November 17, 2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1.27)

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do. They disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face. It will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but your Father, who is unseen sees what is done in secret. He will reward you.” (Matthew 6.16-18)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Philip’s words at the Upper Room table still echo in my mind. They are haunting to me as they must have been saddening to Jesus. Philip said, “Jesus, just show us the Father and we will be satisfied.” They are haunting to me because they bear a strange semblance of attitude which was espoused by the penitent thief on the cross eighteen hours later. There in the waning hours of death on the cross for three men, one petitioned Jesus, “When you come into your Kingdom, remember me.” Both statements are those who speak of “just enough.” This isn’t a story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears: one too much, one too little and one just right. These were critical moments that maybe you and I have shared believing we are just “not enough” so we will settle. It speaks more to our heart, mind and spirit than it does about our earthly circumstances. It speaks to how we feel about ourselves and those around us. And this is what had happened to the practice of fasting in the days of Jesus. I wonder if it doesn’t remain so to this day.

Philip said, “Show us the Father and that will be enough.” Enough what? If we stop to consider the audacity of Philip’s request, we might Gibbs slap him. I wonder if Nathaniel might not have. Jesus couldn’t reach Philip but His response was sufficient. Jesus said in reply, “How long have I been with you, Philip? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. Have I not shown you that the Father and I are one? I do not speak on My own volition but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God. I have said ‘I AM in the Father and the Father is in me. And if you don’t believe My words then at least believe on the works which have been done. Who else could have done those? [Even the Pharisees have to confront their own words that ONLY GOD could do such things.]’” Poor Philip wasn’t satisfied with Jesus who he called master, savior, lord and friend. This was the very same Philip who upon “seeing” Jesus and believing He was the Messiah went straightway to Nathanael and said “Come and see!” But, deep down, seeing Jesus wasn’t his real goal. It wasn’t about living a life of faith and serving the “unseen” God. Enough riddles, Jesus, show us God on His throne. Audacious enough a request to rival James and John, or their mother, who said, “When you come into Your Kingdom, Lord, grant that we should sit at Your right and left hand.” Even then, we hear a similar response from Jesus, “Such a position is not mine to give but exists only for those whom God the Father has prepared.” I think all our heads should be bobbing forward with a Gibbs slap.

But, look at the penitent thief who in the 11th hour of his life, believes that Jesus is the Christ. He does not believe for his salvation. He believes for the truth of the cruel injustice and spiritual depravity of the world which hung Jesus on the cross. He would say “undeservedly.” Hopefully, we would respond to him “Really? You think so? You don’t think He deserved to die?” Now, I hear some of you backpeddling in disbelief. How can I say such a thing of Jesus who was without sin and perfect in every way. How could He deserve such a cruel fate? The very fact that many have thought that and said it for themselves is an indicator that we forget that “deserve” can be another word for “justice.” We have often said someone “deserved what they go” because of something bad they did. The opposite we would declare was a blessing; sadly some would falsely call it luck. There is no such thing as luck. But, yes, if we stop for a moment and think of the priority mission of Jesus, He got what He “deserved.” He had committed His life as an atonement for sin. He bore the weight of the sins of the world upon His shoulders. Isaiah prophesied it as “He bore the weight of the governance of the world upon His shoulders.” It was far more than the cross of faith He carried. It was the critical mass of eternal life and death which rested upon Him. No small wonder that Jesus was so brutalized. Imagine all the angst of knowing and not knowing what truth really was, is and will always be. In Jesus, everyone saw a glimpse of themselves as they were and did not see enough of who they thought they should be. In Jesus was the truth about all of us. It is an ugly truth of sin and sinfulness which left undone turns beauty into ashes, joy into sorrow, hope into despair and life into death. But, that is not the sum of who we are. We live because there is that “breath of life” within us. We cannot live without that spark of faith, hope and love infused into our heart, mind and soul. In medical terms, we hear of the “moment of quickening” when suddenly the fetus becomes aware of its surroundings. It doesn’t understand them but is aware of them. We are called to that spiritual quickening which comes in seeing Jesus and knowing we are seeing the fullest expression of God’s love. But too many, like the penitent thief, see the beauty but not the reflection of it. They had deemed themselves to not be good enough and thus undeserving of mercy and grace. Isn’t this the truth? Without Christ we are not and never can be “good enough.” So, the penitent thief said “I know you are worthy enough to enter into eternal life and be restored to the kingdom of life that is your home. In your compassion, will the memory of me at least find its place there with you?” What does Jesus say? In another type of Gibbs slap, Jesus responds “Today, you will be with Me in paradise!”

Wow, what Philip could not see and say the penitent thief did. He saw Jesus and that was enough. For that He found the way, the truth and the life everyone seeks but so few believe can be theirs. So, instead, they fast, put on sackcloth and ashes, make a show of piety and believe that is enough. But, it isn’t. Jesus said that was the way of hypocrites and don’t be like them. Be like the penitent thief who inwardly knows the truth and honestly says it without seeking reward. Jesus said the hypocrites get their reward by what is “seen.” The faithful will get it by what is “unseen.” Can’t see God? Can’t see Heaven? Can’t see hope? Pray in secret. Pray in faith. Pray without ceasing to give thanks and the reward you think you do not deserve will be yours on earth as it is in Heaven. That reward is JESUS!

PRAYER IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD:

Father, You have revealed to us best in Jesus the Christ. By Him and Him alone shall we gain the eternal life and our place in eternal rest, living for You always. Show us more and by Your Holy Spirit instruct us in the way we should go, the truth we should reveal and the life we shall live with you forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.