June 19th - Reflection

Matthew 9:27-34 (NRSV)
Healing the blind, casting out a demon

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
This past week has been a tough one for me. I have mostly been deep in depression over actions I see taken by people around me and inactions I see through myself and others. People can be self-centered and nosey and people can be hurtful with word and action.

And all of this in a world that I attempt to control to my desire. A world in which I don't deserve the authority to control. I see Jesus heal the blind and cast out demons, but I don't see Jesus do these very same actions in my world. I believe after all...so why doesn't Jesus act in my world?

My world?...who says this is my world?...why do I assume this world revolves around me?...sometimes, I find out the hard way that it doesn't. Sometimes I go through the pain of a lesson repeated again and again throughout my life, only to realize that I had heard and felt this story in the past.

This world was wonderfully created by God and made perfect. But I was born into a world that came with sinfulness already running at full tilt. This sinful world that I am part of includes my sin and the results of the sinful actions of many others. This world is my world. This sinful world is my world...but the world God created is the world that God would have me in.

God came into my sinful world in Jesus to set things straight. Jesus lived, died and rose again to give hope and salvation. Jesus will come again to pull us together as One in the world that God intended from the start. A world without tears, sickness, blindness and suffering.

But for now...I live in this inbetween world. I am being recreated into the being God would have me be. Sure, I believe. Sure, it's not all peachy keen just yet. But Jesus is with me in this world of his to recreate me and all his Kingdom into what God intends for that Kingdom to be. I'm thankful that I'm part of that Kingdom.

I'm gracious that God has loved me and you so much that he enters into our sinful world and makes us his, that we may live the here and now with him as we are recreated and move towards that glorious Kingdom he has prepared for us. So, today I embrace the pain of this world, knowing that Jesus embraced the pain of this world and will lead me and you onward in hope, love and joy. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, be with me and those I love as we embrace the pain of this world and the tears it brings with your fervant love for all people in all circumstances. I see the wonderful joy you bring to all people throughout all time. ---Amen