http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik-XOVZcwow
Year A Proper 9 3 July 2011
Genesis 24: 34-38, 42-49, 58-67 Psalm 45: 10-17 OR Song of Solomon 2: 8-13 Romans 7: 15-25a Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30
I recall hearing a hymn that begins with the words, “Come ye weary, heavy laden....” I can’t remember it properly, but I remember the last line was – “If you tarry ‘til you’re ready, you will never come at all”. And that, I think is the message in our readings this week....
Our Gospel reading ends with the invitation: Matthew 11:28-30 ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””
It is an invitation that reminds me of the song that I plan to sing at this weekend’s country music festival. It is a song that I wrote, about how we strive to be holy, but we stumble and fall over and over. The good news in the song and the Good News of Jesus Christ is that we can rest in the knowledge that through faith we have attained a holiness that is not our own – yet is ours through our union with Christ.
In our first reading we have an amazing example of some people of God who said “yes” to God. We read the story and often miss the facts about how hard it may have been for the characters involved.
The servant of Abraham set out to find a wife for Isaac, the son of Abraham. He prayed, and it seemed that Rebekah was the answer to that prayer.
I often wonder if God is constantly giving us opportunities to partake in His fantastic plan, but we continuously say, “No”. Rebekah was a woman in a time of danger. If she didn’t have the protection of a loving husband or family she had no protection from abuse at all. To leave her family and go to marry a man that she had not met was a big step of faith. The servant explained that hand of God was in the situation told them about his prayer and how God had answered it through her, indicating that she was the one destined to marry Isaac. So then Rebekah’s family blessed her with the prophetic words about her offspring: Genesis 24:60 “ And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the cities of their enemies.” This Rebekah is the mother of the Israelite and Edomite nations.
The story ends well for Rebekah, as we are told that Isaac loved Rebekah. Many unions are recorded in the Bible, and many were recorded as being the fulfilment of duty – love seemed to be an optional extra – yet these early and significant unions, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, are those where there was love. Rebekah had to do some hard things in leaving behind her whole life – her family and friends. Rebekah said “yes” to God’s plan and she was blessed with more than a profitable union – she was blessed with the love of her husband.
We have many examples through the lives of people recorded in the Bible, which show us the blessings of those who cooperate with God’s plan. But still we struggle to cooperate with God’s plan. We are called to cooperate with God’s plan – We’ve been commissioned to go and make disciples. How are we going with that?
There is a fantastic song by Keith Green – you may know of his other songs, such as “There is a Redeemer” – the song that I find appropriate for us, is called Asleep in the Light. I know I’ve said this a few times, but I’ll say it again.... We are all so tired from our own battles that it seems no one is really partaking in God’s plan and partaking in the great commission that he gave us to go and make disciples.... Myself included....
Here are just a few words from the song, Asleep in the Light: “.....The world is sleeping in the dark, That the church can't fight, cause it's asleep in the light, How can you be so dead, when you've been so well fed, Jesus rose from the grave, and you, you can't even get out of bed,...” I strongly encourage you to have a listen to the whole song on you tube, as the song brings the message to life in a way that mere words can’t: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik-XOVZcwow
We all know that it is right to proclaim the Gospel and encourage people into a relationship with Christ, but we just don’t seem to be able to motivate ourselves into action. Do you recall the words of that part at church where we confess.... call to mind our failings.... it isn’t just the things we’ve done wrong, but also the good we’ve omitted to do.
Paul puts the dilemma of not doing what we know we should very well in his letter to the Romans:
Romans 7:15-20 “ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”
The reading ends with the Good News... “24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Most of us feel that we are not good enough to cooperate with God’s plan. We feel we are not worthy to be of any use to God. Surely it would make more sense for God to use the saintly and blameless people. We know that if someone was to scrutinize us we’d come apart at the seams, as we know our failings well. But.... if we tarry ‘til we are ready, we will never come at all. We will never measure up. If we are being honest with ourselves we will know that we can never be good enough, but thanks be to God, who delivers us through Jesus Christ our Lord!
You see, we truly are made holy right now through the sacrifice of Jesus. This is why Jesus can invite us to come to him and he will give us rest.... rest in the knowledge that we have been made acceptable to God through our union with Christ. We are spiritually “ready”... there is no need to tarry and there isn’t any need to feel not worthy enough to be of any use.
To know our need for a saviour is the only pre-requisite to becoming a child of God, and being a child of God means being a child of the King. In the same way that we became a child of God by recognising our need for a saviour, we carry out the commission of Christ to “make disciples” by continuing to realise our need for a saviour and relying on Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which means that we rest in the knowledge of his provision and blessing, and just as Rebekah was blessed, God blesses and provides above and beyond our needs.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Reflection 19th June 2011 Trinity Sunday
Year A Trinity Sunday 19 June 2011
Genesis 1:1 - 2:4a Psalm 8 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 Matthew 28: 16-20
Last week I mentioned that the feast of Pentecost occurred at the celebration which commemorated the giving of the Torah to the Israelite people in the desert. The tradition holds that this book was written by Moses, but given by God. Our first reading this week comes from the beginning of the Torah.
If you recall the story, you’ll remember the giving of the 10 commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai. He was actually given them twice, as he broke the first lot when he came down the Mountain to find the Israelites worshiping an idol of a golden calf.
Many people are familiar with the 10 commandments and though they don’t know what they are, most people will tell you that they keep the commandments. But many, many more commands were also given by Moses. According to some websites that I looked up there are actually 613 commands. According to one interpretation, one of those commands is that each person should write out the song of the law for themselves... this was written in Deuteronomy 31:19-21.
Moses was the man who spoke with God. God appeared to him first in the burning bush and then, when the Israelites were wondering in the desert, God appeared as a pillar of fire by night and a cloud at day. My point in all of this is to make us aware of the background of our first reading.
Those commands that God gave Moses, referred to by the Jewish people as the Torah, is found in our Christian Bible. The Torah consists of the books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These are the first 5 Books in our Bible. The Torah, though called the book of the law, can be translated as teaching or instruction.
With this in mind we come to our first reading which comes from the very beginning of the Bible. Genesis 1:1-5 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”
This week we our focus is the Trinity. The Trinity is the understanding the God is only one, yet has been expressed in three different ways. It is a theology that divides and confuses, but it is what God is.
Back at the very beginning we read in Genesis that God created the heavens and the earth. This is the very definition of God that St. Paul proclaimed in our readings a couple of weeks ago when he saw a monument to an unknown God. St. Paul preached to the people about this unknown God as being the one and only true God, the one who created the heavens and the earth. Many people these days don’t like to think that anyone created the heavens and the earth. You can never truly know God unless you can believe this fundamental aspect about him – he created the heavens and the earth.
Acknowledging that God created the heavens and the earth is acknowledging that He is above all and beyond all. We acknowledge that he has all power and all authority. Then in the next sentence we get to know a bit more about God when we read that the Spirit of God hovered above the waters. We read throughout the Old Testament about the Spirit of God being with his people, and coming with power to accomplish God’s plan of salvation.
The beginning of John’s Gospel gives us insight into where this third aspect of God comes in. He speaks about the “Word”....
John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
And so we know that back in our Genesis reading, the part where we find Jesus is where God spoke. “...And God said, “Let there be light,” ......
There are places in the Old Testament where there are references to the “Word of God”. The word of God is the expression of God.... we read in the New Testament that Christ is the visible expression of God. In other words, “The Word became flesh”.
We also remember the reading that is read so often at funerals where Jesus comforts his disciples and tells them that in his father’s house are many rooms. He is asked that he might show them the father, but he responds with: John 14:9, 10 “Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?”
We begin with the understanding that this awesome God made the heavens and the earth, and then we get to know him. Some prefer to call this initial understanding of God, the creator, as it is true He is. But over the years we’ve discovered the privilege of a closer relationship and so we call him father, and we understand also the care and love that He has for us. Personally I find the term “creator” somewhat restrictive and not fully encompassing all that God the father is.
Like wise, we know that Jesus is the son of God and some refer to him as the redeemer – that was something that he did for us – he redeemed us – but once again this is impersonal and restrictive as Jesus is also our Brother, our friend and our mediator. We are IN him and he IN us, this is such a bond that goes beyond that of an impersonal term.
The Holy Spirit is the how. How Jesus is in us is through the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit is the sanctifier, that is, makes us holy by our union with God. But there is also more to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the teacher, the comforter, the advocate and the one who empowers – just to name a few.
So by now you will have picked up that I’m not real keen on the restrictive words of creator, redeemer and sanctifier in referring to the Trinity. But in reality there are not enough words that can fully explain or contain God. Some object to the understanding of God being so male oriented. I don’t intend to dwell on this – Jesus was male and he called God father, as had been revealed throughout history. That is good enough for me and I’m very sorry if anyone has a problem with that, but God is what he is and not what we make Him.
Jesus was an historical figure. He claimed to be, and his followers called him the son of God. It is probably hardest for people to understand this part of the Trinity when they read about Jesus being on earth and praying to his father. We need to remember that God created the heavens and the earth and is therefore way beyond our understanding. We watch fantasy shows on television and have little problem accepting them, but when it comes to God being one but in three persons we have difficulties.
The theology or formal understanding of the trinity was developed because of the observations and understandings of God as revealed through experience and through the scriptures in particular our Gospel reading.
Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus commanded that people be made disciples by being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I think we need to be reminded of this. We belong to God the father, Son and Holy Spirit. We do not belong to a theological idea about some remote creator, redeemer and sanctifier, but instead to the God who created the heavens and earth – all that is- seen and unseen. We belong to Jesus who walked this earth, lived as one of us, died to redeem us and rose from the dead... a living real person with whom we can have a personal relationship. We belong to the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the father and the son – helps us pray, teaches, through whom the law is written on our hearts, he comforts and empowers.
Trinity – one God, but three persons. One God who is beyond our understanding, yet revealed to us as three persons, through whom, we are united in a relationship of love.
Genesis 1:1 - 2:4a Psalm 8 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 Matthew 28: 16-20
Last week I mentioned that the feast of Pentecost occurred at the celebration which commemorated the giving of the Torah to the Israelite people in the desert. The tradition holds that this book was written by Moses, but given by God. Our first reading this week comes from the beginning of the Torah.
If you recall the story, you’ll remember the giving of the 10 commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai. He was actually given them twice, as he broke the first lot when he came down the Mountain to find the Israelites worshiping an idol of a golden calf.
Many people are familiar with the 10 commandments and though they don’t know what they are, most people will tell you that they keep the commandments. But many, many more commands were also given by Moses. According to some websites that I looked up there are actually 613 commands. According to one interpretation, one of those commands is that each person should write out the song of the law for themselves... this was written in Deuteronomy 31:19-21.
Moses was the man who spoke with God. God appeared to him first in the burning bush and then, when the Israelites were wondering in the desert, God appeared as a pillar of fire by night and a cloud at day. My point in all of this is to make us aware of the background of our first reading.
Those commands that God gave Moses, referred to by the Jewish people as the Torah, is found in our Christian Bible. The Torah consists of the books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These are the first 5 Books in our Bible. The Torah, though called the book of the law, can be translated as teaching or instruction.
With this in mind we come to our first reading which comes from the very beginning of the Bible. Genesis 1:1-5 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”
This week we our focus is the Trinity. The Trinity is the understanding the God is only one, yet has been expressed in three different ways. It is a theology that divides and confuses, but it is what God is.
Back at the very beginning we read in Genesis that God created the heavens and the earth. This is the very definition of God that St. Paul proclaimed in our readings a couple of weeks ago when he saw a monument to an unknown God. St. Paul preached to the people about this unknown God as being the one and only true God, the one who created the heavens and the earth. Many people these days don’t like to think that anyone created the heavens and the earth. You can never truly know God unless you can believe this fundamental aspect about him – he created the heavens and the earth.
Acknowledging that God created the heavens and the earth is acknowledging that He is above all and beyond all. We acknowledge that he has all power and all authority. Then in the next sentence we get to know a bit more about God when we read that the Spirit of God hovered above the waters. We read throughout the Old Testament about the Spirit of God being with his people, and coming with power to accomplish God’s plan of salvation.
The beginning of John’s Gospel gives us insight into where this third aspect of God comes in. He speaks about the “Word”....
John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
And so we know that back in our Genesis reading, the part where we find Jesus is where God spoke. “...And God said, “Let there be light,” ......
There are places in the Old Testament where there are references to the “Word of God”. The word of God is the expression of God.... we read in the New Testament that Christ is the visible expression of God. In other words, “The Word became flesh”.
We also remember the reading that is read so often at funerals where Jesus comforts his disciples and tells them that in his father’s house are many rooms. He is asked that he might show them the father, but he responds with: John 14:9, 10 “Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?”
We begin with the understanding that this awesome God made the heavens and the earth, and then we get to know him. Some prefer to call this initial understanding of God, the creator, as it is true He is. But over the years we’ve discovered the privilege of a closer relationship and so we call him father, and we understand also the care and love that He has for us. Personally I find the term “creator” somewhat restrictive and not fully encompassing all that God the father is.
Like wise, we know that Jesus is the son of God and some refer to him as the redeemer – that was something that he did for us – he redeemed us – but once again this is impersonal and restrictive as Jesus is also our Brother, our friend and our mediator. We are IN him and he IN us, this is such a bond that goes beyond that of an impersonal term.
The Holy Spirit is the how. How Jesus is in us is through the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit is the sanctifier, that is, makes us holy by our union with God. But there is also more to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the teacher, the comforter, the advocate and the one who empowers – just to name a few.
So by now you will have picked up that I’m not real keen on the restrictive words of creator, redeemer and sanctifier in referring to the Trinity. But in reality there are not enough words that can fully explain or contain God. Some object to the understanding of God being so male oriented. I don’t intend to dwell on this – Jesus was male and he called God father, as had been revealed throughout history. That is good enough for me and I’m very sorry if anyone has a problem with that, but God is what he is and not what we make Him.
Jesus was an historical figure. He claimed to be, and his followers called him the son of God. It is probably hardest for people to understand this part of the Trinity when they read about Jesus being on earth and praying to his father. We need to remember that God created the heavens and the earth and is therefore way beyond our understanding. We watch fantasy shows on television and have little problem accepting them, but when it comes to God being one but in three persons we have difficulties.
The theology or formal understanding of the trinity was developed because of the observations and understandings of God as revealed through experience and through the scriptures in particular our Gospel reading.
Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus commanded that people be made disciples by being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I think we need to be reminded of this. We belong to God the father, Son and Holy Spirit. We do not belong to a theological idea about some remote creator, redeemer and sanctifier, but instead to the God who created the heavens and earth – all that is- seen and unseen. We belong to Jesus who walked this earth, lived as one of us, died to redeem us and rose from the dead... a living real person with whom we can have a personal relationship. We belong to the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the father and the son – helps us pray, teaches, through whom the law is written on our hearts, he comforts and empowers.
Trinity – one God, but three persons. One God who is beyond our understanding, yet revealed to us as three persons, through whom, we are united in a relationship of love.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Reflection on readings for 12th June 2011 Pentecost
Year A The Day of Pentecost 12 June 2011
Acts 2: 1-21 Psalm 104: 24-34, 35b 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13 John 20: 19-23
A weird thing happened in Jerusalem. There was the sound of rushing wind, what appeared to be tongues of fire and then the believers all speaking in strange languages. People thought that maybe the believers were drunk – even though it was only nine in the morning.
There were people from many surrounding districts, who spoke different languages, staying in Jerusalem for the feast. It was a Jewish feast which took place 49 days after Passover. Passover is the feast that coincided with the Death and resurrection of Jesus – Not coincidentally. The feast of Passover celebrated the time that Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt - before doing so, he had to convince Pharaoh to let the people go. Pharaoh would not listen to the many signs and wonders so God declared that he would send the angel of death to Passover the land. If a household had painted the door way of their house with the blood of a lamb, then the Angel would Passover that household and leave it in peace, but if not, the eldest born male would die. This was the final sign which signalled the exodus of the Israelite people from slavery and death into freedom and the promise of a land provided by God.
Passover is significant and no coincidence that Jesus was crucified on this feast. Jesus is the Lamb of God, whose blood covers us and protects us from death. His sacrifice enables us to Passover from death to eternal life.
Pentecost is 50 days after Easter. Our reading from Acts tells us that people were again gathered in Jerusalem – they were celebrating another feast. This feast is known to the Jewish people as Shavu’ot – otherwise known as the feast of weeks. The Jewish people were to count off 7 week’s (49 days) after the Passover and celebrate a sacred day signifying the day that God gave the Law (the Torah) from Mount Sinai.
In the words from a Jewish website (http://www.jewfaq.org/holidayc.htm) “The counting reminds us of the important connection between Passover and Shavu'ot: Passover freed us physically from bondage, but the giving of the Torah on Shavu'ot redeemed us spiritually from our bondage to idolatry and immorality. Shavu'ot is also known as Pentecost, because it falls on the 50th day.”
From that same site I discovered that the people would gather on the eve of the feast and stay up the entire night and study the Torah (book of the Law) and then pray as early as possible. I assume that this is why the early believers were all gathered in one place and in prayer when the Holy Spirit came.
Acts 2:1-4 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
God had said through His prophets that He would write His law on His people’s hearts and in their minds so that no one would need to be taught.... It seems to me that it is significant that the day of the giving of the Holy Spirit is the day when the giving of the law/ word of God/ Torah was celebrated, as the Holy Spirit himself becomes our teacher. The Holy Spirit is God with us and in us.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus commissions his followers by urging that they receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22, “And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” I found it interesting that the Jewish feast of Shavu’ot is the celebration of God giving the Torah as opposed to the receiving of the Torah, as I think the explanation that is given holds true for the giving of the Holy Spirit also.
From http://www.jewfaq.org/holidayc.htm : “It is noteworthy that the holiday is called the time of the giving of the Torah, rather than the time of the receiving of the Torah. The sages point out that we are constantly in the process of receiving the Torah, that we receive it every day, but it was first given at this time. Thus it is the giving, not the receiving, that makes this holiday significant.”
The same is true for us with the Holy Spirit, we receive it every day, but the celebration is to commemorate that the Holy Spirit has been given.
But what does it mean for us personally?
The celebration of Pentecost is also a celebration of the birth of the Church. When Peter stood up and addressed the crowd, although there were some who were critical, about three thousand become believers. The commissioning of Jesus to his followers when he urged them to receive the Holy Spirit relies on the Holy Spirit being given at Pentecost to accomplish the commission.
The necessary component, or the power, to carry out that commissioning is the Holy Spirit.
Today we are still commissioned. God has given the Holy Spirit. Today we are still urged to “receive the Holy Spirit”. The Holy Spirit has been given, but to receive it is something that only we can do.... it is our part of the deal. I remember when I was being prepared for my confirmation at the age of 11 or 12, being told that the Holy Spirit comes when you ask him. The implication is that the Holy Spirit has already been given, Pentecost has happened already and we don’t need a repeat, but we do need to respond as the receiving is up to us.
Way back in the first chapter of Genesis we read about the Spirit hovering as the earth was created. The spirit is often synonymous with breath and with life. So Jesus breathing on the followers and saying, “receive the Holy Spirit” is a meaningful action that spoke more than mere words to those who understood. With this breath of God new life was created – eternal life. This is the pinnacle of the Holy Spirit power – to impart eternal life.
Acts 2:17-21, “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
The Holy Spirit comes with many gifts, some are subtle, like the gift of faith, and others are dramatic, like the gift of healing. One thing for certain, each gift is given for the benefit of the whole community. And the most important role in all the gifts from the Holy Spirit is to enable Christ to be known so that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord is saved. People won’t call on the name of the Lord unless they know him, and they won’t know him without us fulfilling our commissioning. We need to take a good hard look at ourselves and ask ourselves whether or not we are accomplishing this..... Is it possible that we ceased to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit?
The celebration of Pentecost is a time to repent of our self efforts and once again really and fully receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been given – The Holy Spirit is with us and in us..... Receive the Holy Spirit!
Acts 2: 1-21 Psalm 104: 24-34, 35b 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13 John 20: 19-23
A weird thing happened in Jerusalem. There was the sound of rushing wind, what appeared to be tongues of fire and then the believers all speaking in strange languages. People thought that maybe the believers were drunk – even though it was only nine in the morning.
There were people from many surrounding districts, who spoke different languages, staying in Jerusalem for the feast. It was a Jewish feast which took place 49 days after Passover. Passover is the feast that coincided with the Death and resurrection of Jesus – Not coincidentally. The feast of Passover celebrated the time that Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt - before doing so, he had to convince Pharaoh to let the people go. Pharaoh would not listen to the many signs and wonders so God declared that he would send the angel of death to Passover the land. If a household had painted the door way of their house with the blood of a lamb, then the Angel would Passover that household and leave it in peace, but if not, the eldest born male would die. This was the final sign which signalled the exodus of the Israelite people from slavery and death into freedom and the promise of a land provided by God.
Passover is significant and no coincidence that Jesus was crucified on this feast. Jesus is the Lamb of God, whose blood covers us and protects us from death. His sacrifice enables us to Passover from death to eternal life.
Pentecost is 50 days after Easter. Our reading from Acts tells us that people were again gathered in Jerusalem – they were celebrating another feast. This feast is known to the Jewish people as Shavu’ot – otherwise known as the feast of weeks. The Jewish people were to count off 7 week’s (49 days) after the Passover and celebrate a sacred day signifying the day that God gave the Law (the Torah) from Mount Sinai.
In the words from a Jewish website (http://www.jewfaq.org/holidayc.htm) “The counting reminds us of the important connection between Passover and Shavu'ot: Passover freed us physically from bondage, but the giving of the Torah on Shavu'ot redeemed us spiritually from our bondage to idolatry and immorality. Shavu'ot is also known as Pentecost, because it falls on the 50th day.”
From that same site I discovered that the people would gather on the eve of the feast and stay up the entire night and study the Torah (book of the Law) and then pray as early as possible. I assume that this is why the early believers were all gathered in one place and in prayer when the Holy Spirit came.
Acts 2:1-4 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
God had said through His prophets that He would write His law on His people’s hearts and in their minds so that no one would need to be taught.... It seems to me that it is significant that the day of the giving of the Holy Spirit is the day when the giving of the law/ word of God/ Torah was celebrated, as the Holy Spirit himself becomes our teacher. The Holy Spirit is God with us and in us.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus commissions his followers by urging that they receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22, “And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” I found it interesting that the Jewish feast of Shavu’ot is the celebration of God giving the Torah as opposed to the receiving of the Torah, as I think the explanation that is given holds true for the giving of the Holy Spirit also.
From http://www.jewfaq.org/holidayc.htm : “It is noteworthy that the holiday is called the time of the giving of the Torah, rather than the time of the receiving of the Torah. The sages point out that we are constantly in the process of receiving the Torah, that we receive it every day, but it was first given at this time. Thus it is the giving, not the receiving, that makes this holiday significant.”
The same is true for us with the Holy Spirit, we receive it every day, but the celebration is to commemorate that the Holy Spirit has been given.
But what does it mean for us personally?
The celebration of Pentecost is also a celebration of the birth of the Church. When Peter stood up and addressed the crowd, although there were some who were critical, about three thousand become believers. The commissioning of Jesus to his followers when he urged them to receive the Holy Spirit relies on the Holy Spirit being given at Pentecost to accomplish the commission.
The necessary component, or the power, to carry out that commissioning is the Holy Spirit.
Today we are still commissioned. God has given the Holy Spirit. Today we are still urged to “receive the Holy Spirit”. The Holy Spirit has been given, but to receive it is something that only we can do.... it is our part of the deal. I remember when I was being prepared for my confirmation at the age of 11 or 12, being told that the Holy Spirit comes when you ask him. The implication is that the Holy Spirit has already been given, Pentecost has happened already and we don’t need a repeat, but we do need to respond as the receiving is up to us.
Way back in the first chapter of Genesis we read about the Spirit hovering as the earth was created. The spirit is often synonymous with breath and with life. So Jesus breathing on the followers and saying, “receive the Holy Spirit” is a meaningful action that spoke more than mere words to those who understood. With this breath of God new life was created – eternal life. This is the pinnacle of the Holy Spirit power – to impart eternal life.
Acts 2:17-21, “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
The Holy Spirit comes with many gifts, some are subtle, like the gift of faith, and others are dramatic, like the gift of healing. One thing for certain, each gift is given for the benefit of the whole community. And the most important role in all the gifts from the Holy Spirit is to enable Christ to be known so that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord is saved. People won’t call on the name of the Lord unless they know him, and they won’t know him without us fulfilling our commissioning. We need to take a good hard look at ourselves and ask ourselves whether or not we are accomplishing this..... Is it possible that we ceased to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit?
The celebration of Pentecost is a time to repent of our self efforts and once again really and fully receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been given – The Holy Spirit is with us and in us..... Receive the Holy Spirit!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Reflection for 5th June 2011
Year A 7th Sunday of Easter 5 June 2011
Acts 1: 6-14 Psalm 68: 1-10, 32-35 1 Peter 4: 12-14; 5: 6-11 John 17: 1-11
I have previously mentioned that a couple of weeks ago there was a group who predicted that judgment day was happening about two Saturdays ago, and this week we have our reading from acts which talks about the Jesus ascension and his coming back- and some misunderstandings. The apostles asked Jesus, after he had risen, if he was at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel. As far as they were concerned, the return of the kingdom to Israel was the bigger picture, but God’s plan is way broader than their already broadened minds could comprehend at that point.
Acts 1:7,8 “He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””
The followers of Jesus had witnessed his resurrection. They understood far more than the average citizen in that community because they had been taught by Jesus, but they still lacked so much understanding. These people would not cope without Jesus there with them, and he was about to ascend to heaven. But God had a better plan.
In the beginning Jesus was there with God. He always existed, but other than being described as the “word” of God, he was somewhat apart from the people. Then the word became flesh.... the visible expression of God walked among us, yet as human he was limited to time and place. God needed his people to be aware of His presence with them at all times. He needed His people to know they could access His power in the same way as having Jesus right there with them.... and so he promised them a helper – the Holy Spirit.
Many years ago I met a person who had at one time been involved in the charismatic renewal and had previously experienced the gift of tongues (that is praying in an unknown language). He said to me that he had grown out of it and didn’t need it anymore. My thoughts about that are; how can you be so arrogant as to think that you could possibly grow out of the need for a gift of the Holy Spirit that God gives?
We live more than 2000 years after Jesus walked the earth. If the followers of Jesus, after being personally taught by him (which is being taught by God himself), needed the gift of the Holy Spirit, how much more do we need this gift?
The primary expression of the gift of the Holy Spirit that came upon the believers was the gift of tongues. There is a lot of misinformation about this, but to put it simply, this is praying to God in an unknown language. It is our spirit communicating with God through the gift of His Spirit. Many times we don’t know what and how to pray effectively – so praying in the spirit takes away all concern about this. In this matter we are no different from the first believers, except that we need the gift more.
Other expressions of the gift of the Holy Spirit are things like discernment, knowledge, healings.... etc... I’m sure these things will come up in readings in the next few weeks and so I don’t want to go into anything in detail, but just to make it really clear that we need this gift of the Holy Spirit far more desperately than the first believers.
Jesus prayed for those first believers and he prays for us:
John 17:6-11 ““I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.”
Jesus prayed that we might be as one. This prayer is answered through the Holy Spirit. There will always be issues that divide us. Some things that we can’t agree on, but when we have the gift of the Holy Spirit and God at work within us, there will be unity in spite of our differences.
On Saturday night, Don Ford preached a very crucial sermon. He got us all to repeat, “I in you and you in me”. These were the words of Jesus from the Gospel last week. The meaning is that, how we accomplish anything for God is by our being “in Him” and he in us. It is the Holy Spirit – God in us, which works to bring blessing to others. It is Christ living in us by his Holy Spirit that is a witness to the reality of God and the message of Good News.
When the chips are down and there are challenges to our faith we have an even greater need for the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to be witnesses when we would otherwise be too scared or too worn out.
1 Peter 4:14 “14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
We may not have the persecution in our community that other countries face for being a Christian, but there is a lot of social pressure to confirm to the politically correct way of thinking and being.... sometimes these pressures are enforcing a good thing, but sometimes they are in opposition to our faith and what the Holy Spirit tells us is right. It is possible that if you have not experienced any opposition for your faith that you are not actually active with your faith....
To begin with, as Christians we proclaim that there is one true God. This offends people and many would say that because religion is to do with beliefs rather than facts that we need to keep quiet about it and admit that we don’t really know. BUT, a Christian who has had God revealed to them by the Holy Spirit doesn’t merely believe that there is one true God. St. Paul when he was struck blind by God did not merely believe that Jesus was the Christ and the one true God; he knew it and he witnessed it. This is a fact which commanded his life.
This whole idea of the trinity is beyond our human understanding but the Holy Spirit reveals it to us and makes it known to us.... not just a belief.
These are just a couple of things confirmed by the Holy Spirit, but also we find in our Gospel reading.
John 17: 1 “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”
We can read and believe with all our might, but without the Holy Spirit these things would become mere ideas and not Gospel truth.
Jesus prayed for his followers because he knew that while we are on planet earth there will be many trials. And it is the Holy Spirit that helps us through these trials. Sometimes there is nothing written in black and white in the Bible to tell us what to do in certain circumstances. We then need the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Even when things are written in black and white we can get it wrong – the Pharisees did. And so we need the gift of the Holy Spirit.... sometimes we particularly need the gift of discernment as we have so many laws and ideas being put forward to us in our government – also, and in so many ways we need the Holy Spirit gift of wisdom.
Come Holy Spirit!
Acts 1: 6-14 Psalm 68: 1-10, 32-35 1 Peter 4: 12-14; 5: 6-11 John 17: 1-11
I have previously mentioned that a couple of weeks ago there was a group who predicted that judgment day was happening about two Saturdays ago, and this week we have our reading from acts which talks about the Jesus ascension and his coming back- and some misunderstandings. The apostles asked Jesus, after he had risen, if he was at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel. As far as they were concerned, the return of the kingdom to Israel was the bigger picture, but God’s plan is way broader than their already broadened minds could comprehend at that point.
Acts 1:7,8 “He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””
The followers of Jesus had witnessed his resurrection. They understood far more than the average citizen in that community because they had been taught by Jesus, but they still lacked so much understanding. These people would not cope without Jesus there with them, and he was about to ascend to heaven. But God had a better plan.
In the beginning Jesus was there with God. He always existed, but other than being described as the “word” of God, he was somewhat apart from the people. Then the word became flesh.... the visible expression of God walked among us, yet as human he was limited to time and place. God needed his people to be aware of His presence with them at all times. He needed His people to know they could access His power in the same way as having Jesus right there with them.... and so he promised them a helper – the Holy Spirit.
Many years ago I met a person who had at one time been involved in the charismatic renewal and had previously experienced the gift of tongues (that is praying in an unknown language). He said to me that he had grown out of it and didn’t need it anymore. My thoughts about that are; how can you be so arrogant as to think that you could possibly grow out of the need for a gift of the Holy Spirit that God gives?
We live more than 2000 years after Jesus walked the earth. If the followers of Jesus, after being personally taught by him (which is being taught by God himself), needed the gift of the Holy Spirit, how much more do we need this gift?
The primary expression of the gift of the Holy Spirit that came upon the believers was the gift of tongues. There is a lot of misinformation about this, but to put it simply, this is praying to God in an unknown language. It is our spirit communicating with God through the gift of His Spirit. Many times we don’t know what and how to pray effectively – so praying in the spirit takes away all concern about this. In this matter we are no different from the first believers, except that we need the gift more.
Other expressions of the gift of the Holy Spirit are things like discernment, knowledge, healings.... etc... I’m sure these things will come up in readings in the next few weeks and so I don’t want to go into anything in detail, but just to make it really clear that we need this gift of the Holy Spirit far more desperately than the first believers.
Jesus prayed for those first believers and he prays for us:
John 17:6-11 ““I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.”
Jesus prayed that we might be as one. This prayer is answered through the Holy Spirit. There will always be issues that divide us. Some things that we can’t agree on, but when we have the gift of the Holy Spirit and God at work within us, there will be unity in spite of our differences.
On Saturday night, Don Ford preached a very crucial sermon. He got us all to repeat, “I in you and you in me”. These were the words of Jesus from the Gospel last week. The meaning is that, how we accomplish anything for God is by our being “in Him” and he in us. It is the Holy Spirit – God in us, which works to bring blessing to others. It is Christ living in us by his Holy Spirit that is a witness to the reality of God and the message of Good News.
When the chips are down and there are challenges to our faith we have an even greater need for the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to be witnesses when we would otherwise be too scared or too worn out.
1 Peter 4:14 “14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
We may not have the persecution in our community that other countries face for being a Christian, but there is a lot of social pressure to confirm to the politically correct way of thinking and being.... sometimes these pressures are enforcing a good thing, but sometimes they are in opposition to our faith and what the Holy Spirit tells us is right. It is possible that if you have not experienced any opposition for your faith that you are not actually active with your faith....
To begin with, as Christians we proclaim that there is one true God. This offends people and many would say that because religion is to do with beliefs rather than facts that we need to keep quiet about it and admit that we don’t really know. BUT, a Christian who has had God revealed to them by the Holy Spirit doesn’t merely believe that there is one true God. St. Paul when he was struck blind by God did not merely believe that Jesus was the Christ and the one true God; he knew it and he witnessed it. This is a fact which commanded his life.
This whole idea of the trinity is beyond our human understanding but the Holy Spirit reveals it to us and makes it known to us.... not just a belief.
These are just a couple of things confirmed by the Holy Spirit, but also we find in our Gospel reading.
John 17: 1 “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”
We can read and believe with all our might, but without the Holy Spirit these things would become mere ideas and not Gospel truth.
Jesus prayed for his followers because he knew that while we are on planet earth there will be many trials. And it is the Holy Spirit that helps us through these trials. Sometimes there is nothing written in black and white in the Bible to tell us what to do in certain circumstances. We then need the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Even when things are written in black and white we can get it wrong – the Pharisees did. And so we need the gift of the Holy Spirit.... sometimes we particularly need the gift of discernment as we have so many laws and ideas being put forward to us in our government – also, and in so many ways we need the Holy Spirit gift of wisdom.
Come Holy Spirit!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Reflection on readings for 29th May 2011
Year A 6th Sunday of Easter 29 May 2011
Acts 17: 22-31 Psalm 66: 8-20 1 Peter 3: 13-22 John 14: 15-21
1 Peter 3:15, 16. “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
In our first reading from acts we see an example of proclaiming the Good News with gentleness and respect. St. Paul visits Athens and notes the many “gods” that they have there. These people are so passionate about their gods that they even have a monument to an unknown god. Paul understands that these are a people who are good but ignorant of the truth. He applauds them for their religious devotion but then beginning with their understanding and their devotion, he proclaims the truth about their “unknown” God and makes Him known.
There is a lot we can learn from St. Paul. Firstly, to acknowledge and understand where people are at and approach them with respect. Only God truly knows the heart of people and sometimes the most unlikely people are those loved and chosen by God. Some go by the theory that we all innately know God but through the pressures of the world and the ideas of others around us, we slowly but surely forget. In many cases it is like the call of the good shepherd to the lost sheep, they recognise the truth when they finally hear that voice apart from all the other voices -but for them to hear the voice, we need to proclaim it.
Another thing that we can learn from St. Paul is not to water down the truth. Because we are so concerned about not offending anyone there is a real temptation to do this, as due to the admonition to approach people with respect we erroneously believe that we are being respectful as we water down the Gospel. St. Paul was respectful, but I’m sure many people didn’t see it that way.
I’m often in trouble for my words.... I’m not always as sensitive as I could be, but there are times when it is perceived that I am disrespectful towards certain groups of people simply because I am a Christian. I came across this often when I was living in Cairns. Without me saying anything I was seen as narrow minded, disrespectful and uncaring about the groups of people which included those who are pro-abortion, homosexual, etc... Truth is, I have friends and people I care deeply about who have been involved in these areas. I understand all the “ifs” and “buts” involved in the situations that bring people to these places, but I will still proclaim that in God’s plan there is a more excellent way.....
In our message of the Good News there are certain facts that will offend people. People often misunderstand that there are facts about our faith. Often there are some who think religion should “change with the times”, and while the expressions of our faith can and should change with the times, the facts about our faith must remain unchanging, because either God is God or he isn’t. If God is God, then His truth is a constant.
St. Paul explains to the people in Athens some facts about God.
Acts 17:24, 25 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”
Firstly Paul explains who God is and that all life comes from him. Already St. Paul’s words are an offence to those who think that the world came into being without any divine hand. Paul also explains that God is beyond the earthly understanding and can not be restricted to a temple or structure built by human hands. Please understand that we can not shape God into a god that suits our philosophy of life.
Acts 17:26, 27 “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”
Paul proclaims that we are all connected, coming from the one man, but the nations and times appointed in history are designed by God to prompt us to turn to him.
Acts 17:28-31 “‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Paul continues to make known to people that God is kind and overlooks past ignorance, but once the truth is proclaimed, a response of repentance is required, because Jesus will come to judge. The proof that this will happen was given by God raising Jesus from the dead.
We can see that while Paul was respectful he was also very straight about the facts. There will be a judgment day! Supposedly it was going to take place last week. I discovered this through my best source of information – facebook. If we read our Bibles we will know that the Day of Judgment is unknown – so anyone who claims to know is a fake. But we also have personal days of judgment and the common factor is that the time is unknown.... and the moral to the story is to live prepared always with a heart that has a clear conscience before God. We do this by understanding the Good News – that is- Christ died for our sins. We acknowledge our sinfulness and thank God for his sacrifice which atones for our sin.
1 Peter 3:18 – 22 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. In that state he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”
We have an amazing message of hope. We have an amazing message of God taking away the barrier between humankind and himself so that we can live eternally. We have the proof in the resurrection of Christ –
For many the concept of religion is just something you “believe in”. It is subjective because it is based on human perception and human perception is very subjective and able to change with the times. But our faith is beyond our perception. If nothing else was clear in St. Paul’s message to the people of Athens, hopefully this one aspect was impressed, that God is not subject to human hands and minds, but regardless of what we believe or perceive, we are subject to God.
1 Peter 3:15a. “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord....”
Acts 17: 22-31 Psalm 66: 8-20 1 Peter 3: 13-22 John 14: 15-21
1 Peter 3:15, 16. “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
In our first reading from acts we see an example of proclaiming the Good News with gentleness and respect. St. Paul visits Athens and notes the many “gods” that they have there. These people are so passionate about their gods that they even have a monument to an unknown god. Paul understands that these are a people who are good but ignorant of the truth. He applauds them for their religious devotion but then beginning with their understanding and their devotion, he proclaims the truth about their “unknown” God and makes Him known.
There is a lot we can learn from St. Paul. Firstly, to acknowledge and understand where people are at and approach them with respect. Only God truly knows the heart of people and sometimes the most unlikely people are those loved and chosen by God. Some go by the theory that we all innately know God but through the pressures of the world and the ideas of others around us, we slowly but surely forget. In many cases it is like the call of the good shepherd to the lost sheep, they recognise the truth when they finally hear that voice apart from all the other voices -but for them to hear the voice, we need to proclaim it.
Another thing that we can learn from St. Paul is not to water down the truth. Because we are so concerned about not offending anyone there is a real temptation to do this, as due to the admonition to approach people with respect we erroneously believe that we are being respectful as we water down the Gospel. St. Paul was respectful, but I’m sure many people didn’t see it that way.
I’m often in trouble for my words.... I’m not always as sensitive as I could be, but there are times when it is perceived that I am disrespectful towards certain groups of people simply because I am a Christian. I came across this often when I was living in Cairns. Without me saying anything I was seen as narrow minded, disrespectful and uncaring about the groups of people which included those who are pro-abortion, homosexual, etc... Truth is, I have friends and people I care deeply about who have been involved in these areas. I understand all the “ifs” and “buts” involved in the situations that bring people to these places, but I will still proclaim that in God’s plan there is a more excellent way.....
In our message of the Good News there are certain facts that will offend people. People often misunderstand that there are facts about our faith. Often there are some who think religion should “change with the times”, and while the expressions of our faith can and should change with the times, the facts about our faith must remain unchanging, because either God is God or he isn’t. If God is God, then His truth is a constant.
St. Paul explains to the people in Athens some facts about God.
Acts 17:24, 25 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”
Firstly Paul explains who God is and that all life comes from him. Already St. Paul’s words are an offence to those who think that the world came into being without any divine hand. Paul also explains that God is beyond the earthly understanding and can not be restricted to a temple or structure built by human hands. Please understand that we can not shape God into a god that suits our philosophy of life.
Acts 17:26, 27 “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”
Paul proclaims that we are all connected, coming from the one man, but the nations and times appointed in history are designed by God to prompt us to turn to him.
Acts 17:28-31 “‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Paul continues to make known to people that God is kind and overlooks past ignorance, but once the truth is proclaimed, a response of repentance is required, because Jesus will come to judge. The proof that this will happen was given by God raising Jesus from the dead.
We can see that while Paul was respectful he was also very straight about the facts. There will be a judgment day! Supposedly it was going to take place last week. I discovered this through my best source of information – facebook. If we read our Bibles we will know that the Day of Judgment is unknown – so anyone who claims to know is a fake. But we also have personal days of judgment and the common factor is that the time is unknown.... and the moral to the story is to live prepared always with a heart that has a clear conscience before God. We do this by understanding the Good News – that is- Christ died for our sins. We acknowledge our sinfulness and thank God for his sacrifice which atones for our sin.
1 Peter 3:18 – 22 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. In that state he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”
We have an amazing message of hope. We have an amazing message of God taking away the barrier between humankind and himself so that we can live eternally. We have the proof in the resurrection of Christ –
For many the concept of religion is just something you “believe in”. It is subjective because it is based on human perception and human perception is very subjective and able to change with the times. But our faith is beyond our perception. If nothing else was clear in St. Paul’s message to the people of Athens, hopefully this one aspect was impressed, that God is not subject to human hands and minds, but regardless of what we believe or perceive, we are subject to God.
1 Peter 3:15a. “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord....”
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Reflection on readings for 22nd May 2011
Year A 5th Sunday of Easter 22 May 2011
Acts 7: 55-60 Psalm 31: 1-5, 15-16 1 Peter 2: 2-10 John 14: 1-14
Do we have many worries? Are we troubled? The early Christians had many troubles which worried them. I’m sure many of the worries were the same. They would have been worried for their children’s futures, their own needs and the day to day concerns, but on top of this all was the threat of persecution for their faith. There had always been opposition in some form to the message about Jesus Christ, but with the stoning of Stephen the opposition gained strength.
We read in the Gospel, words of comfort for a people who are mortal and facing the fears of being thrown to lions for the faith that gives them hope.
John 14:1-4 ““Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. My Father’s house has plenty of room; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.””
It isn’t just people who have the possibility of imminent death by being fed to lions who need this reassurance, we all need it. The close friends of Jesus who were listening to this message were still very much unaware of the enormity of what was ahead of them and also unaware of the true identity of Jesus. They had some idea that he was someone really special, and even possibly the Messiah, but Jesus reveals more about his being when he goes on to say:
John 14:9-10 “Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”
This is one of those passages that reveal part of the Trinitarian aspect of God. Jesus was fully human and his followers knew it, but Jesus is also fully God and the mystery is brought into focus with this passage. Jesus is the visible expression of the invisible God. It is a central belief of the Christian church.
We live in such relative comfort, yet those early Christians had a faith that was so secure and such good news, and so important, and such ultimate truth, that the early Christians knew it was also worth dying for.
We accept our faith as that comforting little slot in our lives that we save for times when the chips are down. When our faith doesn’t matter we certainly have one less thing to cause angst between us and other people... just like when we don’t have any strong political persuasions... it may mean that we can enjoy peace with all people, but, there is a saying that “man who whittle himself away to suit everyone else will soon find there is nothing left”.
It is important that we know who we are and what we believe. It is important that we understand in the light of God’s truth. To die for something based on a lie would be a foolish tragedy, but to die bringing absolute truth (a truth that sets captives free) and good news has a great effect on this life and an eternal effect. It is possible that the stone being thrown into the pond has no comprehension of the ripples it caused!
Hopefully in our life time we will not be asked to die for our faith, but be aware that there are Christians overseas who are..... And what is our response to our faith, and our response to their suffering? Many of us will not even put ourselves out enough to get to church, let alone any extra activity of the church. I’m speaking to myself a little here too, as I’ve wanted to go to a breakfast meeting that happens each month in our church, but each time I end up choosing to sleep in. Really, it isn’t good enough.
We have the luxury and assurance of our faith but we aren’t sharing it. There is another saying, “Use it or lose it”. Our children are losing faith because we are not living as if we believe it really is good news. Our schools are constantly being targeted as presently there is someone challenging that Chaplains should not be paid by the government. This has longer reaching effects, as chaplains also exist in the police force, the hospitals, the defence force... and probably other areas that I’ve forgotten. Our country has been one that relied on God and the ministry of Christians, but we are not “using” our gifts and may possibly “lose” the way of life that we have known.
I have to admit that although I care deeply about these issues, I feel powerless. I can’t tell you how many times I get email messages to say that the courier mail (or Australian – can’t remember which exactly) website has another on line vote about same sex marriages, and other issues that should concern Christians. We are constantly being bombarded with requests for action to save our way of life until those who are active are completely worn out. We need something more.... maybe we need 100 percent of Christians to start becoming active... Or maybe we need us all to be seriously praying... or maybe we need a miracle.
John 14: 12- 14 “ Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
It has always amazed me that Jesus made this statement. Certainly some of those early Christians did do some amazing things. Made the lame walk, raised the dead (I think it was someone listening to such a long sermon that they fell asleep and fell out a window), and St. Paul was bitten by a deadly snake and it had no effect. We don’t often hear of these kinds of stories today, but maybe we are not listening. Maybe we need to become actively involved to see the miracles. And maybe there is no maybe about it!
John 14:6-7 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
We are all a little frightened to speak out about our faith. We don’t want to offend and we don’t like to tell people that Jesus is the “Way, the truth and the life”. We don’t like to tell them that no one comes to the father but through him, because that means that all their other ideas about “living a good life is enough” and “karma” and various others, are false. But if we don’t tell them that the only way to the father is through Jesus, then we are responsible for the consequence of their lives.
Acts 7: 55-60 Psalm 31: 1-5, 15-16 1 Peter 2: 2-10 John 14: 1-14
Do we have many worries? Are we troubled? The early Christians had many troubles which worried them. I’m sure many of the worries were the same. They would have been worried for their children’s futures, their own needs and the day to day concerns, but on top of this all was the threat of persecution for their faith. There had always been opposition in some form to the message about Jesus Christ, but with the stoning of Stephen the opposition gained strength.
We read in the Gospel, words of comfort for a people who are mortal and facing the fears of being thrown to lions for the faith that gives them hope.
John 14:1-4 ““Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. My Father’s house has plenty of room; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.””
It isn’t just people who have the possibility of imminent death by being fed to lions who need this reassurance, we all need it. The close friends of Jesus who were listening to this message were still very much unaware of the enormity of what was ahead of them and also unaware of the true identity of Jesus. They had some idea that he was someone really special, and even possibly the Messiah, but Jesus reveals more about his being when he goes on to say:
John 14:9-10 “Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”
This is one of those passages that reveal part of the Trinitarian aspect of God. Jesus was fully human and his followers knew it, but Jesus is also fully God and the mystery is brought into focus with this passage. Jesus is the visible expression of the invisible God. It is a central belief of the Christian church.
We live in such relative comfort, yet those early Christians had a faith that was so secure and such good news, and so important, and such ultimate truth, that the early Christians knew it was also worth dying for.
We accept our faith as that comforting little slot in our lives that we save for times when the chips are down. When our faith doesn’t matter we certainly have one less thing to cause angst between us and other people... just like when we don’t have any strong political persuasions... it may mean that we can enjoy peace with all people, but, there is a saying that “man who whittle himself away to suit everyone else will soon find there is nothing left”.
It is important that we know who we are and what we believe. It is important that we understand in the light of God’s truth. To die for something based on a lie would be a foolish tragedy, but to die bringing absolute truth (a truth that sets captives free) and good news has a great effect on this life and an eternal effect. It is possible that the stone being thrown into the pond has no comprehension of the ripples it caused!
Hopefully in our life time we will not be asked to die for our faith, but be aware that there are Christians overseas who are..... And what is our response to our faith, and our response to their suffering? Many of us will not even put ourselves out enough to get to church, let alone any extra activity of the church. I’m speaking to myself a little here too, as I’ve wanted to go to a breakfast meeting that happens each month in our church, but each time I end up choosing to sleep in. Really, it isn’t good enough.
We have the luxury and assurance of our faith but we aren’t sharing it. There is another saying, “Use it or lose it”. Our children are losing faith because we are not living as if we believe it really is good news. Our schools are constantly being targeted as presently there is someone challenging that Chaplains should not be paid by the government. This has longer reaching effects, as chaplains also exist in the police force, the hospitals, the defence force... and probably other areas that I’ve forgotten. Our country has been one that relied on God and the ministry of Christians, but we are not “using” our gifts and may possibly “lose” the way of life that we have known.
I have to admit that although I care deeply about these issues, I feel powerless. I can’t tell you how many times I get email messages to say that the courier mail (or Australian – can’t remember which exactly) website has another on line vote about same sex marriages, and other issues that should concern Christians. We are constantly being bombarded with requests for action to save our way of life until those who are active are completely worn out. We need something more.... maybe we need 100 percent of Christians to start becoming active... Or maybe we need us all to be seriously praying... or maybe we need a miracle.
John 14: 12- 14 “ Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
It has always amazed me that Jesus made this statement. Certainly some of those early Christians did do some amazing things. Made the lame walk, raised the dead (I think it was someone listening to such a long sermon that they fell asleep and fell out a window), and St. Paul was bitten by a deadly snake and it had no effect. We don’t often hear of these kinds of stories today, but maybe we are not listening. Maybe we need to become actively involved to see the miracles. And maybe there is no maybe about it!
John 14:6-7 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
We are all a little frightened to speak out about our faith. We don’t want to offend and we don’t like to tell people that Jesus is the “Way, the truth and the life”. We don’t like to tell them that no one comes to the father but through him, because that means that all their other ideas about “living a good life is enough” and “karma” and various others, are false. But if we don’t tell them that the only way to the father is through Jesus, then we are responsible for the consequence of their lives.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Reflection on readings for 15th May 2011
Year A 4th Sunday of Easter 15 May 2011
Acts 2: 42-47 Psalm 23 1 Peter 2: 19-25 John 10: 1-10
I think it started with King David... this understanding of the role of the shepherd being like the relationship that God has with his people. Psalm 23 “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing”. It was the shepherd that led the sheep to green pasture, kept the sheep safe, rescued the strays and basically did all the thinking for the sheep. As I heard someone on television say today, “we plan and God laughs”. We make our plans but often God has other plans for us.
In many ways we are like the sheep that constantly stray because if we were truly listening to God’s voice our plans would be in line with His, and so the saying, “we plan and God laughs would not be known and understood”.
As our shepherd, God has led us to green pasture and given us life in a country of plenty. Regardless of any financial predicament we might find ourselves in, we are living in a country of plenty with so many privileges and provisions. Other countries are not such a blessing.
We read how life was for the early Christians and how they cared for each other. Acts 2:44, 45 “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”
Our Christian heritage is at the root of our country which strives to care for all.
The early Christians cared for each other willingly because of a deep conviction that all they had came from God. They also had a deep understanding that these people who were “born of God” were their spiritual brothers and sisters, precious to God and their responsibility. I wonder if we today have ever glimpsed this reality about our brothers and sisters in Christ. Each of those who belong to God’s family, share an eternal bond with us and we should be caring for each other. In our country, we probably don’t need to concern ourselves so much with the financial aspect as we have a government system that helps with that, although there are times when extra is needed such as times of disaster – and maybe other special circumstances.... like the call of God on someone’s life to do something... i.e. missionary work, building a church etc. – Yet there are other ways that we need to be caring for each other and sometimes this happens and often it doesn’t.
I feel cared for in my church, but I know of others who have been part of a church and yet felt isolated. Our open friendliness, meals and coffee after church and home groups are ways that we build bonds of friendship and care for each other. When disaster happens in someone’s life we often feel like we’d be intruding if we tried to help – this is an indicator that our relationships are not yet at the level that it should be. It isn’t that everyone needs to be close friends with everyone, but that we continue to strengthen and deepen our relationships with those who are brothers and sisters in Christ. Importantly, it needs to be true and genuine friendship – not a church policy or structure or plan. It flows from hearts that understand the love of God.
This brings me to my next point. We read in the Gospel that the Sheep know the voice of their shepherd and recognise when he speaks. Do we recognise the voice of God? And how do we hear God’s voice?
John 10:3,4 “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
The gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd. There were people who prepared the way for Jesus. Most notably is John the Baptist, yet other prophets over the hundreds of years helped also to “open the gate” for Jesus. They did this by proclaiming the truth about God and through their message they made God known. I would imagine that if there was no gatekeeper the sheep would be totally aimless and listening to any voice that struck a chord with them and claimed some sort of authority. Our ministers and church leaders are obvious gatekeepers and this is one of the reasons that it is important to be a regular church attendee.
Today we are sheep who are part of God’s flock, and we are also gatekeepers for others. It is us who need to proclaim the truth about God, when we do other sheep will recognise His voice and not be led astray. In our society today there certainly are other voices that distract and lead astray. These are things like the psychic expo, astrology, obsessions with fantasies about vampires and supernatural things. And then there are also the voices from the God of money that also lead astray, dictating a busy selfish and money centred existence. There is also the God of leisure which dictates that sporting needs and fun family outings and sleeping in is more important than God. And there are probably a few others. Question is; which voice are we listening to?
My final point is that Jesus refers to himself as the gate. What does this mean and what are the implications:
John 10:7-10 “Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
We come into the flock of God through the life of Jesus. There is no other way. You don’t become a Christian by following the commandments or “being a good person”. You don’t even become a Christian by going through the ritual of baptism or any other of the sacraments. You become a child of God by your connection to Christ - by belief and acceptance of his sacrifice and resurrection. Baptism is commanded to seal the deal – to make conscious and sure the commitment to follow Christ and commitment to be part of his flock. How are we all going with this commitment?
Acts 2: 42-47 Psalm 23 1 Peter 2: 19-25 John 10: 1-10
I think it started with King David... this understanding of the role of the shepherd being like the relationship that God has with his people. Psalm 23 “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing”. It was the shepherd that led the sheep to green pasture, kept the sheep safe, rescued the strays and basically did all the thinking for the sheep. As I heard someone on television say today, “we plan and God laughs”. We make our plans but often God has other plans for us.
In many ways we are like the sheep that constantly stray because if we were truly listening to God’s voice our plans would be in line with His, and so the saying, “we plan and God laughs would not be known and understood”.
As our shepherd, God has led us to green pasture and given us life in a country of plenty. Regardless of any financial predicament we might find ourselves in, we are living in a country of plenty with so many privileges and provisions. Other countries are not such a blessing.
We read how life was for the early Christians and how they cared for each other. Acts 2:44, 45 “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”
Our Christian heritage is at the root of our country which strives to care for all.
The early Christians cared for each other willingly because of a deep conviction that all they had came from God. They also had a deep understanding that these people who were “born of God” were their spiritual brothers and sisters, precious to God and their responsibility. I wonder if we today have ever glimpsed this reality about our brothers and sisters in Christ. Each of those who belong to God’s family, share an eternal bond with us and we should be caring for each other. In our country, we probably don’t need to concern ourselves so much with the financial aspect as we have a government system that helps with that, although there are times when extra is needed such as times of disaster – and maybe other special circumstances.... like the call of God on someone’s life to do something... i.e. missionary work, building a church etc. – Yet there are other ways that we need to be caring for each other and sometimes this happens and often it doesn’t.
I feel cared for in my church, but I know of others who have been part of a church and yet felt isolated. Our open friendliness, meals and coffee after church and home groups are ways that we build bonds of friendship and care for each other. When disaster happens in someone’s life we often feel like we’d be intruding if we tried to help – this is an indicator that our relationships are not yet at the level that it should be. It isn’t that everyone needs to be close friends with everyone, but that we continue to strengthen and deepen our relationships with those who are brothers and sisters in Christ. Importantly, it needs to be true and genuine friendship – not a church policy or structure or plan. It flows from hearts that understand the love of God.
This brings me to my next point. We read in the Gospel that the Sheep know the voice of their shepherd and recognise when he speaks. Do we recognise the voice of God? And how do we hear God’s voice?
John 10:3,4 “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
The gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd. There were people who prepared the way for Jesus. Most notably is John the Baptist, yet other prophets over the hundreds of years helped also to “open the gate” for Jesus. They did this by proclaiming the truth about God and through their message they made God known. I would imagine that if there was no gatekeeper the sheep would be totally aimless and listening to any voice that struck a chord with them and claimed some sort of authority. Our ministers and church leaders are obvious gatekeepers and this is one of the reasons that it is important to be a regular church attendee.
Today we are sheep who are part of God’s flock, and we are also gatekeepers for others. It is us who need to proclaim the truth about God, when we do other sheep will recognise His voice and not be led astray. In our society today there certainly are other voices that distract and lead astray. These are things like the psychic expo, astrology, obsessions with fantasies about vampires and supernatural things. And then there are also the voices from the God of money that also lead astray, dictating a busy selfish and money centred existence. There is also the God of leisure which dictates that sporting needs and fun family outings and sleeping in is more important than God. And there are probably a few others. Question is; which voice are we listening to?
My final point is that Jesus refers to himself as the gate. What does this mean and what are the implications:
John 10:7-10 “Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
We come into the flock of God through the life of Jesus. There is no other way. You don’t become a Christian by following the commandments or “being a good person”. You don’t even become a Christian by going through the ritual of baptism or any other of the sacraments. You become a child of God by your connection to Christ - by belief and acceptance of his sacrifice and resurrection. Baptism is commanded to seal the deal – to make conscious and sure the commitment to follow Christ and commitment to be part of his flock. How are we all going with this commitment?
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