This week we continue our theme of learning how to worship. The passages are a little strange to use together. The Gospel passage is about how Jesus changed water into wine at the wedding in Cana. The other passage is about using our spiritual gifts.
John 2:1-11
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Even though these two passages are very different, I realized that they both talk about the kind of gifts that God gives. Jesus didn't make cheap or low quality wine, he made the very best. And, when God decided to give us all spiritual gifts, God did not go for the cheap presents. Instead, we were given the very best. If you were to keep reading in 1 Corinthians, you would see Paul's reminder to us that all the gifts are vital to the congregation. We know that God gives very good gifts. And, even more, God expects us to use the gifts we are given.
Think about the gifts that you might give to someone at a wedding or other special occasion. You would not only try to pick out something nice, but you would want to give something that the couple could use. We want people to use and enjoy the gifts that we give, and in the same way, God wants us to use our gifts too. Spiritual gifts are given not to glorify one individual, but instead they are given so that everyone might benefit.
Questions to ponder...
Why is it that the text tells us that Jesus' "water/wine" was of such a high quality?
What gifts has God given you?
How are you using these gifts?
Let us remember to thank God for all the gifts that we have been given.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Offering Up Our Treasures
This Sunday is Epiphany Sunday. The day of Epiphany is January 6th, but we celebrate this day on the Sunday before. The word epiphany means an appearance of a god or God. In the Christian Calendar, this day celebrates the way that Christ was made known to the gentiles, or the Wise Men.
And so, our readings also focus on the Wise Men:
Isaiah 60:1-6
Matthew 2:1-12
This story differs in many ways from the story of Jesus' birth as recorded by the Gospel of Luke. Luke's Gospel tells us of poor shepherds who heard the news, saw the baby, and went away rejoicing. Matthew's story is different. It tells of priestly astrologers from Persia who observed the rising of the star and came to seek the new great Jewish king. The story also tells us the panic that spread through Herod and all of Jerusalem when this news was announced. Far from being excited the people were frightened.
It seems strange that these priests of another religion entirely saw the signs for a great king, and then went to worship him. In contrast, the Jewish leaders who should have been excited about this new king who came for them, were frightened. The Magi came with gifts worthy of a king. Herod sent soldiers in an attempt to prevent the new king from rising.
The gifts and the attitude that they brought to Jesus were radically different from one another. My commentary (The New Interpreter's Bible Commentary) points out that most preaching about the magi emphasizes their actions. "They acted on the light they had; they went to Bethlehem while the scribes who knew the Bible did not; they gave precious gifts to Jesus." These things are very important. We need to remember and follow the example of the magi who took great risk and sacrifice to come and present their gifts to the king.
Yet, we must be careful not to focus solely on their actions. The commentary concludes by saying, "their action is a response to the divine initiative. Here as elsewhere, God's grace precedes human action." We must remember that all worship is God initiated.
Questions to ponder...
What might the reaction be today if God came again? Do people want to hear about God's presence in our world, or are they frightened and skeptical like Herod and the people of Jerusalem?
Even more, how do we respond to God today? Do we worship God as the Magi did, bringing everything to God?
What are the gifts that God would have us bring to worship?
How does it change our attitude of worship, if we remember that we worship because of "Divine Initiative," or because God loved us first?
May God be with you as you worship this week.
And so, our readings also focus on the Wise Men:
Isaiah 60:1-6
Matthew 2:1-12
This story differs in many ways from the story of Jesus' birth as recorded by the Gospel of Luke. Luke's Gospel tells us of poor shepherds who heard the news, saw the baby, and went away rejoicing. Matthew's story is different. It tells of priestly astrologers from Persia who observed the rising of the star and came to seek the new great Jewish king. The story also tells us the panic that spread through Herod and all of Jerusalem when this news was announced. Far from being excited the people were frightened.
It seems strange that these priests of another religion entirely saw the signs for a great king, and then went to worship him. In contrast, the Jewish leaders who should have been excited about this new king who came for them, were frightened. The Magi came with gifts worthy of a king. Herod sent soldiers in an attempt to prevent the new king from rising.
The gifts and the attitude that they brought to Jesus were radically different from one another. My commentary (The New Interpreter's Bible Commentary) points out that most preaching about the magi emphasizes their actions. "They acted on the light they had; they went to Bethlehem while the scribes who knew the Bible did not; they gave precious gifts to Jesus." These things are very important. We need to remember and follow the example of the magi who took great risk and sacrifice to come and present their gifts to the king.
Yet, we must be careful not to focus solely on their actions. The commentary concludes by saying, "their action is a response to the divine initiative. Here as elsewhere, God's grace precedes human action." We must remember that all worship is God initiated.
Questions to ponder...
What might the reaction be today if God came again? Do people want to hear about God's presence in our world, or are they frightened and skeptical like Herod and the people of Jerusalem?
Even more, how do we respond to God today? Do we worship God as the Magi did, bringing everything to God?
What are the gifts that God would have us bring to worship?
How does it change our attitude of worship, if we remember that we worship because of "Divine Initiative," or because God loved us first?
May God be with you as you worship this week.
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