My Precious! (a Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

If you've ever walked along a beach, you've likely seen a flock of seagulls fighting over food. Not only do they chase after even the tiniest morsel, the entire flock of them squawk in a ululating cacophony as, together, they hurry across the sand. It's loud. It's raucous.

And you have the distinct impression they are all shouting something at each other.

If you've seen the DisneyPixar movie, Finding Nemo, you may know what those seagulls are shouting: "Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!" I recall laughing loudly during the scene where the seagulls chased a crab, all of them shouting "Mine!" repeatedly as they raced toward what they anticipated to be a tasty treat. I don't doubt for a minute that that is exactly what real seagulls are signaling to each other as they honk and run.

I thought of that scene while reading this week's Lectionary selection from Luke 12. Someone in the crowd shouts out to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬, http://bible.com/111/luk.12.13.niv). You're left to decide for yourself about the "shouter." Has he been cheated out of what is rightfully his? Is it that he believes it only "fair" that his brother share with him? Or does he know full well he is due nothing, and wants it anyway?

There are a lot of problems with demanding that Jesus intervene. The first is that the man may see Jesus as just another scribe (Lawyer) who should adjudicate disputes about property. Kind of makes you wonder if he had been listening to what Jesus had been saying. The best scenario, and it's not pretty, is that the man recognizes the power and authority of Jesus, and wants to use Jesus as a wedge or leverage in a family dispute.

Think about that one for a while.

In any case, in his response to the man, Jesus elevates the issue to what really matters, and it's not who owns what in this life. In the parable that follows, Jesus makes it clear that our focus in this short life should be on our relationship with God, not on the level of abundance or scarcity we are experiencing at any given moment.

I am reminded of scenes in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Ring trilogy where Gollum, hobbits, fairies, Wizards, and men all fight over a ring that belongs to none of them. Gollum is the only one who calls the ring, "My precious," but all of the others act as if that were true for them, as well. They want to possess it so badly, few of them can see the danger lurking beneath that shiny surface.

Is it OK to have things? Sure. Just don't let them rule you. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:21‬ ‭NIV, ‬‬http://bible.com/111/mat.6.21.niv)

Store up your treasures in God. Nothing and no one is more precious.

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Proper 13 (18) (July 31, 2016)
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu

Hosea 11:1-11
Psalm 107:1-9, 43
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
Psalm 49:1-12
Colossians 3:1-11
Luke 12:13-21
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Will you be in the Waco area Friday morning? Join us for Lectionary Breakfast at the "Egg and I" restaurant at 8:00. We spend that hour eating, fellowshipping, and storing up treasures in Heaven. It's an hour like no other.

Blessings,
Steve

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Photo credit: https://abstract.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/503060/