Thursday Nite Appetizer: Recent Episodes
Holy Family Parish
Drowning, grasping at anything we think will help. The struggle is real, and Jesus embraces it with us.
The Wisdom of the Cross is foolishness to the Greeks, and a stumbling block to the Jews.
In our new format, Charles and I discuss the theme for the upcoming Winter Unify, "Rich in Life."
Jade joins us to look at this Sunday's Gospel, about John the Baptist and the voice crying out in the wilderness.
We struggle with the harsh reality of Jesus' story of separating the sheep from the goats.
The oil of gladness, the Holy Spirit, is something we should not leave home without an abundance of.
God is patient with us, merciful to us, and calls us to treat others in the same way as we've been treated.
Jesus describes how Christians should handle an unrepentant sinner - not in the way I expected. (Sam)
Guest Host: Graham Montag
Graham and Sam delve into what tempts us to look elsewhere for happiness rather than to take the hard road and "take up our cross" to follow Jesus. Our crosses, and helping others to bear theirs is the way to sanctity.
Guest Host: Graham Montag
Jesus throws Peter the keys to the kingdom and says, "here, you drive." What could be more insane?
Are the storms in our lives a good sign - a sign that God thinks we're ready to be tested?
Did Jesus really promise to burn away our sin and keep the rest of us? Or did he mean he'll burn the bad people and leave the good ones?
WE ARE SORRY - We lost the discussion part of this episode. Please read the passage for yourself this week! See you next week.
Jesus calls his apostles and sends them out by name. Sam and Charles the importance of listening to the story of others.
The Holy Spirit enabled the apostles to speak in the language of those listening - and what they said was the Gospel.
Sam and Charles discuss the Holy Spirit being bestowed on the early believers. Can the Holy Spirit work early in a person's faith life, even before the Sacrament of Baptism?
The early church immediately began caring for widows and orphans... and it got out of control pretty quick. Join us as we discuss the invention of Deacons, and what it means to actually see Jesus in the poor.
"Save yourselves from this corrupt generation". But where does the corruption come from, and what can we do about it?
Starting in Jerusalem, Peter and the other apostles begin to spread the news that Jesus has risen from the dead, and is indeed the messiah. Oh, and the Raptors lost, again.
God sees differently than we see. God saw the image in David, the least of Jesse's sons.
Abram and Sarai accept the word of the Lord on pure faith, and put much of what they know and love at risk to follow the call.
In Deacon Charles' absence, Sarah joins Sam to talk about the fall, seeing the true image of the person behind the distortion, and Sarah's upcoming mission work experience.
Charles and Sam get into a raw and heated discussion about martyrdom, going to war, loving those who have hurt us and how to prudently care for those we are called to protect.
We discuss why mourning stands out in the beatitudes. How can some of our darkest moments result in God being close to us, and giving us comfort?
In our last episode of 2022, we discuss how the angels appeared to the shepherds, a lowly, humble group, and invited them to go and find Jesus.
Babies have a way of turning lives upside down - Jesus is no exception. Listen to Sam and Charles discuss one of the most controversial statements ever made, which is in this week's Gospel: "God is with us."
An annoying widow gets justice. But what about when we pray? Will we receive justice from God if we are faithful to prayer?
Sam and Charles discuss the rich man and Lazarus.
Why was only the name of Lazarus given?
What is the rich man's sin, which resulted in his damnation in eternal flame?
How can we, westerners who are objectively among the most wealthy humans of all time, avoid his fate?
JOHN 16:12-15 Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you.”
BACKGROUNDER Everyone wants to know the truth, but, we can’t always “bear it”. We want the truth because we want to know what to count on, what will guide us, what will help us when times are tough. But the truth may not be what we want to hear: we may overestimate ourselves and our abilities, we may prefer wishful thinking, preferring to believe that things will work out the way that we want, even when it’s not realistic.
Jesus promises us the best of guides, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is unique in that he hears what God the Father says to Jesus, the Son of God. This divine conversation is completely beyond us, but the Holy Spirit hears and speaks, He tells us what only God can know. Jesus even says that the Holy Spirit will take what is His, which is everything that the Father has, and declare it to us – everything!
But we also know that the Holy Spirit is the comforter, the advocate. That means that when he gives us the truth that comes from God, He does so in a way that we can handle, with His help. Truth and love are one in God. When we hear the truth that we need to hear, we hear the truth enfolded in His love. We are never left alone or defenceless, no matter how bad the situation we may be in.
But Jesus came to proclaim Good News. In every situation of sadness, sickness, sin or death, every time when we are disoriented by darkness, Jesus will be our light. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see the Light of Christ. And He also gives us the strength to follow Jesus.
The truth also sets us free. When we are free in Jesus, the Holy Spirit transforms us so that we can live in the truth, and even to share the truth of Jesus with others. We will become the people God calls us to be when we are so free.
Jesus tells us that He is the way, the truth, and the life. The Spirit of Truth allows us to be open to Jesus, who comes to be with us, and make His home in us. The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth, all the way home.
John 14:23-29 Jesus answered him, “If someone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and WE WILL COME TO HIM AND MAKE OUR HOME WITH HIM. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
“These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
“You heard me say to you, I go away, and I will come to you. If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.”
Make our home with him Faith is a gift from God. Many of us grew up in a family with faith, as something shared with us. We learned to read the Bible; we were taken to Church; we prayed before bed. Others did not grow up with faith. Nevertheless, we can all find ourselves asking whether God knows us personally. Does God really care about me? Do I matter to him?
Faith can also mean that you need to respond, to answer God’s call. Faith is your “Yes” to God. Jesus comes to us from God, to show us the way to answer God’s invitation. This is when faith becomes personal.
These words of Jesus, spoken as he faced his own death, speak from his heart to our heart. He is broken on the Cross, pierced in his heart, and laid in the tomb. Jesus shows us that faith is not just a belief about God, it is a gift offered at a sacrifice. Even if you don’t believe in God, God believes in you. For God, faith is very personal.
Jesus promises that he and his Father will come and make their home with us. Imagine how our hearts, sometimes indifferent or hardened, sometimes lost in sin, sometimes drowned in despair, can actually be opened to receive God. Now God doesn’t wait until we’re perfect to come to us.
God waits to come in. And think of how incredible is this offer: God will come to make His home with us. We receive His Holy Spirit to be our Counselor, our teacher. This is personal: and nothing will ever be the same.
JOHN 20:19-23 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
FORGIVENESS RENEWS THE WORLD This is the first time that Jesus meets the disciples as a group. They are afraid, because for all they know, the Roman and Jewish authorities may be after them as well. They are also at the beginning of a lifelong journey, on mission in the world, now without Jesus. Till today, Christians are following Jesus in the same way: we are in the world, and he is in heaven.
Just like those disciples on that day, we know the Risen Jesus. They had the privilege of knowing Jesus when he first came into the world. But after his death on the Cross, he is different, he came into the room despite the fact that the door was locked. The Resurrection has revealed his divine power in a new way. He is truly Lord the of all, the living and the dead.
Also, just like the first disciples, Christians are a community, a group of people with all of the ups and downs which we bring to the church. And Christians, like everyone else, need help when we do wrong to each other. Sometimes Church people gossip, or try to be the ones in charge, or are envious of others who get more attention.
So think about Jesus’s first gift to the Church: the power to forgive sins. Of course, any one can say sorry and anyone can forgive. You don’t need to be a Christian to forgive. But Jesus is doing much more than telling us to be forgiving, he is giving us power. We can tell that this power to forgive is part of his divine nature, because he breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. God himself comes to live within us when we become Christians. You may also notice that God breathes into the people he first creates in the book of Genesis (Chapter 2). And a couple of times, Paul speaks about Christians as a New Creation (Galatians 6, 2 Corinthians 5).
The Risen Jesus offers his disciples the power of becoming a New Creation because the first Creation, which God first called good, and very good, has fallen due to our sin. This means that all of us face spiritual death, and that the whole of creation is doomed to futility (Romans 8). So it is the gift of forgiveness which gives us all hope.
Christians have been given an amazing gift by the Risen Jesus. Now it’s up to us to use, enjoy, and share the gift. How much can we allow the gift of forgiveness to change our own individual hearts, and our communities? How can Christian communities show others that we have allowed the gift of forgiveness to change how we relate to each other?
And let’s remember that the power of forgiveness is not just for us. We need to look at the world around us and see people struggling because they hurt each other. We need to see people stuck in the old ways of the world, which may leave them without hope. How can we share the power of forgiveness with people around us? Jesus leads us to the ways of self-sacrifice, the way of the cross, for others. May we receive this amazing gift and allow God to renew all of us, to His glory.
HEBREWS 5 Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; 3 and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. 4 And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.” 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Journey’s End The end of Jesus’s journey to the Cross is obviously, the Cross. “7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears …” This is end of the journey, the complete humiliation, torture, and execution of a man, who is as human as any of us. The complete vulnerability of Jesus at the end of the journey is just like ours: he cries out, he weeps, he prays, he begs God for help. Looking at Jesus at the end of the journey, we see ourselves at our lowest point. He even calls out to God, “Why have you forsaken me?”
Jesus’s journey has many ups and downs: 1) the glimpse of glory, 2) repentance, 3) home and belonging, 4) mercy, and 5) the coming of the king. Jesus walks and talks, he witnesses and teaches about our journey. We are made for glory. We are called to repentance. We need home, we need to belong. We turn to God for mercy. We may even have welcomed Jesus as our king. How do put all of these themes together? Where do they converge? Everything comes together in Jesus on the Cross.
The labyrinth of life is full of confusion and dead ends. When things go well, we are painfully aware they this is temporary. We as individuals and communities struggle as we try to figure out the big questions, of meaning and purpose: why are we here? Where are we going?
On this journey with Jesus, it may see strange that the answer to all of our questions may be seen in Jesus on the Cross. Do you see a man who is suffering and dying? This is truly Jesus who is human just like you, no matter who you are, or where your faith is. Faith in Jesus is a new gift, which we can accept, which is our decision. The people who journeyed with Jesus mostly misunderstood him. They were looking for the king promised to their people, Israel, by God. They expected a conqueror, who would lead his people to victory over their enemies.
So who is Jesus? We can ask those who were there, the witnesses to Jesus’s journey. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John give us first hand testimony to who Jesus is, and to what he did. They tells us two remarkable things about the End of the Journey. Three days after this horrible, humiliating death on the Cross, Jesus was alive again, he rose from the dead. Secondly, they testify that Jesus is God, not just man.
This is our hope: the end of our journey is our resurrection, and coming home to God. So Christians can proclaim: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY – LUKE 19:28-40 Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples. He said, “Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will answer, ‘The Master has need of it.’”
So those who had been sent went off and found everything just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying this colt?”
They answered, “The Master has need of it.”
So they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount. As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen.
They proclaimed:
“Blessed is the king who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest.”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd
said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
He said in reply, “I tell you, if they
keep silent, the stones will cry out!”
WELCOMING THE KING, CRUCIFIED Jesus is now near the end of the Journey to the Cross. He is fully aware of where he has come from, from God, and where he is going, back to God. So, what is he here to do? Why is Jesus on the Journey to the Cross?
Now Jesus is coming to Jerusalem, which was known as the City of David. David was the greatest king of God’s chosen people, Israel. God had promised David that his descendants would be kings forever. But this promise seemed to be broken when the kings following David were unfaithful to God, and eventually so corrupt that their kingdom was divided, and then conquered. For centuries Israel had been waiting for the new king, the Messiah, the one sent by God to restore his kingdom.
Now the people who welcome Jesus to Jerusalem, the City of David, are full of expectation that he is the Messiah. They welcome him triumphantly. The people lay their cloaks on the road to acknowledge their hope. The disciples, those who have already begun to follow him, proclaim that he is “the king who comes”. They are full of joy.
When we welcome Jesus into our hearts, and into our lives, we become his disciples. This is a joyful experience. But like those people in Jerusalem, our king, Jesus, is heading to the Cross. He will ask us to take up our own Cross, as we follow him. Jesus is a king indeed, but his throne is the Cross. He rules with love which he shows us by sacrificing his life for ours.
Following Jesus is our salvation, but it also an invitation to a life of sacrifice for others. When we journey with Jesus, we journey to the Cross: we are not promised prosperity, health, or even a quiet life. But we have joy and peace that nothing in this world can take a way, and the sure hope of heaven to come.
Jn 8:1-11 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
“Teacher, this woman was caught
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
THE JOURNEY OF MERCY As Jesus journeys to the cross he faces increasing threats. We can look at this confrontation between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees as a trap closing around him, but it is also part of the Father’s plan of mercy for all people.
The woman who is caught in adultery is in a miserable state. At the moment she is dragged before Jesus, she is facing death. She has also destroyed her life with her family, by betraying her husband in adultery. She is facing the shame and condemnation of the authorities who are judging her according to the Law. According to them she deserves death by stoning.
How does Jesus see this woman? He sees a beloved daughter of God, made in God’s image. Jesus also knows the truth about her adultery, he does not pretend that she is innocent. How will Jesus show respect for the Law while fulfilling his mission of mercy?
Before we can answer this question, we may want to see this woman as representing all of us. We are all separated by sin from God. All of us face accusers, inner and outer, how want our harm. We are without any way of getting out of this predicament. Try as we might we are as desperate as the woman in this incident.
It is only God who has the power to set us free. And that is the basis for Jesus’s response. First, he challenges the accusers, reminding them that they are all sinners. None of them are pure enough to stand in judgement over the woman. Then, after they leave, Jesus turns to her with mercy. He refuses to condemn her – He who is judge of the living and the dead. Finally, Jesus sends her on her way, telling her not to sin again. She is free. She has experienced God’s mercy.
But for Jesus the journey continues. The trap which would have destroyed the woman has been foiled. But Jesus’s journey to the cross continues. This time, he will pay the price with his life. He will redeem us and set us free. He will show us God’s mercy.
How amazing the love of God. May all of us whose lives have been transformed by His mercy, share freely the divine gift of salvation with each burdened, trapped person whom we also meet on the journey.
LUKE 15: 15:1-3, 11-32
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable: “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”
THE JOURNEY HOME
Where do you belong? The two sons in this story both start in a home with a loving father, a father who is wealthy, and who is very generous. Despite all of this, Jesus tells us that neither of the sons feels like he belongs. And it is money that divides them from their father.
The younger son wants his inheritance NOW. This means that he sees his father as already dead – there is no love. The father seems to be foolish in agreeing to this request, and the younger son predictably wastes all of the money.
How was the older son doing all this time? He was doing his duty, but we can see that he also felt that he didn’t belong in the speech he gives the father. He resents the welcome that the father gave to the younger son. It seems that he has been carefully calculating how much he is owed, and he is mad because the father has wasted so much money on the good for nothing younger son.
So where do the two sons stand at the end of the story? The younger son has made a dramatic decision to return to his father, expecting to be treated like a servant, someone who only works for pay. But the father welcomes him back with compassion,
LUKE 13:1-9 Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”
And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”
Repent or die Two kinds of bad news are brought to Jesus as he journeys to the cross. Pontius Pilate has massacred a group of pilgrims from Galilee who were offering sacrifices in Jerusalem. The other tragedy is about people killed when a tower fell on them. News of sudden death falls like a shadow across Jesus’s path.
How does he respond? He calls all of his listeners to repentance: the disciples, the watching crowd, and even those who brought the news. What is the “repentance” to which Jesus calls all of us?
Repentance means changing your mind, your direction, your whole life. Repentance is something which is a mysterious cooperation between God and us. God desires us, he wants us to find the way home. He touches our hearts, and we may then choose to respond – we remain free, but called by God.
Then Jesus tells us a story, a parable, about a fig tree that is growing but not bearing fruit. For three years the tree has borne no fruit, and the owner of the orchard is fed up, he says that it’s wasting soil. The gardener is the voice of God’s mercy.
Here’s the key point of this parable: just as the gardener will cultivate and fertilize the soil, so God’s mercy softens our hearts, and prepares us to turn to him. But, God’s mercy offers us more: we will bear the fruit of love in action, of charity towards others.
But as the journey continues Jesus will be the innocent victim on the cross, condemned to death by Pilate, suffering sudden, tragic death. Jesus’s journey to the cross calls us to repent, to get back on the way, and offers us God’s love, which will bear fruit in our lives, and lead us to eternal life.
LUKE 9:28b-36 Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.
FROM THE GLORY TO THE CROSS About what was Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah? “His exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.” An exodus is a long journey, much like the word exit. Moses led the chosen people, Israel, on the first, great exodus. They had been slaves in Egypt, and Moses led them from this horrible oppression to freedom, and eventually to the Promised Land.
Why is Jesus going on this journey of his own exodus? Because we are slaves to sin and to death. Just as God heard the cries of the people of Israel, God has heard the cries of all of us who are slaves to sin and death. God the Father knows that we are suffering.
Just as God called Moses to lead his people, God has sent his own son, Jesus, to lead us into freedom. But this journey is even more harrowing than Moses’ through the Red Sea and into the wilderness.
We need to know that Jesus is undertaking this journey for each one of us. Jesus’ exodus takes place on the cross. We think of this suffering, this pain, even to death itself, which is Jesus’s journey for each one us. And we think about how each one us faces suffering and death, our own journey.
Our faith in Jesus is our sharing in his journey. He is walking with us into our suffering and death. And we are sharing in each others’ journey. In Jesus, no one of us travels alone.
Notice that Jesus’s journey starts with a glimpse into his glory. This dire prophecy, that Jesus will suffer and die, is proclaimed as his divine nature shines forth. The voice from heaven, the voice of God, tells us that he is part of the journey: it is his beloved son whom he offers for us. The glory of God is his love, shining in our darkness.
LUKE 4:1-13
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry.
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”
Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”
Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
When the devil had finished every temptation,
he departed from him for a time.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
We come to the end of our series, You Will be Found, by looking at Jesus tempted in the desert. Throughout the Bible the desert means the place of testing, the place where we can’t survive, where our independence ends, and our reliance on God is renewed.
This temptation of Jesus shows us the reality of how human he is, how much he is like each of us. Who is tempting Jesus? The devil, literally the one who scatters. Jesus, the beloved Son of God, is led into a dangerous situation, where he risks his humanity, where he can be lost.
The devil wants to move Jesus from trusting in God to trusting in himself. The temptation to turn stone into bread asks Jesus to focus on his human needs, to believe that if he has no physical worries he will be fine. Jesus responds by reminding us that even if our needs are met, we still need to find the meaning and purpose that only God can give.
The second temptation is to seek power, to have rule and control over everything around us – but the devil offers this in exchange for worshipping him, not God. This offer violates the first of the Ten Commandments, to worship God alone. Jesus rejects the offer forcefully, pointing to our true identity as children of God, made in his image. Who we really are is fulfilled when we worship God.
Finally, the devil concedes that God is God, but now wants Jesus to test God, basically to say to God, I don’t care about you, I only want to use you. The devil is subtle here, as he wants to point out God’s power, that God would send angels to save Jesus if he asked. But the devil does this only so that he can force us not to love and trust God above all.
Jesus shows his love of the Father, that he will not test him, no matter what may happen. Think of Jesus on the cross, hungry and thirsty, completely powerless, crying out to God, “Why have you abandoned me?” And yet, Jesus on the cross, who is lost, and will soon be dead and buried, shows just how much he loves the Father, no matter what.
Even after we are found, we too will be tested by the devil, when our needs are not met, when we lose control, when we want to test God. We look to the cross, where Jesus shows us the way back to the Father, to the hope of new life in Jesus, whom the Father raises from the dead.
LUKE 6:27-38 Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic.
“Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
“And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount.
“But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
JESUS CALLS ENEMIES Jesus searches for every single one of us. What makes that difficult is that we need to live together in order to stay close to Jesus. We usually want to be together with people who are friends – that’s natural. What about our enemies? Jesus says, “Love your enemies” to us, and challenges us to realize that he is searching for our enemies too.
We naturally judge and even condemn each other. How amazing and sad it is that we can even write each other off. When someone crosses us we turn away. Again, that’s natural. Sometimes, it’s even necessary. You need to make hard decisions when someone harms you.
Even then, Jesus is calling us into a new world, where we play a part in the transformation of our enemies. So how do we love our enemies? Jesus lays out three different ways in which we can show love: do good, bless, pray.
To do good is extremely practical, but may take some creativity. Love is more than a feeling, it takes will and effort to do something which will actually benefit the other person, the person who may hate you. Jesus will guide us into practical ways of benefitting that one.
But Jesus opens up other ways of showing love. We are to bless those who curse us. We bless, when we announce that God is Father of all, including our enemies. We recognize that there is no line which ultimately divides us. And whatever limits we may face, we can always pray. To pray for that other one is to begin to change our hearts, and in God’s grace, to begin to transform the other too.
When we take Jesus’s challenging words to heart, we will become more and more like our Father, the merciful one. Jesus is shaping us so that we too can join in his search of the lost. How can they be found?
When our hearts are filled with Jesus’s love, our words and actions will be guided not by our desire for revenge, but our love for them. Then our hope is not just for ourselves, or the people we love, but even for our enemies.
LUKE 4:21-30
Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”
He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’” And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.
HEBREWS 13:12-14
Hebrews 13Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.
REJECTED AT HOME
There is something about who we are that causes us to fear being left out. No one wants to be the one whom the whole group turns against. Every group of people tends to close in on itself, to define itself against outsiders. And groups tend to expel individuals who are considered to fall short of group standards.
The people of Israel were called by God to be separate from others. God was calling a people to himself, so that they would learn his ways, not the ways of the world. Not only the Ten Commandments, but 613 laws, were given to the people of Israel. Keeping all of those laws would define who they were.
In the Old Testament, the “scapegoat” was an actual goat. The High Priest had to pray over the goat, to lay the sins of the people on its head, and then send it out into the desert. (Leviticus 16) Even today, someone who is rejected is called a “scapegoat”.
When we see Jesus back at home, we need to know that he is on mission from the Father, and this mission is to gather in all people. Jesus came to earth to call outsiders back in. Jesus is creating a new world where no one is left out. How do his home town people feel about Jesus?
The problem is that the people think that they know who Jesus is – they think he is “the son of Joseph”. But Jesus is the Son of God, and he proceeds to let them know that they, and all of Israel, will no longer be God’s only people. He reminds them that God helped outsiders in Old Testament times. And he tells them that “no prophet is accepted in his own native place”.
It’s hard to understand the murderous fury which filled the people, maybe even a demonic anger. They literally want to kill him – Jesus has become the scapegoat. Jesus escapes, but this episode foreshadows how Jesus would be crucified for all of our sins. We have all rejected Jesus. How amazing that Jesus opens the doors to all. Whenever you have felt left out, or even like a scapegoat, Jesus stands with you. All Christians are called to stand with the outsiders, so that no one stands alone.
LUKE 4:14-21
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.
He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
WHY DO WE NEED THE GOOD NEWS?
One of the hardest questions to answer is, “How are you doing?” How do you feel when people ask you this question? Some people are really doing wonderfully and are happy to share this – and that’s really a great thing. But for many people this is a hard question. Some may carry around past burdens, things that hurt them a long time ago, things that they just can’t let go off. Other people are in the middle of present pain, so much pain that they feel like they have to pretend that everything’s fine. And maybe yet others just feel so insignificant that they may think that they have nothing to say because no one actually cares.
Jesus comes to his home town synagogue, and he is to preach. How are the people there feeling? Are they all fine? What would they tell you if you asked them? Perhaps they’re a lot like we are.
The expectation in the room is great; “the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him”. I imagine the people excited and joyful, looking for the locally famous preacher to make them proud. There is approval, but also expectation: Jesus is expected to make them feel good.
The passage that Jesus chooses to read is from the prophet Isaiah. Who is the audience for Isaiah’s words? Think about the categories of people: the poor, captives, the blind, the oppressed – in other words, people who are not fine. This may be hard for you to accept. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, he has anointed me bring glad tidings to the poor.”
We need the glad tidings, the gospel of Jesus Christ, because we are not always fine. To be able to hear Jesus proclaiming glad tidings to you, you need to acknowledge in your heart that sometimes you’re not fine. And that’s okay to say, because it means we’re all in the same boat. The first part of hearing the good news is based on a realization that Jesus sees us as we really are, and that he loves us in this.
Good news means, glad tidings, liberty, recovery, freedom, a year acceptable to the Lord – everything the way that God intends it to be. The journey of faith, from lost to found, starts by knowing this: whether or not you’re fine, you are loved. Jesus has come for you.
Luke 1:39-45
Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
Blessed are You! Blessing runs all through the Bible, from the beginning to the end of the world. Blessing is something that ultimately only God can give us.
When Mary comes to see Elizabeth, both are pregnant, Elizabeth with John the Baptist, and Mary with the Jesus. At a human level, what do we see? Two women embracing and rejoicing – which is a heartwarming scene in itself. But what we see with the eyes of faith is that God himself is present and blessing them. Mary is the first to receive blessing, as she is the first to receive Jesus. We see the blessing spread, as Mary goes on mission: when she greets Elizabeth she too is blessed and so is her own miraculous baby.
When God blesses us, he foretells good things coming in our future, he reassures us that the struggles and limitations of the present are not forever, and that the burdens of the past will be lightened. Blessing is the inner state of well being regardless of our circumstances. Think of these two. Mary is a young woman without a spouse, vulnerable in a hostile world that probably judged her. Elizabeth is past the age of child-bearing, facing a risky pregnancy, and her son, John the Baptist, will be an outcast who will be killed for criticizing Herod. Yet they rejoice!
What are the circumstances of your life? It’s easier to be content when things go well (though even this is not guaranteed). It’s hard to know that you are blessed when you’re dealing with pain, or loss, or death. We need to know and trust that blessing is what God wants for each one of us. How can we let God come into our lives? How can we know his blessing?
Mary shows us that all blessings are received by a complete act of faith, trusting in God no matter what. “Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’” (Luke 1:38) Her “Yes” opens a way into the human heart, when God comes to offer Himself to us. She is the blessed one, because she has trusted.
This is our true preparation for Christmas, saying our own “Yes” to God in all circumstances. This is the way to open our hearts to the true blessings of Christmas, the blessings that show us the way to our ultimate blessing, which is seeing God in person. “What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Do not worry about anything Have you ever wondered why your heart and mind might need to be guarded? It’s like they’re defenseless on their own, and that they’re under attack. Think for a moment about what goes on in your heart and in your mind; your mind is full of thoughts, some you choose and some just seem to show up. Your heart on the other hand is deeper, it’s been called “the place where we choose life or death.” There’s a lot going on in each one of us. Some we are aware of, and some happens deep beneath the surface.
Psychology and counseling try to help us understand how to address the pain and confusion that may be going on in our hearts and minds, but they can only go so far. Only the Holy Spirit can fully grasp the depths of the person, what’s going on in our hearts and minds.
When we become aware that we’re under attack, we could be noticing flaws within ourselves or something or someone coming at us from outside: spiritual attack. There are two names for “the evil one” in the Bible: “Satan”, which means “the accuser”, and “The Devil”, meaning “the one who scatters.” You can think about what’s going on when you’re under attack at a psychological level and get psychological help. But what about spiritual attack?
Paul, writing to the Philippians orders them to rejoice. This is so important that he repeats the order: “again I will say, Rejoice.” But how do we rejoice when we are full of worry? He has advice:
- GentlenessRecognizing that people are carrying burdens and offering them support instead of accusation. (It’s also very important to be gentle with yourself.)
- Prayer and SupplicationAsking God for whatever we need with trust that He will answer in His time and in His way.
- ThanksgivingExpressing gratitude for all of our blessings, especially the gift of salvation, given to us by faith in Jesus.
So, how is it possible not to worry about anything? Paul is not teaching us that we will have nothing to worry about. But he promises that “the peace of God which surpasses all understanding” will grow within us as we turn to him with gentleness, supplication and thanksgiving.
As Paul writes these words, he is a prisoner of the Roman Empire and facing death. He could easily allow worry to dominate his heart and mind. Let’s learn from his witness that evil has no power over our hearts when we rejoice and allow Jesus in.
Luke 2:1-6 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice of one crying out in the desert:“Prepare the way of the Lord, *make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”*
God Cares about Us in the Wilderness Why is John the Baptist in the wilderness when he proclaims Jesus’ coming? Why did God direct his Chosen people, Israel, to spend 40 years in the wilderness in the Old Testament?
The wilderness is a place with little water, far from comfort, far from civilization, far from the man-made world where most of us live. When people are in the wilderness, they can’t take anything for granted, not even survival. They have put a lot of effort just finding food, water, and shelter.
Yet God provided for Israel when they wandered through the wilderness. How might this have been part of His plan? They learned many things that only the wilderness could teach them: 1) they were dependent on God, 2) they needed to be purified of their worldly ways, and, 3) they eagerly expected to enter the Promised Land, where God would bless them.
John the Baptist goes into the wilderness, to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Luke 3:4). There John calls people out of the cities where they are self-sufficient and comfortable. They come to repent of their sins. John foretells the coming of the Messiah: Jesus. Jesus fulfills the promises made to Israel, and makes an amazing offer: “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
Our hearts can also be like the comfortable, seemingly self-sufficient people whom John called. As we look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus at Christmas, we too need to repent of our sin and selfishness. If you are in a wilderness time of life, you too can be encouraged by this message of hope. Just like the people who travelled into the wilderness in the Bible, God will bless you as well, if you turn to him in faith. The birth of Jesus into this world which is too often like a wilderness shows us that God cares about us too. He surprises us by showing up when we least expect him. He brings beauty out of desolate places. He fulfills our hearts of desire by leading is to son, Jesus.
Lk 21:25-28, 34-36 Jesus said to his disciples: 25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
34 “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Be Alert at all Times “Be on guard … Be alert at all times” is Jesus’ warning to his disciples. Jesus reminds anyone who wants to follow him that there will be confusion and foreboding because of what is coming upon the world. Jesus warns of distress and a shaking of the powers. He speaks of a day that can, “catch you unexpectedly, like a trap.”
Jesus’ warning isn’t just for his disciples though, it applies to “all who live on the face of the earth.” The day is known in the Bible as, “The Day of the Lord.” There are many references to what will take place on the last day, the day when God comes to judge, to cleanse, to gather, and to renew all things. Both danger and blessing await.
Such a fateful day cuts through our preoccupations. We are easily caught up, Jesus tells us, not only with sinful practices, but with the worries of ordinary life. Even the duties to care for ourselves and for our families are not to be our primary concern. We cannot neglect these earthly duties, but the Kingdom of God must come first.
Recalling the day of judgement, we need to realize that we are in danger. Jesus warns his disciples (and this applies to everyone) to pray that, “you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place”. The danger is not so much physical, as spiritual and eternal. Time itself comes to an end on that day, and whatever God has in store for you will be fulfilled.
How can we face such a day? First, we need to pray for the strength that only God can give us to face his judgement. We know that Jesus has paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross. But it is up to us to accept the mercy of God which covers us when we turn to him. Then we need to be on guard and alert for any signs that God gives us. These signs are like clues to his coming Kingdom. Our response is to act on what we see by building up that Kingdom on earth and by preparing the way for the final victory of Jesus. We conquer evil, Satan, by the “blood of the lamb” and by the “word of our testimony” (Revelation 12:11). Relying on Jesus for our salvation, we are called to sharing his saving Gospel with those around us.
Mark 13:24-32 Jesus said to his disciples: “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
“And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
“Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
“My Words will not pass away” There is no more reassuring line in the Bible than this. When you think about it, the whole Bible, which is God’s word, is held up by Jesus here. Christians believe that the Bible is God’s inspired word, but here Jesus tells us that more than that. He tells us that his words are eternal.
What are you basing your life on? Many people rely on themselves, their abilities, their strengths, their ideas. Other people rely on something external, like money, or a career. Some people rely on other people, their parents, spouses, children, or friends. Now all of these are good things. But all of them will let you down. Your personal attributes, your money, even the people close to you, may not always be there.
Why do people find themselves so reliant on these ordinary things or people? All of us tend to rely on what we find close at hand. The things we are most familiar with, present themselves as the only available options. It really does make sense, but what choice do we have? Are there any other options? What lies beyond the familiar things?
God does. God is our Creator. He is in eternity, and nothing exists without his holding it being. All the things and people we rely on are actually based in God. God is the foundation for the whole universe. So it makes sense to rely on God above all. But this leads to another question: How can we rely on God whom we cannot sense or see?
God has given his words to live by. What should you believe? How should you live? What should you hope for? The answer God gives us is the Bible. When Jesus talks to his disciples about the end of the world, he describes tribulation, the skies falling, the powers shaken. He adds that no one knows when the end will come. But Jesus gives us something to hang onto in the middle of all of the ups and downs of our own lives, and our times.
The Bible as the word of God answers all of life’s big questions. We hear about God and his saving plan, about Jesus our Saviour, and about the Holy Spirit, who breathes new life into us, making us children of God. The Bible tells us how to live, from the Ten Commandments to the Sermon on the Mount. The Bible promises us eternal life through faith in Jesus. Our past, our present, and our future are revealed here: we discover that we are in God’s hands. But the choice is still yours. If you want the peace and joy that only God can give you, you are invited to base your life on God’s word, the Bible. Everything and everyone you know will pass away. Death hangs over us all. The most solid of rocks, the brightest of stars, the greatest of leaders, will crumble, fade, and be forgotten. God’s word alone will never pass away, and we can count on that. How can we respond? Say “Yes” to God, to his Son, Jesus, and to a life founded on his word.
Mark 12:38-44
As [Jesus] taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Two Ways of Giving Jesus, “Watched the crowd.” What does Jesus see? For us to answer this question we need to remember a couple of things about who he is.
First, Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus sees as God sees. God gave his chosen people the command to build the temple, the place to offer him worship and sacrifice. But God is the Creator, who has made all things: this means that he doesn’t need anything from us. He calls us to worship and sacrifice so that we can give back what he has given him. Jesus sees the giving at the temple as a return of what God has given.
Second, Jesus is the Messiah, he is on a mission to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth. In the Kingdom the values of the world are reversed. The rich and powerful lose their status, and the poor and lowly are lifted up. (Luke 1) The injustice of the world is being opposed by the Kingdom that Jesus is bringing.
Jesus saw that, “Many rich people put in large sums.” These people were doing what was expected, giving generously. This act of giving was very public. People placed the money in chests in the temple courtyard for everyone else to see. The rich people who gave a lot would be seen as really generous. And, by the standards of the world, they really were generous.
Jesus also saw, the “poor widow [who] came and put in two small copper coins.” Her offering would also be judged by everyone who saw. She would be known as a poor woman by what she put in. Would she have felt ashamed or judged? By the world’s standards she was unable to be generous, she was unable to give as expected.
Jesus sees things differently. He can see into our hearts. Our generosity of heart matters a lot to him. He sees that giving is easy when we have a lot. It’s still great to give, but not really a sacrifice when you already have a lot. Maybe the rich people who came to the temple that day were motivated by wanting to impress others. Jesus sees the true generosity in the widow who gives all she has, at a sacrifice.
We are also invited to give whatever little we have, from hearts that are generous and ready for sacrifice.
The Way of Humility What’s missing in James and John’s outlook? Why do they want Jesus to give them the two best seats in the Kingdom? They would not need to ask if they knew how much Jesus loved and valued them. Jesus uses this moment to teach them about his Kingdom. He uses an example they knew very well: the Romans who ruled their land. He says, “the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them.”
Jesus does promise them suffering, even perhaps to death, because they will be persecuted, they will share in his cup and in his baptism. Here, baptism means death. But, he says, he can’t promise them which places they will have in his Kingdom.
The other apostles are – naturally – upset. They resent James’ and John’s attitudes. What is Jesus teaching? In his Kingdom, the greatest must be the servants. The disciples have to unlearn what the world has taught them about greatness.
What comes to you mind when you think of people telling you what to do? Some people are used to doing whatever they’re told. Sometimes the people in charge lead us to build up a better world. But, sometimes we feel resentful or angry at being “bossed around”.
Jesus is trying to show us a new way of greatness. The great ones in his Kingdom serve others, and sacrifice themselves. Jesus isn’t just teaching though. Philippians 2 is Paul’s advice to a community divided because people are thinking only of themselves, and inattentive to others. Paul says that we are to have the mind of Jesus, who humbled himself by becoming human like us, even to dying for us on the cross.
Help us Jesus to be more like you, to find greatness in humility.
- Have you ever felt that someone lorded it over you?
- Have you ever been in authority? How did you treat others?
- Did you ever feel overlooked? How did you react?
- How can Jesus help you to be humble like himself?
We’re not that different from the people of Jesus’s time. Whatever we may say or admit, we too seem to believe that money is a sign of blessing. You may, for example, feel that money gives you security or opportunity that you wouldn’t otherwise have. Money is closely linked to other “bonuses” like popularity, influence, or, power. Sadly, the church can easily become too dependent on money. Who wouldn’t want a church with steady revenues and solid reserves?
But just look at the ever-expanding role of money … Does it actually deliver on its promises? Can you actually find security, opportunity, etc. by having more money? Here’s what we can begin to see: despite our best efforts, money becomes an idol, because it takes the place of God.
The young man who is drawn to Jesus wants to get to heaven, to “inherit eternal life”. This should be something for which we all hope. Jesus confronts his idolatry when he says, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” Amazingly, the young man turns Jesus down! Why? “For he had many possessions.”
Like the young man, Jesus’ disciples think that money is a sign of blessing. That’s why they are “amazed at his words”. Jesus offers them – and us – the only really hope of salvation. “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Jesus reminds us where true security, opportunity, and ultimate joy come from: a living, trusting faith in God, and in his Anointed One, Jesus – the one who looks on us with love. Nothing and no one on this earth deserve our ultimate confidence. Our journey, if we hope to be followers of Jesus, is to give up our idolatry to money, and to turn, instead, to Him.
- Have you ever struggled with having not enough money?
- Do you tend to spend your surplus money on yourself? What do you treat yourself to?
- How would you feel if you had less money than at present? Why?
- How might trusting in money get in the way of trusting in God?
To whom does the Kingdom of God belong? This week we are focusing on the second part of the Gospel, about children coming to Jesus.
Some people believe that the Kingdom of God belongs to people who go to church. Others believe that it belongs to people who always do the right thing. Maybe it belongs to those who know the right things. What do you think?
Jesus gives an unusual answer. In fact, he shows rather than tells the answer.
Imagine the crowd, pressing around Jesus as he comes into their village. One village after another, this would have been the scene, and it would soon have gotten tired. So here they are again, Jesus and his disciples, and the crowd swarms around, holding up their children for him to touch.
When the disciples tell them to go away, Jesus becomes indignant. It’s very interesting that Jesus reacts angrily against his friends, who are trying to protect him. Jesus becomes indignant because he passionately wants the children to come to him.
Children, who still have some of the original innocence God created us all with, reach out to Jesus. Their arms outstretched to Jesus, who is love. They see God’s love in him. And Jesus responds. How?
Jesus embraces them, he takes them into his arms, he surrounds them with his love. Then he blesses them with his divine blessing. Simply put, he touches them.
More than anything else, this is what Jesus wants for you. He asks that you become like a trusting child, reaching out to him. Then he will embrace you with his love, bless you, and touch you with his presence.
- Why do children want to come to Jesus?
- Have you ever really wanted to be closer to Jesus?
- How does Jesus feel about children, and all of us, wanting to come closer to Him?
- What barriers do you face when you want to approach Jesus, and how can He help you overcome them?
John complains to Jesus about someone casting out demons in His name. The complaint is based on a reality which the disciples have witnessed, the power of Jesus. They have seen him heal, and cast out evil spirits with a word or a simple gesture. They are struggling to understand that in Him they see the power of God because He is God.
Jesus announces that the strangers casting out demons in His name are, in fact, drawing on His power. Jesus goes on to indicate that even being given a cup of water in His name is a blessing. The name of Jesus and the divine power of Jesus are united in His person. To know Jesus is to call upon Him by name, and to call upon His divine power.
The Old Testament begins to show that even in God’s people, those who are not in the chosen few around Moses may receive His Spirit. Moses cries out that all of God’s people should be prophets, filled with His power.
The power of God given to us through faith in Jesus comes into the world today, and offers incredible potential which we can easily underestimate. How easy it is to minimize the Holy Spirit, who is living and active in our midst.
Lack of faith is a temptation that creeps in when we think about all of the ups and downs of the world and of our own lives as pure chance. God allows accidents, pain, suffering, and death to happen. But, in and through all of these events, the Holy Spirit is truly with us. A living faith in Jesus, who is risen and ascended to heaven with the Father means we too can call upon His Name, and rely on His Holy Spirit to drive out evil, to heal, to bring us new life in Christ. Whether you are a follower of Jesus or not, you can always turn to him.
- Have you known anyone who has called upon the name of Jesus?
- Why are the disciples of Jesus upset that others have cast out evil spirits in his name?
- How could calling on Jesus change the situation you are in? Have you tried?
- Why do you think that Jesus wants is to know him and his power in our lives today?
What’s the shape of your cross? There’s no doubt that suffering comes to all of us sooner or later. Sometimes it’s just life: sickness, disaster, or death. Sometimes it’s our own choices that bring us suffering – we can call that sin. And it may be a bit of both: whose fault is the pain of a broken relationship, or a failure to achieve your goals?
Isaiah presents a mysterious figure, known as the Suffering Servant in Chapter 50. Prophetically he asks us to consider the possibility that all suffering as focused on this Servant. Nonetheless, this Servant counts on God to upholds him, and helps him – he is not disgraced.
Paul resolves, “to know nothing … except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” The death and resurrection of Jesus, the meaning of the Cross, has reshaped Paul’s whole life, including his suffering and death. In fact Paul teaches that the suffering of the whole world has been redeemed by Jesus, revealed to us as the Suffering Servant.
The path of following Jesus is offered to you as an invitation, not a command. To follow him is to stay close to him every moment, to take every step he leads you into, to accept the whole journey as the only path that leads to your redemption. But we can also say that this journey is one we can share with others. We can invite people who may be suffering into this hard, but ultimately life-giving path.
Have you ever said yes to Jesus’s invitation to follow him by denying yourself and taking up your cross?
Where do you turn when you are suffering? Have you turned to Jesus who is with you in your worst hour? Would you ever invite someone else to say yes to Jesus?
"Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two." Mark 6:7
When Jesus calls the Twelve, He is calling them to Himself in a new, deeper way. If you are a Christian, a follower of Jesus, you need to be attentive to His new calls on you. More than anything else, we are all called to enter more deeply into relationship with Him. This is both amazing and hard. Why? Nothing could be more amazing than knowing Jesus, he is the source of all blessing, all joy, all gifts. However, to know Him is to know that we are sinners, called to repent ever more for our willful separation from Him and His love.
However, Jesus does not call the Twelve to Himself just so that they can stay close to Him. In our spiritual paths, it's way too easy to confuse devotion to Jesus with clinging to Jesus. Just as Jesus Himself, who is One God with the Father and the Spirit, is sent into the world, separated from the Father, we too are sent into our world. "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." (John 20:21) In fact the world Apostle means, one who is sent.
Jesus goes on to tell us how we are to act while on mission for Him (Mark 6:7-13). His instructions have three parts. 1) "Take nothing for the journey." - rely only on Jesus and His power. 2) "Stay there until you leave." - get to know the people of the community where you are sent, and allow them to get to know you. 3) If you are not welcomed, move on - don't continue in unfruitful situations.
Finally, look at how they fare, and ask yourself, does this sound like us? Are we preaching repentance to sinners, in a way that they can hear hope and not condemnation? Are we operating in the power of the Holy Spirit, offering healing, driving out evil? If we are, then the Kingdom of God is being revealed in our midst.
This is the mission which we have inherited from the Twelve.
It’s really amazing that our faith can place any limits on Jesus. The Lord of the whole Universe has left us room, the freedom to accept Him, or to turn away from Him. Jesus can always do whatever he wants. So, it’s mysterious that the people of Jesus’s home town could actually reject Him even though they had heard of His wisdom and deeds of power. In fact they took offense at Him.
It’s easy to understand that people who don’t know Jesus might not trust Him. How can they? They are relying on only vague ideas that they have picked up. It can be a long journey, with many ups and downs, before someone can finally begin to trust Jesus enough to place their trust in Him.
But what about Christians who have already accepted Him? Maybe we can be like Jesus’s neighbours and relatives, because we figure that we already know Him well enough. We may not be willing to be surprised at what He may be doing and saying in our midst. He is the Prophet sent by God. How can we accept Jesus and His power in our lives and our communities?
First, Christians need to recognize that we can be complacent. We may be setting limits on Jesus, because we think that we already know all about Him. We can try to set aside our preconceptions and accept that Jesus is the one who says, “Behold, I make all things new!” (Revelation 21:8)
Second, Christians need to be open-minded and open-hearted about the amazing things God can and will do with us. He is the Almighty One who can change anything. He can turn darkness into light, death into life, and, despair into hope. God turns the whole world upside down; He “has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.” (Luke 1:52)
Third, we can find hope in any circumstance. Augustine said, “God created us without our consent, but He will not save us without our cooperation.” No matter who you are you can welcome Jesus into your life and into your heart. He promises that He will come and live within you, and change everything. To trust Him is our path to heaven. When we trust, we triumph.
Have you ever turned away from Jesus? Why? Did you turn back?
Did Jesus do any deed of power in your life? What would you ask of him?
We should appreciate the boldness of the woman from Mark 5. She was willing to disregard all the social and religious barriers of her time for one thing: to come close to Jesus. For a woman to touch a man in public, especially a rabbi, was forbidden. If she was bleeding, she would make him unclean.
These rules are no longer in force, as we have learned from Jesus about how to include everyone. However, they were the way that the Jewish culture tried to face some of life’s deepest mysteries: the difference between men and women, but, especially the reality of pain and suffering. The presence of blood signified a person being afflicted with something beyond our control, the ebbing out of life.
The incredible journey of humiliation the woman had faced for twelve years had almost completely ruined her. She was out of medical help, out of money, out of options. Where could she turn? Could anyone help her? Jesus reveals what made her mysterious healing possible: her faith! Somehow, she was so trusting of this man she had heard off, that she would do anything just to touch him.
Imagine how dramatic the end of this journey would have been. Here’s how one author imagined it from the woman’s point of view:
But, oh, do you know what He did? He looked at me with LOVE in His eyes, and said, “Daughter.” (He called me Daughter!) “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace. You are healed!” He raised me to my feet (He TOUCHED me!), and the crowd was absolutely silent. The people followed behind Him, and brushed right by me. Some of them actually smiled at me. He IS the Messiah. In fact, I’ve become one of His followers. Love pours from Him. Power pours from Him. He is the Son of God. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Do you need to be healed? In your heart or your body? Ask Him. Reach out and touch Him. He’ll call YOU “Daughter,” too. (Julie Barrier)
For reflection and response:
Have you faced any long struggles which you have been unable to deal with? Or, have you known anyone who is struggling without help?
Do you feel that you have the faith to reach out and touch Jesus?
What can you do this week to accompany someone who is struggling? Or, if you are struggling, can you take the step of asking someone for help?
Did you ever feel that Jesus wasn’t listening when you asked for help? The storms of life don’t ask us for our timing – just like the disciples on the lake, the storms just show up. If you are a Christian, then those are the times when you turn to Jesus. You want to know that he is with you, and that he will settle things down for you. You want to know that you’re going to be okay.
But life isn’t always like that. Our faith in Jesus is not an insurance policy, that we can cash when we want. What can we learn from the disciples in the boat on the day of that storm?
Firstly, that God is always in charge. God reminds Job that He is always in charge, whatever may happen, and whatever Job may wonder. “Who shut within doors the sea, when it burst forth from the womb; when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling bands?” (Job 38) Psalm 107 shows us how the winds and waves obey Him, and that He answers the cries of the sailors in distress.
Secondly, that Jesus is with us. The outcome of storms may well cause destruction or even death. But He is still with us. His very presence with us is more important than anything else. Romans 8 says that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Remembering that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2) is the foundation of all things, and this foundation can never be shaken.
Thirdly, we know that this same Jesus has also suffered, and actually died for us. He is not above us and our troubles, he enters into this whole world of woe. Jesus takes all pain and sin, suffering and death on Himself, on the Cross. He rises victorious over everything that will ever come against us!
Lastly, His unshakeable presence with us is the source of hope. So we are sure of the outcome. In the end Jesus will triumph over all troubles, when He comes again in glory on the Last Day. And this is our final victory.
Did you ever find yourself needing shelter when there was a storm? Years ago, we were cozily at home, with a warm fire, in the middle of terrible blizzard, when there was a knock on the door. It was a couple of ladies trying to drive back to the city; their car had drifted into the ditch just across the road. They didn’t even have winter coats or boots, just light sweaters and shoes.
Of course, we were happy to have them come in and warm up. My father-in-law fired up the tractor and was able to draw them back on the road with a chain. A cup of coffee, and then they were able to call for help, and get on their way.
Jesus often explained the Kingdom of God in parables; here in Mark 4:30-34 the parable of the giant plant that grows from the tiny mustard seed talks about shelter. We all need shelter when we’re in trouble. The world is full of danger, and we’re vulnerable. Just because we believe in God and follow Jesus, doesn’t mean we’ll always stay safe. So how does God help?
This parable says that God is planting His kingdom here among us. Here we can finally find a place of peace, just like the birds that make their nests, a place of refreshment, like shade from the sun. Jesus himself is the seed of the kingdom, who gives up His life on the cross: meaning he suffers and dies for us. Clinging to the cross of Jesus is the only safety we have. Only here can we persevere even when things are hard.
But that’s not all. We too can offer shelter to each other, by sharing the hope that comes from faith in Jesus. Just like my family was able to offer a couple of stranded travelers a warm place to recover, and a tow to get back on the road, we can boost each other with our prayerful support. So many people have a hard time knowing where to turn when things are going badly. May we been open-hearted to people who turn to us.
Psalm 46 tells us that, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” No matter may happen, he is with us. When we have reached the end of our strength, and don’t know how to keep going, we will truly understand these wise words. “Be still, and know that I am God!”
"Trusting God in Troubled Times" is a 5-part series. Join us Wednesdays June 16, 23, 30 and July 7th at 7pm at Holy Family Church.
Doubt continues to shadow the hearts of some of the disciples, even as Jesus is about to return to heaven (Matthew 28). Doubt, hesitation, or the spirit of slavery (Romans 8) are powerful influences in our hearts too. Jesus invites his disciples to see Him as Son of God, who has received all power in heaven and earth. Seeing who He truly is, they are invited into His mission. They are disciples: they are now expected to make disciples.
Why might you hesitate when you hear Jesus’s invitation today? Can you see Him as King of kings and Lord of lords? If you do, then you know that the whole world is his dominion. Everything that exists belongs to Him. All times and places are under his rule. Perhaps we might all be challenged to accept that Jesus is Lord, when we see a world full of sin, suffering, and death. Our individual lives are also under these shadows. It is truly an act of faith to trust Jesus, and to trust that He is in charge.
But even this is not enough. Jesus asks to take on the world, in order to extend his reign. The true disciples of Christ don’t just trust Him, they follow him into mission. This mission calls us out of ourselves. Are we even more hesitant? It’s easier to understand focusing on Jesus – He is lovable, and loves us first. But the world seems like something we should avoid.
So why is this Jesus’s command? We need to experience, to take the first steps, in order to experience the Joy of the Gospel. Jesus asks us to let go of our hesitations so that we can share in His joy. This joy is rooted in His oneness with the Father, but it also comes from sharing in His mission. You will experience the Joy of the Gospel when you share your faith in Jesus, in little or big ways, with people in your life.
Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit, who is one with the Father and the Son, breaks the chains of spiritual slavery, and sets us free for mission, so that we can share the joy of making disciples.
We often meet the disciples of Jesus living out of fear, huddled together and hoping to be left alone by non-Christians. They understandably did not want to engage their Jewish or pagan neighbours. After all, the Romans and Jews had collaborated to kill Jesus. Cowardice is the name for this fearful reaction, and it is one of the deadliest spiritual diseases for Christians today.
Human courage can only take us so far. We can try to make ourselves ignore obstacles, just to forge ahead. But the real answer to our cowardice is the Holy Spirit. The greatest gift of God, is God in person, sent by the Father through the prayer of Jesus. Jesus wants us to be filled with his Holy Spirit, who gives us the Spirit of boldness.
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes upon the huddled disciples in fire and wind, and they are remade, new again, and spiritually on fire. They storm out of their place of hiding, and what do they do? They speak, they give witness to the saving death and resurrection of Jesus, to a city full of people who had recently turned against him. What follows? The miracle of conversion, hearts and lives, relationships and communities transformed. (Acts 2)
This same Holy Spirit comes to us today. He blesses us with God’s mightiest gift, forgiveness of sins, to be shared with all (John 20). He gives each disciple of Jesus spiritual gifts, which empower us to build up the community of disciples, and to lead us into mission.
Let us all be open-hearted to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, even when we are dominated by cowardice. He will make us bold, set us on fire, and allow us to bear much fruit in the lives of people around us.
Before Jesus returns to heaven, the disciples ask Him when the kingdom of Israel will be restored. They want to go back to “the good old days” when they ruled their own kingdom. They’re confused: wondering when Jesus will finally do what they expect. (Acts 1)
We are often confused – living in tumultuous times, wondering when things will get better, hoping that God will fix everything, impatient because He doesn’t do what we expect. Jesus’s answer to the disciples is direct and honest, “It is not for you to know.” In fact, he has other plans for them: they are to be his witnesses, eventually “to the ends of the earth.”
Would you blame the disciples if they were even more confused by Jesus’s answer? Not only has he ignored their question, but he has other plans for them. They would never have expected that he would want them to be his witnesses all over the world! How will they do this? Jesus promises them that they “will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them.”
Jesus reminds the disciples that the Father has all authority. Ephesians 1 reveals that God has set Christ at his right hand, far above all rule and authority. Mark writes that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God; he shares God’s power. This power is seen when the disciples “went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere” and “confirmed by the signs”.
While we are often confused and wondering when Jesus will restore our lives back to normal, he has a plan for each of us. How does he respond to our confusion? First, he asks us to trust his Lordship over all things, all times and places. Second, he promises to empower us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Finally, he sends us into mission to our corner of the world. You are invited to set aside your confusion and your agenda, and to serve the Lord Jesus by proclaiming the coming of his kingdom.
You’re probably not surprised that Jesus expects you to keep His commandments. But why do you obey Jesus? When you do what he tells you to, you are acting from obligation. This is really important, but why you obey also matters. After all, His commandment is to love – but how can he expect us to love as He loves?
Obligation is a good thing. Duty is a good thing. But like so many good things in life, they’re not enough. We want more – we need more. Jesus teaches us some really important things that go beyond obligation: “remain in my love … love one another as I love you … I have called you friends”. (John 15)
Being friends with Jesus is our greatest calling. Imagine, the Son of God, the King of Kings, chooses you to be part of his inner circle. You have total access to Him. Would you hesitate to let Him come close to you? At times we do. Sometimes we don’t trust Him quite enough, or, we don’t feel worthy, or, we aren’t quite ready to love each other as He loves us.
Strangely, we can use obligation to keep Jesus at a distance. Remember the older son in the parable of the Prodigal Son – he does everything that the Father tells him to, but he is hesitant to enter into the Father’s love which welcomes back the younger son, who had strayed from home (Luke 15).
We all need to experience how much we are loved by Jesus, to remain in His love, and to share this love with each other. What will unify us? Only the love of Jesus. Consider Jesus on the Cross, showing us the love of God, and let that love soak in, for “God is love” (1 John 4). Let His love overflow from you into mission to the lost, and for each other. Let us call upon the Holy Spirit to fill us with His love. (Acts 10)
There are two ways life goes: sometimes you may feel like you are withering, set aside and ready to be burned. Jesus tells us that the Father, like a good vine grower, prunes us of whatever does not bear fruit. But he also offers us the tremendous promise that if we remain in him, he remains in us, and we will bear much fruit. (John 15)
The theme of our series, Unify, is really highlighted this week, for not only are we united with Christ, we are united with each other. His life is in us, and as he became human, our life is in him. Have you experienced this incredible fruitfulness? How can you receive this amazing promise?
We need to strive to love each other, because this is the heart of who God is, and who he calls us to be. You may feel unable to love, just worn down, distracted and busy, or, too angry. God, however, is “greater than our hearts” (1 John 3). Even when we condemn ourselves, He offers us his divine love. Have you ever loved beyond your own limited love?
Let’s also remember God’s greatest gift, His Holy Spirit. In the Spirit we can find ourselves loving, serving, and growing into the people whom he calls us to be. Look at the first Christians, a community facing persecution, but growing as the Spirit builds them up. (Acts 9) This is God’s promise, to turn the tide on our scattering and sin, and draw us all together in Jesus, the true vine.
Jesus calls himself the good shepherd and tells us that we living in a world of wolves, seeking to scatter and destroy, and faithless hired hands, who do not really care for the sheep. We can tell that Jesus is our good shepherd because he lays down his life for us.
Jesus who calls us knows us and draws us together. He keeps us safe and united, but he also brings in new sheep, not of this fold. All of us respond to one thing about Jesus, his voice.
How can we hear the voice of Jesus? So many of us struggle with wolves like isolation, anxiety and fear. There are also predators – human or spiritual – who seek to harm us. Whom can we trust? Who will bring us to a place of safety and well being?
The challenge of Christian community is first announced by Peter (Acts 4), who invites his fellow Jews into a new saving relationship with Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He announces healing in His name. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone for a new temple, the new people of God, the Body of Christ.
The challenge of listening to the voice of Jesus is felt deep within us. John (1 John 3) invites us to see ourselves anew as children of God, even when they world does not see us this way. Each one of us is being transformed by the saving encounter with Jesus, who make us one, and draws more and more into community with Himself through our sharing of his love.
In hearing the voice of Jesus we can extend his saving mission into our world, drawing each other into Christian community, and ultimately to becoming like Jesus himself, when we see him as he is.
“They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost.” (Luke 24) The sight of the Risen Lord Jesus overwhelms the disciples. They are jittery and scared, for they last saw him crucified and laid in a tomb. They knew that he was dead! Scattered within themselves by fear, they recoil when we might imagine they would feel joy.
One of the worst things we experience is absence, the withdrawal of someone we love. All of the ordinary routines of life, eating, sleeping, cooking, cleaning, just being together, come to an end with death. All forms of isolation and separation have the same effect: people move for work, families split up, young people travel or study overseas, lockdowns keep us apart.
Jesus Himself offers the most basic reassurance to his friends: I am really here, in the flesh. His fully human presence is evident in how he cooks for them. What could be more ordinary or more reassuring?
Just a few weeks later, Peter can confidently proclaim that he is a witness to Jesus, whom God raised from the dead (Acts 3). Peter met Jesus in the flesh, and ate and drank with him, not a ghost, but truly present. And he knows that Jesus lives, and is still with him, still present.
Christian community means that we are present to each other, we are recognized, we share life together. John writes that when we keep God’s commandments, the love of God is perfected in us (1 John 2). Jesus is present in Christian community, because he is God’s love in person.
Offering our presence to others brings Christ to them. This is our mission – so all might who are lost in fear may know the loving presence of Christ, and Jesus can say to them: “It is I myself. Touch me and see.” (Luke 24)