In Mark chapter 6, we find that Jesus has come back to his hometown of Nazareth.
And I kind of wonder what that would be like. Here’s a guy who had grown up there. It was a small town, and people knew him as a child. They probably watched him as he apprenticed in his father’s shop, and most likely had benefited from his work as he applied the trade himself.

But when he comes home, instead of going back into the shop, Mark tells us that he goes into the synagogue and begins to teach. This was not the role the town’s people were accustomed to seeing him in, and they seemed to be taken aback. They say, “Is this not the carpenter?”

Mark then tells us “he could do no deed of power there…”

Is this not the carpenter?

I don’t know if you have ever had that kind of experience, where when you return home after a long period of time, people still seem to see you in the way you were years ago. Perhaps even they still seem to see you as a child, and maybe even treat you that way.

I know with my own daughters, when they come home from college I so easily revert to viewing them as they were in High School. But when I pay attention even for a few moments, I am amazed at how much they have changed and grown.

Sometimes we see people only as they are on the surface, or only as we once knew them, without taking the time to get to know them in a deeper way. When we do this, when we size up or judge others, or make assumptions, we so quickly miss the richness and depth of what they have to offer…

Think about it. What if the town’s people, had truly listened to Jesus? What if they had made the effort to get to know him in a new way, on a deeper level? What if they had given him a chance to reveal all it was that God wanted to reveal through him?

What blessings might they have encountered? What healing might have taken place? What transformation and growth might they have experienced?

What wisdom, what connections, what blessings are we missing when we judge too quickly, or when we think we know someone before we really do?

Let us pray: God of grace, at this time when the social fabric of our nation is torn and quickly fraying, at this time when so many are lonely, starved for connection, hungry to be known, empower us to be the kind of people, who are curious about others, quick to listen, slow to judge. We look to Jesus, who shows us the way. Amen.

There is an old story about a homeless man named Tom who has had a rough life. He suffered from addictions and was in and out of many shelters. Finally, one night Tom found himself at a Christian worship service and he came to faith in Christ. After that night, his whole life turned around. He signed up for a program at a shelter that helped him really get his act together. He worked hard and eventually became one of the helpers in the shelter – and even a mentor. Everyone grew to love Tom.

Well over the course of time, a new resident named Joe came into the program. As Joe got to know Tom and heard his story, he too decided that he wanted to become a Christian. At the evening worship service after the sermon, Joe told the pastor, “I want to be just like Tom.” The pastor corrected him, “Don’t you mean you want to be just like Jesus?” Joe responded, “Is he like Tom?”

I remember my friend Roger Kunkle saying, “You are the only Bible that some people will ever read!” It is so true, isn’t it? I hope that when people look at our lives, they will see generosity, kindness, compassion, and grace. I hope that Jesus’ love shines brightly through us.

Let us pray: Loving God, Help us to live our lives in such a way that we are a blessing to you and a blessing to others. We pray today for people who are struggling just to cope. Surround them with your mercy, grace, and love. Grant them, and each of us, the courage and strength we need to face the moment. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s message was written by Chaplain Bob Griffiths

Most of us think about prayer as a petition to God. But can you think of prayer as being about God and our relationship to God? If I use distant and remote language to speak of God, then I will imagine that God is distant and remote. If I use the language of humility and love to pray to God, then I will believe in a God who is humble and loving. The God to whom I pray is the God who directs my life; thus my image of God, the kind of God I believe in, is crucial to the way my journey of prayer proceeds.

So is God essentially engaged with me or disengaged? Is God primarily a judge or savior? Do I treat God as a ruler or lover? Is God faithful and interested in my world? For Franciscans, the journey of prayer is the discovery of God at the center of our lives. We pray not to acquire a relationship with God as though acquiring something that did not previously exist. Rather, we pray to disclose the image of God in which we are created, the God within us. That is the one in whom we are created and in whom lies the seed of our identity.

We pray so as to discover what we already have—“the incomparable treasure hidden in the field of the world and of the human heart” (Clare of Assisi). We pray not to “ascend” to God but to “give birth to God”—to allow the image in which we are created to become visible, to us and to others. We pray to bear Christ anew. In prayer, therefore, we discover what we already have—the potential for the fullness of life, and this life is the life of Christ.

The Good News of Jesus Christ, as the Franciscans understand it, is that we do not “go to God” as if God sat in the starry heavens awaiting our arrival; rather, God has come to us in the Incarnation. “The eternal God has humbly bent down,” Saint Bonaventure wrote, “and lifted the dust of our nature into unity with his own person.” We move toward God because God has first moved toward us: This is the Franciscan path of prayer. So try to love God as God indeed loves us – unconditionally. God is always there! And remember always St. Francis’ call to “preach the Gospel at all times; use words if necessary.”

Let us pray: Lord God, hear my prayer. And help me to listen with the ear of my heart for your response. I know you do not expect perfection from me, but help me to grow toward that goal in how I live my life. Thank you for understanding that I will slip back on this journey, and support me as I strive to catch up and continue.
Amen

There is an old tale that offers two images contrasting the difference between heaven and hell. The image of hell is this: There is a large banquet hall and the meal has been prepared by the world’s best chefs. The only unusual thing about this scene is the eating utensils. They are very long, heavy and cumbersome. When the guests sit down to eat, some people are not able to lift any of the utensils due to their weight. Those who are able to lift the fork, knife, or spoon cannot maneuver it so as to get anything to eat. The utensils are too long. Soon those around the table begin to bump into each other in their attempt to get even a spoonful of food. Frustration, hunger, and even anger are the result.

The image of heaven is similar – with a twist. The banquet hall appears the same. Even the large and cumbersome silverware are present. However, there is a different group of guests present who have somehow learned an important lesson. They realize that the utensils will not allow them to feed themselves; but, as they sit down to eat, those that are able to lift the utensils pick up food and maneuver it so as to feed a neighbor. When necessary two people lift a fork and feed a third person, who, in turn, with aid feeds those who fed him. In the end, all eat well. There is laughter and storytelling. Each person is satisfied and even joyful because they have learned to feed each other.

This story of course is also a metaphor for our life here on earth. Life is hell when we make it all about us, whenever we are selfish or self-centered. However, we experience heaven on earth when we serve and love others.

Let us pray: Continue to show us your ways, O God, that we might take hold of the life that is truly life. Amen.

How does faith mend a broken heart? Sooner or later, heartache comes to all of us. Sadness, sorrow, disappointment, grief, rejection, hurt – whatever you wish to call it – rears its head and covers us like a heavy blanket. Let me suggest some resources of the Christian faith that can help us walk through the dark valley of sorrow. First, claim the fellowship of the church. Let the church family’s arms of love surround you and support you. Never forget that you are not alone. God is with you. Nothing, not even death, can separate you from the love of God. No matter how hurt you may feel, let the church be an integral part of the healing process.

Second, and this may surprise you, claim the power of helping others, which comes only from having gone through the grief pilgrimage. Those who have gone through sorrow of any kind have a new empathy, a new sensitivity, a new compassion, and a new power to help others. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!” The word comforted comes from the Latin words – cum, which means “with” and fortis, which means “strength.” So the word comforted means literally “with strength”! Thus, Jesus was saying “Blessed are those who have gone through sorrow, for they are with strength.” Someone once put it like this; “Whoever among us has, through personal experience learned what pain and anxiety are…. belongs no more to themselves alone; they are the sister, the brother of all who suffer.”

Friend of Dial Hope, claim that strength to help others which comes only on the other side of trouble, only from walking through the valley of grief. God needs you to share yourself with others. Memorize this verse: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Trust God…trust God….trust God.

Let us pray: God of love, some days there is so much pain, so much emptiness. And yet, you know what we are feeling. As we count our blessings, keep us from wallowing in self-pity so that we may encourage and comfort others. Turn our sadness to laughter, remembering that “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.’ (Proverbs 1 7:22) Through the grace of Jesus Christ. Amen.