Mark 2:1-12

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.' Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 'Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?' At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, 'Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven", or to say, "Stand up and take your mat and walk"? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins'—he said to the paralytic— 'I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.' And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!'

Every time I hear this story, I think of the Bible picture book that I had as a child. We can picture the scene: a house full of people, pressing in on one another, and at the center of the room was Jesus. The roof is being taken off the house to lower the paralyzed man down to Jesus. I find the scene is busy and confusing, especially for a kid to understand. 

Jesus recognizes their actions as a display of great faith, trusting that Jesus has the power to heal the man. However, Jesus goes a step further and pronounces forgiveness of the man's of the man. The scribes who were there start freaking out, accusing Jesus of blasphemy. Jesus knew they associated the man's paralysis with some sin he must have committed. Therefore, by pronouncing forgiveness the man was relieved of his burden and got up, took up his mat and went home. Everyone was amazed and the scripture tells us that they glorified God saying, "we have never seen anything like this."

The scene's picture is in my head. The mat with the man being lowered down through the roof. This makes me think of the lengths we will go to in order to get what we think we need. I'm sure that the man had heard of Jesus' healing powers. His friends were tenacious in their efforts to get him to Jesus. I wonder what they expected. I'm pretty sure that they didn't expect his sins to be forgiven. He probably just wanted to be healed, but Jesus ended up doing so much more.

We need to remember that God always gives us what we need, but rarely do we see it as something we want. It usually works out as so much more. The man was lowered down wanting to be healed, and had his sins forgiven. The paralyzed man didn't ask for anything, but had his sins forgiven and his paralysis healed. In lent, we focus on sin and forgiveness, wanting to be restored to right relationship with God as we approach Easter, needing to be healed of all the ways we come up short. We take time to look for paces in our lives that need to be evaluated; sickness, relationships, moods, anxieties, and then ask Jesus to interceed for us and forgive our sins, heal us, restore us, and reconcile us to God.

Luke 18:9-14

Luke 18:9-14

[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

"God, be merciful to me, a sinner." These words resonate with me as I feel more "broken" than usual this year. The COVID virus trudges on, life is different, and I am tired. Today, in the context of this Ash Wednesday 2022, we are confronted with Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Both are broken in their own right. The difference between them is that the Tax collector knows he is broken. 

Tax collectors were the scoundrels of society that "took a little off the top" of the taxes they levied. It was even considered worse because they were often defrauding their own people. On the other hand, Pharisees were considered the "religious elite" with strict observance of the law (Torah). They often felt they were superior to or "holier than" others.

How we pray makes a difference. During the season of Lent, we are encouraged to look down deep into our brokenness, ask for forgiveness, and begin to let God heal us. With humble hearts and sometimes tears, we come before God looking for answers to the hurts in our life, hoping somehow to be restored and told everything will be ok. The scriptures assure us that God hears our cries for mercy and helps us. Eventually, everything turns out well.

Second Monday in Lent

John 4:27-42 (NRSV)

Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you want?’ or, ‘Why are you speaking with her?’ Then the woman left her water-jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?’ They left the city and were on their way to him.

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Surely no one has brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, “Four months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour.’

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Saviour of the world.’

"Come and see a man who has told me everything that I have ever done!" That could be good and bad. Obviously, for the Samaritan woman with a sordid life, this encounter was probably quite embarrassing. Nonetheless, she was so excited that Jesus might be the messiah, she ran back to town and told everyone about him.

We pick up the story from Saturday's reading and learn that regardless of what Jesus told her, she invited the whole town out to meet him. John uses the time the woman has gone to the city for the disciples to encounter Jesus and ask him if he has been able to eat something. We should remember that they are in Samaria, and Samaritans do not share things with Jews and vice versa. Jesus takes the opportunity to explain to his disciples about the place they are in and how there is ample opportunity to share the message that "the fields are ripe for harvesting."  

The passage tells us that many in that city believed in Jesus because of the woman's testimony. After that, the Samaritans, who don't share things in common with Jews, invited Jesus to stay with them. Many more came to believe by spending time with Jesus, and they proclaimed him, "savior of the world." 

I would be a little freaked out if a man came up to me and told me "all that I have ever done." Especially if I was trying to hide it in some way. We should realize that God knows it all, our good and our bad. During the season of Lent, it's our opportunity to admit the sin in our lives and turn to God for forgiveness. We are to go deep and go to God will ALL our demons, not just the ones that are evident to the world. Yes, even the hidden things that we are afraid of even admitting to God. It's ok; God forgives. God cannot save us unless we acknowledge that we need to be saved.

Mark 11:12-25 (NRSV)

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.  Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it.  When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it.  Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.  He was teaching and saying, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'?  But you have made it a den of robbers.”  And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching.  And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.  In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.  Then Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered."  Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.  Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.  So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."

The word that stands out today is “forgive.”  Among all the talk about fig trees and driving the money changers and merchants out of the temple, Jesus tells the disciples to forgive anything that you have against anyone.

The meaning of the cursed fig tree is strange.  It almost seems that Jesus was "cruel" and unjustly condemning.  To see a leafed fig tree, even at an unseasonable time, warranted the assumption that there would be fruit on the tree.  But this tree was an oddity; the leaves were there, but it was fruitless.  This phenomenon, therefore, served as a perfect “visual aid” for an important lesson that Jesus wanted to teach.  Jesus has talked about fruit before and the responsibility to bear good fruit (referring to the believers obligation to spread the Good News).  The fact that the fig tree did not have any fruit, and then was withered, parallels Jesus teaching about those that don’t bear any “fruit.”  This was discussed on March 7, 2012

The fig tree incident surrounds Jesus driving out the moneychangers from the temple, saying that it is a house of prayer.  The placement may have an indication of the importance of the use of money.  If money or currency is used in a manner that doesn’t give glory to God, then it is accursed.  However, if it is used to assist in the building up of the kingdom of God, to care for others, to provide for the needy, to bring about social justice, to make sure churches and temples represent the best we can offer, then we bring forth “good fruit” for the kingdom of God.

We should always use all that we have all the time to bring glory to God.  That’s the call that I hear today.  We have a responsibility as believers to express our faith by the way we live our lives.  This includes how we use our resources.  If we give a tithe (10%) to our churches, then our churches are able to operate and help society provide much needed support to those in need.  This all boils down to what is in our heart.  Do we have a thankful heart of forgiveness or do we have a selfish heart?

Mark 2:1-12 (NRSV)

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.  So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them.  Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.  And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'  Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 'Why does this fellow speak in this way?  It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?'  At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, 'Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Stand up and take your mat and walk"?  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins' he said to the paralytic 'I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.'  And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!'

Today, we have 12 verses of the Mark's Gospel connected to the same healing of the paralytic man in Capernaum.  Unlike before, when Mark gave us so much information with Jesus going here and there healing and casing out demons, today’s story is complete and full of details.  The word “removed the roof” stands out to me.

At this point, there are several who are following Jesus everywhere, leaning on his every word and action.  A paralytic man is brought to Jesus, but they can't reach him because of the crowds.  They believed so firmly that Jesus could help the man, so they took extreme action and "removed the roof" to lower him down.  Jesus forgives his sins.  The scribes show up in this chapter, voicing their concern about Jesus’ authority.  When Jesus absolves the sins of the paralytic man at first, the scripture says nothing about ‘healing’ him.  We know that physical conditions in ancient times were often perceived as the result of some sin that he or his parents committed.

The scribes accuse Jesus of blasphemy and challenge Jesus’ authority to forgive sin saying, Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  Jesus offers them a conundrum, by asking what is easier – forgiving sins or telling the man to get up and walk?  Jesus shows the scribes his authority by telling the man to stand and take up his mat and go home.  This action amazed the crowd and the scribes.

The call I hear today is “forgive.”  Forgiveness is from God alone, and it is a Godly act to forgive the sins of another.  Like Jesus, who when he forgives restores things to correct order, when we search for forgiveness and when we forgive each other, we restore things to right relationship.  Forgiveness is not an easy task, and takes a letting go of self and taking on of the other.

In this season of Lent, we are digging into muck of our lives and bring our deepest sins to the surface in order to deal with them – in order to let God deal with them.  Through God we receive true forgiveness and we can be fully healed and restored to right relationship.

Luke 18:9-14 (NRSV)

[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income."  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"  I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.'

Today is Ash Wednesday, and the word that comes to the forefront is contempt.  I’m not sure why the word stood out, it just did.  Jesus is talking to the folks who disapprove of, and are judgmental of the way others live their lives.  They are self righteous and think they are superior.  Jesus is speaking this parable to “some” who considered themselves righteous and regard others with contempt.

The Pharisees are a political party of religious lay persons who specialized in Torah (Jewish Law).  They were in conflict with Jesus because Jesus often used them as examples of how not to act.  The Pharisees were worried about keeping the letter of the law, and thought that keeping the law alone sanctified their daily life and would bring about the redemption of Israel.  This was in contrast to what Jesus was trying to teach people about the intent of the law, to create a framework for the right relationship between God and God’s people.  Therefore, Jesus is an obstacle for the Pharisaic influence in society and they want Jesus out of the way.

Tax collectors were the Jews who collected taxes from the people on behalf of the Roman government.  They were considered scoundrels because they took money from their own people for a foreign power.  They were often corrupt, and took money to pad their own pockets.

Jesus’ parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee creates a sharp comparison and contrast for the hearer to ponder.  The Pharisee is set up as the one who considers himself righteous and the Tax Collector as the humble repentant sinner.

In the parable, the Pharisee is not the least bit introspective in his prayer.  He does not acknowledge his own sin, but is self righteously thankful that he is “not like other people.”  In contrast, the Tax Collector is humble and asking God for mercy, knowing that he is a sinner.

At the beginning of this season of Lent, the call in this passage is humility and self-awareness.  If we are humble in our prayers and honestly bear before God our shortcomings and ask for mercy, God hears us and forgives us.  Only then are we able to grow and learn and live in right relationship with God.

Mark 10:23-31 (NRSV)

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"  And the disciples were perplexed at these words.  But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."  They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?"  Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."  Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you."  Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age-houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions-and in the age to come eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

 

“Then who can be saved?!?”  That is a good question!  Jesus directly provides us with an indirect answer that perplexes his disciples, mystifies us, and makes some churches squirm.  I have been around some Christians that take the word “saved” to an astounding level, as if it were the ONLY reason to believe or go to Church…  I have often been the “smart aleck” and asked “from what” – or "yes, it happened on a Friday about 2000 years ago, but we didn't realize it till Sunday morning..."  knowing full well that it would launch a theological debate about soteriology (the doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ).  Sorry, I am about nurturing people in the faith, so I'm not into the body count for Christ.  It’s almost as if some folks think the church is about selling some sort of celestial fire insurance (sorry, I won’t rant any longer).  Regardless of what our thoughts are surrounding the subject, we all want to know, “who can be saved?”

The scripture doesn’t say that those that have wealth are out.  Neither does it say you need to be poor.  Jesus just says it will be difficult for the wealthy.  (You have got to love Peter at this point, who has literally given up everything to follow Jesus.)  Jesus does assure us that whatever we give up for the sake of the good news, we will receive a hundredfold and eternal life.  So this makes one think…  what does salvation cost?  I don’t think that we, as mortals, can put a price on it.  It is beyond our understanding and impossible for us, but not impossible for God.  That may be the point of this passage.

To me the passage is saying a lot about the complexity of salvation in a very concise way.  I feel that the passage is trying to say that the way to salvation is a very difficult process, that requires us to unload our burdens, make ourselves vulnerable and submit to a process of formation that will take us against the norms of society.  It all starts with a belief in Jesus as Lord and progresses from there.  I am not saying that it’s anything you must do, but more what must be done to you and an acceptance of what has been done for you.  Jesus is the way to eternal life…  Jesus suffered death on the cross and bore the offenses of the whole world with him (yes, including ours)…  Jesus rose again, putting an end to death…  Those who believe in this are in fact saved (this is assured by scripture in several references).  But is that it?  Is that all there is to it?  That doesn’t feel as difficult as Jesus makes it seem in this passage.  So, the question that I offer now is…  We are saved by belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, what then are we going to do with it?

I feel that the call of the gospel today is formation (not salvation, but formation).  There are many ways to engage a process of formation.  Study, reflection, worship, outreach, sharing, discipleship, whatever you call it…  it’s all participation within the context of a Christian community.  Not home alone, but participating with others who nurture each other and hold each other up as the church.  I feel the gospel calling me to continuous formation, as the living Christ forms, informs, and transforms my life.  Only then can I truly understand the complexity of my salvation, and appreciate the sacrifices Jesus made on my behalf so many years ago.

John 8:12-20 (NRSV)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."  Then the Pharisees said to him, "You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid."  Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.  You judge by human standards; I judge no one.  Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.  In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid.  I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf."  Then they said to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also."  He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

 

“You judge by human standards; I judge no one.”  As we learned yesterday, Jesus forgives and gives guidance more than he judges.  And today we get a glimpse of what it means to walk, live, and learn in the light of Christ. 

I feel human beings will never be able to completely comprehend God, in all of God’s vast glory.  Awesome doesn’t describe it.  To me it’s more like incredible, indescribable, inexpressible, and every other superlative you can think of.  With that said, we also will never be able to comprehend God’s justice in our human context.  However, neither condition keeps us from being drawn to learn and understand.  Much like the Pharisees and scribes who don’t understand Jesus’ authority, we are caught in their circle of living and participating with a limited understanding of God.

Recently I heard a someone say that we are all “cracked pots and that we all fall short of the glory of God, and yet we are the plan for bringing God’s Good News to the whole world.”  Whether we like the term “cracked pot” or not, it’s a great image for this reading.  This is a desperate and broken world that is full of suffering and injustice.  This brokenness wasn’t brought about by God, but by our own selfish behaviors.  We need God to heal and nurture us in our brokenness.  God does that in Jesus, who forgives and guides and judges rightly.  It is through our “cracked pots” that the light of Christ shines through. 

By following Jesus (and his example of forgiveness and guidance) we are participating in him.  (I’ve talked about participation before and its importance.)  By participating in Jesus, he dwells in us and we walk in his light as he enlightens our path.  Today we have been called to testify to the light.  We know that light to be Jesus Christ Our Lord, and we can testify to the ways that God heals us and continues to restore us through Christ.  Maybe then we can do our part and help Jesus be a light to others.       

John 8:1-11 (NRSV)

… Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.  Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them.  The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.  Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women.  Now what do you say?"  They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.  When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."  And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground.  When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.  Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?"  She said, "No one, sir."  And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again."

“He bent down and wrote on the ground.”  I realize that we are all in different places.  Our thinking and reading these reflections are through the different lenses of our own experience.  I think that the sentence about him writing on the ground jumps out because, to me, it doesn’t otherwise belong.  Why did he write on the ground?  Why is it important to mention?

I would like to make the suggestion that Jesus gives us the image of a challenge, as if he were drawing a line in the sand saying, “Let anyone among you who wants to stone her come cross this line – and then you will deal with me!”  We can almost see the Jesus meek and mild puff out his chest for a minute and get tough in order to protect the woman.  It must have worked, because everyone dispursed and none were left but her and Jesus.

At the beginning of the passage, I want to yell out, “It’s a trap, Jesus…  don’t answer them!”  When the woman is brought to him, it's one of their schemes that they use in order to trap Jesus.  It's a catch-22.  He is doomed either way.  The Pharisees are keeping the letter of the law rather than the intent of the law.  They want to trick Jesus into going against what is prescribed in the law of Moses, but Jesus uses this opportunity to teach them in a very simple way that the complete law is intended for all – and that all fall short of keeping the law.  It obviously works, because they all leave.  Instead of condemning another, they turned the condemnation inward and started to think of their own sin.

We, like the Pharisees are quick to condemn and judge the way others act, rather than first look at ourselves.  I think that our call today is to be introspective of our outward actions.  Examine ourselves, prior to accusing another.  Without condemnation, but with forgiveness and guidance, Jesus offers the accused woman another chance.  Are we quick to condemn, and want to immediately pick up the stone and right the world, or do we come from a place of forgiveness – having first forgiven ourselves and then extending that forgiveness to others – and offering guidance rather than condemnation?