O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Today we begin the season of Advent. As the choir is leading the service, and I am not preaching, I am sharing this version of the hymn that initiates Advent for me. Perhaps the same will be true for you.
Just Fulfilling My Duty -- Lectionary Reflection (Pentecost 20C)
Luke 17:5-10
As a Boy Scout – many years ago – I promised to “do my duty to God and my country.” Soldiers promise to do their duty – to obey orders. If you’re to survive and thrive in the military you better know your place and fulfill your duties as outlined for you. And if you want to keep your job, you had better do what is asked of you, or you will be looking for a new one. But there is something in us that desires something different. We want our freedoms. We want to choose our own destiny. This is the way of the world today. Even in matters of faith, we want to set the agenda. We want to choose, which religion we’ll follow and what parts of that religion to embrace. We talk about being disciples of Jesus – I’m even a minister in a denomination that has as part of its name “disciples of Christ.” I must admit that as a denomination we focus more on freedom than discipleship.
The reading from Luke 17 is brief, but is focused on defining what it means to be a…
As a Boy Scout – many years ago – I promised to “do my duty to God and my country.” Soldiers promise to do their duty – to obey orders. If you’re to survive and thrive in the military you better know your place and fulfill your duties as outlined for you. And if you want to keep your job, you had better do what is asked of you, or you will be looking for a new one. But there is something in us that desires something different. We want our freedoms. We want to choose our own destiny. This is the way of the world today. Even in matters of faith, we want to set the agenda. We want to choose, which religion we’ll follow and what parts of that religion to embrace. We talk about being disciples of Jesus – I’m even a minister in a denomination that has as part of its name “disciples of Christ.” I must admit that as a denomination we focus more on freedom than discipleship.
The reading from Luke 17 is brief, but is focused on defining what it means to be a…
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