Cleaning up Our Path - September 23, 2024
Readings for Today: AM Psalm 80; Esther 4:4-17 or Judith 7:1-7, 19-32; Acts 18:1-11; Luke (1:1-4),3:1-14
In ancient Israel God ordained that there would be cities of refuge. Places of safety where a fugitive, someone who had committed a crime “unaware, with no malice or forethought,” could flee and he or she would be harbored in safety. Once a year, or more often, the magistrates of the district would check the roads leading into these cities and they would clear any stones that might be in the way so that there would be “no stumbling-blocks which might cause the poor fugitive to fall or might by any means impede him in his hasty course. All along the road there were hand-posts with the word "Refuge" written very legibly upon them, so that when the fugitive came to a crossroad, he might not need to question for a single moment which was the way of escape. We should make straight paths for the feet of these poor souls. It should be our endeavor to make it safe and easy for travelling for those weary feet that have to carry such a heavy heart.” (Charles Haddon Spurgeon, from New York Street Pulpit, Volume 6, January 1860). Once within the walls of the city the refugee would find safety. There would be no condemnation or judgement.
John the Baptist in today’s gospel quotes Isaiah 40:3-8. He’s preaching to all who will listen that someone whose sandals he’s not worthy to untie will come after him. That everyone who cares about their life should prepare, to make straight their lives, to clean up their act, to quit relying on their ancestors to keep them out of trouble. Sure, they may be God’s chosen people, but they’ve sinned, they’ve been unfaithful, they’ve lived an ungodly life and now it’s time to repent. It’s time to remove the “stones” from their path that might cause them to stumble.
What John wants people to understand is that someone is coming who will be their sanctuary, their City of Refuge. Jesus will be their safe place, but there are any number of things in our lives that can block our way, that can be our stumbling blocks: addiction to material gain, selfish and thoughtless use of resources, keeping the best for ourselves, and not sharing generously from our wealth with those who have little or nothing. There are distractions, parts of our lives that are tempting, that capture our imaginations and sense of longing. These desires or distractions become stumbling blocks to being happy in the moment, to being grateful. Jesus gives us a safe place to call home, and with faith we can find our way to that City of Refuge. When was the last time you looked at your life with an honest critical lens and cleaned up your path?
Faithfully,
Sally+
Questions for Reflection: What would you identify as stumbling blocks in your relationship with God? What have you missed because you became distracted, by something that in the end held little or no value?