Do You Believe? 1st Sunday during Lent
Read: Matthew 9:27-31 “Then he [Jesus] touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you’” Matthew 9:29 (NIV) Magic defies reason. When a magician does a trick, even though you may be watching ever so carefully, you do not see the sleight of hand that makes the trick appear magic. Our eyes see one thing, but another occurs. Is it real? Our reason says no, but we cannot prove it! A magician wants people to marvel at their gifts. What if we could not see it? Would it then still be magic? There is the idiom: ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ or ‘Seeing is believing’.
But what if you can’t see it, yet you believe. Is this a stronger faith? The two blind men in the story above in Matthew obviously believed that Jesus could heal them from their blindness. Their faith came, not by seeing Jesus perform miracles, but from hearing the stories about what Jesus had done. These two wanted the mercy of Jesus and so believed in His power to be able to open the eyes of the blind. It seems that their faith was the one condition that granted their healing request. It is interesting that this healing happened inside and out of sight of the public – for “they went right into the house”.
After they were healed Jesus also told them, “See that no one knows about this.” While Jesus is all powerful, his power was used to show his compassion and care and not to show off as a magician would do. He didn’t want to gain notoriety with people just wanting to see His miracles. In the Gospel of Matthew, we are reminded over and over that following Jesus is about following His commands and words that bring life, health and healing in body, mind and spirit. Jesus, as God, is all about teaching about the Kingdom of God and showing compassion to all. This is something we can all do this Lenten season – share about Jesus’ love and care for those around us! Jesus’ act of forgiveness is not magic, it is a gift of love and grace!
Prayer: My Loving Jesus, you showed me the need for my healing from the wrongs I do. Your forgiveness and love are all I need. I trust you and have faith that you hold me in your hands. Amen.
Touch of Love 4th Day in Lent (Saturday)
Read: Matthew 8:14-15; Luke 4:38-39 “He [Jesus] touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.” Matthew 8:15 (NIV) I have yet to be a mother-in-law, but as of last Friday, I will be one after Easter this year. Being a mother-in-law means that you care for the one who is caring for your child – an important job! In Jesus’ time women and widows were always cared for by a son, but Peter showed compassion for his wife’s mother in caring for her, as it appears that the mother-in-law is living with Simon Peter and her daughter.
Peter’s brother Andrew and possibly children are also living there, so we can assume she is a widow. The mother-in law would be helping her daughter with the family and household and caring for all who came to visit. When someone is ill, everyone gets involved in the care. Back in Jesus’ day they were also classed as unclean and could not be touched unless the carer also wanted to be classed as unclean (being unclean meant being apart from others for a couple weeks and then presenting oneself to a priest to be declared clean and allowed in public – reminds me also of COVID).
In most of the healings Jesus performed, he always touched those who were sick. Touch brings about a closeness, an empathy with the one unwell, most of all it conveys care and love. This healing was no different. Jesus touched the woman and helped her to her feet – she was healed. She immediately went to her duties to serve the visitors who had come to the house. Interestingly, just as Jesus broke the Jewish law by healing on the Sabbath, this faithful woman also got up immediately and prepared a meal. It was her gratitude that made her also break the Sabbath law and serve Jesus and others who were hungry. Not only had Jesus helped the mother-in-law, but he also helped Peter’s wife to still have her mother around to help when both Peter and Andrew followed Jesus as disciples. Serving and caring touch are something we can do for others out of gratitude for all Jesus does for us. A loving touch and care can show more than expensive gifts.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you came to touch and heal the lives of those who were sick in body or spirit. Your Word is powerful, and you have given it to me as a gift to share with others. Amen.
Unworthy 3rd Day in Lent (Friday)
Read: Matthew 8:5-13 “Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.’ And his servant was healed at that moment.” Matthew 8:13 (NIV) Have you ever been invited somewhere where you felt out of place, or not sure why you were there? A few years ago, when we first moved to Noosa, it was found out that I played f lute and so soon enough the Noosa Orchestra conductor came to me and asked me to be in the orchestra. I told him that I wasn’t as good as the others and he said, “You play what you can, and we will be happy to have you.”
So, I did and practised hard and enjoyed my three years with the orchestra, even though there were many more times I felt unworthy and inadequate. I wonder what it would have been like to be walking around with Jesus. He was God’s Son walking on the earth accepting all, healing all, there was no presumptuousness about him. There was no air of arrogance or pride, rather Jesus lifted others and lowered Himself in humility. In the above story of the centurion, he came to Jesus feeling humbled and unworthy in His presence, but in this he showed great respect, trust and faith in this Saviour of the World. A centurion, who had distinction and rank, came asking for help for a servant. Who cared for servants? Let alone a centurion? This was remarkable.
But he spoke humbly to Jesus speaking of his authority and power, but also his unworthiness. Jesus recognised this humility and faith and that he was a man who cared deeply for others. Jesus honoured the centurion’s plea and healed the servant. Do we treat God with the respect deserved? Do we humble ourselves at His feet begging for mercy and knowing that we are not worthy for God’s love and forgiveness? God does deserve our respect and honour, but He accepts us as we are and as we come to Him – we are forgiven and loved! Healing takes place in all forms – body, soul and spirit!
Prayer: Thank you, Lord God, for showing me your love and forgiveness every day. I am not worthy of this, but you lift me up and promise me your gift of grace. Amen.
Willingness 2nd Day in Lent (Thursday)
Read: Matthew 8:1-4 “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.” Matthew 8:3 (NIV) I have been reading into the disease of leprosy and why it was so feared. Maybe I should fear it as it is also known as ‘Hansen’s disease’. Basically, it is an infection caused by a bacterium that is very slow growing. This disease is not spread through casual contact with someone who has leprosy by hugging or shaking hands or sitting next to them, rather through prolonged contact over months with someone who has untreated leprosy.
These days it is rare to contract leprosy, but it does still exist with most cases in Asia, Africa and South America. In the time of Jesus, leprosy was described as a skin disease and was considered a sign of uncleanness or a sign of divine punishment on the person. The types of leprosy referred to in the Bible could be anything from the condition of psoriasis to actual leprosy (Hansen’s disease). To be struck with a skin disease was to be considered a social outcast for the rest of your life. We all have experienced a bit of this feeling during 2020 and contracting COVID-19.
Only through showing healing and cleanness from the disease to the priests is to grant you access into any sort of normal social acceptance. So, upon hearing that there was a man called Jesus who could heal him, this leper, from the Bible reading, went to all lengths to be healed. With the man coming up to Jesus the people around him would have scattered, but Jesus didn’t. Jesus touched the man and was willing to heal him. Immediately his leprosy was gone. Sometimes we might feel that our sin is like a leprosy… we are too sinful to come to church, to be with other Christians.
Jesus is willing to reach out to heal and forgive us from all our wrongdoing. At church we receive this forgiveness and the willingness of Jesus to make us clean and acceptable before God. Knowing Jesus’ love to ‘touch’ me and ‘heal’ me brings comfort and confidence to live out each day with Jesus. The touch from Jesus brings healing.
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for your unconditional love and forgiveness. You accept me and allow me to be clean and holy in your sight. Give me boldness to share this love with others. Amen
A Soft Word Ash Wednesday
Read: Matthew 4:1-11 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1 (NIV) There is a quote by Oscar Wilde, “I can resist everything except temptation.” Have you found that if a block of chocolate or packet of biscuits or chips is opened it is much harder to resist to have just one more bite than if the packet had never been opened? Now, why is this? Temptation always offers the most delicious fruits. We have already failed in our resistance, so why not partake more? I can have a sealed packet of chocolate biscuits in the cupboard and not eat any.
But as soon as I have just one… well soon the packet is empty. Unlike me, Jesus could resist temptation. He was able to resist food when He had been fasting for forty days; He resisted absolute power when being shown all the kingdoms of the world; and He resisted having to prove to others His identity. The devil placed these temptations before Jesus, and we can see them as metaphors for the temptations that come to us regularly. Stones to bread is instant gratification as well as hunger relief. When showcasing the kingdoms of the world, the devil puts glory over authority – who of us doesn’t enjoy the ‘glory’ and spotlight? Lastly, the devil offers security both physical and spiritual, reducing God’s love to one of testing rather than trusting.
The temptations were personal to Jesus and to us! This story of Jesus has always encouraged me. Jesus was able to turn away the devil’s darts and arrows with a soft word of Scripture. Scripture turned away all temptations. Jesus did this throughout His ministry. This is an example for us, to memorise and take God’s Word to heart to help us in all and every situation. Every situation that we can find ourselves in, there is an answer in Scripture. This Lenten season, instead of perhaps ‘giving up’ chocolate, coffee or sweets, maybe try ‘taking up’ reading the Bible, memorising verses and praying daily. In this way we are protecting ourselves from any worldly temptations that may come our way. A soft word of Scripture is all that is needed.
Prayer: Jesus my great example, you teach me constantly through the Bible how to live and conduct myself in my daily life. Help me daily to turn to you as my source of protection. Amen.
by Jeremy Lie
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But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you (Matthew 12:28).
Read Matthew 12:22–32
In this passage, we read about the ‘unforgivable sin’: to denounce the Holy Spirit. My initial question is, ‘Why does Jesus care so much about the Holy Spirit?’ My further thoughts wonder: Is it really unforgivable, or have I ever unintentionally (or perhaps intentionally) done this? If so, can I be forgiven?
Anyone reading this could be justified in having myriad questions that develop in response. I wonder what questions come to your mind.
I don’t believe Jesus wanted us to be fearful of the Holy Spirit. In fact, I think Jesus is using the law as a mirror, holding it up to the Pharisees to say, ‘Look where your thinking gets you’.
It is not uncommon for Jesus to speak in hyperbole and emotionally heightened ways around the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees (‘brood of vipers’). In the religious system of the day, they were ultimately responsible for teaching and facilitating the worship life of the Jewish people. So, naturally, Jesus holds them to a higher standard and is appalled when authority is abused to elevate the powerful and diminish the vulnerable.
So, perhaps, if this is where you find yourself, in charge of the care for people’s souls (pastors, chaplains, ministry workers), then pay close attention to how seriously Jesus considers the Holy Spirit and spiritual authority in this passage.
As a follower of Christ, I am encouraged by his words in verse 28. We shouldn’t be made fearful by Jesus’ power and authority but be comforted and strengthened. We are on Jesus’ side and are for Jesus because Jesus is on our side, and Jesus is for us. Paul states that the battle is not with the flesh but with the spiritual powers and principalities of our world. And, when we pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf. So, no matter how meagre or measly we feel our prayer is, it is not in our authority that we pray but in the power of the Holy Spirit.
We pray: Holy Spirit, come. Help us find strength and courage when our souls are weak and defeated. Be the words of our hearts when our tongues are tied and our mouths are dry. Guide us to trust in your power, not our own ability or wisdom. Amen.
In 2023, Jeremy started his own business, Happy Chappy, through which he sells resources for creating connections to educators, friends or anyone who wants to have better, bigger conversations.
by Jeremy Lie
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A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory (Matthew 12:20).
Read Matthew 12:15–21
As we begin the first of our readings in Matthew 12 for this week, we are met with an image of what kind of Messiah Jesus would be.
The Jewish people had their idea of the type of Messiah God was going to send. They were craving a militant Messiah who was going to overthrow Roman rule and restore Israel to its status as the ‘light to the nations’ that God intended it to be. And so, a question running through the minds of his disciples, at some point must have been: What kind of Messiah is Jesus going to be?
The Jesus we see in Matthew 12 is servant-hearted, putting the good of others above his own agenda. At this point, I think it’s important to pause and reflect on our own expectations of Jesus.
There is a psychological test called the Rorschach Test that invites people to interpret a series of inkblots and makes algorithmic conclusions about their personality based on their responses. Now, why on earth am I bringing this up? Well, what patients do in the Rorschach test, we Christians almost always do with our perception of Jesus.
Within our perception of Jesus lives little projections of our own personality and preferences as to what kind of saviour we believe/want Jesus to be. Left unchecked over time, these projections can completely engulf our understanding of Jesus and distort the true image of Christ that we see here in Matthew.
To Jesus, justice looks like being gentle, meek and caring for the bruised reeds and smouldering wicks of the world. It means having compassion for those who have been trampled on by the political and ideological systems they find themselves part of. It means standing up and standing for those whose sense of hope is holding on like the final flicker of a candle flame on the brink of being extinguished.
What kind of Jesus are you following? One who rules with an iron fist through doctrine and dogma? Or one who sees and seeks out the sick, the hurting and the vulnerable in our communities? One who isn’t afraid to reach out to the leper, confident that the healing we experience in God is more powerful than any earthly ailment? As we, too, are chosen and invited to be God’s servants proclaiming justice to the nations, what kind of justice are we proclaiming? And what kind of Jesus are we projecting?
We pray, Lord Jesus, teach us to walk humbly, act justly and love mercy. Strengthen and encourage us when met with injustice to be as you would be and do as you would do. To have compassion, to listen deeply, to love completely. And, Lord, should we ever be the ones who are the bruised reeds or the smouldering wicks, may we know and trust your promise to be with us and comfort us in our struggles. Amen.
Jeremy worships at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Rochedale, Queensland. He volunteers to coordinate Our Saviour Youth and works alongside the worship team to organise their monthly ALTER worship service. He also enjoys playing in the band and making coffee after services.
by Jeremy Lie
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And they were all amazed at the greatness of God (Luke 9:43).
Read Luke 9:28–36 (37–43)
Welcome, reader, to a week of easy readings, clear teachings and non-confrontational Jesus moments. (Can you sense the sarcasm here?) I am, of course, kidding. The readings this week can be tough to excavate and require us to show patience, curiosity and the ability to hold things in tension as we make our way through them. But, as always with Jesus, there is a gospel through line in the heart of these passages, like gold veins running through ore. So, grab your theological pickaxe, and let’s dive in.
Today’s reading pins two ‘glory stories’ right next to each other: the Transfiguration and the healing of a demon-possessed boy. These stories come immediately after Peter declared Jesus as the Messiah and Jesus’ promise that some of the disciples would physically see the kingdom of God in their lifetime (verse 27). Verse 28 directly ties these two sequences of events together.
So, what do we see of God’s kingdom reality in today’s reading? Could Jesus have been talking about his transfiguration, referring to the fact that Peter, James and John would witness Jesus on the mountaintop in his glorified form? Or was Jesus talking about the healing of a young boy suffering from seizures and mental illness? The text tells us that the crowds were also ‘amazed at the greatness of God’ at that moment.
I think it is one of those curious ‘both, and’ moments where we learn that God will reveal ‘Godself’ in unique ways depending on the people involved and the circumstances they find themselves in. In our Old Testament Scriptures, God appears to Moses in a storm of lightning, thunder and fire. Yet, to Elijah, recovering from depression and exhaustion, God does not appear in thunder and earthquakes but in a gentle whisper. We worship a God who is not limited to mountaintop experience (lest we go scaling mountains looking for them) but who comes down the mountain to meet us in the mess of life as we know it. God gets involved in our lives, concerns and needs.
So, the question is, how might God show up next? Are we willing to posture ourselves toward possibility, the possibility that God might show up in new and unexpected ways that may be foreign to us but are attuned and sensitive to the situation we find ourselves in?
We pray, Heavenly Father, help us not to box you in. Please help us to remain open to the myriad ways you might show up in glory. We thank you for being a God whose heart is for us and whose movement is toward us. Help us to respond in kind as we give our hearts to those in our lives in desperate need of your grace and move toward them in love. Amen.
Jeremy is a chaplain at Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School (LORDS) in Queensland. He loves working with young people as they journey through life and search for connection and meaning. He is particularly passionate about reshaping conventional ideals of masculinity and empowering young people to view vulnerability not as a show of weakness but as a sign of strength.
by Carolyn Ehrlich
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As for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill … Blessed are all who take refuge in him (Psalm 3:6,12b).
Read Psalm 2
This psalm seems to nicely round out what I have learned in our readings for this week. I have found the readings hard words from our Lord and Saviour. We have been asked to be merciful and compassionate in our own communities. We have seen that physical death is a possible outcome for some who are Jesus’ disciples. We have heard Jesus say that he did not come to bring peace on earth. We have been instructed to be wise and gentle.
It seems that we are in the midst of a war – and we are. A war for our souls and the souls of all people on earth. It seems like walking with Jesus is a minefield in this world that is full of evil, where nations rage against God, people plot in vain to do whatever they want to do, and rulers consult one another rather than walking with God (well, that is what appears to be happening).
In this psalm, we are assured that God rules. He laughs at the vain plots of humanity and holds the people who plot in derision (verse 4). And this is a huge comfort to each of us living this battle for the souls of people. Blessed are those who take refuge in him. God has set Jesus on his holy hill (verse 6). Take refuge in him.
- ‘Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge’ (Psalm 16:1).
- ‘You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance’ (Psalm 32:7).
- ‘O, taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him’ (Psalm 34:8).
- ‘How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings’ (Psalm 36:7).
- ‘Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us’ (Psalm 62:8).
- ‘But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works’ (Psalm 73:28).
- ‘You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust”’ (Psalm 91:1,2).
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus as King. Thank you that in Jesus, I can take refuge. I turn to you for strength and courage to walk in your ways today and always. You are my refuge and strength. Please be with me and keep me from all evil today, for into your hands I commend myself, my body, my soul and all things. Amen.
Carolyn Ehrlich lives in retirement with her husband Wayne in Ipswich, Queensland. Prior to retirement, Carolyn worked as a researcher in the fields of disability and rehabilitation. Today, Carolyn is kept busy with hobbies and supporting her family and the Ipswich Lutheran Parish in various ways.