Matthew under the arm 40
This morning, we passed a little church in time to attend Mass. We were rather late, just catching the end of the Gospel. I can't remember what it was. However, earlier Columba and I had looked at this passage from Matthew. The priest at the altar looked rather unshaven and the old ladies in the front pew, spent the rest of the time, when they weren't coughing, whispering. The acoustic amplified the sound. However, we did, after all, receive communion. On the way out of the Church, absolutely noone spoke to us. What a welcome! But Columba held his hands out with his palms facing upwards. 'What are you doing?', I asked, as if he had hurt himself somehow. All he said, as he looked in amazement at his own hands, was: 'The Kingdom of God is near...' He smiled and still with his hands open, added 'The Body of Christ!' I smiled... 'Amen.'
Matthew 10:5-15….
Jesus tells the disciples the heart of His Gospel – ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is near’. The implications of this are that the Christian disciple enters into another's or others' suffering. That entering is Christ entering because the ‘Kingdom being near’ is Christ intimately with the disciple. The life-style of the disciple is simple in order that he or she is constantly available to be of Christ-like service. Only then do the words that disciples use about Jesus have depth, because there is authenticity to them in the way the disciples actually live their lives.
I would know the fulfilment of Your Life through Hope and Service
Christ enters the soul and His culture of service is born there. It is not only healing and service that are important in themselves, but bringing the love of God right into the places of greatest need, including death itself. When preparing to enter prayer, avoid worrying about whether you believe enough, whether you have enough information about prayer and about the Bible etc. What matters is your realisation that you are loved. Then…. You discover the depth of that in how you love in service to others. The first part of the sentence: Christ’s life in you – the second part – your Christ-like service.
+Martin
Argyll and The Isles
Matthew 10:5-15….
Jesus tells the disciples the heart of His Gospel – ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is near’. The implications of this are that the Christian disciple enters into another's or others' suffering. That entering is Christ entering because the ‘Kingdom being near’ is Christ intimately with the disciple. The life-style of the disciple is simple in order that he or she is constantly available to be of Christ-like service. Only then do the words that disciples use about Jesus have depth, because there is authenticity to them in the way the disciples actually live their lives.
I would know the fulfilment of Your Life through Hope and Service
Christ enters the soul and His culture of service is born there. It is not only healing and service that are important in themselves, but bringing the love of God right into the places of greatest need, including death itself. When preparing to enter prayer, avoid worrying about whether you believe enough, whether you have enough information about prayer and about the Bible etc. What matters is your realisation that you are loved. Then…. You discover the depth of that in how you love in service to others. The first part of the sentence: Christ’s life in you – the second part – your Christ-like service.
+Martin
Argyll and The Isles
posted by Martin at 9:14 pm
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