I found so
many contemporary themes and threads that poignantly challenge us in our own
day weaving their way through the scripture passages I reflected on today, that
I’m not sure where to start.
First, Eldad
and Medad began to prophesy when they weren’t in the tent when the Spirit
descended on the other seventy (Numbers 11:25-29). This really upset some of the people who
complained to Moses, “Moses, my lord, stop them.” But Moses answered, “Would
that all the people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow
God’s spirit on them all!” I wonder who we would complain about “not being in the
tent when the spirit was giving out the gift of prophesy?”
Then in the Book
of James (James 5:1-6) we read this: “The wages you withheld
from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud; and the cries of
the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on
earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of
slaughter.” We profess our faith in Jesus yet mistreat or
tolerate the abuse of others and say, “Thanks be to the Lord that we are not
like them.” (Luke 18:11)
And from the
Gospel of Mark, Jesus chastised His ‘beloved’ favorite disciple, John, who
complained that others not of the inner circle were preaching in Jesus’ name. More of the same…WE are the chosen, not them. Jesus didn’t go for it (Mark 9:38-48).
We spend so
much useless energy these days debating who’s in and who’s out. Who’s one of us and who’s not, who looks like
us and who doesn’t, or who speaks our language or not. We spend so much useless time demonizing
others and not seeing our own insecurities and hurts that we cover over with
riches or privilege. We’re all children
of God called to be welcoming and generous with all we encounter. To be a believer in Jesus and the Gospel is to
include not exclude.
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