Author: Pastor Aleese Kenitzer

This past Sunday, we heard the story of the very first thing Jesus does as he begins his ministry in the Gospel of Mark: Jesus teaches in a synagogue, with authority, and he casts out an unclean spirit possessing an individual. 

Almost every time this story – or a story like this that references “unclean spirits” or “demons” – comes up in our lectionary, it’s tempting to think that today there are no such things as “unclean spirits” or “demons.” That’s just something that shows up in the Bible, right? Right? 

Well, with as much as “demons” and “the devil” have been personified in pop culture throughout the years (and often have not accurately reflected Scripture), it’s tempting to dismiss any mention of “unclean spirits” and “demons.” But, the truth is that just as we confess that we’ve been filled with the power of God’s Holy Spirit – filling us with life and breath – it’s also possible for each of us to to allow other spirits – spirits that are not of God, and spirits that lead us away from what is life-giving for ourselves and for others – into our lives, our society, our church.

What are those “other spirits”? Well, those spirits might come in the form of fear, holding us captive and making us freeze rather than living fully into who God created us to be. Those spirits might come in the form of comparison, making us believe that we aren’t good enough, or that we’re better than others. Or those spirits might come in the form of escapist behaviors and habits, keeping us away from what God has to reveal to us, and away from the fullness of God’s life. 

Point being: there are many other spirits that are not of God that have the potential to fill us, our world, and even the church. The list could go on and on. Though we are people made in the image of God – infused by God’s Holy Spirit – we are also broken people. And much like the individual in our Gospel reading from Sunday, sometimes we too need to ask Jesus to see us – to see what we perhaps are unable to see within ourselves – and we too need to ask Jesus to cast out that which we can’t cast out on our own so that we, and all God’s people, can be healed, restored, and made whole.

I understand…this message might not be the first thing you want to read as you get going with your work week. But, if we disregard any spirit that is not of God, and if we deny Jesus the opportunity to see us – all that we are – we can’t fully embrace the healing, the liberation, and the freedom that God do dearly desires to offer us. 

So this week, consider bringing yourself to Jesus and asking Jesus to reveal to you if there is something filling you, or the world, or the church that goes against God’s Spirit of life. Some of those things that fill us very well may be things that we need to lay aside, and instead turn ourselves to God’s Spirit. But some of those spirits we just may need to ask Jesus to cast out of us, of our world, and of the church so that we, and all God’s people, might be restored to wholeness.  

Have you ever been accused of “selective hearing”? Meaning, you’re somehow able to hear some things but not others? 

If you haven’t been accused of it, I’d venture to guess that you know what I’m alluding to. Sometimes we only hear what we want to hear from a conversation, and sometimes we only listen when we want to listen. 

It happens. Listening takes time, effort, and energy, and attention. And while sometimes we may intentionally ignore what another is saying, sometimes we don’t get the message because we don’t have the capacity to do so. 

So when it comes to listening to God, how would you rate your ability to listen? Is your listening a bit on the “selective” side? Or, do you only hear from God – and Scripture – what you want to hear? Or, do you only listen when it’s convienent for you?

Much like listening to those around us, listening to God also takes time, effort, energy, and attention. Scripture testifies to this – much like we heard this past Sunday from 1 Samuel 3. But, as we heard in that story, what God has to say might not always be the easiest thing to hear. While God’s Word may be a word of comfort (for it is intended to be that as well!), at times God’s Word might challenge us, might present us with a truth that we need to confront, or might put before us a call to speak truth in a situation where we don’t know if it’ll be received or not. 

So when God’s Word becomes something that asks a bit more of us – more time, more effort, more energy – do we still listen? Or, is it easier to turn on the selective hearing and pretend we didn’t hear that Word after all? 

Along with the rest of us, I’m just as guilty of being selective in what I choose to hear from God. But in all times and places, God has promised us that God’s Word to us will be what is best for us, and for all creation. 

So as we venture into the season of Epiphany, as much as we receive the invitation from Jesus to “come and see,” I also invite you to come and listen. For God is still speaking. And God’s Word is still circulating through us, through the church, and through the world to restore all things according to the vision of God’s Kingdom. 

Ever have a week where you try to get ahead, but it just doesn’t work? 

If you’re anything like me, that’s been the story of last week. Knowing that we were getting our first dump of snow on Tuesday, I worked from home. Meetings went virtual and rather than work in the office, I opted to get ahead on other work that needed my attention. But then on Tuesday night, Family Faith Night was cancelled. “So be it,” I thought, “now I can use that time to work on our congregation’s annual report.”  With word that there was another winter storm coming by Friday, I used my Thursday to the fullest – taking care of anything that needed in-person attention and shifting any remaining music lessons to that day. But still, even on Friday, as several inches of snow fell, still I approached the day as if everything would be “fine” by Saturday and Sunday. Everything could return to what was planned, right? But then it took time for me (and the entire state) to be plowed out and frigid temperatures set in. 

Sound familiar, at all?

Last week, almost all of my best intentions landed in a deviation from the original plan. So finally, by Sunday morning, I heard from somewhere within me prompting me to say to God: “Alright, God. This week hasn’t been anywhere close to what I thought. So what do you want of me? Where do you want my attention?”

Truth be told, I could’ve – and maybe should’ve – asked that question on Friday. Or, on Wednesday. Or, even on Tuesday. I had plenty of time to ask God how God wanted me to not only approach my day, but also what I was called to do, and what I was called to be in God’s presence. 

But I didn’t. At least, not right away. 

And yet, in this crazy week we’ve had, it’s also made me realize that it’s not just during times of changed plans that we have the opportunity to ask God: “what do you want me to do, now?” Rather, we have that opportunity each and every day as we approach what is before us. Because while we might thnk we have a magical plan of exactly what we should do, should focus on, or should give ourselves and our time to, God might have something else in mind for us. 

So as we attempt to get into a semblance of a normal rhythm after the new year, and after snow and ice and cold, consider asking God: “what do you want of me? And where do you want my attention?” The response may not be immediate. And it may take a moment to pause long enough to hear God. But if we ask, we might be surprised by the answer. And, we might be surprised by the life God has for us.

By now, many of us have moved on from the holidays. Christmas decor is carefully stowed away for another year and we’re ready to look toward what is to come in 2024. 

But before we completely put everything away from Christmas, call to mind what it’s like for a young child to open a gift on Christmas morning. My experience has been that young children don’t care about “politely” opening a gift. They tear into it, doing whatever is necessary to get to the gift as fast as most physically possible. 

Hold that image, and hear again two verses from our Gospel this past Sunday:“And just as [Jesus] was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'” (Mark 1:10-11)

The heavens were torn apart. In the original text of Mark’s Gospel, it’s clear that this “tearing” was not just a simple rip. This “tearing” was something that was dramatic. Which, as we travel through the coming year of focusing on Mark’s Gospel, we’ll find that according to Mark’s perspective, God’s actions are often quite bold and decisive. When God acts in Mark, something happens. 

So back to our passage about Jesus’ baptism, I had to wonder that when God torn apart the heavens, this was not some gentle process like how an adult would open a Christmas gift. This was something done in haste so that God could come to earth, and come to God’s people, as fast as physically possible. 

I believe that, still today, God is tearing through barriers that we erect to come to us. And, I believe that, still today, God is breaking into our lives and our world in ways we perhaps would’ve never expected. But, are we open to percieving what God is doing? And, so we want God to break in? God’s activity will always, always lead to life. But, it also may lead to some disruption in the process; for newness and rebirth doesn’t just “happen.” And yet, it will only be by the action of God that we, and all the world, will be reformed into God’s glory. 

So as we start another year, challenge yourself to pay attention to where God is breaking in. For just as God came to Jesus in his baptism, God still comes today to anoint us with God’s Spirit, and God still comes to make all things new.

Following the holidays, it doesn’t take long for exercise, diet, and nutrition ads to come out in full force, encouraging us to consider new habits for the new year. “Its a new year! It’s time for a new ‘you’!” ads seem to suggest. Which, isn’t all bad. Sometimes we need a fresh start in order to critically think about what we’ve been doing (or not doing) and how that impacts who we are and our relationships with others. 

But even as you consider possible resolutions or habits that might need to be tweaked, consider this: Jesus doesn’t desire a “new you.” You don’t need to be new and improved like the greatest Tide pod that just came out on the market. Instead, Jesus simply desires you to be the best “you” that you can be. And in Jesus’ eyes, that’s enough. In fact, it’s more than enough: it’s considered beautiful and honored and precious. Because as baptized children of God, we have already been made new by the grace of our Lord Jesus who came to live among us. 

So as we enter into 2024, don’t feel as though you need to be someone you’re not. Rather, consider habits that would help you be even more who God already created YOU to be. But don’t think you have to do all that on your own. Instead, dedicate yourself to join with others in community as we remind each other of our identity in Christ, and push each other to grow more and more as disciples of Jesus. 

“Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.”
~ Psalm 96: 2-3

On Christmas Eve night, we gathered to adore the birth of Christ our King. But now that we have come, now that we have seen, and now that we have heard the news, now what? 

Well, now we have the opportunity, like the shepherds, to “make known what had been told them about this child” (Luke 2:17). How? Using our psalm from Christmas Eve night, we do so by telling of God’s salvation, declaring God’s glory, and witnessing to God’s marvelous works. 

But again, how? What does this look like? Well, think of the shepherds: after the shepherds saw the Christ child, they continued to be shepherds. Their identity didn’t change. But now, they had a different purpose. They had a different reason to travel to new grassy areas, and a different impetus to keep on moving, and growing, and believing. 

As we move into the (short!) Christmas season, we – like the shepherds – are summoned forth to tell of what we have seen and experienced in our Lord Jesus Christ. To do so, we don’t need to pursue a career change. Instead, just as the news of Christ’s birth permeated the shepherd’s being, informing their purpose in what they were already doing, we are summoned to allow the news of Christ’s birth infuse our being, informing our purpose in what we are already doing. 

Blessings to you all as you bask in the glow of Christ’s light this season, and blessings as you allow the news of our Savior’s birth fill you – to the brim – sending you forth and giving you reason to keep on moving, and growing, and believing.