Leaven in the Meal

Week 50: More than Many Sparrows

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus notes, in financial terms, that the cost of sparrows is a very small amount of money but that God takes note of every single fallen sparrow. He then says to his disciples that God knows even the number of hairs on each of their heads. He explains that therefore, they should not fear because they are worth more than many sparrows.

This comparison was provided to the disciples as Jesus was providing them his charge that they go out to teach his gospel. His intent seems to be to share with them their importance in God’s eyes, so as to dispel any fear that they might have in completing their missions. Jesus shared with his disciples that God not only is aware of you, but that He knows you thoroughly and personally and cares about you. He’s saying that God is watching out for you.

Now, Jesus was clear that this did not mean that no physical harm would come to the disciples. He made clear that the mission to which they had been assigned was a dangerous one. But instead, what he was saying was that no matter what happened to their bodies, as they completed God’s work to which they were assigned, they would receive the reward of eternal life that God had promised. God would provide for their souls. Jesus tells his disciples to “…fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul…” Matthew 10:28.

This passage is saying: God knows you; God loves you; and as long as you are serving His will, you have nothing to fear. Go out and serve confidently, because you have Jesus’ assurance that God will provide for your soul. Jesus says that, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32. So,whatever it is that God has assigned to us, be it building, creating, sharing, educating, loving, nurturing, healing, or the many varied duties that each of us is given, we should do them with the confidence that God’s loving watchfulness is over us, so we have nothing to fear.

Your Reflection

How has fear stopped you from completing God’s work?
When you examine your fear, what is it that you are afraid of and why?
Does knowing of God’s watchful protection for your soul ease your fear?

Week 49: Sheep Among Wolves

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus tells his disciples that he is sending them out to preach his gospel like sheep among wolves. He directs them to therefore be as wise as snakes, and as peaceful as doves.

Jesus is talking to the twelve disciples that he had recruited and trained to teach and preach his gospel. He directed them to go out among their own people to teach, as well as to heal and give. He told them not to take any provisions with them, but to rely upon the goodness of those to whom they were preaching to provide for them food, shelter, and clothing as needed.

With the acknowledgement that Jesus was sending them out as sheep among wolves, he let them know that their mission would be dangerous. The disciples were risking their lives in complying with the direction Jesus had assigned to them. The wolves were those who would do anything, including murder, in order to maintain the belief system, the hierarchy, and the way of life that they had come to know.

These twelve were hand-picked by Jesus to become “fishers of men.” I believe that we are each handed our own directives and missions and, as it was for the disciples, the way forward may be difficult or even dangerous. What Jesus seems to be saying is that just because the road ahead is rocky, doesn’t mean it’s not the correct way to go. For each of us, we must follow in the direction that the spirit provides to keep moving forward on the path that Jesus would have us go.

I know that for me, sometimes, I can get discouraged when something doesn’t work out as I would like. I start to think that maybe the difficult path is telling me that I’m going the wrong way. This scripture says to me, though, that just because a path is easy, doesn’t make it right. In fact, the opposite may be true. If everything in your path is easy, it may be that you are not trying hard enough. You are not taking enough risks. You are not fulfilling your potential.

As for how to navigate the path ahead, Jesus provides the direction to be as wise as serpents, but as harmless as doves. He is telling his disciples to stay smart, but always cool-headed. Use your knowledge, your intelligence, and your experience to overcome all obstacles, but never let adversity drive you to hatred or revenge. Fulfill your mission with wisdom and with love for everyone that you encounter, regardless of whether they greet you as a friend or attack you as enemy. In order to complete your mission, the way that you complete it matters. Without the wisdom and the love, your mission remains incomplete.

Your Reflection

How do you maintain clarity about your mission when your path becomes difficult to navigate?
How do you remain loving in the presence of those who are actively working against you?

Week 48: Bread of Life

“I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:48-51

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus compares himself to the bread of life. He notes that the ancestors of those listening to him teach ate manna, but are now dead. Jesus compares himself with a bread that can provide eternal life. He calls himself a living bread which came down from heaven that if any man consumes this bread, that man will live forever. He explains that the bread that he will give is his own body, which he will sacrifice for the life of everyone in the world.

Jesus makes reference to Jewish history where it is recorded that God provided the Israelites with manna or bread from heaven during their long journey out of Egypt. Although the manna was able to sustain their ancestors during their wanderings, it did not sustain them forever. Jesus tells the people that God has given them bread again. But this time God has provided a living bread that when they take it in and it becomes a part of them, will sustain them forever. This living bread will provide them with eternal life. Jesus explains further that he is the living bread and will sacrifice himself for their lives and the lives of everyone in the world.

While making this comparison with the miracle of the manna, Jesus makes a distinction that as the manna was provided for the benefit of the Israelites on their journey, this new miracle is for the benefit of everyone in the world. The scope of the miracle that he is describing is more expansive and encompasses not just the Israelites, but everyone who is willing to receive it.

Jesus further explains how this living bread is to be received. By comparing himself with the living bread, Jesus is noting that as with any food, there is a requirement that a person eat or take in the nourishment before they receive any benefit. In the same way, Jesus’ sacrifice of his body only benefits someone who has taken in the message of Jesus’ teachings and incorporated them into their lives. It was Jesus, when he was tempted in the desert during his fast that said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 By incorporating this living bread into our lives, each of us receives the benefit of Jesus’ sacrifice, which is eternal life.

Your Reflection

Are you willing to receive the benefit of Jesus’ sacrifice for yourself?
How do you incorporate Jesus’ teachings into your life?

Week 47: Cast the First Stone

“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” John 8:7

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus says to those who were seeking to stone a woman for adultery, that the accuser who had not sinned, should be the first to cast a stone at her.

This interaction came when those who felt threatened by Jesus and his appeal, sought to try to set him up to say something contradictory to the religious law. By this time the crowd knew Jesus’ teachings about love, compassion, and forgiveness. Those who brought in this woman, were trying to get him to say that the principles that he was teaching superseded the religious law so that they could accuse him of heresy. This accused adulteress was brought before Jesus where he was asked, “Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?” John 8:5 Jesus at first appears to ignore the question. But when asked again, Jesus tells them that the accuser who had not sinned should cast the first stone.

The accusers all dispersed and went away because none of them could say that they, themselves were without sin. Jesus was left alone with the woman accused of adultery after all who were set to condemn her had fled. He tells her that, “…Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:11 Jesus notes that “Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and my Father that sent me.” John 8:15-16

This was not a parable that Jesus told, but was a situation that was brought to him, that he used to teach a lesson about man’s judgment versus God’s judgment. I think that Jesus is saying that God is his own judge and will punish or reward for compliance in his own time and in his own way. We may pass and enforce earthly laws for our own reasons, but we should realize that those reasons are “after the flesh” and not of God. Even the best intended legislators, judges, officers, or even voters do not stand in the place of God on earth to enforce his judgment. They can only enforce the judgment of man. We should not fool ourselves into believing that the laws and judgment of man are a substitute for God. Judgment for making or breaking his laws is up to God alone.

Your Reflection

Have you found yourself standing in judgment of others as though you were God?
How difficult is it to show compassion instead of judgment for others?
What is it that you want for yourself – compassion or judgment?
What do you think breaking the laws of men mean for someone’s place in eternity?

Week 46: The Rejected Stone

“…Did ye never read in the scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?’ Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” Matthew 21:42-44

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus is making reference to a scripture known to his disciples. In it, the stone that had been rejected by the builder has now been placed into the most important position in the structure of the building. Jesus says that in that same way, the kingdom of heaven will be taken from those who previously believed that they held that honor and given to those who had previously been rejected. Whoever falls on those who had been rejected, will be broken. On whomever those who had been rejected fall, they will be crushed to powder.

This parable is one in which Jesus speaks of those who believe themselves to be entitled to the kingdom of heaven, and how that belief is misplaced. Jesus clarifies that those who receive the kingdom are those that “bring forth the fruits thereof” and are not of any particular heritage or position of honor. It is instead those who produce the fruits that have been assigned to them, those who honor and fulfill their roles as ambassadors and servants of God’s love throughout the world, who will be placed in the most important positions in the structure of the kingdom. It is only through the fruits of our loving, good works that we can earn ourselves a place in eternity, not through entitlement or position.

“And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.” Matthew 21:45 Although this parable may have been meant to shake the priests and Pharisees from their place of comfort and complacency, to me, it is also a message of hope for so many others. To those who may have felt rejected as a circumstance of their birth, or their position in life, or their mistakes or prior bad acts, there is a message here that even a “reject” can earn for themselves the most important place in the kingdom.

Your Reflection

Have you become complacent with your position in God’s kingdom or do you continue to work?
Have you seen yourself as a reject? How can you work in hope toward the fulfillment of God’s mission for you?
Have you seen others as rejects? How can you help yourself to see the value of others?

Week 45: The Least of These

“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me to meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:34-40

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus is describing a conversation between himself and those he identifies as the righteous at their time of judgment. In it, the King says to the righteous, come and inherit the kingdom that has been prepared for you. He also gives them the reasons that they were chosen to receive this gift. The reason the righteous are receiving eternal life is that they were generous in providing to Jesus when he was hungry and thirsty; they were welcoming with Jesus when he was a stranger; they were concerned enough to provide clothing to Jesus when he needed it; they were compassionate with Jesus when he was battling illness; and they were willing to give their time to Jesus when he was imprisoned. The righteous were confused. They asked Jesus when they had ever seen him in need and rendered aid. He answered that whenever they had helped any one of the least of his brothers, that they had helped him.

One of the takeaways that this story provides is that the spirit of Jesus is in all of us. So, to help anyone in need at any time is to help Jesus himself. Also, I take from this a love from Jesus for every one of us. As a mother, I think about my love for my son and how when he was born, I wanted everyone that loved me to love him too. I wanted to surround him with a loving community. And I feel, as Jesus expresses in this story, that anything that anyone does to help him, is not only a gift for him but also a gift for me. To me, that’s love. Because you love someone so much and want the best for them, that anyone who does anything for them, also does it for you.

Another lesson in this story is that Jesus is showing us the qualities that make a person righteous in his eyes. Those qualities are generosity of gifts, generosity of time, and generosity of compassion for your neighbors. The idea is that the righteous care enough to meet someone at their need and to provide comfort and care when and where needed. Giving food to the hungry and clothes to the naked is giving what is needed to those who need it when they need it.

Finally, “the least of these” is a phrase that Jesus uses to identify someone who may not be able to repay. He’s telling us to be compassionate and generous to those who may not have the ability to ever give to us in return. So, we should give without expectation of reimbursement from the person to whom we are giving. Because, as Jesus is telling us, our repayment will come in the form of the eternal life that we are giving ourselves.

Your Reflection

Are you loving and generous only to those who you feel can repay you in some way?
How can we increase our outreach to those who need it?
Do you believe some people to be unworthy of your generosity? How can you change that?

Week 44: As Little Children

“…Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.” Matthew 18:3-5

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus says to his disciples that whoever does not become as a little child, will not enter the kingdom of heaven. He clarifies that the quality of humility that a child possesses should be emulated. He says that whoever receives someone who is humble as a little child in his name, receives Jesus.

This comparison was provided to the disciples in response to their question, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Matthew 18:1 The disciples were asking Jesus to rank individuals and their place in heaven. Perhaps they were trying to find out their place, given their personal relationship with Jesus. In response, Jesus calls over a random child who was present and set him among them and basically says, him. He is the greatest. It appears that Jesus is saying that in heaven there is no ranking, everyone is equal in God’s eyes. He’s saying that anyone and everyone can have the personal relationship with Jesus that the disciples had.

Jesus also points out that the quality of children to be emulated is humility. Being humble means maintaining an outlook that we are not above anyone spiritually. This does not mean that we all have the same gifts or the same calling, but instead it means that whatever your gifts or your calling, they are not greater than your neighbor’s gifts or his calling in God’s eyes. The trappings of our earthly life including wealth rankings, education rankings, career rankings, status in a church, or even social media followers do not place us higher than any child picked at random. I think that Jesus was telling his disciples to stop concerning themselves with rankings and instead concern themselves with changing their perspective to see that we are all the same. We are all as children, with no regard for any divisions that separate us.

Your Reflection

Do you think that your relationship with Jesus entitles you to preferential treatment?
How do we learn to value ourselves and our achievements without comparing our achievements with the accomplishments or shortcomings of others?

Week 43: The Hypocrites

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Matthew 23:27-28

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus compares those who were responsible for judging the compliance with religious and cultural laws with a beautifully built tomb. The tomb can be ornate and quite beautiful, but inside it is filled with death. He says that these men appear righteous on the outside, but are full of hypocrisy and sin. In essence, these judges are dead inside.

During the time of Jesus’ teaching, there developed a class of people who took as their duty the role of cultural and religious critic. They seemed to be a constant presence to judge the righteousness of others in comparison to the written law. Jesus’ critique in this comparison is based upon their hypocrisy. In this passage, Jesus calls these scribes and Pharisees hypocrites. That means that they claim righteousness, but their actions do not line up with that claim. Jesus says of these men, “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” Matthew 23:3 So, in other words, do as they say, not as they do.

Jesus also notes that these judges are quick to praise the historical prophets, but are just as quick to denounce anyone who rises anew in their prophetic tradition. He notes that “Wherefore behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:” Matthew 23:34

Jesus’ words were an admonishment to the ministers and judges of his day. They also show that we all should be discerning when looking at others to guide us. Not only can we listen to beautiful words and be amazed by the prestige that can surround people in positions that are admired in society, but we must also observe the works of our leaders to see that their works align with their beautiful words and their high status. If not, they may be hypocrites and we should follow the words that are proper, but not follow their example in a path that leads to death.

Your Reflection

Have you ever followed someone you later realized was a hypocrite? What did you do?
Have you been a hypocrite and criticized others for a flaw that you, yourself have?
Why do people feel the desire to judge each other?

Week 42: The Unjust Steward

“…There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” Luke 16:1-8

My Summary & Reflection

A rich man had an agent that worked on his behalf who, he discovered, had been wasting his goods. The rich man told the agent to give an accounting of his goods because he will be fired. The steward wondered what he was going to do. He resolved that he would work with those indebted to his employer, so that he will gain favor with them. He then went to each of his employer’s debtors and reduced their bills to the employer by fifty percent. The rich man then commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely.

Jesus follows up this parable by saying, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Luke 16:10-13

The agent went to the rich man’s debtors and reduced their bills by fifty percent. Why did he do this? Was it because the bills had been over inflated with his own commission? Or was it because to get something for his client was better than getting nothing at all? It’s not clear to me the reason for the agent’s actions and the rich man’s commendation of his action.

The follow up however, is clear. Jesus appears to be saying that a person shows his character through the small jobs, the seemingly trivial moments. If a person lacks commitment or is unrighteous, then that will be revealed even in the smallest moments. The same character that person displays during minor jobs is the same character that will be displayed on something grander. Therefore, only those who have proven themselves worthy through small tasks will be tasked with something greater.

It could be that the reason that we have not yet been tasked with the greatness we aspire to is that we have not shown the commitment to the small tasks that we’ve been assigned. It is only after that commitment is shown, that we can hope to be ready for something greater.

Your Reflection

How can you prove yourself worthy of greater responsibilities to serve God?
How well do you shepherd the resources (time, talent, finances, etc.) to which you have been entrusted?

Week 41: A Kingdom Divided

“…How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.” Mark 3:23-27

My Summary & Reflection

In this parable, Jesus asks rhetorically, how can evil cast out evil? He notes that a kingdom in conflict with itself cannot survive. Similarly, a house in conflict against itself cannot survive. He notes that no one can enter a strong man’s house and vandalize his goods, unless he first incapacitates the strong man. It is only then, that the strong man’s house can be vandalized.

Jesus gives this parable after the scribes of the day, because of his ability to cast out evil, accused him of being a servant of evil. They charged that the healing that Jesus performed and that had been witnessed by many, was a result of the fact that Jesus himself was evil. Jesus’ statement that, “how can Satan cast out Satan?” meant that only good can cast out evil. Evil cannot cast itself out.

In the parable, the strong man’s house would be the house or the domain of evil. Of it, Jesus says that in order to vandalize that evil domain, first the strong man of the house must be restrained. Otherwise, the strong man would not allow his domain to be vandalized. In it, Jesus appears to be describing how it is that evil is cast out. He first finds the evil and binds it, it is only then that the house can be freed of it.

Jesus notes that a kingdom or a house divided against itself cannot stand. In other words, for both good and evil, everything has to work toward a common purpose, or failure will result. Therefore, if the goal of your house, church, business, etc. is good then the steps that are taken by your household to achieve your goal should be toward good. If you have members of your team working against you, then failure will ultimately be the result.

Your Reflection

Are the members of your household, church, business, or organization aligned toward the purpose that God has for you?
How can you remove the evil that is infecting your life or the life of your household?