Like last week, I seem to have too much sermon for the time. I came more prepared this past Sunday! I thought ahead as to what I would need to cut out, rather than simply letting the 8:00 AM service serve as a practice run. If you would like to go deeper, then continue reading.
It is easy to relegate the Old Testament to a secondary status. We like the action of the Gospels, the power of Jesus and the immediacy. Matthew 10 will not allow for such a simplistic view. Spend some time reading Isaiah 58. The Jewish people are enjoying a time of resurgence in worship and spiritual life. In Isaiah, the prophet questions how the relationship with others has a direct link with our intimacy with God. After reading the passage, how do your individual spiritual practices indicate your relationship with the Lord? Do you sense the Lord calling you to new practices?
Jesus as recorded in Matthew 10 calls us to a vital relationship first and foremost. Our practices and works are a by-product of that relationship.
On the Journey,
Aleciai
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
And Now the Rest of the Story... um, Sermon
Sermons are like motion picture films in which a lot of deleted scenes end up on the cutting room floor! This previous Sunday a great deal ended up on the sanctuary floor. For those of you that enjoy digging deeper, chew on this for a few moments.
We are in the tenth chapter of Matthew which is Jesus' commissioning sermon. The section left out of the sermon dealt with God's faithfulness and apparent favor of one group. The troubling part of the text is in Matthew 10:5-6 where Jesus admonishes the apostles to go only to the "lost sheep" of Israel, not the Samaritans or the Gentiles. You might remember the troubling passage of the Syro-Phoenician women whom Jesus encounters (Mt. 15). The woman wants help for her daughter. Jesus replies he won't take food from the table and give it to the dogs. While Jesus ends up declaring this woman's faith great and heals her daughter, his mission at this point is still to the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus' mission expands in the Great Commission in Matthew 28 where he commands his disciple to go "unto the ends of the earth."
It is important to note that God keeps his commands. If we return to the OT book of Ezekiel, the 34th chapter, scripture tells us that God has once again heard the cries of the people now enslaved by the Babylonians. Not only has God heard, but is concerned. In the 11th verse God speaks to a specific time, culture and location in regards to the Good Shepherd. God provides for the people in a time of human trafficking, rape as used in warfare and genocide. Later in the passage one the Lord now describes the one shepherd as David. This is a reference to Jesus as found in the David line. God is making a promise or a covenant not just to the specific situation but to Israel that Jesus will be the one Shepherd. As you finish chapter 34 you will see the covenant with Israel that "You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture and I am your God, says the Lord God."
God always keeps his promises. It might not be in the time frame we would expect, but the covenants will be kept. Read Romans 11:25-29. Take a few moments and reflect on Paul's words concerning Israel. Think about the specific plan God has for the Jews. Think about the provisions made for us and finally how and when God plans to keep the covenant with Israel.
Jesus had a clear mission. That clarity allowed him to complete his work on earth. That mission continues now in you and in me. What is your mission?
On the journey,
Alecia
On the Journey,
We are in the tenth chapter of Matthew which is Jesus' commissioning sermon. The section left out of the sermon dealt with God's faithfulness and apparent favor of one group. The troubling part of the text is in Matthew 10:5-6 where Jesus admonishes the apostles to go only to the "lost sheep" of Israel, not the Samaritans or the Gentiles. You might remember the troubling passage of the Syro-Phoenician women whom Jesus encounters (Mt. 15). The woman wants help for her daughter. Jesus replies he won't take food from the table and give it to the dogs. While Jesus ends up declaring this woman's faith great and heals her daughter, his mission at this point is still to the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus' mission expands in the Great Commission in Matthew 28 where he commands his disciple to go "unto the ends of the earth."
It is important to note that God keeps his commands. If we return to the OT book of Ezekiel, the 34th chapter, scripture tells us that God has once again heard the cries of the people now enslaved by the Babylonians. Not only has God heard, but is concerned. In the 11th verse God speaks to a specific time, culture and location in regards to the Good Shepherd. God provides for the people in a time of human trafficking, rape as used in warfare and genocide. Later in the passage one the Lord now describes the one shepherd as David. This is a reference to Jesus as found in the David line. God is making a promise or a covenant not just to the specific situation but to Israel that Jesus will be the one Shepherd. As you finish chapter 34 you will see the covenant with Israel that "You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture and I am your God, says the Lord God."
God always keeps his promises. It might not be in the time frame we would expect, but the covenants will be kept. Read Romans 11:25-29. Take a few moments and reflect on Paul's words concerning Israel. Think about the specific plan God has for the Jews. Think about the provisions made for us and finally how and when God plans to keep the covenant with Israel.
Jesus had a clear mission. That clarity allowed him to complete his work on earth. That mission continues now in you and in me. What is your mission?
On the journey,
Alecia
On the Journey,
Monday, September 12, 2011
Caution: Spirit At Work
It seems anywhere you go on North Jones Boulevard one sees literal caution signs of people at work. At First UMC, the Spirit is at work. I was speaking with Rev. Mel Schlacter from Trinity Episcopal Church last night following the Sept. 11 service. I told him of the modern day Good Samaritan story I told in worship. As part of my reflections on September 11, I had prayed for Mychal Judge. Judge was the chaplain for the NYFD at that time. He rushed to Ground Zero and died while giving last rites. I heard multiple sermons at the time (2001) speak to the point that it sounded like God to have a priest welcoming people into heaven. On Saturday September 10th, I learned that Judge was gay. It reminded me of the story of the Good Samaritan, whereby God uses individuals in which the institutional church is still in debate.
As I passed this on to Mel. He said it correlated with the lectionary. After joking about my lack of use of the lectionary, he pointed out the passage yesterday was on forgiveness. Peter was asking Jesus how many times he must forgive an enemy. Jesus replied, "Seventy times seven." We are called to forgive.
The passage was part of the larger lectionary, which is a three year walk through the themes and primary passages of Scripture. Out of all the passages, this is the one that was for September 11. Not a coincidence -- simply the Spirit moving.
Peace,
Alecia
As I passed this on to Mel. He said it correlated with the lectionary. After joking about my lack of use of the lectionary, he pointed out the passage yesterday was on forgiveness. Peter was asking Jesus how many times he must forgive an enemy. Jesus replied, "Seventy times seven." We are called to forgive.
The passage was part of the larger lectionary, which is a three year walk through the themes and primary passages of Scripture. Out of all the passages, this is the one that was for September 11. Not a coincidence -- simply the Spirit moving.
Peace,
Alecia
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Odyssey
The spiritual life is first of all a life. It is not merely something to be known and studied. It is to be lived. Thomas Merton
"Alecia, how is it that my faith life feels non-existent? I don't experience or feel God in the ways you describe. What's wrong with me?" This question is posed to me on a regular basis. My answer is fairly consistent. As a church -- local and the larger one-- we have done a good job inviting people. We want our friends and family to be connected to God and to the church community that we love. We diligently get "them" and ourselves to church, but then what? We need to become disciples. I don't know abou you, but I want to live -- really live out my calling. Call me crazy, but that seems like a journey of a lifetime.
There is a glaring need within churches to grapple with Jesus' words to "make disciples." We walk through the threshhold and never move into the deeper relationship with the Beloved, the Holy One. Just how we make that move has perplexed a lot of folks that love God, but experience little beyond it in their daily lives.
In the next two months, I want to look at practical Christianity that deepens us inwardly, while calling us to mission. It is a journey we will take together in worship. If you join the small group, "Change the World" we will see similar themes as we seek to be more like Jesus.
See you Sunday
On the journey,
Alecia
"Alecia, how is it that my faith life feels non-existent? I don't experience or feel God in the ways you describe. What's wrong with me?" This question is posed to me on a regular basis. My answer is fairly consistent. As a church -- local and the larger one-- we have done a good job inviting people. We want our friends and family to be connected to God and to the church community that we love. We diligently get "them" and ourselves to church, but then what? We need to become disciples. I don't know abou you, but I want to live -- really live out my calling. Call me crazy, but that seems like a journey of a lifetime.
There is a glaring need within churches to grapple with Jesus' words to "make disciples." We walk through the threshhold and never move into the deeper relationship with the Beloved, the Holy One. Just how we make that move has perplexed a lot of folks that love God, but experience little beyond it in their daily lives.
In the next two months, I want to look at practical Christianity that deepens us inwardly, while calling us to mission. It is a journey we will take together in worship. If you join the small group, "Change the World" we will see similar themes as we seek to be more like Jesus.
See you Sunday
On the journey,
Alecia
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