Take Up Your Cross

Take Up Your Cross

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34

 

I had not eaten since late afternoon yesterday. I broke that fast this morning at breakfast with my son and his girlfriend. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Lenten season. During Lent it is traditional to give up something that we enjoy. We will fast. We will not, with the help of God, break that fast until Easter Sunday.

 

But, no matter what it is that we give up for Lent, we ought not think of it as a sacrifice. There is nothing that can compare to the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for us. It is - a mere test of our own self-discipline. In the end, if we are honest with ourselves, we will say, I cannot pick up my own cross and follow Jesus to his cross. May God help me! And, he has. He will be with you no matter how large or small your cross is.

 

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Philippians 4 Stand Fast and Rejoice

Philippians 4 NIV


Standing Fast.
He (she) was not moved by my presence.
 

There are many times in this world that we become disheartened. Depression may even get the best of us for a time. St. Paul reminds us today as he did the Philippians to stand fast in the Lord and rejoice! St. Paul endured trial after trial; yet, he continued to stand fast and rejoice in the Lord.

Think for just a moment about the problems you have encountered through life. Did God not see you through them all? Was He not with you? Those problems are now nothing more than a memory. Rejoice then that any trials and tribulations you may be encountering today will also pass. Continue on in the way of the Lord. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (vss 6, 7)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 5:33-39 Fast or Celebrate?

Luke 5:33-39 NIV
Sometimes, change is okay. Sometimes, change is required. Not everyone in Jesus' time on earth was happy about the fact that his disciples spent more time eating and drinking than fasting and praying. Now, this is not to say that they were gluttons or drunkards; but, in those few years that they followed Jesus, they were busy learning from him. They were busy teaching as well as healing with him. There are appropriate times for things and while Jesus was with them; there were more important things to do than focus on fasting.

Today, we still fast from time to time. They might be fasts of total abstinence from something for long periods of time or they could be something as simple as leaving Facebook during Lent. As a church, we must be open to where and what God is calling others to.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is always an interesting array of joy and sorrow. In some, I see the sober eyes that come with fasting and/or repentance. I see their sorrow at times and it is difficult not to have tears well up in my own eyes. In others I might see joy in that Jesus has welcomed them to His Table. When our little children come to the table, I mostly see joy and celebration. It is very difficult not to smile "big" with them. They come to the table for a blessing or to receive the living Lord into themselves. They are most always joyous. Years ago, children never went to the Table until they were confirmed. But, change has come and I for one welcome these faces full of joy and thanksgiving. Like those first disciples, they don't fast too often (most never), but they celebrate that the bridegroom is with us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 2:18-27 Fasting and Eating

Jesus addresses the accusations of not fasting and eating grain that was picked on Sunday be his disciples. His response reminds us that there is a time for everything. His disciples did not fast because he (the bridegroom) was with them. They, in a sense, were newly married. One hardly expects a newly married couple to put on sack cloth and fast, do we? No, rather we expect that they are celebrating their time together. There is a time to fast and a time to celebrate. Human traditions (laws) are not necessarily the greatest guidelines for when these things should happen.

The same goes for the disciples picking some heads of grain to eat on the Sabbath. Would the LORD, who was willing to die for us, really desire that we should go hungry, insisting that we not walk through a field and pick some heads of grain for sustenance - in order to keep tradition? I believe the command was to rest on the Sabbath. But, what does rest mean? I've actually had people tell me that since they are commanded to "rest" on the Sabbath they are sleeping in instead of attending worship. Or maybe they will golf or fish instead? That's rest to some. The reality is that it was the church who came up with all the specific do's and don't do's of the Sabbath.

Personally, I find the "rest" that does me the most good and refreshes me for another week is spending time in God's presence, in His house, with His people, worshipping Him. “The Sabbath was made for man; not man for the Sabbath." The Sabbath, the day of rest, was made for you;" (vs 27)  that you might rest and be refreshed by the power of Almighty God. Take advantage of this gift, celebrate His love, so that you might live life, empowered by His Word and His Spirit.

See you in a few hours at Worship where we can be refreshed by His Word and Sacrament together.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Zechariah 7 - Resolution To Show Kindness and Mercy

The people wanted to know. They wanted to know if they should continue fasting in the fifth month as they had been doing for so long. The response they received....

"The word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another." (Zech 7:8-10 NIV)

It is the beginning of a new year; a time when many decide that they will give up; they will fast from things that they have been indulging in that were harmful to themselves. They plan to change their lives for the better. How about if instead of giving up something (fasting) to make our own lives better; the change takes place in the form of adding something to our lives to make the lives of others better? Things like reaching out to others. Instead of ignoring the person you meet on the street; greet them with the peace of God. Instead of gossiping about the single woman down the street who is trying to raise her children by herself; you get to really know her and support her and her children? How about we pray for those whom we think are our enemies rather than persecute them publicly? I wonder what would happen in and to the world around us if we used (fasted) a bit more of our time and energy in showing a little more kindness and mercy.

 I know, I've suggested these types of changes (resolutions) a thousand times and some may wish I'd quit suggesting it, already.  Many hear; others refuse to unstop their ears. It is the same for many today as it was when Zechariah relayed God's message to the people in captivity. "But they refused to listen, and turned a stubborn shoulder, and stopped their ears in order not to hear." (Zech 7:11) 

Unstop your ears. Listen, to the word of the LORD. Live showing kindness and mercy that it may be well with you and with your neighbor.

God's Peace - Pr. J

 

Ezekiel 4 - What Would The LORD Have You Do?

Today, is the 16th Sunday after Pentecost. I will be preaching on "taking up our cross" - that is - being willing to do anything the LORD asks of us, following in the footsteps of Jesus, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

In our reading this morning, Ezekiel 4, the LORD calls Ezekiel to deliver a prophecy against Jerusalem to the people who are now living in Babylon. The people have not listened to the words of the prophets, maybe they will understand a visual better. Ezekiel, himself, being the main visual. He is to lie down beside a model of besieged Jerusalem that he erects. But, that's not the hard part. The hard part is that he is to lie there in front of the people for 430 days. For 390 days, he will lie on his left side to symbolically bear the sins of Israel. For 40 days, he will lie on his right side to symbolically bears the sins of Judah. He shall turn his face toward the model of the siege of Jerusalem that he has created and prophesy against her. Did I mention that in all this time, he will have a total of 20 shekels (about 8 ounces) of food to eat and a 6th of a hin (a little better than a pint) of water to drink. This is quite a fast!

Ezekiel was most faithful in being able to share this visual prophecy. But, I imagine the people probably didn't get the visual any better than they got the word. Besieged Jerusalem is to come under some extremely hard times. There will be an extreme shortage of food. Rationing will be great.

Look around! Listen! What is the LORD telling you? Where would He have you go? What would He have you do to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, proclaiming the Kingdom of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J