Thursday, June 10, 2010

LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD (LUKE 9:51-62)


I HAVE A RELUCTANCE

TO DWELL ON THIS READING

I THINK IT’S BECAUSE

OF HOW MUCH

I MISS THE MARK



I REMEMBER

AS A YOUNG MARRIED FATHER

I WAS ASKED TO GO WATER SKIING



I TURNED IT DOWN

MY REASONING

WHO WOULD TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY

IF I WAS HURT



THAT LINE OF REASONING

IS WHY

SOME MEN WON’T TAKE A STAND



NOW JESUS SETS A HIGH BAR

FOR THOSE WANTING TO JOIN HIS SERVICE



BUT MOST OF THE TIME

HE HAS TO SETTLE

FOR SOMETHING

LESS THAN HIS STANDARDS



FIRST HE SAYS

MEASURE THE COST

BE WILLING TO THROW YOURSELF

AS BONHOEFFER SAYS

UNDER THE WHEELS OF INJUSTICE

TO STOP IT



LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD

ODD SENTENCE

SEEMS A WORD IS MISSING

OR WRONG



COMMENTARIES

SHOW DISPARATE INTERPRETATIONS

HERE IS MINE





IN BIBLICAL TIMES

BURIAL SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN A DAY

MEANING IF THE ELDEST SON

WAS AT A DISTANCE

HE COULDN’T BE THERE



HOWEVER A YEAR LATER

ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BURIAL

THE TOMB WOULD BE OPENED

THE REMAINING BONES

WOULD BE PLACE IN AN OSSUARY

OR BONE JAR



THIS SECOND BURIAL

WOULD HAVE A FIXED POINT IN TIME

AND COULD BE SCHEDULED BY THE ELDEST SON



THIS I THINK

IS WHY THE DISCIPLE

IS ASKING FOR LEAVE



THIS I THINK

WAS ONE OF CHRIST’S PROBLEMS

THE JEWS

HAD SURROUNDED THEMSELVES

WITH TRADITIONS

THAT HAD BECOME LAW



LIKE WASHING HANDS BEFORE SHUCKING CORN

OR HEALING ON THE SABBATH



I THINK WHAT CHRIST IS SAYING

WHEN THE MOLD IMPEDES THE KINGDOM

BREAK THE MOLD



SO HE SAID TO THE YOUNG MAN

LET THE DEAD TO CHANGE

BURY THEIR OWN DEAD

BUT YOU GO

AND PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD



TO THE OTHER YOUNG MAN HE SAID

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE GOAL

USING A FARMING ADAGE

YOU CAN’T PLOW A STRAIGHT ROW LOOKING BACK

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE GOAL



JESUS

I AM IMPERFECT

BY YOUR STANDARDS

TAKE ME

A BROKEN

DULL EDGED TOOL

AND USE ME



AND HELP ME

TO REMEMBER

THAT LOVE OF YOU

IS MORE IMPORTANT

THAN SCHOLARLY PURSUITS





FRANK A VOLLMER

















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