|
Week 23 Daily Dose of Love #155 (6/4) The Jews challenge
Jesus John 6:41-59 Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say,
‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves.
No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day.
It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned
from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.
Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your
ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven,
so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of
this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise
them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and
drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the
Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like
that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” He
said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. The Jews became confused because they took Jesus’ words literally.
Their minds were stuck at the surface and they reacted to their own limitations. Our culture is just as caught
up in appearances as the Jews during Jesus’ time. But love requires that we look past superficial
impressions and appearances to understand the true value of another person. Since all love ultimately comes
from our creator, those who reject love for appearances are not “drawn to” Jesus and will likely distort his message. Bread was an
integral part of the diet of people in Palestine during the time of Jesus. Bread was necessary for life.
Bread is chewed, tasted, and swallowed. It is digested and ultimately brings growth and nourishment
to every muscle, bone, and organ. What we eat forms the building blocks for our physical body.
Just as bread is the foundation for physical growth and health, love forms the basis for our spiritual
sustenance. We need to take it in, digest it, and allow it to become part of who we are. Jesus
is very clear that this is the only path to eternal life. Reflection/Discussion: How can Jesus, the bread of life, become an integral part of who we are? Principles of Love: Opening; Vision Pray Through the Day: Open our hearts To your love #156
(6/5) Disciples challenge Jesus John 6:60-71 When
many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But
Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then
what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life;
the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are
some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one
that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless
it is granted by the Father.” Because of this many of his disciples turned back and
no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We
have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did
I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.” He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot,
for he, though one of the twelve was going to betray him. We can go through the motions of following Jesus, but unless we accept the love that
is granted to us by the Father and allow it to guide our actions and decisions, we might as well turn back. Accepting the
love of the Father involves recognizing that this love resides in the heart of every human being. A person’s
behavior may make no sense to us on the surface but love requires that we seek to understand and empathize with them as Jesus
did. In order to do this, we must set aside our prejudices and preconceptions and see each person’s
true value and potential. Jesus challenges us to love even when we don’t like what we see. Jesus recognized that Judas’ heart was hardened but he didn’t confront or
reject him. He continued to love him as the others. Jesus makes it very clear by word
and example that we need to see the potential in the hearts of others and not condemn them for their failings.
Reflection/Discussion: How can we accept the teachings of Jesus when they are difficult? Principles of Love: Acceptance; Vision Pray Through the Day: Not my will But thine be done #157
(6/6) God’s Commandment versus Human
Tradition Matthew 15:1-9 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your
disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.” He
answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God
said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’
But you say that whoever tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,’
then that person need not honor the father. So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word
of God. You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: ‘This
people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as
doctrines.’” Mark 7:1-13 Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered
around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them.
(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition
of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions
that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked
him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?”
He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human
precepts as doctrines.’ You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.” Then
he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition!
For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother
must surely die.’ But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you
might have had from me is Coban’ (that is, an offering to God)— then you no longer permit doing anything for a
father or mother, thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things
like this.” Jesus points out that religious tradition can run counter to God’s commandment to love. He
cites an example where the Jews follow the literal word of the law but close their hearts in the process. The word translated as “hypocrites” in these readings was used to describe actors who performed
behind a mask, those who pretended to be something they were not. Jesus makes it clear he is not impressed by appearances
and has little tolerance for this behavior. It is a constant challenge to avoid the trap of getting caught up in appearances, particularly
when following religious tradition. Knowing and following the rules of our religion makes us feel and look
good. The clear sense of doing what is right brings satisfaction, respect, and admiration. Unlike the actors in Jesus’ time, most religious hypocrites don’t realize that
they are pretending and performing. The masks form gradually, fed by good feelings and an increasing sense
of righteousness. We need to constantly discern that our heart and the hearts of those affected by our
decisions are included in our deliberations. We are flirting with hypocrisy to the extent that our decisions
and actions do not recognize the value of all people and demonstrate understanding and compassion for their situation.
Reflection/Discussion: Are there times when our adherence to
rules and tradition may interfere with our capacity to love?
Principles of Love: Opening; Accept; Vision Pray Through the Day: Open our hearts To your love #158 (6/7) Jesus Clarifies Defilement
Matthew 15:10-20 Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen
and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the
mouth that defiles.” Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees
took offense when they heard what you said?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father
has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind
person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable
to us.” Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you
not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes
out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions,
murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat
with unwashed hands does not defile.” Mark 7:14-23 Then
he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing
outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” When
he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about the parable. He said to them,
“Then do you also fail to understand? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since
it enters, not the heart but the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
And he said, “It is what comes out of a person that defiles. For it is from within, from the
human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness,
envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Luke 11:37-41 While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table.
The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. Then the Lord said to him,
“Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things
that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you. Evil intentions are selfish intentions. They come from the desire
for personal satisfaction, pleasure, safety, and comfort at the expense of others. Evil intentions are
self-contained. They focus on self-centered wants and needs. Loving intentions focus on
others. They seek to find value in each person with compassion and understanding. Loving
intentions recognize our shared humanity and the fact that we are all children of God. Loving intentions
lead us to commit to improve the well being of others and to support the realization of their full potential. Evil intentions
often come in attractive packages to entice others into supporting selfish desires. With loving intentions,
what you see is what you get. There is no flash, falsity, defensiveness, or self-consciousness, only a
knowing acceptance of our limitations and frailties within an open heart that willingly receives and shares God’s love.
Reflection/Discussion: How can we recognize the difference between
evil and self-centered intentions?
Principles of Love: Vision; Acceptance; Compassion Pray Through the Day: Open our eyes To deepen our love #159 (6/8) Woman of Great Faith
Matthew 15:21-28 Jesus left that place and went
away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started
shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But
he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after
us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is
not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord,
yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered
her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Mark 7:24-30 From there he set out and went away to the region of
Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little
daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now
the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He
said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the
dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.”
So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Jesus temporarily adopted the attitude of the
Jews who have been attacking him to demonstrate the deep faith and openness of a pagan woman who conquered one of the most
common and difficult obstacles to love. Defensiveness is often a spontaneous response to insult or criticism. We
try to protect ourselves by lashing out at the person who was disrespectful. Defensiveness causes more
conflict and closes more hearts than almost any other human weakness. Our anger pushes the offender away
with words that bite and sting; our adversary pushes back a bit harder, and we respond by escalating further.
It goes on and on, leading nowhere. The resulting hurt and distrust can undermine commitment and
poison a relationship. The openness of this pagan woman of great faith allowed her to look past Jesus’
words and understand who he really was. When we let go of defensiveness, we can see past superficial distortion
and make contact heart-to-heart. Reactive words spoken in anger or irritation have no impact in the presence
of compassion and openness. The simple choice to let go of what
has been said and look into the heart of someone who may have hurt us can be immensely difficult. But this
pagan woman, an outsider with no religion and no previous contact with Jesus, demonstrates that it is possible.
Reflection/Discussion: How can we keep from becoming defensive
when we are attacked or criticized? Principles of Love: Acceptance; Opening; Vision; Compassion Pray Through the Day: Not my will But yours be done #160 (6/9) Healing a Deaf Mute and Others
Matthew 15:29-31 After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the
Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing with
them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the
crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised
the God of Israel. Mark 7:31-37 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon
towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment
in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the
crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven,
he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his
ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one;
but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure,
saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” Love requires good
hearing and clear speech in order to listen with understanding and speak from the heart. Agendas, assumptions,
and preoccupations close our ears and create misunderstanding and misperception as they squelch the openness and communication
that is necessary for love to grow.
“Ephphatha” (pronounced
EHF-uh-thuh) is a good word to remember anytime we are struggling to love. When we open our ears to listen,
we begin to understand and communicate. Love without understanding and communication shrivels up and dries
out. It becomes lame, blind and incapable of meaningful expression and interaction. But
when we listen, first to Jesus who resides in our hearts, and then to each other, from our hearts, infirmities are healed
as love flows freely and speaks clearly. Reflection/Discussion: How do we open our ears and release our tongues when we have become deaf and mute to God’s
love in those around us? Principles of Love: Compassion; Opening Pray Through the Day: Open our hearts To your creation #161 (6/10) Four Thousand are Fed Matthew 15:32-39 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have
compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to
send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” The disciples said to him, “Where
are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?” Jesus asked them, “How
many loaves have you?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” Then ordering the crowd
to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the
disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all of them ate and were filled; and they took
up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides
women and children. After sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan. Mark 8:1-10 In
those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them,
“I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.
If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way—and some of them have come from a great
distance.” His disciples replied, “How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?”
He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” Then he
ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave
them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. They had also a few small
fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. They ate and were filled;
and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Now there were about four thousand people.
And he sent them away. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district
of Dalmanutha. Sometime it takes a while for the full impact and meaning of a message to sink in. It was only
in the previous chapter of Matthew and two chapters before in Mark that Jesus had fed five thousand from a few loaves and
fish. Yet his disciples who have been traveling with him for some time are bewildered at his concern that
the crowd is hungry. Their attitude seems to be “Why be concerned about something we can do nothing
about - it’s not our problem.” The disciples demonstrate that it’s possible to walk with Jesus, listen to his
teaching, even participate in his miracles, and not fully grasp the scope and power of his love. We can
get so caught up in the pressure of the moment and the seeming immensity of the challenges before us that we forget that it
is Jesus who is traveling with us.
But if we simply gather up whatever
love we can muster at the time and bring it to him with an open and humble heart, we have more than enough to respond to the
needs of the situation. Reflection/Discussion: How can we remember that Jesus is available
to help us when we do not have enough of what we need?
Principles of Love: Opening; Compassion; Learning Pray Through the Day: Open our hearts To your love
|
