Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Read Luke 13:1-5.
TEXT: There were some present at that very time
who told Him about the Galileans whose blood
Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices (Luke 13:1).


Today we catch our first glimpse of Pontius Pilate,
the Roman military governor. Jesus is making His
way toward Jerusalem when He gets word of a
recent tragic event in Jerusalem. While some of
Jesus' fellow Galileans were offering sacrifices in
the temple courts, Pilate's soldiers rushed in and
killed them. This event is not recorded by any other
Gospel writer or ancient historian, and Luke
doesn't explain Pilate's reasons; he is more
interested in Jesus' reaction.

"Do you think that these Galileans where worse
sinners than all the other Galileans because they
suffered in this way?" That's how people thought in
that day, and it's a conclusion we sometimes are
too quick to jump to in our day too. If someone
suffers something horrendous such as a tragic
accident or an illness, then God must be punishing
them for some secret sin. Jesus warns us not to
judge by outward appearances.

In a short time another Galilean will be killed at the
hands of Pontius Pilate. People will look at Jesus
hanging on the cross and reach the false conclusion
God is punishing Him for falsely claiming to be His
Son. But in truth, Jesus is God's perfect Son. He will
hang on the cross and endure punishment for the
sins of all people for all time. This He will do that
God may give complete forgiveness to all who repent
and believe.

Jesus continues, "No, I tell you, but unless you
repent, you will all likewise perish." All people are
sinners. Only those who repent and trust in Jesus'
sacrifice in their place will find salvation and eternal life.


THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, teach me not to judge how You feel
about me or anyone else by mere appearances and
circumstances. Let me instead live by faith in Jesus
Christ my Lord. I pray in His Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Scripture:

Read Luke 11:37-54.
TEXT: The Pharisee was astonished to see that
He did not first wash before
dinner (Luke 11:38).

Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem for the last time.
One Sabbath He stops to teach in a synagogue.
After the service a Pharisee invites Him to share His
morning meal. Before they eat, the Pharisee and his
other guests carefully wash their hands, according to
Jewish traditions. They believe eating with unwashed
hands would contaminate the food which, in turn,
made the body unclean in God's eyes.

It was time for Jesus to confront that error. Knowing
all humans are contaminated by the sinful nature they
receive from their parents and not from eating unclean
food, Jesus refuses to wash His hands. His host is
astonished, but Jesus refuses to back down.

He then starts blasting the traditions they trust to earn
their way to heaven. It may seem unwise for Jesus to
turn up the heat, but it is the greatest act of kindness
anyone could do for them. If they keep straining to wash
a little uncleanness from their hands, they will never let
God remove the uncleanness and sin from their hearts,
minds and souls.

This brings a complaint from the scribes. When He
attacks the Pharisees Jesus is really attacking the
scribes, whose traditions the
Pharisees are following. Jesus turns
the heat up again. He accuses the scribes of
burying God's gracious Old Testament
promises beneath their traditions, which deceive
people into relying on their own
works rather than God's free forgiveness, as given
through His Son, the Messiah.

The Pharisees and scribes strenuously object. They
pressure Him to speak on more
things, lying in ambush hoping He will blurt out
something carelessly.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, Your Son Jesus made clear there is
only one way into Your presence, through faith in Him.
Drive from my heart and mind the lie that
there are many ways. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

We see the devastating effects of poverty in our
church congregations and community: parents who
work hard but whose children go to bed hungry;
young men and women who feel they have no future.
Our heart breaks along with God’s as we remember
to care for the poor — a biblical call that is
increasingly ignored by society.

Political maneuvers are once again threatening the
most vulnerable. We must continue to form a Circle
of Protection around programs that serve the “least
of these.”

This week, Congress will allow huge, arbitrary cuts
to programs addressing poverty, as if they were
powerless to stop them or ignorant of their
consequences. Sequestration represents the triumph
of political self-interest over the common good. Given
the current dysfunction in Washington, we must
remind our nation’s leaders of the serious moral
issues at stake and its negative consequences for
millions of people across the country.

Together, we can show the world that we will not sit
by while those in power ignore the cost of their games.
Christians remember what politicians have forgotten:
THE POOR MATTER!!!!.

Please send a letter, or email, or call the decision-
makers in Washington imploring them to end the
economic brinksmanship and refocus on the common
good.  For this call to be heeded, We must speak out.
Will you send a message to your own representatives
in Congress?

PLEASE THIS IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO DO
NOW!!

GOD BLESS YOU