Bible Reflections for March/April 2005
Bible Reflections for March/April 2005
(Ordinarily the passages indicated will be the text for the sermon of that Sunday, but occasionally another text may be used for the sermon.)
Sunday, March 20
Read: Matthew 21:1-11
Consider: Jesus enters Jerusalem in triumph to face the life-wrenching events of the final week of his earthly life. He rides a donkey in fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 62:11; Zechariah 9:9) and comes as a king "commanding peace to the nations." But what sort of king is this? No mighty display of power -- no legion of storm troops to overthrow the oppressor -- no throne from which to lord it over his subjects. This is an ironical king, who comes with a different kind of power, the power of love. Do the people shouting their "Hosanna's!" understand? How soon these shouts will turn from "Hosanna!" to "Crucify!"
Reflect:
+ In what ways does King Jesus enter your life?
+ What do you think motivated the enthusiasm of the Palm Sunday crowd? Can you identify with it?
+ When has your faith had a "Hosanna!" quality to it? Given you "something to shout about"
+ What attitude are we to have for those (and "those" may sometimes be "us") who bring great enthusiasm to faith but miss the deeper meaning and message?
+ Can you visualize yourself in the Palm Sunday crowd? What about the Good Friday mob?
+ Jesus' coming left "the whole city in turmoil"; when might Jesus bring turmoil before he brings peace? Has your life ever been cast in turmoil by welcoming Jesus into it?
Sunday, March 27
Sunday, March 27
Read: Matthew 28:1-10
Consider: Stories of the empty tomb do not prove the resurrection, but tell us
of its significance. There are many possible explanations for an empty tomb;
Easter is an affirmation of faith, not a provable proposition. It is God's
power, not human immortality, that brings about resurrection -- note the
earthquake and the presence of the angel pointing to resurrection as a divine
interruption and a manifestation of God's glory and power over death. No
wonder the women who came to the tomb expecting a corpse needed to be told "Do
not be afraid." Even so, they left the tomb with both "fear and great joy" --
Easter still calls for a fearful reverence as well as joyful "Alleluia!'s."
Reflect:
+ What does Easter mean for you in this life? How does it change your
perspective on things?
+ What is the difference between "the immortality of the soul" and "the
resurrection of the body"
+ Paul speaks of what happens to those resurrected as being given a "spiritual
body"; what do you think he means?
+ Why might it take courage to believe in the resurrection?
+ How might our Easter practices and traditions more appropriately reflect the
meaning of the day and season?
Sunday, April 3
Read: John 20:19-31
Consider: This is the Evangelist John's version of Pentecost: the risen
Christ appears to his disciples and breathes the Holy Spirit into them,
empowering them to be "sent" as his witnesses. This Spirit both challenges and
comforts, empowers and embraces, and transforms disciples (students) into
apostles (those who are "sent out"). The Spirit also imparts a sense of
"peace" amid life's turmoils. Thomas at first doubts, until he can see the
visible signs of Christ's wounds; but when he later sees the risen Christ, he
confesses his faith even before getting his "proof." Faith comes by being
"grasped" by Jesus -- not by any "proof" of his resurrection.
Reflect:
+ What are some of the signs of the presence of the Holy Spirit that you know
in your life? That you see around you?
+ When has the peace imparted by Christ seen you through a time of turmoil?
How did you realize that peace?
+ Do you think of yourself primarily as a person of faith...or a skeptic...or
a combination? Are able to doubt even your doubts?
+ In what ways might God be "sending" you as an apostle (one who is sent)
into some arena of life? Where are places you might quietly witness to your
faith...and how?
Sunday, April 10
Read: Luke 24:13-35
Consider: This is a gripping story of heartbroken disciples, believing Jesus
to have been killed, making their way to a village called Emmaus and being
joined by a stranger on the road. We know who the stranger is, but they are
not able to recognize him. Their hearts burn as he interprets scripture. And
then they invite him to join them for supper, and as the bread is broken, they
recognize the risen Christ in their midst. Immediately they spring up and run
the seven miles back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples of their life-changing
discovery.
Reflect:
+ Do you think God still approaches us as a "stranger on the road" in some
way? Have you ever met a stranger who proved to be an unexpected blessing to
you?
+ Has reading or studying the scriptures ever prompted your heart to "burn
within you" in excited discovery?
+ Many think Luke was trying to lift up the view that we find Jesus both in
the Word (the Bible) and the Sacrament (the breaking of bread in the Lord's
Supper). Do you sense God's presence in the Lord's Supper (communion)?
+ How would you impart the message of this passage to someone who is living
through a time of broken hopes and shattered dreams?
Sunday, April 17
Read: Acts 2:42-47
Consider: This is a snapshot of life in the very earliest church -- just after
the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost had transformed uncertain disciples
into a visionary church. Possessions were shared, goods held in common, the
poor were cared for. When they gathered for table fellowship, it was not only
the ritual of the Lord's Supper but also included the practical sharing of
food with those who were hungry. They were also ready learners, seeking to
know more about their faith.
Reflect:
+ What are ways your church can continue the tradition of mutual sharing for
the common good? How can it attend to the God-commissioned task of feeding the
hungry?
+ Is the role of the church in helping those in need to be primarily a
charitable-like organization addressing specific needs as they arise and
donating food, clothing, time -- or to be an advocate of the poor and hungry
with government, seeking to bring about a more just society that cares for its
disadvantaged?
+ What course of learning do you pursue to grow your faith day by day -- or if
you do not have such a plan, what might you do to begin to be a "learner" as
well as a worshiper?
Sunday, April 24
Read: Acts 7:55-60
Consider: Stephen is the first martyr of the infant church, the first to die for his convictions and loyalty to Christ. Stephen was one of the early "deacons" of the church, serving food to the poor (see Acts 6:1). Luke says he was a powerful preacher "full of faith and the Holy Spirit" (6:5). He is brought before the temple's council and tells them that just as Israel long ago persecuted the prophets, so have they now killed "the Righteous One" -- Jesus of Nazareth. Enraged by his speech, the council members drag him
outside and stone him to death.
Reflect:
+ What in life for you is worth dying for?
+ What kinds of sacrifices, short of death, might followers of Jesus face today in our land? in other lands?
+ If you were called to account for your faith, would you be able to tell another person or a group of people what are the beliefs you hold dear
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