Treat people as if
they were what they ought to be
and you help them to become
what they are capable of being.
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Monthly Archives: March 2012
Matthew follows Jesus (Matthew 9: 9-13)
Bible Summary:
Jesus meets and asks Matthew the tax collector to follow him. Matthew does right then. Later, Jesus and his disciples eat with outcasts at Matthew’s house. Some Pharisees ask the disciples how their teacher can eat with such people. Jesus overhears and says, “Only those who are sick need a doctor,” and quotes scripture, “It is kindness I want, not animal sacrifices.”
My Thoughts:
Letter of the Law: Jesus knows human nature, that the self-righteous will follow the letter of the law, so he focuses on the outcasts who need him. He jabs the Pharisees about showing a little kindness.
Follow your belief: Matthew drops everything to follow Jesus. How far would you go to follow your belief? Would you quit your job and follow a man you barely know with no guarantee to even have enough food to eat? I believe this gospel story teaches people to follow their convictions, which can give you freedom and strength.
Punishment under Moses (Leviticus 24: 10-23)
Bible Summary:
A man with an Egyptian father and Israelite mother curses God while quarreling with another man. Moses puts him under guard until God tells him to have the people testify of his guilt and then the community stones him to death. God teaches the principle of a life for a life, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
My Thoughts:
Effective Deterrent: These punishments were likely very effective at keeping people in line back then. They seem very extreme today.
I wonder if the term “curse” means the same now as then. Many people have incorporated foul words into everyday language. A curse was likely based more on the intent, like if someone yells or curses at you in anger.
Encyclopedia Britannica stops print editions
After 245 years, Encyclopedia Britannica will no longer be in print, only digital. They are selling their last 4000 print copies and then all future editions will be available on their website or through phone apps. They learned what all paper media providers have discovered – it is too expensive to produce in paper and the audience is all moving to digital. On the plus side, we should save a lot of trees. Learn more in the Encyclopedia Britannica ends print, goes digital story at Reuters.
What constitutes true happiness
Many persons have a wrong idea
of what constitutes true happiness.
It is not attained through self-gratification
but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.
– Helen Keller
Jesus heals paralyzed man (Matthew 9: 1-8)
Bible Summary:
Jesus returns to his home town across the lake by boat where some people bring him a paralyzed man. They have such faith, so he forgives the man’s sins. Teachers of the Law whisper about this blasphemy. Jesus asks them why they are thinking such evil, and then proves his authority as the “Son of Man” by telling the man to “get up and walk” and he does.
My Thoughts:
Faith: it is amazing how faith can change anyone’s life. If you believe things will get better, they will.
Moses keeps the light on all night (Leviticus 24: 1-9)
Bible Summary:
God tells Moses to command the people of Israel to bring pure olive oil to keep the lamps in the Tent burning all night each night, plus to make twelve loaves of bread to offer to God each Sabbath for all time to come.
My Thoughts:
Ceremony: As part of my son’s religious education, we visited a synagogue. I remember being amazed at how close their ceremony was to the Catholic Church. As I read the Bible, I realize that much of what Christians celebrate today came from the time of Moses, passed on from Jesus and his disciples to the church.
Jesus casts out demons (Matthew 8: 28-34)
Bible Summary:
Jesus goes to Gadara and meets two men with demons. They scream, “What do you want from us, Son of God?” Jesus cast the demons out and into a herd of pigs, which rush into the lake and drown. The pig farmers tell everyone in town what happened. They meet Jesus and beg him to leave.
My Thoughts:
Anger: Jesus clears the men’s anger issues in one conversation. The town people are not grateful, likely because Jesus was going against the Laws of Moses, plus they feared his ability to control demons. It would be great if psychiatrist could heal patients pain in one conversation, but it could take years.
James Cameron to dive Mariana Trench
James Cameron is more than a filmmaker (“Avatar” and “Titanic”); he is also an explorer. Cameron plans to dive seven miles into the Pacific’s Mariana Trench in a “Deep sea Challenge” also sponsored by National Geographic and Rolex. We continue to explore the far reaches of this planet we call home. Read more in the James Cameron plans deep sea dive in Pacific story at Reuters.
You can do nothing without faith
You can do very little with faith,
but you can do nothing without it.
– Samuel Butler