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In today’s podcast we have Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth. There are several points in this Gospel I want to point out. We have Mary who is pregnant herself going to help her cousin Elizabeth . Mary’s sense of service is obvious.

We know that Elizabeth was likely past childbearing years. She was not able to have a child in a culture that expected women to have children, Many people looked down on women who were childless. Elizabeth is not the only one from the Bible who struggled with infertility.

Elizabeth is an excellent example of being meek. We don’t know much about Elizabeth, but I suspect she had her struggles. Being considered barren must have been hard for her. Elizabeth handled herself well and remained faithful to God despite the fact that it would appear God was not answering her prayers. She is truly an example of what meekness is all about. She is also strong; she can and does speak her truth confidently and succinctly when the time comes. Her faithfulness under pressure is admirable.

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In this podcast from Luke, we hear more about John the Baptist. John is giving advice to individuals who want to change their life to reflect their beliefs. These individuals realize that their faith is not just practiced on holy days but will also impact their behavior at work and at home.

There are a couple of key points that I want to draw your attention to. When asked what to do John doesn’t say, pray more or sin less or give more money to the Temple. Do you notice that all of his advice involves how to respectfully relate to other people?

John treats everyone the same. It doesn’t matter what their profession is. In most cultures including our own, professions are ranked from least to most prestigious. That means nothing to John. All work is honorable. The people are called to do an honest day’s work. Sometimes we are fortunate, and the job has meaning or purpose. Other times people work for the money. They work to live. They find purpose outside of work. But, even if you are working simply for the moony, there is still honor there.

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In today’s podcast we are introduced to John also known as John the Baptist not to be confused with the apostle John, the beloved disciple. John the Baptist was related to Jesus, his mother Elizabeth and Mary, the mother of Jesus were first cousins. Likely John and Jesus knew each other growing up. John is seen as the one prophesized by the great prophet Isaiah to prepare the people to receive the Messiah. Matthew 3:1-3, Mark 1:2-3 and Luke 3:4-6. The original prophecy is in Isaiah 40:3.
I wonder if Jesus would have been successful without John’s involvement. Is there is a lesson for us? We, like Jesus, have had people in our life that have helped us on our way. In a sense, our successes are not totally our own. Others have helped us along the way and by recognizing their role in our spiritual development we in turn are called to support other individuals on their journey.

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We are encouraged to stand firm Lk 21:19 and be careful (Lk 21:34). These are valuable lessons for life, not just for coping with the end times but also applicable in the present moment. I wonder if Jesus was talking about the end of the world or teaching us something about our spiritual lives.

I wonder if Jesus is telling us to be resilient and be determined. We are called to be intentional in our actions. To be intentional requires us to chose to be so. Much of our lives are on automatic pilot. We have our routines and habits. Much of our behavior is a response to and/or a result of other’s behavior. Many worry that if they do not respond in kind they will be seen as weak.

Our faith is lived out in how we relate to people and to God. Last week we read that the Greatest Commandment was to love God and the second to love our neighbor, both laws are relational.

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Jesus is asked by Pontius Pilate if he is the king of the Jews. Pilate is not talking about a heavenly kingdom but an earthly kingdom. Pilate was not making an act of faith. He wanted to know if Jesus was a political threat or not. Jesus responds knowing that Pilate would not likely understand but encourages Pilate and the listeners to learn about God’s kingdom. Pilate’s perspective is very simple and does not see the point Jesus is trying to make. Its worth noting that Jesus is not intimidated by Pilate. Likely he knows how this will unfold. He is confident and remains focused.

The term kingdom in a modern context might not have the same meaning that it did 2,000 years ago. We are less likely to see kings as leaders or holding a position of significant power.

I invite listeners to pause and reflect on who is God to you. Another way is to reflect on what role does God have in your life?

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This Gospel was written over 2,000 years ago and the world is still here so I am less convinced the readings were written to prepare us for the end times. However, many of the early Christians understood these readings as a sign pointing to the end of the world. One of the reasons why the Gospels were written so late, was because many people believed Jesus literally, and that the end of the world would take place in their lifetime.

I suspect these readings could be interpreted differently. I propose that Jesus is talking more about the trials and tribulations in our lives. Our faith in Jesus does not exempt us from struggles. Rather than seeing these as the end, Jesus invites us to see this is a time when God will show his saving power.

Could those struggles be actually helpful to our spiritual growth? Struggles encourage us to develop resilience and problem-solving skills. Struggles can lead to maturity and a perspective on life that leads to spiritual and psychological growth.

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The lesson in today’s Gospel is clear, do not get seduced by appearances! There is also a sub-theme of humility. Jesus is critical of the Scribes for their hypocritical behaviour. As Luke 12:48, states, "To whom much is given, much will be required." Jesus emphasized the idea of responsibility that comes with blessings and resources. The verse suggests that those who have been entrusted with more—whether it be talents, wealth, or knowledge—are held to a higher standard of accountability.
Jesus continues his teaching on looking beyond appearances when he is watching wealthy people putting in large sums of money into the temple treasury. On the level of appearances, the large donations would suggest that the rich deserve more while in reality it is the poor widow who gave all she had.

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In today’s Gospel Jesus is asked by a scribe, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answers his question directly. Jesus talked about loving God exclusively, with all your heart, mind and all your strength. Jesus did not leave anything out. Jesus does not stop there but teaches that we are to love our neighbor as our selves. Jesus would later go on to define his understanding of who is a neighbor in the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is not impossible to love people we admire or who love us or are similar to us. It is hard if not impossible to love those who have hurt us or have broken our trust. We must make a conscious choice to live by our own values rather than reacting to the behavior of others.

The Gospel really makes it clear that Jesus sees that loving God and loving others are intertwined. We cannot say that we love God and at the same time hate part of his creation. I would like to suggest six things that might help you become more loving.