The Divine In All Of Us

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Mark 1:14-20

Divine Inspiration

Today’s readings are about prophets coming into town and sharing God’s message.  In the Old Testament, Jonah walks into town – Nineveh – not his own.  The people there don’t know him.  Yet, he walks into the center of the city, shares God’s message and the people believe him.  They fasted and put sackcloth on their heads.  They listened.  In the Gospel, Jesus walks by and he says, ‘hey, drop your nets and follow me; and they do, just like that.

Why is it that these people only had to hear the message once, and they jumped on it?  How many times do we need to hear a message before we take action?  I’ll give you an example that is happening right now as we speak – the water situation in Texas and the country overall.  Every day, we hear how far below the norm we are for rainfall, how boats are sitting on dry land because the lakes have shrunk or dried up entirely.  Yet, have we changed our own habits?  Have we taken steps to use less water in our daily lives?  Maybe.  But, likely not.  I’ll ask again – why did the people in the Old and New Testaments only have to hear the message once?  Why does it take us so many more times?

Well, practically speaking, life is a little more comfortable for us than it was for them.  Every day was a struggle for survival for the people in the Bible.  Our biggest struggle is traffic, or what to have for dinner.  But that doesn’t mean we need him – God – any less than the people in the Bible.  In fact, we need him more.  There are so many messages and influences in our times that are not from God, and we need Him to help us to hear the right ones, the ones He really wants us to hear. 

How do we hear God’s messages to us?  We hear them by listening to each other.  God speaks through every single one of us.  He doesn’t just choose one or two people.  He chooses us all.  He flows his words and his love through us all.  We just have to be open and listen for it.  That’s all.  It’s so simple – just listen.  And, pray that God gives you the right words – His words – when the moment to speak is upon you.

Amen.

Readings and Divine Inspiration from Sunday, January 25, 2015

Change the World with Faith and Hope

Jonah 3:1-5

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Mark 1:14-20

Divine Inspiration

Today’s gospel is the beginning of the formation of the apostles.  They are truly walking away from their current lives to follow a man they barely know.  It’s likely they’ve heard of him.  John had been proclaiming His coming.  And, Jesus was starting to become known among the people.  But still, they hardly knew Him, let alone have enough time to make that huge, life-changing decision to follow Him.  This is true faith.  This is one of the greatest examples we have of faith.  But, it’s not just faith.  It’s hope – hope for a better life, a more fulfilling life and the chance to change the world. 

Neither this faith nor hope are or were limited to the apostles.  We have the opportunity to choose faith and hope every day when we wake up.  In recent years, the phrase, “What Would Jesus Do?” has become extremely popular and spoken by many.  In fact, one of the greatest golfers of all time – Payne Stewart – wore a bracelet that had the letters, “WWJD” on it when he won the Masters at Pinehurst in 1999.  Why?  Because these are the folks who choose to live by that same faith in Jesus and hope for changing the world as the apostles did.  It’s as easy as that – recognizing the moment of opportunity and then considering how Jesus would handle it, not necessarily what we might be inclined to do.  One simple action – doing what Christ would do – changes the world for the better. 

Gandhi said to his followers, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”  It all starts with us and how we choose to live.  Every day is a new day.  If you get it wrong one day, that’s ok.  You’ll get another chance to live by faith and hope, changing the world one moment and one opportunity at a time.

Amen.

Readings and Inspiration from Sunday, January 22, 2012.

The Luckiest People

Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

1 Corinthians 12:12-30

Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

Divine Inspiration

While it is very tempting to focus on the reading from the Old Testament – the part in which Nehemiah tells the Levites to go eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks – what I felt God talking to me about was the second reading – Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.  I know, you’re probably think the same thing I was when I read it – really?  How many times do we need to be told that each body part needs the other?  In fact, at one point as I was reading it, I said to myself, “Ok, God, I got it!”  But, in truth, I really hadn’t.  It wasn’t until after I had read all the readings that it occurred to me that this really isn’t about a foot or an eye or an ear.  It’s about us needing each other.  Each of us is a part of the Body of Christ, and each of us is needed and needs others.

In the past few weeks, this message has really come through loud and clear for me.  The first was a plea for prayer from a young woman in my hometown in Pennsylvania for her premature (4.5 month old) newborn baby.  She put a message out on Facebook asking for help, and the response was amazing!  So many people offered prayer, support of all kinds and encouragement.  The second example was just yesterday when a friend of mine asked for help for her sister.  Her sister had recently lost almost everything in a random act of violence.  In both instances, I jumped at the opportunity to help, and many others did, too.  Who doesn’t want to help when the opportunity arises?!?  So, if that is really the case – that everyone wants to help when asked – why are we so unwilling – in general – to ask for help?  Why do so many of us feel we must “suffer in silence,” not wanting to burden others with our troubles?

This is a question I have asked myself for more than half my life.  Admittedly, I am one, and my husband will overwhelmingly attest to it, who hesitates to ask for help, if I ask at all.  I could offer a lofty excuse such as my problems aren’t as big as other peoples’ or that I don’t want to burden others.  But, if I’m really honest with myself, it’s probably more along the lines of worrying about what people will think.  I don’t want people to think that I’m a failure or stupid or inadequate.  But, this is just the ego talking, and the ego has no ability to help us.  In fact, I would say that the ego has more ability to harm us.  We need each other, whether we admit it or not.  That’s what the second reading is about today.  And, in case you don’t get it on the first or second or third example, Paul is going to give a few more to make sure you really do get it! 

I think it was Barbara Streisand who sang, “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.”  I would modify it just a bit because all people need people.  But, people who recognize that they need people are the “luckiest people in the world.”

I’ll close with one last example.  A dear friend of mine recently experienced Bell’s Palsy, the short-term illness in which half her face was paralyzed.  It has passed now, but she’s still experiencing some lingering effects.  Last week, as she and I and another friend were painting, she blurted out that since her Bell’s Palsy, her painting has suffered and she fears her painting skills are gone.  I admired her for sharing her fear.  Would I have done this?  Probably not.  I would have suffered in silence.  But, by my friend expressing her fear, it gave me and our other friend a chance to encourage and pray for her.  My point here is that no trouble is too small to share; no fear is beyond help from others.  We just need to set our egos aside and ask for it.

Amen.

Readings and Inspiration from Sunday, January 24, 2016.

Honor Your Gifts

Isaiah 62:1-5

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

John 2:1-11

Divine Inspiration

We all have gifts that were given to us by God, whether we realize it or not.  In fact, often, not only do we not recognize our gifts, if we do, we try down-play it.  How many of us, when we’re complimented on something, respond with, “oh thanks, but it’s nothing.”  Or, if told we do something really well, say “Thanks, but not really.”  Well, when we do that, we are dishonoring what God has given to us and what we are meant to share with others.  God didn’t give us these gifts to be squandered.  He gave them specifically to each of us because he knew we have the capacity to really make good on whatever it is he blessed us with; no matter how big or small a gift it is.  To truly honor God, we need to recognize, respect and develop our gifts.  Can you imagine someone who may have the gift of being able to listen to people but not wanting to socialize?  It would be so sad because he or she wouldn’t be able to use and share that gift.  Or, how about someone who is good at putting colors and fabrics together but never makes the time to sew?  The world, or at least those around her, would be denied the opportunity to enjoy her creations.

When we deny the gifts and talents that God has given us, we hurt ourselves and we hurt others.  We hurt ourselves because we miss out on the deep fulfillment that comes from living one of God’s purposes for us.  And, we hurt others because they are not getting something that can make a difference in their life, too.  We may never know the impact of our gifts on others.  We may never know how we’ve touched or inspired others by expressing our gift from God.  But, that’s ok.  We may not be meant to know.  What’s important is that we perform and use and share and keep sharing our gift from God.  Recognize that gift, acknowledge it, grow it and share it.  And when we do that, we will experience the joy and fulfillment that can only come from God.

Amen.

Readings and Inspiration from Sunday, January 20, 2013