Dealing with the “Spiritual Terrorists” in the church by Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

WONDERING GURU

Deut 18: 15-20; 1 Cor 7: 32-35; Mark 1: 21-28

 

 Intro: In today’s gospel we read about a great move of God that took place in the city of Capernaum. This took place at the beginning of the second year of our Lord’s ministry - what scholars commonly refer to as the “Year of Popularity.” Year one of His ministry was a “Year of Obscurity” and year three was the “Year of Rejection,” but year two was the year when Jesus became popular with the people, and this awakening in Capernaum was the beginning of that popularity. Jesus obviously spoke with authority that the scribes often seemed to lack in their teaching. They (the scribes) obviously had what someone has labelled as "positional authority" that seemed to lack in its ability to satisfy spiritual hunger. "Positional authority without spiritual power leaves churches suffering. It also leaves hurting people unchanged in a world where people need to be healed" .

What happens when Jesus takes over?

1. Satan’s kingdom is shaken up- We are told that Jesus taught with authority. Declaring God’s truth without compromise stirred up the kingdom of Satan. Imagine what was going on in Capernaum. Jesus is speaking and acting with divine authority. This, no doubt, got the demons in the city of Capernaum upset. They had people whose lives were given over to sin and immorality people enslaved to alcohol and drugs; marriages falling apart; children disrespecting their parents…Yes, they had things under control . . . Until Jesus started taking over Capernaum. When Jesus takes over, Satan’s kingdom is shaken up.

2. Sinners are freed - The Bible tells us that before the day was over, “the whole town gathered” to Jesus. This is something that always happens when Jesus takes over.  Now, we are called to be like Christ in this world. And the key to that is allowing the Lord Jesus, who dwells within us through the person of the Holy Spirit, to live His life through us. In other words, if Jesus is going to be free to take over, he must first be allowed to take over in the lives of His people. God’s people must straighten up! During the Welsh revival, Evan Roberts preached a sermon time and again that God used to challenge His people in Wales to “straighten up.” It was called “The four points.”

1. You must put away any unconfessed sin.

2. You must put away any doubtful habit.

3. You must obey the Spirit promptly.

4. You must confess Christ openly.

If we really want to see Jesus take over, we must determine who we are and whose we are! Are you a Child of God or a child of the world? Do you belong to the Lord or to the world?

3) “Spiritual Terrorism” encountered-This ministry modelled after Jesus’ preaching, teaching, and prophesizing also has to confront the ugliness of its opposition. Strangely, the ugliness or “spiritual terrorism” is not always found outside but it’s found within the church. There is a spiritual war going on that exists to hinder the work of God. We have our own unclean spirits working to divide the church. The “Spiritual Terrorists” who destroy God’s ministry are those who are always arguing, fighting, gossiping and complaining.

The word Mark uses here for ‘unclean’ implies a “desire to be filthy”. To be unclean means to have a desire for filth over that which is holy. Any time we choose to do the wrong thing rather than choose that which is right we desire filth. The good news is that we serve a Jesus who likes to get up close and personal and have direct contact with those people and places that seem unclean. Jesus sought to make the filthy fit for the kingdom. He sought to make the dirty a declaration of God’s love and kindness. Jesus was God’s detergent for a dirty humanity. He reached into the places that other agents could not and would not go. He would reach people that the prophets couldn’t get to, the priests couldn’t get to, and the kings couldn’t get to. And that is what he is calling the church today to do. We are to be the cleansing agents for a filthy world. He wants us to reach those who others will not touch because the world has deemed them unclean.

 "I am far within the mark when I say that all armies that ever marched, and all the navies that were ever built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of mankind on this earth as powerfully as that One Solitary Life". (Massey Mott Heltzel. The Invincible Christ. Nashville: Abingdon Press).

This statement tells us about the ageless authority of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ is Lord of all! Others may have authority and power. Only Jesus has the power to save people from their wages of their sin which is death (Romans 6:23). The authority of others is limited by time and boundaries as their authority will one day come to an end. But, the authority of Jesus never ends!

No king or kingdom, ruler or dictator, government, organization or individual can ever give us eternal life! No one else has conquered sin, death and the fear of death! God only gave this authority to Jesus Christ! We are powerless and hopeless without Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior! That is why without Jesus we can do nothing (John 15:5)!

Benjamin Franklin once said that "God helps those who help themselves". But, the truth of the matter is that without Jesus we would be helpless and hopeless.  When we as Christians pray we almost always end our prayers saying, "… in Jesus’ name. Amen." We do that because we know that Jesus is the name of our Savior who saves us from the power of sin. We also do that because we know that His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). God’s grace through Jesus Christ is all that we need: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

👉28th January 2024, 4th Sunday in ordinary Time, Year B

 

Jonah The Reluctant Prophet by Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

WONDERING GURU

Jonah 3:1-5,10; 1 Cor 7: 29-31; Mark 1: 14-20

Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

Introduction: The book of Jonah is a short book, 4 chapters. Some believe the story is allegorical or a metaphor for the disobedience of the Israelites and the salvation of the Gentiles. But Jonah is documented as a historical figure in 2 Kings and he his mentioned in several ancient Jewish histories. The major point that divides the scholars seems to hinge on the supernatural: some cannot accept the supernatural element of the story, a great fish swallowing a man. Nineveh during that time in history was extremely important. It was a commercial. The city was very large. People from all over the world came there to make money. But the city had spiritual problems. No one knew the true God. They thought they did. Nineveh thought everything was alright. But then Jonah told them, “40 more days and Nineveh will be destroyed.” God had enough. He was going to wipe these people off the face of the earth, just as he had done to Sodom and Gomorrah. The people of Nineveh repented. They declared a fast. They stopped their pattern of sinning. They looked to God for forgiveness. To repent means to stop being fake. When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.”

Character of Jonah: Jonah was running away from the Lord. He didn’t want to carry what the Lord had given him. How often do we behave like Jonah? And where does this disobedience lead us? Jonah had been running away from the Lord, but the Lord had not been running from him. So at the beginning of chapter 3 the same word from God came to him a second time saying: “Go to the great city Ninevah and proclaim to it the message I give you.” This time, Jonah obeyed the Word of the Lord, but with very little enthusiasm.

Why was Jonah such a reluctant disciple? Well, Jonah is a good example of the disobedience to God that Israel often displayed. Good Jewish prophets didn’t preach to other nations! Jonah didn’t want the city of Nineveh to be saved! He believed that there should be a strict separation between Israel and other peoples but obviously God felt otherwise. Jonah knew this in his heart and thus he was trying to thwart God’s will. Do we ever try to thwart God’s will due to any kind of prejudice we might have? Well, The Book of Jonah makes it clear that God is concerned for the salvation of all people and as His disciples we are called to take God’s message to some places where we might not want to go.

Another reason that Jonah didn’t want to carry out God’s call was because he was afraid of the Ninevites. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, a nation known for dread and terror! But amazingly, Jonah’s sermon was a huge success! The people of Nineveh accepted his message, they believed it, they repented they were saved!

Now our dear friend Jonah should have been pleased by the outcome. He should have been glad to know that he had carried the message, which the people had listened to and they were now children of God.  His preaching has brought redemption and forgiveness. Not the total destruction of the entire city. Jonah wants Nineveh destroyed. Our poor disgruntled prophet is having a rough time. So, he climbs up to a hilltop to wait and see what will happen. God, our ever-kind Father, makes a vine grow so our unhappy camper will have shade from the burning sun. Jonah is very happy for this. But the next morning when the vine dies our dear friend is furious that the vine died. God then speaks to Jonah. He says these words that must have made Jonah feel the smallest of the small, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?” We do not know how Jonah responded nor do we know how he must have felt. But how do we feel when we disobey and disappoint? Through this story of conversion, God reveals again, that God is a God Who cares even if we don’t. Jonah certainly didn’t care about Nineveh he was even angry that God saved them!

Question: When’s the last time you honestly asked God to reveal His will for your life? When was the last time you went to God’s Word seeking to obediently follow His desire and direction? What have been the consequences of doing things your own way instead of God’s way? Jonah is what many of us are at certain points in our lives: stubborn, disobedient and prideful. When Jesus called Simon and Andrew and James and John to follow him, He was calling them to also immediately leave behind some things and some people that were very near and dear to them for a long time. What do we need to leave behind in immediate obedience to God?

The disciples were not like Jonah at all. They were ready to serve Christ. They were ready to follow Him. They felt the authority, the power of this man and they followed. None of them tried to turn and run away. They accepted and they followed. How many of us would just follow the Lord wherever He leads us? 

👉3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time-Year B-21^st January 2024

Would you be an Andrew for Jesus? by Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

WONDERING GURU

1 Sam 3: 3-10,19; 1Cor 6:13-15, 17-20; John 1:35-42

Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

Intro-The story of Edward Kimball. Many of us have never heard of Edward Kimball, a Sunday school teacher. He won a young fellow to the Lord, he was a Boston shoe salesman, and got that shoe salesman so on fire that he became the well-known evangelist Dwight L. Moody.

Understanding Andrew as the Seeker of Truth- In John 1:35-42 we are first introduced to Andrew. Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. Andrew was baptized of John. He was a seeker after the truth. He found the truth in John the Baptist and followed him. John would always mention that he was not the Messiah but someone else. When John the Baptist pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world, Andrew knew that this man was the Messiah prophesied of Old. Andrew, unlike a number of the disciples of John the Baptist, followed Christ and forsook John. If the truth be known this is what John the Baptist wanted. Men to follow Christ. Jesus accepted these two and let them dwell with him for a time. They saw him and talked with him and noticed what he did. Being the tenth hour, they probably spent the night with Jesus. After this, Andrew was convinced that Jesus was the Lamb of God. Andrew found joy and peace. He immediately began to tell others. Andrew was one of the first to recognize Jesus as the Promised One, and this will never be taken from him.  Andrew had found a great treasure and he wanted to share it with others. Andrew did not sit around after this and ask, “What am I to do?” He knew what he was to do, and that was to tell others and lead others to Jesus Christ.

Understanding his family ties- Andrew was totally convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. Andrew goes and the first one he tells is the one who he is closest to, his brother Simon. Andrew worked with Simon as a fisherman. Andrew probably was the younger of the two. Family is the most difficult place to witness, but the first place that Andrew went. Andrew used his influence on his family. Simon makes a decision based on Andrew. Simon must have had a lot of respect for Andrew. Simon probably was not as religious or such a zealous follower of the truth as his brother, and so Simon trusted his brother’s judgement.

Understanding his nature- (John 6:5-13) The disciples were filled with despair. Andrew looked beyond this and saw the possibilities. Andrew spoke with this little boy. Spent time with him. Andrew was concerned about the little people. Andrew was the best person to bring this boy. Andrew was humble. Different from many of the disciples. Andrew did not have outstanding gifts, like Peter or Judas or John and James. Many times Andrew was left behind. He used what he had, not much, but he used what he had. Andrew knew in his own life that little is much when God is in it.

Understanding his personality-(John 12:20-23) Andrew was approachable, kind, thoughtful, sincere, bent on bringing others to Christ. Andrew distinguished himself among the disciples for these things and so Philip trusted his judgement. The disciples came to him for help. Andrew may have been the counsellor, or the listener of the group. Because of this Philip brought the Greeks to him and both Philip and Andrew went to Jesus. Andrew did not do anything that outstanding or glorious. Andrew might have become frustrated with his brother and the others when they argued about who was the greatest. Andrew was not scared to have second place. As a matter of fact, he was comfortable with second place. He really didn’t care about such things. The Bible tells us that love does not envy, and this is definitely what Andrew did. He did not envy even his own brother. Andrew never wrote a book, he never spoke up or out of turn, as a matter of fact, he is mentioned very little. After Acts 1, he is never mentioned again. Tradition says that Andrew went into Asia Minor, or Turkey and ministered there in remote areas, until he died on a cross. He hung on that cross for two days, and all the while he was preaching, trying to bring more people to Jesus.

Conclusion

·       Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. He was a seeker after the truth. What about us? Do we seek Jesus?

·       Andrew was totally convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. Are we totally convinced?

·       Andrew was bent on bringing others to Christ. Would we do what Andrew did for Christ?

·       He was comfortable with second place. What about us?

·       He hung on that cross for two days, and all the while he was preaching. What about us? when we suffer do we preach Christ?

2     👉 2nd Sunday in ordinary time-Year B

Epiphany-What can we learn from the wise men? by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

WONDERING GURU

 Isaiah 60:1-6; Eph 3;2-6; Mt 1:1-12

Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

Introduction: In some countries, the feast of Epiphany is a big event. Epiphany in the early church was one of the great feast days–second only to Easter in its importance. The third great feast was Pentecost. Epiphany, Easter, and Pentecost were the focus of the church. Nobody even thought about celebrating Christmas until the fourth century.

What is Epiphany?

The word Epiphany means “manifestation” or “revelation.” So, the Wise Men are celebrated on Epiphany because they represented the revelation of Jesus to the Gentiles. Some say in the days when Epiphany was a great church feast, it also celebrated the revelation of Jesus in his first miracle–changing water into wine at Cana–and the manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God at his baptism. Those three things–the Wise Men, Cana, and the Baptism were all lumped together to symbolize the revelation of God in Jesus Christ, and such revelation was cause for great celebration.

What Epiphany really means to us?

When someone trapped in the darkness of sin sees and believes in the glory of Jesus Christ. When someone stops trusting in false beliefs and starts trusting in Christ. This is what happened to the wise men from the East. They came from a place where no one knew about the Christ. No one knew about the true God who was sending a Savior. And so, these men left their land of spiritual darkness because they wanted to see and worship the Christ. They made the long trip to Jerusalem. Many people call Epiphany the “Gentile Christmas,” because the main theme of the Epiphany is that Christ is a light, not just for a select group of people like the Jews, but for all people, all over the world.

Were there really three kings?

The identity and place of origin of the wise men has been one of much debate. How many were there? Who were they? Where were they from? Of course, the most common number is that there were three because they bore three gifts this may or may not be the case. It is simply not known. It has been said of them that they were Kings, princes and or priests. Many different locations have been suggested as their origin the likeliest being that they were from Arabia or Persia (modern day Iraq & Iran).. We are limited to only what truths the scripture gives us concerning these men. This much we do know that they were wise! The word “wise men” is actually “Magi” from which we get our English word “magician”. But they were not magicians as we would think. The term is also used to describe people who were astrologers, magicians, sorcerers and pagan priests. The term “magi” was a word used also in ancient Babylon. We know that the Jews had long before been taken to Babylon in exile. Among those Jews was Daniel of the Old Testament. Daniel would have definitely told his new friends in Babylon about the coming Savior. And so, years passed, but Daniel’s message remained.

What gifts can you give to your Savior?

The three wise men offered to the Lord gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. So what gifts can we offer to the Lord? The wise men spent many times searching the Lord.  We too can spend our time in the service of the Lord.  The wise men incurred lot of expenses undertaking this journey.  We too can spend our money for the kingdom of God. The wise men used their voice to tell others about the new king.  Let’s use our voice to share the good news of Jesus.

What can we learn from the wise magi?

1. We can learn to make wise Decisions. These men made a decision to seek out the Saviour.

2. We can learn to be determined to get what we seek. These men may have traveled 500-1000 miles. They might have been the subject of much ridicule. Their journey would involve much cost. They became sick, tired and possibly discouraged along the way but they were determined.

3. We can learn to discern and not naively believe everyone.  Everyone does not have good intentions. Herod having heard that the men were in town inquiring about the King of the Jews calls secretly for them and sends them to Bethlehem to search for the child. He tells them to report back to him when he is found so that he too may come and worship him. The wise men were wise because they were able to discern the jealousy, the hypocrisy and the evil mind of Herod.

4. We can learn to Worship Jesus with all that we have. When at last they had found the Christ, they bowed down and worshipped him.

May this Epiphany week be for us a time of revelation and enlightenment. once we meet the Christ, once we worship him, we are changed! We are different!