Matthew 18:1-4 Like this child…
[1] At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" [2] He called a child, whom he put among them, [3] and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. [5] Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
What is happening in this script? – The disciples ask Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. What a typically human question for adults to ask, exposing their ignorance regarding what Jesus was trying to teach them about the differences between God’s kingdom and Caesar’s or humankind’s kingdom. Jesus calls a child over, puts the child physically in their midst, and tells his followers, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Who ever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
How is this happening in the world today? - Where do you see followers asking who is the greatest among them? When have people like us wondered who was the greatest in God’s kingdom? When are we acting like those disciples, focusing on our “righteousness” or piousness, instead of simply being who and what we are, directly and honestly, like a child. How does our sense of personal power and pride keep us from changing and becoming like children? How does this keep us out of the kingdom of heaven here and now?
How is this scripture about you? -
Unless you change, and become like children…Let us take this phrase, this warning from Jesus, and ask ourselves some questions.
What is the nature and character of children, and why would we need to have those qualities in order to enter what Jesus called the kingdom of God or heaven?
What changes would be required of you in order to do as Jesus said?
What does humble like this child really mean?
Why is welcoming one such child in his name so important, and how would that look and sound? And a follow up to this question, does one such child refer back to a child, or to one who becomes humble like this child, or both?
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Luke 1:26-38; 34; 38 Greetings, Favored One!
Luke 1:26-38; 34; 38 Greetings, Favored One!
[26] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, [27] to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. [28] And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."
34] Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
[38] Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."
What is happening in this scripture? - This profound, beautiful scripture never fails to bring me close to tears. Especially the line, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you!” I took several verses out of context: The greeting from the angel, Mary’s initial response and Mary’s final response. First, the greeting from the messenger: Greetings, favored one! What would it feel like to be addressed by a messenger from God, and called “Favored one?” Then the line, “The Lord is with you.” Mary is told that she will bear a child who will inherit David’s throne, and his kingdom will have no end. Interestingly, humorously, Mary’s response isn’t regarding all the things that Jesus will be, but rather, “How can this be, I am a virgin?” The messenger tells her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the Most High will overshadow her, and therefore the child will be holy. In addition, her relative Elizabeth, who was barren, is pregnant, for nothing will be impossible with God. Then Mary responds with the words that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Samuel, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord.”
How is this happening in the world today? – One of the unfortunate things that we do when we read the scriptures, I believe, is that we read these stories and think they are only about other people, who lived long ago, and in Mary’s case, someone who became a member of the Holy Family, along with Joseph. We read these stories and say to ourselves, “What a beautiful story! What amazing people they were!”
But ponder these questions:
What would it be like for you to be greeted by a messenger from God, who says to you,
“Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you!”
Where in your life do you know God is favoring you?
How do you know the Lord is with you?
What is your response to this greeting? Do you say, how can this be, for I am….
too small, too weak, too sinful, too poor, too busy, too sad, too confused, etc.?
How or when have you felt the holy spirit to come upon you?
How has the Most High overshadowed you? (Note: Don’t you just love this imagery? When something overshadows you it has to come close enough to cast a shadow. So the question could be put: “How does God’s presence cast a shadow over your life?” Also, a shadow can help you see in the bright light better, and can cool and protect you from a hot sun. How is God your umbrella? Your cover?
How does God’s overshadowing make your life set apart, sacred, holy?
How does God overcome you? Do you allow that to happen? How do you participate in that?
When have you said, “Here am I, a servant of the Lord”?
May we, in 2007 answer God’s call to us, his favored ones, with “Here am I, a servant of the Lord.” - RSP
[26] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, [27] to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. [28] And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."
34] Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
[38] Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."
What is happening in this scripture? - This profound, beautiful scripture never fails to bring me close to tears. Especially the line, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you!” I took several verses out of context: The greeting from the angel, Mary’s initial response and Mary’s final response. First, the greeting from the messenger: Greetings, favored one! What would it feel like to be addressed by a messenger from God, and called “Favored one?” Then the line, “The Lord is with you.” Mary is told that she will bear a child who will inherit David’s throne, and his kingdom will have no end. Interestingly, humorously, Mary’s response isn’t regarding all the things that Jesus will be, but rather, “How can this be, I am a virgin?” The messenger tells her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the Most High will overshadow her, and therefore the child will be holy. In addition, her relative Elizabeth, who was barren, is pregnant, for nothing will be impossible with God. Then Mary responds with the words that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Samuel, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord.”
How is this happening in the world today? – One of the unfortunate things that we do when we read the scriptures, I believe, is that we read these stories and think they are only about other people, who lived long ago, and in Mary’s case, someone who became a member of the Holy Family, along with Joseph. We read these stories and say to ourselves, “What a beautiful story! What amazing people they were!”
But ponder these questions:
What would it be like for you to be greeted by a messenger from God, who says to you,
“Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you!”
Where in your life do you know God is favoring you?
How do you know the Lord is with you?
What is your response to this greeting? Do you say, how can this be, for I am….
too small, too weak, too sinful, too poor, too busy, too sad, too confused, etc.?
How or when have you felt the holy spirit to come upon you?
How has the Most High overshadowed you? (Note: Don’t you just love this imagery? When something overshadows you it has to come close enough to cast a shadow. So the question could be put: “How does God’s presence cast a shadow over your life?” Also, a shadow can help you see in the bright light better, and can cool and protect you from a hot sun. How is God your umbrella? Your cover?
How does God’s overshadowing make your life set apart, sacred, holy?
How does God overcome you? Do you allow that to happen? How do you participate in that?
When have you said, “Here am I, a servant of the Lord”?
May we, in 2007 answer God’s call to us, his favored ones, with “Here am I, a servant of the Lord.” - RSP
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Revelations 21:1-4 What if God Was One of Us?
Revelations 21: 1-4 What if God Was One of Us?
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. [2] And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; [4] he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away."
What is happening in this scripture? – The apocalyptic is often written in times of great distress and despair, to give hope to people, hope for justice, hope for restoration, hope for a new day. This passage from Revelations is a good example of this. The writer speaks of the New Jerusalem, prepared for marriage as a wife is adorned for her husband. The visionary continues to speak of a loud vice from a throne, saying, “See the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them…the writer continues to say that God will wipe every tear from the eyes of his people; death will be no more, the awful grief and pain being suffered will be no more, for first things have passed away.
During the time of the birth of Jesus, it was not uncommon for those in power to write amazing stories of the divine births of their leaders. Indeed several Caesars claimed divinity for themselves and encouraged legends about their divinity, including their divine birth stories. In contrast, Luke writes of another divine birth, that of a peasant Jew, who would fulfill the prophecies of a Messiah, sent to save his people. But the importance of Luke is that the message is this: It is not Caesar’s world. It is not the rich and powerful who will inherit the earth. It is not the Roman emperor who is the true king of the world. It is, rather, a peasant child, with not even his own bed, who will usher in God’s new kingdom, the New Jerusalem. It is this child who will make his home among mortals, dwell with them, wipe away every tear from their eyes, and overcome death itself.
When we celebrate Christmas, we are enacting the age-old drama of the coming of a new hope. This mystery is in the warp and weave of our Judeo-Christian heritage and part of the American archetypal core of our identity as a people.
How is this happening in the world today? – What a shame and a sham we have allowed our contemporary Christmas to become. We have taken a sacred story of new birth, designed to make the rough places smooth and the crooked places straight, and as we always seem to do, we have perverted it into a time of excess and gluttony in the midst of those who have little. We make glancing contributions to the “less fortunate” in order to temporarily pay off our own guilt, as we crowd the malls and burn up the internet with our shopping and gorging. We have even taken the simple sweet story of the birth of the Christ and polished it up into a cutesy little glossy version of a story that is much too comfortable and “pretty” to ring authentic for most of us living in this dark and challenging world. But I think we do this because we long so much for a tangible sign that a new hope is coming; that we are not a lost cause, and that as the new year approaches, maybe this time we will make it real. What we fail to realize is that it already is real. God has already blessed us, and Christ stands in our midst, here and now, calling us into communion with him. We shop with intensity, we celebrate a little too hard, because we are trying our best to comfort ourselves against a story that we only half believe in. God with us, just as we are. No, can’t be. We are not worthy for one thing, and we might have to change for another. Emmanuel. No, it’s a nice idea but not realistic. This world is too hard to believe that. We’ll be eaten alive and at the very least, laughed at. Our tears wiped from our eyes? The conquering of death itself? How could that be! It’s a nice thing for a few weeks in November and December, but the harsh reality of January, credit card bills and tax time awaits us on the other end of the holiday.
How is this story our story?
But what if…all of those stories really are about us? What if God really knows who we are, loves us, and dwells among us? What if he really wants to save us, from Caesar and from ourselves, just because he loves us? O come, o come, Emmanuel, and ransom us, for we were slaves in Egypt, and we still are. May it be so. Merry Christmas!
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. [2] And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; [4] he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away."
What is happening in this scripture? – The apocalyptic is often written in times of great distress and despair, to give hope to people, hope for justice, hope for restoration, hope for a new day. This passage from Revelations is a good example of this. The writer speaks of the New Jerusalem, prepared for marriage as a wife is adorned for her husband. The visionary continues to speak of a loud vice from a throne, saying, “See the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them…the writer continues to say that God will wipe every tear from the eyes of his people; death will be no more, the awful grief and pain being suffered will be no more, for first things have passed away.
During the time of the birth of Jesus, it was not uncommon for those in power to write amazing stories of the divine births of their leaders. Indeed several Caesars claimed divinity for themselves and encouraged legends about their divinity, including their divine birth stories. In contrast, Luke writes of another divine birth, that of a peasant Jew, who would fulfill the prophecies of a Messiah, sent to save his people. But the importance of Luke is that the message is this: It is not Caesar’s world. It is not the rich and powerful who will inherit the earth. It is not the Roman emperor who is the true king of the world. It is, rather, a peasant child, with not even his own bed, who will usher in God’s new kingdom, the New Jerusalem. It is this child who will make his home among mortals, dwell with them, wipe away every tear from their eyes, and overcome death itself.
When we celebrate Christmas, we are enacting the age-old drama of the coming of a new hope. This mystery is in the warp and weave of our Judeo-Christian heritage and part of the American archetypal core of our identity as a people.
How is this happening in the world today? – What a shame and a sham we have allowed our contemporary Christmas to become. We have taken a sacred story of new birth, designed to make the rough places smooth and the crooked places straight, and as we always seem to do, we have perverted it into a time of excess and gluttony in the midst of those who have little. We make glancing contributions to the “less fortunate” in order to temporarily pay off our own guilt, as we crowd the malls and burn up the internet with our shopping and gorging. We have even taken the simple sweet story of the birth of the Christ and polished it up into a cutesy little glossy version of a story that is much too comfortable and “pretty” to ring authentic for most of us living in this dark and challenging world. But I think we do this because we long so much for a tangible sign that a new hope is coming; that we are not a lost cause, and that as the new year approaches, maybe this time we will make it real. What we fail to realize is that it already is real. God has already blessed us, and Christ stands in our midst, here and now, calling us into communion with him. We shop with intensity, we celebrate a little too hard, because we are trying our best to comfort ourselves against a story that we only half believe in. God with us, just as we are. No, can’t be. We are not worthy for one thing, and we might have to change for another. Emmanuel. No, it’s a nice idea but not realistic. This world is too hard to believe that. We’ll be eaten alive and at the very least, laughed at. Our tears wiped from our eyes? The conquering of death itself? How could that be! It’s a nice thing for a few weeks in November and December, but the harsh reality of January, credit card bills and tax time awaits us on the other end of the holiday.
How is this story our story?
But what if…all of those stories really are about us? What if God really knows who we are, loves us, and dwells among us? What if he really wants to save us, from Caesar and from ourselves, just because he loves us? O come, o come, Emmanuel, and ransom us, for we were slaves in Egypt, and we still are. May it be so. Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 01, 2006
Romans 15: 7-13 Welcome One Another!
Romans 15:7-13 Welcome One Another!
[7] Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. [8] For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, [9] and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name"; [10] and again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people"; [11] and again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him"; [12] and again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope." [13] May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
What is happening in this scripture? – This, of course, is part of Paul’s letter to the churches of Rome during their early days. There was much persecution, disagreement, unrest and danger for the small groups meeting in Rome and its surrounding towns. Paul is the great unifier, challenging the Greeks, Jews, Roman citizens who have joined these groups, and others to focus on the grace and hope of Christ, not on their historical or traditional differences. This is Paul at his very best, and the language is powerful and profound. In verse 13 is a beautiful and inspiring benedictory verse: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
How is this happening in the world today? – Are you as distressed as I am about the all too human conflicts within the churches of today? Is there not enough conflict in the world that the very organization designed to bring justice, hope and unity to the world needs to be torn asunder or to polarize into Pharasaic groups who interpret whether we should open our eggs from the top or the bottom, like the people in Gulliver’s Travels?
Let us be reminded by one of our most fervent and courageous saints, to
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Christ’s church is faced now, more than ever with challenges on every side. If we allow our human penchant for nit-picking and bigotry to weaken us further, we refuse to accept the grace and hope and joy and peace that God is offering to us. May we stay centered in the role model Jesus set before us, welcoming all to his communion. As the angel of the Lord said in Bethlehem. Peace on earth! Good will to men on whom his favor rests!
Let it be so, Lord!-RSP
[7] Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. [8] For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, [9] and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name"; [10] and again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people"; [11] and again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him"; [12] and again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope." [13] May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
What is happening in this scripture? – This, of course, is part of Paul’s letter to the churches of Rome during their early days. There was much persecution, disagreement, unrest and danger for the small groups meeting in Rome and its surrounding towns. Paul is the great unifier, challenging the Greeks, Jews, Roman citizens who have joined these groups, and others to focus on the grace and hope of Christ, not on their historical or traditional differences. This is Paul at his very best, and the language is powerful and profound. In verse 13 is a beautiful and inspiring benedictory verse: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
How is this happening in the world today? – Are you as distressed as I am about the all too human conflicts within the churches of today? Is there not enough conflict in the world that the very organization designed to bring justice, hope and unity to the world needs to be torn asunder or to polarize into Pharasaic groups who interpret whether we should open our eggs from the top or the bottom, like the people in Gulliver’s Travels?
Let us be reminded by one of our most fervent and courageous saints, to
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Christ’s church is faced now, more than ever with challenges on every side. If we allow our human penchant for nit-picking and bigotry to weaken us further, we refuse to accept the grace and hope and joy and peace that God is offering to us. May we stay centered in the role model Jesus set before us, welcoming all to his communion. As the angel of the Lord said in Bethlehem. Peace on earth! Good will to men on whom his favor rests!
Let it be so, Lord!-RSP
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Luke 18: 31-43 Lord, Let Me See Again!
Luke 18:31-43 Lord, Let Me See Again!
[31] Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. [32] For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon.
[33] After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again." [34] But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
[35] As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. [36] When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. [37] They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
[38] Then he shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" [39] Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" [40] Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, [41] "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me see again." [42] Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has saved you." [43] Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.
What is happening in this scripture? – The time is coming to a head. Jesus has just told the twelve, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem…” He speaks curiously in the third person of himself, saying the Son of Man will be handed over, mocked and insulted and spat upon. After being flogged they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again. The disciples understand nothing; what he said was hidden, and they did not grasp what he said. As he approaches Jerichio, this new Joshua (that’s what the name Jesus derives from), a blind man who was sitting by the road begging hears the crowd and asks someone what was happening. They tell him Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. The blind man shouts out, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stands still, orders the man to be brought to him, asks what he wanted him to do for him. The blind man says, “Lord, let me see again.” Jesus doesn’t say “I will heal you!” He says, Receive your sight; your faith has saved you. The man regains his sight, follows Jesus, glorifies God. When all the people saw it they praised God.
This scripture is about seeing. I highlighted all the words having to do with seeing, or not seeing. Even grasping is a form of tactile sight, and is how blind people “see” things. Jesus asks his disciples to see what is about to happen. This sight was hidden from them. But a bind beggar unabashedly shouts out to Jesus, calling him Son of David, and asking for mercy. This shout for mercy makes Jesus stop. Jesus tells the man to receive his sight; his faith has saved him.
Jesus was passing him by. He shouts for mercy. Sight is received. The man follows.
How is this happening in the world today? – Questions for people like us to ponder from this scripture:
What is Jesus trying to show us that we cannot grasp; what remains hidden? Who is doing the hiding?
What do people like us know of sitting by the roadside of life, blind and begging?
How many of us have cried for mercy when we hear that Jesus is passing by?
How is this story your story? -- What would you say to Jesus if you knew he was passing by?
What do you hope Jesus will let you see again?
[31] Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. [32] For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon.
[33] After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again." [34] But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
[35] As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. [36] When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. [37] They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
[38] Then he shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" [39] Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" [40] Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, [41] "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me see again." [42] Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has saved you." [43] Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.
What is happening in this scripture? – The time is coming to a head. Jesus has just told the twelve, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem…” He speaks curiously in the third person of himself, saying the Son of Man will be handed over, mocked and insulted and spat upon. After being flogged they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again. The disciples understand nothing; what he said was hidden, and they did not grasp what he said. As he approaches Jerichio, this new Joshua (that’s what the name Jesus derives from), a blind man who was sitting by the road begging hears the crowd and asks someone what was happening. They tell him Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. The blind man shouts out, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stands still, orders the man to be brought to him, asks what he wanted him to do for him. The blind man says, “Lord, let me see again.” Jesus doesn’t say “I will heal you!” He says, Receive your sight; your faith has saved you. The man regains his sight, follows Jesus, glorifies God. When all the people saw it they praised God.
This scripture is about seeing. I highlighted all the words having to do with seeing, or not seeing. Even grasping is a form of tactile sight, and is how blind people “see” things. Jesus asks his disciples to see what is about to happen. This sight was hidden from them. But a bind beggar unabashedly shouts out to Jesus, calling him Son of David, and asking for mercy. This shout for mercy makes Jesus stop. Jesus tells the man to receive his sight; his faith has saved him.
Jesus was passing him by. He shouts for mercy. Sight is received. The man follows.
How is this happening in the world today? – Questions for people like us to ponder from this scripture:
What is Jesus trying to show us that we cannot grasp; what remains hidden? Who is doing the hiding?
What do people like us know of sitting by the roadside of life, blind and begging?
How many of us have cried for mercy when we hear that Jesus is passing by?
How is this story your story? -- What would you say to Jesus if you knew he was passing by?
What do you hope Jesus will let you see again?
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
James 4: 1-10 The Glory of Humility
James 4: 1-10 The Glory of Humility
[4:1] Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from?
Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? [2] You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. [3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. [4] Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. [5] Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, "God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? [6] But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." [7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [9] Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection.
[10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
What is happening in this scripture? – This is a part of a sermon in the form of an epistle that was circulated around to the small fledgling congregations of Jews following Christ. Some scholars say it was written around 100 A.D. But if it was written by James, the brother of Jesus, the original must have been written much sooner. In any case, James had a lot to say to the congregations of these early gatherings. He knew that if these early persecuted groups did not hang together, they would hang separately or die out all together. When you read this scripture, look deep into it. The author obviously knew human nature quite well. He points out that most of the conflicts they are having with each other stem from their own egos, their own cravings from within. He also convicts them of asking wrongly, saying that if, in their asking, their motive is to spend what they get on their own pleasures, they will not receive. He challenges them: Are they a friend of the world, or a friend of God?
James points out that if they submit themselves, and their egos, to God, to that which God loves and stands for, (love, compassion, justice, forgiveness, mercy, generosity) that their relationship with God will be strengthened. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
How is this happening in the world today? – One of my favorite ministers asks, “Is what you are doing building the body of Christ up, or tearing it down? Is it building people up or tearing them apart? We in the body of Christ especially are challenged now. We have some issues that could bring us together in a way we have never been before, or we could get our egos involved, yearn for personal control, let our fear of the new and different threaten us into dispersion.
[5] Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, "God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? [6] But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
How is this scripture about me? – Lord, I am human. I accept your free and undeserved grace and when you give it, I somehow think that gives me a license to judge. Lord, help me to remember, it’s not about rules, or walls, or locked doors, and saying “no” to others who would seek your community. It’s not about my will, Lord. It’s about loving what you love. And you love freedom and acceptance of all people. Lord, help me remember that to be exalted by you means to love and serve others. May it be so. - RSP
[4:1] Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from?
Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? [2] You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. [3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. [4] Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. [5] Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, "God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? [6] But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." [7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [9] Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection.
[10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
What is happening in this scripture? – This is a part of a sermon in the form of an epistle that was circulated around to the small fledgling congregations of Jews following Christ. Some scholars say it was written around 100 A.D. But if it was written by James, the brother of Jesus, the original must have been written much sooner. In any case, James had a lot to say to the congregations of these early gatherings. He knew that if these early persecuted groups did not hang together, they would hang separately or die out all together. When you read this scripture, look deep into it. The author obviously knew human nature quite well. He points out that most of the conflicts they are having with each other stem from their own egos, their own cravings from within. He also convicts them of asking wrongly, saying that if, in their asking, their motive is to spend what they get on their own pleasures, they will not receive. He challenges them: Are they a friend of the world, or a friend of God?
James points out that if they submit themselves, and their egos, to God, to that which God loves and stands for, (love, compassion, justice, forgiveness, mercy, generosity) that their relationship with God will be strengthened. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
How is this happening in the world today? – One of my favorite ministers asks, “Is what you are doing building the body of Christ up, or tearing it down? Is it building people up or tearing them apart? We in the body of Christ especially are challenged now. We have some issues that could bring us together in a way we have never been before, or we could get our egos involved, yearn for personal control, let our fear of the new and different threaten us into dispersion.
[5] Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, "God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? [6] But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
How is this scripture about me? – Lord, I am human. I accept your free and undeserved grace and when you give it, I somehow think that gives me a license to judge. Lord, help me to remember, it’s not about rules, or walls, or locked doors, and saying “no” to others who would seek your community. It’s not about my will, Lord. It’s about loving what you love. And you love freedom and acceptance of all people. Lord, help me remember that to be exalted by you means to love and serve others. May it be so. - RSP
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
James 3: 1-12 Dynamite In A Small Package
James 3:1-12 Dynamite In A Small Package
[1] Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. [2] For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. [3] If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. [4] Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they
are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. [5] So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! [6] And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. [7] For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, [8] but no one can tame the tongue--a restless evil, full of deadly poison. [9] With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. [10] From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. [11] Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? [12] Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevinefigs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
What is happening in this scripture? – The gospel of James is chock full of wisdom and is quite modern even for today’s 21st century people. In these lines, the writer warns the men and women of this early congregation that not many of them should become teachers. Indeed in the Presbyterian church, ministers are often referred to as teaching elders. James reminds his readers that their congregations will judge them with greater strictness than others. He says we all make mistakes and anyone whose speaking is perfect is able to keep the whole body in check, like a good horseman controls a steed with the bridle. He uses the analogy of ships, large in size, yet controlled with a small rudder. Then he brings up the human tongue, a small member that boasts of great exploits. Dynamite in a small package. James says the tongue is like a small fire and a small fire can set an entire forest to blaze. He tells us that the fire of the tongue can stain the entire body, and can be hellish. He says the entire animal kingdom can be tamed, but not the human tongue, which he calls a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James says we use the same tongue that we bless Christ and God with to curse our fellow humans, who are made in the likeness of our God. This should not be so, James says, asking us how a spring could give us both fresh and brackish water.
How is this happening in the world today? – James really nails me with this scripture! How many times have I regretted having said something stupid, selfish, or inconsiderate? How many times have I spoken in anger, only to hurt the very ones I love? But I don’t think James is fair to the poor little “member” called the tongue. It’s not the tongue that gets us in trouble. It’s the brain! For some reason we resist the effort it takes to be intentional about loving others. We let our egos get in the way, and take the low road. Perhaps this is the reason Jesus emphasized loving our neighbors as ourselves, because he knew how good people are at putting themselves first. Paradoxically, when I put myself over or in front of the other person, it’s not really self love I am expressing, it’s anxiety and self doubt. Jesus overwhelms us and cuts through all the bull with his acceptance and grace and forgiveness. We respond to that grace with sincere gratitude, but it doesn’t take long for us to begin acting as if we’d never been exposed to that way of living.
We resist being transformed. We want to halfway do as he did, as long as it’s convenient and doesn’t require too much change from us. And it is this resistance I think that keeps us hanging around in the lobby of transformation rather than walking into the inner rooms of authentic Christian life.
(Re: our tongues)…we bless the Lord and Father, and with it
we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same
mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought
not to be so.
And yet… when we forget this fear, this anxiety, this need to put ourselves first, we are called home again, to that place where God made us to be: with each other. And just as words can destroy, the Word can heal and transform us into the beings that we could be, if only we would take that leap. And like the prophets, God touches our mouths with the hot coals of his truth, and our tongues become an instrument of healing and peace and love. And as James says,
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!
May it be so. - RSP
[1] Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. [2] For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. [3] If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. [4] Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they
are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. [5] So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! [6] And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. [7] For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, [8] but no one can tame the tongue--a restless evil, full of deadly poison. [9] With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. [10] From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. [11] Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? [12] Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevinefigs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
What is happening in this scripture? – The gospel of James is chock full of wisdom and is quite modern even for today’s 21st century people. In these lines, the writer warns the men and women of this early congregation that not many of them should become teachers. Indeed in the Presbyterian church, ministers are often referred to as teaching elders. James reminds his readers that their congregations will judge them with greater strictness than others. He says we all make mistakes and anyone whose speaking is perfect is able to keep the whole body in check, like a good horseman controls a steed with the bridle. He uses the analogy of ships, large in size, yet controlled with a small rudder. Then he brings up the human tongue, a small member that boasts of great exploits. Dynamite in a small package. James says the tongue is like a small fire and a small fire can set an entire forest to blaze. He tells us that the fire of the tongue can stain the entire body, and can be hellish. He says the entire animal kingdom can be tamed, but not the human tongue, which he calls a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James says we use the same tongue that we bless Christ and God with to curse our fellow humans, who are made in the likeness of our God. This should not be so, James says, asking us how a spring could give us both fresh and brackish water.
How is this happening in the world today? – James really nails me with this scripture! How many times have I regretted having said something stupid, selfish, or inconsiderate? How many times have I spoken in anger, only to hurt the very ones I love? But I don’t think James is fair to the poor little “member” called the tongue. It’s not the tongue that gets us in trouble. It’s the brain! For some reason we resist the effort it takes to be intentional about loving others. We let our egos get in the way, and take the low road. Perhaps this is the reason Jesus emphasized loving our neighbors as ourselves, because he knew how good people are at putting themselves first. Paradoxically, when I put myself over or in front of the other person, it’s not really self love I am expressing, it’s anxiety and self doubt. Jesus overwhelms us and cuts through all the bull with his acceptance and grace and forgiveness. We respond to that grace with sincere gratitude, but it doesn’t take long for us to begin acting as if we’d never been exposed to that way of living.
We resist being transformed. We want to halfway do as he did, as long as it’s convenient and doesn’t require too much change from us. And it is this resistance I think that keeps us hanging around in the lobby of transformation rather than walking into the inner rooms of authentic Christian life.
(Re: our tongues)…we bless the Lord and Father, and with it
we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same
mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought
not to be so.
And yet… when we forget this fear, this anxiety, this need to put ourselves first, we are called home again, to that place where God made us to be: with each other. And just as words can destroy, the Word can heal and transform us into the beings that we could be, if only we would take that leap. And like the prophets, God touches our mouths with the hot coals of his truth, and our tongues become an instrument of healing and peace and love. And as James says,
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!
May it be so. - RSP
Monday, November 20, 2006
Thoughts From My Brother
My brother James is a teacher, church leader and one of the best examples of what a disciple is. Here are some of his thoughts on Peter and what it means to be a Disciple of Christ.
A former pastor of mine, Rev Creede Hinshaw, Mulberry United Methodist Church, Macon, Ga. once said Jesus always calls us to action. I have always remembered that and as Disciples I think we should take our lead from Peter when Jesus asked him if he loved him. Oswald Chambers wrote on this subject inserted below. Oswald always seems to get it right when he writes about what it means to be a Disciple of Christ. When I studied this scripture in the Disciple 1 class I understood and identified with Peter. I too, followed Jesus like Peter and then left when the going got rough and I was fearful of the future. When I returned to the road of Discipleship, I too had to answer the question and I too heard the reply, Feed My Sheep. Faith in action; following in the foot steps and obeying the commands of our Lord and Savior, this is what we are called to do. I pray that we persevere and hold steadfast to what we know as truth and justice and his will for our lives. As we give thanks this week we should be thankful for a loving, saving, all powerful God who is in total charge of all that can happen and does happen. -James
Have You Felt the Pain Inflicted by the Lord?
He said to him the third time, . . . “Do you love Me?” —John 21:17
From My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
Have you ever felt the pain, inflicted by the Lord, at the very center of your being, deep down in the most sensitive area of your life? The devil never inflicts pain there, and neither can sin nor human emotions. Nothing can cut through to that part of our being but the Word of God. "Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ’Do you love Me?’ "Yet he was awakened to the fact that at the center of his personal life he was devoted to Jesus. And then he began to see what Jesus’ patient questioning meant. There was not the slightest bit of doubt left in Peter’s mind; he could never be deceived again. And there was no need for an impassioned response; no need for immediate action or an emotional display. It was a revelation to him to realize how much he did love the Lord, and with amazement he simply said, "Lord, You know all things . . . ." Peter began to see how very much he did love Jesus, and there was no need to say, "Look at this or that as proof of my love." Peter was beginning to discover within himself just how much he really did love the Lord. He discovered that his eyes were so fixed on Jesus Christ that he saw no one else in heaven above or on the earth below. But he did not know it until the probing, hurting questions of the Lord were asked. The Lord’s questions always reveal the true me to myself.
Oh, the wonder of the patient directness and skill of Jesus Christ with Peter! Our Lord never asks questions until the perfect time. Rarely, but probably once in each of our lives, He will back us into a corner where He will hurt us with His piercing questions. Then we will realize that we do love Him far more deeply than our words can ever say.--Oswald Chambers
His Commission to Us
—John 21:17
This is love in the making. The love of God is not created— it is His nature. When we receive the life of Christ through the Holy Spirit, He unites us with God so that His love is demonstrated in us. The goal of the indwelling Holy Spirit is not just to unite us with God, but to do it in such a way that we will be one with the Father in exactly the same way Jesus was. And what kind of oneness did Jesus Christ have with the Father? He had such a oneness with the Father that He was obedient when His Father sent Him down here to be poured out for us. And He says to us, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" ( John 20:21 ).
Peter now realizes that he does love Him, due to the revelation that came with the Lord’s piercing question. The Lord’s next point is— "Pour yourself out. Don’t testify about how much you love Me and don’t talk about the wonderful revelation you have had, just ’Feed My sheep.’ "Jesus has some extraordinarily peculiar sheep: some that are unkempt and dirty, some that are awkward or pushy, and some that have gone astray! But it is impossible to exhaust God’s love, and it is impossible to exhaust my love if it flows from the Spirit of God within me. The love of God pays no attention to my prejudices caused by my natural individuality. If I love my Lord, I have no business being guided by natural emotions— I have to feed His sheep. We will not be delivered or released from His commission to us. Beware of counterfeiting the love of God by following your own natural human emotions, sympathies, or understandings. That will only serve to revile and abuse the true love of God. - Oswald Chambers
A former pastor of mine, Rev Creede Hinshaw, Mulberry United Methodist Church, Macon, Ga. once said Jesus always calls us to action. I have always remembered that and as Disciples I think we should take our lead from Peter when Jesus asked him if he loved him. Oswald Chambers wrote on this subject inserted below. Oswald always seems to get it right when he writes about what it means to be a Disciple of Christ. When I studied this scripture in the Disciple 1 class I understood and identified with Peter. I too, followed Jesus like Peter and then left when the going got rough and I was fearful of the future. When I returned to the road of Discipleship, I too had to answer the question and I too heard the reply, Feed My Sheep. Faith in action; following in the foot steps and obeying the commands of our Lord and Savior, this is what we are called to do. I pray that we persevere and hold steadfast to what we know as truth and justice and his will for our lives. As we give thanks this week we should be thankful for a loving, saving, all powerful God who is in total charge of all that can happen and does happen. -James
Have You Felt the Pain Inflicted by the Lord?
He said to him the third time, . . . “Do you love Me?” —John 21:17
From My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
Have you ever felt the pain, inflicted by the Lord, at the very center of your being, deep down in the most sensitive area of your life? The devil never inflicts pain there, and neither can sin nor human emotions. Nothing can cut through to that part of our being but the Word of God. "Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ’Do you love Me?’ "Yet he was awakened to the fact that at the center of his personal life he was devoted to Jesus. And then he began to see what Jesus’ patient questioning meant. There was not the slightest bit of doubt left in Peter’s mind; he could never be deceived again. And there was no need for an impassioned response; no need for immediate action or an emotional display. It was a revelation to him to realize how much he did love the Lord, and with amazement he simply said, "Lord, You know all things . . . ." Peter began to see how very much he did love Jesus, and there was no need to say, "Look at this or that as proof of my love." Peter was beginning to discover within himself just how much he really did love the Lord. He discovered that his eyes were so fixed on Jesus Christ that he saw no one else in heaven above or on the earth below. But he did not know it until the probing, hurting questions of the Lord were asked. The Lord’s questions always reveal the true me to myself.
Oh, the wonder of the patient directness and skill of Jesus Christ with Peter! Our Lord never asks questions until the perfect time. Rarely, but probably once in each of our lives, He will back us into a corner where He will hurt us with His piercing questions. Then we will realize that we do love Him far more deeply than our words can ever say.--Oswald Chambers
His Commission to Us
—John 21:17
This is love in the making. The love of God is not created— it is His nature. When we receive the life of Christ through the Holy Spirit, He unites us with God so that His love is demonstrated in us. The goal of the indwelling Holy Spirit is not just to unite us with God, but to do it in such a way that we will be one with the Father in exactly the same way Jesus was. And what kind of oneness did Jesus Christ have with the Father? He had such a oneness with the Father that He was obedient when His Father sent Him down here to be poured out for us. And He says to us, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" ( John 20:21 ).
Peter now realizes that he does love Him, due to the revelation that came with the Lord’s piercing question. The Lord’s next point is— "Pour yourself out. Don’t testify about how much you love Me and don’t talk about the wonderful revelation you have had, just ’Feed My sheep.’ "Jesus has some extraordinarily peculiar sheep: some that are unkempt and dirty, some that are awkward or pushy, and some that have gone astray! But it is impossible to exhaust God’s love, and it is impossible to exhaust my love if it flows from the Spirit of God within me. The love of God pays no attention to my prejudices caused by my natural individuality. If I love my Lord, I have no business being guided by natural emotions— I have to feed His sheep. We will not be delivered or released from His commission to us. Beware of counterfeiting the love of God by following your own natural human emotions, sympathies, or understandings. That will only serve to revile and abuse the true love of God. - Oswald Chambers
James 2: 14-24 Faith is Work
James 2:14-24 Faith is Work
[14] What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? [15] If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, [16] and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? [17] So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
[18] But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. [19] You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe -- and shudder. [20] Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? [21] Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. [23] Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God. [24] You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
What is happening in this scripture? – In our belief in a graceful God, we Christians do not believe that the estrangement that separates us from the love of God and one another can be overcome by our effort alone. We, as human beings, have many flaws and limited vision. As Jesus said, can a blind man lead a blind man? Will not both of them fall into a ditch? Paul is big on this one, reminding us that we are “justified” through faith, and through the free grace of God. But James points out the other side of the coin.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you?
Tell a hungry man, or a depressed person, or someone in grief, or someone cold and shivering from the elements that everything will be okay if they just believe, and see how much that comforts them. James reminds us that Jesus began to usher in the Kingdom of God even while he still lived among us. Maybe that’s why he always seemed to be on the move. James tells us that it is senseless to believe that our faith, apart from our actions, is anything more than dead and barren. How long would the Christian church have existed if the hungry were not fed, the sick healed, the lonely befriended, and the shamed accepted and forgiven?
How is this happening in the world today? -- There is, sadly, arrogance among us. Sometimes we believe that if we pray, read the scriptures, attend church, and just try to be nice people that we are practicing Christianity. James, and Jesus, told us that wasn’t enough. We "insiders" might be tempted to say, "At least we’re not like those non-believers, or doubters, or those different from us, or those poor people who somehow must be unfortunate because of their own lack of initiative."
When Jesus said, “Do ye this, in remembrance of me", he wasn’t just talking about breaking bread and drinking wine with friends. That would be preaching to the choir. Jesus was talking about picking up our crosses and following him, out of our familiar and comfortable envelopes, and into challenge, risk, danger, into hard work, into the unknown, and into service, not just of our fellow parishioners, but to the least of these.
What I think James is really saying is that works without faith doesn’t cut it, but faith implies action. Otherwise, it is all just ritual and lip service. And that’s really pretty boring, isn’t it?
Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works.
I think faith is a verb. I don’t think faith is just believing. I think believing comes from doing. We’ve got a LOT of work to do. Let’s get busy! We might meet Jesus along the way.
[14] What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? [15] If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, [16] and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? [17] So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
[18] But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. [19] You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe -- and shudder. [20] Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? [21] Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. [23] Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God. [24] You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
What is happening in this scripture? – In our belief in a graceful God, we Christians do not believe that the estrangement that separates us from the love of God and one another can be overcome by our effort alone. We, as human beings, have many flaws and limited vision. As Jesus said, can a blind man lead a blind man? Will not both of them fall into a ditch? Paul is big on this one, reminding us that we are “justified” through faith, and through the free grace of God. But James points out the other side of the coin.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you?
Tell a hungry man, or a depressed person, or someone in grief, or someone cold and shivering from the elements that everything will be okay if they just believe, and see how much that comforts them. James reminds us that Jesus began to usher in the Kingdom of God even while he still lived among us. Maybe that’s why he always seemed to be on the move. James tells us that it is senseless to believe that our faith, apart from our actions, is anything more than dead and barren. How long would the Christian church have existed if the hungry were not fed, the sick healed, the lonely befriended, and the shamed accepted and forgiven?
How is this happening in the world today? -- There is, sadly, arrogance among us. Sometimes we believe that if we pray, read the scriptures, attend church, and just try to be nice people that we are practicing Christianity. James, and Jesus, told us that wasn’t enough. We "insiders" might be tempted to say, "At least we’re not like those non-believers, or doubters, or those different from us, or those poor people who somehow must be unfortunate because of their own lack of initiative."
When Jesus said, “Do ye this, in remembrance of me", he wasn’t just talking about breaking bread and drinking wine with friends. That would be preaching to the choir. Jesus was talking about picking up our crosses and following him, out of our familiar and comfortable envelopes, and into challenge, risk, danger, into hard work, into the unknown, and into service, not just of our fellow parishioners, but to the least of these.
What I think James is really saying is that works without faith doesn’t cut it, but faith implies action. Otherwise, it is all just ritual and lip service. And that’s really pretty boring, isn’t it?
Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works.
I think faith is a verb. I don’t think faith is just believing. I think believing comes from doing. We’ve got a LOT of work to do. Let’s get busy! We might meet Jesus along the way.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Psalm 130: 5-6 Waiting
Morning: Psalm 130: 5-6
[5] I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; [6] my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.
What is happening in this scripture? – This portion of this Psalm really caught me. The psalmist writes that his or her soul waits for the Lord, and in the Lord’s word they hope. The psalmist continues with saying that his or her soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, and then repeats that phrase for emphasis.
For Christians, many of us would read this and say we are waiting for God’s return. But these lines were not written by a Christian. What might they have been waiting for when they wait for the lord?
How is this happening in the world today? – Here are some questions that come to mind after reading and meditating on these lines from Psalm 130:
If you were waiting for the Lord, what would you be waiting for?
What does it mean to hope in his word?
Who might those be who watch for the morning? What would it mean to watch for the morning?
Have you ever waited for God? What were you waiting for God to do? What was that like for you?
Who do you know who is waiting? For whom are they waiting?
Is anyone waiting for you?
Are you waiting for God now?
How are people like us watching for the morning?
How is your soul waiting for the Lord?
How could God be waiting for you?
How is this story my story? – Lord, sometimes I wait for you, and watch for you,
like one waiting for the morning? I remember waiting sadly for the morning once. You came, and you took, but you brought relief and deliverance. Lord, don’t let me wait when you are staring me in the face, waiting for me. - RSP
[5] I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; [6] my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.
What is happening in this scripture? – This portion of this Psalm really caught me. The psalmist writes that his or her soul waits for the Lord, and in the Lord’s word they hope. The psalmist continues with saying that his or her soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, and then repeats that phrase for emphasis.
For Christians, many of us would read this and say we are waiting for God’s return. But these lines were not written by a Christian. What might they have been waiting for when they wait for the lord?
How is this happening in the world today? – Here are some questions that come to mind after reading and meditating on these lines from Psalm 130:
If you were waiting for the Lord, what would you be waiting for?
What does it mean to hope in his word?
Who might those be who watch for the morning? What would it mean to watch for the morning?
Have you ever waited for God? What were you waiting for God to do? What was that like for you?
Who do you know who is waiting? For whom are they waiting?
Is anyone waiting for you?
Are you waiting for God now?
How are people like us watching for the morning?
How is your soul waiting for the Lord?
How could God be waiting for you?
How is this story my story? – Lord, sometimes I wait for you, and watch for you,
like one waiting for the morning? I remember waiting sadly for the morning once. You came, and you took, but you brought relief and deliverance. Lord, don’t let me wait when you are staring me in the face, waiting for me. - RSP
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Luke 15: 20-24 What Really Matters
Luke 15: 20-24. What Really Matters
20So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.
What is happening in this scripture? – This beloved story of the Prodigal Son and the Elder Son, has been told, written about, discussed, for so many years. Indeed, it is rich with meaning and wisdom. I will concentrate on these few lines. He has been in a faraway land. He has lived fast and loose and has squandered all of his inheritance. Now there is a famine in the land, and he has nothing.
The young man has come to decide that he will return to his father, tell him he has sinned and that he is no longer worthy to be called his son, and ask him to treat him as one of his hired hands. After all, the hired hands can at least eat their fill. They aren’t starving. He has rehearsed all that he will say. We do not know if the young man is doing this to be manipulative or not, but we do know that he has fallen to the level of desiring even the food of a pig.
But the scripture says that while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. The son tries to go into his spiel, a speech designed to convince his father of his contriteness, but before he can get the entire sentence out of his mouth, his father has sent for a robe, a ring and sandals. This is not a time for woeful confession. This is a time for celebration, for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!
How is this happening in the world today? – I think this story is about what matters. What matters when you are starving? Food. What matters when you are feeling guilty? Grace and forgiveness. What matters when your son has been lost and presumed dead? Discovering he is alive! What matters when you have messed up so badly that you can’t imagine God or anyone else caring one single nit about you and your welfare? Finding out that nothing can destroy the love that is indestructible. What matters when you are lost? Coming home. Being found. Belonging, and being loved. The prophet Micah said long ago that what matters is seeking justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.
How is this my story? – Eternal God, source of life and love, you teach us with this story and by the actions of Jesus what really matters to you. I thank you every day that my relationship with you is based on unconditional love, and not my behavior. Every parent who has ever loved knows you Lord, because this is exactly how they feel about their own children: Loving. That is what matters. -RSP
20So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.
What is happening in this scripture? – This beloved story of the Prodigal Son and the Elder Son, has been told, written about, discussed, for so many years. Indeed, it is rich with meaning and wisdom. I will concentrate on these few lines. He has been in a faraway land. He has lived fast and loose and has squandered all of his inheritance. Now there is a famine in the land, and he has nothing.
The young man has come to decide that he will return to his father, tell him he has sinned and that he is no longer worthy to be called his son, and ask him to treat him as one of his hired hands. After all, the hired hands can at least eat their fill. They aren’t starving. He has rehearsed all that he will say. We do not know if the young man is doing this to be manipulative or not, but we do know that he has fallen to the level of desiring even the food of a pig.
But the scripture says that while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. The son tries to go into his spiel, a speech designed to convince his father of his contriteness, but before he can get the entire sentence out of his mouth, his father has sent for a robe, a ring and sandals. This is not a time for woeful confession. This is a time for celebration, for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!
How is this happening in the world today? – I think this story is about what matters. What matters when you are starving? Food. What matters when you are feeling guilty? Grace and forgiveness. What matters when your son has been lost and presumed dead? Discovering he is alive! What matters when you have messed up so badly that you can’t imagine God or anyone else caring one single nit about you and your welfare? Finding out that nothing can destroy the love that is indestructible. What matters when you are lost? Coming home. Being found. Belonging, and being loved. The prophet Micah said long ago that what matters is seeking justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.
How is this my story? – Eternal God, source of life and love, you teach us with this story and by the actions of Jesus what really matters to you. I thank you every day that my relationship with you is based on unconditional love, and not my behavior. Every parent who has ever loved knows you Lord, because this is exactly how they feel about their own children: Loving. That is what matters. -RSP
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Luke 15: 1-2 Judged By the Company You Keep
Luke 15:1-2 Judged By The Company You Keep
[1] Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. [2] And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."
What is happening in this scripture? – These lines were written in Luke preceding two parables, one about the shepherd who goes to find the one lost sheep and the woman who loses the one coin. Both find what they lost and rejoice and ask their friends to come celebrate with them. Jesus tells them the angels in heaven celebrate over the repentance of one person.
The Pharisees, those experts on the Torah, and scribes, the scholarly group who protected the recording and ritual of the law and the temple order, grumbled because this Jesus fellow was hospitable to sinners, friendly even, and then had the audacity to share meals with them. Sharing a meal in those days was extremely important. Who you ate with told the rest of the world who you were. And Jesus’ behaviors threatened to bring the unclean unpure into some type of acceptance.
What is the nature of a God who welcomes sinners and even shares meals with them?
How is this happening in the world today? - To me, if there were only a few lines we could use to describe Jesus’ ministry I think these would be the lines: he welcomes sinners and eats with them. Our Holy Communion meal is now a ritual of these first meals shared by Jesus with anyone who cared to join him. Food is life, and bread is life.
Breaking bread with others is sharing that life. Jesus, by welcoming sinners and eating with them was ushering in his kingdom, materially and spiritually. These were real behaviors, and real food was shared. But something so much more important was happening, and the Pharisees and Scribes knew it and were threatened by it. Jesus was telling the disenfranchised, the despicable, the poor, the lame, thieves, prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers, that they were welcome at his table, and in his life, and that God loved them just as much as he loved the temple elite. Jesus enacted God’s grace, unearned and undeserved. In fact, Jesus’ message was often that these were the people God favored, even more than the so called righteous.
When we share our wealth with those who have little, we are sharing communion. When we give others clothing, shelter, money, medical care, a listening ear, and a job opportunity, we are sharing communion. When we give someone marginalized, either by our economic system or by their own bad behaviors, we are sharing the body and blood of Christ. Jesus told us when we do this to the least in our culture, we are doing this to him.
How is this story my story? – Jesus, I want to come to your supper. I am thankful for your acceptance and invitation. I am so glad you choose to hang out with guys like me. Help me to make plenty of room for others at your table. Help me to share life with my brothers and sisters in your name. May it be so. -RSP
[1] Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. [2] And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."
What is happening in this scripture? – These lines were written in Luke preceding two parables, one about the shepherd who goes to find the one lost sheep and the woman who loses the one coin. Both find what they lost and rejoice and ask their friends to come celebrate with them. Jesus tells them the angels in heaven celebrate over the repentance of one person.
The Pharisees, those experts on the Torah, and scribes, the scholarly group who protected the recording and ritual of the law and the temple order, grumbled because this Jesus fellow was hospitable to sinners, friendly even, and then had the audacity to share meals with them. Sharing a meal in those days was extremely important. Who you ate with told the rest of the world who you were. And Jesus’ behaviors threatened to bring the unclean unpure into some type of acceptance.
What is the nature of a God who welcomes sinners and even shares meals with them?
How is this happening in the world today? - To me, if there were only a few lines we could use to describe Jesus’ ministry I think these would be the lines: he welcomes sinners and eats with them. Our Holy Communion meal is now a ritual of these first meals shared by Jesus with anyone who cared to join him. Food is life, and bread is life.
Breaking bread with others is sharing that life. Jesus, by welcoming sinners and eating with them was ushering in his kingdom, materially and spiritually. These were real behaviors, and real food was shared. But something so much more important was happening, and the Pharisees and Scribes knew it and were threatened by it. Jesus was telling the disenfranchised, the despicable, the poor, the lame, thieves, prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers, that they were welcome at his table, and in his life, and that God loved them just as much as he loved the temple elite. Jesus enacted God’s grace, unearned and undeserved. In fact, Jesus’ message was often that these were the people God favored, even more than the so called righteous.
When we share our wealth with those who have little, we are sharing communion. When we give others clothing, shelter, money, medical care, a listening ear, and a job opportunity, we are sharing communion. When we give someone marginalized, either by our economic system or by their own bad behaviors, we are sharing the body and blood of Christ. Jesus told us when we do this to the least in our culture, we are doing this to him.
How is this story my story? – Jesus, I want to come to your supper. I am thankful for your acceptance and invitation. I am so glad you choose to hang out with guys like me. Help me to make plenty of room for others at your table. Help me to share life with my brothers and sisters in your name. May it be so. -RSP
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Luke 14: 25-27 Hating Your Life?
Luke 14:25-27 Hating Your Life?
[25] Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, [26] "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. [27] Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
What is happening in this scripture? - It is difficult for many of us to imagine that the Jesus we love would hate anything, let alone advise his followers to hate their family, and life. I do not know how many times his sayings have been orally repeated, rewritten, re-scribed, added to, taken away from, changed, etc. by zealous adherents. I also do not know what the word “hate” translated from Aramaic to Greek to English would originally mean. Such is the mystery of biblical scholarship. But we might get some hints by looking at what we think we know about Jesus’ life and the total context of his sayings, aphorisms, and actions. If Jesus hated anything, it was probably injustice in any form. Perhaps the original context of this scripture had to do with priorities. Maybe it could have sounded something like, Anyone who puts his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sister, or even their own life over and above their desire to do God’s will, cannot be my disciple.
How is this happening in the world today? - I do not need to tell anyone that making a conscious choice to try and follow the Way of Jesus, requires intention and discipline. Jesus told the crowd they must take up THE cross and follow him. In Matthew, I believe he says take up YOUR cross. When we consciously do this, we will, for sure, run into resistance, sometimes immediately. How long does it take people like us, leaving a meaningful sermon on Sunday morning, to fall into the melee of the “world out there” without even realizing it? Douglas Ottati speaks of that moment of silence between the end of the recessional and when the doors of the church are re-opened, and we can hear the sounds of the outside world. We are about to, as disciples of Christ, go back into that world.
When we watch and study the Way of Jesus, we see that what he did, standing against injustice, economic oppression, systematic evil, and daring to remind his people that God was the king, and not Caesar, cost him his life. He was put to death by what Dominic Crossan called the “normalcy of civilization.” The world of human beings can’t stand the Kingdom of God for too long, I think, and like an amoeba, we humans can be surrounded and slowly digested back into the morass of that “normalcy”. That is why we must make intentional, conscious effort through what is referred to as the spiritual disciplines of prayer, study, worship, giving and serving, contemplation, fellowship and sistership, to keep that normalcy from re-digesting us back into our prior estrangement. That is where confession, forgiveness, patience, discipline, hard work, and honesty and humility come in.
But more important than all that, I think, Jesus was telling the crowd, and us, that if we allow ourselves to love that normalcy, then we cut ourselves off from the kingdom. I don’t think that means that Jesus hated life, or people. I think he hated what we people do with life, and with and to each other, that separates us from that kingdom of grace, love and forgiveness. This, I believe, is the cross that WE must bear. It isn’t easy, and as Deitrich Bonhoeffer said, it isn’t a cheap grace. But is surely is worth it.
How is this story my story? – Jesus, I want to follow your Way. But I get scared and lazy. Help me by your grace to realize and remember the joy and purpose you offer when I take up the cross and seek your path. May it be so. -RSP
[25] Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, [26] "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. [27] Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
What is happening in this scripture? - It is difficult for many of us to imagine that the Jesus we love would hate anything, let alone advise his followers to hate their family, and life. I do not know how many times his sayings have been orally repeated, rewritten, re-scribed, added to, taken away from, changed, etc. by zealous adherents. I also do not know what the word “hate” translated from Aramaic to Greek to English would originally mean. Such is the mystery of biblical scholarship. But we might get some hints by looking at what we think we know about Jesus’ life and the total context of his sayings, aphorisms, and actions. If Jesus hated anything, it was probably injustice in any form. Perhaps the original context of this scripture had to do with priorities. Maybe it could have sounded something like, Anyone who puts his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sister, or even their own life over and above their desire to do God’s will, cannot be my disciple.
How is this happening in the world today? - I do not need to tell anyone that making a conscious choice to try and follow the Way of Jesus, requires intention and discipline. Jesus told the crowd they must take up THE cross and follow him. In Matthew, I believe he says take up YOUR cross. When we consciously do this, we will, for sure, run into resistance, sometimes immediately. How long does it take people like us, leaving a meaningful sermon on Sunday morning, to fall into the melee of the “world out there” without even realizing it? Douglas Ottati speaks of that moment of silence between the end of the recessional and when the doors of the church are re-opened, and we can hear the sounds of the outside world. We are about to, as disciples of Christ, go back into that world.
When we watch and study the Way of Jesus, we see that what he did, standing against injustice, economic oppression, systematic evil, and daring to remind his people that God was the king, and not Caesar, cost him his life. He was put to death by what Dominic Crossan called the “normalcy of civilization.” The world of human beings can’t stand the Kingdom of God for too long, I think, and like an amoeba, we humans can be surrounded and slowly digested back into the morass of that “normalcy”. That is why we must make intentional, conscious effort through what is referred to as the spiritual disciplines of prayer, study, worship, giving and serving, contemplation, fellowship and sistership, to keep that normalcy from re-digesting us back into our prior estrangement. That is where confession, forgiveness, patience, discipline, hard work, and honesty and humility come in.
But more important than all that, I think, Jesus was telling the crowd, and us, that if we allow ourselves to love that normalcy, then we cut ourselves off from the kingdom. I don’t think that means that Jesus hated life, or people. I think he hated what we people do with life, and with and to each other, that separates us from that kingdom of grace, love and forgiveness. This, I believe, is the cross that WE must bear. It isn’t easy, and as Deitrich Bonhoeffer said, it isn’t a cheap grace. But is surely is worth it.
How is this story my story? – Jesus, I want to follow your Way. But I get scared and lazy. Help me by your grace to realize and remember the joy and purpose you offer when I take up the cross and seek your path. May it be so. -RSP
Friday, November 10, 2006
Psalm 142: 1-3 You Know My Way
Psalm 142:1-3 You Know My Way
[1] With my voice I cry to the LORD;
with my voice I make supplication to the LORD.
[2] I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him.
When my spirit is faint, you know my way.
What is happening in this scripture? – The Psalmist reminds us that God hears our cries, our troubles, and he knows when our spirits are faint. He knows our way.
How is this happening in the world today? – Somewhere an old lady shuffles down a hospital hallway on a walker. She has had no visitors now for some time. Somewhere a hungry child cries out weakly, beaten by an crazed father the night before. Somewhere parents bury a child, victim of a senseless act of violence. Somewhere people huddle inside a dark hallway, listening to the sounds of war as the fighting in their land continues. Somewhere a man sits on the side of his bed, having been told of his cancer diagnosis.
I believe in a God who knows these things. I believe in a God who has given us the spark of divinity and does not swoop in like Superman to save us from the reality of our lives, like a neat plot in a television drama. But I also believe in a God who cares, and who commands his followers to be his heart, his hands, his eyes, his ears, and his legs here in this place. I believe we are not alone, and that as we cry, grieve, and shudder with fear, God is there, with us, through every second. We are known, we are loved, and we are not alone.
I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him.
When my spirit is faint, you know my way.
How is this story my story? – Eternal God, thank you for loving me. Help me to remember that you know who I am. Help me to also remember that like Jesus, I can play a part of ushering in your kingdom into this world, by being your heart, your arms, your eyes, your ears, and your legs. Help me by my actions and faith to remind others that you are real and that you care.—Amen.
[1] With my voice I cry to the LORD;
with my voice I make supplication to the LORD.
[2] I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him.
When my spirit is faint, you know my way.
What is happening in this scripture? – The Psalmist reminds us that God hears our cries, our troubles, and he knows when our spirits are faint. He knows our way.
How is this happening in the world today? – Somewhere an old lady shuffles down a hospital hallway on a walker. She has had no visitors now for some time. Somewhere a hungry child cries out weakly, beaten by an crazed father the night before. Somewhere parents bury a child, victim of a senseless act of violence. Somewhere people huddle inside a dark hallway, listening to the sounds of war as the fighting in their land continues. Somewhere a man sits on the side of his bed, having been told of his cancer diagnosis.
I believe in a God who knows these things. I believe in a God who has given us the spark of divinity and does not swoop in like Superman to save us from the reality of our lives, like a neat plot in a television drama. But I also believe in a God who cares, and who commands his followers to be his heart, his hands, his eyes, his ears, and his legs here in this place. I believe we are not alone, and that as we cry, grieve, and shudder with fear, God is there, with us, through every second. We are known, we are loved, and we are not alone.
I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him.
When my spirit is faint, you know my way.
How is this story my story? – Eternal God, thank you for loving me. Help me to remember that you know who I am. Help me to also remember that like Jesus, I can play a part of ushering in your kingdom into this world, by being your heart, your arms, your eyes, your ears, and your legs. Help me by my actions and faith to remind others that you are real and that you care.—Amen.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Psalm 42: 1-3 When the Only Food is Tears
Psalm 42:1-3 When the Only Food is Tears
[1] As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
[2] My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?
[3] My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me continually,
"Where is your God?"
What is happening in this scripture? – This beautiful song in Psalms brings many thoughts to mind. The psalmist speaks of a spiritual thirst for a living God coming from our souls. He asks when he will behold the face of God. He says his tears have been his only food, constantly, day and night, and as he weeps, people ask him, just as continually, Where is your God?”
How is this happening in the world today? – It isn’t hard to notice that we human beings thirst for something more in this world. No matter how fortunate or blessed we may be, we know that material things cannot give us spiritual happiness or true peace. They are certainly important, and we cannot live without air, food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. But for lack of a better word, our souls, or spirits have basic needs as well. We need to know that we are loved and that someone needs our love. We cry out our existential questions: Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we aware of ourselves? Why do we love others, only to lose them? Why are we here? Where are we going? Where is justice? Does anybody really care? How should we live our lives? Indeed, like, the psalmist wrote, these questions are poor food for our spirits and they haunt us, somehow, day and night. We, along with others say to ourselves and to each other, “Where is our God?”
I see many trying to answer these questions with quick, easy comfort. I don’t blame them, because they are scary, troubling questions. Questions to ponder for today: What do people like us know of spiritual thirst? What or who quenches that thirst for you? When have you, or will you behold the face of God? What do you say to yourself, without quickly using someone else’s easy faith, when you ask yourself, or someone else asks you, “Where is your God?”
How is this story my story? -- Eternal spirit, I am filled with gratitude and awe for the reality and grace of your encounter, happening when I least expect it, and in from the most surprising sources. I am silenced by the receipt of your quiet grace, solemn dignity, and peace. Help me to somehow express this reality to others, even when the only food is tears. – Amen.
Please remember the sick and lonely in your prayers and actions today.
[1] As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
[2] My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?
[3] My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me continually,
"Where is your God?"
What is happening in this scripture? – This beautiful song in Psalms brings many thoughts to mind. The psalmist speaks of a spiritual thirst for a living God coming from our souls. He asks when he will behold the face of God. He says his tears have been his only food, constantly, day and night, and as he weeps, people ask him, just as continually, Where is your God?”
How is this happening in the world today? – It isn’t hard to notice that we human beings thirst for something more in this world. No matter how fortunate or blessed we may be, we know that material things cannot give us spiritual happiness or true peace. They are certainly important, and we cannot live without air, food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. But for lack of a better word, our souls, or spirits have basic needs as well. We need to know that we are loved and that someone needs our love. We cry out our existential questions: Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we aware of ourselves? Why do we love others, only to lose them? Why are we here? Where are we going? Where is justice? Does anybody really care? How should we live our lives? Indeed, like, the psalmist wrote, these questions are poor food for our spirits and they haunt us, somehow, day and night. We, along with others say to ourselves and to each other, “Where is our God?”
I see many trying to answer these questions with quick, easy comfort. I don’t blame them, because they are scary, troubling questions. Questions to ponder for today: What do people like us know of spiritual thirst? What or who quenches that thirst for you? When have you, or will you behold the face of God? What do you say to yourself, without quickly using someone else’s easy faith, when you ask yourself, or someone else asks you, “Where is your God?”
How is this story my story? -- Eternal spirit, I am filled with gratitude and awe for the reality and grace of your encounter, happening when I least expect it, and in from the most surprising sources. I am silenced by the receipt of your quiet grace, solemn dignity, and peace. Help me to somehow express this reality to others, even when the only food is tears. – Amen.
Please remember the sick and lonely in your prayers and actions today.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Luke 12: 49 Jesus and the Fire of God
Luke 12:49 Jesus and the Fire of God
[49] "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
What is happening in this scripture? – It’s dangerous to take one line out of scripture, because you lose the context. But I did so this time because these words and this imagery are so powerful, and the metaphors and realities are so much a part of our faith as Christians. Jesus is speaking, and as he approaches his final days there is a growing sense of urgency and frustration. He goes on to speak of the baptism he is to offer and the stress he is under until that is completed. We have deified Jesus so much that it is sometimes hard for us to hear his humanity.
In Luke, he speaks here of his mission to bring fire to the earth, yet he points out that fire had not been kindled quite yet: How I wish it were already kindled!
How is this happening in the world today? – What do people like us know about God and about fire? We know that God first appeared to Moses in a burning bush. We remember the pillar of fire leading them by night through the wilderness. We remember Mt. Sinai, Horeb and the volcanic foreboding of God’s majesty. We remember the flames on the lamp stands in the temple. We read of Ezekiel’s fiery chariot. We remember the fiery furnace in Daniel.
Fire brings heat. Fire can cook, destroy, purify, melt, consume and transform. Fire can protect. Fire is life. Fire for many has been death. Fire is energy, and it demands respect and wisdom in its use. In Luke 12, Jesus says I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! What do people like us know of Jesus’ frustration and stress, his eagerness to complete his baptism? What do we know of baptism by fire? How has God’s fire burned us? Cooked us? Transformed us? How does it warm us, give us comfort, give us light? What role do we play in the kindling of this fire? What light do you see in yonder darkness, inviting you to draw nearer? What do you fear from this fire? What part of you do you wish it would burn away, transform?
How is this scripture written for me? -- God your fire is there, the eternal flame. Christ has brought it to earth. Sometimes I warm myself by it, sometimes like a child I want to play in it. Sometimes, Lord, your fire hurts me, burns me. Melt my heart Lord, thaw the icy bonds and cook my soul. How I wish it were already kindled! – Amen.
[49] "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
What is happening in this scripture? – It’s dangerous to take one line out of scripture, because you lose the context. But I did so this time because these words and this imagery are so powerful, and the metaphors and realities are so much a part of our faith as Christians. Jesus is speaking, and as he approaches his final days there is a growing sense of urgency and frustration. He goes on to speak of the baptism he is to offer and the stress he is under until that is completed. We have deified Jesus so much that it is sometimes hard for us to hear his humanity.
In Luke, he speaks here of his mission to bring fire to the earth, yet he points out that fire had not been kindled quite yet: How I wish it were already kindled!
How is this happening in the world today? – What do people like us know about God and about fire? We know that God first appeared to Moses in a burning bush. We remember the pillar of fire leading them by night through the wilderness. We remember Mt. Sinai, Horeb and the volcanic foreboding of God’s majesty. We remember the flames on the lamp stands in the temple. We read of Ezekiel’s fiery chariot. We remember the fiery furnace in Daniel.
Fire brings heat. Fire can cook, destroy, purify, melt, consume and transform. Fire can protect. Fire is life. Fire for many has been death. Fire is energy, and it demands respect and wisdom in its use. In Luke 12, Jesus says I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! What do people like us know of Jesus’ frustration and stress, his eagerness to complete his baptism? What do we know of baptism by fire? How has God’s fire burned us? Cooked us? Transformed us? How does it warm us, give us comfort, give us light? What role do we play in the kindling of this fire? What light do you see in yonder darkness, inviting you to draw nearer? What do you fear from this fire? What part of you do you wish it would burn away, transform?
How is this scripture written for me? -- God your fire is there, the eternal flame. Christ has brought it to earth. Sometimes I warm myself by it, sometimes like a child I want to play in it. Sometimes, Lord, your fire hurts me, burns me. Melt my heart Lord, thaw the icy bonds and cook my soul. How I wish it were already kindled! – Amen.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Psalm 84: 1-4 Trees and Children - The Altars of God
Psalm 84:1-4 Trees and Children – The Altars of God
[1] How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!
[2] My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
[3] Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
[4] Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise.
What is happening in this scripture? – The Psalmist is praising God for the beauty of his dwelling place. The Psalmist says his soul longs, and even faints for the courts of the Lord. His heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. The Psalmist goes on to say that God makes places for the smallest of creatures, and their offspring. The beautiful phrase where she (the swallow) may lay her young is called God’s altars. Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.
What is a dwelling place? In this context it was probably the temple, but nowadays if we ask ourselves, “Where is God’s dwelling place?” the answer would probably be, “Everywhere!” I think the writer of the Psalm loved trees. I think he or she also loved birds, and it is obvious that he loved God.
How is this happening in the world today? -- One of the biggest problems facing humankind today is the way we treat this planet, this dwelling place of God. We treat it as if it belonged to us, as if we created it and can therefore do what we wish with it. Where is the reverence for God’s dwelling place? Where is the reverence for the creatures in habiting this dwelling place, including people? A counselor/writer/artist friend of mine wrote the following little essay after discovering the daughter of a dear friend had been injured in a horrible car crash. Mary Ann loves trees, animals, and people.
Trees
I have lived in this city for 10 years now. I am situated off one of the prettiest areas I could find when we moved here. I watched as my attractive city street changed into a busy four lane road. I dodged the orange barrels during this construction, waited as the bulldozers moved dirt. A beautifully paved tree lined boulevard emerged.
I have been writing this story in my head each morning as I drive this street to work. I never got the right words on paper to describe my thinking but today I now know the story.
The trees that line this street I drive number 82. They cover an area of 14 blocks and about 10 trees per block. I watch as they seem to come and go. Blossoms in spring, bright green new growth, bird nests thru summer and golden reds in fall. I also watch them come and go….as they become victims each weekend. Sometime one sometimes two, many times the small bushes in between these trees. I think about this loss, how silently they suffer thru the night and then visible to all of us the next morning as they lay uprooted beside the road. The viciousness of the tracks leading up and over them in the darkness of night. I wonder to myself, who did this? Are they too lying uprooted somewhere in darkness, dented bumper on their vehicle, dented forehead or worse? I think of the silence and shame of how no one ever mentions this loss. Our community ‘secret’, gone into the darkness of the night then replaced by our orange shirted friends, digging and replacing and never a mention of where or what has happened. Just replace the oblivious, restraw the deep painful ruts and act as if everything is just fine! But is it? I still wonder,,,,,,who did this? Are they ok?? Will they do it again?
I spent my morning on the phone today looking for someone to ‘help’ replace the straw around a very real victim…..this one is 18, red haired and bright with the world before her…..but those deep tracks lead up to her and over her….. gratefully she will not be replaced! I don’t have to wonder who did this? We know his fate. I don’t have to wonder is he ok? No he isn’t. I don’t have to worry will he do this again? No never. But what about her!!!! Those muddy ruts will run thru her for the rest of her life. They leave tracks on all of those who love her. WE can’t act as if it hasn’t happened. We can’t replace the straw and drive by again unnoticed.
The victims are very different but the silence can be very much the same. My red haired friend is lying quietly and growing stronger everyday. A wonderful circle of people surround her with love and support nurturing and helping her grow stronger each day. But what about the community silence. Will we continue to let this happen, go unnoticed except for a small circle of people? This is real, real for my red haired friend, real for the trees, real in our community.
How is this story my story? -- During a walk today, on a brisk fall afternoon in Charlotte, I passed by a huge sweet gum tree. It stood against an electric blue November sky and it still held on to all of its leaves, whose colors ranged the rainbow. It was so vivid and overpowering when I saw it I thought of what God told Moses from the burning bush, when he asked “Who will I tell Pharaoh sent me? “Tell Pharaoh ‘I AM!’ sent you!”
The altars of God indeed! - Amen
[1] How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!
[2] My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
[3] Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
[4] Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise.
What is happening in this scripture? – The Psalmist is praising God for the beauty of his dwelling place. The Psalmist says his soul longs, and even faints for the courts of the Lord. His heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. The Psalmist goes on to say that God makes places for the smallest of creatures, and their offspring. The beautiful phrase where she (the swallow) may lay her young is called God’s altars. Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.
What is a dwelling place? In this context it was probably the temple, but nowadays if we ask ourselves, “Where is God’s dwelling place?” the answer would probably be, “Everywhere!” I think the writer of the Psalm loved trees. I think he or she also loved birds, and it is obvious that he loved God.
How is this happening in the world today? -- One of the biggest problems facing humankind today is the way we treat this planet, this dwelling place of God. We treat it as if it belonged to us, as if we created it and can therefore do what we wish with it. Where is the reverence for God’s dwelling place? Where is the reverence for the creatures in habiting this dwelling place, including people? A counselor/writer/artist friend of mine wrote the following little essay after discovering the daughter of a dear friend had been injured in a horrible car crash. Mary Ann loves trees, animals, and people.
Trees
I have lived in this city for 10 years now. I am situated off one of the prettiest areas I could find when we moved here. I watched as my attractive city street changed into a busy four lane road. I dodged the orange barrels during this construction, waited as the bulldozers moved dirt. A beautifully paved tree lined boulevard emerged.
I have been writing this story in my head each morning as I drive this street to work. I never got the right words on paper to describe my thinking but today I now know the story.
The trees that line this street I drive number 82. They cover an area of 14 blocks and about 10 trees per block. I watch as they seem to come and go. Blossoms in spring, bright green new growth, bird nests thru summer and golden reds in fall. I also watch them come and go….as they become victims each weekend. Sometime one sometimes two, many times the small bushes in between these trees. I think about this loss, how silently they suffer thru the night and then visible to all of us the next morning as they lay uprooted beside the road. The viciousness of the tracks leading up and over them in the darkness of night. I wonder to myself, who did this? Are they too lying uprooted somewhere in darkness, dented bumper on their vehicle, dented forehead or worse? I think of the silence and shame of how no one ever mentions this loss. Our community ‘secret’, gone into the darkness of the night then replaced by our orange shirted friends, digging and replacing and never a mention of where or what has happened. Just replace the oblivious, restraw the deep painful ruts and act as if everything is just fine! But is it? I still wonder,,,,,,who did this? Are they ok?? Will they do it again?
I spent my morning on the phone today looking for someone to ‘help’ replace the straw around a very real victim…..this one is 18, red haired and bright with the world before her…..but those deep tracks lead up to her and over her….. gratefully she will not be replaced! I don’t have to wonder who did this? We know his fate. I don’t have to wonder is he ok? No he isn’t. I don’t have to worry will he do this again? No never. But what about her!!!! Those muddy ruts will run thru her for the rest of her life. They leave tracks on all of those who love her. WE can’t act as if it hasn’t happened. We can’t replace the straw and drive by again unnoticed.
The victims are very different but the silence can be very much the same. My red haired friend is lying quietly and growing stronger everyday. A wonderful circle of people surround her with love and support nurturing and helping her grow stronger each day. But what about the community silence. Will we continue to let this happen, go unnoticed except for a small circle of people? This is real, real for my red haired friend, real for the trees, real in our community.
How is this story my story? -- During a walk today, on a brisk fall afternoon in Charlotte, I passed by a huge sweet gum tree. It stood against an electric blue November sky and it still held on to all of its leaves, whose colors ranged the rainbow. It was so vivid and overpowering when I saw it I thought of what God told Moses from the burning bush, when he asked “Who will I tell Pharaoh sent me? “Tell Pharaoh ‘I AM!’ sent you!”
The altars of God indeed! - Amen
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Jonah 4:9-11 For They Know Not What They Do
Jonah 4: 9-11 For They Know Not What They Do
[9] But God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?" And he said, "Yes, angry enough to die." [10] Then the LORD said, "You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. [11] And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?"
What is happening in this story? I love the story of Jonah for many reasons. I think the main reason is that I can identify with Jonah so much. God asks him to go in one direction, and he goes the other. God tells Jonah to warn the terribly sinful city of Ninevah that if they don’t change their ways and turn to him he will destroy them. Jonah is surprised and disappointed that they repent and God shows mercy. He wanted to see justice done. He got angry, angry enough to die! That’s pretty angry. God tries to teach Jonah by sending a bush to provide shade for Jonah in the hot sun, then lets it wither and die. Jonah whines about the poor little bush and his hot head. God confronts him with “You are concerned about the bush…should I not be concerned about Ninevah, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons
( foolish though they may be) and also many animals?” The book abruptly ends there.
How is this happening in the world today? – Recently someone I know was railing about the stupidity of such and such a group, and the futility he felt about the current political races. He had much to support him, including ridiculously designed negative and inflammatory ads accusing every opponent of everything from lying to little old ladies to harboring terrorists. I found myself saying that I didn’t trust any politicians. I remember in the sixties when a large group of my generation decided to turn on, tune in, and drop out. Let’em all go to the devil! It’s what they deserve, we say to each other. But then I remember: They is US.
It’s really easy these days to take an arrogant, holier than thou position to all the craziness we witness. Pretty soon, if we’re not careful, we become brittle and bitter, like the two old grouchy muppets in the balcony, skeptical about everything and everyone. That’s IS the safest position to take. That way no one can make a fool out of you, right?
Jesus taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves. How can we do that and remove ourselves from our fellow human beings, even if we do think they are stupid? God warned Ninevah, and surprise surpise: They listened! They repented, including especially their king. Then God had mercy on them and saved them. Jonah was furious. Where was the justice? The justice was in the love, and the love came first.
Should I not be concerned about Ninevah, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons and also many animals?
How is this story my story? – Eternal God, I can see myself in Jonah, and I can see myself in the people of Ninevah. We talk of your wrath, but you send forgiveness. We deny you and pollute your creation, and you send grace. We forget you and you send your son. We kill him and you send resurrection. We resent your justice, until we are the recipients of it. Thank you gracious creator, for your love that is unearned and poured down on us like cooling waters.
[9] But God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?" And he said, "Yes, angry enough to die." [10] Then the LORD said, "You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. [11] And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?"
What is happening in this story? I love the story of Jonah for many reasons. I think the main reason is that I can identify with Jonah so much. God asks him to go in one direction, and he goes the other. God tells Jonah to warn the terribly sinful city of Ninevah that if they don’t change their ways and turn to him he will destroy them. Jonah is surprised and disappointed that they repent and God shows mercy. He wanted to see justice done. He got angry, angry enough to die! That’s pretty angry. God tries to teach Jonah by sending a bush to provide shade for Jonah in the hot sun, then lets it wither and die. Jonah whines about the poor little bush and his hot head. God confronts him with “You are concerned about the bush…should I not be concerned about Ninevah, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons
( foolish though they may be) and also many animals?” The book abruptly ends there.
How is this happening in the world today? – Recently someone I know was railing about the stupidity of such and such a group, and the futility he felt about the current political races. He had much to support him, including ridiculously designed negative and inflammatory ads accusing every opponent of everything from lying to little old ladies to harboring terrorists. I found myself saying that I didn’t trust any politicians. I remember in the sixties when a large group of my generation decided to turn on, tune in, and drop out. Let’em all go to the devil! It’s what they deserve, we say to each other. But then I remember: They is US.
It’s really easy these days to take an arrogant, holier than thou position to all the craziness we witness. Pretty soon, if we’re not careful, we become brittle and bitter, like the two old grouchy muppets in the balcony, skeptical about everything and everyone. That’s IS the safest position to take. That way no one can make a fool out of you, right?
Jesus taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves. How can we do that and remove ourselves from our fellow human beings, even if we do think they are stupid? God warned Ninevah, and surprise surpise: They listened! They repented, including especially their king. Then God had mercy on them and saved them. Jonah was furious. Where was the justice? The justice was in the love, and the love came first.
Should I not be concerned about Ninevah, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons and also many animals?
How is this story my story? – Eternal God, I can see myself in Jonah, and I can see myself in the people of Ninevah. We talk of your wrath, but you send forgiveness. We deny you and pollute your creation, and you send grace. We forget you and you send your son. We kill him and you send resurrection. We resent your justice, until we are the recipients of it. Thank you gracious creator, for your love that is unearned and poured down on us like cooling waters.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Luke 11: 24-26 In Order, Swept Clean and Ready for Relapse
Luke 11: 24-26 In Order, Swept Clean, and Ready for Relapse
[24] "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' [25] When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. [26] Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first."
What is happening in this scripture? – Jesus is talking to the temple elite who are criticizing him for casting out demons. They tell others that he does so in the name of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons. Jesus asks them by what power their exorcists work. He tells them a house divided against itself will not stand, so why would Satan allow him to cast out demons?
Another saying of Jesus, about a strong man who is overpowered by one stronger than he is suspiciously inserted here. And then this last few verses about the tendency of unclean spirits to return to the house from whence they came. Jesus tells them that when the unclean spirit cannot find another place to rest, it returns and finds that place swept and in order, and it brings seven other spirits more evil than itself and then they enter that ordered, swept house and live there, and the person is worse off than before.
We cannot really know what context Jesus was referring to here, and scholars can only do their best to guess. But one thing we all know from experience is that when we are trying to overcome our past bad habits or addictions we sometimes reach a point when temptation to return is stronger than ever. It seems to be that at that point we are the most vulnerable. We have put our house in order and swept it clean, and then we relapse. Then the hopelessness really sets in. We have failed, again. There is no health in us. We might as well give in and give up. But if we can hold on to God and his promise for a new life, that makes all the difference.
How is this happening in the world today? -- In the recovery movement they speak of God as our Higher Power. They explain that once an addict, always an addict, but taking things one minute, one hour, one day at a time, by realizing our powerlessness and asking God to restore us, we can have new life. Jesus called this being born from above, and that requires us to become as humble as a little child, who knows he does not know, and who is not in control. Once a sinner, always a sinner, but it is letting go of the illusion of control that allows God to step in and save us from ourselves. The Buddha said the same thing. The attachment to the illusion of being in charge blinds us from the saving grace of God’s love for us. We get things in order and we sweep our houses, and we think we are ready. Then old demons come back to torment us, bringing even more pain, and more attachment.
How is this story my story – For some reason Lord, you made me with a short memory. I forget that you are there and try to put myself in charge. I tell myself if I am in control, of myself and everyone else, I can make life the way I want it. But it never works, Lord, and people aren’t interested in being controlled by me. I whine and gripe, but you wisely give me the pain of futility and the blessing of hopelessness, for that is when I start to remember who is in charge.
[24] "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' [25] When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. [26] Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first."
What is happening in this scripture? – Jesus is talking to the temple elite who are criticizing him for casting out demons. They tell others that he does so in the name of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons. Jesus asks them by what power their exorcists work. He tells them a house divided against itself will not stand, so why would Satan allow him to cast out demons?
Another saying of Jesus, about a strong man who is overpowered by one stronger than he is suspiciously inserted here. And then this last few verses about the tendency of unclean spirits to return to the house from whence they came. Jesus tells them that when the unclean spirit cannot find another place to rest, it returns and finds that place swept and in order, and it brings seven other spirits more evil than itself and then they enter that ordered, swept house and live there, and the person is worse off than before.
We cannot really know what context Jesus was referring to here, and scholars can only do their best to guess. But one thing we all know from experience is that when we are trying to overcome our past bad habits or addictions we sometimes reach a point when temptation to return is stronger than ever. It seems to be that at that point we are the most vulnerable. We have put our house in order and swept it clean, and then we relapse. Then the hopelessness really sets in. We have failed, again. There is no health in us. We might as well give in and give up. But if we can hold on to God and his promise for a new life, that makes all the difference.
How is this happening in the world today? -- In the recovery movement they speak of God as our Higher Power. They explain that once an addict, always an addict, but taking things one minute, one hour, one day at a time, by realizing our powerlessness and asking God to restore us, we can have new life. Jesus called this being born from above, and that requires us to become as humble as a little child, who knows he does not know, and who is not in control. Once a sinner, always a sinner, but it is letting go of the illusion of control that allows God to step in and save us from ourselves. The Buddha said the same thing. The attachment to the illusion of being in charge blinds us from the saving grace of God’s love for us. We get things in order and we sweep our houses, and we think we are ready. Then old demons come back to torment us, bringing even more pain, and more attachment.
How is this story my story – For some reason Lord, you made me with a short memory. I forget that you are there and try to put myself in charge. I tell myself if I am in control, of myself and everyone else, I can make life the way I want it. But it never works, Lord, and people aren’t interested in being controlled by me. I whine and gripe, but you wisely give me the pain of futility and the blessing of hopelessness, for that is when I start to remember who is in charge.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Luke 10: 38-42 Remember and Notice
Luke 10:38-42 Remember and Notice
[38] Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. [39] She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. [40] But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." [41] But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; [42] there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
What is happening in this scripture?
What is happening in this scripture? – Jesus and his followers have entered a village where two sisters live. They offer him their hospitality, shelter and food. Martha and Mary live there. Martha busies herself, preparing food for her guests. Mary, on the other hand, sits at the young rabbi’s feet listening to every word Jesus says. Martha gets irritated. She asks Jesus, Don’t you care that my sister has left all the work to me? Jesus tells Martha she is worried and distracted by many things but the one thing that is of need, the most important thing, Mary has chosen, and he will not take that away from her.
How is this happening in the world today? - How did Martha feel hearing Jesus’ answer? Did she ponder what he said, learning from him, or did she just get even more resentful? It is so easy for us, in our fear of not being treated fairly to be resentful of others. I can see Martha’s point. Here she is, doing all the heavy lifting, so to speak, and Mary is just sitting there, mesmerized by the young traveling preacher. Here is the point, I think: Both Mary and Martha know someone really important is in their home. Martha is doing what is expected of a hostess, preparing the necessary. Many caretakers spend each and every day of their lives doing the necessary, most of the time under-appreciated, un-noticed, or without any returned gratitude. Martha was doing the necessary. You can’t share a meal, which is a sacred activity, unless someone prepares it. Mary, on the other hand, is so taken with Jesus, with his words, that she has totally lost her focus in the daily tasks before her. Martha was probably the oldest, don’t you think? She sounds like an eldest child, and Mary like a youngest.
But I think the real point is that Mary chose what she did, and Martha just did what she thought she had to do. I believe that when we choose, intentionally our form of service to God and each other, then whatever we are doing is sacred and important. Nowhere in the story does it say that Martha had to do what she was doing, but her sense of responsibility and duty went before her, and she too was lost in the moment, but in a different way from Mary. Martha was lost in what she thought everyone else expected of her, not in her joy of doing what she was doing. Mary chose; Martha did what she always did, and she resented doing it.
Resentment robs us of the ability to see the sacred, God, right in front of us. As Jacob said at Bethel, "God was in this place, and I, I did not know!"
How is this story my story? – Lord, help me to remember that you give us choices. When I choose to focus on the sacredness of life, in every moment, you turn everything I do into sacred activity, no matter how mundane the rest of the world may think it is. Sometimes a touch heals. Sometimes a kind word, or a "Be careful driving!" is really the voice of God reminding us that I am loved and cared about. Sometimes, "Can I get you a cup of coffee?" or any other expression of hospitality reminds me that God welcomes me to his un-earned grace and love. God help me to notice and remember, no matter what I am doing, that you are in it all, every second.-RSP
[38] Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. [39] She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. [40] But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." [41] But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; [42] there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
What is happening in this scripture?
What is happening in this scripture? – Jesus and his followers have entered a village where two sisters live. They offer him their hospitality, shelter and food. Martha and Mary live there. Martha busies herself, preparing food for her guests. Mary, on the other hand, sits at the young rabbi’s feet listening to every word Jesus says. Martha gets irritated. She asks Jesus, Don’t you care that my sister has left all the work to me? Jesus tells Martha she is worried and distracted by many things but the one thing that is of need, the most important thing, Mary has chosen, and he will not take that away from her.
How is this happening in the world today? - How did Martha feel hearing Jesus’ answer? Did she ponder what he said, learning from him, or did she just get even more resentful? It is so easy for us, in our fear of not being treated fairly to be resentful of others. I can see Martha’s point. Here she is, doing all the heavy lifting, so to speak, and Mary is just sitting there, mesmerized by the young traveling preacher. Here is the point, I think: Both Mary and Martha know someone really important is in their home. Martha is doing what is expected of a hostess, preparing the necessary. Many caretakers spend each and every day of their lives doing the necessary, most of the time under-appreciated, un-noticed, or without any returned gratitude. Martha was doing the necessary. You can’t share a meal, which is a sacred activity, unless someone prepares it. Mary, on the other hand, is so taken with Jesus, with his words, that she has totally lost her focus in the daily tasks before her. Martha was probably the oldest, don’t you think? She sounds like an eldest child, and Mary like a youngest.
But I think the real point is that Mary chose what she did, and Martha just did what she thought she had to do. I believe that when we choose, intentionally our form of service to God and each other, then whatever we are doing is sacred and important. Nowhere in the story does it say that Martha had to do what she was doing, but her sense of responsibility and duty went before her, and she too was lost in the moment, but in a different way from Mary. Martha was lost in what she thought everyone else expected of her, not in her joy of doing what she was doing. Mary chose; Martha did what she always did, and she resented doing it.
Resentment robs us of the ability to see the sacred, God, right in front of us. As Jacob said at Bethel, "God was in this place, and I, I did not know!"
How is this story my story? – Lord, help me to remember that you give us choices. When I choose to focus on the sacredness of life, in every moment, you turn everything I do into sacred activity, no matter how mundane the rest of the world may think it is. Sometimes a touch heals. Sometimes a kind word, or a "Be careful driving!" is really the voice of God reminding us that I am loved and cared about. Sometimes, "Can I get you a cup of coffee?" or any other expression of hospitality reminds me that God welcomes me to his un-earned grace and love. God help me to notice and remember, no matter what I am doing, that you are in it all, every second.-RSP
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Luke 10: 21-22 The Power of the Powerless
Luke 10: 21-22 The Power of The Powerless
[21] At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. [22] All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
What is happening in this scripture? – Jesus has just heard from the seventy he sent out. They have rejoiced and told him that in his name that even demons had submitted to them. Jesus shares with them a vision; tells them he saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven and that he has given them authority to tread on scorpions and serpents, and have all power over the enemy, and nothing could hurt them.
The author of Luke-Acts wants us to know that Jesus empowered his proclaimers, and protected them. There is no escaping the claim made here that Jesus, as God’s son, had given divine authority over the powers and principalities of evil. The Encarta dictionary’s first definition of the word divine is “having god-like qualities”. In this scripture we hear the rejoicing of men and women who have gone out at Jesus’ command, proclaiming the nearness of the Kingdom of God, and have returned to him saying that they experienced power such as they had never known. Jesus then prays and thanks God for hiding this knowledge or power from the so-called wise and intelligent and revealing it to these “infants”. Yes, Father for such was your gracious will. The author of Luke-Acts wants us to know that is God’s gracious will, to empower the powerless, not those who weld power of Caesar’s kind. It is, as Jesus says in the next verse, a knowledge that the Son chooses to reveal.
How is this happening in the world today? – What are god-like qualities? It depends upon the nature of your god, doesn’t it? What is the nature of God? Through Jesus we see the nature of our God. He is empowering. He loves justice. He heals. He feeds. He offers hope. He forgives. He stays in close touch with his Father through prayer. He afflicts the comfortable and he comforts the afflicted. And he challenges us, all of us, to love God with all our heart, soul and might, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. He loves justice, and his power derives from that justice, that love.
What is this scripture saying to me? – I could get all caught up in believing that Jesus will empower me to do god-like things. But, as Jesus, warns his followers, Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written
in heaven." In other words, “Don’t let it go to your head! Just be glad God knows and loves you. That’s the real reason to be happy.”
[21] At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. [22] All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
What is happening in this scripture? – Jesus has just heard from the seventy he sent out. They have rejoiced and told him that in his name that even demons had submitted to them. Jesus shares with them a vision; tells them he saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven and that he has given them authority to tread on scorpions and serpents, and have all power over the enemy, and nothing could hurt them.
The author of Luke-Acts wants us to know that Jesus empowered his proclaimers, and protected them. There is no escaping the claim made here that Jesus, as God’s son, had given divine authority over the powers and principalities of evil. The Encarta dictionary’s first definition of the word divine is “having god-like qualities”. In this scripture we hear the rejoicing of men and women who have gone out at Jesus’ command, proclaiming the nearness of the Kingdom of God, and have returned to him saying that they experienced power such as they had never known. Jesus then prays and thanks God for hiding this knowledge or power from the so-called wise and intelligent and revealing it to these “infants”. Yes, Father for such was your gracious will. The author of Luke-Acts wants us to know that is God’s gracious will, to empower the powerless, not those who weld power of Caesar’s kind. It is, as Jesus says in the next verse, a knowledge that the Son chooses to reveal.
How is this happening in the world today? – What are god-like qualities? It depends upon the nature of your god, doesn’t it? What is the nature of God? Through Jesus we see the nature of our God. He is empowering. He loves justice. He heals. He feeds. He offers hope. He forgives. He stays in close touch with his Father through prayer. He afflicts the comfortable and he comforts the afflicted. And he challenges us, all of us, to love God with all our heart, soul and might, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. He loves justice, and his power derives from that justice, that love.
What is this scripture saying to me? – I could get all caught up in believing that Jesus will empower me to do god-like things. But, as Jesus, warns his followers, Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written
in heaven." In other words, “Don’t let it go to your head! Just be glad God knows and loves you. That’s the real reason to be happy.”
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Luke 10: 1-4 "Where Waits Your New Life?"
Luke 10:1-16 “Where Waits Your New Life?”
[1] After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. [2] He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. [3] Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. [4] Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.
What is happening in this scripture? – Luke’s version of Jesus sending disciples out into the world. We do not know all of the whys and wherefores of Jesus’ instructions to them, but it is not hard to understand these words: See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. He tells them to carry no purse, no bag, and no sandals, and to greet no one on the road. Why? Perhaps this was Jesus’ way of expressing, through the lack of money, supplies, and even sandals to protect the feet of these disciples that he really knew of their poverty. Perhaps it was a way to say to these people, it isn’t about empire, or money, or possessions, or staffs or even swords. His advice to greet no one on the road might have been so they wouldn’t be mistaken for common beggars, simply looking for a meal. These people were looking for those who would listen. These people were to be seen as open handed, non threatening, like lambs, and they were sent to harvest. Jesus once used the term fishers, maybe a good metaphor for the coastal people. This time it was for the agrarian communities – harvesters. I can imagine them saying something like, “I come to proclaim that the kingdom of God is near. If you are angry, hungry, lonely, afraid, listen to me. I can help. Let me tell you about a man I know. His name is Jesus. He is a simple carpenter from Nazareth. He has shown us a better way. May I come in and tell you about him?”
How is this happening in the world today? – Sadly, so many have come to people in the name of Christianity with ulterior motives. Some come seeking money, others want to tell you what to believe, what to wear, what to eat, what to think, how to vote, who to accept, who to reject, etc. Jesus wanted these pilgrims to proclaim the kingdom of God, that kingdom that harvests followers with love and kindness, healing, forgiveness, a common meal, and a promise of a new life. They spoke of a better way, better than Herod, better than Caesar.
When is the last time you encountered a person who simply offered hope to you, no strings attached? When is the last time you were that person? Our religion has gotten so cumbersome, so weighed down with ifs ands or buts that it is easy to imagine Jesus shaking his head. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. These people weren’t salesmen. They were witnesses.
How is this scripture your scripture? – What do people like us know about speaking a simple truth? What do we know about being lambs among wolves? How does one tame a wolf? Who do we know in our lives, reaching out to us with a simple truth? Who is standing at your door, wanting to give you some good news? Where does your new life wait?
[1] After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. [2] He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. [3] Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. [4] Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.
What is happening in this scripture? – Luke’s version of Jesus sending disciples out into the world. We do not know all of the whys and wherefores of Jesus’ instructions to them, but it is not hard to understand these words: See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. He tells them to carry no purse, no bag, and no sandals, and to greet no one on the road. Why? Perhaps this was Jesus’ way of expressing, through the lack of money, supplies, and even sandals to protect the feet of these disciples that he really knew of their poverty. Perhaps it was a way to say to these people, it isn’t about empire, or money, or possessions, or staffs or even swords. His advice to greet no one on the road might have been so they wouldn’t be mistaken for common beggars, simply looking for a meal. These people were looking for those who would listen. These people were to be seen as open handed, non threatening, like lambs, and they were sent to harvest. Jesus once used the term fishers, maybe a good metaphor for the coastal people. This time it was for the agrarian communities – harvesters. I can imagine them saying something like, “I come to proclaim that the kingdom of God is near. If you are angry, hungry, lonely, afraid, listen to me. I can help. Let me tell you about a man I know. His name is Jesus. He is a simple carpenter from Nazareth. He has shown us a better way. May I come in and tell you about him?”
How is this happening in the world today? – Sadly, so many have come to people in the name of Christianity with ulterior motives. Some come seeking money, others want to tell you what to believe, what to wear, what to eat, what to think, how to vote, who to accept, who to reject, etc. Jesus wanted these pilgrims to proclaim the kingdom of God, that kingdom that harvests followers with love and kindness, healing, forgiveness, a common meal, and a promise of a new life. They spoke of a better way, better than Herod, better than Caesar.
When is the last time you encountered a person who simply offered hope to you, no strings attached? When is the last time you were that person? Our religion has gotten so cumbersome, so weighed down with ifs ands or buts that it is easy to imagine Jesus shaking his head. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. These people weren’t salesmen. They were witnesses.
How is this scripture your scripture? – What do people like us know about speaking a simple truth? What do we know about being lambs among wolves? How does one tame a wolf? Who do we know in our lives, reaching out to us with a simple truth? Who is standing at your door, wanting to give you some good news? Where does your new life wait?
Monday, October 23, 2006
Luke 9: 51-55 When the Days Drew Near
Luke 9: 51-55 When the Days Drew Near
[51] When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. [52] And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; [53] but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. [54] When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" [55] But he turned and rebuked them. [56] Then they went on to another village.
What is happening in this scripture?
(Historical context of Jews and Samaritans) - Israel and Judah split into two kingdoms in the ninth century. King Omri, ruler of the Northern Kingdom bought the hill of Samaria. He built the capital city of Samaria there. During the Babylonia siege of Jerusalem or thereabouts, many of the citizens of Samaria were also carried off. Some farmers and others were not. Eventually there were marriages with other peoples. The second book of Kings says that the king of Assyria sent a priest from the exiled people to teach the Samaritans left how to worship Yaheweh appropriately. Apostasy, the worship of other gods had begun to take place on a large scale.
Cyrus of Babylon finally permitted the Jews to return. Samaritans tried to welcome them back but they were seen by the returning Jews as not faithful. Their help in rebuilding the temple was refused. This created even more hostility between these peoples. Nehemiah says that a grandson of the high priest Eliashib married a daughter of Sanballat, the governor of Samaria. Nehemiah drove Eliashib from Jerusalem for defiling the priesthood, by marrying outside of the faith, even though Sanballat worshipped Yahweh.
The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that Sanballat had a temple built on Mount Arizim so his son-in-law Eliashib could carry out his priestly duties. A full and final break resulted between the Samaritans and the Jews.
A very interesting scripture here. Jesus, who had told the parable of the good Samaritan, and who had spoken with the Samaritan woman at the well, sends messengers ahead of himself, after setting his face towards Jerusalem. The Samaritan village will not receive him, (receive his teaching or extend the hospitality of food and shelter, or both?) after finding out that he had set his face upon Jerusalem. James and John, highly offended, asked Jesus if he wanted them to ask God to send fire down upon their village. Jesus stops, turns, and rebukes James and John for suggesting such vengeance. Then he sets out for another village.
In this scripture, no one is getting it. The Samaritans allow their age old animosities to block them from accepting the good news, and the disciples allow their prejudice from hearing what the good news is. Jesus is teaching the two commandments, love God with all you have and love your neighbor as yourself. The Samaritans are jealous because Jesus has his face set upon Jerusalem, another slam against the Samaritans and who has the REAL temple. James and John want Godly revenge. Even as the days draw near, as the scripture says, Jesus is still not understood by those he has tried to befriend or even those closest to him. Luke tells us there was little difference between the Samaritans or the disciples, as far as understanding Jesus. Both allowed resentment, hate, fear, and past offenses to block the proclamation that the kingdom of God was near.
How is this happening in the world today? – How many people like us can identify with either the people of the Samaritan village or James and John? The kingdom of God, the opportunity to do new things, brave things, love one another without reservation, comes to our village, and we, out of fear, prejudice, resentment, past hurts, miss the opportunity? How many people like us can identify with James and John, ready to ask God to hurl down fire upon those we feel have offended or rejected us? Jesus has his face set, in Jerusalem, on confronting the normalcy of our everyday evil. He is walking fast, and we can join him or get caught in the webs of our own hatred.
How is this story my story? – Lord, I know your kingdom is near, as near as the next breath I take, as near as the face of the other person I am speaking to. Give me the courage to receive you into my village with hospitality, and not let my fear, hatred or resentments block me from setting my own face towards my own Jerusalem.
The daily Lectionary is a free service of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) To learn more visit http://www.pcusa.org/devotions/lectionary/index
[51] When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. [52] And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; [53] but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. [54] When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" [55] But he turned and rebuked them. [56] Then they went on to another village.
What is happening in this scripture?
(Historical context of Jews and Samaritans) - Israel and Judah split into two kingdoms in the ninth century. King Omri, ruler of the Northern Kingdom bought the hill of Samaria. He built the capital city of Samaria there. During the Babylonia siege of Jerusalem or thereabouts, many of the citizens of Samaria were also carried off. Some farmers and others were not. Eventually there were marriages with other peoples. The second book of Kings says that the king of Assyria sent a priest from the exiled people to teach the Samaritans left how to worship Yaheweh appropriately. Apostasy, the worship of other gods had begun to take place on a large scale.
Cyrus of Babylon finally permitted the Jews to return. Samaritans tried to welcome them back but they were seen by the returning Jews as not faithful. Their help in rebuilding the temple was refused. This created even more hostility between these peoples. Nehemiah says that a grandson of the high priest Eliashib married a daughter of Sanballat, the governor of Samaria. Nehemiah drove Eliashib from Jerusalem for defiling the priesthood, by marrying outside of the faith, even though Sanballat worshipped Yahweh.
The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that Sanballat had a temple built on Mount Arizim so his son-in-law Eliashib could carry out his priestly duties. A full and final break resulted between the Samaritans and the Jews.
A very interesting scripture here. Jesus, who had told the parable of the good Samaritan, and who had spoken with the Samaritan woman at the well, sends messengers ahead of himself, after setting his face towards Jerusalem. The Samaritan village will not receive him, (receive his teaching or extend the hospitality of food and shelter, or both?) after finding out that he had set his face upon Jerusalem. James and John, highly offended, asked Jesus if he wanted them to ask God to send fire down upon their village. Jesus stops, turns, and rebukes James and John for suggesting such vengeance. Then he sets out for another village.
In this scripture, no one is getting it. The Samaritans allow their age old animosities to block them from accepting the good news, and the disciples allow their prejudice from hearing what the good news is. Jesus is teaching the two commandments, love God with all you have and love your neighbor as yourself. The Samaritans are jealous because Jesus has his face set upon Jerusalem, another slam against the Samaritans and who has the REAL temple. James and John want Godly revenge. Even as the days draw near, as the scripture says, Jesus is still not understood by those he has tried to befriend or even those closest to him. Luke tells us there was little difference between the Samaritans or the disciples, as far as understanding Jesus. Both allowed resentment, hate, fear, and past offenses to block the proclamation that the kingdom of God was near.
How is this happening in the world today? – How many people like us can identify with either the people of the Samaritan village or James and John? The kingdom of God, the opportunity to do new things, brave things, love one another without reservation, comes to our village, and we, out of fear, prejudice, resentment, past hurts, miss the opportunity? How many people like us can identify with James and John, ready to ask God to hurl down fire upon those we feel have offended or rejected us? Jesus has his face set, in Jerusalem, on confronting the normalcy of our everyday evil. He is walking fast, and we can join him or get caught in the webs of our own hatred.
How is this story my story? – Lord, I know your kingdom is near, as near as the next breath I take, as near as the face of the other person I am speaking to. Give me the courage to receive you into my village with hospitality, and not let my fear, hatred or resentments block me from setting my own face towards my own Jerusalem.
The daily Lectionary is a free service of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) To learn more visit http://www.pcusa.org/devotions/lectionary/index
Friday, October 20, 2006
Psalm 32: 1-5 Happy Are Those
Psalm 32:1-5 Happy Are Those
[1] Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
[2] Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
[3] While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
[4] For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
[5] Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD",
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
What is happening in this scripture? – The Psalmist writes a song of gratitude for forgiveness. He makes some good points. He says in this song that when he was doing things, transgressions, (we don’t know what they were), his body wasted away, he groaned all day long. He says he felt the hand of God heavy upon him and that he had no energy. He was not a happy man.
Then he says that he acknowledged his sin to God; that he stopped trying to hide his wrong doings, and he received forgiveness. Perhaps he went to his temple, participated in the rituals, paid his temple fee, and received priestly reassurance. But what he points out is that he admitted what he was feeling guilty about. Confession, they say, is good for the soul. It truly is. But it wasn’t confession that the Psalmist says made him happy, it was the forgiveness, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
As a counselor, I have seen what guilt can do to a person, or a relationship. I have seen what lies can do to a life. I have also seen what honest confrontation with yourself can do. It’s very hard work, and sometimes it is terrifying. But with it comes great relief and release. The first thing a recovering addict learns to do is tell the truth. The second is to allow himself to receive the truth, that he is worthy of a new life, and that he is not his disease. It seems to me that this is one of the most important truths of Christianity: We are not our disease. We are not our sins. We may identify with them, we may let them define us, but we do not have to do so. There is another way to live. No one is perfect, we all miss the mark, sometimes on purpose, sometimes accidentally. But Jesus reminds us that we are the children of a creator, who loves us unconditionally. The hard part, in my experience, is forgiving yourself.
There is happiness and release, and new life, waiting for us, if we will only tell the truth to ourselves and to God.
How is this happening in the world? – Questions to Ponder:
Where in the world today do you see others spending all their energy on propping up denial? What do you know about people like us, who moan and groan all day under the heaviness of living a lie? How is God calling us to release and relief through honesty?
How is this story my story? – Denial is not a river in Egypt. When I deny the truth, I deny you God, because you are the source of that which really is. Sometimes the truth is ugly, but if I don’t face old lies, how can I face new life? If you love me, I must be worth saving. Help me to realize the value which you have placed upon me, so that I may do the same.
[1] Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
[2] Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
[3] While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
[4] For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
[5] Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD",
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
What is happening in this scripture? – The Psalmist writes a song of gratitude for forgiveness. He makes some good points. He says in this song that when he was doing things, transgressions, (we don’t know what they were), his body wasted away, he groaned all day long. He says he felt the hand of God heavy upon him and that he had no energy. He was not a happy man.
Then he says that he acknowledged his sin to God; that he stopped trying to hide his wrong doings, and he received forgiveness. Perhaps he went to his temple, participated in the rituals, paid his temple fee, and received priestly reassurance. But what he points out is that he admitted what he was feeling guilty about. Confession, they say, is good for the soul. It truly is. But it wasn’t confession that the Psalmist says made him happy, it was the forgiveness, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
As a counselor, I have seen what guilt can do to a person, or a relationship. I have seen what lies can do to a life. I have also seen what honest confrontation with yourself can do. It’s very hard work, and sometimes it is terrifying. But with it comes great relief and release. The first thing a recovering addict learns to do is tell the truth. The second is to allow himself to receive the truth, that he is worthy of a new life, and that he is not his disease. It seems to me that this is one of the most important truths of Christianity: We are not our disease. We are not our sins. We may identify with them, we may let them define us, but we do not have to do so. There is another way to live. No one is perfect, we all miss the mark, sometimes on purpose, sometimes accidentally. But Jesus reminds us that we are the children of a creator, who loves us unconditionally. The hard part, in my experience, is forgiving yourself.
There is happiness and release, and new life, waiting for us, if we will only tell the truth to ourselves and to God.
How is this happening in the world? – Questions to Ponder:
Where in the world today do you see others spending all their energy on propping up denial? What do you know about people like us, who moan and groan all day under the heaviness of living a lie? How is God calling us to release and relief through honesty?
How is this story my story? – Denial is not a river in Egypt. When I deny the truth, I deny you God, because you are the source of that which really is. Sometimes the truth is ugly, but if I don’t face old lies, how can I face new life? If you love me, I must be worth saving. Help me to realize the value which you have placed upon me, so that I may do the same.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Luke 9:18-27 The Loneliest Question
Luke 9:18-27 The Loneliest Question
[18] Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" [19] They answered, "John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen." [20] He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Messiah of God."
[21] He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, [22] saying, "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."
[23] Then he said to them all, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. [24] For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. [25] What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?
What is happening in this scripture – These verses always take me to a place of contemplation. Jesus, prays alone. Then, he asks his disciples, those near him, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” What must have been going on inside of him at that point? Am I doing this the right way? Does anyone understand what I am saying? It seems like a lonely question to ask. How many times have we asked lonely questions of ourselves, of those nearest to us? The disciples tell him some think he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, referring perhaps to the Jewish belief that Elijah would return just before the Messiah appeared to the world. And some others believed that one of the other ancient prophets had returned. Then Jesus asks another lonely question: “But who do YOU say that I am?” Peter says, “The Messiah of God”.
Jesus gets stern and orders and commands them to tell no one that. Then he seems to speak in the third person about himself, saying that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the temple elite, to be killed, and on the third day to be raised. Jesus wants them to know that he is not just Jesus, their friend, a clever and winsome healer, or even a great new prophet. No. He speaks of himself as something universal, something quintessential, and his words resonate for anyone who faces the normalcy of civilization with the truth. It is not just Jesus who will be rejected by the authorities, killed by the system. It is anyone who takes up their OWN CROSS daily and follows him.
The lonely question, “Who do you say that I am?” invites us to ask two other lonely questions: “Who do YOU think Jesus is?” and “Who do you think YOU are?” The answers to those two questions should not be given as fast as Peter answered Jesus. Why? Because these two questions are the biggest questions you will ever ask. And the answers will make all the difference, shaping your life and perhaps your destiny.
How is this happening in the world today? – There are many, and have been many, who have attempted to answer that lonely question, “Who do you say that I am?” There are thousands who think they know the answer to that question, or they want someone else to answer it for them. I think the question is answered, like Peter, too quickly. Because what Jesus then asks his disciples to do is to deny themselves. How many people do you see these days who are really doing that? How many are willing to take up their own crosses and try to follow this amazing transcendent, immanent, Son of Man? Do we really know where he is leading us with that cross of his? The cross was an instrument of execution. How many would follow an electric chair or gas chamber? There are many who have gone before us who have done just that, stood up to evil and to hate and to power and forfeited their lives.
Jesus promises us that those of us who lose their lives for his sake will save them. Does that mean a ticket into heaven, or a doorway into the kingdom of God, here and now? Jesus used the word, daily. That means NOW.
How is this story my story? -- Who do you say that I am? Jesus asks us. The answer will tell you who YOU are.
Don’t answer too quickly. It’s a really lonely question.
The daily Lectionary is a free service of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) To learn more visit http://www.pcusa.org/devotions/lectionary/index
[18] Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" [19] They answered, "John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen." [20] He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Messiah of God."
[21] He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, [22] saying, "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."
[23] Then he said to them all, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. [24] For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. [25] What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?
What is happening in this scripture – These verses always take me to a place of contemplation. Jesus, prays alone. Then, he asks his disciples, those near him, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” What must have been going on inside of him at that point? Am I doing this the right way? Does anyone understand what I am saying? It seems like a lonely question to ask. How many times have we asked lonely questions of ourselves, of those nearest to us? The disciples tell him some think he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, referring perhaps to the Jewish belief that Elijah would return just before the Messiah appeared to the world. And some others believed that one of the other ancient prophets had returned. Then Jesus asks another lonely question: “But who do YOU say that I am?” Peter says, “The Messiah of God”.
Jesus gets stern and orders and commands them to tell no one that. Then he seems to speak in the third person about himself, saying that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the temple elite, to be killed, and on the third day to be raised. Jesus wants them to know that he is not just Jesus, their friend, a clever and winsome healer, or even a great new prophet. No. He speaks of himself as something universal, something quintessential, and his words resonate for anyone who faces the normalcy of civilization with the truth. It is not just Jesus who will be rejected by the authorities, killed by the system. It is anyone who takes up their OWN CROSS daily and follows him.
The lonely question, “Who do you say that I am?” invites us to ask two other lonely questions: “Who do YOU think Jesus is?” and “Who do you think YOU are?” The answers to those two questions should not be given as fast as Peter answered Jesus. Why? Because these two questions are the biggest questions you will ever ask. And the answers will make all the difference, shaping your life and perhaps your destiny.
How is this happening in the world today? – There are many, and have been many, who have attempted to answer that lonely question, “Who do you say that I am?” There are thousands who think they know the answer to that question, or they want someone else to answer it for them. I think the question is answered, like Peter, too quickly. Because what Jesus then asks his disciples to do is to deny themselves. How many people do you see these days who are really doing that? How many are willing to take up their own crosses and try to follow this amazing transcendent, immanent, Son of Man? Do we really know where he is leading us with that cross of his? The cross was an instrument of execution. How many would follow an electric chair or gas chamber? There are many who have gone before us who have done just that, stood up to evil and to hate and to power and forfeited their lives.
Jesus promises us that those of us who lose their lives for his sake will save them. Does that mean a ticket into heaven, or a doorway into the kingdom of God, here and now? Jesus used the word, daily. That means NOW.
How is this story my story? -- Who do you say that I am? Jesus asks us. The answer will tell you who YOU are.
Don’t answer too quickly. It’s a really lonely question.
The daily Lectionary is a free service of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) To learn more visit http://www.pcusa.org/devotions/lectionary/index
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Luke 8: 40-56 Get Up! The Kingdom Is Here!
Luke 8:40-56 Get Up! The Kingdom of God is Here!
[40] Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. [41] Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, [42] for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying.
As he went, the crowds pressed in on him. [43] Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. [44] She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. [45] Then Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you." [46] But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me." [47] When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. [48] He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."
49] While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader’s house to say, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer."
[50] When Jesus heard this, he replied, "Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved." [51] When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. [52] They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping." [53] And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. [54] But he took her by the hand and called out, "Child, get up!" [55] Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. [56] Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.
What is happening in this scripture? – Here is a story, with a story inside of it. It’s like a sandwich. Jesus greets a crowd waiting for him, and they welcomed him. The leader of the local synagogue, Jairus, falls at his feet and begs him to come to his house to heal his 12 yr old daughter, who is dying.
On the way, a woman who has been hemorrhages for 12 years touches the fringe of his clothes, and immediately the hemorrhage stops. Jesus feels power go out from him, asks who touched him, and the woman, trembling falls before him and declares before the entire crowd why she touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. Jesus, instead of withdrawing from her, for a menstruating woman was considered unclean, says to her “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. In front of a crowd, on the way to the synagogue, Jesus blesses a woman who is bleeding and tells her HER faith healed her. Can you hear the walls falling down?
Luke wants us to know that the leader of a local synagogue falls down before Jesus. As the story continues, someone says to Jairus, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.” It’s too late. Might as well accept reality. No need to trouble the healer any longer. It’s too late. But Jesus says, “Do no fear. Only believe and she will be saved.” He continues to the sad home. Many are weeping. Some laugh at him when he tells them something only a crazy man would say, “Do not weep, for she is not dead, but sleeping.” He takes her by the hand and calls out “Child, get up!” Her spirit returns, and she gets up at once. Jesus tells them to give her something to eat. Jesus swears them to silence.
A desperate father falls at Jesus’ feet, he begs for a dying child, a hemorrhaging woman, a pressing crowd, his fringe touched, power goes out, healing happens. Again falling at Jesus’ feet. A dead child, weeping and laughing disbelievers, a hand is touched, a spirit returns, a child is revived. Illness is conquered. Death is overcome. The Kingdom of God is present.
To me this story is not about special effects, or even about if you believe enough, your dying child or your cancer or whatever is wrong, God will cure. It is about healing. It is about humbling and begging. It is about loving your daughter so much you will do anything to save her. It is about being so aware of Jesus and what he can do, that even being on the fringe of his love will stop whatever is bleeding you to death. It is about not giving up, even in the face of death, even after death has brushed you with his wings.
Rev. Frederick Beuchner once said that at times like this, God is useless, meaning we cannot somehow manipulate God into doing what we want him to do. He goes on to say that it is his presence that makes the difference, and our presence too. We may not always be able to cure, but through Christ we can be healed, and by carrying his presence to others, be part of this healing for others. We can help spirits return to those thought dead. We can take people by the hand, and feed them. This is how God changes the world, one preacher, one bleeding need, one lost and spiritless and hungry child at a time. And we are all lost, spiritless, hungry children.
But we cannot allow the walls that we erect to keep us apart, stop us from reaching out and saying to people, Get up! Jesus is here!
The daily Lectionary is a free service of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) To learn more visit http://www.pcusa.org/devotions/lectionary/index
[40] Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. [41] Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, [42] for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying.
As he went, the crowds pressed in on him. [43] Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. [44] She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. [45] Then Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you." [46] But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me." [47] When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. [48] He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."
49] While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader’s house to say, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer."
[50] When Jesus heard this, he replied, "Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved." [51] When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. [52] They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping." [53] And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. [54] But he took her by the hand and called out, "Child, get up!" [55] Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. [56] Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.
What is happening in this scripture? – Here is a story, with a story inside of it. It’s like a sandwich. Jesus greets a crowd waiting for him, and they welcomed him. The leader of the local synagogue, Jairus, falls at his feet and begs him to come to his house to heal his 12 yr old daughter, who is dying.
On the way, a woman who has been hemorrhages for 12 years touches the fringe of his clothes, and immediately the hemorrhage stops. Jesus feels power go out from him, asks who touched him, and the woman, trembling falls before him and declares before the entire crowd why she touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. Jesus, instead of withdrawing from her, for a menstruating woman was considered unclean, says to her “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. In front of a crowd, on the way to the synagogue, Jesus blesses a woman who is bleeding and tells her HER faith healed her. Can you hear the walls falling down?
Luke wants us to know that the leader of a local synagogue falls down before Jesus. As the story continues, someone says to Jairus, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.” It’s too late. Might as well accept reality. No need to trouble the healer any longer. It’s too late. But Jesus says, “Do no fear. Only believe and she will be saved.” He continues to the sad home. Many are weeping. Some laugh at him when he tells them something only a crazy man would say, “Do not weep, for she is not dead, but sleeping.” He takes her by the hand and calls out “Child, get up!” Her spirit returns, and she gets up at once. Jesus tells them to give her something to eat. Jesus swears them to silence.
A desperate father falls at Jesus’ feet, he begs for a dying child, a hemorrhaging woman, a pressing crowd, his fringe touched, power goes out, healing happens. Again falling at Jesus’ feet. A dead child, weeping and laughing disbelievers, a hand is touched, a spirit returns, a child is revived. Illness is conquered. Death is overcome. The Kingdom of God is present.
To me this story is not about special effects, or even about if you believe enough, your dying child or your cancer or whatever is wrong, God will cure. It is about healing. It is about humbling and begging. It is about loving your daughter so much you will do anything to save her. It is about being so aware of Jesus and what he can do, that even being on the fringe of his love will stop whatever is bleeding you to death. It is about not giving up, even in the face of death, even after death has brushed you with his wings.
Rev. Frederick Beuchner once said that at times like this, God is useless, meaning we cannot somehow manipulate God into doing what we want him to do. He goes on to say that it is his presence that makes the difference, and our presence too. We may not always be able to cure, but through Christ we can be healed, and by carrying his presence to others, be part of this healing for others. We can help spirits return to those thought dead. We can take people by the hand, and feed them. This is how God changes the world, one preacher, one bleeding need, one lost and spiritless and hungry child at a time. And we are all lost, spiritless, hungry children.
But we cannot allow the walls that we erect to keep us apart, stop us from reaching out and saying to people, Get up! Jesus is here!
The daily Lectionary is a free service of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) To learn more visit http://www.pcusa.org/devotions/lectionary/index
Monday, October 16, 2006
Luke 8:26-31; 35-37 Seized With Fear
Luke 8:26-31; 35-37 Seized With Fear
[26] Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. [27] As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. [28] When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not
torment me"--[29] for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) [30] Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. [31] They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.
[35] Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. [36] Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. [37] Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear.
What is happening in this scripture? – This is the story in Luke of Jesus healing the demoniac. Several phrases really catch me in this scripture: “a man of the city” “For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.”
Jesus asks the man, (or the demon) “What is your name?” The answer given is “Legion”. Of course this word means, many, but it is also the name of the units of Roman troops occupying Judea. In this scripture, Jesus is in complete control over the demons. They beg him not to send them back into the “abyss” (the man had been living in the tombs). Is this allegory? Whether it is or not, the imagery is powerful. Jesus sends the demons into the unclean swine, and then to their death, over another kind of abyss.
Then another curious thing happens. The people of that area see the man clothed and healed and they become afraid. They in fact, were seized with fear. Two kind of seizures: First the man of the city was seized by demons, a legion of them, then the people were seized by fear. What were they afraid of? Why did they not rejoice? Why did they ask Jesus to leave their area? Was it Roman retribution that frightened them? Did seeing a man they had known as possessed for so long, healthy and normal just blow their minds so much that they just got scared? Maybe they thought, “If others hear about Jesus being here, and doing this, we’ll be overrun with sick, crazy, possessed people wanting a cure.”
One thing is for sure. They wanted to be rid of Jesus.
How is this happening in the world today? – Not too many years ago, the mentally ill used to be considered possessed. I am glad those days are over. But looking at this story, there is more than one definition of being possessed.
Imagine you live in a little village in Poland or France or Austria during World War II. The Nazis have invaded and now occupy your finest buildings. Patrols are in the street, night and day. People who have spoken out have disappeared. Anyone with a Jewish heritage has been taken away. A young wandering minister comes along and somehow the Nazis are powerless over his presence. Some of them even run off a cliff, to their death. You live in this village. What do you feel? You know the village will surely pay a price for this. Someone will pay. Would you not want this young man to just get out of your town?
Or consider that you are addicted to something. For years you have tried, over and over and sometimes break the shackles of the bottle, the pills, the needle, only to wind up in the wilderness of the alley or the bars, and you go right back to the habit. There seems to be no hope for you. You are possessed. A young man with eyes like you’ve never seen before comes up to you, tells you that you belong to God and you are loved, forgiven, and gives you something you’ve never had before, real hope and self respect. You are no longer naked, exposed to the ridicule of others or the exploitation of the pushers. Jesus tells you to go form a local 12 step chapter and share the love.
One more. You are a Roman Centurion. Daily, you are called on to do horrible things to people, to keep the Pax Romanus. One day a young man named Jesus sees you, calls you out, and says the he loves even you. You must leave now. If you stay you will be caught and killed as a deserter. But you will never forget this young Jewish healer, who offered you a new way to live.
How is this story my story? – Lord, without your grace there is no health in me. You call me out of my life among the tombs. I am possessed by the culture in which I live, and the only alternative is to the wilderness of self contempt, or believing in your Grace. This is not the level of love we are used to seeing, and frankly it is frightening in its power and scope. Can the world really work this way? Are we to believe this is possible, to love and forgive and treat each other like we would treat ourselves?
Do we send you away Lord, or do we accept your acceptance?
[26] Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. [27] As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. [28] When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not
torment me"--[29] for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) [30] Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. [31] They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.
[35] Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. [36] Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. [37] Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear.
What is happening in this scripture? – This is the story in Luke of Jesus healing the demoniac. Several phrases really catch me in this scripture: “a man of the city” “For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.”
Jesus asks the man, (or the demon) “What is your name?” The answer given is “Legion”. Of course this word means, many, but it is also the name of the units of Roman troops occupying Judea. In this scripture, Jesus is in complete control over the demons. They beg him not to send them back into the “abyss” (the man had been living in the tombs). Is this allegory? Whether it is or not, the imagery is powerful. Jesus sends the demons into the unclean swine, and then to their death, over another kind of abyss.
Then another curious thing happens. The people of that area see the man clothed and healed and they become afraid. They in fact, were seized with fear. Two kind of seizures: First the man of the city was seized by demons, a legion of them, then the people were seized by fear. What were they afraid of? Why did they not rejoice? Why did they ask Jesus to leave their area? Was it Roman retribution that frightened them? Did seeing a man they had known as possessed for so long, healthy and normal just blow their minds so much that they just got scared? Maybe they thought, “If others hear about Jesus being here, and doing this, we’ll be overrun with sick, crazy, possessed people wanting a cure.”
One thing is for sure. They wanted to be rid of Jesus.
How is this happening in the world today? – Not too many years ago, the mentally ill used to be considered possessed. I am glad those days are over. But looking at this story, there is more than one definition of being possessed.
Imagine you live in a little village in Poland or France or Austria during World War II. The Nazis have invaded and now occupy your finest buildings. Patrols are in the street, night and day. People who have spoken out have disappeared. Anyone with a Jewish heritage has been taken away. A young wandering minister comes along and somehow the Nazis are powerless over his presence. Some of them even run off a cliff, to their death. You live in this village. What do you feel? You know the village will surely pay a price for this. Someone will pay. Would you not want this young man to just get out of your town?
Or consider that you are addicted to something. For years you have tried, over and over and sometimes break the shackles of the bottle, the pills, the needle, only to wind up in the wilderness of the alley or the bars, and you go right back to the habit. There seems to be no hope for you. You are possessed. A young man with eyes like you’ve never seen before comes up to you, tells you that you belong to God and you are loved, forgiven, and gives you something you’ve never had before, real hope and self respect. You are no longer naked, exposed to the ridicule of others or the exploitation of the pushers. Jesus tells you to go form a local 12 step chapter and share the love.
One more. You are a Roman Centurion. Daily, you are called on to do horrible things to people, to keep the Pax Romanus. One day a young man named Jesus sees you, calls you out, and says the he loves even you. You must leave now. If you stay you will be caught and killed as a deserter. But you will never forget this young Jewish healer, who offered you a new way to live.
How is this story my story? – Lord, without your grace there is no health in me. You call me out of my life among the tombs. I am possessed by the culture in which I live, and the only alternative is to the wilderness of self contempt, or believing in your Grace. This is not the level of love we are used to seeing, and frankly it is frightening in its power and scope. Can the world really work this way? Are we to believe this is possible, to love and forgive and treat each other like we would treat ourselves?
Do we send you away Lord, or do we accept your acceptance?
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