Category Archives: Jesus

Glad tidings

James Tissot (1836-1902) Jésus dans la synagogue déroule le livre opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894 Brooklyn Museum

James Tissot (1836-1902)
Jésus dans la synagogue déroule le livre
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum

We, too, have been anointed by God’s Spirit to bring glad tidings to the poor. We bring food to those who are hungry. We bring compassion to those who are grieving. We bring encouragement to those who have low self-esteem. We bring comfort to those who are ill.

Wherever we go, we bring the gift of ourselves, the glad tidings of our loving presence, our hope in the Lord, our willingness to be guided by the Lord as trusted servants.

[Jesus] stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor. Luke 4:16b-18a

Gifted

Jan Cossiers, 1600-1671 The wedding at Cana: Jesus blesses the water oil on canvase, 1641-1660 Herentals, Saint Waltrude's Church

Jan Cossiers, 1600-1671
The wedding at Cana: Jesus blesses the water
oil on canvas, 1641-1660
Herentals, Saint Waltrude’s Church

You have gifts to offer. Gifts in abundance. Humor. Hospitality. Kindness. Comfort.

A listening ear. A homemade meal. A well-tended garden. A prayer.

Forgiveness. Acceptance. Compassion. Love.

You have so many gifts that bless our world.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

One of us

Jesus MAFA. John baptizes Jesus, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48290 [retrieved January 10, 2016].

Jesus MAFA. John baptizes Jesus, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.  [retrieved January 10, 2016].

 Jesus enters into our reality to experience life the same way we do. He is a part of the human family, not apart from the human family.

And, by his example, Jesus encourages us to develop the experience of prayer, of communion with God, of entwinement with God.

When we practice conscious awareness of God’s presence for a few moments… a few minutes… a few hours… suddenly our whole life will be illumined by the discovery that God is pleased with us too.

After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”…  Luke 3:21-22.

Honor

John Flaxman (1755-1826) The Adoration of the Magi Graphite with gray wash and watercolor on medium, slightly textured, cream wove paper Yale Center for British Art

John Flaxman (1755-1826)
The Adoration of the Magi
Graphite with gray wash and watercolor on medium, slightly textured, cream wove paper
Yale Center for British Art

Today I will pay homage to the Lord by honoring his call to love my neighbor and forgive my enemies, by searching for his Holy Spirit in each person I encounter, and by making good use of my gifts and talents in his service.

[The magi] prostrated themselves and did [Jesus] homage. Matthew 2:11

Astounded by the Word

Vasily Polenov (1844-1927) Christ Among Teachers, 1896 Moscow, Tretyakov Gallery

Vasily Polenov (1844-1927)
Christ Among Teachers, 1896
Moscow, Tretyakov Gallery

Listen to the Word. Sit with holy Scripture. You will be astounded to find the understanding you crave, the answers you seek.

After three days they found [Jesus] in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. Luke 2:46-47

At any moment

Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov (1806-1858) Head of St. John the Baptist oil on paper mounted on canvas, 1837-1857 Tretyakov Gallery

Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov (1806-1858)
Head of St. John the Baptist
oil on paper mounted on canvas, 1837-1857
Tretyakov Gallery

At any point in our temporal history, the Word of God may come to us and lead us to become prophetic witnesses to the presence of God in our midst.

The Word of God may call us to speak out against prejudice, greed, and violence, and point the way to acceptance, generosity, and peace.

The Word of God may show us how to let go of resentment, self-centeredness, and arrogance, and teach us the way of forgiveness, service to those in need, and humble awareness of our dependence on God.

The Word of God may clarify our purpose in life: to love God, ourselves, and our neighbors, to bring comfort to the afflicted, to use our gifts and talents in the service of God’s whole human family.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar… during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. Luke 3:1, 2

Nothing to add

Jeanne Kun The Root of Jesse

Jeanne Kun
The Root of Jesse

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for you I wait all the day. Psalm 25:4-5

 

Listen to the truth

Ford Madox Brown (1821-1893) Jesus Washing Peter's Feet oil on canvas, 1852-1856 Tate

Ford Madox Brown (1821-1893)
Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet
oil on canvas, 1852-1856
Tate

In every moment, the voice of our king reminds us to love, forgive, reconcile, and help the poor, sick, and elderly, the widows, children, and foreigners.

The voice of our king calls us to remember who we are: members of one human family, each unique, each with gifts to share, each beloved of God.

The voice of our king tells us how to serve as he served: with humility, compassion, nonviolence, and love without end.

[Jesus answered,] “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37

A Word of Love

"Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near."

“Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.” Mark 13:28

Love is timeless, without end, forever. Love will not pass away.

Love is the solution to the violence, hatred, greed, and contempt for human life that continue to shock our world.

Love is forgiveness. Love is humility. Love is compassion. Love is admitting when I am wrong. Love is kindness. Love is respect. Love is letting go of resentment. Love is comforting the grieving. Love is helping those who are suffering. Love is putting aside my needs for the moment and listening to you in your moment of need.

The Word is Love.

[Jesus said to his disciples:] “Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.” Mark 13:31

What little I have

JESUS MAFA. The Widow’s Mite, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. [retrieved November 8, 2015].

I have attention to give you. I have good listening. I have encouragement. I have a smile for you.

It’s all yours and you are welcome to it.

[Jesus said,] “She, from her poverty, has contributed all she had.” Mark 12:44b