10‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Reflection
So, what's with, sheep, shepherd, gate, gatekeeper, strangers, thieves, bandits, and wolves?
Jesus tried once (the first paragraph), but they didn't get it and I'm not so sure that I get it. So, Jesus tries again. Now Jesus bluntly tells them and me that he is the gate. No guessing this time.
But what does all of this have to do with Easter? Why this passage during this season of the resurrection? Someone in their ultimate wisdom decided to add this Gospel passage to our Easter readings... but why?
The previous chapter, John 9, was about the blind man that was born blind that Jesus healed. The Pharisees were checking out Jesus' healing of this blind man and got upset with the blind man's testimony and threw the blind man out of their presence.
With the passage above it's almost like I am the blind man now. Why is Jesus telling parables like this that seem so simple? But then again... it seems as if so many of us are blind to Jesus after the resurrection. So many of the early witnesses to Jesus resurrection didn't recognize him as the risen Christ. I think of last weeks Gospel about the walk on the road to Emmaus.
Do I, do you, do any of us really recognize Jesus? Am I blind to Jesus?
I say that I recognize Jesus but am I just saying that? Do I really recognize Jesus in my daily living? Do I follow him to pasture and trust him? Do I see Jesus as the resurrected One? Am I tricked by the thief and fall into sin, death and hell?
I think in this is the Easter story. Jesus died in my sin. Jesus rose victorious from my sin.
I spend too much of my life attempting to defeat sin, death and the devil. I can't defeat sin, death and the devil. Only through the gate of Jesus who defeated sin, death and the devil do I have a chance. And in this is the Easter story. If I open my eyes... if I see the gate... if I listen to the Shepherd and ignore the voice of the thief; I will be saved. Not by my action, but by the loving action and grace of God through Jesus Christ, my Gate to salvation and my Shepherd to follow into the pastures of this world.
Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Open my eyes, my ears, my nose and all of my senses to your presence, Lord Jesus. You are the gate to salvation and I will follow you into this world you have set me in knowing that you alone can lead me in life. As I live this eternal life here and now I look to you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
“The Loudest Cry Never Heard, Yet Heard Loud and Clear”
(A Tribute to my
Mother-in-Law Patricia Hawkins)
by Bill Lynch
3/16/2017
As I looked from the bottom of the bed that my
mother-in-law, Pat, lie upon; I observed close family members gathered. Pat was
struggling to breathe and was surely close to the end of her earthly walk. Amy,
my sister-in-law had discovered a piece of paper in one of Pat’s Bibles
detailing a few hymns and some scripture passages to be read at her funeral.
One of those hymns was “The Old Rugged Cross.” Upon hearing this the Hospice
Nurse sprung to action and found the Hymn on a phone. Before you know it a
phone was laid upon Pat’s shoulder. You could see Pat barely tilt her head to
hear the words and music.
On a hill far away, stood an old rugged
Cross
The emblem of suff'ring and shame
And I love that old Cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain
So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
Oh, that old rugged Cross so despised
by the world
Has a wondrous attraction for me
For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary
So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
At his point in
the song I detected Pat slipping away from this world and into the waiting arms
of Jesus as her spirit eased. Did she stop breathing? I think so… but who am I
to know for sure. It appeared to me that through this song Pat was letting go
with all of her might of a shout that none of us could hear. But a shout that
surely Pat wanted all of us to hear.
Yes, for the
past year Pat had lived a voiceless life. No words from her lips. She mostly me
that wide eyed scared stare that I would get in the past, like oh no, my smart
ass son-in-law is here! Ever since I became Pat’s son-in-law we would have a
great time of teasing. Pat was one in the family that kind of got my teasing
and didn’t take it as hurtful. Speedy, Pat’s husband, would always get a kick
out of it when I would tease Pat as my ol mother-in-law. But Pat hadn’t said
more than a few words this past year. Yet in the midst of this hymn that she
chose, I could hear the loudest shout of all to all of the people in this room
at this time and to all of her family and to all who would listen.
You see Pat
died on the Friday before Good Friday to the tune of “The Old Rugged Cross.” During
the second verse I could hear Pat in her spirit proclaim, “Listen to this! It’s
through the cross we are saved! Get it you guys!”
And then… and
then… Pat slipped away as we all stood a watched and listened and some of us
sang along.
So we listened,
watched and sang on…
In the old rugged Cross, stain'd with
blood so divine
A wondrous beauty I see
For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above
To pardon and sanctify me
So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
In Pat’s spirit
I could still hear her proclaim through these words, “See! Jesus will take care
of you because he came from above and came to you to live with you and to be
your God. Jesus will forgive you and make you holy.” Now listen and listen
carefully…
To the old rugged Cross, I will ever be
true
Its shame and reproach gladly bear
Then He'll call me some day to my home far away
Where his glory forever I'll share
So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
And there it
was! The loudest shout I have ever heard from this soft, small, easy speaking
lady in my life. Pat in her spirit proclaimed through the loudest shout, “I’m
called away to my home far away. Follow me through the grace, the love, and the
resurrection of the One who came to me and will come to you, right to and
through that old rugged cross!”
Yep! I hear you
Pat. I hear you loud and clear this day. Pat, thanks be to God for your voice
that has returned!
As the week progressed through arrangements,
funeral and burial, I couldn’t help but listen to those shouts I thought I
heard. Doubt presses in. Did I hear that or not? People around me didn’t seem
to hear what I heard. Maybe I didn’t hear it. Maybe the people nearby on that Friday evening
heard something else?
In the middle of the week I stopped by Pat and
Speedy’s burial site. Straightened some flowers and thought about the fresh
dirt on the grave. You are dust and to dust you shall return. Goes for Pat
right now and definitely applies to me always. God formed me out of mud, dirt
and clay and I can plan on my return. But there is more. Yes, there is more.
The cross is such a dirty thing. Dirty, sweaty
and blood covered. Have you ever looked at rotten wood? Soft and dirty and
moldy. All of this thought of dirt and blood and the cross. I hear the hymn
once more in my mind; The Old Rugged Cross…
Maundy Thursday comes and reminds me of the
command God gives to all of his disciples. We’re here to love one another. Isn’t
that what Pat did with her loud cries never heard? She loved all of those
present and those not present who could receive her cry. Listen… get it you
guys… get the cross… there is salvation in the cross… believe!
And Good Friday comes. It’s been a week now.
As I sit in a Good Friday service I glance at my watch. It was last week… at
just about this same time that I heard Pat’s cry. I listen to the words telling
about Jesus crucifixion. I’m guilty too! Yes, I am guilty of putting Jesus on
that cross… The Old Rugged Cross. No doubt that I would have done the same
thing or something worse had I been there in that same day.
Today, we have the full story. We know the
facts. History recorded what happened. I remember the cries of Pat as she died.
God came to save me through that Old Rugged Cross. Believe!
Now Saturday, just over a week ago it was that
I saw Pat die from the foot of that nursing home bed. I think of Jesus in the
tomb. Dark, silent, death. Stone cold still death. Someday my body will be
stone cold. Someday I will be in that tomb, that vault, that urn. Someday is
here for Pat. There is more to be said. We are called. We are called here and
now to follow Jesus. Yes! I will follow Jesus to the cross and to the tomb. But
there is more…
Glorious Easter Sunday. I listen to the sermon
and throughout the service I think of Pat. I hear and agree with how I expect
death. Yes, on Good Friday, I expect death. But God changed all of that. On
Sunday as I was in the midst of death; thinking of Pat’s death just days ago, I
hear that cry from the grave. Wait! Even Friday over a week ago as I was at the
foot of Pat’s deathbed; I expected death! And on Good Friday I expect the death
of Jesus. The death that I caused Jesus, through my sin, to suffer and die.
Death and the dark tomb of the wee hours of Sunday morning. God does something
that changes everything. Jesus comes to life. As I expected death, God brought
life.
I think back. That’s it! Pat gave one more
shout. That Friday as I watched Pat die, I expected death. But no! No! In the
death I expected I actually saw life! Life because of Jesus death. Life because
of Jesus suffering. Life because my sin, that Jesus became on that cross, was
put to death knowing that through his death I may be made alive. Through Jesus
death, Pat is made alive. Through Jesus death, all are made alive.
Did you hear that loud cry at Pat’s deathbed?
Right when we expect to see death, God shows us life. Yes… that’s what I saw
that Friday. That’s what I heard from a little lady that didn’t have a loud
voice even in her heyday and had no voice at all this past year. I hear you
Pat. And yes I believe.
Micah 6:1-8
1 Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. 2 Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. 3 "O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! 4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 5 O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord." 6 "With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" 8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Reflection
I look out of my second floor office window and I see broken, separated branches clinging to the tree from which they have been separated. Life no longer flows to these broken branches from the source of life that the tree has to offer. Yet... these branches cling to a Y in the tree. They cling only to be blown and separated at some time. Perhaps the wind will not blow them loose and the leaves of life will no longer be present in the dead wood of the broken branches.
The broken and separated branches are witness to my thoughts on scripture. These very branches see me through the glass of the window, pondering God's meanings in scripture. Broken branches that hear my cry to God... why of Lord? What dear God would you have me do after this reflection on your Word. Broken and dead branches that hear my prayers for family, nation, friends and myself as I walk through this life. Dead branches that are there as I question what God would have me offer to him, the creator of all things.
In the passage above, God has the people witness to the mountains the controversies that God's people bring before God. Not unlike the dead and broken branches that are witness to the goodness God has freely given me. God has brought me forth from my sinfulness and given me life. God has taken me in, as an illegal alien, into his family and chosen me and marked me with the cross of Christ forever. God accepted me in my broken, dead and separated state of being and God made me wonderful in his sight.
The broken, dead, illegal alien that I am has been redeemed. What does God want from me? I see it above... God wants me to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with him and those he graciously gives to me in my life. Me... the broken... the dead... the separated branch that I see outside the window of this second floor upper room. God has saved me and requires me to love the separated, the illegal alien, the dead, the broken, the neighbor that God will give to me. In this I am deeply humbled. Yes... God has promised to graft me in to his life giving eternal life of love for all creation.
Thanks be to God that hung on that dead wood of a cross, broken wood, separated wood, yet wood that only Jesus could bring to life in his suffering, death and resurrection. God has made that dead and separated wood the symbol of the gift of eternal life through Jesus. Yes! Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, lead me as I humbly do the work that you require... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
Matthew 5:1-12
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Reflection
The squirrel came down out of the tree. One squirrel was followed by another squirrel. Both scratched on the surface of the lawn. Both squirrels were looking for some food on this warm January day. Following the squirrels closely behind was the robin. The robin? In January? Yes, the robin on this string of warm January days. Was the robin confused? Maybe but the squirrels were followed by the robin anyway. The robin scratching on the surface of the lawn in the exact locations that the squirrels had just scratched.
From my vantage point of a second floor home office; I didn't witness any food for any of these animals being brought up from the earth. Just the same, all continued in the search. Robin and both squirrels came to the earth in search of food to eat.
As disciples of Jesus, we too come to him. As disciples of Christ, we follow Jesus in search of food. We come to Jesus looking for the Word he gives to us. We listen and we take in his words. Yes, we follow Jesus away from the crowds to the mountains. We follow, we listen, we learn and we act out in the will that Jesus gives us.
It's food that we don't appear to be taking in but later through our actions the sustenance and the fruit of the food that Jesus feeds us becomes apparent in how we love those that are the crowd. Jesus feeds us the knowledge of the blessing. The blessing of those in the crowds in the foothills and the plains below the mountain.
As the squirrels come down followed by the robin to partake of some food that I cannot see. We, as Jesus' disciples, come down from the mountain to the crowds. Filled with the love of God. Fed by the fruit of love.
God blesses us as his disciples. God has made us holy and sends us to those people in the crowd, maybe the crowd itself, of which God blesses and makes holy. May we take that blessing, that being made holy, freely given to us, to those God presents to us and to the crowds.
Yes, we come down in love for God and in love for those blessed people in the crowds that God gives to us each and every day.
Prayer
Lord, you abundantly bless those in the crowds... the poor, those in mourning, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted and the reviled. Yes... you bless them with your love and salvation. May I, being fed with your Word, go into this world and meet the people that you present to me with your love and your blessings... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
John 1:29-42
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, "After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God." 35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed ). 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter ).
Reflection It's not about me...
Nope... this life is not about me. It's not about how good of a Christian I am... it's not about if I have the correct interpretation of Scripture... it's not about what I think... it's not about what I do or say... it's not about how I may disgust someone else... it's not about how I bark into the wilderness... it's not about the clothes I wear... it's not about the food I eat... it's not about my self-esteem... it's not about how I think and judge other people... it's not about how I think you ought to live your life... it's not about my opinion... it's not if I'm liberal or conservative... it's not if I'm Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Baptist... it's not about me!
This life is about Someone else. This life was given to me. I am physical and I am spiritual. God made me wonderful but it's not about me. It's all about God... it's all about Jesus. John was sent into this world to point to the Light. John was sent to point to Jesus. It's not about me or John or you or anything or anyone else. It's all about Jesus.
The Light comes into the world...
I was born into this world. God came into this world from heaven. God came to all of us as a Light to lead us to salvation in Jesus from sin, death and the devil. Without this Light we are lost forever and damned eternally to hell.
So we hear John. We look, We see. We see God's Light in Jesus and see the source is from outside ourselves yet somehow mysteriously from inside ourselves. A Light that permeates the physical and opens the spiritual. A Light that brings the Holy Spirit. A Light that comes into the world, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. A Light that is God. Light of Light.
What are you looking for?...
I seek... I long for... I desire with all my heart this Light. This Light that will lead me and guide me and call me and gift me with all I need in order to point all the world right to this very same Light. I'm looking for what the Light would have me say or do or act. Yes... I'm looking for the Light to shine brightly through me to all the world so that all I do is to the glory of God.
Nope... it's not about me... it's about the Light!
Come and see...
Jesus... where are you staying? A cry all Christians must ask at some time, And Jesus says... "Come and see..."
So I come to see. I let the Light in as I see. I open my eyes to look out into this world. I let the Light in as I open my eyes from my own selfishness and let the Light come in so that I can see.
It's not about me or how "right" I think I am. It's not about me or how wise I think I am. It's not about my opinions or how I judge. It's not about what I think of how another person is handling their life, their religion, their decisions, their very being. Nope... it's not about me. It's the Light that shines outside of me and into me and through me.
It's about the Light that Jesus has called me to come and see.
Prayer
Jesus, as I open my eyes to see your Light may all my selfish desires be blasted away by your glory.
As I humble myself and uncurl from all of my self-righteousness to your glory. May I let your Light shine in and through me.
It's all about you after all. Lead me so that my life may reflect your Light to a dark, selfish, power-hungry, hateful world. We need the Light... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
2 Timothy 1:1-14
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. 6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; 7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 8 Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, 12 and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. 13 Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.
Reflection
So, what's the fire in you that needs to be kindled? What gift of God do you have that needs to be tended to?
Sometimes I don't think we ever stop to think of what God wants us to do. We get so wrapped up in grace that we forget purpose. We forget that we do have work to do. We tend to leave out the work because we know that the work does not gain salvation. So, why worry about it? Why work at all?
In this passage, Paul urges Timothy and us also, to reflect on our home. Our home as in our upbringing and our home in the Church. Some of us were raised by relatives with deep Christian roots. Some of us became Christians by some other means. Some of us are still searching for Jesus our Savior standing right by our side. We all have a source of home on earth and a home in the Church.
So what? What did God call and gift us to do? For some this is an easy question to answer. I think, for most, we don't have a clue. We don't take the time to pray or even think about it. We go along in life as if life has no purpose other that to survive as comfortable as we can.
In this passage, Timothy, and we, are called to think about our call and our gifts. We are called to stop and rekindle the fire of our call and to do something about it. We are called to action. God saved us not through our works but through his grace through Jesus who calls us and gives us a purpose.
It's not for our own calling and purpose... it's for Jesus' purpose and calling. Our purpose and calling come through Jesus.
So what about grace? What about faith? We were given the grace of God through Jesus before the ages began and revealed through Jesus.
Let that light your fire of action and love! Let that put the pause in your life to pray, to listen, to respond!
It's time the fire be set ablaze in the Church. It's time to let the Holy Spirit burn with love for God and love for one another... ALL the "others"...
Thanks be to God!
Music
Prayer
Lord, I don't need any more faith that what I have. I do want more of you. Kindle your fire of purpose and of call, to action in me, that I may bring you glory... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
Luke 17:5-10
5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 6 The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. 7 "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, "Come here at once and take your place at the table'? 8 Would you not rather say to him, "Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, "We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!' "
Reflection
How much faith do I need? Is enough enough? If I need more, how do I get more?
It seems here that even a tiny bit of faith can do things beyond what I could ever imagine. But, who wants to plant trees in the sea?
Do I ever give a servant a break? After a hard day of work, do I burden then with more work and then tell them they'll get a break when they are done taking care of me? Am I the servant or the master? And if I'm the master; who do I think I am?
Does the slave get a thank you? The slave did the job expected... no thanks! Worthless slave!
More questions and mystery with this short passage than I can handle!
It seems that this passage is about quantity of things. Is enough enough?
Well, it depends. I can't do enough to make my keep. I can't do enough to repay God for all that God has done for me. What I do do is so much smaller than the mustard seed that it would be an embarrassing offering.
This reminds me of Cain and Abel. Cain came with gifts and Abel came with gifts to offer to God. Cain came in the pretense that he was born first and offered his gift to God knowing that he was the firstborn and thus chosen by God to be number 1 by his birth. No faith needed for Cain. Cain believed his gift would be pleasing to God because his gift was from the firstborn son of Adam and Eve. Abel came with his gifts having faith that God would accept his gift because he knew God was a good and loving God. Abel came humble before God with his gift.
God saw a little bit of faith with Abel. God saw a smugness with Cain. God liked Abel's gift because it was given in faith. (That's my twist on God's reaction... you'll have to find out from God if it's right or not... so will I)
With this reasoning... I can only think that Jesus is telling his disciples that just a tiny bit of faith is more than they can handle. And on top of that... Jesus is giving them and us this tiny bit of faith. Faith to be used. Faith to be put into action. Faith that is enough to plant that tree into the sea... but let's do something better with our faith than that.
How about we free the slave? How about we thank the Master! How about we work with the slave in thanks to the Master for all he has done? How about we be the slave, the servant, the disciple and do what God has called us to do? How about we feed the hungry, go to the sick, visit the imprisoned, help the homeless find a home? How about we love one another and stop all the fighting and the hatred? How about we turn to our enemy and offer peace?
I begin with questions and end with questions. Begin with impossible questions to answer and end with questions that, with a little bit of faith, move us to respond with action through faith in God.
Just think... with only our little bitty tiny speck of faith in God... God responds with a faith in us that we can't even begin to quantify.
Isn't that why we respond?
It's about God... not about us!
Thanks be to God!
Music
Prayer
Lord, use me and increase my faith; today, tomorrow and forever. --- Amen
Luke 11:1-13
1 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial." 5 And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, "Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' 7 And he answers from within, "Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. 9 "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Reflection
Jesus, teach me how to pray. Jesus prayed... the disciples witness Jesus in prayer. So they want to know how to pray. Is it the same with us. Do we even pray? We see on Facebook or Twitter a request for prayer. Did so many people end that prayer with prayers sent? Was that the beginning and end of it? Do people really stop and pray? My pessimism tells me that the majority of those who sent the answers to this prayer request began and ended with the phrase "prayers sent."
Prayers sent? What does that mean? Does it mean that you replied and hit post? Jesus takes us much deeper than this. Jesus teaches us to pray much deeper.
First we address God. God who is holy. A God with whom we fully recognize that we are God's children. God loves us as the little babies that we are. We come to God in need of God's full support. Without God we couldn't exist. We would die without God's love and care.
We have a God that is holy. Sure God is holy... but we pray here that we may keep God holy in our hearts and lives. That we would live our lives in harmony with God. That we would honor God and know that without God we have no being.
Next we pray for the kingdom of God. Not that God would rule this kingdom so much but that God's kingdom would come into our lives here and now. We fully know that God's kingdom came through Jesus and we anticipate in joy and hope that God's kingdom will be fulfilled in heaven forever.
The will of God... what is the will of God in your life. Will God's will be done? Sure! God's will is done even without our prayer. We ask here that God's will would be done through us as well. We seek to be God's instrument of God's will because God's will is always good and gracious.
We're getting closer to "prayers sent," We are asking that we be involved with our God and we be involved with our Facebook friend's prayer request... not just be typing something... but by our participation in God's will. Now we ask that God's will would be done in heaven and on earth. Yes heaven and earth. We go beyond ourselves to those who have gone beyond and before us and we go with ourselves by participating in God's will on earth through our action.
It's here in our prayer that we can thank God. God already knows that to do the will of God, we will need God's help. We need all things to sustain daily life. We need food, clothing, a good home and devoted family. We need government and good weather. We need everything needed for life in order to do God's will. And God provides just what we need in the measure that we need it. This is our prayer for daily bread from God.
Oh yes! We need forgiveness to do God's will. We need to be forgiven and we need to forgive and we need to know that we are not perfect and can only live with God's forgiveness, lest we die. To do God's will for our Facebook friend we need to be alive in Christ.
Just as Jesus knew temptation and evil. God knows that we will face temptation and evil and need God to help us. We pray here that to be of use to our Facebook friend in prayer that God protect us and guide us when we are tempted and when we face evil.
Now we're set... we knock! We knock and we talk and we go to God in prayer for our Facebook friend. We ask to be involved. And we may have to be prepared for a return visit from God. Jesus just might come to our door and knock. Jesus may come and knock. And when we answer that door... perhaps... Jesus may say... "Can Billy come out to play?"
Are you willing to get involved with your Facebook friends prayer request?
Think about it... think... go to God in prayer... before you send that "Prayers sent" message.
Be honest with yourself and your friend about that "Prayers sent" or just leave it alone.
Thanks be to God!
Music
Prayer
Thank you Jesus for teaching us how to pray... prayers sent... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
Luke 10:38-42
38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
Reflection
So there I was not moving to amount to anything. But the brain was churning. The brain was churning with anger. Why wouldn't she get up and help. We had an honored guest to care for but noooo... there she was... sitting and listening and not helping one bit.
And then I sprung into action. I wiggled and waggled and air pushed out of the lungs and through the voice box and over me as I wiggled and waggled to form a whole bunch of words in a matter of a few seconds. I don't think I had ever moved that quickly before in my life!
Then I went still... I could tell the ears had sprung into action and the brain was processing something from the mouth of Jesus. And then... and then! I say then! The teeth bit me!!!!!
Music
Prayer
Lord, stop me every once in a while that I may listen to your Word... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
Colossians 1:15-28
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. 21 And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— 23 provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel. 24 I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. 25 I became its servant according to God's commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Reflection
Paul writes to these Christians that are in the face of a Roman power that demands an allegiance to the government and the governing authority. A Roman power that even exalts the leader to the form of a god. This is the context of this scripture.
Yet Paul tells the Colossians that another authority is rather over all things. Jesus is the image of God the first born of all creation. In Jesus everything comes into place... all creation. Even the Roman government? Even ISIS? Even the governments of the world today?
Well sort of... but God isn't pleased to dwell in our sinfulness... no matter how hard we try to make it right... the only true dwelling with God comes through a reconciliation that comes through God in Jesus Christ.
So some of the things of this world don't seek reconciliation... they don't turn to God... evil exists and we are in this world alongside God with all of it. We are presently in the context of this world all of the time.
So we listen. We listen in this passage to a new way. We pull ourselves back for a moment from this world's evil forces and listen to the Word.
Jesus makes us holy through his death. Jesus makes us holy and blameless and irreproachable before God... provided... that we stand with God in faith. Here we stand in faith and hope of all God has done in Jesus. Not what we do ourselves. Not what our worldly thinking of any political stand or thinking of our own could ever accomplish through our own misguided action. We stand in faith and in hope for all God has done.
Are we to not act then? No... we are to act. But we act through what God guides us to do. And here we must... must... stop... stop... and listen. We may act in such a way that we believe God is speaking to us but rather that we are acting in such a way that we think God has told us to act in the way that we wish to act. Whew!
We listen to Jesus... we follow his way... and realize that Jesus' way comes with suffering... it comes with hope... it comes with joy... it comes with life... it comes with resurrection. A resurrection out of the dead and evil of ISIS, terrorists, death, pain, false leaders and our own sinfulness. We listen to something completely different in the way of Jesus. We listen to a God that gives all for all so that all may live... all may live. Yes God died for ISIS, terrorists, presidents we like and presidents we don't like. God dies for all people of all walks of life. It's not our choice... that was God's choice.
So we listen in hope, we listen in faith, we listen as Paul states above...
" I became its servant according to God's commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ."
Listen!
Music
Prayer
Lord, open my mind and my ears to hear you through all the chaos of this world. Hover over the waters of chaos this day and bring us finally to that glorious day when we will see you face to face... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
A Psalm of David.
O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
and speak the truth from their heart;
who do not slander with their tongue,
and do no evil to their friends,
nor take up a reproach against their neighbours;
in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
but who honour those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
who do not lend money at interest,
and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be moved.
Reflection
Wow, I'll never be able to attend worship if I have to meet all of these requirements!
God's tent and holy hill bring to mind the Tabernacle and the Temple. Who can go into those places?
If we do go into those places would we see God face to face?
I think maybe we would.
Would I be worthy to enter one of those places? Would I be clean?
I don't think so; not on my own efforts, I'm sure I would fail all of the requirements.
So now what? Will I ever see God?
I have! God comes to me in Word and Spirit and Sacrament. God comes to me in the flesh of people I would least expect and in flesh of those I would expect. God comes to me in the daily miracles of life and God comes to me in death. Yes... I see God!
So, can I enter?
I sure can! God opened wide the Holy of Holies and tore open that curtain to expose God to me and to all creation at the death of Jesus on the cross. God forgives sin. God defeats evil, death and the devil for me and for all people so that we can see God face to face.
Yes, I can enter into worship with God and see God. I can enter as clean as a whistle because of what God has done. I can enter and see God without the burden of sin. I can enter the Temple, the Tabernacle, the Worship Service, the Heart, because of everything God has done.
Do you believe it?
Yes!
God came to this earth in the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. He lived, he healed, he taught, he suffered, he died and he rose again.
Jesus came and called disciples to witness to his love. Disciples like you and me. He called us one on one and one on all to walk in his presence and to follow his call for each of us and for all of us.
Believe it!
Thanks be to God!
Music
Prayer
Lord, as I enter into your presence, take me as I am. Show me your way. Hear my prayer and lead me and guide me in the path you have planned for me... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
Amos 8:1-12
1 This is what the Lord God showed me—a basket of summer fruit. 2 He said, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A basket of summer fruit." Then the Lord said to me, "The end has come upon my people Israel; I will never again pass them by. 3 The songs of the temple shall become wailings in that day," says the Lord God; "the dead bodies shall be many, cast out in every place. Be silent!" 4 Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, 5 saying, "When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with false balances, 6 buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat." 7 The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds. 8 Shall not the land tremble on this account, and everyone mourn who lives in it, and all of it rise like the Nile, and be tossed about and sink again, like the Nile of Egypt? 9 On that day, says the Lord God, I will make the sun go down at noon, and darken the earth in broad daylight. 10 I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on all loins, and baldness on every head; I will make it like the mourning for an only son, and the end of it like a bitter day. 11 The time is surely coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. 12 They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it.
Reflection
"Buford doesn't look so good." My daughter Sarah responded to me when I noticed that Buford was out of his little igloo home in the middle of the day. Normally Buford, the hamster, sleeps all day except for a drink and to go to the potty and he runs all night in his wheel. But Buford is old for a hamster... really old. Later that afternoon Buford died in Sarah's hands as she cuddled him. It was a sad time.
The Scripture above contains two types of passages. First we witness a story in the form of a vision. This is followed by an announcement of judgment from God.
We have summer fruit contrasted with "the end." At first it doesn't seem that these two thoughts go together but in the language of the day "summer fruit" and "the end" sounded very similar. What's the similarity?
It seems to me that all over the Scriptures, God loves to use opposites that link together somehow. When I think of "summer fruit," I think of good things. When I think of "the end," I think of things unknown and scary. Summer fruit, I can visualize. The end, I can't see.
With this in mind, I'm led into the judgment portion of this passage.
The judgment part of this passage seems to be about cheating people. Cheating people, especially the poor and needy out of their money. Sounds familiar thinking of the environment that we live in today. Today, it seems, we see the rich cheating the poor... housing crisis. We also see the poor cheating the rich with fraudulent claims for welfare, social security, disability and such.
And now the judgment... through our deeds... none of us can claim we are an exception to this... we are all guilty of this... God changes our feasting into mourning, our songs into lamentation and terribly the time will come when we won't hear the Word.
Will God bring this on? I'm not sure about that. It seems to me that the judgment is more a result of our own cheating one another and our failure to listen to God. It seems to me that God is telling us the results of staying on the same path of sinfulness. It seems to me that God is warning us to stop it and turn from our sin. It seems to me that God is telling us to listen carefully to the Word.
So, what about Buford?
God placed in our care the animals. However, it seems to me that the animals take better care of us than we do of them. Buford never seemed to want to hurt anyone, unless he felt threatened. He lived his life and gave love to the people around him. Sarah and Kaiya, Bubs, myself and even Bryan would take time to feed Buford and supply water. Buford lived his live and we all watched and loved Buford. And then Buford died. Tears were shed.
I can't see any reason that Buford would bring a judgment of sinfulness on his part. In fact, Buford lived a life that was honest. No cheating... no sin (that I could see)... yet still Buford died. And there is that contrast... Buford lived a good life yet still he died.
Like Buford, we are placed on this world together as Christians for a purpose. All creatures will praise God and all creatures are here to please God. So...
I'm reminded of this passage which seems to address Buford, you, me, Christians and the Church.
2 Timothy 4.1-5
4In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. 3For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 5As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.
We are here for a reason. We are here for a purpose that God has given to us. We are here for God. In life and in death we belong to God. What more could we want?
Thanks be to God!
Music
Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to all of your creatures. May I see the service and joy that they bring to you. Fulfill in me your hope of a life lived to bring you glory. Fulfill in me the love I have for you and the love you would have me to give to those you bring to me. You show life through death and light through darkness and forgiveness through my sin. May I always pause and listen to your Word... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
Genesis 18:1-10a
1 The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. 3 He said, "My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes." 7 Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. 9 They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." 10 Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son."
Reflection
"May I help who is next?"
I heard this last night from a girl working behind the counter at Graeter's Ice Cream. She was very nice and helpful. I paid for the ice cream cones and some cookies and sat down to eat.
In this instance of help, I had to stand in line and wait my turn. I also had to pay. As I think back upon this experience and think about the Scripture above, questions and contrasts come to mind.
The Lord appeared to Abraham... did the Lord appear to me?
Abraham saw three men and ran to them... I had to wait my turn.
Abraham didn't want these visitors to pass by without the chance to serve them... no money required.
The three men gave Abraham the opportunity to serve... does God likewise give me the opportunity to serve?
Abraham was excited to serve! Was the girl behind the counter that excited to serve?
The men left Abraham with a promise. Does God give me a promise?
Did the Lord appear to me? Well maybe. I met another child of God. She was working. She was serving for a wage. Would she serve freely? Probably not. But in some way, even in this girl, there is a creation of God. A bit of God's handiwork before me. How can I deny that I didn't see a little bit of God... maybe more than I could perceive.
I'm excited to see how Abraham responded to the men. But then I think of the context of this passage. Abraham is resting in the shade after having been circumcised. He got up and ran! Really? Abe... take a break after all! But Abraham responded through the pain to see God in the flesh of these visitors. No waiting your turn... if I see God... get up and go! Even if the little guy hurts some. It's God I serve not the other way around! Oh, how I want to serve God in some way... in any way!
God gives us the opportunity to serve... the privilege to serve... the honor to serve. We respond to God; we don't work to gain God's approval, rather we respond to God's grace. We respond to his gift of salvation. We respond to God's promise. We respond to God because of what God has done for you, me and all of us. We respond out of love for God. We respond to serve God and to serve one another in all of our needs. We respond because of God's love.
There is no way we could ever repay God for what God has done for us. Look how this passage ends... God grants life to Sarah and Abraham through the impossible womb of time. I'm sure both Abraham and Sarah couldn't see the gift of life that God was about to grant from the old tomb of Sarah's womb.
Yes! There is a promise! There is a promise of life from the dead. Waaay before Jesus was born from Mary... God came to this earth and blessed Abraham, Sarah and you and me with life from the tomb of a dead womb. God gives life eternal when we may only see death.
And here... here... we see God. Life from death, pain, suffering. God grants us life! Thanks be to God!
Music
Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to see you. To see you in all those who serve, to see you in the stranger, to see you in the traveler and to see you in the promise of life from death. May I run to serve you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
Luke 10:38-42
38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
Reflection
"Have you already had something for lunch?"
My son, Bryan, called me yesterday morning or maybe early afternoon. He wanted to know if we wanted to go out to lunch with him and my daughter-in-law, Becky. Sue, Sarah and I were just beginning lunch and declined. Later in the afternoon we met Bryan and Becky at our house for conversation and catching up on the activities of our vacation.
The Scripture above seems to speak to hospitality. A welcoming hospitality that we, as Christians, need to offer to all people. We need to be especially hospitable to those unlike ourselves such as the foreigner. We need to be hospitable to those of different faiths, different orientations and different opinions from our own. Yes, as Christians, we are to be hospitable to all God's people in this world he created.
No, we don't need to agree or be like the other person in any way. God has created us to be unique. We seek the will of God not the approval of man. We are different for sure and we can be hospitable.
Bryan was seeking to be hospitable after my return from a few day get away.
In hospitality we see two forms as exemplified by the Scripture above. Mary was hospitable and truly blessed by stopping all and listening to Jesus spoken Word. She gave Jesus her full attention.
Martha, likewise, was hospitable by springing into action to serve Jesus and bring comfort.
Hospitality combines both of these traits to bring forth a witness of love to the guest. Yes, Jesus commended Mary for choosing the "better part" and stopping all the things of this world to focus on the Word. I think in this is the stopping. We stop to offer hospitality but when our focus centers on our busyness, we miss the central point of hospitality. We miss the focus on our guest.
Yes, Bryan, Becky and myself, Sue and Sarah did come together in hospitality. A hospitality of coming together in conversation and relationship of love and listening.
You never know. Just as Jesus was traveling along the road in that day and as he stopped for the hospitality offered from Mary and Martha; we too may welcome Jesus into our homes. May we, as Christians be hospitable to all God's people both in contemplation of the spoken word and in actions of love.
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Prayer
Lord, open my mouth, my actions and my home to be hospitable to all the people you have created... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
Luke 10:25-37
25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" 27 He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live." 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, "Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Reflection
"Questions... questions... questions." I can hear my high school Chemistry teacher, Mr. Goldsmith, say that even now. It seems the above passage is full of questions. Questions from the lawyer answered by questions by Jesus and then a parable ending with a question.
"What must I do...?" It seems that it all begins with something to do to achieve something else. Something that we think we can do... but can we really do it properly? Do we really love God with all of our heart, soul and strength? Do we really love our neighbor? Be honest with yourself. Be honest with God. I know that I want to... but... I don't. I don't always love God... and I certainly don't always and sometimes never love my neighbor.
So... now what? Another question. Questions... questions... questions. Jesus tells me a story and from my perspective it all gets worse. Would I really help this guy? Would I pass by? Well... maybe sometimes... maybe not.
So... now what? What would Jesus do? WWJD...
So... up to this point... I'm a miserable failure at this whole eternal life thing!
So... I go back to the story. It seems like the Samaritan is like Jesus to me. Now that thought in itself would be a horrible thought to bring up in Jesus' time. The audience were Jews... they hated the Samaritans. Jesus was a Jew. How dare Jesus take on the skin of a Samaritan... even in a story? So... I think my thought of the Samaritan like Jesus would have gotten me thrown over the cliff and stoned to death.
But... here I am today and I don't think I'm going to be stoned for my thought. You see, the Samaritan had the compassion and mercy of Jesus. The Samaritan rescued the fallen man from death and paid for his care. The Samaritan saved the fallen man.
So... maybe it's just like Jesus did for me, a fallen man. Jesus had compassion on me and mercy on me and paid the price for me to save me.
Yes I fail the test, but Jesus saved me anyway. It wasn't about me doing all of the right things and saying the right things; it was about Jesus having compassion on me and mercy on me and saving me.
Questions... questions... questions. How do I respond? I go and have compassion and mercy on all of God's people... that's ALL people. Because... sometimes I think that when I look into the eyes of the one on the side of the road... I may be looking into the eyes of Jesus. Jesus who suffered and died for me and for all people who lie on the side of the road and all people who pass by and those who, like Jesus have compassion and mercy.
I don't worry about when I fail but I certainly tell about how Jesus has had compassion and mercy on me and saved me!
Thanks be to God!
Music
Prayer
Lord, forgive my failure to follow your commands and lead me to follow you. Show me the way to have compassion, mercy and a giving heart to all people and all creations. Correct my steps along the way and teach me to do your will. Today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2 He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this house!' 6 And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 "Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.'
16 "Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." 17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" 18 He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Reflection
They went out together and they came in peace. That's not typical thinking in today’s environment it seems. Our knee jerk reaction is to go out and if we are not accepted or we are threatened, we blow the hell out of them. We want to settle things by carpet bombing. At what point do we reach this conclusion? At what point do we “blow the hell out of them?” At what point do we carpet bomb?
Did we ever come in peace?
Jesus sends these disciples out ahead of himself to every place he intended to go. Jesus wasn’t going somewhere to be the typical king of that day. Jesus was heading on a mission of death by crucifixion, pain, denial, betrayal, the tomb and resurrection. This was not the way or the path that any of his disciples who were now going ahead could have even guessed.
Jesus did not plan on “blowing the hell out of them.” Jesus did not plan on carpet bombing anyone. Yet Jesus was going into the same dangers that we go into today.
Jesus sent them in peace. If accepted… great! Stay in peacefulness with your host. If rejected… leave in peace. Know for sure that this peace is an eternal peace. A peace that passes understanding. Jesus’ peace is something beyond our definition of peace.
Today we face the terrorist. The terrorist does not come in peace. The terrorist comes in judgment and death to the stranger and the friend alike. The terrorist comes to us with hate and death and the glory of martyrdom in mind. How do we respond to this? In peace? I don’t have the answer to this type of one coming to another. Just as I can’t understand Jesus’ peace; I likewise am unable to understand the hate of the terrorist. I can’t understand the mission of Jesus and I can’t understand the mission of the terrorist.
What I do seem to take from this passage is that the great harvest of God of all time will not produce the fruit of hate. The harvest will produce peace. Peace that only God can give. Peace that comes with and through Jesus release of all creation to salvation in Jesus suffering, death and resurrection. Jesus gives us the peace of salvation. Jesus brings peace in this work of hate, carpet bombs and blowing the hell out of one another. Jesus steps in the midst of our chaotic, sin filled world to bring a harvest of peace.
Music
Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to walk in the way of peace. Give me the understanding to respond as you would respond. As I walk the dangerous path that you walked in life may I see beyond the sin. May I see beyond the terror. May I see beyond the manipulation and evil intentions. May I see the mission of following you through your plan and direction for me. Forgive my hateful, judgmental and evilness and place me in your path of peace that only you can give. May the fruit I bear at the great harvest be peace... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
John 10:1-10
