Jesus Begins His Ministry S.: Jesus went to Galilee and lived in Capernaum because John the Forerunner had got into trouble. This fulfilled another of Isaiah's prophecies. This was when he began his career of preaching in public about the kingdom of heaven, and urging people to repentance. O.: Because Jesus escaped a possible arrest (he was after all the cousin of John, and had been baptized by him), I think we can draw the conclusion that he knew it wasn't yet time for him to get into trouble. We don't know how much he knew about his fate at this point. It's interesting, and something I used to wonder at, that the first of Jesus' messages was the call to repentance. I see it now, because without repentance, we wouldn't feel the need for a Saviour, or even the need for God's mercy. As much as I used to deny it, repentance really is everything: it's the first step on the ladder to heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven is indeed at hand, when the Son of God walks the earth! I used to think the people in these times had been mistaken, since I connected the Kingdom with the end of the world, which obviously hasn't happened yet. But I think I understand it a little bit better now. It's not an event, or a place, but rather a state of mind, where God rules our hearts and minds. A.: Since Jesus urged people to repent before doing anything else, this is what I should do, as well. Repentance comes first, and it makes us fit to receive God's word, and the sacrament of Communion. This is the order of the liturgy, as well: prayer of repentance, sermon, Communion. P.: God, help me to understand that your Kingdom is at hand, and make me worthy of living there. Call me to repentance, and make it sincere, so that I may partake of Communion with a pure heart! Amen.  Read less

The Temptation of Jesus S.: The Spirit takes Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil, and Jesus prepares himself for the ordeal by fasting. The Devil tempts him three times, first by trying to trick him into abusing power for his own ends, then by trying to make him test God, and the third time by trying to abuse his vanity. Jesus isn't tempted, and answers the Devil by quoting scripture. Finally, the Devil leaves, and angels come to serve Jesus. O.:It's interesting that we can actually learn a lot from how the Devil works. When we are tempted to abuse power, or to test God, or to be vain, although in different ways, we can remember that Christ simply refused to turn his back on God, and do the same. As hard as temptations can be, we always have the choice of simply saying no. Jesus was able to quote from the Scriptures. which shows that he had been thought them and learned them thoroughly. A.: Jesus beat the Devil by strenghtening himself with fasting, which is what we all should do. Fasting is a discipline given to us for the reason that it concentrates the mind and helps us overcome all kinds of temptations. Jesus also used the Scriptures, instead of starting a battle of wits. I think, as a rule, logic is lost on both God and the Devil, because they aren't material creatures with minds like ours. We need to use our heads so that we learn God's will, because it makes us impenetrable to the Devil's smooth talk. This isn't to say there's anything wrong with logical thinking: sometimes, it just isn't enough. P.: God, help me to keep my eyes on you when I fast. Help me to see it as a way of strengthening my resolve. Let me learn and understand the Bible, and use what it teaches me, instead of trying to get by with logic. Help me to resist temptations in all their forms. Amen.  Read less

Another instance of how a legalistic reading of the law is used to justify sin. The law is meant to serve as ground rules, which, if you follow them to the letter, just might make you behave decently, not as a lofty set of utopian ideals. This is what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: "you have been told... but I say to you...".  Read less

The Baptism of Jesus S.: Jesus comes to John to be baptized, although John wants to decline, feeling himself unworthy. God speaks to the people, calling Jesus His beloved son, and the Holy Spirit appears in the form of a dove. O.: This must have been a very extraordinary event to witness: John, not known for his meekness, suddenly refusing to baptize a man, because he felt his lack of worth, Jesus speaking as if he knew God's will, and finally God speaking to confirm that Jesus was his Son. We've grown so familiar with the term "Son of God", that we don't remember how incredible the whole concept is. Indeed, both Jewish people and Muslims make a point of emphasizing that God can't have a son. It's the combination of wholly man and wholly God that stumps them, and I think we need to go back and look in wonder at this phrase from time to time. A.: I should be as ready as John to take on anything that God calls me to do. If He says "You can do this!", who am I to object? But I should also remain humble, the way John did, and understand that I'm only obeying, not running the show. P.: God, grant me the courage to speak out when I need to, and to dare take on bigger challenges. Amen.  Read less

John the Baptist Prepares the Way S:.The work and sermons of John the Baptist (or Forerunner, as we call him) is described, as well as the attention the baptisms were getting at the time. He wasn't only baptizing, but also calling people to repentance. He didn't approve of the way people came to gawk at him, and to experience this new baptism thing, with no real repentance. O.: John sounds like the sort of person you may not like, but have to respect. He was speaking bravely, telling off the teachers and scholars of his day. Doubtless many of them were quite relieved when they heard that John was no more. This is yet another instance of how equalizing the faith in God is. No rank or lineage makes any difference. Only the faith of a person counts. A.: According to the People's New Testament: "The great rite of John was baptism, but the great duty commanded was repentance. Repentance is more than a sorrow for sin; it is a determination to abandon it and live a new life. It means a change of the will, or heart, new purposes, a determination to leave off sinning. Sorrow is not repentance, but "godly sorrow worketh repentance"". Repentance is an integral part of the Christian way of life, and our church constantly reminds us of its importance. Without real metanoia (change of heart) we can't hope to grow as Christians. We need to remember that even with our change of heart, it's God who helps us repent, and who gives us the strength to start again, and do better. P.: God, help me to repent when I do things that hurt other people and myself. Grant me a true change of heart, and help me to make a fresh start, believing that you'll always hear me. Amen.  Read less

We can't find wisdom by reading the latest philosophy. God gives wisdom to everyone who asks for it (compare with Solomon!), but it's not the same as knowledge. Since we can study all by ourselves, God only gives us the ability to understand and learn. We don't get to skip the work, no matter how pious we are.  Read less

The Return to Nazareth S.:Joseph receives another visit from an angel, and hears that he can now return home. He doesn't want to expose his family to more danger, so he moves his household to Nazareth in Galilee. This is where Jesus grows up and starts his work as a preacher. This also fulfills a prophecy. O.: It must have become clear to both Mary and Joseph by now, that God really looks out for this child. His conception was supernatural, his birth was of such interest that some people showered him with precious gifts, and others wanted him dead. He was sent into exile just in time to escape death, and now he can return home safely, because God looks out for him all the time, and sends angels to deliver warnings. A.: If God looks out for us, anything can happen, and any danger can be averted, or turned into something good. P.: God, thank you for looking out for me! Thank you for your guidance every step of the way! Help me to put my trust wholly in you. Amen.  Read less