Today’s scripture: Matthew 11:20-24 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Kristin Herrmann):
In today’s scripture, Jesus reproaches the people living where he’d committed great acts (such as restoring sight to a blind man and multiplying a few fishes and loaves to feed thousands) for not changing their ways, and he warns them about their impending judgment day.
At first glance, Jesus’ warning sounds a lot like a mother saying to her naughty child, “Just wait until your father gets home. Then you’ll be sorry.” These words of impending regret and sorrow accurately describe the notion of judgment day I was taught as a child, which parallels the scene in the 1970’s movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when Veruca Salt is deemed a bad egg and disappears forever.
As an adult, I looked for clues about this judgment day I feared. I found no scripture description of when and how the judgment takes place. I can’t locate detail of how acts and thoughts are valued or how the final assessment is delivered. Therefore I wonder how the judgment day became what it is — a threat generated by humans to control humans. Let’s be honest, there’s a ranking of sin in our society that isn’t Bible-based. So no one really knows how wrongs and rights are valued.
Let me give you another image of judgment day I gleamed from the Fannie Flagg novel, Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven. In the story, Elner Shimfissle falls from a ladder as she picks figs from her tree, beginning a wild adventure. Elner prepares herself to be judged, and finds herself in a situation where she’s known for all the mistakes and all the effort throughout her life, and loved just the same.
To me, this latter image of judgment day is consistent with Jesus’ teachings on love and forgiveness, yet it’s more difficult to fathom than the first. I think it’d be easier to receive a failing mark and disappear into a hole than to be seen for all I am, including the times I knew better but failed to act, and yet received love and grace anyway.
Thought for the day: Where in my life can I turn a threat into an opportunity to do better?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.