Get Back to the End of the Line!
August 22, 2010

"Behold, some who are last will be first" (Lk. 13:30).

At a conference of scientists, the discussion gravitated toward the wonders of human achievement: in fact, they reached the conclusion that human beings no longer required the services of God. They chose one scientist to go and break the news to God. He arranged a meeting and began by saying, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We've become so competent and resourceful that, among many other miraculous things, now we are even able to clone human beings. So thanks for everything, but it really is time for you to go!"

God listened patiently until the man finished his spiel. Then God said, "Very well. But first, let me propose a contest. Since you mentioned your ability to create humans, let's make it a 'human-making contest.'" The scientist replied, "Okay, great!" Then God added, "In fact, let's do it the way I did it way back in the beginning with Adam."

"Fine," the scientist said, "absolutely no problem." Then he bent down and scooped up a handful of dirt. But God looked down at him and said, "Wait just a minute! Go make your own dirt!"

In today's Lesson from Luke's Gospel, we hear Jesus say " ... there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last" (Lk. 13:30). In Mark's Gospel, Jesus elaborates on this teaching:

"If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all" (Mk. 9:35). Jesus is telling us in effect that trying to live the good life, apart from the saving grace of God, is like trying to make our own dirt -- it just doesn't work!

We think of Jesus Christ as a strong person. We think of His mother Mary as a strong person. We think of Peter and Andrew and James and John as strong persons. And the Apostle Paul! Who has the strength to endure what Paul endured for the Cause of Christ? Nevertheless, we hear Jesus saying such things as "The last will be first and first will be last," and "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Mt. 5:5). And in his Letter to the Ephesians, we hear Paul saying, "I, therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness ..."(Eph.4:1-2).

The "meek," in this Biblical sense, are those who have cast off the self-centeredness and pride that claim independence from God. The meek are those who have made the conscious choice to accept life on God's terms. From beginning to end, Scripture teaches us that every declaration of independence from God has disastrous consequences. Adam and Eve make their decision not to play second fiddle to God, and the consequences are disastrous. The heavenly harmony of their intimate union with God turns to discord. Paradise is lost! And so it goes whenever we attempt to have life on our terms: to do it our way. The Adam and Eve syndrome! But oh how blessed we are, oh how fulfilled we are, oh how happy we are when we give up trying to be the master of our own fate, trying to live apart from the saving Grace of God.

The basic issue for us is whether or not we trust God enough to ...

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