Nov. 28, 2021 Advent 1

Luke 21:25-28  (The Message)

25-26 “It will seem like all hell has broken loose—sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.

27-28 “And then—then!—they’ll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style—a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way!”

These words of Luke hardly sound like the beginning of Advent, a season which leads us to the celebration of Christmas.  A celebration which is on top of the list of all celebrations.  What we need to understand is that the main point of the message is not “the world in a panic” but “a glorious welcome” .

This gives us reason to celebrate indeed! 

And sets the mood for the season of Advent - “positive, joyful hope of redemption.”  

It is a reminder to celebrate life at all times and in all places, no matter what.  To see the good surrounded by the bad.  To be thankful when all is going wrong.  To be hopeful when all seems lost.  This is the mood of the Gospel.  This is the mood of Jesus.  Celebration of life, for it is good!  This is what we are getting ready to celebrate again in Christmas! 

Prayer thought for the week:  “Lord, help me to be hopeful and joyful for the celebration of your coming is coming soon.”

November 21, 2021 Christ the King Sunday

John 18:36 (The Message)

36 “My kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.”

Jesus kingdom is not of this world.  It is a kingdom where things are reversed in a strange yet powerful way.  The first are last and the last first.   The great are the lowly and the masters are the servants.  The little is much and the poor are rich.  The widows mite is much and the rich peoples much is little.

A Kingdom where money is not as important as love and relationships;  where nothing can happen which is beyond becoming a blessing, redeemed by God’s love.  It is a Kingdom which cannot be destroyed and will never end.

“Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I (Napoleon Bonaparte) have built great empires. but upon what did they depend?  They depended on force.  But centuries ago Jesus started an empire that was built on love, and even  today, millions will die for him.”

“All the armies that ever marched, 

all the navies that ever sailed, 

all the parliaments that ever sat, 

all the kings that ever reigned, 

put together have not affected 

the life of man on this earth 

as much as the one who was born 

to be a king...of another kingdom.”

Author unknown

Prayer thought for the week:  “Lord, may your Kingdom indeed come on earth, and help me to be a part of it.”

 

November 14, 2021 25th Sunday After Pentecost

 Mark 13:1-8 (The Message)

“As he walked away from the Temple, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at that stonework! Those buildings!”

2 Jesus said, “You’re impressed by this grandiose architecture? There’s not a stone in the whole works that is not going to end up in a heap of rubble.”

3-4 Later, as he was sitting on Mount Olives in full view of the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew got him off by himself and asked, “Tell us, when is this going to happen? What sign will we get that things are coming to a head?”

5-8 Jesus began, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, ‘I’m the One.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When you hear of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history, and no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be famines. But these things are nothing compared to what’s coming.”

Let me pass on to you these words from David F. Watson, New Testament professor at Union Seminary, Dayton, Ohio.

“These are complex (words), deeply rooted in Old Testament language, history and theology.  Yet, despite the difficulties that they present, they are also powerful (words) that teach us not to follow false messiahs and prophets.  The dangers of overzealous nationalism and reactionary violence are clear in this  passage.  Violence begets violence.  (Amen to that!)  Followers of Jesus are to trust in God’s providential care even if the world around them seems to be falling apart before their eyes.”

And that takes a lot of faith courage!

All that we know is that Jesus will be there at the end and no matter what, it will be good!  So watch, keep awake, stay alert, and don’t worry about it!

 

"Concerning that            

day or hour 

nobody knows.”

Mark 13:32

Prayer thought for the week:  “Lord, help me to live today with love and kindness, not worrying about the end which is in your hands and will be good.”

Nov. 7, 2021 All Saints Sunday

 Matthew 5:1-12

1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

    He said:

   3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, 

   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

4 Blessed are those who mourn, 

   for they will be comforted. 

5 Blessed are the meek, 

   for they will inherit the earth. 

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 

   for they will be filled. 

7 Blessed are the merciful, 

   for they will be shown mercy. 

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, 

   for they will see God. 

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, 

   for they will be called children of God. 

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, 

   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

   11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Most of us do not consider ourselves to be saints.  In fact, it is almost an insult to be called a saint.  It means you are not in touch with real life.  As the agnostic Robert Ingersoll describes, you are someone who is “...not quite sick enough to die nor healthy enough to be wicked.”

This is a gross contradiction!  A saint is someone who is very human and very much alive. 

 A saint is someone who wants much out of life but refuses to crush life to get it.  

Who is passionate enough to not hurt others as he/she drinks deeply of life. 

A saint is someone who dares to live as a human with an eye towards heaven.  

Who can be “poor in spirit” because he/she doesn’t have to pretend.  

Who can be “meek” because he/she doesn’t have to always be right.  

Who can be” merciful” because he/she doesn’t have to judge others.  

Who can “hunger and thirst after righteousness” because he/she doesn’t have to have all the answers all the time.  

A saint is a very human person who can “rejoice and be glad” amidst persecution, suffering, grief or pain because he/she lives on earth with an eye on heaven; and the love of God which comes from above.

 

“I am not a saint,                             

unless you think of a saint 

as a sinner who keeps on trying.” 

           Nelson Mandela

Prayer thought for the week:  “Lord, help me to keep on trying to be a Saint, living in Your forgiving grace and seeking to do your will - to love as you love!”  Amen