What is Jesus teaching you?
by Colleen Fitzpatrick
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They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority (Luke 4:32).
Read Luke 4:31–37
Pu-ell-u-la me-a ab-e-vit, pu-ell-u-la me-a ab-e, Pu-ell-u-la me-a ab-e-vit, Dom–um re-port-ar-e ad me
Those words may not mean much to you – you may not even be able to pronounce them. They are how I remember the Latin version of ‘My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean’ that I learned 60-plus years ago. I haven’t sung the words since my first year in high school, but I still remember them.
It seems to me, looking back over the years, that the teacher who taught me this must have been a ‘good teacher’ for the words to stick in my head for all of that time.
These days, my husband and I regularly go to fitness classes. Some instructors are better than others. Those who are ‘good’, in our opinion, are the ones whose classes provide some challenges for us, where the exercises stretch our muscles, raise our heart rate, provide opportunities to improve our balancing abilities and, if we are really lucky, we may even get to throw a frisbee. A good instructor varies their classes, doesn’t think that just because we are older we can’t do something, provides clear guidelines and helps us if we don’t know how to do an exercise.
It seems that Jesus was a good teacher. I would love to have heard Jesus teaching – wouldn’t you? I think that his teaching would have been equal to the best preacher or teacher that we have heard.
Yesterday we heard that Jesus spoke words of grace. In today’s reading, his words have authority! The words of Jesus that we can read in the Bible are inclusive, accepting of all-comers, free of judgement and filled with love and compassion. He wasn’t even put off by the man possessed by a demon. Jesus spoke to the spirit, who left the man immediately.
What relevance could these passages have for us today? Is it that those of us who have been in a church community all of our lives have become so used to it that we take it for granted? Do we recognise, encourage and celebrate prophets, preachers or teachers of Christ within our own community?
This is such a simple story, but I want to encourage you to carry it in your heart today. Think about Jesus’ healing ministry, his acceptance and concern for all comers, and pray that you can see and acknowledge God’s work in your life today and always.
And if you feel like singing, perhaps you could try ‘My Bonnie lies over the ocean’ in either Latin or English.
Divine Instructor, open our hearts to listen to your words, to learn from them and to follow them in our lives. Amen.
Colleen has one husband, two daughters, three granddaughters and a wide range of extended family and friends. She lives in Adelaide and loves the way the various parts of her life intersect. Colleen is involved in numerous committees within the church and community. She loves to read. Colleen coordinates her congregation’s prayer group and is delighted to respond to requests for prayer from friends and family.
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