RESERVED SEATING

Colossians 1:1-8; PS 52 I trust in the mercy of God forever; Luke 4:38-44

"because of the hope reserved for you in heaven..."

We encounter the opening lines or salvo of St. Paul to the church in Colossae.  There is those opening lines is a sense of enthusiasm on Paul's part as he intend to reach out to his fellow christians.

Read the opening lines of the letter and get a sense of that enthusiasm that jumps off the page:

"Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: grace and peace from God our Father..."


What a compact greeting St. Paul brings forth.

What more can St. Paul ask for the people than grace and peace?

What do we ask for those we encounter?  Do wish upon them the same sentiment St. Paul issues forth, a deep desire for grace and peace?

Why does Paul do this?

He has his eyes fixed on that reserved seating, "hope reserved for you in heaven."

How would our life be altered in all of our motivation would be rooted in that reserved seating, hope reserved in heaven?

Look at the gospel for today, something intriguing takes place.

JEsus leaves the synagogue and goes to Simon's house where he encounter Simon's mother in law. Those who were there interceded on with Jesus about her.  JEsus response is to rebuke the fever which brings about a healing, but notice when the healing took place.

Jesus heals Simon's mother in law on the sabbath, in which work was forbidden, any work even headings.
In the Jewish tradition saving a life was not breaking the Sabbath but adhering to it whole heartedly.

I find that interesting that saving life was a required service on the sabbath.  Perhaps there are many things  we don't get about work and the sabbath but i think we can all get that last reality pretty clearly.

Saving a life is truly that which enters into the rest God intended.