Day 173 Are we to pay taxes? Matt 22: 15-22; Mark 12: 13-17; Luke 20: 20-26

Guided reflection:

Don’t you wish Jesus would have answered this differently?  The Pharisees were trying to trick Jesus by posing a question that pit Jesus either against the temple leaders or Caesar… but Jesus gives is a life lesson instead.  We are IN the world, even though we are not OF this world.  As long as we live here, work here, and make our livelihood here, we are to open the laws of our land.  Separation of church and state!

Guided prayer:

“Since this story is about taxes, right now I thank you for allowing me to be born at this time in history, in the United States of America… and when I pay my taxes this year, I will try to not complain but see it as rent for being “in” this world on my way to be with you in the next world.  Amen” 

Day 172 The Parable of the Wicked Tenants Matt 21: 35-46; Mark 12: 1-12; Luke 20: 9-19

Guided reflection:

Read the Matthew passage, it has the fuller story.  Jesus, of course, is saying that the Pharisees are the wicked tenants – they have been given the chance to be in God’s vineyard, yet they take advantage of others and even kill the son… predicting what they plan to do with him.  Jesus is predicting that their influence in the kingdom is taken away from them for their wickedness.    Matthew ends this portion by saying that the Pharisees seemed to get it that they were the brunt of Jesus’ stories, but could Jesus be speaking to us too?   God has blessed us with so much… have we taken advantage like the tenants and not been faithful with what God has shared with us?  Our gifts?  Our Family?  Our influence?  Our green earth?

Guided prayer:

“OK, Lord,  I know that I squander what you have given me and sometimes I think that all you have share with me is really mine and you are not a part of the scheme of my life.  Forgive me for my arrogance.  Remind me again that I am living for you. Amen.”

Day 171 The Parable of Two sons Matthew 21: 28-32

Guided reflection:

Jesus tells an interesting story.  One said he would not help, yet repented and did help… the other said he would help yet did not!  Jesus is telling the Pharisees and anyone else listening, don’t just talk about what you are going to do…. DO what the Heavenly Father requests… and if at first you do not do what God wants, if you repent and do it, that is what is most important!   It is not your intentions, but you heart that is open to repent and go the right thing after all that is most important. Have you ever said one thing and done another… or changed you mind to do the right thing?

Guided Prayer:

“My heart is open, O God, to have you show me what you would have me do, even if I have said I would not do it.  Help me see your will and where I am missing the point.  Most of all, keep my heart open to repent and go in a new direction.  Just for practice, where shall I make a change today? Amen” 

Day 170 Questions about Jesus’ Authority Matt 21: 23-27, Mark 11: 27-33, Luke 20: 1-8

Guided reflection:

The cat and mouse game with the Pharisees and Jesus becomes a little bit more heated.  Jesus goes to the temple to pray and the Chief Priest and some of the elders come to him and ask him by what authority he does miracles?  Jesus knows they do not want real answers, they just want more evidence to add to their list of how evil Jesus is…. So he answers their questions with a question, and ties them in their own knot. Are you ever like the Priests and Elders, just trying to punch a hole in someone else’s good thing?  Do other people ever get your goat because they seem to be doing things better than you. Or do they make you uncomfortable with the way they do things?  Can you feel the tension in the air as we go through these days?  Take a moment and put yourself in the story – hear the shouts, hear the taunts, hear Jesus’ frustration… it is all part of the story.

Guided prayer:

Father, forgive me for the times I have no clue what I am doing. Forgive me for the times I have not seen what you are doing in others’ lives while I have judged them.  Forgive me.  Amen.” 

Day 169 A Fig Tree issue Matt 21:18,19; Mark 11: 12-14

Guided reflection:

The story continues around Jesus’ anger in the temple… well, actually, at all things that are not producing the kind of fruit they were intended.  The Temple was to be a place of prayer and it was now a place of money scamming; Jerusalem was to be the holy city that could recognize the Messiah yet did not; and a fig tree is suppose to produce figs and it does not!  Jesus curses the tree to die!  When they passed by that same fig tree the next morning, it had withered and died over night!   They were amazed… and Jesus uses this as an example about the power of their words and prayer!   Whatever you ask in prayer, you will have it if you believe… and if you forgive others their sins, your Heavenly Father will forgive yours as well.  Where have you seen your words have power?  Where have you forgiven so that now your sins are forgiven as well?

Guided prayer:

“You see me just as I am, O God.  I cannot hide the truth from you. Where I am like the fig tree, looking all nice and trimmed but not producing a lick of fruit?  Bring me back to life, O Lord.  Amen. 

Day 168 Jesus gets angry! Matt 21: 10-17; Mark 11:11; Luke 19:45-46

Guided reflection:

There is a piece of me that is pleased to know that Jesus had a fit of anger in the temple when he saw the temple used as a market place.  Remember yesterday’s lament over Jerusalem?  This next event is all a part of the same day… he has just cried over Jerusalem and now finds that the temple folks are using the temple as another place to scam the people – making them pay for their sacrifices!  They are missing the whole point!  Then, when he heals the sick and the temple folk get mad at him, he is at his limit!  Maybe this is “the passion” of Jesus! What makes you angry?  Do you think Jesus is angry over the same things you are angry? 

Guided Prayer:

“Help me be righteously angry about the things that make you angry, O God, instead of my pettiness and competition with others.  Forgive me the places I have misused your gifts for purposes that do not match your heart.  Help me to be more like Jesus. Amen” 

Day 167 Jesus Predicts the Destruction of Jerusalem Luke 19:39-44

Guided reflection:

            Can you hear the cry of disappointment Jesus has over His people of Jerusalem?

“O that you knew the things that make for peace”.   I imagine, in my heart’s ear, hearing a similar cry from the throne room in heaven even today.   Jesus had hoped that the people of the day had realized that God was revealed right there in front of them… but they did not.  In 70 AD, destruction of Jerusalem did happen….even today, there is sorrow in Jerusalem.   But for us, have we ignored the ways of peace and have chosen to ignore them?

Guided prayer:

O Dear God, are you trying to get my attention today?  Where am I ignoring you?   Where are the ways of peace before me and I am not getting it?  Show me the way…Let peace begin with me.  Amen.”

Day 166 Jesus enters Jerusalem Matt 21: 1-9; Mark 11: 1-10; Luke 19: 28-38

Guided Reflection:

This begins what we call “holy week”… Jesus enters Jerusalem and neither he nor the rest of the world will ever be the same.  All of his disciples – a multitude of disciples, Luke calls them – felt the air of excitement.   The city is ready for a holiday; the Romans have beefed up security; the temple taxes are sky high; the people need hope, they need the Messiah!  Jesus is riding into town like a king, ready to overthrow the political and religious leaders of the day… or so it seems.  In just a few days, Jesus is going to dash those hopes because their hopes were too small.  With what part of this Palm Sunday parade do you most identify?

Guided prayer:

“I understand the hopes of the people for someone to take them out of their current messes.  O God, most of my prayers are really “help me, God!” prayers, but help me to trust your plan over my own desires.  More than anything, I desire your will in my life.  Amen” 

Day 165 Jesus’ parable about investments Matt 25:14-30; Luke 19: 11-27

Guided Reflection:

This is the one story that points out that we are to cooperate and use our minds and networks for good… we are not victims.  It is up to us to take what God has given us and work with it, embellish those gifts, and just see what God and we can accomplish together!  I once prepared a sermon about a possible 4th servant… what if there was one who was given an amount, he invested it, worked with it and still lost it all.  Would he have been a hero or tossed out?  I believe it is not the bottom line Jesus is looking for, but for us to cooperate with Him in using our gifts and opportunities to do His will.

Guided Prayer:

“Lord, where am I hiding and wasting what you have given me?   Where can I invest myself and all that I have to make a difference in this world? Thank you for knowing my heart, even if it looks like I have failed.   Show me the way.  Amen” 

Day 164 Zacchaeus Like 19: 1-10

Guided reflection:

The Zacchaeusstory is only told by Luke. What a great story of redemption.  Zacchaeus is a man hated by his neighbors because he has worked for the Romans and cheats them all in the process.  But he has one of those inquiring minds that wants to know… he wants to see Jesus!  But being ignored by those around him and being a short person, he climbs a tree to see Jesus.  Jesus stops right under the tree and calls him by name… and invites himself to a party.  Zacchaeus’ life is transformed – once the opportunist who used others for his own gain, now  used what he had to help others.  Isn’t that just like Jesus?   Have you ever been, or you know persons that are, a Zaccheaus today?  Where has Jesus turned your heart around?  Have you been transformed by Jesus?

Guided Prayer:

“Loving God, where I am like Zacchaeus in my life?   What do you need to change my heart and my point of view?  Am I an opportunist?  Allow me to make the most of opportunities to serve you by loving others.  Amen”