Vitaly Important

When it came to the topic of money, Jesus was not reticent. In fact, he talked about it surprisingly often. 11 of his 39 parables are related in one way or another to money.

Money…whether you have it, or you don’t. Whether you’re striving for it or planning for it. Its absence or its presence can create all kinds of problems: envy or self-righteousness if you don’t have it, or arrogance, pride, and hard-heartedness if you do.

Money is so vitally important because Jesus says that more than anything it resonates with, and even reveals your heart—what you love—because “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:34)

We are just deeply connected to “our” money. This was reality for people in Jesus’ day, and it’s reality for us today.

And so, if we desire to have a healthy relationship with our money, we must listen to what Jesus has to say…even when it’s difficult or awkward, as in this week’s Gospel reading.

Realigning

This has been a sobering week for our country. The shooting of Charlie Kirk has opened existing wounds of division even farther and exposed us even more to the consequences of our moral condition. We stand, again, near the boundaries of our shared civil life and wonder what will hold us together.

This Sunday, we’ll explore two of three parables in Luke 15, one of the most important sections in Luke’s Gospel that describe the heart of God and the qualities of his people. We’ll revisit the familiar stories of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. And we’ll be reminded that in these stories, Jesus redraws the boundaries of our shared life to align with his Kingdom.

I’m grateful that our Anglican liturgy calls us to pray daily for our country and that we have Good News to share. I invite you to pray with me.

O God, you have made us in your own image, and you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ: look with compassion on us; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bounds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, our nation may serve you in harmony and be glad to do your will, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen

Two Vocations

The English word vocation comes from the Latin, vocatio, which means “calling”. Early on, the Reformers argued strenuously that every believer in Christ has two callings, or vocations.

 A primary vocation called discipleship, the bringing of all of one’s life—every aspect—under the Lordship of Christ. From the fulfilling of that vocation, then flows a secondary vocation; the divine call to the missio Dei—assisting in God’s mission in the world in four ways, by:

• fulfilling the Creation Mandate (Genesis 1:28),

• the building up of Christ’s church,

• seeking the common good; and

• the simple, but noble, pursuit of one’s ordinary day-to-day-work.

 For some, educators and students alike—even young children—their secondary calling is worked out largely in colleges, universities, public and private schools, and the home.

 This Sunday, not only will we consider the cost of discipleship, but as we begin a new academic year, we’re going to bless and commission those who are specifically called to the classroom.