bloggedy blog: the personal weblog of a music lover and aging punk wannabe

:: Saturday, September 03, 2005 ::

Sermon on the Blog
It's been awhile since I've quoted scripture, but it's also been awhile, until recently, that I've read much scripture, and you've gotta have it in you in order to put it out there, to paraphrase the gospels.

Anyway, here are a few passages I've been thinking about, in light of recent events, and my off-the-cuff exegeses:

On the notion of 'they got what was coming to them'"
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." (Luke 13:1-5, NIV)
AC's exegesis:
Don't be so smug, dammit. Some bad stuff could happen to you, too.
On the notion that bad stuff could come your way:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48, NIV)
AC's exegesis:
God's rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous. Stuff happens. Take a Zen-like attitude toward the pitfalls and difficulties of this world, but respond to the plight of others with love, care, outreach and charity.

On loving your neighbor
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'[a]; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."

Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:25-37, NIV)
AC's exegesis:
Do we really need to exegete this one? Isn't it pretty clear?

Oh, okay: Don't be such a self-righteous ass. Help a brother out. And it never hurts to keep a little bit of wine on hand.

theology, Christianity, the Bible, jesus

:: Andrew 15:21 + ::
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