One of the great Biblical moments where God uses flawed people in his story of salvation. When reunited, Esau and Jacob; brothers, twins, separated by deceit, fear and murderous intentions, both say: “I have enough.” When do we ever think we have enough? Only when we have a growing relationship with God. It is everything we need. It is enough.

But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it. 

Genesis 33:4-11

Immediately in the Gospel we see how Satan twists God’s words into lies. Jesus, of course, is the Word. He answers with grace and authority. The more I read and absorb scripture, the better ammunition I have to resist the devil in daily life. He will flee, It‘s a promise.

And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. Matthew 4:3-11 -

Meditating on today’s Gospel I found myself loving my late father. The 91st anniversary of his birth was this week, and it’s been 21 years since he died. However flawed, however complicated the relationship, he taught me many things. One was that I could be anything I wanted to be. In today’s Gospel, Joseph got the word that it was important to stick with Mary, to be a father to Jesus and Joseph trusted God. In my life, I successfully shot for the stars, I thought that was what I wanted, but I only found emptiness. I finally trusted God and he tells me everyday through Scripture what matters and what doesn’t. It turns out that I CAN be whatever I want to be, and that is a child of God. I miss you Dad.

 

My Dad as a boy

Matthew 1:20-21 

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:20-21 ESV Bible Gateway link

I have been blessed with steadfastness. My family calls it stubbornness, willfulness, self-absorption. I get that, I am humbled by my manifold human failings. I also know that when I meet trials of various kinds, my faith saves me.

James 1:2-4 - 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4 Bible Gateway link

When we want things that seem impossible, we are filled with resentment and self-pity. We close the door and just get angrier and angrier that others have something denied to us. We get to choose; anger or love, impossible or possible, resentment or acceptance. God will do what he does, you can be on his side or not. Personally I choose God, I am home, I am barren AND a joyous mother.

The Lord is high above all nations, 

  and his glory above the heavens! 

Who is like the Lord our God, 

  who is seated on high, 

who looks far down

  on the heavens and the earth? 

He raises the poor from the dust 

  and lifts the needy from the ash heap, 

to make them sit with princes, 

  with the princes of his people. 

He gives the barren woman a home, 

  making her the joyous mother of children. 

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 113:4-9 -Bible Gateway link: Psalm 113:4-9

I grew up in an old growth forest on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. I love trees. I wrote poems about trees. This verse from Ezekiel is a foreshadowing of Christ and it is a reminder that God is in charge. I love the idea of being a tiny flitting bird nesting with my family in Christ’s shade.

Ezekiel 17:22-24 -

Thus says the Lord God: “I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord ; I have spoken, and I will do it.”

Bible Gateway link: Ezekiel 17:22-24

In the past when I heard Bible readings in church, the words would alight and then fly away. Now in my continuing study of the Holy Bible, I try to digest God’s word, really metabolize it into my being. I am more humble now. I am wiser. Nothing has ever nourished me more or kept me healthier.

 Ezekiel 3:2-3

So I opened my mouth, and he (God) gave me this scroll to eat. And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.

Bible Gateway link: Ezekiel 3:2-3 (ESV)