When Jesus was approached by James and John who were asking a favor to be granted unconditionally he responded without making promises. Jesus just told them that he was going to be tortured and murdered. He also pointed out that he would rise again. Their response was to ask a favor.
Hey, could we please be given honored positions near you when you get to be famous? They seemed to misunderstand what they were asking. They wanted positions of respect and Jesus shared with them what that really meant. You will have to go what I am going through to be respected like that. They said they were up for the pain. Jesus told them the sad news that even when they go through all that, it is not his call who gets the place of respect.
So about persecution. Good Christian folks - please stop whining about being persecuted. If you are doing it right, you ought to be persecuted. It is part of the deal. We are not supposed to be the majority and we are not suppose to persecute others. We are not supposed to suppress or oppress others. We are supposed to deal with the persecution without retaliation. And for goodness sake, stop looking for the reward and respect.
The other fellows in Jesus's group were pretty put out by these two angling for authority. Jesus tried to make it clear - the role of a good Christian is to serve others and not be the person in charge. Using a position of power to require others to conform and obey is antithetical to the gospel and the example of Jesus.
One more thing about persecution. When someone else has a different
opinion from me, they are not persecuting me unless they try to make me
believe or behave in a way that I don't want to. The iconic question
about this in the USA in the last few years has been the good Christian shopkeeper who does not wish to serve someone whose looks, behavior or beliefs they find offensive to their sensibilities. Compelling them to bake a cake, sell a pizza or take a picture for those they find offensive they claim IS persecution. Those Christians are not required to change beliefs, but to behave in a way they find difficult or offensive to themselves. That is what is supposed to happen to Christian folks.
In America especially there is a powerful group of Christians who would like to reverse this formula. They would like to reverse the persecution. They want to deny housing, jobs, benefits, and even basic services to people who they find offensive to their sensibilities. That is the opposite of who Jesus is and what Jesus explained. They may call themselves Christian, but they seem far removed for the Christ they claim to follow.
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Monday, August 7, 2017
About the yeast
Two things today.
The Yeast.
Just recently in the sequence of readings the story of the loaves and fishes was prominent followed by a later reading where the disciples were described as not understanding about those loaves and fishes.
So here we have an explanation about bread that they still don't understand. Using a metaphor with something right to hand, Jesus talks about yeast. Bread uses a small amount of yeast to make the dough rise. The small amount is worked through the whole bread and has an effect that seems oversized compared to the amount put into the loaf.
The yeast of the pharisees and Herod are both horrible for the people. But they are also the holders of the power in that time. We can take from this we ought to be careful of leadership that poisons rather than raises our culture, our people. Do your leaders - church, school, work, political - cause you to be better people; more loving; more peaceful; more like Jesus? If not, be careful of the cues you take from them. Cheating, stealing, and hating are all the opposite of what Jesus preached.
The Loaves
The 5 loaves and 2 fish used to feed 5000 left 12 baskets full. My theory: If one considers 12 to represent either the disciples or the tribes of Israel, then the small starting amount, is enough for all as long as we follow what Jesus said and share it out. Scarcity is a false notion we live in abundance and still hoard what we have. Also notice that 5 loaves and 2 fish makes 7 items of food.
The 7 loaves for 4000 that left over 7 baskets full is another metaphor. 7 represents the fullness of a thing. 7 days of Creation; 7 miles on the road to Emmaus; 77 the number of times we ought to forgive another; and so many other examples.
We already have all we need to care for everyone.
In fact when we do share we end up with more for all.
The Yeast.
Just recently in the sequence of readings the story of the loaves and fishes was prominent followed by a later reading where the disciples were described as not understanding about those loaves and fishes.
So here we have an explanation about bread that they still don't understand. Using a metaphor with something right to hand, Jesus talks about yeast. Bread uses a small amount of yeast to make the dough rise. The small amount is worked through the whole bread and has an effect that seems oversized compared to the amount put into the loaf.
The yeast of the pharisees and Herod are both horrible for the people. But they are also the holders of the power in that time. We can take from this we ought to be careful of leadership that poisons rather than raises our culture, our people. Do your leaders - church, school, work, political - cause you to be better people; more loving; more peaceful; more like Jesus? If not, be careful of the cues you take from them. Cheating, stealing, and hating are all the opposite of what Jesus preached.
The Loaves
The 5 loaves and 2 fish used to feed 5000 left 12 baskets full. My theory: If one considers 12 to represent either the disciples or the tribes of Israel, then the small starting amount, is enough for all as long as we follow what Jesus said and share it out. Scarcity is a false notion we live in abundance and still hoard what we have. Also notice that 5 loaves and 2 fish makes 7 items of food.
The 7 loaves for 4000 that left over 7 baskets full is another metaphor. 7 represents the fullness of a thing. 7 days of Creation; 7 miles on the road to Emmaus; 77 the number of times we ought to forgive another; and so many other examples.
We already have all we need to care for everyone.
In fact when we do share we end up with more for all.
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