the story according to Matthew

June 1, 2020

Good afternoon,

"  Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,  so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.read on bold new paths !   Luke 1:1-4

The verses from Luke here, outline the reasons for writing his story of Jesus. None of the other authors of the stories of Jesus' life start with this kind of beginning. The writer is intentional about telling how he has done his research, and wants the readers ( we are included ) to find certainty in what he has written.

From June through to the end of November, the Gospel readings for my sermons will be from Matthew. Matthew does not set out his book with the same intention as Luke, but he starts with the genealogy of Jesus. You have to put Jesus in the right family system, just like in German, it is his "Freundschaft ". Sometimes we start our spiritual history by telling about where we have come from in our own past generations.

My Mennonite family started in the Netherlands, the northern part. Then in the 1700's some Mennonites moved to Prussia, now called Poland. Then after about 100 years, some of that group moved to Russia ( and/or Ukraine ) because Catherine the Great offered them free land and other concessions. My parents' families stayed there until the 1920's, and left after the new Communist government took away their land, and the other concessions. My parents came to Canada when they were young children. My parents were married in 1948 in Ontario, and they begat me in 1958. This is where I have come from, and, of course, there are many stories in-between all of these dates and history. Where do you come from ?

Matthew tells many of the same stories about Jesus as Luke and Mark do, but he also gives us some stories that only he remembers, or chooses to tell. I invite you to read Matthew in one sitting. It does not take that long, and then go back and read the parts that you find most interesting. Then, over the course of the next five months, go back to the book looking for new insights. Pray as you read the words, sentences and paragraphs.

What stories from my life of faith are difficult to reveal ? I have told parts of life many times, but what are the stories that I choose to leave out ? I tell stories from the pulpit, but I might tell different ones in pastoral visits.

Prayer

Thank you for Matthew,

the Gospel according to him,

has many miracles, parables and insights

for our lives of faith,

So,

what might all of his words mean

for our lives today,

with racial violence, pandemic losses, locusts in Africa

and hurricane season is about to start.

We have new births, new faith, and weddings to celebrate

O God,

give us new learnings and hopes in reading Matthew,

who is your servant .  AMEN

Fred

Pastor, Poole Mennonite Church

( Please send birthday cards/greetings to Don Gerber, turning 90 on June 7, and Ken Erb, who turned 80 last weekend )