Fasting and the Bridegroom

~~~1 Samuel 15:16-23 ~~~ Psalm 50 ~~~ Mark 2:18-22 ~~~

Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission than the fat of rams.

Samuel reprimands Saul for not being completely 

obedient to the will of God.

Saul has only partially carried 

out the task set before him from God.

He lets greed take hold of his heart.

Saul selectively carried out the wishes of the Lord.

Keeping for himself some of the best from the city.

He and his troops spared Agag and the best of the 

fat sheep and oxen, and the lambs. 

They refused to put under the ban 

anything that was worthwhile, destroying 

only what was worthless and of no account. 

Later he is so full of pride for his victory 

he erects a statue to honor himself.

When God sets us out to complete a task he expects 

us to complete the task in his name.

He does not give us permission

 to make exceptions for our personal satisfaction.

Saul is so blinded by his own accomplishments

 that he looses sight of his directive from God.

Jesus speaks of himself as the bridegroom in this chapter of Mark.

Fasting was common in among the local people at that time.

Of course Jesus knew of the prescribed fasting custom;

 he intentionally ignores it.

Instead he gives an analogy of the bridegroom,

which seems out in left field

It is true that when you are attending a wedding celebration

 few if any people would be fasting.

Jesus tries to present a different picture of the bridegroom;

namely himself. He is the bridegroom who will be leaving.

When he leaves it will be because he has been crucified.

His death and crucifixion will be the cause for fasting...

a fasting representing mourning.

But the days will come when the bridegroom

 is taken away from them,
and then they will fast on that day.

Today we are encouraged by the our church

 to practice fasting during Lent and especially on Good Friday.

Fasting puts us in a better state to hear the Lord speaking to our hearts.

Food is no longer a distraction...our prayer life and our 

relationship with God takes on a deeper meaning.

...new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.

Jesus is the new wine. Everything about his way

 is in contradiction with the elders.

Jesus in effect is saying...whatever you thought 

you knew about God, you were so not right.

Jesus makes all things new...

even when we do not know anything needs to be changed.

It is so easy to just keep on doing what we have done for years.

Habits, good or bad, become a part of who we are.

They often reflect our system of beliefs.

Begin taking an internal assessment of your heart.

What needs to change? Ask God to help you see 

the ways you have held on to the old.

He wants to replace the old with the new;

but first you must identify the old.

We cannot change what we cannot claim as ours.

Blessings in having the courage and faith

 to look within for what needs to be removed.

Make room for the new wine.

Peace!

Grab Your Lamp!

 

~~~ 1 Cor 1: 17-25 ~~~ Psalm 33 ~~~ Matthew 25:1-13 ~~~

 

Today we have a repeat of yesterday's mantra...

"...Stay awake for you know neither the day nor the hour."

 

The virgins who joined in the banquet were prepared.

They were indeed awake. They had planned well.

They were not just living for the moment.

They knew it was up to themselves to be ready

whenever the bridegroom did arrive.

They took responsibility for themselves.

No one can be ready and prepared for you.

No one else is required to help you be prepared.

No one is responsible for your readiness.

 

I just saw news footage of people being rescued

from their flooded houses

during the recent hurricane.

The truth is they were not prepared.

They did not heed the warnings.

In some cases they made a conscious decision to ignore the orders to evacuate.

So they took the chance of being plucked from their attic in the quickly rising waters.

They were willing to put the lives of the rescuers at risk for their own decisions.

 

For the longest time I used to think that the virgins

who were prepared were just selfish.

I used to think that the christian thing to do would have been to share.

But, typical of these Jesus stories, there is another view point at play here.

 

While it might be worthwhile to be concerned and care

about the wel-being of others,

ultimately you are responsible for yourself.

You cannot rely on others to take care of you

unless you are incapacitated.

Your soul preparedness is uniquely your chore...your assignment.

You are the one who must care for your soul...

you are the one who must secure oil for your lamp...

you are the one who must trim your wick in order

to have a more efficient lamp.

 

Your lamp provides a light for your path...a light for you feet.

If your lamp goes out it is you who will stumble and fall.

Another's lamp may provide some light for you along the way,

but it will not be like having your very own lamp.

 

Having your own lamp gives you the freedom and flexibility to move to around giving you the best sight possible.

 

If you allow your lamp to go out there is no one to blame but yourself.

If you allow your lamp to run out of oil;

there is no one but yourself to point a finger at.  

 

If you have your lamp oil burning it is a known fact that is must be dark.

You would not need to use your lamp oil in the daylight.

 

In the daylight is when you make your plans.

You check to see if you indeed have enough oil for your lamp.

If you have been awake and made your plans in the light of the day you will be

prepared when the time comes to light your lamp.

 

It is sad to think that when the bridegroom comes

you may be denied access to the banquet

because you were not prepared.

 

 Everyday is another opportunity to be prepared for the

arrival of the bridegroom.

So do want to stand with the prepared wise five or

will you stand with the unprepared foolish five?

 

 

You know where you stand right now.

This is valuable knowledge.

If you stand with the wise then you must continue

to be vigilant to maintain your state of preparedness. 

On the other hand if you stand with the foolish;

it is time

to start changing.

This is what is so great about Lent.

Lent is a major reminder to be prepared.

But we cannot wait until then, because we simply do not

know either the day or the hour

when the Lord will come.

 

People Get Ready, as the old gospel song says.

Get Ready to Stand with the Wise.