Skip to main content

Open Arms

It was great a gift and joy to hold my nieces and nephew to welcome them into the world and our family.

 If you have little children in your family or get to be around young people elsewhere, you may be blessed to see, hear, and feel their innocent joy. We are reminded of the gifts that all people bring to the family of God in the church and throughout society.

Word
We don’t know much about Jesus’ own childhood. It seems that he learned about Bible and knew to apply faith in his life. And especially how to care for others with compassion, to the point of dedicating his work and giving his life.
According to Mark, Jesus taught his followers about putting others first. When they did not understand what his teaching and actions were about, “He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, 'Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.'” (Mark 9:35)
To illustrate his instruction, Jesus hugged a child to show that welcoming others with open arms is like welcoming him, and that whoever welcomes him welcomes God who sent him.

Connection
Like in a family, children learn about God’s love, their place, and consideration for needs of others, the church is a place to practice non-judgmental welcome, patient co-existence, and joy of self-less deeds.
Not only here at church, but in your everyday lives. Instead of trying to outdo, go out of our way. Notice people who pass by, and say “Hi” to the outsiders. Use your daily life and work as opportunity to serve God and fellow humanity.

Message
The Good News is: God welcomes us with open harms. Jesus embraces us sinners with forgiveness on the cross. And the Spirit sends us with the resurrection message to bring peace.
Jesus says to you: Love others as you are accepted and cared for by God. There is no need to compete or feel left out. In the kingdom of love all of you are welcome and valued equally.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Everyday Gratitude

The altar at St. Paul's Lutheran Church with donations for local food pantries. This week we celebrate Thanksgiving. How do you celebrate the holiday? It’s well and good to be thankful for family and food on Thanksgiving Day. But as Christians we can show our genuine gratitude to a gracious God every day by 1. remembering to thank God for everything, 2. praying for those who are in positions of authority, and 3. sharing the gifts we have received with others in need. According to Matthew’s gospel, Jesus encourages us: “... do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ ... But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (vv. 31, 33) God blesses us all in abundance. Let’s not forget to be thankful. And remember those who lack basic needs.
Post a Comment
Read more

Renewing Devotion

My wife and I showed our devotion to Jesus by packing food for starving children. 'Why give money to World Hunger when they should help themselves and there’s people to take care of your own family or church or country?’ Or, one could say, why waste expensive perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet when you could have used the money to feed the poor? That’s rational, selfish, and sarcastic Judas speaking to willfully discredit Mary. Mary however, responded with love, generosity, and extravagant devotion. Word The lectionary gospel on the Sunday before Holy Week tells of Mary sharing her devotion for Jesus. She uses expensive oil, and outrageously, her hair and tears, to express her love, her service, her faith in Jesus. While they are at dinner, “Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair.” (John 12:3) Guess what? Mary doesn’t care about the cost, or what other people might say. She does what feels right to her....
Post a Comment
Read more

Renewing Confession

Procession of Clergy during an Ordination service. The church celebrates faith in Christ together. It is difficult for us to relate to biblical events like Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The words like Hosanna, and actions like riding on a donkey, are not exactly something we use or encounter today. Word If Jesus were to live today to tell us about God beginning to take charge of governing the world it would be all over Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. God’s representative might come riding on a bicycle instead in a limousine. And people would probably wave their cell phones to express their excitement. Followers of the new visionary leader would shout something like: ‘Hey, yo! Welcome the Boss from heaven! Get ready for some serious change!’ Connection So if it so happened that Jesus were to come through our town on the way to die and rise so we would be freed to live in God’s realm here on earth and forever in heaven, would you even notice, would you believe hi...
Post a Comment
Read more