Lord Jesus, you have called us to follow you. Grant that our love may not grow cold in your service. Grant that we may walk in the way of your cross and find it the way of life and peace. In your name we call to you. AMEN
Or, a simple
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Triumphal Entry
That's what we call Jesus' fateful - and final - entry into Jerusalem. People were shouting and celebrating. They cut palms from the trees and strew them along the road, cheering the King of the Jews and anticipating their freedom.
The entire population couldn't wait for someone to show the Romans who was boss.
Those who were oppressed couldn't wait to have their turn at being in charge.
Those who were interested in God's will were sure that a triumphant Jesus was God's plan.
I can't blame them. I probably would too. We are almost always 'behind the curve' when it comes to God's plans for this world. We look ahead and see two possibilities; God looks ahead and sees thousands. It is almost impossible for us to take ourselves out of the equation: How will this effect me? God's perspective is broader, deeper and longer.
The palms of Palm Sunday begin a journey for Christians that is no more comprehensible today than it was 2000 years ago. It will turn into a last supper, a betrayal, a denial, a cross. If anything proves to us that God's ways are not are ways, Holy Week will.
The entire population couldn't wait for someone to show the Romans who was boss.
Those who were oppressed couldn't wait to have their turn at being in charge.
Those who were interested in God's will were sure that a triumphant Jesus was God's plan.
I can't blame them. I probably would too. We are almost always 'behind the curve' when it comes to God's plans for this world. We look ahead and see two possibilities; God looks ahead and sees thousands. It is almost impossible for us to take ourselves out of the equation: How will this effect me? God's perspective is broader, deeper and longer.
The palms of Palm Sunday begin a journey for Christians that is no more comprehensible today than it was 2000 years ago. It will turn into a last supper, a betrayal, a denial, a cross. If anything proves to us that God's ways are not are ways, Holy Week will.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Unless a grain of wheat
Some Greeks have come seeking Jesus. That is how the Gospel lesson for 3/25 opens. (John12.20-33)
These anonymous Greeks have put us on notice that Jesus' ministry to and work on behalf of the entire world is coming to a close. Not just Israel, but Greeks (meaning anyone who isn't a Jew) as well.
Jesus takes no time to pat himself on the back or to receive the accolades of the people. For him, this is but one more indicator that the time has come for him to be 'lifted up.' That is how John talks about Jesus and the cross; Jesus is never the victim, but rather reigns over creation from his cross.
He gives us this image, 'unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.' Jesus is the grain of wheat; he is going to die.
If you follow the reading you will learn, yet again, that those who follow the Jesus, the Christ, will be asked to die as well.
What the world hasn't figured out, I think, is that we will all die. There is no other way out of this life.
Whether we die in Christ or out there on our own seems to be the primary difference. Whether our death glorifies God or simply saddens our friends is another. Whether our lives have 'borne much fruit' or not is another consideration.
Here, however, is the promise: "... where I am, there will my servant be also."
Peace be with you.
These anonymous Greeks have put us on notice that Jesus' ministry to and work on behalf of the entire world is coming to a close. Not just Israel, but Greeks (meaning anyone who isn't a Jew) as well.
Jesus takes no time to pat himself on the back or to receive the accolades of the people. For him, this is but one more indicator that the time has come for him to be 'lifted up.' That is how John talks about Jesus and the cross; Jesus is never the victim, but rather reigns over creation from his cross.
He gives us this image, 'unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.' Jesus is the grain of wheat; he is going to die.
If you follow the reading you will learn, yet again, that those who follow the Jesus, the Christ, will be asked to die as well.
What the world hasn't figured out, I think, is that we will all die. There is no other way out of this life.
Whether we die in Christ or out there on our own seems to be the primary difference. Whether our death glorifies God or simply saddens our friends is another. Whether our lives have 'borne much fruit' or not is another consideration.
Here, however, is the promise: "... where I am, there will my servant be also."
Peace be with you.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
One more time.....
It's Jeremiah this Sunday. Jeremiah in a good mood. Jeremiah bringing a word of hope and grace to the people of Israel, who he threatened and denounced all the way into exile (which they deserved, according to Jeremiah).
This is a word about the 'days that are coming'; days filled with new plantings, with building up. In 'those days' a new relationship will sprout between God and Israel, or as it is translated, 'a new covenant.'
Now God's word will be written on each person's heart. Each person will be responsible for him/herself. Each person will answer to God. (This replaces an understanding that the action of the parents would bless/condemn the children. Now each person is responsible for her own sins.)
This may not sound like good news to you, but to Israel, who had spent long years in exile, who were certain that God had abandoned/forgotten them, it was amazing news. They were going back to Jerusalem (a symbol of the entire land) and God had not cut them off forever.
Even more importantly, "I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more." That is the promise. All is wiped clean. Come home, God calls to his people. Come home where you belong. I want you here and not there.
This is our God, the one who continually calls us home. Let's not turn a deaf ear.
This is a word about the 'days that are coming'; days filled with new plantings, with building up. In 'those days' a new relationship will sprout between God and Israel, or as it is translated, 'a new covenant.'
Now God's word will be written on each person's heart. Each person will be responsible for him/herself. Each person will answer to God. (This replaces an understanding that the action of the parents would bless/condemn the children. Now each person is responsible for her own sins.)
This may not sound like good news to you, but to Israel, who had spent long years in exile, who were certain that God had abandoned/forgotten them, it was amazing news. They were going back to Jerusalem (a symbol of the entire land) and God had not cut them off forever.
Even more importantly, "I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more." That is the promise. All is wiped clean. Come home, God calls to his people. Come home where you belong. I want you here and not there.
This is our God, the one who continually calls us home. Let's not turn a deaf ear.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
A quote worth taking time to read
From C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
"People often think of Christian morality as a kind of bargain in which God says, "If you keep a lot of rules, I'll reward you, and if you don't I'll do the other thing.' I don't think that's the best way of looking at it. I would much rather say that every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. Taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or into a hellish creature: either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures, and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is Heaven: that is, it is you, and peace, and knowledge, and power. To be the other means madness, horror, idiocy, rage, and eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to one state or the other."
Now break into small groups and discuss. Blessings
"People often think of Christian morality as a kind of bargain in which God says, "If you keep a lot of rules, I'll reward you, and if you don't I'll do the other thing.' I don't think that's the best way of looking at it. I would much rather say that every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. Taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or into a hellish creature: either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures, and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is Heaven: that is, it is you, and peace, and knowledge, and power. To be the other means madness, horror, idiocy, rage, and eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to one state or the other."
Now break into small groups and discuss. Blessings
John 3.16
Perhaps you've seen the signs at football games. Someone, somewhere once wondered out loud which player the sign was referring to. I'm glad I don't remember who that was. But it is always helpful to remember that what is central in my life is non-sensical to others.
For God so loved the world....notice that God's action comes first, before anything else
that God gave the begotten Son.....next time the idea of generous giving for the sake of God's kingdom comes up, remember this phrase. Clearly God didn't weigh the world's need next to the cost of cableTV.
so that whoever believes in him......notice how open that invitation is. Anyone. Everyone. It is also helpful to replace the word 'believes' with the word 'trusts'. It gets us out of our heads and into our hearts and lives
shall not perish.....much has been written on this. It only makes sense in my faith if I don't take it literally and assume that 'perishing' has a different and deeper understanding than 'dying.'
but have eternal life.....many will translate this into 'go to heaven'. Not a bad translation but a weak one in my opinion. 'To tap into the fullness of life that comes from the divine' would offer to me a richer, deeper and life-altering experience of the presence of God within my life today and every day.
But don't stop there. Verse 17
For God did not send his son into the world.....Jesus is then an intentional action of the Divine God
to condemn the world......this wasn't a search and kill mission. Frankly, the world was doing a pretty good job of 'going to hell in a handbasket' all by itself. It didn't need God's assistance
but in order that............this phrase is going to point us to the purpose of God's action in Jesus. (that is what 'in order that' signifies)
the world might be saved through him.......Jesus comes so we might know life/ healing/ wholeness. That is what forgiveness brings to people - a healing of whatever the broken past is that is so weighing us down that we cannot fully live into the future. Forgiveness gives us a 'do over' a new beginning, or as the gospel of John puts it .....so we might be saved.
Luther (brother Martin) called these two verses the 'little gospel' or the good news in a nut shell.
But just in case you missed it, there will be those who do not believe, who do not trust, who do not look to God for new life/ healing/ wholeness. The implication here is these folks will not receive these blessings. So, either we (the historic Christian witness in the 'inspired Word of God') have distorted God's message in Jesus, or there will be some whose lives will be a 'dead end.'
Not many 21st century folks believe in a fiery hell, but I am not sure what the implications are for those who turn away. It doesn't sound too good. I know that I don't want to go there.
For God so loved the world....notice that God's action comes first, before anything else
that God gave the begotten Son.....next time the idea of generous giving for the sake of God's kingdom comes up, remember this phrase. Clearly God didn't weigh the world's need next to the cost of cableTV.
so that whoever believes in him......notice how open that invitation is. Anyone. Everyone. It is also helpful to replace the word 'believes' with the word 'trusts'. It gets us out of our heads and into our hearts and lives
shall not perish.....much has been written on this. It only makes sense in my faith if I don't take it literally and assume that 'perishing' has a different and deeper understanding than 'dying.'
but have eternal life.....many will translate this into 'go to heaven'. Not a bad translation but a weak one in my opinion. 'To tap into the fullness of life that comes from the divine' would offer to me a richer, deeper and life-altering experience of the presence of God within my life today and every day.
But don't stop there. Verse 17
For God did not send his son into the world.....Jesus is then an intentional action of the Divine God
to condemn the world......this wasn't a search and kill mission. Frankly, the world was doing a pretty good job of 'going to hell in a handbasket' all by itself. It didn't need God's assistance
but in order that............this phrase is going to point us to the purpose of God's action in Jesus. (that is what 'in order that' signifies)
the world might be saved through him.......Jesus comes so we might know life/ healing/ wholeness. That is what forgiveness brings to people - a healing of whatever the broken past is that is so weighing us down that we cannot fully live into the future. Forgiveness gives us a 'do over' a new beginning, or as the gospel of John puts it .....so we might be saved.
Luther (brother Martin) called these two verses the 'little gospel' or the good news in a nut shell.
But just in case you missed it, there will be those who do not believe, who do not trust, who do not look to God for new life/ healing/ wholeness. The implication here is these folks will not receive these blessings. So, either we (the historic Christian witness in the 'inspired Word of God') have distorted God's message in Jesus, or there will be some whose lives will be a 'dead end.'
Not many 21st century folks believe in a fiery hell, but I am not sure what the implications are for those who turn away. It doesn't sound too good. I know that I don't want to go there.
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