No one, NO-ONE – is more important! They are the center of every conversation. And, if they are not, give them a little while and sit back and watch – because soon, it will be – all about them! Everybody, everyone must make an exception for them. Everyone’s schedule must evolve around theirs.
When it comes to God, Jesus and salvation…it is all about THEM. It’s personal. They take the whole “Jesus loves ME” thing to heart. They take it to a new level.
When it comes to God: God hears them, answers them, speaks to them and loves them.
Salvation likewise, was meant for them. God saves, yes, but he came to save ME – he came to set ME – free. They are pretty unsure…when it comes to you and to others…the jury is still “out” on that one!
There are those folks who take things so far – as to think that the Good News of Jesus Christ is only about one’s personal, individual salvation, forgiveness, justification and redemption. It’s all about them.
Jesus came to save – to forgive, to justify and to save them alone.
Everyone else is up for “grabs.”
This is a personal kind of faith, an “internalized kind of faith”…a “self – absorbed kind of faith.” This is a ME faith.
And believe it or not, it is – where a lot of people happen to be today.
It is all about ME.
It is all about my life.
It is all about my salvation.
The rest of you – can fend for yourselves…but I know in my heart of hearts…that my God came to save and to redeem ME. I am saved. My salvation is secure. You are questionable.
My God forgives ME. I know that I am forgiven…again, you are a question mark.
Those of us – who consider ourselves proud, smart, powerful, of high status and well fed…have a surprise waiting for us in the texts before us today!
The Lucan text is clearly about social reversals and a transformation of “all society” as a whole…
Things are about to change…and to change in a big way. They are going to change for everyone. They are going to change drastically.
We come to find out – it is not all about you – after all. It is about “all of us together.” We are all in on this one. This one is an all inclusive kind of text. Everyone is going to be effected. And the “coming one” too, comes for “all.” And he comes to us, in the strangest of ways.
It is an unexpected text, bordering on the bizarre.
You see – all though it was a time of “great expectation” – no one ever quite expected this!
Not an illegitimate pregnancy…not in that day and time and culture. Not a poor woman, to boot. Not a woman without means. Not to a young girl who should still be playing house and dress up!
Not to a young girl – who quite possibly feels that she has to flee for life. She leaves in great haste. She runs. She runs away. The farther away the better.
God’s do not take on flesh and dwell among people. God’s do not care about everyone. God’s care for the rich and the elite, those of high estate. God’s only care for those with money and means.
This was and is a ”scandalous” story and a God would never have anything to do with “scandal.
God is about “to act.” He is about to act in a BIG WAY – he is about to act for all people. He is about to act in a new and unprecedented way.
But it is not at all what you might be expecting.
It is not about you. It is about all-of-us-together. Expect reversals. Expect change. Expect scandal. Expect the unexpected. Expect God to act and to act soon!
The proud will be humbled. The smart will be shown to be ignorant of what is important. The powerful will be insignificant. Those of high status will be without rank and the well fed will be taught the meaning of sharing.
One day, people will learn that it is not about ME – and “What I want” … instead it will be about how can I help and serve others?
God is the great equalizer…wait for him…
He is coming soon…