• 33rd
Sunday
of Ordinary Time
on
Matthew 13:10-12, 34-35, 53-58
in
which Jesus speaks about parables, and is rejected in his hometown.
This
will mark the end of the year's study of Matthew. Next week we'll
celebrate Christ the King Sunday, and then Advent begins. We'll
resume with Matthew 14 in Lent.
www.FirstChurchBville@gmail.com
@FirstUMCBville @kerrfunk www.FirstChurchBville.com
"These
are a few of my favorite wings..." yes wings, not things.
• I
once had some hotwings that were called “Creeping Dog” hot.
The name caught my interest, drew me in with its imagery.
The experience was intense and memorable... not forgotten but legendary.
(if only you could engage people with such intrigue and power when speaking)
The name caught my interest, drew me in with its imagery.
The experience was intense and memorable... not forgotten but legendary.
(if only you could engage people with such intrigue and power when speaking)
• My
favorite hotwings are from Columbo's in Lancaster PA, but they are
no-name.
Perfectly delicious. Nice little burn, maybe cumin aftertaste. To-die-for with celery and chunky blue cheese dressing.
And an hour or two later you still taste it... (I know, pastors aren't supposed to talk about burping, but you'll not soon forget it, will you?)
(if only you could engage people with a tantalizing story
they'd still be ruminating on a few hours later!)
Perfectly delicious. Nice little burn, maybe cumin aftertaste. To-die-for with celery and chunky blue cheese dressing.
And an hour or two later you still taste it... (I know, pastors aren't supposed to talk about burping, but you'll not soon forget it, will you?)
(if only you could engage people with a tantalizing story
they'd still be ruminating on a few hours later!)
• A
few of my favorite THINGS... (yes, now I'm talking about the Sound
of Music.)
In the movie the children are frightened by a thunderstorm and Fraulein Maria seeks to calm them down by guiding their thinking, redirecting them away from their fears.
In the movie the children are frightened by a thunderstorm and Fraulein Maria seeks to calm them down by guiding their thinking, redirecting them away from their fears.
Then
later on it's not a thunderstorm but the loneliness and grief of life
that compels them to sing again of their favorite things, to redirect
their thoughts.
(if only you could engage people in how they think,
to shape and direct them, and equip them for kingdom living...)
(if only you could engage people in how they think,
to shape and direct them, and equip them for kingdom living...)
• This
is of course exactly what Jesus did, using parables as one of his
tools. He drew people in, caught their interest, KEPT their
interest with staying power, led them in ways that changed their
lives, and that they'd talk about for generations.
• But
some will reject. Because it's not what they expect.
And people don't want unexpected. They want control.
And when the people of Jesus' hometown heard him, they were not willing or able to reconcile the amazing Godly wisdom with the boy they once knew,
...Jesus was too unexpected, uncontainable for them.
They could not receive the good news
because they stumbled over its presentation.
And people don't want unexpected. They want control.
And when the people of Jesus' hometown heard him, they were not willing or able to reconcile the amazing Godly wisdom with the boy they once knew,
...Jesus was too unexpected, uncontainable for them.
They could not receive the good news
because they stumbled over its presentation.
• God
wants to do great things among people... in our lives... and some of
that requires our participation, positioning ourselves to let God
work in us.
• (District Superintendent Greg told story of arrogant preacher Augustus Toplady, a
contemporary of Wesley... Legend has it that one time while traveling
in the country there was a terrible storm, the kind of storm that
makes a nonbeliever pray, and this preacher cried out to God and
found refuge in a nearby rock wall that had space enough to shelter
him and his horse's head... Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me
hide myself in thee...)
Jesus
is our supremely worthy refuge,
and we do well to take his hand and rely fully on him.
and we do well to take his hand and rely fully on him.
• Hymn
361 Rock of Ages
Matthew
13:10-12, 34-35, 53-58
CEB Nov.
16 / 33rd
Sunday of Ordinary Time
10 Jesus’
disciples came and said to him,
“Why do you use parables when you speak to the crowds?”
“Why do you use parables when you speak to the crowds?”
11 Jesus
replied, “Because they haven’t received the secrets of the
kingdom of heaven, but you have. 12 For those who
have will receive more and they will have more than enough. But as
for those who don’t have, even the little they have will be taken
away from them.
34 Jesus
said all these things to the crowds in parables,
and he spoke to them only in parables.
35 This was to fulfill what the prophet spoke:
and he spoke to them only in parables.
35 This was to fulfill what the prophet spoke:
I’ll
speak in parables;
I’ll declare what has been hidden
since the beginning of the world. [Psalm 78:2]
I’ll declare what has been hidden
since the beginning of the world. [Psalm 78:2]
53 When
Jesus finished these parables, he departed.
54 When he came to his hometown, he taught the people in their synagogue.
They were surprised and said, “Where did he get this wisdom? Where did he get the power to work miracles? 55 Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary? Aren’t James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers? 56 And his sisters, aren’t they here with us? Where did this man get all this?” 57 They were repulsed by him and fell into sin.
54 When he came to his hometown, he taught the people in their synagogue.
They were surprised and said, “Where did he get this wisdom? Where did he get the power to work miracles? 55 Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary? Aren’t James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers? 56 And his sisters, aren’t they here with us? Where did this man get all this?” 57 They were repulsed by him and fell into sin.
But
Jesus said to them, “Prophets are honored everywhere except in
their own hometowns and in their own households.”
58 He was unable to do many miracles there because of their disbelief.
58 He was unable to do many miracles there because of their disbelief.
No comments:
Post a Comment