Make Room

"She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." - Luke 2:7

It's one of the most common displays this time of year - the Nativity Scene. Mary and Joseph, surrounded by shepherds, gazing at their newborn son. All of them found out in different ways about how special Jesus is. Joseph was told by an angel in a dream that, instead of quietly divorcing Mary, he should stay with her and name the baby "Jesus". The shepherds heard after an angel visited them and told them where to find the Holy Family. And Mary first heard from the angel Gabriel, and later (kind of) through her cousin Elizabeth.

We too all have our story on how we found out about Jesus. Many of us learned about Him through our parents, our church, and by reading the Bible. Others through witnesses, friends, family or even entertainment. But rarely do we find out in such magnificent ways as those who first encountered Jesus. I personally have never been told through an angel, nor through a dream... and I'm not sure what I would do if it happened to me! But it doesn't really matter how you found out - what matters is what you've done once you've heard about him. 

The Nativity Scene is useful for guiding us in this task. While many came and visited Jesus in the manger, it's his presence in such a humble location that should give us pause. That, instead of spending his first few days on earth in comfort, he was instead laying in a feeding trough covered in hay - all because there wasn't enough room at the closest inn. 

We too can start here by making room for Jesus in our lives. It's a good place to start when trying to figure out where to go next in expanding our faith - to make time, even if it's just a few minutes - to better understand who Jesus is. Whether that is through prayer, reading about him, or simply spending some quiet time in meditation, simply looking deeper can help us understand who he was, and how he fits in our lives.

Merry Christmas!

Be Happy

"John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" - Luke 3:3

In my earlier adult life, it seems as if I ended up making major changes every-so-often, rather than frequent smaller changes. When I left for college, I went to a school where I knew nobody, and had no means of easily returning home. When my wife and I were married, we moved together down to where I went to school, far away from those that surrounded us just days before during our wedding. And when we moved back home, I started a new job, bought a house and had our first son all within six months of one another. 

For the most part, those days are behind us - with three young kids in tow, major changes have given way to minor course corrections (this year notwithstanding!). We've taken this approach, as, while we want our kids to be as agile with change, we also know a stable, consistent home helps us to firmly establish roots - roots similar to those that our parents provided for us. 

I've often wondered about the choices we've made so far, and what our life would be like had we taken a different route. My wife and I often find ourselves in the minority for having our kids first, rather than waiting as many of our friends have done. I wonder if we would have traveled more,  stayed in school longer, have more "things" than we do now, or wouldn't be as tired at the end of the day. But I try not to dwell on the choices of our past, because what we've done and what we've chosen is just that - in the past. Written in stone. In the books. We can't change what we've done.

And we shouldn't try - every time we try to change our past, we end up wasting our future. We spend time worrying, anxious about how our decisions made will affect what's in front of us. Instead, we should be looking towards the future with hope and excitement - because we know God is still here, and is still ready to guide us.

But how do we let go of the past?

We can start by listening to John the Baptist. We need to repent, ask for forgiveness, and move on trusting that God will forget our transgressions that are in the past. We can let go of a little control, knowing that God is there to guide us, to help us. And we can work to recognize when God gives us opportunities to make changes - big and small - and take advantage of them.

John's message is about forgiveness, but it's also about hope. That soon our savior will be here, and that things are going to change - big time. And that we won't have to keep looking at our past, because Jesus is our present and future.

And for the record, I am confident my wife and I made the right decision. Our kids rock. :)

Don't Worry

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth." - Luke 21:24-25

I admit, I read this one a few times through. And each time, I was hung up on the "anxieties of daily life part" - not that I don't agree with it, but because it seems like an instruction that's far and away from "carousing and drunkenness". Don't get distracted by partying, alcohol or... anxiety? 

It took me awhile to understand where Jesus was coming from this. After all, the first two actions - partying and becoming inebriated - are often looked upon by the person experiencing it as "good" thing. I mean, who doesn't like a good party and a good drink? So why lump anxiety - an emotion that's very personal and not something people wish to experience - in with the other two? Why not leave it to the first two? After all, it's quite logical to point out that, if you're partying and drunk, you most likely will miss the signs of the end times. But being anxious about daily stuff?

But then I started thinking about the times that I've been anxious. Worrying about what's going to happen, and consuming myself with the outcomes, the probabilities, the what-ifs. And during those times, the only memories I have are that of being anxious - the rollercoaster of emotions you feel when in those situations. If that's what I remember of those times, was I truly paying attention to what God had in store for me next? Probably not. 

And I think that's Jesus's point. That we can't possibly be putting God first if we're putting ourselves first - whether that be drunk at a party or worrying about tomorrow. 

Maybe the next time I'm anxious, I'll remember that. That it's not me that should be first, but God.

"But seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. " - Matthew 6:33-34

Beginning of the End

"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." - Luke 21:25-26

We know (based on last week's readings) that we don't know when the end of the world is... that only God knows, and isn't telling. Continuing on that theme, Jesus tells us how we'll know it's happening - even if we don't know when it's coming.

But let's entertain the idea for a minute - what would you do if the end times were upon us? What if you were at the start of it, and recognized what was happening? What would you do? Indulge in your favorite food perhaps? Maybe travel somewhere you've never been? Buy that car you've always wanted?

I often wonder what I would do - and I've entertained all those ideas and more. But I've also thought about the things I'd want to fix - things that aren't things. Relationships that, for various reasons, fell apart. Repent for actions I've done that I knew were wrong. Help those in need, bring comfort to others, and share my faith with whoever wishes to listen.

Thankfully, those things can be done at any time - and while Jesus isn't painting a pretty picture of the end, he's getting us to think about it now - so that maybe we too will come to the same conclusion. That we don't need to wait until the mountains are falling before we mend broken friendships. That we don't need to wait for the stars to come crashing down before we say we're sorry. That we don't need to wait until the earth is shaking before we help others with their physical and spiritual lives.

That those kind of things can be done now - and that the only excuse we need to do them is our love of Christ. 

So what are you waiting for?

It's About Trust

"But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." - Mark 13:32

In the Bible, only one person has known the exact date life on earth was to be destroyed. Noah, who was told by God to build a really big boat, eventually listened and did as God asked him to do. By trusting in God, Noah was able to save his family - and humanity - by riding out the storm in an ark filled with animals. While this isn't quite the same as Armageddon, the people of that time would have surely thought the world was coming to an end. At least, their world was.

But the kind of destruction Jesus is preaching about isn't the same as what the people of Noah's time would have experienced. Jesus is talking about the complete, unequivocal end of the world. Not just the death of humans, but a complete upheaval and change to what we consider "our world". And while Jesus gives us clues as to how to recognize it and what it may be like, in the end we're still left wondering how and when it will happen.

Like Noah, we need to put our trust in God on this one. Jesus makes it clear that even he doesn't know when it'll happen. It's purely God's show, just as creation was. And while it may be scary, as long as we believe in God and his son, Jesus Christ, we have nothing to worry about. Whether the end times are today, tomorrow, next year or in ten thousand years, we need not worry. God loves us, will protect us, and will be with us always - whether the earth is being destroyed or not.

The world is temporary, but God is not!

End

"Jesus said to his disciples: 'In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.' " - Mark 13:24-25

End times. Tribulation. Armageddon. They're words that invoke a very basic, primal response in our minds. The thought that everything around us could soon be gone. That, as with all things, there is a beginning and an end. It's been envisoned as earthquakes, meteor showers, war, famine and everything in between. And Jesus isn't changing that bright image for any of us - it'll be dark and scary. 

I'm one of those people that floats in my belief - sometimes it's positive reinforcement (a beautiful sunset, a prayer being answered), and sometimes it's negative reinforcement (often brought about after considering my own mortality). And while Jesus's warning is a very useful testament for reinforcing belief, I don't think he's saying it to scare people into believing what he's preaching. I think it's something different.

He's saying, in no uncertain terms, that God has ultimate control because God has had this planned from the beginning. That our lives - while individually unique - fit into an overall plan for humanity. A plan that eventually comes to an end (at least, an end of what we're used to). A plan that's been in place before we existed, and one that goes well past our existence.

The good news is, God love us, and wants us to be a part of the new plan - the new Kingdom of Heaven. And Jesus is how we get there. It's not hard, but it is so important that Jesus spends time talking about it. 

If only if we'd listen...

Simplistic Complexity

"One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, 'Which is the first of all the commandments?' " - Mark 12:28

"You shall not have other gods beside me. " - Exodus 20:3

For a Jew in the time of Jesus, the answer to the scribe's question should have been second nature. Even for Jews, Christians and others of our time, the first commandment (as in the first rule on the first tablet brought down by Moses from Mount Sinai) is pretty easy to remember - "You shall not have other gods beside me". If the Ten Commandments deal with fundamental truths, this would no doubt be the first - if not the most important - because it establishes God as our God - our ultimate leader, example and who we strive to please.

So how does Jesus respond? Does he respond as the typical Jew of his time would? Yes - but with additions. He certainly reiterates that God is our "Lord alone" - but instead of ending it there, he continues, describing how we live that commandment: by loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. In short, we dedicate ourselves to loving God completely. It's a very human explanation to a very God-like commandment.

But Jesus doesn't stop there - he continues, pointing out the second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. And by doing so, he summarizes the remaining nine commandments - in all their complexity - into one single instruction - love take from them. You respect them. You share in their successes, and help them through their failures.

It's a commandment that, despite it's simplicity, takes away any complexities in trying to understand what God wants us to do. If you love someone, you're doing what God is asking you to do.

Simple!

A Sign of Faith

"Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, 'Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.' And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. " - Mark 10:46-48

According to prophesy, the Messiah was to be the seed of David - that is, King David. The same David who fought Goliath, to whom many Psalms are either attributed to or written by, and whose annointing turned Samuel's oil to pearls and diamonds. So David is a pretty well known and well-respected figure to the Jews of Jesus's time.

And to have a blind man - no doubt already shunned from society - call out and identify Jesus as a descendent of David would have been both an embarrassment to the Jews and possibly blasphemy depending on who was listening.

But Bartimaeus didn't care. He was willing to call to Jesus in a way clearly identifying who he thought Jesus was, because he knew Jesus could heal him. He knew Jesus wasn't like the temple priests, the scribes, the pharisees. Jesus was wholly someone different - someone who was sent to help others believe. 

When I first started writing this blog, I was fairly shy about my faith. I've certainly had my moments when I was willing to express it - but it was usually in a safe place with fellow believers. I wasn't ever the type to share my belief with anyone who passes by - and certainly not through the channels of social media. After all, what if I risk offending a friend? What if people start thinking I'm one of those people - start developing preconcieved notions about who I am, what I believe and what I think about others? 

While it's been a bit of a struggle on my part, I've tried to take a page from Bartimaeus's book - that I shouldn't care what other people may think or assume about me because of what I believe. That I too should be demonstrating my belief - confirming it day after day - because it's who I am, and how I choose to live. And in doing so, I've learned a lot about my own faith - I've been forced to look things up that I didn't understand, read more into bible passages to figure out the setting, and try to "seek the meaning of divine words which is hidden from others" - including myself.

Thankfully, so far, no one has yet told me to be silent. :)

Me First!

"James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, 'Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.' He replied, 'What do you wish me to do for you?' They answered him, 'Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.' " - Mark 10:35-37

James and John have been around Jesus for awhile. And while they certainly were extraordinary men, they still were human and still had weaknesses. In this case, James and John were feeling like they were pretty special - and thought that should be recognized when they make it to Heaven. After all, they've been in the weeds with Jesus, turning away from their old life and following Jesus in a new life. Why shouldn't they be afforded this special privilege?

I find that, some days, I do that too. That there must be something special waiting just for me, because of all the good things I say and do while I'm here on earth. 

But when it comes down to it, there was only one person - ever - that was more special in the eyes of God than anyone else. That person was his only son, Jesus Christ. It's a hard thing to swallow - especially on those days when you feel like you've gone the extra mile. But in the eyes of God, we are all equal - all his children, doing our best to help each other out. And when we do go that extra mile, we should take comfort in how pleased God is with us - and how we've helped out someone and made them feel special, or just helped them get by. 

It may show them just what's waiting if they do the same.

The Best Things In Life

"Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, 'You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.' At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. " - Mark 10:21-22

I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing that I can sympathize with the man Jesus instructs. After all, I have yet to sell all my things and give it to the poor. But I think, while Jesus instructs this man to sell everything, he did so because of what these possessions meant to the man:

Everything.

For someone who sees "things" as a mark of accomplishment - a way to openly demonstrate your success, your capability in life, then being asked to get rid of it all would seem like the hardest task, the most impossible chore. But maybe, as the man pondered if he can get rid of it, how he'll ultimately do it, and what he absolutely can't part with - he'll see the hidden meaning in Jesus's request.

That they're just "things". "Things" that have no meaning when it's all over. "Things" that may provide satisfaction now, but should not be the sole focus in life. That focusing too much on "things" may start to make those things more important than God. And once that happens, it's very hard to turn away and let go of those "things" for something much more real - and something that's everlasting.

It's tough - and it's something we need to be constantly aware of. That our primary focus in life isn't on getting more "things", but understanding God and loving each other.

 

It's Not Easy

"As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, 'Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'" - Mark 10:17

I often get caught up in the day-to-day rush of life. The wake up-work-home-kid stuff-home-bedtime-relax-bed routine that seems to dominate our little family of five. And so it's easy to focus on "doing enough" to feel like I'm giving God some time in that routine. That saying prayers at meals and at bed time is enough, and that the rest of my life can go on when those activities are over. 

Unfortunately for the man talking to Jesus (and for us), it's not that easy. It isn't an equation that we can simply solve for - that our life + some fraction of God will be enough. Rather, we need to weave God into our lives at all times - from the moment we wake up to the moment we close our eyes. And it's hard - it takes work, constant reminders, and (to borrow a phrase) constant vigilance to always put God first. It's a challenge that we will certainly fail at some days, but one that we must continue to strive for, for the reward is far greater than the effort.

And we just might find that, by doing so, we won't be as focused on the reward - but rather, we'll be able to see and absorb life with a vividness we have yet to experience. That, by putting God first, we can see and experience His glory in all aspects of life,  in areas that had once seemed mundane, boring or routine. It allows us to receive the reward now and later - something Jesus knew quite well and wanted us to experience for ourselves.

As for the man in the story - we'll find out soon enough what he had to do to change his life. And for him, it might have been too hard. Hopefully, we can learn a lesson from his mistakes.

Additional Note: I apologize for the unexpected week off in posting to my blog. I was a bit under the weather all last week, catching a pretty nasty cold that had me pretty worn down by the end of the day. Thankfully, after almost two weeks with it, I'm feeling better!

Silent

"Jesus replied, 'Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. " - Mark 9:39-41

"Be excellent to one another" - Bill S. Preston, Esq.

In a previous post, I talked about how, as Christians, we are more alike than different - that the way we choose to celebrate Jesus's life isn't as important as the mere fact that we are celebrating his life. He's now reminding us that, though we may agree with that point, we need to show it as much as think it. That we need to help other Christians when we can and, in doing so, we continue to demonstrate our Christianity to the world.

This doesn't mean that we ignore non-Christians, however. By helping those that are not followers of Christ, we are a living, breathing representation of the life Christ led. And we should do this in all endeavors in our lives - not that, every time we pick up a piece of trash we proclaim we're cleaning up in the name of the Lord. But rather, we should try to live our lives like Christ, as a silent witness to what drives us to do better in the eyes of God.

No doubt it's hard - even when we're talking with fellow Christians. As I wrote in the past, I've recently started teaching 2nd grade religion class, and Wednesday night was my first "official" attempt at teaching 7-8 year olds the finer parts of Catholicism. And I was surprised at how easy it was to talk about and share my faith with them (when I wasn't stopping them from wrestling with one another). It seemed infinitely easier to share it with them than others of my own age. I suppose it's because I was there (and expected to) teach - something that rarely happens in my everyday life. 

But it doesn't always have to be about talking - as Jesus reminds us, simply helping out another person demonstrates our belief in what Jesus told us to do. And in some cases, it opens the door to sharing a deeper part of ourselves, so that others can experience what we know.

Tattle

"At that time, John said to Jesus, 'Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.' " - Mark 9:38

The disciples are proud that they're in Jesus's "inner circle" - many have been with him since the start, have been first-hand witnesses to the miracles he's been performing, and have heard things from him that others have not. So it's no wonder that they get upset when an "outsider" tries to perform deeds in his name. 

But Jesus reminds them that it's ok - that there will be people doing things in his name and, if they're doing it for good, then they shouldn't be stopped. After all, the fact that they're doing it demonstrates just how much they believe in Jesus. 

2,000 years later, we too get caught up in this. We try to compare and contrast ourselves as Christians to others. One version thinks certain activities are good, others damnable. Some believe in the literal translation of the events transpired at the Last Supper, others believe them to be representations. Some believe healing can only be accomplished through a formal process, others see it as a very personal experience. There are millions of ways one Christian can be different from others. But there's one thing we will always share in common - our belief in Jesus, the Son of God, who walked with us, talked with us, and wants us to believe in him. And no matter how we express our faith, how we interpret what he said, at our core we all believe that fundamental idea. 

Jesus was, is, and always will be with us. Let's focus on that, instead of what makes us different.

It's a Life

"He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, 'Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.'" - Mark 8:34-35

I don't usually remember my dreams - I chalk it up to a combination of children awake in the middle of the night and not going to bed when I should. So when I do have dreams that I remember, I always try to pay attention to them. Not that I believe I'm fortunate enough to be spoken to in dreams, but as a way to figure out what my mind is chewing on during it's idle time.

Last night, I had a dream I remembered. It was very short, and quite depressing. I was near the end of my life (for some unknown reason), and I was reflecting on what a hopeless situation it was. I knew my end was near, and there was nothing I could do about it. I spent the entirety of my dream feeling sad and alone, which meant I woke up feeling the same way (maybe that's why I don't dream).

I felt that way until I had awaken a bit more, and remembered that, no matter what, there's someone waiting for me when I pass on. That I don't have to feel sad, depressed or alone, because I believe in Jesus, and that he will lead me on when my time comes.

And I think that's half of what Jesus is talking about at the end of these verses - that if you follow him, you have no reason to worry about losing your life. But there's another angle taken here - one that has less to do with the final moments of a life, and more to do with the days, weeks, months and years leading up to that moment. That the choices we make - which define the life that we lead - are what count. That we have to be willing to give up our old lives and take up a new one following Jesus's words. And if we do that - if we're willing to sacrifice those days, weeks, months and years, we have nothing to fear when our physical life ends. Because, by doing so, we live a life that can harmlessly pass this to the next - and we know what awaits us.

It's a tough thing to do - certainly one that I've failed at numerous times. But by trying to life in that new life every day, we strengthen our life with God. Forever.

 

Yo, Teach!

"Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say that I am?' They said in reply, 'John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.' " - Mark 8:27-28

In two weeks, I will be standing in front of a class of 17 second graders, in an attempt to teach them about the Catholic faith, get them ready for their first reconciliation and their first communion. 

Yes, take that in for a second. Seventeen 7-8 year-olds. 

And while I'm both excited and extremely nervous about this, I've also been trying to think about how, exactly, I share my faith with a seven year old. I make some assumptions in this blog - that, if you're reading it, you're pretty good at navigating the web, that you have an interest in the practice of Lectio Divina, and/or you're related to me. But I can't exactly share my faith the same way I do here as I will with kids. It's going to take a different kind of approach - one that may include crayons, songs and Play-Dough.

When I first read these verses, I was thinking of a completely different reflection on them - that Jesus was trying to figure out his "status" within the people of his time. But as I started thinking about it more, I saw parallels to my upcoming adventure. I started thinking about why Jesus wanted to know, rather than what he was asking. By this time, Jesus has been doing signs and wonders, all while preaching about God and fulfilling his mission. And he's asking his disciples to see if what he's doing is working - if his approach is successful. And by their reply ('John the Baptist, Elijah, etc'), the people of his time aren't quite there. They need additional instruction in a different way to help them understand and believe in Jesus and his message. A demonstration that will culminate in the death and resurrection of his life. 

While I won't go to the extremes that Jesus did, I still take this reflection and message to heart - that, by taking different approaches in sharing my faith, not only will I be helping others understand what I believe, but I too will grow in how I see the world through Christ.

What?

"And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, 'Ephphatha!' (that is, 'Be opened!') And the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. " - Mark 7:32-35

My wife will sometimes accuse me (rightfully so I must admit) that I have selective hearing. I blame genetics - for I come from a long line of selective hearers. And while I sometimes legitimately don't hear everything she says - it's more often than not that my selective hearing is because I hear - but don't listen - to what she's telling me. This event is usually followed up with apologies and swift action to correct the situation... that is, until it happens again. Sorry honey. :)

When I read this passage, I wonder if the deaf man (and the crowd) are part of the group that ends up leaving Jesus after awhile. That they too suffer from selective hearing - sure the deaf man can now hear the words of Jesus - but will he listen to him, as God commanded us to during the Transfiguration? Will they listen to his words, or simply stand in awe of his actions? Unfortunately, for many, they will simply look at the actions and, when confronted with the profound Truth Jesus tries to impart on them, decide it's too much and walk away.

It's unfortunate, but yet we can take a lesson from it - that we need to listen - as much as we hear - Jesus's words in our lives. That, when sitting at Church, reading our favorite blog (hint hint), or simply hearing a verse in passing we stop and listen to what those words have to say. What those words mean to us, to our present situation, to the lives we're currently leading, and continue to commit to following Christ.

Take it from a guy who has a bit of experience in this area - you miss out on some really good stuff if all you do is hear.

Superprayer

"So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, 'Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?' He responded, 'Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:

This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.

You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition.' " - Mark 7:5-8

Whew - not so "little" on the Lectio Divina today! However, I thought including a little more of the context would help frame up the situation Jesus is dealing with here. As was noted in the last post, Jesus is talking with the Pharisees - the folks that pride themselves on following the law to the letter. The Pharisees continue to press Jesus on why his disciples aren't following the law as closely as they are. After all, if Jesus is the Messiah, certainly he and his disciples would be the model citizens for following God's law.

But here's where Jesus makes the point - that the minute details of the law that the Pharisees are "catching" him on are human doctrines - and that Isaiah prophesied about the Pharisees eight hundred years before then. His point isn't that following the Law is bad - but that focusing on following it to the letter - and ignoring its' intended purpose - has the opposite effect on their relationship with God.

And while this scene played out 2000 years ago, we as modern Christians can - and do - get caught up in focusing on the details rather than the purpose. We may focus on making sure we give a certain percent of our income, that our Church outfits are pristine, that we wear our Crucifix so all can see. Again - none of these things are bad, but if we focus too much on the act itself, rather than the reason behind the act - we too will get caught up in the details.

I know I do this quite a bit when reciting prayers I've known since I was little. I say the words, but forget to think about what those words really mean - whether it's at dinner time, bed time or during mass. They come so naturally now that it actually takes work to slow down, think about what I'm saying and - more importantly - why I'm saying it. But I find that, when I do slow down, I hear those words in the context of my life now, and find they still relate to who I am.

Taking it slow is the essence of Lectio Divina. To think about the words, what they mean to us, and how they reflect in our everyday lives. And Jesus is reminding us that there's so much more to God than rituals (though they have their place), and that we must try to grow in our relationship with God by slowing down, seeing the bigger picture, and thinking about why we're doing what we're doing.

30 Seconds

"When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. " - Mark 7:1-3

When our oldest was little (that is, younger than he is today), we used to teach him to sing "happy birthday" while washing his hands. That way, he spent the right amount of time cleaning, and since he knew the song he could easily make the 30 second mark. While that didn't last forever, he still demonstrates good hygiene, which helps prevent the spread of colds in our house.

But the washing of hands back in Jesus's day wasn't to kill cold germs. It was a part of a ritual made to make someone "clean" in the eyes of God. Mark is mentioning this so we, 2000 years in the future, can understand who the Pharisees actually were. We know they challenge Jesus, they are sticklers for the Jewish law, and often boast about how closely they follow the law. But in many encounters with them, Jesus tries to help them understand that what they're doing only cleans their outward appearance - that is, cleaning them from the things they've already done wrong.

And while it's important to do that (Catholics and other faiths do that now as a part of reconciliation), Jesus's point is that they need to change on the inside - that simply following a ritual doesn't fix what's really wrong. He makes this point well during his Sermon on the Mount, and continues to throughout his ministry. That it's more important to be good within, then demonstrate goodness on the outside. Not that giving and helping others is worthless in the eyes of God (in fact, one could argue that doing those things is an outward extension of who you are) - but that we need to spend as much time focusing on our inward appearance as we do our outward appearance. Something the Pharisees had a hard time understanding.

Thank God we are a bit more enlightened!

Retreat

"And he said, 'For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.' As a result of this, many [of] his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, 'Do you also want to leave?' Simon Peter answered him, 'Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.' " - John 6:65-68

For those in the United States, we are well into the election cycle. This means constant ads, news reports, interviews, blog postings, status updates, tweets and debates. It's candidates trying to amass support (which they hope will turn into votes), while arguing against their opponents. This ends up with one side winning, while other sides lose, and the candidate going on to do it all over again in the job they just won.

And throughout all of this, the candidate tries to win over and keep supporters to ensure their victory. They say things they think potential supporters want to hear, while attempting to not alienate the folks they already have "on their side".

And based on these verses, it's quite clear Jesus was no politician. He had a mission and a message that many weren't quite able to stomach. And no matter how many miricles, signs and wonders he performed, it didn't matter for some. They weren't ready to do what Jesus asked, and weren't ready to completely follow him. Because of that, many got up and left, going back to their daily lives.

After reading and thinking about these verses for quite some time, there's so many parallels we can draw from the scene that unfolded. That there are times we are like those who left, other times we're the ones that stay. That, once we hear and understand Jesus's message and purpose, we can't simply "return to our former way of life", but rather live in a new life.

The connection I personally draw is that, even when faced with overwhelming evidence, I sometimes fail in my belief. I sometimes doubt what I've seen, experienced and heard, and would rather go back to doing things the old way because it's comfortable and easy. And when faced with those decisions, I need to strive to choose to stay, but know I'll be forgiven when I choose otherwise.

I'm sure there are folks that left Jesus and came back right after his death, others that came back after some time passed, and still others that didn't come back at all. At all times, regardless of how we slip up, we simply need to come back, and all will be forgiven.


(And I promise, this is the closest I will ever come to talking about politics on this blog, ever. (-: )

Containers

" [Jesus Said] 'It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.' Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. " - John 6:63-64

I just finished playing "The Game of Life" with my oldest. He ended up with $1.3 million, whereas I had $10,000 left over. And while it's just a game (though certain tiles I landed on bore a striking similarity to challenges I've faced in my life already...), it's also a good reminder of just how important it is to have lots of money when you reach the end.



...As in, it's not important. Not even a little. Because like the game, once you get to the end, the amount of money you have, the number of things you have, the coolest electronics you have mean absolutely nothing. When the game's over, everything changes.

It's one of the reasons why Jesus is reminding us about how life isn't our hearts beating, our lungs filling or our eyes blinking. It's our spirit that makes us who we are, the "being" in "human being" that defines who we are to others... and who we are to God. He's giving us a good reminder to focus on what we're doing to take care of that spirit, so when the real game is over, we're ready for what's next.

And it wont be decided by a giant spinning dial!

Losing Patience

"Then many of his disciples who were listening said, 'This saying is hard; who can accept it?' Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, 'Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?' " - John 6:60-62

At this point, Jesus has a number of other disciples other than the twelve Apostles. And they've been following him for awhile, listening to what he has to say and seeing the miracles he has performed. But now he's laying it all out for them - making sure they understand who he is, why he's here, and where he's going. And it's a hard concept for many - if not most- of them to follow. After all, many of them have known him prior to the official start of his ministry (though one could argue his ministry started at birth... but that's for another day). They knew him as the carpenters' son, a childhood friend, a regular kid. He certainly was no royalty, didn't come from priestly stock. Rather, he was a simple boy from a simple family, destined to be a carpenter like his dad.

But now he's saying things like "I am the living bread that came down from heaven", "whoever believes has eternal life" and recognizing himself as "Messiah" - things that, at a minimum, are heresy. And they're starting to get scared, starting to question deeper who he is (despite the insurmountable evidence provided to them).

I imagine Jesus must be losing patience with them - because I certainly am. He's multiplied food, turned water into wine, healed the sick, and brought others back from the dead. There had not been anyone like him before, and will never be anyone like him since. But many of his disciples are caught up in the moment - in how their lives interact with Jesus's - and they're choosing to (in their minds) play it safe.

So Jesus plants a seed in their minds - one that won't grow until after he's died. He asks them what they would think if they saw him rise from the dead and ascend into Heaven. And I'm sure that, at this point, the disciples that are ready to leave are done listening. But Jesus gives them that seed - that gift- that will come back and remind them, down to their soul, about what they witnessed and who he was.

Ten Foot Pole

"Jesus said to the crowds: 'I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.' " - John 6:51

If it hasn't been apparent in the last 101 posts, I'm Catholic. Which means (for many of us), I read verses like these in the context of the Holy Eucharist - that is, it reminds me of the transubstantiation the bread and wine go through during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. And for many other denominations besides Catholicism, this portion of the liturgy means and is experienced in different ways from my own. So with that said, I'm going to leave that interpretation aside for this particular entry, and leave it up to you to reflect, in your own way, how what Jesus is saying aligns with your particular belief.

To me, the portion of the verse I missed was Jesus saying "the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world". And that should give you as much pause as the first part of the verse - if not more. As we get closer to the Crucifixion, Jesus talks more and more about his death, but here he gives a very clear and direct reason why he's going to die - "for the life of the world". And it's quite true - up to this point, the people of Jesus's time have a guarded, fearful view of God. They've seen God bless Moses in his exodus, but have heard Job's story of losing everything. They're quite aware of what happened to the world Noah lived in, what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah, to kings that have dared to challenge God's people, and to the trials and tribulations experienced by the Jewish population. So there is good reason to fear God.

But Jesus is saying something different - that God loves us, wants to be with us, and is willing to sacrifice his only Son to prove it to us. It's a turn-around from over a thousand years of previous history, and will take a long time to sink in.

But it will. And a new group of people will emerge, who follow Jesus and his teachings. And while they may not agree on everything, they all will understand why Jesus was here, and what that means to them.

Seeing

"Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father." - John 6:46

When I was younger, I was over at my paternal Grandmother's house for dinner. It was fall, so by the time we were ready to go it was quite dark. The moon was shining brightly, so I went outside, and sat on the step while waiting for my parents to finish saying goodbye so we could go home. And I remember this part vividly: as I was sitting on the step, I saw my maternal great grandma sitting next to me, and she gave me some M&Ms. There was a brightness to her, one that seemed to light up the night, and I was immediately calm and happy right where I was - and not because of the M&Ms (though I am a big fan).

My great grandma had passed away a while before then, and I had only known her for a short time. I have small memories of her at my maternal grandmother's house, where she always gave me M&Ms with a bright smile. I know she was an amazing lady, one who made my mom feel quite special when she stayed at my great grandma's house in the summers of her youth. She was warm, compassionate, and witty. And I wish I would have been a little older, so I had more memories of her.

But I will cherish that memory forever. As I reflect back on that day, I remember not feeling scared or confused that she was there. Rather, I felt calm - like I somehow knew there was nothing to be afraid of, nothing that was out of the ordinary. After seeing her, I went back inside and told my parents, who were obviously shocked. At that point I realized how strange that event was. But I'll always remember that feeling, and while I don't know why it happened, I know I'm very blessed to have both experienced it and remembered it. And when I'm feeling doubt, unsure about what I believe or if it's all made up, I remember that night.

I can only imagine what it will be like to see God. I think it will be like that, only better. I know someday I will see Him, but until then, I can only read and understand Jesus's words. He himself has seen God, because he was sent by God. It's his words that are God's words, and he's reminding us of that - that only he has seen him fully, has heard him, understood him, and knows the reason why God sent him. And someday, as long as we listen to him, we too will see, know and understand God.

Glitzy

"The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said, 'I am the bread that came down from heaven,' and they said, 'Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, 'I have come down from heaven?' ' " - John 6:41-42

Well dear readers, this entry is quite unique. This is the 100th post to my little Lectio Divina blog. Thank you all for reading the short passages and reflections, and I hope you've found this to be insightful - or at least, entertaining.

While I'm responsible for 98 of these entires, I felt like this one's gotta be good. So I started racking my brain about what I could do to make this entry more "special" than the others....

...I came up with nothing. Zero. No ideas whatsoever. Well, except for dancing hamsters - but that's already been done.

But I started thinking about it some more - and started thinking about what Jesus did to wow and amaze. Unfortunately, I can't turn water into wine, there is no storm for me to attempt to calm tonight, and I can't multiply fish and bread (not that I would anyway, as I'm not a big fan of fish).

And then I realized - I don't need to do anything special. I don't need to "wow" and "amaze" to get my point across. Because it's not my point at all - it's Jesus's words that I'm reflecting on - and he can do all those things. He has done all those things. And his words are perfect - they don't need changing, or sprucing up. They're for us, for everyone, and the fact that we have them - after 2000 years - is all that matters.

It's funny - because it's his words that are causing the Jews to murmur amongst themselves. Jesus will shortly rebuke them and set them straight. But they too were hung up on who he was, and where he came from, instead of what he actually said. Had they listened and believed, rather than wondered about his family, they may not have needed all the signs and miracles he had to produce to have his message sink in.

But we can't judge them from so many years into the future - after all, we too are guilty of wanting to see to believe. Hoping for that one sign that God exists, hoping we might see Him, hear Him as others did in the Old Testament. And while we're not hung up on his family, we too get hung up on wondering, questioning who he was, why he was here, and if it was all true.

Thankfully, deep down, we know the truth. And while our minds may wander, our hearts are firmly anchored in the belief of Jesus, the Son of God, who died for us all.

Amen.

To Sir

"So they said to him, 'Sir, give us this bread always.' Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.' " - John 6:34-35

While I think it's quite early, I'm starting to notice 'younger' members of our population (which I still think I am a part of) refer to me as 'Sir'. This includes such phrases as "Here is your change, 'sir'", "'Sir', would you like the extended warranty?" and "Excuse me 'sir'? I think you dropped this.". I think it's because I have three young kids. I may be by myself when they say that, but they must know, right? Because I'm certainly not old enough to be a 'sir'!

And when I read these two verses, I'm struck by the crowd's addressing of Jesus. They don't call him 'master', 'teacher' or 'Rabbi' like the Apostles - they call him 'sir'. It makes me wonder if - through everything they've seen, they still don't quite get who Jesus is. After all, if you met Jesus, I don't think you'd refer to him as anything but "Lord"!

But the people of Jesus's time are only seeing a part of who he is. They see some miracles first hand, hear about others second-hand, and hear his message about loving one another. But they don't quite understand why he's able to do the things he does. Why he has no fear of retribution by the Jews or the Romans for the things he says.

It's because he knows much more than they do, and knows he has to ease them into it. That it has to be a steady build-up to the ultimate sacrifice he's preparing to make - so when it happens, his whole mission will come together into one "aha!" moment for those he touched.

And maybe they'll think twice about referring to him as simply "sir"!

Shelf-Life

"Jesus answered them and said, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.' " - John 6:26-27

There's a a number of well-known urban legend surrounding Twinkies - everything from them having a shelf-life of a hundred years to the only thing besides cockroaches that will survive a nuclear apocalypse. Unfortunately, all those legends are false (despite my hope that they were - I mean really, who doesn't like Twinkies?).

And while the Twinkie was still 1900 years away, Jesus is telling us that there is no food that lasts forever - and that our focus shouldn't be on things that go away, but rather the one thing that will lead to eternal life.

No doubt it's a hard thing to understand - and even harder to live. We like our things - our nice cars, our new clothes, good food and fun things to do. And Jesus isn't saying that having those things are strictly forbidden. But what he is saying is more of a reminder - that all of those things have everything to do with a life that perishes - a life that has a definitive end. And that we should be more concerned with what we're doing for our eternal life - our life with God and Jesus in Heaven, rather than focusing on today's pleasures.

It's a lesson we hear over and over - and we often equate it to being generous, giving what we have to help others, giving our time to those less fortunate. And I'm not going to say that all those things aren't important (we know from other reading just how important they are). But we also need to remember that we need to nourish our spiritual lives through prayer as much as we do through the giving of our time, talent and treasure. That reading the Word, talking to God and working to understand Him at deeper and deeper levels is what builds that life. It's as much through our actions, as it is through understanding and commitment to God, that leads us to that everlasting life.

With that said, I hope there are Twinkies in Heaven.

Chase

"When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, 'Rabbi, when did you get here?' " - John 6:24-25

So a few things have happened since Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes. He first retreated to the mountains shortly after everyone ate, for fear they would make him their king. The Apostles, wondering where he went, hopped on a boat and sailed to Capernaum, only to get caught in bad wind. And knowing his Apostles were in trouble, Jesus walks to them (across the water) and brings the boat safely to shore.

And after all that, the crowd continues to follow, asking Jesus when he got there. I wonder if the Apostles started into the crowd, ready to tell them about what just happened - that the man that just fed them can also walk on water. I would imagine Jesus, as usual, silenced his Apostles, for the same reason that he left the crowd in the first place - he didn't want to make him their king.

It's curious, however, as to why, throughout all of this, Jesus continues to play down the attention he receives. After all, he is the Son of God, why wouldn't he want to bask in some of that glory?

It's pretty simple, really. If they focus on him, they'll idolize him, making his earthly works the focus of his life, rather than listening to his selfless message about God's love. Don't get be wrong - healing, feeding and bringing folks back to life are miracles beyond anything anyone had ever seen (or have seen since), but Jesus wants them to focus not on their life on earth, but their eternal life. Something that bread alone is not sufficient to ensure.

It's a good reminder for us as well - that our focus shouldn't be on what we have here, but what's waiting for us in the next part of our life - and what we're doing to make sure we get there.

Saying Grace

"Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, 'Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.' So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat." - John 6:11-13

"Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. " - Prayer before meals (Catholic)

In our family, we traditionally say Grace before eating dinner - and when you have young kids, it can be a daunting task to hold them off until everyone sits down and says the prayer before digging in. It's not something that comes naturally - they know we go to the grocery store, pay for the food, prepare the food and finally serve it, and it appears mom and dad do it all alone. So to say Grace to God for providing our food doesn't always mesh - and when you're hungry, it sometimes feels more like an obstacle than a quiet moment of reflection.

But we, like Jesus, know that it is through His Grace that we have what is in front of us. That it is the blessings we've been given that has afforded us the ability to purchase the food, the dishes, the electricity (or propane if it's a summer weekend) to make what's in front of us. And saying Grace allows us to recognize that fact - that the conditions were right for the wheat to grow, that the manufacturing plant that made and packaged the food was working safely, that the truck the food arrived on did so without incident that led to the food we see.

With this in mind, it's telling that Jesus too gives thanks to God for the food. That he recognizes this fact too - that all that went into the food provided to him was by the grace of his Father. And that even the son of God isn't above recognizing and giving thanks to his dad for all that's been provided.

Of course, the folks in the crowd most likely recognized Jesus alone as the source of the food - and probably were thankful (and a bit amazed) for his ability to provide for so many with so little.

It's a good reminder that we need both God and Jesus in our lives - for through both we have our fill.

Take a Load Off

"Philip answered him, 'Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.' One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, 'There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?' Jesus said, 'Have the people recline.' Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. " - John 6:7-10

Loaves and Fishes is one of those stories that appears in all four Gospels - most likely because of how many people experienced it first hand. It's a pretty simple story, and one that we can easily understand. A lot of people (4000-5000) followed Jesus to listen to what he had to say, but did not come prepared with any sort of meal. A donation is made, and Jesus multiplies that donation so much that there are a dozen baskets left over. The hungry are fed, Jesus's message sinks in and all are grateful.

We all can relate because, at one time or another, we've been hungry. And we know how hard it is to learn on an empty stomach - and that's likely one of the reasons why Jesus wants everyone to be full and comfortable - so that his message has the greatest likelihood of sinking in, and getting passed on. Yes, the miracle in itself is amazing, but the fact that Jesus knows us so intimately should speak even louder to our spirits.

He was, is, and always will be one of us. He understands us, knows that we make mistakes, loves us and forgives us. He'll stand with us on our day of judgement, being our great advocate and friend.

A good reminder for when we think we've lost touch with our God and ourselves.

Tip of the Iceberg

"Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, 'Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?' " - John 6:1-5

Jesus actually knows the answer to the question he poses to Philip - in John 6:6, John remarks "He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.". So why ask Philip a rhetorical question? I imagine it's because, despite the apostle's commitment to Jesus, they still have a lot to learn about who Jesus really is. They've been spreading his message for quite some time, have witnessed his countless miracles, but still don't quite understand what it means to be the Son of God. Once again, Jesus will show them another facet of that title.

I sometimes wonder if Jesus ever lost patience with his followers, constantly showing them that he can do anything. It must have been hard reminding them of that fact - and it seems silly to us now, since we know the whole story.

But the apostles were living in the moment. Healing the sick, feeding large crowds and bringing the dead back to life were all great miracles in themselves, and was hard for anyone to understand that someone could do those things - especially all of them!

As in this story, Jesus keeps reminding them that they "ain't seen nothin yet"...


...and it'll take the ultimate sacrifice to bring home everything he's been teaching to them.

Never Alone

"So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. " - Mark 6:32-33

As I write this, I'm sitting in a hotel room in Las Vegas, and have just finished attending a conference in my field. And if you've ever been to Las Vegas, you'll remember the constant onslaught against your senses - hot, dry weather, loud music, scores of people, the smell of food and the intensely bright, flashing lights. I was remarking to a former colleague of mine that I need to go hide in my hotel room for awhile, just to relax and get away from the busyness that is Las Vegas.

And while Jerusalem at the beginning of the first millennium wasn't quite the same, I'm sure the apostles were feeling quite overwhelmed. Yes, they had been doing this for a while (by themselves), but I get the sense that the number of people coming to see them now is much more than what they had been dealing with at the start. After all, people didn't know who Jesus was, what he's done or what his message is. But once word started going around, the number of people who wanted to see him and the apostles no doubt grew exponentially.

So after their long trip, some alone time might have been nice. The people following them (and later, running ahead of them!) had other plans...

But the apostles have something now that they didn't during their mission - Jesus himself. And they must have taken comfort and strength in knowing that Jesus was there, would take point, and relieve their burden a bit. It's a luxury that they have now, and probably missed greatly after his ascension.

So while the crowds swelled, while the demands grew, the team of apostles lead by Jesus were ready to go, to preach, and share the awesome message of love and hope.

And it's the same message we hear today.

No Rest

"The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.' People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat." - Mark 6:30-31

The apostles are finally back from teaching. And Jesus, realizing how tired they must feel, tells them to go take a break. However, the people around them had other plans - their message about Jesus has spread, and many are taking notice and want to know more about this man. They have folks who are sick, who have been shunned by society, who have lost hope, and are looking for a bright light to lead them on. Who better than Jesus and his apostles?

As hard as it must have been, the apostles were no doubt ready. Mark subtly notes the transition Jesus's closest followers made by switching up the title - no longer disciples, they're apostles, or the twelve who were sent forth. In much of Christianity, the term "Apostle" is used after Pentecost, but Mark is noting the change because they've come back from their mission. They've delivered Jesus's message, and demonstrated their commitment to him by doing so. Of course, one Apostle gives up this commitment near the end of Jesus's life, but for now they're one consistent group of guys, spreading the Good News and amplifying Jesus's voice across the country.

So while they're tired, they're also ready to keep going - they have the confidence, the power and the knowledge to spread Jesus's message, and will continue to do so across many generations of Christians - all the way to us.

Support

"He said to them, 'Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.' " - Mark 6:10-11

If you didn't know any better, you'd think Jesus was sending them out after the resurrection. After all, it sounds like the disciples are about to head out and start teaching, as they did in Acts. But the difference here is in the message, and what Jesus has taught them up to this point. It's kind of like student-teaching - the students (disciples) are heading out to start spreading the message, but yet their teacher (Jesus) still has much to say and show them. They'll be back, after which Jesus will continue to teach them, help them understand who he is, and ultimately bring them to a very deep place of belief after his death and resurrection.

But for now, they're trying this whole thing out, knowing they're going to come back. And it's a good reminder for us that, despite their early committment here, they will falter. They will fail, and fall down with their belief - but yet Jesus stays committed to them, as he does with us. It's reassuring to know that even the disciples, who were with Jesus, had troubles some days. But as long as you come back, you'll be ok.

What a different experience they'll be sharing in just a short while...

Not a Vacation

"He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts. " - Mark 6:7-8

First off, thanks to our guest blogger for filling in during my absence. Her insight and wisdom were wonderful, and I hope you enjoyed her posts as much as I did.

As noted in prior posts, my family and I spent the last week vacationing. Unfortunately, my wife was out of action with a pretty bad cold, and so I did the majority of the planning and packing - something I hadn't really done before, and something I hope to never have to do by myself in the future!

But all this packing gave me a sense as to how much it takes to keep our family of 5 going for a week. And after reading the first two verses from this week's Gospel, I feel a bit like I overpacked. Jesus sends his disciples out, two by two, with nothing but a walking stick. Nothing to eat, no cash to buy something to eat, no portable DVD players, no fishing rods. But he assures them that they'll be fine.

If I were a disciple, I'd be quite nervous. Not only is this the first time I'd be going at it alone, I won't have any of the comforts of home along. But I think that was part of Jesus's reasoning behind sending them out this way - that it'd be easier for them to fully commit, because they have less holding them back, less distraction, and fewer reminders of what they're leaving behind.

Thankfully, they all came back - stronger, committed, and full of the Holy Spirit - and because of that, our faith carries on to this day.

Flexibility

This is the second of two guest posts whilst tehmayor is on vacation.

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"He departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples....And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.' So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith." -- Mark 6:1, 3-6

Jesus returns to Nazareth with His friends and disciples beside him, ready to continue his work, but when he shows up at the sanctuary on the sabbath to teach, the townspeople aren't particularly receptive. Jesus has been traveling around and teaching all kinds of people, so it's easy to see how he might have expected a more positive reception in his hometown than he ultimately received. Aren't these the people who watched him grow up, learning carpentry at his earthly father's hands? Shouldn't they have been the people supporting him, welcoming him home, wanting to know what He's been up to and what He has to teach them?

Instead, that same familiarity bred contempt in the Nazareans. Instead of interest and support, Jesus encounters skepticism and doubt. "Isn't this just Joseph and Mary's son, who we've known since he was a baby?" they scoff. "Who does he think he is, to be coming here with his 'mighty' deeds and wisdom, telling us how to live?"

Maybe Jesus should have expected that the people who had known him all his life would be the least likely -- least able -- to see him for who he truly is, the son of God. They think they know him, that they know his family -- and they think that what he's been doing and saying isn't appropriate, worthwhile, or even, maybe, true. They don't believe.


But since Jesus was human, maybe he didn't even consider that his hometown folks would respond this way to his teaching until it was staring him in the face. Mark says Jesus was "amazed at their lack of faith" -- which certainly suggests that he didn't expect this negativity.


When your family members, friends, or neighbors talk...do you keep an open mind and truly listen?


When your children, younger siblings, or nieces and nephews grow up and form their own thoughts and opinions about the world, can you make the shift from thinking of them as kids still following the family's path and acknowledge that they may have different views from yours? When they talk to you about their views and beliefs, do you listen with your mind and heart -- and does your response differ if their views aren't the same as yours anymore?


Just think of how much the Nazareans missed out on. A handful of sick people were healed, yes, but while that's certainly nothing to sneeze at, Jesus had so much more to give them -- but they weren't interested. He could do little for those who lacked faith.

Be flexible, be thoughtful, be faithful. Jesus' power to perform mighty deeds is limited when we don't have faith.

Weakness + strength

This is the first of two guest posts whilst tehmayor is on vacation.
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"I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong." -- II Corinthians 12:9-10


First off, a disclaimer: I don't pretend to the depth of research and thoughtfulness that tehmayor shows in post after post, so I'll be exploring more of what these passages say to me personally.


As I read and re-read Paul's words about weakness and strength, it brought to mind a cultural convention that many of us -- me included -- frequently indulge in. "I look so fat in this." "I'm not very good at [something you're actually pretty good at]." "I'm sure I failed that exam." On the surface, these self-deprecating comments resemble Paul's -- aren't we boasting of our weaknesses when we do this? But most of the time, comments like this have the goal -- whether overtly or subtly -- of compelling the hearer to protest. "No, you look great in that dress!" "No, you sounded great!" "Whatever, you always say that and you always ace the exams!" Sometimes these looked-for responses are accompanied by eye-rolling, especially when they're really egregious in their attention-seeking. We know you know you didn't fail that test. We know you're a great singer. We know you're smart. Why are you forcing us to make sincere, though not voluntary, affirmations?


Do we really think so little of ourselves, or focus so much on our negatives, that the automatic (but not necessarily heartfelt) contradictions of those around us are necessary? And are these non-spontaneous affirmations even affirming, really? I can't tell you why I do it. It's a combination of reasons, I'm sure, not least of which is that it's normal and accepted practice. Most of us do this as a matter of course in our daily lives.


But I'm getting away from the core of what Paul is talking about. In the preceding verses, he tells us that he's worried that if he gets too elated because of the revelations he's experienced, God might get after him or humiliate him. Isn't that a lot like what we are taught growing up? Don't brag. Don't lord your good fortune over others, especially others who are less fortunate than you. We look down on people who flaunt their wealth, especially those so wealthy that they're simply out of touch with the "real world" (think Paris Hilton, the Kardashians, all kinds of naughty movie stars and musicians). God has revealed some divine secrets that Paul can't really share with us, not directly, and Paul is struggling with the adversity that God sent him for the very purpose of keeping his, Paul's, perspective.


All of us experience this same kind of struggle, whether it's exterior events (difficult life events, people who don't like us) that are the "thorn in the flesh" or our own personal failings (temptations, sins). We tend to berate ourselves for our failings, or ask "why me?" about the adversity we experience during our lives, but Paul reframes these weaknesses as a way to grace, strength, and the power of Jesus.


It kind of turns our perspective on its head, to think about how enduring and embracing adversity and our own human failings (just as the human-yet-divine Jesus did) helps us become stronger, so that the power of Christ dwells within us.

Practical Miracles

"He took the child by the hand and said to her, 'Talitha koum' which means, 'Little girl, I say to you, arise!' The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat." - Mark 5:41-43

Obviously bringing someone back to life is a huge miracle. But the part of this that reminds me of how human Jesus was is when he told others to get her a bite to eat. Most likely it was because she was sick for so long, she had little energy and was quite hungry. But the fact that Jesus thought of this (and that Mark specifically mentions it) reminds us all that, despite his ability to perform miracles, preach to our souls, and baptize us with the Holy Spirit, Jesus was a man. He understood us because he was one of us. He knew that, when you've finally beaten a sickness, you need to be fed. And he knew that everyone was so astounded they weren't thinking about the girl's immediate needs, just that this man brought a little girl back to life.

This isn't the only account of Jesus bringing someone back to life. But as amazing as this event is, what's more amazing is that, by dying, Jesus brings us all back to life - and into an everlasting life. One where we don't need Jesus to heal us, but rather a life where we walk with Jesus forever.

Special note: Next week I will be on vacation, so a very insightful stand-in will be contributing a couple posts in my absence. I hope you enjoy!

Have Faith

"While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said, 'Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?' Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, 'Do not be afraid; just have faith.' " - Mark 5:35-36

"'Cause I gotta have faith..." - George Michael

Imagine, for a minute, that your child is sick. Really sick. So sick that you're willing to do anything to help them feel better. Now imagine you think you've found the cure - only to arrive home and find your child has succumbed to the sickness before you could deliver the cure.

Heartbreaking, to say the least.

And this is exactly how the synagogue official felt. His daughter is sick, he finds Jesus, convinces him to come with, only to arrive home and find out his daughter has already died. What dispair, what raw emotions he must have felt - to not only feel like he missed his only opportunity to save his daughter, but that he wasn't by her side during her last moments.

Thankfully, the cure he's brought with is no ordinary medicine. In fact, it's so potent death can't keep it from working.

It's called faith. Faith is (spoiler alert) what brings this little girl back to life. Faith is what keeps Christ's message going through two millenia. Faith is what keeps us believing when it feels like the world is against us. Faith is what sustains us when we long for a sign from God, to hear God's voice, to see God's glory.

And faith is what brings us to everlasting life. In one way or another, we too will be like the synagogue official's daughter. We will be brought back to life someday with Christ. And on that great day, we will fully understand how just a little faith can move mountains. How a little faith can heal us. How a little faith will bring us into God's kingdom.

Forever.

Hands

"One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, 'My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.' " - Mark 5:22-23

As early as Genesis, when Isaac lays his hands on Jacob, the laying on of hands has been a way to communicate faith in a very physical sense. It's used during confirmation, entrance to the priesthood, when anointing those who are sick, and to send someone off before leaving for a long journey. It's something parents do to children to communicate love (and restraint), and something children may do upon the passing of their parent.

The touch, from one believer to another, speaks directly to the soul of that person. It connects us, through the Holy Spirit, to provide hope, support, or just an awareness that we are there. We use it to welcome new life, and to bid farewell to a life that's passed. It connects us all, and reminds us that, though we may be different, our destinies are intertwined, and that someday, we'll be together again.

And it's this connection that a synagogue official believes will save his little girl. He believes that Jesus is different - that his touch can save a person's soul, and make them whole again. And he's willing to do whatever it takes for that little girl - even though it looks pretty bad to have a synagogue official speak directly to a man who's making so many waves within the Jewish population. But he's willing to risk it all, because deep inside he knows what we know - that through Jesus, all will be healed.