Fred
Craddock in his commentary on the Gospel of Luke1 in the
Interpretation Bible Commentary series makes an observation on this week’s
gospel lesson that the Revised Common Lectionary suggests. The reading is Luke 9:51-62. That text reads, in part:
When
the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the
Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his
face was set towards Jerusalem. 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?’ But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another
village.
James and
John reflect the response of Elijah to those who opposed him. Twice the prophet called down fire from
heaven (2 Kings 1:9-12). Jesus “rebuked”
them, but they had already done the moral damage.
Craddock
says, in relation to the response of James and John: “Is it not interesting how
the mind can grasp and hold those Scriptures which seem to bless our worst
behavior and yet cannot retain past the sanctuary door those texts which summon
to love, forgiveness, and mercy? Jesus
rebukes James and John for an attitude of revenge and retribution, an attitude
totally foreign to his ministry and theirs.”
I like
that line. I think it’s a tremendous
insight. And… I am sad to say that I see
more than the occasional example of exactly what Craddock is talking
about. Not only do folks cherry-pick as
they move through the Bible, but their selectivity in terms of what they
sanction or how they act or what they believe a particular text empowers them to
hate is extraordinary.
Lord, have
mercy.
Christ,
have mercy.
Lord, have
mercy.
1Interpretation A Bible Commentary
for Teaching and Preaching,
Louisville:
John Knox Press, c. 1990
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