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The Gospel of Matthew Bible Studies
The Gospel of Mark Bible Studies
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
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Time After Pentecost – Lectionary 21 Texts: Isaiah 51:1-6 and Matthew 16:13-20 August 24, 2008 I’m picking up on a notion this morning that God is trying to talk to us. As you listened to the first reading this morning; as you listened to the six verses of Isaiah, did you notice the language, and how the Prophet piles imperative upon imperative (that is, commands or directions to the reader). “Listen,” he says, “look, look, listen, give heed, lift up, look.” And if you went and looked in your Bible’s at home at the surrounding chapters of Isaiah, there are many more imperative directives from God’s prophet: Listen, Listen, Listen, incline your ear to me O my people. When you think about it, isn’t this a critical part of our religion? After all we are a people who have a sacred book of writings? And in order for words to make an impact, there has to be a listener—someone to be affected by these words. In order for a promise to change a life, someone has to hear the promise. In scripture, in fact, this could be the thing that distinguishes the faithful from the non-faithful. Throughout, there are those who wait upon the Lord, and those who forget about the Lord; those who listen and those who ignore. I would say, the primary difference between the friends of Jesus’ (his disciples) and Jesus’ enemies (the Pharisees) is that the disciples are the characters in this story that listen (not just to Jesus either). The Pharisees, on the other hand, are those who have closed themselves off from what was happening. Always afraid of what they might loose, they are unwilling to open their hearts and minds to anything new, unwilling to change, the Pharisees put up walls around themselves. Rather than listen, they continuously come into the story having their minds made up: with a plot, an agenda. Misusing the Law of Moses, as if it were a barricade, all so they would not have to listen to anything new. This would be like someone coming to Church, already having his/her mind made up that they were not going to learn anything or enjoy anything or be affected or changed in any way… Some people go through life like this. But then we have disciples of Jesus Christ—those who seem to be, by their nature, listening/ seeking / challenged by Jesus and his words. Completely different from the Pharisees—those who already have all the answers. They have everything worked out into a nice little formula so they would not need to listen to anything or anyone other than themselves. They are threatened by Jesus, because he challenges their conclusions which they find so safe. Here is a sad-but-true joke, spoken by a comedian: “A conclusion is the place where you get tired of thinking.” Brothers and sisters, we are called to be the listening, observant, thinking, regarding, discerning type of people--an open and awake people. The outlook of Christianity, as Jesus says, is “for those who have ears… Listen!” Lovers of God are those who don’t have the answers, but those who embrace the mystery of life… Those who are listeners. In this story, Jesus quizzes his disciples about this “What are the people saying?” Have you been paying attention? And Peter, true to the nature of Jesus’ followers does not disappoint. “Well Jesus, I have been listening. This is what I have heard. Some people say you are John the Baptist, prophet Jeremiah….. “But who do you say that I am, Peter?” And this is when Peter makes (what has come to be known as) his grand confession, “You are the son of the living God, the messiah!” And we love Peter’s answer so much in the Church that we sometimes miss another important illustration of this story—what I believe is the underlying theme. Jesus’ answer, “Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven.” –that is to say: Not only has Peter been listening to the voices of “the people” he has also apparently been open to perceiving another “voice” if you will. And according to Jesus, it is God’s voice. Brother’s and Sisters, Listen, look, watch, stay awake—for I believe that by his creative work—God is still talking. And it is the conversation itself that changes us. This is something that can be taken from Peter’s Grand Confession: All the voices swirling around out there in the world or in cyberspace; the intelligent, the humorous, the foolish, the wise—all of them must contend with the truth of God. The honest to God truth—and this is what Peter means when he says “you are the Son of God” Jesus’ voice is the voice of all voices which must be listened to: for the world so needs his grace and his peace. The world needs this truth. Ironically, this, the way of listening to Jesus, is not necessarily so that we will have all the right answers (no, if this were true Christ would not have spoken and died for forgiveness). No, Christ speaks truth—that which is beyond our grasp—to teach us to remain open to the mystery of life—that which is beyond our grasp. His truth keeps us alive! For life behind walls, is no life at all. Let us embrace the mystery that surrounds us with the world of God’s creation. Let us listen, and ponder and think. And may the God of truth continue to find us alert and awake… and alive! -------------------- Pastor Joshua Magyar 418 W. Main St. Sidney, MT 59270
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