Tag: lectio insights

anointing

by hovering love

“Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Matthew 26:13

The world was swirling with the intrigues of the religious leaders and the earthbound perspectives of Jesus’ twelve disciples, but very quietly in the center of it all was a woman who poured out her very expensive perfume for the purpose of anointing Jesus’ body for burial. Jesus was filled with a deep appreciation and gratitude as a result of her great sacrifice. This action was highly significant to him—more so than anything else that was happening at that moment in time. Only God knows what motivated her to do this. Maybe she was driven by her own gratitude and appreciation for how Jesus had ministered to her, or maybe she had sensed God calling her to serve and prepare Jesus in this way. Whether from love and gratitude or obedience or both, her small but highly controversial act was purposely recorded in the Bible and is remembered with admiration throughout time. In her own quiet, unassuming manner, she took the risk to do what was NOT acceptable in the eyes of the world or the religious culture of her day, and she received harsh judgment and verbal abuse from these same people as a result.   Simultaneously (and throughout all eternity), her actions on Jesus’ behalf were and are celebrated with honor and acceptance and praise in God’s kingdom of heaven. What a wonderful paradox—it fills me with a deep sense of wonder and joy!

I am impressed with this woman! Her quiet courage and unashamed compassion are inspiring to me. Her willingness to go against the accepted norms of both world and religion in such an expression of love, gratitude, obedience and respect set her apart as one who truly knows God and experiences his love daily. She is a very good model that I want to follow.

If I am to be remembered in any way and for any reason, I want to be remembered for my love, devotion and obedience to my Father in heaven who loves me dearly. My prayer is this: Father God, show me how you are calling me to live out each day, give me the courage to be both quiet and controversial in obedience and service to you and to those you lead me to, and let my value and treasure be always in you, alone.

Amen!

 

choices

by hovering love

“This sorrow is crushing my life out.” Matthew 26:38 (The Message)

“There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.” Matthew 26:41 (The Message)

There are times in life when our sorrow does suck the life out of us. Deeply demanding choices are before us. We don’t want to face them; in truth, we often feel that we don’t have what is needed to face them.   However, reality teaches that escape is not an option—whether we are intentional about choosing or we force life to make choices for us by default (by doing nothing), life choices are made and life directions are taken. The question is, how will we face our choices and make the decisions that must be made?

Jesus had an excruciating decision before him. He was fully human; his life on earth was very demanding but also very rich in purpose and relationships. For three years he had enjoyed the companionship of people whom he loved dearly and invested in deeply. Now the time had come for him to leave them, first temporarily and then for a much longer time than they could ever imagine. Now he must choose whether to please himself and those he loved or God, the Father. His choice was devastatingly hard because the ramifications were very real—not just for himself and those close to him, but for many others throughout time, as well. His sorrow was so great that it drove him to his knees before God, pleading for other options and the ability to face what lay before him. Jesus, the man, needed help and the Holy Spirit was there, enabling him to move from the desire to please himself to an openness and acceptance of the truth and reality that the Father’s way was the best way (the only way) and that surrendering himself was the only true choice that he could make.

Jesus had to be moved from loving and obeying his own desires to loving and obeying the Father’s plan—for the sake of loving all creation throughout time. It was a choice of obedience, yes—he had to surrender to God, the Father’s way. But the motivation was not obedience—that was the action. The motivation was LOVE—love for the Father (with all his heart, soul, mind and strength) and love for all of mankind (loving his neighbor as himself; therefore, surrendering his life so all could live). The Trinity’s “bottom line” is always LOVE.

My own choices in life have not born the same ramifications as Jesus’, but many have been devastatingly sorrowful for me just the same. Avoiding the hard work and letting life make the choices for me can be very tempting, but it ultimately deepens my sorrow and takes me down paths where I don’t want to go. In my sorrow, I have also been driven to my knees before God, pleading for other options and for the courage and strength to face what lay before me. Each time, the Holy Spirit has gently but firmly brought me to the Father’s “bottom line”. Love is the motivation of heart that I must be open to and accepting of, that I must be willing to surrender to, if I am to make the only true choices that I can make. Life choices can be hard, but help is always available to those who ask for it.  I don’t want to face living with choices that are made apart from LOVE.

parable

by hovering love

It’s easy to read the “parable of the talents” in Matthew 25:14-30 and assume that the 3rd servant fell out of grace with his Master because the servant was lazy and did not “do” what the Master expected of him—especially if your foundation of understanding Scripture is based upon a works/performance-based acceptance.  It also paints a picture of the Master as being a dishonest, insensitive and opportunistic person who is “only in it for the money” and who is unforgiving and lacking in compassion—one mistake and you’re out!  Unfortunately, I’ve heard this parable expounded upon, from various teachers, in a manner that seems to go along with that kind of acceptance, and justifies the Master’s behavior on the basis of the “servant’s disobedience”.  However, this understanding of the parable does not address the question that prompted the telling of the parable in the first place.

In Matthew 24:3 the disciples ask Jesus, “Tell us . . . when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”  The parable of the talents is part of Jesus’ response to this question.  If the parable’s purpose is to tell only of lazy servants who get thrown out by dishonest Masters, then how does this answer the disciples request for a sign of Jesus’ return and the end of the age?  The disciples will know that the end of the age is coming when all lazy servants get what they supposedly have coming to them?  Perhaps there is another understanding of the parable to examine.

As Jesus tells the parable, he does’nt tell his listeners of any instructions that the Master gave to the servants regarding their expected handling of the talents.  This is important information to have if the listener is to judge the actions of the servants, and the Master’s responses to each, correctly and justly.  Without the ability to make these just judgments, we can only look at the actions and responses themselves for our clues.

The 3rd servant proclaims the Master to be “a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.”  He justifies his behavior regarding the talent he received with “So I was afraid . . . “.  The 3rd servant appears to know the Master well, or at least he believes that he does.  And what is the Master’s response to the servant’s proclamation?  First he calls him “wicked”, and then “lazy”.  Then he challenges the servant’s alleged knowledge and understanding of the Master’s character and nature.  The Master’s words are angry and the tone communicates personal injury, insult and offense.  The Master then berates the servant for not behaving in a manner that would suggest the servant really believed his “assumptions” regarding the Master—if he had, he would have at least put the talent in the bank where it could have collected interest in the interim.  In the end, the Master takes the one talent away from the 3rd servant and gives it to the 1st before separating the 3rd servant from the Master’s household.

It’s my belief that the Master was not angry with the 3rd servant because the servant did not “do” anything with the talent that was entrusted to him.  I believe the Master was angry with the 3rd servant because the servant unjustly judged the Master, arrogantly believing himself to know the Master quite well (this would be considered “wicked” behavior toward anyone).  The servant then added insult to injury by acting in accordance with his unjust assumptions—justifying his own “laziness” on the basis of “reasonable fear” caused by the Master’s (alleged) hard-heartedness.  Faced with these kinds of accusations, who could possibly blame the Master for being pissed off?  The other two servants did not express similar beliefs regarding the Master’s character and nature, and we can only assume that the 3rd servant received the same treatment from the Master that they did.  For some reason, the 3rd servant is biased and prejudiced against the Master, believing what the servant wants/chooses to believe regardless of how it matches up with truth. That kind of biased attitude prevents honest, open communication and destroys relationships.  With a servant who is so biased and prejudiced against you, what else can the Master do but release him from the Master’s household. It is entirely possible that the Master is deeply wounded by the servant’s attitudes and behavior, and is brokenhearted by the destroyed relationships that have resulted from them.  Not only has the relationship between Master and servant been destroyed, but also that which existed between servant and servant.

And how does this understanding of the parable address the disciples’ question of Jesus?  Perhaps Jesus was trying to turn the disciples’ attention away from “signs” toward having the kind of relationship with God that would enable them to see and hear God’s future communications regarding the coming of the end of the age.  Jesus was aware of how their “assumptions” regarding the Messiah did not match up with the truth.  He knew that their assumptions hampered their ability to understand his teachings and believe that what was to come was truly from God.  Perhaps Jesus wanted the disciples to catch a glimpse of who and what God really is so they could have an open-minded approach to their seeking of God—so they could have, maintain and enjoy a good relationship with God and with each other.

As I meditate upon this parable, I sense that the Holy Spirit is inviting me to examine my own ideas, assumptions and prejudices regarding the character, nature and actions of God.  Though I have studied the Scriptures and sought to follow God for over 40 years, I do not know God as well as I would like to believe that I do.  Indeed, no human being knows God as well as they would like to believe.  God is beyond all.  But there is always hope for those who seek God still.  God is not unapproachable to those who possess a childlike open heart and mind—openness to both God and to humanity alike.

entitled

by hovering love

“But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” Matt. 17:27

Jesus knew how to chose his battles. He was rather quick and unrepentant about offending others in some circumstances: when chastising the religious leaders for their hypocrisy, when clearing all commerce out of the Temple with a whip, when healing (“working”) on the Sabbath, etc. But in this passage, he chooses to pay a local temple tax that he’s not really obligated to pay in order to not offend. How curious. Why his concern about offending in this situation, but not in the others?

As I reflect on Jesus’ “offensive” actions, I recognize that these situations all reflected God the Father in some manner: his representation, his worship, his purpose and heart and work. The situation of a local temple tax is really all about Jesus and his privilege as God’s Son. As a king taxes only his subjects and strangers in his land—not his offspring—so God would not tax his son, either. As the son and heir of God the Father, Jesus would be rightly exempt in this situation. However, Jesus was quick to lay aside the privilege that he was entitled to in order to acquire and/or maintain peace and unity in his relationship with the members of the local congregation. In a world that seems to be constantly brimming over with attitudes and actions of entitlement, Jesus is impressive in his eagerness to demonstrate no entitlement by not demanding that his rightful privilege be acknowledged and honored—especially for the sake of not offending a tax collector. What a great teaching moment: for Peter, for myself and for the rest of Jesus’ followers!

Of course, this well-modeled lesson isn’t without its fun. Anyone who is of the opinion that God, Jesus, Christians, etc. don’t have a sense of humor has never considered the manner in which Jesus provides the funds to pay this tax. Go to the lake, throw in your fishing line, grab the first fish that bites and open its mouth. Voila! I hope that Peter was quick to lay aside his former practice as a fisherman by trade and practiced catch and release with that fish instead as a means of showing his appreciation towards the fish’s participation in his provision. How delightful of Jesus to provide tax money through a coin-gobbling fish.

Some situations call for corrective actions whether they cause offense or not, but what about those situations that are only about my own privilege? To what real or imagined privileges do I cling? Are there any that I’m willing to lay aside? Do I possess enough of a sense of humor and humility to quickly lay aside whatever I am rightly entitled to in order to acquire or maintain a relationship of peace and unity with others?

How about you?

preoccupied

by hovering love

“Be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Mt. 16:6)

The local religious leaders (Pharisees and Sadducees) demanded that Jesus present them with proof of his authority from God in the form of a miracle. Proof is fine and necessary in a court of law, but religion requires something called “faith” as well. I find it enlightening that the focus of priority for these religious leaders was proof, not faith, and that they were demanding it from one who had been demonstrating proofs of his power to miraculously provide and heal on a daily basis for some time. I don’t know what their preoccupation is all about, but its effect is interesting, to say the least. Jesus warns his disciples to be on the watch for how the “yeast” of these leaders and their teachings/priorities may negatively permeate and influence their lives. The disciples, however, were preoccupied with their own failure to bring any bread for lunch. When Jesus mentions yeast, the disciples assume that he’s referring to their lack of bread. Jesus has to repeat his message before they finally clue in to what he’s really talking about.

It was clear that Jesus was talking about the influence of the religious leaders—not bread—the first time. The disciples’ confusion stemmed from their obsession with their own problem at the time; therefore, they didn’t really listen to what Jesus said. In their preoccupation, they heard Jesus’ words through their own filters of fear, insecurity and doubt. They were distracted by their own concerns to the point of not being able to connect with Jesus or his teaching. As a result, they missed his real meaning and intent completely. They also committed the error of assuming and attaching meanings to his words that were completely incorrect. The disciples are not alone in this tendency. How easy it is to be so preoccupied with myself while engaged in conversation that I disconnect from the real intent and message of the other that I’m supposed to be listening to, and even imagine that I hear them say something very different than what in fact was said! The human tendency towards preoccupation with one’s self is the source of all kinds of assumptions, wrong judgments and misunderstandings that have plagued our interpersonal relationships on a local, national and international level throughout our human history.

For me, being preoccupied with my own issues and concerns is connected to how much I practice trusting God to be aware of and responsive to my needs. When I forget or chose not to entrust my cares to God, I have a tendency to obsess and brood over my concerns. Brooding is just another way of saying preoccupation, and it causes me to be less capable (or incapable) of being present to anything or anyone—God, myself, my work and activities, and others. When I entrust my cares to God, I am able to be more mindful of myself and more present with others.

How about you?

form

by hovering love

“When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.” Mark 16:9 (TNIV)

“Later he appeared, but in a different form, to two of them out walking in the countryside.” Mark 16:12 (The Message)

Jesus was doing many things in a “form” that wasn’t expected or anticipated by his 11 remaining disciples, and they were struggling to hear, accept and believe any of it as a result.

For 3 years, these 11 men had been the cool guys, the ones whom Jesus has called especially to be his disciples, his go-to men. Were they now to believe that if Jesus had arisen from the dead, that he would appear to a woman and two followers who were insignificant enough to remain unnamed before he would appear to them? After all, they were the guys! How could Jesus treat other mere followers in the same manner as them, let alone give them precedence? Their stories of experiencing Jesus alive again couldn’t possibly be valid—the 11 were Jesus’ leaders; certainly Jesus would always appear to them first! Not to mention the question of Jesus appearing “in a different form” to the two country yokels. What, on earth, was that all about? Really!

What, indeed! How intriguing! How many different and varied forms does Jesus appear to people in – in the past, the present, and the future? When he speaks to us through a “different form”, do we recognize it as him, hearing and receiving his message just the same? Do we pay attention and listen, or do we quickly disregard it because it doesn’t look or sound as we know Jesus to look and sound like?  Are we open to recognizing and receiving what Jesus is saying to us through art, nature, cinema, circumstances, social atmosphere, novels, animals, technology, etc.? Do we recognize and receive what Jesus is saying to us through our fellow human beings, especially those who are different from us in some way (gender, age, nationality, culture, language, religion, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, education, temperament, occupation, etc.)? How about when Jesus’ actions go outside of the “normal way of conducting the business of life”? Do we cling to our attitudes, opinions, customs and chains of command, or do we receive and embrace a new way to live and be?

Apparently, Jesus can and does take many forms in his effort to inspire and encourage all of humanity. Apparently, those forms are frequently not what we can imagine, expect or anticipate. We humans are creatures of habit, and we frequently resist letting go of our attitudes and understandings, don’t we? I wonder if that’s why Jesus comes to us in different forms—to assist us in letting go of our own ways and receiving his?

confidence

by hovering love

“Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.” (Matthew 28:17, The Message)

“ . . . instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20, The Message)

“I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, The Message)

What was the nature of the disciples’ doubts? Did some of them feel anxious about regarding Jesus as being divine? What was their understanding regarding the Messiah; what had they been taught all of their lives since they were children? Did they understand Messiah to be God, or God’s chosen man (like one of the prophets: Elijah, Moses, etc.)? Certainly if Messiah were merely a man, it would be inappropriate/blasphemous to worship him! And what were they to make of Jesus now? They had seen other men resurrected before—they were men before death and they were men after resurrection (ex: Lazarus). Jesus looked and spoke and behaved no different to them after death and resurrection than he did before. It’s no wonder they were filled with a wide variety of uncertainties and doubts!

Our old ideas, understandings, traditions and expectations are deep set, and they stubbornly dig in their heels when confronted with the new, unimaginable, and inconceivable.   Is this perhaps why Jesus specifically charged them to speak and teach only that which Jesus had commanded them (not a combination of his commands and the teachings and traditions of their youth)? What Jesus was and what he commanded were well outside the traditional religious “box” (that is why he was killed). Was Jesus establishing a crucial distinction between old and new in his charge of his disciples?

How could Jesus give his disciples this charge with confidence, knowing that they were filled with uncertainty and doubt? No doubt, Jesus did believe in his disciples, having faith in and trusting them to do their best. But what was the source of his confidence in them? He knew they would make every mistake in the book, over and over and over again. Jesus’ confidence that his disciples would progress well came from the fact that he knew who he was, what he was and what he was doing. He also knew that he would be with his disciples (past, present and future), directing them every step of the way, moment by moment right up to the end of the age. Jesus has confidence in his disciples because he fully knows his disciples and he fully knows himself.

As a disciple of Jesus, I am thankful and grateful that Jesus knows who he is and what he’s about and that he has confidence that all will be well as he guides my every footstep through all the uncertainties of my life, heart, mind, body and soul.

intentional

by hovering love

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.” (John 10:27, TNIV)

“My sheep recognize my voice. I know them and they follow me.” (John 10:27, The Message)

“I and the Father are one heart and mind.” (John 10:30, The Message)

There is a distinct difference between recognizing and listening. When I was raising my children, I was very aware of the fact that my teens were capable of recognizing my voice without actually listening to what I was saying. Trust me, they take after their mother.

I find it curious and helpful to read the Bible in various translations. The Message implies that all Christians recognize Jesus’ voice; the TNIV implies that all Christians listen to Jesus’ voice (verse 27). Curious distinction, isn’t it? I sincerely hope that both are true, but I doubt the latter. To recognize Jesus’ voice is purely a gift given by God. To listen to Jesus is a gift as well, but it is also a choice – an intentional choice to be open and receptive to hearing even that which I don’t anticipate or desire to hear.

Jesus both recognizes and listens to his Father’s voice. Is that perhaps why they are one heart and mind (verse 30, The Message)? If I chose to listen, as well as recognize, could I also experience being of one heart and mind with the Trinity? This is what I long for – to be of one heart and mind with the Trinity.

How serious am I about listening to Jesus and really hearing what he has to say to me today? I’m serious enough about receiving the gifts or benefits that I anticipate that go along with recognizing and listening, but I’m not as certain about my commitment to making the choices and doing the work of being intentional in listening. Quite frankly, I even have doubts about receiving what I hear – I suspect that I will rarely receive the benefit that I anticipate. Therein lies the rub. I long to be of one heart and mind with the Trinity and yet I resist. All I can really say is, “Holy Trinity, have mercy upon me!”

As I listen for Jesus’ voice now, I hear him say, “My darling child! You always have my Love. Remember that truth each moment, and walk with me.”

change

by hovering love

“With Pilate’s permission . . . ” (John 19:38 TNIV)

“ . . . in accordance with Jewish burial customs” (John 19:40 TNIV)

Joseph and Nicodemus were certainly respecters of rules! Joseph went through the proper channels of civic authority to obtain Jesus’ dead body. Nicodemus trundled 75 pounds of burial spices through the city streets. Then both men worked together to follow the customary Jewish burial procedures for burying Jesus. They had both believed in Jesus’ claims before his death, but secretly out of fear of reprisal from Jewish leadership. Now they’re both acting out their devotion to Jesus in daylight, for all to see (general public, civic and religious leaders, alike). Why this sudden change? What caused them to openly act out their devotion to Jesus in spite of their fear? Certainly reprisals could still come from the Jewish leadership. Did they feel safer because Jesus was now dead? They had not associated themselves with Jesus in his life. Did they desire to associate themselves with Jesus now, even in his death, before it was “too late to do so”? Did they just not care what the Jewish leadership thought or did anymore after seeing its gross miscarriage of justice regarding a man who had committed no crimes? Did they experience tough consequences for their choice to do what they did? What role, if any, did these two men play in the formation of the early church of Jesus followers? Or did they quietly return to their former positions within Jewish leadership as if nothing had ever happened? Was this indicative of a life change for both of these men, or just a momentary aberration? So many questions!

As I consider the choices, habits and routine behaviors that are customary in my own life, there are a few changes that I’d like to experience. What will it take for my desired changes to occur? If these changes do occur, will the changes be “for life” or will they look more like a never-ending stream of “periodic aberrations”? When will life-changing transformation finally occur for me? Will it? How desperately do I want these changes to occur? What am I willing to surrender, sacrifice or let go of in order to experience the kind of life change that I desire?

I suspect that Joseph and Nicodemus had some hard soul-searching and deciding to do before they came out into the light of day. So do I. So do you. I have no quick, easy, over-simplified answers for myself or anyone else – nor do I desire to receive any from anyone either. But I do have hope that Love is available to assist me along the way. And I do believe that nothing is impossible for Love.

conflicted

by hovering love

“ . . . what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Mark 10:17 (TNIV)

“ . . . what must I do to get eternal life?” Mark 10:17 (The Message)

“Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him!” Mark 10:21 (The Message)

“He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.” Mark 10:22 (The Message)

This wealthy young man enthusiastically approaches Jesus with the desire to inherit (a term of wealth) or get (a term of consumerism) eternal life. Some of his desire must have been genuine and sincere because when Jesus looks deeply into his heart and soul, Jesus loves him. But then Jesus tells him to do the last thing that he expected—turn your back on what has been the focus of your life up to this moment in time (wealth, possessions, status, clout, etc.) and become a vagrant who follows a teacher around from town to town. No doubt this young man felt very alarmed by what he had heard. Jesus’ request offered none of the things that this wealthy young man was accustomed to in life and it required more than he ever imagined would be asked of him. How could this kind of drastic action be good for him? I wonder why he approached Jesus in the first place? Did he think he’d be “adding to his treasures” by getting eternal life, too? Why does anyone approach Jesus in the first place? I don’t know and it’s not my place to judge, but one thing is certain: this young man had no idea of what he was asking for. He had no idea that what he sought to get from Jesus was of a much greater value and cost than what he already possessed—and it was just too much for him to accept (or follow through on) at that moment in his life. Jesus’ words were too far removed from what this young man had anticipated hearing and he was overwhelmed. So he walked away feeling conflicted and heartbroken about the choice that Jesus had set before him. I don’t know if the passage of time enabled this young man to change his mind and choose differently, but I’m hoping that he did. Jesus is patient and respectful with those he loves, allowing them the time they need to process and grow.

So . . . what about me? What is God asking of me, in this moment of my life, that I feel is too much to ask? What am I seeking in this moment and what am I willing to give in order to get it? What am I holding too tightly onto, and what will it take for me to relax my clenched fist? Why do I not simply open my hands and let go so I can be free to follow Jesus?

What about you?