Hi everyone,
Sorry for the late post (for those of you who noticed). After yesterday’s AGM it started to snow and I knew that I needed to be out in North Delta for 3pm for my niece’s birthday party, so I left the office a bit early knowing that we’d need more time for the drive out. And man alive, did we ever. The roads were slippery, traffic was horrendous, and we saw a couple cars in the ditch which of course slowed us down because we are also total rubber-neckers. Thankfully, we did make it out there and back home safe and in one piece.
But when weather in the Lower Mainland gets like this (as in any kind of snow on the ground), it really opens our eyes to how the rest of Canada lives like 90% of the winter months (and some even more). We may not feel a sudden kinship with the rest of the country, but we can sort of say that we kind of perhaps maybe in some way understand. Of course, we still have it way better, but when the snow hits, it hits us HARD.
Mostly because a very very large percentage of people living in the Lower Mainland have absolutely no clue what to do behind the wheel when snow is out.
Here are next week’s readings:
Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm 1
1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Luke 6:17-26
While most people are familiar with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7ish), not everyone is familiar with its lesser known counterpart, the Sermon on the Plain, a portion of which is what we get in this week’s gospel text. Some wonder if it is actually the same sermon, because they share many similar themes and lessons. But one stark difference that sets them apart from each other is location.
If the Sermon on the Mount was on a mount of some sort, I’m sure you can guess where the Sermon on the Plain took place.
What I like about the introduction to that is it says that Jesus stood on a level place or level ground. Almost like an even playing field, an equal footing, or a place where, say, the paths are made straight, valleys are filled, and the mountains and hills made low. An interesting thought.
It sounds to me like Jesus, through the Sermon on the Plain, has been made accessible, relatable, and understandable for the rest of us non-Jesus people. We read and hear what he says, the lessons he teaches, and the promises he gives and we can apply them to our lives. Not only did Jesus live and breathe and eat just like we do, but he also comes to us on level ground where we can see him face-to-face, eye-to-eye, and know that he sees us, knows us, and gets us.
Thanks be to God! For on level ground, no one has the upper hand or can lord over the other. But on level ground, we can only see each other as equals. (also snow on level ground isn’t as dangerous to drive in as on hills)
Have a great week everyone!