In today's Gospel Jesus speaks with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin who was convinced by the miracles of Christ Jesus, and that he was sent by God. Jesus' message to Nicodemus was simple: faith and Baptism are necessary for eternal life.
Nicodemus is a respected, rich, and well learned man. Jesus is gentle with his words explaining what he can in a manner that this man can understand and connect the dots within the faith that lives within him. Jesus is leading him to everlasting life.
As a side note, this is this same Nicodemus who after Christ's death assisted at Jesus' burial (see John 19:39)
Showing posts with label Christ Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christ Jesus. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Mark 3:1-6 The Man with the Withered Hand
"Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than do evil, to save life rather than destroy it?" Jesus asks in today's Gospel.
How very dead and lifeless the Sabbath seems in Jesus' time as it has succumbed to merely following lifeless rules; that the idea of caring for and bringing new vitality to a person would seem so against what the priests ordain as godly, is absurd. The Pharisees always seems to be plotting against Jesus, trying to trick him and trap him into doing something against their laws. We get a real sense that the man with the withered hand was placed in the synagogue on the Sabbath to see if Jesus would heal him. Jesus' words should have had a biting effect and made them feel shame. They are intolerant of a man who has just healed another on the Sabbath and picked the grain from the field because he was hungry. Now, they want him to "condemn" himself even more.
Sometimes in our own lives we feel like this too, that the world is against us, that at moments we feel that we can't trust others. The Gospel tells us that he felt righteous anger toward them and grieved at their hardness of heart. Nonetheless Jesus cannot waiver in the love that he has for mankind. He came to save us from the power of sin and death. If a withered hand brought a form of death to this man, then he will heal this man and set him free from not only the physical infirmity, but also his sins. Christ Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. As Christians we are called to be a pro-life people in all the forms that being pro-life may take, whether it is encouraging a friend, empowering children to be good stewards, respecting elderly persons, or upholding the dignity of the unborn child. In this year of mercy, have you today followed Jesus by sharing His life with others? If not, what one thing can you do for someone else in God's name? Remember, it doesn't have to be big, Jesus calls us where we are to work within our circles of friends and families first. The Kingdom grows from there.
How very dead and lifeless the Sabbath seems in Jesus' time as it has succumbed to merely following lifeless rules; that the idea of caring for and bringing new vitality to a person would seem so against what the priests ordain as godly, is absurd. The Pharisees always seems to be plotting against Jesus, trying to trick him and trap him into doing something against their laws. We get a real sense that the man with the withered hand was placed in the synagogue on the Sabbath to see if Jesus would heal him. Jesus' words should have had a biting effect and made them feel shame. They are intolerant of a man who has just healed another on the Sabbath and picked the grain from the field because he was hungry. Now, they want him to "condemn" himself even more.
Sometimes in our own lives we feel like this too, that the world is against us, that at moments we feel that we can't trust others. The Gospel tells us that he felt righteous anger toward them and grieved at their hardness of heart. Nonetheless Jesus cannot waiver in the love that he has for mankind. He came to save us from the power of sin and death. If a withered hand brought a form of death to this man, then he will heal this man and set him free from not only the physical infirmity, but also his sins. Christ Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. As Christians we are called to be a pro-life people in all the forms that being pro-life may take, whether it is encouraging a friend, empowering children to be good stewards, respecting elderly persons, or upholding the dignity of the unborn child. In this year of mercy, have you today followed Jesus by sharing His life with others? If not, what one thing can you do for someone else in God's name? Remember, it doesn't have to be big, Jesus calls us where we are to work within our circles of friends and families first. The Kingdom grows from there.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Mark 2:18-22 The Bridegroom Is with You
Yesterday we were invited to the Wedding Feast by the Lord. Today the scribes are asking why Jesus and his disciples do not fast like John and his disciples do. Jesus responds, "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?" The answer is no, it would be an affront to not accept the hospitality offered by the bridegroom, almost an act of aggression.
A class of 11-14 years olds yesterday were talking about Jesus as the bridegroom. They discussed how the bridegroom throws the party after the wedding and how he provides the wine and other refreshments, making sure that all who are present are welcomed and comfortable. They decided that yesterday's reading really showed that he was the bridegroom because he took that part and extended the invitation to each of us because we are all followers, his disciples, and he led his disciples to the feast.
Could you imagine being called to a wedding where there was no welcome from the couple being married or their family, no celebration, no nothing? It would be non existent and what was before would remain. The kingdom isn't like that. Jesus himself indicates that he is the bridegroom. He has come in person to fulfill the prophesies. He has come in person bringing with him a new covenant. This is the meaning behind the old cloth being patched with the new cloth, or the old wine skin being patched with the new skin. They old won't hold anymore, even with the patches. God has extended to us a new, richer, deeper relationship with him through Christ Jesus. We are called to accept that invitation and celebrate with him our communion.
A class of 11-14 years olds yesterday were talking about Jesus as the bridegroom. They discussed how the bridegroom throws the party after the wedding and how he provides the wine and other refreshments, making sure that all who are present are welcomed and comfortable. They decided that yesterday's reading really showed that he was the bridegroom because he took that part and extended the invitation to each of us because we are all followers, his disciples, and he led his disciples to the feast.
Could you imagine being called to a wedding where there was no welcome from the couple being married or their family, no celebration, no nothing? It would be non existent and what was before would remain. The kingdom isn't like that. Jesus himself indicates that he is the bridegroom. He has come in person to fulfill the prophesies. He has come in person bringing with him a new covenant. This is the meaning behind the old cloth being patched with the new cloth, or the old wine skin being patched with the new skin. They old won't hold anymore, even with the patches. God has extended to us a new, richer, deeper relationship with him through Christ Jesus. We are called to accept that invitation and celebrate with him our communion.
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