Tag: Mark 4:24

• Jeremiah 48: Our Works and Treasures

  
  

  

  Wednesday, September 29, 2021

  Jeremiah 48

  Our Works and Treasures

  Because you trusted in your works and treasures you shall be captured and sent into exile . . .

  Jeremiah warns the people of Moab about the danger of placing all their hopes in their own hands rather than in the hands of God. Despite their efforts to create safety and comfort for themselves, a litany of towns and peoples are, instead, crafting their own destruction. Much like Jacob Marley in Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, Jeremiah warns that we forge in life of our own free will the chains that hold us down, link by link, and yard by yard. As Marley warns Scrooge, the common welfare was the business in life that he disregarded; his spirit never roamed beyond the limits of his money-changing as he ignored the common welfare of mankind. Forsaking charity, mercy, forbearance and benevolence, Marley chose to harvest exile, destruction and eternal misery. And this is what Marley has in common with the peoples of Nebo, Kiriathiam, Zoar, Luhith, Horonaim, Holon, Jahzah and Mephaath.

  Jeremiah cannot speak more plainly: Joy and jubilation are at an end . . . the wealth acquired has perished . . . cursed be the one who does the Lord’s work remissly. 

  Neither can Jesus as the writers of the Synoptic Gospels tell us. Our treasure is where our heart is. (Matthew 6:21, 13:44 and 19:21, Mark 10:21, Luke 12:33-34, 18:22) The measure that we measure with is measured out to us. (Matthew 7:2, Mark 4:24, Luke 6:38)

  We may well want to consider the fate of Moab and place our hopes and hearts in God’s Words and treasures rather than our own.

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  A clip from the 1984 version of Dicken’s novel with Frank Finlay & George C. Scott in the roles of the deceased Jacob Marley returning from the dead to warn Ebeneezer Scrooge, his friend in life, can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh_fUMgFomk

  For more information on the Mesha Stele, click on the image above or go to: http://www.bible-history.com/resource/ff_mesha.htm

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  September 29, 2021

  A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, Luke 12:33-34, Luke 18:22, Luke 6:38, Mark 10:21, Mark 4:24, Matthew 13:44, Matthew 19:21, Matthew 6:21, Matthew 7:2

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• Sirach 8 & 9: The Measure of Friends

  
  

  Monday, February 24, 2013: Sirach 8 & 9 – Part II

  The Measure of Friends

  Today’s Gospel is Luke’s description of the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28b-36) and each time we come across these verses we are given the opportunity to again think about the concept of friendship: what it means to us, how we live out friendship with others, and what qualities we hope to find in friends.  So often in the New Testament stories we watch Jesus interact with those closest to him and we always find Jesus giving more than words or gestures to his friends; he brings more than The Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah). He brings himself; he gives his full and total self.  And the marvel of Jesus is that he continues to be present to each of us today . . . even when we do not number him as one of our friends.  In his love for us, Jesus reminds us of the important of giving even when we anticipate receiving nothing in return for the measure with which we measure will be measured out to us.  (Luke 6:38, Mark 4:24, Matthew 7:2).  Jesus spares nothing in his great love for his friends.  We must spare nothing as well.  Sirach has words that help us to nurture friendship, and to gain the wisdom that helps us to be a good friend to others.

  Sirach cautions us to stay away from the powerful.

  Know that you are stepping among snares and walking over a net.

  Sirach tells us that we ought not to worry about a “sinner’s fame” or a “proud man’s success”.

  You know not what disaster awaits him . . . he will not reach death unpunished.

  Sirach suggests that we measure our neighbors in order to associate with the wise and learned.

  Let your conversations be about the law of the Lord.

  Sirach reminds us of the intimacy of a shared meal.

  Have the just for your table companions.

  Sirach says to us what we know to be true about new friendship.

  A new friend is like new wine which you drink with pleasure only when it has aged.

  And Sirach tells us that time and patience are important between friends if the relationship is to have value.

  Discard not an old friend, for the new one cannot equal him.

  When we feel ourselves caught by the allure of control, when we feel trapped by the deception of an associate, when we realize that a colleague has been manipulative . . . we know that it is time to take measure.  Not of the other, but of ourselves.  Are we willing to witness to truth?  Are we willing to break silence about a long-held lie?  Where do we find comfort . . . in the solace of associates who stroke my wounded self . . . or in the integrity of a relationship where we are lovingly corrected?  And in turn, are we willing to become a wounded healer?  Are we willing to be a true friend?

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  Tomorrow, a prayer for Friends and Friendship.

  Image from: http://www.iexplore.com/experiences/culinary/gallery

  The other Transfiguration stories appear in Matthew 17:1-8 and Mark 9:2-8.

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  February 24, 2020

  friendship, Luke 6:38, Mark 4:24, Mark 9:2-8, Matthew 17:1-8, Matthew 7:2, measuring ourselves, Transfiguration

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