Sunday, June 29, 2014
July 6, 2014 4th Sunday after Pentecost
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
“My Yoke Is Easy”
Catchy slogans are not necessarily true - just catchy.
These words of Jesus sound like a catchy slogan - but their not.
Like the slogan - “He ain’t heavy Father, he’s my brother.” they remind us that the yoke which is easy and the burden which is light is so NOT because little is demanded, but because much is first given.
The yoke of Jesus is the commitment to love; it is the call to be kind, loving, good, merciful,
just as we have received mercy. Bearing one another's burdens in love is light! No matter how heavy it gets! To do this we first have to know we are loved. For only the loved can so love.
God first loves us; then God demands much from us. And the much is easy, for it is given in love. This is the yoke which is easy and the burden which is light.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
June 29,’14 Pentecost 3
Matthew 10:40-42 (The Message)
40 "We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. 41 Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God's messenger. Accepting someone's help is as good as giving someone help.
This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. 42 Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on a thing."
Most of the time it is the small things which make a big difference.
Unnoticed by most, unheralded by the media, not even posted on Facebook.
Just an anonymous act of kindness which brighteners someone's life and lifts their spirit.
When this happens God smiles and says "way to go! Keep it up. You too will be blessed by your kindness.”
“We do not know the limits of the redeeming power of the small. Perhaps there are none.” Walter Wink
Sunday, June 15, 2014
June 22, 2014 2nd Sunday After Pentecost
Matthew 10:34-39 (The Message)
34 "Don't think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut - 35 make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law - cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. 36 Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. 37 If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me. 38 "If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. 39 If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me.
Jesus didn’t come just to bless us into complacency, compliance, contentment;
He came to bless us into change. Change which can be disruptive, disturbing, difficult, even destructive on the outside, as it seeks to make more real what is on the inside.
Destructive that is of those systems which are not life giving, just, fair, sensitive, compassionate. Which are not doing good for the least as well as for the most. Even if they are a part of our family.
In the novel " The Invention of Wings" a father, who had been very set in his ways, causing his daughter much anguish as she was not able to live her life free of the shackles placed on her as a white woman In the Deep South in the early 1800's, a white woman who detested slavery and wanted to set her personal slave free, are having their last conversation before he dies. She is caring for him alone, apart from the rest of the family. He awakens from a nap..
‘I held the water glass to his lips and helped him to drink. He said, “We’ve had our quarrels, haven’t we?” I knew what was coming and I wanted to spare him. To spare me. “It doesn’t matter now.” “You’ve always had a strong, separate mind, perhaps even a radical mind, and I was harsh with you at times. You must forgive me.” I couldn’t imagine what it cost him to say these words. “I do,” I said. “And you must forgive me.” “Forgive you for what, Sarah? For following your conscience? Do you think I don’t abhor slavery as you do? Do you think I don’t know it was greed that kept me from following my conscience as you have? The plantation, the house, our entire way of life depended on the slaves.” His face contorted and he clutched at his side a moment before going on. “Or should I forgive you for wanting to give natural expression to your intellect? You were smarter than even Thomas or John, but you’re female, another cruelty I was helpless to change.”
He didn't dare risk change. He died regretting it. Indeed, it is an awesome, challenging, life transforming thing to be open to change! It is at the center of a living faith!
34 "Don't think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut - 35 make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law - cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. 36 Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. 37 If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me. 38 "If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. 39 If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me.
Jesus didn’t come just to bless us into complacency, compliance, contentment;
He came to bless us into change. Change which can be disruptive, disturbing, difficult, even destructive on the outside, as it seeks to make more real what is on the inside.
Destructive that is of those systems which are not life giving, just, fair, sensitive, compassionate. Which are not doing good for the least as well as for the most. Even if they are a part of our family.
In the novel " The Invention of Wings" a father, who had been very set in his ways, causing his daughter much anguish as she was not able to live her life free of the shackles placed on her as a white woman In the Deep South in the early 1800's, a white woman who detested slavery and wanted to set her personal slave free, are having their last conversation before he dies. She is caring for him alone, apart from the rest of the family. He awakens from a nap..
‘I held the water glass to his lips and helped him to drink. He said, “We’ve had our quarrels, haven’t we?” I knew what was coming and I wanted to spare him. To spare me. “It doesn’t matter now.” “You’ve always had a strong, separate mind, perhaps even a radical mind, and I was harsh with you at times. You must forgive me.” I couldn’t imagine what it cost him to say these words. “I do,” I said. “And you must forgive me.” “Forgive you for what, Sarah? For following your conscience? Do you think I don’t abhor slavery as you do? Do you think I don’t know it was greed that kept me from following my conscience as you have? The plantation, the house, our entire way of life depended on the slaves.” His face contorted and he clutched at his side a moment before going on. “Or should I forgive you for wanting to give natural expression to your intellect? You were smarter than even Thomas or John, but you’re female, another cruelty I was helpless to change.”
He didn't dare risk change. He died regretting it. Indeed, it is an awesome, challenging, life transforming thing to be open to change! It is at the center of a living faith!
Sunday, June 8, 2014
June 15, 2014 The Holy Trinity
Matthew 28:16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
“Commissioned As Servants”
With these words we are called to accept a way of life which runs contrary to our way of thinking. We are called to believe something we can’t help doubting. We are called to live as if someone has died for us so we can no longer do it our way no matter how much we would like to live as if we were the only ones who counted. We are called to dare believe that servant hood is the essence of discipleship..
We simply cannot go through life acting as if nothing has happened for us which changes dramatically how we live and move and have our being. The Cross and Open Tomb stand as constant reminders of the sacrifice paid and the call made which forever changes the way we live. We are servants not masters!
“:You were brought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” I Cor 6:20
“A Great Mystery”
Without mystery life looses something deep and beautiful.
Without mystery God becomes something less then God.
The Trinity is a mystery. After all is said and done to help us know God,
the mystery still remains.
On Holy Trinity Sunday we celebrate that mystery even as we worship God the Father, creator of all things; God the Son, Redeemer of all humankind, and God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of all who believe. (And maybe even those who don’t.)
“Great indeed”, we confess, “is the mystery of our religion.” I Tim 3:16
Sunday, June 1, 2014
June 8, 2014 Day of Pentecost
John 20:19-23
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
“Empowered to Forgive”
“Love implies forgiveness. It is hard for us to realize, but actually the only requirement the loving Father places on us, once we come to know Him...is that we forgive as we have been forgiven.” “The Other Side of Silence”, Morton Kelsey, p. 68
Forgiveness is a gift of God’s spirit. It is central to ALL that Jesus said and did.
It is central to what the Church is ALL about. It is a powerful, renewing, uplifting, hope filling, smile producing, releasing gift which in no way is meant to control or dominate the lives of others. It is meant to set one free to really live, with new choices and chances, and renewed vigor. We are to work at being forgiving until forgiveness works!
It can also be a powerful, loving thing to not forgive - to retain someone in their sins - when the grace of forgiveness will only be used to continue irresponsible and even evil action.
There are times to be tough, unforgiving, to practice tough love, which is love which wants to forgive but can’t - yet!
The goal of not forgiving is not to not be forgiving. The goal of not forgiving is to help the process get to the placed where we can forgive. For that is what love always wants to do, and must be ready to do. For we have been forgiven much!
These words are not permission to give up on forgiveness. They are a stern reminder
that without forgiveness there is no tomorrow! Our call is to work at giving away the gift of forgiveness as much and as often as we can, so that no one in our reach needs remain “fastened in their sins”, needs live without the life giving gift of forgiveness
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
“Empowered to Forgive”
“Love implies forgiveness. It is hard for us to realize, but actually the only requirement the loving Father places on us, once we come to know Him...is that we forgive as we have been forgiven.” “The Other Side of Silence”, Morton Kelsey, p. 68
Forgiveness is a gift of God’s spirit. It is central to ALL that Jesus said and did.
It is central to what the Church is ALL about. It is a powerful, renewing, uplifting, hope filling, smile producing, releasing gift which in no way is meant to control or dominate the lives of others. It is meant to set one free to really live, with new choices and chances, and renewed vigor. We are to work at being forgiving until forgiveness works!
It can also be a powerful, loving thing to not forgive - to retain someone in their sins - when the grace of forgiveness will only be used to continue irresponsible and even evil action.
There are times to be tough, unforgiving, to practice tough love, which is love which wants to forgive but can’t - yet!
The goal of not forgiving is not to not be forgiving. The goal of not forgiving is to help the process get to the placed where we can forgive. For that is what love always wants to do, and must be ready to do. For we have been forgiven much!
These words are not permission to give up on forgiveness. They are a stern reminder
that without forgiveness there is no tomorrow! Our call is to work at giving away the gift of forgiveness as much and as often as we can, so that no one in our reach needs remain “fastened in their sins”, needs live without the life giving gift of forgiveness
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