2 November 2010
Psalm 61, 62; Ecclus 43.1-22; Rev 14.14-15.8; Luke 13.1-9

It is important for us to be thankful and give praise in all things. The created order is a wonderful place to start each and every day. As we drive to and from work, play or errands we have the opportunity to behold the handiwork of God and ascribe the glory and honor due to He who called it into being and it has marvelously performed its appointed task for who knows how long. All these things work together for the glory of God and we were created with the sensory abilities to appreciate them, the intellectual capacity to understand them, and the abilities to praise Him for all things that allow us to enjoy this life. Is that the way we utilize all these capacities? Today is the day to begin praising Him for His creation and all our abilities to enjoy them.

Is the example of the blood of the Galileeans whose blood Pilate mixed with the sacrifice an attempt to understand the times or just a not so subtle shot at Jesus’ homeland? It seems likely that the second option is the best and Jesus will have none of it, reminding them of another incident that was not in Galilee that impugns them if the same standard is applied. The parable is intended to say that this is the nation’s last chance at producing fruit and Jesus has come in love in order to attempt to coax fruit from this barren tree. It has ceased to give praise to God and has devolved into not nationalism but regionalism and self-righteousness and has forgotten how they became a nation at all.

This is a horrifying scene of God’s judgment beginning with the sickle of the one like a son of man wearing the crown, then the angel with the sickle gathering up the harvest of the unrighteous to the winepress of God’s wrath, followed by the pouring out of the seven bowls of God’s wrath (the number of completion). In all this devastation and death heaven responds with the proclamation that this is all “just.” The world today has, as CS Lewis said, put God in the dock at court and is accusing Him of being less than loving and just for His judgments but heaven disagrees. He has brought on the ruin of all He has created and all for love’s sake that some may see and believe and turn to Him. It is His, He created it and that is an important tenet of our faith for this reason, He loves us more than His creation and if we cannot see Him as creator then we cannot accept any of this judgment, we cannot see Him as loving enough to have created for us and we cannot see Him as truly God of all.

Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!