Praying with Jesus 2: Prayers with the one who knows us

 

Who has been a great teacher in your life?

On this Sunday when we’re celebrating the ministry of St Paul's Christian Early Learning Center (CELC), Jesus shows us what a great teacher looks like.  As he interacts with Nicodemus, Jesus reveals himself as the one who

- Knows us better than we know ourselves

- Tells us what we need to hear and not what we want to hear 

- Has patience with us as we work through it.  

What this means is that when we pray, we pray to the one who knows us better than we know ourselves.  He also knows that figuring it out takes time, especially to process what we didn't want to hear.  This plays itself out powerfully in Nicodemus' life, just as in our own.

The art work is by painter Lester Yocum.  A quite rare painting showing the lesser known but just as important interaction of Nicodemus later in the Gospel of John, when he helps bury Jesus.

Praying with Jesus 1: In times of trial

After fasting for 40 days and nights in the wilderness, Jesus is tempted by the devil.  (Matthew 4:1-11)

Is this time in the wilderness a test or a trial?  

(... and what might the difference be?)

• A test is something that assesses what we've learned and whether we are ready to advanced to the next stage.
• A trial is something that is designed to teach us what is necessary for the next stage.

Pastor Rob reflects on how understanding this wilderness temptation as a trial can help us do two things:

First, it can deepen our appreciation of fasting as preparation for the trials of life.

Second, it can deepen our connection to Jesus as one who prays with us during the trials of life.

The artwork is Christ in the Desert by Vasily Polenov, 1909

You are the salt of the earth

You are the salt of the earth (Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:13)

This winter has been all about snow, cold and SALT!

When Jesus declares that we are the salt of the earth, this is a word of Gospel:  We are valued.  It is also a word of challenge:  we are called to work hard for others.

So far, so good. But wait, Jesus also says salt might lose its flavor.  What might that mean?  Hint:  It has to do with foolishness.  

Blessed are the Peacemakers

 

"Blessed are the Peacemakers."  Jesus Christ, Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew (5:1-12)

"Blessed are the Peacemakers" is a word of great challenge to us -- peace is not the norm.  What it mean for us to be peacemakers in our lives, in our communities and even in our world?

"Blessed are the Peacemakers" is a word of great promise for us -- peace will be the norm in Kingdom come.  Jesus promise of peace invites us to see the world, not as our eyes see it, as it is, but how it can and one day will be -- reconciled through and to him.

The image is from a basketball game that tells the story of what it might look like when we begin to see what the eyes cannot!

Spiritual Metabolism

 

Jesus hears terrible news:  John the Baptist has been arrested (Matthew 4:12-23).   He is sad for his friend, the world and himself.

Soon afterwards, he is proclaiming good news and healing everyone.  How does Jesus do this, that is, metabolize the hearing of tragedy into the sharing of love?

And, what, if anything, can we do, to metabolize the hard and even hateful news that we hear into love and compassion?

The artworks is a relief "The Arrest of John the Baptist" by Lorenzo Ghiberti

1000 Days

1000 Days -- that is all Jesus gets from the time of his baptism until his ascension.  One might expect and urgency that would mean Jesus is counting and optimizing how he spends each and every moment.

Yet on day 1, Jesus chooses to hang out with a person he hadn't yet met, Andrew, and another future disciple.  He doesn't teach, exhort, impress or anything -- he just spends time with them.

What gives here?  Why is Jesus just spending time with Andrew?  And why might Jesus want to spend time with us?

The image is from "What the Saints did Next" Photography blog.

All Righteousness

 "This [Baptism] is necessary for us to fulfill all righteousness"  Jesus, Matthew's Gospel

As he is baptized, Jesus makes the bold an audacious claim that he intends to fulfill all righteousness.  Pastor Rob explores how big of a promise this is in light of the unrighteousness in our world, our lives and in our hearts,

The second part of the sermon reflects on what this promise means for us who are baptized.  How we live in the face of our own and the world's unrighteousness.

The art work is the "Baptism of Christ, painting by Vladmir Zagltov