I Take Off the Mask

Scripture: Luke 6:20-26 (WEBBE) “He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets. “But woe to you who are rich! For you have received your consolation. Woe to you, you who are full now! For you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now! For you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets.” Reflection: In this passage, Jesus delivers a series of blessings and woes that turn conventional values on their head. He speaks directly to His disciples, declaring that those who ar...

Scripture: Luke 6:12-19 (WEBBE) “It happened in those days that he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God. When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he also named Peter; and his brother Andrew; and James; and John; and Philip; and Bartholomew; and Matthew; and Thomas; and James the son of Alphaeus; and Simon who was called the Zealot; and Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also became a traitor. He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples, and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled by unclean spirits were being healed. All the multitude sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.” Reflection: In this passage, we witness a pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry as He se...

Scripture: Luke 6:6-11 (WEBBE) “It also happened on another Sabbath that he entered into the synagogue and taught. There was a man there, and his right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Rise up, and stand in the middle.” He arose and stood. Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you something: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?” He looked around at them all, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He did, and his hand was restored as sound as the other. But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus.” Reflection: This passage presents a powerful moment in the ministry of Jesus, where He challenges the rigid legalism of the religious leaders and reveals the heart of God’s law. On the Sabbath, ...

Scripture: Mark 7:31-37 (WEBBE) “Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, through the middle of the region of Decapolis. They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside from the multitude, privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue. Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly. He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it. They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!”” Reflection: In this passage, Jesus travels to the region of Decapolis, where a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment is brought to Him. Those who bring the...

Scripture: Luke 6:1-5 (WEBBE) “Now on the second Sabbath after the first, he was going through the grain fields. His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate, rubbing them in their hands. But some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?” Jesus, answering them, said, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him; how he entered into God’s house, and took and ate the show bread, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?” He said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” Reflection: In this passage, Jesus and His disciples are walking through grain fields on the Sabbath, and the disciples begin to pluck and eat the grain. The Pharisees, who are always watchful for any breach of the law, immediately question this action, considering it to be work forbidden on the Sabbath. They see the disciples’ actions as a violation of th...

Scripture: Luke 5:33-39 (WEBBE) “They said to him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?” He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast in those days.” He also told a parable to them. “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not match the old. No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’” Reflection: In this passage, Jesus addresses a question posed by the Pharisees and teachers of the law about why His disciples do not fast like...

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11 (WEBBE) “Now while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.” When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” For he was amazed, an...