Why did the disciples answer Jesus's call?

  Scripture: Jonah 3:1-5, 10  • Psalm 62:5-12  • 1 Corinthians 7:29-31  • Mark 1:14-20

The gospel this week is about Jesus calling his disciples, particularly, Andrew, Peter, James and John, to become fishers of men. How is it that they dropped what they were doing, their livelihood, and family and way of life to follow Jesus? 

Our authors this week look through the lens of the writer of the gospel of Mark, Paul's letter to the Corinthians, and even the Jonah's mission to the Assyrians, as well as the times in which they were written, to give us insight into why, and how, the disciples answered Jesus' call.

There is more to the term "evangelical," which comes from the Greek εὐαγγέλιον (euangélion), or "good news, although "good news" it is! See Dan Clendenin's "Evangelicals: When Labels are Libels." The urgency of getting the good news out, in God's time (καιρός - kairos) is viewed in the urgency of the time ( Χρόνος - chronos) Paul's letter and the gospel of Mark were written. The challenge is to see, believe, and act in God's time, with the love, forgiveness and compassion God showed the Ninevites in Jonah's story, and which is recognized in this week's Psalm. As this week's gospel begins, "The time is fulfilled, the  kingdom of God has come near, repent (turn around - renew your minds and thoughts and hearts), and believe in the good news. That's what grabbed the disciples, and that is what can grab you and me.

See also, Beth Scibienski's "Irresistible Grace," Sister Kim Harris' Commentary,  Exposition, and Reflection (all separate short articles), and Fr. Rick Morley's "time fulfilled - a reflection on Mark 1:14-20."

In "I Will Make," Debie Thomas explores the urgency of Jesus' call, and what we are called to do as people Jesus calls us to be, authentic, and something more than our own pride and egos make it out to be.

Who do you see? What does God see?

  Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20)  • Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18  • 1 Corinthians 6:12-20  • John 1:43-51

The lessons this week are about knowing, recognizing the truth, and recognizing the presence of God in our lives. Samuel recognized God's presence and truth with Eli's help, overcame his own reservations, and told Eli God's truth, as hard as it was. 

Beautiful Psalm 139 is a confession and hymn of gratitude to God who knows us all  our days, knit us together in our mothers' wombs, and is still with us. 

Jesus knew Nathanael before Philip called him, as an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.

Professor Alyce M. Mackenzie helps us be aware of God's presence in our lives in "Recognizing Jesus: Reflections on John 1:43-51." Debie Thomas, in "What Do You See?" asks what we see, and discusses how much seeing truth matters, especially in the darkness of alternative facts" and "fake news," in the wake of the consequences insurrection, loss, and instability. What do you see? What does God see?

Wild Water

  Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5  • Psalm 29  • Acts 19:1-7  •  Mark 1:4-11

This week, as last week, we visit Jesus' baptism. Click here for last week's lesson. 

I recall the story Methodist minister Howard Mumma told of one of my heroes, a freedom fighter against man's inhumanity to man, the author, Albert Camus, who once asked to be baptized, but privately. I love and struggle reading Camus' novels asking questions which wrench the soul in The Fall and The Plague. He asks the same questions Job asks, as does Christ on the cross when it seems like "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"

I find not just comfort, but meaning in the life, words, and example in Jesus of Nazareth. Mumma told Camus to wait for baptism until later for reasons they both knew and understood. If you want, you can read Mumma's account of their conversations here.  

In his godblog article, "On Two Plagues: Bishop N.T Wright and Albert Camus," C. Fred Alford discusses the different, but also solidarity of the responses of Bishop N.T. Wright and Albert Camus to "the plague. " This followed Alford's article, "Did Camus want to be baptized?"

Why did Jesus ask John the Baptist to baptise him? Why should we be baptized and confirmed? I like, and agree, with the reasoning of Debie Thomas in her "Wild Water."

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us

  

Scripture: 
Isaiah 61:10-62:3  • 
 
Psalm 148  • 
 
Galatians 4:4-7  •
 
John 1:1-14


It is appropriate, as we begin the first week of Christmas, that John's gospel is our text this week, opening with "In the beginning was the Word," λόγος , logos, in Greek. This week we learn more about the nature of The Word made flesh, who lives - not just lives- among us, but who tabernacles with us, full of grace and truth, the meaning of grace and truth. And the gift, as well as the giver, and what that means for us. See The Rev. Edward Marquart's "The Word Became Flesh."


Just how much do we mean to God, and each other? Especially in these times. What can we rely on so we do not lose our way? See The Rev. Whitney Rice's "In the beginning..." She concludes  with "This is why scripture matters so much. Because when real life comes crashing in, when the divorce papers are served, when the job loss happens, when the cancer or Alzheimer’s diagnosis comes through, we have to have somewhere to anchor our souls. And we do, in a few simple words a man named John wrote a very long time ago. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” The hard knocks of life plus the poetry of scripture give us the chance to build our lives so that we become a word of poetry ourselves, one little phrase expressed by the great Word that is God." 


The Rev. Cannon Anna Sutterisch says the birth and life of Christ transforms the relationship of God and humanity in "Right Relationship ." Dan Clendenin challenges us to mean what we say or routinely recite in "Ox and Ass Before him bow."

Say Yes to God

 Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11  • Psalm 126 or Luke 1:46b-55  • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24   • John 1:6-8, 19-28

As we prepare for the Lord's coming, we are reminded that this time of year can be a sad and lonely time for many. A local Catholic church offers a blue mass service for those low in spirit, lonely, depressed, down and out. As we wait and prepare with expectant hope, this week we are invited to share in the joy of the Lord's coming - in the midst of our human condition - amidst times of turmoil, violence, illness, troubles and woes.

As Jesus began his mission, he unrolled the scroll and read from this week's passage in Isaiah. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he anointed me to bring good news to the oppressed, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners." Isaiah wrote to those returning from the exile of captivity. Returning to the ruins of their homeland. In the midst of those ruins, with great joy the prophet and the Israelites returned, thankful and filled with the promise of restoration.

Psalm 126 shouts of that joy of restoration in every verse, and Luke's Song of Mary, the god bearer (Θεοτοκος) is full of joy as her "soul does magnify the Lord." Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians enjoined them to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ for us.

Consider the contrasts, and experience the hope and joy in Daniel Berrigan's, Advent Credo, Steve Goodier's "Surprised by Joy," and Melissa Bane Servier's "Joy?" Read Debie Thomas's "Mary's Song."

 When you have time, read C.S. Lewis' book, Surprised by Joy.

Preparing the Way of the Lord

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11  • Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13  • 2 Peter 3:8-15a   • Mark 1:1-8

After last week's apocalyptic passage from Mark, we have the first verse, or introduction, to Mark in this week's gospel. Mark starts with "The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God," seizes on the writings of the prophet Isaiah, and introduces us to John the Baptist, a voice crying in the wilderness, making straight the path, preparing the way for the Lord, proclaiming a baptism of repentance by water, for the forgiveness of sins. We await the coming of the Lord, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Just as Mark speaks of preparation for the Lord's coming, the author of 2 Peter urges patience and endurance as we wait. Contrasted with last week's cry from Isaiah of "O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, " the prophet says, "Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God," and he says that the Lord will feed his flock like a shepherd, gathering the lambs, carrying them gently in his bosom, and gently leading the mother sheep.

In violent and unsettled times, considering John the Baptist's ministry of repentance for the forgiveness of sin, Kathleen Norris, in "Mercy, Me," asks "Can it be that mercy really is at the heart of God?  In "I Want to Be Ready, " Steve Goodier suggests ways to prepare for the future we are called to. In "Leftovers," Melissa Bane Servier suggests that in the re-imagining, re-emergence of our faith tradition, is a coming anew of God, creating anew, "taking those beautiful flavors of the ancient past and delivering them to us in ever-new ways," - sort of like living anew that glorious feast of Thanksgiving, and the leftovers of all of the wonderful memories, people, stories, aromas and blessings of our lives.

In "Comfort My People," Debie Thomas asks where do we look for comfort? She says the context of the Scripture finds us in a hard place. What an eye and heart opener to know God is with us in hard places. 

What is Advent? What does it mean?

  Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9  • Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19  • 1 Corinthians 1:3-9  • Mark 13:24-37

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, and the first Sunday of Lectionary Year B. We light candles in this season of  waiting, hope, peace and love, as we await the coming of the Christ child, and Christ's coming again. We prepare in the darkness of our own time. In the midst of pandemic, separation and hyper partisanship. It seems almost apocalyptic. Why does Kathleen Morris call her article "Apocalpse Now?"

In "Advent Alchemy," John Stendahl urges us not to choose indifference or resignation in the seasons of our lives as we take care to note the shape of the darkness in which our candles burn. Instead prepare for the Lord's coming by anticipating the good which will come, and shining when and where the light is most needed. 

To be ready to receive the most precious gift of the Christ child, we must first confront truth, give up denial, selfishness, and all things destructive of shalom. And be patient and responsible as we wait - wait, in hope, for healing, reconciliation, and the awesome gift of God's peace. Read "Because You Hid Yourself," by Debie Thomas. 

Finally, consider a short reading about Advent Candles. See Melissa Banes Sevier's "One Candle."