January 24, 2023 – “Be Opened”

“Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” Mark 7:31-37

{“Two American tourists are driving through Wales. They decide to stop for a bite to eat in the village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. Baffled by the name, one of them turns to a local and asks, “Would you please say where we are—very slowly?” The Welshman leans over and says, very slowly, “Burrr-gerrr Kinngg.”}

“Be opened”, Jesus says – and the man’s ears were opened, and his tongue released. Often we hear of something like a new historical find or read a book we have never read before, and the world takes on a new look. I am currently reading a book titled “Entangled Life: how fungi make our worlds, change our lives and shape our futures” by Merlin Sheldrake. I had no idea how fascinating mushrooms and lichens could be – how connected things under the earth are — and so gives us a model for how connected humanity should be.

Or, according to the author of another book I am currently reading, we can thank coffee for expanding and opening the minds of so many people since the coffee bean was “discovered” in Yemen by some hungry goats. The author writes: “The discovery of coffee was, in its way, as important as the invention of the telescope or the microscope, without which we should know little of the incredibly vast and nothing of the incredibly small. For coffee has unexpectedly intensified and modified the capacities and activities of the human brain.” (Coffee: The Epic of a Commodity, H. E. Jacob)

How can we open ourselves up to hear the Gospel in new ways? How can the bible be opened to our hearing so that we might hear them with fresh ears? The best way to hear the Gospel is to hear it in multiple formats – to hear it preached – to engage it in bible study – to hear different interpretations – and to listen for the Holy Spirit as you seek guidance in understanding the scriptures.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, help me follow the teaching of Jesus who says “Be Opened” – let my ears hear….Amen.

Pastor Dave

January 23, 2023 – “Abundance”

“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.”  Matthew 14:13-21

The story of the feeding of the 5000, like the miracle of the water turned to wine, are stories about abundance. From nothing more than five loaves and two fish, Jesus feeds 5000, plus women and children. Where does the abundance come from? They come from Jesus, of course. And they come through the hands of the disciples who are willing to partake in the miracle. The skeptics will say “Oh it is just hyperbole, a myth, story, a fabrication.” Oh, really? If this was just a story, a fabrication, a myth, then why are we still telling it 2000 years later? And not just repeating a story written 2000 years ago, but a story that was first told and shared by mouth from generation to generation, person to person, household to household before it was finally written down and put into any kind of book. If this story was a fabrication, it wouldn’t have had enough gas to last for two millennia.

The story is really about how we together, the collective disciples of Jesus, can feed a hungry world when we minister in the name of Jesus. I have seen small miracles – how few resources can be used to help many – how just a few people can do great things. We just need to be willing to be the hands that carry the food, the feet that visit the sick, or the voices that pray for the weary.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, use my hands to feed the hungry and serve the needy throughout my life. Amen.

Pastor Dave