A PRAYER TO START
Matthew’s gospel story is full of the compassionate care of Jesus towards those who are sick, poor, outcast, broken, tired, lonely, aloof, confused, struggling, and even self-absorbed. His mercy is something we receive each morning like the warming sunrise; a refreshing invitation into a day of sharing that mercy along with others. Pray this prayer adapted from John Ballie today…
O Father of mercy, you care for me as if you had no other to care for, and yet you care for all others as you care for me; so I bring to you my needs and the needs of the world of humankind to which I belong.
Remember me in your mercy, O Father, and keep me in your grace. Forgive the poor use I tend to make of the talents you have entrusted me. Cover up the inadequacy of my service by the fullness of your resources. Yet grant also that day by day I may be strengthened by your help, so that my service may grow less unequal in measure to that which I have received and my sins less grievous. May Christ more and more reign in my heart and purify my deeds.
Remember in your mercy all humankind, of whom you are the Father of all families. Let the whole earth be filled with your praise and made glad by the knowledge of your presence. Let there fall upon all people a sense of your excellent greatness. Let the nations be in awe of you. Let your glory rule over every seat of power and every workplace, including mine. Let the way of Jesus be honored in every home starting with my own. Redeem the whole world’s life, O Father, and transform it utterly through the power of the cross.
O Father, you graciously use our daily efforts toward the attainment of your purposes. I pray for all who are devoting their lives to proclaiming the gospel in every land, especially the Brills, Chris Loux, the Hardys, Thai Martin, the Hiseys, and the Rungaitis. I pray for all who are working for the cause of peace and understanding between nations, and for all who are striving to break down the dividing walls between enemies in our city, so that we might see all one in Christ Jesus. Encourage them with the joy of your presence, and kindle in me the urgent desire to further and support their hard work as far as I am able; through Jesus Christ. Amen.
TAKING A LOOK AHEAD
On any journey, whether a hike in the mountains or a trek to the grocery store, it is important to be aware of your surroundings, to be present. It’s also important to know where you are going! To look up, and take a peek at what is ahead.
This coming week our journey once again meanders from teaching to example. In chapter 13 Jesus spoke of the kingdom in a manner that required discernment, a “kingdom-granted” way of understanding the world as God operates in and above it. Like many of us, cognitively the disciples understand what Jesus is talking about, which is a good and important aspect of discipleship! Yet, like us, they are also very much a work in progress in regards to recognizing the opportunities that their understanding of God and his kingdom bestows upon them each day.
Read Matthew 14:1-36. As you are reading take notice and note of the following:
Who are the characters in the story? Explicitly named and those assumed.
Where does the story take place? Physically, & how is it connected to what proceeds it?
What repeats? Words, characters, actions/events, sayings, descriptions, etc.
What surprised you?
What might have surprised the people Matthew was writing to?
What questions does the story raise so far?
CONNECTING THE DOTS
In chapter 14 we learn that John never made it out of the prison cell from which he wondered aloud “Are you the one [Jesus], or are we to look for another” (11:3). Jesus declared that he was indeed the one John and the saints of history had waited for, yet his coming would change the world in much more fundamental and transcendent ways than even John could comprehend. Jesus’ message and mission was one of everlasting change, demonstrated through what was “easy” in comparison (9:4-6), what we call "miracles". While John struggled at moments with the way Jesus brought about judgement through mercy, he nevertheless was one whose murder greatly saddened Jesus.
Indeed, at the loss of a dear family member and friend, Jesus withdrew to mourn alone. To the people observing, the loss of John and subsequent amazement at Jesus from the man who took John’s life so flippantly, caused them not to be saddened but rather curious. The public nature of the tragedy made them that much more eager to bring all their sick (v. 35) to simply touch the fringe of Jesus' cloak (v. 36) and receive something from this marvelous wonder. What appears as a shallow, if not selfish, emotional response to the grotesque conclusion of John's life from the very people who had flocked to see and hear him (3:5-6), is answered with a deeply emotional response from Jesus: compassion.
Where else in Matthew’s story have we seen Jesus respond to situations in words, actions and emotions that we would not expect? What is similar or different in this scene?
Can you think of times in your life, or in the life those you know, when you were like the people who come to Jesus through the tragedy of others? How did Jesus respond to you in those moments?
Jesus’ response to the needs of the people creates an opportunity for those who follow him to jump into the action. While Jesus does the healing, he invites his disciples to feed those who are drawn to him.
Where else in Matthew’s story has Jesus given the disciples an opportunity to participate in what he is doing? In what ways do these various instances compare and contrast?
The disciples, like disciples still today, miss the commanding invitation of Jesus to participate. Re-read verse 16.
Does Jesus ask them to do something or tell them to so?
Based on what we know about Jesus’ commissions to share in the kingdom coming, what does Jesus’ command imply regarding the disciples ability to fulfill it?
Who is Jesus compassionately healing around you right now?
What commanding invitation is Jesus placing before you?
A THOUGHT TO PONDER
“New and stirring things are belittled because if they are not belittled the humiliating question arises ‘Why then are you not taking part in them?’”
(H. G. Wells)