Purpose...Priorities...Practice
Why am I here?
What is my purpose? What
significance does my life have?
These are questions we will ask a number of times throughout
our lives. At one point we think
we’ve got it figured out...then something unexpected...unwanted...unfair
happens ...and we have to “recalculate” the direction of our life.
There are also ‘seasons’ of life that entail different
tasks: infancy, toddler,
childhood, adolescence, high school, young adult, gainful employment (a major motivator of parental prayer “mmopp”), (maybe) marriage and
children of our own, raising children (mmopp!), empty nest (periodically),
retirement, telling our story (a gift to younger generations!), and knowing
dependence once again.
And once we have accomplished a major, meaningful task in
our life, we encounter the question: Now what? It’s time to enjoy (for a while) what has been done then
recalculate for the next leg of the journey...
Today we begin another Lenten journey, a time set aside to
focus on Jesus’ journey, to focus on his purpose, priorities, and practice so
that we might better discover and develop our own.
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set
his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him.
On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53
but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54
When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you
want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" 55
But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to
another village.
57 As they were going along the road, someone said to
him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 And Jesus
said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the
Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." 59 To another he said,
"Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my
father." 60 But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury
their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61
Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say
farewell to those at my home." 62 Jesus said to him, "No
one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of
God."
–Luke 9:51-62 (NRSV)
We can debate the details
and question the quotes of the passage above, but Jesus’ clear message is: “Put me first...period.” This season of Lent gives us ample
opportunity to do just that. It is
never easy...but Jesus knows (and
deep down I think we all know too) that the more we put Jesus first...in
deciding direction and forming habits...the more we will know the deep joy of
finding and following our purpose.
Jesus works! Amen. --P/T
–Luke 9:51-62 (NRSV)
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