Tempted

 Scripture:  Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7  • Psalm 32  •  Romans 5:12-19  •  Matthew 4:1-11

This Sunday our Scripture is the tales of two Adams. The first Adam in the garden of Eden, and Jesus, the second Adam, in the wilderness. Both are tempted.

As we begin Lent, we study the significance of the temptation of Christ, and our own temptations. Both Jesus, and we, as he tells us, are God's beloved. Why are God's beloved tempted? Why does the Spirit lead Jesus into the desert, and why do we find ourselves in wilderness situations? Debie Thomas' "Tempted" is the best consideration of today's gospel I have read. And then there is The Rev. James Liggett's beautiful and wise sermon, "Surrender" especially if you're down and out, lonely, or just plain tired. What can we take away from this week's lesson?

Transformed by the Light of Christ

 Scripture: Exodus 24:12-18  •  Psalm 2 or Psalm 99  •  2 Peter 1:16-21  •  Matthew 17:1-9

This last Sunday of the Epiphany season we see the light shining brightest in Christ in his glory in the Transfiguration narrative of Matthew. With Moses and Elijah, Jesus is shown to fulfill (complete) the law and the prophets in all wholeness, reconciling us to God as God in man made manifest.

Just as the love and forgiveness of God through his Christ helps transform us today (See The Rev. Anne Howard's "A Word in Time,"), Christ, in all his glory, who took on all the pain, suffering and sin of man, is more than man (See Fred B. Craddock's "Christ is Not as We Are"), and is to be worshipped and gloried with the Father and Holy Spirit, one God, true light from true light, the Blessed Trinity.

And yet He is with us, and will draw us up, in our journey no matter what the circumstances (See Stephen Paul Bouman's "Marias Full of Grace").

As we come down off the mountain, will we come down with Jesus to complete the work in his kingdom? Will we be transformed to see as God sees? The Rev. Warren Thomas Swenson tells us how in "Look for Jesus."

In "Is It Good For Us To Be Here?" Debi Thomas helps us recognize Jesus when we don't have mountaintop experiences.

New Commandments - New Community

 

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 or Sirach 15:15-20  •  Psalm 119:1-8  •  1 Corinthians 3:1-9  •  Matthew 5:21-37

Our readings this week refer to commandments. Jesus gives us new commandments, and radical they are, or are they? He says, "You have heard it was said..." followed by a commandment, and then says, "but I say to you..." followed by seemingly extreme demands. For example: commandment: "You shall not murder..." followed by: "if you are angry with a brother or sister, you are liable to judgment." Or, "Do not commit adultery..." followed by "whoever looks at a woman with lust has committed adultery in his heart, "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." 

 What is Jesus telling us? Some call his remarks "antitheses" to the commandments, but he has told us he has come not to destroy the law, but to fulfill the law. It helps to read the gospel in context. What is Jesus doing here? Who is he addressing? Both Debie Thomas in "But I Say To You...," and The Rev. Josh Bowron in "All Sinners" put this into context. They say it must be read with Jesus' life and in the context of the creation of a new community of faith and action, not in a transactional context. The Rev. Warren Swenson in "Mining The Riches" says Jesus is drawing deeper meaning from the law. What do you think?This is a good lesson to prepare for Lent.

We are to be the salt and light of the earth and .... perfect?

 Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12)  • Psalm 112:1-9 (10) 

 • 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16)  • Matthew 5:13-20

After Jesus gave us his sermon on the mount, teaching us different standards to live by than the prevailing ways of the world - so different and life changing that Dietrich Bonhoeffer based his Cost of Discipleship on the Beatitudes - he then charged us to be "the salt of the earth" and "light of the world." In verse 48 of the fifth chapter of Matthew, Jesus commands us to be "perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."  What does he mean? Is Jesus commanding us to do what we cannot possibly do? Is he to be taken literally? Is it hyperbole to make a point? Does he mean you and me, and now?

In "Salt and Light" The Rev. Anne Howard  has an interesting discussion about the qualities and meanings of salt, and light, particularly in terms of being engaged and useful with others. Fred B. Craddock explores what Jesus means in his charge to be "perfect" in "You, Therefore, Must Be Perfect." Finally, in "epiphany 5a reflection: lose the morons," The Rev. Rick Morley tells us not to be morons as he draws on the Greek word for "low-grade," used for losing one's saltiness, or becoming tasteless - μωραίνω - mōrainō. That's right, we're to do great things and not be morons.

Read The Rev. Kirk Kubicek's "Salt, Light, and Stardust," and Debie Thomas' "Salty."

Justice and Mercy with Humility

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8  • 

Psalm 15  • 1 Corinthians 1:18-31  • Matthew 5:1-12

 Today, as in the time of the prophet Micah, justice continues to be elusive.  Katrina Whitley tells us “Justice is bought by the rich in courts that preserve those who have money and punish those who are poor and unprotected. The few who truly do justice are called fools and radicals and are even forbidden in many cases from feeding the hungry and from giving shelter to refugees. Loving-kindness and mercy are laughed at. They are for the weak, for those who, in derision, are called bleeding hearts. Millions are being spent on weapons that kill people and destroy cities because mercy is no longer a virtue but an enemy of power. And humility has become alien in a world where people are strutting about armed to the hilt, threatening with violence and death those who do practice humility.” 

What are we charged to do? Read “He Has Told You, O Mortal, What Is Good .” Jesus gives us his answer in his Sermon on the Mount, this Sunday's gospel. Read more about the prophet Micah in Dan Clendenin's "Who Is A God Like You?"

You Hear What You're Listening For

 Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-4  • Psalm 27:1, 4-9  • 1 Corinthians 1:10-18  • Matthew 4:12-23

The  gospel this week is Matthew's account of Jesus calling disciples to be fishers of men. What is involved in answering the call? Why did the disciples leave their net immediately and follow Jesus?  How do we "fish" for people? What is involved? Read Debie Thomas' "I Will Make You..."

First, you have to be open to hear the call. The farmer in Barrington Bates' story, hearing a cricket chirp on his visit to the City in the midst of sirens blaring, said "I figure you hear what you're listening for." Are we listening for the call? What are we listening, or looking for? Bates says Jesus gives us clear directives on what we need to do. Read his "Repent, Look For Signs Of The Kingdom, And Follow Jesus ."

What are you looking for? What do you need?

 Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-7 -1 Corinthians 1:1-9 - John 1:29-42 - Psalm 40:1-12

This week's gospel in the second week of the Epiphany seaon has Jesus calling his disciples to be fishers of men. What makes them drop their fishing nets to follow him? In "What Are You Looking For?" Debie Thomas peels back the Scripture to help us answer Jesus' call to discipleship. Looking, Seeing, Finding. It requires looking, seeking, and seeing, not once, or twice, but constantly, to Jesus' invitation to "Come and see."

 Leaving comfort zones, examining ourselves honestly and thoroughly is not easy, but the journey helps us to find our true selves with the presence of Christ to help us find what God has in store for us. It is saving. It is life fulfilling. It is a gracious vision. It is about forgiving and seeing as Jesus sees. Loving as Jesus loves. Later Jesus would say that in losing ourselves we will find ourselves. What does that mean? Accept Jesus' invitation to  "come and see," and all that that entails.

In "Be Called," Dr. Sharon Fennema says we are called into becoming aware of the contours of God moving in our midst, from John in his gospel exclaiming, "Behold the Lamb of God," the presence of the grace of God, embodied in Jesus. Jesus, who, in John's gospel, before performing any miracle, or casting out any demon, asks "What are you looking for?" He's asking "What do you need?" From the"ends of the earth" passage in our reading from the prophet Isaiah, to Jesus's call to leave the familiar behind, we see God is doing a new thing, and calls us to do the same. The calling is liberating and collective. It was never just an insular individual calling. God will not be boxed in, and through God's grace in the redemptive and freeing love of Christ, neither are we. Such is the freedom of the ἐξουσία (authority which liberates - gives choices instead of domination) of Jesus. Jesus, whose name means "he who saves," the deliverer, the Messiah.