Day 14 Matt 3: 7-10, Luke 3: 7-14 John’s Preaching

Just take time to read the Luke portion.  Luke adds a description of not only his style and content of his preaching, but adds some specific instructions to special interest groups. 

Guided reflection:

1. It does not appear that John has attended any “How to win friends and influence people” seminars!  What would you think if you heard this man?
2. Looking at vs 10-14 – what were the specific lifestyle changes each group was required to do to show their repentance? 
3. In the 12 step recovery for alcoholics (AA), one of the steps is to name where your actions have wounded another and then go and make amends.  Try it!  Make your list and follow through plan! 

Guided prayer:

“Thank you, God, for blunt people who do not hesitate to speak the truth.  But just as important, help me to hear the places where I need to repent and make a life style change.  Amen” 

Day 13: Matt 3: 1-6; Mark 1: 1-6, Luke 3: 1-6 John the Baptist

Now we begin the portion of Matt, Mark and Luke that collectively tell the story of Jesus’ whereabouts and teaching.   Most days I will give you all three of the various references that describe that particular story.  All three bring John the Baptist into view as the forerunner of Christ.  

Guided reflection for day 13:

1. Do you recall, from day 2, what John’s life purpose was to be… do you see it fulfilled here?
2. Do you need to “repent” to prepare yourself for Christ in your life?
3. The way John is described to have dressed and eaten, seems like the first hippie!

Guided prayer:

“Loving God, I would imagine John the Baptist would still have the same message for us today:  Repent, prepare your heart for Christ!   Help me to anticipate your work in my life –open my eyes to see where I have crooked ways that need some straightening and where I have rough edges that need some smoothing out!  Let it be so!  Amen!” 

Day 12: Luke 2: 41-52 Jesus at 12 yrs old

The task of the life stage of a teenager is to pull away from his/her parents and to begin to own their own thoughts and ideas.   Jesus was no exception!

Guided reflection:

1. Can you remember when you began to think differently than your parents?  What was the issue at hand?
2. Jesus is defining his purpose in life:  to be about “His Father’s Business” – If you were Mary or Joseph, what would your reaction be? 
3. reread Vs 52 – this is the only story from Jesus’ birth to adulthood – take some time to imagine what Jesus was like as a young lad…

Guided Prayer:

“Holy and wise Parent God, I thank you for the people in my past who allowed me to think my own thoughts about my purpose in life.  For those who stifled my dreams, I forgive them.  Right now, protect our youth as they begin their time of self discovery. Amen”

Day 11: Matthew 2: 16-28 Terror in the land

Jesus’ birth had side affects – King Herod’s insecurity fueled his fear, and as prophecy is fulfilled, Joseph takes his little family and runs for their lives, and fear plays out…

Guided reflection:

1. Has anyone ever tried to hunt you down to destroy you?

2. What must it have been like to know that your baby was killed because the king was afraid he was a threat – your tiny baby? 

3.  Once again, prophecy is fulfilled by Joseph making wise decisions.   We do not know how long they were in Egypt, but now the holy family takes up residence in a new community.  What is it like for you to have to move from one place to another?

Guided prayer:

“O Guiding Light, you promise to show us the way and to guide us if we seek your will.  Just like Joseph, help me be wise to those around me who live in fear.  I pray for people who are in danger because of someone else’s fear and hate. Amen.” 

Matthew 2: 1- 15 Visit of the Wise Men, escape to Egypt

Now we go back to Matthew – Luke is silent about the Wise Men.  

Guided reflections:

1.  Put yourself in Herod’s place.   Feel threatened?   Feel “out of the loop”? 

2.  To protect the child, look at vs 12… they paid attention.

3.  What kind of people have such curious minds that they follow a star?  

      Do you still have “wonder” inside your heart?

4.   Joseph followed “his gut” and got out of there.  Sit in his shoes a bit….

Guided prayer:

“ Even in the middle of miracles and wonder, evil still lurks with the desire to destroy.  Please guide my life so that I can be aware of people who might not have my best interest at heart.  Forgive me for the times that my own pride and ego have caused others pain.  Amen”

Luke 2: 21-39 Jesus is named and brought to the Temple

Mary and Joseph follow the details of the Angel’s directions and follow the traditions of the day. 

Guided reflections:

1. What were the traditions they followed in this scripture?
2. I love Simeon – an old codger who had a dream that he would see the Messiah – Verses .33-35give the first hint of what might lay ahead for these parents…sit in their shoes for a bit…
3. The old gal, Anna, who had gone through her own pain, now gave hope.  Where do you see hope today 
4. Have you ever had a time when you knew you were in the middle of something great? 

Guided Prayer:

“Hope – you are the God of Hope!  As I get old, help me to see signs of hope instead of just despair.   Give me a vision of you that keeps me going from this life and into the next. Amen”

Luke 2: 8 – 20 Shepherds and Angels

Again, only Luke tells of the angels and shepherds. 

Guided reflections:

1. We heard the life purpose of John, but now what does the angel say is Jesus’ life purpose?
2. Vs 19 – I wonder if what Mary “ pondered in her heart”  kept her going 33 ½ years later at the foot of the cross.
3. In these stories of Mary and Joseph, the angels did not discuss the future pain. 

Guided prayer for Day 8: 

“Loving God, it is probably good that we do not know the end at the beginning.  Even in Jesus’ story, his life with such a clear purpose had seasons of joy and of sorrow.  Help me to see that you are with me, working in and through me, when all are singing songs of praise as well as when I find myself alone in the garden.  Help me pay attention to what I “ponder in my heart” 

Luke 2: 1-7 and also Matthew 1: 18-25. The Birth of Jesus

Luke is still more expansive then Matthew in the birth story.  

Guided reflections:

1.  Can you believe that it took paying taxes to get Mary and Joseph in the right place at the 

right time to have Jesus’ birth match the prophecies around the coming Messiah?    Now you understand the important of Day one’s genealogy!  All the pieces were coming together!

2. Make a mental note of all the circumstances that were “ordinary” in this extraordinary story.

3. Now, look at your own “to do” list for today – what ordinary things are listed…could God use your list?

Guided prayer:

“God of wonder, we wonder why you used such circumstances to orchestrate the birth of the Holy child.  I know that this was a cosmic happening, but am I missing your activity in my ordinary life?  Take my ordinary life and make my extraordinary.  Could You be in something so mundane as paying taxes? Hum… Amen!” 

Luke 1: 57 – 80 Birth of John and Baptism and his father’s prophecy

Luke gives us the specifics of the interactions of Zechariah and Elizabeth around the birth of a son in their old age.  Remember, Zechariah has not been able to speak!   (Day two reading!)

Guided reflections:

1. Don’t you think vs 57 is really talking about a baby shower!  There is no scandal in John’s birth.
2. Why was the baby named “John”? 
3. Vs 76 reminds us again as to John’s life purpose – what is it?
4. Look at vs 80 – goodness – how did he grow up?  I wonder what happened to his parents?
5. Have you ever spent time in the wilderness, growing up? 

Guided prayer:

“O God, You have a purpose for my life.  I have sometimes felt like I was growing up in the wilderness (you and God recall together)…  Have I found out my purpose yet?  Will it include wilderness times as well as “preparing the way” times?  Be with me, Lord Jesus.  Amen”

Luke 1: 46-56 Mary’s Song of Praise

Again, only Luke tells this part of the story – Mary is able to comprehend the awesomeness of what has been asked of her.  

Reflections:

1. Mary has gone from “How can this be” to “WOW!!!  Little ‘ole ME!”  Have you danced with joy at God’s blessings in your life?
2. What is included in the litany of why Mary is Praising God? 

Guided prayer:

“ O God, I long to dance with joy over your mercy and favor… right now I make a list of all the ways you have blessed my life ( __________________________________) With Mary, my soul magnifies your name.  Amen”