July 31, 2009

Mental: Two teams of three have begun fighting. The liars started the fight, while the truth tellers are victims. So which three started the fight?

Jeff: John started the fight
Juan: Jake is not on my team
Josh: Joel started the fight
Jake: Jeff started the fight
John: Josh was a victim
Joel: Jeff is on Juan's team

• Jake, Jeff, and Josh
• Joel, Juan, and Jeff
• Josh, John, and Jake
• Jeff, Jake, and Juan

Spiritual:

Reading: Matthew 13:54-58

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.
They were astonished and said,
“Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not the carpenter’s son?
Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us?
Where did this man get all this?”
And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house.”
And he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith.

Imagine yourself with Jesus, returning home to Nazareth. The apostles are very relaxed; this is their leader's hometown, it should be a relaxed, easy time. What they find though, makes it a very edgy stay. They stay at Jesus' old house. Mary is very happy to have her son home!

The next day, they go to the synagogue. Jesus goes up to the front, reads from the Torah, and preaches to the men there. As always, his voice is calm and resonates through the room. What happens next blindsides the apostles, though. A laugh can be heard echoing from the back. Heads turn, and once the general attention of the place has been distracted from Jesus, a man about Jesus' age stands up and points at Jesus. His laugh seems forced, and he keeps forcing it through his words. Isn't this Joseph's kid? Didn't most of them know him growing up? His cousins [the word we translate as "sisters] still live in town! How can he be a prophet, or the messiah? He's just a normal man! The forced laughter rises in the room...

Jesus merely looked the man in the eye, noting that the prophets had never been honored in their home towns. The apostles stood up, arguing with those around them. Peter can be heard shouting above all the other voices, that every prophet had a home town, every prophet was a child once, and that every one had relatives and neighbors; why should they be so stupid as to think that meant Jesus was a fraud? A few men shove Peter- being a big man, he shoves them right back, continuing to defend Jesus.

During their stay there, Jesus does not perform any miracles. At one point, one of the apostles makes some comment about making the townsfolk believe in him. Jesus shot this statement down immediately. Those who would reject Jesus were free to do so.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of free will, even though sometimes we use it so foolishly.

Our Father...

Physical: Fatal Fitness DC