Up Close and Personal

~~~ Genesis 32:23-33 ~~~ Psalm 17 ~~~ Matthew 9:32-38 ~~~

 

Having had total hip replacement a couple years ago,

I can identify with Jacob today.

I did not have 'an encounter with God' resulting in my hip problems though.

Once again we see when God changes your heart he also changes your name.

 

Jacob, from now on, will be called Israel.

 

“You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel,
because you have contended with divine and human beings
and have prevailed.”

 

Jacob asks for another blessing from this force he has wrestled.

Jacob has come to value blessings; after all he cheated his own brother

out of the coveted blessing from their father.

 

From now on Jacob will come to represent all people...the tribes of Israel.

 

Jacob limped along because of his hip.

 

So was this struggle good or bad?

Jacob was now afflicted with a dislocated hip.

He ability to walk would now be accentuated with pain.

Anyone who has experienced sciatic nerve pain 

knows how crippling it can be.

It is a pain that cannot be ignored. It is a haunting pain.

 

There was no need for the wrestling to continue throughout the night;

other than Jacob was also wrestling with his own conscience.

 

What is heavy on your soul can keep you awake at night.

When we are conflicted within God needs to get our attention.

When Jacob's hip was wrenched it brought him into reality.

Darkness makes it impossible to physically see,

making it easier to delve into one's own soul.

Night brings the cover of darkness.

Jacob was alone with the darkness of his own heart.

 

Jacob had been denying his own guilt concerning his brother Esau.

Jacob had destroyed his relationship with his brother

and now had the audacity to wrestle with God.

Did he really believe there would be no consequences for his actions.

 

 

It takes time, but Jacob does realize the value in reconciling with his brother.

God makes all things right in his own time.

Jacob had been away for twenty years.

God faithfully protected Jacob with his angels,

as was previously promised.

 

Jacob returns to his brother for healing. He no longer sees his brother as a threat.

Jacob is not returning to claim his greater inheritance portion.

 

Jacob had an up close and personal encounter

with what he considered to be God.

Jacob wrapped his arms and legs around his opponent.

He could feel the breath of his opponent.

He could could hear the sounds of their physical contact.

 

We too struggle with our sinfulness.

Blessing for us come in reconciling our differences.

Make peace with your family as it heals the soul

and opens the door for grace and blessings.

Like Jacob, we too must live with who we truly are.

 

Blessings in tumbling with God.

Can You Let Go?

~~~ 2 Corinthians 5:14-21~~~ Psalm 103 ~~~ Matthew 5:33-37 ~~~

 

So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away...

Perhaps this is why some refer to becoming Christian as being born again.

If we live our life in and for Christ we are putting aside our old selfish ways.

If we are to be a part of this 'new creation' then we too must be changed.

 

What are the old things that must pass away?

How do we identify the old things?

How do we slough them off?

How can we leave them behind; they represent our areas of comfort.

 

Do you really want to be a new creation?

There is something soothing about the tried and true...the old.

 

...given us the ministry of reconciliation...

Part of the new creation is our ministry of reconciliation.

Reconciling our differences with another person

removes the burrs from your heart.

Reconciling differences with another does not mean that you are the patsy

 who caves in to confrontation.

Reconciling promotes progress and good will. toward others.

When we do not reconcile our differences

we cannot possibly be included in the new creation.

Instead we are part of the stagnant waters of creation.

 

Reconciliation encourages spiritual growth and development.

Christ gave us this ministry of reconciliation

because it goes against human nature.

We are firmly attached to our feelings and beliefs

about things in our life.

Reconciliation must come from a firm desire deep within our heart.

 

 

So we are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.

 

One of the best ways that we can be genuine ambassadors for Christ

may be precisely through our ability to practice

 the ministry of reconciliation.

I say practice because it does take practice

before it comes part of who we are.

 

We have a merciful God who sent his beloved son,

Jesus, to prove the importance of reconciliation.

Jesus was a living example of reconciliation right up until his last breath

hanging on the cross.

 

In our society today we give too little emphasis on reconciling our differences...

just consider our high rate of crimes and our divorce rate.

It is much easier to walk away rather than come to an agreement

on neutral or middle ground.

 

You are called to be an Ambassador for Christ.

The blessings in return are abundant.

Reconciliation...a New Creation

~~~Fourth Sunday of Lent~~~

 

Joshua 5:9A, 10-12~~Psalm 34~~2 Corinthians 5: 17-21~~Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

 

 

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

The Lord removes the negative, delivers you from fear...
he makes all things new.

"Whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come."

"...given us the ministry of reconciliation..."

"...We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God..."

 

If you do not accomplish anything else this Lent,

examine your heart and be fully reconciled with God.

If you are reconciled with God you can

then extend the same reconciliation to others.

Perhaps it is a relative, a neighbor, or a friend that

you can extend your words of forgiveness.

 

Reconciliation is the healing of the heart.

Reconciliation is accepting the shortcomings of another.

Reconciliation can be the greatest gift of joy you can give a loved one.

 

Too many people wait until a loved one is on their death bed

before they consider reaching out in reconciliation.

 

Lent is a wonderful time for reconciliation between yourself and God

and yourself and others.

 

It is through the goodness of God that we have been reconciled with him.

Be Reconciled!

Who is There Like You?

~~~ Micah7: 14-15, 18-20 ~~~ Psalm 103 ~~~ Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32 ~~~

"Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt

and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance;

Who does not persist in anger,

but delights rather in clemency,

And will again have compassion on us,

treading underfoot our guilt?

You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins..."

The Prophet Micah was not privileged to know of the story of the incredibly generous father of the Prodigal Son. Which is today's gospel from Luke.

Who is there like you?

We could ask that question every time we enter into prayer. Our God is truly an awesome God. He loves us even more than the most beloved parent could ever begin to love their son or daughter.

The psalmist echoes the same message, 'The Lord is kind and merciful'. He pardons, he heals, he redeems, he crowns. What more could you ask for?

Who is there like you?

There will always be rejoicing at the repentance of one sinner; of one son returning to the father. The story of the Prodigal Son gives only a fraction of the magnitude of God the Father's love for one who turns from sin.
Reconciliation is a bridge for love and compassion to meet in the center.
Reconciliation is mending the brokenness...making it whole again.

"Reconciliation is to understand both sides; to go to one side and describe the suffering being endured by the other side, and then go to other side and describe the suffering being endured by the first side." Thich Nhat Hanh

"In failing to confess, Lord, I would only hide You from myself,
not myself from You."- Saint Augustine
Never underestimate the great capacity of our God to forgive sins and remove guilt.

Who is there like you?
We need no other words for prayers of praise and gratitude.

Who Are You Fooling?

~~~ Ezekiel 18: 21-28 ~~~ Psalm 130 ~~~ Matt. 5: 20-16 ~~~

"...unless your righteousness surpasses that of scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."

The scribes and Pharisees were the scholars the professional enforcers of the laws. The Pharisees knew scripture extremely well, prayed, tithed. They were the self righteous of their time. They were more interested in the letter of the law. They were not necessarily following God with their heart. They were just going through the motions. Jesus is saying don't try to pretend you are holy by outward appearances. It does not work with me, you are only fooling yourself.

We live in a cultural environment where you are constantly bring scrutinized. Are you doing this or that 'right'. In our city there has been much publicity and controversy over the red light cameras. Did you really run the red light? Were you actually the driver?

In our public schools the majority of the time teachers are looking for what is incorrect on the students work. The student's work gets covered with red marks, even inte margins. I have met individuals who quit trying because they know someone will always be there to find fault. Improvment is more than just finding fault. The desire to improve must also be part of the equation.

There is a well known scripture about seeing the plank and the splinter. I am sure you know the one I am referring  to here. Some think that righteousness means to be in the crow's nest overseeing what other's are doing; in order to correct and set them on the right path.

Jesus is saying all that really matters is your relationship with me. He says I can overlook your imperfections on one condition...is your heart in the right place. Jesus says I have infinite mercy. Jesus says I understand when you fall. He had the physical experience of carrying the cross, not just any cross, but our cross heavily laden with our sins. The weight and burden so great that he fell three times.

As I heard in the homily this morning...Jesus extends his mercy to us, which is bigger than anything we could possibly imagine.

We do not need the Pharisees, but yet they still do inhabit our society today.

Jesus has given us the tools we need to live a life blessed with mercy.
'Your sins are forgiven, now go in peace and sin no more.'

That sentence is often heard at the end of reconciliation.

We may not see or feel God's mercy in our life, but it is there. It is what gives us hope for an eternity with God in heaven. Without his mercy we would be lost in every sense of the word, but especially spiritually.

In this kaleidoscope image has captured God's loving eyes as he looks down on us  extending his mercy. 

Allow God to overshadow you with his mercy.