The Power of God's Word: A Different Kind of Standard

At church this morning Barry Heib gave a reflection on the beatitudes, and it struck me that I was looking at them as he explained he did at first. I was looked at it as a sort of standard to achieve. Ok, so I have to be that way. I have to do that. Well, it's true that God is guiding us in this passage, but Jesus is doing more than that... when He could've chosen to rant about the government or complain about the people and each one of their failings (which He knew well), He chose to bless. In fact, the telling of the beatitudes in itself becomes a beatitude... for blessed are those who bless and do not curse.

^1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

³"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

⁴"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

⁵"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

⁶"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

⁷"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

⁸"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

⁹"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

¹⁰"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

^11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. ~Matthew 5:1-12

This morning I really appreciated hearing this familiar very in the Message version, with words that seemed to explain why and how it might be a blessing to mourn or to suffer or to be content.

As I mentioned in the preceding paragraph, I often have read the beatitudes as a "to do" list. The problem with this is that you always end up frustrated and downhearted. How can I ever possibly live up to all of this? Can I really be a peacemaker in a true sense of the word? And how much is enough? I mean, the beatitudes don't give you a clear cut off point, so it seems like you must be that way all the time... 24/7. Oh, no... I'm just too weak to be that wonderful....

But the good news is what God says about the weak...

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. ~1 Cor. 1:18-30

Right now I live my life surround by some who are considered very 'wise.' Yet those who I consider the wisest know better. They know that compared to the massive amount of knowledge in the world, what they know is little... humbling even. The most reknown regents professor is often the most humble, because he/she knows what there is still left to know. And so when we feel weak, looking at the Beatitudes, perhaps it is a good sign... and acknowledgment of that which we still have to gain. In acknowledging our own weaknesses, we open ourselves up for God to work in our lives... to "shame the strong" (who think they are everything already without God). So we gladly boast in our weaknesses and appreciate that we fall short of the beatitudes, but we let them guide us toward the refining power of Christ in our lives.

God's Power of a Living Hope

In this passage, I hear several parts of God's power to work in our lives... power for hope, power for change, and power for joy.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. ~1 Peter 1:3-9

Power of Hope

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade ~ 1 Peter 1:3-4

Just this morning I was listening to the radio and heard the imminently fun Audio Adrenaline song "In My Father's House". God has the power to comfort all of us in knowing that His house with many rooms waits for us. Though we don't know if there will be a "great big yard where we can play football" as the song goes, we do know that it is there for us... and there is room for us.

Power for Change

⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ~1 Peter 1:7

Unlike the gold which perishes when refined, we are refined by God. The Holy Spirit works within us and changes us... allowing us to be made new creations in the Lord. Such beautiful work can only happen with His wonderful power.

Power of Joy

⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. ~1 Peter 1:8-9

When His work in us is complete and we are a new creation, we are filled with "inexpressible and glorious joy"... the strength that He gives us. Praise the Lord for the joy He has placed in my heart!

The Power of God's Word: Lectio Divino

Some of you may have heard of "lectio divino".

It is a beautiful way of reading the scriptures, and I felt moved to read the scripture in this way this morning after reading a reflection by Macrina Wiederkehr out of "A Tree Full of Angels." Lectio is the practice of mindfully meditating on, not just reading, the word of God. Though the practice varies, oftentimes people will read one passage 3 times over allowing God's word to fully speak to us. Widerkehr invites us to enjoy the power of God's word, to be reverent before the scriptures, to be un-hurried:

"We do not always realize what a radical suggestion it is for us to read to be transformed rather than to gather information. We are information seekers. We love to cover territory. It is not easy for us to stop reading when the heart is touched; we are a people who like to get finished. Lectio offers us a new way to read. Read with a vulnerable heart. Expect to be blessed in the reading. Read as one awake, one waiting for the beloved. Read with reverence.

We are naturally reverent beings, but much of our natural reverence has been torn away from us because we have been born into a world that hurries. There is no time to be reverent with the earth or with each other. We are all hurrying into progress. And for all our hurrying we lose sight of our true nature a little more each day. This is precisely why we need to believe in the eye of God hovering over us. We are not alone. There is One with us who wants to give back our reverence. There is One with us who wants to give us back the gift of time.

Read the Scriptures, then, with reverence, giving up the lie that you don't have time. Read under the eye of God. Read as one who has nothing but time.

Before you read, you may wish to pray:

All-Seeing One,

above me, around me, within me.

Be my seeing as I read these sacred words.

Look down upon me

Look out from within me

Look all around me

See through my eyes

Hear through my ears

Feel through my heart

Touch me where I need to be touched;

and when my heart is touched,

give me the grace to lay down this Holy Book

and ask significant questions:

Why has my heart been touched?

How am I to be changed through this touch?

All-Seeing one,

I need to change

I need to look a little more like You

May these sacred words change and transform me.

Then I can meet You face to face

without dying

because I've finally died enough

To die is to be healed a little more each death,

until the final death

when I'll be healed forever.

It will be a healing that will last.

Your Words are healing

although they bring about my death."

My Lectio Divino

This is the passage that I read this morning, and bolded are the words and phrases that spoke to me and touched my heart this morning.

¹ I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. ³ And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— ⁴ was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. ⁵ I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. ⁶ Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, ⁷or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ~2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Paul is such a prolific character, so important to the church in so many ways, that it's often easy for me to forget that he was like the rest of us in some respects. He pleaded for the Lord, "take it away from me." When I read this over carefully this morning, I thought... oh... I say that all the time. Difficulties with relationships, problems getting GRE scores, stomach issues, I say, "Lord take it away from me."

But I seldom hear, or perhaps seldom listen to, the response from God which says, "My grace is sufficient for you." While I don't believe this passage is telling us not to pray for healing or help, I do believe that we are reminded in our prayers to keep in mind the firm understanding that God's grace is enough. I have really wanted to go to the Haiti Disaster Ministry's trip recently, but it doesn't seem that it's possible... especially without any income during the summer. And while I pray for a summer job and the opportunity to go, I remember that God is powerful enough to work in the most difficult circumstances.

If it is His will, I will go without a job. If it is His will, I will work. If it is His will, I will go to Haiti. If it is His will, I won't. If it is His will.... I pray knowing that God is powerful enough to do all that I ask, but also understanding that He knows more than I could ever comprehend. And if this summer is difficult with a little more penny-pinching, I know it will be ok. In fact, I know that God's power is with me, resting on me, over and around me when I am weak, when things are difficult.

This summer things were more than a little difficult between my in-laws, my new husband and myself. There were honestly points where I wished that I weren't married, that I were just on my own. I felt hurt, I felt sad, I felt alone, I felt weak. But now I can see that God's power was resting on me. Though it was hard, I never once considered breaking it off. I knew that I would stay with Brad. For better or for worse means that "worse" will undoubtedly come sooner or later. And I felt God's power through my constant understanding that I pledged my love to Brad before God. So even though I was weak, God's power was strong in me... urging me to stay true to the commitment I had made to my Lord and my love.

On Tuesday at Bible Study, Carrie and Josh announced their engagement. We are so happy for both of them. Carrie asked me about my relationship with my in-laws. I told her about this summer, about the problem with the name, about the hurt. But I also told her that I'm glad it happened. I said, "You know, many people probably don't confront something so difficult in their second week of marriage, but they all do eventually. The most important thing is that you make that commitment to each other for life." And I know that God's power was in the healing process with my in-laws which I am so thankful for. And dealing with such a difficult time this summer has given me even more faith in this marriage... we have been through difficulties, but God's power has been with us through all of it!

Lord, I boast in my weakness, because You are strong... to care for a weak marriage, to care for sickness, to take care of jobs, to take care of all! I pray this morning that I always remember the moments that I have seen God's power in my weakness... and that I have faith that "God's grace is sufficient" whenever I pray for Him to "take it away from me."

The Power of God's Word: Where Joy & Strength Meet

Enjoying the Power of God's Word

We often acknowledge the power of God's word in much that we do... reading, going to church, study in devotional moments, study during Bible Studies or Sunday School, even calling ourselves Christians. But, how often do we stop to enjoy the power of God's word... to glorify Him for the power of His word, to praise and thank the Lord for the strength that it gives us. Three examples from very different moments, very different books will show us ways in which God's Word is powerful.

In the Law

⁸ They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

⁹ Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

¹⁰ Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” ~Nehemiah 8:8-10

This is one of my favorite verses, and for that reason alone I'm pretty sure that I've cited it on my blog before. However, it isn't an old favorite. It's a newer favorite. It reminds me of my dear friend Kammy, who embodied that verse for me... so joyful. Yesterday as we listened to a sermon on joy, I thought of both this verse and Kammy right away... along with many other people and things that bring me joy, of course. But the person giving the sermon mentioned a quote from an old rabbinic text that read, "Someday you will be asked to give an account for all of the good things in God's creation that you were surrounded by and refused to enjoy." Just like the guest preacher, I very seldom think of "giving an account of those things that bring me joy." But, if I ever heard anyone do that, it would be Kammy. She was always saying, "Oh, Katie. I'm just so good. God is so good. He's helping Bi and me." Everything she had to say to me was an account of the joy given to her as a gift from God.

In this verse, though the joy is for a slightly different reason, it is still joy that came from God. Nehemiah makes it clear that this law is not a reason for mourning or sadness or overbearing rules. Quite the contrary. This law brought reason to enjoy and love and appreciate the care and council that the Lord had brought us.

In the Psalms

¹ Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
² Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

³ The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
⁴ The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
⁵ The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
⁶ He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
⁷ The voice of the LORD strikes
with flashes of lightning.
⁸ The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
⁹ The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

¹⁰ The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
¹¹ The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace. ~Psalm 29:1-11

When many of us think think of praise and joy in the Bible, it may come quite naturally to look to Psalms... the book of many poems and songs that account for so many emotions certain do hold beautiful verses of joy. What I noticed about Psalm 29 this morning was not just the praise given to the Lord, but the praise given to the Lord because of His "voice". His voice... though we may not always be able to "hear" God in a physical sense, if we open ourselves up to Him, we can hear Him moving in our lives, blessings us with good things, guiding us with scripture and teaching us through the insights of other Christians. We often take for granted the ability to read the Bible, which at one point was not granted to us. In history, there was a point when only certain people were deemed capable to read the Bible. It is a joy to read God's powerful words!

But sometimes, I venture to suggest that we have read the Bible so often, heard the words so many times that we forget the power of these words! Just look at Psalm 29, His words are "everywhere, powerful, majestic, shaking, striking"... in essence, life-changing. Thomas Merton in "Opening the Bible" warns of the complacency which we may develop:

"There is, in a word, nothing comfortable about the Bible- until we manage to get so used to it that we make it comfortable for ourselves. But then we are perhaps too used to it and too at home in it. Let us not be too sure we know the Bible... just because we have learned not to have problems with it. Have we perhaps learned... not to really pay attention to it? Have we ceased to question the book and be questioned by it?"

We can only fully and completely enjoy the power of God's word when we open ourselves up to the challenge that it presents, allowing Him to strengthen us through that encounter.

In the Gospel

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. ~John 1:1-13

When we hear about God's word, this scripture may come to mind, perhaps for its unique and catchy characteristic, the beginning of John sticks with us. But following Merton's advice, let's allow it to challenge us as well.

Few may know that in Spanish, "verb" is used in place of "word in the first verses. It may seem a minor difference, but to me (as a linguist) a verb is a much more defined grammatical category. A verb implies action, doing something, changing, moving. Jesus, then, came not just to be some kind of word sitting in space. The word, I believe, that is meant by the beginning of John is the kind of word that we use when we say, "send word to so-and-so" or "did you hear the word?" Jesus didn't come just to be, just to exist in the world. He came to spread the message to "all who did receive Him".

Praise the Lord for the power of His word!

Let's enjoy it, let's read it, let's be challenged by it all the days of our lives!

The Call of God: Do You Love Me? Feed My Sheep.

Do You Love Me?

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ~John 21:15-17

Many of us are familiar with these verses. "Do you love me? Feed my sheep." During our study of John several years ago, we looked in depth at what these verses mean... including the 3 times asked, compared to the 3 times Peter denied Jesus before the rooster crowed 3 times. Yes, there is symbolism here... perhaps going so deep as to represent the trinity which is made whole in Christ's resurrection, giving us the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Yet this morning, I see another 3 connected... the relationships between Peter, Jesus and others are intricately interconnected in this simple question and answer... "Do you love me? Feed my sheep."

Peter & Jesus

First, I see what is perhaps most at the surface value, although it is un"deniably" important. (Sorry, bad pun.) Yes, Peter had denied Jesus 3 times, and there was a trust that needed to be re-instated, forgiveness that needed to take place. And so, Peter tells Jesus that He loves Him. Furthermore, we often read Peter's response as smart-alecky... "Yeah, you know I love you.... (why did you ask?)." But, stating that He knows Jesus knows shows that Peter knows something he had denied before... Peter is not only Jesus' follower, but he recognizes fully Jesus as Lord, omniscient God who knows all things.

Jesus asks, and Peter responds. But Jesus' next remark leads to the third party who is so important in the whole process of forgiveness and love and Christianity as a whole... our love for God leads us to love others.

Peter & Others

"Yes, Lord I love you."

"Feed/Take care of my lambs/my sheep."

What Jesus is teaching Peter is the new appropriate response to his love for Jesus. While once loving Jesus meant following him (literally) and leaving his family/friends/job (literally), now it would take on new meaning. Jesus wouldn't be there in physical presence any more. But Peter should express his love for Jesus through love and kindness express to Jesus' lambs and sheep.

It even seems that a part of Peter's repentance may be through the act of loving others, feeding Jesus' sheep. After all, what Peter did was for his own sake... in fear he responded, "Oh, no... I don't know the man. Not me." It was not helpful to other Christians who heard about this, and perhaps for this reason it was all the more important that Peter repent (turn 180 degrees) and help those in the faith to not deny Jesus at a crucial time in the birth of Christianity. While repentance involves confessing our sins, it also means turning and doing things differently. What Peter needed to do differently was to proclaim (not deny) the gospel... to feed the people spiritually instead of giving them reason to doubt.

While we may have had an experience of repentance and need to turn to benefit our Christian (and non-Christian) brothers and sisters in response, I believe this passage has much to say to us even if that is not the case. After all, I can imagine the conversation so similar between myself and the Lord, especially important since He is not here to tell us what to do, to literally follow in His footsteps. So, He tells us the footsteps to walk in... to find holiness, to live a set apart life that praises the Lord and glorifies him with every new step. To expresss our love for Jesus, I look to the words written by James C. Fenhagen in an "Invitation to Holiness" which describe so well this link between ourselves and others.

"The pathway to holiness leads us to link ourselves in a serious way to a Kingdom value toward those realizations we are willing to commit our energy. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King were touched by holiness in their pursuit of justice through non-violence, clear Kingdom values. The holiness of Mother Teresa and Desmond Tutu is the holiness that emerges out of their compassion for the poor and the oppressed. And there is holiness present in those who struggle for peace and the abolition of the threat of nuclear war. We can't do everything, but each of us can do something. What we do- what we pay attention to- depends, of course, on the tune we hear."

As long as the tune we hear allows us to show our love for Jesus to God and also to others, we are on the right path toward the holy life God calls us to. And in doing so, we can ultimately bring Jesus' sheep to Him.

Others & Jesus

"Feed my lambs."

"Take care of my sheep."

In these verses it seems clear that while we do need to 'take care' of people, we do so acknowledging that they are precious children of God... concerned for both their physical and spiritual well-being. Providence Church had a Missions Statement which I always loved... "We exist to love people into a relationship with Jesus Christ." No arguing, no pushing, no pulling... only loving. Now, after hearing a fascinating talk on apologetics by Ian Pacey last evening, I'm not going to undermine the importance of such logical argumentation. But, I do believe that we often understate the power of love.

One thing I often keep in mind with my classes is... "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." If you never learn your students names, their interests, show compassion, they care very little about the 50 minute discussion section you're leading. The same holds for your Christian faith. If people can't see the love of Christ in your heart, they will never care what kind of faith you are selling. So that leads us back to the first... Peter and Jesus, or you and Jesus... Jesus asks, "Do you love me?" Do you have His love in your heart? That is after all, where we start... to complete and continue to the circle of faith.

I close with a beautiful related reflection that I read this morning also by James C. Fenhagen, this time from "Mutual Ministry."

"I carry within me an image of a covenant between God and humankind that reaches back into the origins of time. It is a covenant both of accountability and forgiveness, calling us to a life of faithfulness in relation to the holiness of God and the needs of the human family. We are indeed 'our brothers' keeper' and we will be held accountable for the way in which we live out this responsibility. The biblical image of the covenant is an image of human and divine solidarity, of relatedness and moral responsibility. It is in relation to this deep sense of belonging that my sense of identity comes- the sense that who I am and who I will become is tied up with my capacity to live with integrity and compassion in relation to the human family of which I am a part. It is a sense that who I am is intimately connected with my capacity for relationships of depths which, at the deepest level, I both yearn for a resist. When grasped by this image of the covenant, I am aware that the freedom and possibility I experience in life is somehow bound up in the figure of the man Jesus who is some incredible life-giving way makes himself present in the deep places of my life. I have a sense- sometimes fleeting, sometimes very real- of what St. Paul meant when he said, 'It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.' It is this awareness that calls me into covenant with the mystery of life whom we call God."

God's Call: "His Will is My Peace"

The Many Faces of God's Call

"Calling", "vocation," "ministry," "God's will". It all seems to be a jumble of confusion when we look around at the many people who claim to be doing it... or even more confusing when we ask ourselves, "Is this God's will?"... a question that at least crops up for me all too often. But, yet, I don't believe it is too often. For, after all... hidden in that question is the acknowledgment of the importance of following God's will... is the acknowledgment that God's will is what will bring peace and meaning and wholeness to our lives.

But, when confronted with many options, many doors, many roads and many different examples, we may find ourselves spinning and wondering the path that we should follow. What is His will? This weeks' scripture readings have provided a look at the many faces of God's call... from evangelism or so-called 'fishing' to following to fellowship.

Fishing

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

⁶ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷ So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰ and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” ¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. ~Luke 5:4-11

It seems clear... we should be putting out our nets, inviting others in... welcoming individuals to know Christ. "From now on, you will fish for people." Fishing... that is God's call.

Following

⁴ The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

⁶ “Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

⁷ But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.

⁹ Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰ See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” ~Jeremiah 1:4-10

In Jeremiah, it seems clear. God's will... it's about following. Even when it seems impossible. Even when I don't think I can. I pray, I trust, I listen to God. It's about following.

Fellowship

⁸ Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. ⁹ Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For,

“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
¹¹ They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” ~1 Peter 3:8-12

But wait... in 3 Peter, it's a little different. It's not about God's call to this or that. It's God's call to all of us on how we should be... on living in harmony with one another... seeking peace, keeping from evil, loving life. Wow... God's will is that we would love life.

Fishing, Following, Fellowship - "His Will is My Peace"

Although these examples at first glance seem very different... they are all one in the same. In fact, they are each general enough that we could do each in many different places. We could "fish" for our neighbors. We could "follow" God by being a Christian professor in a sea of atheist academics. We could build "fellowship" in order to bring others closer to knowing the love of Christ. It's not an either/or, it's an all/and. At the center of it all is recognizing that when we seek out God's will for our lives, when we desire that above all things, these will all naturally flow together.... no matter where we are.

This morning a reading from "Letters in the Desert" by Carlo Carreto brought me great peace:

"Whether you are on the sand worshipping, or at the teacher's desk in a classroom, what does it matter as long as you are doing the will of God?

And if the will of God urges you to seek out the poor, to give up all you possess, or to leave for distant lands, what does the rest matter? Or if it calls you to found a family or to take on a job in a city, why should you have doubts?

'His will is our peace,' says Dante. And perhaps that is the expression which best brings into focus our deep dependence on God."

"Whoever would love life and see good days"... I think sometimes we envision God as a "kill joy". (Oh, I had to do this or that, because of God's will.) Not to say there is no place for sacrifice, but only a sacrifice that is given joyfully. Why wouldn't God want us to love life... what do you love most? Being a mother, a father, a linguistics TA (that's mine)... maybe that is God's call or a part of it.

Do it as if you are doing it for the Lord, with all of your heart... fishing, following, fellowshipping... thanking God for His call on our lives that brings us peace.

Following Jesus: Life-Giving Giving

This Sunday the worship leader opened worship by telling the story familiar to many of us, Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree. She highlighted that was strikes her most about the story and many of us as well, is not only the giving nature of the tree, but the "happiness" with which the tree gives. After the tree gives up its branches, its apples, its trunk, the tree "is happy." How many of us feel that genuine happiness from giving in a way that makes our giving life-giving?

Making your life "life-giving" as well as "giving" may align with what Max Lucado calls "the cure for the common life". In his book, he outlines that this cure can be found where our everyday life intersects with our strengths and God's glory. Scripture seems to suggest that Max may not be too far off the mark.

Our Strengths

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. ~1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Like the metaphor of the body with many members in Romans, 1 Corinthians outlines the many gifts which come from one spirit. In fact, it's true. There are certain things that for some will feel draining or frightening but to others feel beautiful, inspiring and energizing. Thus the beauty of committees. I was sure that everyone on the TA team for CLAS 329 would want to work with the preceptors and their review sessions. But alas, it was only 2 of us who volunteered for that job, while I hung my head at the proposition of creating randomized lists or organizing meetings. For me, teaching and working with smaller groups of students in a hands-on way is life-giving, while to others it is life-draining. That, in itself, is a beautiful gift... the way the Spirit has gifted us differently so that we may work in many different ways to form a whole.

I recently had the blessing to be at a GCF (Graduate Christian Fellowship) Retreat, and this stood out to me once again. The gift of some to cook and organize, others to bring joy and laughter, others to take down/set up volleyball nets, others to take fantastic photographs of the whole time together, others to lead study groups, others to develop inspiring materials, others to offer insights during our small group time, others to pray. And together, the gifts make an even more beautiful gift... that of the body of Christ together making something really very special for everyone.

We read a chapter written by Yancey about Dr. Paul Brand and his work with leper colonies in various countries in the world. To me, it was amazing the way God was using Brand's passion, his talents, his uniqueness, his gifts to serve and give in a way that was also life-giving to Brand himself. Brand may have been no-good as a farmer who created sustainable crop, as a professor who was inside his office for many hours a day working with students, as a minister in a small rural town... but where he was, doing what he was doing, Brand had given his unique gifts and talents to the use of the Lord.

Everyday Life

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” ~Luke 10:25-37

The story of the good Samaritan was one that Bryce told this Sunday in church, reminding us that in today's terms the Levite and Rabbi who passed by would've been us Christians. The Samaritan, on the other hand, might've been a Taliban member or a Ismalic extremist or an atheist, in our terms. Not only did Jesus tell of a hero... He told of a controversial hero from the wrong side of the tracks, one who wouldn't be in church on Sunday. And yes, He was telling this to a Christian crowd... shaming us into recognizing that others may do this better than we do... because they may recognize that everyone is their neighbor, regardless of religion or background.

What I notice today as I re-read the story is that none of these 3 individuals went out seeking a heroic act, decided to take a Saturday morning to do a random act of kindness or help at the local foodbank. Instead, they were "passing through," they were on their way to somewhere else. They just "happened to" see the man on the side of the road.

It's hard to recognize that we don't live in a culture that stops for the person on the side of the road. We need to learn to give, to love, to help where we are when we see the need... no matter how small. It is exactly inconveniencing ourselves for the good of others that we are called to do, in that moment. Whether it's a student that we take an extra hour to help with an all-too-easy assignment or a colleague whose proposal we look over at the last minute, lending a book, or a cup of sugar, or offering a dinner to a friend who's been working non-stop. Our gifts or time, energy, compassion are meant not just for some, not just for Sunday mornings. They are meant to address the needs when we come across them in our everyday life.

God's Glory

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” ~Luke 10:38-42

I think that I read this passage of scripture a little differently than many. I do not, as many, think that Jesus was saying that listening to Him was better than making the preparations. Instead, I think the attitude was what counted here. In fact, we are told many times in scripture, as in the 1 Corinthians verse, that our gifts/talents could be beautiful gifts. Martha was certainly a talented cook, from what we could tell. But she was going about this all wrong. She had the absolute opposite attitude of the giving tree. Where the giving tree gave and "was happy", Martha was obliged to give and was certainly not happy... to the extent that she complained about her sisters' actions.

If what Martha really wanted was to listen to the stories, I imagine she could've listened at the door, even brought a bowl in to mix while listening to Jesus. Or she could've recognized her dinner preparations as serving the Lord in a special way, making things lovingly, specially for the Savior.

What Mary had chosen was better, but I'm not sure that is was sitting. I believe that Mary's choice to appreciate and honor and glorify the Lord in whatever she was doing was what was better. When we see our small actions (a phone call, a letter, an e-mail, a gift to a stranger) as service to the Lord, we are choosing what is better... we are choosing an attitude of giving that makes us happy, one that is truly life-giving.

Following Jesus: Fightin' Words for Pacifists

^{Ah, here is is, Matthew 10:34, the classic verse so often quoted against pacifists: "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."}

^{But, in fact, I don't believe this verse can/should be used against pacifists at all. In fact, quite to the contrary. I believe these are some of the only "fightin' words" that we can really grab onto and appreciate. These fightin' words aren't against anyone in particular, aren't about initiating a war per se. Instead, these verses outline the importance of choosing a 'side', a 'side' where everyone is welcome, unlike the wars we're familiar with: a side where we choose God over family, the cross over our own desires, and others before ourselves. Since these are contrary to mainstream culture, it may just take a "fight" for us to really hold true to these "fightin' words".}

^{Fightin' Word #1: God Before Family}

³⁴ “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
³⁶ a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

³⁷ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ~Matthew 10:34-36

People often read this verse to view God as a warring God, but what I see in this verse is the need for all individuals to make a decision to love the Lord above all and remember that the Lord God is one. All means even above family, who we should respect, according to the commandments. But even with that respect given to God, with even that love and obligation for respect given to the marital relationship, God reserves His place above all others. Jesus makes no mistake about it... you cannot serve two masters. You must only serve the Lord Your God.

Especially at a time when Christianity was so new, this was very important. Some people believed; many did not. The country was split. Families were split. But these "fightin' words" urged individuals to take a stand even against their dearest and most-respected family members. After all, if they didn't confess openly their faith in Jesus, they were doomed, they were "not worthy of Jesus" (v.36), because He gave up everything for us. While God blesses us with wonderful parents, loving siblings, admirable cousins, amazing spouses, we must remember that they are all blessings... a gift from our Father who is perfect and Holy and so much more wonderful than that which He created.

This must be an especially powerful illustration for people with children. I've only heard from others that when you have a child, you love that child so much, instantly. Take that love. Multiply that by 100. Now we're getting somewhere. That's how much more we she love the Lord. He, after all, brought that precious child into this world. He is the giver of all good gifts. Would we rather thank the box that carried the Christmas gift or the one who gave it to us?

Fightin' Word #2: Cross Before Life

³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. ~Matthew 10:38-39

In His next words, Jesus continues to talking about what we read just yesterday... taking up "our" crosses and following Him. But it is not separated by a paragraph or a chapter or a heading or anything. In fact, this is related. Whatever you love will influence your decisions. That is why we must love the Lord before even our own family. Our relatives, well intentioned as they may be, often may influence our decisions... and this is not always bad. Sometimes we want and need their input, because, quite frankly, it's hard to hear God's answer... and sometimes God's answer comes from them!

But there are times when they will discourage certain things that may be part of God's plan... pastoral ministry, missions work, moving across the country, etc. They want the best for us, but they may not know "our" cross. If instead, we have our eyes fixed on the Lord who we love above all and the cross (mission) He has specifically laid out for us, we are set. We can lose our own desires for our individual lives and seek instead the mission/the cross/the work that God has set before us. We may have the loftiest goals for our personal lives, want the highest positions, most beautiful home, most perfect family... but if it is not the cross, the life that Christ has designed for you, it will never be fulfilling.

"'I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11) And so we come back full circle to the theme of God's Eternal Purpose. When we truly believe that God's plans are good... to prosper and not harm us, we can jump in to the ministry He has given to us in our lives, even when it seems strange to others.

Fightin' Word #3: Others Before Self

⁴⁰ “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. ⁴¹ Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” ~Matthew 10:40-42

The "sword" or "fightin' words" elevated God over family and God's plans over our plans. But there is more. It also elevates our concern for others above ourselves in this last passage. At this time many visiting pastors/disciples depended on the hospitality of those in the town where they visited. While this is not a common practice any more, I interpret the meaning of "you" and "disciple" very broadly. For a disciple is simply a follower of Jesus. Couldn't then a disciple be a little 6-year-old in the DR just as much as a grad student in Biomedical Engineering or a pastor of a Hispanic Church in Tucson?

We are called to "welcome" and not just welcome. We are supposed to welcome all prophets as prophets and all righteous people as righteous people. As it says in other places, we do not know when we are "entertaining angels," so we're better off to err on the safe side... treat everyone as prophets, as righteous, as children of God (which they certainly are).

We are called to "give". In verse 42, the "even" makes it clear that a cup of cold water is the very least thing we could give. We are called to give without thinking of what to give, but to be generous. And the "water" symbolizes the needs which we should care for.

When we are welcoming and giving and showing our love to others, we are losing our own concern for ourselves... choosing to love others above ourselves. And in a very self-centered society that wants things "my way, right away," these may just be "fightin' words".

Following Jesus: Finding Your Cross

"Take up your cross and follow me." We've heard this saying so many times that it sometimes loses its effect. And we all nod, thinking we know exactly what it means. But I wonder... do we? This morning as I re-read the familiar verses, I felt a sense that I had never truly understood it before. I heard a more personalized call, to find "my" cross instead of a generic call that all disciples should follow Jesus. In the call to self-denial, this morning I heard a call to self and servitude to Jesus at the same time.

The Self

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? ~Luke 9:23-25

Yes, this is the part that struck me. Instead of a generic call to take up "the" cross, which would have the same meaning to everyone, I heard a call to each disciple to individually take up "their" cross. Before I had always read it in the generic sense... take up 'the' cross... take up Jesus' work... spread the good news... work for the church. These are all good things, no doubt. But when I heard this morning a call that I should not "forfeit my very self" and to take up "my" cross, it struck me that "my" cross is the ministry God is calling me to do in the world. It is not the same as everyone else, but it is the work God asks me to do.

At home we have a saying on the wall that always struck me... "What gifts God has given me is His gift to me. What I do with those talents is my gift to God." God made many varied talented people... just as in the body metaphor, some are meant for welcoming/greeting, others are meant for singing/playing music, others are meant to be worship leaders, others are meant to build community, and many many more. Some are meant for leading Bible Studies, others are meant to add important insights during that Bible Study time. With such a beautiful variety of children, God would not give us all one and the same cross... it stands to reason that our crosses would be different.

All challenging crosses, all something that we take up and work for daily, but individualized to uniquely fit the gifts, talents and passion of each self. This is reflective of the many beautiful and unique ministries that have been driven by strong Christians who felt a connection between the inner spiritual life and outer ministry in the world.

"This sense of connection between inner growth and outer change permeates the Christian understanding of reality. St. Paul was an activist of the first order. Every time he entered a new place he created major disruptions, but his activism was the fruit of the relationship he enjoyed with the living Christ. The great hymns of praise that seem to burst out in epistle after epistle are a testimony to the reality of this relationship. The ministries of Mother Teresa in the slums of Calcutta or of Martin Luther King in the streets of Montgomery, or of the countless people whose faith has touched your life and mine and indeed has affected the life of the world are expressions of lived prayer. These people went deep enough in prayer to embrace life with some degree of abandon. These inner experiences literally drove them in ministry to others." ~Henri J. M. Nouwen from "A Cry for Mercy"

Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, each found their cross. Mother Teresa herself was quoted as urging individuals to "find their own Calcutta." I wonder if this is not much different from "finding your own cross." Find the cross that God calls you to take up daily- whether that is creating an after school program at your church, developing a new young couples' ministry, starting up a Meals on Wheels program for shut ins. Pray that God would guide you to find your cross. Take it up daily, and follow Him in the way that you are meant to follow Him. You may have heard it said that your mission is "where your passions meet the world's greatest need." Well, I suggest that might be exactly what Jesus is talking about when he asks you to take up your cross.

The Lord

²⁶ Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

²⁷ “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” ~Luke 9:26-27

But we cannot let it become only about ourselves and totally separate from the Lord. If that happens, we may never make it. Our works, our lives, our beings should not proclaim our goodness, but that of the Lord. In today's society is very popular to do "volunteer service." In fact, it's become a fad in education. Let's get them doing volunteer work. Now, that's not bad in and of itself, but I do suggest that there's a problem when kids are taught this pattern of doing good work in order to put it on their resume, doing good in order to get a better grade in a class or become class president. Instead, in church, we should look to Jesus... who did good works and then asked the individuals to tell no one. I remember the days when we would gather on a Sunday morning at church to wash cars and invite people to church on Sunday. There was no putting that on a resume. We only gave glory to God, showing that His love can motivate "lazy teenagers" to get out of bed and wash cars for free, for nothing, nada, zip... only for Him and His glory. While it is true that youth do need to earn money for youth conferences, I wonder whether we have given up on this important lesson... the importance of giving, without return.

When you do something and take the credit, it may be sweet. But when the Lord has His hand in the work, it is so much sweeter. We should always be ready to talk about His work in our lives, our professions, our families, our crosses.

I have always been one to have big dreams. And one of my biggest is perhaps the most improbable. I fell in love with the Educacion y Esperanza (Education & Hope) program in Guatemala the very first time I went down there, and I dream that some day I could work in building a similar program in the many places of the world where it could help so much. Maybe working in Haiti? Maybe working in the DR? Somewhere where I could do a little to bring about a little more hope. The most improbable, but God loves improbable. With God, all this are possible. Call Him into your lives... pray about your cross, and He will make the impossible possible.

Following Jesus: What a Difference a Meal Makes

This morning as I read the familiar passage from Matthew 9:9-13, I was struck by the meal. I once heard that in a certain part of Africa, the husband to be is not allowed to eat at the same table as the father-in-law, so that he could reserve the right to protect his daughter. Eating a meal at the same table with someone in that culture was synonymous with a peace accord. While that may not be entirely true (I cannot find resources to back up this claim), and while our own experiences may be somewhat different, there is something special about sharing a meal with someone.

And that is what struck me today... not the fact that Jesus was with tax collectors, but the fact that He was eating a meal with them. And I believe that is what struck the Pharisees as well. Notice this first section:

⁹ As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. ~Matthew 9:9

Here Jesus is calling the tax collectors. While this must have been surprising, there is no reaction listed here. Perhaps Jesus was calling them to repent. That would've been fine. That would've been acceptable. Calling them to change... that would've been necessary. So, all seems ok up to this point. Yes, what those tax collectors need is some good correction and discipline. Tell them where they're going wrong, Jesus.

The Meal

¹⁰ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Then, when Jesus is seen having dinner with many tax collectors, everything changes. Wait, this is not what's supposed to happen! Jesus is supposed to discipline and correct those tax collectors. He's not supposed to be friends with them! He's not supposed to be living in community with them, sharing a meal! Sharing a meal now and in those times was something you did with friends, not enemies, those of your social class, those who would uphold your reputation. (Remember the pleasure Hamon had when he was invited to dine with Esther and the king.) It's much the same today. Imagine being invited to have dinner at the White House... or conversely having dinner with your underhanded boss. Yes, who we eat with says a lot about who we are.

When I was in the DR helping Jerry with various workcamp groups and the Vacation Bible Study weeks that we were hosting for kids there, I remember some very special meals. These meals were not huge. At the San Jose church, it consisted of a few fried plantains and some coconut water. When we went with several pastors coordinating the event went to visit Pastor Samson and his family, his wife gladly brought out the treats. It was such a beautiful meal, because it was given with so much love. And even though we knew that they had little in their own home where the rooms stood empty of furniture except for one tiny wooden chair, we showed our appreciation, our community and love by partaking and appreciating the food offered to us.

In Brazil, similarly, there were many who were confused and surprised at why I would volunteer to go and live in Campo Limpo Paulista without hardly any pay, without my family, living on very little. To them, the greatest testimony was that I was really there... living with them. "What would motivate someone to do that?" they asked, and what I told them was "the love of Jesus." The test of time brought several seeking the love of Jesus in their own lives. But what moved them was that I lived there, in that community, in a home like their own, on an income like theirs. Much of my most powerful preaching was not with words, but with my living in the community and loving in the community. I believe that Jesus here was doing much of the same.

Jesus teaches us that when we seek the lost, the lonely, the hurting, we are not to keep ourselves safely away from them except on Sundays when we teach them a thing or two. No, we should live with them, eat with them, laugh with them, cry with them, love them... invite them into our family as brothers and sisters. After all, that is what God does... as we learned yesterday... he calls us his children and calls us all to Him, to experience His eternal no-matter-what love, not a once-a-week love.

The Message Behind the Meal

¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

While the meal sent a powerful message to the tax collectors at the table of the love that God has for them and the community that He desires with them, it also sent a powerful message to the Pharisees who thought they should be the only ones at the table. "That Rabbi doesn't know what he's doing. He's hanging out with the wrong crowd." Those of you who are parents have probably had some worries about your kids hanging out with the wrong crowd, and we all try to hang out with the 'right' crowd to some extent.

But again, like we saw yesterday, Jesus challenged and broke all boundaries of race, religion, culture, class, gender. He consistently hung out with the 'wrong' crowd, part of why He was so disliked by the Pharisees.

Jesus' words in v.13 remind the well-read Pharisees of what was spoken in the prophet Hosea... "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice." Mercy... compassion, forgiveness toward an enemy. The Pharisees knew little about practicing compassion. It wasn't a law with measurable outcomes or regulations. It didn't fit into their rulebook about what to do if Person X commits Sin Y. They knew sacrifice. They did X, Y, and Z daily in order to be considered of their rank and stature, to be considered the type of upright and holy folk that deserved to have dinner with other rabbi. But, Jesus here reminds them that God desires compassion. Even those who wrong you, deserve our love and forgiveness.

In the present context of Tucson, we may find it difficult to forgive the boy who killed so many, who caused such violence. But, I am reminded of the girl in Florida who forgave the murderer of her father. Forgiveness in that magnitude is powerful, and that powerful love inspired by the love of God is what makes a difference in this world.

Jesus reminds me in this passage that love for His children reaches beyond sending a check to an organization once a year; it reaches beyond welcoming people to church once in a while; and it extends beyond preaching in church on Sundays. Reaching out to God's children is loving them with a compassion that connects us as family, no matter what, and living with those individuals that we hope to reach... inviting them into our homes and our hearts to share a meal... because what a difference a meal makes.