If we have died with him, we shall live with him; if we hold firm, we shall reign with him.
2 Timothy 2:11
This is the passage upon which I was asked to write a mediation. After reading numerous commentaries, I realized they all stated that this is just one line of an ancient Christian hymn. In the Early Church they often placed their faith into song. Verses 12 & 13 clearly need to be added to verse 11 resulting in the following: "if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful – for he cannot deny himself."
Timothy is basically summarizing what is written in Romans, Chapter 6:3-8. Verses 3 & 4: "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."
Truly this is a "triumphant hymn." However, with our Free Will we have the ability of "denying him" and in turn "he will also deny us." The great news clearly is that if by God's Grace we are enabled to say "Yes" to Christ in our relationship, he will, as always, be faithful to us.
It is by God's Grace alone that we can today share in the Victory of our Lord! Alleluia, Alleluia!
William H. C. Ticknor+
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Lenten Reflection - March 30, 2013 Holy Saturday
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1
This prayer, attributed to St. Francis, was in a church bulletin several years ago and when I read it I knew I had to keep it near by. The uncountable times I have retrieved this prayer, printed on a now stained and wrinkled piece of paper, have never failed to bring me peace. Thankfully I am then able to share His love and peace.
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love, where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith, where there is despair, hope, where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."
Nancy McClunin
Romans 8:1
This prayer, attributed to St. Francis, was in a church bulletin several years ago and when I read it I knew I had to keep it near by. The uncountable times I have retrieved this prayer, printed on a now stained and wrinkled piece of paper, have never failed to bring me peace. Thankfully I am then able to share His love and peace.
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love, where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith, where there is despair, hope, where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."
Nancy McClunin
Friday, March 29, 2013
Lenten Reflection - March 29, 2013 Good Friday
And the angels tended him.
Mark 1:1-13
This passage is powerful. Jesus was sent into the wilderness for forty days. During this time He was tested continually by Satan and with wild beasts. I feel the passage speaks to all of us. When haven't we been tempted to take or do things we shouldn't do? Faith is what keeps us on the path of the light and Satan is what pushes us off. Do you take time to listen when you are in the wilderness or try to face it alone? We have someone to help guide us when we are lost or afraid. Jesus showed us; we have to believe. Sometimes letting go feels like falling into a bottomless well. When we do finally let go and let God - He catches us - always. Temptation will always be there, but so will God. (Remember according to Larry the Cucumber: God is bigger than the boogie man!)
Nola Meyers
Mark 1:1-13
This passage is powerful. Jesus was sent into the wilderness for forty days. During this time He was tested continually by Satan and with wild beasts. I feel the passage speaks to all of us. When haven't we been tempted to take or do things we shouldn't do? Faith is what keeps us on the path of the light and Satan is what pushes us off. Do you take time to listen when you are in the wilderness or try to face it alone? We have someone to help guide us when we are lost or afraid. Jesus showed us; we have to believe. Sometimes letting go feels like falling into a bottomless well. When we do finally let go and let God - He catches us - always. Temptation will always be there, but so will God. (Remember according to Larry the Cucumber: God is bigger than the boogie man!)
Nola Meyers
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Lenten Reflection - March 28, 2013 Maundy Thursday
Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.
I Corinthians 10:16-17
The theme of bread as a gift and as a miracle is strong in both the Old and the New Testaments. Whether it is the manna in the wilderness in the time of Moses referred to by Paul earlier in this chapter or the loaves that fed five thousand as people gathered to hear Jesus it sustained and unified the people for whom it was a heavenly gift. For the people closest to Jesus in his ministry the bread of passover was the last meal shared with Him and the one we are asked to remember as a sacrament each Maundy Thursday and every time we celebrate the Eucharist.
Of all the church participation in my life, reading and teaching and assisting in communion, the most powerful experience has been offering to my friends and neighbors, my fellow congregants, the bread and wine of communion. Each time it brings the presence of Jesus, as he promised, and unity with each other. It binds us into one, one loaf, not only with the people at the rail that moment but with all who have ever received the bread in His name any time in the past, and with all who are receiving it around the world. Each time changes me from one person with cares and worries and self-centeredness into a vehicle used by the Holy Spirit to bind His people of all times and nations into one, one loaf, belonging to the one true God Paul was entreating the Corinthians to carefully and devotedly follow.
Susan Tabatsko
I Corinthians 10:16-17
The theme of bread as a gift and as a miracle is strong in both the Old and the New Testaments. Whether it is the manna in the wilderness in the time of Moses referred to by Paul earlier in this chapter or the loaves that fed five thousand as people gathered to hear Jesus it sustained and unified the people for whom it was a heavenly gift. For the people closest to Jesus in his ministry the bread of passover was the last meal shared with Him and the one we are asked to remember as a sacrament each Maundy Thursday and every time we celebrate the Eucharist.
Of all the church participation in my life, reading and teaching and assisting in communion, the most powerful experience has been offering to my friends and neighbors, my fellow congregants, the bread and wine of communion. Each time it brings the presence of Jesus, as he promised, and unity with each other. It binds us into one, one loaf, not only with the people at the rail that moment but with all who have ever received the bread in His name any time in the past, and with all who are receiving it around the world. Each time changes me from one person with cares and worries and self-centeredness into a vehicle used by the Holy Spirit to bind His people of all times and nations into one, one loaf, belonging to the one true God Paul was entreating the Corinthians to carefully and devotedly follow.
Susan Tabatsko
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Lenten Reflection - March 27, 2013
The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced.
Isaiah 50:7
Jesus had traveled the countryside healing the sick and preaching the words of GOD. He healed Simon' s mother-in-law, a leper, a paraplegic and chose his apostles from among the crowds. Jesus was proclaiming new laws to be followed. He was also making enemies of the established priests. They accused Him of blasphemy and sin.
The Pharisees (priests) questioned whether we could sin and speak ill of the Lord and still be forgiven. Jesus replied that we can't choose Satan and ridicule God and expect to be forgiven. Jesus answered that "if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand."
At St. James' we are privileged to have God's Commandments on the wall behind the altar. Are they just another beautiful artistic accessory in our historic sanctuary? Do we read them, make our children aware of them, and obey them?
Lorraine Taylor
Isaiah 50:7
Jesus had traveled the countryside healing the sick and preaching the words of GOD. He healed Simon' s mother-in-law, a leper, a paraplegic and chose his apostles from among the crowds. Jesus was proclaiming new laws to be followed. He was also making enemies of the established priests. They accused Him of blasphemy and sin.
The Pharisees (priests) questioned whether we could sin and speak ill of the Lord and still be forgiven. Jesus replied that we can't choose Satan and ridicule God and expect to be forgiven. Jesus answered that "if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand."
At St. James' we are privileged to have God's Commandments on the wall behind the altar. Are they just another beautiful artistic accessory in our historic sanctuary? Do we read them, make our children aware of them, and obey them?
Lorraine Taylor
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Lenten Reflection - March 26, 2013
And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified." But I said, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God."
Isaiah 49:3-4
My Bible tells me there are three movements (messages) in the Salvation Symphony of the book of Isaiah. They are: judgment, comfort and hope. This passage is found in the comfort part of the Salvation Symphony. God tells me, as his servant, I will be one who glorifies him (If only it were so!) I know I fall far short of the mark. And I know it is only God who can untangle my labored efforts and make them worthwhile.
Caroline York Chisum
Isaiah 49:3-4
My Bible tells me there are three movements (messages) in the Salvation Symphony of the book of Isaiah. They are: judgment, comfort and hope. This passage is found in the comfort part of the Salvation Symphony. God tells me, as his servant, I will be one who glorifies him (If only it were so!) I know I fall far short of the mark. And I know it is only God who can untangle my labored efforts and make them worthwhile.
Caroline York Chisum
Monday, March 25, 2013
Lenten Reflection - March 25, 2013
[Jesus] overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.
Mark 11:15-19
During Passover the temple was used by merchants to do big business. Because these merchants came from all over, the temple was turned into a busy market place with little to no room for worship. Jesus became angry because the place of worship had become the place of big and somewhat shady business and a barrier to those who wanted to worship.
The Bible teaches us that there are times when righteous indignation is OK. We are bombarded with so many distractions, so many ways to focus on what is short term enjoyment. We allow the world to adjust our thoughts instead of keeping a steady eye on the Lord. Romans 12:2 says Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
As Christians, we have a responsibility to take a stand when our world crashes into our relationship with our Lord. Each day we should be focused first on the Lord, not jumping ahead to today's plans and problems. It is the Lord that will bring us the long term joy and peace to our life. When the "merchants" of your life start to take over, step back, overturn those tables and re-focus on what is true, and what is everlasting, our Lord.
Molly Nussear
Mark 11:15-19
During Passover the temple was used by merchants to do big business. Because these merchants came from all over, the temple was turned into a busy market place with little to no room for worship. Jesus became angry because the place of worship had become the place of big and somewhat shady business and a barrier to those who wanted to worship.
The Bible teaches us that there are times when righteous indignation is OK. We are bombarded with so many distractions, so many ways to focus on what is short term enjoyment. We allow the world to adjust our thoughts instead of keeping a steady eye on the Lord. Romans 12:2 says Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
As Christians, we have a responsibility to take a stand when our world crashes into our relationship with our Lord. Each day we should be focused first on the Lord, not jumping ahead to today's plans and problems. It is the Lord that will bring us the long term joy and peace to our life. When the "merchants" of your life start to take over, step back, overturn those tables and re-focus on what is true, and what is everlasting, our Lord.
Molly Nussear
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