Tag Archives: Christian

No surprises

Head_of_Christ_by_Rembrandt_(Philadelphia_panel)

Christ
Rembrandt or workshop (1606-1669)
oil on oak, circa 1648-1656
Philadelphia Museum of Art
via Wikimedia Commons

Nothing that happens to us, nothing we do, nothing we feel is a surprise to Jesus. In his humanity, he felt anger at the money changers and sadness at the death of Lazarus. He blamed the fig tree for not producing fruit. He accused God of abandoning him on the cross. He loved us so much he gave his life for us.

Jesus is one of us. He knows us. He knows we are capable of indifference and of compassion. He knows we can be stiff-necked and insist on our own way and he knows we have what it takes to surrender our life and will to God’s care.

Perhaps the only surprise is for us: God trusts us to be fully human and loves us just as we are.

But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well. John 2:24-25

Today’s mountain

By Frank S De Hass, [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By Frank S De Hass, [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

It is a sluggish journey up today’s mountain of pain. Snow is coming again and once it starts, the pain will probably lessen. I hope.

It isn’t exactly hope that keeps me following the Lord up this mountain. It’s more an unwillingness—today—to give up. I’m doing my best to make this climb an opportunity  to practice patience and compassion and to put my trust in Jesus.

Maybe it is hope. I keep climbing in the hope of being led to a place of transfiguration, a place of perfect peace, acceptance, and wholeness.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. Mark 9:2

 

Driven

Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi (1837-1887) Le Christ dans le désert, 1872 Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi (1837-1887)
Le Christ dans le désert, 1872
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

God’s Holy Spirit points, pushes, drives us where we need to go.

Listen deeply. Be empty of pre-conceived notions. Let go of resistance.

Trust the movement of the Spirit.

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan. Mark 1:12

Made clean

James Tissot (1836-1902) Guérison des lépreux à Capernaum, between 1886 and 1894 Brooklyn Museum

James Tissot (1836-1902)
Guérison des lépreux à Capernaum, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum

When I feel out of step with the ways of the world, when I feel like an outsider or an interloper or just a plain oddball, I can re-root myself in the presence of Jesus and be made clean.

Clean of arrogance. Clean of isolation. Clean of comparisons. Clean of judgment. Clean of the need to conform. Clean of the fear of speaking my truth.

Being made clean by the Lord gives me the right to take my place—just as I am—in any company, any society, any situation.

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.” Mark 1:40

Sense out of nonsense

Sunset at Capernaum By Abraham (Own work) [<a href="http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.e

Sunset at Capernaum
By Abraham (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

The human condition means that some of us  spend our life struggling with physical, mental, or emotional illness. Illness is not our fault; it’s not God punishing us or expecting us to make reparation for transgressions. It’s our DNA.

Jesus, the Compassion of God, understands our human suffering. Let go of the struggle; bring the illness, the exhaustion, the depletion to him. He is the one who makes sense out of nonsense.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to [Jesus] all who were ill or possessed by demons. Mark 1:32

Say no to demons

Jesus heals the possessed

Christ heals the possessed. Jan Luyken. In the Bowyer Bible in Bolton Museum, England. Print 4234. From “An Illustrated Commentary on the Gospel of Mark” by Phillip Medhurst. Section D. Jesus confronts uncleanness. By Phillip Vere [FAL], via Wikimedia Commons

They’re always attacking, subtle or not.

Demons of pain, fatigue, and self-doubt. Demons of resentment, disdain, and indifference. Demons of envy, dissatisfaction, and hopelessness.

Say no, in the name of Jesus. Demons have no power in the light and presence of the Compassion of God.

Jesus rebuked [the unclean spirit] and said,
“Quiet! Come out of him!” Mark 1:25

Fish or cut bait

Fisher Men 3 December 2011 By Venkateshpdy (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Fisher Men
3 December 2011
By Venkateshpdy (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Consider the power of a call that makes me leave my family, home, livelihood.

Consider the power of a call that changes my heart to feel the fragility, the vulnerability, the desperate need to be loved of the human family.

Consider the power of a call that transforms me into someone who fishes with forgiveness, nonviolence, and compassion as my bait.

And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” Mark 1:17

Listen

Buisson ardent en mosaïque de la coupole 1 de la nef de la basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde à Marseille By Robert Valette (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Buisson ardent en mosaïque de la coupole 1 de la nef de la basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde à Marseille
By Robert Valette (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Sometimes God speaks to me through the mind-opening words of a song, a poem, a friend. Sometimes God speaks to me through the kindness and compassion of a stranger, a family member, a medical professional. Sometimes God speaks to me through my gut feelings, instincts, life experiences. Sometimes God speaks to me when I read sacred Scripture.

Maybe God is always speaking to me. Today I will practice listening more deeply.

Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10b

God’s beloved

Jacob de Wit (1695-1754) Baptism of Christ in the Jordan chalk and pen, ca.1716 Amsterdam, Amstelkring Museum via Wikimedia Commons

Jacob de Wit (1695-1754)
Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
chalk and pen, ca.1716
Amsterdam, Amstelkring Museum
via Wikimedia Commons

We are God’s beloved and God is well pleased with us. The whole human family. All of us. In spite of, perhaps because of our human frailty, failures, and weaknesses. God made us human. We are God’s. We are God’s creation, beloved and pleasing to God.

Lord, teach me to see myself and the all of the human family  with your eyes and heart.

And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 1:11

Pushed by the Light

512px-Magi_(1)

Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy: The Three Wise Men (named Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar). Detail from: “Mary and Child, surrounded by angels”, mosaic of a Ravennate italian-byzantine workshop, completed within 526 AD by the so-called Master of Sant’Apollinare
By Nina-no (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons

God within me urges me on and on to find God, to encounter God, to know God. I am pushed by the light within to find the light in all creation, especially in you. In the moment of recognition, the light in me does homage to the light in you, the Light of God, the Love of God.

[The magi] saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Matthew 2:11