- Zechariah 12: 10-11: 13:1
- Psalm 63: 2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
- Galatians 3: 26-29
- Luke 9: 18-24
- Act of contrition
- You're on an elevator with someone whom you care about deeply. Out of the blue, they ask you what "victory over sin" really means. You have 10 floors before the two of you get off the eleveator and you part ways. What do you say?
- How has Jesus given you victory over sin?
- Is that victory over sin (singular) or sins (plural)?
- Glory isn't always obvious
- How would you define the glory of God?
- Where have you seen that glory?
- Do you think that God ever finds you glorious?
- Why or why not?
- What is the most important fact about you?
- Pretend for a moment that you're speed dating. A total stranger is sitting across the table from you and you have only minutes to acquaint them with you. Where do you begin?
- There are no end to the labels that we can accumulate in life. Gender, degrees, awards. jobs past and present, in what ways are those unimportant to Christ?
- In what ways are those same qualities about us important to Christ?
- Who do you say that Jesus is?
- Based on your experiences with Jesus, what characteristics would you give Him?
- How has your appreciation of Jesus' character changed over the years?
- Why/how has that happened?
- What have I done this week that will make a lasting improvement in my relationship with Jesus?
- Where do I look for the glory of God in my life?
- How have I reached out to someone beyond my comfort zone this week?
- How is Christ revealing Himself in me this week?
Who Do You Say That I Am?
Sometimes, I imagine myself there in these Gospel passages.
Sometimes I'm one of the crowd, one of the disciples,
And just lately, when I heard Jesus ask His followers who they say He is.
I imagine myself one of the disciples who is new to the group asking:
Master, who do you say that I am? You didn't give me a new name.
I earnestly look into Jesus' rich deep brown eyes, and see kindness,
And warmth, and maybe a resonating chuckle as he looks at me.
And after a long while, He looks at me and says "you are he who follows."
But I press Him, and ask "but Lord, will I be a Presbyter, a deacon,
Even the gardener. I just want a role, something to hang on to.
Jesus said "I don't understand. Tell me more." My jaw dropped.
What's the point of omniscience if you have to ask questions I thought.
Instead I said "I saw a T-shirt once that said "I'm a teacher,
What's your super power?" Get it? That ability, that destiny it defines you."
Jesus nodded slowly, stroking his beard meditatively, and then He said
"I think I see where you are coming from. You want to know ahead of time
What will be asked of you, how you will serve, how you will be called on.
I'm afraid that I can't say for sure just how or where you'll be sent.
But, I think I have a name for you if you would like that:
He who finds himself where he is needed, when he's needed there."
"But, " I stammered, "that's so generic. Any of your disciples could be named thus."
To which Jesus smiled again and said "You speak truly. Yet none of them,
None of them will find their way to where they are needed quite the way you will.
None of them will bring just what is needed when they get there the same as you.
You, and only you will be the answer to the need you find when you arrive."
"Lord, do you treat all of your disciples this way?" and Jesus replies "every one."
At least I am going to be in good company as I shuffle from one scene to the next.
Jesus seems to think that I'm going to somehow master this way of one day at a time.
And, in my imagination, Jesus stands, and takes off for Jerusalem, not even looking back.
And the rest of us follow, hardly daring to imagine what lies ahead.
I've given up the quest for any name beyond "disciple", knowing that's all I am,
Trusting that staying close to Jesus is all that I really need,
Trusting that all else will come my way along the way
When needed in the way needed.
Hoping that, at journey's end I'll be known as "he who followed well"
Rather than "he who got lost thoroughly and often".
What's the point of omniscience if you have to ask questions I thought.
Instead I said "I saw a T-shirt once that said "I'm a teacher,
What's your super power?" Get it? That ability, that destiny it defines you."
Jesus nodded slowly, stroking his beard meditatively, and then He said
"I think I see where you are coming from. You want to know ahead of time
What will be asked of you, how you will serve, how you will be called on.
I'm afraid that I can't say for sure just how or where you'll be sent.
But, I think I have a name for you if you would like that:
He who finds himself where he is needed, when he's needed there."
"But, " I stammered, "that's so generic. Any of your disciples could be named thus."
To which Jesus smiled again and said "You speak truly. Yet none of them,
None of them will find their way to where they are needed quite the way you will.
None of them will bring just what is needed when they get there the same as you.
You, and only you will be the answer to the need you find when you arrive."
"Lord, do you treat all of your disciples this way?" and Jesus replies "every one."
At least I am going to be in good company as I shuffle from one scene to the next.
Jesus seems to think that I'm going to somehow master this way of one day at a time.
And, in my imagination, Jesus stands, and takes off for Jerusalem, not even looking back.
And the rest of us follow, hardly daring to imagine what lies ahead.
I've given up the quest for any name beyond "disciple", knowing that's all I am,
Trusting that staying close to Jesus is all that I really need,
Trusting that all else will come my way along the way
When needed in the way needed.
Hoping that, at journey's end I'll be known as "he who followed well"
Rather than "he who got lost thoroughly and often".
Shalom!
No comments:
Post a Comment