*Posting this early as I am heading on the 8th grade retreat in DC this weekend and won't be able to post it tommorow. Here it is. Note- 1/4 of the way through Luke after this one! Thanks for walking with me!
Day 10 Saturday February 27, 2010
TODAY’S INTRO
Today is referred to as the Sermon on Plain. Matthew has it on the mountain. Luke has it on the Plain. As you will see, Jesus is a teacher of wisdom and has much to say about how we should live in daily life. Some of his teaching may cause us to cringe as it is very difficult. It can only be done (or even attempted) with God holding our hand.
TODAY’S TEXT- Luke 6:17-49
17 He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
Blessings and Woes
20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame youd on account of the Son of Man. 23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
Love for Enemies
27 "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.e Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Judging Others
37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back." 39 He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? 40A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. 41Why do you see the speck in your neighbor'sf eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 42Or how can you say to your neighbor,g 'Friend,h let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor'si eye.
A Tree and Its Fruit
43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; 44for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.
The Two Foundations
46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you? 47I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. 48That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.j 49But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house."
TODAY’S STATUS UPDATES
So much here today. I will be brief today. I probably should have chopped this into about 7 parts to give proper attention to it. I hope that you will really take the time to ponder many of the sayings here.
What really hits me today is the simple story in which we are invited to imagine someone with a tree trunk in their eye. How ridiculous that would look. We all know that when you get something in your eye, it not only hinders sight in that eye but also hinders the other as well. Jesus’ paints that image to remind us that our world is often very quick to judge, to find fault in others without paying attention to self. In some ways, judging others is a defense mechanism that keeps us from really assessing how we might need to be changed. The simple parable reminds us that we need to always be open to how we can improve, be more gracious, loving, accepting, etc. We need to get our act together for the sake of making a difference.
As the old saying goes, you point the finger at another, there is 3 pointing right back at you.
Today, lets ask Jesus to simply help make us the people God intends us to be. Lets also ask that as we “point”, we are pointing out the blessings and gifts that others offer (instead of pointing out the faults). Easier said than done but. . .when you can name the challenge, you can head out to actually do it!
FRIENDS ADDED
“Enemies” - the challenge is to never give up on anyone and who knows
CAUSES
Erring on the side of mercy
Loving the enemy
Acting on the faith
Not judging others
Paying attention to soul/self- looking in the mirror
In earlier readings from Luke, we see Jesus taking action, healing the sick, consorting with sinners, drawing people to him by his example. In today's reading he seems to be saying, "what else can I do?" He gives very prescriptive advice to continue the "treatment" when he is not physically with us.
ReplyDeleteIts like someone going to rehab to get "cured" of an addiction. They get clean and walk out with 12 steps to follow for the rest of their lives. It can seem overwhelming unless you remind yourself to take it one day at a time.
Ugh. So overwhelming. I try hard everyday to be a person that Jesus is asking me to be. But, I am aware that I am a sinner and fail everyday to fulfill these passages. My strength comes from remembering that I am saved by God's grace and not by the things I do. This is a gift from god. Still when I read what I should be doing, it is very overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteThese passages from Luke kept reminding about a book I recently read. The Shack. The trinity was so healing and forgiving.
"If you love those that love you... if you do good to those that do good to you... if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive... what credit is that to you?"
ReplyDeleteI hear Jesus saying, do MORE than you HAVE to, do MORE than just what you're SUPPOSED to. Everybody does what they have to, what they're supposed to, what's "proper" to do. But if we want to follow Jesus... that's not nearly enough. That challenge is always in front of me... and you're right, Renee, it's overwhelming. But I think if we always have these teachings in the back of our minds, we're more likely to remember the Jesus challenge from day to day and from opportunity to opportunity.