Sunday, September 25, 2022
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
16th Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 21

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:
– First Reading: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
– Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16
– Second Reading: I Timothy 6:6-19
– Gospel Reading: Luke 16:19-31

The liturgical color for the day is: Green

How do we see the future?

To read Jeremiah it is clear, in terms of a business plan, that buying of the field at Anathoth is a poor decision.  The people will all be swept away into exile and the land with it.  To buy that parcel and desolate field is not wise.  But Jeremiah has a vision of the future.

His vision of the future is post-exile.  That vision is way beyond the vision of those who retain him and seek to quiet his voice.  His vision is well beyond that of his cousin.  Jeremiah sees a place and a time where God will redeem the land and God will redeem the people. 

His vision sees far into the vision of God where that which is old has become new and that which was is no more.  His vision of the future impacts his action in that day.

The long view—the God view of things showed him that this was the best deal.  His vision of the future is that God would redeem, and his buying the field at Anathoth is a no brainer.  Write it up. Weigh out the money.  Sign it.  Seal it.  Keep it in the jar to preserve it.  It is a done deal.  Do not delay. 

It is a decision made in faith.  Faith decisions are made when we have vision.

How do we see the future? 

In the story Jesus tells the rich man must not have even considered the future.  He just lived in the luxuries of this life with no concern for anyone else.  He only saw himself and his own desires.  It was as if he did not see beyond the very day he was living.  And even in that, he did not even see what was going on at his own gate.

It really is a question of vision.  The rich man did not have vision for the future.  Jeremiah had such vision.  Do we?  How do we see the future?

—

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk