today, give us the people to share in this calling. Amen.

Pastor Dave 

December 26, 2021 – Christmas 1C

“Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.” Luke 2:41 — 52

“In each of the Gospels, the first words spoken by Jesus yield fascinating insights into that portrayal of his life. Mark’s Jesus strikes a bold opening chord: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news” (1:15). The kingdom remains a central, transformative reality for all who hear and follow, and it forces us to question just where our loyalties truly lie. Matthew depicts Jesus’ response to John the Baptist’s question about who should be baptizing whom (3:15). A critical theme of Matthew’s Gospel will be the higher (at times impossibly higher) righteousness to which Christians are called. John’s Jesus speaks first by interrogating two of John’s disciples about what they’re looking for. Sometimes it seems like God is perpetually asking that question of us, waiting perhaps for our answers to improve.

In Luke as well, Jesus interrogates two people about their seeking—but he’s a 12-year-old, and he’s talking to his parents: “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” This rebuke to Mary and Joseph, like this story in general, both follows the expected order of a pious narrative and startles us with a radical disruption. Jesus is reordering norms and expectations. He is messing with us. And while each of these dramatic, theme-setting inaugural sayings confronts and challenges us, Luke’s is all the more disconcerting because the Savior who is speaking with such authority is still a kid.” (David Keck, Christian Century Magazine, November 27, 2018)

Mary doesn’t understand why Jesus left them – Mary doesn’t understand why he must be in his Father’s house. What Jesus is doing goes beyond her understanding. And this pattern will follow their relationship the closer he gets to his crucifixion. Is Jesus messing with Mary, as David Keck suggests in the passage above, or is Jesus making a point?

I believe Jesus seeks to upset our norms, our expectations, and our understanding. Yes, we will learn so much from Jesus – but we will also walk away with many more questions. Get ready. Jesus is going to be hiding around the corner, and Jesus will appear in your life when you least expect it. Sometimes we are seeking him, but mostly he is seeking us.

Let us pray,

Lord Christ, help me understand when I am at my most puzzled, and help me seek when I am most lost. Mostly help me remember that you have the words of eternal life. Amen.

Pastor Dave