Weekly Liturgy : August 4-10
- Matt
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Luke 12 : 32-40
New Living Translation
32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
33-34 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
35-38 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.
39-40 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
REFLECTIONS
Thoughts from Matt:
The goal of life isn't the accumulation of wealth. It's giving. "Life is not measured by how much you own" (Luke 12:15). Jesus suggests that it's measured in generosity, and a generosity that he and the Father demonstrate for us. It's God's great happiness to give you and me the kingdom (v. 32), and Jesus is prepared to serve us at this table of love and acceptance (v. 37).
Yet here we wait. We don't always experience the security, abundance, and joy we imagine this banquet to provide. We often see the hoarding and harm that flows from lives who haven't experienced this kind of generosity -- yet. May we be ever more generous.
The dramatic end to the story – the farmer dies that very night – is Jesus’ way of putting laser focus on the futility of basing our sense of security and belonging on personal advancement, wealth, status or pretty much anything else that is ‘here today and gone tomorrow.’ And while hard work often plays a part, the wealth and abundance that comes our way is often due to good fortune, and more than anything else being in the right place at the right time. Things to think about?
PRACTICE:
Outward Mindset Application
The next time someone behaves in a way that bothers you, consider if you have ever acted in a similar way. What motivated that behavior in you? What could be motivating the person who is now bothering you?
Non-Violent Communication Question of the Week
How do you know if the state of your relationship with someone is healthy? What are your metrics?
Would the other person in the relationship agree with your answer?
Pathways toward Centeredness
Read or listen to the hymn "He Giveth More Grace," http://barryshymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/he-giveth-more-grace.html, and meditate on the lyrics.
Go for a walk and pay special attention to the world around you. Where is generosity exhibited in this space and in the people you see?
Questions for Reflection
How have you personally experienced grace from God or others in your life recently?
What are one or two practical ways you can be generous in your life and work this week?
“Liturgy” refers to the habits and practices humans use to form community around shared values and meaning. At Church at the Park, we desire to be a community of practice, becoming people who see the world through the eyes of the marginalized, making meaning through the lens of pain and suffering, and committing ourselves to non-violence in a wounded world. This weekly email is intended to provide pathways of practice for becoming the type of people who embody these values.
Many of our reflections on each week's text come from other sources. If you're interested in reading more of what inspires us, here our our two favorite reflections.
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