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Ponder the Problem
How do you communicate with people? During advent we learned how to work with people generally. This is the first of a three part series where we will learn from the Holy Family how God helps us to communicate. Too often we talk about things that don't interest people. You need to first, Ponder the Problem.
Ponder the Problem, Mary See God’s Glory, JesusGet Up and Go, Joseph
People Don’t Listen
Have you ever felt like people don’t listen to you? You can imagine Joseph and Mary trying to get a place to stay in Bethlehem. They would try to explain to people how important this was. Mary might have said something like, “Listen you’ve got to believe me. I’m about to have a baby.” Most people turned them away. They thought to themselves, “Not my problem!”
Not Their Problem
If people cannot understand how a message directly affects them, then they will not be interested. Throughout history God has tried to communicate with people. God called patriarchs and matriarchs. Moses received the law and shared it with the people. Prophets and Judges rose up to shepherd the people. But the people don’t listen. There are too many other problems to deal with. Even today many people choose to skip out on church and religious life because there are so many other problems to deal with.
God Captures Attention with a Problem
The birth of Jesus changes everything for Mary and all of creation. One second Mary was being totally ignored, the next moment she becomes the center of attention. Angels announce Jesus’ birth. Shepherds come to praise him. Wisemen come bearing gifts. Animals marvel at the child. All this happens because a new king has been born.
When a new king is born, it can be a big problem for many people. It disrupts the current political and social order. The shepherds, who were at the bottom of pecking order, make it a priority to get in good with the new king. When King Herod finds out about it, he is terrified. God gets people to listen with this new born king.
You Can Capture Attention Too
Throughout her life Mary oscillates from being at the center of attention, to being ignored. Each time this happens we can be sure that Mary, “Pondered all these things in her heart.”
Simeon and Anna the prophets who lived in the temple took Jesus from Mary’s arms and prophesied that he would save the people. Luke 2:34-35Jesus goes missing to Mary and Joseph when he was about 12 years old. He ditches his family to hang out in the temple and debate theology with the priests. Mary pondered why he would do this. Luke 2:48Mary visit Jesus preac
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By Rev. Wesley MenkeHow do you communicate with people? During advent we learned how to work with people generally. This is the first of a three part series where we will learn from the Holy Family how God helps us to communicate. Too often we talk about things that don't interest people. You need to first, Ponder the Problem.
Ponder the Problem, Mary See God’s Glory, JesusGet Up and Go, Joseph
People Don’t Listen
Have you ever felt like people don’t listen to you? You can imagine Joseph and Mary trying to get a place to stay in Bethlehem. They would try to explain to people how important this was. Mary might have said something like, “Listen you’ve got to believe me. I’m about to have a baby.” Most people turned them away. They thought to themselves, “Not my problem!”
Not Their Problem
If people cannot understand how a message directly affects them, then they will not be interested. Throughout history God has tried to communicate with people. God called patriarchs and matriarchs. Moses received the law and shared it with the people. Prophets and Judges rose up to shepherd the people. But the people don’t listen. There are too many other problems to deal with. Even today many people choose to skip out on church and religious life because there are so many other problems to deal with.
God Captures Attention with a Problem
The birth of Jesus changes everything for Mary and all of creation. One second Mary was being totally ignored, the next moment she becomes the center of attention. Angels announce Jesus’ birth. Shepherds come to praise him. Wisemen come bearing gifts. Animals marvel at the child. All this happens because a new king has been born.
When a new king is born, it can be a big problem for many people. It disrupts the current political and social order. The shepherds, who were at the bottom of pecking order, make it a priority to get in good with the new king. When King Herod finds out about it, he is terrified. God gets people to listen with this new born king.
You Can Capture Attention Too
Throughout her life Mary oscillates from being at the center of attention, to being ignored. Each time this happens we can be sure that Mary, “Pondered all these things in her heart.”
Simeon and Anna the prophets who lived in the temple took Jesus from Mary’s arms and prophesied that he would save the people. Luke 2:34-35Jesus goes missing to Mary and Joseph when he was about 12 years old. He ditches his family to hang out in the temple and debate theology with the priests. Mary pondered why he would do this. Luke 2:48Mary visit Jesus preac