<html><body>Part 2<div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “No, the master is not going to
scrub the floor, he is going <i>to become a
servant and serve them!” <sup>5</sup></i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> If your mind jumps back to the woman
wiping anointing Jesus’ feet and wiping them with her hair; if your mind jumps
forward to Jesus at His final meal hitching up His robe and wrapping a towel
around His waist so that He can wash His friends’ feet, then Luke’s purpose has
been successful. We have discovered part of the Nature of God – to serve us
into Love!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> The master is prepared. The master
changes and facilitates change. The master and the slaves or servants are drawn
inseparably close because they are always ready for whatever is coming,
whenever it is coming, wherever it is coming. Thus we are to be ready for the full
flowering of God’s reign, something we accept, something we <b><u>KNOW</u></b> is coming. It’s simply a
matter of being in a state of blessedness so that we can respond.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> All of this can make us tense, of
course. None of us knows what will happen when we swing our legs over the side
of the bed. I don’t say this facetiously, but there are many for whom doing
this is a tremendous challenge. However, we all have
the opportunity to put our feet on the floor in a mental way, at least. Of
course, we’d all like to be agile, but we know that that’s not going to be
possible always. So here’s a point of preparation, a point of possible change.
How will we be ready if circumstances are different?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> We’re up; we’re dressed; we step out
of the front door, or take the car out of the garage. What may happen then? Who
knows? We may <b><u>THINK</u></b> we know –
we have an appointment, we may have a habit of going for a coffee with friends,
we may go grocery shopping before the stores get crowded.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> But anything can and does happen
when we get up and leave our rooms and homes. Similarly, when we walk into a
store, or the office, or the church – all of which we’ve gone into hundreds, if
not thousands, of times before. No matter how often it may have been, it may be
different this one time. We may be asked for a response. Will we be counted </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"">bless</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">é</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"">d when we stand in line at the Post Office, or the checkout at
the store, or as we pick up something to drink in the Parish Hall after any
liturgy or meeting?</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Life can be as trivial or as
complicated-looking as we may wish to make it, yet, every time, a response has
to be at the tip of our tongue, or the tip of our fingers, or the tip of our
toes. Who knows when, and how, and why the master will come? And who is this
master?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Well, Jesus was talking about God’s
reign. Jesus was hoping people would see that God won’t send out an engraved
card, specifying the time and place. God, one minutes, may not be there and the
next minute be there. It’s as simple, as scary, as joyful, as hopeful as that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> The interesting this is that Jesus
doesn’t really dwell on the fearful aspect of all of this. Jesus said simply, “Get
used to the idea. It’s going to happen, whether you’re ready or not. Of course,
if you’re ready, it may be a whole lot more fun!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Knowing that God’s reign has
actually begun; knowing that the realm of God is where we are, right now, does
suggest that our anxiety level needn’t be set on high. </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:#202020;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">It’s simply a matter
of being ready, with every breath we take. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#202020;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold"> I say “simply” but I
know that it’s <b><u>NOT</u></b> always simple. Changing our attitudes,
changing our thought patterns, changing our way of thinking and describing
people, changing our whole way of living <b><u>ISN’T </u></b>always easy. Even
thinking about thinking about thinking can be a tough first step. But Jesus is
with us, to tell us to breath; to tell us to be calm; to tell us to be alert;
to tell us to be looking and listening, constantly, for signs and suggestions
that we need to change. After all, the more we change, chances are it’ll be
easier to make the next, and the </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">next, and the next change.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Nor is this restricted to only one
part of our behaviour. We’re to adapt a completely changeable manner of living,
even if it’s quite different from that of our neighbours or, for that matter,
from other members of our families.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “I am the single mother of four
absolutely beautiful little girls. They are 9, 5, 2, and 6 weeks. And things
have been particularly rough since my ex left.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “My<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textexposedshow">truck had
a flat I constantly had to air up. The driver side window motor died. And I
needed a new alternator belt. The truck was a mess. And we didn't drive
anywhere unless we had to.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “Well the other day we desperately
needed to go to the store. So we loaded up and drove to the Winn Dixie about 9
blocks away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “When we got out of the store it was
far after dark. And POURING rain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “I loaded my kids and groceries into
the truck. Tried to crank it...... Nothing. No click. Nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “One of my girls had accidentally
left a light on. My battery was dead. My phone was also disconnected. I have no
family to speak of and was on my own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “I got out and opened my hood to be
sure my battery hadn't come loose. Nope.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “I must have asked more than twenty
people in the course of two hours for a jump. They all ignored me. Not even a
no. Just acted like i didn't exist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “My 5 Year old was melting down. My
newborn SCREAMING, my two year old crying she was hungry, and my oldest
desperately trying to help.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “I was bawling and felt like the
worst Mom ever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “Then I got a knock on the passenger
window. An older gentleman (he was 74) with a cane and a bad limp was on the
other side of that knock.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “I opened the door. He handed me a
plate of chicken strips and biscuits from the deli and bottles of water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “‘Feed those babies and yourself
young lady. I have a tow truck on the way and my wife will be here shortly to
take y’all home.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “Sure enough she arrived followed by
the tow truck. Us and our truck were taken home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “The next morning the gentleman
returned to my house with a mechanic who replaced my battery and alternator and
fixed my window.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “The elderly gentleman then left and
did not return. When I asked what I owed the mechanic and if I could make
payments he smiled telling me the older man had paid for all of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “He said that the only payment the
older man wanted was for me to never give up and keep being an amazing mom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “I've never cried so hard in my
life. Things had been absolutely awful. More so than I care to explain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “And without knowing us or our
situation this kind man helped us in ways he will never know.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> “What he did revived my faith when I
was falling apart. But he wouldn't even take a hug.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“I'll never be able
to thank him. But I certainly hope one day I can do what he did for me for
someone else.” <sup>6</sup><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> You and I can change one thing…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> But you and I are lucky. We can,
with Jesus’ help, change <b><u>SO</u></b>
much, <b><u>SO</u></b> many times. </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:#202020;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Bless</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">é</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"">d are you! Bless</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">é</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">d
am I! Thanks be to God!</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NOTES:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:#202020">Br. Luke Ditewig <a href="http://ssje.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=344ed142b391b2b520df4080c&id=7a7412d709&e=d3bff814a3" target="_blank"><span style="color:#2BAADF">Society of Saint John the
Evangelist</span></a> 3<sup>rd</sup> August, 2016<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"">2</span></span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Micah 6:8, Revised English Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"">3</span></span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <i>“Jesus
through Middle Eastern Eyes”</i> by Kenneth E. Bailey, InterVaristy Press,
Downers Grive, Illinois, © 2008. Pages 370-371.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"">4</span></span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Bailey, Op. cit., page 372.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">5</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Bailey,
Op. cit., page 372.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h5 style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">6</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <span style="color:#666666"><a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F29l733Q&h=UAQH93p_FAQExgwFqgCQ3DjRciT41CcFspYlYkgMZ8q5Fwg&enc=AZMQVu3RukMZqMKhWkXSfL6r7oUKeJsiGGPIKYABuus19WY6BKCXNKJtammC8Xztmnp0kX1GG_le9oZurIbeVlFiWNRxuMndt3-axghiSjbcog_gokZuD-XcgY1nZJ2A2J3WdVVp2PQNfBU1XWty7ONtlcPQiPogvuFW7r98rgEjL0WlIbANZ1kvTlk60KjddCX2D7txk2uF1opsL2x8jgH5&s=1" target="_blank"><span style="color:#365899">http://bit.ly/29l733Q</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span class="4mcd"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">:) </span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>