Jesus’ Ministry
January 13, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ –Luke 3:21-22

In the scripture above everyone present had accepted the teachings of John the Baptist and had chosen to be baptized including Jesus. The event described as the Holy Spirit descending denotes Jesus as one with something important to say, listen to him. We are all called to take the role of saying Jesus Christ has something important to say, Listen to him.

Our lives often speak louder than our words that means we must work to be in sync with Christ in all that we do.  It requires us to develop true empathy for people whose lives differ markedly from ours and not to assume that our way of life and being is the best or only way of being like Christ. We are called to be like Christ; not try to make others adopt our cultural values.

I have worked with people living in poverty most of my adult life, but I had to laugh when I took the Bridges out of Poverty* tests designed to help people understand their knowledge of what it is like to live in poverty, be middle class, or be upper class. I was so middle class it was funny. Before we can help people in poverty we need to know more about their world. Something we probably do not think about is the need to understand the unique nature of upper class thinking and for them to understand the middle class and those in poverty.  About half of the members of Congress are millionaires.  They must make the effort to understand the differing needs of all people.

Prayer: Lord, open our hearts to understanding the differing perspectives of all our brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.

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All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.