February 4, 2024 – Epiphany +5B

“As soon as [Jesus and the disciples] left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.” Mark 1:29-39

One of the aspects of Mark’s Gospel account is the quick moving — immediacy of his style of writing. He tells a story, and the story he tells moves along very quickly. In fact, sometimes it actually leaves you breathless. And the snippet of the Gospel we have this morning is just a small example of Mark’s urgency. For example, in the earlier verses of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus calls his disciples, and they immediately follow him. Jesus then shows up in Capernaum and enters a synagogue — and he teaches with authority, impressing the people, and angering the Scribes. While there he casts out a demon which raises the expectations of the people in the area. He decides to move on and comes to the house of Peter’s mother-in-law and heals her. In fact he heals many of the people in the region, and casts out demons. In the morning he goes to a quiet place to pray and his disciples run to find him telling him everyone wants to see him. He tells them they are not going to stay, but they are moving on to other towns so he can proclaim “His Message”. 

Jesus moves, acts, heals, teaches, prays and stays in constant motion. In other words, in all of these stories, Jesus shows up — and he shows up in a big way. But even though he seems to be moving at break-neck speed, he shows up none-the-less — like he showed up for His baptism, his temptation, his teaching and preaching, and his healing ministry. And this very fact that Jesus shows up challenges us to do the same — to follow him by showing up. How about that? You and I can show up, just show up, and we can be a part of proclaiming the Gospel. We can. Sometimes that is the best thing we can do — we can just show up in the name of Jesus to show people we care. My friends, Jesus models for us how we can begin living the Gospel life — living a life of prayer; living a life of being with and showing up for others. It will be in Lent that we will be able to ponder how we live “Creating a Culture of Life” – a life of showing up — showing up again, and again, and again in the name of Jesus. 

Pastor Dave

February 3, 2024

As Lent quickly approaches, it is good to talk about Spiritual Disciplines. Practices that can be practiced in Lent cover a number of different topics. All of the disciplines have the purpose of seeking a deeper life in Christ and a closer relationship with G-d. We call these “spiritual disciplines,” but the activities are physical, not spiritual. They are bodily activities that can engage and affect our whole person:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

This is what Paul has to say in Romans 12:1-2. So a more accurate term for the exercises might be “disciplines for a spiritual life in Christ.”

To excel in anything in life requires some level of discipline. This is true for athletes, musicians, accountants, electricians, and disciples of Jesus. Effective discipline should not be looked at as drudgery. Of course, training has difficult aspects, but the hard work pays off to facilitate a more faith-filled life. Just watch a master pianist and you’ll see that he or she is not straining to do well, but enjoying the music.

From the website Soul Shepherding: For You And Your Ministry by Bill Gaultiere, I am listing some disciplines. He puts them into two categories:

Disciplines of Abstinence – Disciplines of Engagement.

Disciplines of Abstinence are ways of denying ourselves something we want or need in order to make space to focus on and connect with God.

Solitude: Refraining from interacting with other people in order to be alone with God and be found by him. (Solitude is completed by silence.)

Silence: Not speaking in a quiet place in order to quiet our minds and whole self and attend to God’s presence. Also, not speaking so that we can listen to others and bless them.

Fasting: Going without food (or something else) for a period of intense prayer — the fast may be complete or partial.

Sabbath: Doing no work to rest in God’s person and provision; praying and playing with God and others. (God designed this for one day a week. We can practice it for shorter periods too.)

Secrecy: Not making our good deeds or qualities known to let God or others receive attention and to find our sufficiency in God alone.

Submission: Not asserting ourselves in order to come under the authority, wisdom, and power of Jesus Christ as our Lord, King, and Master. (If you think of this as submitting to a person as unto Christ then it’s a discipline of engagement.)

Disciplines of Engagement — are ways of connecting with God and other people, conversing honestly with them in order to love and be loved.

Bible Reading: Trusting the Holy Spirit-inspired words of Scripture as our guide, wisdom, and strength for life.

Worship: Praising God’s greatness, goodness, and beauty in words, music, ritual, or silence.

Prayer: Conversing with God about what we’re experiencing and doing together. (As we see in the Lord’s Prayer the main thing we do in prayer is to make requests of our Father for one another.)

Soul Friendship: Engaging fellow disciples of Jesus in prayerful conversation or other spiritual practices.

Personal Reflection: Paying attention to our inner self in order to grow in love for God, others, and self.

Service: Humbly serving God by overflowing with his love and compassion to others, especially those in need

I will take some time in Lent to look at some of these Spiritual Disciplines as I encourage you to take Lent seriously.

Pastor Dave