Easter is approaching - let's chat!

lmaopml

Considering that we are approaching the lead up to Easter in our Christian calendar - and also what we call 'Lent' in the Catholic calendar. I thought it would be nice to concentrate our thoughts and perhaps discuss some of Matthews Gospel that is pertinent to us as brothers and sisters in Christ, and what this time of year, along with meditating on the Gospel means to us personally in the lead up to Easter.


Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

The beginning of Jesus ministry is set against this background of wandering in the wilderness - like all Christians are of course, only sojourners, and so too Moses and the Isrealites before. What does this time of year and these passages mean to us today? or to you personally? Is there something that is dear to your heart about this call to go back to the beginning, and know the beginning of his ministry?

Another passage that comes almost directly after in the announcement of the Kingdom, is perhaps one of the most beautiful and enlightening sermons ever preached and it's Jesus first teaching words in Matthews Gospel...The Sermon on the Mount, or Beatitudes. In what way have you reflected on them and please share your thoughts, hopes and fears, and questions about this famous sermon..

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.



“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.



“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.


I know this is a pretty long op, but hopefully some will get to the end and maybe we could speak heart to heart over the next 40 odd days as we reflect on the build up to the most wonderful feast. Easter It's a personal favorite time of year for me anyways..

Branch Meeting

lmaopml wrote: »

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

What does this mean ? "Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil"

1. Why did the spirit want Jesus tempted ?

2. Can anyone explain to me convincingly how God (Jesus) can be tempted by Satan ?

lmaopml

Branch Meeting wrote: »

What does this mean ? "Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil"

1. Why did the spirit want Jesus tempted ?

2. Can anyone explain to me convincingly how God (Jesus) can be tempted by Satan ?

Thanks for your post - the response is the start! Fair play..I hope this is a good forty days in the wilderness in the lead up to Easter, and that it gives us a chance to speak plainly, and hopefully with the right heart.

1. Why did the Spirit want Jesus tempted?

I wouldn't phrase it that way, i.e. 'want' Jesus tempted - you must remember that his ministry is part and parcel of the new revelation, and new Covenant, and fulfillment of the old. With clarification, just like any Father and Son, they teach by demonstrating, there is a difference between separating, and distinguishing, one must be able to distinguish, but not seperate - he was not only speaking to people of one generation but his word, and deeds, where meant to affect and effect and be heard by people of this age and also people of the time he chose as the time of revelation too..to the Isrealites, the chosen people - the 'salt' of the earth, the people from whom the whole world would unite in understanding. The people that would bring forth our common Messiah.

When Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days and was tempted - no. 1 by hunger and no. 2 by pride, and no. 3, by the world and power he overcame it. He was fully human, and chose to know the pain, the distractions that life brings, and he was tested - just like us every day.

2. Can anyone explain to me convincingly how God (Jesus) can be tempted by Satan ?

Well, that's the whole notion that he not only is Lord of the Kingdom, but that he loves you so much he bent down to save us from ourselves, to 'know' him, and what knowledge is, and always did so, right from the beginning - you might as well ask why Christ was Crucified and suffered, and yet forgave. Why would God come down at all? Why would he want to occupy and know a heart? Why does St. John say that God is 'Love' - well because he was lucky enough and chosen to see what love is - we aren't so lucky, but we can relate, because we know and have experienced unconditional and sacrifical love, and doing so we understand better.

I hope this helps to explain in some kind of way..

Branch Meeting

lmaopml wrote: »

I hope this helps to explain in some kind of way..

Sorry, but to be totally honest, I'm genuinely none the wiser at all.

lmaopml

Branch Meeting wrote: »

Sorry, but to be totally honest, I'm genuinely none the wiser at all.

lol, I'm sorry, I do tend to get a little over and beyond myself, and I'm not the best person ever at expressing myself clearly - perhaps others may contribute too and it will help not only you, but me too...

lmaopml

Hi,

I'm signed up for a couple of devotionals for this Lenten season, and I just thought I'd share them for anybody interested....

http://www.biblegateway.com/newsletters/

There are some great devotionals on here - highly recommend the 40 Day devotional from the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Fabulous!

Also, http://www.salvationhistory.com/homily_helps

From the St. Paul's Center this is great commentary on Sunday Scripture readings by best selling author and theologian Dr.Scott Hahn - I love this guy

martinedwards

lmaopml wrote: »

what we call 'Lent' in the Catholic calendar.

all the rest of us call it lent too!!

lmaopml

Did anybody ever read St. Augustine's book on the 'Sermon on the Mount'?

What an amazing eye opener - so sorry I never read this before, as I guess I always looked on the Sermon as a type of blessing on various virtues and never really 'dug too deep'! I'm hooked on the Early Church Fathers - fabulous!

St. Augustine sees the Sermon as more than a set of apparent Christian virtues and blessings, but explains at great length that Jesus famous first sermon is 'the road to the Beatitude and the Kingdom, and how one virtue rightly and logically follows the next on our journey towards the Kingdom, that each one kind of 'begets' the next if you like on the path. It's like Christ related 'the way' not to life here and love of natural things, but LIFE in the proper Spirit. He also ties it in with the seven gifts of the Spirit, as mentioned in Isaiah and their opposits, those sins that are deadly, and I'd imagine the Lord's prayer will feature too...

Beginning with the 'Poor in Spirit', those who realise that they cannot ever start onto the path until we realise just how 'poor' we are in Spirit and that it's all about the Grace and the fear of the Lord as the beginning of humility and wisdom - from ashes we came and to ashes we will return, fear of the Lord is the 'Genesis' the beginning of the path of salvation history that leads right the way to the resurrection and we call 'Abba Father'!

I'm not finished yet, but it's a real treasure

lmaopml

I was just flicking through the channels and saw a re-run of Pope Benedict from earlier in Rome, and among the crowd there were people crying - while this isn't surprising in and of itself, it recalled to me how often I cry at Mass lol.... I know that sounds a bit bizarre - am I on my own there snivelling I'm not sure, I don't look around..lol...anybody else do this during Mass or their Worship service?

I remember going up to receive communion for the first time in almost 20 odd years of being away - after spending that previous year popping in and out of the Church to sit quietly at various times, and honest it was like a huge 'rush' of love I felt walking up, it was a bit overwhelming. Ever since guaranteed every time just as we kneel before the consecration on come the waterworks and out comes the kleenex stealth style so nobody notices.

Anyway, that's that......