Being judged by ourselves, others, and God bothers us. What does Jesus’ have to say about judgment in His final words in His final public Sermon in the Gospel of John? And what do Jesus’ words tell us about this world and about ourselves?
Jesus says, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in the darkness.” Jesus is saying, “Unless you have Me you’re in darkness. He isn’t saying that you might fall into darkness if you don’t have Him. He’s saying that everybody in this world is in darkness, and He’s the only light!
Light in a Dark World Read More »
Everybody in this room, in fact, in this whole world glories in something. Something becomes the most important and significant thing in our life because we feel it gives us importance and significance. When you figure out what your glory is, you will know what you are living for.
Jesus Christ says, “Here’s what it means to follow Me. You have to hate your life to find it. You have to lose your life to discover it.”
In our Gospel Reading, Mary wastes expensive perfume – which cost a whole year’s worth of wages – anointing Jesus’ feet. Why does she do it? Why would any of us offer such an extravagant waste to Jesus? Or, are we more practical, like Judas?
In today’s Gospel Reading, we see two important truths. First, when Mary and the Jews are grieving deeply, Jesus feels their grief and shares their tears. Secondly, there is a word that most English versions translate as deeply moved or greatly troubled though it actually means to snort or bellow with anger, and it most often used for animals in their response to a threat or an attack. So, the question naturally arises, who or what is Jesus angry with?
Jesus’ Tears and His Temper Read More »
Father, Jesus says, “I AM the Resurrection AND the Life.” Give us renewed faith that the grave is not the end; but only the portal through which we will one day receive new bodies like His glorious body. And, today, may we reflect on our Baptism and the new Life we have through our connection to His death and Resurrection. We ask in Your Son’s precious name, the Same who is the Resurrection and the Life, and who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!
The problem with pain has often been expressed with a twofold question: [1] If God is so loving, why does He allow it? [2] If God is so powerful, why doesn’t He stop it? Our Gospel Reading tells us that Lazarus’ two sisters sent this message to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.” So, Jesus loves Lazarus, yet, He is deathly ill. And, Jesus’ power, as we learn later in John, chapter 11, is power over the final and fiercest foe, namely death. So, the two questions that the problem with pain poses are dealt with. What, then, is the point of pain?
We Glory in Our Sufferings Read More »
Father, like silly sheep, we have often gone astray, wandering off into the wilds of our own whims and wants. We are sorry. Send Your Holy Spirit to help us to turn from trusting in ourselves and our schemes to trusting in the Good Shepherd and His love for us. For He quenches our parched soul thirst with cooling streams of living water and who feeds our persistent soul hunger with the green pastures of Your Word. We ask in the name of Christ Jesus, our Good Shepherd, the Same who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen!
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6)
Slavery that is Freedom; Freedom that is Slavery Read More »
