Photo taken from the bus

“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. “Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. - Matthew 7:1-12

What lens or filter do you use when judging?

Over the past several months, while traveling the world on a cruise ship, I learned a great deal about the people and cultures of the twenty-nine countries and numerous ports we visited.

I always believed that seeing something with my own eyes reveals the truth. If I could just see it myself, I thought, I could be the judge.

In a way, I was like Thomas when he said he wanted to put his fingers in the holes in Jesus’s hands and his hand in his side.

Show me. Then I will believe.

But before we left the ship in each port, we had a port talk, a preview of what we would see and do in each place. The talks were helpful for us to understand how difficult or easy each excursion would be, and what we would experience when we left the ship.

The port talks included a brief history of the country or region, and some facts about the city and the people. We were warned that we would see severe poverty in some places, and we were told how important tourism is for the country and the people. In other words, we were presented with a lens or filter for our experience.

In addition to the port talks, there were lectures about the history, culture, religion, politics, and everything important to a world traveler.

But we were all visiting from a luxury cruise ship. We had paid a good deal of money for this trip. We were coming from a much different place than the people we were about to meet. So, we already had expectations planted in our minds.

We saw what we were told we would see.

What we are primed to see, we see. Our judgment can become tainted. Now, there will be some who read this and want to challenge me for making it sound like our perspective about what we saw was tainted. They will point out that we did see severe poverty in some places, a lot of places, actually, and we can agree on that.

What I saw, though, was the hope and resilience of some of the people living in that poverty. It made me want to support their businesses and provide opportunities for them to grow and prosper. I saw potential everywhere.

Sp, what I think Jesus is warning us about when he says to check the log in our own eye, is not just about our flaws and sins, but about our perceptions and prejudices.

We need to check those at the door before entering, and that is not easy. We cannot stop ourselves from feeling emotions. What we can recognize is how and when someone uses our emotions to get us to act. The choice and method need to be ours, not pressured by others.

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Photo of a shell in Braga, Spain.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you-- you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. - Matthew 6:25-34

I used to worry about the future. I also worried about the immediate present. What will happen today? Will I be ready? Have I worked hard enough, studied enough, applied myself enough?

I like to think that when one retires, one no longer has reasons to worry about the future, but that isn’t true. If you are a worrywart, you will worry about everything and anything.

Will my money last? Will i be able to pay that bill on time? Should I plan to take a vacation?

Worry is a state of mind. No, it is a state of being. When one worries, one is in a different state than when one chooses not to worry.

Jesus tries to comfort us in our worrying by telling us about the birds and the flowers, but who buys that stuff?

Birds have to work for their food, and flowers have to struggle to survive.

Yes, God made all things beautiful, and we can admire that beauty, but since Adam and Eve left the garden, we have had to fend for ourselves. God doesn’t provide the way He used to do.

We brought that upon ourselves, you could say, if you believe the Creation story. But still, God could do a better job providing for us.

Do you agree?

Look at all the people who have nothing. Their struggle to survive is great, much greater than ours.

And maybe that is the point.

Maybe God is trying to teach us to care.

Compare what you are worried about with someone who is worse off. Then, how do you feel?

As many of you know, I just returned from a four-and-a-half-month world cruise. Everything was provided for us. We paid for it in advance, of course, but I got to experience more than a third of the year without a thing to worry about.

Worry comes from not knowing. It is based on fear. If I manage my life so that everything I will have to deal with is already planned for and provided for, I can enjoy the journey.

That is what Jesus is telling us. The hard stuff is provided for. We are blessed, and grace is bestowed upon us. Don’t fret over that. Enjoy the day.

I was standing in the square at the cathedral of Santiago in Compostela, Spain. It is the destination for those who walk the Camino, the Way, a 500 or so mile trek across mountains and through villages.

It is an arduous journey.

Along the way, the sidewalks are marked with a scallop shell, so people know which way to go.

I talked to people, young and old, who completed their walks and were hanging out in the square. They were filled with joy, every one of them!

They had just completed a grueling journey, covering fifteen or more miles per day for one to two months, with nothing more than what they could carry on their backs.

They inspired me to want to do the walk myself. At my age. Why not?

I realized I had no worries. My journey was paid for. Everything I needed was supplied. They had to make do along the way, and they were ecstatic about their accomplishments.

God gave us a choice. We can choose to work hard and struggle, or we can sit back and worry about how we will survive.

Those who put in the effort and overcome the struggles are happier.

That is my take on it. I will let you know next year when I complete my walk.

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Photo of the heavens from my phone

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. - Matthew 6:19-24

We all have them, those things that we value. Some we paid for with money earned through hard work, while others were paid with sweat and struggle, love and joy.

Jesus talks about heavenly treasures. We tend to think of those as spiritual blessings. For me, heavenly treasures are the treasures that money can’t buy.

They are the sparkle in the eye of a child, the touch of a hand, the warm embrace, the bear hug, the giggle, the laugh, the tears, the pains, the fears, and all the other moments we share with those we love and encounter in this world.

Those special moments are treasures that have value here, that last into the afterlife.

Life is a series of memories we make for ourselves and for others. This is why Jesus reminds us about our eyes.

“The eye is the lamp of the body,” he says. It tells others who we are, and it tells us what exists beyond us, the things God has created.

If you think about it, all of creation is for us. God made it for us to enjoy, to treasure in this life, to give us a glimpse of the beauty of our home beyond this one.

As I come to the end of my four-and-a-half-month world cruise, I have a lot of moments that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Yes, I have photos on my phone, but phones cannot capture the precious moments the way our minds and hearts can.

We cannot serve two masters, and we really don’t want to. The things we want out of life cannot be purchased.

They have to be experienced.

May we all store up a lifetime of wonderful experiences while we travel this journey before we are called home.

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“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. - Matthew 6:7-15

Jesus taught his disciples this simple prayer. We call it the Our Father or The Lord’s Prayer. But it is also Our Prayer.

It begins with praise for the Father, but quickly affirms the most difficult action on our part, to do God’s will here on earth.

God gave us free will to choose for ourselves, and we are to pray that we do His will, not ours.

So, the first part of this prayer is us saying we will give up our will to adhere to the Father’s will.

That’s hard.

It’s like being put in charge of something you crave, and you can’t have any of it.

I remember one summer my father took a job as a Good Humor ice cream man. He would bring the truck home in the evening and unload all the ice cream bars, cones, and cups into our basement freezer so it wouldn’t melt overnight.

Imagine having all that ice cream within reach and not being able to have any of it.

That’s what I think of when I pray for God’s will, not mine, to be done.

Yeah, that’s too tempting for a kid, or anyone.

The prayer gets harder.

We pray that God does to us what we do to others. Oh boy. That can be a problem.

People make mistakes, and we get angry with them. Yet, we expect God to understand that we are only human when we make mistakes.

Isn’t the other guy, the one who screwed up with us, also human?

Now, in today’s world, you can not be human and screw up (AI), so I guess we don’t have to forgive non-humans when they screw up.

I digress.

When we pray to the Father, we are reaffirming our commitment to Him as His children. We are also acknowledging that God has given us the ability to learn for ourselves.

This is the key for me.

I can screw up and learn from it. I have the ability to walk away from God and find my way back.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.

God made us. God loves us. God wants us to be with Him forever.

I guess the least we can do is have a conversation with Him every once in a while. Not just when we want something.

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“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. - Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

Why do we like to tell people about the good things we have done?

Is it ego, or vanity, or self-worth? What makes us tell?

We all do it. We like doing it. I’m guilty, big time.

Go back and read my daily reflections, and you will see how often I talk about myself. I do it because stories help get a point across, but is that the reason or merely a justification?

When I am out in the world, I try to be humble. I don’t like to draw attention to myself or to what I am doing.

But we are trained to talk about ourselves. We have to do that on resumes, on applications, even in the doctor’s office.

We keep journals and write blogs. We post photos of ourselves.

We brag constantly.

So, what does that mean? Is God keeping score? Does he mark our grade based on whether we keep our good deeds secret or not?

I am reminded of Jesus telling the people he healed to tell no one.

He was trying to be anonymous. The father knows, and that is enough. Yet word spread about him anyway.

He wants us to spread the news about him, and sometimes that means we need to share our personal stories.

If it helps someone else, maybe that is okay.

Nothing these days is truly kept secret. It takes real work to be anonymous in our good deeds. We try. We don’t brag or boast. We simply do. Yes, we may share it with family or friends.

We may want them to do as we do. We think of it as teaching, encouraging, planting seeds.

If it means we slip back a step on the stairway to heaven, so be it. We meant well. We weren’t trying to make ourselves saints.

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When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. - Luke 4:16-30

They wanted spectacle, and he wouldn’t give it to them.

It sounds cruel at first, but let’s look more closely at what was happening here.

Luke begins with Jesus in Nazareth to make a point. God’s grace cannot be controlled or summoned at will.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus associated faith with healing grace. Through Jesus, miraculous signs occur, not only because he has the power to heal, but because the recipient of God’s grace through him has enormous faith.

The people he was talking to in Nazareth didn’t have that faith. They wanted spectacle. Show us what you can do.

I don’t know about you, but when I am challenged that way, I find it insulting and demeaning. Prove to us that you are someone special.

No.

I won’t.

I wonder why he started his ministry in his hometown at all. If he knew that prophets were despised in their hometown, you would think he would leave and start elsewhere. He gave examples of prophets who did that.

God calls us to be his instruments of grace, but not often where we begin.

We have to leave and go to where nobody knows our name.

If we choose to come home at all, it should be later. But knowing how hard it is to change someone’s perspective of us, why bother at all?

Stay away. Go where you are not known so you can avoid comparisons to your childhood.

I don’t think it is an accident that we don’t know much about Jesus’s early life. It isn’t relevant. He wasn’t ready to start his ministry back then, when he was a boy.

He may have known who he was chosen to be, but he wasn’t ready yet.

So, he leaves and becomes the chosen one, the anointed.

Maybe there is a lesson here for us. Maybe we should not even try to be accepted where we start. Maybe we should go and become who we were chosen to become elsewhere.

And like some who were chosen by God, that may come very late in life.

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“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matthew 5:38-48

I know what you might be thinking. What kind of question is that? Who does that? Who sets aside money for the poor who beg?

When Jesus says these things, he is speaking figuratively, right?

Turn the other cheek and walk the extra mile are strategic instructions aimed at the Roman guards and centurions who could press you into service.

Ah, yes, but what about giving to all who beg from you? And let’s not even mention loving your enemies.

How do we rationalize those away as figuratively spoken?

Well, maybe loving your enemies is easier than giving to everyone who begs from you.

How much would you need to take with you to give away to all who ask?

I had a chance to find out on this world cruise. Everywhere we stopped and explored, we encountered beggars.

Many of the countries have large populations living in poverty, so it is expected. And that means they are easy to ignore.

Some are selling things, trinkets, and handmade items, and that makes it easier to ignore. It also makes it easier to buy something just to help the poor person selling it.

And then there are the people who sit along the road with a cup and a sign. They don’t approach or call out. They just sit there.

One could rationalize that they are not begging from anyone in particular, so we can pass them by.

But then there is the woman actively begging at the entrance to the cathedral. “Please,” she says. “Help me.”

How can you walk past that woman?

We do, though. We think about giving something, but we don’t want to open our wallets or search for coins.

We pass by.

From the beginning of the church, and even before, alms giving was institutionalized. We give to the church, and the church takes care of the widows and orphans.

Jesus chided the Pharisees and Priests for failing in this responsibility. So, he went to the source. Us.

Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

You could argue that both of these statements refer to someone approaching us. So if we avoid these people, we don’t have to give or loan them anything.

Clever.

But what if we start out planning to give?

I went to the atm yesterday to get some Euros. Most went into my wallet. Some went into a different pocket. That was the money I set aside to give.

It was slotted for that purpose from the start. By doing that, I became more aware of it. After a while, I realized I still had money to give, so I started looking for opportunities to offer it to someone.

That is not what Jesus told us to do, but I found it so uplifting and rewarding. Having already allotted that money to a purpose, I didn’t want to finish the day with money left in that pocket.

You may think I’m crazy, and perhaps I am, but it was a joyful experience.

Now, I understand why Jesus told us to do this. We are all related. We have the means to help. If we start the day with that in mind, the day becomes brighter for us and for those we help.

Try it.

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Then Job answered: “Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling! I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me. There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge. “If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth. - Job 23:1-12

Job feels God is ignoring him.

He knows God is there, but God is not answering him when he cries out to God.

What we learn from Job is that faith is not all joy and laughter. Faith can be hard at times.

Job never gives up. He keeps believing that God hears him and will eventually answer his pleas, but it is a constant struggle. Things get worse before they get better.

We have all heard this in the past. Today, though, many are impatient and want immediate results. God doesn’t work on our schedule. God uses time to strengthen us and teach us.

Job makes his case, stating that he has kept the commandments and remained committed to God. So where is He?

Where is God when we need Him?

He is there, with us through it all. We just don’t always feel His presence.

That may not be a consolation for some. But God never gives up on us, even if we give up on Him.

My mother would say, “Have patience.”

Patience can be hard. Job makes it clear that he does not feel God’s presence at times, and we are the same.

But God will show us that He is there, and has been there through it all.

Let faith be your guide. Lean on the Holy Spirit, and you will have the strength to endure.

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“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’ and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. - Matthew 5:21-26

Jesus is telling us our judgment is going to be tough.

No wonder people get confused by Christianity. We say we are all saved,m and that Jesus paid for our sins, past, present, and future, and then we have this condition.

We can be judged based on how we treat others.

Of course, that makes sense, but really?

If I call you a fool, I will be liable to the hell of fire?

The term Jesus uses for hell is Gehenna, a place southwest of Jerusalem which was referred to as a place of judgment, based on its history as a place of child sacrifice.

So, it is a bad image (see image above from Wikipedia).

What Jesus is warning us about is control of our inner thoughts and emotions. We can appear holy and righteous on the outside and yet harbor ill will toward others on the inside.

Who doesn’t know what that is like?

I like to think I am a good Christian, and people who know me would probably agree with that image, but what feelings do I harbor within?

In today’s world, with the ability to rant on social media, many release these inner thoughts for all to see, and it makes us all seem a lot angrier than we used to be. But maybe this is a good thing.

We get to see and hear the inner thoughts that have been kept secret for so many generations.

I think we have always been this way, only we used to keep quiet about it.

Will exposing our true feelings in public work like confession?

We can hope, but for it to be a true confession, there has to be remorse.

That’s the next thing we need to work on. Right now, people double down rather than recant.

As Jesus said, we all need to come to terms with others before the judgment day.

If that was easy, we would have done it a long time ago.

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“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:17-20

Jesus is doing a few things here that should be noticed.

First, he is saying that the Law of Moses is to be followed.

This clarifies for everyone that he has not come to break the laws the Jewish people have been told to follow. He is here in full compliance with that law.

Second, he is saying he has come to fulfill the law, meaning the whole story, all of it. Jesus wants us to understand the covenant we have with God.

We are not just to memorize the ten commandments, but to live faithfully. Everything we do in life needs to be in accordance with God’s will and purpose.

We are not just to learn the stories, but to live them.

And third, he is pointing out that the leaders of the faith, the Pharisees and scribes, are poor examples of living the law. They preach, but don’t follow.

Whoa!

He is making a grave accusation here, and he is getting away with it. For now.

He is saying that he is the Messiah, the anointed one, and his life is a fulfillment of the Scripture. Our job is to believe and to live a righteous life.

Are we doing that?

Imagine that today is test day. Jesus is coming back to check on us. How well have we understood and incorporated his lessons into our lives?

How will we do?

Will we pass the test?

Being a Christian, for me, is being tested daily. We take stock of our progress, as if we are on a plan to renew our health. Did we live righteously today? Did we show people our light and expand our own faith?

To fulfill the law of Moses and the Prophets means to be everything that God promised. That is what Jesus is and has done for us.

Our job is to live in awe and wonder of the grace and love of God, sharing with everyone we meet, whether they are believers or not.

That is how we become more righteous than the leaders of the faith.

Jesus is saying we don’t need to be told how to act. We need to act as though God is in us.

Then, we too will be fulfilling the law.

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“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:11-16

Have you ever had someone say to you, “You think you’re God’s gift to the world?”

Have you ever answered, “Yes?”

When Jesus speaks of salt and light, it sounds like he is mixing metaphors here, a sin for a writer, but is that what he is really doing?

He is talking about two different aspects of our faith and calling.

We are salt.

We enhance, and we preserve.

Salt not only improves the flavor of food. It helps it keep for a long time. We are salt in that our faith endures. It enhances our lives and keeps us from decaying.

If we lose our saltiness, we have no use anymore.

We are light.

We illuminate the world through our faith.

We show the truth to all who live in darkness. If we hide our light, if we fail to glow brightly, we lose our value. We cannot show the world the truth.

So the metaphors work together.

Both salt and light are gifts from God, and both make our lives purposeful. The salt is how we live in this world and the light is what our lives show the world about us as children of God.

With God’s help, we make this life better, and with God’s help we show others how to live forever.

Wow!

Who knew?

We are God’s gift to the world, just like our moms told us.

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When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:1-10

What does it mean to be blessed?

When Jesus says these people are blessed, he is saying they have already become part of the Kingdom of God.

They are well-positioned before God. In other words, they have arrived.

The way they are living, God blesses them by inviting them into His kingdom.

Does that mean one needs to live in poverty or be mourning to be part of God’s kingdom?

The important thing Jesus is saying here is that some will live a life of blessing now, while others will receive blessing later.

But receiving God’s blessing should not be our goal in life. We do these things and live this way because of our circumstances and our actions.

Are we willing to suffer a little to live in the kingdom of God?

That does not mean we have a price to pay. What it means is that living with God as our king could come with consequences. People may persecute us. Life may be rough. There may be opportunities to extend mercy and help to others.

I like to think that these beatitudes are not the price of admission into some special, exclusive club. Instead, we are already in God’s Kingdom here on earth, and living here, we are inspired to give of ourselves for others.

So, we begin blessed, and that becomes our nature. Whether we lose faith, become poor in spirit, suffer loss, or struggle in life, being a part of God’s kingdom, we are energized to deal with these things.

When I was young, I thought these were the only ways to get into heaven, but I have come to look at life with God differently.

We are His children and so we inherit His mercy and grace, not just for us, but to share with others.

We become the examples of God’s love now, in this life.

So, as Christians, we hold the key to God’s Kingdom. We can choose to enter it now or later. The sooner we choose, the sooner we feel the blessings God has bestowed on us.

It is all up to us.

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It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. - 1 Peter 2:19-25

I am thinking of Jesus telling his disciples that if someone strikes them on the cheek, they should turn the other cheek.

That does not mean you should offer to have them strike you again.

It actually means you should make it harder for that person to strike you again, since you have turned away.

Peter tells us that we have been called to suffer for Christ. Because Christ suffered for us, we should suffer for him.

That’s what it sounds like, but I don’t believe that is what Jesus wanted for us.

Yes, Jesus warned that people will persecute us for believing in him. We see this all over the world.

But Peter seems to have bought into accepting this as our calling. Since Jesus suffered, we should accept suffering and know that Jesus wants us to do this.

No.

The woman abused by her husband, or the child abused by a family member or stranger are not what they or we should endure.

I like Peter. He represents us in many ways, but he didn’t always get it right. Jesus had to rebuke him for being overzealous.

When Jesus said to walk another mile when a centurion pressed you into service for one mile, he was not saying to endure even greater hardship and enjoy it. He was saying a centurion could only press you into service for one mile. Going the extra mile was an act of defiance.

We are not being called to passively accept abuse and suffering. We are called to use our heads before acting.

What will make the biggest impact? Is it to strike back and be beaten, or to walk away, or stand and take it?

The man who was beaten and left for dead in the parable of the Good Samaritan could not help himself. Someone needed to stop and offer help.

That is the lesson Jesus taught. When someone causes one to suffer, we are called to come to their aid and help.

We are not to stand by and watch or take videos. We are called to be present for that person.

Christians are not passive. We are active. We may not take the action you would expect, but we find a way to make the situation better for those being abused.

If we could end evil in the world, we would, but we can’t. That is what Peter is saying. That is what Jesus said.

James said it best. Faith without works is dead. We need to do something when we see something is wrong.

We don’t passively accept; we actively assist.

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My child, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for testing. Set your heart right and be steadfast, and do not be impetuous in time of calamity. Cling to him and do not depart, so that your last days may be prosperous. Accept whatever befalls you, and in times of humiliation be patient. For gold is tested in the fire, and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation. Trust in him, and he will help you; make your ways straight, and hope in him. You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; do not stray, or else you may fall. You who fear the Lord, trust in him, and your reward will not be lost. You who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy. Consider the generations of old and see: has anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed? Or has anyone persevered in the fear of the Lord and been forsaken? Or has anyone called upon him and been neglected? For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; he forgives sins and saves in time of distress. - Ecclus. 2:1-11

One trait I like in a character is to remain calm in the face of danger.

Someone who can think clearly when all hell is breaking loose makes for an interesting hero.

That person is prepared to be tested by life.

We say they have courage, but it is more than that. As Sirach puts it, they have the ability to face up to testing in the furnace of humiliation.

They can put up with the naysayers and the ones who would cancel and threaten them.

They keep going when others give up. They take failure in stride. It hones them, makes them sharper, more polished.

When we trust in the Lord, we become more of who we are meant to be. We can deal with adversity knowing we are not alone.

We never know when or how we will be tested. We don’t know how to prepare for what lies ahead.

We plod along, or we don’t.

I have met so many people on this four-and-a-half-month world cruise who defy the odds daily. They struggle to walk, or see, or hear, and yet they keep going.

They don’t give in to the tests life throws at them.

There are many among us who believe they can’t. They say they are too weak, they have difficulty with balance, or they fear they will fall. So they don’t. They avoid any kind of activity. And they become weaker.

Who among us would have chosen that life when we were young?

Some find it frustrating to be behind someone who is using a cane or a walker when boarding a bus or returning from an excursion.

We say we would not travel if we were so afflicted. Really?

Would you give up living?

The test we all face in life is to get up and keep going.

It doesn’t matter what the reason is for us thinking or believing we can’t. What we choose to believe, we become.

So, I have come to see the heroes among us are not necessarily the strong in body, but the strong in spirit.

They are the ones tested who don’t give up.

More power to them.

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Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” - Matthew 4:12-17

Time and again, we read that Jesus did these things so that the Scripture might be fulfilled. Did he have to follow the script?

Theologians point out that Matthew doesn’t say that Jesus left Nazareth in order to fulfill what was prophesied by Isaiah. He said that the prophecy might be fulfilled.

Isn’t that the same thing?

This is God’s plan. We know that.

Jesus told us that he was not doing his own will, but the Father’s, so he chose to surrender his will to the Father.

He followed a script or plan.

Is that a bad thing?

We like to think that we do things based on our own choices, and we do. Jesus chose to do these things so that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

We have a problem with that, because, like the apostles and followers, we want Jesus to resist and become king.

That wasn’t the plan.

There is that word again. Why are we so averse to following a plan or script?

We want to write our own screenplay, but that doesn’t always turn out well.

A screenwriter or playwright creates the framework for the story, but it is the actor who brings it to life.

So, following a script is not as simple as it sounds. The writer creates the “what” but the “how” comes from the actor and director.

Shakespeare said it well:

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts

Shakespeare described the tension we humans feel while acting within our scripts.

It is when we align with the plan that we achieve what God intended for us.

Still, we feel trapped in a script. We want to do our own thing. And that is the source of our conflict.

Maybe if we could read the whole play, we would want to act within it.

We can’t do that, so we have to act on faith.

There’s that word again.

Funny how that keeps coming up.

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Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. - Matthew 4:1-11

The divine Jesus could not be tempted, but the human Jesus could be.

What does that mean?

I like to think that God chose to become human for a couple of reasons.

First and foremost, He wanted us to know Him personally. He loves us that much.

But by becoming one of us, He experienced what we experience, our whole range of emotions and uncertainties. He experienced temptations.

Jesus’s brother, James, tells us that God does not tempt and God cannot be tempted.

If we believe that, then we have to believe that the human side of Jesus is subject to temptation.

Here is where it gets interesting.

We see Jesus being tempted three times and resisting temptation three times. We tend to attribute the resistance to his divine nature rather than his human nature.

That’s wrong, in my opinion.

Bear with me a moment.

If God became human to show us how we can work within our human form, then the resistance Jesus showed us is human resistance.

Whether you believe the devil is the source of temptation or not, the decision to resist temptation is within our power as humans.

We can do this. Jesus is showing us how.

Obviously, Jesus shared this temptation experience with his apostles, or Matthew wouldn’t have known about it. That matters. It shows us that Jesus wanted them to know that He understands them. He is one of them.

If Jesus came to show us miracles only He could do, we would gain very little. But by showing us how we can deal with the things that trouble us, we gain a great deal.

I am the way, he said.

This is the way to make it through this life. And the good news is, we don’t have to do it alone.

I am with you always to the end of time.

You got this!

Now, go, and believe in yourself.

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Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3:13-17

It is the type of question a believer never hears from another believer. Why do you believe?

Chances are that we are not prepared to answer it.

But it is a valid question.

Some people who have not grown up in the faith are curious. They have not heard much about Jesus, and what they have heard may not be what we know from our readings.

Think back to the first time you heard these stories of God the Father speaking from heaven about Jesus, or the miracles he performed, or the words he spoke.

You might say all of it combined is the reason you believe. But if you had to choose one thing, what would it be?

For me, it is the moment in Acts when the Holy Spirit descends on all the people present, and they understand each other even though they are speaking in their own tongues.

That got my attention, maybe more so than the baptism of Jesus and the scene after the Resurrection when Thomas got to place his hand in Jesus’ side.

If someone asks me, I would tell them those three things, and I would tell them with awe in my voice and on my face.

We are all called by Jesus to be witnesses.

I wasn’t there when this happened, but I believe.

Why?

When we get that question, it becomes personal. Only we can speak for why we believe.

The stories give us the foundation of our faith, but faith is an action verb. We have to do something to activate it in our lives.

When someone asks us to explain our faith, we are activated. All that we have heard and seen with our own eyes becomes real. We pause. We smile. Our eyes light up. We sit down beside the person and we talk.

That is what we are meant to do.

That is what we are called to do.

That is what we should be compelled to do in order to share the joy we have.

The booming voice from heaven is ours.

We get to tell the world the good news.

They may not be convinced, and that is okay. The job is to share it, and that is what we can do.

We can’t change someone’s heart, mind and soul. That’s God’s work.

Our work is to radiate joy and love because we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

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But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” - Matthew 3:7-12

When I think of John, I imagine a large, burly guy with a stern look who could win in a fight with just about anyone.

That is not the way he has been depicted, but it is how I see him. Perhaps, because he stands up to authority the way he did here.

He calls the Pharisees and Sadducees a brood of vipers. Snakes. Slithering demons.

He was actually a triple threat to the Jewish authority of the time. That authority was comprised of the Sadducees, Pharisees, priests, and elders.

First, he challenged their authority. He came out as a prophet. According to Jesus, he was a prophet greater than any other.

He was taken seriously in this regard. The priests and Levites were sent to question him. The people believed he was truly sent by God, and he appeared in the wilderness, the way Elijah would.

So, he was taken seriously.

He also challenged their entire religious system. He baptized people in the Jordan, performing a rite of purification that included repentance. You don’t need to go before a priest. Go to the River Jordan and be cleansed of your sins.

Whoa.

Finally, he challenged their political authority. Herod, while admiring the man and finding him a curiosity, feared what his popularity could do to foment political unrest. Unrest would bring attention from Rome, and that wouldn’t be good.

So, John, the reed blowing in the wind in the desert, was a threat to society and peace. He had to go.

Across cultures throughout history, we have other examples of people who pose such a combination of threats to the existing world order. They are Jesus, of course, Socrates, Mohanned, Martin Luther, and Mahatma Gandhi.

The traits they all have in common are: authority that is claimed apart from existing systems, messages that cause people to question the very meaning of the existing power structures, and public acceptance, so much so that people are willing to follow them.

Who today would be willing to step up and be a triple threat to combat injustice and reset the world order?

We usually don’t recognize them until they are gone. So, maybe history will surprise us.

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The next day Moses sat as judge for the people, while the people stood around him from morning until evening. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?” Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make known to them the statutes and instructions of God.” Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You should represent the people before God, and you should bring their cases before God; teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they are to go and the things they are to do. You should also look for able men among all the people, men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain; set such men over them as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Let them sit as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every important case to you, but decide every minor case themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will go to their home in peace.” So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Moses chose able men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. And they judged the people at all times; hard cases they brought to Moses, but any minor case they decided themselves. Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went off to his own country. - Exodus 18:13-27

You would think that with only ten rules (the Ten Commandments), it would be easy to determine who was breaking the law and who wasn’t.

So, what was the problem?

Whenever two people engage in any kind of dealing, there can be a dispute.

We can be quite a disagreeable lot. And Moses took responsibility for dealing with the disagreements and disputes.

The court system existed long before Moses came along, so the model is nothing new. There were judges before, and there are judges to this day.

The challenge was the source of judgment. What Moses was dealing with was managing a theocracy.

It is one thing for one man to stand before God and prayerfully pass judgment on cases. It is quite another to trust others who are chosen to do this for you.

But it is not just trust that one must have. Moses’s father-in-law told him to find God-fearing men.

And so we have the first division. Major cases go to Moses, and minor ones are judged by these honest, trustworthy, God-fearing men.

If this were your challenge, could you find such men, or women, among the people you know?

Now, to be fair, we do have nation-states that are either totally or partially theocratic when it comes to disputes. Some have a combination of civil courts and religious ones.

But the increase in diversity throughout the world has caused countries to move away from strict theocratic law.

Jesus warned us about how we judge. Take the log out of your own eye before pointing out the speck in someone else’s eye.

He also pointed to the hypocrisy of the religious state.

Power corrupts, and judgment before God is very powerful.

All judgment is powerful.

But we can’t get around it. So long as we seek to give ourselves an advantage in business dealings and other relationships, we will have disputes at the low end and broken commandments at the high end.

We are all sinners. Jesus reminded us of that.

How, then, do we decide who is right and who is wrong?

In the United States, we believe we have a fair system of justice, but when things don’t go our way, we complain.

This is both healthy and troubling. Moses felt all disputes could be resolved fairly before God, and many of us believe that today. We just don’t want justice imposed by the religious hierarchy.

We don’t trust the system.

That is why we need lawyers.

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Now on that same day two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. - Luke 24:13-35

There is no indication in Luke’s Gospel that Jesus had any business in Emmaus. It was not on the way to where the apostles were to meet with him.

It was actually in the opposite direction.

So, on the day he rose from the tomb, he chose to join this couple on their walk.

Think about that for a moment.

As a storyteller, I love the idea of encountering a stranger on the road, and that stranger tells you things you could not have known on your own.

It makes me ask, who else encountered Jesus and didn’t recognize him?

He walked among us, and we only know of a few such encounters. What if many more encounters occurred that were not recorded?

What if there are encounters today that we don’t know about because Jesus never reveals himself?

It was when they invited him to join them in a meal, and he accepted and joined them, that their eyes were opened.

Would you invite someone you just met on the road to join you in your home for dinner?

I had a dear friend who passed away at Christmas time. When we were both much younger, in college at the time, he met a homeless man on the street in New York.

He invited the man to lunch and then took him to a matinee on Broadway.

Yeah. We all thought he was crazy.

None of us would have done that. And that is the point.

How would we ever encounter Jesus if we don’t do those things?

I was naked and you clothed me, I was hungry and you fed me, I was sick and you comforted me.

When did we do these things to you? we ask.

When you do this to the least among us, you do it to me.

Jesus walks with us all the time. We don’t recognize him, because we don’t invite him in.

That is something to think about as I travel the world.

It is something to think about when I go back home as well.

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