Genesis 31-33, Psalm 11, Matthew 11
In Matthew's Gospel today, Jesus get pretty upset. He's using angry tones and stark warnings to prove his authority and claim his rightful place. He makes an interesting point that all the signs are in front of us. In verse 15 he says, "Let anyone with ears listen!" In other words, we have all we need, but we don't accept or recognize God's works and the words of the prophets. No wonder Jesus compares us to "children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another". He gave us music, but we didn't dance. He gave us wailing, but we didn't mourn. Everything we need has been provided. I'm no hypocrite. I've had times of spiritual doubt and despair. I still don't fully understand everything, and I often ask God "why this" or "why that". Jesus tells us in verse 19 that "wisdom is vindicated by her deeds." We will see what is true by what happens.
Jesus does add some comfort, though. After talking about how miserable judgment will be and how unworthy we all are he offers his own help. Jesus says that because of his relationship to God as His son, he will reveal us to God. He also offers to take on our burdens. That seems like such a simple thing. Just hand off our problems to Jesus. I certainly have trouble doing that. I've been incredibly stressed lately about how I'm going to find time to go to work, rehearse the shows I'm in, do my taxes, do my laundry...the list goes on and on. Those little things don't really matter, though. Yes, I have to do them all, but my focus should be on doing God's work in the world. I believe that as long as I keep focused on Him, He will give me strength and endurance to get it all done. My burden is heavy, but Jesus says "[his] yoke is easy, and [his] burden is light." If he's offering to share the load, I guess I should let him.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
A side note on the Anglican Communion and the Roman Church
I would love to see the Anglican Communion and the Roman Church in full communion with one another. I honestly believe we have most things in common with one another. We both have full apostolic succession (sorry, Rome, but we do. All the way back to Peter and then to Jesus. Deal with it.) We both believe that Jesus is present at Holy Communion (granted, in a different form. Anglicans don't believe in a physical presence.) Why can't we just get along. It infuriates me that if a Roman Catholic comes to an Episcopal Church we will allow him or her to receive communion. As a matter of fact, we'll allow any Christian to receive communion. It's the Lord's table. Not Mother Anita's table. Not Charles' table. Not even the Episcopal church's table. The Lord's Table. But when I attend mass at a Catholic church, the sacrament of communion is denied me. I am not good enough for it, so says the pope. Well, the pope can go suck an egg. I don't need his permission to love and serve the Lord.
Whew! I get emotional over this. I should just let things go, but it's hard. I believe that Jesus came in the form of man to live among us to save ALL of us. I don't believe the Catholic church should change their doctrines on Holy Communion. I have no theological problem with them believing in transubstantiation. It doesn't undermine my faith at all. I do believe that they should say the same about my rejection of transubstantiation. Every time I receive communion I do it in the remembrance of Christ. So do they. We all accept Jesus' sacrifice. We all thank him for it. We all rejoice in the immeasurable love God has for us. I will publicly state here that I believe that any member of the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church and the Presbyterian Church and the Lutheran Church, and whatever church that sincerely serves God is my brother or sister in Christ. I believe we should just get along.
So quit fishing for our people, Rome.
Of course, on a side note, as a rather liberal Episcopalian, I'm ok with all the conservative cooks going over to Rome. Rome can have 'em!
Now, I know that at least some of my Catholic friends must read this blog. I'd honestly like to hear your comments. You know I love you.
http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/world-news/detail/articolo/anglicani-anglicans-anglicanos-united-kingdom-gran-bretana-gran-bretagna-13118/
Bible Challenge Day 11
Genesis 28-30, Psalm 10, Matthew 10
Ok, folks. Katherine tells me that people at the Wednesday night Bible study said they read this blog. Why aren't you leaving comments? I have very little formal theology in my education, so this is mostly my ramblings and how I understand the Bible. I don't devalue that. I consider myself an educated person with a sincere desire to serve God, but I'm sure most if not all of you are in the same camp. So what do you think? Anything that I didn't mention that you want to focus on? Do you disagree with something I said? Let's make this a conversation.
Ok...off my soap box.
The story of Jacob and his cousin/wives and their servant girls and all the "going in to know" them kind of skeezes me out. I know it's how things were done back then. I see the fulfillment of God's promise to make Abraham's descendants as numerous as the starts, but I'm not exactly sure what else I should take away from this story. It's wildly entertaining. I think it would make a great plot for a primetime soap opera. Especially all the stuff about the spotted goats. Laban hides the spotted goats so Jacob can't have any. Jacob puts striped poles in front of the breeding goats so he can have striped baby goats to take. That's fun stuff. But what does it mean? Here's where I need help. I just don't get it.
I haven't often commented on the Psalms, but I really like today's. It's fitting, I think, for our times. The psalmist laments the rich and powerful who prey on the weak and defenseless:
Ok, folks. Katherine tells me that people at the Wednesday night Bible study said they read this blog. Why aren't you leaving comments? I have very little formal theology in my education, so this is mostly my ramblings and how I understand the Bible. I don't devalue that. I consider myself an educated person with a sincere desire to serve God, but I'm sure most if not all of you are in the same camp. So what do you think? Anything that I didn't mention that you want to focus on? Do you disagree with something I said? Let's make this a conversation.
Ok...off my soap box.
The story of Jacob and his cousin/wives and their servant girls and all the "going in to know" them kind of skeezes me out. I know it's how things were done back then. I see the fulfillment of God's promise to make Abraham's descendants as numerous as the starts, but I'm not exactly sure what else I should take away from this story. It's wildly entertaining. I think it would make a great plot for a primetime soap opera. Especially all the stuff about the spotted goats. Laban hides the spotted goats so Jacob can't have any. Jacob puts striped poles in front of the breeding goats so he can have striped baby goats to take. That's fun stuff. But what does it mean? Here's where I need help. I just don't get it.
I haven't often commented on the Psalms, but I really like today's. It's fitting, I think, for our times. The psalmist laments the rich and powerful who prey on the weak and defenseless:
"Their eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;I've always mistrusted rich people. I love the verse about it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy person to enter heaven. That might be sour grapes, but I honestly don't see any wildly wealthy person who didn't achieve their money through some crooked means. In this Psalm, at any rate, the psalmist calls to God for help. He even affirms that God knows of the evils of man and will punish the wicked. I find it quite interesting that the wicked can be spotted because they "renounce God". If someone truly accepts God, they will not be wicked. God knows all.
they lurk in secret like a lion in its covert;
they lurk that they may seize the poor;
they seize the poor and drag them off in their net."
"But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief,In Matthew we see the exact powers Jesus gives his disciples. They are charged with a list of tasks:
that you may take it into your hands;
the helpless commit themselves to you;
you have been the helper of the orphan."
- Stay with the people of Israel
- Proclaim the Good News--God's kingdom is near.
- Cure the sick and raise the dead
- Don't accept payment for these tasks
- Bless those who are good.
- Shake off those who are wicked.
Interesting. I think that as disciples of Christ we must be called to a similar list. I think we can take the first task in context. Jesus tells the disciples they are sheep going into a pack of wolves. Perhaps the command to stay away from the Gentiles comes from him wishing for their safety. I think for us that translates into a fatherly "be careful" warning. We're supposed to tell people about Jesus, minister to the sick and grieving, and not expect anything in return for this. Selfless giving.
There's also a great sense of urgency in this call. Jesus tells his disciples that "you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." I know that early Christians expected Jesus' return to happen immediately. They would be shocked, no doubt, to know that in 2012 we're still waiting. I guess for God, time isn't a big thing. He's got infinite time. 2,012 years is just a drop in the bucket. I've heard several people at Emmanuel Church say, "Jesus is coming. Everyone look busy." It's one of those funny phrases that always gets a chuckle. The really funny part, though, is that it's true. Jesus commands us to light a fire under our butts and get to work. We should take that seriously.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Bible Challenge Day 10
Genesis 25-27, Psalm 9, Matthew 9
You can hear a great rendition of the story of Jacob and Esau from Jonathan Goldstein's book "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible" here: http://tunein.com/radio/WireTap-p116877/
Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." A great call for us to enter into the Lord's work. There's lots out there to gain, but we must work for it. Powerful words.
You can hear a great rendition of the story of Jacob and Esau from Jonathan Goldstein's book "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible" here: http://tunein.com/radio/WireTap-p116877/
Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." A great call for us to enter into the Lord's work. There's lots out there to gain, but we must work for it. Powerful words.
Bible Challenge Day 9
Genesis 22-24, Psalm 8, Matthew 8
In today's Gospel reading Jesus just keeps getting busier and busier. It's astounding, really, to think of all he's accomplished by just the 8th chapter of the book! He's been baptized, chosen disciples, given a huge sermon on a mountain, and now he's healing people left and right. No wonder he's telling people not to talk about his healings. If this gets out the poor man will never get a moment's rest.
I find the idea of community very interesting in these healings. We see three different examples of people joining or working within community. First of all, the leper asks for healing so he can "be clean". He's speaking of the Jewish idea of "clean" here. In ancient Jewish law, leprosy was considered "unclean", so the lepers were ostracized from the community. He was physically unclean from the rotting flesh and spiritual unclean as he wouldn't be allowed to participate in the community of faith. After Jesus heals the man, he orders him to go into the temple and "offer the gift that Moses commanded". In other words, his first act as a clean member of the faith community is to participate in worship.
Next, Jesus meets a centurion. This man does not belong to the Jewish community. Even though he doesn't participate in the same worship that Jesus and his followers do, he recognizes Jesus' great power and humbles himself before him. I can only imagine the embarrassment that would bring on a Roman soldier to humble himself before a lowly Jew. He actually says, "I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed." This phrase, sometimes said during Holy Communion, shows great faith on the part of the centurion and creates a great precedent for Jesus' place among the Gentiles.
Finally, and conversely, we have the story of the demon-possessed people. This one bothers me. Here Jesus drives the demons out of the men and into swine who hurl themselves off a cliff. I've seen enough monster movies to know that when someone rids a village of an evil monster, the villagers should cheer and revere their hero. Not in this story. Here "the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood." Rather than embrace the miracle of Jesus, these people fear him. Perhaps that happens every day. Rather than embrace the gift of God's love we fear the unknown and cast it out.
In today's Gospel reading Jesus just keeps getting busier and busier. It's astounding, really, to think of all he's accomplished by just the 8th chapter of the book! He's been baptized, chosen disciples, given a huge sermon on a mountain, and now he's healing people left and right. No wonder he's telling people not to talk about his healings. If this gets out the poor man will never get a moment's rest.
I find the idea of community very interesting in these healings. We see three different examples of people joining or working within community. First of all, the leper asks for healing so he can "be clean". He's speaking of the Jewish idea of "clean" here. In ancient Jewish law, leprosy was considered "unclean", so the lepers were ostracized from the community. He was physically unclean from the rotting flesh and spiritual unclean as he wouldn't be allowed to participate in the community of faith. After Jesus heals the man, he orders him to go into the temple and "offer the gift that Moses commanded". In other words, his first act as a clean member of the faith community is to participate in worship.
Next, Jesus meets a centurion. This man does not belong to the Jewish community. Even though he doesn't participate in the same worship that Jesus and his followers do, he recognizes Jesus' great power and humbles himself before him. I can only imagine the embarrassment that would bring on a Roman soldier to humble himself before a lowly Jew. He actually says, "I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed." This phrase, sometimes said during Holy Communion, shows great faith on the part of the centurion and creates a great precedent for Jesus' place among the Gentiles.
Finally, and conversely, we have the story of the demon-possessed people. This one bothers me. Here Jesus drives the demons out of the men and into swine who hurl themselves off a cliff. I've seen enough monster movies to know that when someone rids a village of an evil monster, the villagers should cheer and revere their hero. Not in this story. Here "the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood." Rather than embrace the miracle of Jesus, these people fear him. Perhaps that happens every day. Rather than embrace the gift of God's love we fear the unknown and cast it out.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Bible Challenge Day 8
Genesis 19-21, Psalm 7, Matthew 7
The reading from Genesis today is filled with crazy stuff. Old ladies having sons, cities destroyed by fire and sulfur, men trying to have sex with angels, daughters getting their father drunk and having sex with him...Crazy stuff. I honestly don't know what it all means. Especially the story of Lot's daughters. So I choose to focus on the rest of Jesus' sermon on the mount. If anyone else wants to comment on the story of Lot's daughters, feel free.
Jesus says we will know false prophets "by their fruits". It was a few days ago that I was asking how we are to know what's real and what's not. I mentioned then the idea of hearing God's call in community, but here Jesus gives us another way of knowing which prophets are real. Look at what they're doing. This comes in the same sermon where we learn the Golden Rule ("In everything do to others as you would have them do to you") and are told "not [to] judge, so that you may not be judged." I suppose, then, that the fruits of a true prophet would be in sync with these rules.
I was talking the other day with my friend Patrick about people and their habits or dispositions. I noted that I used to believe that people could change, but I am finding that at their core level people are one way. People don't really change. You can change small things like your eating habits, or your sleep patterns, or you can stop biting your nails, but at your core, you don't change. I think that's what Jesus is saying when he says "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit." Perhaps that's rather Calvinistic of me, but we're all good trees or bad trees. We have to look for the thorns. Using Jesus' metaphor or the house built on the rock, we need to look toward the good trees with a firm root system embedded in the rock, or holding fast to God.
The reading from Genesis today is filled with crazy stuff. Old ladies having sons, cities destroyed by fire and sulfur, men trying to have sex with angels, daughters getting their father drunk and having sex with him...Crazy stuff. I honestly don't know what it all means. Especially the story of Lot's daughters. So I choose to focus on the rest of Jesus' sermon on the mount. If anyone else wants to comment on the story of Lot's daughters, feel free.
Jesus says we will know false prophets "by their fruits". It was a few days ago that I was asking how we are to know what's real and what's not. I mentioned then the idea of hearing God's call in community, but here Jesus gives us another way of knowing which prophets are real. Look at what they're doing. This comes in the same sermon where we learn the Golden Rule ("In everything do to others as you would have them do to you") and are told "not [to] judge, so that you may not be judged." I suppose, then, that the fruits of a true prophet would be in sync with these rules.
I was talking the other day with my friend Patrick about people and their habits or dispositions. I noted that I used to believe that people could change, but I am finding that at their core level people are one way. People don't really change. You can change small things like your eating habits, or your sleep patterns, or you can stop biting your nails, but at your core, you don't change. I think that's what Jesus is saying when he says "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit." Perhaps that's rather Calvinistic of me, but we're all good trees or bad trees. We have to look for the thorns. Using Jesus' metaphor or the house built on the rock, we need to look toward the good trees with a firm root system embedded in the rock, or holding fast to God.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Bible Challenge Day 7...uh...6
Genesis 16-18, Psalm 6, Matthew 6
So here I am after a crazy busy weekend and a long shift at work. A shift, I might add, that ended at 10:45pm when I have to be back at the same job at 5:30am tomorrow. Ick. This weekend was filled with two performances, several rehearsals, piano practicing, line memorizing, laundry washing...the list goes on and on. I actually had the shakes on Friday I was so tired and so stressed that I wouldn't get everything done. Then I come home, grab a beer, read my Bible, and there's Jesus saying, "...can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?" My initial reaction is that Jesus doesn't get my problem.
Here he is telling me to consider the lilies of the field. They don't toil, but they're beautiful. Well that's all fine and dandy if you're a lily, but I'm not. I'm a human being with rent to pay, gas to buy, taxes to file, student loans weighing me down. I think I'd be much happier being a lily.
This passage in Matthew has always both confused me and given me hope. I do like the simplicity of just relying on God, but as the wise saw goes, God helps those who help themselves. I think what Jesus must be talking about here is not the daily grind, but all the little things that weigh us down. Things that don't matter. I'm using lots of cliches here, but my grandmother's favorite thing to tell me is to "not sweat the small stuff." Of course, she's one to talk. She used to have this sign on her refrigerator that said, "Hello. This is God. I'll be taking care of all your problems today." Her friend Pat, who's a little bit crazy, crossed out the word God and wrote in "Pat". I sometimes feel like Pat. But Jesus tells us that we don't have to worry about all of that.
For me the key verse in this passage is verse 33. "[S]trive first for the kindgomd of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Jesus is telling us that the things that really matter are serving God. Yes, we still have to go through the daily grind. Yes, I still have to go to work and work diligently so I have money to pay my bills, but that is a means to an end. And that end is God.
"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."
NEXT WEEK:
Day 8 - Genesis 19-21; Psalm 7; Matthew 7
Day 9 - Genesis 22-24; Psalm 8; Matthew 8
Day 10 - Genesis 25-27; Psalm 9; Matthew 9
Day 11 - Genesis 28-30; Psalm 10; Matthew 10
Day 12 - Genesis 31-33; Psalm 11; Matthew 11
Day 13 - Genesis 34-36; Psalm 12; Matthew 12
Day 14 - Enjoy hearing the Scriptures read aloud in church
So here I am after a crazy busy weekend and a long shift at work. A shift, I might add, that ended at 10:45pm when I have to be back at the same job at 5:30am tomorrow. Ick. This weekend was filled with two performances, several rehearsals, piano practicing, line memorizing, laundry washing...the list goes on and on. I actually had the shakes on Friday I was so tired and so stressed that I wouldn't get everything done. Then I come home, grab a beer, read my Bible, and there's Jesus saying, "...can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?" My initial reaction is that Jesus doesn't get my problem.Here he is telling me to consider the lilies of the field. They don't toil, but they're beautiful. Well that's all fine and dandy if you're a lily, but I'm not. I'm a human being with rent to pay, gas to buy, taxes to file, student loans weighing me down. I think I'd be much happier being a lily.
This passage in Matthew has always both confused me and given me hope. I do like the simplicity of just relying on God, but as the wise saw goes, God helps those who help themselves. I think what Jesus must be talking about here is not the daily grind, but all the little things that weigh us down. Things that don't matter. I'm using lots of cliches here, but my grandmother's favorite thing to tell me is to "not sweat the small stuff." Of course, she's one to talk. She used to have this sign on her refrigerator that said, "Hello. This is God. I'll be taking care of all your problems today." Her friend Pat, who's a little bit crazy, crossed out the word God and wrote in "Pat". I sometimes feel like Pat. But Jesus tells us that we don't have to worry about all of that.
For me the key verse in this passage is verse 33. "[S]trive first for the kindgomd of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Jesus is telling us that the things that really matter are serving God. Yes, we still have to go through the daily grind. Yes, I still have to go to work and work diligently so I have money to pay my bills, but that is a means to an end. And that end is God.
"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."
NEXT WEEK:
Day 8 - Genesis 19-21; Psalm 7; Matthew 7
Day 9 - Genesis 22-24; Psalm 8; Matthew 8
Day 10 - Genesis 25-27; Psalm 9; Matthew 9
Day 11 - Genesis 28-30; Psalm 10; Matthew 10
Day 12 - Genesis 31-33; Psalm 11; Matthew 11
Day 13 - Genesis 34-36; Psalm 12; Matthew 12
Day 14 - Enjoy hearing the Scriptures read aloud in church
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