Category Archives: Reflections

“Reflection of the Daily Lectionary: Do not remain in the Darkness”

Posted on by
Reply

Daily Lectionary 10/06/2010 (William Tyndale):  Gospel – John 12:44-50

Today, we remember William Tyndale, English theologian and one of the most influential biblical translators of the 16th century. Tyndale spent much of his life in hiding, as King Henry VIII of England and those loyal to the king searched for Tyndale throughout continental Europe in hopes of ending his efforts of translating the Bible into English. Those who sought Tyndale eventually achieved their goal and he was captured in 1535 and put to death in 1536. Ironically, the earliest English Bibles (approved by King Henry VIII) owe much of their content to Tyndale’s work.

Today, we reflect on a passage from John’s Gospel account that tells of Jesus’ mission to humanity – to come as a light to the world so that we would not remain in the darkness. Tyndale’s work was focused on bringing the Word of God out of the unavailable languages of Latin, Greek and Hebrew and helping the common English Christian to read the Bible in their native language. Our passage from John’s Gospel account reminds us that we are responsible for reflecting on God’s Word and opening ourselves to the power of God’s message in our lives, as well as serving others as Tyndale did – helping others to come out of the darkness and into the light of God’s love.

“Reflection of the Daily Office: The power of Faith”

Posted on by
Reply

Daily Office for 10/04/2010:  Gospel – Luke 5:12-26

Today’s Gospel reading presents us with many lessons…and a rich complexity of issues woven together throughout the story. Among the lessons offered in Luke 5:12-26, the power of faith seems to jump off the page. Jesus is in the midst of a busy crowd and has just healed a leaper and the crowds persist to surround Jesus. The crowds are so great that a paralyzed man cannot come close enough to Jesus to have his healing touch change the man’s life.

“Just then some men came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”” (Luke 5:18-20)  Illustration by Graham Kennedy

The Scripture tells us that Jesus saw “their” faith and healed the man. The power of faith has certainly healed the paralyzed man: faith in Christ’s ability to heal body, mind and spirit; and faith in his friends’ ability to get the man to Jesus regardless of the obstacles. The power of faith brings us closer to Christ and places us in the center of the community of believers – only through community are we known as the Body of Christ. Who has carried you to the feet of Christ and who relies on you to break down the barriers that separate them from the healing powers of Jesus?