Thoughts on...
July 19, 2009: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
New Testament Lesson: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Busy work and interruptions. What is our mission, our focus? What needs to be done? We can get busy doing a lot of things; doing programs that are unfocused and unintentional, being interrupted by every little piece of paper and phone call. Without quiet reflection, we just keep filling our time while running ourselves and the church down.
Our Scripture places the quiet time and need for rest and reflection next to a call for compassion. Compassion means action. It has been said, "you cannot be compassionate without doing something to help another." Jesus shows us what compassion looks like in Mark 6. Jesus knows what the people need. Reading in between Mark 6:34 and 53, sometimes the people need teaching, at other times it is simply the need for food, and often the people need healing. All three are a part of Jesus' ministry everyday, it is the focus of his ministry.
Rest and reflection informs our compassion and doing. Rest and reflection clears our minds to see what the people need and to respond with compassion. It prepares us for the work that God can do through us. Take time out to refocus, to gather energy and to listen to the still small voice of God that calls us to do.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Thoughts on...
July 12, 2009: 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel Lesson: Mark 6:14-29
Choices...we all have to make them. Some are harder than others. Some lead to hardship and pain others to grace and acceptance. Herod had a choice to make. He had heard John preach and was perplexed, perhaps mildly interested in John's message of repentance but there was fear there as well. Herod was not living a picture perfect Godly life. His life was more of a soap opera in nature.
On that fateful day Herod was living it up, it was a party and the beautiful daughter of Herodias was dancing for Herod and his friends. With too much partying in his system, he offered her anything she wanted. The daughter of Herodias went to her mother, "What should I ask for?" The response, "John's head on a platter."
This is where Herod's big choice comes in, does he go back on his promise and save John from death or does he simply give Herodias and her daughter what they want?
Yes, it was a difficult decision, to save face or stand up for what was honorable. Herod chose to save face. It was a dark day. Grace did not abound and Herod had to live with the decision, and I'm certain it tormented him.
Life throws us curve balls, hard decisions must be made, and in the end we must live with the choices we make. Life is not easy and as it turns out easy choices aren't as easy as they seem for in the end they cost you more than you could ever imagine.
July 12, 2009: 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel Lesson: Mark 6:14-29
Choices...we all have to make them. Some are harder than others. Some lead to hardship and pain others to grace and acceptance. Herod had a choice to make. He had heard John preach and was perplexed, perhaps mildly interested in John's message of repentance but there was fear there as well. Herod was not living a picture perfect Godly life. His life was more of a soap opera in nature.
On that fateful day Herod was living it up, it was a party and the beautiful daughter of Herodias was dancing for Herod and his friends. With too much partying in his system, he offered her anything she wanted. The daughter of Herodias went to her mother, "What should I ask for?" The response, "John's head on a platter."
This is where Herod's big choice comes in, does he go back on his promise and save John from death or does he simply give Herodias and her daughter what they want?
Yes, it was a difficult decision, to save face or stand up for what was honorable. Herod chose to save face. It was a dark day. Grace did not abound and Herod had to live with the decision, and I'm certain it tormented him.
Life throws us curve balls, hard decisions must be made, and in the end we must live with the choices we make. Life is not easy and as it turns out easy choices aren't as easy as they seem for in the end they cost you more than you could ever imagine.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Thoughts on...
July 5, 2009
This week we are off lectionary as we celebrate July 4th, Independence Day. Our scriptures of the week are as follows:
Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 17-21: What does God require of us as a nation?
Psalm 72: A Prayer for Justice and Righteousness
Galatians 5:13-26: The Proper Use of Freedom
John 8:31-39
Freedom is the word of the day. The "Jews who had believed in Jesus" misunderstood the freedom that believing in the truth could give them. The truth that Jesus was lifting up was the presence of God that is found in Jesus and the freedom was not from oppression by another, but freedom from sin that separates us from God.
As we celebrate Independence Day and consider the freedom that we have here in the USA, it does not compare with the freedom that we find in the truth, the presence of God. Genuine freedom does not come from boasting about being the greatest, or even, the most blessed, freedom is found in living according to God's Word, for then "we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free."
July 5, 2009
This week we are off lectionary as we celebrate July 4th, Independence Day. Our scriptures of the week are as follows:
Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 17-21: What does God require of us as a nation?
Psalm 72: A Prayer for Justice and Righteousness
Galatians 5:13-26: The Proper Use of Freedom
John 8:31-39
Freedom is the word of the day. The "Jews who had believed in Jesus" misunderstood the freedom that believing in the truth could give them. The truth that Jesus was lifting up was the presence of God that is found in Jesus and the freedom was not from oppression by another, but freedom from sin that separates us from God.
As we celebrate Independence Day and consider the freedom that we have here in the USA, it does not compare with the freedom that we find in the truth, the presence of God. Genuine freedom does not come from boasting about being the greatest, or even, the most blessed, freedom is found in living according to God's Word, for then "we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free."
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