Grace Blogspot

Chapter 17 is another hard reading for us. We hear about the dangers of leading others astray, the healing of the lepers and the coming kingdom of God. On this day, I can’t help but think of the lepers. As we all absorb the significance of the votes taken yesterday in congress, it is interesting that our reading today includes a healing. It’s interesting that 10 are cleansed regardless of whether they turn back or not, and that there were foreigners among them. Nonetheless, it is again the Samaritan that does the right thing. The Samaritan shows gratitude. Do we always turn towards God in gratitude for our health and other blessings?

These verses are hard ones for us to read. Partly because they are confusing . . . and partly because by most worldly standards, we are well off in this community. As we reflect on all the ways in which we have been blessed the challenge is to remember that these blessings are for us to steward . . . not consume. What is God calling us to be about with all of our material possessions? Are we to be consuming ourselves to death? or are we called to serve and be generous? These readings remind us not to live by the world’s standards of value, but rather, but Christ’s . . . where we are all Children of God, rich or poor.

Jesus is laying into the establishment in these readings! All those in authority or those who felt they were the insiders, the devout, are shown time and again to be the ones to reject Christ and be on the outside. Over time, they tire of hearing it and begin to plot against him. However, there is a joy and heat at the same time in Christ’s passion for those who are the outsiders. In our world today, there are those inside and those outside . . . . who is Christ calling us to bring in today?

This set of readings has a lot to do with how we understand our place in the universe relative to God and to those around us. It seems that we tend to lean towards extremes . . . either picturing ourselves winning the Oscar Award or being so down on ourselves that we find it hard to move through our day. God challenges us to remember that even on our worst days we were worth Christ’s life . . . . and that we are to take that joy and lift up those around us!

Jesus expects something from us.  We may beat ourselves up about our inability to meet those expectations, but they are there nonetheless.  Jesus gave his very life for us.  Grace comes to us from God in freedom . . . . but there is a need for us to respond.  We respond in gratitude towards God for this undeserved gift.  Our response to God is shown most vividly in our love towardsw those whose lives are hardest . . . exactly as Jesus did.

Jesus challenges us with the reading for Monday. We are to be alert and ready at all times! ‘Dressed for action’ is a phrase hat jumps out to me, in particular, this season. Are we prepared when Christ finds us? Or do we rather have a list of excuses as to why we can’t follow or serve? Surely someone else is better equipped? less busy? richer? smarter? whatever the case may be, we often list reasons as to why it’s reasonable that we’re not ready to serve . . . however, this text challenges that directly. We have been given much, and as Christ says in this text, much is required. Be ready!

This season of Lent, we have used the ecumenical version of the Lord’s Prayer in worship. The traditional words come so easily to our lips that we sometimes lose sight of meaning and power. As we turn to the Lord, we should ask to be taught! Our lives of prayer are important! These conversations and moments draw us closer in relationship with Christ and are key to our finding peace in our chaotic lives. During this season, seek prayer and times for prayer as a discipline. Lord, teach us to pray!

Like many of our readings, today’s covered a lot of ground. The apostles are sent, the hungry are fed, and the Messiah is identified. It’s way to large a passage to enclose in these short comments. However, we are reminded that Christ send us into the world as well. A world that is hungry for Gos, and often doesn’t even know it. It’s a world that in many cases is also just plain hungry. This passage shows that Christ’s mission in the world is concerned about the spiritual and physical well being of all of creation. How is Christ calling you out into this work? With what meager resources, do we engage in God’s work trusting for a miracle to happen?

Both stories for Wednesday’s reading deal with people not understanding who Jesus is. John’s disciples don’t and the Pharisees and others do not. Curiously it us the most broken and hurting among us who recognize Jesus. How do we embrace Christ as the one who save us in spite of our brokeness?

Jesus moves into a different phase in today’s readings. He confronts. He does this in an aggressive fashion. He heals on the sabbath, people who were ill the day before, or would be still the next day, but he heals in the plain sight of everyone on the sabbath . . . . when you’re not supposed to work . . . . He proclaims himself the lord of the sabbath and goes on to bless the poor, hungry, weeping and the outcasts . . . while warning those who are thought well of in the community. What is Jesus saying to us? What cherished aspects of our faith or piety is Christ pushing aside? What in us is Christ blessing? What in us is Christ challenging?