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 [email protected].
Looking forward to journeying with you.
Peace in Christ,
Susan
September 18, 2024
Milkweed and monarchs
Mark 4:26-32
We have milkweed in our garden. Finally. I’ve tried to get it to grow from gathered seeds for the last four years, and at last there’s a whole patch. This little one was on one of the leaves last week.
And I thought to myself, wow.
Milkweed is a pretty tiny seed. I didn’t do anything to help it grow aside from watering it. Now, the plant is supporting a caterpillar that will eat up to 200 times its weight in about 3 days, then go on to its next instar stage, then form a chrysalis to become a monarch.
In the gospel of Mark, the author says the kingdom of God is like milkweed, or seed, in two ways.
First, milkweed seed goes all over the place when the pods are ready. The place where mine grew isn’t even where I tried to plant some. It’s everywhere we don’t expect. Cement, sidewalks, fields. What seems like random plantings are the work of an imaginative God who keeps creation growing beyond our attempt to control it. Where have you seen God’s creative design in unexpected places? Take a moment to look around, and enjoy all of the wonders in nature and God’s world that we don’t understand, but that work anyways.
Secondly, milkweed seed is tiny. I don’t know how it grows, but in the creative imagination of God, there is a way for butterflies to find life, shelter, and strength from a seed that is smaller than my fingernail. The author of Mark says the reign of God is like that too. It starts small, and it changes everything around it, supporting life. Where might the reign of God be present in your life in small ways that are slowly growing and changing your environment?
I marvel at Fred, our monarch caterpillar. From egg through all of life’s stages, God is using so many small things to surround him with things he needs to live and transform to what he will be.
Just as God does for us.
May you see God’s hand and heart for you in all kinds of surprising small ways this week.
September 11, 2024
Mary and the miracles
Story: John 2 1-11 You can find the story here :
John 2:1-11 NLT – The Wedding at Cana – The next day – Bible Gateway
Sounds like a good name for a band, doesn’t it?
You know, there are times when we just get to see fun miracles. The events that look like a disaster in the making; then something just goes so right that we have to start laughing in joy. For me, Stuart McLean’s story of Morley’s Christmas Pageant is like that. So is this one of Jesus’ wedding miracle in the gospel of John.
There’s about to be a fiasco of Martha Stewart proportions. The family hosting the multi-day wedding banquet is about to run out of wine. Mary, Jesus’ mother, steps in and lets him know the problem, and preps the servants for action if needed. Jesus comes, gives a command to fill the huge jars of water, and the servants get to work immediately.
The water is changed to wine, the best wine. The banquet is saved, and celebration continues for everyone.
For me, the most joyful part of this miracle is that Jesus doesn’t just wave his hands and everything happens. The miracle happens because Mary recognizes Jesus for who he is and what he’s capable of doing, gets the servants ready, and the servants obey. It’s through the obedience of the servants to the commands of Jesus that the miracles happen. It’s through the words of Mary that they know who to listen to.
Who are your Mary’s? Who are the ones who are helping us get ready for miracles? Let’s keep our eyes and ears and hearts open. Jesus has amazing, wonderful moments and miracles for each one of us–and by listening, being guided by the Holy Spirit, and taking obedient action, we’ll get to work with him on those miracle moments, every day.
Hope your week is blessed.
Peace in Christ,
Susan