Month: March 2025

The second time that Jesus gave a sign, 
it was as if it were the opposite. 
The water turned to wine, that was the first. 
The second happened far from people's view: 
A healing days by foot from where he was. 
These, juxtaposed, allow us, yes, to see 
that deeper signs are far from noisy crowds. 

“And this is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judea into Galilee.” – John 4: 54

The beating heart within the human soul
is pumping blood that gives eternal life.
The first beat is the love of God, I'm told;
The second is the love for other souls. 

“And the scribe said unto [Jesus], Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” — Mark 12: 32-34

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be great in the kingdom of heaven.” _ Matthew 5: 17-19

The Gospel today seems legalistic
And perhaps even unrealistic
And not to mince words, a mite simplistic.
But not when using the "back up" heuristic!

The verses before hold the key, indeed.
Blessed are:
- the poor in spirit,
- they that mourn,
- the meek,
- they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness,
- the merciful,
- the pure in heart,
- the peacemakers,
- they which are persecuted for righteousness sake,
- ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say al manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

The Beatitudes, Matthew 5: 1-12

"The grudge I hold is justified:
the wicked one has done me wrong!"
Say I unto the magistrate,

who says, "In jail you do belong.
Had you forgiven and not done
the grievous act against your foe,
today you'd live in liberty.
Instead, you're bound by hate you've sown."

Then the master sent for him. “You wicked servant,” he said, “I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?” And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’ — Matthew 18: 32-35

Welcome to my reflections on Jesus, the provocateur, which I began during Lent 2025. It hit me again just how provocative Jesus is as I read about his first hometown ‘sermon’ (Luke 4: 16-30) in the context of his just having been tempted in the wilderness by Satan to satiation, power and immortality (Luke 4: 1-12). Join me on this, my Lenten journey and beyond. – Brian

For forty days the Spirit led
  him in the wilderness
Where he ate nought as Satan spoke
  with haughty wiliness. 
Rebuking him, the Savior then
  began his ministry;
'Twas in the region of his birth --
  exposing bigotry --
He lifted up the foreigners
  the Scriptures lionize. 
And thus began the road he trod
  to open wide our eyes.

“And all they … when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.” — Luke 4: 28-29 (also see Luke 4: 1-27)

The kingdom of God, ripped from our hands,
Because we treated it as if t'were ours.
Instead of love and grace ruling our lands,
Anger and fearfulness turned our wine sour.

“Therefore I say unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given forth to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” – Matthew 21: 43

Out my window, I saw God;
It defined the course of my life.
I wonder how others likewise called
Have responded to that selfsame sight.

“If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” – Luke 16: 31

The big man exclaimed how great are his deeds
That transforms the earth upon which he feeds.
And meanwhile the poison of self exaltation
Stops the heart of a once noble nation.

“But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” – Matthew 23: 11-12

The road to perfection 
is The intersection 
of mercy with charity 
that judges not.

And that intersection, 
upon close inspection, 
is really a T 
from which love flows out. 

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is merciful.” – Luke 6: 36

Perfect is as perfect does
Says the Lord of Is and Was
But, perfection cannot be
Unless it lives eternally.

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” – Matthew 5: 48