Tag Archives: Civility

Christ Like

Living in the Spirit
July 1, 2018

Scripture Reading: Mark 5:21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered round him; and he was by the lake. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.’ So he went with him.

 … some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha cum’, which means, ‘Little girl, get up!’ And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. –Mark 5:21-24, 35b-43

I have wondered why particularly Mark makes a point of telling us of Jesus’ desire to keep some of his activities a secret. I am sure he was aware that he could have spent 24 hours a day healing the sick which would take him away from his primary assignment.  In our world we often say, “timing is everything”, perhaps Jesus was applying that idea. Maybe he did not what his miracles to become lumped with those of the people who sold their magic and questionable medical treatments.

What we do know is that our words and our behaviors matter. Today all of us but particularly people in the public eye can have few if any secrets. Jesus did have disciples and the parents with him in this story, even the child that was healed could have told her story. The word clearly got out if we are reading about it 2000 years later. Is Jesus’ example telling us we are called to be healers and it is just another part of a normal day as a disciple of Christ? What we do does not need to make the evening news, we do not need to be publicly recognized for our deeds. What we do in the background of life when seen by even a few transmits to others a way of being that is either positive or negative to their understanding of God when we work in the name of God.

We are living in a time when hate speech is cheered driving some to do cruel acts while even the press has started begging for civility. If we have ever needed to plant and harvest seeds of Christ-likeness the time is now.

Prayer: Spirit of God enable our actions to be Christ-like. Amen

All scriptures are quoted from the 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.

Doing Justice in Peace and Love

Epiphany
January 23, 2017

Scripture Reading: Micah 6:1-8

O my people, what have I done to you?
In what have I wearied you? Answer me!
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
And redeemed you from the house of slavery;
And I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam. –Micah 6:3-4

Micah muses on the thought processes of God looking on his people and wondering what he did wrong. In what have I wearied you? It is reminiscent of Jesus looking over Jerusalem from a hillside and saying, ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!’ (Matthew 23:37)

 I heard on a news program a reporter describing an event he experienced at the inauguration where a man in the crowd accosted the reporter on the street upon seeing his press credentials calling him bad names he could not repeat on television. It seems all news is now considered fake if it does not report what we want to hear. What kind of world do we live in, if we can trust no one?

We need to take to heart our individual and collective civilities as citizens of a country built on government by the people. Such governance does not give us license to do whatever is right for only ourselves. To the contrary, it makes us responsible for the wellbeing of each of our citizens as we provide for the Common Good.

As followers of Christ, children of God, we are called to be change agents for a just world, a challenging task. One we cannot do alone but with the love of God, the example of Jesus, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it is a challenge we must address.

Prayer: Lord, send your Spirit to guide us in doing justice in peace and love. Amen.

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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.