NW 4-15 Seeing AND Believing
Blessed are those who believe and yet have not seen - Jesus says to the disciples, WHO WERE SEEING HIM! What if we spent some time LOOKING for Jesus instead of trying to stir up emotions and faith in a vacuum?
Today’s Text is John 20: 19-31
I think we probably want to avoid taking Jesus’ words in John 29 as advice or a command - “Blessed are those who hav believed, and yet have not seen.” I think it is more of a statement of fact. Indeed - those who believe and are faithful without seeing Jesus are to be praised for sure!
But somehow in modern Christianity - I often get the impression that there are those who are proud of believing and not seeing - rather than simply seeking to SEE GOD IN ACTION!
Why would we WANT to believe without seeing? This is a question that should be asked! Because is alive and active and up to all sort of things in the lives of believers ALL THE TIME! So instead of believing without seeing - what if we were instead to aspire to Believing AND Seeing!
This is what the disciples do! Jesus says the above to Thomas after Thomas has said he will not believe unless he sees. Remember - the disciples didn’t believe UNTIL Jesus shows up! In fact - in Mark 16:14 - he berates the disciples unbelief and stubborn skepticism until he showed up!
Jesus is telling the truth - it is a blessing to have a faith that is strong and trusting without evidence. But he doesn’t say - strive for this. Rather- he appears to his followers and then gives them marching orders. The same is true for us. Jesus shows up in all the ways mentioned in the video above - and many more. Jesus has been showing up to the Church for 2000 years, and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down!
So - how and where will you look for Jesus. And when you have the suspicion that the Spirit has shown up - how will you tell the story? How will you remember the times when Jesus DOES make an appearance. And what will you do when it happens?
Christ’s Peace to you! PrCR
Now What?! 4-14-20
The doors were locked, the disciples skeptical, and Thomas was gone. What do you do after a shock or a let down?
Our text for this week will be John 20:19-31
So after Jesus was raised - the first to discover him were Mary and the other Mary in John’s account. And all of the gospels have the women disciples finding Jesus first. Meanwhile, the others are hiding in shock, no idea what to do next.
When the women try to tell the others what has happened, they are skeptical. Even after going to see the tomb, Peter and the “disciple who loved him” (which is the author - John) go back to the upper room, unsure and unsettled at best.
‘When Jesus shows up to speak with them and breathes the Holy Spirit on them it seems that all is well (although Matthew’s Gospel records some stern words from Jesus about the disciple’s skepticism and disrespect to the women) and Jesus offers the hope and new possibilities.
What shocks have you been experiencing? What have you written off as a failure lately?
Are you experiencing hope in this time of pandemic? If so, where? If not, why not?
When Jesus breathes the spirit on them - the first thing he says is that forgiveness is now what they’re about. The message paraphrase here is excellent - if you don’t forgive the sins others, what are you going to do with them? Are there sins you’ve held on to that would be better forgiven?
Finally - a brief word on Thomas - with more to be said this week. One question - where do you think he was? What was he up to?
Prayer: Oh God, restore our hope in dark times, help us to draw near to Jesus as he is already near to us. Empower us to forgive, and encourage our hearts. As we continue our work and lives, strengthen us to forgive as we share your spirit. Amen.
We are a table religion - hungry?
On MAUNDY Thursday we remember both Jesus’ commandment to us to love one another as he has loved us - shown in his service to the disciples of washing their feet. But we also we remember how Jesus welcomes us to the eternal table started at the last supper.
Today’s text is from Matthew 26:26-31
Gathering around the table with others is one of those absolutely crucial parts of human life! Especially now in the time of pandemic and social distance, I know I am missing gathering with my family and friends around the table - while at the same time, meal time with my wife and kids has become very important.
The time we spend around the table is an excellent analogy for the Christian life. We gather, serve one another, try to have good manners, even though we fail. We laugh and talk and argue and forgive, we share fellowship - that churchy word that means being in relationship with one another and sharing life and love with one another. At the heart of the Christian life is the last supper, a meal that we also share in spread across time and space. Jesus gives himself for us, and in our participating, becomes a part of our very being and welcomes us into the family meal at God’s own table - now, and forever.
Right along with that - before the meal begin, Jesus models how we are to serve one another, washing the disciples feet, as humble of a moment as there can be. We too are to humble ourselves in kind service for others - and enter into fellowship with all of God’s children, not just the one’s who are easy to love or easy to be in relationship with.
I imagine the feast in heaven will be loud, raucous even. The food will be amazing. The company excellent, and until then - today we remember what Jesus has done for us - and how we can do that same fellowship and welcome and service to others - Christ’s peace! CR
What if salt isn’t salty?
Salt and light - Jesus describes what followers do God offer to the world - flavor, guidance, and os much more. Where is there salt and light in your life?
Today we are reflecting on Matthew 5:13-16
So what would you do if your Garlic powder tasted like flour - eh? You’d throw it out! This is how Jesus describes the role of the faithful in the world. Those who love God and follow Christ are to be like the seasoning that draws out the God-flavor of the world (in the word’s of Eugene Peterson’s message paraphrase). Without garlic flavor - garlic would be a waste! Without the faithful - how would folks see the goodness and love and light and beauty in the world? Then Jesus switches metaphors - y’all are a light on a hill - shine! Show ‘em what it’s all about! This life is beautiful and God offers great love and beauty to us all!
So a couple questions for you. -
Have you ever felt like as life gets tough - that it’s hard to find the point? How did you find meaning again after a tough time? My guess is it took someone salty - someone to remind you.
Have you ever felt lost? Like you don’t know where you are going in your life? What was the light that guided you? Again, I suspect there was a person involved that was helpful - a word or a comment or a conversation.
have you ever been the one that listened to someone else as they figured out something important? it’s an amazing moment to listen another person into speech - to pull from them what they need by allowing the space to speak and be heard.
Have you ever prayed to Jesus - let him be the one to listen, and then simply let it go or waited for ideas or inspiration?
How might you be the seasoning for someone else in their life today? Tomorrow?
‘What stops you from shining light for others? What stops you from ringing that bell?
Prayer: Lord God - you call us to love one another with love that listens, hears, and loves our neighbor. Help us to see those who provide salt and light in our lives, and remind us and inspire us to do the same for others. Amen.
Cheering us on and a rich man’s tomb
Have you wondered how your grandparents or predecessors made it through the hard times in their life as you face this time of pandemic? What about Jesus who walked head first into death? Or Joseph of Arimathea who gave his expensive tomb away to Jesus?
Today’s Text - Matthew 27, but more specifically - Matthew 27:57-66
I was talking with a parishioner today. She shared with me that she likes to stop by the cemetery sometimes for prayer and reflection. What a great idea! I often do the same thing. Cemeteries get a bad reputation sometimes in the general public. But amongst Christians - we understand that it is not a place of the dead, but place of memory of life, and a place to go for the living to reflect on the saints who have gone on ahead of us. Many parishioners over the last few weeks have mentioned that they are thinking about their predecessors - family members and friends who have passed away and are now alive again with Christ.
As I went to St. Petri cemetery in Cyrus I heard that all the frogs had come back to life - literally - they freeze solid over the winter, and then resuscitate in the spring. It got me thinking. I wonder if the popular understanding of the cemetery is that we are going to talk with the dead. Ew. No. No we aren’t. We are going to talk to the living. And we go to the cemetery, not because thats the only place we can go to talk with the saints, but rather because it is a place that we need to go for reflection and memory. It is a place that has been covered with prayer, blessing, tears, laughter, and love. Each stone marks the life of someone who is loved - not hopelessly or morbidly, but with joy that we will see them again, and with joy that they are remembered here - that their life here mattered.
Finally- as Easter approaches, as we consider the death and resurrection of Jesus, who opened the way to our resurrection, it is appropriate to think the man who gave Jesus his tomb - his own resting place. And then - on the day of the resurrection, the women go to the tomb and see an angel roll away the stone - for it was guarded by soldiers! The angel rolls away the stone - not to let Jesus out - because he has already gone on ahead. Instead, the stone is moved to let the witnesses in!
We go to the cemetery not to speak to the dead, but to reflect and remember those who have gone ahead of us - whom we will see again - and who are now cheering us on through thought times that cause us to wonder how they made it through in the first place.
Prayer: Jesus - thank you that you go ahead of us into death, where we fear to go - and in so doing, make it powerless over our lives today, and bring us into life together with you and those we look forward to seeing soon. In your name we pray. Amen.
I will scatter the flock...
Sometimes we measure our faith as if it were an emotional state rather than a relationship - Jesus instead reminds us that he goes with us, even after catastrophes and failures.
Today we are looking at Matthew 26
Dp you feel separated from God right now? Do you feel separated from your church family, your normal family? (even if they aren’t very normal?). We are all split up during this time. But that doesn’t mean God isn’t with us. It means we feel split up. And while this emotional reality is painful - it is not to be used as a measure for God’s activity in our lives or as a measure of our current “faith strength” as measured by daily emotional ups and downs. To feel distant from God is still to be in relationship with God! Jesus makes this clear in his conversation with Peter - I will go ahead of you to Galilee [after this is all over].
Some thoughts from the text - click the link above to read it.
Why do you think modern Christians try to “measure” our faith? Are there problems with this ?
What might it be like to “measure” faith rather than as strength or intensity or emotional state, as you might measure a relationship? What sorts of words describe a relationship?
Jesus has no condemnation for Peter or the other disciples in regards to their scattering. What words do you think Jesus might have for you today?
Could you deliver some of those words of love and support to other? How?
Prayer: God you know us better than we know ourselves. You love us despite our limits and our daily ups and downs. You desire to be close to us and for us to be close with you. Help us to frame our life with you in terms of forgiveness and trust rather than blame and inadequacy. Thank you for staying close to us - even in our very hearts, when we feel alone and afraid. Show us where we can serve you. Show us how we can rest in you. In the name of Jesus who walks with us and goes ahead of us. Amen.