"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." -- Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew ends his gospel with the words of Jesus-- the one who was crucified and buried.  The chief priests thought that they had rid themselves of this troublemaker, but here he is again!  He's risen from the dead and speaks to his followers the instructions that change everything.  Jesus was Jewish.  As he lived, he taught and preached to the nation Israel.  He was considered a rabbi.  He had a message for his people.  Now the temple curtain had been torn-- a symbolic event that speaks to shredded boundaries.  Paul would later say more about this when he says there is no longer Jew nor Greek... but here is Jesus, not saying baptize the nation Israel in my name... but instead, go and make disciples and baptize people of all nations.  Jesus died for all.

When you consider who you let in to your life, your school, your home... is your love conditional?  Do you truly share the love and grace of Jesus with as many people as you can, or do you restrict your interactions to only certain political, racial, or religious types?  Think about someone you could work on developing a relationship with who is different than you.  Learn to love them-- for God's sake.

Readings:  Exodus 37:1-38:31; Matthew 28:1-20; Psalm 34:11-22; Proverbs 9:9-10 

"Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." -- Psalm 34:5

How many billions of dollars a year are spent in the beauty industry?  It seems that each year, more money is spent on preserving those passing youthful looks than ever before.  With teenage girls (and younger) now receiving gifts of plastic surgery and body augmentation, it's becoming more the norm to think that the secret to looking beautiful is skin deep.  But the timeless truth stands: beauty is not skin deep.  True beauty emanates and radiates from the soul.  You can look at someone who appears "perfect" on the outside, but because their heart meditates on dark things, and their eyes reflect hate, there is an ugliness that comes out.  Conversely, you might see someone who would be rejected by radio because of their looks, and find them to be the most attractive and beautiful person you've ever met.   The secret to being beautiful is in finding joy in Christ.  When that joy comes out, people don't just see you, they see God, the Creator of beauty himself.  So if you want to look good, reflect on God, and God will reflect on you.  There you have it: beauty secrets-- free of charge!

Readings:  Exodus 35:10-36:38; Matthew 27:32-66; Psalm 34:1-10a; Proverbs 9:7-8

"When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. 'I am innocent of this man's blood,' he said. 'It is your responsibility!'" -- Matthew 27:24

In this reading, we find indications that Pilate was a reasonable man.  Not sure what to do with this Jesus character, he asks the crowd, "What crime has he committed?"  They in turn, won't have it.  They basically see Pilate wavering a bit, and in order to seal the deal, they put the pressure of the crowd on him.  A skilled politician, Pilate knows better than to turn the crowd against him, so he says it's on them.  Gladly they take the blame off of him.  He "washes his hands of it" and makes clear that he's not in agreement, but he won't do the unpopular thing.  Though he had the power, he would not spare Jesus' life.

We read this story and, like armchair quarterbacks, say how we would have done it differently.  I wouldn't have washed my hands of it...  I  wouldn't have sent Jesus to be crucified... I would have stood up to the crowd.  But then I think of things in our own time that seem to be the popular trend, and I have to wonder, when issues are brought up and batted around, how much am I influenced by the crowd's leanings?  How much do I let the crowd's view of it color my own understanding of it?   We are all political, whether we like to believe it or not.  We all have the need to be accepted by society to some degree, but we're also called to effect change for God, and sometimes that means doing the unpopular thing-- sometimes it means going against the crowd.  When change is called for, courage on our part is even more called for.  Be brave and stand up for the right thing.  Your hands may be dirty for it, but your conscience will be clean.

Readings:  Exodus 34:1-35:9; Matthew 27:15-31; Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 9:1-6

"Listen to my (wisdom's) instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death." -- Proverbs 8:33-36

It's a long road to find wisdom.  It comes with time, patience, and humility.  When a tree grows, it sends its roots deep into the soil.  Without good root development, the tree will be stunted.  The problem is, you can't uproot the tree to see how its roots are developing.  You must preserve its stillness and protect its place.  Only after many years will the roots have grown to the point that the tree explodes with growth.  Patience is the path to wisdom.  It beats the hurry and the rush every time.  Take your time as you seek the answers.  And when you think you have them, consider some more.

Readings:  Exodus 32:1-33:23; Matthew 26:69-27:14; Psalm 33:1-11; Proverbs 8:33-36

"For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death." -- Exodus 31:15

The law of observing the Sabbath was one taken very seriously.  If broken, it was punishable by death.  As part of the faith community, we are all guilty of breaking this law.  We have all sinned.  But we live and are not put to death because Jesus fulfilled the law with the New Law:  Love--  Love God, Love Each Other.  He and his disciples were guilty themselves for working on the Sabbath.  They plucked grain, and he healed.  Jesus asks, 'was man made for the Sabbath or was the Sabbath made for man?'  We've taken it to a different place.  Jesus was telling them that they had fallen into an extreme and nonsensical observance of a law that was intended to bring rest and renewal to people.  They had forgotten the spirit of the law by only focusing on the letter of it.  Today, we too have forgotten the spirit of this law.  By rejecting the extreme nature of its observance, many of us have stopped observing it altogether and are missing out on a gift God has for us.  Yes, Jesus was right... we were not made for the Sabbath... it was made for us.  It's a gift we might consider accepting.

Readings:  Exodus 30:11-31:18; Matthew 26:47-68; Psalm 32:1-11; Proverbs 8:27-32

Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."... "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same. -- Matthew 26:33-36

Peter was so certain in his mind that he would be true to Jesus, and hearing Jesus' prophetic words that he would deny him three times in one night must have sounded preposterous.  But we will find him at the end of this chapter weeping bitterly over the fact that what Jesus had predicted had come to pass.  How is it that we, like Peter, can so often be so sure of the hypothetical?  The idea of being a steadfast Jesus follower is a worthy one.  The idea of being disciplined in our faith by incorporating scripture and prayer every day seems easy enough.  But why is it that, like Peter, we fall off shortly after we begin things with such good intention?  When we are serious about doing something, whatever it is, we will find a way to do it.  We will make the time, find the resources, guard and protect it as an important part of every day.  When we permanently change the routine and processes in our lives to make it happen, we will find success.  It's not enough to just be the same person doing the same things and try to squeeze something new in.  We must let go of one thing to let another in.  Peter will deny Jesus because he is scared.  He isn't quite ready to go the distance because he likes his life the way it is and wants to keep it.  It won't always be this way for Peter.  This event will change him forever.

Readings:  Exodus 29:1-30:10; Matthew 26:14-46; Psalm 31:19-24; Proverbs 8:14-26

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" -- Matthew 25:37-40

How can we serve God?  Serve each other.  How can we show our love to Christ?  Love each other.  Suffering people went to Jesus for healing and restoration.  The hungry multitudes were fed by him.  The possessed, addicted, and afflicted were saved by him.  We are the hands and feet of Christ.  Let's continue to search for and find ways to be the miracle worker he was and ease the suffering of this world.  Whenever you do that for the least among us, you do it for him.  Look around your world today and see what change you can make for God's sake.

Readings:  Exodus 28:1-43; Matthew 25:31-26:13; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 8:12-13