The One Who Could

The one who could gather large crowds
  with his teaching and healing
  also leaves them behind.
The one who could explain everything to his disciples
  when they were alone
  also lets them alone as he slept in the middle of their storm.
The one who could speak only in parables to the crowds
  so they might not hear, but only understand,
  also quiets howling winds with his words.
The one who could speak only in parables to the crowds
  so they might not see, but only perceive,
  also stills the furious waves with his words.
The one who could say "He who has ears, let him hear!"
  also makes the winds and waves obey him.
The one who could command our trust and love
  also allows us to ask, "Who is this?"
The one who could hear us say, "Don't you care if we drown?"
  also says, "Do you still lack my faith?"

(Meditation on Mark 4:35-41, Jesus Calms the Storm)

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Reflections on a Pharisee and Tax Collector

Show me my pride;
    save me from it.
Awaken me to humility,
  its glory and grace.

Instead of questioning God's goodness and affirming your righteousness, question your righteousness and affirm God's goodness.  It is a safer path.

If you're busy looking down on others, it's hard to look up to God.

What would've happened if God had looked down on people and merely said, "I am so glad I am not like you!`"

Religious pride delights to talk about how it is doing more for God than other people are doing.

Sometimes the people who are closest to God feel the furthest away from him.

Looking up to heaven is the normal stance in prayer.  Humility waits for God to lift up its face to heaven in mercy.  Pride scorns being lifted up this way.

Humility beats the body down not to get God's notice, but so it can pay better attention to God and his ways.

The seed of humility first appears through our sins because of guilt and fear.  God's mercy frees us from guilt and fear.  Then humility can grow.

Sin is the misuse of the body.  Lust, greed, and anger squeeze the body for pleasure it cannot fully give, so such pursuits ultimately lead to emptiness.  Joy is found in the body humbled to its place of waiting on God.  Only in this can the body rest content.  The body is meant for the Lord and the Lord for the body just like the stomach is meant for food and food for the stomach.  Nothing else satisfies.

When the humble go to worship, they meet mercy.  When the humble return home, they discover grace.  Wherever the proud go, they bring condemnation.  When the proud return home, they find emptiness.

The humble often escape the notice of other people.  God sees them and blesses them.  The proud are often seen and praised by other people.  God escapes their notice.


(Luke 18:9-14)

Small Enough, Large Enough

The kingdom of God is small enough to be overlooked,
but large enough to fill my whole life.

The voice is quiet,
the seed is small,
but when planted,
it rules over all,
giving a place to stand
and a place to rest,
a place of comfort,
a place of trust.

The kingdom is small enough
to get lost in a crack,
easily looked over,
off the beaten track.

The kingdom is for planting,
going ever deep,
rooted in the will to good
of those who truly seek.

The kingdom grows larger still,
filling life in every crease,
overshadowing each moment
with love, joy, and peace.

captainkimo.com

The kingdom lifts its branches,
giving me a place to land,
a shadow of constant kindness
giving rest in its hands.

The kingdom calls
in parable and word
to be planted in the ear
and be ever heard.

Let this kingdom grow into my heart.
Let this Jesus come beside and explain
as alone I await his teaching words
about  a place to stand, a place to remain.

Your kingdom come.
Your kingdom stay.
Your kingdom grow
each and every day.

(On Mark 4:30-34, The Parable of the Mustard Seed)

The Naked Guest

"Two men went up to the temple to pray: one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector."  (Luke 18:10)

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The house of God is open.
The meal is spread out.
The conversation is slow.
The table is low.

When I enter this house
          I never hear,
          "What are you doing here?"
          They call my name,
          but will I answer?
          Do I know it?

The greatest weapon of pride
       that keeps me from tabling
                             with the Lord
                             are the words,
                             "I just don't have time for that."

The doorway to the house
       is the cross.
To enter, in confession,
       all clothes are stripped,
       all possessions dropped.
       Naked I come,
       but I arrive at the table
       dressed in glory.

At any other home,
     where people gather alone,
     this naked visitor,
     this empty traveler
     is unwelcome and unexpected.
At the house of God,
     though he worries about his welcome,
     he is seen a long way off.
And though his brother will not welcome him,
     he is clothed and celebrated.
His brother receives warm welcomes everywhere
     and he thinks he deserves them.
But this naked guest
      is only welcomed by God
                 and his company.

The naked guest finds his home
       in a church that is
          a place of worship and
          a house of prayer.
       Here is a doorway to fellowship with God.
His brother will find his home
      in a church that is
         a human gathering,
         a place of religion.
      Here is a warm welcome for all pride and false confidence.

Without confession, I will not be recognized by God.
             He knows my true self, my right name.
             Do I know?  Will I answer?
             Jesus says "I never knew you" to this pretend self.
             Jesus says "Come to me" to a contrite heart, a broken spirit.
             As a naked guest, let me come
                                         and cling to the cross!
                                         Pretend selves die
                                         and false confidence falters
                                         and all is left behind
                                                for a chair
                                                        at the table of the Trinity.