Missionaries

Finally, brothers, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified, as it did among you,and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

Alan was part of a student missionary group tasked to nourish the planted college movement in one university in Central Luzon. The group started their journey by taking a bus from one province to another. Alan fell asleep as he was seated at the back of the vehicle. He was known to have that infamous skill. Along the way, the bus swayed and fell on the lower romp of the road. The abrupt stoppage gave Alan a flight from the back to the front of the bus. He was brought to a village clinic that had no facilities to give him emergency health care.

A contingent from where the missionary students came went to get Alan for medical purposes. Fortunately, the top-down car was to used as a emergency vehicle due to lack of funds. Alan, in the midst of pain in his head, had to face the dark starry sky during the transport for about three hours. At the hospital, doctors diagnosed him to have cut lip, broken nose and teeth loss. For this, he stayed at the hospital for weeks.

This is one among what missionaries face everyday. To bring the word of the Lord speed forward, they risk their lives on the line. If we look into this, more than  physical harm, the rejection of their work is the most lethal. When they deliver the word of God or the work of God to a hostile place or people, they are abused verbally or mocked publicly by perverse and wicked people. Not all will like what they do. Not all will appreciate what they do. Yet, they respond to their call. They go ahead. They speed forward.

Paul is directing us that we can share in their work by praying for them. Spreading the word of God is all our responsibility. When God asks who can do it to this unfamiliar place or to that a non-Christian territory, missionaries raise their hands without thinking twice and with fiery fervor. As they go ahead to answer God's call, we bend our knees for God's grace to be upon them. As they open their mouths to proclaim God's word, we open our mouths to plead for God's blessings for them. As they come face to face with challenges, we come face to face with God on their behalf.

And Alan? Please pray for him, he speeds forward the word of God as an SVD missionary priest out in East Timor, Indonesia.  Please pray for missionaries.

Level Ground

And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. Luke 6:17a

The doctor of psychology went into the interrogation room. His friend-policeman asked him to inquire about a man who was suspected of a wrongdoing. The lawmen tried to talk the suspect out but to no avail. The suspect was shaking as he bended his head and his knees on the floor, as he closed the door. He stole a glimpse at the new room mate. For about five minutes, the professional only got nods and ah-ams. If there was conversation , it was one way. The doctor inquired more and the suspect replied less.

The communication changed when the doctor decided to sit just like the suspect. He put his butt on the cold floor inches away from the suspect. The suspect lifted his head and from then on, he elaborated his problems, issues and what he has done. The doctor leveled with him. And this made the difference.

I've been there. You've been there. We've been all there.

You feel no one understands. Your parents can't relate to what you're undergoing. Your older siblings do not sympathize with you. The younger blood can't help you out. Your friends are busy in their own concerns. Your co-workers' motto is mind your own business. Your classmates are not your mates. Even your dog, miscommunicates with you. You feel you are all alone in what is happening in your life. No one is in place in your place. Nobody gets in what your are getting at. No one gets to your level.

Jesus stood in level with his disciples. Who is Jesus? He is the Son of God. Who are his disciples? Ordinary men. At this time, they stood on the same level. No. God did not put himself above them. He stands where they stand. He puts himself to their place. God meeting ordinary men. Heaven in level with the  earth.

Whatever you are undergoing nowadays, Jesus stands with you closer than ever. You are not alone if you think you are. Jesus stands where we stand to understand us. Talk to him. Speak with him, take your time. Be open and confess what you have done or what you want to do. Give him your burdens.

Lift up your heads now. He is with you, in level on your ground.

Be A Tree

So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. Luke 19:4

1995. World Youth Day in Manila. We were camped near Roxas Boulevard when sirens came aloud signaling that Pope John Paul II is about to pass. We ran and took our chances into the thick population trying to catch a glimpse of the man. Nina, a petite sister with a big heart in Christ, was obviously vertically challenged and was having difficulty with the people pushing and pulling off the road. So, Nina climbed a human tree who allowed her to sit on his shoulders for her to take a wide peek at the Pope. As the Catholic church head passed by, Nina enjoyed the good scene. Maybe he waved at her but surely she waved at him.

Jesus did not only wave at him, Jesus asked Zacchaeus for him to be invited to his home.

Before that, Zacchaeus had to climb a tree. He, too, was vertically challenged. He, too, was having hard time with the thick crowd. However, he did not want for this opportunity to pass by to see Jesus who was passing by. So, he looked around. He looked around and thought what can I do to see him? He saw a tree standing by, which he quickly climbed. Zacchaeus stayed there for some time, until Jesus looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." (v. 5). And the rest is history.

It was a cameo role in a movie. In layman's term, the tree was an extra, a bit player. What we usually remember about this story from Luke are Jesus, Zacchaeus and the Pharisees who questioned the Jesus' visitation at Zacchaeus' home. Yet, Jesus would not have looked up at Zacchaeus if not for the tree and Zacchaeus would not have seen Jesus if not for the tree. The tree was the bridge for Jesus to meet Zacchaeus. The tree was a channel for the Son to meet the sinner. The tree was a vessel of grace for the Giver and the receiver.

Can you be a tree?

• A visible tree who people will always see and climb for them to grab the chance to see Jesus.
• A humble tree who will allow others to be above himself for them to see the grace of God.
• A constant tree who will be ready and be dependable for sinners to see salvation.
• A hospitable tree who will welcome anyone who wants to take shelter and refuge in Christ.
• An encouraging tree who will lift up the spirits of the small and the fervor of the forgotten.
• A tree who will stand day by day for Jesus and for somebody to stand for Jesus.
• A tree whose strength is from Jesus so he can able to carry the weight and burden of others.
• A tree who will stay at the background so Jesus may take the center stage of the story.

The world is full of small people trying to see our big God. Be a tree.

Scan

But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' Luke 18:13

They brought my father to undergo a detailed scan of his head. After his heart attack, the doctors realized he must have blood clot in his brain. To identify where the clot is, they needed to bring him to a clinic with a CT Scanner. With the scan, they specified where the clot was, and they were successful in taking out the clot. You see, without the scan, they would not have located where the unwanted clot in the brain.

Imagine if my father covered his head when inside the scanning machine, of course, they would not have found what should they have found. My father lived after the scan and the operation, eventually he succumbed due to complications after a year.

The tax collector did not cover his heart. He exposed himself to God. He allowed himself to be scanned thoroughly. Before God who is sinless and holy, he recognized the sinner and unholy in him. In contrast, the Pharisee covered his heart and soul inside the scan. He did not want to be exposed before God. He took self-righteousness as his mask. He made going to God's scanner as a costume party, he was not himself before God.

Imagine the effect of covering yourself before God, you pretend you are whom you are not. No matter what your cover is, God sees and knows who you are.  And in spite of who you are, God loves you. You don't need to cover yourself before him. You can be yourself before him. You can allow yourself to be scanned before him. You can beat your chest and confess what you have done wrong before him he is ready to forgive and he will still accept you.

Go to the scanner without cover. Be healed. Be justified. And you will live on and on and on. Not only for a year.

Gray Anatomy

Brothers and sisters : I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,... Ephesians 4:1
 
A scene from Grey's Anatomy….

April's back was against the wall. She was surrounded. The discussion of her fellow hospital residents was all about how they lost their virginity. One specified the date. Another said about a particular place. A young male doctor smiled and stated with whom. A female doctor cited the ambiance. And April?  She did not want to jump in into the story telling. But she has to as they pointed all eyes on her. She had to make a script of her own. She started to search for the right words yet she was not successful. So, they concluded she is still a virgin. The scenes which came after this one portrayed her fellow residents teasing and mocking her about her virginity. April wanted to be blend in, in the end, she did not.

It is not clear if April is a Christian or not in the popular TV series. So, let's not delved into April's life, let's turn to ours.

Sometimes, we find ourselves in the same scene - a Gray Anatomy.

• You are looking for news at this website and then your eyes poked at the gossip section of the site. You clicked the link and read several stories of lives of people.  
•  You are driving and suddenly a lady jogger with a gorgeous body cuts in your path. Instantly, your eyes feed your mind to fantasies you usually enjoy.
• You come home tired and stressed from work. Your child asked for help in her homework and you found a mistake in her math assignment. You raise your voice upon her. She is startled yet you continue to pressure her that she should know this.
• You thought about discussing a person's life since you thought are pastorally concern. Yeah, you thought. After talking about it for some time, you still have no direction or whatever to handle matters. But you enjoyed discussing someone's weakness and difficulties for you feel superior.

These are some of the situations where we blend in. We blend in to the situation. We blend in into our natural tendencies. We blend in into the world's directions and standards. We recognize that there is white and black yet there is an area which is gray in our anatomy. Isn't it clear it should be clear?

Paul is clear on this. He encouraged the early Christians and is encouraging us - to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received. The life we are called for is to live in the light. The manner we are called for is holiness.  Notice Paul's instruction doesn't contain any time or place element. He did not say, "to live in a manner worthy of the call you received during Sundays only…". He did not say, "to live in a manner worthy of the call you received during prayer meetings only…" He did not say, "to live in a manner worthy of the call you received during you feel like it only…" Paul's teaching is for all times. It is for all situations where we find ourselves. It is for all places where we are at.

We are called to live a life worthy of our calling.  And watch out for any Gray Anatomy.