Reflection by Rev. Leonard N. Peterson

If you like to gamble in an ocean side locale, Atlantic City, New Jersey is your place to be. I live not far from there now in retirement. In recent years, gleaming new hotels have risen on the beaches, reflecting the sun by day and glaring with lights at night.  But the main attraction in each is the casino. Of course, you can also gamble online.  The lottery machine greets you inside your favorite supermarket.  What all this says about our society I leave for other minds to tackle.

But in a certain way, the holy bible warns us that gambling has no place in a person’s spiritual life.  Which is to say that gambling with God, or more particularly your relationship with Him. is a fool’s choice.

We know that Almighty God, figuratively speaking, took a chance when He created humanity.  He gave us free will. His creatures could then either make a return of His limitless love or not. God, as it were, gambled on us, our bible history tells us we have often made bad choices.  Adam and Eve were weak and unworthy.  But even then, God gave them a way back, as He also does with us.

What we call “The Old Testament” is really the story of Israel.  God chose them as His favorites, but they let Him down.  Even His hand-picked leader, Moses, turned out to be a disappointment.  But still He loved them and even made strong covenants with His vacillating people.

Finally, from their midst, He called forth a humble but spotless young girl to be the mother of His only begotten Son.  That Son, whose humility, obedience, and unwavering love, offered salvation from sin to those who believed in Him by His sacrificial death.  That fidelity would be rewarded when Jesus was raised from the dead on “the Third Day.”

Not everyone believed Him.  They gambled, as it were, that they knew better.  They turned around and walked away.  That compelled Jesus to ask His chosen Twelve, with a sadness in His voice; “Will you also walk away?”

So here we are, on a weekend in March, of the year 2025, when we hear once again from Jesus of our need for repentance.  Are we going to argue with Him about that?  Are we going to continue gambling that our choices are better?

Here is a quote I found from Blaise Pascal, a 17^th century philosopher and writer who died in 1662, about gambling on the matter of God’s existence: “Let us weigh the gain and loss in wagering that God exists.  Let us estimate these two chances: If you gain, you gain all; if you lose you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation that He is.”

God love you and beware of gambling your future.

Rev. Peterson’s Reading & Gospel Summary

Reading I: Exodus 3: 1-8a, 13-15

Moses is granted a visible and audible manifestation of God’s glory, technically a ”theophany.”  He receives his calling to lead Israel out of slavery.

Reading II: 1 Corinthians 1 0: 1-6, 10-12

Paul urges his Corinthians to learn from Israel’s mistakes.  This means heeding God’s call and avoiding any self-righteousness.

The Gospel:  Luke 13: 1-9

Jesus refers to current events to teach spiritual truths.  He then offers a parable which expresses both God’s patience and the urgency to repent.