Friday, January 23, 2009

Friday, January 23, 2009

Friday, January 23, 2009

Today’s text

Mark 1:14-20


After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the gospel from God saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.' As he was walking along by the Lake of Galilee he saw Simon and Simon's brother Andrew casting a net in the lake -- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, 'Come after me and I will make you into fishers of people.' And at once they left their nets and followed him. Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending the nets. At once he called them and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.

Reflection

Come … and I will change you. Isn’t that what you are saying Jesus? I will make something of you that you are not.

But I do not want to be a ‘fisher of people,’ … a ‘fisher of men’ as older translations read. The metaphor feels trite and forced. The comparison of fishing and gathering human souls around the power of your presence and purpose isn’t fitting in my imagination.

I am impressed with the magnetism you possessed, Jesus. Your heart was on fire, restlessly burning and yearning for a reality being born in the work of your hands, the rule of God.

God’s kingdom pushes through the crust of old ways. Bellies are fed with bread of life. Souls are nourished with certain awareness of their dignity and infinite value to God.

Oppression ceases and tears of sorrow are transformed into the joy of the dance. For God’s new order of life and peace, justice and compassion pushes aside all that limits and disfigures life.

Death and disease are destroyed, injustice and oppression are overturned, and hopeless despair evaporates in the heat of divine love.

This is the fire that burnt at your soul, Jesus. And human souls wanted to draw near because the air around you was 10 degrees warmer than anywhere else.

And warmed, they, too, burned and yearned for the compassion of your kingdom, your rule, where what you are fills all that is.

So let it be also in me, that other human hearts may draw near the warmth of your fire in me.

Pr. David L. Miller

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Today’s text

Mark 1:14-15


After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the gospel from God saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.' As he was walking along by the Lake of Galilee he saw Simon and Simon's brother Andrew casting a net in the lake -- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, 'Come after me and I will make you into fishers of people.' And at once they left their nets and followed him.

Reflection

At once, they left. Really?

It seems so unlikely, unless they had met you before Jesus, unless they had some idea of who you are, what you are doing.

That’s the way this story is told in another gospel. There, it’s clear that these early followers had an inkling of who you are, but even then: they had no idea how radical and world-changing their journey would be. How could they?

But leaving home, family, a way of life and earning a living is striking, even a stark challenge to modern diffidence.

We certainly have desires leave it all, to give up what we are doing and have accomplished for something else, perhaps simpler, more focused and heart-rewarding than the daily rigors of our current existence.

But these are escapist dreams. And there is no indication that those who first followed you were escaping their lives, leaving to get away from responsibilities to work and family.

They were going to something, to someone--you. They wanted to gain whatever it was you first stirred in their hearts, a hunger for the new life and reality that is God’s kingdom.

Did they know what it was or meant? Probably not, or not much. But they knew it was blessing for them and this tired world, so they came, leaving behind what was … for the holy promise of what is, even now, at hand.

Give us the anticipation and joy of releasing our grip on what is that we may walk into the future that is at hand, here and now.

Pr. David L. Miller

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Today’s text

Mark 1:14-15


After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the gospel from God saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.'

Reflection

The time is now. It always is, Jesus. This is the moment that I know I have. Another breath brings a new moment, until the day when the next breath doesn’t come.

I think little of leaving this earth. My body is well and my mind is still intact, more or less. But more than any time in my life I am aware that there are far fewer acts remaining than have already occurred.

And I know that I have bobbled my lines in earlier scenes. Only occasionally, have I played my part well, the part that only I can play. And I am aware that now is the time. If I am ever finally to get it right, to be the soul you (and I) have always known that I am and hunger to be, now is the time.

I can no longer look for future moments or circumstances where there are fewer obstacles to the soul’s maturity to itself.

I want to be able to say that the time is fulfilled, finally, for my heart has entered and dwells in that inner chamber where I am one with you, and my every word speaks the deep truth of who you are in me. And fear itself is gone.

Then your reign will have come not only here or there, but to and in me, and my soul is surrendered to the Source of Life and all Being.

So bring your kingdom on earth, Jesus, and to me. I want the fulfillment you alone bring.

Pr. David L. Miller

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Today’s text

Mark 1:14-15


After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he [Jesus]proclaimed the gospel from God saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.'

Reflection

Enlarge my vision, Jesus. Stretch sight beyond the narrow range of anxious self. Transform my seeing.

Your kingdom lies at hand, laboring present in this moment. The first order of repenting is to change how we see, looking for signs and snippets of your own sweet self in the selves around us and the temper of the times.

For your rule is here in the lives of our souls and the soul of the world, laboring to burst the thick crust of resistance to the truly new and free. Your reign is the making new of what is tired and old, making young our hearts so that we again know the joy of being alive, beloved and free to be whatever sort of vessel you have made us.

So let us see you in beauty and in faces of dignity, in smiles of care and in committed hearts living in ways that make your loving justice real and now.

Strip away all doubt of the nearness of your rule that I may see you and rejoice that I live a life not forsaken, but shot through with the holy nearness of a love I can at which I can only wonder.

A love that will be forever and day, always and every place full. This is your rule.

Pr. David L. Miller