Beware of Thieves

Word from Wiese

05 June 2024

You might be getting ripped off.

And the thief might be you. How?

In Sunday’s sermon, Interim Pastor Carla reminded us of how God created the world: worked hard for six days and then took a chill-pill. God took the whole seventh day to enjoy the creation. Maybe God took a jog throughout the forests. Or went scuba-diving for a few hours to delight with the fishies and colorful corals. Or hiked the mountains. Maybe God took a Sabbath sleeper . . . a nice afternoon nap in one of his meadows or even Milky Way.

The point is that God took time to rest and enjoy God’s creation. But so often we don’t. And if not, we’re getting ripped off from the goodness the Lord has designed for us.

Even though it’s God Godself who green lights in the Third Commandment to sabbath once a week and throughout the year, we don’t. We allow other voices to trump the Lord’s. The gods of “get ahead,” “keep up with the Joneses in youth sports,” “dutiful soldier” and many others prove very tempting indeed.

Only 48% Americans say they use all their vacation (another form of sabbath) days, citing a variety of reasons, according to Pew Research. This year, with everything going on at church, I’m trying to stay closer to home this summer, telling myself that it’s better for COS and the variety of ongoing projects. But who knows if that’s a wise or foolish decision in the long run to not take the full vacation the church has offered. Maybe it would be better for both the COS system and my personal and family health to lean into God’s third injunction . . . especially this summer.

The Pharisees demonstrate how out of whack humanity’s perspective can get. When they hassle Jesus for plucking grain and healing on the Sabbath as breaking God’s law, our Lord reminds them that Sabbath rest is the Lord’s gift to his children, NOT a burden to increase guilt and shackles upon people. But the Pharisees were stuck in stubbornness. When Jesus heals a cripple’s hand, instead of rejoicing that he could now work or hold his children’s hands, the Pharisees “went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.” Ugghh. Heaven help us when we put the rules or expectations of others above Jesus’ hopes for us. When law trumps love.

There are two other thieves sneaking around your life: the past and future. My son Luke sends me a variety of clever podcasts. One secular commentator extrapolates how he sees crucifixion as a powerful metaphor for human angst:

“What if the cross is seen as the intersection of two timelines: infinite (vertical) and finite (horizontal)? Part of you will live forever and part of you is gonna die. We’re forever in tension. Metaphorically, I think we can all feel tortured on that bizarre intersection of time. Crucifixion can represent our existential struggle. You want to know why humans struggle? Because we’re hanging on a cross live with two “thieves” on either side – the past and the future, both pulling us from the present. Anytime you’re thinking too much about what has been or will be, momentary joy can be stolen.” (Duncan Trussell on the Joe Rogan Experience)

While Christians understand the cross differently, I appreciate the podcaster’s imagination and warning. For indeed, joy has been stolen in my life because I’ve been too preoccupied planning tomorrow’s agenda or analyzing how I could have handled yesterday better. I certainly can relate to the podcaster’s brilliant admonition regarding hanging between the two thieves of the past and future, stealing the joy of the present.

How about you?

I pray this summer is wonderful for you. Knowing the staff works hard each week to provide creative and faithful worship service, we humbly hope Sunday morning worship can be a healing and inspiring part of your Sabbath rest, in the Lord’s example. Likewise, I hope you take your vacation days if you’re still working. Delight in them as our God demonstrated: a chance to enjoy what IS. To rest, to dream, to just be you as God designed with the people and options you love. If you have retired, good for you! So many of you take on volunteer ministries. Thank you. But make sure to take the holy time of sabbath in that special season too.

Watching out for thieves with you,

Pastor Fritz

Let us pray:

Lord, we know that even as busy as Jesus was, he would take time for sabbath rest, whether that was bathing in your word at weekly synagogue worship or hitting the lakes with his friends or a quiet place by himself. Steer our schedules, so that the joy of each day is not stolen by the thieves of the past or present. Help us slow down, enjoy life, gain perspective, and connect with you and those you’ve given us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for reflection:

Do you do a nice job of “being present” in the rhythm of the day? Or do you find yourself giving too much attention to the past or present? How would you describe the right balance?
Can attending church services ever be a hindrance to what God has in mind for our Sabbath? How so?
What does God mean in the Third Command, to “remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy?” How would you explain your answer to a child?