120 Lk 1:39-56; Jn 6:60-71 New International Version (NIV)

120

Luke 1: 39-56; John 6: 60-71 NIV

Purpose:         If we are going to do something, then we have to do it rightly. We                                 have to give God the best of the best of our selves. Give God the 120%

Luke 1:39-56

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,

⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home

John 6:60-71

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

⁶⁰ On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

⁶¹ Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?

⁶² Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!

⁶³ The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit^[a] and life.

⁶⁴ Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.

⁶⁵ He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

⁶⁶ From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

⁶⁷ “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

⁶⁹ We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

⁷⁰ Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” ⁷¹ (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

This is the Word of God,

for the people of God.

Praise be to God,

Amen.

120

Luke 1: 39-56; John 6: 60-71 NIV

Purpose:         If we are going to do something, then we have to do it rightly. We                                 have to give God the best of the best of our selves. Give God the 120

Outline

I.       Introduction

          Talk about the trickery with scales in the street markets in Mexico, City

            Talk about how my dad used to tell us that no one can tell that he was a thief

II.      Explanation of the Text

          Talk about Mary and her peace with God, with herself. She was able to sleep         peacefully at night knowing that she was not cheating God. Anyway, it is not   good idea to mess up with God, not because He is going to kill us as the drug     cartel, but it is because we can easily lose our lives.

III.    Explanation of the Drug cartel in Mexico

IV.    Conclusion [s]

V.      Prayer

120

Luke 1: 39-56; John 6: 60-71 NIV

Purpose:         If we are going to do something, then we have to do it rightly. We                                 have to give God the best of the best of our selves. Give God the 120

            Have you heard about the street markets in Mexico??? Let me explain you about them. During the week, the entire week, in all around Mexico, there is a kind of a practice that is part of the Mexican culture and folklore, it is the street markets. In this kind of markets you can find all kind of good things from good food, good veggies, good clothes, purses, make up, furniture, everything you can imagine and can access in any store around the country, and in some street markets have international items or even catalogs to order. Of course, you are not going to have a warranty for the product. You are taking a risk to get a great product for just a half or part of a regular price in the store. How is that possible??? How is that the street markets in Mexico can offer the same product that a established store just for a fraction of their price??? The answer is because the street market dealers don't pay taxes. That means, the vendors make a very good profits from the street markets.

          But, the good profits of these vendors do not stop there, I think they have developed a kind of greediness, because it is very common that when one goes and buys fresh product or process product the scales are altered. Yes, they cheat on the weigh of the product. For example, you are paying for three kilos of apples, the equivalent of around seven ounces, when in reality they give you one or one and half ounce less of the product.

          Comes the time when, you can think, "Ok, it is just one or one and half less ounce. There is not a big deal." I think there is a problem here. I call it, disloyalty [deceitfulness].

          My dad used to tell me, "When you do something do it with all your heart. Give not your 100%. Give you 120!!!" What my dad was telling me was, when you have decided to do something do it rightly and with being loyal to yourself and to others.

          The problem with cheating the scales involves not just lack of loyalty. It involves also not being honest. If we are paying the price that they are asking for the product, I think the honest and fair attitude is to get the right amount of product. Sadly, the disloyal and dishonest way of thinking and of course of acting, has been extended to another areas of Mexican life. For example, if you want a good education for your children then you enroll them in a private schools. These schools are very expensive. The owners of the private school exaggerate the prices and they deny a good quality of teaching. The same with the already established furniture stores and clothe stores. Can you see how not giving the 120 affects???    

          In the moment that Mary starts answering in the text, she was not just answering Elizabeth, mainly, she was answering God. She was telling God, "I am going to do whatever You have asked me to do, and I am going to give You not my 100%. I am going to give You my 120. I am going to be loyal and honest to You. I am going to carry Baby Jesus and I am going to do it well!!!"  Mary understood very well that God didn't need her. Mary understood that she was the one who was going to be blessed!!!

          Actually, I think loyalty has been the same since the beginning of times, but we didn't have a name for it. Also, loyalty has a universal connotation, a universal meaning. To be loyal is the same in any language and with any group of people.

          Even criminals have a good sense of the meaning of loyalty. They give their best to their bosses and professions. They are not honest but they are loyal. In fact, I am pretty sure t all of you are awarded of the drug problem in Mexico.

          When you are invited to join a drug cartel, they give you a choice to join them or not, because once you have said, "Yes" then you have to give your everything to them, your 120%. They have a code of loyalty. They do not leave. They died for each other. They don't let any of them behind. They cover each other backs 24/7. On the other hand, there is a high risk with them. Surely enough, you cannot leave the group or the drug cartel, if  you leave them, then you will lose your life.

          My dear ones, with God we don't have to join a drug cartel to find loyalty, with God we don't have to doubt about the right and fair amount of something we get from Him. God uses good and fair scales for our lives. God gives us an unconditional loyalty. God always gives not 100%, He gives 120.  Are we going to give Him our 120% and play fair to Him in return???

          Let us pray

          Dear and Good Father

          You have showed us in Mary how to give You our best. You have showed us in Jesus how to be loyal and not desert You. Help us Father to give our 120% and be loyal to You every moment in our lives.

In Jesus name, we pray.
Amen