Psalm 116:12-19; Leviticus 23:23-44; Luke 12:35-54

The Psalm begins with words we sing in the Offertory in the Divine Service, settings one and two. Interesting are the words in verse 16: "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Yet in Luke Jesus says, "Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him." The two ideas must not be read in opposition but additionally: he does both. God is the source of life and gives life to all living things. Yet, he gives and he takes away (cf. Jb 1:21). Again, the Leviticus passage presecribes many ways to remember what LORD has done for his people, as v. 43 says: "...that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt." In the Gospel reading Jesus says straight-up: "You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." While this phrase may invoke fear, look at it from the opposite persepctive. Let it invoke excitement and joy: like waiting for your spouse coming off the plane. You are ready. You want to see Jesus, for you know that when you do it is the beginning of all things new!