a story of materialism

There is a Yiddish story about a rich man who is persuaded to pay a visit to the rebbe. The rebbe leads him to the window.

“Look out there,” the rebbe says, and the rich man looks out at the street. “What do you see?”

“I see people,” he answers.

Then the rebbe leads him to the mirror. “What do you see now?”

The rich man answers, “Now I see myself.”

“So,” the rebbe says. “In the window there is glass and in the mirror there is glass. But the glass of the mirror is covered with silver, and no sooner is the silver added than you cease to see others but see only yourself.”

"Pride is the sin that grows out of the ashes of mortified sin."

Faith

"Great faith merits great rewards. And wherever you set down the foot of hope among the goods of the Lord, they will be yours."

-Bernard of Clairvoux

The Heart of our Healer God

Then Jesus got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer. Simon and his companions searched for him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He replied, “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.” So he went into all of Galilee preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Earlier in Mark 1, John the Baptist's ministry is summed up and immediately after it has run it's course (at the baptism of the Messiah and the arrest of John), Jesus goes forth into the world and begins to preach openly. In the passage i have put up, we see the heart of God displayed in the anonymity of Jesus by His refusal of recognition and praise. All that we see here, at the beginning of Mark's Gospel, is the Son of God going off into "a lonely place" to submit His heart to His Father in order that He may do God's will. In doing this, He openly rejects the praise of men, even of His disciples. The proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the curing of the sick is all that drives Jesus here. He will not rest until all that the Father has appointed to Him have heard the Good News in the other towns. This is perfect love, this pouring out of the self of God alone is the motivation of God's Sacrifice for us in the beginning of His ministry and at it's end--the cross.

When we consider that Jesus requires us to be like Him, conformed to His teaching and life-purpose let us consider the difficulity of being sincere before God. Let us consider that our baptism and clothing into and of Christ and the difficulties that we will face. Let us keep before is this Scripture as a warning and a promise:

"I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”


Also, let the sharp edge of Christ's word pierce you as you consider the great humility of grace poured out and what it calls forth from us:

"But it is not this way among you. Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

God, may Your heart be ours, and may we not be timid or forget to proclaim Your Kingdom to a people in the land of darkness. Bless the words of our mouth and the work of our hands as we await the Day. May You alone be praised!

“I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed.” – Unknown Confederate Soldier

"Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are."

-Kierkegaard

Puritan Prayers

The Valley of Vision

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.