Jesus had to help people to understand that he was "the real thing." And since he was real, sometimes that meant helping people to understand that what other people were telling them in their churches was sometimes pretend.
John thought that maybe Jesus wasn't the Messiah. So he asked Jesus if he was Messiah or did they have to wait for someone else. Here is what Jesus answered. Listen:
Every year, for over two hundred years, swallows return to an old mission in California. People gather together too. An important gathering place is the church where we meet to worship and honor God. Jesus, when he was speaking to his disciples, said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst" (18:20).
John the Baptist had been waiting for something very wonderful to happen. His work was to tell people about Jesus. John was waiting for Jesus to arrive; the one who had been sent from God. John heard about some of the things that Jesus had been doing and he sent disciples to ask, "Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?" (11:3).
When there is a disagreement and people have been hurt, we are instructed to honor Jesus and place him in the center of all we do. When we gather around Jesus, all are warmed by the flame of his love. We can use that love to do the right thing; find a way to solve our disagreements and heal our hurts.
During Jesus' life many people followed strict rules about the foods they could eat because they believed that God didn't want them eating certain things. But in today's gospel lesson Jesus tells them that it's not what goes into their mouths that matters to God - it's what comes out. What do you think Jesus meant?
We can make others feel welcome with a smile, a handshake, or by offering a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty. As you share God's love with others you welcome them to God's family.
Jesus tells us that "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened." (Leavened bread is bread that has had yeast added to it and has risen.) We can apply this idea to our own lives. Jesus teaches us that something very small, like yeast, can be powerful and bring about change.
Small raindrops fall to the ground, water our forests, fields, and crops; fill our rivers, lakes, and oceans. You can see how important raindrops are–– they are necessary for us and our animals to have drinking water and they are necessary to make plants grow so we will have food. We can liken this to God's love. It may seem like a small thing, but God's love is important and powerful. It can fill you with love for yourself and for others, and provide what we need to grow.
Jesus says, "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart…" This verse teaches us that the words we say come from our feelings. We have a choice to use good words that bring love, joy, and encouragement to others or use angry words that are hurtful.