Liberators

'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, recover of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.' (Lk 4:18)
How did Jesus liberate?
Who am I setting free?

*****

Firstly, we got into a discussion about 'anointing'. We noted that the movement of the Spirit is like oil moving over and penetrating the skin. The Spirit acts with that sort of closeness when he moves our conscience to do good and repent of evil.

Then looking at 'upon me' we discussed what Jesus did and that each of us can "do greater things" (Jn 14:12) . This led us to talk of the miracles that we had witnessed. But we had to admit that none of us have been involved with miracles like in Jesus' time. Perhaps it is because we analyse things too much.

When it comes to liberating people we don't need too much analysis. When someone falls in the street, we analyse the situation enough to see what can be done and then do it.

Then we talked about 'setting free' our neighbours, work-mates, family members, by treating them as Jesus would. Jesus got down beside us, like the mountain-rescuer in the photograph.

Contest

The devil said, ‘I will give you all these (kingdoms of the world), if you fall at my feet and worship me.’ Then Jesus replied, ‘ Away with you, Satan! For scripture says: The Lord your God is the one you must worship, him alone you must serve.’ Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels appeared and looked after him. (Mt 4:9-11)
What are we fighting?
How do we win?

*****
Our group was a little confused by the photograph to start off will. Some thought that the boxer delivering the knockout punch represented Satan because of the tattoo on his arm. Looking back at the Gospel text, in which Jesus delivered the winning punch, it became clear who represented who in the photo.

It was quickly noted, in our discussion that "Satan is very bold" with his testing of Jesus. And he is very bold with his influence on Western Society.

When we looked at 'What are we fighting?' we said that Satan is behind such things as freemasonry, the New Age Movement, radical feminist politics and the emasculating of the Church. The discussion moved to the influences behind international economics and politics, since Satan claims that kingdoms are his to give to those who worship him. This influence can be seen in the architecture of the Israeli Supreme Court.

Like Jesus, the way we knock him out is by worshipping God and not swerving from God's service.

Following Jesus

“If anyone wants to be a disciple of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it”
(Mark 8:34-35)
Where is Jesus leading us today?
What am I putting aside?

*****

Members of our group quite liked the picture, a rocky road leading somewhere!
Triggered by the word "wants", it was noted that God places in our hearts the desire to follow Jesus.
It is both a daily operation and yet there is a bigger perspective because it is 'for Christ's sake.'
Being a group of guys, we felt that we were being led to confront New Age thinking in the world and emasculated thinking in the Church!

Overflowing

“Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap; because the standard you use will be the standard used for you.”
(Lk 6:36-38)
How is God compassionate?
Where is my compassion overflowing?

*****
Over breakfast, my group of friends looked at God's compassion. We noted first that the word translated as 'compassion' refers to a gut-wrenching experience that propels us to go to help others who are calling out in distress. Then we noted that God's compassion overflows to sinners, the very people who offend him.

We then got a bit bogged down in a discussion on setting standards in our workplaces, which are important things to have. However we realized that Jesus is calling us to flow over the bounds and limits that we set. From his perspectives, we are not to set limits to our compassion.

Light of the World

Discuss this:
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in people’s sight, so that seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.”
(Mt 5: 14-16)
What is Jesus telling us about ourselves?
What are we doing about it?

*****
In our groups discussion, we were 'wowwed' by Jesus calling us "light of the world" and it was quickly pointed out that darkness needs only a little light!

When we looked at "seeing your good works", we realized the importance of maintaining and encouraging good work standards.

For people to "praise your Father in heaven", they need to understand our motivation. So, using appropriate ways, we need to let people know what motivates us.

Starting Up A Meeting

A few weeks ago I started a meeting with three friends. We went to a restaurant for breakfast and to encourage one another to put the Gospel into action. We knew that Jesus wants us to come to him and listen to his words and to act on them (See Lk 6:46-47). So, taking a short Gospel text each week, that is what we have done and it works for us.

We circulate a Gospel text a few days beforehand and have it written out on small cards at our meeting. When we gather we each say a short prayer, thanking God for something. Then while we are ordering our meal and catching up with one another, one of us starts up a discussion on the chosen text. When we wander too far away from the subject, one of us brings us back to the text. We include a couple of questions on the card along the line of "What is Jesus saying?" and "What are we doing?" Towards the end of the meal, we ask God to bless each of us for the action ahead.

You can start up a meeting with a few friends too. Or your can add comments to this blog and we will have a 'Virtual Gospel Action Meeting'. The variety of perspectives and experiences will be good. I will be adding postings here, following our weekly breakfast meetings.

Cheers,
Neal