Even as we fail miserably in our little task of following in faith, Jesus says: 'Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.' My burden isn't heavy - at least not compared to others'. And yet, it feels heavy to me, and I give over to Jesus, who lightens my load. His words call to mind my childhood, when I did something really stupid that was a rather serious inconvenience to my parents; my parents forgave me, because I did not mean to do something wrong; I just didn't know better. Contrite heart. I also recall that there was no end to my testing of my parents' love and patience; I didn't mean to but the more I went about my business, the more I burdened them, worried them, hurt them, pained them. There is no end to our need of Jesus, and in his infinite grace, Jesus never says 'no'.
#23
@#$% off! I want to say to the doubters that say to Jesus things like: 'Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?' My reaction is peppered by my own sense of guilt and inadequacy for failing to meet Jesus where he is; for failing to give the glorious, earthly send-off that he deserved; for failing despite my resolve not to; failing in small and big ways. It is one thing for Jesus to castigate and say: 'you brood of vipers!' Only he has the right to say that - he is not blaming or projecting a repressed sense of failure onto another; he is teaching and preaching. When I or a disciple say it, it is the case of the log in our own eyes reflected in the speck in another's eyes. Quietened and sober, I read on.
#24
I am strengthened somewhat by the parable about the weeds. A servant asks whether he should uproot all the weeds in the newly sewn field of wheat. The master replies: 'No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, 'Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.' I feel slightly strengthened by the fact that there is wheat in my barn; the weeds will always be there - not until judgment day will the weeds be destroyed. Until then, I walk humbly and meekly, glad of the grace that is given to me so that despite my failings, I can continue on. Lord, strengthen my faith.
#25
The kingdom of heaven is like...(13:44-50):
'treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field';
'a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it';
'a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So, it will be at the end of the age. The angels wil come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Will I be among those sold and castaway...? No! I am Christ's own forever! Christ was ransomed for me! There is no sign other than my own faith buttressed by God's grace and my efforts (good works).
#26
I am heartened by the disciple's failings in faith. (14:28-33) Even the best of us stumble and require help from the Lord.
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