May 8, 2022

436 My Family is Whoever Does the Will of The Father, A Guided Christian Meditation on Matthew 12:46-50 with the Recenter With Christ app

I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain. My purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina:

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.

Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:

Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate.

Bible verses for Meditation:

Matthew 12
NIV
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

NASB
46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 Someone said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You.” 48 But Jesus replied to the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” 49 And extending His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold: My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother.”

Meditation:

This scripture has always been interesting and in some ways confusing to me. On its face it makes complete sense that Jesus prioritizes those who are obedient. He is teaching a fundamental point that God does not play favorites. In that sense, it is incredibly compelling as a way of changing our priorities and removing our human biases. It invites us to feel like even if we are not on the inside track or some special group, that God still loves us.

On the other hand I find it confusing because of the many ways that Jesus speaks so highly of his mother and looks to ensure that she is cared for even at the Cross. The mighty Jehovah himself is the one that proclaimed honoring father and mother as one of the top ten rules, making the list of ten commandments. Additionally scripture does not shy away from showing the importance of Jesus’s mother in the narrative.

These two priorities seem to be at odds with each other. I also find it an interesting ballance in my own life. Personally, my family is extremely important to me. My mother is a special woman that I will forever be grateful for. I appreciate her goodness, kindness, and example in so many ways. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, All that I am or hope to be I owe to my angel mother. She raised me as a single mother and I owe her the world. Additionally I consider the role of my wife and her motherly influence on our children, and it is so profoundly meaningful to me. I prefer her to all others. Yet I also recognize that loving others is the second great commandment. Luckily these are not mutually exclusive commands and we can honor God by loving and honoring his children.

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:

This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast

Updates:

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Final Question: What role does the Word have in your life?

This week I performed a funeral for a family from Africa. The amount of family that was physically present was not that large but there were many friends who were just as close as family in some ways and their presence and comfort was amazing.

Final Thought:

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