This is the eighth of our
Summer Series
FOLLOW THROUGH
on living out
The Sermon On The Mount
******
Dear All of Us,
Say, you want some fun?
You up for a good time?
Here goes!
"Happy are those
who are persecuted
for righteousness' sake,
for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven."
Jesus
Matthew 5:10
"Happy are you
when people revile you
and persecute you
and utter all kinds
of evil against you falsely
on my account.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward
is great in heaven,
for in the same way
they persecuted
the prophets
who went before you."
Jesus
Matthew 5: 11-12
"Happy"???
When was the last time
this was read at a
church council meeting?
So, get kicked in the teeth
for Jesus here and
get a stunning set
of dentures in
the hereafter?
Be reviled,
be persecuted,
a barrage of evil,
false utterances,
heaped on you?
"Happy," "rejoice"
and be "glad"?
Is this some sort
of spiritual
sadomasochism?
The Joy of Agony??
Happy Hurting
hurling us heavenward?
this was read at a
church council meeting?
So, get kicked in the teeth
for Jesus here and
get a stunning set
of dentures in
the hereafter?
Be reviled,
be persecuted,
a barrage of evil,
false utterances,
heaped on you?
"Happy," "rejoice"
and be "glad"?
Is this some sort
of spiritual
sadomasochism?
The Joy of Agony??
Happy Hurting
hurling us heavenward?
Think I'll take another flight!
Ok, Ok so let's sort this out.
We're "happy",
we're "glad",
we "rejoice"
when things
work out
just right -
career, garden,
portfolio, vacation,
relationships,
a work out,
the dinner party.
It takes hard work,
stretching, sometimes
even hurting, to get things
just right.
Well, "just right" is what Jesus means
in the widest and fullest sense by
RIGHTEOUSNESS
Ok, Ok so let's sort this out.
We're "happy",
we're "glad",
we "rejoice"
when things
work out
just right -
career, garden,
portfolio, vacation,
relationships,
a work out,
the dinner party.
It takes hard work,
stretching, sometimes
even hurting, to get things
just right.
Well, "just right" is what Jesus means
in the widest and fullest sense by
RIGHTEOUSNESS
ALL AND EVERY IS JUST RIGHT.
ALL AND EVERY IS ALL RIGHT.
ALL AND EVERY IS ALL RIGHT.
ALL AND EVERY IS
REAL AND REALIZED.
"Not quite our type, don't you know."
as we labor
Praying
us all a
We've had some
great company here
this week -
a wonderful group of
first time visitors
johnfrankshares.blogspot.com
- it is available by automatic
email delivery on Fridays -
sign up above right
- past postings are accessible at
Blog Archive
right column bottom
This week let's see how much
we can get into
GOOD TROUBLE!
******
i
Everyone and everything
is harmonized, is lined up
with God's Will and Creation.
When we are working with Jesus
to get everything right and real,
to establish the kingdom now
and the kingdom to come,
When we are working with Jesus
to get everything right and real,
to establish the kingdom now
and the kingdom to come,
that is:
God Good,
Love Lived,
Genuine,
Divinely Dynamic,
Creation Flourished,
Wrong Righted,
Justice Realized,
well, we're going
to get it in the neck,
and lots elsewhere,
just as Jesus did.
God Good,
Love Lived,
Genuine,
Divinely Dynamic,
Creation Flourished,
Wrong Righted,
Justice Realized,
well, we're going
to get it in the neck,
and lots elsewhere,
just as Jesus did.
One way and many,
it means some form of
persecution.
No need to get a
persecution complex,
but we will get
wronged for right.
So did the prophets.
A prophet's stock and trade
is wrong righted.
So is ours.
That often means
being wronged,
being "persecuted."
That runs from
being drawn and quartered
to being nickeled and dimed,
from being drawn
A prophet's stock and trade
is wrong righted.
So is ours.
That often means
being wronged,
being "persecuted."
That runs from
being drawn and quartered
to being nickeled and dimed,
from being drawn
into controversy
to being thrown out,
to being thrown out,
being out of favor.
My mother had eight children.
She was belittled by
neighbors and relatives,
ridiculed as "quite a breeder"
for living what she understood
to be God's Will for her.
Mom was not invited to join the
Daughters of the American Revolution
back home in Montclair, NJ,
even though her ancestors
My mother had eight children.
She was belittled by
neighbors and relatives,
ridiculed as "quite a breeder"
for living what she understood
to be God's Will for her.
Mom was not invited to join the
Daughters of the American Revolution
back home in Montclair, NJ,
even though her ancestors
settled the area and served in the
War for Independence -
"Not quite our type, don't you know."
Persecution.
Army Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman
spoke the truth about a wrong
in the White House.
It was his bonded duty,
the only right thing to do.
He was was bullied out
of the service on the cusp of
promotion to full colonel.
Army Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman
spoke the truth about a wrong
in the White House.
It was his bonded duty,
the only right thing to do.
He was was bullied out
of the service on the cusp of
promotion to full colonel.
Persecution.
Teachers hold to truth.
Politicians honor principle.
Accountants refuse
to "cook the books".
Doctors open practices
in poor neighborhoods.
Pastors live what they preach.
People protest for racial justice.
Families stick with
a terribly difficult relative.
All pay a persecution price.
But do they ever make so much
just right.
An older woman joined those
demonstrating peacefully
for racial rightness
here in Washington, DC.
Teachers hold to truth.
Politicians honor principle.
Accountants refuse
to "cook the books".
Doctors open practices
in poor neighborhoods.
Pastors live what they preach.
People protest for racial justice.
Families stick with
a terribly difficult relative.
All pay a persecution price.
But do they ever make so much
just right.
An older woman joined those
demonstrating peacefully
for racial rightness
here in Washington, DC.
on August 28th.
As an older person
she risked heat exhaustion,
contracting COVID-19,
and the danger of
possible violence.
She ran the risk of persecution
"for righteousness' sake".
As an older person
she risked heat exhaustion,
contracting COVID-19,
and the danger of
possible violence.
She ran the risk of persecution
"for righteousness' sake".
Even the risk of persecution
is a form of
persecution.
Most of us like a nice, tidy,
safe, middle class or better
kind of life.
If we live Jesus Christ,
if we Follow Through on
The Sermon on the Mount,
ain't-a- gonna happen.
Like the late great
John Lewis
we're going to get into
"Good Trouble."
Jesus did,
the prophets did,
and we will.
safe, middle class or better
kind of life.
If we live Jesus Christ,
if we Follow Through on
The Sermon on the Mount,
ain't-a- gonna happen.
Like the late great
John Lewis
we're going to get into
"Good Trouble."
Jesus did,
the prophets did,
and we will.
Some way or many,
persecution.
In a paradoxical way, though,
In a paradoxical way, though,
there is joy in the pain of
seeking righteousness.
We are like a fatigued runner
experiencing the high
of getting that second wind,
stressing ever more
to break free and win the race.
of getting that second wind,
stressing ever more
to break free and win the race.
Pain and euphoria at getting it
just right.
We are like the parent
scrimping and sacrificing
to get the kids through college
and missing out on an easier life.
A deep, deep joy and gladness
at getting things for the children
just right.
just right.
There are people,
groups and systems
wronging individuals,
other groups and
our Mother Earth.
groups and systems
wronging individuals,
other groups and
our Mother Earth.
They, and what
they do and undo,
will wrong us
as we labor
to right the damage
and destruction inflicted,
as we lovingly work for
Righteousness,
God's Kingdom
come and coming.
But you know what?
It's rather wonderful
to get into
GOOD TROUBLE
God's Kingdom
come and coming.
But you know what?
It's rather wonderful
to get into
GOOD TROUBLE
There's great company
in being
"children of God"
and we get a head start on
"the kingdom of heaven."
That sure beats anybody else's
rewards program.
Pretty "Blessed are those"!!!
Praying
us all a
strong second wind,
John Frank
John Frank
******
Here's a great big
THANK YOU
to
Nick Minnich.
He regularly
jumps in
as our
technical director
to make things here
just right!!!
******
PRAY AND PONDER
The Message
translation
of these
two last
Be Attitudes
You're blessed when
your commitment to God
provokes persecution.
The persecution drives you
even deeper into
God's kingdom.
Not only that -
count yourself blessed
every time people
put you down
or throw you out
or speak lies about you
to discredit me.
What it means
is that the truth
is too close for comfort
and they are uncomfortable.
You can be glad
when that happens
- give a cheer, even! -
for though they don't like it,
I do!
And all heaven applauds.
And you know that
you are in good company.
My prophets and witnesses
have always gotten into
this kind of trouble.
******
How much does
your church
get into
Good Trouble?
get into
Good Trouble?
Many churches do
much good.
They are often kept from
doing much more good,
from getting into
Good Trouble,
because the are
so institutionalized,
so highly structured,
have social standing
and privilege to safeguard,
careers, property and payrolls
to protect and pay.
Then Jesus called
the twelve together
and gave them
power and authority
over all demons
and to cure diseases,
and he sent them out
to proclaim
the kingdom of God
and to heal.
He said to them:
'take nothing
for your journey,
no staff, nor bag,
nor bread, nor money
- not even an extra tunic...
Luke 9:1-3
The Message
translation of
this same passage
Jesus now called the Twelve
and gave them authority and power
to deal with all the demons
and cures diseases.
He commissioned them
to preach the news
of God's kingdom
and heal the sick.
He said,'
Don't load yourself up
with equipment.
Keep it simple;
you are the equipment...
Revelation 3:14-16
"And to the angel of the church
in Laodice write:
The words of the Amen,
the faithful and true witness,
the origin of God's creation:
"I know your works;
you are neither cold or hot.
I wish you were either cold or hot.
So, because you are lukewarm,
and neither cold nor hot,
I am about to spit you
out of my mouth.
The Message
translation
of this same passage
Write to Laodicea,
to the Angel of the church. God's Yes,
the Faithful and Accurate Witness,
the First of God's creation, says:
"I know you inside and out,
and find little to my liking.
You're not cold, you're not hot
- far better to be either cold or hot!
You're stale. You're stagnant.
You make me want to vomit.
What is to be heard here?
How much of it are we hearing?
How much of it are we embracing?
Many - most - churches
are not being persecuted,
are simply being ignored
and abandoned,
are not getting into
Good Trouble.
Why?
******
Pope Francis
in
Gaudete et Exsultate
On the Call To Holiness
In Today's World
Jesus
himself warns us that the path
he proposes goes against the flow,
even making us challenge society
by the way we live and, as a result,
becoming a nuisance. He reminds us
how many people have been,
and still are, persecuted
simply because they struggle for justice,
because they take seriously
their commitment to God and to others.
Unless we wish to sink into an obscure
mediocrity, let us not long for an easy life,
for "whoever would save his life will lose it"
(Mt 16:25).
he proposes goes against the flow,
even making us challenge society
by the way we live and, as a result,
becoming a nuisance. He reminds us
how many people have been,
and still are, persecuted
simply because they struggle for justice,
because they take seriously
their commitment to God and to others.
Unless we wish to sink into an obscure
mediocrity, let us not long for an easy life,
for "whoever would save his life will lose it"
(Mt 16:25).
So, what to say?
So, what will we do?
******
We've had some
great company here
this week -
a wonderful group of
first time visitors
from Ireland, Moldova
and elsewhere.
WELCOME
to
"frankly speaking"
spirituality for the street
- it is posted Thursdays
by mid-day
east coast USA time
WELCOME
to
"frankly speaking"
spirituality for the street
- it is posted Thursdays
by mid-day
east coast USA time
johnfrankshares.blogspot.com
- it is available by automatic
email delivery on Fridays -
sign up above right
- past postings are accessible at
Blog Archive
right column bottom
This week let's see how much
we can get into
GOOD TROUBLE!
******
i
