Tag Archives: Matthew

Jesus is the Messiah

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on July 24, 2015
Tags: , , , Matthew   

Por Dios / For G*d — Rev. David J. Schreffler

July 24, 2015

“Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, “Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”” Matthew 26:6-13

“In Spain the beggar sues for alms in the name of the love of G*d, and if nothing be given, you are supposed to reply: “For the love of G*d, brother, forgive me!” And as the beggar makes his appeal in the name of G*d, (por Dios – for G*d) he is known as a “por-diosero” (beggar). But as the other, the putative rich person, also asks his pardon for the sake of G*d, one might call him a “por-diosero” too. “Por-dioseros”, beggars, both.” Miguel de Unamuno (1864 – 1936) “For All The Saints”, volume IV (p. 318)

It is attributed to Martin Luther that some of his last words written or spoken were the words “we are all beggars”. None of us comes to G*d with anything that we can give to G*d when we approach the heavenly throne — there is nothing G*d needs, wants or desires that comes from the pathetic hands of the human. We all come to G*d with our hands outstretched begging for G*d forgiveness, mercy and love.

Begging is a universal act — I can go to my local mall and as I drive into the parking lot, there standing along the road is one man or woman with a sign that is asking for food, work or money. What has put them into this situation? No one truly knows. What we do know is this: there is a need — locally, state-wide, nationally and throughout the world. People are begging for needs, physical and spiritual needs. We are all beggars — we have been in many aspects of our lives — and we will find ourselves in that position at the gates of Heaven. We will come empty handed to the gates of Heaven — for nothing we have earned in this life will matter then. In the meantime, we can be serving those who are begging right now for physical and spiritual sustenance. It will not guarantee us a ticket through the gates of heaven, for Jesus has bought that ticket for us already. But, in serving those who are begging now, we can understand their plight, and might be able to see a way to put their hands in the hands of the one who can give them spiritual food and drink.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on July 23, 2015
Tags: , , Matthew   

Do You See the Cross? It is Right Here — Rev. David J. Schreffler

July 23, 2015

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:31-40

“Do not look for the cross of Christ in the past alone; in the year of our Lord 30. See it in the present, it is standing among us! The black sky brooding over Golgotha is arched above us too. The tempest and the earthquake which terrified Jerusalem terrify us also. Do not envision the cross of Christ as something far away. It is as near and contemporary as anything can be.” Edmund Schlink (1903 – 1984) “For All The Saints” volume IV (p. 313)

Who was Edmund Schlink? He was a leading German Lutheran theologian in the modern ecumenical movement, especially in the World Council of Churches. He was a teacher, a pastor (since 1932), and a professor (1946-1971), and he was also a leading participant in several official ecumenical dialogues. In 1961 he wrote the Theology of the Lutheran Confessions.

Schlink is trying to help us understand that the work of Christ was not just meant for the 1st century in Palestine. The work of Christ is embedded in all time and space — because we will always find the hungry among us — and the naked — and the sick — and those who are in prison. And so we look to the cross of Jesus, and the life and ministry of Jesus, and this informs us how to live our lives. I was sitting and talking with a lady the other day who was discussing her son. She said her son was seeking G*d’s direction in his life — but in particular, he wanted a clear sign from G*d that he should do this, or do that. Her response to her son was to say “I do not ever hear G*d’s voice — except when G*d tells me to help that person, be generous to that person, forgive that person, love those people. That is when I hear G*d’s voice most clearly.” I would say that this woman understands Matthew 25 — how the cross of Christ stands among us today — and how the voice of G*d speaks to us everyday, pointing us to service, love and grace.

Pastor Dave