1122AFC060311 Preachy Aloha Friday!
So, today I am going to try not to be so-o-o-o-o PREACHY. We’ll see if that works! If you’ve felt previous messages were “too preachy,” I hope this one will be easier to read. I also hope you’ll go to the MBN and look up some of those you deleted because they were written just for you.
Luke 7:7
Today I want to look back at something call “The Healing Word.” You can see a copy of it here. The idea for that title comes from Luke 7:7 (there’s a parallel account in Matthew 8:8). A centurion sent some synagogue officials to Jesus seeking healing for his servant. Jesus says he’ll go with the messengers to see the servant. As the near the place, the Centurion sends another messenger out. This servant says his master, the Centurion, wanted Jesus to just turn back because he felt unworthy to be in His company, and the Centurion – who was very well-acquainted with Jewish customs – concluded the message thus: That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Based on this, there is a part in the Eucharistic prayer that goes, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you. Only say the Word and I shall be healed.” From that came a very long series of moments in Mass where I found myself listening for “Today’s Healing Word.”
It is always there. Sometimes the reason for it is clear as can be, and other times I have to reflect on it for hours or even days to understand. Again, if you want to get a sense of what that’s all about click here.
So I am going to just list several words that were “Today’s Healing Word.” I will tell you, briefly I hope, what that word meant to me. In looking back, I found that the words are not as random as I thought. And I hope you will see that too.
Here’s the list: Alleluia, doubt, trust, beloved companion, commander, Light is Love, indwelling, wash, drink, and become a part or come apart.
Alleluia: We are an alleluia people. Alleluia means Praise God (YHWH). Everything we do should be part of our Alleluia or Hallelujah – same difference. When you think about who God is and what He has done for you – yes you (hands off the delete button), don’t you just feel like shouting “Alleluia” over and over again?
Doubt: Thomas gave this word an indelible character in our minds. Doubt is one of Satan’s greatest tools. “Do you really think God will kill you if you eat the fruit?” Doubt and lying go together, because lying is designed to induce doubt. “No! Of course He won’t kill you. He just doesn’t want you to be like Him!”
Trust: Trust and Obey Together, those are the antithesis of Doubt and Lie. Trust is a fundamental ingredient of Love, and not coincidentally, Love is a fundamental ingredient of Trust. When I tell you I love you, Beloved, it also means I trust you. When I tell you I trust you, it is because I love you.
Beloved Companion: Jesus is alive. He has prepared a place for us. He is waiting there for us. He is also here, with us and in us, all the time. But he also sent us a Beloved Companion – the Holy Spirit – to walk with us, to comfort us, to advocate for us and to defend us against the doubt and lies the Devil tries to use against us. The Lovely Companion never leaves us, because Jesus gave the Spirit to us so we would not be alone on our journey. (Look out; the delete button is looking tempting again)
Commander: Our Lord said, “This is my command, that you love one another.” Commanders give commands (DOH!) They have the authority (All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to me Matthew 28:18), and experience (See John 1:1-12) to issue commands for the good of the followers. As the commander orders, we are to obey.
Light is Love: God is Light and God is Love, so Love = Light = God. See 1 John 1:5 and 1 John 4:8. Same God, same attributes, same equality. God is Love is Light is God. If you are in God and God is in you, you are always in the Light and in the Love of God. Sometimes it’s just too easy to know what God is saying, especially when He’s saying it directly to you. (If you haven’t deleted this yet, I hope you’ll stick around. It won’t be too much longer now.)
Indwelling: Who is indwelling in whom? God is in us if we are in Jesus. Jesus in is God and God is in Him, so if we are in Jesus, we are in God. If God is in us, we are in Jesus. I think you get the picture. It’s a paradox. We can be all in one place all at the same time because in God, there is no Time. There is only Light, Life, and Love. We have already begun eternity and because we are in God and God is in us, we share eternity with the Trinity although we did not begin as Eternal, we shall live on that way.
Wash: Since creation, we have washed. We wash our bodies, our food, our garments, and in Christ even our hearts and mind. Revelation 7:14 and Revelation 22:14 talk about washing our robes in the blood of the lamb and making them white as snow. In baptism, we wash away the stain of Original Sin and prepare our souls for eternal union with the Trinity. The blood of the Lamb washes away our guilt as the Waters of Baptism wash away our separation from God. Jesus washes our feet to show us how to be servants. Those who wash are the servants of the servants. Selah.
Drink: Water washes and water is essential for life. We drink water to keep our physical self alive, and drink The Cup to keep our Spiritual self alive. John 6:55-56: For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. If you have the time, find a commentary that talks about the meaning of “True food” and “True drink.” You will see that Jesus is making it quite plain here just who he is.
Become a part or come a part: This is a Golden Oldie in Christian commentary. Come away from the world or you will be taken apart by the world. The World starts and ends with death. Eternity is not in the World or of the World. All this will end – although probably not on October 21, 2011 or December 21, 2012. For some of it it will end sooner than for others. Someday it will all end for everyone. I am happy to know I will be there when that happens – no matter how long it takes!
Beloved, love one another, but love God most. Pray for everyone always.
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved.
Now you can hit delete.
I love you ….
Age Quod Agis; in other words, be faithful in all things at all times by doing what you are doing while you are doing it.
1122AFC060311 Preachy Aloha Friday!
So, today I am going to try not to be so-o-o-o-o PREACHY. We’ll see if that works! If you’ve felt previous messages were “too preachy,” I hope this one will be easier to read. I also hope you’ll go to the MBN and look up some of those you deleted because they were written just for you.
Luke 7:7
Today I want to look back at something call “The Healing Word.” You can see a copy of it here. The idea for that title comes from Luke 7:7 (there’s a parallel account in Matthew 8:8). A centurion sent some synagogue officials to Jesus seeking healing for his servant. Jesus says he’ll go with the messengers to see the servant. As the near the place, the Centurion sends another messenger out. This servant says his master, the Centurion, wanted Jesus to just turn back because he felt unworthy to be in His company, and the Centurion – who was very well-acquainted with Jewish customs – concluded the message thus: That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Based on this, there is a part in the Eucharistic prayer that goes, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you. Only say the Word and I shall be healed.” From that came a very long series of moments in Mass where I found myself listening for “Today’s Healing Word.”
It is always there. Sometimes the reason for it is clear as can be, and other times I have to reflect on it for hours or even days to understand. Again, if you want to get a sense of what that’s all about click here.
So I am going to just list several words that were “Today’s Healing Word.” I will tell you, briefly I hope, what that word meant to me. In looking back, I found that the words are not as random as I thought. And I hope you will see that too.
Here’s the list: Alleluia, doubt, trust, beloved companion, commander, Light is Love, indwelling, wash, drink, and become a part or come apart.
Alleluia: We are an alleluia people. Alleluia means Praise God (YHWH). Everything we do should be part of our Alleluia or Hallelujah – same difference. When you think about who God is and what He has done for you – yes you (hands off the delete button), don’t you just feel like shouting “Alleluia” over and over again?
Doubt: Thomas gave this word an indelible character in our minds. Doubt is one of Satan’s greatest tools. “Do you really think God will kill you if you eat the fruit?” Doubt and lying go together, because lying is designed to induce doubt. “No! Of course He won’t kill you. He just doesn’t want you to be like Him!”
Trust: Trust and Obey Together, those are the antithesis of Doubt and Lie. Trust is a fundamental ingredient of Love, and not coincidentally, Love is a fundamental ingredient of Trust. When I tell you I love you, Beloved, it also means I trust you. When I tell you I trust you, it is because I love you.
Beloved Companion: Jesus is alive. He has prepared a place for us. He is waiting there for us. He is also here, with us and in us, all the time. But he also sent us a Beloved Companion – the Holy Spirit – to walk with us, to comfort us, to advocate for us and to defend us against the doubt and lies the Devil tries to use against us. The Lovely Companion never leaves us, because Jesus gave the Spirit to us so we would not be alone on our journey. (Look out; the delete button is looking tempting again)
Commander: Our Lord said, “This is my command, that you love one another.” Commanders give commands (DOH!) They have the authority (All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to me Matthew 28:18), and experience (See John 1:1-12) to issue commands for the good of the followers. As the commander orders, we are to obey.
Light is Love: God is Light and God is Love, so Love = Light = God. See 1 John 1:5 and 1 John 4:8. Same God, same attributes, same equality. God is Love is Light is God. If you are in God and God is in you, you are always in the Light and in the Love of God. Sometimes it’s just too easy to know what God is saying, especially when He’s saying it directly to you. (If you haven’t deleted this yet, I hope you’ll stick around. It won’t be too much longer now.)
Indwelling: Who is indwelling in whom? God is in us if we are in Jesus. Jesus in is God and God is in Him, so if we are in Jesus, we are in God. If God is in us, we are in Jesus. I think you get the picture. It’s a paradox. We can be all in one place all at the same time because in God, there is no Time. There is only Light, Life, and Love. We have already begun eternity and because we are in God and God is in us, we share eternity with the Trinity although we did not begin as Eternal, we shall live on that way.
Wash: Since creation, we have washed. We wash our bodies, our food, our garments, and in Christ even our hearts and mind. Revelation 7:14 and Revelation 22:14 talk about washing our robes in the blood of the lamb and making them white as snow. In baptism, we wash away the stain of Original Sin and prepare our souls for eternal union with the Trinity. The blood of the Lamb washes away our guilt as the Waters of Baptism wash away our separation from God. Jesus washes our feet to show us how to be servants. Those who wash are the servants of the servants. Selah.
Drink: Water washes and water is essential for life. We drink water to keep our physical self alive, and drink The Cup to keep our Spiritual self alive. John 6:55-56: For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. If you have the time, find a commentary that talks about the meaning of “True food” and “True drink.” You will see that Jesus is making it quite plain here just who he is.
Become a part or come a part: This is a Golden Oldie in Christian commentary. Come away from the world or you will be taken apart by the world. The World starts and ends with death. Eternity is not in the World or of the World. All this will end – although probably not on October 21, 2011 or December 21, 2012. For some of it it will end sooner than for others. Someday it will all end for everyone. I am happy to know I will be there when that happens – no matter how long it takes!
Beloved, love one another, but love God most. Pray for everyone always.
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved.
Now you can hit delete.
I love you ….
Age Quod Agis; in other words, be faithful in all things at all times by doing what you are doing while you are doing it.
