Matthew 11:29-30
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me;
for I am gentle
and humble in heart,
and you
will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
This passage isn't the easiest of passages when the years have been Plague Recovery.
Last year, I had Covid. And the Post said, "I'm cheerful to know I'm not dying."
One of the benefits of reaching the 6th decade of life: looking back and seeing The Blessing. When enduring something difficult, we don't always know. Memories see challenges were met. And we have two ways to look back, we can feel badly we were not omnipotent, or we can see we endured. Did our best and met the situation. But instead, it's really best to see we are overcoming with all the prayers and hope set on Jesus Christ.
Queen Elizabeth said, "Good memories are our second chance for Happiness." Yes, exactly. We realize we can meet the situations with faith.
Even when we have been to concerts and listened to comedy stand up, the people living the beautiful life, the golden lives, have some intense and profound things to say about meeting the Plague and the emotions of the planet becoming rocky. No one particularly feels life is offering applause and a pillow with medals, bestowing generous love and warmth. We could all, everyone, each of us, the worldwide people of God and ALL use some gentleness, gentleness of heart, rest for the soul and ease and light. Of Jesus Christ.
We don't want to be the people who submit to a yoke of slavery. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
The Revised Common Lectionary is a wonderful, beautiful three-year cycle of weekly lections used to varying degrees by the vast majority of Protestant churches and Roman Catholic Churches. Since the early church, and seems to have developed out of the practices of the second temple period. This touches Hebrews 9, speaking of the ongoing operations of the Second Temple.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
As we have seen with great intensity
and hopes for the Pew Attendance to increase worldwide,
we have to wonder on... ponder, think about the Lectionary asking us to begin - at the end of the Scriptures. It's difficult to speak of the end, as we have done this for several years, on many different levels.
World War I and II have been faulted for rolling the Lectionary and not bringing to the forefront the stress and anguish of war. Many left and the Churches declined to follow in the calendar instead of insight.
In no manner, in no insinuation am I suggesting The Word of God in the whole, entire, glorious manner should be avoided. I'm saying, we should have the ability to stop the train, if the train track has been halted, interrupted or is in danger. If it would be refreshing, to study the end of the world after Easter has been Celebrated. A Celebration of the importance of What God has Won for Us All in Jesus Christ.
Christmas can be stressful. In economic times. In grief. Times of upheaval. And to go to Church and studying death, can become a time people avoid. Asking the Church population and the Clergy to increase and build in size, while adding straw to make bricks. Let me emphasize, if one time the Lectionary is changed, then it must be, must be, and completely must be placed into the Church year. We need the Lectionary as much as we need the Hebrews 9. Ecclesiastes 3. The Resurrection. We need to have all the Word of God read. But when people head to Church to be with the Joy of the Season and encounter ideas of death - perhaps this isn't the time.
Suppose you have a new neighbor, so the neighborhood gets together to celebrate the new arrival. If one of the neighbors decides this is the time to talk about the new Funeral Home with great rates and new opportunities to be buried together - the new neighbor might not come back for the next time. It's a BBQ and discussion of cremation. Is this rude. Not when I remember my college friend who wanted me to tell her why we only discuss some people at Church, what did they do? Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
How far out are we from Biblical Illiteracy? Not as far as we used to be. And yet.
Why can't we have the ability to have an "if the train looks down the line to see the life and death needs of the train population". It's Only ... Salvation. Not Church by Church, but as the Body of Christ, the Head would vote upon never, never, never elimination of the Lectionary, but moving the flowers to show the entire arrangement in Strength, Love and Joy.
Would Jesus do this? Yes, when He discusses the payment plan of Matthew 20. God doesn't just pay the men who work all day. Some are paid, who show up for an hour.
Is the discussion merely conflict? No. This is Salvation in Jesus Christ.
We have the 2nd Chance for More Happiness.
Good memories are our second chance for Happiness
The clarity of remembering the detrimental power of overcoming adversity and finding the Lectionary created many to leave the Church after World War I and II. NOT forsaking any Word of God but placing the Liturgy to speak to the events shaking and shaping the world in an orderly manner. Creating Less Chaos and Building the Gift of Reconciliation to Every Word of God. Happiness of Creating Interest in the God of Love, God of Wisdom, God of encouragement. Jesus would eat the grains of wheat, saving from falling on the ground, even on the Sabbath.
"Often a child's helplessness and vulnerability bring out the best in us.”
Queen Elizabeth.
"I am sure I have always thought of Christmastime… as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time… the only time… when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely"
Charles Dickens
The wise men considered all of God's wisdom, they did as Abraham did and the Shepherds and traveled to see what God was doing. Seek and ye shall find. Remember, Jesus said, no one is Good. Only God. And then the wise men knocked on King Herod's door and asked to see the King of Kings, not without consequences.
The next time we have made mistakes, have doubts, and feel poorly - God did not banish the mistaken "Wise Men." God did not remove His favor from Moses or Paul. God didn't send out Pink Slips on Holy Saturday. And perhaps, we should all be glad that the Wise Men are given acclaim forever in God's Word as His Chosen People.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me;
for I am gentle
and humble in heart,
and you
will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
James 2:13
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.
Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Perhaps, this is a mistaken idea. And maybe not. Or there is a possibility to have more Churches follow a Lectionary they would see would increase the Hope of the Children of God.
We would weep with those who weep. And rejoice with those who rejoice. Comfort, Comfort His People. And see less diversity and more of Love, Encouragement and His Joy.
Matthew 4:4
“It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is breathed out by God
and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete,
equipped for every good work.
The Joy of The Lord
to leave Heaven
to be born to an unwed mother
put, in peril, to travel 80 miles to give birth
in conditions unknown.
To leave the Promised Land
and travel
to Egypt to avoid the sword
and return home
where a young, heavily, pregnant woman
was allowed to travel 80 miles
for tax reasons.
No velvet cushion for His infant head.
Brave and courageous parents.
Shepherds in awe and glowing from
The Presence of the Heavenly Host.
To the One who is Good
Walks on Water
and pardons sinners, loudly,
by removing the dust
of death
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me;
for I am gentle
and humble in heart,
and you
will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light
Abba, Father,
Serving the Children of God, in the things have been announced to us, to you,
through those who preached and preach
The Good News to you by the Holy Spirit
sent from Heaven,
things into which angels long to look.
He's got the whole world in His Hands.
He's got the wind and the rain in his hands.
He's got the whole world in His Hands.
He's got the Little Tiny Baby in His Hands.
He's got the whole world in His Hands.
He's got you and me, brother, in His Hands.
He's got the whole world in His Hands.
He's got you and me, sister, in His Hands.
He's got the whole world in His Hands.
He's got everybody here in His Hands.
He's got the whole world in His Hands.
In Jesus, we ask
Dwell in us, Father
Send Your Holy Spirit as Helper
Dwell in those we love
and
Help us to seek You first
And in Jesus,
we will finish well.
We pray for the Peace of Israel.
For those in war, to have lasting and
meaningful Peace.
The Reconciliation of Jesus
and the Unity of
the faith worldwide.
Our God is working. His Son,
Jesus is working.
And we say Amen in Jesus.
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