Year A Baptism of the Lord 9 January 2011
Isaiah 42: 1-9 Psalm 29 Acts 10: 34-43 Matthew 3: 13-17
Isaiah 42:6-7 “6 “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”
We, as Church, can take these words from Isaiah as our call from God. We are called in righteousness by Him to be a covenant and a light, bringing the promise of God to the people in our community. It is our call to reveal the Good News of God and in so doing, open the eyes of the blind. It is our call to free the captives from the prison of darkness, despair and meaninglessness. But....... What is it that is holding us captive?
When I look around at the lives of Christian people around me, it seems that many of us are crippled in our mission and God given call. We are crippled by hurt and ignorance, and also by our actions or the judgment of our actions, whether deserved or not. Hurt is inevitable as a fact of life on planet earth, but due to that hurt we often shut ourselves away from the truth of God’s love. Truly, in the searchlight of God’s truth we might discover some of the burdens we are carrying which are keeping us captive.... things that God wants us to let go of as we discover the truth that He reveals to us.
I have had an experience of this myself recently. I was hurt by something that was said to me, but as I thought about the facts I realized the statement wasn’t actually hurtful at all, but instead it was simply the shadow of old judgements based on gossip and the way I felt judged that was making me feel so hurt. I was carrying a false sense of guilt... guilt that I knew wasn’t mine, but guilt that I believed others held me in judgement.
The truth that set me free was realizing that the guilt is not mine. God knows the truth and other opinions didn’t matter. Though they have actually been bad enough to hinder my job prospects and even my perceived ministry....
Knowing my relationship with God was secure made the difference and allowed me to let go of the burden imprisoning me. And yes this is easier said than done, and probably one of those many miracles that God does in the year2011. If he does this for me, you can know He is keen to do it for you too.
I have also been reflecting on how so many vibrant and gifted people in ministry have left ministry due to “false guilt” and other burdens that imprison us. How many of us who have the gift of God’s revelation, have been blinded and imprisoned in the darkness of hurt and lies about God’s rejection?
And then this brings to mind another issue: We all know the many stories of priests and ministers being taken to court for “inappropriate” behaviour, most commonly for sexual abuse, but I would ask you to think about the news we hear about footballers accused in the same way. Some of the footballers we would easily accept as being guilty but there have been plenty who claimed their innocence.... and many who have been victims of the injustice of a lie. Is it possible that this is the case with some of those ministers also?
I had an experience many years ago, where I rolled my car and was charged with driving without due care and attention. I was in 2nd gear, just leaving the carpark with 4 girls who had been at a youth convention. The windscreen quickly fogged and I couldn’t see. I thought I was pulling over to the side but, as I found out, there was no side but a drain. There were no signs or guide posts, just a slight raised edge. I was told by my solicitor that I had to plead guilty. It felt wrong, as I didn’t do anything without care yet had to plead that I did. From what I’ve heard in a few other cases this “pleading guilty” happens quite a bit with others who are also not guilty.
On a Church level we have been crippled by these things whether they’ve been correct judgments or not. What we are missing is the Good News of God’s grace, and also God’s perspective and wisdom.
Jesus was an unlikely candidate for ministry. He appeared to be the son of a woman of questionable character.... after all, she was found to be pregnant with him before her nuptials had been completed. I’ve no doubt that there was plenty of gossip about Jesus. Jesus did not follow any of the accepted protocol for religious behaviour. He didn’t concern himself with the ceremonial washing and constantly broke the commandment about keeping holy the Sabbath day.... or so it seemed. And that is my point. Many things are not as they seem.
Jesus was both fully God and fully human. How do we get our heads around this? As I’ve said previously, I like to parallel this with the movie Superman II. Superman gives up his power and becomes like a normal human – all for the love of Lois Lane. Jesus did the same.
In Jesus giving up his “God” power to become human, means that he was JUST like us. Just like us in every way, except that he did not sin. Even more important is what this means for us as Christians in our lives. You see, this week we read about the Baptism of Jesus. Something very important happened at his baptism:
Matthew 3: 16-17 “16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
The Spirit of God descended to Jesus. After this we see Jesus move into ministry with power.... what power? Remember I just said that, like Superman, Jesus gave up his “God” power.... So the power that Jesus had was the power of the Holy Spirit which came on him – him being a fully human man. The implication is that Jesus lived the life that we too can live. We too have the Holy Spirit. Even more we live in the fulfilment of the promise of God and Jesus intercedes for us. What I’m implying is that we should be living a life that is a lot more empowered and connected to God than the one we are living.
Acts 10: 38 “38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. “
Every now and then I get on my soap box about how we should be relying more on the power of the Holy Spirit. I’m still trying to figure this out myself, but I do really believe that we are not properly utilizing the gift that God has given.
Many times in our church and corporate prayer we insert structure and formula along with a big dash of creative razzle dazzle, such that we don’t actually need the Holy Spirit. Not that there is anything wrong with using structure, formula and creativity. These are God given gifts, but the focus of our efforts needs to be directed and informed by the Spirit of God.
Many years ago I was sent to the Catholic National Liturgical Convention in Melbourne. There were many interesting electives teaching us on different aspects of liturgy. Each day began with everyone together and some kind of prayer service and keynote speaker address.
Over the course of the week I became increasingly disillusioned. There were hymn writers telling us that there was nothing real and everything was subjective and that their songs were full of imagery that could mean absolutely anything. There were song leaders teaching us complicated choral pieces.... (ps – this is a bad thing because people should feel like they are fully participating). All in all I was very disheartened and concerned about the lack of “God” focus in it all.
The final day of the convention the prayer service was run by a drama group. They performed by proclaiming disjointed scripture quotes. None of it connected or pointing to anything - none of it revealing God’s truth and good news. There were many, many candles.... the only bit that made sense. The candles were to symbolize us and then the Pascal candle was the symbol of Christ. When the service was over and the key note speaker came on the candles were extinguished.... but the Christ candle would not go out. No matter what they did that candle stayed lit. Eventually they gave up and left it lit throughout the speaker’s address. It spoke volumes to me and reminds me of the scripture in this week’s readings:
Isaiah 42: “ 1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.”
Isaiah speaks prophetically about Christ. The life of Jesus was not one of a naturally charismatic leader with a squeaky clean background. Isaiah also speaks prophetically about the light of Christ in the church. After the crucifixion, resurrection and then the day of Pentecost, right through to today, the church has had many occasions of being like a bruised reed and a smoldering wick. It seems very much that way now.
Most importantly, Isaiah speaks prophetically a message of encouragement to us personally. We are bruised and battered. We feel that our light is smoldering rather than shining brightly, but God lets us know that the light of Christ in us, just like at the convention, will not snuff out.
We have been given a gift of the light of Christ and have a responsibility to proclaim it: Acts 10: 42“He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
What is stopping us from fulfilling our God given call?
Sometimes it is our inability to forgive others and sometimes our inability to forgive ourselves. We really need to understand God’s grace and love to combat these attacks of Satan which are imprisoning us, and be set free. Did you read the last line of that last quote? “everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
When Jesus died on the cross for our sins were they in the past or the future? The future of course! When we believe and accept the sacrifice of Jesus we need to know that even our future sins are forgiven. Forgive yourself. We need to realize that others are also loved and forgiven when they believe and accept the sacrifice of Jesus – both future and past sins. (Note forgiveness and trust are two different things!)
Whatever it is that is stopping us from our call into ministry we need to give it to God. And when I say “Our call into ministry”, I do mean all of us. We are all called to proclaim the truth that God has revealed to us. For each of us that will take a different form. Ordained by God and anointed by His Holy Spirit to be His witness, if you have that sense deep within you that you are not in the place God wants then it is time to step forward.... and God Himself will give us strength.
Psalm 29 :8-11 “8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” 10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. 11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.”
Monday, January 3, 2011
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Reflection on readings for 2nd January 2011
2nd Sunday after the Nativity 2 January 2011
Jeremiah 31:7-14 Psalm 147: 12-20 Ephesians 1: 3-14 John 1: (1-9), 10-18
John 1:1-5 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
This is one of my favourite passages as it very poetically speaks about the “Word” as a mysterious entity which, although spoken of as the word, obviously is way more than thoughts spoken aloud. This “Word” is not just God speaking, but we are shown this entity has attributes and power. This entity, the “Word” was there in the beginning and with God. More than that, this entity IS God! It is through this entity that all things were made. Although this entity existed for all time we now know him by his name; Jesus.
This reminds me of a part in the movie “The Dawn Treader” from the Narnia Chronicles. Aslan, the lion, speaks to the children about going back to their home and says that when they are back in their world he will be watching them, he’ll be there, but they will need to learn to know him by his other name. The “Word” was known to the ancient Israelites as personally... when you read the Old Testament you get the impression that the “Word” is more of a personal relationship with God rather than a written or spoken word. In the New Testament the people needed to know the “Word” by his other name, “Jesus”.
It is difficult to comprehend that Jesus, that historical figure, written about by Jewish historians and proclaimed in the scriptures, who walked this earth, was there at the beginning of creation and is both with God and IS God. But he IS!
And now we get to the frustrating part. Have you ever known something to be true but unable to convince anyone? Well, Jesus came but his people didn’t recognise him. The God of the Israelites came in human form and not only did most reject him but they crucified him.
John 1:9-13 “ 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
And now we get to the good news. We who recognise the fullness of who Jesus is, are given the privilege of becoming Children of God. Really, this is a pretty big deal and a huge honour and gift. We the created beings who constantly go our own way are given the privilege of becoming God’s child simply by recognising the truth that Jesus is God... and then, by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we have the price of our sin paid for. One of the words used to explain what Jesus did for us on the cross is “redemption”. Our sins cause us to have a price on our heads... and the price for sin is death.
Death! Yes... not just in this life, but also the second death which is spoken of in the book of Revelation. It is one of those unpopular things that we don’t like to talk about but in the year 2011 I believe we need to stand face to face with the truth whether it makes us uncomfortable or not and realize that this is serious stuff. If we die in this life as Christians, redeemed by God and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, then we needn’t fear the second death. This is not a subject to take lightly and when we realize the fullness of God’s gift to us we can be so grateful, because through the sacrifice of Jesus we have been redeemed –or purchased, for a price and now our lives are safe in him.
Ephesians 1:7-10 “7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”
I believe that most of us, including myself, do not have a proper grasp on the big picture that God has. We look at the here and now and worry about mountain which God knows as an anthill. In this life we have hardships and sorrows and because the “Word” became flesh, we know that he understands and cares about our concerns, but we can have comfort that goes beyond understanding when we understand the promises and the gift of God.
Jeremiah 31:11-14 “11 For the LORD will deliver Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they. 12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD— the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,
the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. 13 Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.14 I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty,” declares the LORD.”
We are the children of God and, like any father, He cares for our concerns and we are precious to Him. More than that God has known us before the creation of the world and he chose us. How amazing is that??!! Back when the “Word” was there creating in the beginning, we were in the mind of God and Chosen.
Ephesians 1:3-5 “3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”
This gives us just a glimpse into who we really are. Just as we often fail to see the bigger picture of God’s plan and promises, we also often fail to realise the enormity of our identity in Christ. I often get a bit irritated when people want to run “self-image” classes to help people, when a class on our identity in Christ would give a much truer and more amazing sense of purpose and direction.
John’s Gospel tells us that Jesus is the “Light”. When we are in the light we can see things as they really as. We can see who Jesus really is and we can see who we really are. This is at once comforting and frightening.
I can remember swimming at a place called Marian falls and when I went under the water I kept my eyes closed. The reason was that I might be scared by what I saw. I was swimming and in the water – but didn’t want to see what I was swimming with. I preferred to be “in the dark” rather than know the truth. How senselessly foolish! Many people are like this about life.
We read in John’s Gospel that Jesus was rejected. It would seem that Jesus is still rejected and often for the same reason as me swimming at Marian falls.... People prefer to be in relatively comfortable ignorance rather than face the truth about life and death and the spiritual and physical world. It is like the song “One of us”, which asks the question “What if God was one of us.... and would you want to see, if seeing meant that you would have to believe....”.
When we consciously begin to think about the reality of this, hopefully we realize the foolishness. This world and the spiritual world is a reality which we are “swimming in”. We can close our eyes, but it will not change the reality and the consequences.
In the light of Christ we will find the frightening truth that we are sinners and what the consequence for that sin is, but we need to be assured of the amazing Good News of the promise of God. Assured of God’s love we need to walk in the light of Christ, our lives as an open book before the searchlight of God, acknowledging our need for a saviour, and as a child of God receive the redemption of Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah 31:7-14 Psalm 147: 12-20 Ephesians 1: 3-14 John 1: (1-9), 10-18
John 1:1-5 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
This is one of my favourite passages as it very poetically speaks about the “Word” as a mysterious entity which, although spoken of as the word, obviously is way more than thoughts spoken aloud. This “Word” is not just God speaking, but we are shown this entity has attributes and power. This entity, the “Word” was there in the beginning and with God. More than that, this entity IS God! It is through this entity that all things were made. Although this entity existed for all time we now know him by his name; Jesus.
This reminds me of a part in the movie “The Dawn Treader” from the Narnia Chronicles. Aslan, the lion, speaks to the children about going back to their home and says that when they are back in their world he will be watching them, he’ll be there, but they will need to learn to know him by his other name. The “Word” was known to the ancient Israelites as personally... when you read the Old Testament you get the impression that the “Word” is more of a personal relationship with God rather than a written or spoken word. In the New Testament the people needed to know the “Word” by his other name, “Jesus”.
It is difficult to comprehend that Jesus, that historical figure, written about by Jewish historians and proclaimed in the scriptures, who walked this earth, was there at the beginning of creation and is both with God and IS God. But he IS!
And now we get to the frustrating part. Have you ever known something to be true but unable to convince anyone? Well, Jesus came but his people didn’t recognise him. The God of the Israelites came in human form and not only did most reject him but they crucified him.
John 1:9-13 “ 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
And now we get to the good news. We who recognise the fullness of who Jesus is, are given the privilege of becoming Children of God. Really, this is a pretty big deal and a huge honour and gift. We the created beings who constantly go our own way are given the privilege of becoming God’s child simply by recognising the truth that Jesus is God... and then, by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we have the price of our sin paid for. One of the words used to explain what Jesus did for us on the cross is “redemption”. Our sins cause us to have a price on our heads... and the price for sin is death.
Death! Yes... not just in this life, but also the second death which is spoken of in the book of Revelation. It is one of those unpopular things that we don’t like to talk about but in the year 2011 I believe we need to stand face to face with the truth whether it makes us uncomfortable or not and realize that this is serious stuff. If we die in this life as Christians, redeemed by God and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, then we needn’t fear the second death. This is not a subject to take lightly and when we realize the fullness of God’s gift to us we can be so grateful, because through the sacrifice of Jesus we have been redeemed –or purchased, for a price and now our lives are safe in him.
Ephesians 1:7-10 “7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”
I believe that most of us, including myself, do not have a proper grasp on the big picture that God has. We look at the here and now and worry about mountain which God knows as an anthill. In this life we have hardships and sorrows and because the “Word” became flesh, we know that he understands and cares about our concerns, but we can have comfort that goes beyond understanding when we understand the promises and the gift of God.
Jeremiah 31:11-14 “11 For the LORD will deliver Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they. 12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD— the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,
the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. 13 Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.14 I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty,” declares the LORD.”
We are the children of God and, like any father, He cares for our concerns and we are precious to Him. More than that God has known us before the creation of the world and he chose us. How amazing is that??!! Back when the “Word” was there creating in the beginning, we were in the mind of God and Chosen.
Ephesians 1:3-5 “3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”
This gives us just a glimpse into who we really are. Just as we often fail to see the bigger picture of God’s plan and promises, we also often fail to realise the enormity of our identity in Christ. I often get a bit irritated when people want to run “self-image” classes to help people, when a class on our identity in Christ would give a much truer and more amazing sense of purpose and direction.
John’s Gospel tells us that Jesus is the “Light”. When we are in the light we can see things as they really as. We can see who Jesus really is and we can see who we really are. This is at once comforting and frightening.
I can remember swimming at a place called Marian falls and when I went under the water I kept my eyes closed. The reason was that I might be scared by what I saw. I was swimming and in the water – but didn’t want to see what I was swimming with. I preferred to be “in the dark” rather than know the truth. How senselessly foolish! Many people are like this about life.
We read in John’s Gospel that Jesus was rejected. It would seem that Jesus is still rejected and often for the same reason as me swimming at Marian falls.... People prefer to be in relatively comfortable ignorance rather than face the truth about life and death and the spiritual and physical world. It is like the song “One of us”, which asks the question “What if God was one of us.... and would you want to see, if seeing meant that you would have to believe....”.
When we consciously begin to think about the reality of this, hopefully we realize the foolishness. This world and the spiritual world is a reality which we are “swimming in”. We can close our eyes, but it will not change the reality and the consequences.
In the light of Christ we will find the frightening truth that we are sinners and what the consequence for that sin is, but we need to be assured of the amazing Good News of the promise of God. Assured of God’s love we need to walk in the light of Christ, our lives as an open book before the searchlight of God, acknowledging our need for a saviour, and as a child of God receive the redemption of Jesus Christ.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Reflections on Readings 26th December 2010
Year A First Sunday after the Nativity 26 December 2010
Isaiah 63: 7-9 Psalm 148 Hebrews 2: 10-18 Matthew 2: 13-23
Life on planet Earth is not easy. God coming to us in human flesh, Jesus, reminds me of the Superman II movie. In this episode, in order for Superman to be united in love with Lois Lane, he gives up his super powers and becomes like a normal human being – able to be hurt and vulnerable. At Christmas we celebrate that God did the same out of love for us, but we seldom realize the magnitude of that act and the part that human obedience played.
Hebrews 2:10 “ In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.”
The suffering of Jesus started right from the time he was born... actually even before that. Mary could well have been stoned to death for being pregnant- and her unborn child killed along with her. The path that God took was completely fraught with danger at every turn. We read in the Gospel that Herod tried to kill him and although Jesus was saved - only through the obedience of Joseph, many others were killed by Herod.
Matthew 2:16-18 “ When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Great joy is expressed in the Christmas message about the fulfilment of the promise of God, but parallel to that great joy and accompanying it is incredible stress.
I have occasionally heard people say, “Come Lord Jesus!” What they mean is that they are eagerly awaiting the second coming of Christ. Christ will come again, but just as the contemporaries of Jesus time misunderstood God’s ways then, I expect many Christians will misunderstand the plans of God when he comes again. Those who are so eager for Christ’s return are often those who are finding life on planet Earth way too difficult and want a way out. From what I read and if the message of this week’s readings are to teach us anything, it is that the way of the wonderful promises of God always have been, and always will be, fraught with danger.
We need to look closely at the example of Joseph and Mary in order to learn how to co-operate with promises of God. Danger was always present and with it was great stress, but when they listened to and trusted in God, God’s plan and purpose was fulfilled.
Matthew 2:13-15 “ ... an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.””
It is interesting that for us to be saved – to become a Christian, we need to believe God and to trust him and give our lives to him. Likewise, to walk in his promises, we have the same guidelines – Trust in God completely and give our lives into his hands.
We can not escape our troubles by praying for Christ’s return. It is certain that for many who become Christians, that is when their troubles begin – think of those early Christians fed to the lions – think of St. Paul, a respected Pharisee of high standing in the community – after becoming a Christian he was whipped, stoned, imprisoned, ship wrecked, etc......
After knowing all this I’m sure many wonder why anyone would become a Christian. Why would Mary, a young virgin say yes to God about being the mother of Jesus – knowing that by law she could be stoned to death because who would believe that this child was by God....????? They were obedient to God because they knew God. These people knew the love and mercy of God. They trusted God because they knew his way was the way of Good News and the troubles that they would experience would be entrusted to Him to take care of and He would carry them through.
We experience troubles and, if you are like me, you grumble at God and complain that He doesn’t really care about you. We know from scripture though that this is not true. We know what God is like because Jesus shows us clearly His mercy and love. When we feel that God is removed from our sorrows we can know that it isn’t true. Even the Old Testament reading clearly explains how God feels our distress;
Isaiah 63:8,9 “8 He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior.9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.”
Note that we are not likely to be free from distress, but that God feels this with us and along with saving and redeeming us, he will carry us through. We also know that He understands our sufferings because in Jesus He became fully human and experienced suffering:
Hebrews 2:14- 18 “ 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
At the end of the Superman movie Superman has to take back his super powers for the greater good. Lois Lane is left confused and hurt. Many of us live in the same confusion and hurt. We are Christians and proclaim the Good news, yet life’s experiences leave us battle weary, confused and hurt. Jesus has risen (taken back his super powers), and for the time being his Kingdom is not yet on Earth as it is in Heaven. We, like Lois Lane in the movie, do not have the whole story. All we can do is to grow in our relationship with God such that we can fully trust him.
Troubles on planet Earth are a certainty. For those who love God, all things will eventually work for Good.... Following God and walking in the path of His promise is no exception to a life of trouble and danger but know that God feels our every distress and so trust in him fully – he will save us and carry us through.
Isaiah 63: 7-9 Psalm 148 Hebrews 2: 10-18 Matthew 2: 13-23
Life on planet Earth is not easy. God coming to us in human flesh, Jesus, reminds me of the Superman II movie. In this episode, in order for Superman to be united in love with Lois Lane, he gives up his super powers and becomes like a normal human being – able to be hurt and vulnerable. At Christmas we celebrate that God did the same out of love for us, but we seldom realize the magnitude of that act and the part that human obedience played.
Hebrews 2:10 “ In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.”
The suffering of Jesus started right from the time he was born... actually even before that. Mary could well have been stoned to death for being pregnant- and her unborn child killed along with her. The path that God took was completely fraught with danger at every turn. We read in the Gospel that Herod tried to kill him and although Jesus was saved - only through the obedience of Joseph, many others were killed by Herod.
Matthew 2:16-18 “ When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Great joy is expressed in the Christmas message about the fulfilment of the promise of God, but parallel to that great joy and accompanying it is incredible stress.
I have occasionally heard people say, “Come Lord Jesus!” What they mean is that they are eagerly awaiting the second coming of Christ. Christ will come again, but just as the contemporaries of Jesus time misunderstood God’s ways then, I expect many Christians will misunderstand the plans of God when he comes again. Those who are so eager for Christ’s return are often those who are finding life on planet Earth way too difficult and want a way out. From what I read and if the message of this week’s readings are to teach us anything, it is that the way of the wonderful promises of God always have been, and always will be, fraught with danger.
We need to look closely at the example of Joseph and Mary in order to learn how to co-operate with promises of God. Danger was always present and with it was great stress, but when they listened to and trusted in God, God’s plan and purpose was fulfilled.
Matthew 2:13-15 “ ... an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.””
It is interesting that for us to be saved – to become a Christian, we need to believe God and to trust him and give our lives to him. Likewise, to walk in his promises, we have the same guidelines – Trust in God completely and give our lives into his hands.
We can not escape our troubles by praying for Christ’s return. It is certain that for many who become Christians, that is when their troubles begin – think of those early Christians fed to the lions – think of St. Paul, a respected Pharisee of high standing in the community – after becoming a Christian he was whipped, stoned, imprisoned, ship wrecked, etc......
After knowing all this I’m sure many wonder why anyone would become a Christian. Why would Mary, a young virgin say yes to God about being the mother of Jesus – knowing that by law she could be stoned to death because who would believe that this child was by God....????? They were obedient to God because they knew God. These people knew the love and mercy of God. They trusted God because they knew his way was the way of Good News and the troubles that they would experience would be entrusted to Him to take care of and He would carry them through.
We experience troubles and, if you are like me, you grumble at God and complain that He doesn’t really care about you. We know from scripture though that this is not true. We know what God is like because Jesus shows us clearly His mercy and love. When we feel that God is removed from our sorrows we can know that it isn’t true. Even the Old Testament reading clearly explains how God feels our distress;
Isaiah 63:8,9 “8 He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior.9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.”
Note that we are not likely to be free from distress, but that God feels this with us and along with saving and redeeming us, he will carry us through. We also know that He understands our sufferings because in Jesus He became fully human and experienced suffering:
Hebrews 2:14- 18 “ 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
At the end of the Superman movie Superman has to take back his super powers for the greater good. Lois Lane is left confused and hurt. Many of us live in the same confusion and hurt. We are Christians and proclaim the Good news, yet life’s experiences leave us battle weary, confused and hurt. Jesus has risen (taken back his super powers), and for the time being his Kingdom is not yet on Earth as it is in Heaven. We, like Lois Lane in the movie, do not have the whole story. All we can do is to grow in our relationship with God such that we can fully trust him.
Troubles on planet Earth are a certainty. For those who love God, all things will eventually work for Good.... Following God and walking in the path of His promise is no exception to a life of trouble and danger but know that God feels our every distress and so trust in him fully – he will save us and carry us through.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Reflection on readings for 19 December 2010
Year A Fourth Sunday of Advent 19 December 2010
Isaiah 7: 10-16 Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19 Romans 1: 1-7 Matthew 1: 18-25
Isaiah 7: 10-14 “10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”
12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.”
13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Throughout this season of Advent there has been a song that keeps coming to mind. The song begins with the words, “I have made you too small in my eye. Oh Lord, forgive”. Then the chorus goes on.. “be magnified oh Lord.....”
I feel that this week’s readings really ask us the question, Have we made God too small in our eyes?
How strange it is, that only last week I was speaking about my lovely car, because right after I sent the reflection I went to go somewhere in my car and the back door wouldn’t open. It seemed like something was jamming it and I tried numerous times to open it – without forcing it as I knew that would do damage.
In the meantime I continued to drive my car and do things as I didn’t have time to take the car to someone to get it fixed. I prayed about it. I prayed something like, “God, I know you can do all things.. do you think you could fix my door?”
Imagine my surprise when a few days later I asked Brittany to have a go at doing exactly what I’d done numerous times in an effort to open the door, and it open easily!!!!!
Of course there is probably a logical explanation, and I was pondering that logical explanation, when I realized that I wasn’t acknowledging God’s part..... or minimising his part. I consciously had to check myself and remind myself that God can do these things and I shouldn’t doubt, but should give Him the glory. The door was fixed after prayer and beyond any doubt to me – God did it! Does God care about these seemingly trivial things? We have only to read the Gospels to see the many seemingly trivial things that Jesus provided for the people. He cares about anything that is concern to us - small or great!
Have we reduced God to that safety net for when we die, diminishing his power to affect our lives here and now?
In our first reading God speaks to the king Ahaz to ask him for a sign. King Ahaz was a king dreading two kings who were against him.... he needed encouragement from God. He needed to have a promise of assurance from God, but he didn’t expect to get it. God gives him assurance regardless and gives the prophetic message about the virgin being with child.
We really are no different from King Ahaz. We need the encouragement of God’s promise, but do we expect God to do this for us? We hear the message of God, but it goes in one ear and out the other, as we expect that it isn’t really for us.... and we don’t ask God for assurance in a sign... we would feel foolish... And yet God was happy to give Ahaz a sign.
Now not only do we minimise God in our eyes by not expecting him to encourage us with personal promises, but we doubt the signs that he has given.
Do you think it was any less perplexing to the people who originally received this message – that a virgin would be with child- than it is for those in our generation? People often ask things about God, things that they don’t understand and can’t grasp, and it all boils down to this same attitude of doubt.
Our readings this week remind us of the virgin birth. It is a stumbling block to unbelievers and sadly many believers over the years have lost faith over this and other issues. There are many things about God that we can not understand. A little child asking a father to explain quantum physics would be left just as perplexed. In the same way we are the children of God and our minds are too immature to grasp some things about God. But some things we don’t understand are not because we can’t but that we are unwilling to except the greatness of God.
I was having a conversation with a friend who was having difficulty comprehending the Trinity. How can God be one and yet three? And how can Jesus be God yet call God his father? It is an issue that comes up often and I have used many explanations, but they are never quite adequate to settle the matter. Co-incidentally, we’d been watching TV and the ad for the chocolates, Fererer Roche’s had been on a little earlier. It is the one where there are three different kinds of chocolates are offered to the beautiful goddess. Everyone waits to see which she’ll choose first. Then she becomes three and chooses one of each. Perfect!
We have this amazing gift of imagination that allows us to accept these fantasy aspects without question. So why can’t we apply the same principles to God? The answer is that we make God too small in our eyes. We reduce him to our own limitations instead to realizing that he is God.
At Christmas we celebrate that Jesus came.... he was the promised Messiah, but he was much more than anyone anticipated.
Romans 1:1-4 “ 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Humanly speaking, Jesus was a descendant of King David. In fact his linage can be traced back to Adam. But more importantly he was the son of God. He was like us and yet he is God. There is so much more to Jesus and the evidence for that is that he rose from the dead.
The Resurrection is another stumbling block. Many have tried to explain it away in “logical” terms. I’ve even come across the notion that Jesus wasn’t really dead.... just unconscious. No one who reads the scriptures can possibly believe such a ridiculous lie. Jesus blood was completely shed and the guards checked to see that he was dead before taking him from the cross. They saw that he was already dead and so they didn’t break his legs as they did to other crucifixion victims, but just to be absolutely certain they pierced his side... that was when the water flowed out with the last remnants of Jesus blood.
Now.... I can come up with many logical explanations for my car door and say that God was behind it, but it was still logical, but the resurrection is a whole different story. The resurrection happened because Jesus is God and God is beyond our human logic.
When we have truly grasped this, the virgin birth needs no explanation or discussion.
I pray that this Christmas we grow to really accept the miracles of God. Our faith is a story of God’s love and power, his amazing sacrifice in becoming vulnerable and dying for us. But as St. Paul has said in his letter, if the resurrection has not happened then everything is a lie, and we should be pitied and ridiculous people with a ridiculous faith... but the resurrection did happen. Let us not make God too small in our eyes. “Oh Lord, be magnified.”
Isaiah 7: 10-16 Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19 Romans 1: 1-7 Matthew 1: 18-25
Isaiah 7: 10-14 “10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”
12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.”
13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Throughout this season of Advent there has been a song that keeps coming to mind. The song begins with the words, “I have made you too small in my eye. Oh Lord, forgive”. Then the chorus goes on.. “be magnified oh Lord.....”
I feel that this week’s readings really ask us the question, Have we made God too small in our eyes?
How strange it is, that only last week I was speaking about my lovely car, because right after I sent the reflection I went to go somewhere in my car and the back door wouldn’t open. It seemed like something was jamming it and I tried numerous times to open it – without forcing it as I knew that would do damage.
In the meantime I continued to drive my car and do things as I didn’t have time to take the car to someone to get it fixed. I prayed about it. I prayed something like, “God, I know you can do all things.. do you think you could fix my door?”
Imagine my surprise when a few days later I asked Brittany to have a go at doing exactly what I’d done numerous times in an effort to open the door, and it open easily!!!!!
Of course there is probably a logical explanation, and I was pondering that logical explanation, when I realized that I wasn’t acknowledging God’s part..... or minimising his part. I consciously had to check myself and remind myself that God can do these things and I shouldn’t doubt, but should give Him the glory. The door was fixed after prayer and beyond any doubt to me – God did it! Does God care about these seemingly trivial things? We have only to read the Gospels to see the many seemingly trivial things that Jesus provided for the people. He cares about anything that is concern to us - small or great!
Have we reduced God to that safety net for when we die, diminishing his power to affect our lives here and now?
In our first reading God speaks to the king Ahaz to ask him for a sign. King Ahaz was a king dreading two kings who were against him.... he needed encouragement from God. He needed to have a promise of assurance from God, but he didn’t expect to get it. God gives him assurance regardless and gives the prophetic message about the virgin being with child.
We really are no different from King Ahaz. We need the encouragement of God’s promise, but do we expect God to do this for us? We hear the message of God, but it goes in one ear and out the other, as we expect that it isn’t really for us.... and we don’t ask God for assurance in a sign... we would feel foolish... And yet God was happy to give Ahaz a sign.
Now not only do we minimise God in our eyes by not expecting him to encourage us with personal promises, but we doubt the signs that he has given.
Do you think it was any less perplexing to the people who originally received this message – that a virgin would be with child- than it is for those in our generation? People often ask things about God, things that they don’t understand and can’t grasp, and it all boils down to this same attitude of doubt.
Our readings this week remind us of the virgin birth. It is a stumbling block to unbelievers and sadly many believers over the years have lost faith over this and other issues. There are many things about God that we can not understand. A little child asking a father to explain quantum physics would be left just as perplexed. In the same way we are the children of God and our minds are too immature to grasp some things about God. But some things we don’t understand are not because we can’t but that we are unwilling to except the greatness of God.
I was having a conversation with a friend who was having difficulty comprehending the Trinity. How can God be one and yet three? And how can Jesus be God yet call God his father? It is an issue that comes up often and I have used many explanations, but they are never quite adequate to settle the matter. Co-incidentally, we’d been watching TV and the ad for the chocolates, Fererer Roche’s had been on a little earlier. It is the one where there are three different kinds of chocolates are offered to the beautiful goddess. Everyone waits to see which she’ll choose first. Then she becomes three and chooses one of each. Perfect!
We have this amazing gift of imagination that allows us to accept these fantasy aspects without question. So why can’t we apply the same principles to God? The answer is that we make God too small in our eyes. We reduce him to our own limitations instead to realizing that he is God.
At Christmas we celebrate that Jesus came.... he was the promised Messiah, but he was much more than anyone anticipated.
Romans 1:1-4 “ 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Humanly speaking, Jesus was a descendant of King David. In fact his linage can be traced back to Adam. But more importantly he was the son of God. He was like us and yet he is God. There is so much more to Jesus and the evidence for that is that he rose from the dead.
The Resurrection is another stumbling block. Many have tried to explain it away in “logical” terms. I’ve even come across the notion that Jesus wasn’t really dead.... just unconscious. No one who reads the scriptures can possibly believe such a ridiculous lie. Jesus blood was completely shed and the guards checked to see that he was dead before taking him from the cross. They saw that he was already dead and so they didn’t break his legs as they did to other crucifixion victims, but just to be absolutely certain they pierced his side... that was when the water flowed out with the last remnants of Jesus blood.
Now.... I can come up with many logical explanations for my car door and say that God was behind it, but it was still logical, but the resurrection is a whole different story. The resurrection happened because Jesus is God and God is beyond our human logic.
When we have truly grasped this, the virgin birth needs no explanation or discussion.
I pray that this Christmas we grow to really accept the miracles of God. Our faith is a story of God’s love and power, his amazing sacrifice in becoming vulnerable and dying for us. But as St. Paul has said in his letter, if the resurrection has not happened then everything is a lie, and we should be pitied and ridiculous people with a ridiculous faith... but the resurrection did happen. Let us not make God too small in our eyes. “Oh Lord, be magnified.”
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Reflection on readings 12 December 2010 third Sunday in Advent
Year A Third Sunday of Advent 12 December 2010
Isaiah 35: 1-10 Psalm 146: 5-10 OR Luke 1: 47-55 James 5: 7-10 Matthew 11: 2-11
I can remember someone saying that the expectant anticipation for a promised good thing is sometimes better than the actual event. I disagree though. After waiting a year or so, knowing that I needed to get a new car, and doing lots of research, and then waiting for the “right” time, I finally ordered my car from Melbourne. Every time I get in to drive my car, now a year and a half old, I’m still thanking God for my “new” car.
While anticipating an event there are definite points of excitement. When we confirm our reservations for that big holiday, we know that within that confirmation is the promise of a fantastic event. It is no longer a maybe or just “talk”, but instead it is a “promise”. Even though the event may be months away we have that excited buzz as though we were receiving the promise today.
Isaiah received the message about the coming promised Messiah and proclaims the message in our first reading;
Isaiah 35:4-6 “4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.”
There is a sense of excitement and joy in what we know God will do and there is encouragement to be strong as we wait.
When we read the Psalm, the song of Mary (Magnificat), we are swept up in the excitement and joy of what God has already done. This reading declares to the hearers the nature of God and his concern for the weak and poor. Apparently in Guatemala, in the 1980’s, the song of Mary was banned by the Government who feared that it may incite the oppressed to riot.
On the complete flip side to the possible rioting caused by knowing that God is on the side of the oppressed, we find the second reading, a letter from James, exhorting us to wait patiently for the coming of God and his kingdom. At a first glance this reading could well give its hearers the impression that the oppressed and those who care for them need to just sit back and wait – doing nothing. But this is not correct either.
James 5:7,8 “ 7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
We live in a farming community but we might not be aware that the “patient” waiting on the growth of the crops is not a passive waiting, but rather it is active. The farmer will be actively involved in caring for that crop, constantly defending it from those that might destroy it and constantly nurturing its growth in the form of fertilizing etc.. In the same way we need to think about how we wait patiently for the coming of God.
Jesus, the promised Messiah came to save us, and he will come again. So we need to understand what we are meant to do as we “wait patiently”. For certain, we are not to sit back doing nothing. According to Matthew Henry’s commentary, “This Christian patience is not a mere yielding to necessity, as the moral patience taught by some philosophers was, but it is a humble acquiescence in the wisdom and will of God, with an eye to a future glorious recompense: Be patient to the coming of the Lord.”
Like the farmer who waits patiently for the things he has no control over, we have no control over when Jesus will come again, but as we patiently wait for that day we actively ready our lives and for his coming. As the farmer has responsibility to ready his crop, to defend it and nurture it, we too need have responsibility to ready, defend and nurture our faith.... both for ourselves and for those to whom God has put in our care.
The prophetic proclamation of the coming Messiah was repeated and confirmed at many times in the history of the Israelite nation. It is always necessary to test the prophecies, which is why John the Baptist, though he’d had word from God himself at the time of Jesus baptism, still asks his followers to find out if Jesus is the Messiah. He needed to have the matter confirmed from another source to settle the matter. Jesus answers his question by quoting the scriptural prophecy about signs that follow the coming of the Messiah. When the Messiah comes the blind will see and the deaf will hear. Jesus doesn’t testify on his own behalf, but the miracles and scriptures testify for him.
Our lives need to bear witness to the Gospel. We can tell people that Jesus saves us and that he will come again, but even Jesus didn’t rely only on his own say so. Jesus’ life and actions bore testimony to the truth. Do our lives, as well as our actions, bear testimony to the Good News that Jesus is alive and will come again?
“.......Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” The Holy Spirit is the stream. Our lives are a wilderness – and often a desert. We want to have the life of God flowing through us and bearing witness, but lack the knowledge and strength. The Holy Spirit is the gift God gives to help us. When Jesus came and saved us by his death on the cross and resurrection, he didn’t leave it at that he also sent us the “stream in the desert” – the gift of God’s presence and power in a place that was once devoid of God.... in our lives. Take the gift and use it to defend and nurture your crop as you “wait patiently” for the coming of God. It is not known when Jesus will come again, but it is certain that he WILL come again.
Isaiah 35: 1-10 Psalm 146: 5-10 OR Luke 1: 47-55 James 5: 7-10 Matthew 11: 2-11
I can remember someone saying that the expectant anticipation for a promised good thing is sometimes better than the actual event. I disagree though. After waiting a year or so, knowing that I needed to get a new car, and doing lots of research, and then waiting for the “right” time, I finally ordered my car from Melbourne. Every time I get in to drive my car, now a year and a half old, I’m still thanking God for my “new” car.
While anticipating an event there are definite points of excitement. When we confirm our reservations for that big holiday, we know that within that confirmation is the promise of a fantastic event. It is no longer a maybe or just “talk”, but instead it is a “promise”. Even though the event may be months away we have that excited buzz as though we were receiving the promise today.
Isaiah received the message about the coming promised Messiah and proclaims the message in our first reading;
Isaiah 35:4-6 “4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.”
There is a sense of excitement and joy in what we know God will do and there is encouragement to be strong as we wait.
When we read the Psalm, the song of Mary (Magnificat), we are swept up in the excitement and joy of what God has already done. This reading declares to the hearers the nature of God and his concern for the weak and poor. Apparently in Guatemala, in the 1980’s, the song of Mary was banned by the Government who feared that it may incite the oppressed to riot.
On the complete flip side to the possible rioting caused by knowing that God is on the side of the oppressed, we find the second reading, a letter from James, exhorting us to wait patiently for the coming of God and his kingdom. At a first glance this reading could well give its hearers the impression that the oppressed and those who care for them need to just sit back and wait – doing nothing. But this is not correct either.
James 5:7,8 “ 7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
We live in a farming community but we might not be aware that the “patient” waiting on the growth of the crops is not a passive waiting, but rather it is active. The farmer will be actively involved in caring for that crop, constantly defending it from those that might destroy it and constantly nurturing its growth in the form of fertilizing etc.. In the same way we need to think about how we wait patiently for the coming of God.
Jesus, the promised Messiah came to save us, and he will come again. So we need to understand what we are meant to do as we “wait patiently”. For certain, we are not to sit back doing nothing. According to Matthew Henry’s commentary, “This Christian patience is not a mere yielding to necessity, as the moral patience taught by some philosophers was, but it is a humble acquiescence in the wisdom and will of God, with an eye to a future glorious recompense: Be patient to the coming of the Lord.”
Like the farmer who waits patiently for the things he has no control over, we have no control over when Jesus will come again, but as we patiently wait for that day we actively ready our lives and for his coming. As the farmer has responsibility to ready his crop, to defend it and nurture it, we too need have responsibility to ready, defend and nurture our faith.... both for ourselves and for those to whom God has put in our care.
The prophetic proclamation of the coming Messiah was repeated and confirmed at many times in the history of the Israelite nation. It is always necessary to test the prophecies, which is why John the Baptist, though he’d had word from God himself at the time of Jesus baptism, still asks his followers to find out if Jesus is the Messiah. He needed to have the matter confirmed from another source to settle the matter. Jesus answers his question by quoting the scriptural prophecy about signs that follow the coming of the Messiah. When the Messiah comes the blind will see and the deaf will hear. Jesus doesn’t testify on his own behalf, but the miracles and scriptures testify for him.
Our lives need to bear witness to the Gospel. We can tell people that Jesus saves us and that he will come again, but even Jesus didn’t rely only on his own say so. Jesus’ life and actions bore testimony to the truth. Do our lives, as well as our actions, bear testimony to the Good News that Jesus is alive and will come again?
“.......Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” The Holy Spirit is the stream. Our lives are a wilderness – and often a desert. We want to have the life of God flowing through us and bearing witness, but lack the knowledge and strength. The Holy Spirit is the gift God gives to help us. When Jesus came and saved us by his death on the cross and resurrection, he didn’t leave it at that he also sent us the “stream in the desert” – the gift of God’s presence and power in a place that was once devoid of God.... in our lives. Take the gift and use it to defend and nurture your crop as you “wait patiently” for the coming of God. It is not known when Jesus will come again, but it is certain that he WILL come again.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Reflection on Readings for 5th December 2010
Year A Second Sunday of Advent 5 December 2010
Isaiah 11: 1-10 Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19 Romans 15: 4-13 Matthew 3: 1-12
Isaiah 11: 1-3 “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;”
Way back in the time of Isaiah there was this prophecy about the coming Messiah who would come from the ancestral line of Jesse (ie King David). I have been wondering lately why God so often promised things which took such a long time to be fulfilled. To some extent we need to know that there is a plan and that God has good things in store for us, but the waiting is certainly painful and many times the majority give up before the promise is fulfilled.
A promise gives us direction and defines our path. A young friend of mine (who is on the list of those receiving this reflection), has just recently become engaged. She and her boyfriend were very particular about their “dating”. They only “dated” with the prospect of their relationship being discerned in the context of marriage. No doubt they’d been enjoying their life as a young couple, both involved in career studies, but since they have become engaged their life has taken a definite turn. Their journey now is less of discernment and more of preparation for the reality of their life within the marriage covenant.
In a similar way God gave a word of promise. In our journey of faith, we need these promises to shape our paths and give our faith direction. We are believers and accept that Christ died to save us from our sin, but we need to remember that there is a promise from God that Christ will come again.
I really do feel that many of us have forgotten the promise. We accept the sacrifice of Jesus and are baptised but as far as our faith life taking a definite direction, it is more like poorly trained child swimmers striving to tread water. We splash about and sometimes make a bit of noise but we don’t seem to have a direction or a purpose. Honestly, can you see this in your own life?
It isn’t that we don’t have a sound faith – we do, but we need to remember the promises of God and let them shape our lives.
Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
We need to be reading our Bibles and become familiar with the promises of God. These things have been carefully recorded and, as it says in Romans, they are written to teach us. The letter to the Romans was written in times when Christians were being persecuted and put to death in very cruel ways. These Christians need to be encouraged to have hope. They were enabled to endure all their sufferings because their life had direction and purpose in Christ and hope in the promises of God.
Matthew 3:1- 1 “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
John the Baptist was one who proclaimed the promise of God. Although many were still hoping in the coming of the Messiah, I would imagine that there were some who may have given up believing that a Messiah was ever going to come. Then at that point in history along comes John to remind them all. He calls them to repent – why? because many of them were like poorly trained child swimmers treading water. They were people of faith but their lives had lost focus and direction – which is why John’s message involves exhorting them to make straight paths in preparation for the Lord.
The message is the same for us. We now look toward Christ’s 2nd coming and he has been a long time coming. We’ve become so absorbed by the doctrines of the world that we’ve lost focus on the absolute truth of God. It doesn’t matter how popular the worldly way of thinking maybe, it will lead to death. We need to hear the reality, “Christ will come again”.
When Christ does come will you stand without fear as his wrath invades the land? Will you walk a path that you know is God’s will? John warned the Sadducees and Pharisees about the coming wrath.... and yet I suspect this message is as much for end times as it was for them personally. This is what he says to them: Matthew 3:7 “ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.”
The message is that we cannot rely on our traditions or heritage to save us. We can’t just say that “we are Christians”. We need to know that Christ dwells in us and that we are lead by the Holy Spirit.
By the Holy Spirit we are taught to have an attitude of Christ. In each of our readings we learn a bit about the attitude of Christ. From Isaiah and the Psalm we learn that Christ is wise and understanding. He judges not by what he hears and sees but with righteousness. He judges in favour of the poor and needy and cares for those who are the weak. Our 2nd reading exhorts us to accept one another just as Christ accepted us.... there is a lot of sacrificial love in that.
Our Gospel reading from Matthew tells us that it is Jesus who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. This is the same Holy Spirit, which if we will allow his work in our lives, will encourage us with hope. This hope in the promise of God and the encouragement that it gives empowers us to endure. And so finally...... we need to live our lives in the reality of the promises of God. This means we need to prepare.
Like John the Baptist we have a message to proclaim. “Prepare the way for the Lord”. We need to proclaim it to ourselves, to each other and to those outside the Church.
The purpose of God in revealing his promises is to encourage us in hope so that we can endure through all that may happen in the meantime, but it is also to remind us to prepare. Prepare the way for the Lord – make straight paths for him!
Romans 15:13 “ 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Isaiah 11: 1-10 Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19 Romans 15: 4-13 Matthew 3: 1-12
Isaiah 11: 1-3 “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;”
Way back in the time of Isaiah there was this prophecy about the coming Messiah who would come from the ancestral line of Jesse (ie King David). I have been wondering lately why God so often promised things which took such a long time to be fulfilled. To some extent we need to know that there is a plan and that God has good things in store for us, but the waiting is certainly painful and many times the majority give up before the promise is fulfilled.
A promise gives us direction and defines our path. A young friend of mine (who is on the list of those receiving this reflection), has just recently become engaged. She and her boyfriend were very particular about their “dating”. They only “dated” with the prospect of their relationship being discerned in the context of marriage. No doubt they’d been enjoying their life as a young couple, both involved in career studies, but since they have become engaged their life has taken a definite turn. Their journey now is less of discernment and more of preparation for the reality of their life within the marriage covenant.
In a similar way God gave a word of promise. In our journey of faith, we need these promises to shape our paths and give our faith direction. We are believers and accept that Christ died to save us from our sin, but we need to remember that there is a promise from God that Christ will come again.
I really do feel that many of us have forgotten the promise. We accept the sacrifice of Jesus and are baptised but as far as our faith life taking a definite direction, it is more like poorly trained child swimmers striving to tread water. We splash about and sometimes make a bit of noise but we don’t seem to have a direction or a purpose. Honestly, can you see this in your own life?
It isn’t that we don’t have a sound faith – we do, but we need to remember the promises of God and let them shape our lives.
Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
We need to be reading our Bibles and become familiar with the promises of God. These things have been carefully recorded and, as it says in Romans, they are written to teach us. The letter to the Romans was written in times when Christians were being persecuted and put to death in very cruel ways. These Christians need to be encouraged to have hope. They were enabled to endure all their sufferings because their life had direction and purpose in Christ and hope in the promises of God.
Matthew 3:1- 1 “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
John the Baptist was one who proclaimed the promise of God. Although many were still hoping in the coming of the Messiah, I would imagine that there were some who may have given up believing that a Messiah was ever going to come. Then at that point in history along comes John to remind them all. He calls them to repent – why? because many of them were like poorly trained child swimmers treading water. They were people of faith but their lives had lost focus and direction – which is why John’s message involves exhorting them to make straight paths in preparation for the Lord.
The message is the same for us. We now look toward Christ’s 2nd coming and he has been a long time coming. We’ve become so absorbed by the doctrines of the world that we’ve lost focus on the absolute truth of God. It doesn’t matter how popular the worldly way of thinking maybe, it will lead to death. We need to hear the reality, “Christ will come again”.
When Christ does come will you stand without fear as his wrath invades the land? Will you walk a path that you know is God’s will? John warned the Sadducees and Pharisees about the coming wrath.... and yet I suspect this message is as much for end times as it was for them personally. This is what he says to them: Matthew 3:7 “ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.”
The message is that we cannot rely on our traditions or heritage to save us. We can’t just say that “we are Christians”. We need to know that Christ dwells in us and that we are lead by the Holy Spirit.
By the Holy Spirit we are taught to have an attitude of Christ. In each of our readings we learn a bit about the attitude of Christ. From Isaiah and the Psalm we learn that Christ is wise and understanding. He judges not by what he hears and sees but with righteousness. He judges in favour of the poor and needy and cares for those who are the weak. Our 2nd reading exhorts us to accept one another just as Christ accepted us.... there is a lot of sacrificial love in that.
Our Gospel reading from Matthew tells us that it is Jesus who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. This is the same Holy Spirit, which if we will allow his work in our lives, will encourage us with hope. This hope in the promise of God and the encouragement that it gives empowers us to endure. And so finally...... we need to live our lives in the reality of the promises of God. This means we need to prepare.
Like John the Baptist we have a message to proclaim. “Prepare the way for the Lord”. We need to proclaim it to ourselves, to each other and to those outside the Church.
The purpose of God in revealing his promises is to encourage us in hope so that we can endure through all that may happen in the meantime, but it is also to remind us to prepare. Prepare the way for the Lord – make straight paths for him!
Romans 15:13 “ 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Reflection on readings 28 November 2010
Year A First Sunday of Advent 28 November 2010
Isaiah 2: 1-5 Psalm 122 Romans 13: 11-14 Matthew 24: 36-44
Are we there yet? Yes and almost! Kind of like when you travel to a town and reach the outskirts and you can say, “We’re here”, but you keep driving because there is more until you reach your final destination.
Imagine if you set off on a very long journey and before you reached the end you gave up????? Pretty futile! We need to ensure this is not the story of our faith.
Romans 13: 12 “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.”
Advent is the name of the Church season leading up to Christmas and comes from the Latin word adventus meaning "Coming". For the last few weeks the readings have been heading in the direction of Advent and reminding us to look towards Christ’s second coming. Finally we have reached Advent.... Yes we have arrived but we are still almost there.... The night is nearly over and the day is almost here.
Sometimes when you start thinking about the things of God you can get into quite a head spin. How can we have arrived but not be there yet? We are at once living in the promise of God and the reality of the Good News, but yet we are not fully experiencing it. There is a Spiritual reality that tells us that Jesus has saved us and with our sins being forgiven, we are united to God, and yet in our physical bodies we realize that we struggle and experience feelings of separation from God.... though scripture tells us that nothing can separate us.
There will be a time when our union with Christ will be complete. Our season of Advent is reminding us of this reality. As humans we are bound to experience God and be filled with faith on one day and the next day we find ourselves to be faithless as we walk in the reality of the harsh world around us. Jesus exhorts us to always be ready because the day he comes back will be like a thief in the night.
Our lives are often like the person who tries to do all the right things to protect their home and so installs burglar alarms. As time goes on the batteries go flat..... Our spiritual batteries often go flat also... even at a time such as Christmas... and sometimes especially at a time such as Christmas.
After Joe died I did some internet searching and found a site for widows. I found it helpful to hear from others going through similar experiences. At the moment the conversation seems to be around the dread of facing Christmas with the reality of a lost spouse. I understand what they are saying and yet I know that the Christmas message is especially for those who are in any way feeling loss, hurt and loneliness. Jesus coming into the world is the fulfilment of a promise which brings comfort and great joy when we fully understand it. It is the promise of a restored relationship with God, and in that we have hope in, and assurance of eternal life.
Our readings all point to a time to come; a time of promise. Those of us who have been hurting need this message so badly, and to know that God does promise something better. As with all such prophecies there are layers of fulfilment. God’s promise of coming was accomplished in the original Christmas. At the time of our realization of God’s gift of salvation is another “coming” of Christ. At the time of our death is yet again another personal “coming” of Christ and finally there is the proclaimed second coming of Christ which we proclaim when we say, “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again”.
Matthew 24: 37, 38 “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;”
Daily life carries on. It isn’t that these things should cease, but that within them we should be aware of our message of hope. Our lives should bear witness to the reality of Christ’s coming in our lives and the promise of him coming to our world. Noah had a family who ate, drank and married, but central to and alongside all that, he built an ark.
Someone asked me only today whether God was central to my life or just a part of it. God must be central, all other activities happen as part of what life is but Christ is our life.
If, upon reflection, you have discovered that your spiritual batteries are low, what do you need to do to charge them? We in North Queensland know well the concept of preparation and also how we can become nonchalant. We are reminded each cyclone season to prepare by cleaning up and stocking up on water, batteries and non-perishable food. It’s much better to actually be constantly prepared, rather than getting caught out.
I have a clock that is mounted on a wooden plaque... ironically the clock batteries are flat and the clock doesn’t work (but it is correct twice a day!!!!). The plaque has the words on it, “Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose today and is coming again tomorrow.” This really is a good message for the readings this week, although the message is bigger than this... and better.
We are reminded this week that God has a glorious promise;
Isaiah 2:3-5 “He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.”
It is obvious that we don’t see this promise in our world yet, but we do look forward to it.... however, please note the last line: “Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.” We are the descendants of Jacob by the spirit of God and we need to walk in the light of the Lord. We need to be awake to the ways of God and walking in them.
Romans 13:11-14 “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe your selves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
The reading speaks of clothing ourselves with Christ. We have Christ alive within us, but as our human nature wars with the law of God within us we need to wear the life of Jesus as a garment. We need to assume his way of peace and his attitude. Though keep in mind he didn’t let people mistreat the things of God and even used a whip in the temple.
We charge our spiritual batteries by being at Church and in Bible study. We need the help of each other to encourage us. We can’t “clothe ourselves with Christ” unless we know him. So, set that alarm. This is vital. We do not know when Christ will come.... or just come to take us, so let us properly prepare for his coming and then turn our preparation into a habit that we keep so as to be always ready.
I read a story about a school principal who spoke to a class and offered a prize to the child who kept their desk clean and said he’d do a surprise inspection. He delayed his visit and every child but one had fallen back into messy habits. The one child was ridiculed and told that it was just a trick and that the principal would not come back. Near the end of term the principal arrived and was met with many excuses.... blaming the teacher for not reminding them, blaming the principal for taking too long etc... but of course the one child received the well deserved prize. That child turned a preparation exercise into a habit and attitude of being ever ready.
So... perhaps that particular brand of battery should be a symbol and reminder for us... the “ever ready”!
Isaiah 2: 1-5 Psalm 122 Romans 13: 11-14 Matthew 24: 36-44
Are we there yet? Yes and almost! Kind of like when you travel to a town and reach the outskirts and you can say, “We’re here”, but you keep driving because there is more until you reach your final destination.
Imagine if you set off on a very long journey and before you reached the end you gave up????? Pretty futile! We need to ensure this is not the story of our faith.
Romans 13: 12 “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.”
Advent is the name of the Church season leading up to Christmas and comes from the Latin word adventus meaning "Coming". For the last few weeks the readings have been heading in the direction of Advent and reminding us to look towards Christ’s second coming. Finally we have reached Advent.... Yes we have arrived but we are still almost there.... The night is nearly over and the day is almost here.
Sometimes when you start thinking about the things of God you can get into quite a head spin. How can we have arrived but not be there yet? We are at once living in the promise of God and the reality of the Good News, but yet we are not fully experiencing it. There is a Spiritual reality that tells us that Jesus has saved us and with our sins being forgiven, we are united to God, and yet in our physical bodies we realize that we struggle and experience feelings of separation from God.... though scripture tells us that nothing can separate us.
There will be a time when our union with Christ will be complete. Our season of Advent is reminding us of this reality. As humans we are bound to experience God and be filled with faith on one day and the next day we find ourselves to be faithless as we walk in the reality of the harsh world around us. Jesus exhorts us to always be ready because the day he comes back will be like a thief in the night.
Our lives are often like the person who tries to do all the right things to protect their home and so installs burglar alarms. As time goes on the batteries go flat..... Our spiritual batteries often go flat also... even at a time such as Christmas... and sometimes especially at a time such as Christmas.
After Joe died I did some internet searching and found a site for widows. I found it helpful to hear from others going through similar experiences. At the moment the conversation seems to be around the dread of facing Christmas with the reality of a lost spouse. I understand what they are saying and yet I know that the Christmas message is especially for those who are in any way feeling loss, hurt and loneliness. Jesus coming into the world is the fulfilment of a promise which brings comfort and great joy when we fully understand it. It is the promise of a restored relationship with God, and in that we have hope in, and assurance of eternal life.
Our readings all point to a time to come; a time of promise. Those of us who have been hurting need this message so badly, and to know that God does promise something better. As with all such prophecies there are layers of fulfilment. God’s promise of coming was accomplished in the original Christmas. At the time of our realization of God’s gift of salvation is another “coming” of Christ. At the time of our death is yet again another personal “coming” of Christ and finally there is the proclaimed second coming of Christ which we proclaim when we say, “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again”.
Matthew 24: 37, 38 “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;”
Daily life carries on. It isn’t that these things should cease, but that within them we should be aware of our message of hope. Our lives should bear witness to the reality of Christ’s coming in our lives and the promise of him coming to our world. Noah had a family who ate, drank and married, but central to and alongside all that, he built an ark.
Someone asked me only today whether God was central to my life or just a part of it. God must be central, all other activities happen as part of what life is but Christ is our life.
If, upon reflection, you have discovered that your spiritual batteries are low, what do you need to do to charge them? We in North Queensland know well the concept of preparation and also how we can become nonchalant. We are reminded each cyclone season to prepare by cleaning up and stocking up on water, batteries and non-perishable food. It’s much better to actually be constantly prepared, rather than getting caught out.
I have a clock that is mounted on a wooden plaque... ironically the clock batteries are flat and the clock doesn’t work (but it is correct twice a day!!!!). The plaque has the words on it, “Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose today and is coming again tomorrow.” This really is a good message for the readings this week, although the message is bigger than this... and better.
We are reminded this week that God has a glorious promise;
Isaiah 2:3-5 “He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.”
It is obvious that we don’t see this promise in our world yet, but we do look forward to it.... however, please note the last line: “Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.” We are the descendants of Jacob by the spirit of God and we need to walk in the light of the Lord. We need to be awake to the ways of God and walking in them.
Romans 13:11-14 “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe your selves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
The reading speaks of clothing ourselves with Christ. We have Christ alive within us, but as our human nature wars with the law of God within us we need to wear the life of Jesus as a garment. We need to assume his way of peace and his attitude. Though keep in mind he didn’t let people mistreat the things of God and even used a whip in the temple.
We charge our spiritual batteries by being at Church and in Bible study. We need the help of each other to encourage us. We can’t “clothe ourselves with Christ” unless we know him. So, set that alarm. This is vital. We do not know when Christ will come.... or just come to take us, so let us properly prepare for his coming and then turn our preparation into a habit that we keep so as to be always ready.
I read a story about a school principal who spoke to a class and offered a prize to the child who kept their desk clean and said he’d do a surprise inspection. He delayed his visit and every child but one had fallen back into messy habits. The one child was ridiculed and told that it was just a trick and that the principal would not come back. Near the end of term the principal arrived and was met with many excuses.... blaming the teacher for not reminding them, blaming the principal for taking too long etc... but of course the one child received the well deserved prize. That child turned a preparation exercise into a habit and attitude of being ever ready.
So... perhaps that particular brand of battery should be a symbol and reminder for us... the “ever ready”!
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