March 27, 2023 – “Relationships”

“Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh.Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10:2-9

Relationships are so important—especially to Jesus. We are to consider our relationship to G-d, and to each other, and how we can better these relationships. In other words, relationships are a work in progress—especially our relationships with a partner or spouse. In a perfect world, there would be no need for laws about divorce. In a perfect world, we would not need to consider laws for ending a relationship – because in a perfect world there would only be perfect relationships. But, we do not live in a perfect world, and our relationships are often interrupted by sin. The imperfect nature of this world is the reason that our relationships go sour. G-d’s intent for all relationships would be roses and sunshine. But we do not live in paradise – and so it is necessary to have laws that protect us from neglect, brokenness, and abuse.

But divorce should not be misused neither. Love for each other and the love of G-d should be at the heart of all of our relationships. But, when our relationships do suffer, we need to know that G-d is there to sustain us in the difficult times and to bring healing in all aspects of our lives. While human love is imperfect, G-d’s love is unconditional, perfect and limitless.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, may the words of my mouth, the thoughts of my mind, the motivation of my heart, and the actions of my life be pleasing to you. Amen.

Pastor Dave

March 26, 2023 — Lent 5A

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.’ John 11:33-45

It does hurt when our loved ones pass away – but we inherently know that even the special people in our lives are not going to live forever. But death has this funny habit of making us worry about the unknown, especially about our fears about death, and dying. It is a truism that none of us can add a single hour to our life in the act of worrying. But worrying comes so easy to so many of us. There are so many stories in the bible where people are anxious and frightened about the death of a loved one – Mary and Martha at the death of their brother Lazarus – Jacob, also known as Israel, when he thought his son Joseph was dead. Mary and Martha were nearly inconsolable – Jacob was inconsolable. But none of them lost faith in G-d. In fact Martha says to Jesus “I know that my brother will rise again, in the resurrection on the last day.” That is Martha’s faith – even if it was an Old Testament understanding of resurrection of the dead. But Jesus leads her to understand that the “Messiah” is standing right in front of her. He will go on to raise Lazarus, her brother – he will be raised by the “One” who IS the “resurrection and the life.”

Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and to demonstrate that he knows what he is speaking about – he turns to the tomb and says “Lazarus, Come out”. And Lazarus did come out – he was alive. But he would die a second time. Jesus offers us a resurrection where death will be no more – death will be defeated. Jesus, my friends, connects us to life – this is what our faith in Jesus is all about. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. This is what we place our hope for the future – that we will see our loved ones again, on the last day – in the resurrection. It is G-d’s promise made manifest through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Dave