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Windhoek Congregation (Namibia)

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Lichtstrahl 117 - How do we live with the Gospel?

12/2/2023

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LICHTSTRAHL 117   GOSPEL:  Luke 8 (4-18)                 EPIPHANY    12. FEBRUARY 2023
HOW DO WE LIVE WITH THE GOSPEL?
 
 
 
Dear friends!
 
The word of God is like a seed, that is sowed all the time, no matter where it falls or how it is received and lived with – the word of God is sowed all the time.
 
How do people live with that seed?
 
In old times there were many, who lived with the Word of God daily, by reading the gospel.  It was for instance read by the family eldest every evening and it was a sacred ritual in family life.  It was accompanied by respect,reverent silence and acception – no matter which age the family members were.   All assembled at the same time every day to listen to the gospel reading.   With many people of our country it is still alive in that way.  But more and more it disappears as a family ritual, and rather becomes a personal one.  Still there are many grandparents and elders, who read the gospel to the younger ones for instance and that surely is a blessing, especially to childrens’ lives.  Hearing the Word of God every day prepares a very rich soil, into which seeds can fall  later in life, when the Word is not read daily by a family member, but is speaking very softly inwardly -  especially in times of darkness and hardship.  Listening to it daily with our physical ears as a child or young person prepares an inner ear. That inner ear is able to witness and listen to the Word that is constantly sounding in our soul life.  Some of the words in today’s gospel are spoken to those, that can hear with their soul ears:  “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!”   Apparently it is not self-evident that people can hear in this other way.
 
That is one intensive way of living with the gospel.  The other is a more reduced way of listening to the Word, when only going to a church service on a Sunday or even just a few times in the year.  Then the soil is not prepared by the regular frequency of receiving the seed, but through the atmosphere and structure of the service, into which the gospel reading is embedded, the sermon that takes up the meaning of the gospel and the presence of a congregation, which strengthens the receiving.  Many ears together do hear more than one ear on its own. In community with others it becomes easier to live according to the teachings  of the gospel.
 
To many however the Word of God is like a seed, that cannot grow.  Either there is no interest, or there is too much hardness, or there are too many concerns and troubles, or there is no time.  What can we do about that?   We have chosen to listen to the Word and do experience the power of it.  We are lighting up a lamp every time we come together and listen to the gospel reading.  We are told by the Christ Jesus, that we should not put that light under our beds or cover it with a vessel, but put it onto a stand, sothat all who enter may see the light.    
 
Surely that does not mean that we put up a light as strong as a street lamp or even a flashlight, but we are surely called upon to softly let light shine into the world around us. 

​That can be done by -  
  • Those in our society, who still live with the Word daily in their homes – and carry strength, endurance and trust within them. 
  • Those who experience the strength of congregations and communities, that live with the Gospel as a beating heart in their centre.   
  • Those that have chosen  personally to become a disciple, truely understanding more and more the mysteries of the kingdom of God.  That understanding should also be put on a stand for everybody to see:  we do not have to stay in the pictures of the Gospels forever and just accept them or believe in them.  We can also search to understand the meaning of the pictures in our thinking and our own spirituality.
 
All these different ways are preparing a good soil for the seed to be sown:  determining the right place to receive it, softening the hardness of the rocks, reducing the thornbushes and working, sothat the seed is kept alive and can bear fruit a hundredfold.
 
Christine Voigts
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    Lichtstrahlen

    All
    Lichtsterahl 107 - Siehe Ich Schaffe Alles Neu
    Lichtstrahl 109 - Dass Ihr Kraft Findest Möget Zu Stehen Vor Dem Menschen-Sohne
    Lichtstrahl 110 - The Whole Of The Earth Will Be Shaken
    Lichtstrahl 111 - “Da Hüpfte Das Kind In Ihren Liebe"
    Lichtstrahl 113 - Schicksalsmomente
    Lichtstrahl 115 - Heilungen An Einem Sabbat
    Lichtstrahl 116 - Was Euch Zusteht Das Sollt Ihr Haben
    Lichtstrahl 117 - How Do We Live With The Gospel?
    Lichtstrahl 118 - Materieller Und Spiritueller Reichtum
    Lichtstrahl 119 - And Lead Us Not Into Temptation
    Lichtstrahl 120 - As This God Willed Being Is Descended
    Lichtstrahl 121 - Siehe Meiner Schwäche Versuchende Macht
    Lichtstrahl 123 - It Is Jesus
    Lichtstrahl 124 - Der Friede Sei Mit Euch
    Lichtstrahl 125 - I Am The True Vine
    Lichtstrahl 126 - Ich Gehe Zum Vater
    Lichtstrahl 127 - Niemand Kann Zum Vater Kommen - Denn Durch Mich
    Lichtstrahl 129 - Ihr Werdet Meinen Geist In Die Welt Tragen
    Lichtstrahl 130 - Neu Geboren Werden Von Oben Her
    Lichtstrahl 131 - Das Gespräch
    Lichtstrahl 132 - How Do I Find The Messiah?
    Lichtstrahl 133 - Johanni Betrachtung
    Lichtstrahl 134 - The Wrath Of God Remains On Him
    Lichtstrahl 135 - Der Fels In Der Brandung
    Lichtstrahl 136 - Enter Through The Narrow Gate
    Lichtstrahl 137 - Der Verlorene Sohn
    Lichtstrahl 138 - Die Taten Der Ausgesandten Jünger
    Lichtstrahl 139 - The Healing Of A Blind Man
    Lichtstrahl 140 - Ein Seufzer Entringt Sich Seiner Brust
    Lichtstrahl 141 - Er Sandte Weitere Siebzig Aus
    Lichtstrahl 142 - The Kingdom Of God Does Not Come In A Form Which Is Outwardly Perceptible
    Lichtstrahl 45 - Nikodemus
    Lichtstrahl 50 - Der Tod Johannes Der Täufers
    Lichtstrahl 51 - Moments Of Truth
    Lichtstrahl 52 - The Lost Son
    Lichtstrahl 53 - Die Aussendung Der Jünger
    Lichtstrahl 54 - Die Heilung Des Blinden Vor Jericho
    Lichtstrahl 55 - Heilung Eines Taubstummen
    Lichtstrahl 56 - Lämmer Unter Den Wölfen
    Lichtstrahl 57 - Das Reich Gottest Ist Eurem Innern
    Lichtstrahl 58 - Do Not Be Anxious
    Lichtstrahl 59 - Die Königliche Hochzeit
    Lichtstrahl 60 - The Armour Of God
    Lichtstrahl 61 - Die Kosmische Frau Und Der Kampf Im Himmel
    Lichtstrahl 62 Reformation
    Lichtstrahl 63 - The New Jerusalem
    Lichtstrahl 64 - Gemeinsamkeit Der Lebenden Und Der Verstorbenen
    Lichtstrahl 65 Erwartung
    Lichtstrahl 66 - Die Verkündigung
    Lichtstrahl 67 - Becoming
    Lichtstrahl 68 - Liebet Einander
    Lichtstrahl 69 - Der Zwölfjährige Im Tempel
    Lichtstrahl 70 - Buds And Blossoms And Seeds
    Lichtstrahl 71 - Der Gaben Der Könige
    Lichtstrahl 72 - Sie Steigen Auf Das Dach
    Lichtstrahl 73 - Seeds
    Lichtstrahl 74 - Die Gerechtigkeit Gottes
    Lichtstrahl 75 - His Words Were Hidden From Them
    Lichtstrahl 76 - Die Versuchung
    Lichtstrahl 77 - The Transfiguration
    Lichtstrahl 78 - Das Zeichen Des Jona
    LICHTSTRAHL 79 - Ich Bin Das Licht In Der Welt
    Lichtstrahl 80 - Einzug In Jerusalem
    Lichtstrahl 81 - The Chalice And The Cross
    Lichtstrahl 82 - Be Not Rigid In Your Heart
    Lichtstrahl 83 - Ich Bin Der Gute Hirte
    Lichtstrahl 97 - Aussendung Der Siebzig Jünger
    The Prophet

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  • Home
  • About us
    • Sacramental Life >
      • The Sacraments >
        • Baptism
        • Confirmation
        • The Act of consecration of Man
        • Sacramental Consultation
        • Marriage
        • Ordination
        • Last Annointing
      • Our Children
  • Region
    • International News >
      • Perspectives
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      • Events
    • Africa Seminary
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      • Joburg Community website
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      • CT Newsletter
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      • Windhoek Wen es intressiert
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