| p2. November 11-20 Commonwealth. Nov 11. �For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.� See Matthew 6:21. In this verse, Jesus illustrates the reason for the spiritual quest: discerning our treasure. It has been said that there are no atheists, that we all worship some god. Many of the gods we worship are not worthy of our allegiance. One way to discover what is important to us is to talk to others. Christian spirituality begins with the words of the bible. Though we use our minds in reading scripture, we must let the words sink into our hearts to gain their full impact. Spirit of God, descend into my heart. Nov 12. �The treasure of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid: then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.� �Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.� See Matthew 13:44-45. What is your treasure? For many people it�s money. How we spend our money reveals what we believe to be important. Lord, guide us in our divestments and investments, to reflect your kingdom. Nov 13. Jesus also said, �With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which when planted in the ground, is the smallest of the seeds on earth, but when it is planted it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.� See Mark 4:30-32. God�s greatest work was done through the frailty of his son. Lord, bless the branches of your mustard seed as they stretch toward the light of your kingdom. Nov 14. And again Jesus said, �To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.� See Luke 13:20-21. Gay and Lesbians in the church are like the yeast the woman used to leaven the bread. We are lightening up the church by our presence, helping it to stretch beyond itself, just as yeast leavens bread. Nov 15. Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, �The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, �look, here it is!� or There it is!� For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you now.� See Luke 17:20-21. Teach me Lord to learn your kingdom into being now. Nov 16. �Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.� See Mark 5:34. A woman who had suffered a hemorrhage for twelve years touched Jesus in a crowd, and she was healed by her belief that simply touching the hem of his garment would make her well. Lord may your spirit heal our minds, and diseases, through our faith in you. Nov 17. �I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last.� See Matthew 20:14-16. In God�s kingdom we all share equally, no matter when we get into the movement. There is no seniority system in God�s kingdom. Thank you, God, for the spiritual wealth you bestow on us equally. Nov 18. My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? See James 2:1. A Mel Gibson look alike appeared at church one Sunday, and several of the men stumbled all over themselves to go out of their way to say hello and be friendly. Other visitors went relatively unnoticed and un-greeted. Demonstrating partiality, you fail to �love your neighbor as yourself�. Lord, inspire us to welcome another as we would want to be welcomed. Nov 19. In the year of jubilee, all property leased for farming was to be returned to the family to whom it belonged. It could not be sold. It is unknown if this was truly the practice of the Israelites, but it is based on a humbling principle: The land is God�s, and we are just tenants. See Leviticus 25:10, 23. When we move on it will have a new tenant. Lord, may we be good tenants and take care of all that is of the Earth. Nov 20. Then Jesus called his disciples and said to them, �Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all that she had to live on.� See Mark 12:43-44. Anyone who has hitchhiked knows that it�s often the drivers in less expensive cars who offer a ride. Surveys reveal that the middle class give proportionately more to charities than the wealthy. Jesus did his own survey of those contributing to the treasury and found this widow, who put in her last penny, more generous than anyone. It seems that those closet to the experience are the most likely to help. |
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