The Battle of the Bulls

Proper 4 Year C
 
1 Kings 18:20-21, (22-29), 30-39                                                        
Psalm 96                                  
Galatians 1:1-12           or         1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43
Luke 7:1-10
 

The readings for this Sunday open with a piercing challenge from Elijah to the people gathered at Mount Carmel – "How long will you go limping with two different opinions?  If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him."
 
Elijah, a prophet of God, stood alone against 450 prophets of Baal.  But at God's bidding, he challenged these prophets so that the people could actually know which path was best.  It was the battle of the bulls, so to speak, and Elijah came out on top.  The people who witnessed this event concluded, "The Lord indeed is God; the Lord indeed is God."
 
The question of which way was best was settled for the people of Israel at that time, but, for some reason, it keeps popping up time and time again for each generation.  Even today it seems that we are limping our way through government, through social issues, and perhaps even through our own lives, because we can't seem to settle in on whom to follow.
 
Do we follow the wisdom of God in our lives, or are we going to follow Baal? 
 
Yes, Baal is alive and well today.  He (or it) is with us, representing the "way of this world," the system of mankind, a world based on the value of money and the illusion of power, pride, and prejudice.  It's a system that trashes the planet for profit, and doesn't mind leaving behind a few thousand bodies in pursuit of some dream.  It flies a banner that often reads, "I've got mine, now you get yours...and to hell with the rest." 
 
The lure of Baal is strong.  He has a much better marketing system than the will of God.  It appeals to the short-term pleasures and false hopes that easily attract the undisciplined mind.  It highlights the occasional successes, and hides the numerous failures as best it can. "You can have it all," it exclaims.  But at what price?
 
God's wisdom for living, however, runs much deeper and its benefits last much longer – forever, in fact.  He sent Jesus to us to teach us these things; how to live together in peace, how to live in harmony with nature, how to acquire an inner peace that glows from being a member of God's family.
 
Perhaps the Wisdom Jesus needs greater emphasis in our lives and in our churches.  We tend to focus on the Savior Jesus, as a redeemer of "sins", making us OK with God, but then fail to carry this over to the next step – what does that really mean to me in my life?
 
Paul wrote to the Galatians, "The Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age..." (emphasis mine.)  Paul was not talking about a salvation at some point in the future, but something that could be used in the present.
 
Perhaps salvation starts here and now, by understanding, practicing and sharing the real benefits of God's Kingdom.  He wants us to have peace and joy in this life, too.  He wants all people to share in the beauty and abundance of what this earth can offer us.  He wants us to learn from each other, to appreciate the diversity all His children have to offer, to help Him further His creation. 
 
Jesus is a great psychologist.  He knows how the human mind works, and provides us with the keys to understanding it and living together with others in Community.  This the living water he so often spoke of.  He gave us the keys to shedding the scales of prejudice, inferiority, arrogance, shame, pride, fear, and worry to name a few. These keys are great treasures that too often get over-shadowed by designer jeans, weed-free lawns, and plasma TV screens.  All these things can be nice to have, but at what cost?
 
The battle of the bulls continues.  Psalm 96 teaches that, "All the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens."  He also gave us the true Gospel of love, as Paul wrote, "I did not receive the Gospel from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Christ."
 
Jesus emphasized that people will know his children through their acts of love.  This, in the end, will be far stronger than any system of marketing there can ever be.  May all your thoughts, words, and deeds be acts of love.
 
Reflection Questions
 
1. What does salvation mean to you?
 
2. What buying decisions can you make to bring greater harmony to the world?
 
3. Have you ever thought of Jesus as a psychologist, therapist or counselor?
 
4. Read through the scripture lessons for this Sunday again, and spend some time journaling your thoughts.