Pondering Pastor

More clarity is emerging for this upcoming Sunday’s sermon. In fact, I’ll finish it this morning.

I’ve wiggled with the Gospel lesson for the day. The Lectionary has Luke 14:1, 7-14 as the text, and I’m having that extended to Luke 14:1-14. That serves to provide context for the confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees. It all resolves around “dropsy”.

Dropsy is generalized edema (the body’s retention of fluid). It also describes insatiable thirst that comes with the body already swimming in too much fluid. It was a metaphor for insatiable desire … or greed. Jesus healing the man of dropsy is paramount in understanding his attempts at healing some of the dropsy of the Pharisees. When viewed through this lens, all three Lectionary texts for the day have something to do with dropsy/greed.

In addition, in the news this week: Maryland is the wealthiest state in the US, Obesity rates rise in the US, MegaMillions Lottery reaches $330 Million Jackpot, etc.

It looks like greed is the topic.

Pondering Pastor