Reflection for Feb. 27, 2022

Always enjoy your reflections. With Spring around the corner it's a good time to do a little mental housekeeping.

Thank you, Renae. Your words are a great reminder of Jesus as one who grew up in a carpenter shop: wooden beams, splinters) and that Jesus was close to nature: (the palm tree, the potter, the fruit tree). How beautiful to see Jesus in his humanity, his love and his care. Many thanks!

I love the image of "pulling back the husks in order to get to the KERNELS of LIFE-GIVING NUTRIENTS;" tearing away our 'masks' of having it all-together, or being so 'perfect' in the eyes of the world, when in reality, we are all hurting (wounded) people on a journey-toward-wholeness.

But I much prefer to hear LUKE's TRANSLATION of JESUS' invitation for us to be "COMPASSIONATE, as GOD IS COMPASSIONATE," or another word that is used (instead of the word, 'perfect'), is MERCIFUL.

I say this because the 'worldly' version of "perfection" (or 'success') is in things like having a Million-Dollar Job, being a Number "10" on the scale of 1-10 in 'physical beauty / handsomeness,' having not only one home in which to live comfortably, but adding more and more possessions and assets, even to the point of owning 'vacation homes,' (even in other states), etc ..... , etc...

JESUS doesn't consider any of those as measures of 'success' or 'perfection.' JESUS considers the ability to 'suffer WITH the sufferings of others (EMPATHY),' the 'greatest' measure of being like Our Father-in-Heaven.

THIS is what I strive for.

THIS "COMPASSIONATE, MERCIFUL PRESENCE" is what I want to be about.

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Luke 6: 33-38

33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

36 "BE MERCIFUL, JUST AS YOUR FATHER IS MERCIFUL." (New International Translation)

36 "BE COMPASSIONATE JUST AS YOUR FATHER IS COMPASSIONATE." (Common English Translation)

Judging Others

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Good reflectin to start Lent.