Jesus was his ministry. He was God and wherever he was his Presence was there, full of the energy of light, life, and love. As I read about the events of Good Friday I am aware of his suffering and wonder what he must have felt. Here he is, going through feeling abandoned by is disciples, being misunderstood by the people he considered his, being mocked, spit upon, and beaten. Yet, in the wake of his abuse, a man who had his ear cut off is healed, Herod and Pilate end the enmity between them and become friends, a criminal on a cross next to him is redeemed and promised Paradise, and a centurion ended up acknowledging and praising God.
The Presence of God is powerful and is full of life energy. That energy is now made available to those who believe in the Presence and the power. Unfortunately, I am often like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. I know the facts and events of my faith, try and share those facts and events with others, but somehow come up empty because I am oblivious to his Presence right along side of me. I get heady and religious in my walk, distracted by situations around me. For the two disciples it was the events of the crucifixion; for me it’s issues like abortion, religious freedom, or the absence of God in the affairs of our country and our world today. But when my day is spent and I sit at table with him, break bread with him, my eyes are open and I recognize who he is; my heart is stirred as he talks with me through the scriptures; and I know the power of his Presence through the resurrection of his body. That power, that Presence, brings peace to me, no matter what the circumstances are that surround me.
My response to his declaration of “Peace to me” is not to be frightened, troubled, or have doubts in my heart. All has been fulfilled and finished in him. My mission is to witness that truth and proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sin, in his name, to all.
Keep me ever focused on you, in the simple breaking of the bread and keep my heart stirred as you speak to me through the scriptures, in nature, and through others who hear your voice and live your life. Amen!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
GOD INHABITS A HUMBLE ESTATE
The contrast between pride and humility is seen in many of the stories in Luke; the Pharisee and the tax collector, the rich ruler and the blind man, the rich ruler and Zacchaeus, and throughout the book in the Pharisees and Jesus. Humility is not a gift of the Spirit. It is an attitude that I am responsible for developing and cultivating in my life. Pride is easy to come by and it must be weeded out frequently.
Confession of my falling short of how God wants me to be is a way to keep me in a place of humility. It gives me awareness, not condemnation or self loathing, when I get off track or out of alignment. I don’t like the dark sides of me. But if I don’t pay attention to them, or keep them hidden deep inside, the darkness will overcome me.
The practice of daily examination and confession brings light to the little things that become bigger and often unmanageable things. I like the fact that God truly forgives my imperfections and that causes me to love him even more, which causes me to sin even less.
I like Mary’s description of her ‘humble estate’. There is something freeing about living in humility. Pride produces pressure to maintain it. Humility frees me of that pressure and keeps me close to the Presence. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6)”
Confession of my falling short of how God wants me to be is a way to keep me in a place of humility. It gives me awareness, not condemnation or self loathing, when I get off track or out of alignment. I don’t like the dark sides of me. But if I don’t pay attention to them, or keep them hidden deep inside, the darkness will overcome me.
The practice of daily examination and confession brings light to the little things that become bigger and often unmanageable things. I like the fact that God truly forgives my imperfections and that causes me to love him even more, which causes me to sin even less.
I like Mary’s description of her ‘humble estate’. There is something freeing about living in humility. Pride produces pressure to maintain it. Humility frees me of that pressure and keeps me close to the Presence. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6)”
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
NO ROOM FOR FINGER POINTING
There is no room for finger pointing when it comes to sin and repentance. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). In the political debate this year, one would think that sex and homosexuality were the only sins, the only things that God finds offensive. Paul, in Galatians 5:19-23 lists sexual immorality among the works of the flesh that keep us separated from God. “Now the works of the flesh are evident; sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality…” But there are more things listed; ones that don’t get mentioned because they have become accepted in our daily lives. Things like, “Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like this.” All fall short of the life God has planned for us; a life of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.”
It’s easy to point fingers at those who are living a sexually permissive life, either gay or straight. That’s when we hear the comparison to Sodom and Gomorrah, cities God destroyed because of their sin. But Ezekiel 16: 49, 50
Reveal something else as to what displeased God. “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom; she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them when I saw it.” That kind of puts things in perspective. All fall short…
Repentance means a change of heart, mind, and actions. We become children of God and we do things that are pleasing to God. John the Baptist explains what the fruit of repentance is in Luke 3:10-14. “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise; tax collectors are to collect no more than you are authorized to do; soldiers are not to extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusations, and be content with your wages.” God is concerned with sexual immorality to be sure. But he is equally, if not more concerned with economic fairness and social justice. Once again, all fall short…
I remember when I was 9 or 10, going to a church service on the naval base we were living on. The preacher pointed his finger at the congregation and said, “Remember, when you are pointing your finger at someone, there are three fingers in your hand pointing back at you.” I have never forgotten that message.
We all fall short of God’s standard, so there is no room for finger pointing. A more fruitful and productive action would be to lift our hands in repentance to God, and then join hands with one another and work to bring the principles of economic fairness, social justice, and love, peace, and joy of the kingdom of God to earth. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
It’s easy to point fingers at those who are living a sexually permissive life, either gay or straight. That’s when we hear the comparison to Sodom and Gomorrah, cities God destroyed because of their sin. But Ezekiel 16: 49, 50
Reveal something else as to what displeased God. “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom; she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them when I saw it.” That kind of puts things in perspective. All fall short…
Repentance means a change of heart, mind, and actions. We become children of God and we do things that are pleasing to God. John the Baptist explains what the fruit of repentance is in Luke 3:10-14. “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise; tax collectors are to collect no more than you are authorized to do; soldiers are not to extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusations, and be content with your wages.” God is concerned with sexual immorality to be sure. But he is equally, if not more concerned with economic fairness and social justice. Once again, all fall short…
I remember when I was 9 or 10, going to a church service on the naval base we were living on. The preacher pointed his finger at the congregation and said, “Remember, when you are pointing your finger at someone, there are three fingers in your hand pointing back at you.” I have never forgotten that message.
We all fall short of God’s standard, so there is no room for finger pointing. A more fruitful and productive action would be to lift our hands in repentance to God, and then join hands with one another and work to bring the principles of economic fairness, social justice, and love, peace, and joy of the kingdom of God to earth. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
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