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Monday, March 1, 2021
“Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” —Philippians 2:4
Every once in a while, as I read the Bible, I come across a sentence that seems to capture so much more than it should be possible to contain in one sentence. This verse from the apostle Paul’s letter to Christians in the Roman colony of Philippi says so much about the Christian way of life, and says it so simply.
At the heart of the Jesus way of being human is putting others ahead of one’s self. Jesus teaches us—and showed us—that the counterintuitive fact is that the way to find one’s life is to be willing to give it up for others. The way to become great is to focus on building others us.
And this is not just some kind of timeless wisdom. This is an ethic rooted in Jesus’ own life and death. Paul goes on to tell the Philippian Christians to have the same mindset in their relationships with one another that Jesus did (Philippians 2:5). And Jesus, “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing…becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8). This is our model for how to be truly human in relation to others.
And isn’t it a beautiful picture? Don’t you want to live in a world in which you don’t need to worry about your own interests because you know your fellow children of God have your interests in mind? I know I want to live in that world. We can start today, by looking to others’ interests first, knowing that, even if no one else does, God always has our well-being in mind.
Friday, February 26, 2021
Today’s reflection is written by Deacon Karen Katamay.
“Lo, the one who forms the mountains, creates the wind, reveals his thoughts to mortals, the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!” —Amos 4:13
If you were to ask me where I feel closest to God, I would have to say it is outdoors in God’s created universe. I am in awe of God’s majesty when I stand on the shore of the ocean or look up at the mountains. I soak up all the beauty and splendor when I am in a garden full of trees and flowers. I feel God’s peace when I go for a walk along a forested trail. I marvel at the sun and the moon, the stars and the planets adorning the heavens. I close my eyes and listen for God’s whisper when I feel a gentle breeze.
God’s world is filled with miraculous wonders, most of which we tend to miss because we are too focused on our problems and our worries. Or right now we are so focused on the inconvenience of the snow that we forget that the snow acts as insulation for tender roots and provides needed moisture for spring plants when it melts. It is all part of God’s plan for his creation. So the next time you are out enjoying nature (or even tempted to grumble about it), even if it is in your own backyard, stop and say, “Thank you, Lord, you and your creation are truly amazing!” Then feel the peace that follows. Amen.
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
“And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.” —Matthew 14:20
The feeding of the 5,000 has to be in the top 5 miracles performed by Jesus during his earthly ministry. As I was rereading the verses today, what stood out to me was the placement of this story in Matthew’s Gospel. The account begins with Jesus hearing that his cousin John the Baptist has been killed by Herod. After hearing this terrible news, Jesus gets in a boat and heads off because he wants to be alone. Unfortunately for Jesus what seems to happen regularly happens again, and people get wind of where he’s headed and follow after him. Jesus’ time for solitude is put on hold as he begins healing the crowd and will go on to perform this amazing miracle.
As someone who cherishes the opportunity for solitude, I can’t help but feel convicted by Jesus’ response to this interruption. Rather than being irritated by it, he looks at those in the crowd and has compassion on them. We don’t read anything in the text that makes us think he’s doing it begrudgingly. Jesus isn’t making a show out of it so people recognize that he’s doing them a favor. He just begins to heal and tops it off with the astounding miracle of feeding the crowd with what little his disciples bring to him.
Jesus steps out of the boat and starts healing because he’s looking at the crowd through his Father’s eyes. His first priority each day is nurturing that relationship. By doing that, Jesus can weather the interruption and use it to bring glory to his heavenly Father. Today, let’s do the same and look with hopeful anticipation at the inevitable interruptions that await.
