Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Package Deals (Mid-week Message)



Package Deals
Fr. Tony’s Midweek Message
September 28, 2016

Part of growing up, I think, is learning that certain things come with a cost, and that the choices we make in life have costs and consequences—not because of some overarching enforcer of rules in the universe, but simply because that’s the way things are.   

I saw an example in a recent Vestry Meeting.  Phyllis Reynolds made this observation about the problems entailed in any ministry to the homeless:  “Supporting the homeless means costs and commitments.  The issue is always how much cost are we willing to bear?” 

C.S. Lewis wrote that asking God to forgive our sins without any intention of making amends or reforming our lives is like asking God to heal us without healing us. 

I once counseled a man who wanted a happy family life, but was reluctant to be faithful to his wife.  All I could tell him was that he wanted two contradictory things, and he needed to decide what exactly he wanted more. 

In this political season, we often encounter candidates for office who say they want to balance the budget, increase services and projects, and yet cut taxes.  They have many fantasy ways of arguing that none of this is self-contradictory.  Regardless, both the left and the right tend to share in their own ways unrealistic and magical thinking here. 

I think this is what many of Jesus’ parables are about:  they often can be read as harsh critiques of the world and economy we live in.  But they also point to another way, what Jesus calls “the Reign of God.”  At their heart is the idea that you can’t have things both ways in a world where things are broken as badly as they are.  You have to trust God first, set priorities in line with that, and then accept the consequences. 

Grace and peace,
Fr. Tony+

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