Daily Reflections: A letter from Grandpa Lynch to Kaiya at her baptis...

Daily Reflections: A letter from Grandpa Lynch to Kaiya at her baptis...: "To Kaiya on her baptismal day, Kaiya, today is Saturday March 22nd 2008. You were baptized at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Centerville Ohio...."

April 23rd - Reflection

Holy Saturday
Matthew 27:57-66 (NRSV)
The burial of Jesus
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.


The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise again.' Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception would be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can." So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

Reflection
This death was real. That unmentioned activities that take place, behind the scenes, of every death. The preparations and what to do with the body. This death was real and like any other death, something had to be done with the body.

It was also the sabbath. So the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. Is thinking and plotting and planning work? It seems it would be to me. But, they avoided this issue, or ignored it, and asked Pilate to have the tomb made secure. But Pilate threw the problem back at the chief priests and the Pharisees.  There is some debate over the meaning, but it could have been Temple police or Roman troops that were sent to guard the tomb. If it were Temple police it seems ironic that they would be working on the sabbath, yet even possibly guarding the "real" promise of the covenant in the body of Jesus, the Word made flesh, not just stone tablets with God's word.

During this time did the guards hear the birds singing and nature coming alive? Was there reflection on the events of the previous week going through their minds. Did they realize the "realness" of this death and ponder? Did the guards realize that they were guarding the real temple that would raise up?

It seems at times I sit by the tomb in guard. I listen to nature, and ponder the previous week on this very day every year. It never gets old that I think about and wonder how the Father feels at this time. But I always have this sense of something BIG is going on during this Saturday. Something BIG is going on that I can feel but is not quite real enough for me to fully grasp. God is working on something great.

That's the feel of today, and perhaps this life on earth. God is working in me, and in you, on something great. Something great is in the works because of what Jesus has done this past week especially. And this "something great" is our hope and our joy and our life in the here and now and in eternity.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, in the silence of earth we wait, we ponder, we feel hope, we feel joy, we feel sorrow, we grieve. We grieve our sinful actions and repent. We feel hopeful for your saving grace. We look to that something wonderful that is going on just beyond what we seem to be able to sense, and know that you are involved. We are grateful that you are our Savior. As we wait...as we listen...as we hope...as we ponder...as we pray...as we seek to follow you. --- Amen

April 22nd - Reflection

 

	Good Friday John 18:1-19:42 (NRSV) The passion and death of Jesus After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, "Whom are you looking for?" They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus replied, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they stepped back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, "Whom are you looking for?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go." This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, "I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me." Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?" So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said." When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed. Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered, "If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you." Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law." The Jews replied, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death." (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate asked him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" They shouted in reply, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a bandit. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God." Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, "Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor." When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge's bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, "Here is your King!" They cried out, "Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but the emperor." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written." When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it." This was to fulfill what the scripture says, "They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots." And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty." A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, "None of his bones shall be broken." And again another passage of scripture says, "They will look on the one whom they have pierced." After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.  Reflection "I am thirsty." These words take me back a night with Jesus. They take me back to that bread and wine. Jesus blood here present on this cross. A cross blackened with dried blood of the past few hours and fresh blood in the present. And Jesus says that he is thirsty. Thirst, a human desire, yet here it seems divine. Our Savior is thirsty. Who would not run to him with water and beg to quench his thirst? I'm sure any of us would run to our Savior and bring water. We know and believe that Jesus is our Savior because of this very afternoon. We believe that Jesus gave his very life for us. So, yes, we run to Jesus to supply water. Yet in our running with water, we show a belief in God. And we are drawn back to that previous evening. We find that we are also thirsty. We are thirsty for our Savior. We are thirsty for that wonderful wine of life. We are thirsty for that life giving water from Jesus. We are thirsty for the love that we see on this cross this afternoon. We are thirsty for Jesus and we run to Jesus with water. Yes, Jesus, I am thirsty! I am thirsty for you! Thanks be to God! Prayer O Lord, I run to the foot of that cross with the water you have graciously provided. I run to the foot of that cross and see the pain and the suffering. I run to the foot of that cross and see my sin in full view. I run to the foot of that cross and see you in my place. I run to the foot of that cross and see Love. I run to the foot of that cross thirsty. Thirsty for you. I run...I fall...I bow to my King.  --- Amen

April 21st - Reflection

Maundy Thursday
John 13:1-17, 31b-35 (NRSV)
The service of Christ: footwashing and meal
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you." For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. ...

"Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Reflection
Jesus humbled himself before the disciples. At this time in history, humility was despised as a symbol of weakness. Yet Jesus humbled himself. I wouldn't think that Peter would want to believe that Jesus was weak. Peter looked up to Jesus. Peter left it all for Jesus. Jesus was not weak, yet he humbled himself.

And Peter and the disciples participated in Jesus' humility at the foot washing. Jesus took a sign of weakness, a servant job, and made an example and a command out of humility. We are to humble ourselves, one to another, and serve each other in that deep love that Jesus exemplifies. We are slaves who have no rights in the master's house.

So, now the challenge. We know we are slaves and servants. We know we are disciples of Jesus. We know that God loves us and saves us. If we know all of this and if we truly believe all of this, then we gladly serve God in humility and thanks and praise. And we joyfully do as Jesus has done in the washing of the feet. We will joyfully wash one another's feet.

And Jesus has done it again. Again he has taken what was once an action that would be despised as a symbol of weakness and turned it into an honor for his disciples throughout the ages to do. We joyfully wash one another's feet. We joyfully serve other's knowing that in serving other's we are privileged to follow Jesus' command.

What a great command to follow! And...how easy Jesus has made this command. It's not like a chore...it's an honor...because Jesus has shown us love and has shown us how to love.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, thanks for the foot washing. I can't wait to put in action what you have taught me. --- Amen

April 20th - Reflection

Wednesday in Holy Week
John 13:21-32 (NRSV)
Jesus foretells his betrayal
After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, "Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me." The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples the one whom Jesus loved was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "Do quickly what you are going to do." Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the festival"; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.

Reflection
"And it was night." Not much of a sentence. But I think it was more than just darkness, it was a time without light. We all go there some time or another. I don't think any one can say they haven't in one form or another. We go into the night of life. We walk into the darkness, that place without light. We fall trap to sin and walk away from Jesus. We walk away to betrayal of what we know we should do and walk into what we shouldn't.

The Apostle Paul writes about this night. He expresses his desire to do what is good and right yet doesn't. We all have walked into the night and slipped into that place of betrayal, that place without Light. Others of us walk into the night and fall asleep at the times we are needed. We fall asleep and just can't seem to pay attention at the crucial moments.

We all walk into the night. We all stumble in the darkness. But, thanks be to God, we have been given that baptismal candle with that flame of the Holy Spirit shining in the darkness. A Light that leads us back. We stumble and bump into one another in the night of darkness, but we also walk towards a much greater Light. A Light that has come through the darkness of sin and death. A Light that has been in the deep darkness of the tomb. A Light that has come out of the death of the tomb to shine more brightly than humankind could ever imagine.

With the flame of our baptismal candles, with our faithful disciples, together we stumble and bumble along, following that great Light in mission and love, towards new life and new joy in the morning.

In the night... use the light of your baptismal candle... use the guidance of fellow disciples... use the Word... use the Church... use the Light of the One ahead and follow in joy, praise, thanks and life.

There is joy in the morning. Our God has come to save!    ...even in the night.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord you have fed us with your life. As we stumble in the night, save us from sin, death and the devil. Lead us to your light of day that we may be one with you...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

April 19th - Reflection

Tuesday in Holy Week
Isaiah 49:1-7 (NRSV)
The servant brings salvation to earth's ends
Listen to me, O coastlands,
pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born,
while I was in my mother's womb he named me.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me away.
And he said to me, "You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
But I said, "I have labored in vain,
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord,
and my reward with my God."

And now the Lord says,
who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honored in the sight of the Lord,
and my God has become my strength --
he says,
"It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

Thus says the Lord,
the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations,

the slave of rulers,
"Kings shall see and stand up,
princes, and they shall prostrate themselves,
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."

Reflection
God has a plan in place.
There is a conquest taking place.
We each serve and have a purpose.

Yet we each have a choice in that plan and purpose.

And the Father has a Son.
A Son driven by the Spirit.
All in a conquest of service.

Service in love.
Service in action.
Service to the least.

Jesus came to save.
Jesus gives you life.
Jesus served up his life for yours.

Will you take up this life?
Will you follow Jesus?
Will you serve yourself to God?

Serve in love to God.
Serve in love to your neighbor.
Serve in  joy of new life.

God has a conquest in love.
God has a conquest in service.
God has come to save.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, we come this day and sing a servant song. We see how Jesus served as a servant and follow his lead. Thanks for new life. Thanks for the life of Jesus. Thanks for salvation. What joy there is in the morning. What joy there is in service. What joy there is to see you in the face of another. Thanks for the joy of serving. --- Amen

April 18th - Reflection

Monday in Holy Week
Isaiah 42:1-9 (NRSV)
The servant brings forth justice
Here is my servant,
whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the Lord, that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to idols.
See, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
I tell you of them.

Reflection
A servant...in the form of a servant...Jesus bows down to the feet of his disciples and washes feet...as a servant. Stinky feet he comes to serve. Does Jesus smell the stench of sin as he washes feet? Does he smell the lies and deception? Does he smell the adultery and sexual perversions? Does Jesus smell the over indulgence of food or money or power? Does Jesus smell the made up stories used to cover one's deviant actions?

I think Jesus took in all of this and much more that I couldn't even imagine. Jesus washed away, as a servant, the sin of this world. Jesus washed all this away not only with water, but also with his blood. Jesus became that dirty sin of ours and died on the cross as sin itself. All as our servant...all as our Savior...all as our true King. Thank you Lord Jesus. Thanks.

Prayer
Lord, you have taught me how to wash feet. You have taught me the depth and the price of sin. As I bow down at the foot of the cross and see your blood stained feet and see the results of my sin, forgive me, renew me, and send me forward in this world to live the life of a servant, humble and forgiven and willing to wash some feet myself. --- Amen

April 17th - Reflection

Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-11 (NRSV)
Jesus enters Jerusalem
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
"Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."

Reflection
Not only were the donkey and colt going to work, Jesus was heading out to do his most important work for creation. I wonder what that donkey and the colt were thinking. Did they question what all the hoopla was about? Their job was to carry a load. A load that sat on some garments spread between them. This load was not heavy enough to need two work animals. But maybe the work facing Jesus was the real heavy work to be carried.

So in this passage, Jesus goes to do some heavy work. And the people celebrate. They celebrate not knowing the depth and the meaning and the impact the work Jesus would have on the world. The people celebrate one last time, like they think it should be. But the Lord has something far more shocking and something that has an eternal impact on all of us in store.

Hosanna in the highest heaven! The Savior is here! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, how do you face us when we don't understand? I'm the greatest of those that have a hard time understanding. How do you deal with me when I don't take your Word for the truth it means? What do you do with me when I twist it into something it is not? Lead us to truthfulness in ourselves and our actions that we may see your saving grace and not our sinful actions. You are the Savior to which we proclaim Hosanna! --- Amen

April 16th - Reflection

Psalm 31:9-16 (NRSV)
I commend my spirit

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eye wastes away from grief,
my soul and body also.
For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,
and my bones waste away.

I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
a horror to my neighbors,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
For I hear the whispering of many
terror all around!
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.

But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.

Reflection
I begin this reading and think how I relate to the writer of this Psalm. The writer's is right on with how I feel now! But as I slowly continue, I begin to realize other friends, family, and people I know are in this same boat with me. I think further of all the people that have prayed to God for me while I was at my depths and how grateful I am for that support. I ponder how we have all been able to relate to one another, maybe not in the specifics of each individual pain and suffering, but to pain and suffering in general. Then I thought about how I have turned to God for another person and groups of people.

Many times throughout life we come together in pain and suffering. Yet in that suffering, we are drawn out, even in just brief moments, to a joy in life that brings hope and salvation. At those moments, God is always at the source. When we back away from ourselves and let God into the group or the "boat," we find that God is the source of life.

And this is when we see in our very own boat that God is the one in our midst who will deliver us from the hand of enemies and persecutors, from pain and sorrow. Not in a magical way, but in a way that we will know, even as we experience the pain and the emotions, God is with us and has gone through this too, and has given us the hope to follow him, through the pain, through the suffering, through the persecution, to life in him and life in his kingdom.

God is closer than you think. There with his steadfast love and grace to deliver us. What a hope! What a life! What a way to live in the here and now, good and bad, pain and joy, sorrow and happiness. What a way to live in the trust of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, thanks for being in the boat with us. Our trust is in you...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

April 15th - Reflection

Philippians 1:21-30 (NRSV)
Seeing Christ in this life

For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.


Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Reflection
We are called. Each one of us is called. The disciples each were called to follow Jesus. Each had to decide to leave behind whatever it was they were doing, wherever they were staying and follow Jesus. We are called.

As we follow Jesus as disciples our world focuses on Jesus. We learn from Jesus as he teaches us. We listen to Jesus' every word. We are called and we follow. We receive joy and faith as we see Jesus joy and faith in the Father.

Then we find that the One who called us also saves us. Saves us from ourselves and sin. Jesus saves us from death. Jesus takes on our sin and dies for it. We are called. We focus on the Savior and follow and learn and live new life.

Our calling shows us the greatness of God beyond space and time. We are called to something much deeper than our earthly minds can imagine. We are called to a God beyond ourselves yet at the same time within and around ourselves. God joins us in flesh and blood and calls us to be with him.

As we respond to this call we joyfully go out to point to the One we follow. We passionately proclaim all that we have seen and point to Jesus. We are his disciples after all! God has found us and we want our friends, family, neighbors, strangers and even enemies to see Jesus!

We are called and we respond...automatically...not out of some need to be good, but because of Jesus. We respond because of Jesus and all he has done! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as I follow you this day...as the Spirit moves within me...may those I meet and greet know who I follow and why. Give me the words to say and the way to live this day. --- Amen

April 14th - Reflection

Philippians 1:1-11 (NRSV)
Encouraged to follow Christ's righteousness
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Reflection
Those childhood night-time prayers still apply today and always. We think of all the people in our lives and give thanks to God for each of them. Today we thank God for all the wonderful relationships that have been given to us and give God thanks. We pray for the well being of each person. We pray for God to guide and protect our friends, neighbors, and enemies as well. We pray for so many other people that God has graciously given to us.

A relationship of love that overflows to God in thanks. Jesus life was that same overflow of love. I always pictured Jesus, as he was pouring the wine into the cup, filling the cup till some of it overflowed and spilled. This cup of love is still spilling and flowing today. Jesus love spills over and fills the world with his love as we continue spilling that very same love from the cups that we take. Spilled love of God in the relationships of those God gives to us day after day.

And maybe that's our simple daily call. A call to spill that love of Christ to each person we meet each day. Spill a little and see the disciples of Jesus follow. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Each day you fill me with Word. Word made flesh. Each day, Lord you come to my door and invite me out into a relationship with you and with others. Your precious saving blood unites us. May we spill a little of the love on one another this day. May someone else see you as the Messiah, the Savior, our God and leave it all behind to blindly and boldly follow you. --- Amen

April 13th - Reflection

Matthew 22:23-33 (NRSV)
God of the living

The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.' Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. Last of all, the woman herself died. In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her."


Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is God not of the dead, but of the living." And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.

Reflection
The Sadducees based their faith on the books of the Law. So the question was one that would continue the life of a race of people on a physical realm. But Jesus answer came from the spiritual level of which the Sadducees didn't believe in either. The life to come will be spiritual even though there will be a body. But the whole phrase "God of Abraham" was used by God way after the physical deaths. This implies that God is speaking of some sense of life after death.

As we turn to Jesus and hear the Word, believe and become disciples of faith our response is naturally to follow and learn and begin to emulate Jesus. Jesus is our leader after all. As we die to sin and accept this "new life" in Christ we begin to take on that spiritual aspect in this physical world. In a way we begin to live our eternal life, here and now, on this earth. We are Children of God. We belong to Jesus and we are in communion with all the saints.

So even today...following and believing in Jesus' saving grace...we worship and follow the God of the living. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as I open my eyes this day, I come to you to seek your will and your way for my life this day. You are the God of the living. You are life. Thanks! --- Amen

April 12th - Reflection

2 Kings 4:18-37 (NRSV)
Elisha raises a child from death

When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, "Look, there is the Shunammite woman; run at once to meet her, and say to her, Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is the child all right?" She answered, "It is all right." When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi approached to push her away. But the man of God said, "Let her alone, for she is in bitter distress; the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me." Then she said, "Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, Do not mislead me?" He said to Gehazi, "Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go. If you meet anyone, give no greeting, and if anyone greets you, do not answer; and lay my staff on the face of the child." Then the mother of the child said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave without you." So he rose up and followed her. Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. He came back to meet him and told him, "The child has not awakened."

When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. So he went in and closed the door on the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. Then he got up on the bed and lay upon the child, putting his mouth upon his mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and while he lay bent over him, the flesh of the child became warm. He got down, walked once to and fro in the room, then got up again and bent over him; the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, "Call the Shunammite woman." So he called her. When she came to him, he said, "Take your son." She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground; then she took her son and left.

Reflection
A child had died to a faithful women of God. It didn't seem fair or right. But a child had died. Something that is never lived down is the death of a child. It's the mourning of a lifetime. God once again works through Elisha to bring life from death. Just as God brought life from death through Elijah, God brought life from death through Moses, through Abraham, through Jesus and through his Word. God brings, in some cases, physical life from death, and in other cases, spiritual life from death, and in other times, both physical and spiritual life from death.

God is all about life from death. God wants creation and his children to live. We were created to live abundant life. We were given the faith to believe in Jesus and receive freely life from death. As we believe we are gifted to proclaim to those God gives to us through word and action this life giving grace God freely provides. We are given purpose in this life in the here and now and sent as disciples of Jesus to proclaim this life from death gospel that is available to all throughout our world.

Speak of your life from death and let the Spirit move that conversation along. Bring that sound of life to your lips when there was no sound and rejoice in the Lord. Again, I will say...rejoice!

Prayer
Lord, you call us to respond with our story of life from death. How you have brought us to life from death. You call us to tell of the story you have recorded for us through the Word in Scripture. Both are alive and well and just enough for your Spirit to move another from life to death. Use me this day as I follow Jesus. --- AmenWhen the child was older, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. He complained to his father, "Oh, my head, my head!" The father said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother." He carried him and brought him to his mother; the child sat on her lap until noon, and he died. She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, closed the door on him, and left. Then she called to her husband, and said, "Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again." He said, "Why go to him today? It is neither new moon nor sabbath." She said, "It will be all right." Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, "Urge the animal on; do not hold back for me unless I tell you." So she set out, and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.

April 11th - Reflection

1 Kings 17:17-24 (NRSV)
Elijah raises the widow's son

After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. She then said to Elijah, "What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!" But he said to her, "Give me your son." He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. He cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?" Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again." The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, "See, your son is alive." So the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth."

Reflection
Life from death. Death is not the fault of God killing the widow's son. Death is a result of our sin. God gives life and not death. But God has been gracious to give us life instead of death. God's word is his promise and our hope of life through Jesus.

It seems there is a special meaning to the upper room or in this case the upper chamber. God comes to us in life, in life through Elijah and life through Jesus in the supper. A paralytic was lowered from the upper area of the house to be healed by Jesus. Healing and life seems to come in this gathering of friends and God in this upper room.

God opens up in the upper room and shows us glimpses of the promise of resurrection and life. In this upper chamber, this rooftop area, this upper room, we hear and witness the Word of God in truth. Thanks be to God, the God of life.

Prayer
Lord, as you come into this room of my heart, may I listen and heed the Word of Life. --- Amen

April 10th - Reflection

Fifth Sunday in Lent
John 11:1-45 (NRSV)
The raising of Lazarus

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them." After saying this, he told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him." The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right." Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world."


When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Reflection
The purpose of Lazarus' sickness was not death. The purpose of Lazarus' sickness was the glorification of Jesus. Jesus showed a love for those who he was with prior to going to Martha and Mary, and Jesus showed a love for all mourning the death of Lazarus in that he knew that sickness and death were not the ultimate purpose of their suffering.

In our sin we brought about sickness and death. In our fall we live in a world that is no longer perfect as God has intended. But God sent Jesus as flesh and blood to redeem his people and creation. The raising of Lazarus was just the beginning for Jesus march to Jerusalem, his passion and his own death. Through Lazarus we begin to understand that Jesus is (I AM) the source of life from death. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. And Jesus feels the results of our sin in the mourning of the death of Lazarus.

Death is painful and hurts. But as we die, we also have the hope of life in resurrection and new life. We live in the hope of a new life in Christ even as we live this life in sickness and pain. We live a life of hope and joy in all that we have been given. We live this life knowing that we are in God's love. We live this life knowing of the closeness of Jesus. We live this life through the ups and downs and the ins and outs of a new life in the making here and now.

God's glory is exalted and proclaimed through us as we live and breathe today, tomorrow and forever. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, call me out of this tomb of sin to new life in you. --- Amen

April 9th - Reflection

Psalm 130 (NRSV)
Mercy and redemption

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.


I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.

Reflection
I long for God. I long for God to forgive me and show me love. Even though I hear the words of forgiveness and feel the love, I long for that forgiveness and love. There are times when I feel so far away from God. I feel as if I'm lost in hopelessness and despair. But then I become aware of the greatness of God. I realize through all that surrounds me that God is way bigger than I can ever imagine.

So, when I watch and know how God is there with me; with me in the highs and the lows, I feel that steadfast love of God and see how great is his power to save me. Far apart from God in my feelings, yet God is closer than I could ever imagine. God is close in the highs and the lows. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, I yearn for your love and your closeness. But then I realize how close you always are and stand in awe. I stand in awe of how great you are even with how small I am, you love me. --- Amen

April 8th - Reflection

Revelation 11:15-19 (NRSV)
The word of God: thanksgiving and singing

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying,
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord
and of his Messiah,
and he will reign forever and ever."
Then the twenty four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, singing,
"We give you thanks, Lord God Almighty,
who are and who were,
for you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.
The nations raged,
but your wrath has come,
and the time for judging the dead,
for rewarding your servants, the prophets
and saints and all who fear your name,
both small and great,
and for destroying those who destroy the earth."

Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

Reflection
The temple in heaven in this passage is open. The holy of holies on earth was opened at Jesus death. God has been revealed in Jesus and in the Spirit, here on this earth. The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of the world is now the kingdom of Jesus. The eternal reign has begun! God's rule is forever!

This revealing of the ark in this passage shows us the promise of the kingdom is going to happen. No wonder there was lighting, earthquakes and such to announce such a great occasion but a very awesome occasion as well. God is revealed in our flesh in Jesus and saved us from sin, death, the devil, and our sinful selves. Shout aloud and sing for joy! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as you reveal yourself to me in Word today, teach me and show me how you would want me to move and act towards those you give to me today. Be revealed today in me and around me and through me. --- Amen

April 7th - Reflection

Revelation 10:1-11 (NRSV)
The word of God: bitter and sweet

And I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He held a little scroll open in his hand. Setting his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, he gave a great shout, like a lion roaring. And when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down." Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and the land
raised his right hand to heaven
and swore by him who lives forever and ever,
who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: "There will be no more delay, but in the days when the seventh angel is to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, as he announced to his servants the prophets."

Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, "Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land." So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll; and he said to me, "Take it, and eat; it will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth." So I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.

Then they said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and languages and kings."

Reflection
What's your purpose? It seems here the vision is God's Word spread across land and sea. The purpose appears to be to take in that Word and make it a part of yourself then to proclaim what the Word says to all peoples, nations, languages and kings. And do this with no further delay. But is this my purpose, your purpose, John's purpose or an other's? Maybe, maybe not. So we continue to search the Word. Perhaps we take on the purpose if we discover that God has called us in this direction.

God will provide for you and me a purpose. And more than likely, our purpose will be clarified and brought to us through God's Word or Sacrament. Take heed and listen, look and pay attention. You and I each have a purpose in God's eyes. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, lead me to understand purpose and to take action on that purpose in your will and your way, today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

April 6th - Reflection

Matthew 9:27-34 (NRSV)
Jesus heals the blind

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, "See that no one knows of this." But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.

After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, "Never has anything like this been seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons."

Reflection
To take such a wonderful step of faith and fully believe in the healing powers of Jesus, those life giving powers of Jesus, wouldn't that be such a monumental step of you life? You would want to run and tell everything that had happened, to family and friends. Sounds like such a great idea and a way to spread the gospel.

See what happened to me! A man asked me if I believed that he was able to take away my blindness, I believed and my blindness went away! What faith I have! If I didn't have such great faith, he would never have been able to do this! I made this man, Jesus, famous by my faith!.

Then this same guy saw a demoniac who was mute. This Jesus cast out the demon and the guy who was mute spoke. Jesus didn't tell him not to say anything. I wonder what he talked about? His life with a demon?

Both of these scenarios are twisted. The blind men were told not to talk. Could it be that Jesus would fear that he would lose them immediately if they took the action described above and took credit for their own healing because of their faith?

Jesus comes to us in our illness. Jesus loves both believer and those who do not believe. It's not our act of believing that saves us, but Jesus power of love that saves us. Jesus offers salvation if we believe or not. But the question becomes; will you accept this offer of salvation or turn in disbelief? If you walk away healed and claim your own goodness caused the healing, you have missed the point. You would be better off remaining silent for a while until you thought through the entire sequence of events and spent more time with God in understanding.

Likewise, Jesus loves us so much that when he sees a demon possession, he casts that demon out. With the demon out you would surely tell of the love you felt from Jesus compared to the awful prison of the demon. Jesus set you free. It's time to speak of his saving grace. This is not about you, it's all about Jesus. So why not go and tell.

Each story, points to our selfish pride. It's not about what we do or say. It's all about what Jesus has done for us and given us to say. In this love of Jesus, and following his command and lead, we can boldly go as his disciples into this world to declare the One God of Salvation. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord you move throughout this world and bring miraculous healing daily. In your love for healing, may we faithfully follow you and think about how you came to us and saved us from sin, death, the devil and our sinful selves. Help us to keep our focus continually on you and not let us turn inward to ourselves. The world needs to know that it's all about you and not about me. As I find out it's about you, our relationship grows deep in the love you have shown me and I am eternally happy. Thanks. --- Amen

April 5th - Reflection

Isaiah 42:14-21 (NRSV)
God will heal the blind
For a long time I have held my peace,
I have kept still and restrained myself;
now I will cry out like a woman in labor,
I will gasp and pant.
I will lay waste mountains and hills,
and dry up all their herbage;
I will turn the rivers into islands,
and dry up the pools.
I will lead the blind
by a road they do not know,
by paths they have not known
I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I will do,
and I will not forsake them.
They shall be turned back and utterly put to shame --
those who trust in carved images,
who say to cast images,
"You are our gods."
Listen, you that are deaf;
and you that are blind, look up and see!
Who is blind but my servant,
or deaf like my messenger whom I send?
Who is blind like my dedicated one,

or blind like the servant of the Lord?
He sees many things, but does not observe them;
his ears are open, but he does not hear.

The Lord was pleased, for the sake of his righteousness,
to magnify his teaching and make it glorious.

Reflection
God's grace is a fierce grace. God is furious with evil and explodes with grace to save his people. God will lead us along the way we are to go. God will give us the sight that we need to follow. God will speak to us through Word and Sacrament and tell us the plan.

Our action is to follow and listen and heed God's direction. God's grace is a fierce grace and he is compassionate and passionate about saving his people. Follow and listen to him. This is Jesus the Messiah---just as at the baptism and at the transfiguration --- Listen to him!

Thanks be to God for fierce grace! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, strike in me the passion and compassion that you have in your love for us that I may love those you give to me this day and proclaim your will and your way boldly. That I may proclaim to my friends --- Listen to him --- See the Word made flesh --- Your salvation. --- Amen