Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘miracle’

John 7:40-53: Division

Posted in Comparing Scripture, tagged , , , , on March 11, 2023| Leave a Comment »


John 7:40-53: Division

Saturday, March 11, 2023IMM_Nicodemus_thumb

This week we have contemplated the tug-of-war between the beauty and gift of the mystery and miracle with which God surrounds us, and we have also seen the power of our unbelief and doubt. Before moving into the fifth week of Lent, we consider the authority this division exerts on us . . . and what counter-authority is present in our lives from which we might draw.

Those in the crowd who heard [Jesus’] words were saying, “This has to be the Prophet.” Others said, “He is the Messiah!” But others were saying, “The Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee, does he? There was a split in the crowd over him. Some went so far as wanting to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him.

The police who were sent to arrest him say: Have you heard the way he talks? We’ve never heard anyone speak like this man.

Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus earlier and was both a leader and a Pharisee, spoke up. “Does our Law decide about a man’s guilt without first listening to him and finding out what he is doing?” But they cut him off. “Are you also campaigning for the Galilean? Examine the evidence. See if any prophet ever comes from Galilee.” Then they all went home.

Whom do we most closely resemble? Those in the crowd who believe? Are we the Pharisees who send for law enforcement or are we the police themselves? Might we be Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin? Or might we just go home with no more thought to what we witness? When we use the scripture link to read this entire story using different translations, we have the opportunity to find ourselves in these verses. To explore our own division or unity through the characters in this story, click on the names in the paragraph above.

We examine our belief, our doubt, and the many points of view we will hold and evangelize as we continue our Lenten practice. Rather than thinking: “God’s generosity is sometimes not fair,” let us think instead, “When we put away the past and follow God’s example of enormous generosity, we are better able to welcome the lost back home into the kingdom . . . and to give thanks for our own part in God’s great rejoicing”. 

Tomorrow, adultery.

Image from: https://www.gcurley.info/news/2015/01/are-you-the-teacher-and-do-not-understand/

Read Full Post »

Ephesians 1:11-14: A Trinity of Love

Posted in Comparing Scripture, tagged , , , on June 12, 2022| 1 Comment »


Ephesians 1:11-14: A Trinity of Love

Trinity Church in Manhattan

Trinity Church in Manhattan, NY

Trinity Sunday, June 12, 2022

The gift of life so lovingly given by God the creator cannot be earned. The gift of resurrection so bravely won by Christ is already ours. The gifts of the Spirit’s comfort and solace live within without our asking.

The miracle of creation cannot be understood except through God’s burning wish to have our companionship. The miracle of rescue cannot be believed except through Jesus’ passionate sacrificial love. The miracle of love’s abiding presence cannot be experienced fully except through the consuming yet life-giving fire of the Spirit’s gifts.

On this Trinity Sunday let us remember that as Jesus’ sisters and brothers in the Spirit we are already one in, through and with God.

In Christ we were also chosen . . . and so live with one another in Christ.

You are destined in accord with the purpose of God who accomplishes all things according to God’s will . . . and so live in accordance with this plan of love.

In Christ you also have heard the word of truth and the gospel of your salvation . . . and so believe in Christ’s desire to save all.

In the promise of the holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, you were sealed to the praise of God’s glory . . . and so act in the life of this miraculous Trinity of God’s love.

4173-trinity_edited.630w.tnWe can spend much of our lives struggling to understand the essence and meaning of the Trinity and still not possess the peace we so earnestly seek. Or we can, today, step into this experience of soothing, restorative life that these mystical three invite us to join. When we step into their life of love, we also step into a new yet everlasting peace, a complete yet always growing serenity, an immense yet intimate joy. The miraculous three offer this invitation today to all of God’s creation.

Use the scripture link to read other versions of Paul’s words and determine to live in and with and through this miracle of Trinity love.

Click on the image of Trinity Church in Manhattan above to learn how this place of sanctuary brought comfort, healing and peace in a time of deep suffering and intense pain. 

While spending time with this mystical concept, reflect on the image below. Find the three persons of the Trinity. Carry the story of Trinity Church and your thoughts about Paul’s words with you as you move through the coming days. 

the-holy-trinity

Read Full Post »

John: Naming Ourselves

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on March 28, 2022| Leave a Comment »


John: Naming OurselvesMislabeling-the-Word-of-God

Monday, March 28, 2022

In beautiful prose, the writer of John’s Gospel gives us many portals to name Christ, to understand the person of Jesus, and to model ourselves after this Word of God Among Us.  As we move closer to Palm Sunday, as we prepare to enter the holiest of times in the liturgical calendar, let us take time to assess who Jesus is, how we convey to the world our own understanding of God in the person of Jesus, and how we intend to change in order that we become more like this saving servant.

Chapter 1: Word of God and Light of the World – What does it mean to be the Word of God? Do we enact God’s mercy and justice in our actions and words? How might we bring light to the world’s darkness? Do we look for hope, bring peace, and heal others?

Chapter 3: Spirit of God – God grants us eternal life. What do we store up for this eternity? Where does our treasure lie? Do we offer life or death to ourselves and others?

Chapters 4 – 9: Healer and Miracle Worker – How do we become the hands and feet of Christ? When do we allow God to work many small miracles for and through us? How often do we witness to injustice? When and why do we heal ourselves and others?

good shepherdChapter 10: The Good Shepherd – We have the prophets’ cry out against false shepherd and teachers. Do we number among them? Do we listen for the voice of Jesus the Shepherd? Do we put aside the world to follow the one true shepherd? When do we call others to follow in Christ’s Way?

Chapters 11-12: Restorer of Life – We cannot raise Lazarus from the dead but we can restore wounded hearts, ask and grant forgiveness, bridge gaps and mend fences. We are capable of bringing hope to the hopeless, mercy to the marginalized and love to the abandoned and brutalized. When and where do we grant these gifts we have been given by God?

Chapters 13 – 14: Advocate – It is easy to look away from problems and slip into denial. Who are our loved ones, associates, colleagues and friends? Do they call us to good or encourage us to hide in darkness?

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAChapters 15 – 17: Vine for our Branches – God gives us the choice to be life-takers or life-givers. What path do we choose and why? Are we willing to change course once we see that we need to change? Do we offer to God the apology saying that we are content in our comfort zone? Do we inflict discomfort on others or call them gently? What nourishment do we allow God to bring us and how do we pass this sacred sustenance along?

Chapters 18 – 20: Lamb of God – Humility is such a difficult quality to wear in our status and power-driven world and yet it is essential. Do we strive for the meekness that Jesus displays? Do we give more than we receive? What role does pride play in our lives? How do we handle our own sense of entitlement and that of others?

Chapter 21: Resurrection – There are no words to express the beauty of God’s desire to bring us to eternal happiness in the kingdom. What fidelity to do we show to the Gospel story in our actions and words? What narrative of resurrection do we live out? What promise of resurrection to we believe? And how do we witness to the miracles of resurrection we know God performs constantly in our own lives and in the lives of others?

empty tomb with sheet and lightWe are perhaps too accustomed to these images and if this is so, we must spend quiet time with them today. If we celebrate and enact these metaphors in our lives daily then let us rejoice in the Good News that is so familiar. In either case, let us spend time with these names and call ourselves followers of Christ as today we prepare for the Palm Sunday gift of Jesus as the very name of God.

Tomorrow, Christ in Us.

Images from: http://www.redletterchristians.org/mislabeling-the-word-of-god/, http://jnwheels.com/tag/jnwheels/, http://galleryhip.com/i-am-the-vine-you-are-the-branches-bible.html, and http://wallpaper-kid.com/empty-tomb-worship-backgrounds.htm

Read Full Post »

Mark 7:31-37: Healing Deafness

Posted in Comparing Scripture, tagged , , on December 13, 2016| Leave a Comment »


Mark 7:31-37: Healing Deafness

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Bartholomeus Breenbergh: Jesus Healing a Deaf-mute

Bartholomeus Breenbergh: Jesus Healing a Deaf-Mute

John the Baptist was imprisoned and when he got wind of what Jesus was doing, he sent his own disciples to ask, “Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?” (MSG) This week we are given an opportunity to give our own testimony.

Just like that . . . we are told, “it happened. The man’s hearing was clear and his speech was plain – just like that”.

Despite the impossibility of this cure, it takes place. Despite the audacity of the miracle, this average man is healed. Despite the doubts and raised eyebrows, we too might have our speech and hearing made crystal clear.

Some people brought a man who could neither hear nor speak . . .

We might also bring a neighbor or friend, a loved one or even an enemy to Jesus so that sound and speech might be pure and distinct.

They asked Jesus to lay a healing hand on him . . .

We might go ourselves to Christ for the clarity we so urgently need both in what we hear and what we say. In our age of instant communication and false news, we must be wise about what we hear. We must consider the words we will use and when we are to speak.

They said, “He’s done it all and done it well. He gives hearing to the deaf, speech to the speechless.”

Road rage versus kindness. Anger versus fear. Hatred versus love.

How do we hear the words that seem to engulf us? How do we respond to the needs of those around us and to our own needs? Where do we go for help when fear of speaking paralyzes us? How do we still our hearts and minds so that we might perceive the wisdom of Jesus? So that our ears are open and our words are wise?

When we explore varying translations of these verses from THE MESSAGE, we discover that our hearing and speech can always use the compassion and wisdom of Christ.

Read Full Post »

%d bloggers like this: