June 4, 2022 – Words of Wisdom, Confucius

Complicated

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”  Confucius*

“When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.  Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:34-40

*Confucius was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher within Chinese history. 

Complicated

When was the last time you sat down in desperation, or confusion, or frustration and said something like “Why is life so complicated?” If you are like me, it probably was not that long ago.  Life seems to go faster and faster the older we get, and many times it seems to also become more and more complicated. Is it possible that Confucius was right – that life is simple, but we make it complicated? 

The Pharisees and the Sadducees were not happy with the teachings of Jesus. They were steeped in the laws of Moses, and as such were religious “experts” in enforcing and following the laws of faith and life. For example, the Sabbath rules were established to give the people parameters for what they could and could not do that might be considered work on the day of the Sabbath.  Here are just a few of the Prohibited Sabbath activities:

Writing two or more letters
Kindling or Extinguishing a fire
Transporting an object between a private domain and the public domain, or for a distance of 4 cubits within the public domain.  

So, when the Pharisees came to Jesus to ask him “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?”, Jesus does what he usually does – he simplifies his teaching:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our G-d, the Lord is one (the Lord alone).  And you shall love the Lord, your G-d, with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your means.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5

My friends, our faith need not be complicated by “expectations” or “necessary understandings”. Jesus reminds us that faith begins with “Loving the Lord, and Loving your neighbor as yourself”. In other words, faith begins with love.  When we start each day reminding ourselves that G-d loves us beyond all understanding, and then remember that we are to love all people with the love that G-d has for us, then the rest of the day and the rest of our actions will flow out of G-d’s love. 

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, everyday is complicated, but our faith need not be complicated.  Help me today to start from love, and allow that verb, that action “to love” lead me in all my actions, decisions, and relationships. Amen.

Pastor Dave 

June 3, 2022 – Words of Wisdom

Extra-Ordinary

“The difference between ordinary and extra-ordinary is so often just simply that little word – extra.” (Anonymous)

“On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance,they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11-19

Extra-Ordinary

We all have people who touch us, teach us, who are present with us each day. When was the last time that we stopped, reversed our steps and saw what a blessing they are, and then thanked G-d for them, thanked them for what they do?  G-d’s presence should not only be seen in the miracles of life – but also needs to be seen in the everyday relationships including those we take for granted, and those that we don’t even think of.

Apparently nine lepers didn’t see enough to move them beyond the miracle – they couldn’t see the authority of G-d’s healing presence, the grace of G-d found in the person of Jesus Christ. But one leper shakes himself free from the joy of being “made clean” to realize that his view of reality had changed.  The one who was formerly a leper recognizes through his own healing that he was a walking witness to the reality of G-d’s grace. And through the healing he sees, recognizes and appreciates what G-d did – and does what we all should do – fall at the feet of Jesus and give thanks and praise. 

This story reminds us that whether we realize it in the midst of our trials, or recognize it many years after the fact, our lives are always in G-d’s hands.  We should never become so “dulled” in our senses that we forget to offer prayer, praise and thanksgiving as the proper response to G-d’s grace – grace that sometimes smacks us over the head, and often goes without notice. G-d’s love is not just ordinary love, it is extra-ordinary – and deserves extra-ordinary response.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, your love for the world is a love that is not envious, not jealous, and never-ending. Give me the mind today to offer you extra-ordinary prayers, praises and thanksgiving. Amen.

Pastor Dave