Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"Everybody is looking for you" Mark 1:37

There's the amusing story about a convicted criminal --
a rough-looking character nicknamed "Brutus," who
was about to be paroled after serving a lengthy
sentence. Before walking through the prison gates
to his long-awaited freedom, he was paid a visit by
the prison chaplain. "You have paid your debt to
society," the chaplain said, "so I encourage you
to hold your head up high when you walk out of
here. Live a good life and, by all means, join the
nearest Church as soon as possible."

It so happened that Brutus found an apartment
on the edge of the poorest section of town, yet
close to the richest section. It so happened also
that the nearest Church was located on the edge
of the rich area. Old Brutus lost no time going to
see the pastor of that Church and telling him of
his desire to become a member. "My good man,"
said the pastor, "I don't think you would be happy
here, although I appreciate your good intentions.
Really, I think you would be most uncomfortable
among my people and I'm afraid it would be quite
embarrassing to you. I suggest you think it over,
and pray that God will give you some direction."

Several days later, when Brutus happened to see
the pastor on the street, he stopped and said to him,
"Reverend, I took your advice and prayed to God for
direction. And God told me to stop trying to join your
Church. He said that He Himself had been trying to
get in there for years without success!"

(Sunday Sermons on Line)

Scripture:

29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
30  Just as you who were at one time disobedient
to God have now received mercy as a result of
their disobedience, 31 so they too have now
become disobedient in order that they too may
now[a] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy
to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to
disobedience so that he may have mercy on them
all.
(Romans 11: 29-32)  NIV

Reflections:

I had a friend who grew up in the church with
me.  His life was very destructive, and was often
in serious trouble.  Even from a young age he
was in and out of juvenile detention.  As he grew
older, he was in and out of jail.  His parents were
disappointed, sad, and ashamed.

I grew up in the church and had a great record
in high school, college, and graduate school.
I ended up becoming a peace organizer, a
police officer, an ordained minister, and I was
filled with pride and presumption. My folks were
so proud.  His parents were sad with a
heavy, heavy heart.  The folks in heaven, well
they don't see any difference between us.
WHY?

My destructive friend cried for mercy and
forgiveness from our God and found his slate
clean.  My own destruction was that of pride
and presumption and I turned to God for
mercy and forgiveness and my slate was
made clean.  Now there is not one iota of
difference in our standing before God.

I find, in my life, that I need to remember this
truth more and more.  You know it is really
contrary to my ever instinct, yet it is God's truth.
"For God has bound everyone over to
disobedience so that he may have mercy on
them all."

Prayer:

Dear Lord, please keep reminding me, that
before your we are all on level ground.
AMEN

I am not a visionary. I claim to
be a practical idealist. The religion
of nonviolence is not meant merely
for the rishis and saints. It is meant
for the common people as well.
Nonviolence is the law of our species
as violence is the law of the brute.
The spirit lies dormant in the brute
and he knows no law but that of
physical might. The dignity of man
requires obedience to a higher law-to
the strength of the spirit...

The rishis who discovered the law of
nonviolence in the midst of violence
were greater geniuses than Newton.
They were themselves known the use
of arms, they realized their uselessness,
and taught a weary world that its
salvation lay not through violence but
through nonviolence.

By M. K. Gandhi.