Jesus’ Indiscriminate Love – Br. Curtis Almquist
Br. Curtis Almquist
Jesus’ listeners would have to have been scandalized. If there were anyone to leave the temple “justified,” surely it would be a Pharisee. Pharisees set the mark in their pious practices. Pharisees were faithful, prayerful, dependable, and principled. They were good people. Like us. Not so with tax collectors, who were the scourge of society. Tax collectors were Jews who colluded in a cruel and corrupt Roman system of legalized extortion; they were turncoats on their own people. Tax collectors were the dregs of society, and they were hated and excluded by most everyone… not including Jesus, who sought them out as dinner companions.[i]
What we hear in this Gospel lesson is not a piece of history. This is a parable Jesus tells. A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. If we are not scandalized by what Jesus’ parable means for us today, we completely miss the point of the parable. We completely miss Jesus’ point if we ever find ourselves saying, perhaps silently, “God, I thank you that I am not like so-and-so.” If so, who is it for you? It’s probably not a tax collector or a Pharisee, but it’s someone or some type. Most all of us have this unverbalized, perhaps secret list of people or types of people we find abhorrent and surely dammed, and about whom we are certain and thankful we are not like.
I am familiar with this type of list. If you have a list like this – a list of appalling people – who is on your list? Because these same people are also on Jesus’ list, the people he associates with and welcomes so indiscriminately. It seems that Jesus even loves them. And he tells us to do the same.[ii] If loving those on your unlovely list is too far of a reach – and some days it certainly is too far a reach for me to love them – then we must at least remember that the God loves them, and that the God of love is not done with them yet… nor with you and me.
[i] Matthew 9:10-17; Mark 2:15-22; Luke 5:29-39.
[ii] Luke 10:37.
Never could there be a be a message with more current and energy, both in its focus and unspoken reference. And yet,
you help me to look to the Master, Jesus and ask, :How have You responded to “__________” and thus in hoping to
become a faithful follower of You Lord Jesus, I also must seek to see _________________ through your eyes of love
and hope that that Love will fill my heart and eyes as well. I needed this message at this time and am grateful for it
and for your articulation of it. Thank you Br Curtis. Ever in gratitude – suzanne Robinson
This is my Lenten discipline. Hardest think I can imagine. Thanks for the prod.
That is an extremely bold statement given our current political environment! I try to do as you suggest but fall woefully short. God help us!
Yes God loves everyone but that doesn’t mean he necessarily condones our actions. In the present political stage Psalm 94.20 & 21 comes to mind – “Can a corrupt throne be allied with you [O Lord] – one that brings on misery by its decrees? They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.”
Decades ago I struggled with the thought of God loving Hitler. If the teachings are true – which I believe they are – he must have. My consolation is that he also grieved to see such a misguided leader and all the terrible consequences that followed.
I pray hard every day. It is all I can do for now.
I am NOT Jesus. I DO try to remain grounded in love with everyone, but Lord help me, some folks I love from a safe distance.
Yo’ Bro Curtis —
Will this pierces right to the heart. When I consider all the political figures I
have written off as witless fools or narcissistic megalomaniacs, it is a crowd.
I guess I’m halfway there: I realize that God loves them, and acknowledge that
I cannot will myself to love them. So God and I will have to work it out.
God’s deep shalom enfold you,
Frank
Amen. In this crazy world that seems to be falling apart, it is so difficult to remember that in my judgments, I am judging God’s children. And I certainly do not wish to be judged. May God’s will be done in my life.
If I could have this programmed into my brain’s operational and executive center please.
Thank you, Margo
Yes , this really makes all of think even if it hurts a bit.
Very good. This got me to think.
Thank you!
Mike