This is the translated outline of the sermon preached by Rev. Musubi Tabuchi on Sunday, March 16, 2024, drawing from Luke 13:31-35.
When I was a seminary student, an American missionary and New Testament professor told me that I should not preach from the book of Revelation. He said that it is the last book of the Bible and is full of descriptions of the end of the world, the final judgment, etc. It is difficult to understand what it means to us even if we read it carefully, but the truth is that we tend to interpret it in a very extreme way.
Today's reading from the Gospel of Luke is also apocalyptic in a sense, as it describes Jesus' harsh judgment on those who reject his teachings. But we cannot simply interpret it to mean that those of us who believe in Jesus will be fine, and everyone else won't, and that this is somehow okay. Do we always respond to Jesus' invitation and gather under his wings? Are we sure that we are meeting Jesus every day?
During the Passion (that is, during Lent), we are meant to spend each day confirming and recognizing our daily encounters with Jesus. In what places and in what ways did we walk with Jesus today? Where did we say to Jesus, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”? When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people welcomed him with these words, but they soon cursed him as he hung on the cross. Are we meeting Jesus in the same way?
Let us pray, God, please let us spend each day trying to confirm our real, authentic encounters with Jesus. Let us spend this lenten season feeling the love of Jesus. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray.
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