Sharon Lutheran Church issued the following announcement on June 15.
We live in a world where everyone seems to be seeking to be
satisfied. We want to be pleased, whether in what we eat, in buying a car,
or selecting our seasonal wardrobe.
But what about pleasing others? That seems to be harder for us to do. In stead, we are easily criticized. When things are seen as not good enough to
fit other's expectations, we're left in the cold wondering what we need to do to “get it right.”
Criticisms are nothing new. Jesus encountered them in his ministry, particularly when he tried to do something right. On one of our Sunday gospel lessons we heard the story of Jesus healing a bent over woman on
the Sabbath Day. The chief leader of the synagogue, called into question
why Jesus did this on the sabbath, a day of rest and no work
But Jesus called to her, “woman, you are now set free from your
bondage of eighteen years.” When Jesus had said this, she stood up straight.
All of His critics were then put to shame, and the entire crowd rejoiced.
Isn't that amazing? It wasn’t the miracle of healing, but the reaction to the healing on the “wrong” day that tripped the switch. The leader of the synagogue criticized Jesus for doing it in the wrong way, on the sabbath.
It can happen among friends, in our society, sometimes in our families, and even between church friends. We just didn’t do something in the “right” way. And the surprising thing is that religious grounds are often behind such arguments.
There are some people who will hate in the name of love, kill in the name of peace, and demean in the name of holiness. Some of the greatest evil in this world is perpetuated by people in the name of their religion.
In our present culture such criticism takes its tole. It causes unbearable
pain. We can even witness murder on the news before our very eyes in the name of law and order. But let us not forget that evil acts and negative words do not win. Remember that they put Jesus on the cross. But may we always remember that truth and love can never be defeated.
If someone is criticizing you, hold on. Do the right thing and not
let them “rattle your chains.” Eventually you will be victorious. That's a
promise from God. It's the understanding that truth ultimately wins.
May we keep that motivation before us as we strive to be God’s
disciples in an angry and toxic society and world. Thank goodness, our Lord promises to stand beside us; “I am with you always, even until the end of time.” We do not stand alone—we are truly “in this together.” Thank God!
Pastor Nelson
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up