Matthew, Mark, Luke and Susan
We’re glad you’re here!
Welcome to the weekly blog for Burlington East Presbyterian Church.
First things first: feel free to fill in your name instead of Susan. John might already be taken.
Here, you’ll find a weekly reflection which I hope will give you an opportunity to stop for a few minutes, to see yourself in God’s story of our own lives, of the community, and of creation. We’ll be thinking about what it means to live in God’s love for each of us, to grow as disciples and to follow Christ. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me at minister@burlingtoneast.net.
Looking forward to journeying with you.
Peace in Christ,
Susan
May 2025
Umm…..God?
Something to think about: Acts 9:1-19
The title of this story talks about the conversion of Saul. Saul was a follower of Judaism and, at the time, an enthusiastic persecutor of the early Christian Church. The ‘murderous threats” that are talked about in the Bible reading were real. He had a reputation.
And there’s a lot written about Saul’s conversion and the bright lights on the road, and how God appeared to him.
But there’s another call in this passage. We’re going to be talking about it on Sunday.
What do you do when you’re scared to do what God asks?
Ananias has a different reputation than Saul does. . He’s known as a good guy. And the church in his town knows Saul is coming and they’re scared. So what does God tell Ananais to do?
“Go to the person you are most afraid of right now and heal him so he can see you. “
Umm…God? Do you know who this person is? Let me provide a reminder….
…but Ananias goes anyway. He heals Saul, and Saul changes his life.
Saul would have been wandering around blind if Ananias hadn’t gone. What Ananais does isn’t for his own benefit. But the effect of Ananais obedience to God changes the history of the new Christian church.
Sometimes (well, a lot of times) we’re asked by God to do things that we’re scared to do. Maybe we’re overthinking a small act of obedience when, like the Nike commercial said, we need to just do it. Maybe it’s shaking off our comfort and security and what we’re used to so that someone else can enjoy a relationship with God. Maybe it’s trying something we’ve never tried before because that’s what lets us show God’s love to our neighbour.
Maybe it’s a risk to go to people who may harm us, but we don’t have evidence that they will. In that situation, we can ask for help–from God, from each other, and ask the questions that we need to know. The answer Ananias gets from God isn’t the one he’d like or be comfortable with, but it is the answer that assures him that he’s going to come through this.
We can learn from Ananias. When we’re scared of embracing a new challenge in Jesus’ name, we can ask questions. But those questions can’t stop us from leaning into the purpose that God has for us.
Where are you being called into something that scares you this week?
How will going through that fear and trusting God lead to someone else knowing the love of Christ?
What questions are part of our ‘umm…God, are you sure?’ moments?
God will answer. God always does.
Prayer: Dear Lord, when the places you call us to go or the things you call us to do scare us, give us the peace to ask you the questions and the courage to take the risks so that others know Your love.
Amen.
Peace in Christ,
Rev Susan
Photo and content © Susan Kerr 2025. May not be reproduced or circulated without permission of the author.
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April 10, 2025
Why Shout?
No picture this week–instead, before you read the rest of this, put Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus or Creed’s Arms Wide Open on full volume. Have a listen while you’re reading the passage from Luke.
Something to think about: Luke 19:28-40
This one’s for all of us, but especially for all the introverts out there, for all those with sensory sensitivities, for all those who associate loud noises and yelling with violence and uncontrolled outcomes. This is for all of us who’ve ever been in a crowd that’s so dense we can’t see our way forward….
This Sunday, we will celebrate Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem and everyone was so thankful for what he had done, and caught up in the moment, that it turned into a parade.
Sometimes the hardest place to be a disciple, to follow someone and really know what they are about is in a crowd. We struggle not to get swept up in a moment until we’re sure what it’s all about, we are afraid, perhaps, of joining a mass hysteria and then learning it’s not something good.
So this story of Palm Sunday, with a crowd that erupts into Hosanna’s at the sight of a man on a donkey, puts up some red flags for some people. Is it just mass hysteria? Why are they cheering? Let’s ask the questions.
Luke’s passage gives us some insight. Jesus didn’t start the shouting–it happened when people were praising him for what he had done and the miracles they had seen. This wasn’t an anticipated shouting for a political party at an election or promises made. This was celebrating what had been done, what they had seen. It’s praise. Undoubtedly, there were those who were caught up in the crowd and didn’t know what was going on. I hope they had a neighbour nearby to tell them the stories.
But it’s still a lot of shouting, and if you are familiar with the stories that follow in this Holy Week (April 13-20, Palm Sunday to Easter), you know that there is a lot more yelling to come. The Pharisees try to do something about the yelling. They tell him to stop it. They think the crowds are going to cause Roman soldiers in the area to be alerted and possibly cause trouble for the people. They themselves don’t like what Jesus is saying, it questions their power and the power of the institution, and they want him to be quiet.
Jesus says that’s not going to happen. Because there is a time to be silent, and a time to speak, and even a time to shout. And then in verse 45, he uses the momentum of the crowd to go into the temple courts and drive out those who were abusing the poor through corrupt trading practices. They were cheating people in church, and Jesus would have none of it. He used the shouting, the popularity not only to celebrate what had been done, but what needed to be done, to have momentum for action.
Sometimes, we get caught up in a crowd. Question it. Ask why the yelling is going on. Ask if this is something that will give momentum to God’s plans for love and justice in the world, or to celebrate something good that God has done. If not, please consider not adding your voice. If it is doing something good, then please consider what other actions need to happen after the yelling has stopped. What practical steps for justice need to happen, now that the attention has been brought to this issue? What needs to be celebrated, and who has been given more of a chance to have their voice heard because the crowd gained attention?
Here’s a prayer for this week:
Lord, there is a time for shouting, and a time for silence, and a time to speak one at a time. Show us when our talking, our internet presence, our social media contributions are just noise, and when they are doing something good for you and for others. In all of our speaking, may we be listening for You through the crowd, through the noise. We know You will guide us. We know You’re always with us, and that You love us incredibly.
And we know how much that love will cost you. Thank you.
Amen
May the love of Christ be heard in your heart no matter what noise level is going around you this week.
Peace in Christ,
Rev. Susan
Photo and content © Susan Kerr 2025. May not be reproduced or circulated without permission of the author.
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