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Luke 10:21-24 [M] [NRS]
“Many prophets and kings desired to see what you see and to hear what you hear”
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Matthew 4:18-22 [M] [NRS]
“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”
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Luke 21:25-28,34-36 [M] [NRS]
“Now when these things begin to take place, look up because your redemption is drawing near.”
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Tomorrow (Sunday, Nov. 29) we start our Advent celebration with worship and dinner at Gallaghers’ starting at 4 pm.

Advent is the time we celebrate a new beginning, remembering how God came into the world as Jesus Christ to free and heal and save all of us. This Advent we’re focusing on “the Big Story,” the Good News that Jesus brought to us. Our reading for tomorrow is Luke 4:14-30 where Jesus announces his mission to the people of his hometown, and gets a surprising reaction.

Tomorrow we’ll light that first Advent candle, and we’ll have an Advent calendar for each family to use throughout the season. We’ll also provide some ideas for marking this season in your family. We really hope that you’ll join us as we look forward to a new season and a new year. We’re looking forward to being together to prepare to receive again the gift of Christ at Christmas.

Luke 21:34-36 [M] [NRS]
“Lest your hearts be weighed down”
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Luke 21:29-33 [M] [NRS]
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”
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Luke 21:20-28 [M] [NRS]
“Then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory”
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Luke 21:12-19 [M] [NRS]
“You will be delivered up ..but not a hair of your head will perish”
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Luke 21:5-11 [M] [NRS]
“Take heed that you are not led astray”
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Luke 21:1-4 [M] [NRS]
“She out of her poverty put in all the living that she had”
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Luke 18:1-8

“Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.”

Last week’s Kairos explored this parable, in which Jesus calls the disciples to persistent prayer. In this story, Jesus tells of a widow denied justice by a judge. She keeps going back to him, petitioning for justice. Eventually this judge gives her what she asks for. Not because he respects God or wants to do justice, but essentially to get this woman off his back. Jesus caps the story by saying the God, who loves us more than the judge cares for the widow, will be even quicker to respond to our cries for justice.

As we discussed this, several of us admitted to being uncomfortable with badgering God for what we want. One of the group expressed it well: “If I’m resting in my faith that God is supporting me all the time, then continually asking for what I want seems to mock that trust.” Someone else pointed out that the widow is seeking “justice,” not her own advantage; perhaps that is an acceptable thing to ask for.

Another question came up: Does Jesus have a deeper meaning in telling us to “pray always and not lose heart”?  What could he be pointing to? The parable’s example of asking for justice, and our discussion about asking for our needs/wants, are focused on outward circumstances, looking for God’s intervention in our external world. What would it look like if we focused Jesus’ example on our internal reality? (more…)

John 18:33-37 [M] [NRS]
“Jesus answered, “My kingship is not of this world”
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Luke 20:27-40 [M] [NRS]
“He is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him”
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Luke 19:45-48 [M] [NRS]
“All the people hung upon his words ”
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Luke 19:41-44 [M] [NRS]
“You did not know the time of your visitation”
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Luke 19:11-28 [M] [NRS]
“As for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them”
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Luke 19:1-10 [M] [NRS]
“Zacchaeus made haste and received Jesus joyfully”
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Luke 18:35-43 [M] [NRS]
“Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?”
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Mark 13:24-32 [M] [NRS]
“They will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory”
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Luke 18:1-8 [M] [NRS]
“Always pray and do not lose heart”
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Luke 17:26-37 [M] [NRS]
“One will be taken and the other left”
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Luke 17:20-25 [M] [NRS]
“For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky, so will the Son of man be in his day”
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Luke 17:11-19 [M] [NRS]
“He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks”
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Luke 17:7-10 [M] [NRS]
“We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty”
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Last night @Ka1r0s, Maria led a wonderful devotion on Luke 7:18-35. There’s a lot going on here in this story of John the Baptizer sending his disciples to check Jesus out, to see if he is really the one they have been waiting for. If you weren’t with us, read the story. (Go ahead, click the link above. I’ll wait….)

Do you notice fear, or human attempts to direct God, or other dynamics at work in this story? What do you make of Jesus’ response to John’s challenge — “Are you the one? Or are we still waiting?” Note how Jesus heals and restores, then asks “Is this what you were expecting? If so, you are fortunate.”

John was the one who initially “got” Jesus’ message, so if he is confused, I guess we shouldn’t feel so bad about our wondering and wandering.

Be honest, is Jesus what you expect? Did you sign on for the last being first (and the first, last)? For finding your life by losing it? For letting go of the attachments that bind you? Where do your expectations get in the way of listening to Christ? What expectations do you have that draw you to him?

Let’s discuss. Drop your thoughts in the comments.