Christ the King Lutheran Church - Gladwin, Mi.
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The Gospel in Scales

Clever Words: A Lenten Devotional

4/12/2019

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A Clever Word for the Season of Lent:
πτωχός, (ptōchos)  
Beggar, poor
Clever Verses for Context
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”(John 12:4-5)
Clever Reflections

Spiritual
Judas is concerned about the poor (ptōchos).  The Evangelist John is quick to call Judas a fraud and a thief, but even if we take Judas’ concern at face value, who exactly are the poor or beggars he is referring too?  Perhaps the most memorable example of a beggar in the Gospel of John is the one introduced in John chapter 9.  This man first appears begging in the street until Jesus restores his sight.  From there he goes seeking Jesus, proclaiming the miracle he has experienced, and even naming Jesus as the Son of God, an action which gets him expelled from the local synagogue.  This hardly seems like someone who would condemn Mary in her anointing of Jesus’ feet.  Certainly concern for the poor is admirable, but discipleship involves not just concern for the least of these, but knowing them and recognizing them as fellow followers of Jesus.        

Literary
When Odysseus returns home to Ithaca, he is initially disguised as an “old and sorry beggar” (ptōchos, Odyssey 16.273). In this guise, he meets and fights with another beggar (ptōchos) named Irus. Penelope’s suitors, the clear villains of the story, encourage Odysseus and Irus to fight over the opportunity to join them in their feasting (see Odyssey 18).

Clever Questions for Further Reflection
What are your impressions and experiences of poverty?
How has being in a relationship with someone changed how you saw the world and experienced God?
A Clever Prayer to Close
Is not this the fast that I choose:
   to loose the bonds of injustice,
   to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
   and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
   and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
   and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
   and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator
shall go before you,
   the glory of the
Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord
will answer;
   you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

Isaiah 58:6-9



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    Journey through the season of Advent with daily updates on the adventures of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Belliacre, MI as they attempt to cobble together a Christmas Pageant with an unlikely cast of characters.   

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    Amelia Corbett
    Amelia is a cool chick, who enjoys board game construction, elephants, and overall tom foolery. She lives in Gladwin with her parents and younger sister Beatrice.  

    Pastor Emily Olsen
    The charmingly weird Pastor Emily is blessed to live in Beaverton, serve the people of Christ the King Lutheran in Gladwin, and stand up paddleboard in just about any body of water she can find.  She has cats not snakes, but wouldn't hesitate to take in a stray python. tarantula, or dinosaur should it show up on her doorstep.  

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    Stephanie Dubbs
    Stephanie is an art educator and a landscape/portrait artist.  Her inspirations come from the amazing people she meets and the gorgeous state of Michigan as well as her home state of Florida.  She and he husband love nature.  They are out in the water during the summer months and on the snow in the winter enjoying the simple pleasures of life.  
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Christ the King Lutheran Church
600 S. M 18 
Gladwin, Mi. 48624
989-426-1659
Pastor Emily Olsen
pastor.ctkinggladwin@gmail.com


Email ctkinggladwin@gmail.com for correction or to have information included on this web page
  • Home
    • Pictorial Directory
    • Contact Us
    • Links
  • Worship Procedures
  • Who are We
    • Mission and Vision
    • Staff and Office Hours
    • Church Council
    • History
    • Newsletter
    • Calendar
  • Faith Formation
    • Sunday School
    • Christ the King Youth
    • Camping Ministry
    • Kids Club
    • Confirmation
    • Vacation Bible School
  • Ministries
    • Stephen Ministry
    • Quilting
    • Food Distribution
    • Backpacks for kids
    • Prayer Shawl Ministry
    • Parish Nurse
    • Columbarium
  • Worship
    • Schedule of Worship
    • How we worship
    • Children
  • Special Events
  • Budget / Annual Meeting
  • Blog