Two very interesting and rich chapters in Luke. Pardon the pun if you are a poor person. Actually the joke is on the rich as the bible says it is harder for a rich person to find heaven than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. No reference as I have not gotten that far yet. By the way we are not talking money or riches in terms of worldly wealth here, right? We are talking about having Jesus in your heart, the Holy Spirit of God within you and not just thinking or touting you are with God, right? Remember two wrongs don’t make a right but four wrong left turns may keep you on the same right journey in life!
Interesting chapters because we all get lost to some degree in life. And when we do, who do we turn to for comfort, for redirection? And what if we don’t? Hell isn’t really real, right?
Jesus talking one lost sheep that is found: “What man of you having a hundred sheep, and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it?… Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost. I say to you that, even so, there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine just who have no need of repentance.”
Jesus talking one lost coin that is found: ”Or what woman, having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachmas, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?… Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachmas that I had lost. Even so, I say to you, there will be joy among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Jesus in the Parable of the Prodigal Son talking one lost soul that is found: “(The son’s father was) moved with compassion… because this my son was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and is found… (and the father said to the other angry and jealous son)… “Son, thou art always with me, and all that is mine is thine: but we were bound to make merry and rejoice, for this thy brother was dead, and has come to life; he was lost, and is found.”
How many times have you been lost and hopefully found in your life?
I count at least three in my lifetime so far—once in childhood; once in career; once in divorce; and once in my wandering, searching, and seeking inspiration years that I am emerging from now. I guess I can’t count, that’s four!
By the way that is the marvel and miracle of journaling, or writing something down on paper or in an electronic format. Why? Because you have to think and formulate thoughts, and evaluate choices and make a decision on what to write. All inspired by a relationship with God, having Jesus in your heart and being immersed in the Holy Spirit.
One more preachy suggestion. Don’t rationalize by saying I can’t do a journal, somebody may find it and read it. What you are really saying is that I don’t want to be introspective because I fear the pain of self-judgment. Well subconsciously that is already going on and you know what? You are very likely being much harder on your self than need be. Plus, who better to learn from that ourselves, as long as we come out of denial, rationalization, and justification. TROML Baby, find your own Splendid Spiritual Self!
Never look back and hopefully never be lost in life again.
The story of the unjust steward in C16 Matthew surprised me a bit in that it seems the message is that the master commends the servant for being prudent, though dishonest, in further, should I say, misappropriation of funds?
Rich man to Steward: “What is this I hear of thee? Make an accounting of thy stewardship, for thee canst be steward no longer.”
Steward: “To dig I am not able; to beg I am ashamed… they may receive me into their houses… each of his master’s debtors… Take thy bond and sit down at once and write fifty (versus 100 jars of oil)… Take thy bond and write eighty (versus 100 kors of wheat)…
“And the master commended the unjust steward, in that he acted prudently; for the children of this world, in relation to their own generation, are more prudent than the children of the light. And I say to you, make friends for yourselves with the mammon of wickedness, so that when you fail they may receive you into the everlasting dwellings.”
Prudent—wise or judicious in practical affairs; sagacious; discreet or circumspect; sober; careful in providing for the future; provident: a prudent decision.
Yes, the dishonest servant was being very practical in providing for his future at the expense of his master. I wonder if the master really let the servant get away with it?
Our Master, Christ the Spirited God, will not let us get away with it, that is for sure as Jesus continues…
“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in a very little thing is unjust also in much… who will entrust to you what is true?… who will give you what is your own?… No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will stand by the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Mammon—New Testament. Riches or material wealth. Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:9,11,13; (often initial capital letter) a personification of riches as an evil spirit or deity.
Mammon is not a good master as we learn from the Pharisees, who were fond of money…
Jesus to the Pharisees: “You are they who declare yourselves just in the sight of men, but God knows your heart; for that which is exalted in the sight of men is an abomination before God… Yet it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the Law to fail.”
Jesus: “Everyone who puts away his wife and marries another commits adultery; and he who marries a woman who has been put away from her husband commits adultery.”
Yes, I am guilty and redeemed of this. I was lost and now am found.
Certain rich man… feasted every day in splendid fashion… a certain poor man named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table…
The poor man died and was borne away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; but the rich man also died and was buried in hell.
Rich Man: “Father Abraham, have pity on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger on water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.”
Abraham to rich man buried in hell: “son, remember that thou in thy lifetime hast received good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now here he is comforted whereas thou art tormented. And besides all that, between us and you a great gulf is fixed, so that they who wish to pass over from this side to you cannot, and they cannot cross from your side to us.”
Rich Man to Abraham: Then, father, I beseech thee to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they too come into this place of torment.”
Abraham: “They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hearken to them… If they do not hearken to Moses and the Prophets, they will not believe even if someone rises from the dead.”
Hearken, please hearken!
Lost sheep, coin and son am I. I am lost and now found! Hopefully, no torment in Hell!
Day 72: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Lost Sheep, Coin & Son; I am Lost and Now Found! No torment in Hell!
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Luke Chapters 15-16.
Bible Notes:
The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke
Saint Luke, a pagan by birth and a physician by profession, had never seen our Lord. An early convert, he became a companion and co-worker of Saint Paul.
In the first four verses of his Gospel he explains why he wrote it. Paul’s doctrine that salvation is for all, not for Jesus alone, is the theme of Saint Luke’s Gospel.
Luke Chapter 15: Pharisees and Scribes murmur; Parable of the lost sheep; The lost coin; The prodigal son takes his inheritance; His loose living; his want; His repentance and return; His father’s reception of him; Anger of his older brother; The father explains.
The publicans and sinners were drawing near to him…
The Pharisees and Scribes murmured saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Jesus: “What man of you having a hundred sheep, and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it?… Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost. I say to you that, even so, there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine just who have no need of repentance.”
Jesus: ”Or what woman, having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachmas, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?… Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachmas that I had lost. Even so, I say to you, there will be joy among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Prodigal Son: “Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.” And not many days later, the younger son gathered up all his wealth, and took his journey into a far country and there he squandered his fortune in loose living… But when he came to himself, he said, “How many hired men in my father’s house have bread in abundance while I am perishing here with hunger! I will go up and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee. I am no longer worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired men.’
Father: … moved with compassion… because this my son was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and is found.
Older Brother: But he was angered and would not go in… “Behold these many years I have been serving thee, and have never transgressed one of thy commands; and yet thou has never given me a kid that I night make merry with my friends. But when this thy son comes, who has devoured his means with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fattened calf.”
Father: “Son, thou art always with me, and all that is mine is thine: but we were bound to make merry and rejoice, for this thy brother was dead, and has come to life; he was lost, and is found.”
Luke Chapter 16: The unjust steward; His dilemma; his solution; The wisdom of the steward is commended; Impossible to serve two masters; Pretenses of the Pharisees; Divorce; The rich man and Lazarus; The judgment at death is final; Dives pleads for his brothers.
Rich man to Steward: “What is this I hear of thee? Make an accounting of thy stewardship, for thee canst be steward no longer.”
Steward: “To dig I am not able; to beg I am ashamed… they may receive me into their houses… each of his master’s debtors… Take thy bond and sit down at once and write fifty (versus 100 jars of oil)… Take thy bond and write eighty (versus 100 kors of wheat)…
“And the master commended the unjust steward, in that he acted prudently; for the children of this world, in relation to their own generation, are more prudent than the children of the light. And I say to you, make friends for yourselves with the mammon of wickedness, so that when you fail they may receive you into the everlasting dwellings.”
Prudent—wise or judicious in practical affairs; sagacious; discreet or circumspect; sober; careful in providing for the future; provident: a prudent decision.
“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in a very little thing is unjust also in much… who will entrust to you what is true?… who will give you what is your own?… No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will stand by the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Mammon—New Testament. Riches or material wealth. Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:9,11,13; (often initial capital letter) a personification of riches as an evil spirit or deity.
Now the Pharisees, who were fond of money…
Jesus to the Pharisees: “You are they who declare yourselves just in the sight of men, but God knows your heart; for that which is exalted in the sight of men is an abomination before God… Yet it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the Law to fail.”
Jesus: “Everyone who puts away his wife and marries another commits adultery; and he who marries a woman who has been put away from her husband commits adultery.”
Certain rich man… feasted every day in splendid fashion… a certain poor man named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table…
The poor man died and was borne away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; but the rich man also died and was buried in hell.
Rich Man: “Father Abraham, have pity on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger on water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.”
Abraham to rich man buried in hell: “son, remember that thou in thy lifetime hast received good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now here he is comforted whereas thou art tormented. And besides all that, between us and you a great gulf is fixed, so that they who wish to pass over from this side to you cannot, and they cannot cross from your side to us.”
Rich Man to Abraham: Then, father, I beseech thee to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they too come into this place of torment.”
Abraham: “They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hearken to them… If they do not hearken to Moses and the Prophets, they will not believe even if someone rises from the dead.”
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