Matthew 14:29 - And Jesus said, "Come," so Peter got out of the boat and walked toward Jesus on the water.
I guess this is a continuation of yesterday's thoughts in many ways. Peter not only asks Jesus to call to him, he answers that call right away. Despite the waves and the wind, he takes his first steps in following Jesus by walking on the water. How many of us can say that? I can't.
How is Jesus calling me today? How will I answer?
B
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Following across the water
Matthew 14:28 - Peter answered him saying, "If it is you, Lord, call to me to come to you across the water."
I remember the first time I had experience with this. I was working as a receptionist and I knew my time was limited at the company, that they would replace me with a phone tree. So, I asked God for help in what to do. Within a week I had a phone call asking if I wanted a job.
Then, when I was feeling like I might be called to ministry and tired of wrestling with whether this was real or not, I told God that I would know if I heard it from some other person. I wanted to be sure before I pursued this. The next day, my Al-Anon sponsor and I were talking and she, out of the blues, asked if I had ever thought about becoming a minister. Um ...
So, yes, we test God and I'm hoping God doesn't mind. However, there is another lesson here besides not quite trusting our eyes or ears. Peter tests Jesus yes, but then he begs Jesus to call him to come to him. He wants to be with Jesus, even on the water. With the waves swamping the boat and the wind blowing wildly, Peter wants to follow Jesus. He wants to follow even though he is afraid, even though he might fail, even though he might die. He asks to be called.
I am struggling this morning with my future plans. I have money toward graduate work and I am so torn what to do with it. I keep putting it off. Just last week, I realized I needed to get serious. Well, Ted did too because when he replied to my email asking for another extension he added that it would help if they knew my plans. So, I am feeling a little like Peter; swamped by the waves of doubt and deluged of the wind of confusion. Lord, call me to follow you across the water.
B
I remember the first time I had experience with this. I was working as a receptionist and I knew my time was limited at the company, that they would replace me with a phone tree. So, I asked God for help in what to do. Within a week I had a phone call asking if I wanted a job.
Then, when I was feeling like I might be called to ministry and tired of wrestling with whether this was real or not, I told God that I would know if I heard it from some other person. I wanted to be sure before I pursued this. The next day, my Al-Anon sponsor and I were talking and she, out of the blues, asked if I had ever thought about becoming a minister. Um ...
So, yes, we test God and I'm hoping God doesn't mind. However, there is another lesson here besides not quite trusting our eyes or ears. Peter tests Jesus yes, but then he begs Jesus to call him to come to him. He wants to be with Jesus, even on the water. With the waves swamping the boat and the wind blowing wildly, Peter wants to follow Jesus. He wants to follow even though he is afraid, even though he might fail, even though he might die. He asks to be called.
I am struggling this morning with my future plans. I have money toward graduate work and I am so torn what to do with it. I keep putting it off. Just last week, I realized I needed to get serious. Well, Ted did too because when he replied to my email asking for another extension he added that it would help if they knew my plans. So, I am feeling a little like Peter; swamped by the waves of doubt and deluged of the wind of confusion. Lord, call me to follow you across the water.
B
Monday, April 25, 2016
It is I
Matthew 14:27 - Immediately, Jesus spoke to them saying, "Take heart. It is I, do not be afraid."
This reminds me this morning of the many theophanies in the Bible. When angels or God come down they always say, "Fear not." (Because the supernatural terrifies us!) Here is Jesus repeating the formula along with the words, It is I. Ego eimi. It is the first part of the translation of God's name, "I AM WHO I AM." The One who Is is here with us.
Take heart. Do not be afraid.
B
This reminds me this morning of the many theophanies in the Bible. When angels or God come down they always say, "Fear not." (Because the supernatural terrifies us!) Here is Jesus repeating the formula along with the words, It is I. Ego eimi. It is the first part of the translation of God's name, "I AM WHO I AM." The One who Is is here with us.
Take heart. Do not be afraid.
B
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Seeing and Accepting the Unexpected
Matthew 14:26 - When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.
So like us! When we see the unexpected we cry out in fear or laughter if it is funny. We, too, try to categorize what we have seen into words or images from our experience. We tame things with our labels. If we are afraid of said thing, we use negative words - terrorists, rapists, criminals, thugs. We gain psychic power by naming and categorizing.
And, like the disciples, we are often wrong about those snap categorizations. Jesus wasn't a ghost, Mexican people are not all rapists, Middle Easterners are not all terrorists, Black people are not all thugs. Yet we cling to these categories beyond reason in order to feel good about ourselves. We break relationship with our brothers and sisters so that we do not have to change or see them as they really are. And we imagine this makes us safe.
It does not. It divides us and makes us vulnerable to powerful messages that reinforce our biases, which in turn makes us vulnerable to those in power. Our fear makes us easy to manage by those who would exploit it. And it breaks our relationship with the God who created us. Yes, and who created those we would relegate to second-class citizenship.
My prayer for today is that I and we can have the courage to accept the unexpected and see Jesus rather than the ghost of our imaginations.
B
So like us! When we see the unexpected we cry out in fear or laughter if it is funny. We, too, try to categorize what we have seen into words or images from our experience. We tame things with our labels. If we are afraid of said thing, we use negative words - terrorists, rapists, criminals, thugs. We gain psychic power by naming and categorizing.
And, like the disciples, we are often wrong about those snap categorizations. Jesus wasn't a ghost, Mexican people are not all rapists, Middle Easterners are not all terrorists, Black people are not all thugs. Yet we cling to these categories beyond reason in order to feel good about ourselves. We break relationship with our brothers and sisters so that we do not have to change or see them as they really are. And we imagine this makes us safe.
It does not. It divides us and makes us vulnerable to powerful messages that reinforce our biases, which in turn makes us vulnerable to those in power. Our fear makes us easy to manage by those who would exploit it. And it breaks our relationship with the God who created us. Yes, and who created those we would relegate to second-class citizenship.
My prayer for today is that I and we can have the courage to accept the unexpected and see Jesus rather than the ghost of our imaginations.
B
Friday, April 22, 2016
The Struggle
Matthew 14:24-25 - The boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the water.
Two things: first of all, every painting I have ever seen of this story has Jesus walking across calm water. Secondly, The disciples' furious actions to save themselves and the boat are left out. Most likely because the people listening at the time would have filled in that detail on their own. So, let's revise our mental image of this scene. The boat is in the middle of a vast lake - say Lake Michigan - and the winds are whipping the waves and the boat is struggling. The disciples would be very active, doing everything they can to ensure their survival. There is no mention of praying but perhaps they are doing that as well. In the midst of this stormy struggle, Jesus comes walking across the water. The water that is being whipped by the wind and waves. How different is that from our usual image!
So, two things about this new image. Again, there is no mention of praying and if this were my life that would be accurate. I, a minister, tend to turn to prayer when all other help seems gone. I struggle against the winds and waves of life thinking I need to do it all alone, without God's help. This will be a life long struggle for me to remember prayer.
Secondly, Jesus comes anyway. Jesus comes in the midst of our struggles whether we pray or not! Because that is who Jesus is. Not only does he come to the disciples, he comes in their struggle. The wind and the waves do not cease for several verses. Jesus is with them in their struggle AND helping them through it. When we wonder where Jesus or God are when we are struggling, we have assurance that they are with us; even, or especially, when we cannot sense their presence.
Hallelujah!
B
Two things: first of all, every painting I have ever seen of this story has Jesus walking across calm water. Secondly, The disciples' furious actions to save themselves and the boat are left out. Most likely because the people listening at the time would have filled in that detail on their own. So, let's revise our mental image of this scene. The boat is in the middle of a vast lake - say Lake Michigan - and the winds are whipping the waves and the boat is struggling. The disciples would be very active, doing everything they can to ensure their survival. There is no mention of praying but perhaps they are doing that as well. In the midst of this stormy struggle, Jesus comes walking across the water. The water that is being whipped by the wind and waves. How different is that from our usual image!
So, two things about this new image. Again, there is no mention of praying and if this were my life that would be accurate. I, a minister, tend to turn to prayer when all other help seems gone. I struggle against the winds and waves of life thinking I need to do it all alone, without God's help. This will be a life long struggle for me to remember prayer.
Secondly, Jesus comes anyway. Jesus comes in the midst of our struggles whether we pray or not! Because that is who Jesus is. Not only does he come to the disciples, he comes in their struggle. The wind and the waves do not cease for several verses. Jesus is with them in their struggle AND helping them through it. When we wonder where Jesus or God are when we are struggling, we have assurance that they are with us; even, or especially, when we cannot sense their presence.
Hallelujah!
B
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Alone to Pray
Matthew 14:22-23 - Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side while he dismissed the crowds. After dismissing the crowds, he went by himself to the mountain to pray. When evening came he was there alone.
Finally! As you remember that was his original objective - to have time with his disciples and with God. Surely some of that time was also to be spent alone. And this is a model for us. That we do not always have to be busy, busy, busy - even when we're doing God's work. Self care is important and spending time with God in prayer and meditation is an important part of self care.
I worked full time last week and it took a lot out of me. I made sure that my travel time was not spent reading or staring off into space but in prayer and meditation. Don't neglect either the person in front of us or ourselves. That's a challenge to me.
B
Finally! As you remember that was his original objective - to have time with his disciples and with God. Surely some of that time was also to be spent alone. And this is a model for us. That we do not always have to be busy, busy, busy - even when we're doing God's work. Self care is important and spending time with God in prayer and meditation is an important part of self care.
I worked full time last week and it took a lot out of me. I made sure that my travel time was not spent reading or staring off into space but in prayer and meditation. Don't neglect either the person in front of us or ourselves. That's a challenge to me.
B
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Abundance
Matthew 14:20-21 - And all ate and were satisfied. They took up twelve baskets of the broken pieces that were left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.
The abundance of God's gifts of food, shelter and warmth are not always obvious to us. i think this might be because we get greedy in our own ways and sometimes take more than our share. The end result is, of course, less for others. So, God's abundance is not obvious to us. Yet, walk into any grocery store or farmer's market and we can see a piece of it. Fruits and vegetables, bread and meat are all there. It is when we are lowest that we need to remember this.
I see this abundance at The Night Ministry. There is always food around. If it is not a meal, we almost always have snacks. Not always healthy snacks. Theirs is a ministry of abundance. Yet, it should not fall to charitable organizations to provide this kind of help. In America at least the theory is that government can provide on the necessary scale. Yet the greed and lies of the powerful lead to less for those who are in the most desperate straits. It is hard to see God's abundance.
Yet, here in this story it is evident. Once someone shares, they all share. The real miracle in this story is that no one interfered and all ate and were full. The Greek word means "full" rather than satisfied and that tells us that there was no need to take more. There was even some left over! I will go about my day thinking about the ways I get in the way, take more than my share.
B
The abundance of God's gifts of food, shelter and warmth are not always obvious to us. i think this might be because we get greedy in our own ways and sometimes take more than our share. The end result is, of course, less for others. So, God's abundance is not obvious to us. Yet, walk into any grocery store or farmer's market and we can see a piece of it. Fruits and vegetables, bread and meat are all there. It is when we are lowest that we need to remember this.
I see this abundance at The Night Ministry. There is always food around. If it is not a meal, we almost always have snacks. Not always healthy snacks. Theirs is a ministry of abundance. Yet, it should not fall to charitable organizations to provide this kind of help. In America at least the theory is that government can provide on the necessary scale. Yet the greed and lies of the powerful lead to less for those who are in the most desperate straits. It is hard to see God's abundance.
Yet, here in this story it is evident. Once someone shares, they all share. The real miracle in this story is that no one interfered and all ate and were full. The Greek word means "full" rather than satisfied and that tells us that there was no need to take more. There was even some left over! I will go about my day thinking about the ways I get in the way, take more than my share.
B
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Sharing
Matthew 14:19 - He ordered the crowds to sit (lay) down upon the grass. Then he took the five loaves and two fish; looked up to heaven; blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples and the disciples to the crowd.
One thing about human beings is we all have great ideas and good natural impulses. Many of us as we grow learn to inhibit our good impulses. I think this may be why seeing homeless people begging on the street (or just existing on the street) makes us angry. Are we angry at the person? Or are we sad that the problem is so big and that makes us angry? I think for a lot of us it is the latter.
Anyway, Jesus, in sharing the loaves and fish the disciples have, gives the crowd permission to share - if only so as not to look bad in the eyes of others. We often need permission to take steps. Many of us think about our friends or family without letting them know. Jesus gives us permission to let them know when we are thinking about them! It is hard to risk being rejected but that is really what loving ourselves and others is all about. Risking our feelings, our sense of self-worth to let another know that we see them and we care. Jesus sees the crowd, he cares, and he shares what he has and all are satisfied.
Is there something I need to share in my life that I am holding onto instead?
B
One thing about human beings is we all have great ideas and good natural impulses. Many of us as we grow learn to inhibit our good impulses. I think this may be why seeing homeless people begging on the street (or just existing on the street) makes us angry. Are we angry at the person? Or are we sad that the problem is so big and that makes us angry? I think for a lot of us it is the latter.
Anyway, Jesus, in sharing the loaves and fish the disciples have, gives the crowd permission to share - if only so as not to look bad in the eyes of others. We often need permission to take steps. Many of us think about our friends or family without letting them know. Jesus gives us permission to let them know when we are thinking about them! It is hard to risk being rejected but that is really what loving ourselves and others is all about. Risking our feelings, our sense of self-worth to let another know that we see them and we care. Jesus sees the crowd, he cares, and he shares what he has and all are satisfied.
Is there something I need to share in my life that I am holding onto instead?
B
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Apostles are us
Matthew 14:17-18 - But they said, "We only have five loaves and two fish." Jesus replied, "Bring them to me."
The apostles cannot see the possibilities that Jesus can. They can only see what is in front of them. Like Sarah laughing at the thought of having a child, the apostles are limited by the current situation. They cannot see how to get around it - and often we are like them. We cannot see the way through whatever is blocking us or standing in our way. For me, it is indecision - a letting things happen rather than working for what I want because I do not want to want anything.
Yet, Jesus has no such limitation. Neither does God. Yet, we often act as if God cannot do what we cannot do. I carry this attitude even though I have seen many times in my life when God has astonished me, when God made a way out of no way.
Rather than saying "only" today, I will choose to acknowledge what I have as enough. And rather than limiting myself, I will ask myself how I can build on what I have today. I am reminded here of the writing prompts I have been working on. Recently, we were prompted to write 25 positive character traits. That in itself was a task for me, yet we were then asked to write 250 words on one of them each day for 25 days. This can only make me more confident and loving. Today I have enough.
B
The apostles cannot see the possibilities that Jesus can. They can only see what is in front of them. Like Sarah laughing at the thought of having a child, the apostles are limited by the current situation. They cannot see how to get around it - and often we are like them. We cannot see the way through whatever is blocking us or standing in our way. For me, it is indecision - a letting things happen rather than working for what I want because I do not want to want anything.
Yet, Jesus has no such limitation. Neither does God. Yet, we often act as if God cannot do what we cannot do. I carry this attitude even though I have seen many times in my life when God has astonished me, when God made a way out of no way.
Rather than saying "only" today, I will choose to acknowledge what I have as enough. And rather than limiting myself, I will ask myself how I can build on what I have today. I am reminded here of the writing prompts I have been working on. Recently, we were prompted to write 25 positive character traits. That in itself was a task for me, yet we were then asked to write 250 words on one of them each day for 25 days. This can only make me more confident and loving. Today I have enough.
B
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