Lent 5. 2016 17th March - Jesus was challenging their faith

17^th March

(C) Br. Luke Efo 2010

Scripture John 8: 51-59

⁵¹  Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.”

⁵² Then the Judeans said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’ ⁵³ Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?”

⁵⁴ Yeshua answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God. ⁵⁵  You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him and keep his word. ⁵⁶  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad.”

⁵⁷ The Judeans therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?”

⁵⁸ Yeshua said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.”

⁵⁹ Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Yeshua was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.

Reflection:

Jesus was challenging their faith.  He confronted their understanding of God and then of who he was.  It was for them, blasphemy.  They became angry and wanted to be rid of him. Have you ever told someone about your faith and then found yourself facing an angry, perhaps violent person? Do you know why they became angry? What was it your profession of faith, the manner in which you told them, or a recognition that perhaps you had something they lacked? How did you handle their aggression?

Your thoughts:

Lent 4 2016 10th March- You search the Scriptures

10th March

(C)Br. Luke Efo 2010

Scripture John 5: 31-47

31 “If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid. 32 It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true. 33 You have sent to Yochanan, and he has testified to the truth. 34 But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony which I have is greater than that of Yochanan, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me. 37 The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. 38 You don’t have his word living in you; because you don’t believe him whom he sent.
39 “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me. 40 Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life. 41 I don’t receive glory from men. 42 But I know you, that you don’t have God’s love in yourselves. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you don’t receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?
45 “Don’t think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me. 47 But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”


Reflection:
"You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me". The words we find in scripture can enlighten, teach, guide and strengthen us. They can open for us, help us understand, that which was for centuries, hidden. But for some they do a lot more. For some they show us, invite us to enter into, the essence of faith, of belief – they show us the path which enables us to experience the Divine. But we have to be willing to walk that path, to take the words and believe them. For many today this seems impossible. What about you?

Your thoughts:

Lent 3. 2016 3rd March-He who doesn’t gather with me scatters

3^rd March

 

 

(C)Br. Luke Efo 2010

 

Scripture: Luke 11: 14-23

 

¹⁴ He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marvelled. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.” ¹⁶ Others, testing him, sought from him a sign from heaven. ¹⁷ But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. A house divided against itself falls. ¹⁸  If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹  But if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁰  But if I by God’s finger cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come to you.

²¹  “When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe. ²²  But when someone stronger attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armour in which he trusted, and divides his plunder.

²³  “He that is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters.”

Reflection:

“He who doesn’t gather with me scatters.” (part of verse 23) Notice there are two parts to this statement? We have to be with Jesus. Working alongside, in the work of the kingdom. If we are not with him, then we are not simply being idle, we are working to the opposite purpose. We sometimes think that it is OK if I don’t do such and such. Or that doing nothing is not doing any harm. Jesus says the opposite, there is no room for complacency in the work of the kingdom.

Your thoughts:

Lent 2. February 25th - If they don’t listen to Moses

February 25th

(C) Br. Luke Efo  2010

Scripture: Luke 16: 19-31

¹⁹  “Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. ²⁰  A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores, ²¹  and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores. ²²  The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. ²³  In Sheol, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom. ²⁴  He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’

²⁵  “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted, and you are in anguish. ²⁶  Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’

²⁷  “He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house; ²⁸  for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’

²⁹  “But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. Let them listen to them.’

³⁰  “He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

³¹  “He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’ ”

Reflection:

If they don't listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’ Sometimes no matter what we say and do, people will still not want to listen or indeed to hear. They will not see or understand that the chasm which separated the rich man from Lazarus existed in life, and continued after death. While the rich man ignored the chasm in life, he could not do so in death. When he was alive, the rich man had a chance to be compassionate, to help Lazarus - but he chose to do the opposite. While it can be incredibly frustrating and distressing to see people ignore this chasm and ignore compassion, we can’t force them to listen and act.  So hand them over to God and allow the Spirit to do the work.  Can you?

Your thoughts:

18th February; - Ask, and it will be given you

18^th February

Scripture: Matthew 7: 7-12

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. ⁹ Or who is there amongst you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? ¹¹ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! ¹² Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the Torah and the Prophets.

Reflection:

" Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the Torah and the Prophets ". I wonder how many of us only to think about, or want to follow, this instruction when we feel aggrieved? I wonder if we always treat others this way, or only when there is some advantage (however slight it may be) to us? Are there perhaps instances when we deliberately choose to do the opposite?