Give and Get

Mark 4:21-25
And he said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 
For there is nothing hid, except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. 
If any man has ears to hear, let him hear." 
And he said to them, "Take heed what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. 
For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away." 

Homily:
We see this daily and revolt against it. We think the world is rigged against the poor. We neither want to face reality nor use it to our advantage. 

The rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer, not because the world is rigged, but because it is a feature of life.

Idle money is as bad as debt. It will be taken away from you and given to the one who invests.
 
Invest in something you understand, something that protects your principal and guarantees a fair return. If you have not figured out where to invest, at least fix the money in an interest bearing account (fixed deposits, treasury bills or bonds).

This lesson is expressed best in the below parable. Read and pray for understanding.

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 
To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ - Matthew 25:14-30

My Lord and my God, nurture me to bring a fair return on the talents you have planted in me. Amen.

Parables

Mark 4:1-20
Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 
And he taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 
Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil; and when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root it withered away. 
Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 
And other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." 
And he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 
And when he was alone, those who were about him with the twelve asked him concerning the parables. 
And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables; so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand; lest they should turn again, and be forgiven." 
And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 
The sower sows the word. 
And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown; when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which is sown in them. 
And these in like manner are the ones sown upon rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 
And others are the ones sown among thorns; they are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 
But those that were sown upon the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." 

Homily:
Read the passage again. Enough said.

Lord Jesus, help me to see and perceive, to hear and understand.
Let my feet never depart from you, but continuously stay with you, to understand the parables of life and receive the secret of the kingdom of God.

Amen.

God's work

Mark 3:31-35
And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 
And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you." 
And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" 
And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 
Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother."

Homily:
To understand the above passage, you need to read the entire Mark chapter 3 for context.

A previous meditation - Keep going, can also offer insight.

The admonition that Jesus Christ gives, is not an undermining of familial commitments, but a reinforcement of what is most important - God's work.

The usual hindrance to God's work includes the familiar, the comfort zone and past commitments.

The work which God has given us must be so all-consuming, that it breaks us free from convenient limitations.

What is the work God has given to us?

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:37-40

Your neighbour is who is presently around you, not who you wish was around you or who you wish they could turn into.

Your neighbour is your mother, father, brother and sister. It is God's will that they are with you. Nurture them.

Fast

Mark 3:24-25
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 
And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 

Homily:
Therein lies the trouble with humanity.

We are divided within, against ourselves. Spirit and flesh in constant battle.

Flesh routinely prevails, the spirit remains restless.
Unhappiness prevails, desire heightens.

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” - Matthew 26:41

As humans, we need to discipline our flesh. We need to strengthen our flesh.

Fasting helps. It is a conscious feedback to the flesh that is owned, not possessed by you.

When the flesh is aligned to the spirit, a human stands.

One body

1 Corinthians 12:12-30
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free -- and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 
If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 
And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 
If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 
But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 
If all were a single organ, where would the body be? 
As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 
On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. 
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 
Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 

Homily:
Pay attention to your role in the body of Christ.

Ignore the distraction of comparison - the need to be like others or others to be like you.

Ignore the distraction of competition - the need to outdo others or others outwitting you.

We are one body in Christ, we are not whole until we work together - apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues.

Let those who see, show us.
Let those who hear, guide us.
Let those who speak, counsel us.
Let those who sense, alert us.
Let those who walk, lead us.
Let those who hold, shape us.
Let those who think, enlighten us.
Let those who feel, instruct us.

We are one body, we need all parts, to be whole.

Lord Jesus, help me to understand my role and to be at peace with it.

Keep going

Mark 3:20-21
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

Homily:
How many times have those that love you, temporarily become the obstacle and not the lift.

They mean well, but they do not understand. They see short term discomfort as long term suffering. They try to protect you, but unwittingly cage you.

They are doing what they think is right. They want no harm to come to you.

It is your job to make the obstacle give way. Love them, but keep going.

"He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves." - Luke 10:2-3

Help me bring in a rich harvest to you Lord.

Believe

Mark 16:15-18
And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 
And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." 

Homily:
There is no restriction on who the gospel should be preached to.

There is a restriction on who will be saved - it is hinged on belief.

How do you know you believe? Your works.
Your works are a signal to your belief.

Do your works point people to Jesus Christ or to yourself?
If yes, ask for grace to stay the course.
If no, ask for mercy and change course.
If not sure, ask for wisdom to understand your present course.

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” - Mark 9:23-24

Lord Jesus, I believe, help me overcome my unbelief.

The High Priest

Hebrews 7:25-28
Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever.

Homily:
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6.

"Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." - John 14:11-14.

Dear Jesus, intercede for me in the things I ask and the things I do not know how to ask, according to your will, Amen.

Hard choices

Mark 3:1-6
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 
And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 
And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come here." 
And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. 
And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 
The Pharisees went out, and immediately held counsel with the Hero'di-ans against him, how to destroy him. 

Homily:
The times might seem unfavourable for doing what is right, do it anyway.
The ones that should know better, might judge you unkindly, be kind anyway.
The right choices might be avoidable, choose it anyway.
The consequences might be dire, face it anyway.

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” - Jeremiah 17:9-10.

"Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life." - Jerzy Gregorek.

Doctrines

Mark 2:23-28
One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 
And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" 
And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, when Abi'athar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" 
And he said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath."

Homily:
In all things, seek understanding.

The doctrines we uphold were put in place for a purpose. That purpose is never catholic. The purpose should serve humanity for a time.

Doctrines can be a distraction from living right. You obey all doctrines, but judge and hate your fellow human, because they do neither measure up nor agree to wear the chains you have chosen.

Doctrines should not create a distance between you and God. Avoid doctrines that sell themselves as the bridge between you and God.

Doctrines are man-made. They are born, they grow, they change and they pass away, with time.

But you serve a God that is timeless.

Speak to him directly. Listen to him.

He listens. He speaks.

Stay the course

Mark 2:18-22
Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 
And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 
The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 
No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 
And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but new wine is for fresh skins." 

Homily:
There is a time for everything.

The world forces comparison on us. There is always a good example other people can point to and they throw this good example at us, to buttress their point and entrench comparison. This unwittingly tries to force you to compete.

Comparison and competition undercuts your journey.

Know thyself.

Stay the course.

Let him in

John 2:9-10
When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." 

Homily:
The bridegroom actually served his best wine first, but it had nothing on the water offered by Jesus.

No matter how great life seems before God, everything else pales in His presence.

Let him in.

Jesus came for us

Mark 2:15-17
And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 
And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 
And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." 

Homily:
Jesus came for us. He came for us, not because we are righteous, but because we have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. He is the bridge.

The difference between the "labeled sinners" and the "scribe of the Pharisees" was consciousness of their sinful nature.

The labeled sinners sought redemption. The scribes of Pharisees sought judgment.

To each his own.

The sinners got redemption, the scribes got judgment.

Take heed...

1 Corinthians 10:12
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

This is the reality....

Romans 3:23-24
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

Yet, love prevails....

Romans 5:8
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Let Jesus in.

Faith

Hebrews 4:2
For good news came to us just as to them; but the message which they heard did not benefit them, because it did not meet with faith in the hearers.

Homily:
The good news is not exclusive to any select group of people. 
Salvation is not exclusive.
God's love, mercy, and grace are not exclusive.

All righteousness available to the saints are available to us. Our faith is the distinguishing factor.

Why do we need faith?
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

How is it expressed?
James 2:17-19
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Choose life

Hebrews 3:7-14
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.
Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, `They always go astray in their hearts; they have not known my ways.'
As I swore in my wrath, `They shall never enter my rest.'"
Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today, " that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
For we share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end.

Homily:
Sin is a veil that separates us from God.

Sin is always marketed as the easy choice (it is not) and easy choices harden the heart.

The first time we sin, we ask for forgiveness, we are forgiven. Then we sin again and the cycle continues.

In Romans 6:1, Apostle Paul asks, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?"

He then answers in verse 2, "By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"

I too have sinned, but the following words are a constant reminder on the seeds I am planting - seeds of life (righteousness) or seeds of death (sin):

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

I choose life.

Pray

Mark 1:35
And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. 

Homily:
There is a lot of buzz these days about meditation and various mindfulness practices.

My exploration of different types of meditation led me to an epiphany - I had already experienced all I was seeking, in deep prayer.

Dear Lord, teach us to pray.

Thankful

Hebrews 2:6
It has been testified somewhere, "What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou carest for him?

Homily:
I am thankful for His love. I am thankful He loves me.
I am thankful He cares. I am thankful He cares for me.
I am thankful that he always comes through. I am thankful that I am never alone.
I am thankful for the gift of knowing God. I am thankful that He understands me.

I submit to His will.

Repent

Hebrews 1:1-2
In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets;
but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Homily:
There is an expectation at the arrival of God's Son to speak to us directly - submission. But we still fell short. Jesus Christ thus prompts us -

“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.

“The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.

“But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,”they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.” - Matthew 21:33-41

Repent. Submit to the will of the Father.

Humility and Prayer

Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ, John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." 
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased." 

Homily:
He whom John talked about when he said, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire" , humbled himself and was baptised by John.

Humility and Prayer are signals to God. A signal that we put Him first. A signal that we seek His will. A signal that we submit to Him.

When a child's father says, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased," what do you expect to happen when the child asks?

Humility and Prayer pleases God. Please Him.

Rejoice

John 3:25-30
Now a discussion arose between John's disciples and a Jew over purifying. 
And they came to John, and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, here he is, baptizing, and all are going to him." 
John answered, "No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven. 
You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. 
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice; therefore this joy of mine is now full. 
He must increase, but I must decrease." 

Homily:
We are inclined to compare, inclined to measure up, inclined to compete. Those around us feed our inclinations.

It doesn't help that most of us do not find out who we are, until death comes knocking. Even when we know who we are, doubt creeps in often, because it always seems more is required.

This limits us from truly rejoicing with others. Not because we hate them, but because our desires are misaligned with our purpose. Our desires keep trying to measure up.

As we have not rejoiced with others, we neither know what rejoicing feels like, nor what to rejoice at in our lives. We ignore our blessings, they seem inadequate, late or mismatched.

There are a lot of wonders within you awaiting revelation. To explore, let the will of God increase in your life and let your will decrease.

There is no competition.

Who you are, is all you need. Rejoice.

God's will

Luke 5:12-13
While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and besought him, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." 
And he stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him.

Homily:
Ask and you shall receive.
Not according to your will, but in submission to God's will.

When you have a travel companion that knows the place you're headed, you trust that companion for direction.

When you have a God that knows the end of all things, trust Him for direction.

In Nigerian parlance - Follow who know road.

Let God's will lead.

"And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." - 1 John 5:14-21

Forgive

1 John 4:20
If any one says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

Homily:
Where you are and who you are with, is where and who you must start with. Wherever life leads, you will come back full circle to the start, someday. Why not plant the seeds of the fruits you will like to meet.

Grand sacrifices of love to God, while ignoring our neighbour, only feeds our ego.

Why do we hate our brother?
Let us not debate or justify the reasons.
It is simply because we have either not yet forgiven him or not yet forgiven ourselves.

In our relationship with God, we fall short continually and He forgives continuously.
He does us no wrong, so we have nothing to forgive. Bliss.

But in our relationship with other humans, we do not have a monopoly of wrongdoing.
We give wrong, we get wrong. We give right, we get wrong. We give wrong, we get right. Unfair.

We must thus learn to forgive, just as we are continuosly forgiven by God.

In fact, Jesus Christ flips it in Matthew 6:12 -
"And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."

He ties God's forgiveness of our failings, to the measure of our forgiving others. Profound.

We say The Lord's Prayer often, and we will be judged by it someday.

Forgiveness is one of the sacrifices of love.

Who do you need to forgive? Who do you need to love? The name that comes up as an answer to the former question, is an answer to the latter question.

Love or Fear?

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love. 

Homily:
This is difficult to understand, especially for those that are entrenched in the "Fear God" movement.

They tell you that people do good, because they fear going to hell (they fear punishment). How true is that? If the fear of hell is so effective, why do poor choices still prevail among Christians?

Do not get me wrong, there are consequences for poor choices. But fear is not the path to reconciliation, because God is love.

Do you have someone you love and fear at the same time?

A child that loves his parents, runs to his parents.
A child that fears his parents, hides away from his parents.
Who do you think will get to know his parents more? Who do you think will get more from his parents?

God is our Father, which choice do you think draws us closer to Him and brings His favour? Love or Fear?

There will always be suspicion of fearful people, because they stay distant. All humans are weary of distant followers and all humans replace distant leaders.

There will always be confidence in loving people, because they are approachable.

At every point that humans have been distant, it was because of sin. Fear creates that distance and needlessly postpones forgiveness, sometimes, until it is too late.

Those that love, also fall short sometimes, but they confess. They never allow any distance come between them and God. Forgiveness is instant and they can live full lives.

Fear is built on a lack of understanding. It disconnects us from God.

Love is built on sacrifice. It bonds us to God.

Choose love.

Sacrifice

1 John 4:7-10
Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. 
He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. 
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 
In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins. 

Homily:
God is love.

The expression of God in you is love.

The question "what is love?" is as difficult as the question "what is God?"

There is no universal answer as God expresses himself through each of us, uniquely.

But there is a common thread that runs through every expression of love - sacrifice.

"In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him."

Some sacrifice nothing, Some sacrifice little, some sacrifice much, some sacrifice all.

No one human, sacrifices all for all. We choose when, where and for whom we sacrifice nothing, sacrifice little, sacrifice much or sacrifice all.

When we declare we love, there is a reference, set in John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

And Jesus Christ put it even clearer words in John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

The magnitude of your sacrifice is directly proportional to the magnitude of your love.

Search your life for the things you make the most sacrifice for. These are the things you love. Do they give or take life? Choose life, Sacrifice wisely.

Who listens to you?

1 John 4:5-6
They are of the world, therefore what they say is of the world, and the world listens to them. 
We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 

Homily:
Who listens to you?
What we say attracts a particular crowd and builds a tribe around us. We are drawn to those that listen to us. We are drawn to those that speak our truth.

The songs you listen to, the channels you have on, the books you read, the people you hang around, the accounts you follow, the accounts that follow you, the people that call you, the people you call, the people that chat you up, the people you chat up, the broadcasts you get, the broadcasts you send. All these and more, form a mosaic of the tribe you're in.

In the times of adversity, when we feel the need to boost our confidence, we fill our feed with spirituality.

In the times of plenty, when we feel the need to exert our confidence, we fill our feed with banality.

Pay attention to the environment you feed with your words and presence.

Who listens to you? Who do you listen to?

Work quietly

Matthew 2:1-12
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 
"Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him." 
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 
They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 
`And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'" 
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." 
When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. 
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 
And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Homily:
A king had been born and his people neither knew nor saw the signs.
The birth of most greatness comes without fanfare. And that lack of widespread celebration reduces the distraction of "appearing" great, but increases the attention given to "being" great.

Even those from a distance that see the signs, will first proceed to the familiar places of greatness to enquire about the star. That will be the beginning of your troubles. "Familiar greatness" will worry about disruption, even when the new King is heir to a different kingdom. Luckily, because they lack the eyes to see the signs and are typically too proud to follow those that see the signs, they will try to use cunning to get feedback on where you are. The sole purpose of their need to know will be extermination.

Those that understand this, refrain from bragging about work in progress.

This story actually goes further. If you have the time, read the entire Matthew chapter 2.

The story leads to the Feast of the holy innocents.

That feast holds a special place for me, as it is marked on my birthday.

When you birth greatness - nurture it in private, protect it from fanfare, resist the urge to brag about it, until it is complete. Not perfect, but complete.

Perfection will come after its introduction to the world and it defines a clearer direction, suffers death, yet resurrects.

All greatness dies.
The ones that die early are less painful, because they have made no impact, but they are a greater loss. We miss out on a lot in the world, because we do not get to see all that is possible.
The ones that die after completion, introduction and setting a clearer direction, are more painful, because they have made an impact. We cannot ignore their greatness. We remain thankful. But they are a lesser loss, because they have had the opportunity to show what is possible.

Work quietly, let your greatness speak for itself, after completion.

Come and see

John 1:45 - 51
Philip found Nathan'a-el, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 
Nathan'a-el said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" 
Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 
Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 
Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." 
And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

Homily:
How many times have we written off a person, before meeting them?
We are conditioned and we condition ourselves to simplify the world, by attaching general labels, even with insufficient data.

Labels include - "People from that tribe are idol worshipers", "Everyone in that religion or with no religion will go to hell", "They are immoral, look at their dressing", "They do not read the bible in that church", and many more.

Even the holy are prone to hasty generalisation, if they do not cultivate the habit of checking. 
Jesus extolled the qualities of Nathan'a-el - "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!". Yet, even Nathan'a-el was guilty of hasty generalisation - "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

Interestingly, in spite of Nathan'a-el's bias, he heeded to Philip's nudging to "Come and see".
For many of us, we will rather cut relations with Philip (and miss the opportunity to meet the Son of God), than open up to anything or anyone that threatens our bias.

Nathan'a-el might have had an error in judgment,  but he demonstrated the humility to follow Philip's advice, and not stay fixed on his stand.

When he met Jesus, the experience made him proclaim to a man from the same Nazareth - "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 

Delay judgment. Engage.

There is an opportunity to meet the Son of God in every human, you only need to come and see.

Do what is right

1 John 3:7-10
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right is righteous, as he is righteous. 
He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 
No one born of God commits sin; for God's nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God. 
By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother. 

Homily:
We are what we do. 
We make our choice between righteousness and devilishness by our actions. 
If you seek righteousness, do what is right.

Right thinking is important, but sometimes our thoughts fail us.

Despite knowing what is right, the fire in our hearts, sometimes, sends smoke to our brains, clouding judgment. The nobler the passion, the lighter the cloud. Right actions help to clear the fog.

"It is easier to act yourself into a new way of thinking, than it is to think yourself into a new way of acting" - Millard Fuller.

For youths that might find this message unsettling, do not despair. The bible summarises it differently here -

Ecclesiastes 11:7-9
Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.

You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.

Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Do what is right.

Humility

Philippians 2:5-11
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Homily
I will dwell on just one verse (Philipians 2:5-8), but I showed the entire First Reading above, to aid context.

"And being found in human form he humbled himself..."

Humility starts with an understanding of who you are. Humility is not diffidence. Humility is founded on a deep understanding of self.

A deep understanding of any subject brings calmness to the beholder. It is where there are insecurities and fear, that brashness prevails.

The ideals we own, we do not claim.

Those that are kind do not profess their kindness.

"...and became obedient to death, even death on a cross."

Obedience is also a choice. Obedience is a signal of humility. Obedience to God.

The test of our humility is not when we have a seat at the high table, but we choose to take a lower seat. No. It is when we take the lower seat and someone tells you to go outside as the feast is not for your kind, and you choose to walk away, with everybody staring and wondering why you are not laying claim to who you are.

Humility is a choice. Do not be deceived by the narrative that it is in the nature of a select people. It is all nurture and if you could not get that nurture from your family or peers, you can nurture it in yourself.

It starts with an understanding of who you are.

Obedience (total submission) to God is a cue for humility. Obedience to God has a predictable end - Glory. The Glory of God.

Humble self. We are always presented with 2 choices - humility or humiliation. Choose humility.

Who are you?

John 1:19-23
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 
He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" And he answered, "No." They said to him then, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 
He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." 

Homily:
The question - "Who are you?" is probably the most difficult question to answer.

John gives us some insight on how to.

Start with who you are not. At least you can be sure of who you are not and with elimination, you can arrive at who is left.

He started his answer by letting go of ego. As people experienced his words and works, they quickly equated him to a familiar and expected greatness. One that is alluring. But he confessed each time, "I am not the Christ", "I am not Elijah", "I am not the prophet".

Note that it was not a denial of who he was, but a confession of who he was not.

When he had made clear who he was not, he proclaimed who he is, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." 

"I am the voice". Not a voice, the voice. I am not proclaiming anything new, but my voice is unique.

I am the voice crying in the wilderness. It is lonely here, as it should be, because I am crying out for an old truth - 'Make straight the way of the Lord".

Stop shaping the way of the Lord to suit circumstance. His way is straight. Do not make it otherwise. No branches, shortcuts or encumbrances. Make straight the way of the Lord.

What truth is the voice within you crying out for?

It will help you answer the question - Who are you?

Amen

Today, I start this blog on Meditations - A daily homily on the readings I wake up to.

Today is Day 1. Walk with me.

Numbers 6:24 - 26
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Homily:
Amen.

We start this year with Amen, we will end it with Thank you.