Matthew 15:4 - For God said, "Honor your father and mother." and "The one who speaks ill of their father or their mother shall surely die."
Jesus has just asked the Pharisees why they do not follow God's commandments. Here are the commandments he has in mind. In what way are the Pharisees not following? We'll see. Right now the more important question is: are we honoring our parents? Or are we putting our own traditions (concerns) above God's commandments?
There may be good reasons why we have no contact with our parents; Jesus doesn't say to love them. If so, how can we honor them and protect ourselves?
B
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Upside Down
Matthew 15-3 - And he answered them and said, "Why do you transgress God's commandments for your tradition?"
In so saying, he refuses to play on the same level as the Pharisees and scribes. Rather than making distinctions about doctrine and practice, he points to God, reminding his audience that the ways of men are less important than God's commandments. We are all on the same level in relation to God. There is no "us" and "them" for Jesus. There is only we. And we are called to follow God, not the traditions of people.
B
In so saying, he refuses to play on the same level as the Pharisees and scribes. Rather than making distinctions about doctrine and practice, he points to God, reminding his audience that the ways of men are less important than God's commandments. We are all on the same level in relation to God. There is no "us" and "them" for Jesus. There is only we. And we are called to follow God, not the traditions of people.
B
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Skeptism
Matthew 15:1-2 - Then some Pharisees and scribes came to him from Jerusalem asking, "Why don't your disciples practice the traditions of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before eating bread."
Jerusalem, where the main temple was. These scribes and Pharisees were "authorities." They were sent to determine whether Jesus was one of them or not. They asked a test question, pointing out a difference in practice between his disciples and the elders. In effect, they are asking "are you one of us?" This question exposes their focus on the rules and traditions of the elders rather than on love and compassion.
Compare this response to the response from the townspeople of Genessaret. They recognized him immediately, whether they recognized him as a healer or the Son of God is not clear. They responded out of compassion for their neighbors. They do not care whether Jesus is one of them. They want to be with him because he has something they want. They do not care that he does not abide by every jot and tittle of the Law. He loves them and they respond to that love with love in return. They welcome Jesus into their community and their pain. They welcome him into their hearts.
B
Jerusalem, where the main temple was. These scribes and Pharisees were "authorities." They were sent to determine whether Jesus was one of them or not. They asked a test question, pointing out a difference in practice between his disciples and the elders. In effect, they are asking "are you one of us?" This question exposes their focus on the rules and traditions of the elders rather than on love and compassion.
Compare this response to the response from the townspeople of Genessaret. They recognized him immediately, whether they recognized him as a healer or the Son of God is not clear. They responded out of compassion for their neighbors. They do not care whether Jesus is one of them. They want to be with him because he has something they want. They do not care that he does not abide by every jot and tittle of the Law. He loves them and they respond to that love with love in return. They welcome Jesus into their community and their pain. They welcome him into their hearts.
B
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Knowing and Healing
Matthew 14:34-36 - And crossing over they came to the land at Genesaret. When the people of that land recognized him, they sent to the neighboring countryside and brought to him all that were sick, beseeching that they might only touch the fringe of his robe and all who did so were made well.
One thing stands out to me immediately - how did they recognize him? There are so many ways this could play out. He could have started preaching, or someone knew him from before, or even they could just tell. Jesus must have been very charismatic and people like that attract people without really having to try. Or a combination of all three. In any case, they did not ask for him but he came to them and they recognized him. That is how my coming back to the church happened - I didn't ask, but God came anyway and I recognized him.
The verb that is translated "recognize" is the verb to know. In fact, it means to know completely. The implication is that they recognize his face but also who he is. They also recognize how he can help them. And they act accordingly! They let the whole region know that he is there and they brought all the sick people. They respond out of love for their neighbors.
I think that's a good example for us. God comes to us every day. Do we recognize her? Do we know and understand as completely as the people of Genesaret? Do we feel the love God offers us? Do we then act on that love? Do we then love our neighbors?
My second observation flows from this - healing happens in community. If the people who recognized him had done nothing, no one would have been healed. They would not have been healed. Yet they did and we do an'd we are healed by doing the least that we can for others, by touching Christ's garment. IMagine what could happen when we open ourselves up to Jesus touching our hearts.
B
One thing stands out to me immediately - how did they recognize him? There are so many ways this could play out. He could have started preaching, or someone knew him from before, or even they could just tell. Jesus must have been very charismatic and people like that attract people without really having to try. Or a combination of all three. In any case, they did not ask for him but he came to them and they recognized him. That is how my coming back to the church happened - I didn't ask, but God came anyway and I recognized him.
The verb that is translated "recognize" is the verb to know. In fact, it means to know completely. The implication is that they recognize his face but also who he is. They also recognize how he can help them. And they act accordingly! They let the whole region know that he is there and they brought all the sick people. They respond out of love for their neighbors.
I think that's a good example for us. God comes to us every day. Do we recognize her? Do we know and understand as completely as the people of Genesaret? Do we feel the love God offers us? Do we then act on that love? Do we then love our neighbors?
My second observation flows from this - healing happens in community. If the people who recognized him had done nothing, no one would have been healed. They would not have been healed. Yet they did and we do an'd we are healed by doing the least that we can for others, by touching Christ's garment. IMagine what could happen when we open ourselves up to Jesus touching our hearts.
B
Friday, May 6, 2016
Wind and Worship
Matthew 14:31-32 - And when they got into the boat the wind stopped. And they worshiped him in the boat saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
So all that time Peter was in doubt, the wind was blowing and the waves were still high. We know why he doubted. It seems like my life is a little like that right now. Yet, Jesus comes, grabs me, stills the wind and brings me to mental safety when I call him. The overarching point of this passage, in addition to Jesus being powerful and the Son of God, is Jesus' compassion for us. And by extension, God's passion for us. When I regularly pray and worship, I feel Jesus beside me, I hear him asking me why I doubted, and I sense the peace when the wind stills.
Jesus cares about God's creation and I must also care if I choose to follow him. My question for today is how can I follow and care as I go along my way?
B
So all that time Peter was in doubt, the wind was blowing and the waves were still high. We know why he doubted. It seems like my life is a little like that right now. Yet, Jesus comes, grabs me, stills the wind and brings me to mental safety when I call him. The overarching point of this passage, in addition to Jesus being powerful and the Son of God, is Jesus' compassion for us. And by extension, God's passion for us. When I regularly pray and worship, I feel Jesus beside me, I hear him asking me why I doubted, and I sense the peace when the wind stills.
Jesus cares about God's creation and I must also care if I choose to follow him. My question for today is how can I follow and care as I go along my way?
B
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Faith and Doubt
Matthew 14:31 - Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him up saying to him, "You of little faith; why did you doubt?"
Why, indeed? We doubt even though we have faith! Jesus commends Peter's faith, even though it's "little." We, too, have faith even when we also have doubts. In this case, doubt helped build Peter's faith! When he doubted Jesus rescued him immediately. He risked, doubted, and was saved. His faith, and that of the others grew. I do not think there is no room for doubt in faith. Our doubts are important and need to be voiced and struggled with. Israel means one who struggles with God. The meaning and mystery are revealed in the struggle. Let's not quench our doubts but rather examine them, struggle with them, and work our way through them with God's help and grace.
B
Why, indeed? We doubt even though we have faith! Jesus commends Peter's faith, even though it's "little." We, too, have faith even when we also have doubts. In this case, doubt helped build Peter's faith! When he doubted Jesus rescued him immediately. He risked, doubted, and was saved. His faith, and that of the others grew. I do not think there is no room for doubt in faith. Our doubts are important and need to be voiced and struggled with. Israel means one who struggles with God. The meaning and mystery are revealed in the struggle. Let's not quench our doubts but rather examine them, struggle with them, and work our way through them with God's help and grace.
B
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Doubt
Matthew 14:30 - But seeing the wind, he became afraid and began to sink, crying out, "Lord, save me!"
This is me with regard to doing a PhD. I see that I am doing it or I feel energized and then I go back to my old concept of self - I cannot do it. THis is what Peter does. He sees what he is doing and his brain cannot compute this new reality. It is too foreign. He made a good start only to let his own doubt get in the way.
Doubt is neither good nor bad; it depends on how we use it. A good question to ask is why. Why are we doubting? and what are we doubting? Was Peter doubting himself or God or both?
B
This is me with regard to doing a PhD. I see that I am doing it or I feel energized and then I go back to my old concept of self - I cannot do it. THis is what Peter does. He sees what he is doing and his brain cannot compute this new reality. It is too foreign. He made a good start only to let his own doubt get in the way.
Doubt is neither good nor bad; it depends on how we use it. A good question to ask is why. Why are we doubting? and what are we doubting? Was Peter doubting himself or God or both?
B
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