Week 6

 

(#36) 2/5

          Jesus Is Rejected at Nazareth

 

Matthew 13:54-58

He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power?  Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?  And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?”  And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.”  And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.

 

Mark 6:1-6

He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.  On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands!  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.  Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.”  And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.  And he was amazed at their unbelief.

 

Luke 4:22-30

They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”  He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’”  And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown.  But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon.  There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

 

When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage.  They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff.  But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

 Knowledge can be an obstacle to truth.  The people in Jesus’ hometown “knew” him and therefore could not see who he really was.  This “knowledge” blocked their hearts along with the capacity to be healed. 

It is when we think we know something for sure that we are at greatest risk of sinking into unbelief.  Knowledge that fixes our minds can also close our hearts. 

  Principles of Love:

Learning; Vision

 

Reflection/Discussion:

How can we keep our perceptions and understanding from becoming fixed?

 

Pray through the Day:

Open our hearts and mind

To your love and wisdom

   

(#37) 2/6

    Teaching in the Synagogue in Capernaum

 

Mark 1:21-22

They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.  They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

 

Luke 4:31-32

He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath.  They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority.

 

Jesus is the “author” of the universe.  It is no surprise that he taught with authority.  As our link and connection with the source of life, he is available in our hearts any time we need a consultation.

  Principles of Love:

Nature

 

Reflection/Discussion:

How is the authority of Jesus different than the various forms of human authority we deal with?

 

Pray through the Day:

We were created

From God’s love

 

                     

 

(#38) 2/7 Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit

 

Mark 1:23-28

Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

 

Luke 4:33-37

 In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Let us alone!  What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him without having done him any harm.  They were all amazed and kept saying to one another, “What kind of utterance is this?  For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!”  And a report about him began to reach every place in the region.

 Love beats evil every time.   Love is the most powerful force in the universe.  All of creation is evolving from God’s love.  It is the unifying force that connects everything God has made.   Evil can only exist when there is an absence of love.   Evil is always fragmentary and isolated from the whole.  We can only intentionally harm another to the extent that we separate them from our humanity. Love unites and connects.  It grows out of shared understanding and experience.  We love another to the extent that we recognize and appreciate our shared heritage.  Evil is hidden and disguised by the darkness of worldly gain.  Love is the light of the universe with an eternal source of power.  Love dissipates evil as light eliminates darkness.   Jesus is the embodiment of God’s love on earth.  When there is a confrontation with evil, he wins every time.   

It’s nice to have him on our side.

  Principles of Love:

Nature; Unity

 

Reflection/Discussion:

How can we recognize evil choices in our day-to-day lives.

 

Pray through the Day:

We were created

From God’s love

   

(#39) 2/8

   Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law

 

Matthew 8:14-15

When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him.

 

Mark 1:29-31

As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once.   He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

 

Luke 4:38-39

After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her.   Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them.

 Love begets love.  When Jesus saw that Peter’s mother-in-law was sick, his spontaneous response was to heal her.  When Peter’s mother-in-law experienced the healing love of Jesus, her spontaneous response was to serve him.   

One act of love leads to another act of love. When not obstructed, God’s love flows through us like a river deepening our capacity for love as we open our hearts and share his love with others.

  Principles of Love:

Compassion; Opening

 

Reflection/Discussion:

How can we keep love flowing through us throughout each day?

 

Pray through the Day:

Open our hearts

To your creation

   

(#40) 2/9

   Jesus Heals the Sick and Possessed

 

Matthew 8:16-17

That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick.  This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.”

 

Mark 1:32-34

That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons.   And the whole city was gathered around the door.   And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

 

Luke 4:40-41

As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them.   Demons also came out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah.

 To heal is to make whole.  Modern medicine has learned that the cause of most diseases can be isolated.   Every illness begins by affecting only a part of our body but it can spread to affect our whole existence. To love is to make whole.  Love fosters unity and wholeness - it cannot be isolated or fragmented.  When we love, we become aware of our connectedness with God and each other.   When we bring our sickness and weakness to Jesus, we join the whole of creation that is continually being healed and restored by his love.  Principles of Love:

Compassion, Unity

 

Reflection/Discussion:

How do our lives become isolated and fragmented?

 

Pray through the Day:

Open our hearts

To your creation

   

(#41) 2/10

Jesus Leaves Capernaum

 

Mark 1:35-38

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.   And Simon and his companions hunted for him.   When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.”   He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.”

 

Luke 4:42-43

At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them.   But he said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” 

 Jesus goes to a deserted place in order to pray and restore balance. Our vision becomes narrower and our work more difficult to the extent we allow pressure hurry, tension and exhaustion throw us out of balance.  Everything is easier and clearer when we are in balance. Prayer restores our natural state because it puts us in touch with our creator.  Prayer that is receptive to God allows us to see the larger picture and realize what is most important.  Reconnecting with God on a regular basis keeps us connected with what really matters in life.  It keeps us connected with his love.  Principles of Love:

Learning, opening

 

Reflection/Discussion:

When do we most need to pray?

 

Pray through the Day:

Open our hearts and minds

To your love and wisdom

   

(#42) 2/11

              Jesus Preaches in Galilee

 

Matthew 4:23

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom

 

Mark 1:39

And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

 

Luke 4:14-15

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.  He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone

 

Luke 4:44

So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea.

 Imagine what it would be like to hear Jesus preach.   There would be a spontaneous opening of hearts and minds, a feeling of warmth and comfort and a sense of ease and completeness as our experience and understanding of Gods love for us opens and deepens. 

We cannot hear Jesus with our ears as his early followers did but we can listen to him with our hearts whenever there is a moment of silence.

  Principles of Love:

Learning

 

Reflection/Discussion:

How do we listen to Jesus with our hearts?

 

Pray through the Day:

Open our hearts and minds

To your love and wisdom