Blessed One

SCRIPTURE

Luke 13:31-35 (NRSV)

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"


ADVENT DEVOTION

Today is Saturday! On this day "good news" comes to us as a psalm from my heart. Thanks for reading, sharing, and being good news!

Listen...
Know you not who I am
What I am doing
What I will do?
Not afraid of you
Can't touch me
Can't block me
Can't stop me
Headed to Jerusalem
None can take my life
Only I can lay it down
And I will do so
for my friends
Amidst derision
Scorn
Hate
Amidst tears
Fears
Sorrow
and Pain
I will lay down my life
To secure your future
To make provision for your tomorrows
To open heaven's door...

Blessed!
Blessed!
Blessed!

Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord!

Blessed baby!
Blessed teacher!
Blessed healer!
Blessed savior!
Blessed King!

Blessed
is
the
Name
of
The
One
who
comes...

Trumpet sound
Clouds roll back
Winds blow
Caught up in the air
To meet the...

Blessed One
Coming...
Prepare the way of the Lord

CHRIST(mas) is coming!


PRAYER

Lord, help my heart to declare, "Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord!" Amen.

THAT ALL MIGHT BE FED...

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 58:9b-14

58:9b If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

58:10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.

58:11 The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.

58:12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

58:13 If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs;

58:14 then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Luke 13:10-17

13:10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

13:11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight.

13:12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment."

13:13 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

13:14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day."

13:15 But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water?

13:16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?"

13:17 When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

SERMON

Today we encounter Jesus teaching in the synagogue. We are not privy to what he was teaching on that day. We are not given a scripture or text to look at and appreciate in Luke’s narrative. All we know is that Jesus is teaching and people are gathered to listen and to learn.

Now, whilst Jesus was teaching a woman came forward who was “crippled by a spirit that would not allow her to stand up straight.”

This narration by Luke has always intrigued me. I wonder, did she have osteoporosis? Did she have scoliosis? Did she have some other physical ailment that doubled her over?

Or did she have a mental or spiritual ailment? After all, scripture says that she was “crippled by a spirit?” Was it a spirit of depression? Anxiety? Worry? Was it a spirit of low self esteem or self worth? Was that why she was staring at the ground?

Or was it a societal ailment? Perhaps she was unable to straighten her back because the community had rained down so many blows upon it…after all, she was a woman. She was a sick woman. Was she also a single woman? We don’t know…

We know NO-thing about this woman except that she showed up on the Sabbath day, interrupted his homily by stepping forward and showing herself to Jesus.

Now, here’s something I do know because my Mama told me. People will always learn more by what you DO, than by what you SAY.

Perhaps Jesus’ Mama told him the same thing because he elected to stop teaching and to call the woman to him in front of the others. He spoke eight simple words to her that undid eighteen years of unbearable pain and shame.

He simply said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” Then he laid his hands on her, helping her to stand up straight!

What an amazing moment that must have been for that unnamed woman! As she stood she began to praise God, presumably with a loud voice! You would imagine that everyone present would be rejoicing with her! After all, Jesus had wrought a most wonderful miracle in front of the people…

But, isn’t it sad, that human nature is such that we don’t always rejoice with others, especially if their joy upsets our status quo, undermines our power, or lifts up those who are subjugated to us?

It is sad; yet it is true. That is why there were some in the crowd who had the audacity to say that Jesus had no business healing on the Sabbath for we know that Jewish law demands that one rest on the Sabbath day in order to keep it holy.

In response, Jesus turned on the naysayers and said in essence, “You are hypocrites. You work on the Sabbath day when it is in your interest; I will work on the Sabbath day when it is in mine.”

See, it was in the interest of his naysayers to take their beasts to water even on Saturday, so that they would not dehydrate and die. And it was in the interest of Jesus to heal the bent-over-woman, so that he could show forth the power of LOVE and incite the crowd to worship His father in heaven!

It occurs to me that most western human beings prioritize things, rather than people. We invest in property, rather than in relationships.

I recently read on the internet that we should USE THINGS, and LOVE PEOPLE. Rather than loving things, and using people! Ah! What good and holy advice.

Jesus knew that it is always a good time to show forth the power of LOVE. Love is the very reason that Jesus was sent into the earth to make atonement for our sin and gift us with eternal life.

Love is always in order whether or not it is Sunday, Wednesday, or Saturday. Whether it is the Sabbath day or any other day, it is always a wonderful time to show someone that you are willing to love and care for them.

This is an important lesson for Christians everywhere because I believe that some of us—and many of our neighbors—are bent over with the crushing weight of worry, fear, anxiety, or powerlessness.

Within our congregation--and in our cities--we can see people who are being crushed to the ground by the stress of being new refugees in America, recently laid off from their jobs, tossed out of their homes because of foreclosure, hungry without money to eat, stressed out about an impending divorce, discriminated against because of the way they look, dress, or worship, pressed down by the weight of illness, and/or exposed because of a tragic mistake or sin in their past.

We can see these people if we dare to look and are willing to stop what we are doing and notice them in the crowd.

This is what our Jesus did! He was teaching. He was busy. He had an agenda. He had a crowd to please. But, none of that was more important to him than the bent-over-woman, who had been suffering eighteen years, who simply needed someone to notice and touch her with the power of LOVE.

As 21st Century Christians, we are called to be the hands, feet, heart, and mouth of Jesus in our world.

Isaiah 58 states, “If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday…You shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this were our reputation as Christians! Wouldn’t it be a glad and holy day if all people were rejoicing about the wonderful things God was doing—in and through Christians—as we cause light to shine in darkness, gloom to be chased away, and breaches between people to be repaired?

We are called to be this people and it is not hard to earn this reputation! We are already well on our way with all of the outstanding mission and ministry that we do in The Church.

But, today I believe that we are challenged by the Holy Spirit to boldly move beyond charity and into relationship with those whom we serve. We feed the hungry and they should be present with us in our coffee hour on Sunday. We help house the homeless and we should see some of them sitting in the chairs in our worship services. We care for the orphan and widows and we should invite them to our mid-week Bible Study. We speak out about injustice and we should invite those who face discrimination to sit next to us as we worship and to enter our homes for coffee during the week.

See, the church has done great good in the earth and praise be to God. But, especially here in America, Christians tend to hold those whom we serve at arms length. It is good to serve them Monday—Saturday, but we often want them to come back later when they appear on Sunday morning.

That is why we do not see them on Sunday, sitting amongst us—dirty, stinky, unbathed, with unkempt hair, insane, penniless, hungry, thirsty, naked, sad, confused, angry, and/or depressed. (Well, ok, some of us are sad, confused, angry, and/or depressed but we work hard to hide from others…)

Isaiah 58 says, “If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth…for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

It is imperative that the “least of these” come with us to the Banquet Feast of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Each and every human being needs to feast on the bread of life which is God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Everybody ought to know that LOVE gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. All of us need the freedom that is ours when we acknowledge that we have been set free by Christ from sin, death, and the grave and made able to stand up straight as we live in the Light of God!

In just a few moments we will all pray together, “Send your Spirit upon us and upon this meal: as grains scattered on the hillside become one bread, so let your Church be gathered from the ends of the earth, that ALL might be fed with the Bread of Life your Son, JESUS…”

Jesus chose to notice the least of these. His eyes found them in the crowd. His mouth called them to himself. His hands touched and healed them with the power of LOVE.

This was Jesus’ way, interest, and affair—and it must be ours as well.

May God grant that we follow the example of Jesus, noticing, touching and healing in the Name of LOVE, today and always.

Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

The Circle of Care

SCRIPTURE

Third Sunday in Lent Luke 13:1-9 (NRSV)
The parable of the fig tree

At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them -- do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did." Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.' "


SERMON

Today I feel very grateful to God for the timeliness of the gospel reading. For today, Luke’s gospel deals with the timeless question of why do bad things happen to good people?

I’ve heard lots of people asking this question in the wake of the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. As a result of technology images of the devastation wrought in both of these locales is brought directly into our homes 24/7/365.

Some have tried to justify the horror of these natural disasters by casting blame upon the victims. Perhaps if the people were more holy, God would not have killed so many. Perhaps if the people were less poor, they would have a safe place to live. Perhaps if the people were smarter, they would have evacuated before it was too late.

It is at times like these that I am reminded just how much we, as human beings, need to be in control. We fear circumstances that can not be easily explained and we have difficulty learning to live with sacred mystery.

In the case of the recent earthquakes and tsunamis, I wonder if Jesus would not have said—as he said to those in his day--"Do you think that because these Haitians or Chileans suffered in this way that they were worse sinners than all other people? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.”

Wow! These are strong words from Jesus, aren’t they? In essence, he says that there are times when terrible circumstances befall a person for reasons which are unknown to the human being experiencing the tragedy.

For example, why did Pilate martyr the Galilean pilgrims? Why did the Tower of Siloam collapse killing innocent people? Why did hundreds of thousands of people die in Haiti? Why were so many people washed away in the Chilean tsunami never to be heard from again?

Ah! Sad and terrible things happen my friends. Once when I was suffering through a particularly awful circumstance Spirit taught me a lesson. I learned that sometimes bad things happen because of my own sin. Sometimes bad things happen because of the sin of others toward me and sometimes bad things just happen!

It is category number three that is most difficult because we are such control-freaks. It really distresses most people to realize that we can’t control every minute and every interaction that occurs in our lives.

In response to all of this I hear Jesus saying to us today, “I tell you; unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

Do you realize that Jesus says this sentence two times in just nine verses? It seems that we have often missed the point, asking the wrong question altogether! We ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” and Jesus reminds us that there are no truly good people—for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and therefore, all need to repent in order to be saved.

See, the central issue in today’s text is not the reality of calamity, disaster, disease, suffering, trial, tribulation, and trouble. Rather, the crux of the matter is—Have we truly repented of our sin?

During this Lenten Season, we have been called as individuals and as a community to engage in prayer, fasting, and confession of our sin. During the long march to the Good Friday cross, we are all invited to look deep within ourselves and ask the question, “Am I bearing good fruit for my master?”

Jesus tells a story in which a man went to his vineyard to harvest some figs. Upon arrival he found no fruit, became angry, and asked the gardener to cut the unfruitful tree down. The gardener requests one more year to fertilize and water the tree to see if it will bear fruit.

Now, you may notice that the story ends here. I don’t know about you, but I am left wondering, “Did the man spare the tree? Did the gardener really attend to it? Did the tree bear fruit the following year? Ultimately did the tree survive, or did it get thrown into the fire?”

All of these questions are left unanswered and thus are also left to our imaginations. What we do know is that a parable is an earthly story meant to convey a heavenly meaning. So what is the meaning? Why did Jesus tell this particular story in order to convey the message that suffering is not God’s punishment for sin?

Well, I don’t want to pretend that I have a definitive answer for this question. I can only share with you a little bit of my own process as I read the story.

Perhaps Jesus told us this story to remind us that as God’s people, planted in God’s vineyard are expected to be fruitful! When I was a little girl I learned that the fruit of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

When God inspects the “tree of our hearts” each year does God find such fruit growing? If not, I imagine that God would be pretty disappointed.

Perhaps Jesus told us this story to remind us that we are God’s gardeners. As Christians might it be that we are called to notice people and places that are unfruitful and to work diligently to offer those things that might turn the situation around? Could it be that God has commissioned us to fertilize others?

I love this vision of God’s people at work bringing life giving nurture and sustenance to those who are in need. As we bring love, joy, and peace to others we tend the physical, mental, and spiritual trees of our neighbors, friends, and co-workers. As we feed the hungry, give drink the thirsty, clothe the naked, house the homeless, visit the sick and imprisoned, care for the widow and orphan, bring cheer to the depressed and destitute, and offer peace in the midst of conflict, God uses our hands to God’s work in the earth!

Finally, perhaps Jesus told us this story to remind us that we can be both the tree and the gardener at different times in our lives. Therefore, we ought to offer care, compassion, and empathy to the suffering—rather than judgment and condemnation.

Since it’s Lent, I feel free to confess to you—my brothers and sisters in Christ—that there have been days, weeks and/or years where I have felt pretty unfruitful. There have been times when I have had to count on the loving, compassionate care of others to cheer my weary soul. There have been occasions in my life where I have been dependent on the prayers of others, because I simply could not pray for myself.

It was in those times that I was most grateful for my community of faith who rallied around me, praying for and loving me until the fruit returned to my tree.

In return, once I began to produce the fruit of love, joy, peace, and repentance, I was able to offer the same care to others.

Isn’t that wonderful! The Kingdom of Love is so amazing! And God’s world is so wonderful!

Although we all suffer at times, we don’t all suffer at the same time. Because this is true, we are able to help each other in our times of trial. This is what being a Christian is all about.

Jesus suffered as he bled and died on Calvary’s cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life.

We are invited to enter into that suffering with Jesus during the Lenten Season, recognizing that when we suffer we are drawn near to the heart of God and as we alleviate the suffering of others, we are drawn nearer still.

It’s a beautiful and eternal circle of care that will have no end until that great day when Jesus returns in His glory.

Until that great day, let us fast, pray, confess, and serve others without judgment.

In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.



INVITATION

Won't you pray with me?

God, I confess that there are times that I have believed that my suffering was your punishment. It has made me angry and hardened my heart toward you. Please forgive me for failing to trust in your unfailing love. I believe that you do Love me and that you proved it when you gave Jesus to die on the cross to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life. I am glad that Jesus did not stay dead, but was resurrected on the third day, just as He promised! Your Love toward me is amazing and I ask that you would fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I can share our love with others. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.



SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

I would be honored if you would let me know about your decision today by clicking "YES" in the poll located in the upper-right hand corner of the good news blog in answer to the question, "Did God save you today?"

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!


ANNOUNCEMENT

During the Lenten Season, all Good News readers are challenged to forward this blog to one person each and every day! Read, share, and BE good news! Go in peace, serve the Lord! (Thanks be to God!)

EVIL ENCROACHES

SCRIPTURE

Luke 13:31-35 (NRSV)

Jesus as mother hen laments over Jerusalem

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.' "

DEVOTION--Today is Saturday Psalmody; the mediation is offered as a psalm from my heart! If you would like a more traditional devotion, please search the archives for a title that appeals to you! (smile)

EVIL ENCROACHES

Evil encroaches

Creeping through the darkness

They come.

They come

For me

Seeking my life

Wanting me dead

Wishing me gone

From this land--

The so-called

Land of the Living.

If only they knew

Who I was

Who I am

Who I will ever be…

I AM

THAT I AM

I AM

WHAT I AM BECOMING

Do they not see me?

Casting out demons

Healing the sick

Summoning the Light.

I am LOVE.

I am POWER.

I am FREE.

Humans cannot kill

This god-man.

For I cannot be killed

by mere mortals.

If I die—

Yay, when I die

It will be because

I chose to lay down

My life

In Jerusalem

For my friends…

Blessed!

YES BLESSED,

Is The One

Who comes

In the Name

Of the Lord!

THE INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html