Keep my Mitzvahs...

Mitzvah is the Jewish word for laws or commandments, particularly from God. A mitzvah is a command by which we are to direct our lives. Of course, as creatures endowed with God's spirit we also possess free will.

Laws were historically preceded by proverbs or wise sayings in the lands of Mesopotamia, Sumeria and Egypt. Proverbs are considered wisdom literature. They speak of ways of "right living" that reflect the mores of a society.  What we would call today, "the conventional wisdom." Of course life can demonstrate to us that following the proverbs does not necessarily guarantee a flawless experience. 


Cuineform, an early proto-form of writing developed in Sumeria was some of the first inscription to record actual laws on stone. Being more specific than a proverb, early lists or codices of laws were developed to meet individual circumstances: killing. stealing, abuse, denigrating a god's property. One of the most famous is the Code of Hammurabi: an attempt to set up a judicial system regarding conduct and resultant punishment if the code is not followed.

For the Ten Commandments , we often remember their opening phrase "Thou shalt not" more than the "Remember,"  and "Honor" phrases spoken of in two of the commandments. 


In Jesus' commandment to keep his commandments, how do "remember" and "honor' play a part in carrying out these elements in our daily lives. What are the commandments he wants us to keep? 
What happens if we don't keep them? How is this conventional wisdom for our time?

John 14:15-21
14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.

14:17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

14:18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.

14:19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.

14:20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

14:21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."

Walter Morton for Journey Across the Line

DEATH BY STONING

A Somali man prays not to be stoned to death

Reportedly, Billy Graham once said, "There is nothing as bad as bad religion."

For today's lectionary choice, we are looking at the stoning of Stephen. Considered the first biblical martyr of Christianity, it was the same form of punishment used against the woman caught in adultery that Jesus rescued from punishment. The image shown is preparation for the stoning of a Somali man caught in adultery.

What are the important aspects of Stephen's story to you? What does Stephens ordeal say about his faith when Christianity was still in its early days as a "movement?"

On the other side of the issue: How do we compare this with two millennia of Christian tradition? How do we create a world that no longer desires to stone, burn or destroy that which is human? 


Acts 7:55-60
7:55 But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

7:56 "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"

7:57 But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him.

7:58 Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

7:59 While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

7:60 Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.

Walter Morton for Journey Across the Line

PSALM 23

Today from the lectionary, we will be looking at Psalm 23. Traditionally thought to be written by David, the Psalms are hymns, or what might be called music for the soul of man. The ability to calm and soothe the anxieties of our existence is no small task. One of the phrases the Psalm recounts is "he leads me beside still waters." On a planet two-thirds covered in water that's an important thing to know.

 In our class we will take a look at the 23rd Psalm as it comes from the Hebrew and the meanings that has for our lives. So read though the Psalm and see what is meaningful to you.

 Psalm 23
23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;

23:3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.

23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff-- they comfort me.

23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.

Walter Morton for Journey Across the Line

THE EMMAUS ROAD SHOW

The Emmaus Road Show

Today, we look at the narrative of  when Jesus shows himself to two on the road to Emmaus. It comes after his resurrection. He appears unrecognized at first and then becomes recognized as they journey forward. 

It appears that many times we do not recognize the value of persons, events or things in our lives until we have spent time with them. There is a popular weekly television program that goes by the name of The Antiques Road Show where persons bring in their items and heirlooms and are often surprised to find the value to be worth more than they ever thought. And with each item there is always, always a story that goes with it.

The image shown  here is a road of antiquity, thought to be part of the road to Emmaus. It is narrow, overgrown and in need of repair.

In the lesson today, from the gospel of Luke, we have the appearance of Jesus to two who are making a journey. How did Jesus show them that they were worth more than they ever thought? How does he widen their experience, give them growth and repair their road?

Luke 24:13-35
24:13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,

24:14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.

24:15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,

24:16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

24:17 And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad.

24:18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?"

24:19 He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

24:20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.

24:21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place.

24:22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning,

24:23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.

24:24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him."

24:25 Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!

24:26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?"

24:27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

24:28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on.

24:29 But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them.

24:30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.

24:31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.

24:32 They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?"

24:33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.

24:34 They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!"

24:35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Walter Morton for Journey Across the Line

SEEING IS BELIEVING?

In our lesson from the lectionary for this May 1st, the first Sunday after Easter, we look at the appearance of Jesus to his followers. But it seems Thomas didn't get the email, so he wasn't there. Jesus appears again and this time he shows his hands so Thomas might believe.

Could the message on the hand in the image have been something that Jesus was attempting to also communicate to Thomas?


What does it mean to believe? Is it different than faith? If so, what are the differences?


Have you ever had a time in your life when it didn't seem to matter what you believed but rather if you had faith?


John 20:19-31
20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."

20:20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

20:21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

20:22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

20:23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

20:24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

20:25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

20:26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."

20:27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe."

20:28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

20:29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

20:30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.

20:31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Walter Morton for Journey Across the Line

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION...

This is Easter, also known as resurrection Sunday. It is the culmination of both Passion week as well as the entire Cristian calendar. For Jesus it was the fulfillment of his ministry and calling from the Father.
He went willingly, of his own volition to crucifixion. His choice remained his even up to the last evening before in the garden of Gethsemane.

"Freedom of Expression" is the title of the lesson for today. I have chosen two images to illustrate this concept.. The first image on the left is an art piece by Andreas Serrano, an artist who as a child was reared as a strict Catholic. This expression was vandalized with a hammer just a week ago, this Palm Sunday, as it hung in a museum in Avignon, France. It has been a highly controversial freedom of expression since it was created in 1987 and has gained the name "Piss Christ."

The image on the right, found in a Google image search, is one that interested me for its juxtaposition of the nails and Jesus, but then so is the juxtaposition of the liquid media and Jesus in the Serrano image.

What do these images mean to us in the light of free expression?

How was Jesus on the cross an "Expression of Freedom?"

As Paul speaks in Colossians, how does that relate to our expression of Christ?

Colossians 3:1-4
3:1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,

3:3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

3:4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

THE PALM PARTY...

Hardy Palm Tree Farms

In the passages for today we look at the entering of Jesus into Jerusalem on what has become known as Palm Sunday.

The event is accompanied by a festive atmosphere. As Jesus enters Jerusalem,  everyone is crying "Hosanna in the Highest."

However, by the end of the week, it appears this same crowd was crying, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him." A lesson in how fickle the crowd can be. So Jesus finds his relationship with the crowd turned by week's end.

For the crowd, in the end, Jesus was most likely just "another messiah" entering Jerusalem. Possibly a somewhat routine event in the Holy City of David. So get a rent-a-donkey. Oh, and order some more palm trees from Hardy Farms, we're running low.

However, by Sunday, Jesus stands having followed and accomplished his calling before God. And the truth is that his actions were for the very people who populated the crowds of both popularity and condemnation. This week is known as Christ's Passion. His passion does not wane for the people or for his calling.

What about your passion? Have you ever had an experience that started out glorious but by the end of the week was a complete dilemma? Have you ever been through both the hallelujah and the dilemma and finally find yourself standing resurrected in accomplishment?


Where are you presently in your passion experience?


How does Jesus' passion instruct yours?



Matthew 21:1-11
21:1 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,

21:2 saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me.

21:3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately."

21:4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

21:5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

21:6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;

21:7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.

21:8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

21:9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

21:10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?"

21:11 The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."