So yesterday I had two pretty deep conversations with two people, Esther and my husband. I think it’s really nice to take a step back and reflect/see what is really going on sometimes, which is what I got out of both. But ultimately, the conversation really led up to the fact that there is so much need for prayer. Ironically, I didn’t really pray last night because time was running out and I was too tired after. But I really do believe that there is something bigger at work when we discuss these things, I guess almost in a “re-gathering” of the troops and understanding the spiritual battles before us. At times, when we talk about people, the church, our lives, everything always seems a bit hopeless in a way. Things may be going well, but deep down, there are always things around us or inside of us that leads to a sense of “what am I doing here” or “where am I going to end up?” And I think the fact that we have faith and prayer to fall back on is really useful. And sometimes I wonder if I really do pray enough. I think maybe the Holy Spirit is really urging me to seek God in all types of solutions. And I’m not really living up to it currently. And perhaps that is the next thing that needs to change.
Also, my husband and I talked a lot about the workings of church and how things are going. Sometimes it seems a bit dismal. There are so many problems we can observe and many things gone wrong. Thankfully, ET is a very wise and humble man when it comes to things like this. I think even when I’ve given up, he tells me there is hope and good in something better, even when I don’t see it. It’s easy for me to point to the bad and things that need to be improved, especially when it’s around that time of month, but I think ET knows the concept of seeing the good through the midst of the bad. And I am glad for that reminder.
Luke 14: Jesus at the Pharisee’s House
1. One of the first thing Jesus does is rebuke the Pharisees (haha no surprise) with the legal issues they have with healing on the Sabbath. Apparently, back in those times, it was a bad thing to heal/help on the Sabbath. But Jesus directly counters that mindset and heals someone with dropsy and sends them on their way. When He questions the Pharisees, they remain silent. In today’s times, we don’t have these rules, but we definitely have legalism going on. For me personally, I tend to judge people who don’t come out to church a lot or at least on time in a somewhat less positive view, unconsciously. But in the end, it’s not about legalism, it’s about extending grace and humbling oneself. I think that’s what the Pharisees were missing because in the next parable about the banquet, Jesus states that it’s a good thing to humble oneself: “for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
2. The other part that struck me about the parable was the fact that Jesus emphasizes a point that we should invite those who cannot repay us to our houses and be hospitable to them. This idea is something we don’t always practice, since we tend to invite church people over all the time and then hence in a way, nobody really out of the ordinary. But I think, being hospitable has to also do with inviting those who cannot pay us back, for “you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Do I know anyone really to invite that’ “poor, crippled, lame and/or blind”? No. I always think that I should probably get involved in some type of community service to expose myself to different people. But haven’t had a chance to yet. Maybe it’s time to take something up…..but I’m not sure what.
