Go in peace and serve the Lord

Jesus was invited to the home of a very prominent citizen, a Pharisee named Simon.  This man’s prominence, though, was outdone by his large ego, and his self-righteous opinion of himself.  These attributes became apparent by his actions, or his inactions in this case.

When Jesus entered his home, the usual customs of hospitality that one would receive were not afforded to Jesus.  Simon did not give him wash water for his feet, he did not give him the welcome kiss to his home, and he did not anoint his head with oil.  But why would he, he was a very important man and Jesus, to him, was just a cur sitting under his table.

During dinner, an uninvited woman came into the room where Jesus sat. Carrying a very expensive box of fragrant ointment, she began to wash and anoint his feet and then wipe them with her hair!

Did Jesus take offense when this red-light-district woman came into his “personal space”? No, he was moved with compassion for her and the degrading circumstances she experienced with her “job”.

Meanwhile, pious Simon disgustedly muttered to himself that Jesus should have known better than to entertain this sin soaked woman. Did the woman, a mere cur who sits under the tables of the powerful men in her city, care what he thought?  Did she concern herself that she was not clean, outside nor inside, before approaching Jesus with her offering?

No, she recognized that Jesus was the man who could change her from a cur and into the beautiful woman God intended her to be.  She knew she did not have to be beautiful before He made her Beautiful.  If she had thought she needed to be presentable before kneeling at Jesus feet, she may never have done what she did for him.

Her example is the answer to the question asked by people who feel they need to be cleaned up before they can ask God for forgiveness.  Like her, all of us are invited to bring ourselves with the bulk and baggage collected over the years, untie the bundles, and let them fall at his feet.  Then we can kneel before him and wet his feet with our tears of regret and sorrow.

Then we can all hear Jesus say to us, “Your sins are many and they are forgiven. Your faith has saved you, go in peace.”

Go in peace and serve the Lord.

Preach the gospel, and if necessary use words. Francis of Assisi.

Last March we went on a cruise to the Southern Caribbean accompanying our elderly friend, Fr. John, who cannot travel alone due to his health issues.  The one thing he wanted to do on this trip was to get his feet wet in the ocean like he had done in years past. So, whatever it would take, we were going to make that happen for him.

When our ship docked at the island of Granada, a bus tour of the island finishing with a visit to the beach was offered. We left the ship and boarded the small, steamy bus to see the sights of the coast. When we arrived at the beach, we got him settled in his wheelchair under a shade tree near the edge of the sandy beach.

Later, I asked our tour guide to help us bring him down to the water. We must have been quite a spectacle; Earl and I holding Fr. John arm in arm slowly plodding over the sand to the water, and our guide following with a wheelchair.

As soon as we got him settled in his chair, another tourist from our ship walked over to Fr. John, shook his hand vigorously and said, “I hope you have the best time ever.  It is so great that you could come on this cruise.”

Shortly after that, an islander selling scarves on the beach broke out in loud praises in front of all the beach goers. “Praise the Lord!  This is the way we show our love to God and our neighbor!” He went on for a good five minutes with his lively sermon.

I will tell you, that of all the experiences of that trip including all the niceties and extravagances of ship travel, the joy of helping Fr. John get his feet wet was the most gratifying part of the trip.

I had not really realized until this beach excursion that our care for this elderly man with so many medical problems is what speaks so loudly of our faith in Jesus Christ.  We could never have said in mere words the love God has for us all.  It was best told through our actions to those watching.

Every time I think of this day, I repeat what the islander said, “Praise the Lord! This is the way we show our love to God and our neighbor!”

Rejoice in your suffering!

Recently, a pastor said to us, “If you are not being attacked, you are doing something wrong.”  I agreed with him wholeheartedly.

I believe that when we are doing what God wants us to do, we will suffer for it, but when we suffer, we should rejoice!

Rejoice because “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” Rom. 8: 28

Rejoice because we are blessed when we suffer for justice’ sake. And, rejoice because we are told to be not be afraid or troubled by their fear. 1 Pet. 3:14

Rejoice when you, with modesty and fear and having a good conscience, are on the receiving end of evil gossip, or false accusations, because your accusers will eventually become ashamed of their talk.  They will see your good behavior as a Christian and will have to eat their words. vs. 17, 18

Rejoice because the trial you experience now will bear in you the sweet fruits of righteousness: long suffering, patience, joy, peace.

And, rejoice because our trials can help to save souls by furthering the gospel. Phil. 1: 12

When we have a right perspective on suffering and what it is meant to do for us, it makes the ordeal a little bit easier to endure!