Perhaps it helps to remember that our spiritual roots go back to Jewish scripture, and that in a sense we are adoptive children of Israel. Our God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, Rebekkah, Moses, Ruth, and David. We follow Jesus, who walked the streets of Jerusalem as a Jew, teaching in the temple. In Hebrew, Israel means "Man fights God." We must wrestle with the hard questions and avoid the easy answers if we are ever to learn, just as we must work a muscle to build it up, often making it sore for a while. If a muscle is not worked, it atrophies. To remain healthy, then, we must not become complacent, avoiding issues that make us uneasy, or scriptures that prick our consciences.

In the first reading, Malachi comments on the common complaint that we all may have had at one time or another that life isn't fair. It is an old theme, one you can also find in the book of Ecclesiastes. The good die young, the evil prosper, the honest and hard-working poor folk are cheated and have disasters, those who mock God go unpunished, while innocence is victimized, and all die and become dust. Malachi goes one step further. This seems to be God's answer to those complaints. I suppose this reading is meant to be comforting. God will exact justice on those who are evildoers, and the "sun of righteousness will rise, with healing in its wings."

Okay. When? How long, Oh Lord? Like the Jews of Jesus' day, even today we seem to be waiting for Elijah to come. We tend to think in terms of the short-term, rather like my favorite prayer: "Lord, give me patience, and give it to me RIGHT NOW!"

On the other hand, it's a little frightening to think of the "great and terrible day of the Lord" coming any time soon. None of us are perfect, and we are all a little shy of the gaze of a being that can tell us everything we have ever done, and every thought we have ever had. Are there any of us who don't have some memories we would love to forget? Are any of us not a bit ashamed of ourselves at times? Knowing that vengeance is God's, and we will have justice is not that great a comfort if you are worrying that perhaps you should have done better with what you were given, and that, maybe God won't be all that pleased with you come Judgement day. I don't want vengeance for whatever wrongs have been done me, and I certainly don't feel comfortable with the thought that there are people whom I have wronged in my lifetime as well.

This isn't to say that I picture an angry, vengeful God. That particular view of God turned me away from the Old Testament for years. It wasn't until I grew up and began thinking of the Bible as the evolution of the Israelite people that I was able to reconcile myself. Many times in the Old Testament God is depicted as a loving father, trying to curb unruly children and teach them. As the Isrealite people mature spiritually, the image of God seems to change with them. God is also merciful, forgiving, and patient. God isn't the vengeful, picky, hard-nosed God some people have depicted Him. He is loving and warm--the God who wants to gather us as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings--the God who wants obedience and love, not blood sacrifice.

I found it hardest in childhood when my earthly father would look at me and say sadly, "You know, I'm really disappointed in you." I would have rather he hit me than say that. I certainly don't want that kind of exchange with my Maker, not out of fear, but out of love.

In the second reading, Paul speaks of avoiding believers who are idle and sponge off others. He makes a point that he has been a hard worker, setting a good example for others, and that anyone unwilling to work should not eat. Paul has a valid point, as much as we may feel uncomfortable with it. After all, if we don't work, someone else has to do twice the work. Work doesn't simply go away, not if we want a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs. It isn't fair to the people who take up the slack, and it looks bad, especially if you are in Paul's situation, trying to convert others to Christianity. Still, his words have a bit of a bite to them, especially if you read this after you have been goofing off. It leads to a bit of self-recrimination. Have I been working hard enough? Have I done enough? Have I hidden my light under a bushel?

In the third reading today from Luke, the apostles praise the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus brings them back down to earth with the rather sobering thought that the temple will be razed to the ground within their lifetimes. His statement is shocking to them, so they ask him when. Jesus warns them not to be led astray, not to be afraid of all the rumors, and when they are arrested and brought before kings and governors, to use each opportunity to testify, speaking about Jesus and his ministry without preparation, as the Spirit leads them.

This is definitely a wake-up call. Jesus jolts them out of their complacent pride in their beautiful temple, and shocks them with portents of future disasters. Jesus does not simply answer questions in terms of the present, but focuses on distant future events, when he knows he will have died and risen.

The building is not important. What need has God for buildings? It is easy to be bogged down by the form of things, as the apostles did in this reading, and forget that the reason behind the form is the worship, love, and service of God. The big mistake we can make could be called "spiritual materialism." If we only focus on "doing the right thing" because of some future award, ignoring those who need help, then we are no better than the Pharisees were in Jesus' day. We must remember that, even though Jesus often complained about them, many of the Pharisees were avid in their desire to be righteous in God's eyes. Saul, later called Paul, was a Pharisee, after all. How many of us are willing and/or capable of fasting twice a week and tithing? The love of God in our hearts should shine through everything we do, as the flame of a lamp shines through the glass.

Whenever I look at the readings, I try to see a connection between them. This week the connection is elusive. When I looked, all I saw was "shoulds" and "shouldn'ts." We should not complain about unfairness, because God is much more fair than we are, and will bring justice in His own time. God's time is not our time. He is able to see the big picture. Many times in scripture God says all will be well. We need to be patient. Ah, if only I had that kind of patience!

We know we need to be patient enough "let go and let God," but this is not easy, especially if you are a worrier like me. We know we need to be vigilant, working hard even when we feel like goofing-off. We also need to keep our minds and hearts focused on God without being seduced by the materialism of this world. This is not an easy task!

Having said that, we all know how very human we all are--and so does God. Every time we confess our sins to God and our neighbors, we are reminded that we fall short of God's perfection, failing to love our neighbors as ourselves, failing to love God enough to obey the commandments given us. We are fortunate, indeed, that we have a loving and forgiving God.

I find it somehow comforting that even Paul complained that he wanted to be good, but failed miserably. It is important that we not dispair, remembering that God's grace is sufficient for us. It is only by God's grace and love that we have any hope of reaching heaven. For this we can be truly thankful.

Amen

(Just a short note: This was the one time I have ever been locked out of a church when I was supposed to preach a homily. Notice the Gospel reading. The congregation thought I was brilliant. I pointed out that I had finished this homily virtually a week ahead of time, and that this was another of "God's little jokes" that happen to me occasionally. I'd been worrying about the sound system, which was never used that day. :-D)