ISSL Reflections June 20,2021, Matthew 9:18-26 Post 3

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VIII.
Let’s turn our attention to this short passage again –

Matthew 9:18-26

While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.

IX.
As you look at the folk we see in this passage and look at their faces, what do you see?

Grief, pain, questions, hope, fear, scorn … What do you notice?

What draws you deeper into these folks’ encounter with Jesus?

What of these emotions, feelings did Jesus reject? Which of these people did he reject?

And, which did Jesus move toward?

I guess the next “logical” question is “What do you bring with you today?”

How do you think Jesus would approach that?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections June 20,2021, Matthew 9:18-26 Post 2

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VI.
Let’s look at the passage again –

Matthew 9:18-26

While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.

VII.
As I was doing some background reading on this, i came across this note in the New English Translation,

Matthew 9:23 Hired flute players were a standard feature at Jewish funerals in the first century. According to the Mishnah (m. Ketubot 4:4) the husband was responsible to provide flute players for his wife’s funeral: “Even the poorest man in Israel should not hire fewer than two flutes and one professional wailing woman.”
Which got me wondering.

Did the father call on, that is hire, these folk to mourn for his daughter. Or maybe they heard of their daughter’s death and since this man is probably prominent in the community they showed up in hopes to be hired?

What do you think brought them to that time and place?

VIII.
And while we are thinking about what brought them to this scene, what brings each to this place. What do we see, and in some cases hear, from them?

How do they relate to one another?

And how do they relate to Jesus?

What do they ask, either actively or passively, from Jesus?

Put yourself in this scene and look at each person. What do you see in their faces?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections June 20,2021, Matthew 9:18-26 Post 1

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I.
Let’s get started with this week’s Scripture passage by paying attention to who we find mentioned in the passage. Notice who is mentioned and see how each behaves and what they need and how they go about seeking what they need.

II.
Matthew 9:18-26

While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.

III.
It seems likely Jesus is in his hometown (Matthew 9:1). He has already been busy healing a man, inviting Matthew to join his group of disciples and speaking to John the Baptizer’s disciples about fasting and wineskins.

Oh, he has also already caused some upset for the Pharisees.

IV.
Who do you see?

I notice a father, who is a community leader and probably prominent person in the local synagogue, asking Jesus to help his deceased daughter; a woman with a bleeding disorder (and therefore a person considered “unclean” and therefore to be excluded from the community by the Pharisees) sneaking up on Jesus to be healed, maybe hoping Jesus or others will not notice her; and then the crowd of mourners and flute players. And don’t miss seeing Jesus’ disciples are with him.

V.
What impressions do you form of each person you meet in this scene?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections June 13, 2021, Matthew 8:23-27 Post 3

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You can find this week’s focus passage at –
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+8%3A23-27&version=NRSV

VIII.
Disciples are to watch their teacher, their master, and learn from the teacher and follow the teacher. Right?

That’s what we see Jesus’ disciples doing. They follow him into a boat.

And into a storm.

I suspect at least some of the disciples were acquainted with the Sea of Galilee and the storms that could upon one there. We know some of the disciples were fishermen, so they should have had some knowledge of dealing with a boat in stormy conditions.

But here they are and any knowledge of how to handle a boat in a storm seems to be out of their reach at that moment. They believe they might perish.

But they don’t perish.

IX.
They found Jesus, who had already shown them what he could accomplish but he was asleep.

Is he unaware of the danger his disciples face? He can’t help them?

They may think that is the case so they wake him and ask him to save them.

And he does.

X.
What do we do when we feel Jesus isn’t near us, or aware of our needs, or doesn’t hear us when we reach out to him?

He characterized his disciples as people of “little faith.”

Does being people of “little faith” mean we need to believe more. Believe more about Jesus and God, or believe more theology or believe “better” somehow in thoughts and images of who God is and who Jesus is?

Or does the kind of faith Jesus has in mind have more to do with relationship and trust?

Maybe it isn’t about us believing more but about a certain kind of trust and confidence that we are cared for and loved. Probably beyond what we can imagine.

XI.
What do think the disciples experienced the next time they were in a boat in the middle of a storm? Or for that matter, a stormy day on dry land?

And what of you and me? What will we think and feel the next time we seek Jesus in prayer or otherwise and get the sense he is asleep and we are unheard?

What will our “faith” be like that day?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections June 13, 2021, Matthew 8:23-27 Post 2

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V.
Let’s go ahead and reread the passage.

Matthew 8:23-27

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?

VI.
I asked the other day what 4 or 5 words stood out to you the most. What words caught your attention?

As I read this, I was drawn to more than 5 words, but following my own prompting I found these 5 words most drew my attention –

afraid – asleep – save (us) – faith – calm

Do you think it is ok for me to take “save us” as one “word”?

VII.
The image of Jesus asleep in the boat while it is being bounced on the waves and almost being swamped holds my attention.

There have been times when due to a real or perceived storm, I feel my prayers are addressed to a sleeping Jesus and I feel unheard.

Have you been there?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections June 13, 2021, Matthew 8:23-27 Post 1

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I.
We have a short passage to focus on this week, but maybe short doesn’t have to mean of small importance.

Read the passage and notice what holds your attention. Where do you want to stop reading and linger with the scene and move deeper into it?

II.
Matthew 8:23-27

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?

III.
Do you have the scene clearly in mind?

How do you read it? Do you read it from the disciples’ point of view? Do you read it from Jesus’ point of view?

Why not try to look at it from both views? How does it differ? Which speaks to you more at this moment?

IV.
Read the passage once again and as you read it pick out the 4 or 5 words that stand out to you the most.

As you reflect on those few words, does anything in this Scripture passage take on more depth for you?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections June 6, 2021 Matthew 6:25-34 Post 3

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VIII.

To start off today let’s read this passage in The Message translation,

Matthew 6:25-34 (The Message)

25-26 “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

27-29 “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

IX.

What do you think of Eugene Peterson’s translation in The Message?

How does it compare to what we read in the New Revised Standard Version translation?

Does it help you capture some of the passion that is in Rabbi Jesus’ words?

It does for me.

What captures you and holds your attention the most?

For me, it is, 

“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.

Did you notice, 

Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now…

Now the question I face is how will I “steep my life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions…” and “Give [my] entire attention to what God is doing right now…”

Do you think that helps point us to the present reality of the Kingdom of God?

charles

{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections June 6, 2021 Matthew 6:25-34 Post 2

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You can review this week’s Scripture focus here – 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A25-34&version=NRSV

IV.

Rabbi Jesus identifies several categories of things to not worry about, 

“… do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear….. “

“… do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’”

How do you see people worrying about these things?  How does the worry manifest itself in how they conduct their lives?

V.

But, he seems to intensify what he is saying about folk,

“For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things…”

You might take worry as a passive thing.  But here Rabbi Jesus escalates this behavior to something active.  Whether you call it “striving,” or “grasping” or “putting all your effort there,” he points to such behavior occupying a prominent, probably the most prominent, thing in one’s life.

VI.

He had already asked, 

“Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

So what is life and body, if more than food and clothing?

Putting aside for a moment what Rabbi Jesus might say, what do you say?

What is the essence of life and body?  What is the most fundamental to “strive for”?

charles

{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections June 6, 2021 Matthew 6:25-34 Post 1

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I.
“ … do not worry… ”

That would be a good thing, not to spend time with an unproductive activity like worrying. But how do we get there? It’s one thing to be told to stop something, but maybe another to know how to arrive there?

Let’s start our time with Rabbi Jesus this week by listening to what he says about worry, and how he mentions the Kingdom of God.

II.
Matthew 6:25-34

“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.”

III.
Many times in the gospels we hear Rabbi Jesus saying, “the kingdom of God is like….” In the words we spend time with this week he doesn’t directly address what the Kingdom of God is like but maybe he gives us some valuable clues by telling us something we need not do.

As you read, pay attention to what we are not to worry about?

Notice the images he uses to suggest the uselessness of worry? Which of these images captures your imagination the most? How does that help you move away from worry?

Do you want to move away from worry?

What do you worry about the most? Do Rabbi Jesus’ words help you address that worry and move more toward the Kingdom of God he speaks of?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections May 30, 2021, Jonah 3 Post 3

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You can reread our focus passage of Jonah 3 here –
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah%203&version=NRSV

VIII.
As you read our focus passage notice where Jonah is –
“So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.” (Jonah 3:3)

Notice what he tells the people of Nineveh –
“he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’” (Jonah 3:4)

And the response of the people of Nineveh and the King –
“And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles …. Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.” (Jonah 3:6-9)

And then what God does –
“When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.” (Jonah 3:10)

All in all you could count that as a successful preaching mission. Right? Would you call Jonah a successful prophet/preacher?

IX.
What did you notice about Jonah in the first few words of this account –
But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. (Jonah 1:3)

Is that the beginning or making of a successful prophet/preacher?

Next you see him praying for deliverance –
“ … saying, “I called to the Lord out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; how shall I look again upon your holy temple?’ yet you brought up my life from the Pit, O Lord my God. As my life was ebbing away, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. Those who worship vain idols forsake their true loyalty. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Deliverance belongs to the Lord!” (Jonah 2:1-9)

After Nineveh responds to his preaching what did he do –
“But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city, and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city.” (Jonah 4:1-5)

X.
Do the actions of Jonah before he arrives at Nineveh and after he leaves Nineveh, fit with what you think makes for a successful prophet/preacher? As far as you can tell from our readings about Jonah and listening to him, does Jonah’s personality or character fit with what you think makes for a successful prophet/preacher?

Let me close with two questions –

  1. What have you learned about Jonah?
  2. What have you learned from Jonah?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}