While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, "Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands." But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, "Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest."
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)
ETERNITY UNLEASHED...
Welcome little one your smile reflects light The Light of The One who made you! Your mouth shares Jesus' smile Your hands open wide to friends and enemies alike to share Jesus' hug Your gentle ways and quickness to forgive echo The Love of eternity and grace unbound Welcome little one greatest among wo/men for in your innocence you love God & you love neighbor with wild abandon You will even run to the stranger For you are not afraid You are not afraid... It would never occur to you to betray the Savior; You only wanted to play to bounce on his knee Get thrown in the air SOARING With arms outstretched as He blessed you. Running away Giggling to share the good news about The One who loves... with wild abandon. Welcome little one bearer of Christ Immortal one Eternity unleashed.
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
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
SERMON (preached at Atonement Lutheran Church, MN)
I am enchanted by this portion of scripture precisely because it seems so absurd. For a long time Biblical readers and commentators have struggled with Jesus’ injunctions to “leave everything and follow him.”
Now, I’m honest enough to admit that I would have a hard time being a disciple of Jesus if he meant this totally literally. After all, I am very attached to my loving husband, beautiful children, and my orange house on 27th Avenue North. I think that if I was really expected to leave all behind in order to be a Christian, I’d be in big trouble…
So, what did Jesus mean? Well, I’m not going to pretend that I have all of the answers. But, I have been meditating on the scripture this week and have some thoughts I’d like to share with you.
First of all, I notice that Luke 9 says that Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem. I imagine that being a follower of Jesus means that we too must set our faces to the New Jerusalem and toward the Kingdom of God. As children sojourning to the Kingdom of Love, we are called to love God with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. As citizens of the Kingdom of Love, we are to set our faces and our determination on love—to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.
One of the reasons I feel most called to pastor here at Atonement Lutheran Church is our commitment to mission and ministry! One of my first memories of Atonement is walking through your M&M (Mission and Ministry) Fair as a visitor, long before I ever sat before your call committee. As I walked through the Fellowship Hall, I remember thinking, “These folks must really love Jesus!” Booth after booth invited little-ole-me to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, house the homeless, visit the sick, and/or care for the orphan.
I am so very impressed with our congregation’s commitment to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Watching this congregation at work reminds me of Jesus’ words, “When you’ve done it unto the least of these, you’ve done it unto me!”
I am so glad that we are offering loving and compassionate care to people in need. It is the right thing to do and I believe that God is smiling down on us!
The second thing I notice in today’s Gospel lesson is that when a village of Samaritans rejected the love and compassion of Jesus, his disciples reacted hostilely and violently. When I read the words, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" I was shocked and appalled--that is until Spirit convicted me of my own sin…
In that moment, I remembered all of the times that I have rained down judgment and condemnation on people who are different from me and who may or may not have a love relationship with Jesus. I may not have asked whether or not I should call forth fire, but I know that I have looked with scorn on people because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, class, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, and/or disability.
As human beings it is our nature to discriminate against people who are different from us—because we are fearful, ignorant, and/or hateful. It is our sinful nature that causes us to see each other as different, rather than seeing each other as the same—made in the image and likeness of God and created very good!
In Jesus’ day, the Jewish disciples hated the Samaritans because they were a multiethnic people who chose to worship differently than they did. In our day, right here in St. Cloud we know that people face discrimination because they are African-American, Somali, Iraqi, Muslim, newly immigrated to the U.S., and/or learning English as a second language.
Whilst we are willing to serve these folks at Catholic Charities, Church of the Week, or the local food shelf, we tend to hold them at a distance in our personal relationships—failing to invite them to worship in our churches, play with our children, or have coffee in our homes.
In response to the racism of Jesus’ followers, scripture says that Jesus rebuked his disciples and continued to set his face toward Jerusalem.
See, part of being a follower of Jesus, is keeping first things first. And what did Jesus say is the first and greatest commandment? Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbors as yourselves.
In Central Minnesota, our neighbors are changing. The neighborhood around Atonement Lutheran Church is changing. Our congregation, if you look with the eyes of faith, is changing…
Now, it seems to me that we have two options. We can follow Jesus with our faces set toward the New Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Love, or we can look back to the good old days when things were the way we remember and feel that they should ever be.
In response to the strong desire within humanity to look back, rather than going forward with God, Jesus says, “No who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
See, there are lots of reasons that we might look back. In Jesus’ day, someone said they needed to attend to the needs of their homes, family, and finances first! But, Jesus said, in essence, No, you must first be concerned about the proclamation of the good news! You must first be concerned with turning your face toward the Kingdom of Love…
As we love God and neighbor, we will necessarily love our homes and families and be good stewards over our finances. As we love God and neighbor we will live in ways that assure that all of God’s children have everything that they need to be healthy, happy, holy and whole. And as we love God and neighbor, we will make up our minds to boldly worship red, yellow, black, and white—rich, poor, and in between, American, African, Asian, and Other.
It is a sad fact that in America Sunday morning is the most segregated day of the week. It is a sad fact that only 2% of American churches worship across race and ethnicity. It is a sad fact that even here at Atonement Lutheran Church, the greatest, most loving and compassionate church in St. Cloud (if we do say so ourselves--smile), we are still working together to learn how to most effectively share the good news with all of our new neighbors.
But, let us not despair, my friends! We will have plenty of time to practice multiethnic worship; for as I like to remind people, “If you don’t like multiethnic worship, you’re gonna hate heaven!”
Listen to the words of Revelation 7 which states, “After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
I am so glad that scripture promises us that there won’t be a Norwegian heaven and a German heaven. There won’t be an African-American heaven and an European-American heaven. There will only be one heaven, where all of God’s children will be united in love and worship of Jesus who lived and died and lived again all in order to forgive our sin and gift us with eternal life.
When Jesus humbled himself to the cross, dying and then rising on the third day, he did all of the work necessary to ensure our salvation and eternal life. And by choosing to live, die, and live again, Jesus gave us the ultimate example of how to live in love toward one another.
May all of us make up our hearts and minds to set our faces to the New Jerusalem in Love. May all of us make up our minds to teach our children that God loves all human beings. And may all of us determine to work together to ensure that as we reach up and reach out here at Atonement Lutheran Church, we will be known as a congregation that is warm, welcoming, and safe for all of God's children.
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
Let us pray:
God, please teach me to love all of your children. Help me to lift up Jesus in ways that draw all people to you. And please forgive me for those times I have discriminated against those whom you love. Please help me to do better by walking by your spirit and with my face toward the Kingdom of Love. I pray this in Jesus' Name, 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
He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."
Then he said to them all, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."
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)
NOTHIN'
I'm not exactly ashamed, Lord I just don't want anyone to know I' mean I've got a reputation to uphold and I don't want folks to think I'm soft because I love you. I do love you Most of the time that is Except when I pray and you don't answer or when I call and you don't reply Also, I'm not too cool with the suffering, rejection, denial, and follow stuff After all I'm an independent man I make my own way and follow no one I'm all about saving myself and making the biggest profit I can after all, it's all about the Benjamins, right? So, lets just be friends on the down low Lord I won't say nothin' if you won't
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
Judgment day?
You won't say nothin' If I don't?
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
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
DEVOTION
I find that in 2010 many people have a hard time with the scriptures that deal with demons. Many people feel very removed from the talk of "unclean spirits" which is very present in New Testament writings.
But, if we look around, we see many people who struggle physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually with "forces" that rob them of the love, joy, and peace which is their inheritance as children of God.
I have held many of these dear ones in my prayers--hoping, trusting, and praying that they will receive the help and healing that they need to become healthy, happy, holy, and whole.
If you know someone who is struggling under the weight of illness, disease, or dis-ease of mind/spirit, please do not lose heart. We serve a God who is well able to meet all of our needs according to God's riches in glory!
Today, I want to invite all of us to take courage, do not lose heart, and keep praying. The answers that we are seeking may be just around the corner.
I find that when I pray sometimes God changes me, sometimes God changes others, and sometimes God teaches me to trust him even if nothing changes. It is in this trust that I find peace and hope for the future.
Let us pray:
Oh God, there are so many afflictions that rob us of joy and peace. Today I pray for those who are physically, mentally, or spiritually sick. God, please send forth the necessary resources in people, places, and things to be able to meet all of their needs. God, I know that you are well able to restore love, joy, and peace to any circumstance. I pray this in Jesus' Name, 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
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -- not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
SERMON
Today, we have the opportunity to celebrate Transfiguration Sunday. As you heard in the lectionary reading it is the Sunday in which the Christian church remembers Jesus’ supernatural and glorious change of appearance in front of his disciples Peter, James, and John.
Today is also the last Sunday in the Epiphany Season. As we know, Epiphany is the time of year when we celebrate walking in the light of God and we become increasing cognizant of God’s divine revelation of self in the person of Jesus Christ.
During Epiphany it is fun to “discover” Christ anew as we follow the star again and again—journeying with the Wise Folks in their search for Jesus, standing by the river as Jesus is baptized, observing as Jesus calls his first “disciples,” celebrating as Jesus begins to teach, preach, and heal throughout towns and cities, and worshiping with Jesus’ inner circle as we hear the voice of God upon the mountain declaring today, “"This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!"
Scripture teaches us that there were countless men, women, and children who followed Jesus everywhere he went and that must have been special.
Then there were the called out ones—the twelve. They heard the parables and got the interpretations. That had to be pretty neat.
But, then, amongst the twelve there were three—Peter, James, and John. Several different times in scripture Jesus calls these three men to his side. They were his inner circle, best earthly friends, and the ones who got to hear, see, and bare witness to all sorts of secrets…And once again, we find them alone with Jesus, experiencing the most amazing thing.
Can you imagine how they must have felt on that day? Jesus says, “Come on up the mountain.” I would think that they would assume that they were going up the mountain to pray, as was their practice.
But, then something different happens! Jesus says, “I’ve got something to show you.”
And then suddenly, he becomes radiant, his face begins to shine as bright as the sun, his clothes become completely dazzling, and before the disciples can absorb the shock of all of this glory—he begins to have a conversation with Moses (the revered Jewish leader who lead the Israelites to the border of the promised land) andElijah (the esteemed prophet of God who was remembered for raising the dead, bringing fire down from the sky, and ascending into heaven on a whirlwind.)
Hallelujah!
Let me tell you. I don’t imagine anything could have been more shocking for these three disciples. Peter said the only thing that he could think of in that awkward situation, “Wow! It’s really great that we’re here. Would you like for us to build you some altars?” (giggle)
Now, we may like to think that we would have said something a bit more impressive, but I believe that Peter was doing that the best he could under the circumstances. I’m sure, as a good Jewish man, he was absolutely astounded to see Jesus in the company of Moses and Elijah—two of the holiest and most respected men of his faith.
See, I’ve been trying to imagine standing in Peter’s shoes and I’ve been wondering who Jesus would have to show up with in 2010 for us to come to an understanding of just how powerful Jesus really is.
Would Jesus take us up on the mountaintop and show us Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates, or Martin Luther King and Mahatma Ghandi?
Or, in the 21st Century, would Jesus take us up on the mountain not to show us people, but rather things?
See, I don’t know about you, but I’m human enough to admit that there have been some days that I wished that Jesus would prove his lordship to me by providing things like money, a fully funded 401(k), miraculously paid bills and mortgages, jobs, vacations, cars, boats, cabins and college funds!
But, in response to our human awe of people and things, I can hear God speaking to us from heaven, just as God spoke to Peter, James, and John, saying, “No! No! You’ve got this wrong. Jesus, is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him…”
Isn’t this a fantastic reminder for all of us today? The Super Bowl was great, but not as great as Jesus. Madri Gras is going to be wonderful, but not as wonderful as Jesus! Money, riches, and power may ease the path of life, but as the old folks say in my tradition, “cain’t nobody do me like Jesus…”
See, after GOD spoke, Peter, James, and John seem to have gotten it (for a second). Matthew records that they fell on their faces. They were deathly afraid. They understood, as never before that Jesus was not just a prophet like Moses and Elijah, rather he is the holy and only begotton Son of God!
As they lay there on their faces trembling in fear, awe, and reverence, Jesus says to them, “Do not be afraid.”
It is my hunch that Jesus may have been trying to say to them, “Do not be afraid of me…I didn’t reveal myself to you to scare you. I didn’t transfigure myself to make you fearful…No, I showed you my “true colors” so that when we go down off of this mountain and the going gets tough you’ll have something to sustain you.”
See, this week we will commemorate Ash Wednesday and the start of the 40 days of the Lenten Season. On Ash Wednesday, Christians around the world will take the time to remember and understand that our sin is “ever before us.” As we go into churches on this Wednesday, the pastor will place ashes upon our heads as a sign of the confession and repentance of our sin.
And then, she will speak words of truth over us, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. From ash you came, to the dust you will return. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Blessed be the name of the Lord…See, during the Lenten Season, we practice the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We make the long and painful journey with Jesus to the cross. We meditate constantly on the “why” of Jesus’ sacrifice and sing with all those before us, “It’s me, it’s me, its me oh lord, standing in the need of prayer.”
But, before we enter this time of critical self-reflection, honest self-assessment, and confession and repentance for sin, Jesus shows us himself, in all his glory, up on the mountaintop!
I love how Jesus’ transfiguration ends. The Bible says, “And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus, himself, alone.”
As they went down the mountain, Jesus’ countenance returned to normal, but his power and greatness remained the same! When he encountered the man and his son in need of a healing miracle, Jesus acknowledged our sinfulness as humans, but then he healed the boy through the Power of His Love.
This miracle is a reminder that Jesus’ transfiguration was not just for Peter, James, and John, but for all of us who are here today! On this side of the cross we get to “catch a glimpse” of Jesus as he really is and together we come to the realization that God’s Amazing Grace and Unconditional Love will always be enough to heal the sin-sickness of our souls and to open the door to our eternal lives!
As we enter the Lenten Season, as we meditate upon the cross, as we acknowledge our frailty and sin over the next 40-days plus Sundays, my friends, we have nothing to fear.
For when we look up, we will see no one but Jesus, himself, alone.
Jesus who loves us. Jesus who treasures us. Jesus who died on the cross to save us. Jesus who was resurrected on the third day in victory. Jesus who continues to intercede for us. Jesus who will one day welcome all of God’s Children into the Kingdom of Light and Love, establishing a new heaven and a new earth where all will dwell in peace, and safety and goodwill.
And when they looked up, they saw no one, but JESUS alone.
This is good news, my friends, as we end the Epiphany Season and begin the 40-days march to the cross with Jesus…Just as Peter, James, and John saw Jesus transfigured and revealed in all of his glory, may we too see Jesus revealed today in that same glory. And may that memory be emblazoned upon our hearts and minds as we prepare to see him in all our shame upon the cross. For we will need that glorious memory so that we can endure the Lenten Season, faithfully journey to the cross with Jesus, and be given strength to await the celebration of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday--when Jesus emerges from the tomb victorious over sin, death, and the grave, and appears again ever more glorious than ever before!
Together. Together. Let us begin that Lenten Journey today.
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen…
Won't you pray with me?
Holy God, thank you that you once again reveal yourself to us in all your glory as we celebrate this Transfiguration Sunday. Thank you for loving us so much that you gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. Thank you also that He did not stay dead, but was resurrected just as He promised! On this Valentine's Day I accept your love, pledge my love, and place all of my hope in Jesus. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I can read, share, and BE good news now and forever. I will take the Lenten Journey with you this year and always. 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!
Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money -- not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
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)
