Sermon for September 16, 2007

Justice, righteousness and reconciliation are the emphasis of these two Scripture passages. Amos calls for God's people to be a people of justice and righteousness and this young man is seeking "justice" in the distribution of his inheritance. Leslie Newbigin writes:

If we acknowledge the God of the Bible, we are committed to struggle for justice in society. Justice means giving to each his due. Our problem (as seen in the light of the Gospel) is that each of us overestimates what is due to him as compared to what is due his neighbor… If I do not acknowledge a justice which judges the justice for which I fight, I am an agent, not of justice but of lawless tyranny.

I was caught by the phrase, "we overestimate what is due us." I remember a Seminary intern couple knocking on my door. They were pale and ashen. I wondered why as it was payday and that is usually a good day. They showed me their check and then asked, "Is this amount right?" I looked at it and assured them it was. "BUT," was the reply, "I thought I was getting …" "You are," I said, "before deductions."

Jesus tells parables in response to questions or situations. Luke sets the stage for this parable with a young man coming to Jesus with a demand, "Tell my brother to give me my inheritance." He wants what he has determined is his. This is not a request for reconciliation but a request for justice on his terms and conditions. He has already determined what the outcome should be and wants Jesus to agree with him.

Rabbis were expected to make such decisions. They were expected to know the Law and be able to make informed decisions. However there is more than that to this story. It is also a clash of two cultures. There are two issues colliding here. The one is the religious Law, which taught that if one heir wanted the division of the inheritance it should be granted. The other is Roman Law which contradicts the religious Law of the day by stating that in order for the inheritance to be distributed both parties must agree on the distribution. Which Law does Jesus side with? Rabbinic or Roman?

There are other issues also. As we have noted, the young man has already decided what his portion is because he and his brother (probably older as the brother has the right of distribution) are at odds with one another. He is not only seeking his inheritance but a divorce in the relationship between him and his family. There is more to this story than we often see. If God is a God of reconciliation and justice both need to be dealt with. Can you have justice without reconciliation?

Jesus does not answer the question but rather asks a question and makes a statement. The first, though sounding harsh, has implications. "Who made me a judge over you?" Or, as I would paraphrase, "If you want me to judge your case and make a decision are you willing to abide by my decision?" What if the decision of Jesus is not what he wants to hear – he has already determined what the outcome will be. Jesus, to me, is asking if this young man really wants Jesus to decide. Is he really willing to abide by the decision Jesus would make?

The second statement is that our life is more than possessions. Can things make us happy? "Here," says Jesus, "let me tell you a story." There was rich man who grew richer each day. He had more than enough wealth to take care of him for the rest of his life. However, he wants even more… even bigger barns, more storage facilities. He seeks an accumulation of wealth. This is disposable income. This grain could be used to feed the poor, widows, orphans and he would still have enough to meet his daily needs. He seeks an accumulation of wealth.

Now Jesus is not talking about those things which are memories. Moving is a great eye-opener. Spent some time going through a box the other day. Now, it has no value to anyone but me. It is a collection of letters my grandmother wrote to her children in the 1930's. They brought them home when they returned and she kept them. There are letters from my uncle in a CCC camp in the 1930's. They are just her daily diary of life and how she missed her sons/daughters. They have no real value money wise, but they are a part of my history. I am not ready to part with them yet. Jesus is not talking about memories and "things" such as these.

Leonard Sweet in his book Aqua Church lists a number of paradoxologies (no he is not referring to dual doxologies on Sunday morning): For example, "People are less and less interested in religious things, but more and more interested in spiritual things." Several of these go along with the theme of this parable: "More people are becoming richer than ever before, more people are becoming poorer than ever before." And, "New houses are being built bigger while families are becoming smaller." Bigger and bigger barns.

Every Christmas I wonder what the "must have gift" will be for this Christmas. Now I don't mean the Tickle Me Elmo toys etc., but those gifts that someone will try to tell us we can't live without. My favorite is the Ronco egg scrambler. Ever heard of it? It is still advertised now and then. It is a device, like a big spool of thread, about the size of a C battery, that has a large pin in the top. You push the pin gently into your egg, flip a switch and the needle spins, scrambling the egg in the shell! Now I can do that simply by breaking an egg open!!!

The man in the parable has far more than he will ever need. He also has had another bumper crop. Do you notice his dialogue with himself? This is not heard of the culture Jesus is addressing. Decisions are always made in community. Men meet daily at the gate and discuss such matters at length working on a consensus decision to what should be done. Discussion with ones self is not heard of. This man has separated himself from the community. He is alone with his possessions. He lives in isolation to the community. His wealth has made him a prisoner.

I remember being alone when I got some good news. There was no one around to tell and I wanted to tell someone. Almost went next door and told my neighbor but decided against it since they thought I was almost crazy already. But this was good news and I wanted to share it. Can't imagine living a life in isolation from others. This is what this man has chosen. My wealth, my barns—look what I have done.

Now God steps into the picture. The word Luke has Jesus use is the most condemning one in the Greek language for a fool. It has an amoral meaning. And God is saying to him, your loan is due. What you have been given as a steward must now be repaid. This wealth was only on loan. It is not yours. Who now will enjoy what you have built for yourself? You will not make the decision? The loan is payable NOW. We have a friend who says he has a sure fire way to make winter go by quickly. Take out a 90-day note from the bank on January 2 for more than you can pay back, spend it all and see how quickly April 2 arrives! For this man April 2 has arrived.

The parable tells us what happens when our possessions possess us.

Broken relationships – divorce/separation, no reconciliation.
Broken Community – no one can be trusted, alone with self.
Loss of happiness – loss of the joy of sharing and being a part of community.

The young man is seeking the way of separation and loneliness. He does not want reconciliation but separation. Give me what is mine and I'll be gone.

Jesus states that relationships are more important than possessions. Our task is to be builders of relationships rather than fences that keep people out and away. It is interesting in a day when more and more people seek relationship, more and more people are living is "gated" communities. Reconciliation, justice and forgiveness are not always easy but they are what we are called to be about (Read the Amos text again). We do not know the outcome of this parable. Jesus is forcing us to make the same decision as this young man—reconciliation or separation. Our God calls for reconciliation – Jesus stands as God's reconciling agent to humanity.

Wonder story in the Third Chicken Soup for the Soul, "Paco, Come Home":

In a small town in Spain, a man named Jorge had a bitter argument with his young son Paco. The next day Jorge discovered that Paco's bed was empty—he had run away from home.

Overcome with remorse, Jorge searched his soul and realized that his son was more important to him than anything else. He wanted to start over. Jorge went to a well-known store in the center of town and posted a large sign that read, "Paco, come home. I love you. Meet me here tomorrow morning."

The next morning Jorge went to the store, where he found no less than seven young boys named Paco who had also run away from home. They were all answering the call for love, each hoping it was his dad inviting him home with open arms. (Alan Cohen)

Our God stands in the marketplace with open arms inviting us to reconciliation and home.

Canfield, Jack & Hansen, Mark Victor, A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Health Communications, FL (Alan Cohen) p. 78
Newbigin, Leslie, The Open Secret, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, MI, p. 60
Sweet, Leonard, Aqua Churh, Group, Loveland, CO, p. 138-139


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