Mark 8:15-16 And he cautioned them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they discussed it with one another
I know the discussion between the disciples missed the mark because they focused on leaven as if he was talking about bread. Leaven for Jesus as we look at other passages seems to mean that agent of change or influence. Herod and the Pharisees seem to me to represent two extreme distortions of the God's Law. Herod who ignored the law and was illegally married to Herodias his brother Philip's wife. The Pharisees on the other hand were sticklers for the letter of the law as it was imposed on others and used it's power to their own advantage. Society was controlled by both of these distortions of the law. Jesus was cautioning the disciples that both these changes would corrupt society as a whole.
We need the same vigilance. We are surrounded by the same kinds of influences. We have those trying to leaven society with distortions that ignore our need for God or God's will for society. On the other end are those who like the Pharisees want to impose on everyone their own strict and narrow interpretation of God's will. If Jesus had trouble with the extremes than perhaps we should use caution as well. It may be difficult to hold to Jesus teaching carefully without surrendering to an attitude that is judgmental, but I think that is what Jesus wants.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
They Knew Him
John 1:45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
From the very start people were making amazing statements about Jesus. No miracles, no healings, no demons cast out and already Philip declares that he is the one the scriptures are waiting for. It must have been amazing to look in his eyes. Those who met this Jesus must have seen something so strong and powerful that they just knew he was special. In a couple of lines Nathanael says, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” The thought of the kingly messiah is even exceeded by that statement. What makes some people so open to perceive the identity of Jesus.
In the gospel accounts we watch these same disciples ebb and flow in their understanding of the one in their presence. I know in my life I can identify times when I was ready in some way for momentous encounters with Jesus. At other times my spiritual life just moved along hopefully not losing what Jesus had already taught me. Other moments followed at unpredictable intervals and never with any clear event that opened me to new revelations. I would love to know how to help people find that place where meeting Jesus is so easy. I've watched others at those moments of growth and encounters with Jesus and again I don't see a pattern. I do know that when we truly seek him not for ourselves but because we have come to value Jesus, then Jesus reveals himself.
We have so much more evidence of the nature and power of God present in Jesus. It should be so much easier for us to encounter the living Christ. Seek, really seek, and you will find, or perhaps more accurately be found.
From the very start people were making amazing statements about Jesus. No miracles, no healings, no demons cast out and already Philip declares that he is the one the scriptures are waiting for. It must have been amazing to look in his eyes. Those who met this Jesus must have seen something so strong and powerful that they just knew he was special. In a couple of lines Nathanael says, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” The thought of the kingly messiah is even exceeded by that statement. What makes some people so open to perceive the identity of Jesus.
In the gospel accounts we watch these same disciples ebb and flow in their understanding of the one in their presence. I know in my life I can identify times when I was ready in some way for momentous encounters with Jesus. At other times my spiritual life just moved along hopefully not losing what Jesus had already taught me. Other moments followed at unpredictable intervals and never with any clear event that opened me to new revelations. I would love to know how to help people find that place where meeting Jesus is so easy. I've watched others at those moments of growth and encounters with Jesus and again I don't see a pattern. I do know that when we truly seek him not for ourselves but because we have come to value Jesus, then Jesus reveals himself.
We have so much more evidence of the nature and power of God present in Jesus. It should be so much easier for us to encounter the living Christ. Seek, really seek, and you will find, or perhaps more accurately be found.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
The Giver
Mark 8:6 And he commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.
He gives and gives and gives. That is Jesus nature, that is the nature of God the creator and sustainer of the whole creation. The gospel accounts of Jesus life show a man who had a singular focus, to reveal the will of God for people. He spoke continually about the need for us to care for one another and he showed that kind of caring for people he came in contact with on his journey. His feeding episodes are just a profound example of his normal attitude. I don't find situations where he is asking for things for himself. I know people did things for him, but I don't hear him seeking special care from others.
I can think of no single focus I need more to emulate Jesus than to main my focus on the needs of others. And yet we live in the most exaggerated me first generation of all time. Over and over you here that common phrase, "What's in it for me?". The solution to every problem is to provide more and more excess for people who need for nothing. People declare loudly that they are not Jesus and will never be Jesus but often that means they minimize any effort to emulate him. Just fail to be like him and continue to seek forgiveness in a ho hum matter of fact surrender to a self-centered life.
It is that unconditional aspect of God's giving that is our challenge. We are not asked to provide for those who deserve it, that is not God's standard. We are called to act like God and provide for others like God provides for us.
He gives and gives and gives. That is Jesus nature, that is the nature of God the creator and sustainer of the whole creation. The gospel accounts of Jesus life show a man who had a singular focus, to reveal the will of God for people. He spoke continually about the need for us to care for one another and he showed that kind of caring for people he came in contact with on his journey. His feeding episodes are just a profound example of his normal attitude. I don't find situations where he is asking for things for himself. I know people did things for him, but I don't hear him seeking special care from others.
I can think of no single focus I need more to emulate Jesus than to main my focus on the needs of others. And yet we live in the most exaggerated me first generation of all time. Over and over you here that common phrase, "What's in it for me?". The solution to every problem is to provide more and more excess for people who need for nothing. People declare loudly that they are not Jesus and will never be Jesus but often that means they minimize any effort to emulate him. Just fail to be like him and continue to seek forgiveness in a ho hum matter of fact surrender to a self-centered life.
It is that unconditional aspect of God's giving that is our challenge. We are not asked to provide for those who deserve it, that is not God's standard. We are called to act like God and provide for others like God provides for us.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Quiet Please
Mark 7:36-37 And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.”
In a modern world where it seems an impossible task for people to tell someone else what God has done for them, it seems funny that Jesus wants people to keep quiet. It is even more humorous in a modern context to think that they kept telling everyone they knew. Why did they do the exact opposite of what Jesus desired in that moment and why do we do exactly the opposite of what Jesus wanted in this era. You see Jesus said that we are to make disciples of all nations and to teach them all that he taught us.
As a priest I'm put in many situations where speaking of Jesus is expected and is normal and natural. I need to go back to those early days of my Christian life even before I felt called to be a priest to examine my own behavior in talking about Jesus. I like to think that I was very expressive of my faith, and I do have some examples that would fit that description but I'm not sure I was as effective as jesus would like. At this point I can easily hide in my profession, but even that is mostly vocal with people already in the church.
The question still remains. Why do the opposite of what Jesus desires?
In a modern world where it seems an impossible task for people to tell someone else what God has done for them, it seems funny that Jesus wants people to keep quiet. It is even more humorous in a modern context to think that they kept telling everyone they knew. Why did they do the exact opposite of what Jesus desired in that moment and why do we do exactly the opposite of what Jesus wanted in this era. You see Jesus said that we are to make disciples of all nations and to teach them all that he taught us.
As a priest I'm put in many situations where speaking of Jesus is expected and is normal and natural. I need to go back to those early days of my Christian life even before I felt called to be a priest to examine my own behavior in talking about Jesus. I like to think that I was very expressive of my faith, and I do have some examples that would fit that description but I'm not sure I was as effective as jesus would like. At this point I can easily hide in my profession, but even that is mostly vocal with people already in the church.
The question still remains. Why do the opposite of what Jesus desires?
Defiled
Mark 7:20-23 “What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting,wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man.”
When I look at human nature I see so much of those things that Jesus listed as coming out of a man. When we turn our free will to it's common focus of "I want what I want when I want it.", we see that these behaviors come streaming out. Some give us momentary gratification, or a sense of control or power, but at the same time they naturally strip away our peace and our joy. They lead us to protect ourselves from other people who want what they want when they want it and are willing to use or manipulate you to their advantage or for their gratification. What comes out of us defiles us because we lose some of our most valuable possessions all of which have to do with internal peace and joy and trust and the ability to give and receive true love.
When we let God in then we find a source of different things to come out of a man. The change is not automatic but the sometimes gradual and always persistent changes that God creates in us leads to the new man of which the scriptures speak. I am a new creation in Christ, the old has gone and the new has come, thanks be to God.
Defilement is less common coming out from me I hope and pray these days. I wade in the waters of peace and joy and love these days. My human nature is wounded and bleeding but not gone. I know that daily giving myself to Christ keeps the wounded one down, but I know I need the help of the Holy Spirit to live the life that best for me and all those around me as well.
When I look at human nature I see so much of those things that Jesus listed as coming out of a man. When we turn our free will to it's common focus of "I want what I want when I want it.", we see that these behaviors come streaming out. Some give us momentary gratification, or a sense of control or power, but at the same time they naturally strip away our peace and our joy. They lead us to protect ourselves from other people who want what they want when they want it and are willing to use or manipulate you to their advantage or for their gratification. What comes out of us defiles us because we lose some of our most valuable possessions all of which have to do with internal peace and joy and trust and the ability to give and receive true love.
When we let God in then we find a source of different things to come out of a man. The change is not automatic but the sometimes gradual and always persistent changes that God creates in us leads to the new man of which the scriptures speak. I am a new creation in Christ, the old has gone and the new has come, thanks be to God.
Defilement is less common coming out from me I hope and pray these days. I wade in the waters of peace and joy and love these days. My human nature is wounded and bleeding but not gone. I know that daily giving myself to Christ keeps the wounded one down, but I know I need the help of the Holy Spirit to live the life that best for me and all those around me as well.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Hard Hearts
Mark 6:51-52 And he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
Did you ever think that your greatest strength could be your greatest weakness, or that the your greatest gift could be your greatest curse. I've wrestled with the ramifications of free will for many years. The best I've been able to do with it is that all the good that comes from free will and God's complete commitment to to not removing it from us ever, is that I couldn't really give or receive love if I wasn't completely free. That means I also must be free to hate and hurt or steal or lie. The greatest gift of God, that gives me the most pleasure in life, is also the source of the greatest human problems.
Another example with a little facetious twist is our character traits. My wife used to say I was stubborn as a mule, and I would say tell her she was only being negative because stubborn is just the bad word for persistent. I don't give up that's true and sometimes I admit that is really stubborn but often it is just a good persistence. A weakness and strength on different occasions.
Our human need to understand is like that. What we don't understand, we often deny. I've had many conversations about my spiritual experiences that get quickly wrapped up and disregarded because the other person says they don't understand. They can't fit it into some neat rational package so they deny my reality. Even the disciples in the boat had some wrong reaction to Jesus calming the seas because they didn't understand and the scriptures describe it as a hardened heart.
I struggle to understand many things, but I pray I avoid a hardened heart.
Did you ever think that your greatest strength could be your greatest weakness, or that the your greatest gift could be your greatest curse. I've wrestled with the ramifications of free will for many years. The best I've been able to do with it is that all the good that comes from free will and God's complete commitment to to not removing it from us ever, is that I couldn't really give or receive love if I wasn't completely free. That means I also must be free to hate and hurt or steal or lie. The greatest gift of God, that gives me the most pleasure in life, is also the source of the greatest human problems.
Another example with a little facetious twist is our character traits. My wife used to say I was stubborn as a mule, and I would say tell her she was only being negative because stubborn is just the bad word for persistent. I don't give up that's true and sometimes I admit that is really stubborn but often it is just a good persistence. A weakness and strength on different occasions.
Our human need to understand is like that. What we don't understand, we often deny. I've had many conversations about my spiritual experiences that get quickly wrapped up and disregarded because the other person says they don't understand. They can't fit it into some neat rational package so they deny my reality. Even the disciples in the boat had some wrong reaction to Jesus calming the seas because they didn't understand and the scriptures describe it as a hardened heart.
I struggle to understand many things, but I pray I avoid a hardened heart.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
How Much Is Enough
Mark 6:30-31 The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
We have this modern American notion that life is supposed to be easy. Rest and relaxation are an expectation even if they are not a reality. Even those who work very hard have some time for rest and relaxation if they want to take it. We can't imagine a life that has no leisure even to eat. Remember they left without food, lodging, money or anything else and they returned after walking from place to place and serving the Lord.
The other extreme is having all the time in the world with no place to live, nothing to wear and nothing to eat. I wonder if Jesus would look at us like spoiled children who have everything they can imagine and yet are not satisfied. Even Jesus himself lived a nomadic dependent life. No job, no home, no bank account or retirement plan, at least here on earth. It is clear from the gospel that Jesus did not want the apostles to go without rest. I'm not suggesting that rest is not necessary, but rather that we escalate our need for rest and comfort far beyond what Jesus would say we need.
We have this modern American notion that life is supposed to be easy. Rest and relaxation are an expectation even if they are not a reality. Even those who work very hard have some time for rest and relaxation if they want to take it. We can't imagine a life that has no leisure even to eat. Remember they left without food, lodging, money or anything else and they returned after walking from place to place and serving the Lord.
The other extreme is having all the time in the world with no place to live, nothing to wear and nothing to eat. I wonder if Jesus would look at us like spoiled children who have everything they can imagine and yet are not satisfied. Even Jesus himself lived a nomadic dependent life. No job, no home, no bank account or retirement plan, at least here on earth. It is clear from the gospel that Jesus did not want the apostles to go without rest. I'm not suggesting that rest is not necessary, but rather that we escalate our need for rest and comfort far beyond what Jesus would say we need.
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