July 25, 2021 10th Sunday After Pentecost

 Mark 6:53-56  (The Message)

53 They beached the boat at Gennesaret and tied up at the landing. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, word got around fast. 55 People ran this way and that, bringing their sick on stretchers to where they heard he was. 56 Wherever he went, village or town or country crossroads, they brought their sick to the marketplace and begged him to let them touch the edge of his coat - that's all. And whoever touched him became well.

Jesus did heal.  Miracles did and do happen.  But they are not always obvious, because some times they happen in a different way.  

“A miraculous healing of a physical illness is wonderful. But even more impressive … is the way God's grace gives some people the courage to live creatively, and even joyously, within their suffering. The profound faith of those who live with crippling affliction or disease-ridden bodies does not look spectacular to many. But their confidence in God and love for others are as beautiful a miracle as any physical one you're apt to ever see.”       Peter W. Marty 

"There are two ways to live: 

you can Iive as if nothing is 

a miracle; you can Iive as if 

everything is a miracle." 

            Albert Einstein

Prayer thought for the week:  “Lord, sometimes it seems that miracles never happen.  Help me to see the miracles that do happen, even though they seem hidden.”

July 18, 2021 8th Sunday After Pentecost

Mark 6:30-32  (The Message)

30 The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. 31 Jesus said, "Come off by yourselves; let's take a break and get a little rest." For there was constant coming and going. They didn't even have time to eat. 32 So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves.

We need to spend time alone so we can truly be with others in compassion.

Alone time feeds our souls; energizes us; fills us; renews us.

If I don’t take time for myself; I don’t have much to give you either.

For as Henri Nouwen writes in “The Way Of The Heart”, 

“Compassion is the fruit of solitude and the basis of all ministry. …(for)

solitude molds self-righteous persons into gentle, caring, forgiving persons who are so deeply convinced of their own sinfulness and so fully aware of God's even greater mercy that their whole lives become ministry.”  

pp. 20,22 

“Compassion is the fruit of 

solitude…”  Henri  Nouwen

Prayer thought for the week:  “Lord, help me to find some “time alone” in my busy week,  so I can hear your “still small voice” and be more loving when busy.”

July 11, 2021 7th Sunday After Pentecost

 Amos 5:21-24  (The Message)

21 "I can't stand your religious meetings. I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions. 22 I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making. 23 I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me? 24 Do you know what I want? I want justice - oceans of it. I want fairness - rivers of it. That's what I want. That's all I want.

Amos’ words had a bite to them which left him less than popular. 

He spoke the truth no matter how much it hurt.  He didn’t do it to get rich; he had a sense of calling and mission.  He did it because the Spirit of God compelled him to do it!  And he was asked to “go away to the land of Judah”…to get out of the country lest he disturb the comfortable.

God interrupted his life and compelled him to speak a word of truth.

We need a prophet like Amos today, lest we are lulled to sleep in our idolatries and injustices!  We need to be confronted with the evil in our midst - even in our lives - lest we are deceived into thinking that we know God’s will for all things and know what is best for all people.  And lest we be led into the hypocrisy of daring to believe that we

have no injustice in our country, at least none that we are a part of. 

It’s hard do be humble, and to face 

the truth of our own prejudices, hypocrisy, 

self-righteousness.  Yet it is only as we do 

that the Word of God transforms our lives 

and turns us into instruments of grace in a 

world of hate.

Prayer thought for the week:  “Lord, keep me humble so I don’t miss opportunities for grace in a far from perfect world.  Help me remember that I need grace first, last, and always.”

July 4, 2021 6th Sunday After Pentecost

 Mark 6:1-6  (The Message)

1 He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. 2 On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. "We had no idea he was this good!" they said. "How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?" 3 But in the next breath they were cutting him down: "He's just a carpenter - Mary's boy. We've known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. (And they took offense at him.)  Who does he think he is?" They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further. 4 Jesus told them, "A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child." 5 Jesus wasn't able to do much of anything there - he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that's all. 6 He couldn't get over their stubbornness.”

When God comes to us in too human a way (Jesus) and challenges us to change our ways, we too “take offense at Him”.  

We like to keep God boxed up in our rituals where we are in control.

But God will not let us do that.  God is not a rabbits foot, a good luck charm, an easy way out of the difficulties of life.  

God desires to enter into the changes and chances of life with us, and there make a difference,  
not by offering new power or easy answers which eliminates all the bad and protects us from suffering, but offering a power make perfect in weakness - the power of love…of grace which is sufficient for all our needs. 

                                  

“God desires to enter into the changes 

and chances of life and make a difference”

Prayer thought for the week:  “Lord, be with me in the ‘changes and chances’ of this week and help me make a difference in someone’s life.”