Persistent Prayer - Rev. John Arnold

In our readings today, the message of Jeremiah could not be more timely. Too often we ignore His refreshing, flowing water and build our own leaky cisterns. So in repentance we are called to reject these forms of idolatry (anything we treasure and depend upon more than Him) and return to a joyful relationship with our Father, our Sustainer. Let us pray that He will bring to light those things, even the most subtle, that keep us from drawing near to be forgiven, cleansed and transformed by His Holy Spirit.

When we read about Jesus confronting a rural, unlearned synagogue official over Sabbath observance we can easily misunderstand Jesus’ teaching about the 7th day of the week and also His teaching on the Torah in general. This incident raises questions on how we Christians should approach the Sabbath. Does it have more value for us than simply a day of rest? Our communities can gain invaluable insights from some of the great Jewish theologians of the past. These insights are not only biblical but point to a deeper understanding that can take us beyond the usual Sabbath controversies.

Jesus warns us that judgment will come. We cannot expect peace when we continue to run from God's peace. Declaring that we have peace where there is none will never bring us closer to peace. But in the warning of judgment, there is hope for peace.

Jesus commands us, “Do not be afraid!” and He gives the very best reason – the Father has given us the Kingdom. This reality enables us to deal with our fears that grow out of past experiences and a worry that God or others are keeping something good from us. Yet the teaching of Jesus is not a naive irresponsibility but a transformation of these fears. Using examples from the lives of Jewish scholar David Flusser and Pope John Paul II, we illustrate how to deal with fear – both big and small.

The latest round of wars in the Middle East (Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Yemin and Syria) has produced international outrage and has led to a dangerous rise in anti-Semitism around the world. Many in the Church are largely indifferent, while in other parts of the Christian community a huge amount of energy is being expended either criticizing or supporting Israel. Yet one thing seems to be lacking. There is little genuine lament as modeled for us by the Psalms and other books in the Bible. On this very day that Israel mourns the destruction of the two temples, we ask what the Book of Lamentations can teach us today.

The God of Abraham rules over all things, and yet He tells us to pray. Why? If everything is just fate or happenstance that would be a good question.

In a time when people often live into their seventies rather than die from banditry, dysentery, or heatstroke we have lost the meaning of hospitality. Hospitality can be the difference between life and death. We know that God gives all good things and preserves our lives. And we know that we are called to follow His example. Today we look at both our inheritance of God and the examples we have of true hospitality.

Jesus calls us to love God and love our neighbors. In the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus shows who we are called to love as our neighbor. He also shows us what that love should look like---self sacrificial and full of compassion. But none of that matters if we don't actually practice the love of God. This is why Jesus said, "Go, thou, and do likewise."

Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples to heal and demonstrate the Kingdom of God. Like those followers who rejoiced at overcoming the demonic, we too may have misguided priorities and a limited understanding of the Kingdom. Along with the name of Jesus, they overcame evil through obedience, humility and a dependence on the hospitality of others. These values not only allow God to rule in our lives but lead to a peace which brings about the crushing of Satan under the feet of the church.

We are easily anesthetized by the routine and mundane. When disaster strikes in the form of war, earthquakes, civil unrest, etc., we take ourselves off autopilot and come alive, and we often (and secretly) find life more meaningful for a while. Something similar can happen with Bible prophecy. The recent events in the Middle East has excited some in an unhealthy way. Yet as Jesus made his way to Jerusalem he challenged us to find our purpose and meaning in the responsibilities and blessings of attaching ourselves to Him and participating in His life. This we will find more purposeful (and challenging) than the “thrill” of any disaster or future speculation.