Greetings again. If you think this post is early, it is. For those of you who are ahead in the book you can now post your reflections on Chapter 6. Just a reminder: Next week we will be reading both Chapters 7 & 8. That's 2 Chapters in one week. Peace.
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This chapter again talks about stories that I have never heard of before. The one thing that bothers me about this whole thing, and forgive me if i sound ignorant, but I thought this same thought when we had to do our reflections on the Gospel of Luke. I personally do not like when Jesus goes out of His way to bring people back from the dead. I just think right to bring some people back and let others go. What made those few so special? I know I may sound harsh. I just think those are the miracles I just don't agree with I guess.
Also the women of Plaza de Mayo in South America section was a great example to add to this chapter. This proves that we only truly know someone else's pain when we experience it ourselves.
This chaapter is intersting in some ways just like Kat going to the reflection in the gosple Luke Jesus bring the dead to like the bothers people in some ways becaus it mite be ok to bring someone back its ok to let them go to and it was nice to add the women of South America in this Chapter.
Ok, so Ive realized I read the wrong chapter, but I can comment on Kats anyways. I also get confused when I read about Jesus ressurecting someone. I mean, they always say when it's your time, it's your time. Well, I guess that means it wasnt their time so he brought them back, but then again, why did they die in the first place. I guess we'll never know.
Mr. Novela I am having so much trouble logging into the blog it takes me like half an hour and reset my password everytime. Any suggestions?
"Resurrection says we must stand in solidarity with the poor..." In our way of life, it is hard for us to adjust to any way of living than the one that we know. For example, it is so easy to adjust to a more luxurious life than to one of poverty. There are commercials everywhere asking to support those in need by giving a few dollars. But do we really know how they live? It true what Kat said about not knowing someone's pain w/o experiences it ourselves.
I understand what McKenna is trying to say with Jesus saving lives of others, especially the anawim.I agree with the saying that McKenna mentioned in this chapter, "It is better to feed the poor, than raise someone who is dead." The reason I agree is because death isn't something that should be feared. We should take care of those living now than those dead.
I am not of afraid of death, but rather I am afraid of how I die. I feel sympathy for those widows who lost someone they love, because to them they can be living but their heart is slowly dying. I mean what is the world worth if you do not have God's blessings, God's love surrounding you? Quoting my favorite chapter in the Bible: "If I do not have love, I am nothing."
Kat: I agree with you, I too am angry that Jesus chose some people to raise back from the dead. Why not all? There are a lot of things that I do not agree with in the Bible and this is just one of them, but then again we aren't suppose to the Bible literally are we? It's suppose to be metaphorical.
I don't have much to say except to feel the pain of those in poverty or those widowed or hurt for any reason you must "Walk a mile in their shoes."
About Monas comment that death houldn't be feared, I think that there are very few people who don't fear death. In a way, I'm one of those people. I don't want to die before my time. Those in poverty have a larger chance of dieing without accomplishing their life's goal because they can't live in our commercial world. I agree that we should concentrate on helping the poor who are still with us, not those that are already in paradise.
Chapter 6:
I agree once again with everyones opinion. Not to be harsh and disagree with Christ and His actions, but if i were living during this time, i'd be pretty jealous if He bought someone else up from the dead and not one of my family members! Agreeing with Kat, what makes these people more special than anybody else. Out of all the chapters, i really have to disagree with this one.
However, Mona mentioned this quote as well and agree with McKenna on her comment about feeding the poor than raising the dead. i think it would make more of a differance and people can see that He cares for those here today (or during that time)
Jesus like humans feels sympathy towards women, especially widows because his own mother was one as well. It is not that Jesus choose who he will raise it is only what is being said by interpretation. Jesus healed, cleansed, saved, raised, and dispossessed many and he did not choose. I believe reviving someone was another miracle on a different level, but with the same intention not to be criticized as an action out of auspice for a certain clit, group or minority. Yes Jesus found sympathy in widows, but that does not confirm that he only raised those who he chose. I like the story about Elijah it is interesting. I found it amazing how she gave all her faith to God and put it in the prophet’s hands. He commands her as though he is a master and she affirms his decisions and complies with them. She is then down routed because she feels her son is cursed because of Elijah, but resuscitates her soon. These resurrections only call us to be with the poor and help them. Only to be in solidarity with them and be in the same spot and offer our hearts and hands to and for them.
mona to get in easier you can make google.com your homepage and put pace pastoralministry in the search and you in there. its funny. god knows everybodys planns and when there gonna die and all that but do you think that aty times god may take someones life too early and give them more time?i dont think that they more special but it shows that even the creator isnt sure about the future so how can somebody make plans for it.just like in final destination when they missed the flight maybe at times god just wants people to have more time. i dont know im not god. I would feed the poor before i raise the dead because the dead person reached their end for a reson.and people who are still living deserve to get taken care of.plus many movies i see when people return from the dead they are never the same so its not worth it.
THe part I found most crucial was when she talks about the jobs of a prophet, but I'll get into that at the end of this post...THe fact that it didn't rain for 7 years because of no true worship got me thinking. To tell you the truth, I'm not too surprised that we have natural disasters. There are plenty of Christians in the world today who don't practice true worship. I'm not saying that all natural disasters are signs of God's punishment like back then, but maybe we should remember that true worship os a great way to have a better life, even if it is in spirit. Another part I found enlightening was the giving of John to His mother, Mary, because she was now a childless widow. I didn't know the true reason for that occurence, so I'm glad I do now. Now about the propets, McKenna's last sentence got me thinking too- is it possible to have a prophet int the current times. Will people none be able to believe that their is a man or woman who knows God intimately? I don't think it will be easy for him or her, but I think we have a need for one anyway.
I like that James has a different opinion about the resurrections, and he might have something there, even though I'm still about iffy about having only certain people ressurect. I definitely agree with him about Elijah and the widow though. We have to help everyone, and she was defintely a special woman to give all she had on faith.
Okay, this chapter was a bit strange for me. First of all I don't really like the fact that we make it sound like Jesus prefers Widows, I think Jesus sympathizes with anyone who is having problems. I think that at one point or another we are all widows, I mean we will all if we haven't already lose someone who we are extremely close to. A child who loses his or her parents loses everything the same way that a wife loses evrything when she loses her husband. One part that I didn't really find so necessary was when Jesus brougth back the woman's son fromt he dead when she didn't even ask him to. It made me think of the last chapter when He was reluctant in performing a miracle for the woman that was practicaaly on her knees begging him, while he freely brought someone back from the dead when no one even asked him. Although I know that Jesus could do anything he wanted I would think that bringing someone back from the dead is a little bit harder than curing a sick person.
In response to everyone else who seems to be against Jesus performign the miracles of bringing someone back to life; I don't really see what is so bad about that. He couldn't bring everyone back to life because well that would be way too many people and that would cause an over population. We have to think about the fact that His time here on earth was limited and he needed to prove to everyone and get people to believe in him in that short period of time. A miracle like that seems pretty impossible unless you have some connection to a higher power so it would make people believe.
I liked this chapter a lot. Especially when it talks about Jesus bringing the widow's son back to life. He makes such an impact on that woman's life, because without her son, she would be virtually dead. He didn't him back to life just because of the fact that he died. He chose to resurrect this person to save the life of the widow. We can all do this, not by bringing someone back to life, because we can't, but by making a difference in someone's life. Bringing meaning back into someone's life which has lost meaning. It is by making small differences that we create life. Even Jesus' acts didn't make huge changes on peoples actions as a whole, but it changed few people at a time and it spread.
to nikki which is in essence to everyone that she's talking to:
I agree that Jesus was right in bringing the people he did back to life, because they were for a deeper reason than just bringing back someone he didn't know. Death, in whatever form, is natural, and it creates balance in the world. Now then why doesn't he just not bring anyone back? Because the impact that it makes on the people makes him better known, it contributes to his ministry. It makes the people question what they have seen and tell everyone about it. That is not the initial reason for the miracle, but it is a definitely helpful side effect.
i know this is another late one and im sorry about that but here it goes.
im with almost everyone i dont really get it why Jesus picks a certain group of peopel to ressurect i really dont but i guess thats why he is divine and we arent and dont get me wrong i bet Jesus had a reason but i just dont see why especially when we are taught when you go you go its just your time. an to touch foot on the fear of death i really dont fear it because when we die we go to a better place and we get to hang otu with the big man and dont have no worries any more dont get me wrong i wont go lookign for it but when it happens im not goign to go out of my way to stop it neither. basically what im saying ya it hurts to loose a love oen but isnt it worse that they come bad and you have to loose them a second time thats what i keep thinks after reading this chapter.
I agree with you Alex. I’m sure that Jesus chose to bring those certain ones back for a reason. Maybe his reasoning for bringing them back was for a greater purpose. Maybe they were meant to do something. People were not only brought back to life back then. There are many miracles that happen to day. For example, there have been miracles that occurred in hospitals where people were said to have flat lined, then pronounced dead. Then by the grace of God they came back. I believe everything happens for a reason. Those that were brought back were meant to complete their mission. Those that weren’t are the ones that may have completed their mission.
Can somebody please tell me what “true worship” is? I had no idea that there was exact way to worship. I mean, how could it be? There are many types of Christians in the world. And they all worship differently. But I do believe because we are not doing Gods will we are suffering. And we will continue to suffer until God brings the world to the end.
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