13 January 2025 - now or never

Today's Readings

(Audio)

This is the time of fulfillment.

The Kingdom of God is at hand.

The Kingdom of God was at hand because Jesus himself had come and begun his ministry. The Kingdom of God was, by definition, the place where God reigned. This Kingdom existed from all eternity in heaven but was now breaking through on earth. In the Our Father Jesus taught his disciples to pray that it would come as fully on earth as it was in heaven (see Matthew 6:10), such that God's will was as perfectly accomplished here as it is there. So there was a not yet to the Kingdom ideal. But in Jesus there was also an already, since God fully reigned in the heart of Jesus. Anyone who believed in him and got onboard with his mission was already beginning to live within the Kingdom of God, even surrounded by a fallen world. The whole premise of the promise of Jesus was that this reign of God in the world was the answer to all of promises of all of the ancient prophets, and the possibility of experiencing the true fulfillment intended by God for his creatures. To repent, then, was to live in conformity with this Kingdom. It was to think, speak, and act in a way governed by God's paradigm rather than previous merely human ideas.

This is the time of fulfillment.

It is still the time of fulfillment. We might not realize this, imagining that there was a narrow window during the life and ministry of Jesus on earth when this was true. But Jesus did not leave us orphans when he ascended. He sent the Holy Spirit to help us and now reigns over us from heaven. This means that ever since this initial proclamation the time of fulfillment is a reality which is ever new and available to those with faith. This is why Paul wrote, "now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (see Second Corinthians 6:2). Therefore, not just when Jesus spoke, or when Paul wrote, but even now in this moment the fulfillment of Kingdom life is available to us.

Jesus said to them,

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

The consequence of the inbreaking of the Kingdom into the world is that it totally relativizes normal human concerns. Even paradigms such as work and family take on a secondary importance compared to the expansion of the scope of the reign of the Kingdom of God on earth. After all, these things all find their own fulfillment only when properly ordered to the reign of God. And this means that sometimes they must take a backseat to the furthering of the establishment of that reign.

Then they left their nets and followed him.

If we truly understand what Jesus offers in his proclamation of the Kingdom we will experience the same lack of delay in following him as did these first disciples. Nothing the world offers will seem remotely worthy of preferring to the Kingdom. May Jesus help us to understand what he desires to do for this world and for us so that we would get over our own hesitation and go all in for him.

Matt Maher - Love Has Come

Paul Wilbur - Days Of Elijah Kadosh

12 January 2025 - the bath of rebirth

Today's Readings

(Audio)

I am baptizing you with water,

but one mightier than I is coming.

I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John the Baptist desired to point out the Messiah to his audience. At every step he was careful in his preaching to let them know that he was not the one, but there was another, mightier who was coming. He saw his own popularity as a risk insofar as people who came to him might become so fixated on him as to not be able to transfer their attention to the one who was to come, the one John desired to make known. In his mission he carefully embraced humility and led all of his disciples to do so in his baptism of repentance. Seemingly this would keep him and his followers on one side and the Messiah, when he eventually came, on another, separated, exulted, and identifiable. But then Jesus actually did appear and for some reason insisted on being baptized himself. He refused to stay on the other side of a line of separation, even if that would have allowed him to more closely match the expectations of those who looked to his coming. No wonder, then, that John didn't want to do it. He understood that Jesus was not in need of repentance and that he was not one greater than Jesus who ought to be in a position over him, as it would seem that the one who baptized would be over the one who received baptism. But Jesus insisted. He would not be kept at a distance. It was in this way that all righteousness would be fulfilled.

After all the people had been baptized 

and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, 

heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him

in bodily form like a dove. 

It was never in seeking to exult himself that Jesus was made known. It was always precisely in his obedience, in his self-giving, his life as a servant, and his choosing to take the lowest place that he would be revealed. Jesus chose to share our lot and to take our sins upon himself. But the Father made it clear who he was. Here at the baptism of Jesus the Father declared that he was his beloved son in whom he was well pleased. The presence of the Holy Spirit who was always with Jesus was revealed to the world. The crowds were not left confused. Jesus chose to be with them and like them, but was in another way quite different. It was similar at his Passion, when what he chose to do and what he allowed to happen to him made him seem to be a sinner among sinners and a failure. But there too the Father vindicated Jesus by raising him to life in the power of the Holy Spirit. It was again in his humility and obedience that he was made known. And it could not be otherwise for one who desired to be as close to us as Jesus desired to be. From his incarnation onward he demonstrated that he didn't want to heal the human race from a distance. He came as close as he could conceivably come. He lived among us and would even live within us.

He saved us through the bath of rebirth

and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

whom he richly poured out on us

through Jesus Christ our savior

The baptism of Jesus transformed, not Jesus, but the waters themselves, to make out own baptism possible. By sharing in the symbolic death of baptism with us he gave the waters the power to bring us new life by the Holy Spirit. Just as he rose from the waters and heard the Father declare him to be a beloved Son so too does baptism make us into adopted daughters and sons of the Father. Just as he rose from the waters to experience the descent of the Holy Spirit upon him so too does the bath of rebirth infuse us with the Holy Spirit in order that we might begin to live a new life by his power.

A bruised reed he shall not break,

and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,

until he establishes justice on the earth;

the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

We see in Jesus a gentle Messiah who was always careful with the brokenness and limitations of his creatures. Since he knew that many would push back against a show of power because of their own prideful egos he instead chose to humble himself so that he could draw near without us trying to push him away and injuring ourselves in the process. Yet it is really easy for us, at this distance, after this many years of living as baptized Christians, to take this for granted. For most of us it is fair to say that we have hardly begun to avail ourselves of the graces given to us in baptism. But rather than receive this as a condemnation, let us instead discover opportunity and potential. There is a new seed of life within us that has only just begun to grow. Let us turn toward the Son, the source of grace, so that we can allow this promise to unfold in our lives.

Ascribe To The Lord

11 January 2025 - what has been given

Today's Readings

(Audio)

No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 

They tried to provoke John by asking why both he and Jesus were both baptizing. If the one to whom John gave testimony was going to have his disciples perform baptisms ought not John himself step aside from that ministry? Or should not the one who was to come have had something new and different to offer? To the later we can answer that John had already promised that the one who was to come would in fact also baptize, albeit with the Holy Spirit and fire. But if that was beginning to take place ought not John have found a new role and reinvented his ministry in some way? Maybe even he felt this way to some extent. But listen to the humility in what he replied: "No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven". Maybe he would have preferred to do something different, just as he would have not baptized Jesus if left to his own devices. But he knew enough to stick with what had been given him from heaven. If he tried to invent something on its own it would have been without value. As it was, his continued baptizing, even in the vicinity where the disciples of Jesus were also baptizing, led to opportunities such as this where he could testify to Jesus and direct others to follow Jesus rather than John. What a humble ministry it was, where John claimed nothing as his own, but was glad to decrease as he saw his friend the bridegroom increase.

The one who has the bride is the bridegroom;

the best man, who stands and listens for him,

rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. 

So this joy of mine has been made complete. 

He must increase; I must decrease.

John might have thought that at least the ministry of baptism could be something uniquely his own. And when it was no longer such he might have insisted that he have something by which he could be known or stand out. But he was wise and humble enough not to be more clever or creative than the God who had revealed his plan to him. What he desired was not to be famous or renowned himself, but rather to make known Jesus, and to point him out as the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. But where did John find joy if not in fame or success? He found it where we are all meant to find it, in "bridegroom's voice". As long as he was permitted to hear that voice, and to help others to hear it, it was enough for him.

The joy of John the Baptist in the voice of the bridegroom was related to the confidence expressed by John the Evangelist in our first reading. They were both based on knowing and Jesus and listening to him. For the John the Evangelist, being rooted in God through Jesus Christ was a power even greater than temptation and sin, a power that, when fully realized was itself eternal life.

We also know that the Son of God has come

and has given us discernment to know the one who is true. 

And we are in the one who is true,

in his Son Jesus Christ. 

He is the true God and eternal life. 

Damascus Worship Featuring Seph Schlueter - Glory To God

Matt Maher - Canticle Of Zechariah

10 January 2025 - that you may know

Today's Readings

(Audio)

“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” 

While it was true that Elisha gave Naaman instructions by which he was able to receive healing for his leprosy, it was only the Lord who truly had the power to heal, and the discretion to wish it or not wish it. Jesus was the Son of God, and by believing this at least implicitly the leper was able to experience a measure of victory over the world. Again we see that faith is not merely about information. It opens expansive vistas of possibility where Jesus is free to work. It sees in Jesus the pattern by which the world was made, the Word that sustains the universe, and the one who can refashion it according to his will. Given that faith is in Jesus as a person, not just data, it has implications for the entirety of the actual daily life of any who believe.

Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,

“I do will it.  Be made clean.” 

Those who possess the Son of God have life. But how can this be if we are impure, mired in sin, and therefore unclean? How can we receive Jesus under such roofs as ours? We can see from the leper that it is not in the first place about our ability to prepare ourselves in advance to receive him. It is rather his coming to us that is the thing that is ultimately transformative. We know this to some extent about the Eucharist. But what about confession? How do we think about that? Do we consider it as something we do to make ourselves, if not worthy, then at least not unworthy, to receive him? Yet the paradigm of the leper is an even closer match for what Jesus does for us in confession than when we receive the Eucharist? It is he who touches us, and it is his touch, not our effort, that cleanses us. There is nothing we could ever do, no amount of contrition we could ever muster, that would accomplish what Jesus does for us in confession because of his grace and his mercy.

“Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing

what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” 

Once Jesus touches us we are not only healed within but are also brought back into proper integration with the community of believers. Our spiritual leprosy always keeps us from full communion, not only with Jesus, but also with his body the Church. And this is true even if we're still in a church building going through the motions. It is only when we are properly connected to Jesus, the head, that we can function properly as parts of his body.

The report about him spread all the more,

and great crowds assembled to listen to him

and to be cured of their ailments,

but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

Jesus did not desire fame. In fact he shunned it as much as possible, both because he didn't need it, and to provide an example for his disciples to follow. He would withdraw to deserted places to both live out and demonstrate the priority of his relationship with the heavenly Father. Thus even Jesus, the Son of God in whom we put our faith, never existed outside of dependence on his relationship with the Father. We are called to possess the Son of God and have life and victory. But it is a victory which is also always paradoxically a surrender.

I write these things to you so that you may know

that you have eternal life,

you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

Jesus Culture - When You Walk Into The Room

9 January 2025 - victory in Christ

Today's Readings

(Audio)

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

The Spirit of the Lord was revealed to be upon Jesus at his baptism when it descended upon him like a dove. He was then revealed to be the Messiah, the Christ, the anointed one. But he had been this since even before his birth, since the moment he was conceived. This anointing not merely an interesting fact or an identifying characteristic. Instead the anointing gave direction to his life, as we can see when, for instance, the Spirit drove him into the desert to be tempted (see Mark 1:12).

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

Jesus was obviously not led into the desert to be tempted for the sake of exposing himself to danger. He did not go so that he could merely gloat over a victory. Instead, it was a part of his plan to refashion broken humanity. By being first victorious in all of the ways that sin made people prone to fail, Jesus made it possible for those in union with him by faith to share in his victory.

for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. 

And the victory that conquers the world is our faith

The Spirit therefore drove him not only into the desert but also toward his mission to proclaim the good news to the poor, as he did in the beatitudes. He came also to give sight to the blind, especially to those who were spiritually blind and new they were. He was driven to overthrow any power the enemy had over the creatures he had made. Ultimately, nothing, not even death itself could stand in the way of this victory.

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” 

It was not obvious to all who heard that the passage had been fulfilled in their hearing. They thought Jesus was one of them and that they knew everything there was to know about him. In that moment it required faith to recognize the fulfillment. So too for us, who have by now grown accustomed to our relationship with Jesus. He invites us to share in his victory. But it must first be by faith before it can be by sight.

Graham Kendrick - For This Purpose

8 January 2025 - there is no fear in love

Today's Readings

(Audio)

But when they saw him walking on the sea,

they thought it was a ghost and cried out. 

Since perfect love drives out fear we can see that they had not yet been perfected in love. This was in fact what the miracle of the loaves was meant to accomplish. They were to recognize in Jesus the God who desired to be himself the shepherd of his people Israel. He intended to lead them not only through the valley of the shadow of death but also to keep the safe during storms, whether during the first watch of the night or the fourth. 

They were completely astounded. 

They had not understood the incident of the loaves. 

On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

The miracle of the loaves had not had the desired effect on the disciples themselves. More than anyone else who witnessed it they should have recognized that in Jesus there was a sufficient abundance to meet every need. Perhaps at a distance it might have been possible to ignore this reality. But they themselves were so involved, both by bringing the five loaves and two wish, and by providing the multiplied results to the people. They were not only seeing an impressive miracle. Jesus himself was demonstrating his love and compassion for the crowd through them. It was one thing to ignore a miracle. It was another to harden oneself against this kind of participation in the divine love. We are led to wonder if there are ever times when Jesus uses us to express his love, perhaps even literally involving us in miracles, and yet we harden our hearts. Perhaps it is too different from our expectations or too distinct from our more selfish desires. Perhaps we mostly feel relief that its over rather than thankfulness that we were privileged to participate. How might we allow Jesus to help us have a better attitude?

But at once he spoke with them,

“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” 

He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. 

The hour seems more late and the storms seem more terrifying when we believe that we are facing them alone. When our hearts are hardened even the presence of Jesus can at times feel like a hostile external force. But Jesus does not wish to leave us in this condition. If the initial theophany of 'passing by' is insufficient he is willing to get into the little boat of our soul and speak words of peace. This helps us learn to see things correctly. It is not the circumstances of the storm that have the last word. It is rather Jesus himself, whose word can calm even the fiercest wind. He wants us all to be able to testify together with John the Evangelist, "We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us".

Peter Furler - Psalm 23

7 January 2025 - God is love. But what kind?

Today's Readings

(Audio)

Beloved, let us love one another,

because love is of God;

God, John tells us, is love. But is this love in some abstract, philosophical sense? Is he merely using poetic license to make God seem more relatable when he is really still distant and unapproachable? It would have been hard to tell for sure except that, "God sent his only-begotten Son into the world". In Jesus we see the Father's heart revealed. And this revelation makes it clear. We are not merely projecting human terminology on God. The love of God is related to human love as its source and origin. Thus the main thing is "not that we have loved God, but that he loved us".

Of course our human understanding of love is imperfect. We call some things love that are closer to categories of use and even exploitation. But this does not mean that we can't recognize true love when we see it in action. It does mean that we need to allow God's kind of love to purify our ideas of love. It was difficult to do this when there was still the immense difference between humanity and God that preceded the incarnation. But once Jesus became flesh his own life became the perfect example of love, a love greater than which no one ever had.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (see John 15:13).

Because God is love and Jesus is God all of the individual episodes from the life of Jesus take on rich meaning as the love of God is revealed in the shape of a human life.

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them,

for they were like sheep without a shepherd;

Jesus possessed a love that was not merely an indifferent altruism. Rather he saw the deepest needs of the crowds and longed to fulfill those needs. He was sympathetic with their hunger for bread, but especially for their hunger for him. He knew that the crowds possessed a desire that he alone could satisfy, that they were in fact made to find fulfillment in him. This was not merely a curious fact that he addressed because, as God, it was easy for him to do so. Rather it was something that deeply mattered to him, so much so that he gave all that he was, his very life, to satisfy them. 

They all ate and were satisfied.

The crowds that ate and were satisfied pointed to the future when Jesus would far surpass the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves with the gift of himself in the bread of the Eucharist. His love for his people would stop at nothing less than giving his very life as a sacrificial lamb so that his Church could forever keep the feast (see First Corinthians 5:7-9) and experience satisfaction, a peace the world could not give or take away.

Damascus Worship Featuring Seph Schlueter - No Distance / Emmanuel