Pleasant Grove UMC

Lent 2010: A Season for Listening
3/8/10 – Day 17
Listening to The Teachings of Jesus: Part 6
And all were astounded at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, 44“Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.” 45But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying. – Luke 9:43-45

After all these years, since the beginning, we have been struggling with the scandal of the Gospel. After so many tellings and retellings we still are offended and confused about the days to come in Jerusalem when all things are accomplished at Golgotha. There is some mighty paradox between the greatness of God and the shame of the cross, try as we might sometimes we just cannot see both at the same time. This contradiction also is buried deep within us. We are astounded and amazed one moment and the next we are coconspirators of betrayal.

This past week I was reading a song that I presume was written for Easter. Like so many things in the current Christian culture, I found it to be theologically lacking in depth and substance. The song begins in Bethlehem only to jump to the trial before Pilate and then to the empty tomb. There was no mention of the public ministry of Jesus or his Passion. Intentionally omitted are they very things that we are called to wrestle with today.

Part of my confusion has been the artificial division between Jesus’ death and his teaching and healing. Sometimes we want to jump from the manger to the cross or even to the ascension as if the bulk of the Gospels were merely filler. As difficult as it may be we will hold fast to these things and shall not let go until we receive a blessing. Today we consider the crucifixion of Jesus as humanity’s final response to the things that Jesus said and did. Further we ponder the resurrection as God’s final response to the same. We said a shout a terminal “NO!” and God whispers an eternal “yes!” Today we boldly ask Jesus about these things, we seek to understand and perceive. We too are astounded and amazed, but we also listen; letting these words sink into our ears. – Rev. John Mattox
Let us pray,

O God, we are astounded at your greatness.
Help us to perceive your direction
in our lives.
Help us to not be afraid to ask you anything.
Amen. – Rev. Katie Mattox

Lent 2010: A Season for Listening
3/6/10 – Day 16
Listening to The Teachings of Jesus: Part 5
Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. 25What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? 26Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” -Luke 9:23-27

It has been said, “The quickest way to defeat an enemy is to convince them that they have already won”. Our spiritual complacency too often arises out of our sense of victory. We are the collectors of trophies and the hangers of plaques. It is hard to look around most of our churches without seeing reminders and ebenezers of battles long since won. Content that our work is done we fall asleep and become vulnerable to the ongoing struggles that surrounds us and fills us.

We live in a dichotomous world between certain victory and continuing conflict. We place the struggles in the past and the final celebrations in the future. In the process we miss the moments in which we live and move. When did we exchange our hunger and thirst for the kingdom as a present reality for a distant dream of paradise to come? Discipleship is not a one-time commitment that we made so very long ago. Discipleship is a journey we choose to undertake each day. The journey of the cross is not something that we completed at the altar as children, but a pilgrimage we take up each morning. Free will is our constant companion. Each day we can choose the path of Christ or some other road that is placed before us. Sometimes we choose correctly, other times we turn away from God in pursuit of something else. Yesterday is gone from our control and tomorrow is not ours. Today is the day of our salvation! Today is the place where we meet God!

Today we trust the past and the future into Gods hands and deal with the opportunities and obstacles of today. Today we must choose to follow Christ again for the first time. Today we experience a little conversion and little turnings that are part of a much larger story. Today is the day! May we use it wisely and live it well to our own betterment and to the glory of God! – Rev. John Mattox

Let us pray,
Lord most Holy,
Let us loose ourselves in you.
We long for your kingdom here, today.
Help us to do your will,
so that we might see your kingdom.
Amen.
– Rev. Katie Mattox

Lent 2010: A Season for Listening
3/5/10 – Day 15
World Day of Prayer – Our Father
He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3Give us each day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.”- Luke 11:1-4

Today we pray as we always do: together. Even in solitude Christians pray in union and solidarity. The words that Jesus taught us remind us of our eternal bonds to dependence on God and all people across the world and throughout time. Today we transcend the divisions that plague the Church and return to the simple words that we have held together throughout the ages. May we feel a connectedness and strength that is stronger than all pain and prejudice. May we feel a peace that defies all circumstances and hardship. Today we are one as we reflect on the words of a new hymn written for World Day of Prayer. – Rev. John Mattox

O God of Light, May Our Light Shine
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

O God of light, my our light shine in ways that serve and honor you.
May we be loving, just and kind, proclaiming Christ in all we do.

God, where your people are oppressed and where they cry out in despair,
make us your light to heal, to bless, a witness, Lord, that you are there.

Christ, when your way is pushed aside by those who trust in wealth and might,
make us your lamps that we may guide a searching world to your love’s light.

O Spirit, in this world of doubt, we often sin and drift away;
when our faith is flickering out, shine on our path and light our way.

Let us pray,
Lord,
With gratitude, we pray the prayer your taught us…
“Our Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial” (NRSV)
Let it be. Amen. –Rev. Katie Mattox

Lent 2010: A Season for Listening
3/4/10 – Day 14
Listening to The Teachings of Jesus: Part 4

Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 21But he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” – Luke 8:19-21

We might have been taught that being a part of the family of God is dependent on our belief. I wonder if anyone every talked to Jesus about this position? Apparently, he did not get the memo. Jesus seems to think that there is something more rudimentary and necessary for those who would be members of his family. Once more we are astounded by how low Jesus’ standards really are! It seems it is simpler to be Jesus’ mother and brothers than it is to join the local church. Maybe the family of God is larger than we imagined and perhaps the church is not always as related as we would like.

People who knew and believed many things about God surrounded Jesus during his ministry with us. The Gospels often refer to them collectively as Scribes and Pharisees.
In spite of all they knew and believed, they could not come to grips with what Jesus was doing. Mark Twain once said something like, “everybody is talking about the weather, but no one is doing anything about it.” God talk is pervasive and cheap even in the most heathen segments of our culture. Godly living is rare and precious. Jesus seems to be more concerned with what we do rather than only what we think alone. There is a series of chasms between our head and our hearts and our hands. Sometimes our bodies can teach our hearts and our heads things that cannot be communicated in the opposite direction. To get lost in the world of thought and feelings is to miss the fullness of the incarnate nature of the kingdom that is at “hand”.

Today we remember that we can be a part of God’s family even if we don’t have everything figured out and even while we are struggling to understand what it is we believe. To be a Christian does not mean we have everything worked out and settled, but we are following a Teacher who is showing us a way to live that never stops. Maybe we think too much and act too little. Given time, we can talk ourselves out of anything even wonderful and needful things. Most of God’s instructions for us are verbs: love, forgive, bless, heal, feed… Today do something in Christ’s name for heaven’s sake!
– Rev. John Mattox
Let us pray,
O Lord, our brother,
It is overwhelming to think that you
have made us part of your family.
How wonderful to be called the children of God.
Forgive our shortsightedness
and help us to see everyone as
a brother, or sister.
Amen. – Rev. Katie Mattox

Lent 2010: A Season for Listening
3/3/10-Day 13
Listening to The Teachings of Jesus: Part 3
16“No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. 18Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.”- Luke 8:16-18

I hope we have recognized by now that there is more to listening that just hearing or gaining information. Hearing the Gospel requires a response! We have to do something as a part of listening. As we encounter the teachings of Jesus we have to understand how these words impact our understandings and practices. We have to determine if we will receive the message or reject it. Hearing without acting is hiding a light in a jar.

In my experience the Gospel of Jesus has a gradual and cumulative effect on us. Like a dance each movement invites a response, each step leads to another. When we listen and respond we are in the position to receive more. When we refuse to hear or do nothing with what we have been given we become stuck in a spiritual rut and risk losing the ground we have gained. The life of discipleship is one of continual growth and discovery. As we grow in the love and knowledge of God we become mentors and teachers for others who travel with us.

Today we consider our spiritual stewardship. Are we using the lessons we have learned to benefit others, or are we trying to keep it for our selves? Like manna in the wilderness, the light that comes into our lives will spoil if we try to save it. The love of God is meant to be used up each day, shared and thrown around recklessly. Each day we have to empty our cups so that we can be filled afresh again and again and again. Invite someone to join you in this journey. Take time to talk about these reflections with someone each day. Find a way to invite Christ into all your personal conversations today. You will never run out or cease to be amazed. Thanks be to God! –Rev. John Mattox

Let us pray,

O God our creator,
You know us better than we know ourselves.
You know that we have difficulty listening.
Help us to be careful listeners and
boldly shine your light in our dark world
so that all may see you. Amen. – Rev. Katie Mattox

Lent 2010: A Season for Listening
3/2/10-Day 12
Listening to The Teachings of Jesus: Part 2

“I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John;
yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
- Luke 7:28

Each day we are presented countless images of greatness.

Advertisers know that deep in the human psyche is a drive to rise above the ordinary and mundane that surrounds and clings to us. Lucky for us the key lies in our purchase of their products, except it never does.

Politicians know that our hearts yearn to reclaim a lost sense of security and control in the ever changing and destabilizing global theater of power. Lucy for us a golden age awaits us in the next election, except nothing ever seems to change.

Religious gurus and ecclesial masterminds understand our deep longing to feel connected with God and each other. Lucky for us the road to salvation is to be found in cavernous auditoriums and novel words, except we are left feeling lonely and cheated.

Today we reconsider greatness in kingdom terms. Power is displayed in helping the weak. Wealth is experienced in sharing. Security is experienced in vulnerability. Sacredness is immersed in the ordinary. Great and enduring works are subtitle and small. Greatness is not reserved for an elite few, but open to all. Greatness lies in your next choice and is as near as your next action. The ball is in your court; it’s your move.- Rev. John Mattox
Let us pray,

Lord, you have called us to do great works.
Help us to fulfill our call and be pleasing to you.
This is the desire of our hearts. Amen.
– Rev. Katie Mattox

“Do Over”

 

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Jesus’ Lament

 

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Lent 2010: A Season for Listening
3/1/10-Day 11
Note: For the next leg of our Lenten journey together we will be taking a whirlwind survey of the Gospel of Luke and giving ear to the teachings of Jesus. In the coming days we will experience the radical and often shocking words of Jesus that will take us all the way to the events of Holy Week and the Cross. Be warned this is not the tame and toothless Jesus that we have tried to domesticate throughout the centuries; this is the wild and dangerous Lion of Judah, never safe but always good! May the words we read and the message we hear be a holy irritant on our souls causing us to produce precious peals of righteousness! Speak Lord your servants are listening.

Listening to The Teachings of Jesus: Part 1
“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people” – Luke 5:10b

For years I thought that to become a true disciple of Jesus I had to become someone different. I knew from an early age that I was called and charged with the privilege of proclaiming the Good News. For years, (sometimes reluctantly, sometimes eagerly willing), I waited for God to transform me into a preacher. Suddenly, one day I realized that the transformation was not the beginning but a part of the journey. I would not be made into a preacher so much as I was to become a preacher as I tried to live into my sacred office. Some instantaneous transformations are years in the making.

How about you? Are you waiting for something to happen or change before you get serious about our common evangelistic vocation? There maybe no golden day or magic moment that will mark the beginning of our service of faith sharing and witness, except that of your baptism that has indelibly marked you as a minister of the Gospel. Jesus does not so much change who we are as redirect and focus our lives in a new or different direction. Peter and these first disciples will still be simple fishermen from Galilee, but from this moment they will be working for the Lord and will be casting nets of glad tidings to gather and harvest a new people for God.

Today we remember the first command of discipleship, “Do not be afraid”. Our biggest challenge is just to show-up and be open for new ways of experiencing and sharing God’s love. God is responsible for the catch. God is in charge of who, where, what, when and why. God is responsible of the work of convicting and redeeming. We just get the honor of watching the Master work up-close. And some times, (Thanks be to God!) we get tangled in our own nets and end up catching ourselves in the process. Go fish!
– Rev John Mattox
Let us pray,

Amazing God,
How is it that you would call us
who are just simple people to serve you?
Help us to be filled with love and
confident of your presence with us
so that we may catch the people to whom you send us
until all the world knows of your love.
Thank you for calling us. Amen. –Rev. Katie Mattox

Lent 2010: A Season for Listening
2/27/10-Day 10
A Weekend Reflection
“Thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.- Isaiah 30:15

Congratulations! We are one quarter of the way through our Lenten journey. You should be proud that you have come so far. If you have struggled and stumbled along the way, do not linger on it, get up and start again.

Of all the disciplines the practice of rest is among the most difficult and perhaps the chief needful thing in our lives. You are exhausted and worn. The activities of the week have taken all that you have. Before you can give anything more to God or anyone else, you must be quiet and rest. You need to allow all the toxins and stress a chance to breakdown and leave you.

We need at least an hour of dark silence to allow our mind, body and sprits to breath. As we exhale we will allow all the worries and frustrations to leave us.
As we inhale we become filled with the healing presence of the Holy Spirit.
We do not try to speak to God in this time of returning.
We do not try to think about our prayer concerns or needs in this hour.
We simply are quite and still in the presence of God.
Content and safe we feel ourselves become calm and relaxed.
It is now that we feel the strength of being held in God’s arms.

Today we will do the work of preparation for the coming Sabbath.
Tomorrow we will do no work.
Today we will prepare the meals.
Tomorrow we will eat without hurry, enjoying the feast already made.
Today we will lie out our clothes.
Tomorrow we will put on the strength of God.
Today we will pray and study.
Tomorrow we will go and only worship God with our families of faith.
Today we budget frugally.
Tomorrow we give an offering freely.
Today we will do our chores.
Tomorrow we will rest and be quiet before God.
Today we speak.
Tomorrow we listen.
Today the sun sets on our fatigued bodies.
Tomorrow the Son rises in our spirits.
Today we exhale.
Tomorrow we shall be inspired. – Rev. John Mattox
Let us pray,
Lord, Most Holy One,
In you we trust.
Let us have our rest in you,
so that we may find strength in you
for the days and work ahead
You are our rock and our salvation.
Thank you Lord. Amen
-Rev. Katie Mattox