We begin Advent.
It is a time of Hope.
"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1
As people of faith, we enter Advent, this time of preparation, in anticipation of God's coming to us.
It was a time for the people who "walked in darkness" (Isaiah 9:2) who were conquered and exiled to see a great light. They were hopeful that they would be returned to their land, their justice and freedom.
It was a time for the people who "sat in darkness" (Matthew 4:16) under (Roman) empire occupation and oppression to see the great light of deliverance in justice, peace and their autonomy.
It is the Hope that people will continue in faith until the darkness of injustice, corruption, exploitation, discrimination, inequities, inequality, hatred and ignorance that grow out of greed, lust for power and desire for status create will be eliminated by the light of truth in love, grace and mercy.
What is your darkness?
What is it that occupies and oppresses you?
Perhaps it is the darkness of others that oppresses you or holds you down, back or out.
Perhaps it is the darkness within you that keeps you from living in the light.
It may seem that the darkness is too great to be overcome.
It may seem that the darkness of greed, lust for power and desire for status wins in this world.
It may seem that the darkness within you that persistently and negatively affects you is too strong to eliminate.
But exposing the darkness for what it is gives the hope of light's reign.
The prophet Isaiah exposed the darkness for what it was.
The Good News of Jesus exposed the darkness for what it was.
And hope was restored as people lived in faith - that irrational, seemingly impossible hopefulness that persists through the darkness, empowered people to address the darkness and eliminated darkness with light. It turns on the light, which eliminates darkness, first from within and then, as people of God live it in this part of God's Kingdom, in the world around us.
Many people in our land and around the world suffer because of the darkness cast across the world by the insidious evil of greed, lust for power and desire for status of others. What those who live these empire values put out in the world casts a great shadow over the rest of the world. It is darkness, but they see it as the light (Luke 11:33-36).
The Good News of Jesus calls us to live the Kingdom values of Agape Love, Grace and Mercy. These are forces of light for this part of God's Kingdom, here and now. When people of God, who live in faith - the assurance of things hoped for and conviction of things (as of yet) unseen, live these values in the world around them, transformation in individual lives and community occurs and the light of God's truth eliminates the darkness.
Tired of sitting in the darkness of empire?
Tired of seeing others hurt by the darkness of empire?
Live in the light of Agape Love, Grace and Mercy in the world around you, and watch the darkness dim, shrink and evaporate.
It starts from within.
It starts from within YOU and ME.
So, now, at the end of 2017, we have our Advent of Hope that the people who have sat in darkness will see the Great Light of Agape Love, Grace and Mercy in this world and eliminate the darkness itself in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
God is not supernaturally eliminating the darkness. God is spiritually eliminating it through us, those who Jesus calls the "salt of the earth" and "light of the world."
God has planted within us the faith that will produce hope in the face of the darkness, and has given us the Good News to compel us to live in the light of Agape, Grace and Mercy and thus eliminate the darkness in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now. God is working through us, by the Holy Spirit, to drive us to follow Jesus, be transformed and help others be transformed, and be those through whom the light is given that eliminates the darkness.
God's Kingdom come; God's will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give up those expressions of the darkness of empire values that others live. * Make sure that what you believe is light is not darkness to others, which means that the light in you is darkness. *
Embrace the light and truth of living the Good News of Jesus - what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us as we have that in the Gospels - Agape, Grace and Mercy. Only that will eliminate the darkness within you and around you.
This is the Advent of Hope for us all.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Sunday, November 19, 2017
the culmination of this Reign of Christ Matthew 25:31-46
I always find it interesting that this is not the END of Matthew's Gospel. What a "drop the mic" moment, if it were, but it would seem that the Gospel writer wants to remind us of Grace and that there might still be time to live the Agape Love that Jesus commanded.
The thing is, those who profess to be Christian, believe that Jesus is the judge of the living and dead. Christians believe that Jesus will return just for that purpose. Jesus, who says that He has "all authority" given to Him, as we read later in this Gospel (28:18), will judge by the criteria He has taught, commanded and modeled for His followers to live.
I tend not to be a "literalist" with the Word, and I certainly strive not to be "dogmatic" as a believer in Grace, Mercy and Agape Love. I must admit that I find this rather clear, and that because it is ascribed to Jesus in this Gospel, I give it great weight. In fact, I believe that this vision of Jesus regarding the end has shaped my beliefs as much as Matthew 22:34-40, which early on made the lights go off for me regarding life in Christ. Separating sheep from goats is pretty clear.
The surprise amuses me, both of those who are reckoned as goats, and those as sheep. The sheep are just as surprised to find that it was Christ Jesus they loved, served and lifted up when they helped the most vulnerable among us, as the goats were to find out that they refused to help Christ when refusing to help them.
Not only are they surprised that it was Christ, however, but perhaps that the criteria for salvation are based on the living of Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger or enemy, and especially the most vulnerable). No holiness or purity here as salvific characteristics. No keeping of the Law of Moses here or dogmatic living within a legalistic ideology as that life by which one is saved. No mention by Jesus, judge of the world, of praise or worship, tithes or piety.
The sole criterion for our salvation, according to Jesus is how we have actively committed on behalf of the most vulnerable among us.
So, self-less acts of kindness on behalf of the most vulnerable among us are what save us.
I must interject here that I believe we are not supposed to worry about salvation, but rather focus on living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us on how to live in this part of God's Kingdom simply because it is the right thing to do. I also believe we should do it because it makes this part of God's Kingdom a better place in which to live. Salvation God takes care of, and indeed already has.
We are to practice Agape Love. Period.
We do not do so only with those who can return the kindness, as Jesus taught, but give to those who will never be able to add to our wealth, power or status in return.
We do not do so ostentatiously so that we gain in prestige or position with others through their praise, as Jesus taught, but rather humbly and with no regard for a return or personal gain of any kind.
We do not do so in order to be saved, but because we follow the one who gives salvation with Grace, and shows Agape Love and Mercy to us.
There were many who were left hungry under empire in Jesus' life. Rome took everything from the most vulnerable for their own profit, and exploited the masses of people for their own gain. Many thirsted, literally and also many were thirsty for justice and shalom (well-being, completeness and wholeness that leads to peace) to be restored in the land that was occupied by empire. There were alien residents in the land who needed to be welcomed because they lived in a most unwelcoming climate. Some had everything taken away because they could not pay the debts that the Romans, King and Temple Cult leaders of that time had levied against them, and for some it was the collateral of their cloak that was stripped from them. They were exposed to the elements of the world, having been rendered most vulnerable by empire. Some had no means by which to get medical care, proper nutrition for healing or any compassion from those who practiced a legalistic belief system that believed they should punish those inflicted, even as they believed God was punishing them. Many were imprisoned unjustly, locked up by the empire that had taken all from them, sometimes out of fear of insurrection against the injustice or simply because they were forced to do what must be done to survive under the conditions created by empire. Jesus was with these folk everyday. Jesus was among them and rendered Himself one of them. Jesus identified with them and sought to give them comfort. Jesus commanded any who would follow Him to do the same.
Jesus still does, even as one who with all authority calls us to go out and live Agape in the world around us, here and now. We have the Good News of Jesus' Agape Love, Grace and Mercy. We have Jesus' mandate, His manifesto. Any who claim to know, love and/or follow Jesus have His teachings, commands and examples before us. And we have this vision of what happens when we do not live as Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us to do in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now, and we have the vision of what happens when we do live it.
So, how are we doing with this here and now, in empire?
The poor have still had everything taken away from them. Their opportunities and possibilities for escaping poverty have been eliminated by those who exploit them for their own profit and gain. The great re-distribution of wealth that started in 1981 and has continued in this nation, has created more poor and has given those with wealth, power and status in this empire culture more of the same. There are people starving today and many are malnourished because they do not have healthy and affordable food available to them. How have you voted since 1980? Have you voted out of your concern for the hungry and thirsty, the naked and vulnerable or on the side of those who aspire to get always more for themselves? If you are an employer, have you paid a living wage to those who get you your profit? As a stockholder, have you willingly taken less gain so that those who work for companies in which you are invested can thrive? As a citizen, have you demanded that those who have been held down, back and out for generations be given an equal chance and that we strive toward equal opportunities for all?
People are still sick across the world. Many people die each year from treatable and even curable diseases because healthcare has been tied to profit and they cannot afford treatment. Measures have been proposed and some were even recently implemented to make healthcare affordable for millions more in our own nation, but efforts to kill those efforts have been very strong. Did you vote for the folk who have wanted to kick millions of your fellow citizens off ACA? Did you voice your opinion against efforts to make healthcare affordable for the most vulnerable? Do you support a system that withholds treatment and medications from people across the world based on profit? Are you an employer who only hires part-time employees so that you do not have to pay them health benefits? Are you a politician whose healthcare and that for his/her family are taken care of, but who votes against getting even minimal coverage for every person he/she represents in government?
Resident aliens live in the land. Some are economic refugees and others are refugees based on their need for safety. Jesus identifies with refugees, having been one. Immigrants and resident aliens in this empire have been exploited and then scapegoated and often deported. Resident aliens in this empire are not welcomed but blamed by many among us because we have been manipulated to do so by those who would like to keep their wealth, power and status. Resident aliens have been treated shamefully, just as they were under empire in Jesus' time, even by those who were themselves being oppressed by the system of empire. Have you spoken on behalf of the resident aliens here and now, and voted for those who would treat them with respect and honor, and welcome them here? Have you refused to be duped into blaming them for the injustices you have suffered at the hands of the wealthy, powerful and prestigious among us? Have you welcomed them yourself?
Injustice prevails in this empire, also. People who have had equal opportunities denied have also been unequally imprisoned for the same or lesser crimes than those in the "majority of power." People of color have been targeted for traffic, walking and just existing violations and even executed as unarmed citizens by some of those who have sworn to serve and protect them. Laws are written to protect white collar criminals who victimize even thousands of people out of greed, and also to ruthlessly punish those who commit petty crimes out of desperation. We have two justice systems and they are very unequal. People have their civil rights once again threatened because of the color of their skin and equal rights being threatened because of who they love. Do you speak out on behalf of those being unjustly imprisoned or executed? Do you vote for those who seek equal justice for ALL people in the land? Do you visit those who have been imprisoned or support their families with your voice, you vote and/or your resources? Do you visit them with love and not scorn?
How are you doing with this following of Jesus thing?
The Good News is of Grace. Jesus' message of Agape Love, Grace and Mercy has been given to you in the Gospels. Jesus' teachings, commands and examples are readily available for you to learn and apply to the living of your life here and now. As I write this, the separation of sheep from goats has not yet happened. There is time. There is Grace in time. God gives it out of Agape Love. God is Merciful AND Just.
But don't try to put on sheep's clothing just to be saved.
Follow Jesus. Live the Agape Love that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us because it is a better way - Jesus' Way - and because it will transform the world around you to be a more loving, gracious and merciful place for you and everyone around you. Do the right thing for the right reasons. God works out salvation. Live Agape Love and Grace in the world. BE one of the sheep.
Pastor Jamie
The thing is, those who profess to be Christian, believe that Jesus is the judge of the living and dead. Christians believe that Jesus will return just for that purpose. Jesus, who says that He has "all authority" given to Him, as we read later in this Gospel (28:18), will judge by the criteria He has taught, commanded and modeled for His followers to live.
I tend not to be a "literalist" with the Word, and I certainly strive not to be "dogmatic" as a believer in Grace, Mercy and Agape Love. I must admit that I find this rather clear, and that because it is ascribed to Jesus in this Gospel, I give it great weight. In fact, I believe that this vision of Jesus regarding the end has shaped my beliefs as much as Matthew 22:34-40, which early on made the lights go off for me regarding life in Christ. Separating sheep from goats is pretty clear.
The surprise amuses me, both of those who are reckoned as goats, and those as sheep. The sheep are just as surprised to find that it was Christ Jesus they loved, served and lifted up when they helped the most vulnerable among us, as the goats were to find out that they refused to help Christ when refusing to help them.
Not only are they surprised that it was Christ, however, but perhaps that the criteria for salvation are based on the living of Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger or enemy, and especially the most vulnerable). No holiness or purity here as salvific characteristics. No keeping of the Law of Moses here or dogmatic living within a legalistic ideology as that life by which one is saved. No mention by Jesus, judge of the world, of praise or worship, tithes or piety.
The sole criterion for our salvation, according to Jesus is how we have actively committed on behalf of the most vulnerable among us.
So, self-less acts of kindness on behalf of the most vulnerable among us are what save us.
I must interject here that I believe we are not supposed to worry about salvation, but rather focus on living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us on how to live in this part of God's Kingdom simply because it is the right thing to do. I also believe we should do it because it makes this part of God's Kingdom a better place in which to live. Salvation God takes care of, and indeed already has.
We are to practice Agape Love. Period.
We do not do so only with those who can return the kindness, as Jesus taught, but give to those who will never be able to add to our wealth, power or status in return.
We do not do so ostentatiously so that we gain in prestige or position with others through their praise, as Jesus taught, but rather humbly and with no regard for a return or personal gain of any kind.
We do not do so in order to be saved, but because we follow the one who gives salvation with Grace, and shows Agape Love and Mercy to us.
There were many who were left hungry under empire in Jesus' life. Rome took everything from the most vulnerable for their own profit, and exploited the masses of people for their own gain. Many thirsted, literally and also many were thirsty for justice and shalom (well-being, completeness and wholeness that leads to peace) to be restored in the land that was occupied by empire. There were alien residents in the land who needed to be welcomed because they lived in a most unwelcoming climate. Some had everything taken away because they could not pay the debts that the Romans, King and Temple Cult leaders of that time had levied against them, and for some it was the collateral of their cloak that was stripped from them. They were exposed to the elements of the world, having been rendered most vulnerable by empire. Some had no means by which to get medical care, proper nutrition for healing or any compassion from those who practiced a legalistic belief system that believed they should punish those inflicted, even as they believed God was punishing them. Many were imprisoned unjustly, locked up by the empire that had taken all from them, sometimes out of fear of insurrection against the injustice or simply because they were forced to do what must be done to survive under the conditions created by empire. Jesus was with these folk everyday. Jesus was among them and rendered Himself one of them. Jesus identified with them and sought to give them comfort. Jesus commanded any who would follow Him to do the same.
Jesus still does, even as one who with all authority calls us to go out and live Agape in the world around us, here and now. We have the Good News of Jesus' Agape Love, Grace and Mercy. We have Jesus' mandate, His manifesto. Any who claim to know, love and/or follow Jesus have His teachings, commands and examples before us. And we have this vision of what happens when we do not live as Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us to do in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now, and we have the vision of what happens when we do live it.
So, how are we doing with this here and now, in empire?
The poor have still had everything taken away from them. Their opportunities and possibilities for escaping poverty have been eliminated by those who exploit them for their own profit and gain. The great re-distribution of wealth that started in 1981 and has continued in this nation, has created more poor and has given those with wealth, power and status in this empire culture more of the same. There are people starving today and many are malnourished because they do not have healthy and affordable food available to them. How have you voted since 1980? Have you voted out of your concern for the hungry and thirsty, the naked and vulnerable or on the side of those who aspire to get always more for themselves? If you are an employer, have you paid a living wage to those who get you your profit? As a stockholder, have you willingly taken less gain so that those who work for companies in which you are invested can thrive? As a citizen, have you demanded that those who have been held down, back and out for generations be given an equal chance and that we strive toward equal opportunities for all?
People are still sick across the world. Many people die each year from treatable and even curable diseases because healthcare has been tied to profit and they cannot afford treatment. Measures have been proposed and some were even recently implemented to make healthcare affordable for millions more in our own nation, but efforts to kill those efforts have been very strong. Did you vote for the folk who have wanted to kick millions of your fellow citizens off ACA? Did you voice your opinion against efforts to make healthcare affordable for the most vulnerable? Do you support a system that withholds treatment and medications from people across the world based on profit? Are you an employer who only hires part-time employees so that you do not have to pay them health benefits? Are you a politician whose healthcare and that for his/her family are taken care of, but who votes against getting even minimal coverage for every person he/she represents in government?
Resident aliens live in the land. Some are economic refugees and others are refugees based on their need for safety. Jesus identifies with refugees, having been one. Immigrants and resident aliens in this empire have been exploited and then scapegoated and often deported. Resident aliens in this empire are not welcomed but blamed by many among us because we have been manipulated to do so by those who would like to keep their wealth, power and status. Resident aliens have been treated shamefully, just as they were under empire in Jesus' time, even by those who were themselves being oppressed by the system of empire. Have you spoken on behalf of the resident aliens here and now, and voted for those who would treat them with respect and honor, and welcome them here? Have you refused to be duped into blaming them for the injustices you have suffered at the hands of the wealthy, powerful and prestigious among us? Have you welcomed them yourself?
Injustice prevails in this empire, also. People who have had equal opportunities denied have also been unequally imprisoned for the same or lesser crimes than those in the "majority of power." People of color have been targeted for traffic, walking and just existing violations and even executed as unarmed citizens by some of those who have sworn to serve and protect them. Laws are written to protect white collar criminals who victimize even thousands of people out of greed, and also to ruthlessly punish those who commit petty crimes out of desperation. We have two justice systems and they are very unequal. People have their civil rights once again threatened because of the color of their skin and equal rights being threatened because of who they love. Do you speak out on behalf of those being unjustly imprisoned or executed? Do you vote for those who seek equal justice for ALL people in the land? Do you visit those who have been imprisoned or support their families with your voice, you vote and/or your resources? Do you visit them with love and not scorn?
How are you doing with this following of Jesus thing?
The Good News is of Grace. Jesus' message of Agape Love, Grace and Mercy has been given to you in the Gospels. Jesus' teachings, commands and examples are readily available for you to learn and apply to the living of your life here and now. As I write this, the separation of sheep from goats has not yet happened. There is time. There is Grace in time. God gives it out of Agape Love. God is Merciful AND Just.
But don't try to put on sheep's clothing just to be saved.
Follow Jesus. Live the Agape Love that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us because it is a better way - Jesus' Way - and because it will transform the world around you to be a more loving, gracious and merciful place for you and everyone around you. Do the right thing for the right reasons. God works out salvation. Live Agape Love and Grace in the world. BE one of the sheep.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, November 12, 2017
entrusted with... Matthew 25:14-30
Again, Matthew leaves the message open for the interpretation of the reader/hearer.
One can either read this from the perspective of how badly slaves (under Empire) were treated by their masters with regard to "their property" (taken from the people when they were made slaves), or you can hear it as God's expectations on how we use what God has given toward the furthering of the Kingdom.
Either way, the story presents us with these facts as part of the picture:
1. The talents never belonged to the slaves, but were generated by the property owner.
2. It was not to the Steward that these things were given for investment, but all the slaves.
* the word doulon in the context of 1st Century Israel meant slaves
the enslavement of peoples under Rome was horrific, as in later periods of history
slave owners took what they wanted, because they had the power, wealth and status under
Rome that allowed them to do that - "reap where they did not sow, gather where they
did not scatter" - the harshness of their occupation and oppression was such that they
took what they wanted that once belonged to others, and made more on their backs
Of course I believe this is about Grace and Agape Love. God is DIFFERENT with values, especially over power and wealth, and calls us to be different in what we value as well.
We do not originate them. They do not come from within us, except that God has put them there.
God is the giver of all of it.
Agape Love, as we understand, has been given to all people, like faith. God has chosen to meet us with Agape Love, even in our disobedience. God has actively committed to our well-being, despite our sinfulness. God clearly expects the same from us with one another.
The sin of the servant who hid the talent (having only been given one portion because he/she was not capable of handling more), is that he/she did not invest Agape Love or Grace in the world, and therefore produce more of the same in the world, this part of God's Kingdom.
Agape is active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable. When we invest that in the world around us, what we started with does not diminish, but rather multiplies, grows, expands in the world around us and transforms it.
Grace is undeserved loving mercy shared freely. When we invest that in the world around us, without judgment, what we started with does not diminish but grows, expands, spreads in the world around us and transforms it.
Just as the empire values were addressed by Jesus as the "leaven of the Pharisees," that spread hatred, greed, lust for power and desire for status, so when Kingdom values are spread "like leaven", they produce more love, grace, mercy and peace because they come from a place of justice, equity, equality and humility.
We did not create Agape Love or Grace. God gives them to us, they originate from God. We are called to be servants who invest them in the world in order that they may grow and spread, and transform the world around us - this part of God's Kingdom.
This has nothing to do with coins or money, investments of them or wealth. Empire makes it all about that. How we might USE those things in Agape Love and Grace is as close as they get to the center of this parable.
This has to do with true stewardship of God's most valuable gifts - Agape Love and Grace.
What kind of leaven are you spreading?
What are you putting out in the world around you?
What has God given you freely that is truly valued in the Kingdom?
With what have you been entrusted by God, and what are you doing with it for God?
Are you investing it in the world around you? Are you sharing it so that it may grow?
Pastor Jamie
One can either read this from the perspective of how badly slaves (under Empire) were treated by their masters with regard to "their property" (taken from the people when they were made slaves), or you can hear it as God's expectations on how we use what God has given toward the furthering of the Kingdom.
Either way, the story presents us with these facts as part of the picture:
1. The talents never belonged to the slaves, but were generated by the property owner.
2. It was not to the Steward that these things were given for investment, but all the slaves.
* the word doulon in the context of 1st Century Israel meant slaves
the enslavement of peoples under Rome was horrific, as in later periods of history
slave owners took what they wanted, because they had the power, wealth and status under
Rome that allowed them to do that - "reap where they did not sow, gather where they
did not scatter" - the harshness of their occupation and oppression was such that they
took what they wanted that once belonged to others, and made more on their backs
Of course I believe this is about Grace and Agape Love. God is DIFFERENT with values, especially over power and wealth, and calls us to be different in what we value as well.
We do not originate them. They do not come from within us, except that God has put them there.
God is the giver of all of it.
Agape Love, as we understand, has been given to all people, like faith. God has chosen to meet us with Agape Love, even in our disobedience. God has actively committed to our well-being, despite our sinfulness. God clearly expects the same from us with one another.
The sin of the servant who hid the talent (having only been given one portion because he/she was not capable of handling more), is that he/she did not invest Agape Love or Grace in the world, and therefore produce more of the same in the world, this part of God's Kingdom.
Agape is active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable. When we invest that in the world around us, what we started with does not diminish, but rather multiplies, grows, expands in the world around us and transforms it.
Grace is undeserved loving mercy shared freely. When we invest that in the world around us, without judgment, what we started with does not diminish but grows, expands, spreads in the world around us and transforms it.
Just as the empire values were addressed by Jesus as the "leaven of the Pharisees," that spread hatred, greed, lust for power and desire for status, so when Kingdom values are spread "like leaven", they produce more love, grace, mercy and peace because they come from a place of justice, equity, equality and humility.
We did not create Agape Love or Grace. God gives them to us, they originate from God. We are called to be servants who invest them in the world in order that they may grow and spread, and transform the world around us - this part of God's Kingdom.
This has nothing to do with coins or money, investments of them or wealth. Empire makes it all about that. How we might USE those things in Agape Love and Grace is as close as they get to the center of this parable.
This has to do with true stewardship of God's most valuable gifts - Agape Love and Grace.
What kind of leaven are you spreading?
What are you putting out in the world around you?
What has God given you freely that is truly valued in the Kingdom?
With what have you been entrusted by God, and what are you doing with it for God?
Are you investing it in the world around you? Are you sharing it so that it may grow?
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, November 5, 2017
Being ready, and being prepared... Matthew 25:1-13
I remember Pastor (Dr.) Bruce Schein in New Testament Studies class in our first year of Seminary telling of the practice that still happens in and around Jerusalem around wedding parties - how the game is still played the night before of bridesmaids vs. groomsmen around a mock "kidnapping" or "elopement". This game of relationship capture the flag is part of the celebration of bringing lives together.
The longer the wait, the more oil is used.
We have waited a long time for the arrival of our Bridegroom to fetch this bride, the church.
There must have been great anticipation in the First Century, as followers of Jesus awaited His return.
Perhaps then, having been disappointed with the continuation of Rome's occupation and oppression, and the collusion of the King and Temple Cult leaders of the time with the Romans, Jesus would come and truly fulfill the deliverance from this abuse that so many saw as Jesus' promise. They were ready. But were they prepared?
They were ready to have their freedoms and livelihoods restored for them. They were ready for the intentionally induced poverty to be ended in the land, the corruption of justice ended and the abuse of scapegoated segments of society to be ended. They were ready to govern themselves without empire's control looming over them. They were ready to have peace restored and conflict ended. They were ready for justice and equitability to be restored so that peace (shalom - well-being, wholeness, completeness) would be possible for ALL people. But perhaps they were not prepared for it in their lives in the ways they were living them.
They were not prepared for the long haul. They wanted it immediately.
Perhaps they were not prepared to change their thinking and follow Jesus' way of being in order to
welcome God's Kingdom come.
Some were not prepared to give up the little personal gains they received from empire, by colluding,
cooperating or being in silent compliance with its oppression of self and others.
Some were not prepared to use their resources to help others who did not have enough and were not
prepared.
Some were not prepared to look for Jesus coming to them when they would least expect it.
This Bridegroom's coming is to be a celebration in a world dominated by empire, especially for any
who profess to believe in Jesus and His Good News.
It is something to be anticipated with excitement and anticipated joy.
We should be ready for His coming to us.
But we should also be prepared now for it.
We need to prepare our hearts and minds for His coming.
We need to submit to Jesus' teachings, commands and examples on how to live in this part of God's
Kingdom, as we have them given to us in the Gospels.
We need to perfect our living of Agape Love and Grace in the world around us, thus preparing others
around us for God's Kingdom come.
We need to prepare the way of the Lord. Still. Always.
The truth is that Jesus comes to us TODAY.
The Holy Spirit points to the Christ coming into our hearts, minds and lives everyday.
Are we prepared to receive Jesus today?
Will we have enough illumination to see Jesus when He comes to us today?
Will the lights be on?
Will we have prepared our hearts, minds and lives for His coming to us?
Where, when and in a guise that we may least expect to experience Jesus?
Will we feed Jesus, clothe Jesus, welcome Jesus, visit sick and imprisoned Jesus as Jesus comes to us
among "the least" among us - the poor, the stranger, the most vulnerable?
Will we receive Jesus as He comes to us - Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Atheist, Buddhist?
Will we receive Jesus as He comes to us - black or brown, Asian, female, LGBTQ?
Will we receive Jesus as He comes to us?
Are we prepared today to do that?
We believe we are ready for Jesus to come to us.
Some of us pray for it more earnestly now than ever before.
But are we prepared for His coming to us today?
Are you prepared in your heart, mind and spirit for His coming to YOU today?
Pastor Jamie
The longer the wait, the more oil is used.
We have waited a long time for the arrival of our Bridegroom to fetch this bride, the church.
There must have been great anticipation in the First Century, as followers of Jesus awaited His return.
Perhaps then, having been disappointed with the continuation of Rome's occupation and oppression, and the collusion of the King and Temple Cult leaders of the time with the Romans, Jesus would come and truly fulfill the deliverance from this abuse that so many saw as Jesus' promise. They were ready. But were they prepared?
They were ready to have their freedoms and livelihoods restored for them. They were ready for the intentionally induced poverty to be ended in the land, the corruption of justice ended and the abuse of scapegoated segments of society to be ended. They were ready to govern themselves without empire's control looming over them. They were ready to have peace restored and conflict ended. They were ready for justice and equitability to be restored so that peace (shalom - well-being, wholeness, completeness) would be possible for ALL people. But perhaps they were not prepared for it in their lives in the ways they were living them.
They were not prepared for the long haul. They wanted it immediately.
Perhaps they were not prepared to change their thinking and follow Jesus' way of being in order to
welcome God's Kingdom come.
Some were not prepared to give up the little personal gains they received from empire, by colluding,
cooperating or being in silent compliance with its oppression of self and others.
Some were not prepared to use their resources to help others who did not have enough and were not
prepared.
Some were not prepared to look for Jesus coming to them when they would least expect it.
This Bridegroom's coming is to be a celebration in a world dominated by empire, especially for any
who profess to believe in Jesus and His Good News.
It is something to be anticipated with excitement and anticipated joy.
We should be ready for His coming to us.
But we should also be prepared now for it.
We need to prepare our hearts and minds for His coming.
We need to submit to Jesus' teachings, commands and examples on how to live in this part of God's
Kingdom, as we have them given to us in the Gospels.
We need to perfect our living of Agape Love and Grace in the world around us, thus preparing others
around us for God's Kingdom come.
We need to prepare the way of the Lord. Still. Always.
The truth is that Jesus comes to us TODAY.
The Holy Spirit points to the Christ coming into our hearts, minds and lives everyday.
Are we prepared to receive Jesus today?
Will we have enough illumination to see Jesus when He comes to us today?
Will the lights be on?
Will we have prepared our hearts, minds and lives for His coming to us?
Where, when and in a guise that we may least expect to experience Jesus?
Will we feed Jesus, clothe Jesus, welcome Jesus, visit sick and imprisoned Jesus as Jesus comes to us
among "the least" among us - the poor, the stranger, the most vulnerable?
Will we receive Jesus as He comes to us - Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Atheist, Buddhist?
Will we receive Jesus as He comes to us - black or brown, Asian, female, LGBTQ?
Will we receive Jesus as He comes to us?
Are we prepared today to do that?
We believe we are ready for Jesus to come to us.
Some of us pray for it more earnestly now than ever before.
But are we prepared for His coming to us today?
Are you prepared in your heart, mind and spirit for His coming to YOU today?
Pastor Jamie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)