Unless you pay particular attention to the rhythm of the scripture that 'the powers that be' have selected for each Sunday's reading (known as the Common Lectionary), you might have missed the tendency for the gospel readings in the Fall to get fairly edgy.
All those feel good healing and miracle and simple teaching stories happened during the summer while folks were vacationing or sleeping in or whatever they do when they take a hiatus from Sunday worship.
But that leaves us with the end of the church year lessons, and those are chronologically close to Jesus' arrest and crucifixion. Of course we don't actually deal with Jesus' death in these months - that is reserved for our Lenten season - but we run right up to the very edge. Time is coming to a close for Jesus and he engages in his final teachings about the Kingdom of God and his role as God's son.
These are demanding texts. They demand our attention, our consideration and then ultimately our commitment to the one who stands at the center. These texts are about taking up your cross, being obedient in righteousness, weathering the coming apocalypse, and then standing face to face with the cross.
And if you think that facing the cross is difficult, wait until October 7th: we get the text on divorce. Ain't nobody going to be singing after that one. So, just a fair warning....we are getting down to the wire and all that we think we believe will be challenged. God help us all to listen with an open heart.
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