Mark 12:1-12 ~ The Lord's Doing

 

 

Mark 12:1-12

12 And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. 2 When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 

4 Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. 6 He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this Scripture:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
11 this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

12 And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.

We live in a time when the local market had advertised $15 per hour starting pay after the pandemic and now, 2023, advertises $11 per hour by banner. The nightly news has NYC and Chicago and LA finally discussing the homelessness for the First Time. We have witnessed homelessness since the ridiculous, agenda driven, Borders being opened. A disaster in humanitarian ... 'effort'.   Social Media posts the migrants are having extreme difficulty in finding work.  And this is brushed past as citizens talk about lay-offs. Restaurants are not as full. Nor is Home Depot.

Harsh? No, this is the news and isn't fake. 

It's a time when people wonder if the downfall seen after World War I and II is upon us. Others are worried it is the end times or something like the Mad Max Movies. 

And I have visited, in my thoughts, so many times this year, discussions with my grandmother about the Great Depression.  

My grandmother Anita and my grandfather Ray lived as newlyweds in a suburb of Dallas in a 2 bedroom house, 1 bathroom, frame, white, Arts and Crafts House and paid for. I seem to remember Grandmother Anita said they paid $3,000 for the house. Soon, it would add on a bedroom and a large front porch. The kitchen was generously sized. Today, people are copying this farmhouse appeal, these kitchens stop me in my tracks.  And people began to knock on the door for work.  Grandmother and her sister, Eloise, collected pie tins and everyone had chicken and two vegetables. Tea was put in Mason Jars. Grandmother said they fed between 20 and 35 people a day. Just from door knocks. My grandfather was employed as an architect. So the domestic portion of the work, was done by Grandmother Anita.

My mother and I have discussed this a lot. Where did they sit. The backyard and came to the backdoor, by the kitchen.  Were they the same people. Was it men. It was all ages, mostly men about, 1/3 women. Didn't seem to be the same, exact people. Lasted about 3 years, grew in number, then fell away. Raised the chickens. No one took the chickens. One time, a regular, stopped a live chicken theft. 

I asked my grandmother one time if the people were clean. That annoyed her. She asked me, "WHY?" I had just seen the movie, "The Grapes of Wrath." Grandmother Anita relented. She said yes, they appeared to be, but all were downcast and not looking at each other. When someone was dirty, they'd apologize with a lot of mumbling.  Grandmother told one man, he could use the faucet and hose in the back when the others weren't eating. She said he returned a lot and showered in the backyard with his clothes on. He quit looking dirty. And he didn't want anyone looking out the window.

20 years ago, my mother and I went to see the movie, "Seabiscuit,"  Starring Tobey Maguire and Jeff Bridges. Fabulous. Discussing the ways people react when life is very hard. It was based on life and truly marvelous. But when the Awards came up, it was the year of JRR Tolkien's movies, so the awards fell away.

The horse owner had started with bicycles and advanced during all the Great Depression to be the largest selling car dealership. Just as life was golden, his son was killed and his wife divorced him. But as life moves on, he remarried. And set about thinking about horses, as a new part of life. Charles Howard bought a colt, with an excellent horse background, but the colt was passed over for being lazy and small.

Which brought the trainer and rider Red Pollard into their lives. Red had been abandoned, rather neatly, but then, permanently, by his family. He looked for them for years. Went into boxing and was partially blinded. My Grandmother thought the lack of children in her backyard was worrisome and, always, was concerned about the people who had been there. One of the ways the great troubles of life have seams in life.  And Charles Howard hired Red Pollard.  

Wikipedia:

"The highly anticipated "race of the century" draws a sellout crowd, with 40 million more people listening on the radio. Seabiscuit takes an early lead until the far turn; following Pollard's advice, Woolf lets Seabiscuit look War Admiral in the eye before surging ahead, and Seabiscuit wins by four lengths, delighting the nation. A few months later, Seabiscuit injures his leg. Pollard, still recovering from his own injured leg, tends to the horse as they both heal. When Seabiscuit is fit enough to race again, Howard brings him back to the Santa Anita Handicap, but is reluctant to allow Pollard to ride and risk crippling himself for life. At the urging of Woolf and Marcela, Howard relents.

Pollard, using a self-made leg brace, finds himself and Seabiscuit facing Woolf in the race. Seabiscuit drops far behind the field until Woolf pulls his horse alongside Pollard, allowing Seabiscuit a good look at his mount. With Woolf's encouragement, Seabiscuit surges ahead and passes the others. Heading for the finish line several lengths ahead

Pollard explains that the story of Seabiscuit is not merely of three men who fixed a broken-down horse, but that Seabiscuit fixed them and, in a way, they fixed one another."

Seabiscuit winning the Santa Anita Handicap in 1940

One race was left in the season. A week after the San Antonio, Seabiscuit and Kayak II both took the gate for the Santa Anita Handicap and its $121,000 prize. 78,000 paying spectators crammed the racetrack, most backing Seabiscuit. Pollard found his horse blocked almost from the start. Picking his way through the field, Seabiscuit briefly led. As they thundered down the back straight, Seabiscuit became trapped in third place, behind leader Whichcee and Wedding Call on the outside.

Trusting in his horse's acceleration, Pollard steered between the leaders and burst into the lead, taking the firm ground just off the rail. As Seabiscuit showed his old surge, Wedding Call and Whichcee faltered, and Pollard drove his horse on, taking "The Hundred Grander" by a length and a half from the fast-closing Kayak II under jockey Leon Haas. Pandemonium engulfed the course. Neither horse and rider, nor trainer and owner, could get through the crowd of well-wishers to the winner's enclosure for some time.

The Horse Seabiscuit was completely famous during his life. Yet, like Red Pollard, would go on to have injuries in their lives. Seemed to be down and out. But the look on their faces in the photos tell us of the desire for caring and love led them to a greater and abundant life. 

Seabiscuit is the Mark 12 version of perseverance.  Who was the one who persevered in Mark 12? God. The Father who sees all hearts and all desires and believes we will work to overcome.

 Jesus gave us the tools and said, I have Overcome the world.

Are these thoughts about the Great Depression harsh? 

Not really, this was a time of great stress and so many believed, and with faith, all of mankind began again. God felt sure we would. And with His Help, we did and will again.

I have no insight if we go towards the Great Depression. I believe God is helping and we will continue to speak about His Help and Love. And we all will be helped.

Abba, Father,

Abba, Father, 

Cover us, the ones we Love and You Love 

with the Strong Name of Jesus.

 Covering all of us, the world, You will save in Jesus Christ. 

Thank You, Father,

You have given us Jesus Christ

and

Dwell in us,

dwell in those we Love, God of Love.

God of Hope. 

God of Encouragement.

Help us to seek You

First

and 

we will finish well in Jesus Christ.

We know Your Love, Salvation, Promises

and Blessings. 

Thank You.

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 

9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder 

is God. 

11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

Thank You, Abba.

Thank You, Jesus Christ.

Alleluia 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

Acts 8:26-40 ~ he baptized

 

Gaza today

and 140 years ago

Bronze and tin Chariot, 79 AD

found in Pompeii intact

Painted a Bottle Green

 

Acts 8:26-40

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went.

And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”

30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, 

“Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 

32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: Isaiah 53:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”


34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 

38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 

40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Azotus is 30 Miles 

75 miles to Caesarea, 7 day walk 

Azotus would be a 3 day walk.  Gaza looks fairly dry and coastal, while Azotus is fairly coastal and is much more green. John 6 is about the theory of Relativity and Jesus. The boat was 'immediately' at the other side.  Scripture isn't specific, if ... Philip was immediately 3 days away, or Philip is wandering, but not lost.

The times and tides of Scripture say the two people never met again. 

Acts 17 describes more the immediacy the Gospels include frequently.

10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

It's more remarkable Chapter of the Bible. Discusses a chance meeting, a noble search of Scripture and lives are changed ... by the side of the road.  A very today, Guideposts, type of thing. Something that might be in The Book of Ester, about Hadassah, the girl asked to move to a harem.

Of the four Gospels, Philip is prominently in the Gospel of John. 

Jesus tests Philip (John 6:6) when he asks him how to feed the 5,000 people. Later, Philip is the link to the Greek community. Philip is a Greek name, surely speaks Greek (the most common language at this time and Latin), and knew Greek pilgrims in Jerusalem. He tells Andrew Greek pilgrims wish to meet Jesus, and together they inform Jesus of this (John 12:21). During the Last Supper, Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, he provided Jesus the opportunity to teach His disciples about unity of the Father and the Son.

Philip is told to go to Gaza. 

Like Abraham, Philip goes. And with Philip's talent, knowing a worldwide Greek language, Philip is gifted to speak to a person reading the Scriptures with questions. A man, like the Church, began to like, those without a wife and divided interests with children, the man wants to know about the links to the future from the Old Testament Bible.  Philip is gifted, knowing the answer. 

And the man, in the chariot, moves on to the continent of Africa. Trading with other nations. 

With a very well remembered visit with a Disciple of Jesus Christ. Who was sent to meet someone. And in these talents God has given Philip, 

The Book of Isaiah: "I the LORD have called unto you in righteousness, and have taken hold of your hand, and submitted you as the people's covenant, as a light unto the nations" Isaiah 42:6.

John 8:12 

When Jesus spoke again to the people, 

He said, “I am the light of the world. 

Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, 

but will have the light of life.”

  

  

1 Peter 2:9 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, 

a holy nation, 

a people for God’s own possession, 

so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him

 who has called you out of darkness 

into His 

marvelous light.  

  

  

  

  Matthew 5:14-16 

You are the light of the world. 

A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. 

Instead they put it on its stand, 

and it gives light to everyone in the house. 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, 

that they may see your good deeds 

and glorify your Father in heaven.

  

  

  Acts 26:16-18

But rise and stand upon your feet, 

for I have appeared to you for this purpose, 

to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things 

in which you have seen me and to those

in which I will appear to you, 

delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles

—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, 

so that they may turn from darkness to light 

and from the power of Satan to God, 

that they may receive forgiveness of sins 

and a place among those 

who are sanctified

 by faith in me.

I've always liked the immediacy of the wind, in this passage: John 3:8

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. 

And there is some of this here. Philip just goes. And goes. 

Yet there is comfort of the Holy Spirit: 

Of Abraham, going where told. Living his life, open heart, to be used by the Lord as life unfolds. 

Relying upon the gifts of God. Finding the talents we know we have to be used by the Lord. Faithful to hear the Lord and act. Then the cloud of unknowing of adventure and not just the same life each day.

This is a theme in Catholic Homilies (we pray we may all be one) and the sermons say, God will give us an opportunity to Bless the Lord. To speak.... and be a light to nations or mankind. We would want the willingness to speak of why the Lord is important in our lives and to our heart. 

Abba, Father,

You see all of us. All of us.

You know, no secrets are hid,

all desires known.

Bless us please

with gentle rain

and good weather,

we pray for Maui and Florida to recover

and to be safe from storm damaged land grabbers

and Florida to be safe.

Texas and the middle of the USA

and the Borders and Gulf

to have rain, gently, please.

Dwell in us.

Dwell in those we Love.

Bless our Families with Jesus Christ.

Help us to seek You first.

And in Jesus, we will finish well.

We pray for the healing of Families,

prayers Heard by our Father.

Thank You for the Blessings 

You have given us to count

this year. 

Thank You, You create a new path

with new hopes

and new expectations.

We are renewed in Our Love

You Place in Us.

In Jesus Christ,

We pray for Your Good Creation.

This Nation

and all Nations seeking Your Son.

Thank You, You Hear our Prayers.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus perseverance 

Psalm 8 ~ Our Lord! How Majestic is Your Name in all the earth! †

 

 

Psalm 8

1 LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory

above the heavens.

2 Through the praise of children and infants

you have established a stronghold against your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

4 what are mere mortals that you are mindful of them,

human beings that you care for them?

5 You have made them a little lower than the heavenly

beings and crowned them with glory and honor.

6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;

you put everything under their feet:

7 all flocks and herds,

and the animals of the wild,

8 the birds in the sky,

and the fish in the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Do you remember the angel craze of the 1980s? I was a newlywed & began collecting items for our first Christmas tree. Angels were plentiful. We have angels of every shape and size. There is a baseball angel, my sons adored playing baseball for over a decade. I figure somewhere in all the celestial host, there is an angel who really does like baseball. He is one of the few males made as angel decorations. My deepest chagrin, my angels are all women. Sure, I've added antique lace to them and gorgeous flowing mantles. 

I've bought more men Angels recently and added more angel decor costuming. Like the Mont-Saint-Michel statues.  The marvelous Archangel statues in France.  Regular Christmas tree angels are  from the '80s are pat you on the head, beautiful women. But this is not so Biblically:

Luke 1:11-13

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, 

standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 

When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 

But the angel said to him: 

"Do not be afraid, Zechariah;

 your prayer has been heard. 

Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, 

and you are to call him John."

Raphael is "one of the seven who stand before the Lord."

 Revelation 8:2 also refers to the seven angels who stand before the Lord. The seven are Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Raguel, Remiel, Saraqael, and Uriel, named in Enoch and Tobit (20:1-8), books found in the Dead Sea Scrolls and in the Bible defined by the first Christian Council - Nicaea. 

This Council of Nicaea included St. Nicholas, Bishop of Turkey, later called Père Noel, Father Christmas. These men risked a trap of the Roman Empire, Drowning, Robbery and sure death to attend. And even when St. Jerome assembled all the Books of the Bible and transferred them to Latin to be held together, 4th Century, all these Books were very definitely considered Worthy of Thee Holy Spirit. History should not undo this. The more exotic Books appeal to the religions today in Asia. And are very realistic to these cultures. And are True. Worthy in the eyes of the Holy Spirit is yesterday, tomorrow and forever.  

Mont-Saint-Michel statue with today's Shepherds!

Tobit 12:15

I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.

St Peter's Dome, 

with someone walking on the roof to the left

Revelation 8:2

Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, 

and they were given seven trumpets.

Luke 1:19

"I am Gabriel," the angel answered. 

"I stand in the presence of God, who sent me to speak to you and tell you this good news."

All of the angels, named by the Lord God Almighty, end in -el. Messengers of God. I am. Abba. Jehovah. Yahweh. King of Kings. The salvation message of Jesus Christ brought to us by the angels, is God's message. It is the same for us today, as it was for shepherds.

Luke 1:37

For no word from God will ever fail.

Abba, Father,

You alone are the LORD. 

You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, 

and 

all their starry hosts,

 the earth and all that is on it,

 the seas and all that is in them. 

You give life to everything, 

and the multitudes of Heaven worship you.

You are God of all grace, 

calling us to Your glory 

in Christ eternal,

with only small suffering,

You will,

 Yourself, restore us 

and make us strong, firm and steadfast.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, You are for us. 

Cover us, the ones we Love and You Love 

with the Strong Name of Jesus.

 Covering all of us, the world, You will save in Jesus Christ. 

Thank You, Father,

You have given us Jesus Christ

and

Dwell in us,

dwell in those we Love, God of Love.

God of Hope. 

God of Encouragement.

Help us to seek You

First

and 

we will finish well in Jesus Christ.

We know Your Love, Salvation, Promises

and Blessings. 

Thank You.

Knowing we are very Blessed in Jesus. Amen.

Felt so Blessed Yesterday with 3 answered prayers.

Then technical problems on this Post

took an hour of worship

and made horrible

nonsense of 3 hours.

God provide relief and peace.

Thank You, Abba.

Thank You, Jesus Christ.

Alleluia 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes, Jesus Christ, 
God, perseverance