An Open Door...

Friday, April 1, 2011: Luke 12:35 - 59

“Be Prepared” is the motto for both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. I was in Brownies, Girl Scouts and Cadets. I worked hard to learn new things and earn badges for my efforts. We recited the Girl Scout promise at each meeting and worked hard to live according to the values of Scouting.

Much of today’s passage deals with being prepared and ready for the coming of the Son of Man…for the master to return. For me, being prepared has meant keeping my relationship with God current and in ‘good standing’ each day. That way, I don’t ever have to worry about what time the Son of Man will come or when the ‘master’ will return home. By keeping my relationship current, I am ready by God’s grace.

Thursday, March 31, 2011: Luke 12:1 - 34

Today, certain phrases leap out and ask for my attention:

verse 7:  “Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

verse 11 & 12:  “do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

verse 15:  “Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

verse 21:  “…rich toward God.” (What a wonderful way to express the depth of devotion to God!)

verses 22, 23 & 30:  “…do not worry about your life…life is more than food, and the body more than clothes…Your Father knows that you need them.”

verse 33:  “treasure in heaven.”

verse 34:  “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Which phrase or phrases ask for your attention today?

Wednesday, March 30, 2011: Luke 11:29 - 54

The crowds increased and Jesus responded to the request for ‘a sign from heaven’ from verse 16. Jesus said the sign is himself/the Son of Man just as Jonah was a sign for the Ninevites in the Old Testament. The Ninevites responded to Jonah. The Queen of the South responded to Solomon. They need to respond to him.

I’m not sure why Jesus started talking about light/darkness and the eye at this point. What I do understand is the sensation of being full of light and discerning if there is darkness in me. This passage is a ‘prayer passage’ for me…a prayer that I will be full of light and not darkness…a prayer that when darkness creeps into and out of my heart, I will be aware of it and turn to be filled with light.

Jesus accepted an invitation to eat at a Pharisee’s home. Jesus just walked in and reclined at the table ready to eat. He didn’t stop for the ritual cleansing like he ‘should’ have. Jesus began speaking woes to the Pharisees and the experts in the law. Jesus confronted them: turn from your internal greed and wickedness and be generous to the poor; turn from your precise tithing even your garden herbs and practice justice and the love of God; stop seeking the important seats and respectful greetings when you’re shopping; graves were marked so people would not become defiled by coming in contact with a grave…the Pharisees were like unmarked graves, defiling people without the people being aware; stop loading people down with endless lists of laws; by building tombs for the prophets that your ancestors killed you are endorsing what they did when they killed the prophets; and you’ve taken away the key to knowledge and have hindered those who would enter into knowledge and obtain it.

Needless to say, they didn’t take too kindly to Jesus’ words and were just waiting for him to make a wrong move or to say something falsely.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011: Luke 11:1 - 28

Jesus gave the disciples a prayer to pray. (It is a prayer that we have amended and adopted in our church. We say it every week in our early service and sing it on Communion Sundays in our Praise and Worship service.) Then, Jesus told two stories which he let us know that we do not have to plead, beg, whine, or wheel-and-deal to get God to do what we ask or need. The parent gave food to the child. The neighbor gave bread for the traveler. If we, human beings, give good things when we are asked, how much more will our loving God do for us?

After Jesus healed a man from a demon possession, the people wondered how he did it. Some concluded that he did it by the prince of demons, Beelzebul. Jesus pointed out that it would be pretty stupid for the prince of demons to empower him/Jesus to cast out demons…Jesus’ critics did not think through the logic of that one! The power Jesus has is greater than the forces of evil.

A woman in the crowd cried out that Jesus’ mother is blessed to have him as a son. Jesus replied that the truly blessed person is not his mom, but those who heard the word of God and have obeyed it/put it into practice.

Monday, March 28, 2011: Luke 10:25 - 42

Jesus gets tested today by an expert in Jewish religious law. Even as the man questions Jesus, Jesus returns many of his questions with questions. How does one get eternal life…by loving God with all you’ve got and loving your neighbor as yourself. Who is my neighbor…the story of the good Samaritan is Jesus’ response…the one who was the neighbor is the one who showed mercy and helped the injured man. Compassion towards others is key to ‘getting eternal life.’

Jesus and the disciples are traveling around and are welcomed into the home of Martha and Mary. Martha tends to the guests while Mary sits in devotion to Jesus listening to his every word. Martha is overwhelmed, overworked and wants Mary’s help. Jesus confronts Martha about her busyness and suggests that Mary had chosen well…chosen what cannot be taken away from her…her memories of Jesus and his teachings.

Faithfulness in following Jesus involves compassion towards other and deep devotion to Jesus, himself.

Sunday, March 27, 2011: Luke 10:1 - 24

I usually think of Jesus being the one who proclaimed the coming of the Kingdom of God…Jesus who healed the sick and freed people from demon possessions. In today’s passage, he sent out seventy-two of his followers to do the same things. In chapter nine, the twelve apostles had been sent.  And, now, more were sent.

They returned having had great success. Yet, Jesus reminded them that the greatest success is that they themselves had accepted him and their names were written in heaven.

Joy overflowed in the latter part of our reading today. The joy of the seventy-two poured out as they reported what they have done and accomplished. The joy of Jesus spilled over as he celebrated with God the good things that had happened at the hands of ordinary people.

It was a great day for all of them.

Saturday, March 26, 2011: Luke 9:37 - 62

A phrase we often hear is “I have good news and bad news, which do you want to hear first?”

In this passage we have a series of good news/bad news scenarios involving Jesus, his disciples and the people he meets.

Bad news/disciples can’t free a young boy from being possessed. Good news/ Jesus can and does.

Bad news/Jesus will be turned in and at the mercy of humans. More bad news/disciples are arguing over who is greatest. Good news/to be great in God’s kingdom is to be the least in the group of disciples.

Good news/Jesus’ name has power to deliver people from demon possessions. Bad news/it was not Jesus’ disciples doing the delivering, but someone unknown to them. Good news/Jesus is grateful for those who are doing good things in his name.

Bad news/Jesus is rejected in Samaria. Good news/he is able to continue to Jerusalem.

Bad news/no excuses or delays are to be given if one wants to follow Jesus. Good news/following Jesus start now…today.

Friday, March 25, 2011: Luke 9:1 - 36

The disciples are in the “glory days” of their time with Jesus.

Jesus is popular. He teaches. He heals. Crowds follow.

Jesus sends out the disciples empowering them to proclaim the kingdom of God heal the sick in his name. They, in turn, go out preaching and healing.

When they are back with Jesus, they watch as Jesus feeds the crowd from few resources. Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah. Peter, James and John have a mountain top experience with Jesus when he is transfigured…pretty incredible happenings…truly these are some of the ‘glory days’!

But...a shadow crosses their paths as Jesus begins to talk about the suffering and rejection he will experience. He talks of being killed. He tells them that it will cost them to follow him. They can’t understand what he is saying. There is too much ‘glory’ around at this point.

Thursday, March 24, 2011: Luke 8:26 – 56

I have many favorite Bible stories. Two of my favorites are in today’s reading.

The healing of the demon-possessed man touches me every time I read it. We learn that the man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs for a long time. He is not with his family. He has no friends. Jesus frees him from his torment. When the people come out to see what had happened they find the man sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind…amazing. I love the picture, in my mind’s eye, of the man sitting calm and quiet with Jesus in contrast to his shouting at the top of his voice when Jesus first met him.

Then, I love the story of the woman who knows that Jesus can heal her. She doesn’t want to bother Jesus. She doesn’t want to call attention to herself. She just wants to touch him without anyone noticing and go on her way. Sure enough, as she touches Jesus, she is healed. Jesus knows something happened because he felt healing power go out from him to someone. He scans the crowd and asks who touched him. The woman comes forward and tells her story of healing. Jesus sends her home in peace.

The passage closes with Jesus healing the daughter of Jairus. I am always glad that the little girl is healed and her life spared. What an impossible event for parents to have a sick or dying child. I am glad for the compassion of Jesus given to this family, but, my heart is drawn to the other two stories…Do you have a favorite?

Wednesday, March 23, 2011: Luke 8:1 - 25

The chapter began with letting us know that Jesus is traveling around the area, teaching. His disciples were with him as well as a group of women who had been healed of diseases and possessions. For years I had read right over this, not noticing the fact that these women, obscure as they are, had actually helped to fund Jesus’ travels. These women had financial means and gave so that Jesus could continue his teaching travels.

The bulk of today’s reading is the familiar parable of the Sower and the seeds. Jesus worked with the ideas of hearing the word, listening to the word and putting the word into action. Ultimately, one wants to be the seed that is in the good soil...the one who heard the words of Jesus, retained them and persevered in living them.

Amazingly, those who hear and put in to practice the words of Jesus are those whom Jesus considers to be his true mother and brothers. When we translate that into our present day, our task is to hear the words of Jesus/listen to his teachings, remember them and put them into practice. It is a big task, but quite do-able with faith in Jesus.

May you be the light of Christ for those in your life, today.