March 21, 2004
Joshua 5:9-12; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
The story of Joshua is mainly a story of the conquest of the promised land by the Hebrews. It is also, however, a story of "waypoints" along the way in the process of moving toward what they believed to be their ultimate goal. After the Hebrews crossed the river Jordan and were, in fact, now in the "promised land", word went out that their God had dried up a portion of the river thus enabling them to cross over with ease. When the inhabitants of the land heard this story "...their heart melted, and there was no longer any spirit in them, because of the children of Israel." As a symbol of commitment and appreciation, Joshua felt obligated to circumcise all the males who had not been circumcised as they journeyed through the wilderness. For Joshua, this was a time to renew his commitment to his God. He then developed a keen sense that the shadow of slavery in Egypt had been removed. His spirit was renewed and his courage was increased. As a symbol of appreciation to their God, Joshua and the people celebrated the Passover. They were free again and they owed it all to their God who had brought them from the land of Egypt to the land of promise. It was a time of celebration. Not only this, but they no longer had to live on manna, that mysterious food that sustained and nourished them through their wilderness travels. "....on that very day they ate the produce of the land.....and the people of Israel had manna no more, but ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year." This was an important way point. They had been through many trials and tribulations. They had learned a lot. They had grown in the process of developing their own religion. Now they needed a time to remember, to appreciate, and to get a new grip on the task that was before them. This was indeed an important waypoint in the process of working toward their ultimate goal. Waypoints are important to prepare for the challenges of a new life that lies ahead.a This was true for Joshua and the Hebrews and it is important for us.
In the second letter which Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, he reminded them that their life was also a journey with important waypoints. Paul was growing to understand both life and the Christian faith as a process involving certain waypoints of achievement which deserve to be celebrated. Their celebration should also serve the purpose of renewing commitment in order to experience potential new waypoints that lie ahead. Paul, once a zealous Jew, had moved on from that experience to what he believed to be waypoints of progress as he investigated and experienced his new life as a disciple of Jesus. He therefore admonished the Christians in Corinth by saying "From now on , therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once regarded Christ from a human point of view, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come." To Paul, this was a wonderful new experience of which he had never dreamed in his younger days. He had learned the values of commitment to the process of growth in religious faith. He had experienced Christ in a way that he wanted for others also. He could therefore say, "So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." Paul had come to believe that the process of life offers opportunities for many waypoints of celebration and growth. His experience in a growing faith in Christ was one which had made life new and more meaningful for him. He admonished the Christians in Corinth to be completely committed to their new faith and to move on as new persons, to even more wonderful experiences of waypoints in the future. Paul had experienced exhilarating hope and he felt compelled to share it with others. What we share with others becomes of even greater value to us.
The story which Luke relates of Jesus sharing in parables is also a story of life as a process in which there is the potential for important waypoints to be experienced and celebrated. Persons who acknowledged themselves as spiritually needy, i.e. sinners, were drawn to Jesus. They saw in Jesus a person of love with a story of hope. The religious leaders murmured among themselves saying, "this man receives sinners and eats with them". Jesus responded with several stories. One was about a father and two sons. The younger son was continually wanting more and showed little commitment to the needs of his father. The older son was always concerned about the needs of his father and found meaningful life by being a good and supportive son. After asking and receiving his inheritance early, the younger son left home and wasted is money in riotous living. Finally, broke, but ashamed to go home, he found himself taking care of swine in order to have something to live on. One day he began to ask himself how many of his father servants were better off than he. He was ashamed of his foolishness. He "screwed" up his courage and went back home filled with remorse, only to be greeted with a loving welcome and the open arms of his father. As the son expressed what a fool he had been and asked forgiveness, the father was already demanding of his servants that they kill a fat calf and celebrate because his son who had been lost was now safe--at home. The older brother complained that his younger son had wasted everything his father had given him and now was treated by his father as a prince. The father responded from a heart of love saying "It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead and is alive, he was lost and is found. A waypoint in the process of life for the father! A waypoint in the process of life for the younger son! A waypoint in the process of life for the older son! There comes a time in the life of every human being when a second chance is needed. The message of Jesus for the self righteous religious leaders of his day was that every person counts. Even when persons "screw up" they are still human beings. When there is remorse, repentance, and a willingness to become better persons, they deserve and need a response of love. Jesus taught that this is the way of God--an unconditionally loving God!