Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Mar 27, 2014 | Comments (0)


Fifth Sunday in Lent

Click here to go to the Bottom Line Meditations for the Fifth Sunday in Lent

Godly Abiding Spiritually in Jesus Changes the Meaning of What we See Worldly When Not Abiding in Jesus.

Spirituality is our innate ability to feel the difference worldly or godly thinking makes to the way scripture translates to our daily life and relationships.

All Scripture is a testimony to Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God. He is the complete revelation of God’s will of grace for salvation. Grace is the only unfailing rule of faith and practice for the Christian life.

The Gospel of grace is: rather than trying to be more faithful to become faithful, we become faithful by feeling the Faith God already has for and in us.

The Strength of Christianity is Grace

John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Another name for Jesus is "Grace". Another name for God is "Grace". We are saved by GRACE. "Love" is not Love if it is not grace. This is true for "Faith", "Hope", "Joy" and all other theological words of significance in the scripture.

Until someone experiences the grace gift in their lives, all other theological words have no real meaning. Why not begin to use the word "grace" in place of "Jesus", "God", "the Spirit", "Love" and so on? It might seem inappropriate to do so. However, until it is actually experienced it will make no sense at all.

That is what this year is all about. Grace, did you get it?

Finding Grace in Our Life

When grace rains it pours.

Abiding in us is a Joy no one can take from us.

 

Prayers for Lent from Forward Day by Day.

Pray this prayer:

“O God: Give me strength to live another day, repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity, and self-seeking; cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity, and the habit of holy silence. Preserve me from minding little stings or giving them.”

Now quietly move into God's Presence and pray the prayer again:

“O God: Give me strength to live another day, repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity, and self-seeking; cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity, and the habit of holy silence. Preserve me from minding little stings or giving them.”

Did you find the difference?

 

John 11:1-45

Mary, Martha and Lazarus were close friends of Jesus. It was at their home that Jesus had a meal. Martha was working in the kitchen while Mary was listening to Jesus was teaching. Martha called out to tell Jesus, don’t you care about my having to work so hard. Tell Mary to come in and help me. Jesus answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-42

Why was Martha so busy in the kitchen? When you invite Jesus to come to your home in those days, He came bringing His twelve friends. It was a full house meal for sure. What if Mary had told Jesus to tell Martha to stop banging those pots and pans. “I can’t hear a word you are saying.” He would have replied, “Martha has found the one thing that is needed.”

What was “the better” was not bible study. What was it Mary had found? She found the grace. Finding the grace is enjoying what we are doing. Not let outside events interfere or interrupt our relationship with Jesus.

In John 11, after Lazerus died Jesus came once again to their home. Martha was the first to come out, naturally this “A” type personality would.

Jesus said to Martha, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him rather sarcastically, “I know that. He will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” This was close to a putdown. I already know all about it. I believe as the Pharisees believe in the resurrection. That is nothing new.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

He did not say “I will be” or “I was” but “I AM.” That means when we are with Jesus He is the resurrection. He is not talking about physical life and death but about spiritual Llfe and Death. “Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live.”

He is talking about spiritual Life and Death, because we do not die spiritually. The body is a present given to us by God. When the body no longer works we move on spiritually. “Everyone who Lives and believes in Me will never Die. Do you believe this?” Martha said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

Mary now finds Jesus and she weeps. We read in the burial service that Jesus “wept” at the grave of Lazarus. This is true but He was not weeping for Lazarus. When Jesus saw Mary weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, Jesus began to weep. He was weeping because of the sadness Mary had over Lazarus’ death. She had not believed as Martha believed.

Now we go on to the empty tomb. The women mentioned who came to anoint the body of Jesus were Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, joined by Salome.

The question is where was Mary and Martha? Why were not these closest of friends with the other women who came to anoint the body of Jesus? It was because they both believed He was not there. They not only believed, they Knew He was not there because they were with Him.

“And as I cannot in my own strength do this, nor even with a hope of success attempt it, I look to thee, O Lord God my Father, in Jesus my Savior, and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Did you find grace?


THE DISCIPLE-SHIFT: The Virtual Small Group: Members share once a week with their group through the internet when a shift from being out to being in the Presence made a difference.


Comments (0)







Allowed tags: <b><i><br>Add a new comment:


Copyright 2008-2011 Paul Edwards