In What Ways Do We Witness

Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,(Lk. 24))

With the world situation, as it is today, it is very easy to become self-involved.  If you are like me it has become quite easy to be a bit whiny.  

Right?

Well, I listened to a sermon, ( by Pastor Ida at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hartford Wisconsin) Sunday May 24, that created in me an attitude adjustment.

She used the wearing of masks as a point of reference.

She acknowledged that it is uncomfortable, and somewhat embarrassing, to wear a mask in public. Mentioning  she didn't particularly like foggy her glass would get.  

Her point was that we wear masks not just for ourselves but for others around us.  We wear masks because we care for others welfare.

We do what needs to be done in life to bring Jesus’ ministry of mercy, compassion, love, peace and justice to the world around us. 

She made a point that caught my theological mind:

“The Kingdom of God is peace, love and justice.  These core values came into a sinful world.  A world that challenges such values.”

These core values, that Jesus came to correct the human mindset, are more or less considered idealistic to some.

Peace, love and justice don’t fit into our well ordered dysfunctional way of being.

And yet, we are all called to witness peace, love and justice in the middle of our everyday reality.

⁴⁸You are witnesses of these thing,…(Lk. 24)

Even though the Kingdom of peace, love and justice just does not make sense; we are ask to live our lives as witnesses to what Jesus clearly calls us to do,

The church today is not the church of yesterday — where we find our inspiration sitting in the pew.

It is now out on the streets, in the supermarket, malls, on the side walks of our towns.

Jesus is once again entering the story to remind us of our Call.

44 Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations,..(lk. 24)

We are Called to show the world of today what the Kingdom of peace, love and justice is supposes to looks like.

Everyday all the time where ever we are.

44 Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’

50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. ⁵¹While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵²And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; ⁵³and they were continually in the temple blessing God.(Luke 24)