trying to find His way
“In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.” (Luke 16:23) Why does Jesus refer to Hades, from Greek mythology?“In Greek mythology, Hades is divided into several regions, primarily including Tartarus (for the worst offenders), the Elysian Fields (for the virtuous), and the Asphodel Meadows…
“…and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Luke 16:18) This verse seems to come from nowhere, disconnected from what precedes it.But I see it as proof of what He just said about the limits of the Law.Every stroke of the Law served its purpose in its time.But the Law did not end misery,…
Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it.” (Luke 16:16) Jesus distinguishes between the Law and the Prophets and the Kingdom of God.The Law was a guardian until Jesus came, it was not God’s forever plan.“The law was our guardian until Christ…
“You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts.” (Luke 16:15) Jesus is challenging peoples’ love for and commitment to money.Living in relative wealth compared to the rest of the world, does this mean me too?We tend to justify how much money we need, how much we save,…
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” (Luke 16:10) Everyone is trusted (graced) by God with something, more than we realize.I am a steward of everything within my realm of responsibility.My mind, my mouth, my body, my ability to choose, my hands, my feet.My possessions, my education, my job, my…
“Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves.” (Luke 16:9) God created us to be wise, creative and industrious.It has often struck me how skilled we can be for bad reasons.Why not put our skills to use for eternal purposes?‘People of this world’ are very clever and skilled.Jesus urges us to use these skills for good…
“You are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” (Luke 15:31) God’s love for outsiders does not neglect those who already belong.Leaving the 99 (Luke 15:4) does not mean neglecting or abandoning them.Those within the sheepfold already have all they need – love, food and protection.God loves them equally, even if special attention is given to…
“All these years I’ve been slaving for you…” (Luke 15:29) By choosing these words, Jesus raises the question of motivation.Is this how the Jews felt about obeying God?Was it a burden for them, a forced submission and not a love relationship?The son in this story makes it sound like the father didn’t care.Did the father only…
“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him.” (Luke 15:20) When does God’s compassion kick in?In this story, the father sees the son, and that is enough.It is not based on his son’s repentance or admission of guilt.The son does not have to prove his…
“So he divided his property between them.” (Luke 15:12) In this story, this is where the real problem begins.The father in this story does what is unwise and dangerous.He grants the younger son his wishes, and likely angers the older one.As we will see, both sons become distant from their father.Why did he give in to…