Tag: Rev. Jaebok Gu

Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21, Isaiah 55:1-5, and Matthew 14:13-21

 

The words of Matthew make us recall many things. Herod the tetrarch killed John the Baptist. However, upon hearing the news of Jesus’ ministry, he thought that John the Baptist had risen. Upon hearing this news in Galilee, Jesus must have thought about the mission and time given to him.

First, resurrection makes us think of someone. The concept of resurrection was held among Zoroastrians and Jews in the Persian region at that time. However, they also could not see this with their own eyes. Herod was filled with fear and guilt, so he mistakenly thought that John the Baptist had risen. At the same time, Jesus came to be recognized as a prophet surpassing John the Baptist through various miracles and teachings.

Beloved, John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus through his faithful ministry. It is a valuable thing to be remembered by many people to the extent that they think of John through the ministry of Jesus. Likewise, if someone can think of Jesus through our lives, it will be a great and valuable thing.

Second, we need to pay close attention to the beginning of the miracle of feeding over 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. This is because there is Jesus’ compassion and gratitude there. Jesus wanted to go to a solitary place, but a large crowd followed him. This was an act that helped Herod, who wanted to execute Jesus. If 5,000 to 10,000 people suddenly marched in downtown Red Deer and gathered at Bower Ponds or Westerner Park right now, it would be news. Likewise, at that time, the fact that as many as 10,000 people who were not favourable to the regime gathered and moved was an event that would cause a major problem. Despite the threats approaching Jesus, He first felt compassion for the people.

The original word for this large crowd is “oklos,” and they were not rich or nobles. It is a word used to refer to disadvantaged people in society. So, Jesus understood their hunger and worried about them. Naturally, these were people who didn’t even have a good house. For them, mealtime is meaningless. Since there was nothing to eat, it would be reasonable for the disciples to suggest sending them to a village to buy food. However, that was not responsible behaviour. Faced with the attempt to separate the disciples from “Oklos,” Jesus speaks to the disciples. “You give them something to eat.” The disciples’ response to Jesus’ statement is also very right. “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish.” It is difficult to share what I have with others when I don’t even have enough to eat myself. It was not enough for the 13 of them to eat, so how could they share this with over 5,000 or 10,000 people? Here, we can discover compassion and gratitude that transcend rationality. Jesus tells his disciples to bring bread and fish. Then, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Everyone ate their fill, and the leftover pieces filled twelve baskets. Jesus performs miracles starting with thanksgiving. He confirms their mission to the disciples, who are disappointed by the less bread and fish. He tells them, “You are the ones who must serve them and give them something to eat.” Of course, it may be difficult for us to perform miracles as Jesus did. However, our identity is as clear as that of the disciples. The fact is that we are servants. At the same time, we are also children who receive grace from Jesus.

As one example, I believe that the magic of exchange rates can create another miracle. The fact is that if the power of the dollar grows stronger as Canada becomes wealthier, we can effectively work miracles by pooling small amounts of money through Presbyterian Sharing and Presbyterian World Service and Development.

Most recently, last winter, we delivered groceries to the Food Bank and Mustard Seed through our church’s Mission Committee. This spring, we supported the Red Deer Amethyst House (Canadian Mental Health Association) through pancake fundraising. I believe that although our church is small, it is a meaningful community. And I hope that we become a church that expands these miraculous things.

So, I would like to deliver this message to you again and again. Please tell everyone—neighbours and friends—“Come all of you.” As proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah, “Come all who are thirsty, have no money. Give ear and come to me. Listen, that you may live.” Please continue to invite all of them to come to God. Let us continue to encourage our friends to live a satisfying life in the Lord, just like the people who became the main characters of the miracles performed by Jesus. If my soul lives and the souls of my neighbours live, and the sure grace granted by God does not cease, we will be able to experience the Kingdom of God on earth. I hope you dwell in God’s sovereignty.

Finally, the gracious and compassionate Lord will give the Lord’s peace to all of us. Let us live responding with “Amen.”

1 Kings 3:5-12, Psalm 119:129-136, and Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

 

Jesus speaks to His disciples about the Kingdom of Heaven and the end of the world in parables. What kind of place is the Kingdom of Heaven? Jesus says the following five things. They are mustard seed, yeast, treasure hidden in a field, merchant looking for fine pearls, and net that caught all types of fish.

First, what is the reason Jesus spoke of the mustard seed? Although mustard seeds are so small that they are barely visible, when planted in the ground and fully grown, they grow to be more than 3 meters tall. Therefore, mustard is depicted as a symbolic plant that grows to a size incomparable to the original size of its seed. So the theme of this parable is that the Kingdom of Heaven begins by appearing insignificant at first, but later expands remarkably.

It is to show that just as a mustard seed grows large enough for birds of the air to perch on it, heaven, although it begins in a small and insignificant form, grows outwardly enough for countless people to enjoy rest there once it is completed. Jesus, who came to this earth, was not of high status, as He was the son of a mere carpenter born in a stable in Bethlehem. However, the gospel preached by Jesus spread through Judea and Samaria to Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Far East. The scale has grown beyond recognition. Furthermore, the small faith dwelling in the disciples’ hearts grew secretly into a great faith that the world could not withstand, forming the church and becoming the seed of modern Christianity.

Second is yeast. When yeast is mixed with flour to make dough, it rises several times its original size. The amount of yeast in sixty pounds of flour was not large. However, thanks to this small thing, we can share a fairly large amount of bread with several people. So, Jesus chose yeast as an example of something extremely small and insignificant that achieves great inner growth. So He wanted to show that the beginning of Heaven also starts from something extremely small. Just like yeast, when the Gospel enters my life, it changes me. It helps me grow. So it allows us to experience heaven. Furthermore, through that power, the realm and sovereignty of God’s rule are expanded tremendously.

The third is that the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. This parable is recorded only in the Gospel of Matthew. It shows that the owner of the treasure dug deep into the field and hid it. In Palestine, a region frequently subjected to foreign invasions, and in times when there were no banks, hiding valuable treasures underground was not unusual. Heaven is a reality that is not easily visible to ordinary people, like a treasure hidden in a field. However, its value is so great that it would not be a waste to sell all one’s possessions to buy it. In other words, just as the man who discovered the treasure hidden in the field sold all his possessions to buy the field where the treasure was hidden, the Kingdom of Heaven is worth obtaining even at the cost of sacrificing everything one has.

The fourth is “merchant looking for fine pearls.” Likewise, it is a parable that shows that heaven is worth obtaining, even at the cost of tremendous sacrifice. Jesus wanted to emphasize this again by telling the parable of the pearl, which has a similar content, in addition to the parable of the treasure hidden in the field. So, He shows us how valuable heaven is. The original word for “merchant” is “andropho emporo,” which refers to a wholesaler who travels from place to place in search of fine pearls. The pearl merchant diligently searching here and there for an exceptionally fine pearl, and upon finding it, selling all his possessions to buy it, demonstrates that Heaven is worth possessing even if it means selling everything one has.

Lastly, it is like a net that caught all kinds of fish. The essence of the net parable lies not in catching fish with a net, but in distinguishing between good and bad fish at the shore and discarding the bad ones. Just like the parable of the weeds mentioned earlier (verses 24-30), the eschatological judgment on this world, in which the righteous and the wicked are mixed, carries the image of separating the righteous from the wicked and throwing the wicked into the furnace of fire. This net is a method of catching all the fish using a bottom trawling technique from both sides of the lake. Then, the good fish are gathered in one place, and the bad ones are thrown away. Likewise, Heaven is accessible to those who are worthy of the qualifications. The end of the world is just like this. Those who are prepared by the gospel can enter. Those who are not qualified will not be able to enter the Kingdom of God, as stated in verse 50.

Beloved, Jesus spoke through various parables like this to help us better understand the Gospel and the Kingdom of God, and to invite others. Like a merchant working diligently to possess good treasures, I also hope we complete the tasks given to us on this earth faithfully. Furthermore, we desire that the hope for heaven grows within us and helps us grow. We will continue to meet the transformed version of ourselves through the Gospel and welcome a new tomorrow. And let us invite others. So let’s enter that kingdom together with our neighbours. Amen.

Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, and Romans 8:12-25

 

It’s a bit of a funny story. I once had a friend who said this: “I want to be the person who pays the most tithes in our church.” Of course, when it comes to offerings, one contributes well when they have ample cash and sound faith. I am telling you this because I was able to verify the budget established by the presbytery treasurer last month. Among them, our church’s contribution caught my eye. Our church contributed the fourth largest amount. Some people may feel that the money paid to the presbytery or national office like this is like a tax. However, I would like our church to reach a level where it contributes the most to the presbytery. On the contrary, I say this based on our church’s solid financial stability and our desire to support the seminary and ministries in need worldwide.

It is my wish, but today we can also examine the Lectionary from the perspective of hope. From the perspective of faith, hope is invisible. This is Romans verse 24. “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all.” The fact that I am saved is not visible. Theologians have developed various doctrines regarding this salvation over the past two thousand years. It goes beyond the doctrine that one is saved simply by believing. That is the beginning, and the process of sanctification must accompany it. Therefore, throughout the process of conversion, faith, discipline, and sanctification, we always continually hope. We renew our faith and live trusting in God’s faithful promises. That is why hope begins in this entire process. Only when we have hope for the Kingdom of God can we carry out God’s work in the world without getting weary.

Beloved, the most important value as a person of faith is living according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Paul says that when we are led by the Holy Spirit and live, we become children of God. Throughout our lives, we have received various experiences, values, and education, but our guide must be the Holy Spirit. This is because the Holy Spirit is our guarantor and is the wisest. The Holy Spirit tells us what ought to be done. He also gives the Spirit of God as a gift. By receiving this, we have been adopted as children of God. God has called me, an unworthy person, as His child through the Holy Spirit. There is no greater grace and glory in the world than this. Therefore, let us live according to the Holy Spirit. Let us meditate on what the Holy Spirit desires. Then the Spirit of wisdom will show us ways that go beyond our knowledge. Overcoming the temptation to make decisions based on how I have lived and my own wisdom is a challenge. However, continually praying for what God desires is the way to cast off our old self. There is nothing as difficult to change as a person’s personality and temperament. We must resolve to change and live according to the Holy Spirit. We must ask ourselves if this is truly what God wants.

Someone heard my wife and me preaching and told us that we live a truly hopeful life. Of course, I haven’t heard my wife’s sermon either, so I don’t really know her sermon. The important thing is that I wasn’t originally that kind of person. Since coming to Knox, I have come to sing more of hope and try to see the positive side more.

I want to show you two photos here. On the left is the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul, Türkiye. It was built as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral and is now used as a mosque. It was a Greek Orthodox church from 537 to 1453, and was used as a Roman Catholic church from 1204 to 1261 after being occupied by the Latin Empire. Afterwards, it was used as a mosque from 1453, when the Ottoman Empire occupied Constantinople, until 1931, and then reopened as a museum in 1935. In 2020, it was converted back from a museum to a mosque by order of the President of Türkiye and is now known as the ‘Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque’.

The photo on the right shows two figures who are occasionally mentioned in the news these days. This is a photo of Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who reached the World Cup final, washing Spain’s forward Lamine Yamal. Yamal was born in 2007 in Roca Fonda, a slum 30 km away from Barcelona, Spain. More than half of the residents were poor. Both of Yamal’s parents were poor immigrants. However, after showing talent in soccer, he honed his skills with the support of the FC Barcelona youth academy.

Argentina’s Messi had exceptional soccer talent, but he barely grew taller after around age 10. He was diagnosed with ‘growth hormone deficiency’ at the hospital. It was a rare disease where growth stopped because growth hormone was not secreted sufficiently, and the only treatment was to receive growth hormone injections costing over $1,000 every day. The medical expenses are at a level that an ordinary working-class family in Argentina cannot afford. Messi’s father thought that finding a wealthy European club would be a breakthrough for his son, so when Messi was 13, they went to Spain for a trial with FC Barcelona. With the club’s technical director vouching for his skills, Messi began receiving support for his treatment and overall life. He had a rare disease that prevented him from growing tall, but with consistent growth hormone injections, he reached a height of 170 cm.

This photo was taken in 2007, when Messi, then 20 years old, posed for a UNICEF charity calendar as a promising FC Barcelona player. He staged a scene where he bathed a baby born in a slum, and that very baby would later face him in the World Cup final. For reference, Messi is a Catholic and Yamal is a Muslim. The important fact is that we must see, create, and coexist with hope within God’s love. Instead of hostilely pushing away other religions, we must show them through our lives that our Jesus Christ is hope and salvation.

We all continue to live seeking the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then God confirms us as His children. Glory and freedom that will unfold in the future are prepared for us. Therefore, Beloved, let us pray with hope. Let us live by keeping our distance from those who sow weeds in our hearts and lives, and drawing closer to the Holy Spirit, who is our hope. Amen.

Psalm 65:9-13, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, and Romans 8:1-11;

 

Here is a person. His father was a pastor of the Protestant Church in Switzerland, and his maternal grandfather was a famous pastor and seminary professor. He established the concepts of complexes and the collective unconscious, and distinguished personalities into introverted and extroverted groups. His name is Carl Gustav Jung, the founder of analytical psychology. Although he grew up in a Christian environment, he understood God as a spiritual model that humans should follow. In which category of Jesus’ parables does he belong?

As a believer and minister, I observe various factors that influence the growth of faith, such as human psychology, emotions, and interpersonal relationships. Moreover, a person’s heart and emotions sometimes serve as a support for spiritual growth, and conversely, can become a stumbling block. Three months ago, when I returned from visiting my parents in Korea, my mother told me this episode. My home church was a church that started through church planting at the largest church in that town. When I was in elementary school, my family and about 10 other church members were seed members. In fact, after the senior pastor retired, the newly appointed pastor forced other clergy members to resign, and there were conflicts, both large and small, within the church. Our family, who never left the church even during wartime since my grandfather’s time, eventually started a new church. My father was a deacon at the time, and with the presbytery’s permission, he started a new church. Afterwards, the church grew to about 200 attendees. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the church’s founding, and my mother was upset since

new leaders erased my father’s dedicated history after he retired as an elder. They celebrated it by praising themselves.

I am sharing this message with you because more than 80% of my faith comes from my mother. She is very dedicated to church service and has strong social resilience. She also served as the leader of a women’s group. She is frequently asked to pray by church members because she is the one who prays the longest at the early morning prayer meeting every day. Even she, however, is shaken by small misunderstandings or mistakes that occur between people, and her life of faith spanning over 70 years is shaken. Of course, she is fine now.

Dear friends. How is your faith? Today, Jesus’ words explain a parable in the Gospel of Matthew that encompasses our lives and inner selves. There are four places where the seeds of the Gospel have been sown. These places are along the path, in rocky places, among thorns, and on good soil. Many people today listen to the Message about the kingdom. They have various tools to access it through radio, TV, and the internet.  We have a much more convenient and effective method than people 2,000 years ago. However, very unfortunately, the field of our hearts still requires continued effort to fertilize and create good soil. This is because the evil one constantly hinders the gospel from taking root and growing within us.

If I think about the time when my faith was purest, and I readily accepted the Gospel, it was when I was a teenager. I wandered the most during my adolescence and made many mistakes. So, there were many times when I repented even more and prayed with tears. That is why I accepted the Gospel with a pure heart at that time. Through nearly 10 years of theological studies and over 20 years of church ministry, my knowledge and maturity have grown. Still, in terms of spiritual growth, I remember my teenage years as the period of the most rapid growth.

However, my current heart is like a rocky place; I easily rejoice in the Gospel, yet I still stumble. Of course, you probably won’t notice. That is because I maintain a poker face. I merely reveal my weakness to God. I hold a pastoral philosophy that faith is something demonstrated through one’s life. However, when I look into myself, I often confirm that I am a very fragile being. When trouble or persecution comes, I stumble easily. That is me. So, I entrust myself to God more often. I pray and ask God for help. It is because I lack ability and the good soil of my heart.

Many people today live in an era of unparalleled abundance. Of course, facing financial difficulties is common. Just as there is an ancient inscription in the tomb of an Egyptian Pharaoh that reads, “Kids these days have no manners,” experiencing economic hardship has always existed, regardless of time or place. However, as I get older, my worries increase. As you can see, the reason my hair is gradually turning silver compared to two years ago is worldly worries. Modern people are living in the best environment to encounter the Gospel. However, paradoxically, in this most affluent and convenient era, there are not enough places for the Gospel to take root for them.

Therefore, you who have heard the word and understood should produce a hundred times as many crops. I hope that you all live as good soil and good trees. I hope you provide shade and fruit to someone. I hope that when someone sees you, they can smell the fragrance of positivity and the Gospel. This is because you are the Knox Church, and each one of you is an agent of Jesus Christ.

As the Apostle Paul said, you are in the realm of the Spirit. The Spirit of God lives in us. We have the Spirit of Christ. Therefore, beloved ones, let us live as Christians. Just as this single seed holds infinite potential, let us also live as seeds of the Gospel. Amen.

Psalm 145:8-14, Zechariah 9:9-12, and Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

 

The vacation season has officially begun. Having weathered the past winter and spring, summer is a time for us to find special rest and recharge. Actually, in Korea, where I grew up, summer is the hottest and most humid season, and it is a difficult time because rainfall and typhoons occur frequently. Conversely, in Canada, I often feel cool just by going into the shade. Although there are many mosquitoes these days, I find a sense of peace when sitting in a rocking chair and quietly gazing at the sky.

Jesus invites us to peace and rest. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened.” Looking at the original biblical words for “weary” and “burdened,” they refer to a state of physical fatigue and emotional exhaustion. That is why Jesus went to find those who had lost courage and were in despair. Why were people at that time so exhausted? The reason was that they were burdened with heavy loads by others. One of them is the stress caused by the oppression of the Roman Empire. Another was the practices of the law enforced by the Pharisees and scribes.

Compared to today, the income of modern people has increased compared to 30 years ago. However, housing prices and living costs have risen much more than that. Therefore, we have entered an era where it is no longer very difficult to support a family or buy a house with the income of just one person. In North America, it is easy to find news that the percentage of people who consider themselves middle class has significantly decreased today. Of course, I think Canada is relatively better than the US. The important thing is the fact that many people are losing their jobs due to industrial automation and mechanization. Therefore, modern people are each experiencing various threats, both economically and existentially. One cannot imagine how much stress and tension this resulting psychological and physical burden places on so many people.

Jesus speaks to us again. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. I feel very grateful through these words of Jesus. When we meet someone, there are times when we feel a sense of stability just by being together. I left my hometown to live in a boarding school starting from high school. So, strangely enough, whenever I went back to my hometown, I would get very sleepy whenever I met my parents. Looking back now, I think it’s because I felt a sense of stability and peace by my parents’ side. However, Jesus promises us a peace that is deeper and wider than this.

However, the following statement is very paradoxical. “²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” How many people in the world would like a yoke? However, Jesus explains. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Jesus was the King of Kings. However, He laid down all that authority and came to this earth. Although He was the Son of God, He lived as a thoroughly suffering servant. He lived our lives exactly as they were for the salvation of us humans. He shared in the various worries and difficulties we face in life. Jesus also faced the various problems encountered in the life of faith. Because He fully understands our human problems and their causes, He provides appropriate solutions. That is precisely the invitation to bear the yoke of Jesus.

What is the easy and light yoke that Jesus spoke of? It is lighter than the 613 laws imposed on the people by Jewish religious leaders. It is easier than the heavy religious rituals and practices they made people observe. Therefore, the words of Jesus are a yoke based on God’s overflowing grace and love. Therefore, the burden that Jesus placed on humanity can be learned through Jesus. Jesus tells us about salvation and rest that go beyond our human abilities and deeds that we consider righteous. It means that humans do not open the door to salvation through their own works, but that God, in His sovereign power, calls us through Jesus. And it means that when we walk that path with faith, we enjoy the state of salvation through God’s grace. Therefore, let us silently follow the path of Jesus Christ, our King.

Finally, the Messiah prophesied by Zechariah was proven 500 years later by the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus gave peace to Israel, a colonized people suffering from oppression, in a way different from their expectations. He bestowed grace and blessings different from their hopes. There are times when we feel that God’s timing is much further away and slower to be answered than we think, just like the prophets’ prophecies. So, even when my situation is so desperate, there are times when God’s presence feels distant. However, grace that surpasses our hopes and the peace of Jesus, who deeply understands our sorrows, will surely come. I hope this rest will be with you in your daily life forever. Amen.