A
Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a musical inspired
by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus. It tells the bawdy story
of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his
young master woo the girl next door. The plot displays puns, slamming doors,
cases of mistaken identity, and satirical comments on social class. The
musical's original 1962 Broadway run won several Tony Awards; and the original
lead, Zero Mostel, also starred in the successful film.
The
title is derived from a line used by vaudeville comedians to begin a story: “A
funny thing happened on the way to the theater.” Numerous individuals writing
stories on a variety of topics have repeated that line. Most recently, someone
wrote of the NBA Finals, “A funny thing happened on the way to that destiny.”
Another sportswriter penned an article about the US Open, “A funny thing
happened on his way to oblivion.” There is the TV program “A Funny Thing
Happened on the Way to the White House.” Finally, someone recently blogged, “A
Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Sainthood.”
Obviously,
one can repurpose comedy to fit any topic involving sports, politics and
religion. So, let me move to my second point and explain how my sermon title
addresses our passage.
Luke’s
Gospel is a narrative of the human life of Jesus and the message of the Son of
God.[1] It began with an
introduction in chapter 4, and moved into an account of his mission in chapters
5 through 9. In those chapters, Luke showed how the Church originated in the
life and work of Jesus. Now, his story takes up the great journey to Jerusalem
that led him out of history and into the heavenly sphere. This journey is also
the journey of the Church, which accompanies Jesus on his way to God.
Our
opening verse, “When the days drew near
for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem” – introduces
the journey and defines it in terms of its destination. Jerusalem is not a mere
geographical spot. The city marked the journey’s end where Jesus was received
up, an expression that referred to his ascension. Thus, his journey is to a
geographical spot and a symbol of its heavenly fulfillment beyond every
reality.
Although
Luke mentioned this journey repeatedly through the next ten chapters, he never
indicated that Jesus arrived. At a point when it seemed appropriate to announce
his arrival, Luke simply stated that Jesus entered the Temple. The journey
seems incomplete.
A
funny thing happened. Jesus set his face towards Jerusalem, and he never
arrived. He simply entered the Temple. … You may say, “Well, the Temple is in
Jerusalem. It’s implied he reached Jerusalem.” True. Yet, the more important
point of verse 51 is not what Jesus was determined to accomplish – he set his face to go to Jerusalem, but
what God was going to accomplish – When
the days drew near for him to be taken up. Jesus accepted the event and its
destination in order to return to his heavenly Father.
Now,
within our passage are a number of people – Jesus’ messengers, the Samaritans
and others. So, for my third point, people, we will examine the people in our
passage and in our pews (or chairs, in this case).
Jesus
sent the messengers ahead to prepare the way. To prepare the way for what? For
his exodus-ascension. However, unlike John the Baptist, who also prepared the
way for the Messiah, the disciples could not embrace the apocalyptic judgment
upon the Samaritans who did not receive him. The fire associated with the
Messiah’s coming would have its place, but not here and now. That transforming,
sanctifying, empowering fire of the Holy Spirit would come upon the Church
after Jesus’ Ascension. Jesus rebuked the messengers for their desire to
destroy the Samaritans, and then they moved on.
As
they moved on, anonymous figures emerged as types of persons who considered
following Jesus on his journey. Those who wish to join Jesus must disengage
themselves from any earthly home, from former responsibilities and from past
relationships. To proclaim the kingdom of God, one must live in a manner
befitting the kingdom and bid farewell to the past.
Setting
out on the journey to Jerusalem and the Ascension, Jesus demonstrated a
singular detachment from earthly matters. The first people who followed him on
his journey had to reflect that detachment and the way of life.
What
about people who follow Jesus on his journey today? What about us? Do we
reflect that detachment and way of life? Do our lives demonstrate a singular
detachment from earthly matters? Do we disengage from our earthly homes, former
responsibilities and past relationships to follow Jesus? Do I live in a manner
befitting the kingdom of God in order to proclaim it? Is following Jesus any
easier or tougher for us than it was for the first People of the Way?
Following
Jesus today is no easier for us than it was for the first People of the Way.
Personally speaking, I do not always live in a manner befitting the kingdom.
Selfishness and self-serving interests tempt me constantly. I am engaged to
home, duties and relationships. In short, I am spiritually lazy.
Experience
tells me to prescribe something to counter spiritual laziness – the five P’s of
Prayer: Passage, Place, Posture, Presence and Passage. All these P’s, Al will
put in a podcast so you can listen to them later.
Passage.
Depending on the circumstances, choose a Scripture passage. Slowly read it
several times until a word or phrase rises to the surface.
Place.
Choose a place where you will not be disturbed. It may be in your home or a
quiet church.
Posture.
Find a sturdy comfortable chair that will allow you to sit upright. Posture is
important. Do not slouch or lie down.
Presence.
Set a timer for 10 minutes. Start there and gradually increase your prayer time
to 25 minutes. Close your eyes so you are not distracted. Be present to God as
He is present to you. Thoughts, feelings, physical discomforts and audible
distractions will occur. Stand firm in the stream and let these distractions
flow by as flotsam and jetsam go downstream.
Passage.
When you get distracted, return to the passage and refocus. When your minutes
have passed, close your meditation by reciting aloud The Lord’s Prayer.
Because
Jesus loves you, try this for 25 minutes a day for the next 30-some years – the
lifespan of Jesus. I guarantee you a deeper, richer, fuller, more intimate
relationship with our Triune God. If it does not work, you can return it for
your old relationship with God.
Friends,
this summer, as we journey to various destinations throughout the world, funny
things will happen. Life will pull us in every direction of the compass. That
is why it is necessary for us to set our faces like Jesus and follow him – for
only Jesus, Father and Spirit will provide true direction to our heavenly home.
As we encounter uncounted individuals seeking direction, prescribe to them our
Five P’s of Prayer and a relationship with the Three Persons of the Trinity.
And when you do, may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, keep your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
[1]
Eugene LaVerdiere, Luke (Wilmington,
DE: Michael Glazier, Inc. 1986), 138ff. This accounts for the majority of this
section.
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