Journeys

To journey with Jesus means a willingness to die for the sake of the kingdom. The journey of Jesus led to the cross. That is where Jesus calls us to follow today—the way of the cross. This is not some inward spiritual journey. This is a confrontation with power, violence and death. But we are not alone. Jesus walks ahead. He leads the way. And he bids us to come and join him.

Perhaps this is the most difficult part of journeying with Jesus. We are so familiar Matthew 16:24-26 but what does is mean for the disciple today? “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

We are invited to follow in his footsteps. Like him, we are to be ready to take up our cross, whatever it may be, and carry it behind him. Notice, Jesus tells the disciples to take up their own cross, not his. The cross will be different for each person; it takes the form of some difficult thing. Something not chosen but clear.

There is no comfortable way to carry a cross; I don’t care how you position it. I often talk to people who are convinced that some suffering or pain in their lives is an indication that they must not be following Jesus. After all, if they are following Jesus, the Son of God, doesn’t it follow that things in life are going to unfold smoothly? There is this junk theology floating around out there that points to difficulties as evidence that you must not be following Jesus. The Biblical reality is that when people say yes to following Jesus, they are agreeing to carry a cross, and that will be painful at times.

Only by uniting our suffering in life to that of Jesus can we carry our crosses. Is there something in my life today or everyday that I am struggling under the weight of? Ask for the grace you need from God in this time of prayer.

Now, discipleship is a choice. Nobody is forced to take it up. Jesus makes it very clear that it is not an easy way to live. How we understand our life and give it value influences what we consider “saving” or “losing” our life. It also affects the decisions and actions we make.

Perhaps as we journey with Jesus we should ask, in what ways is your living as a disciple of Christ life-giving for you? Are there burdens associated with your discipleship that you may need to ask the Lord to help you carry at this time. If so, allow yourself time to present them to him. Allow Jesus to share the load.

For our prayer today I use a hymn of Fannie Jolliffe 1862-1943 

I do not ask thee, Lord,
That all my life may be
An easy, smooth and pleasant path;
‘Twould not be good for me.
But O I ask today
That grace and strength be given
To keep me following all the way
That leads to God and Heaven!

I do not ask thee, Lord,
That tears may never flow,
Or that the world may always smile
Upon me as I go.
From thee fell drops of blood;
A thorn-crown pressed thy brow;
Thy suffering brought thee victory then,
And thou canst help me now.

And what if strength should fail,
And heart more deeply bleed?
Or what if dark and lonely days
Draw forth the cry of need?
That cry will bring thee down
My needy soul to fill,
And thou wilt teach my yearning heart
To know and do thy will.

Journeys

To journey with Jesus means embracing nonviolence—to absorb hostility and to replace revenge with forgiveness. It involves loving our enemies and praying for their transformation. It involves breaking the cycle of reciprocation, not only of evil for evil, but also good for good.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lists the blessings that await those who live their lives in a certain way. Jesus addresses the peacemakers in particular by saying, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

A “peacemaker” is someone who reconciles people with God and with one another. Peacemaking, as such, requires taking the initiative to get involved in conflicts with the intention of building bridges between the parties at odds.

An old Chinese proverb says, “If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there be beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there be harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”

What does that hymn say. ‘Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.’

A child was once asked for a definition of a saint. She said ‘A stained glass window!' Asked why, she explained, ‘The different colours let in the light and every saint is a different colour of God.' Every disciples colours God in a new way in his or her corner of the globe. And if we allow the light of God to shine through us surely we will be the much needed peacemakers our world requires.

It was Nelson Mandela who said,  “As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself... Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.” 

Peacemaker God, fill me with your Spirit, so that others may benefit from your fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Give me wisdom from, so that I might be pure and peace-loving, considerate and submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Amen

Journeys

To journey with Jesus means seeking justice. We are called to speak on behalf of those who have no voice – the poor and oppressed of every land.

Jesus opened the book and found the place where these words are written—‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord’. Luke 4:18-19 J.B. Phillips New Testament

Jesus was clear and confident about his mission. He was not downhearted when faced with poverty, captivity and illness but instead saw opportunities to establish the reign of God. Announcing good news, offering true freedom and bringing new vision are hallmarks of Christian life. I consider how my life echoes the priorities of Jesus.

Jesus invites us to share in the Spirit that so fully energises him. His mission is to awaken hope in the promises of God. His life programme is to bring freedom to us who are oppressed by sin and evil. He desires to touch our broken hearts with his healing grace and compassion.

Jesus works today in the eyes and hands of the many people who come into our lives, to see our needs and teach us, heal us, protect us, need us, feed us, pick us up, sing to us, make us laugh and love us.

Lord, lift me out of my apathy and my sense of emptiness. Capture my heart with your invigorating presence and companionship. Send me to others with a message of hope. Help me today to be in some way your eyes to see how you see, your hands to do what you do, your heart to feel the compassion you feel, and to love as you love me. Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you.

Journeys

To journey with Jesus means opening our eyes to the needs of others. Compassion leads us to service – meeting fundamental human needs of food, clothing, and shelter.

“There was a pastor of a small church who had a little daughter of about 6-years-old. It was near her bedtime, and she was sent to bed with a stomachache and missed her usual romp with her daddy. A few minutes later she appeared at the top of the stairs and called to her mother, ‘Mum, let me talk with Daddy.’

“‘No, my dear, not tonight. Get back in bed.’

“‘Please, Mum.’

“‘I said, no. That’s final.’

“‘Mother, I’m a very sick woman and I must see my pastor at once’” 

The world is abounding with those who have various needs to be met; and some are more serious than others. And we’re left with the choice to either ignore those needs, or become a catalyst for positive change by extending a hand.

Similarly to yesterday, today we extend the notion of compassion as an intentional action of the disciple. It is one thing to feel compassion, it is another actively enter the life of another, feel their pain, share their circumstance and walk around in their shoes. There is the well known verse from Deuteronomy 24:19 “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.”

But Jesus went further when he shared with his disciples. Matthew 25:35-40 

“For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me.’

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Sir, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’

“And I, the King, will tell them, ‘When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me!’

Love is shown in action. Prayer is not always enough. The prayer which does not lead to action is not real prayer. ‘Love is found in deeds rather than in words’ says Ignatius of Loyola. Prayer is not an armchair exercise!

Lord, you call me to recognise you in all those who are in need. May my response be one of concrete and loving service. St Ignatius says: ’Love manifests itself in deeds more than words.’ St John of the Cross tells us: ‘In the evening of life, we will be examined in love.’ Help me to intentionally meet those in need with the love that you have placed in my heart. Amen

Journeys

To journey with Jesus means being compassionate. “Be compassionate as God is compassionate” (Luke 6:36) is the defining mark of the follower of Jesus. Compassion is the fruit of life in the Spirit and the ethos of the community of Jesus.

A story is told of a Baptist Minister during the American Revolution named Peter Miller, who lived in Pennsylvania and was friends with George Washington. But Miller had a bitter enemy named Michael Whitman, who did all that he could to frustrate and humiliate the good reverend. One day Mr. Whitman was arrested for treason and sentenced to die Peter Miller walked seventy miles from Philadelphia to plead for the life of the traitor. General Washington said to Miller, that he was sorry but their friendship was not enough to pardon the life of his friend Michael Whitman. “My friend!” the old preacher said, “He is the bitterest enemy that I have.” And when Washington realised that Miller had walked 70 miles to offer practical assistance to an enemy, he granted the pardon.

Did you know that the word compassions means to suffer with.

In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, “Do not waste your time bothering whether you ’love’ your neighbour act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less.”

Jesus invites us to be as God is – nothing less! He does not intend to overwhelm us or cause us feel frustrated by such an enormous invitation, but wants us to wonder at the immensity of God's capacity to love. In our humanity, we are not infinite, but we are called to great love and hope. The invitation reaches to us as we are in our lives, calling us into the life of God.

Loving Lord, there are so many things that are just not how they should be in our world today. I know that it grieves You that Your children are not more engaged in prayer about these atrocities. Father, I want to be a part of the change. I may be just one person, but with You, I know I can move mountains. Please give me Your compassionate heart, the eyes to see situations from a spiritual perspective, and the words to pray over them. Amen.. 

Journeys

To journey with Jesus means living in community—becoming part of the alternative community of Jesus. Sometimes, but not always, the church can be that community. The kingdom of God is much larger than the church. Discipleship is not an individual path, but a journey in the company of other disciples. We need community to sustain us.

John 15:12-14 I demand that you love each other as much as I love you. And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends; and you are my friends if you obey me.

The love of Jesus is self-sacrificing love, seen on the cross. Where best to see love than at Calvary? The love of Calvary is love for all, and wants and desires that we know and receive this love. In prayer we might imagine ourselves at Calvary and allow the love of Jesus Christ be given to each of us.

Even though I may be happy to be a servant of Jesus, I realise that he calls me a friend. He wants me to know what is most important to him, what is closest to his heart. I take time to hear Jesus address me as friend.

If God designed the Church to function like a body with every member ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit to other members, in regular interpersonal relationship, then would it be surprising to find that the neglect of this regular interpersonal, spiritual ministry cripples the body in some of its functions and causes parts of the body to be weak and sick? Isn’t that what you would expect?"

Our lives must be productive, productive in love, in caring, in justice, in compassion, in building up the world of the Kingdom. And we need to have no fear. God is with us and everything we need will be given to us to become a fruitful community. Once again Jesus repeats the core commandment: Love one another. How much of all this is descriptive of my life? 

Almighty God, you have created all people and all of creation. We give you thanks for this gift we’re invited to engage with hope, joy and love as your disciples. Open our hearts and our eyes to see our communities as you would have us to see them. Help us to find courage to sit and hear others when so often we want to be heard first. You are good and you are gracious, O God. Let us see all people as children of you, who created us all. It is in the name Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Journeys

To journey with Jesus means breaking down the barriers that divide us and accepting others without judgment. It means welcoming and mixing with the unclean, the profane, and the diseased.

In Matthew 7:1-4 we read, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

Who am I to judge?' must rank as one the best known phrases of Pope Francis. Perhaps that is because it touches a very sensitive point in our pluralistic cultures. How can we ever judge the behaviour of others? This can sometimes degenerate into a passive, uncaring attitude towards others: I will not judge you, for you are responsible for your own choices; now do not expect me to help you in any way, for I am not responsible for you at all. Jesus is saying something quite different: be careful not to judge others more harshly than you judge yourself, try to be free of prejudice for this can cloud your judgement.

In his little book Illustrations of Bible Truth, H.A. Ironside pointed out the folly of judging others. He related an incident in the life of a man called Bishop Potter. "He was sailing for Europe on one of the great transatlantic ocean liners. When he went on board, he found that another passenger was to share the cabin with him. After going to see the accommodations, he came up to the purser's desk and inquired if he could leave his gold watch and other valuables in the ship's safe. He explained that ordinarily he never availed himself of that privilege, but he had been to his cabin and had met the man who was to occupy the other berth. Judging from his appearance, he was afraid that he might not be a very trustworthy person. The purser accepted the responsibility for the valuables and remarked, 'It's all right, bishop, I'll be very glad to take care of them for you. The other man has been up here and left his for the same reason!'"

Although this story may bring a smile to our faces, it still has a deeper significance.

Thomas a Kempis Says “In judging of others, a man labourers in vain, often errs and easily sins; but in judging and examining himself, he always labourers fruitfully.”

Thomas a Kempis also prayed; Grant me, O Lord, to know what I ought to know,To love what I ought to love,To praise what delights Thee most,To value what is precious in Thy sight,To hate what is offensive to Thee.Do not suffer me to judge according to the sight of my eyes,Nor to pass sentence according to the hearing of the ears of ignorant men;But to discern with a true judgment between things visible and spiritual,And above all, always to inquire what is the good pleasure of Thy will. Amen.

Journeys

To journey with Jesus means being his companion on the road. The root of the word companion is “com panis” which means “with bread.” It means eating at his table and experiencing his banquet. It means being fed and nourished by him. It also means sharing our food with others. This is meant to be an inclusive banquet. It is an ever-widening table of fellowship.

There are two passages from the gospels that give substance to this notion of a follower’s  inclusive companionship with Jesus.  The first is found in John 6:35 “I am the bread that gives life. If you come to My table and eat, you will never go hungry. Believe in Me, and you will never go thirsty.” And the second where Jesus declares, “….people will come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and take their seats in the kingdom of God. There are some at the back now who will be in the front then, and there are some in front now who will then be far behind.” (Luke 13:29)

Knowing, following  and having a good relationship with Jesus is at the heart of our faith. This is more than information, which is knowing about Jesus and what he taught and did. Some people felt they were privileged and had the inside track as Jesus was one of them but Jesus was indicating something more than that. His way was open to all people of good will. Lord help us know you better, to more in tune with your message, so that we may live as your friends and companions.

When we choose to follow Jesus, we are walking in his steps.

A former bomb disposal officer, now a preacher shared, “When I was being taught how to clear a minefield our instructor told us to step precisely in the footprint left by the person in front of us. The concept was simple: since the person in front of us stepped on a spot that didn’t set off a landmine, the only spot guaranteed to be safe was the ground under that footprint. Stepping anywhere else meant risking death.

The person at the front of the patrol is called the “point man.” His job is to make sure he clears any mines or booby traps before moving forward. Everyone else’s job is to walk where he walks and step where he steps.

When we say we’re following Jesus, living as Jesus lived and doing what Jesus did, we are letting Jesus be the point man in our lives.”

We are also invited to his table to eat. 

Jesus, you shower me here with an abundance of promises. You are the bread of life for us: you will meet all our deepest needs. What needs? We hunger and thirst for happiness and joy; we want to be welcomed by the Father; we want to live eternally. And all we have to do is to give ourselves over to you for our needs to be satisfied. You are faithful to your promises, because promises are the language of love. Thank you! Amen

Journeys

To journey with Jesus means listening to his teaching—and like his disciples, sometimes understanding it, sometimes not quite getting it. However, discipleship is based upon the fundamental concept that lessons are to be put into practice as they are learned. The learning and the doing are a lifelong process.

How good a listener are you?
1) Since you think about four times faster than a person usually talks, do you use this time to think about other things while you're keeping track of the conversation?
2) Do you listen primarily for facts rather than ideas when someone is speaking?
3) Do you avoid listening to things you feel will be too difficult to understand?
4) Can you tell from a person's appearance and delivery that there won't be anything worthwhile said?
5) When someone is talking to you do you appear to be paying attention when you're not?
6) Do certain words and phrases prejudice you so you cannot listen objectively?
7) When listening are you distracted by outside sights and sounds?

In Luke 11:27-28 we find Jesus talking about how we as disciples should show that we have listened; As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that gave you suck!” He replied, “Yes, but even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.”

We are called to hear the word and put it into action. It has to be incarnated in life. Listening and forgetting or ignoring the word means missing the opportunity. God’s word is fruitful. 

Jesus must have been delighted to hear this praise of his mother. But he uses the occasion to reveal another dimension of blessedness, that of the hearers of the word of God. This means that we as disciples of Jesus we are deeply blessed by God!

Holy and Almighty Father, thank you for helping me see the very clear and simple truth of my need to obey your word and, through your Spirit, please give me the strength to obey it. Forgive me for getting so wrapped up in the nuances of religious discussion that I forget the profound simplicity of obeying your truth from my heart. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Journeys

To journey with Jesus means living like an itinerant or sojourner. It means living simply and not being bound by possessions. It means trusting God to provide enough from day to day.

I suppose one of the intriguing sayings of Jesus is about himself, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Or more to point Eugene Peterson puts in more succinctly, “Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.” (Matthew 8:20)

Jesus is making abundantly clear that the following of himself and of his cause is worlds away from, for instance, from being an apprenticeship to or discipleship of a group like the Pharisees; the latter life-path might amount to little more than a quasi-professional niche in society as a teacher of the Law.

The following of Jesus and his teaching, by contrast may easily draw down opposition on disciples, causing them to be regarded as trouble-makers and disturbers of the peace – and even as targets, if need be, for removal by violent means. His disciples, Jesus warned, must be ready- like himself- to have the cross (or execution-beam) loaded onto their shoulders.

In light of this demand, the conditions for would-be discipleship are understandable. And there will be no security or comfort for someone joining Jesus ‘on the road’ as he traverses the land preaching.

S. I. McMillen, in his book None of These Diseases, tells a story of a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, "Are you a leader?" Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, "No," and returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: "Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower."

Holy Lord, I surrender my heart, my life, my possessions, and my future to you. Lead me in the path that pleases you and gives you full allegiance in my use of time, influence, money, and abilities. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen

Journeys

We now take a different line in considering our Journey with God. In his book ‘Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time’, Marcus Borg a New Testament Scholar  describes discipleship as journeying with Jesus. We will reflect on Borg’s thoughts of Journeying with Jesus for the rest of the month.

Following Jesus is a journey that begins with a radical change in the direction of our lives. It may lead to a confrontation with political powers and death. We call this journey discipleship. The disciples followed Jesus through the villages and towns of Galilee and eventually to a cross outside of Jerusalem.

To journey with Jesus is a vision of the Christian life as a journey of transformation. It leads from life under the lordship of culture to the life of companionship with God.

Farmers in Zentsuji, Japan, are preparing full-grown watermelons for shipment -- only these are no ordinary melons: they're square! They were placed in tempered-glass cubes while they were still growing. Why would anyone want a square watermelon? They’re much easier to store in a refrigerator! It’s amusing to think of how a naturally round watermelon can become square because of the shape of the container in which it’s grown.

This reminds me of the forces in the world that exert their influence on us and attempt to shape us. That’s why in Romans 12: 2 we are told not to be "conformed to this world," but to be "transformed by the renewing of [our] mind." Or as J B Philips puts it, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.”

The idea is rather simple: We are to allow the transforming Word of God to work within us and produce outward results, instead of permitting external pressures to shape us.

God of Grace, you call us to be different from the world,

but the world is seductive, and so we come here to be strengthened.

God of Vision, you hold before us an alternate way of life,

different priorities, different loyalties, different values.

But we know that the world is not only seductive but powerful,

and so we are drawn in to following its priorities,

accepting its values, showing loyalty to its gods.

God who blesses the meek, the peacemakers, the merciful,

forgive us when we lose sight of these qualities,

when we misunderstand their role in the world.

...time of silent prayer...

Rejoice and be glad!

God is gracious and God offer blessings.

God calls us to life in the world,

God offers us the chance to explore how to live out God's vision.

We are called, we are forgiven, we are blessed.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Journeys

After God rejects Saul as king, Samuel is told to go to journey to Bethlehem to anoint David. (1 Samuel 16): “…I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

Another journey, another king and another unlikely candidate.

Have you ever noticed that right through history God has chosen the most unlikely candidates to lead his people. I was reminded recently that Winston Churchill, that great orator prime minister had as a child had a speech impediment.

Here in David, a mere shepherd boy is declared by God to be the chosen king. He seemingly lacked the credentials for kingship.

There was a boy who did not have much athletic ability. Every time he and his friends would play some game, he was always the last to be chosen. One day two new fellows came to play with them and were allowed to be team captains because they were older. The first team captain chose the boy who had always been chosen last before. Why? Because they were brothers, and he loved his brother. So it is with God. He chose us not because of our abilities, but because he loves us.

But what are we to do as God’s chosen?

In Ephesians, Paul reminds us that God chose us to be in him before he created the world not because of our personal merit, but because of his merit. Despite our own frailties and failings, and our obvious inability to become holy and perfect in his sight, God chose and empowers the least of these to become holy and blameless.

When God has chose you, it doesn't matter who else has rejected or neglected you. God's favour, his grace outweighs all opposition.

In 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 we read, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are.”

Just remember that David although chosen was’t without his faults!

Lord, thank you because you have chosen me. I know we are God’s chosen people.  I will not doubt the task you hold for me. Thank you for giving my life meaning. I will do my best to do everything you asked me. Lord, I pray you to show me the right direction and to show my mistakes if I make them. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.