How Shall We Love?

“How Shall We Love?”

John 17:6-19 – May 12, 2024 

Have you ever heard the saying that “Life is fragile: handle with prayer!” This is so true! Yet, some people might scoff, and say those words are too trite, or too simplistic, or, just don’t work. I feel really sad for people who think this way, because their lives or their circumstances might be sincerely sad or awkward or downright unpleasant.

If we look back at our Lord Jesus, and how He lived, and what His regular habits were, we can see that Jesus practiced regular prayer and meditation. Multiple times in several Gospels we can see our Lord Jesus slipping away to pray, or taking time in the early morning to go away by Himself to pray. He gathered others around Him when He prayed, too. I think Jesus would agree with this saying about prayer, trite though it may seem to be!

Our Gospel reading today comes from John chapter 17, at the end of that Upper Room Discourse, the section of John where Jesus and His disciples gather the night before He was crucified, to eat the Passover dinner. This chapter is an intimate look at prayer, where our Lord Jesus prays to His Heavenly Father. And most striking of all, Jesus prays for His followers. Not only the disciples, but also for us! 

            I love how straight forward commentator Karoline Lewis is. She says, “That upper room was filled with pain and abandonment. With betrayal and loss. With unsettled hearts and fearful souls. And Jesus ends it all with a prayer for his disciples. The section before this portion of the prayer is Jesus’ prayer for himself. But this segment is for his disciples.” [1]

            Jesus has several ideas in these verses, where He talked about trouble and difficulty for His followers. Sadly, this is not new information for us. Plus, these verses contain some of the most powerful concepts about God’s love that are to be found in the whole Bible. Amazingly, Jesus talks about how much God His Heavenly Father loves Jesus, and reminds His followers that they are to love each other in the same way.

            The words of Jesus to our God are written down in the whole of chapter 17. How intimate, how meaningful is that? I want to focus especially on verse 9. Jesus says, “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.”

            Jesus prays for His followers. Not just any old prayer, but a significant prayer, at a profound time of Jesus’s life. The night before His crucifixion, when He must have had a thousand and one things on His mind, Jesus takes the time to think of and to pray for His followers; His friends and disciples. How selfless, how thoughtful this is. And, how much like the Jesus we know and love!

            One amazing thing about this prayer – this High Priestly Prayer of Jesus, is that Jesus not only prayed about the disciples He had at that time, those friends He loved so dearly. “Jesus is still loving and praying for us today – and so are our parents, grandparents, and church community. We are [all] covered in prayer just like a blanket.” [2]      

            When one of my children was still very small, he had a special blanket that meant a great deal to him. Being covered with that special blanket made him feel safe and secure. Does that sound comforting and heartening? Doesn’t it make you want to feel God’s love holding you (and me) securely, like a warm, fuzzy blanket? I’ve got great news for you! Jesus promises that to us, right here in John 17!   

            Today is Mother’s Day. Today is a day to take the time to think of beloved mothers (and, those who have acted as mothers).

In many, many cases throughout this country—and beyond, around the world—many caring, loving and nurturing women have mothered those under their care. In cases of religious nurture, caring mothers, grandmothers, aunties, sisters—and others who have stood in the place of these maternal figures—have prayed for their friends, relatives and loved ones, too.

Whether nearby or far away, prayer makes that intimate connection, that bond between friends, relatives, and loved ones. It does not matter whether the pray-er and the ones prayed for are next door, in the next town, or separated by miles, mountains or oceans. Jesus was making that intimate, loving connection too, through His prayer for us in John 17.

“This [prayer] is not the Lord’s Prayer. This is not Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray. This is not only a personal prayer or privatized piety. After betrayal and predicted denial, after concerned questions and foretold rejection, the disciples do not need another lesson, another miracle, another example. They need exactly what Jesus does, because Jesus knows — for Jesus to pray for them.” [3]

Just as a devout mother or grandma prays for her loved ones, just as Jesus seeks a intimate and loving connection with His friends and followers, so we can seek to have that deep connection with one another.

Dr. David Lose invites all of us to hear these words of Jesus addressed to each of us today. To imagine – really, to know – that Jesus was praying for us all those years ago and continues to care for us, support us, and love and connect with us today. Please take a moment to think about where we need to be more whole. Where do we need to have more peace in our lives? Where do we need more love? And then, imagine that Jesus is actively, intimately praying for each of you. And, indeed, for all of us. [4]

Jesus is caring for us, you know. Jesus loves each of us that much.

Plus, Jesus invites us to love one another that much, too, in this, His most intimate prayer. Take the words of Jesus seriously. Go and love others, just as Jesus loves us. Alleluia, amen. 

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/prayers-needed

[2] https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2018/05/the-power-of-prayer/

[3] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/prayers-needed

[4] http://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=2566  David Lose The Power of Being Prayed For

Who Should We Love?

“Who Should We Love?”

John 15:9-17 (15:12) – May 5, 2024

            Children are great examples for us all. Children can make friends so easily! Of course, as children get older, their views of friendship and how to be a friend vary and mature with their growing and becoming more understanding of their friends.

A good example: “At five [years old], a friend is someone to play with now.  Whoever will play and work with me now is my friend.  They will proclaim adamantly to be friends forever, but then move on to other friends without recognizing what they are doing.  By the time they are ten these same children have a strong sense of the loyalty due friends, appreciate nuances of friendships, and experience deep pain in making and losing friends.  So, at different ages children respond to Jesus’ statements about being his friends differently.” [1]

Here in this Scripture reading today, our Lord Jesus talks about friends. Jesus calls His followers friends! Jesus says, “You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

I suspect that at times the disciples felt inadequate, even felt like servants from time to time, and perhaps more often than that. After all, their Rabbi Jesus was becoming more and more renowned as time went by. More and more people from all over were coming to see Him, hear Him teach and preach, watch His miracles, and even to become His followers.

            Here in John 15, Jesus makes the powerful statement to His disciples that they are not His servants any longer. Servants are seen as less than, they can be subservient, and even denigrated. Instead, Jesus calls them friends!

Let’s take a few steps back. This chapter of John comes from the Upper Room discourse, which happened on that Thursday, the night before Jesus was crucified. Jesus had a Passover dinner with His disciples, and He had a time of intense conversation with them all. He said many really important things at this time, too, like this reading from today.

Jesus starts His command with a few words of preparation: “10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” The big thing I get from this introduction to our Lord’s command? Jesus tells us to keep His commands. This ought to be a no-brainer. We all need to keep, or follow, Jesus’s commands. Piece of cake, right? Walk in the park! No problem, Jesus.

But, always keeping our Lord’s commands is not quite that easy, is it?

            Jesus must have known how much of a problem we all would have with this command. He said, “IF you keep my commands.” I am assuming we are not braggarts and blowhards like some people. No, we really mean to try to keep God’s commands and to love others. So help us, God! But, I will say it again. It is not so easy.

            When Jesus announces that His disciples are no longer called servants, that means us, too. As we are followers and disciples of Jesus, we are called friends of Jesus, too! Except, it is He who has chosen us, not we Him. And, the commands of Jesus are a call to obedience. His command to love others is also a call to respond to God’s love! [2]

            I want to return to the idea of friends – Jesus calling the disciples – calling us – His friends. Similar to children and their growing idea of friendship, you and I can sometimes respond to Jesus’ way of calling us friends in different ways. And, the best part about that is that our Lord Jesus understands!

            Jesus gets us. He understands when we are hungry, angry, lonely or tired. He gets it when we are frustrated or preoccupied. Jesus especially understands when there are mental health issues that come up, for us or for our loved ones. And, Jesus continues to come alongside, and will continue to be right by our sides while we are trying to love as best as we can.

            A number of years ago, a commentator I follow was eating pizza with her youth group one Sunday evening. She asked them what it means to be a friend. She wrote down all the definitions, and here are a few, because they are so on the mark. “A friend is someone who is herself when she’s with you.” “A friend cares about you, listens to your problems, and helps you.” “A friend thinks about you before he thinks about himself.” “A friend cares about other people’s opinions and beliefs, and respects them.” [3]

These definitions are better than I could come up with, for sure! The best part is, if you and I follow these definitions (and suggestions) about making and keeping friends, we will be following the commands of Jesus! And, his number one command is “Love one another, as I have loved you.”

A big part of Jesus’ expression of friendship was by sharing His whole life with us. Living as God intended is community life, where we share all of who we are with others. [4] That is exactly what these teens gave as their definitions for true friends, and that is how we are to love one another, as Jesus loves each of us.

Will we be successful all the time? Unfortunately, no. Can we keep striving to love and keep on loving as much as possible? Yes, we can! With God’s help, and with the help of one another in our church community and our family and friends, we can love like Jesus! We all have the opportunity to follow the commands of Jesus. Love one another. Go and love everyone, in Jesus’s name. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2015/03/year-b-sixth-sunday-of-easter-may-10.html

[2] http://gluthermonson.blogspot.com/2015/05/love-one-another.html

[3] https://melissabanesevier.wordpress.com/2015/05/05/friended/

[4] https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/weekly-worship/monthly/2024-may/sunday-5-may-2024-sixth-sunday-of-easter-year-b

Because of God’s Love!

“Because of God’s Love!”

1 John 4:7-11 – April 28, 2024 

Have you ever had a small child run up to you and say, “I love you so much!” Children are so spontaneous! It is wonderful to be on the receiving end of that kind of running hug. It just warms my heart, remembering my small children, running up to me and saying “I love you!”

Since almost everywhere in this highly commercialized culture I look recently I am deluged by the word “love,” I wondered . . where can I find a good description of love? One of the first places I thought of was the New Testament, in the first letter of the Apostle John. When I took Greek some years ago, I translated most of this book. The apostle certainly has love for one of his major themes. Chapter 4 specifically mentions love from several different angles.

But, wait! I’m getting ahead of myself. I have to—I need to remember who I am. I am a Reformed theologian. I firmly believe in the sinfulness of humanity. I believe that as a sinful, fallen human being, I have been plunked down in this world to fend for myself, look out for number one, to be selfish, self-centered, and basically, a not-very-nice person. That’s me, in my natural, sinful, fallen state. That is all of humanity, too.

It doesn’t sound very good, does it? Sentiments like these wouldn’t sell too many Valentine’s Day cards. The Apostle John has a pretty black-and-white view of humanity, when it comes to things like sin and love. Either you are, or you aren’t. Either you do, or you don’t. Either you love, or you hate.

Here in Chapter 4, verse 20, John makes one of these kinds of statements. “If anyone boasts, ‘I love God,’ while continuing to hate their brother, they are a liar. For the person who has no love for their brother whom they have seen cannot love the God they have never seen.”

Here am I, stuck in this sinful, fallen position in this sinful, fallen world. I even drag myself to church on a Sunday and I may even boast from time to time (like a good church-goer and pew-sitter), “I love God!” But according to the Apostle John, if I have hatred in my heart for my brother (or sister), I am a liar.

            It’s so easy, isn’t it, to have hatred in my heart, to have resentment, anger, frustration, bitterness towards others. And especially towards those closest to me—my family, friends and neighbors, work associates and school classmates.

Not just that driver of the late model Ford Explorer that cut in front of me on my way to the grocery store (which is a very important destination, I hope everyone understands). Not just that pushy lady with the heavy makeup who cut ahead of me in line at the post office. I’m talking about real resentments, bitterness that goes deep, harsh frustration that continues for months, even years. Whatever negative attitude is in your life, I’m sure you can fill in the blanks.

What was my original question?  Where did love come from, in the first place?  1 John 4:7 says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God.”

Do you remember how stubborn small children can be? Folding their arms across their chests, refusing to do what you ask, sometimes even running away across the playground when you tell them, “It’s time to go home!”

A number of times in Scripture, God’s people are referred to as small children. I can relate. I’ll be the first to say that I am very much like a small child, sometimes. Wayward and stubborn. Can you relate, too? Love is how God has chosen to communicate with us wayward, stubborn children.

If I understand the Apostle John correctly, then, the only way I can have love in my heart at all is because God loved me first. And moreover, God loved me so much that He sent His Son as an atonement, a covering, an offering, a sacrifice. God sent His Son Jesus, the blessed Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, as an atonement for my sins, in fact, this verse says for our sins.

It is not our own, faulty, limited kind of love that John is talking about here. It’s not about saccharine-sweet pop songs about love, about stars in the sky or about lovey-dovey billing and cooing. Instead, John tells us about “the radical death-defying love of Jesus, the savior of the world. It’s not about [us] earning or deserving love, either. It’s about a love so amazing and so limitless that it continues to pour forth in bread and wine, Word and water, and Spirit-wind. Love is, in fact, the very nature and essence of God, and we are only able to love because God first loved us.” [1]

God gave each one of us a one-of-a-kind gift, God gave us Love, revealed in Jesus Christ on that Christmas morning in Bethlehem, even though we don’t deserve it!

God loved us first, even though we were (and are!!) sinful, fallen, mixed-up, broken human beings. The only reason we have the ability, the capacity to love is because God loved us first. God demonstrated that love through our Lord Jesus and His death on the cross as a sacrifice, an atonement for our sins.

What is more, God gives us a next step. We have a God-given responsibility. One commentary says, “God continues to do this by expecting each of us to be a part of loving relationships and communities. We both receive communications of God’s love through the love of others and are communicators of God’s love when we live in love.” [2] 

Something for all of us to remember. Something for all of us to practice, too.

Praise God for God’s love, revealed to us in Jesus Christ. God showers us with love, whether we deserve it or not. What amazing, immeasurable, wondrous love is this.

Thanks be to God. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2015/04/abiding-in-love/

[2] https://revgalblogpals.org/2014/07/29/love-love-love-narrative-lectionary-for-august-3-2014/

“Love, in Truth and Action!”

1 John 3:16-23(3:18) – April 21, 2024

            Children love stickers! I can remember as a piano teacher years ago, I always let my piano students choose stickers after their lessons. I would have all different kinds of stickers – animals, dinosaurs, flowers, cars, space ships, and hearts, among other designs. I love stickers, too! When my children were young, they used to put them all over their notebooks, too!        

            Hearts and the heart stickers I passed out before the sermon help us think about this Scripture lesson we read today. We are commanded to be loving, sure! But, the elderly apostle John has some specific words for us – we are to love, in truth and action!

            Let us start at the beginning, with love, and where it often begins. When many people think about love, love can be a concept, an idea. Love is something people can buy in a store, with flowers and candy. Many people start thinking especially of Valentine’s Day or other Hallmark holidays, with stores and card shops full of red and pink displays and hearts and roses. Sweets for the sweet, as the old saying goes!

            That is definitely not what the apostle John has in mind, here in his letter to scattered believers in Christ. Let’s get right into it: John hits us all with a one-two punch. He says in chapter 3, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

            Wow! That is a really long way from some pretty, nice idea of hearts and flowers and Valentine’s Day cards, isn’t it? John was not playing around. He was very serious about his Lord Jesus and Jesus’s love. The amazing, sacrificial love of Jesus has been all-important to John for over fifty years at this point.  The love of Jesus is so important to John, that John gets banished to prison, in isolation on a tiny island in the Mediterranean Sea because of it.

            Let’s go back to the idea of hearts. Sure, when we see hearts on a Valentine’s Day card, that can be cute and sweet. But, it isn’t at all the idea that John is thinking of here!

When you and I really mean something, we often say we put our heart into it. “That’s how we indicate something is really important. That’s how we show that we are really committed, really involved, really connected. Right? Put your heart into it. When we really mean it, our hearts are in it. When they aren’t, when we are half-hearted or worse, then nothing happens. Or nothing of significance anyway.” [1]

            I suspect the apostle John thought about the love of Jesus a lot. I also suspect he really put his heart into communicating the message of the love of Jesus, too!

We are celebrating Shepherd Sunday this fourth week of Easter, with our Scripture readings this week focusing on the Shepherd. Our Gospel reading is from John 10, where Jesus portrays Himself as the Good Shepherd. The psalm for this Sunday is that wonderful psalm describing the Lord as our loving Shepherd – caring for all of the sheep. (even the sheep you and I don’t particularly like)

            As we consider the Shepherd theme, the Gospel of John tells us the Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. Here in 1 John 3, the elderly John tells us more about that sacrificial love: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”   

            The next verse is important, as well! “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” This cautionary word from John is another one-two punch, for sure, and it really hits home! I can tell you that I feel it deep down in my soul. I wonder if you do, too?

“If we have all we need and see another person who has nothing but do not share what we have, we cannot say we love God.  Love is not what we feel, but what we do.  God wants us to love each other with actions.” [2] God insists that we love one another not only with our words, but with our deeds – our actions – and to put our whole hearts into it, too!

            Things do not always go smoothly or lovingly, however. Some people are just half-hearted, or even less. “The problem is, we have learned to guard our feelings; we have learned to change the channel when the pictures of the hungry children appear. We have learned to turn the page when the paper is full of need and want and brokenness. “Nothing to do with me,” we think to ourselves. We have shut off our emotions; we have closed our bowels, says John.” [3]

            Who remembers several years ago, when our Church Council got together after a Council meeting and packed some disaster response kits for people affected by flooding downstate, here in Illinois? That was loving in word and deed! That was loving each other with actions! Helping others, full of need and want and brokenness, no matter what.

            Certainly, John is asking us – all of us – to do something! Actions big or small, it doesn’t matter. Spend your money wisely, where it makes a difference. Get involved! Write or call your town or state representative when you feel strongly about a local issue. What about hunger, poverty, and need? Our church supports our local food pantry, and the Salvation Army’s outreach to the homeless community in the Forest Preserves. Be sure you support these outreaches, too!

Each of us can make a difference, one person at a time, one prayer at a time, one action at a time.  John wants each of us to put our heart into it! Love truly, in action and in truth. Alleluia, amen!   

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/how-shall-we-live/fourth-sunday-of-easter-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/fourth-sunday-of-easter-year-b-preaching-notes

[2] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2015/03/year-b-fourth-sunday-of-easter-april-26.html

[3] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/how-shall-we-live/fourth-sunday-of-easter-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/fourth-sunday-of-easter-year-b-preaching-notes

We All Are Witnesses!

“We All Are Witnesses!”

Luke 24:48 – April 14, 2024 

Have you ever been confused by the number of hurried, jumbled nature of things happening at once? And the speed at which these things happen? This experience is more common than we might think. Just think of the passing of time, where it’s New Year’s, you and I turn around, and it’s already Easter! Or, before we know it, the school year is over!

However hurried and jumbled these past months have been, it pales in comparison with our Gospel reading today. The end of the Passion Week must have been momentous and confusing for the followers of the Rabbi Jesus. Some confusing and jumbled things were happening very quickly. From the big festival entrance on Palm Sunday to the Passover Dinner of Maundy Thursday evening, to the arrest, trial and Crucifixion on Good Friday.

Events happening in short succession from morning until night. Everything happening one thing after another. This was compounded by the followers of Jesus scattering, running away, frightened by the very real, very legal, very official things happening to Jesus on Thursday night and Friday during the day.

   Let’s fast-forward to that Sunday morning, the first day of the week. The disciples still must have been frightened to death of the Jewish and Roman authorities. I suspect they needed to talk about the happenings of the past few days, too. We can see that from our scripture passage.

We pick up the narrative right after the events of the Road to Emmaus. To fill everyone in, two followers of Jesus got on the road to Emmaus that Sunday. As they walked, they talked. Debriefed. Tried to figure things out, as best as they could. And what circumstances they needed to figure out! A Stranger began to walk with them on the way, and unbeknownst to them, it was the risen Jesus, incognito. He shared with them a summary of all that He had come to earth to do. Of His ministry, His message, and His purpose. And still, they did not know it was Jesus.

Not until dinner that evening in Emmaus, the risen Jesus was revealed when He blessed and broke the bread. And then—Jesus disappeared! The other two at the dinner table did not waste any time! They ran back to Jerusalem, to the Upper Room, to tell what they had seen. Yes, they were witnesses. Eye witnesses, verifying everything that had happened that day.

Our Gospel reading for today picks up the story at this point. All of the followers of Jesus are gathered together in the Upper Room, and are talking about the story of the road to Emmaus. Do they believe? Or, don’t they? Are a few skeptical? Or doubtful? Are some still frightened?

Let’s transition to today. Here and now. I can hear some people today, scoffing at the idea of some guy rising from the dead. And then, miraculously traveling alongside of two other guys? Good as new—in fact, even better? No way! Not a chance. The other two must have been hallucinating. Or dreaming. Or maybe, seeing a ghost. They can’t believe. Or, won’t believe.

As we start the Gospel reading, the risen Jesus suddenly appears to the group in the locked Upper Room. What does He say? “Peace be with you.” A common greeting of the time. He’s also calming their hearts, their spirits, their anxieties, their emotions. “Peace be with you.”

How does the risen Jesus immediately respond to the disciples?  “Don’t be frightened! It is I, myself.” He emphasizes His identification. “I, myself!” It’s not anyone else, but Jesus! He lets them know that He is solid and corporeal, not a ghost. Not a spirit. And, Jesus doesn’t criticize His followers for being afraid! For feeling uncertain, doubful and anxious!

I wonder whether you have ever had a kind and patient teacher, or instructor, or coach. When you were afraid, uncertain, or anxious, did this kind and patient person get angry with you? Or, upset? Or, did this person continue to be open and willing to help you? Generous with time and welcoming to your attempts? Well, that is Jesus, all over. To a T.

Jesus tells the disciples, first. They are to proclaim what they have seen and heard. They are to be witnesses to the power of the resurrection. They are to tell how the risen Jesus has made a difference in their lives! And boy, that was a big difference!

When we read the book of Acts, that is exactly what we see. The disciples being witnesses of what they have seen and heard, witnesses of the power of the resurrection. Time after time, no matter what, the disciples tell others about how Jesus lived, preached, did miracles, and rose from the dead. Then, how all that has made an earth-shaking difference in their lives.

This is the message that Jesus told the disciples to start to carry, when John was a very young man. Some decades later, we see the aged John still carrying the message Jesus told him to, the message of sacrifice, hope, and resurrection. John is still being a witness, all those decades later, at the close of the first century! Dear friends, our Lord Jesus gave specific instructions to His friends, to go and be witnesses. He gives those same instructions to us. We are to be witnesses of the power of the resurrection.

Can you think of someone who was a witness to the power of God, in your life? Someone who immediately comes to mind for me is Miss Rose. I met her more than thirty years ago, when my older two children were very small. She was a witness to the power of God, and to God’s love. She communicated God’s love to everyone she ever met, just about! A little lady, a dynamo for God, she would tell everyone about God and how much God loved them.

I met her again, some years ago when I was a chaplain intern at the Presbyterian Homes. She was a resident there. I was so happy to see her. Miss Rose and her joy in the Lord bubbled over and communicated to everyone she met there, too. Even though she was in severe, chronic pain, Miss Rose witnessed to the power of the resurrection, asking people she met, “Do you know Jesus? Can I tell you about Him, and what He’s done in my life? Can I tell you my story?”

Each of us has an opportunity to be a witness, to communicate the Good News about the risen Jesus and the power of the resurrection. We can communicate by words, by a smile, by being kind, through our actions, through our generosity.

Think about someone who impacted your life, who communicated the Good News to you. There’s a great example for you! Just like Miss Rose is a marvelous example for me, to be a witness despite pain and suffering, even through difficulty in my life. I can still communicate God’s love, just like the aged Apostle John did, too, decades after the Resurrection. He was even in prison when he wrote his letters, on a little island in the Mediterranean Sea. That didn’t make any difference. John still told his story, how the risen Jesus made a difference in his life.

What is important is that we get out there and start being a witness, telling people about the power of God, and about how much the risen Jesus has changed our lives. Can you be a witness? It’s as simple as telling your story. Can you tell the story of Jesus and His love? Jesus loves you. Jesus loves me. Jesus loves all of us.  Be witnesses. Alleluia, Amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

Are We Doubters, Too?

“Are We Doubters, Too?”

John 20:19-31 (20:29) – April 7, 2024

            Seeing is believing! Or . . . is it?

            I wonder what things come to mind when I mention the phrase, “Seeing is believing”? Or even, “I won’t believe it until I see it!” Sometimes, people can be really doubtful, even really skeptical about things. I can just imagine several people I know folding their arms across their chests and saying, “Unless you show me . . . “

            In the gospel account we read today, from John 20, the disciple Thomas had just that reaction. After the Resurrection, the first time Jesus came to the disciples, Thomas was not there. We’re not told why, simply that he wasn’t there. Maybe he was scared, maybe he was away for the day, or out of town. Maybe he was sick. We just aren’t told why he wasn’t there.

            The ‘why’ is not the important part. The fact that Thomas wasn’t present the first time is. Thomas had doubts. Sincere doubts. Truth to tell, the other disciples’ story was a little farfetched. I mean, how many people have you known who came back from the dead, and walked through walls into a locked room?

            I wonder. I wonder if Thomas’ reaction strikes a chord with anyone here today. How many of us today are like Thomas? Doubting that Jesus has risen indeed from the dead? Or, completely missing Jesus, and doubting that Jesus is even here at all, today?

            Let’s think some more about Thomas and his reaction. Thomas not only doubted, he wanted concrete proof. Tangible proof, proof he could touch and feel and handle. Thomas wanted to put his hands in the nail marks on Jesus’ hands. That’s pretty concrete. But – what about you and me? Do we want concrete proof that God is working in our lives right now? Do we want concrete proof that Jesus rose from the dead and is present with us, today?

            The second time the risen Jesus appeared to the disciples, it was also in a locked room. And, this time, Thomas was present. Let’s paint the picture. The disciples are huddled together in the Upper Room, still frightened of the Jewish leaders. It’s only been a little over a week since their Rabbi Jesus had died on the cross, after all! I’d imagine they would be shaking in their shoes! Then, the risen Jesus suddenly appears in the midst of them all, Thomas included. What do you think would be going through Thomas’s mind right about now? His Rabbi, his Lord, back from the dead, right in front of him!

            Let’s go further as we imagine Thomas’s face, and imagine what he is thinking and feeling as the risen Lord Jesus invites Thomas to touch Him. Then, we look around at the faces of the other disciples and try to figure out what they are thinking and feeling, too! The commentator Carolyn Brown says that she suspects the disciples “are glad Thomas asked his question because they really wanted to know the same thing but were afraid to ask.  It does take courage to ask some questions and Thomas had it.” [1]

            I think that “doubting Thomas” is not the most accurate nickname for this earnest disciple. Perhaps, maybe, just maybe, we ought to think of Thomas as courageous Thomas. Because, it takes real courage to ask out loud some of those questions Thomas wanted the answers to. After all, he was a real “show-me!” kind of guy, and not in a mean way, either. A healthy skepticism is just that – healthy and curious.

            I wonder whether our doubts and fears about Jesus and the Resurrection can be as easily taken care of, as Thomas’s? What if our problem is less doubt, and more fear? Fear of being misunderstood by others, fear of looking foolish, fear of falling flat on our face? Perhaps, some kind of nebulous fear that you and I do not even understand, but we know is deep down inside of us?

            Let us return to Thomas. When he sees our risen Lord Jesus in the flesh – the resurrected body – he suddenly believes that everything the disciples were telling him about the resurrected Jesus is true! And, “he makes the climactic confession of John’s Gospel, addressing Jesus as, ‘My Lord and my God!’” When Thomas saw Jesus with his own eyes, that was enough for him. Enough to make the declaration of divinity directly to our risen Lord! Remember the confession made in the first verse of John chapter 1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” [2]

            Sure, some healthy curiosity is just that – curiosity. And, some people are naturally skeptical. We know God can handle that! After all, that is the way God constructed many people. Our Lord Jesus is not surprised by any of this. He won’t get mad, or storm out, all upset. No! He was warm and accepting of Thomas and his “show-me” attitude, and even answered him right back! And, what did Thomas do? What did Thomas say to Jesus? “My Lord and my God!”

            As commentator David Lose tells us, Thomas offers those same readers a model for faithful response to an encounter with Jesus – belief, belief that leads to confession. All through the Gospel of John we see a variety of responses to Jesus. The confusion of Nicodemus the religious teacher, the trust of the Samaritan women, the stubborn fidelity of the man born blind, the disdain of Pilate, the denial of Peter. [3] John saves the best for last: he shows us the radical, bold confession of Thomas, sure and certain at last.

            Have there been long moments in your life where you have doubted God’s presence? Have you ever felt lost and alone, almost like the way the disciples felt right after the Crucifixion? We do not need to fear or be alone, because Jesus has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. We can embrace our flickering faith with the same words of Thomas: “My Lord and my God!”          

So, the Gospel of John helps us to believe, too. This Gospel was not only written to bear witness so long ago, in the first century, months and years after Jesus was raised from the dead. This Gospel was also written for the many generations which have come to believe in Jesus Christ throughout the centuries. That includes us, too.

Even though today we may have doubts, and fears, and unbelief, and wonder whether, and why, or even why not, Jesus comes to us in our doubts and fears and unbelief. Our Lord comes to us with reassurance and open arms and says “Do not doubt, but believe!” And our faithful, bold response to Jesus? “My Lord and my God!” Alleluia, amen!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2015/02/year-b-second-sunday-of-easter-april-12.html

[2] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/its-not-about-thomas  

[3] Ibid.

Only the Beginning!

“Only the Beginning!”

Mark 16:1-8 (16:7) – March 31, 2024

            Who here is on social media? Surfing the web, looking through my several accounts is a pleasant way to pass the time, but it is also a way to see some really humorous things. For example, just yesterday I saw a meme that said “In order to be truly Biblical, the only people invited to the sunrise Easter service will be women.” Because, at sunrise on that first Easter, that is all who were there – the women were the first witnesses to the Resurrection!

            We know more about what happened on that Easter Sunday from the other Gospel accounts. But, Mark? Not so much. Mark writes in his usual concise, blunt manner. Short on details and description, heavy on action. Let’s take a closer look at our Gospel reading.

            “After the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to go and anoint the body of Jesus. ² Very early on Sunday morning, at sunrise, they went to the tomb.” 

I want to remind everyone that Jesus did not have only men disciples. There were many more than just the twelve men named in the Gospels. “In their accounts of Jesus’ last days, all four gospel writers mention “the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee”.  Taken together we find that eight women are named, with the most familiar being Mary Magdalene.” [1]

Some of these faithful women go to their Rabbi’s tomb early on Sunday. What did they encounter? What was it that really happened early that Sunday?

The big stone rolled over the entrance to the tomb must have been worrying the women. Mark even mentions it. I suspect they already were discussing how their combined strength was probably not enough to even budge the stone. But—what is this? The stone is already rolled away! It’s the first inkling that things at the tomb are not as these women first thought.          

“So they entered the tomb, where they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe—and they were alarmed. ⁶ “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is not here—he has been raised!”

            Their Rabbi, whom they had just seen die three days ago in the most horrific way, is suddenly said to be miraculously alive – awake, aware, and raised from the dead!  

            Let’s continue with the angel’s words from Mark 16: “Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”

Frankly, the reaction of the women makes a great deal of sense. “Terror would be a natural response to the unexpected, especially where a dead loved one is concerned. Amazement would certainly be realistic when the terror of the moment gives way to a hint of hope. Could it really be true? Could the prophecies have been fulfilled?” [2]

            Of course, looking back with our historical perspective and the perspective of faith in our risen Lord Jesus Christ, it is next to impossible for us to imagine what it was like for the women disciples, encountering an empty tomb!

These words are the first ending of the gospel of Mark, right here. Yes, our Bibles have some additional verses that come after verse 8, that were added later on. But, right here is where we are left for now. The women frightened half to death, and no trace of the men disciples up to this point. What happens now? This is surely infinitely more agonizing a cliff-hanger than any radio serial or any two-part television episode!

The immediate response of the disciples isn’t really that far-fetched when you stop to think about it. We have already seen the betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter, the desertion of his disciples, and “finally even the failure of these women, who up to this point had proved the most faithful of his disciples. They are afraid, too afraid to speak of the wonders they have heard. And so Mark ends here, right here, inviting us the reader to pick up where these women left off and share the good news announced by the messenger at the empty tomb.” [3]

We know the men disciples scoffed at the women’s testimony, at first. I don’t know if I could have believed this right away, either. What would your response have been?

But wait, the blessed reality is that our God conquered death. We don’t just hope so, we don’t think it would just be a nice idea, Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and the angel told the women the blessed truth. It took some time for all the disciples to believe it and fully comprehend it, but that is a reality we can trust today, too.

We know now, from the other Gospel accounts, that this was just the beginning of the story, the beginning of that Good News, that Jesus has risen, indeed! Despite worry, anxiety, despair, loss, and cynicism today, we know the tomb is empty.

As commentator David Lose says, “The story of what God is doing in and through Jesus isn’t over at the empty tomb, you see. It’s only just getting started. Resurrection isn’t a conclusion, it’s an invitation. And Jesus’ triumph over death, sin, and hate isn’t what Mark’s Gospel is all about. Rather, Mark’s Gospel is all about setting us up to live resurrection lives and continue the story of God’s redemption of the world.”

            Our opening hymn “He Lives!” has the words “I serve a living Savior, He’s in the world today.” Our Lord Jesus wants each of us to go out and tell others that He lives! Easter Sunday is not a nice nursery story or a pretty fairy tale. It is saving truth. I know – we all know that our Redeemer lives!  Jesus came to redeem His people from their sins. The Resurrection is not the end of the story. It’s only the beginning!

And yes, we are invited to witness to Him, to go and tell everyone that Jesus Christ is risen today! Share this Good News, today! Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://juniaproject.com/did-jesus-spend-most-time-12-men/  (Matthew 27:55, Mark 15:40, Luke 23:49, John 19:25)

[2] https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2012/04/a-story-for-uncertain-times/

[3] https://www.davidlose.net/2015/03/easter-b-only-the-beginning/

Who Comes in the Name of the Lord?

“Who Comes in the Name of the Lord?”

Mark 11:1-11 (11:9) – March 24, 2024

            Think of a time when you were expecting – anticipating – something really big. And, this really big thing was by no means 100 percent certain of ending well. Maybe you (or I) were facing a major interview at work, a huge exam at school, or even a really important speech. I can just imagine us being anxious, worried, with a knot at the pit of your – my stomach, or how jumpy we felt. The waiting time and expectation of that really big event was palpable! [1]

            This feeling is not exclusive to you and to me. No, many, many people have felt this way before! I wonder whether the disciples felt at all like this during the time that they were helping their Rabbi Jesus get everything ready for the entry into Jerusalem? As a subversive Rabbi and leader, Jesus knew His presence in the city was a grand challenge to the Jewish leaders. And yet, Jesus was going to walk right into Jerusalem with His eyes wide open.      

            Mark tells us in a straight forward way what happened that day. Verses 7 through 9: “When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. ⁸ Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. ⁹ Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” ¹⁰ “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” An impromptu grand entrance for the Rabbi Jesus; a parade, even!      

            Look at this entrance through the lens of anxiety and wonder! For, that certainly was what many people in the crowd were feeling. I suspect some of the disciples were feeling that way, too! As commentator Scott Hoezee says, “What Palm/Passion Sunday celebrates and observes is not simple, it is not neat, tidy, or straightforward.  The air fairly crackles with electricity as the characters in this grand drama sense that something big is up.” [2]

          Let’s look at this from a different direction. Here’s the situation: It’s almost Passover, the most important religious observance of the religious year. A great number of faithful Jews from near and far come to Jerusalem, in pilgrimage, in commemoration of the Exodus event. 

Jesus comes, too. He publicly, intentionally enters Jerusalem, even though the religious leaders are not pleased with Him or what He has been doing for the past few years. Jesus’s disciples must have known about the prophecy of an entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. This was clearly a scene with “Messiah” written all over it.  

Traditionally, when a conquering king comes home from war, he is seated on a horse, and the finest horse in the king’s stables, at that! But here, where Jesus proclaims Himself a king of peace, “he rides a donkey and enhances that statement of peace by choosing an unridden colt. The words that were spoken come from one of the enthronement psalms, used when a new king was coming into power. Hard to miss, really.” [3]

Just imagine if you and I were witnesses to our Lord Jesus and His triumphal entry to Jerusalem. I am sure that there were many people present in that crowd who only had a faint idea what was going on. What would you and I do if we were there? Would we be observers only, merely watching the parade? Would we be cheering the Rabbi Jesus as He entered Jerusalem? And, what about the reference to the psalm that people shouted? A psalm that was quoted when a new king took the throne? How many of the crowd really believed Jesus was a new King, a coming Messiah? Lots of questions we have, indeed!

There was a disconnect between the people and their limited understanding, and what Jesus actually was going to do. But I’m getting ahead of myself by rushing on to later in Holy Week. We are still here on Palm Sunday. And, many in the crowd are still excited to welcome the Rabbi Jesus—their hoped-for Messiah—into the city. They are hoping He will save them from the Romans and maybe, possibly, become their King. Except they had an earthly King in mind.

On second thought, I will go forward into Holy Week. This Triumphal Entry is the culmination of Jesus and His time on Earth, of all His time as a human, as God-become-Man in the Incarnation. Think about it: the world, the very cosmos itself, was on the brink of the most momentous event since the Big Bang, with the very Son of God about to be handed over to the authorities. Betrayed, abused, murdered. The very hosts of heaven – and maybe of hell for all we know – were quite literally holding their breath to see this all play out. [4]

            You and I have the luxury of 20/20 hindsight, of course, looking at an event so clearly reported in the historical and Biblical record. But, if a grand procession welcoming the Messiah happened today, would people still be waving palm branches? Would you and I?

This Holy Week is where all of the prophecies focus to a fine point, and reveal the Rabbi Jesus as not only the Messiah and King, but also as the Suffering Servant. The Lamb of God, sent to take away the sins of the world.

            As we remember this Passover time, this Holy Week, we can thank God that our Lord Jesus did enter Jerusalem. As a King, as a Messiah, yes! But also as Redeemer and Savior. In the first century, Jesus came to save His people from their sins. Just as much as He was Redeemer and Savior for that crowd in Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday, Jesus is our Redeemer and Savior, too. Praise God, He came to save us, today, too! Amen! And amen!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://cepreaching.org/commentary/2018-03-19/mark-111-11-2/

[2] Ibid.

[3] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/depths-of-love/palm-passion-sunday-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/palm-passion-sunday-year-b-preaching-notes

[4] https://cepreaching.org/commentary/2018-03-19/mark-111-11-2/

Written on Our Hearts!

“Written on Our Hearts!”

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (31:33) – March 17, 2024

            Relationships are foundational to life. Positive, negative, distant, close.  Both of my parents are gone now, but I had a loving relationship with both of them. My sisters and brothers—again, I have relationships with them. Members of my extended family, too, are included in my list of relationships. Also my friends, acquaintances, colleagues, even my enemies. All of these people have relationships with me.

Think about yourself. You have relationships with many, many people, too. Most of your relatives and acquaintances I just mentioned, if not all of them. Positive or negative, distant or close. We all have relationships—or friendships—with many people.

            But what about God? What kind of relationship do you and I have with God? Is that relationship good? Even wonderful? Is it close? Or distant? Bumpy at times? Our Scripture reading for today talks about this relationship. The prophet is talking about it from God’s perspective. God’s view of the relationship, or the friendship, if you will.

            If we think about the nation of Israel in the time of Jeremiah, the nation was devastated, and destroyed by the conquering nation of Babylon. The nation of Israel was probably not thinking about keeping up their relationship with God at all – with so much chaos and destruction surrounding each individual, each family, across the whole country.

            Centuries before the time of Jeremiah, God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, and the whole law code of Moses in the years after that. This law code or rule book was meant to be a structure for the nation of Israel to follow, to live their lives, on a daily basis. And, this structure was a way for them to have a relationship with their God, their helper and deliverer – if they chose to follow God and God’s ways.

            Isn’t that the main problem? The nation of Israel had continuing problems following God’s rule book, God’s law code. Isn’t it exactly the same thing today, that you and I have the same problems following God, too?

            We’re not talking about a distant God, a God Who wound up the universe like a watch, put it on some shelf, and then walked away and promptly forgot all about it. No! The Lord wants to be in a relationship – with us!

            If we look at this reading, we see that God did have a relationship—a friendship, we could say—with the nation of Israel. God was the one Who started it. See what verse 32 says? God took the nation of Israel by the hand when God led them out of Egypt. God wanted the friendship. Israel did not start the relationship.

            We can compare that friendship to God’s relationship with us. God wants us as friends, too!  Just as with the nation of Israel, God goes out of God’s way to make friends with us. You and me. Each and every one of us. God approaches us.

            But something happened. Something awful! The nation of Israel was not a faithful friend to God. The relationship was disrupted, broken. But, God didn’t break it. No! Israel did. Remember the many, many times  in the Hebrew Scriptures that Israel ran away from God? Or forgot about God? Or just plain ignored God? Time after time, we can read about how the nation stumbled, resisted, or was unfaithful to their friendship. Their relationship.

            We can see the number one reason the people of Israel were taken out of the land and sent into exile: because the people broke their Covenant and God’s rule book time after time after time again. That’s the big reason for the nation of Israel’s exile to Babylon.

            What about us? What about you and me, in our relationship with God? Isn’t it a lot the same? Don’t we stumble, or fall? Haven’t we forgotten about God, or even broken God’s rules? I’m thinking of sin. Putting other things in God’s place. Making other things or other people in our lives more important to us than God. 

            Our relationship with God is broken! Disrupted. Sometimes we grow so used to sinning, to being apart from God, that you and I cannot choose to do anything else. What a predicament! Our relationship with God—under the Old Covenant—is gone. Destroyed. We are sunk, there is not a chance for you and for me.

            What about the nation of Israel? What did God do for them? Rev. Sharon Blezzard said, “God does not abandon the people, even when their hearts have turned from God’s divine love and life-giving law. God is faithful and promises to be known – not just in word and in teaching, but in the very DNA of the people.” [1]

            The Lord does not leave us abandoned, either! God still wants to be in relationship with us! With you, and with me. God’s nature is not punishing or arbitrary, but instead loving and forgiving. This forgiveness is heart language, from God. And, God will write this new covenant, this new relationship upon our hearts.

            The foundation of this forgiveness comes from our new knowledge of God, written on our hearts. And what is our response to God’s love? God’s forgiveness? God’s reconciling embrace? You and I have the opportunity to live changed lives, as changed people—from the inside out. God is not willing that anyone should be strangers, but instead that all would have the opportunity to be friends with God. Best friends.

God will be our God. We will be God’s people. And that’s a promise. That’s forgiveness. That’s the opportunity that each of us has to be with God, forever. Amen, and amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2015/03/language-of-the-heart/

Live in God’s Light!

“Live in God’s Light!”

John 3:14-21 (3:19-21) – March 10, 2024

            Remember getting report cards in school? What about yearly reviews from your boss, or your supervisor? Those can be very stressful, even upsetting. People in authority can have real power over us, and sometimes negative influence, too. Can you remember if you had any mean teachers? Unfair bosses? What about rotten coaches? Getting checks or bad marks on a report card, or a reprimand from a manager at your work?  

This Scripture reading is early in the rabbi Jesus’ ministry. Jesus had already made a name for Himself, with the tremendous teaching He had done and the wonderful miracles He had performed. So, a lot of people were talking about Jesus, this itinerant rabbi from Galilee. Even the most important leaders among the Jews, the Pharisees, were talking about this Rabbi Jesus. One of the Jewish leaders summoned up enough courage one night to sneak over to where Jesus was staying. Nicodemus wanted to know more about Jesus.  

Here in John chapter 3, our Lord Jesus and Nicodemus have a long conversation. There is so much fascinating material here! I could preach so many different sermons from this one reading alone. But, I wanted to focus today on the last part of the reading.

Listen again: “the light has come into the world, but people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil. ²⁰ Those who do evil things hate the light and will not come to the light, because they do not want their evil deeds to be shown up. ²¹ But those who do what is true come to the light in order that the light may show that what they did was in obedience to God.”

I suspect you and I and many people around the world know John 3:16. This much beloved verse is one of the dearest and most memorized Bible verses of all time. “For God so loved the world that God gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” But, what about several verses further on? Does God really give us all a heavenly report card? Does everyone get bad marks from God, because “people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil?”

So often people “do not want their evil deeds to be shown up.” We humans run from the light of God! A vivid image that comes to the mind of commentator Rev. Sharon Blezzard was that of “cockroaches scurrying when the lights are turned on. Being exposed, being vulnerable, even in the loving and grace-filed light of Christ, runs counter to our [fallible] human nature.” [1]

            The upright, law-following Jews of Jesus’ time tried their hardest to follow all God’s rules, to obey even the smallest rule in the Law of Moses set out in the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch. Even the strictest law-follower among the Jews knows they fall down sometimes, and fail to keep strict adherence to the Mosaic Law code.

            It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about the strict law-followers two thousand years ago, or upright believers in God today. Telling ourselves that we are good and right and following God all the time is so human, so natural! Sadly, many people “want to keep our evil desires, our sinful expressions, and our selfish ways hidden in the shadows. In fact, we’re pretty adept at adapting to the darkness and fooling ourselves into all sorts of pretty little lies and heady rationalizations.” [2]

The Bible calls this the natural state of people. We often see people in their natural state feeling frustrated because they are fooling themselves, and want to wallpaper over that hidden darkness in their lives, where they trip up or even turn away from following God.

            I recognize that so many of our fellow humans judge every little thing. Don’t you know a few people – even more than a few – who have frowns on their faces, their hands on their hips, or shake their fingers at certain people? And, if these disapproving, judgy folks judge you and me, it can really hurt! How much more does it hurt for us to get judged by God? Could we be fooling ourselves? Is each of us going to get a bad report card from God, with failing grades in following Jesus? This is such a helpless, hopeless place to be!

            But, thanks be to God! This helpless, hopeless place is not the end of all things. No, we have the blessed truth of John 3:16 to turn to! For God so loved the world.            

               Some people cannot get past the words “God so loved the world.” If they trust that God loves them, they think God can’t possibly love their awful neighbor. Or the guy who cussed them out. Or the lady who is always really mean. God can’t possibly love them? God loves the world – except for those people from a certain country overseas. Or, except for those homeless people or undocumented people. Or, except for those people who believe something really weird about God. Or, well, you get the idea.

            Let’s try an experiment. I am going to say John 3:16 several times, except with little changes each time. Here goes. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

            Second time: imagine someone saying this to you. For God so loved (person’s name) that he gave his only Son, so that if (person’s name) believes in him, (person’s name) may not perish but may have eternal life. And, the third time, say this to yourself. For God so loved me that he gave his only Son, so that if I believe in him, I may not perish but may have eternal life. [3]

            Has anyone ever said that to you before? Jesus means it. He truly does.

What this reading is doing is giving all of us permission to get out of the condemnation business! Jesus did not come to condemn us. [4]

Jesus shines His loving, grace-filled light into the darkness and shadows of our hearts and loves us anyway. As I say each week in the Assurance of Pardon: believe the Good News! The Lord will never waver in persistent, caring love for each of us. And, that is a promise that is faithful and true – we have the words of Jesus on it.

For God so loved the world. Even you and me.

Amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2015/03/living-in-the-light/

[2] Ibid.

[3] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/depths-of-love/fourth-sunday-in-lent-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/fourth-sunday-in-lent-year-b-youth-lessons

[4] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/depths-of-love/fourth-sunday-in-lent-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/fourth-sunday-in-lent-year-b-preaching-notes

Bigger Than We Can Imagine!

“Bigger Than We Can Imagine!”

Exodus 20:1-4 (20:3) – March 3, 2024

            Who likes following the rules? How about the rules for games or contests, or the rules of the road? Knowing the rules means you know how to act, how to play the game, what is expected. As people try to figure out the world around them, rules are very helpful. [1]

            For the past number of weeks, we have been following the Gospel readings each Sunday for our Scripture lessons and to highlight for our sermons. I am sad we have not been focusing on the Lectionary Hebrew Scripture readings, though. For the past weeks, our Lectionary for the Hebrew Scriptures has followed the Exodus narrative, following Moses and the people of Israel as they left Egypt, left slavery, and became a free people under God.

And now, they are wandering in the wilderness. This Exodus narrative is powerful, indeed! We talked about wandering in the wilderness several weeks ago, when we considered our Lord Jesus in the wilderness, being tempted by Satan. I mentioned that you and I are not often in the actual wilderness, miles from the nearest town, from the nearest person, even! However, you and I can feel very much lost in the wilderness, sometimes. We can be lost and wandering emotionally, psychologically, and especially, spiritually.

            It’s at times like these that we need our friends, our families, a familiar group of people we can travel with. Because, that is exactly what the people of Israel were doing, out there in the wilderness. They were surrounded by their beloved community, every step of the way.

            Or, was their community really so beloved? As the hungry, tired and footsore people of Israel have been wandering in the wilderness, they haven’t stopped arguing with their leader Moses and testing God! That’s the powerful God who led them out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made miracle after miracle happen, supplying the people’s basic needs for food and water. Can you see why Moses might have had it with being the leader of this stiff-necked people? This stubborn group of constant complainers? [2]          

            I don’t know about you, but when I get a bunch of rules, I like to know why. I am not very likely to follow a bunch of rules just because the leader is twisting my arm. Or, even worse, because God said – imagine folding God’s arms – “Because I said so!” If that were the case, I think I might be a little stubborn and stiff-necked, too.

            If we look at the larger narrative from Exodus, when God gives the commandments to the people of Israel, this provides “the people with a sense of purpose and identity and even a bit of security. Although God has brought them out of Egypt and performed a number of miracles, it is not until this point in the story that God tells the people about God’s intentions for them.” [3]

            Think back to your childhood, or perhaps the childhoods of your cousins or your friends. When you had rules in your house growing up, how often were those rules set to give you boundaries, and to make you feel secure? Rules from a loving parent or a caring coach are meant to give us boundaries, to help us feel safe, secure, and even loved!

            One of my favorite Bible commentators is Carolyn Brown. She is now retired, but she was a longtime Children’s Ministry Director in the Presbyterian church. She paraphrased the Ten Commandments for our Scripture reading today. Many if not all of these Ten Commandments are there to help us be in community with each other. Listen to several selected ones:

            I am God.  I am the one and only God.  Don’t worship or pray to anything or anyone else.

I am bigger than anyone or anything you can imagine.  So don’t make pictures or statues that you think look like me and worship them.  You’ll get them wrong.

Say my name with respect.  Work six days of the week, but keep one for rest and for remembering that you are my people.

Treat your father and mother with respect.  Don’t kill anyone. Be loyal to your family. 

Don’t take what is not yours.  Don’t tell lies about other people.

Don’t wish that you had things that belong to other people. [4]

            These rules sound like common sense, and to help all of us to live in community! These rules help all of us to form ourselves into an alternative community. Not a community under a king or a dictator, but “rather by loyalty to a god who has chosen to redeem a group of slaves from a life of bondage. The commandments mean to sketch out a space where human beings can live fruitful, productive, and meaningful lives before God and with one another.” [5]

            We do not have a mean, distant God, giving us a rule-book that is difficult to follow. We do not have God as an annoying supervisor, looking to be a harassing tyrant over us. No! Instead, these commands are “a piece of the whole life of faith, enlightening us as to our relationship with God and our dependency on that relationship.” [6]

When we are wandering in the dark, in the wilderness, far away from the light of God’s presence, it may seem like God’s loving presence and caring counsel are far away, too. Our loving, caring God is always waiting, arms wide open, for us stubborn people to turn around, to come back home.  

Remember, God will not say, “Jump through these hoops, and only then will I love you!” No! Instead, God says, “My love for you will shape you into these kinds of people, this kind of loving, beloved community.” Let us strive to live together as a people of faith, as a community loved by God. Amen!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2011/09/year-proper-22-27th-sunday-in-ordinary.html

[2] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-27/commentary-on-exodus-201-4-7-9-12-20-2

[3] Ibid.

[4] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2011/09/year-proper-22-27th-sunday-in-ordinary.html

[5]  https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-27/commentary-on-exodus-201-4-7-9-12-20-2

[6] https://revgalblogpals.org/2014/06/10/narrative-lectionary-the-rules-of-engagement-edition/

Carry and Follow!

“Carry and Follow!”

Mark 8:31-38 (8:34) – February 25, 2024

            First responders do a tremendous job for their communities! Firefighters, paramedics and police officers put their lives on the line every day, risking their lives to save others. And, they do all this in the line of duty. They all serve in difficult but much-valued jobs, and these positions are to be lauded by grateful communities, certainly!

            As first responders go about their challenging jobs, I can see how some might look at them and say, “I could never do that!” Being a firefighter, paramedic or police officer can be a challenging, and especially dangerous position. Yet, what does Jesus say in our Gospel reading today? Isn’t Jesus talking about doing something just as challenging, even dangerous?

            The background of these words of Jesus is critically important for us to understand exactly what Jesus was getting at. What was the history, the backstory? Here we are at the center of the Gospel of Mark. Jesus had healed, taught, cast out demons, and performed other signs of power, but often in secret. People had questioned who this upstart Rabbi was, but with little answer.  Up until this time, Mark had only mentioned the term “the Christ” once, in the opening verse at the very beginning of the book, until here in today’s reading, in Chapter 8.

Just before this scripture reading today, the Rabbi Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do other people say I am?” Great question! We are familiar with the responses. Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah or another prophet, but you and I know better. We know different. We know the end of the story. The thing is, these disciples do not.

            Our Lord Jesus regularly said things that were difficult to understand, and sometimes even more difficult to obey. Some theologians and bible teachers call these the “hard sayings” of Jesus. This week we are looking at one of these hard sayings. Listen again: “Then Jesus called the crowd and his disciples to him. “If any of you want to come with me,” he told them, “you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me.”

            We can think of the first responders and the challenging jobs they do, certainly! But, if we look at their jobs in the light of what Jesus said here, the Rabbi Jesus is calling all of us – each of us – to do something very much like what a first responder does. “For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for me and for the gospel, you will save it.”

            How on earth can we think about, much less talk about, losing our lives? Well, in a spirit of self-sacrifice, certainly many regular folks make amazing and tremendous sacrifices for their loved ones on a regular basis. “we can understand Jesus’ comments about losing our lives in a healthy manner. Sacrifice is an essential part of life. Jesus sacrifices and so do loving companions, parents, grandparents, and friends. Jesus’s ethic of self-denial is grounded in the unconditional love of God.” [1]

            Ahh. Now, there I can begin to understand this hard saying of Jesus. When it was compared to the difficult jobs of a first responder, I did not really connect with the description, the comparison. But, by saying that the Rabbi Jesus grounds this taking up the cross, this self-denial, in the unconditional love of God? That I can begin to connect with!

            Yes, we can see how firefighters courageously fight fires! But, it’s no less courageous for parents to scrimp and save to provide their children with good educations or better living conditions. It’s no less courageous for a brother or sister to go way out of their way for a sibling or a parent in need. It’s no less courageous for a good friend to stand up to a bully on the playground to protect their best buddy. How many other examples can we think of, in everyday life, of everyday folks going above and beyond, showing unconditional love? That is what Jesus is talking about. That is a big part of taking up our cross and following Jesus.

            Just in case anyone is still unsure about what Jesus is telling us to do, I will say it another way. The very “act of following Jesus is totally re-ordering our priorities and principles to the way of the Kingdom. It’s no longer about saving our lives.” [2] It’s about living our lives for others, the way that Jesus did. Instead of, “ME, first!” And, “me, me, ME!” And, “where’s mine?” We need to think, “Who would Jesus love?” “Who would Jesus put first?”

            That is one thing that Lent puts front and center: the cross. Jesus told each of us to take up the cross and follow Him. As we walk with Jesus towards Jerusalem, towards Passion Week, we need to think about what we might change to follow Jesus more closely.

One positive change for each of us might be from this suggestion. “What might it mean for us to ‘take up our cross’ to follow Jesus? Are there people in our community who are persecuted for who they are, what they believe, the color of their skin, how they express themselves, or where they come from? How might we and our church share the unconditional love of God with these community members?” [3]

We are encouraged to put ourselves at the service of our Lord Jesus. To think of others, and especially to think of God’s love.  Jesus calls to each one of us to pick up our cross and to follow Him. And following Jesus is not just in Lent, as a Lenten devotion, but we are to follow Jesus all year long. How can you – how can I – show the love of God to others, today?   

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.patheos.com/blogs/livingaholyadventure/2018/02/adventurous-lectionary-second-sunday-lent-february-25-2018/

[2] http://www.rickmorley.com/archives/1453?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=take-up-your-what-a-reflection-on-mark-831-38

[3] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/depths-of-love/second-sunday-in-lent-year-b-for-the-sake-of-the-gospel/second-sunday-in-lent-year-b-small-groups

With Us, in the Wilderness

“With Us, in the Wilderness”

Mark 1:9-15 (1:13) – February 18, 2024

            Have you ever felt like you were wandering in the wilderness? Like the Israelites, after coming out of Egypt? Going into the wilderness is not something for the faint of heart, believe me! I have periodically spent time in the wilderness, throughout my decades of walking with Christ, and that time was not pleasant or easy, to be sure!

            I don’t mean completely, physically on my own, stranded out dozens of miles from anyone in a trackless wasteland! No, but I certainly felt that way. I felt parched, even though I had water to drink. Famished, even though I had food to eat.

The Lord seemed silent to me, withdrawn from me, and that was the worst thing in the world. That was why I was lost in the spiritual wilderness. Have you ever felt like you were lost, with the Lord withdrawn from you, too?

            Our Scripture reading today comes from the Gospel of Mark, and it is a very short reading. Spare, and to the point. It tells us about our Lord Jesus, at the beginning of His ministry, right after His baptism. Let me read this important part again: “¹² At once the Spirit made Jesus go into the desert, ¹³ where he stayed forty days, being tempted by Satan. Wild animals were there also, but angels came and helped him.”

            One of Mark’s favorite words is “immediately!” In another translation, it’s phrased another way: “at once!” Mark doesn’t use a ton of words to say what he wants to say. “Immediately!” is one of those words he uses a lot, carrying us along on this nonstop roller coaster ride of our Lord Jesus, His life and ministry.

            We are going to place special emphasis on the first stop in our journey. “At once the Spirit made Jesus go into the desert, where he stayed forty days.” I have wondered at that phrase for a long, long time: “the Spirit made Jesus go into the desert.” Is there some “kind of holy inevitability to Jesus’ being violently impelled into the wilderness?” [1]  Jesus must have been riding high immediately after His baptism! I mean, having His Heavenly Father give affirmation and praise to Jesus, in such a public forum? That must have been unbelievable, at the very least.

            The next thing that Mark states in his typical economy of language is that the Holy Spirit of God – the third person of the Trinity – led Jesus out. The New International Version translates that verse as “the Spirit sent Him out into the wilderness.” 

            Wait. Mark only gives us bullet points of this Temptation experience of our Lord Jesus. Let’s back up again. “Mark says the important stuff is there. He says, look at the process. Baptism, heavens torn open, gentle Spirit like a dove settles, and Jesus is blessed. Then gentle Spirit becomes an irresistible force driving him out into the wilderness. Driving him. Temptation, wild animals, angels. That’s all you need to know.” [2]

We heard the Lord say “You are My own beloved Son” at His baptism in the Jordan River, and we immediately follow Jesus into the wild chaos of the wilderness. We watch the God-man Jesus persevere through temptation, and be lifted up and helped by angelic aid. Jesus truly was out there! Actual wild beasts, miles from anywhere, and temptation abundant. And, God called Jesus beloved, all the way through.

            When we are in the wilderness, either spiritually, emotionally, or in the actual physical wilderness, are we alone? When we find ourselves off track or out of step with God, are you like me, thinking “what am I doing here? How did I end up in this place?” Feeling lost and alone and like no one will ever come to help me, ever? When we find ourselves in difficult or incredibly sad situations, is our thinking negative, accusing of ourselves? Do we ask, “What did I do wrong? How on earth did I get here?” and most of all, “Why me?”

I wonder if the hungry, thirsty, tired Jesus ever felt any of these things? We do not know.

If each of us reflects, what would going out into the wilderness look like for us? Are we lonely? In the hospital? Grieving? Unemployed? Infirm? I think each of us might have different wilderness wandering experiences. My wilderness might look very different from yours. More importantly, one person’s temptation might be very different from another’s.

Looking at Mark’s bare bones account of the Temptation, I think our main takeaway is one of struggle. The very human Jesus versus the fallen angel Satan, in the wilderness. As I consider this reading from Mark, one major thing that pops out at me is God calling God’s Son Jesus beloved, as He is baptized. That Divine affirmation goes with Jesus into the wilderness, to strengthen Him and nurture Him through the Temptation. How could it not?

Even though we feel alone in the wilderness – whatever our chaotic wilderness looks like – whether physical, emotional or spiritual – Jesus is right by our sides. Just as the angels helped and ministered to Jesus while He was tempted and afterwards, so Jesus is right next to us in our dark times, when Satan is trying his hardest to lead us into temptation.  

A reminder from my online friend the Rev. Daniel Brereton: “Whatever voice suggests that you need to prove your inherent belovedness, test God’s love or earn it, isn’t coming from God. It’s as if Mark is saying that THIS is the important thing.: the truths Love proclaims about us, not the lies Evil whispers. Hold on to the truth. You ARE beloved.” [3]

We do not hear about the blow-by-blow of Jesus’s meeting with Satan from Mark in his very brief account. For that, we need to go to Matthew or Luke. But, Mark’s account of Jesus’ perseverance, Jesus’ belovedness through the forces of chaos and temptation can give us hope, strength, and lift our hearts. This is indeed Good News!

Yes, we hear from God that we are beloved, too! We can keep going, keep striving, and know that Jesus is with us, too.

Jesus knows exactly what it is like to be tempted. And, He knows exactly what it is like to be beloved. Because He is, too. Our Lord Jesus went through great brokenness and hurt as a human, and can walk with us as we journey through rough places, dark and hurting spaces, too. We can truly say “what a friend we have in Jesus,” because He is always there, right by our sides. Amen, and amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://cepreaching.org/resources/liturgical-season-resources/lent-year-b/

[2] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/depths-of-love/first-sunday-in-lent-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/first-sunday-in-lent-year-b-preaching-notes

[3] https://twitter.com/RevDaniel/status/1759061812371247523

Marked by God’s Love!

“Marked by God’s Love!”

Mark 9:2-9 (9:) – February 11, 2024

            It’s almost Valentine’s Day. If you go into stores or look at ads now, we see Valentine’s Day celebrated, Valentine celebrations encouraged, and of course, we all need to buy something for our own personal Valentine, or else! Flowers, chocolate, stuffed animals, hearts – all to show our love for people, and especially for our particular loved ones and family members.

            If we go back 2000 years to that mountaintop where the Transfiguration happened, we can see when God spoke. And moreover, when God expressed Divine love. Not an expression of earthly or human or fallible love, but God’s love.

            Jesus had been preaching God’s word, healing people and doing other miracles for some time. If we think about it, by this time the Rabbi Jesus was really popular. Just think of any popular person, or famous celebrity. Often mobbed by people when He stopped to preach in a synagogue, or if He stayed overnight at someone’s home.

Shortly before today’s reading Jesus heals another blind man. Jesus was even more in demand than ever, after that display of power and might! Remember, that’s one of the main emphases for Mark. Showing the power and might of the Son of God!

Let’s set the scene. We have Jesus with His disciples. He had twelve disciples who are named, and some other followers. Women, too! Usually unnamed, but also there. But in several important instances, Jesus had an inner circle. Three special, or key disciples, who would be the ones he wanted to tell special things. Important things, as in the Gospel reading for today.

            This inner circle – Peter, James and John – were asked by Jesus to accompany Him early one morning. When they arrive at the top of the mountain, what do they find? Jesus, “His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus.” That sudden happening must have shocked the three disciples down to their sandals! Can you comprehend the utter shock and even dismay that these men felt? Awe and amazement, too.

            The most important thing about this point in Jesus’ journey through Palestine is that He had been speaking quite frankly to His disciples for some time. “Mark tells this story in the midst of Jesus’ frustrated, repeated attempts to help his disciples understand that he must suffer the trial and death that leads to the cross, but they just cannot accept it.” [1]

            I don’t know whether I would have accepted these statements from Jesus, either, if I had been a follower of Jesus at this point in His ministry. The Rabbi – the Messiah – Jesus all along had been displaying all the signs of the Coming One, the Messiah sent by the Lord. Healing, miracles, preaching and teaching God’s message with authority and power. What a message of hope and encouragement for the downtrodden people of Israel!

            On top of this mountain, after months of this miracle-making, teaching and preaching, Peter, James and John see their Rabbi Jesus have a Divine encounter with Moses and Elijah

            Can you just see these three grown men, clutching at each other, huddling together like small children? Scared to death at these miraculous, out-of-this-world happenings? “Um—oh, Lord! Um—let’s build three altars here! One for You, and—um—one for the other two guys, too!” Or, something like that. Do you think Peter and the other two disciples were very receptive to what God was saying at this point? I suspect not.

            Here on the mountain of Transfiguration, Jesus elevates His message even further. Yes, His disciples hear the message in the form of speech directly from the Lord. The spoken words from the Lord were not many, but they were significant. “This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him.” If the three disciples were not paying strict enough attention to Jesus before, you can bet that this breathtaking experience caused them to really sit up and take notice!

            The Divine voice from within the cloud certainly confirms what the earthly Jesus had been communicating to His disciples all along. And, these words show a turning point in the ministry of Jesus – traveling down the road to Jerusalem, towards suffering, the Passion and death, despite His disciples’ refusal to hear what Jesus was saying, repeatedly.  

            I am wondering if the words from the Lord helped to transform Peter James and John? Yes, these words are confirmation for our Lord Jesus, and an expression of God’s Divine love: “This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him.” And I wonder, were the disciples changed and transformed by these words, too?

Just as our Lord Jesus was affirmed and transfigured by this Divine statement of love, can we be changed and transformed as we think about these words? Can you and I meditate on these words of the Lord, and see whether this message has a deeper meaning for us, and can change and transform us, too?  

This supernatural event of Transfiguration prepares us as we begin the period of Lent, that 40-day time of preparation when we journey with Jesus toward Jerusalem and the Passion and Crucifixion. How can you – how can I prepare our hearts and minds as we journey with Jesus? I think considering God’s words of Divine love are a wonderful starting point.

Just as much as God spoke out of the cloud on top of that mountain and expressed love for the earthly Jesus, just so much God loves each of us. This Divine love is not faulty or fallible, not human or limited, but instead unconditional and everlasting. We don’t need to be on the top of a mountain to experience God’s love. God will be there. We can celebrate the fullness of the Lord’s presence, and the reality of God’s love and grace! God does indeed love all of us.

Alleluia, amen.

Take a few moments to reread the gospel. Imagine you’re before the Lord Jesus as He speaks to you in His glory. What is His word to you? We start the journey of Lent this week with Ash Wednesday. How will that word of Jesus help you this week on your Lenten journey?

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/crossing-over/transfiguration-sunday-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/transfiguration-sunday-year-b-preaching-notes

“Be Strong, Together!”

Isaiah 40:21-31 (40:20) – February 4, 2024

            When I was young, I would often take walks near my parents’ house, on the northwest side of Chicago. Lots of opportunities for me to walk outside. In the mid- and late-summer, I vividly remember seeing grasshoppers by the side of the paths through the grassy sections of the Forest Preserves, and certainly hopping around in the vacant lots near my house!

            As I read the first two verses of our Scripture lesson this past week, I couldn’t help but think about the prophet’s juxtaposition in verse 22: “God sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.” The heavens are so massive, so colossal and huge, and yet we humans are tiny grasshoppers, far, far beneath.

            The vast heavens? They stretch out majestic, and go on forever. But, grasshoppers? Tiny insects, hopping about, not very imposing or powerful creatures at all. Somewhat demeaning description, in fact. However, if we think hard about these two images, that is our starting point. Sooner or later, we all feel like grasshoppers, especially if we compare ourselves to the mighty and powerful Lord who stretched out the heavens! [1]  

            Just consider: we puny, grasshopper-like people seem pretty small and unimportant, next to a mighty and powerful God. Running to and fro, hurrying and scurrying through life, our limited human lives can be a challenge. With stresses and tumult in our personal lives as well as the lives in our communities, so many of us are seeking some hope, some peace, even some strength that comes from outside of our selves. For many, they do not know where to seek. [2]

            Comparing us limited humans to the God who stretched out the heavens is a tall order. How does that work, anyhow? I know that I have been fascinated for years by the detailed and intricate photographs taken by the Hubble space telescope. This incredibly high-powered telescope has been orbiting the earth since 1990, and takes incredible photos. It captures extremely high-resolution images without the distortion of Earth’s atmosphere, allowing for a deep, detailed view into space. [3]  If you have never examined Hubble’s marvelous photos of distant space, I strongly encourage you to view some online!   

            Looking at these photos makes me wonder and marvel even more at how the Lord has spread out the vast, starry expanse of the heavens. Today, we have a much more detailed knowledge of astronomy than the people of 2500 years ago, at the time the book of Isaiah was written. We continue to marvel at the Lord’s mighty, powerful handiwork – and, bow in awe and worship at the words found here in chapter 40, comparing humans to grasshoppers.

            However, instead of being diminished as tiny insects in the eyes of the Almighty God, humans are lifted up. In this same passage, the prophet tells us that             “God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Yes, the very same God who created the heavens and the earth, the very same God who stretched out the heavens like a canopy, is the same God who gives each of us strength. What a comforting and reassuring message!

            I know about weakness, first hand. Last winter, a close family member of mine had major surgery. Thank God, everything went well, but there were weeks and weeks of recovery. Gathering strength, going to rehab, and many, many hours of recuperation and recovery in the gym and outside, going on long walks and riding a bicycle. And thankfully, my family member now reports in good shape today. Getting continuing strength from our God, too.

            I know other folks have relatives – perhaps even themselves – who have weakness, sickness, or are in similar distressing circumstances. Perhaps your distress is not physical, but mental or emotional. Perhaps our strength – our human capability – is depleted. The unpredictable nature of human life can wear any of us down!

Sure, many people go to the gym and work out, or go to the pool and swim laps, taking our fitness seriously, and that is all to the good! “Those activities can provide us a level of fitness that enable our bodies to function physically, yet we also need additional inner strength to be able to function well. Since our mind, body and spirit are interconnected, how we feel spiritually or emotionally can affect our physical energy level. That’s where God can help.” [4]

Even young people can grow tired and weary, as difficult as it may be for them to believe sometimes. We all can grow weary and stumble, and we all get stressed, and even depressed sometimes. The prophet understood, and that is why we receive this message today from verse 31: “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

We can have strength in the Lord! And, that is not all. When we are open to a meaningful and personal relationship with God, we open ourselves to inner energy and strength that can restore and sustain us. In the next weeks, I will offer some spiritual exercises that will assist in strengthening us. Some are familiar, some less so, but all of these exercises or spiritual practices can allow God to come alongside of each of us. [5] These help us to tap into special, heavenly power and strength that only our powerful, mighty God can provide.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Our mighty God is able. We can, indeed renew our strength Just like eagles. Amen, alleluia.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://cepreaching.org/commentary/2018-01-29/isaiah-4021-31-2/

[2] https://www.faithandhealthconnection.org/weekly-health-scripture-isaiah-4029-god-gives-strength/

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubble_Space_Telescope

[4] https://www.faithandhealthconnection.org/weekly-health-scripture-isaiah-4029-god-gives-strength/

[5] Ibid.

Powerful Name of Jesus!

“Powerful Name of Jesus!”

Mark 1:21-28 (1:27) – January 28, 2024

            . Illness is a sad reality in this world, and all of us are witness. We all know people who either are sick right now, or have been sick in the past. Some are friends, others acquaintances, still others family members Many, many illnesses come from micro-organisms like viruses or bacteria. Today, the medical world can diagnose many of these diseases by looking at a person’s blood under a microscope or running a specific test.

            We know sickness is a part of this broken, fallen world we live in. That is a fact. Yes, this present world is full of God’s beauty and majesty, but it is also full of evil and danger, trauma, and illness. Both physical illness as well as mental illness.

            As we think about our Scripture reading this morning, what kinds of thoughts are in your mind? The Gospel of Mark shows us the Rabbi Jesus very early in His ministry. He is preaching and teaching in the area around the sea of Galilee. Listen again: “The people who heard Jesus were amazed at the way he taught, for he wasn’t like the teachers of the Law.” So, we can see “We open with Jesus and his newly formed group of disciples coming to Capernaum and the people in the synagogue being impressed with Jesus’s authority.” [1]

            Right off the bat, the Rabbi Jesus shows who and what He is. We can see, through Mark’s account of Jesus’ words and actions, that Jesus exerts power and authority. Mark wanted to make crystal clear what Jesus’s mission here on earth truly was – not only to bring Good News but also to bring freedom to the captives. We can also see that Jesus has marvelous understanding of what God means to the people He is preaching to, as well as what God intends for those same people to be – and become. Just so with this reading today

What does Jesus encounter in this synagogue? Let us listen again: “Just then a man with an evil spirit came into the synagogue and screamed, ²⁴ “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you here to destroy us? I know who you are—you are God’s holy messenger!”

I’m going to stop right here and say that I believe this event did happen. Yes, we here in the 21^st century have a more nuanced view of the psyche, and what mental health and mental illness look like. Yes, chemical imbalances affect brain health and chemistry, too. This could be severe mental illness, or a complicated medical diagnosis that affects mood and stability. At the same time, I believe there are also powerful unseen forces in the wider world today, and these forces can affect individuals and their mental and emotional stability.

So, we have the Rabbi Jesus, here in the Capernaum synagogue. Next thing we know, a man with a demon inside comes up and confronts Jesus – face to face! Yes, the man in this instance could have severe mental or behavioral problems. And, yes, Jesus could well be involved in a situation with something in the spiritual realm. Any way you look at it, our Lord Jesus is exerting mighty power and authority. 

This confrontation brings things to a head, and with just a word, Jesus shuts down the evil spirit. He commands, “Be quiet!” This can also be translated “Be muzzled!” Have you ever seen an animal wearing a muzzle? This is often done with dangerous or wild animals, and the muzzle takes away their power to bite and roar. [2]

            Through this strong command, “Jesus makes the unclean spirit feeble, weak, unable to continue to use its words to exert its power. By doing so, Jesus proves that the unclean spirit does not have real authority—it is just masquerading like all other evil spirits and forces in the world.”[3] We see here, just as we are shown over and over through the Gospels, our Lord Jesus displays His mighty, Divine power and authority, and people respond! With amazement, awe and even fear.

            I don’t know if you have ever been in the presence of someone who is larger than life? Someone who you can tell has real power, real authority, and knows for sure how to use them. From all the Gospel accounts, that was Jesus. He not only was an effective teacher, but also a compelling preacher. Plus, Jesus had a remarkable gift for showing His power and authority in a winsome, persuasive and – most importantly, an authentic manner.

            The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus is the living Word of God who became a human being. We can see how effective His spoken words are with this evil spirit. “It is notable following the man’s outburst, and immediately after the unclean spirit has left him, that again the congregation talk about Jesus’ teaching. This is the first recorded miracle by Mark. The drama is not primarily presented as a healing miracle, rather a deliverance of an individual from the grip of chaotic forces that convulse and threaten their life.” [4]

            Life here in the Chicago area today is certainly different than life in the first century. The modern day is vastly different from the ancient world, or medieval times. But, our Lord Jesus is still the same. He is still mighty and powerful, and has remarkable authority over all things.

Yes, Jesus has authority over things today, too. In our own lives, we might have emotional barriers or spiritual problems. With such sadness, upset and distraction going on, who wouldn’t have some difficulties and problems in their lives right now? Whether you have deep feelings, some heartache or pain, grief or despair that you are dealing with today, Jesus can work wonders in your life and spirit, too.

            I tell you today that our Lord Jesus is not afraid to face down the evil things, the traumatic events that come into each of our lives on a regular basis. Just as our Lord Jesus showed in the Gospels again and again, the authority of God and God’s Word is for God’s people’s wholeness and healing. All God’s people. That is a promise, and that is a blessed reality. Alleluia, amen!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://cepreaching.org/commentary/2024-01-22/mark-121-28-4/

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/weekly-worship/monthly/2024-january/28-january-2024-fourth-sunday-after-epiphany-year-b#topic5

Jesus Is Calling!

“Jesus Is Calling!”

Mark 1:14-20 (1:20) – January 21, 2024

            What would make you change your whole life? I know some people radically change, but what would push you to change everything about your life? For some, it’s a marriage proposal, a chance on true love. For others, it’s a wonderful job offer. Still others, a chance to do something amazing in another part of the country, even another part of the world.

            Now, what did the rabbi Jesus offer? Just think – Jesus was a former carpenter, now a rabbi and itinerant preacher. He came preaching and teaching, offering God’s good news, about God’s kingdom come near. These four career fishermen put down their nets and took off with this radical rabbi for something completely different! [1]

Again, I ask what offers, what commitments convince us that they are worth living for? Changing everything for?

            Let’s look at our Scripture passage for today. We have Mark beginning his gospel with “the Good News of Jesus the Christ, the Son of God.” This is the very start of Jesus’ ministry, I want everyone to understand. Jesus suddenly breaks onto the scene! The urgency, the immediacy is palpable! Can’t you just feel it?

 Only a few verses into the first chapter of the Gospel, the rabbi Jesus takes a purposeful walk. “As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.”  

            Jesus was brilliant in His approach to these fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James and John. These were career fishermen, and they knew fishing backwards and forwards. Jesus came asking them to let down their metaphorical nets with an offer of God’s Good News. He said, ¹⁷ “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people.” Although, they probably did wonder, at least a little, what on earth they were doing. Leaving it all behind! Boats, nets, livelihood, everything!

Do you think this was the absolute first time these four men had ever seen Jesus? I suspect not. I would imagine the brothers might have seen Jesus preaching and teaching when they went into town, stood among the crowd and listened. Perhaps the brothers had discussed what Jesus had said while they were working on the job, in their boats, or mending their nets.

            Notice what Jesus did not say to these men! He did not say, “I have a theological system which I would like you to investigate.” No! Jesus did not say, “I have certain theories I would like you to think over.” Certainly not! They followed Jesus because they believed what He said about God’s Good News, about commitment. Reorienting. Reframing their whole lives.

            Let me tell you a bit about reframing. When the wood frame around a window is water damaged, carpenters pull out the wood frame and do what is called a reframing of the window. Straightening out the frame so the window will set plumb and straight up and down. It’s similar to going a new way, a new direction. These four fishermen put down their old lives and set their lives in a totally new direction. Reframing their lives, following Jesus and His call.

The commentator Gary Burge tells us “All we can say about the call is that “the kingdom of God” has broken into their lives in the immediacy of Jesus’ call. There are also two other fishermen on the shore mending their nets, James and John, sons of their father Zebedee. The call of Jesus to them is the same and their response is the same. They leave their livelihood and their father and “immediately” follow this stranger (1:20).” [2]

Friends, as Mark’s Gospel reminds us, God has broken into our world. Jesus proclaimed the Good News, but His whole point is not, “Have an opinion about the Good News.” Or, “This Good News is nice and inoffensive.” Rather, Jesus is calling for a radical, total, unqualified basing of one’s life on this Good News. Just as following this radical Rabbi is a radical idea, a radical reframing of these fishermen’s lives, so is His offer, His calling to us.  

As Lutheran pastor Janet Hunt reminds us, “I wonder now what it is that Jesus is calling us away from and what Jesus is calling us to, don’t you?  I wonder how our worlds would change if we just ‘left our nets behind’ and stepped into the new life before us. I wonder how the world itself would change if we just did this, too.” [3]

As commentator David Lose says, “We follow [Jesus] in particular and distinct ways that may or may not be like the first disciples. And that, I think, is the point. Perhaps we follow by becoming a teacher. Perhaps we follow by volunteering at the senior center. Perhaps we follow by looking out for those in our schools [or workplaces] who always seem on the outside and invite them in. Perhaps we follow by being generous with our wealth and with our time. Perhaps we follow by listening to those around us and responding with encouragement and care. Perhaps we follow by caring for an aging parent, or special needs child, or someone else who needs our care. Perhaps we follow by….” [4] Well, you get the idea.

There is a song I would like to bring to your attention. It’s a recently-written hymn called “The Summons,” written by John Bell, a member of the Iona Community, an ecumenical Christian community in Scotland. The first four verses of the hymn are questions from Jesus. He is asking these questions of us. The last verse is a first-person response to these questions. I would like to read the first and last verses of this hymn. 

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I’ll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me. [5]

            Friends, Jesus is calling. Jesus says, “Come, follow Me.” Just as He called those four fisherman by the Sea of Galilee. He calls to each of us, today. Can you see Him? He has His hand extended. Jesus is calling. “Come, follow Me.”

            God willing, with Your help, Lord Jesus, I will follow. Will you?  

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/the-call-of-the-disciples-and-the-decline-of-the-church

[2] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/third-sunday-after-epiphany-2/commentary-on-mark-114-20

[3] https://dancingwiththeword.com/gone-fishing/

[4] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/the-call-of-the-disciples-and-the-decline-of-the-church

[5] Words © 1987 John Bell, The Iona Community, administered by GIA Publications, Inc.

The Baptism, the Love!

“The Baptism, the Love!”

Mark 1:1-11 (1:11) – January 14, 2024

            I don’t know about you, but I love taking a bath! My husband is more of a shower person, instead. What do we need when we take a bath? How about a bar of soap, a bottle of shampoo, and maybe a back scrubber? I remember my small children liked a big, fluffy towel, and perhaps even bath toys! That was when they were really small.

            I know people need to take regular baths and showers. That’s in order to stay clean and healthy. And, we take baths and showers again and again, because we keep getting dirty and keep needing the cleansing that soap and shampoo provide.

But, what does this have to do with our Scripture reading today? Did you realize that some people – certain faith traditions – refer to baptism as a bath? Do we need soap, shampoo, or bath toys for a baptism? No, not quite the same thing. But, we do need water, and we definitely need the Word of God for this sacrament. [1]

We read these words from the Gospel of Mark: “John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.” Not the same thing as taking a bath in a roomy tub, is it?

John the Baptist is specific about a baptism of repentance! And, the Gospel record says that many, many people from Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside flocked to the River Jordan to get baptized.

John the Baptist and Jesus are cousins, and I suspect they grew up together, talked, walked and interacted with one another often. Perhaps studied together, too. Now, John has burst upon the public scene and is proclaimed as a prophet of God! John even has the audacity (and temerity) to call for public confession of sins and a subsequent baptism in the River Jordan! The chief draw was John’s urgent call for the forgiveness of sins. That is the attraction!

Let us shift our focus from the general baptism for the repentance of sins to the specific baptism of Jesus. This special event happens right up front, at the very beginning of the Gospel of Mark. John already has a following, and disciples. John’s getting a great deal of publicity in Palestine. His star is rising, for sure.  And what should happen but Jesus shows up at one of John’s baptism events by the river?

Remember, this was before Jesus even started His ministry, before He ever said anything important, or healed anyone, or done anything special at this point. Just think: there is so much pressure on people to be successful in this day and age.

If John the Baptist were our contemporary and had his prophetic ministry today, I can just see him on television, perhaps YouTube. Maybe even short TikTok videos. He was probably too much of a rebel and outsider to be on the inner circle of any denomination or official structure, but I think John would definitely make a splash and be well-known for his straight talking and action-oriented way of communication!

And get this – Jesus asks John to be baptized! Just as Jesus began His ministry with obedience to God, with being baptized, so we are encouraged to begin our lives, our ministries, with baptism, too. 

As we consider Jesus being baptized, what happened as He was with His cousin John in the river? Listen to the words of Mark’s Gospel: “Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’”

Remember: this was before Jesus had ever done a miracle, preached a sermon or done anything else that was special. And God said that Jesus was loved and God was well-pleased with Him. “Notice in Mark’s treatment of the story of Jesus’ baptism two things. First, notice God’s words to Jesus. They are personal, poignant, and powerful. “You are my beloved son. With you I am well pleased.” Wrapped in these words of acceptance are the blessings of identity, worth, and unwavering regard.” [2]

What about you and me? When we were baptized, do you think we were loved by God? Yes, God was well-pleased with us, and with every other human of God’s creation! Yes, you and I are also accepted, with the added blessings of identity, worth and unwavering regard, too!

You may remember bracelets and t-shirts with the initials “WWJD” imprinted on them. The words “What Would Jesus Do?” were a Christian, even pop-culture, trend some years ago. Remembering this trend brings up a valid question. Let’s reframe it into a question about baptism. Who would Jesus exclude? For that matter, who would John turn away from baptism?

We celebrate this event in our Lord’s life each year during the season of Epiphany, during January. Yes, praise God, Jesus went into the waters of baptism, and served as an example for us. Plus, this day is a reminder for each of us who have been baptized. Maybe we made our own promises, or perhaps someone made them on our behalf. [3] Regardless, all are welcome to the waters of baptism! This is a sacrament of repentance, forgiveness, and of radical welcome.

St. Luke’s Church, our church, is a member church of the United Churches of Christ. UCC churches are supposed to welcome everyone. No matter if someone is grumpy, or mean, or stingy. You are welcome here at St. Luke’s Church. No matter if someone is painfully shy, or has some physical or mental infirmity, or has a really strong personality. No matter what your gender or sexual orientation is, either. All are welcome here, in this particular church, too. 

That means a radical, open-hearted, open-handed welcome to all people, no matter what. No matter who. You and I are welcome with God. We are welcome to the waters of baptism, and with you – and me – God is well-pleased. Amen, alleluia.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2015/01/wet-well-pleased/

[2] https://www.davidlose.net/2015/01/baptism-of-our-lord-b/

[3] https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2015/01/wet-well-pleased/

Star of Wonder!

“Star of Wonder!”

Matthew 2:1-12 (2:11) – January 7, 2024

            I know the image of a manger scene is familiar to all of us here. Who hasn’t seen an adorable little Nativity on a friend’s mantle or under a relative’s Christmas tree? And remember the Christmas carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas?” Christmas does not end on December 25^th. Christmastide continues for twelve days, through January 5^th. Some here might be familiar with Twelfth Night, and Three Kings Day (which is Epiphany, or January 6^th).

            While we are all thinking of a Nativity scene, let me tell you some news: the Magi did not come to see the newborn infant Jesus while He was lying in a manger. They did not show up in Bethlehem for some months. The Gospel of Matthew tells us the Magi came to see the child (or toddler) Jesus and brought Him their gifts. A different Gospel story than the angels and shepherds and the infant lying in a manger! That narrative is found in the Gospel of Luke.

            Not all of those Nativity figures we or our children unwrapped to set up around the stable under the tree are found in both stories. Some churches keep the camels and magi of the Nativity set off to the side all through Advent and Christmas, until Epiphany. Following that Star of Wonder, guiding the Magi all along.

            Matthew’s birth story centers around the Star. We have come to see this as the Star of Epiphany, the Light that has come into the world! We use Light to symbolize God. The Star of Wonder represents the Light of God! Just think of the Star at the top of many Christmas trees. This signifies the Star that the Magi followed – that same star we talk about today.

            We may reminisce about Christmas pageants we saw in years past, or how adorable the grandchildren looked, dressed up as shepherds or angels or even the Magi. But have you ever given thought to how much it meant for the Magi to really follow that Star for days, weeks, perhaps even a month or two? These foreign Magi were most probably nobility, astronomers and wise men – or should I say, wise people? For there were women who were accounted as some of these Magi, too. And, they determined to travel to where this newborn King was.

            I wonder – would you or I do as much? Would we undertake a difficult journey to find an emissary of God, not knowing quite where we were going, or when the trip would end? Would we rather stay in our safe homes, and predictable places, and steady jobs? Or, would we pick up and leave immediately because the wondrous Star suddenly was on the move?

            The Magi finally arrived in Jerusalem. Remember, these are foreign dignitaries, and at least minor nobility and perhaps royalty. They went to the palace in Jerusalem to inquire of King Herod, “Where is the one born King of the Jews?” Matthew says they asked, “We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him..” Some translations use the more archaic term “pay him homage,” just as someone bows before a king.

“This verse might lead us to ask one another: What signs have pointed you toward faith in Christ? Are you prepared to pay him homage? To kneel at his feet as a classic, time honored posture of reverence to a king?” [1]  These are serious questions for us to ponder, and hopefully, to pray about. Most importantly, God wants us to consider these questions.

             “The [Magi] are scholars and astronomers schooled in the close observation of the stars, but how are they at observing human nature? They see signs of deity in the stars. How are they at discerning signs of deception in shifty eyes?” [2] For that matter, how are we at discerning signs of deception, those hints that someone is shifty, even untrustworthy? Do we simply keep our heads down and go about our own business, or keep our eyes on that Star, following to find the Messiah, the one born King of the Jews? Thankfully, the Magi got the information they needed and set off a few miles down the road to Bethlehem. There they found the small child Jesus, and gave Him gifts suited for a King! Gold, frankincense and myrrh.

These gifts are certainly appropriate to offer to a king. “Gold has great value; frankincense is a perfume; and myrrh is a common anointing oil. The gifts have symbolic significance in light of the identity of the baby to whom they are given. Gold is a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (used for incense) is a symbol of deity, and myrrh (an embalming oil) is a symbol of death.” [3]

            The Magi are savvy enough to discern that King Herod is not the kind ruler that some might think. Quite the contrary! Any student of the first century knows that this Herod is a bloodthirsty tyrant. These wise people (wise in several ways!) quietly leave Herod’s territory by another way to go back to their homes.   

            As the Magi return home, you and I are left with the Star of Wonder. What will we do with this star? The Star was so significant to the journey of the Magi as it guided them to the Christ Child. But, what about today? What guides us in our lives? Whose guidance do we seek and trust? This is a sure opportunity to follow the signs that can lead us to Christ. And, may you and I be as savvy to threats in this world.

            Just as the Magi gave precious gifts to the Christ Child, we, too, can bring our gifts. We all can give our talents, and even ourselves to Christ this Epiphany. May we continue to place ourselves and our hearts and lives in Christ’s keeping. May God bless us all as we travel on the road to God’s country. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/gold-frankincense-myrrh-alyce-mckenzie-01-03-2013

[2] https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/gold-frankincense-myrrh-alyce-mckenzie-01-03-2013

[3] Ibid.

Turning of the Year!

“Turning of the Year!”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (3:1) – December 31, 2023

            Time has a funny way of getting away from us, doesn’t it? Time can be rushing by while you and I are sitting, watching, on a treadmill or a big hamster wheel. Time is elastic, sometimes stretching out, tedious while we are waiting, other times jam-packed with events and decisions and happenings all on top of each other!

            Many people take stock at the end of the year, looking back, looking ahead. My husband Kevin noticed a local newspaper at a restaurant we went to for lunch yesterday. The sports page had a preview for 2024, showing some positive news: up-and-coming sports players to watch and look forward to! That is certainly one way of looking at the turning of the year!

            The Scripture reading for today (for tomorrow, really – for New Year’s Day) comes from the Hebrew Scriptures book called Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes does not have riveting stories like Genesis or 1 or 2 Samuel. It does not have uplifting or emotional songs like the book of Psalms, or stirring prophecy like Isaiah. What this book does have is a poignant, soul-stirring view on time, on life, on death, and on wisdom, right here in chapter 3.

            People can get bogged down with the basic message of Ecclesiastes. In short, an overview of the whole book has the Teacher (some call him the Preacher) telling his readers that life is short, everything passes away and goes back to God, and he gives the advice to live life to the fullest while you can. Grab all the gusto you can! Seize the day! Carpe diem!

            A secondary message found in this short book is to strive after wisdom. I can imagine young people hearing the first, overarching message of Ecclesiastes and doing exactly that – living life to the fullest while they can! Except, young people often do not consider wisdom. Sometimes older folks do not consider wisdom, either!

Wisdom is front and center here in chapter 3. We see life – and humanity – laid out for us, in all its nitty gritty manner, warts and all.

We can look at this reading from three different perspectives, This is helpful when interpreting this famous passage from Ecclesiastes 3. “In order to appreciate the wisdom of what “the Teacher” presents, we do well to see it from an outside location for a positive perspective, the inside for a negative perspective and up-above for an ultimate perspective.” [1]

            If we view this reading from the outside, just taking the words “as is,” everything looks pretty good, pretty safe. Remember the folk song from the 1960s by the Byrds? Turn, Turn, Turn. The words to the song read exactly like today’s Scripture reading. Yes, there are different times for different experiences in our lives. That plain truth is self-evident. The same fire that melts butter also boils a hard-boiled egg. The same wind that puts out a match will fan flames into a strong blaze. There is a time for everything, for every activity under heaven.

            Except – we are not to go through life blindly or carelessly. Just as the Teacher says to us, we “acknowledge the wisdom of these different times. We challenge the assumption that if we are spiritual enough, we ought to be happy all the time, realizing instead if we’ve lost someone—to divorce or Alzheimer’s or a miscarriage –it is the right time to weep.  We acknowledge there is a time to scatter stones (“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”). And a time to hate (cancer, human trafficking, hypocrisy.)” [2]

            We need to consider the inside story next. That’s the negative part, isn’t it? Looking at these words from the inside, and considering the context, the “why” and the “how come?” We run right into sadness and pain, the core and substance of life. We all know that life is not always rosy! Life has negative aspects, depressing happenings, and sad situations.

Sometimes these situations come up again and again. This boils down to the conclusion that actor Jim Carrey gave in an interview: “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” [3]Does striving after the unreachable, beating the air, running as fast as you can with no chance of ever catching a break, sound familiar? “What do we gain from any of this? What profit?” At the end of the day, the Teacher calls every tick of our clock, every activity under the sun meaningless.            

            Sounds pretty hopeless, and the Teacher says humanity can do very little! But, do not despair! We come to the third view, the view from up above – God’s viewpoint! We read v. 10: “I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. [And then this shining ray of hope] Yet God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart.”  

            God indeed has the last word. God can make a way through. God opens a window in the skies, in the everlasting cloudy day of sorrow the writer of Ecclesiastes paints for us. God does indeed make everything beautiful in its time! Everything is in God’s time.

            Which brings us back to where we started, with time. Our human concept of time. “We human beings are in time, we’re defined by its limits. But from the midst of time, we have a sense for eternity. We have inklings of something more. We hear echoes from a far country.” [4] I suspect even the writer of Ecclesiastes heard this inkling of eternity, too.

            With wisdom, we come to understand that time is not just what happens around us! “Time is something to which we pay wise attention so that we can know how to act in various seasons of life. Ecclesiastes 3 is not just about the passing of time or the “turn, turn, turn” of life’s cycles. It is also about wisdom, about a wise discerning of time and of how we are to react to the different occasions that come our way.” [5] Yes, there is a time for everything. And yes, there is an eternity for everyone – for you, for me, made beautiful in the human heart.

            The Teacher says, listen up! Be wise, and take heart. God is able, God is over all, and God loves us all. Whether in 2023, or 2024, and into eternity. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://cepreaching.org/commentary/lora-copley/ecclesiastes-31-11/

[2] Ibid.

[3]  Reader’s Digest, March 2006

[4] https://cepreaching.org/commentary/2014-12-15/ecclesiastes-31-13-2/

[5] Ibid.

Love Amazes!

“Love Amazes!”

Luke 2:15-20 (2:18) – December 24, 2023

            Merry Christmas! What a wonderful expression. People greeting each other on the street, in the stores, here at church. This is also the fourth Sunday in Advent, the Sunday where we focus on Love. What a joyous time of the year, and what a celebration of love-come-to-earth. 

            But I want you to go back, two thousand years. Go back to a time when “Merry Christmas” was not even a phrase, a wish, an idea in people’s heads. Go back to the time that Dr. Luke describes in the second chapter of his Gospel. Back to the time when Israel was an occupied country, and the Roman Empire was the strong man. Back to the time when all people in Israel needed to be enrolled. The Roman government decided to have a census, so that they would be able to tax the people of Israel more accurately.

We heard this census described in our Gospel reading. Joseph and his fiancée Mary went to Bethlehem to enroll, because Joseph was a direct descendant of King David. I suspect there were many people on the roads. Today, traveling can be stressful and nerve-wracking. However, travel in the first century was much more difficult. Poor roads, with many people walking to get from one place to another. We might imagine that Joseph and Mary had a donkey, but nowhere in the Gospel is that mentioned. Travel conditions were challenging, at best.

There they are, in Bethlehem. A long way from their home in Nazareth. I suspect Joseph took care of the enrollment business first thing. But Mary felt the pains of labor begin. What a scary thing! To be far, far from home, in an unfamiliar place, and to have such a significant event happen. Significant, and potentially life-threatening, too.

            Yes, delivering a baby is a special day for anyone. But—even more so, for Mary and Joseph. Extra special because of the love surrounding them, this amazing love from God.

            As Dr. Luke tells us, there were shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Remember, there is no radio or telephone, no Internet or telegraph. When messengers personally come to deliver a special announcement, it is a big deal. These angels coming to the shepherds, well, that was a super big deal, to be sure!

            And the announcement? This isn’t the birth of a normal, ordinary baby. No! This baby is an extra special baby. The Messiah, who will save His people from their sins. A special announcement of God’s love! This special baby, this Savior, Christ the Lord, is born to you—to me—to all of us, in the city of David, which is called Bethlehem.

            Did you hear? The Savior, the Christ, the promised Messiah, came into this world as a Baby in Bethlehem. The Eternal Second Person of the Trinity, Creator of the whole universe, God the Son, emptied Himself of all God-ness. Took on humanity, and was born as a helpless Baby. That is not only good news, that is earth-shaking news. Good news of great joy for all the people. For you, for me, for all of us.

            Yes, the promises of Christmas may sound familiar to us. The good news that the angels brought may be old news, to some. But those promises? They are so needed, today. What with uncertainty and fear, anxiety and hatred so common today. Peace and security seem way out of humanity’s reach. Don’t we need some good news right now? Don’t we need news of God’s amazing love for all of us, for each one of us?

This is good news, this Gospel the angels brought to the shepherds. And they, in turn, told everyone they could about the Child, which the Lord had made known to them. Just as Luke said, all who heard about the Child were amazed at what the shepherd told them.

When I take a step back from this narrative that is so familiar to all of us here in this church, I try to imagine this event brought up to date. “I do find myself wondering just where this might happen today. If Jesus were to come again in human form, would it be like the last time? Would it be in a country far away or would it be in our own back yard? Would it be in an unused room at a nursing home?  Or at a homeless shelter?  Or under a city bridge? I do wonder where Jesus would be born today, don’t you? I wonder how my wondering changes how I encounter those who are in those places now.” [1] It is very possible that those places are already made ‘holy’ – that babies born in unused rooms or homeless shelters or under bridges are holy, too. Even before the presence of the Christ Child makes them even more special.

After that special birth announcement from the angels, and the excited visits from the shepherds, we are left with Mary. Mary who was only a teenager, who had had nine months to consider this extraordinary pregnancy and upcoming birth. Mary must have been up to the task. Mary must have been an extraordinary, reflective young woman.

We know from verse 18 that Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. All of these words, these unfolding events. Another translation has this verse as “Mary was keeping together (the Greek verb sunetare) all these words, bringing them together (sumballos) in her heart.” Keeping together, sunetare, has the sense of integration. Bringing these events together, or sumballos! Mary was fitting all the puzzle pieces together, bit by bit.

Can we do the same? Can we fit all the pieces together? Can we slow down, just a little, and wonder at the miracle of that night? I invite us all to listen to the good news of the shepherds. The eternal God, Creator of the universe, come to earth as the Babe in Bethlehem.

God gives each of us an opportunity, an invitation to experience amazing love; an invitation to worship the newborn Savior. We, too, can stop by that manger in Bethlehem, and be caught up in the wonder of what happened that night, so long ago.  We, too, can say “O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.” Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

(I would like to express my great appreciation for the observations and commentary from the Do Not Be Afraid Advent Devotional – © 2022 Illustrated Ministry, LLC.. I used several ideas from their useful resources. Thanks so much!)

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[1] Dancing with the Word: Christmas in the Barn

To Practice Joy!

“To Practice Joy!”

Luke 2:1-14 (2:10) – December 17, 2023

            Have you ever been so busy, so worried, or so focused, that you couldn’t be joyful? Sometimes it feels that way for me. Sometimes, with so much work for the hospice I work for, so many things to do for the small church I pastor – St. Luke’s Church – I feel stretched thin and working hard. Many people I know are head down, sitting in the computer chair, laptop on till late at night. It seems like I cannot find the time to be joyful – to practice joy!

            I wonder whether the shepherds on the hills surrounding Bethlehem felt anything like that? I wonder if their livelihood as shepherds – precarious at best – was also problematic, even hectic? I mean, you and I might connect shepherds with idyllic, pastoral scenes, with green pastures and quiet waters flowing gently under a sparkling blue sky. Let me tell you: life as a shepherd in Palestine was not idyllic, not by any means!

            Working as a shepherd was truly lurking on the outskirts of Palestinian society, in the first century. We just heard in our reading that the angels brought Good News. The shepherds needed some Good News, too. On those hilltops around Bethlehem, they were not exactly welcome in the general society of the town, either. Focusing on today’s Scripture reading, Dr. Luke tells us about the shepherds, abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. But, he does not mention anything about the low position they held in society.

            Let’s come at this miraculous birth announcement from another direction. Yes, the shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night, and yes, the divine messenger from heaven bursts upon them, lighting up the sky. The first words out of the angel’s mouth: “Do not be afraid!” I am certain the shepherds were terrified! And then, the angel shares the Good News: ““I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” The angel’s marvelous news surely would cause great joy for everyone! Wouldn’t it?

            Then—before the shepherds have had a chance to digest this incredible announcement—the sky changes again. What had moments ago been silent and dark now roars with sound and flashes with light, a multitude of angels offering praise to God. [1] We can almost hear the angelic chorus in Handel’s Messiah: “Glory to God in the highest!”

            I wonder: are you and I ready to rejoice with the shepherds right now? Can we sing with the multitude of angels, praising God and lifting our voices to the skies? Or, would we be terrified, along with the shepherds, at the Good News of great joy that the angel brought?

            Let’s think some more about those shepherds. “By the time of Jesus, shepherding had become a profession most likely to be filled from the bottom rung of the social ladder, by persons who could not find what was regarded as decent work. Society stereotyped shepherds as liars, degenerates, and thieves. The testimony of shepherds was not admissible in court, and many towns had ordinances barring shepherds from their city limits.” [2]

Imagine the difference in class between the shepherds and the bulk of the townspeople of Bethlehem. Certain people live “on the wrong side of the tracks,” or “on the other side of town.” Perhaps they come from the “low-class hill country,” or “that sketchy place down by the river.”

Yet, God revealed the great Good News of the Messiah’s birth to these lowly, no-count shepherds! Imagine, angels – God’s heavenly messengers – came to these people on the bottom rung of the social ladder, not to the president of the biggest synagogue in Bethlehem, and not to the most respected Rabbi in town.    

The Gospel of Luke is a gospel centered on “a connection to the marginalized, the lowly, and the common and often unacceptable people of first century Judea that will be present throughout Jesus’ life and ministry. It reminds us that these are the very people who Jesus will invite to be part of the Kingdom of God.” [3] This stunning heavenly birth announcement came to the outsiders, people on the margins. In modern-day terms, God’s heavenly birth announcement comes to the homeless, people selling Streetwise or begging at street corners, migrants, people in tent camps, to lonely seniors, and children of teenaged mothers.  

            It truly does not matter – you and I can spread the Good News to everyone we meet, too.  

            The angels did not observe the class consciousness of society, or the language barriers or color barriers of so much of our world. No! The angels sent from God brought glad tidings of great joy to ALL the people. Not just some select few, not even to most of the earth’s population. No! This Good News came to ALL the people. It comes to all with an emotional, mental, or spiritual disconnect, too!       

            The angels came to the “fields of the isolated, the disenfranchised and the forgotten, or in our own painful places of spiritual wilderness, because God speaks the good news of Christ’s coming there. God brings great joy to those who need it most there.” [4]

            I realize that it can take a tremendous amount of emotional energy to navigate each day’s difficulties. Each day’s challenges can sap each one of us of strength to continue. So, “joy” can seem like a luxury, something that is almost unattainable. Yet, such joy is a gift. God brings joy to each of us, to lighten our hearts and brighten our souls. “We practice what we might have a knack for but want to get better at: drawing, soup-making, karate. We practice what we’re good at and know we’ll lose if we don’t keep at it: yoga, math, courage. Could joy fall into that category? Could we practice delighting in some piece of each new day, meeting each new person with wonder, treasuring each connection?” [5]

God wishes to draw ALL of us in to the Good News of the birth of God’s Son. Regardless of where we come from, or where we are right now, we receive great joy. Each one of us has the angel of the Lord bringing Good News to us—personally. Glad tidings of great joy, no matter what! Wonderful news, any time we need it! Alleluia, amen! m

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

(I would like to express my great appreciation for the observations and commentary from the Do Not Be Afraid Advent Devotional – © 2022 Illustrated Ministry, LLC.. I used several quotes and ideas from their useful resources. Thanks so much!)

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[1] The Do Not Be Afraid Advent Devotional – © 2022 Illustrated Ministry, LLC

[2] http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1522

[3] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/christmas-eve-nativity-of-our-lord/commentary-on-luke-21-14-15-20-12

[4] http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1522

[5] The Do Not Be Afraid Advent Devotional – © 2022 Illustrated Ministry, LLC

God’s Radical Promises!

“God’s Radical Promises!”

Luke 1:46-55 (1:49) – December 10, 2023

            Who remembers going Christmas caroling? Going from house to house, singing the carols and hymns of the season, bringing hope, joy and peace to many at this season of the year. Such a wonderful memory! And, such wonderful carols and hymns and songs, too!

            Just think of where these songs of hope, joy and peace come from. All over the world, there have been songs of Advent and Christmas written throughout the centuries. These are by turns loud, joyous and bright music, or they could be soft, gentle, quiet lullabies. What holds all of these songs in common is their focus on God’s promises fulfilled.

            That sounds so much like our Gospel reading from Luke today. The pregnant teenager Mary sings a song where she remembers the promises of God. And, these promises are not just theoretical. These promises are actually happening to her, at the time she is singing.

            Her cousin Elizabeth is much older, and had given up any hope of having a baby until God miraculously intervened. Mary – well, we all know Mary’s story, how the angel Gabriel came to her and said God had highly favored her. And – Mary said yes to God, and became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. After several months, Mary and her cousin Elizabeth are together, at Elizabeth’s home. Mary, a thoughtful, contemplative teenager, began singing this marvelous song of God’s promises fulfilled in her life and in the time to come.

            At the beginning of this song – this Magnificat – Mary starts with giving praise to the Lord. Magnifiying God’s name! As the Jewish people had done long before Mary, she sings of the great things God has done. Except, for Mary, God is now doing these things for her, personally! Just imagine, Mary was from a small town in an obscure region of Palestine. A nobody from nowhere. Except, she is so similar to many young women throughout the centuries.

Just think, “living in a rural village in an occupied country. Everyone around her discounted her. But God did not. This gives everyone else who feels like a nobody the assurance that God values them too. God has work and a plan for them, too.” ^[1] What a bright hope this holds out for so many who otherwise would feel left out, downtrodden, and left behind!

Both Mary and Elizabeth felt joy, too. Both knew the joy of having a baby grow within their bodies, and they knew the joy of having God’s promises personally fulfilled in their own lives. Plus, Mary was joyful because she looked forward to seeing her son as the fulfillment of the world’s hope, the fulfillment of God’s promises foretold throughout the ages.

Mary is not a meek, mild and lowly person, no matter what certain carols may say. As we read Mary’s song of praise to God, we can clearly hear this song is a radical departure from the broken, the fallen, the least and the last. From the words of this song, I suspect that Mary is not only thoughtful, she is intelligent, even mature and freethinking.   

            Can you listen with open ears to Mary sing of God who “has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble,” and “has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.” This is a classic story (or song) about the “haves” and the “have-nots,” and we can guess who Mary associates herself with! The Jewish people are definitely downtrodden; the Roman empire certainly has them under their collective boot heel. Nevertheless, Mary’s notes of joy ring out for all to hear in the Magnificat!

            Remember, Mary’s song, giving glory, magnifying God, is also clearly a radical protest song. As she sings about the injustice not only in her hometown, but within the whole occupied Jewish nation, any peace but a forced “peace” was the furthest thing from the minds of the Roman occupiers. Yet, “the new world Mary sings about here isn’t elusive or unquantifiable at all. The hope she holds onto is one passed on to her from her ancestors: from Hannah, who sang this hymn of reversal and revolution in the Hebrew scriptures, to the Psalmist, who echoed praise to God for raising the poor from the dust and lifting the needy out of their desperation.” ^[2]      

            One commentator, Rolf Jacobson, tells about one of his colleagues at Luther Seminary. Dr. Lois Malcolm grew up as a missionary kid in the Philippines. “Growing up among that nation’s poor, Malcolm reported that when they heard Mary’s Psalm, it was the first time that anyone had told them the good news that God cares about them—the poor, the oppressed. Mary’s Psalm announces, “Christ has come to challenge the structures of sin, death, the devil, and oppression. Christ has come in the strength of the Lord to do what the Lord has always done: lift up the lowly, free the enslaved, feed the hungry, give justice to the widow, the orphan, and the sojourner.” ^[3]

            In the words of a modern retelling of Mary’s song: “Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast: God’s mercy must deliver us from the conqueror’s crushing grasp. This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound, ‘til the spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is turning the world around.” ^[4]

Can you believe how radical, how revolutionary an idea this was (and is)? Especially to a large group of people who have been poor, downtrodden, and left on the outskirts for generations, perhaps for centuries? What good news – even marvelous news – this would be to such a group of people, to know that God not only loves them, but God cares about each of them, and is actively coming to their defense, to fill their stomachs and right their wrongs!

            This is, indeed, a counter-cultural Gospel reading, counter to the culture of the United States, surely. What better reason for us to lift up this message of resistance, to open our ears to Mary and her radical song. Here in this country, the commercial picture of the baby Jesus is “a cattle-lowing, no-crying-he-makes Jesus” with Silent Night and Away in a Manger. “But at least one Christmas carol would remind us of the ends to which the son of Mary was willing to go in order to cast the mighty down from their thrones and uplift the lowly:” ^[5]

Nails, spear shall pierce him through, / The cross he borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the word made flesh, / The babe, the son of Mary!

May our hushed, reverent souls magnify our Lord, indeed. Amen, alleluia.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!)

(I would like to express my great appreciation for the observations and commentary from the Do Not Be Afraid Advent Devotional – © 2022 Illustrated Ministry, LLC.. I used several quotes and ideas from their useful resources. Thanks so much!)

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^[1]Worshiping With Children: Year C – Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 20, 2015)

^[2] The Do Not Be Afraid Advent Devotional – © 2022 Illustrated Ministry, LLC

^[3]  Commentary on Luke 1:46b-55 – Working Preacher from Luther Seminary

^[4] Cooney, Rory, “Canticle of the Turning,” (GIA Pulications, Inc. Chicago, IL: 1990)

^[5] Commentary on Luke 1:46b-55 – Working Preacher from Luther Seminary

Favor with God!

“Favor with God!”

Luke 1:26-45 (1:30) – December 3, 2023

            Stories are so important! Do you have family stories that you have told around the dining room table, or that your parents told you, about your family history? I have told my children stories about one grandfather who owned a pharmacy and drug store in Chicago through the Depression and afterwards. And, my other grandfather who emigrated from a shtetl in Eastern Europe early in the 1900’s, seeing the Statue of Liberty from the deck of the steamer.

            I imagine teenaged Mary, and the stories she was told in her family. Not only family stories about her parents and grandparents, but also stories of the Hebrew people – stories of Abraham and Sarah, of Jacob and his sons, of Moses, Miriam, King David, and especially of Hannah and Samuel. I’d imagine Mary thinking hard about Hannah, pregnant with her child of promise Samuel, and it would be difficult not to compare herself to Hannah!  

            I am wondering which such stories have shaped you and me, giving us direction and hope, understanding and wisdom in the midst of uncertain times. [1] Which stories – either our family stories or Bible stories – have helped us along, given us positivity and perseverance when we get discouraged or upset?

            Mary must have been a thoughtful teenager, possibly even mature beyond her years, when the angel Gabriel suddenly appeared to her! The angel greeted Mary with the typical words most recorded in Scripture when an angel makes a visitation: “Don’t be afraid!” Lo and behold, Mary enters into conversation with this heavenly visitor.

            Would you and I have been as thoughtful, or as quick on our feet if we were suddenly confronted with an angel? Even if the angel immediately said, “Don’t be afraid!?”

            Mary must have had some idea of what she was up against, both in her culture and in her traditional society structure. Here she was, a young, unmarried teenager – yes, of marriageable age, but not married yet. And, she willingly took on the task of bearing a child, the Son of God as the angel said. “You have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.”

            I wonder perhaps if this is why Mary goes to her older cousin Elizabeth in the hill country, because of the societal pressure that was on her in her hometown. I wonder whether Mary was thinking she might receive social judgement from Elizabeth once she gets there? Yet, I also know that cousin Elizabeth had her own experience of being shamed and excluded. “In her culture a woman’s primary purpose in life was to bear children, so as an elderly infertile wife she had endured a lifetime of being treated as a failure. Her response to her miraculous pregnancy emphasizes that God’s grace has reversed her social status.” [2]   

            Just think about it! Both Mary and Elizabeth were in a position of social stigma and even dishonor. Yet, Elizabeth said “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people” (Luke 1:25). Further, by greeting Mary with joy and with honor, the pregnant Elizabeth firmly overturns society’s frowns and shames and clucking of tongues.

            There’s a whole lot in front of Mary and Elizabeth that they do not know. “They do not know why they have been chosen for these roles. They don’t know who their babies will become, though they have some hints. They don’t know how their children will change the world or how the world will change their children.” [3]

            What about today, with migrants, immigrants, or people displaced from war-torn areas or as a result of natural disasters? People are outside of their society’s rules or their cultural expectations, and are regularly in precarious situations. Old people, seniors far from families who need assistance – even a wheelchair – and nothing is available. Children who go hungry because their displaced parents are unable to work because of their host country’s rules.

Pregnant women sometimes are stigmatized by their society, shame, and cultural dishonor. So like Mary and Elizabeth. Do any of these stories resonate inside of you? Which of these ancient stories passed on – even as they were to Mary – do you hold especially close to your heart, especially in December, in this season of Advent? Do one or two of these Biblical stories carry you in dark or uncertain times, and give you encouragement and comfort? [4] Either the story of Hannah and Samuel, or of Mary and Elizabeth? Or another Biblical story?

Sometimes, there are competing stories of hopelessness, or discouragement, or dishonor that come to people’s minds. I would like to tell you that those competing, pessimistic stories are not helpful to our hearts or minds! These stories are not positive or uplifting, and please, please do not let yourselves get bogged down listening to them, internalizing them!

This story of Mary and Elizabeth shows us the positive, nurturing attitude of God reaching down to the least and the lowly. We can be open to the ways that God chooses to act in our world, both two thousand years ago, and today, too! “What is God doing through unexpected people in our society today? Where is God at work through people whom our neighbors and fellow church members often exclude or treat as shameful? Will we listen to the Spirit’s prompting when the bearers of God’s new reality show up on our doorstep?” [5]

I invite us all to consider these positive, miraculous stories and invite the Lord to come alongside of us as we travel through Advent. And perhaps, these stories will help us all to make the world a different place, a more Godly place, where God overrules society’s structure, shame and cultural disapproval! A place where God has arms open wide to all children, all people.

Maranatha, come, Lord Jesus!  

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

(I would like to express my great appreciation for the observations and commentary from the Do Not Be Afraid Advent Devotional – © 2022 Illustrated Ministry, LLC.. I used several quotes and ideas from their useful resources. Thanks so much!)

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[1] https://dancingwiththeword.com/mary-and-hannah-and-a-woman-in-the-county-jail/

[2] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fourth-sunday-of-advent-3/commentary-on-luke-139-45-46-55-3

[3] Do Not Be Afraid Advent Devotional – © 2022 Illustrated Ministry, LLC.

[4] https://dancingwiththeword.com/mary-and-hannah-and-a-woman-in-the-county-jail/

[5] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fourth-sunday-of-advent-3/commentary-on-luke-139-45-46-55-3

Give Thanks Every Day!

“Give Thanks Every Day!”

John 6:5-23 (6:11) – November 26, 2023

            “We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing!”

            Those words from a beloved, traditional Thanksgiving hymn are so familiar, and so appropriate for this thankful time of the year. Our family just had a Thanksgiving celebration a few days ago, and for many who are followers of faith traditions throughout the United States, Thanksgiving was indeed a day to ask the Lord’s blessing!

            Our Scripture reading is from the Gospel of John, chapter 6. Yet, we could also read about this same miracle from the other three Gospels. This miracle is the only miracle that appears in all four Gospel accounts of the life of Christ.

            This miracle from John 6 is about providing food to a large group of people, yes, and a whole lot more. Let us set the stage. The crowds gathered around the Rabbi Jesus more and more now, because Jesus was gaining a reputation for performing miracles!

            What do you think it would be like, to stand in the crowd and actually see a miracle performed by Jesus? How would you react, or your friends or family react? Would you believe that this Rabbi could actually perform miracles? Or, would you be more skeptical?   

            Each Gospel writer tells a similar narrative. For example, here we have a waiting crowd, eager to see what this unconventional Rabbi is going to do now, and perhaps even get up close to this miracle-worker!

“Here they come, down the road toward Jesus. Can you hear their voices getting louder as they approach and taste the dust that has risen from the tramping of their feet? They are coming closer and closer and they are hungry.” [1]

But, what makes the Gospel of John’s account of this miracle different?

            Think small and simple. Jesus is found in the ordinary and everyday stuff of life. John also called the “miracles” Jesus performed “signs.” This week’s Gospel reading reminds us of John pointing to Jesus in the simple sign of bread. In these verses Jesus uses a few loaves of bread to sustain and calm hungry and fearful folk. Yes, bread says a lot about Jesus’ identity and presence, not only in the sacrament of communion but in daily life. [2]

            Getting down to the specifics of the miracle, the disciples have much discussion about how all of this huge crowd is going to be fed. In the midst of this animated discussion, the disciple Andrew brings a little boy’s lunch to Jesus. But then, he says “How will this little amount go so far among so many?”

            Perhaps you and I are like the disciples. Perhaps we get caught up in the limitations, in our fears, in the worry and concern about “how much?” and “what if?” and “what now?” How on earth are we ever going to have enough? And, how can you and I explain exactly how this miracle happened?    

            That is not the important part, which was about a “who,” not a “how.” Jesus is the focus of this sign, “the meeter of needs, the worker of miracles.” The second “who” is us, or them, “the 5,000 hungry ones on the side of the mountain. Who are us too, by the way, John says with an elbow to the ribs. Get it? We are hungry for something we can’t provide for ourselves.” [3]

            Sure, we can intellectualize this miracle, and talk about the exact number fed, and whether the 5,000 were just men, or whether there were additional women and children, and how many, and where they all came from, and who exactly distributed the food. Or, we can theologize this reading, and talk about the differences between the fine points of the translation of the different readings, or how this reading from John is another metaphor for the Eucharist, the bread or manna of heaven, the communion that Jesus provided for these people in the huge crowd without a thought for the exact theological terms used for this picnic lunch.

            Then, John puts in his occasional editorial comment at the end of this narrative. Perhaps John was the only disciple who actually got the point that our Lord Jesus was making! “We know that by how he describes the event. Did you see it? It’s there in the final verse of our text. The people were hanging out in the place where it happened. The miracle place. But John doesn’t call it a miracle place. [In verse 23] He says that it is the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.” [4]

The first thing Jesus did when he received the little boy’s lunch was to thank God for it. He gave thanks for having the food to offer the crowd of people. Jesus gave thanks for feeding the hungry people crowded around Him. Gratitude and generosity come from a way of seeing and being in the world. [5]

            Perhaps that is our grand takeaway for today. Perhaps that is exactly why there was a miracle, a sign from God, precisely because our Lord Jesus looked up to heaven and gave thanks before He broke the bread and shared out the pieces of fish.

“Think about it. That’s what John wants us to remember: that this meal, this miracle happened after gratitude was expressed. Gratitude for the abundance that didn’t look like abundance. Gratitude for the satisfaction that came out of hunger. Gratitude becomes a way of seeing and a way of being in the world. We give thanks to God for what is about to happen. We give thanks for what we might not yet see, but what we trust God will provide.” [6]

            Jesus showed us – just as much as He showed His disciples and the crowd of people – that He is able, and He will provide for us our daily bread. We can truly have thanks, truly have gratitude for all that God has done, and is continuing to do in each of our lives. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

(I would like to express my great appreciation for the observations and commentary from the web page www,umcdiscipleship.org for their brief series on gratitude. I used several quotes and ideas from their useful resources. Thanks so much!)

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[1] https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/mind-the-gap-alyce-mckenzie-07-20-2012

[2] https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2012/07/bread-water-and-signs-of-god/

[3] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/our-hymn-of-grateful-praise/christ-the-king-reign-of-christ-sunday-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/christ-the-king-reign-of-christ-sunday-year-a-preaching-notes

[4] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/our-hymn-of-grateful-praise/christ-the-king-reign-of-christ-sunday-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/christ-the-king-reign-of-christ-sunday-year-a-preaching-notes

[5] ^{https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/our-hymn-of-grateful-praise/christ-the-king-reign-of-christ-sunday-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/christ-the-king-reign-of-christ-sunday-year-a-childrens-message}

[6] Ibid.

Gratitude Is—!

“Gratitude Is—!”

Philippians 4:4-7 (4:6) – November 19, 2023

            It’s that thankful time of the year, and this service is one way we all gather to say “thank You” to God. We say thanks for all sorts of good things. Wonderful gifts. Exciting opportunities. We gladly come before God and mention how thankful each of us is—to God.

One of my favorite biblical websites (and, I fully consider her a bible commentator) is “Worshipping with Children,” written by Carolyn Brown. This is what she had to say about Thanksgiving: “One of my favourite times with the children was the year we learned how to say “Thank you” in many languages from our congregation, and ended by using those words for our prayer together.” [1]

I know I taught my children how to say “thank you” when they received gifts, and compliments, and lots of other things. It’s a common thing, for grown-ups, parents, and grandparents to instruct children in these considerate, valuable, and grateful words.

            But, gratitude? Yes, almost everyone knows they are supposed to be thankful at Thanksgiving-time. But, grateful? That is not quite thankful – or is it?  

            Our New Testament Scripture reading for this Sunday is directed toward a group of people – of believers in God. Similarly, the Psalm reading is meant for a group of people, as are our hymns today, too. Isn’t it easier for us to be thankful – jointly? And, to be grateful – together?

            Sometimes being a part of a special group of people is helpful for joining together and agreeing to be in one accord with one another. Especially in terms of encouragement and hope, any group of people makes it easier to show signs of gratitude and thankfulness. Like, in the example of the group of people the apostle Paul addresses through this thank-you note. 

            We all know that being grateful and thankful is not just a head thing, not just something we decide to do one fine day. No, being grateful and thankful is not just an intellectual belief we endorse to be true. Instead, our gratitude and thankfulness ought to be a well-worn habit, a way of living. Most important, our gratitude and thankfulness should be visible, shown in what we do and say, shown in the choices we make and the priorities we set.

            Who remembers thank-you notes? I know I just mentioned thank-you notes written for gifts received (especially written by our children), but this is on a much larger scale. If you like to think so, each of us can be saying “thank you” to God, each and every day. In the same way, each of us has many reasons to be grateful to God each and every day, too.

            We are in a worship service right now. Worship is supposed to be a grateful and thankful time, for sure! What kinds of prayers are grateful and thankful? What about the group that is us, our congregation? “What prayers can we offer that might tap into the sense of interconnectedness and belonging? How can we celebrate the community that we are and the community that we are becoming? Let there be space for saying thank you to one another and to God.” [2]

When Paul wrote this particular letter, he wrote it from prison in Rome. He had been sent to the emperor’s court on a capital charge. He was on trial for his life. And yet—the apostle Paul writes this joyful, thankful, gratitude-filled letter.

Let us count off difficulties and challenges that Paul faced: not only the upcoming trial—for his life, but on top of that, Paul considered himself to be responsible for the churches he had planted on his missionary trips in Asia Minor and throughout Greece. Such heavy burdens on Paul. Yet, here in chapter 4 we see him writing almost blithely to the Philippian believers. He not only writes a thank-you note for a financial gift the Philippian believers sent to him, but Paul also is full of praise, thanksgiving and gratitude to God!

When we look at the people who were on the receiving end of this correspondence, few of them were living comfortable lives. One of the commentaries I consulted said, “Many were poor, many were slaves and few of them would have known the meaning of security. In marked contrast, those of us who live in comparative wealth and luxury today are frequently those who are most worried and anxious.” [3] Isn’t that a true description of us, today?

Sometimes there IS stuff to worry about! A lot of times, people (yes, even Christians) worry about all kinds of stuff! Aren’t we tempted to be worried and anxious when finances are a challenge or the car is giving big problems? Or, how about when we or one of our loved ones is unemployed? Or, in the hospital or dealing with a chronic illness? What about in an accident, or even in jail? Some would say it is natural, even part of the human condition to be worried.

Here is camaraderie, teamwork, and togetherness at work. And, the togetherness, the sense of interconnectedness and belonging of the Christian life is what Paul recommends to us in verses 2 and 3. All of Paul’s commands dovetail into his urging to pray—with gratitude and thanksgiving. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”   

All too often, our prayers are just a ‘shopping list’ we bring to God, without thanksgiving and seasoned with anxiety and fear. We are urged to be grateful, to count our blessings.

            I encourage all of us – and I am preaching to myself as much as to anyone else – to strive to make it a habit. A way of living, to be thankful and grateful. Not just for this week, for Thanksgiving, but for the rest of the year, too. For always. Let us encourage each other to tap into this praiseworthy sense of interconnectedness and belonging! And celebrate the community that we are and the community that we are becoming!

Be like Paul. Don’t be filled with worry, but instead, be filled with gratitude and thanksgiving! Not just on Thanksgiving, but every day!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

(I would like to express my great appreciation for the observations and commentary from the web page www,umcdiscipleship.org for their brief series on gratitude. I used several quotes and ideas from their useful resources. Thanks so much!)

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[1] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2013/09/year-c-thanksgiving-day-october-14-2013.html

[2] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/our-hymn-of-grateful-praise/twenty-fifth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes

[3] Hooker, Morna D., The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary (Vol. 12,The Letter to the Philippians), (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2000), 547-48.

Attitude of Gratitude!

“Attitude of Gratitude!”

Psalm 100 – November 12, 2023

            Gratitude! Be grateful! Have an attitude of gratitude! But, how on earth do we do that? Great question!

With November, all of us here in the United States enter a time of thanksgiving, a season of gratitude. We can think of the Thanksgiving story, that thankful meal shared several centuries ago in New England. This was a means of showing gratitude for the harvest gathered in, and for the blessings of the bounty of nature God bestows upon those who farm the land.

I’ve lived in the Chicago area all my life. I’ve never lived in a small town, or a farming community, or had anything to do with gathering in crops. The most I’ve ever done is go to an apple orchard in the fall to pick apples – and that was just twice in my life. I know that whole communities rely on the harvest! Except – I have never been a direct part of that process.   

            What we all share, both city folks and country folks, is gratitude. Yes, we all can be thankful and grateful. Yes, we all can lift our hearts to the Holy One to say “thank you” for the bounty of nature, and we can come to God in praise for the interconnectedness of life.  

Autumn is, indeed, a thankful time of the year. But, how can each of us generate an attitude of gratitude? What does a life of gratitude look like? Or perhaps more importantly, what does a life of gratitude feel like?

            I want us to focus on our Scripture reading for today, and take special note of verse 4: “Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100 is a praise psalm or song, the last in a small collection of special psalms of praise and worship. Do these verses get you in the mood of worship? Of praise? Could we see ourselves marching to our particular house of worship looking forward to meeting with God? To serve and praise and bless and be thankful to God? That is exactly what this Psalm is encouraging—no, even more strongly—is commanding us to do.

            The ancient superscription – or introduction – to this psalm simply says “a psalm of thanksgiving.” “On the one hand, there is the idea that thankfulness covers all of life; it is our way of approaching the world and the attitudes with which we choose to live. On the other hand, there is a clear indication that we are making a commitment to God in our choice to live a grateful life.” [1]

A number of verbs, or action words in this short psalm, are clear commands. In the first three verses, “Raise a shout!” “Serve!” “Come!” and “Know!” Verse four has “Enter!” “Be thankful!” and “Bless!” All of these verbs—and they are many of the chief action words in this Psalm—are instantly recognizable as an imperative, a command to anyone who spoke Hebrew!

This grateful commitment to God is quite serious if we follow these commands found in this psalm of praise. The grateful, thankful life shown to each of us in this short psalm is more than just a possibility. It becomes a blessed reality, if we follow through on the commands and promises highlighted by these few verses!

            We look to verse 4 again. We are commanded to “Enter the gates with thanksgiving!” “But what does that mean? Do we come to church with grateful hearts? Well, of course, we do. But more than that, we pass through every door with gratitude in our minds and hearts.” [2] Except, it’s more than that. Yes, we enter every door with thanksgiving and gratitude! And – plus – moreover – we can take the opportunity to incorporate this gratitude into each interaction we have throughout our day. When we enter our homes, we can be grateful for the family of which we are a part. When we go out and about, into the neighborhood or the community, we can be grateful for the abundance we all take for granted far too often. [3]

            And, what about those we encounter in our daily lives? Perhaps we haven’t even thought that far. Could it be that God would be pleased if we are grateful for each person we meet? Each one is a precious child of God, too – even the ones we sometimes struggle to get along with. Perhaps that attitude of gratitude is helpful for bridging the gap, for helping each of us be thankful for every interaction we have, every single day.

            I was so amazed to read about a senior’s daily practice in the preaching notes for this Sunday’s Scripture reading. Listen to this description: “Every morning, Amy Kawahara, ninety-four years old, opens her eyes and thanks God for another day to live. She knows she belongs to God. She reads devotion, prays, and seeks ways to share joy. She sings in the choir to make a joyful noise to the Lord. She leads a prayer group and senior exercise ministry. In every way, she worships the Lord with gladness.” [4]

            Isn’t the attitude of this senior Amy Kawahara a model attitude of gratitude to God?

            What are you thankful for, at this thankful time of year? What is each of us grateful for? There is something behind all this gratitude and thankfulness! We belong! We not only belong to God, but we belong to our church, to our fellowship of believers. “We are a part of something that is infinitely bigger than we can see. Of course, gratitude is the only proper response.” [5]

            This psalm ends with a powerful description: we have a the good God who loves each of us – all of us! Praise-filled, and thankful! May we all come into God’s loving, faithful presence with a joyful noise, giving thanks from the bottom of our hearts. Let us have an attitude of gratitude every day of the year, not only on Thanksgiving Day.    Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

(I would like to express my great appreciation for the observations and commentary from the web page www,umcdiscipleship.org for their brief series on gratitude. I used a number of quotes and ideas from their useful resources. Thanks so much!)

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[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/our-hymn-of-grateful-praise/twenty-fourth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/twenty-fourth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-preaching-notes

[2] Ibid. 

[3] Ibid.

[4] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/our-hymn-of-grateful-praise/twenty-fourth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/twenty-fourth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-small-groups

[5] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/our-hymn-of-grateful-praise/twenty-fourth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/twenty-fourth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-preaching-notes

Wipe Away Every Tear

“Wipe Away Every Tear”

Revelation 7:9-17 (7:17) – November 5, 2023

            Memory is a precious thing. People remember lots of things: birthdays of loved ones, victories of sports teams, anniversaries of weddings or graduations or even the dates of those who have died. Many, many people remember Pearl Harbor, or the day John F. Kennedy was shot, or that terrible day of September 11, 2001.

            Our Scripture reading today comes from the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible. Revelation has much that is foreshadowing, and much that is cloudy. This book also has passages that are incredibly scary and sad, and some that are hope-filled and even absolutely awe-inspiring.

            This reading today is certainly a joy-filled reading that gives hope and promise to even the saddest and most despondent follower of Christ. The Revelation was written late in the 1^st century by the elderly apostle John, in exile. He wanted to give some comfort and encouragement to his fellow believers, it is true! This reading today does exactly that – in the midst of great sadness and tribulation.

            Let us pause, and think about this day. This is a special Sunday, when we remember. That is why I want us to think hard about memory and remembering today, of all days. All Saints Sunday is the day when we not only remember those our church has lost in this past year, but all of our loved ones who are no longer here on this side of the River Jordan. We also remember that great cloud of witnesses, all the saints who are in the presence of the Lord.

In the many-part vision that John saw, he wrote this: “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”

            Many churches practice the tradition of honoring the members of congregations and families who have died during the past year on All Saints Sunday, each year. Many churches also remember all of their loved ones who have passed on throughout many years, that great cloud of witnesses, and truly have a corporate memorial time in the service.

            As the United Methodist minister Rev. Dr. Derek Weber says, “This observance is worth taking the time in worship to give thanks and honor the saints of the church. The founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley, loved All Saints Day. So, we suggest you take this day and let it stand alone as a celebration of the church that was, the church that is, and the church that will be.” [1] In all its diversity, with different looks, languages, cultures, and customs.

            I know from my end-of-life work with families and their loved ones in the hospital, in skilled nursing facilities, and in homes throughout Chicago, that many people grieve even before their loved one has died. So many factors, so many features of life slip away while we are journeying with loved ones. We see a stopping of familiar activities, decrease in mobility, downsized living space, and any one of many other poignant, heart-tugging losses. The person or the family can grieve each loss as it comes, and sometimes several at once.

            At the same time, there can be quiet contentment, sharpening awareness, or gentle expectation wrapped up in this journey alongside, on the prayerful way through aging or end-of-life. You and I can see our families, our loved ones who have passed on as part of this heavenly congregation that the apostle John talks about in Revelation.

            “Yes, there is grief in the recognition of death, but there is also joy in the promise of eternity and the gratitude for the legacy that remains. On this day, we proclaim that we are who we are because of those who have gone before. But we also give thanks for the saints who are still with us.” [2] Today, All Saints Sunday, is not only a memorial time for those in the great cloud of witnesses surrounding us here, but also a celebration of the life and ministry of the church today, here and now. As the apostle Paul tells us, we are all saints! Each one of us is, for real.

            As we reflect on this Scripture reading set in the heavens, the apostle John tells us “he who sits on the throne will shelter [the saints] with his presence. ¹⁶ ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.” Yes, we might see the “saints” as those dressed in white, in the heavens, gathered into the church triumphant. But since you and I are also called saints, couldn’t we also be considered present, before the Lamb who sits on the throne?

            To all of those who are struggling to find hope or healing, or to find the strength to continue being a caregiver, or to go to that difficult job for one more day: Jesus Christ’s promise to “wipe away every tear” is a word that all of us may appreciate hearing, today! [3]
            I encourage each of us to reflect on an everyday saint, someone you know or who you remember as being an everyday person, yet a special child of God. How was that person special? What did they do or say that makes you think of them as a saint? Today is not only a memorial and remembrance, but also a celebration. What is your favorite memory of that everyday saint? How can you best honor that person?  I encourage all of us to think of those everyday saints, our loved ones, family or friends. Think of how we can honor them best, and then do that.

Remember, the apostle John “is describing a vision: there are countless people from all over the world with different looks, languages, cultures, and customs. And they’re all worshiping God! These are the ones who have gone home to God.” [4]  We know that God was with those saints, every step of the way, just as God is with us – and we are God’s saints, too.  

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/from-every-tribe/all-saints-sunday-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes

[2] Ibid.

[3] https://www.davidlose.net/2014/10/all-saints-a/

[4] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/from-every-tribe/all-saints-sunday-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/all-saints-sunday-year-a-youth-lessons

Our Refuge and Strength!

“Our Refuge and Strength!”

Psalm 46:1-7 – October 29, 2023

Here we are at Reformation Sunday, the week of the year when we remember Martin Luther posting his list of grievances against the church establishment of the Catholic Church, more than 500 years ago in 1517. These 95 grievances against the Church sparked a movement of protest that was felt around the world. And thus, the Protestant Church was born.

But, that was more than 500 years ago. Long ago history, to a lot of people today! And our Scripture reading Psalm 46? Written about 2000 years ago? That is really ancient times! How can these people and writings be relevant to us, today?

If you have any concept of what it means to “go viral,” Martin Luther’s 95 Theses did just that. For those who are not familiar with that term, “go viral” means a computer post that is popularly shared on email or social networking sites (Facebook, Instagram, etc.). The Urban Dictionary defines “going viral” as “an image, video, or web link that spreads rapidly through a population by being frequently shared with a number of individuals.” [1] That means that lots and lots of people forward posts or images to lots and lots of their online friends.

Martin Luther did not have an easy life,especially after the 95 Theses (or grievances against the Catholic Church) were published and popularized in large parts of Europe.

Seriously, when Martin Luther’s highly inflammatory writings were widely published, he gained a LOT of powerful enemies! And, he went on the run for a number of years, even secretly hiding out in a powerful ally’s castle for two years. But, what about the man?

Father Martin Luther – for he was a Catholic priest – was a sincere, devout follower of Jesus Christ. He thought long and hard about sin and confession, faith and grace. He also thought a lot about and valued God’s Word. Martin eventually translated the whole Bible – both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament – into his dialect of German, the common tongue of his day and area of Germany.

The Catholic Church considered Martin Luther to be a very dangerous agitator and heretic. They sent armies to find and arrest Luther, and he stayed in hiding for several years.  Because he translated the Bible into German, the Catholic Church got even more mad, since they wanted the Bible to be available only in the specialized language of Latin. Martin disagreed!

Which brings us back to Psalm 46, a psalm of King David. This psalm written in a time of great need is reputed to be Martin Luther’s favorite psalm. Such a favorite, in fact, that Martin wrote the hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” based on Psalm 46.

            Just imagine running for your life – which Martin was. Soldiers, even small armies were actively searching for him. The first verse of Psalm 46 proclaims “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” When he translated this psalm into his mother tongue, I suspect the words became very precious and real to Martin.

            Modern translators have done a great deal of study into the meaning of Biblical words. There is a footnote after the phrase “very present.” “Here the translators have indicated that the verse may also read: “God is our refuge and strength, a well-proved help in trouble.” If you go with “very present” you have a God who is right there with you, keeping you secure in your time of trouble. If you go with “well-proved,” you have a God who has been time-tested and, over and over again, can be trusted upon to keep you secure in your time of trouble. Either way – and in all times and circumstances – you have a God who has got you covered. That is what Psalm 46 declares. And that is what Luther wanted to proclaim in ‘A Mighty Fortress is Our God.’” [2]

            I have a special soft spot in my heart for Reformation Sunday. I was baptized and confirmed as a Lutheran in a church on the northwest side of Chicago (now sadly closed). I can remember very well those Sundays in Octobers past where churches had joyous organ preludes, Reformation celebrations, and brass accompaniment for the hymn “A Mighty Fortress.” I remember sermons where Martin Luther’s bold proclamation of “Here I stand, I can do no other” rang forth from the pulpit. And, I try to make certain our congregation understands how vitally important this date is, in the history of Christianity.

            Yet, I am also a hospice chaplain. I choose not to bring the intellectual ideas of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation to my patients and their families, nor should I. However, I can bring them the very real understanding that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble and need. For, who has more serious need of the Holy than a family dealing with the realities of significant physical decline and approaching end of life?

For that matter, we can embrace this psalm, too. God is always present, always at our sides. “Indeed, is this not as much a promise for a whole community of believers living in a time of uncertainty and anxiety as it is for the individual who is nearing the end of his life now?” [3]

Whether we are on the run – like King David from Saul’s armies, or Martin Luther from soldiers sent by the Catholic Church – or whether you, or I, or our families are going through difficult periods of serious illness, psychological upset, financial distress or political turmoil, God is indeed our refuge and strength.

Is anyone surprised that Martin Luther considered this comforting psalm his favorite? Even though everything is falling apart on all sides, Martin can stand safe and secure in his Lord’s care. And, so can we. That is good news for all of us! Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=go%20viral

[2] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/reformation-day/commentary-on-psalm-46-6

[3] https://dancingwiththeword.com/being-still-letting-go/

Copy Cats!

“Copy Cats!”

1 Thessalonians 1:1-7 – October 22, 2023

            Do you remember copy cats? The easiest way for me to remember copy cats is to think of school days. Back in elementary school, one person copying another. Sometimes it was to irritate a person. Can’t you just hear the person being copied say to their teacher, “He’s copying me!” and “Make her stop!” But oftentimes, it was because that copy cat really wanted to emulate the person being copied!

            That is exactly what the apostle Paul is saying here! He praises his friends and former parishioners – “When we told you the good news, it was with the power and assurance that come from the Holy Spirit, and not simply with words. You knew what kind of people we were and how we helped you. ⁶ So, when you accepted the message, you followed our example and the example of the Lord. You suffered, but the Holy Spirit made you glad.”

            Can you imagine that? Paul commends the Thessalonian believers for following his example, and moreover, for following the example of the Lord! For being copy cats! What is more, “Paul compliments the Thessalonians saying they are making a big difference in their town by living like Jesus every day.” [1] 

            When Paul and his friends came to Thessalonica, they found a pagan city. Although very religious, there was not a strong Jewish synagogue or presence of followers of the God of the Jews in that town. Yet, that did not stop Paul from preaching, and being faithful to spread the Good News of the Gospel. Lo and behold, the people in the newly formed gathering of believers began to follow Paul’s ways, and began to follow the Lord’s way, too. Paul lifts that up here at the beginning of this letter by calling his friends followers of the example of God.

“Paul could see the results in their lives: work stemming from faith; labor motivated by love; and steadfastness flowing from hope in the Lord Jesus Christ in spite of severe persecution. He goes on to mention how they had become imitators of himself and of the Lord and that the gospel was sounding forth from them all over the region. So their dramatically changed lives were evidence that God had chosen them for eternal life.” [2]

            Although you and I can follow Paul’s lead and try to follow in Jesus’s footsteps, many people really find it helpful to have a road map. This helps us understand and to read a step-by-step outline of instructions. We need to know how to live God’s way and walk in God’s path.

            Paul gives us three steps, or at least, three points to consider as you and I try to live God’s way. We find these pointers in verse 3: “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

            Some Christians have the mistaken belief that they can work their way to heaven. Paul highlights his friends’ work, yes! However, their Godly work is produced by faith – not the other way around. Yes, many Christians can quote the verses Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one can boast.” I want to be perfectly clear. God does not love us simply because we do good things or live by “works righteousness,” or are blindly obedient to God.

No! God loved us first, before we ever did anything, even while we were yet sinners, God loved each of us. How many of us are familiar with newborn babies? How many of us just love holding a newborn, or a very young baby? The baby does not have to do anything, or be any particular way, and yet the sweet little baby is showered with love. It is the same way with humans and with God. Remember, God first loved us.

            One of my favorite verses from the New Testament is from 1 John 4, and it says “We love, because God first loved us.” Love is often referred to in the Bible, and here in 1 Thessalonians, Paul talks about the labor of love the Thessalonian believers show. This kind of love is evident in just about every believer’s life.

 “This labor motivated by love should be evident in our homes. We should display the qualities of love that Paul mentions.” [3] This kind of love is not cheap affection, or so-called “love” that does not get involved in the lives and situations of friends, relatives, even strangers. Plus, this labor – or work – is not effortless! It certainly can involve physical work, “such as helping an elderly person clean by their yard or house. It will cost your time and sometimes some money.” [4]

            The last pointer that Paul mentions here is endurance inspired by hope. The hope of the return of the risen and ascended Jesus in the clouds is truly a hope we all can share. This blessed hope can help us – enable each of us – to endure trials, difficulties, even persecution with joy. “That kind of steadfast joy under trials comes from hope in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will right every wrong and reward every good deed done in His name.” [5]

            You and I are not in complete control of our lives, no matter how much we may wish to be. But, there is good news: God is always with us. God always travels by our sides, and walks with us through the dark valleys.

Next week is Reformation Sunday, when we will remember and celebrate the Reformation, that time that started with Martin Luther and continued with many, many reformers over the centuries. Not only that, but you and I are always reforming our faith, reforming our church, reforming ourselves.

This reading today calls us to remake ourselves in the image of Jesus: to be copy cats of Paul, as he is of our Lord Jesus. We can follow Paul’s road map right here. This helps us understand a step-by-step outline of instructions. We are provided a step-by-step way to live God’s way and walk in God’s path.

Is the path easy? Frankly, not always. Is it simple? Straight forward? Yes. Follow the road map of faith, love and hope, and be copy cats. Follow Jesus. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2014/10/year-proper-24-28th-sunday-in-ordinary.html

[2] https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-2-are-you-elect-1-thessalonians-12-4

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

Guard Your Hearts and Minds!

“Guard Your Hearts and Minds!”

Philippians 4:4-9 – October 15, 2023

            Anxiety is commonplace, today. Practically everyone is anxious about something! Whether it’s work or unemployment, school or health (yours or someone else’s) – anxiety is prevalent in this world today. Just like an automatic setting on your washer or dryer, we can even call anxiety an automatic emotional setting for many, many people.

            Being anxious is very real, very automatic for a whole lot of people. When we consider things like climate change, or gun violence, or the changes in weather, or inflation, or the state of politics today, any one of those things is enough to make anyone worried, at least a little.

            Add to that widespread wildfires, droughts in large areas of continents, catastrophic floods, earthquakes and the devastation that follows, plus wars and conflicts and political instability over large portions of the world today. If we consider all of these problems and calamities, even on our own continent, much less other continents, what on earth are we to do? How are we to feel? Just about anyone would be really worried and anxious, especially if loved ones were in serious danger or in harm’s way.

            The apostle Paul was very much in harm’s way. He was in prison when he wrote this letter to the Philippian believers, in Rome, the capital city of the Roman empire. He was chained to a Roman soldier constantly. That means all the time. Paul was in serious danger of being found guilty of sedition against the emperor, which crime had a penalty of death.

            And yet, Paul writes this joy-filled letter to his friends from his former church in Philippi. Instead of being fearful, glum, or downright depressed, Paul tells his friends to rejoice!

            As Paul says from his prison cell, do not be anxious! Instead, rejoice! And again, Paul says, rejoice! A double dose of rejoicing, so to speak. Paul was not a fool, and not a Pollyanna, not thinking of pie in the sky and wearing rose-colored glasses. No, he was very much a realist in many ways. Paul faced facts, and talked straight. And – he told his friends to rejoice! Twice!

              If you and I consider our personal situations, or those of our friends, or members of our families, I am sure we would come up with quite a list of things to concern ourselves with. We do not call these requests “prayer concerns” for nothing, you know!  

            After Paul’s strong injunction (and it is almost a command!) to rejoice twice, he goes on to say “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

            Paul does not make light of our very real prayer concerns. In fact, he urges us to bring those concerns – those worries! – before God! “Paul is not saying that there is nothing to worry about or that the things we worry about are unimportant. Rather he places our anxieties, fears, and concerns in the context of our relationship to God. We are invited to make ourselves known to God, and to ourselves, at our points of greatest vulnerability.” [1]

            God does understand when we have concerns – for ourselves or friends or for loved ones. And, we are invited numerous times in the Bible to bring those concerns, those worries, those anxieties, before our God.  

            What a relief and what a help to us and to our loved ones to know we can always come before the throne of grace and bring our cares and troubles to God.

            And, that is not all! This short reading from Paul’s letter is jam-packed with positive, joy-filled, impactful statements from this man in prison. Amazing to me is how positive Paul can be in this letter. Not only does Paul encourage prayer and thanksgiving in the midst of negative situations, sometimes even dire, ominous circumstances, but there’s more! He also emphasizes peace. The reality of a peace beyond human understanding. God’s peace.

            Yes, we certainly can expect trouble in this world. Our faith will be tested. Some may even suffer as Paul suffered. But, Paul reminds us all about Jesus Christ. We are urged to “think like Jesus who stood in solidarity with the oppressed by taking on the form of a slave. Yes, Jesus died on a cross. Yes, the powers killed him… But a far greater power exalted him and bestowed upon him the name which is above every name. [That at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ.] This God did not abandon Jesus and will not abandon [us].” [2] Do you hear? Do you believe?

            This peace is not simply calmness or the absence of anxiety. A more literal or direct translation of the word is “having power over” or “being superior to.” In other words, “peace has power over, excels, and surpasses reasoning. It is superior to human understanding because peace comes from God.” [3]  Peace from God is truly a guard against fear, worry and anxiety.      

            How awesome is that? Yes, the world is powerful, but God has overcome the world. We have God on our side. Not to be a quick fix, or a magic incantation, or a Santa Claus in the sky. Prayer is not magic, not mumbo jumbo. Instead, Paul talks about developing a relationship with this God. An ongoing, deepening, intimate relationship with this God of peace. [4]

            This can be a blessed reality! And if you wish to know more about how to be in a close relationship like this with God, ask me! I’ll introduce you to our wonderful God.

In difficult times, in times of trial, and in the good times – at all times – we can draw near to this marvelous God of peace. God of love, and joy, and grace, and mercy, too!

The result will be that God’s peace stands guard over our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Believe this blessed truth! Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/third-sunday-of-advent-3/commentary-on-philippians-44-7-4

[2] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/third-sunday-of-advent-3/commentary-on-philippians-44-7-5

[3] Ibid.

[4] https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-24-answer-anxiety-philippians-46-7

Keep On Keeping On!

“Keep On Keeping On!”

Philippians 3:7-14 – October 8, 2023

            I remember several wise sayings or proverbs, from when I was very young. I can’t recall where I heard them, or who brought them up, but they stick in my memory! Sayings like “A penny saved is a penny earned,” “slow but steady wins the race,” and “a stitch in time saves nine.” One wise saying that seems quite appropriate for today’s Scripture reading is “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

            Today’s reading from the apostle Paul in Philippians chapter 3 is filled with memorable remarks! But, when I read through this passage this time around, I focused on verses 13 and 14: “¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

            When Paul wrote to his friends in Philippi, he insisted that they keep on trying! Keep on the path, press on towards the goal. Paul uses a sports analogy here. Sports were huge in Roman society! And, Philippi was a colonized Roman city. It was several hundred miles from Rome, and not even on the Italian peninsula, but that made no difference. The people of that city were very much aware of their special status as Roman citizens, and many citizens of Philippi emulated the practices of Rome very much – including being big sports fans!

            Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians from prison in Rome. “His physical movements are severely limited. He is certainly not engaged in any chariot races. Yet this is the metaphor he chooses to inspire the Philippians to press on. It is an athletic, physical, and forward-moving metaphor.” [1] But, hold on, a minute! Before Paul says all this, he hits on something important!

            Let’s backtrack a few verses. Paul gives some autobiographical details. We already know Paul is highly educated, and a former member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of Israel. Here, he mentions his status and achievements as a Jew by birth – a “Hebrew of Hebrews.” Paul is ticking off these prestigious honors and points of status, one after the other. A Pharisee, a former persecutor of the Church, a blameless follower of the Law of Moses. A real blue blood, and he used to be particularly proud of all these status points on his resume!

            Just imagine a child or grandchild. Some parents would want them to get all the prestigious honors, high grades, and extra-curricular activities, playing a musical instrument, and going out for the team. All the things, as the young people say! Some parents really want their kids to have so many achievements on their resume or in their scholastic record! This is what Paul is saying, here. He was a huge overachiever, as far as his resume was concerned!      

            Yet, Paul now regards all of these prestigious honors and achievements to be nothing, less than nothing – even “dung” or in colloquial language, horse manure! Instead, the very most important thing to Paul was now doing exactly what God wanted him to do! And, being exactly who God wanted him to be!

            Which brings us back to where we started in our examination of this Scripture reading. “¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Paul returns to one of his favorite metaphors for the Christian life, a sports metaphor. At the end of a sports contest in the first century Roman empire, the winner would get the prize. A laurel crown, a bag of gold, some fame and repute. In other words, become a sports star! Paul is encouraging all of his readers to strive for the goal! To run the race, and win the prize!

But, this prize Paul talks about is not an earthly prize, like in the Olympics. It’s not some gold medal or silver coins, or some laurel crown that will decay and dry up. Instead, Paul encourages us all that we can never give up! We all need to press on. Not to persevere toward a sports medal, or public prestige, or a multi-million dollar contract! No! Paul wants us to persevere for our souls’ sake. Paul wants us to persevere in our walk with Christ! [2]

            Sure, we might fall down. Fall on our faces, and strive to get up again. This whole topic reminds me of a classic song and dance number from a Fred Astaire musical, where Fred sings “Pick myself up, dust myself off, and start all over again!”

            To use another (more modern) sports analogy, if in baseball a batter gets a base hit one out of four trips to the plate, he’s considered a pretty good hitter. A batting average of .250 is perfectly respectable! And, if the batter gets a base hit one out of three times at bat, he’s a really good hitter! A consistent batting average of .333 is great!

            Except – that means that two thirds or even three quarters of the time, the batter is going to strike out, fly out or ground out. That could get really disheartening! Imagine, only getting on base a quarter of the time. And yet, do baseball players get mad, or frustrated, or downright depressed just because they can’t bat 1.000 all the time? No! Sports players keep on going. They keep on keeping on. They persevere, and keep on swinging.

            Exactly what Paul would have said. He would have nodded in agreement and affirmation and said, ” this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus”

            The old Spiritual expresses this sentiment of determination and perseverance well: “I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.”

Remember the words of Paul, and remember to keep on keeping on, just like your favorite sports stars and sports personalities. And, remember to continue striving, and continue to serve God as best as you are able! Alleluia, Amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/keep-on-keepin-on-alyce-m-mckenzie-09-29-2014

[2] Ibid.

Have the Same Mindset

“Have the Same Mindset”

Philippians 2:1-11 – October 1, 2023

            How many here have seen a Christmas pageant? How many here have ever participated in a Christmas pageant? It can be sweet, even awe-inspiring, seeing the story of the Nativity played out, sometimes with a large choir or even real animals. We can watch a Christmas pageant and be so proud of our children or grandchildren as they participate. Or, we could possibly be totally swept away as we consider what a grand, eternal narrative we are watching, as it was played out on a huge cosmic stage!            

            Today’s Scripture reading comes from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippian believers. I want us all to pay close attention as “we connect this passage from Philippians theologically with the Incarnation, as God in Jesus came down on our level.” [1]

            We all know the story of Christmas Eve, and the cast of characters. The shepherds, the angels, the animals. Even the wise men (even though they really arrived some months later, according to the Gospel of Matthew). We see the Holy Family at the center of the Christmas pageant. Young Mary, exhausted shortly after the birth. Joseph, trying to protect his family. Then, we have the baby Jesus. A beautiful baby.

            But, what if we walk around backstage, behind the manger? That is what Paul is doing right here in Philippians 2! Paul is showing us what went on behind the scenes, before time began. Paul reminds his friends – his readers in Philippi – about the mind, the motivation and the character of God, in Jesus Christ. Then, Paul starts to relate the behind-the-scenes story of the Incarnation. Imagine only being vaguely aware of how Jesus came into the world. Paul lets us know how God the eternal Son humbled Himself! Became human – a tiny baby!

            Jesus fully joined the human race. He became one of us, and willingly left all of His Godhood behind. Far, far away in heaven. Just think of what a huge cosmic event that was, for the eternal God the Son to become a tiny, helpless human baby. And yet, becoming human was (and is) the best way to communicate with us humans, on our level. In our language, and in a way we could possibly begin to understand.

            When Paul wrote this letter to his Philippian friends, he was worried about their little church. He had heard about some church fights some of the believers were having. Paul calls these fights divisions in the body. (Remember, Paul refers to the church as the body of Christ in several places, in several places in the New Testament.)

            Paul had just finished talking about these divisions in the church when he says “make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

            Think back on your own history, and the history of this church, or other churches where you have been a member. Do you remember church fights? Where one or two members were bickering with each other? Perhaps others in the church started to join in? Even, maybe, it got to the point of a church split? Perhaps it was an argument between different members of the church board. Or a difference in worship styles. Or a showdown between the pastor and one or two elders in the church. Or even a disagreement about the style of the new church drapes.

            Let’s concentrate on what Paul said in our reading today, from Philippians. “Have this mind in you that was in Christ Jesus.” Our Lord Jesus is all about unity. His humility and love for everyone transcends division and fighting, squabbling and bickering. Even over serious, consequential things like worship bands and the color of the new church carpet.

            The Church Universal today is fractured and splintered into so many different pieces! We know that the quarrels, disagreements and selfish attitudes among church members are nothing new. Paul wrote to his friends about those same things, and it hasn’t changed one bit, all these centuries later. Whether it is conflicts between faith traditions (Catholics vs Protestants), between denominations (Baptists vs Methodists) or groups within denominations (conservative vs liberal), things have certainly not changed. [2]  

            Yet, the apostle Paul knows very well how the Gospel of Christ can change hearts and minds! Just look at how the various Philippian believers, from all strata of society, welcomed the stranger Paul into their midst. They welcomed him and the Gospel he preached into their hearts and homes! And, they continued to financially support Paul long-distance long afterwards, when he was in prison in Rome.

            As Paul says, we need to pattern our lives upon Jesus Christ and His humility. However, I caution us all because of powerful things, divisive things that are just waiting to pounce and to separate us as believers in Christ. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus, and not allow conflicts, quarrels and divisions to confuse and separate us as believers.

That is why World Communion Sunday exists. We all believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. We all – across faith traditions, across language differences and cultural divides, across earthly conflicts and reasons to fight – can agree on this important thing. We come together in our faith in Christ; we come together in our reverence for God and our celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

And one day, the world wide group of believers will acknowledge together that “God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

So, come. The Lord has prepared THIS table. To that, we can all say “Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!” And we can also say, “Alleluia, amen!”

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

(I would like to express my great appreciation for the observations and commentary from Alyce McKenzie, https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/level-with-me-alyce-mckenzie-09-19-2014.  And also, many thanks to Dennis Bratcher and his superb article at http://www.crivoice.org/kenosis.html.)

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[1] https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/level-with-me-alyce-mckenzie-09-19-2014

[2] http://www.crivoice.org/kenosis.html – Dennis Bratcher

Generosity – and Grace!

“Generosity – and Grace!”

Matthew 20:1-16 – September 24, 2023

            I often think of my four children. I sometimes remember them as younger children. I can remember very well those times when I went to school to help out in classrooms, or to chaperone on field trips. I especially remember the times when I overheard arguing and bickering in the classrooms, in the halls or on the playground between the school kids. “It’s not fair!” was one thing repeated over and over.

            Let’s see how the Rabbi Jesus begins this parable. Jesus is on His was to Jerusalem, and it will not be long before the Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday and the Passion Week. It’s perhaps a few weeks before all those weighty events begin to happen. I am certain Jesus wanted to be certain to get some very important truths across to His disciples and to the crowds.  

            As is common with the Rabbi Jesus, when He wanted to teach some very important ideas and truths, He used parables. You and I know that using stories really helps to cement ideas into our heads! So it is with this story. That same complaint, “It’s not fair!” seems to come forth from some of the workers in this parable of Jesus. In our Gospel reading, “Jesus tells a story that reflects a completely different way of looking at things. It is a story about a vineyard owner who pays his workers on the principle of generosity, rather than on the principle of merit.” [1]

            In our parable today, Jesus tells what the kingdom of heaven is like. This is another parable in His series, in response to questions asking about what the kingdom, what heaven is like, for real! “Come on, Rabbi! Tell us! Enough with this confusing religious mumbo jumbo! Give us some straight talk about what we can expect from God!”

             Remember how the parable starts:

“Early one morning a man went out to hire some workers for his vineyard. ² After he had agreed to pay them the usual amount for a day’s work, he sent them off to his vineyard. ³ About nine that morning, the man saw some other people standing in the market with nothing to do. ⁴ He promised to pay them what was fair, if they would work in his vineyard. ⁵ So they went. At noon and again about three in the afternoon he returned to the market. And each time he made the same agreement with others who were loafing around with nothing to do.”

            Remember, Jesus is answering a continuing question: what is the kingdom of heaven like? What will happen when we get there? In other words, another way to ask this same question is, what is God like? What can we expect from God when we get to heaven?

            I know this might be difficult, especially if you’ve been prudent with money all your life, but try and put yourself in the place of the workers who were chosen, who were sent to work at the end of the day. Imagine being a day laborer. There is no Social Security, no social safety net. Such a hard life! Imagine earning just enough to support you and your families for just one more day.

            “What we now call food insecurity is their norm, and so it’s easy to imagine their excitement when they finally get an invitation to work – they won’t earn a full day’s wage, but enough perhaps to scrape by. That excitement only multiplies when the manager unexpectedly and inexplicably pays them for a full day! I suspect that equal measures of relief, joy, and gratitude suddenly coursed through their veins as each received their payment.” [2]

            When people in the crowd or among His group of disciples continue to ask, the Rabbi Jesus is telling us that in the kingdom of heaven, God is generous! The loving, kind generosity of the owner of the vineyard is truly evident from this parable! Which brings us to the workers who were hired first, the ones who have seen all of the others, the workers hired later that day, already receive their wages for the day. Let’s hear Jesus describe the scene.

 “¹⁰ The workers who had been hired first thought they would be given more than the others. But when they were given the same, ¹¹ they began complaining to the owner of the vineyard. ¹² They said, “The ones who were hired last worked for only one hour. But you paid them the same that you did us. And we worked in the hot sun all day long!”

            Can’t you just hear these workers say, “It just isn’t fair!” Face it, their reaction ‘is almost exactly what most of us would have felt had we been in their shoes. Because what happens to them simply does not add up and so doesn’t seem fair. Never mind it’s what was contracted – if those who worked an hour received a day’s wage, then those who worked so much longer deserve more.” [3] But – the owner of the vineyard is generous. Generous to everyone, no matter who, no matter what!

            Another word for this lavish, overabundant generosity is GRACE. Have you ever received grace for something you absolutely did not deserve? Many people read this parable, and say “That’s not fair!” That is exactly the point. If God were absolutely fair, none of us would be loved by God, none of us would be embraced by Jesus our Good Shepherd. No one. None. It is only by the Lord’s love, grace and mercy that any of us are welcomed into God’s family. It is all God’s grace and generosity. It is NOT about working in the vineyard, or working for salvation, at all.

                  We all have had grace extended to us here in the real world, haven’t we? – a grace period to turn in homework you did not finish or the work project you needed to finish last week. What about the landowner paying the last hired workers a whole day’s wage? And what about God forgiving us even when we don’t deserve it, or when we do things and say things that make God sad or even angry? That is grace. That is God’s generosity. God does not have to, is not obligated to forgive us and be gracious to us. But – that is exactly what God does.

      We don’t have to do more or be better in order to ensure that God loves us, because God loves each of us completely already. As Desmond Tutu puts it, “There is nothing we can do to make God love us more” and “there is nothing we can do to make God love us less.”  It is a strange kingdom indeed where there is nothing to earn.[4]

As Jesus said, this is what the kingdom of heaven is like. It’s fairness, God’s way. ”Everyone who is now last will be first, and everyone who is first will be last.” Abundant grace and generosity for all, no matter what. Thanks be to God! Alleluia, amen!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://thewakingdreamer.blogspot.com/2011/09/nothing-to-earn-mt-201-16-1-i-have.html

[2] https://www.davidlose.net/2014/09/pentecost-15-a-love-or-justice/

[3] Ibid.

[4] https://thewakingdreamer.blogspot.com/2011/09/nothing-to-earn-mt-201-16-1-i-have.html

How Many Times?

“How Many Times?”

Matthew 18:21-35 – September 17, 2023

            Do you remember someone doing something really awful? Maybe you had something you really loved, your grandma’s favorite dish or teapot or picture. And, someone broke it! Into a hundred pieces, so broken that you never could fix it! Or, perhaps it was your brand new cell phone that someone dropped in a deep puddle! Even though the person at the AT&T store said it might be able to be fixed, you knew that soggy cell phone was a hopeless case.

            And, every time you see that clumsy or thoughtless or idiotic person, you can’t help but remember again what happened! What was that person thinking? Or maybe that person just didn’t think! That was the problem!

Let’s take another look at how this parable was set up. The disciple Peter – you remember good ol’ brash, foot-in-mouth Peter, don’t you? – comes up to the Rabbi Jesus and asks him, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” ²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

            In Jewish practice of that time, forgiveness was not taken for granted. Forgiving someone three times was considered generous! So, for Peter to ask whether forgiving SEVEN times was sufficient, he must have thought he was going way above and beyond! Yet, how does Jesus respond? How many times does Jesus tell Peter to forgive? Seventy-seven times?

            If we consider the times we are living in, today, people are not very forgiving. People are really divided! If I am a Chicago Bears fan, and someone else is a Green Bay Packers fan, that can be a real deal-breaker as far as being friends is concerned. My daughter Rachel lived in St. Louis for six years, and occasionally went to Busch Stadium to watch the Chicago Cubs play the St. Louis Cardinals. She told me many St. Louis fans objected to her Chicago Cubs gear!

            Except, our Gospel reading today is a lot more serious than sports teams and rivalries. This parable of Jesus is about two servants of the King. The first servant owed that King a whole lot of money! Bags and bags of money! Maybe as much money as you or I would earn in five whole years, or more! When the first servant went down on his hands and knees and begged the King to be merciful, and to give him time to repay his loan, the King did.

            But, that is not the end of the parable! By no means! No sooner did the first servant leave the throne room of the King, when who should he meet but a second servant. This second servant owed the first a small sum of money. Perhaps two weeks’ wages, maybe a month’s wages. The second servant did exactly what the first had done with the King, got down on his hands and knees and begged the first servant to be merciful.

            Did the first servant remember how generous the King was to him? Did the first servant extend the same mercy, grace and forgiveness to his fellow servant? No! The first servant had his fellow servant collared by the police and thrown into jail for delinquent debt!  

Our Gospel reading today is difficult. That is, when you and I try to put it into practice. When we gather for worship and hear this parable “where Jesus tells Peter that we forgive 77 times, or 70 times 7, or in fact, we just keep forgiving, we smile and nod and clap our hands. “Of course,” we think, “we worship a forgiving God, and we know we need God’s forgiveness over and over again.” But then we realize that this means we also must be forgiving of those who offend us, again and again, perhaps. And then we wonder if that’s even possible.” [1]

Sometimes, it’s just so difficult! Especially with certain people! When they overstep the mark or put their foot into their mouth again, for the twentieth, or hundred and twentieth time, it can be so difficult to forgive them again and again! We all know we are not living in particularly forgiving times! People and groups are so divided, forgiveness seems like a real impossibility.

Except, this is not merely a suggestion from our Lord Jesus. He doesn’t ask, “pretty, pretty please?” No! Jesus is serious. He means what He says. We need to forgive others if we expect God our Heavenly Parent to forgive us. Not once in a while, but all the time.

Our Jewish friends are observing their New Year this weekend, with Rosh Hashanah and the High Holidays. This is a time for forgiving, for the Jewish tradition of apologizing and forgiving the day before the new year starts. Yes, there are easy things to forgive, like when someone bumps your car in the parking lot and makes a little dent on your bumper. But then, there are hard things to forgive, too. Forgiving is something we all need to do, no matter how young or old we are, no matter how serious or what the trespass or sin is. [2]

            You and I, every person, everywhere, we all make mistakes. We all need to be forgiven on a regular basis. Yet, how often do we go about our lives not paying attention? Or being oblivious to our missteps, or silly words, or angry actions? When we are divided into different camps, into “us” and “them,” on opposite sides of an issue, forgiveness and kindness rarely enter the conversation! [3]

            We all need this call from our Lord Jesus to repent, to forgive, and to be forgiven. In this particular congregation we say the Lord’s Prayer every week. One of the petitions in the Lord’s Prayer is “forgive us our debts—or sins—as we forgive those who sin against us.” Have you ever thought that if you and I do NOT forgive on a regular basis, we are going against this petition we regularly pray? Why should God forgive us if we are stubborn and refuse to forgive others?

            I repeat – our Gospel reading today is difficult. That is, when you and I try to put it into practice. Do we hear this call from our Lord Jesus to live counterculturally? Can we swim against this tide of anger and vengeance and hatred that is so prevalent in our world and our culture? Isn’t it risky, doing this forgiveness thing on a regular basis?

            Right now, I am giving an invitation to consider what a life of forgiveness, mercy and grace might look like, in our real-world living. Hear the call! Do what Jesus said. This is a crystal-clear time to consider: what would Jesus do? Do that. Forgive, as we are forgiven.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

(I would like to express my great appreciation for the superb observations and commentary from the Rev. Dr. Derek Weber, Director of Preaching Ministries with the United Methodist Church. I got several excellent ideas and quotes for this sermon from this excellent website, https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/the-journey-begins/sixteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes.)

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[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/the-journey-begins/sixteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes

[2] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2014/08/year-proper-19-24th-sunday-in-ordinary.html

[3] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/the-journey-begins/sixteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes

Reconciliation Amongst Believers

“Reconciliation Amongst Believers”

Matthew 18:15-20 – September 10, 2023

            I love reading children’s story books out loud. I read lots of them to my children when they were young, as I did for the preschoolers here in the full-day preschool. One that intrigues me is called Enemy Pie by Derek Munson. It’s told from a first-person perspective. A new boy, Jeremy, moves in next door to our narrator. Somehow, the boy next door becomes “enemy number one” on our narrator’s list.

            That scenario sounds so familiar! Doesn’t it? Someone on your block does something foolish that makes you SO mad, you can’t stand it! Or, someone at your work says something SO outrageous, you almost can’t work with them anymore! Or, someone at church acts SO … SO … “un-Christian” that you almost … well, you can finish that sentence, can’t you?

            Back to our book, Enemy Pie. Our narrator’s Dad has a recipe for enemy pie, and promises to make it. Our narrator needs to help his dad by providing one of the secret ingredients – he needs to play with Jeremy from next door for one entire day, treating him well. You all know what happens. Of course, while the two boys talk and play together, Jeremy morphs from an enemy into a friend. [1]

            I suspect we all are familiar with certain people who hold grudges, or family members who end up not talking with each other for years, sometimes even decades. These verses today from Matthew 18 speak about people in a church having disagreements, even feuds. Yes, Matthew uses the term “church,” which is only used twice in any of the Gospels. Is church supposed to be where we come on Sunday morning to worship God? And then, go home or about our business for the rest of the week? Or, is it someplace more? Much more?

            In Jesus’s time, in the Jewish community and culture, one thing that was very common was debate. Jesus’s world was socially combative. People debated with each other not only to score “points” against the other person, but also to build up one’s own reputation. Imagine, constantly being on your guard against having someone engage you – or a member of your family – in debate or argument, for the sake of scoring “points” against you! And reputation was everything! Not just causing offense or hurting the feelings of another person. [2]

            What’s more, this attitude was not only between individuals. “People used gossip, rumor, and slander in the same way. This conflicting spirit spilled over into family honor. One slight could escalate into a generations-long feud where both sides forgot the original incident.” [3]

            I want you to hear the Rabbi Jesus bringing up this topic of hurts, and sin, and dishonor, and slights of one person against another. These were fighting words! I am absolutely sure there were people listening to Jesus that day who had active feuds going on with neighbors, or extended family members, or people they had been avoiding for years in town.

            I remember back to when I was growing up, on my parents’ block in Chicago. Two families who lived next door to one another had a longtime feud going on. I don’t know what the feud was all about, but it was very bitter. One side had a mean old man who used to shake his fist and yell at any kid who accidentally set a foot on his neatly clipped front lawn.

            On the other side of the feud was a family who were friendly with all of the people on the block. The two daughters of the second family were friends with my older sisters, and went to school with them. Sometime during this feud, the sour old man actually set up a spite fence between the houses, twelve feet high. That fence stayed there for decades until the mean old man died, all alone in his house.

               Let’s hear again what our Lord Jesus said in this reading. “15 “If another believer hurts you, go and talk to him about it in private. If he really hears you and does something about it, he will become a true friend.” This is a phrase that has also been translated “you have won them over.” I much prefer “become a true friend!” These words of Jesus are truly about reconciliation and restoring relations between people. Turning enemies into friends!     

I wonder whether that sour old man on my block might have listened to Jesus and His message about sin, and restoration and reconciliation? I wonder whether the two families on my block could ever have made up and become friends?

            In a world full of disputes, fighting, disagreements, sin, hurts, and dishonor, the Rabbi Jesus came in as a breath of fresh air. New ideas, certainly! Jesus proclaimed the concept of reconciliation of people with God, in a vertical direction. That was what He repeated again and again, that each of us has the opportunity to become reconciled, and restored, and returned to a loving relationship with God our heavenly Parent.

            It is not only between humans and God – Jesus also wanted humans to be reconciled with one another. Right here in Matthew 18, Jesus gives a three-step process for reconciliation. Believers in Christ have the opportunity to have their friendship restored. And, Christian love serves to glue the community – the congregation – together, in the name of Christ.  

“Here in the Gospel of Matthew, ‘it is the function of the church to be a force for reconciliation. You could argue that, from a gospel perspective, it is the only function of the church. We are in the business of putting things together, of healing the breaches between people, of overcoming that which keeps us apart. It is about making sure that no one feels like an outsider.’” [4]

            What a concept, and what an opportunity! We, as followers of Christ, have the possibility to bring people together. Jesus tells us how to do it, right here. if even a handful of us would begin to do as Jesus did, the world’s culture would begin to shift. And then we practice it: how to talk to one another when we disagree, or are wounded, or are afraid. [5]

Just as Jesus brings each of us to His Heavenly Father, so each of us has the opportunity to bring each other together. Bring each other together in reconciliation and restoration, and especially bring each other together in forgiveness.

It is not easy! And, that’s an understatement! But, Jesus will be with us, every step of the way. As Jesus recommended, so let us do. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2014/08/year-proper-18-23rd-sunday-in-ordinary.html

[2] http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/a/23-a/A-23-a.html

[3] Ibid

[4] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/the-journey-begins/fifteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/fifteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-preaching-notes

[5] http://words.dancingwiththeword.com/2014/08/

God Prepares a Table!

“God Prepares a Table!”

Psalm 23:5 – September 3, 2023

            I am fascinated by a painting I’ve encountered a number of times, of Jesus the Good Shepherd. This is the very first picture we have of Jesus, painted around 250 CE. It is found in the catacombs in Rome, those narrow, twisting underground tunnels. The walls are filled floor to ceiling with graves that have been dug – as tombs. Just imagine walking quietly through these twisting tunnels with a small oil lamp!

As you continue imagining, see yourself going to find fellow Christian friends who are gathering to worship by a designated grave. You need to be cautious as you listen for the clank of Roman soldiers’ armor, as you glide quietly along. Given this, it is easy to imagine why someone painted a picture of Jesus as a strong young shepherd on the ceiling of the catacomb! Jesus certainly can take care of us, as this Psalm says. [1]

Our Scripture reading today comes from the book of Psalms, and is one of the most familiar and beloved readings in the whole Bible, in either the Hebrew Scriptures or the New Testament. Countless people have turned to Psalm 23 for peace, for reassurance, in times of anxiety or struggle, and even in times of great joy. This psalm is a psalm for the ages, and has been read for centuries by believers, skeptics, and atheists alike.

            This very familiar psalm begins with the view of the Good Shepherd, taking loving care of His sheep. We hear about how the sheep depend upon the Shepherd to guide them and guard them as they roam in a flock. The sheep depend upon the Shepherd’s watchfulness and protection as they travel through dark and dangerous places. Yet, a change comes in verse five. We see the Shepherd change into a generous Host.  

            You and I know the familiar possessions many people own to show off their wealth and status. The huge, expensive, and showy house, sometimes with a large fence around it or now, in a gated community. Or, the luxury automobile, with all the bells and whistles, and a price tag I can’t even image. Except, those are signs of wealth and prestige here in the Western world, here in a culture we are familiar with.

            The traditional culture of the Middle East is very different, when it comes to displays of wealth and prosperity. “When you want the community to know that you have acquired wealth, you do not buy an expensive car or a large house. Rather, you host meals with three times as much food on the table as the numerous guests can eat.” [2]

            Such radical hospitality and generosity goes way overboard, in the eyes of many in our Western culture! But, this is the cultural way that traditional Middle Eastern people-groups show great wealth and prominence. The psalmist’s imagery goes even further. In Middle Eastern culture, men do not prepare food. Instead, women prepare the food for a banquet, and that does not mean setting a table with individual place settings and elaborate china.

Eating is carried out by tearing off a small piece of flat bread and using it to lift food from the common dish to the mouth. Each bite starts with a fresh piece of bread. There is nothing to do to ‘set the table’ except perhaps ‘spread the rugs’ (as referenced in Isa 21:5). As regards the food, servants and women prepare it. The master of the house provides the food, he does not prepare it.” [3] Several times in the Hebrew Scriptures, verses explicitly say that female involvement is instrumental for the spreading the table and serving of food.

Yet, here in verse 23:5 the psalm clearly says “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Here in one of our most beloved Bible passages, our God is portrayed as a nurturing, even mothering God! “Here too, what counts is that God is provides and protects. How surprising that the table spread in the presence of enemies! It is hard to relax and be fed in their presence. Yet God invites us to the table, come what may and come who may.” [4] You and I may be surprised at some of the visitors surrounding God’s welcoming table. And, for this Scripture to highlight God acting as a woman, doing traditional feminine tasks in preparing the table, is fully in keeping with numerous Scriptural references.

One of the many hymns written about Psalm 23 comes from the wonderful hymn writer Isaac Watts. “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” is a touching reflection of the great care and nurture God takes on each of our accounts, in each of our lives.  You will note how Watts mirrors the shift in the Psalmist’s speech (from third person to second person in verse 4 and back to third person in verse 6) as he moves from the first to the second stanza.

“Much of Watts’ hymn text reflects the Psalmist speaking to the Lord. Changing the voice to second person highlights the prayerfulness of this Psalm, thereby emphasizing the more intimate relational aspect between God and God’s children.“ [5]

            As this comforting, relational psalm reminds us about the table prepared for us, the Apostle Paul references this table in 1 Corinthians 10 when mentioning Communion. Are you tired and worn, eager to come to the table of the Lord? What is more, God, our generous Host, invites us to come and partake of the abundant heavenly food and drink.

As we come together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we look forward to that marvelous banquet spread for all of us. For each of us. So, come. The Lord has prepared this table. Amen, alleluia.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

(I would like to express my great appreciation for Ken Bailey’s marvelous examination of all of the mentions of the Good Shepherd throughout the Bible in The Good Shepherd, the commentary published by IVP Academic in 2014. I got several excellent ideas and quotes for this sermon from this excellent book.)

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[1] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2015/03/year-b-fourth-sunday-of-easter-april-26.html

[2] Bailey, Kenneth E., The Good Shepherd (InterVarsity Academic, Downers Grove, IL: 2014), 55-56.

[3] Ibid.

[4] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-28/commentary-on-psalm-23-16

[5] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fourth-sunday-of-easter-3/commentary-on-psalm-23-9

Caring for You!

“Caring for You!”

1 Thessalonians 2:6-10 – August 27, 2023

            Anyone here familiar with any religious leaders who are puffed up? Proud beyond measure? Strutting their stuff? I mean, lording it over their congregations and everyone else? Some preachers and evangelists can be like that. Don’t bother the extra special holy person!

It doesn’t seem like those puffed-up preachers or evangelists care about anyone! Not any common, ordinary folk from their congregations, anyway.

That kind of self-centered, self-satisfied attitude is the problem with certain people, and this is not exclusive to preachers or evangelists. Lots of people can have really skewed priorities and end up ignoring people who hurt, or those who are sad or depressed, or people who grieve all manner of losses. Or even worse, these blinded, entitled people are aware of those who cry out for help, but simply shut the door in their faces.

            I’d like us to focus on several verses from this reading today. They come from the apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in Thessalonica. Starting at verse 6: “We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. ⁷ Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, ⁸ so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

            What does Paul make a point of saying here? Paul and his friends did not want to be treated like something super special! They were not hungry for praise, or seeking strokes and adulation from their fellow believers in town. Certainly, Paul and his friends were in what is known today as a teacher or mentor position among their friends, but not high on a pedestal. And especially not puffed up.

Paul points out, “We proved to be gentle among you.” Like young children!

 “This is another example of positive and gracious leadership. Paul was not a like a dictator to the Thessalonians. Instead, he chooses one of the most tender images in all of nature, a nursing mother. Some of us here may be inclined toward “tough love.” We might say, ‘my way or the highway.’” [1] But, not Paul! He purposely meant to come alongside his Thessalonian friends gently, and he demonstrated that his co-workers were, too.

            This nurturing, maternal reading is not common within the apostle Paul’s letters, since he was more likely to use strong, masculine word-pictures or metaphors. However, using these words of maternal love and affection here show us the loving heart of Paul, and how much he cared for these believers. And not only that, Paul and his friends were ready and eager to share all that they had with the Thessalonians.

Commentator F.F. Bruce makes the connection that “No other attitude would befit the preachers of a gospel which proclaimed as Lord and Savior one who ‘emptied himself’ (Phil 2:7) for the enrichment of others.” [2]  We can see our Lord Jesus showing the ultimate in loving, caring affection in Philippians 2, as He emptied Himself of all Godly prerogatives and attitudes, and set all his Godhood aside. Our Lord Jesus became a human being so He could communicate on the same level, and more easily and directly with us fellow human beings.

            Similar to what Paul just said in this letter to the Thessalonians, Jesus did not throw His weight around! No, Jesus was not on a pedestal or puffing up His chest because He was so high and mighty. Can you possibly imagine Jesus doing things like that? Absolutely not!

            Just so, Paul imitates his Lord Jesus by showing that he and his companions are not hungry for praise, or seeking strokes and adulation from their fellow believers in Thessalonica.

Paul specifically says he and his friends tenderly care for their Thessalonian friends in the church. The Greek word he uses here is thalpo, “to warm, cherish, nourish.” How nurturing is that! This is the same word used in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures for a Scripture reading we examined earlier this summer: Deuteronomy 22:6, where mother birds cover her young or her eggs with their feathers. 

That is not all! This Greek word thalpo, “to warm, cherish, nourish,” is used again by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:29. Here he describes our risen Lord Jesus Christ and His care for the church universal. How wonderful that the Lord Jesus Christ continues the same caring, nurturing activity He regularly displayed during His time here on Earth as a human being. Commentator F.F. Bruce adds, Paul’s words “’For her own children’ would stress the personal involvement and concern. A mother who is nursing her children does not and cannot turn the care of her child over to someone else. She feeds, loves, and protects her child.” [3]

Helping people to grow in the Lord, as with growing children, takes time and requires patience, just as much today as 2000 years ago. Sometimes it causes pain and grief, and priorities need to be set in our relationships. We don’t raise children overnight, You and I can’t raise them without growing pains for both parent and child alike. [4]

            If we recognize our deep need for nurture, protection and caring from all that would harm us, we can also watch out for one another! Jesus urges us to nurture, protect, and care for one another, too. As our loving, caring Lord Jesus always does for us. Without fail.

            Praise God, God has been loving, caring and full of nurture for us all. God is our nurturing Parent, and that’s a blessed fact. Alleluia, amen. 

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

(I would like to thank the website www.bible.org for their commentary and bible study on today’s New Testament reading, https://bible.org/seriespage/4-compelling-example-ministry-1-thess-21-12. I got several excellent ideas and quotes for this sermon from this excellent article.)

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[1] https://studyandobey.com/inductive-bible-study/thessalonians-studies/1thessalonians2-1-9/

[2] https://bible.org/seriespage/4-compelling-example-ministry-1-thess-21-12

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

Searching Until Found!

“Searching Until Found!”

Luke 15:8-10 – August 20, 2023

            Can anyone relate to this scenario? You are using a pen – perhaps it’s your favorite pen – and you put it down. Just for a moment! And when you go back to write something down, you can’t find that pen! Or perhaps you are using a tool, and something distracts you. Or, the phone rings. And when you go back to pick up that tool, it’s gone!

            Can you relate to the woman in our parable? She just had that silver coin just five minutes ago! Where did it go? Did she accidentally drop it on the floor? Did it slip down between the table and the wall? Where, oh, where did that coin go?

            The unnamed woman in our parable is featured in a series of three parables in Luke chapter 15: the chapter of the Lost Things. We see the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son. The Rabbi Jesus takes the unusual tack to highlight a woman in one of His parables. Unusual, and so relatable! Yet, here we see that is exactly what Jesus does!

            Think about the Good Shepherd. Exactly what Jesus calls Himself in the Gospel of John. Today’s reading is from chapter 15 of the Gospel of Luke. But, so much the same Shepherd metaphor! As Jesus tells the first parable, He is describing a Good Shepherd who diligently searches for the one lost sheep, until that sheep is found! Then, the Shepherd – the Good Shepherd – calls together his friends and neighbors and says, “Rejoice! Rejoice with me!”

            In the third parable, we have the extended parable of the Lost Son, also known as the Prodigal Son. Running off to the far country, going far astray, getting hopelessly lost until he hits bottom and comes to himself. And, we also see the Loving Father, watching and waiting for his son to return. When the son is still far off, the father runs down the main street of town to meet his boy, publicly welcoming his lost son home.

Can you hear him calling, “rejoice with me! My child was lost, and now is found!”

            Let’s focus on this second parable, which features a woman, keeping house. It’s probably a small house, and this woman is not well-to-do. She loses one out of her ten coins, and this is a lot of money – to her! Actually, in the original language, Greek, the coin is worth one days’ wage. We see a woman who is bound and determined to find that coin! She takes the initiative and searches high and low for that coin until she finds it.

            Let me read the verse again: “Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’”  

            The lost coin was a passive participant in this whole operation. As commentator Stephen Cole says, “the only reason it was found is that the woman initiated a diligent search for it.” [1] What is more, in our case, God took the initiative. The Lord has great love and compassion, indeed. There was and is no way that we can take the initiative in saving ourselves. As the apostle Paul says in Romans 5:8, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God launched the search for each of us!  

            One of my favorite commentators, Dr. Daivd Lose, tells about his son Jack, years ago at an amusement park in Minnesota. His son was small, four years old. Right by David’s side all the time – until he wasn’t. David frantically looked for his son Jack all over the place, and recruited the security guards. Thankfully, three minutes after Jack’s description was called in, one of the guards found him at the next ride in the park.

            David Lose said, “I was just relieved and, even more, joyful. My son, who had been lost, was found. Safe and sound. Back with me. It was pure joy. And that’s how God feels anytime anyone is drawn back into relationship with God, or chooses life, or lives into his or her potential, or helps out another, and in all these ways is found. Joy. Pure joy.” [2]

            In these parables, Jesus highlights three representations of God. Jesus says that the woman did not give up until she found that missing coin. It’s the same with the lost sheep. The Good Shepherd goes after every lost sheep, no matter what the weather is like. No matter whether it’s a dark and stormy night or the middle of a scorching hot day with the sun beating down. We will all be found and brought safely into the Shepherd’s care, into God’s care.

            Just as our woman from the parable says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ So we can rejoice as the Rabbi Jesus tells us! “¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

We know it is not because we were seeking God and actively trying our hardest to earn our salvation. In the parable, you and I are found by the woman, by the shepherd, by the loving Father because God sought after each of us. God kept diligently seeking, as the woman did by sweeping and searching all night long, until she found that coin she valued so, so much!

            Some in Jesus’s audience were Pharisees, scribes and other Jewish leaders. They just didn’t get the blessed fact that God is primarily about love, rather than rules. God wants to be about joy, not filled with anger or fear or impatience. God wants abundant joy for all of us! [3] God wants to rejoice, with all of the angels in heaven, because of each of us precious ones!

More than that, “when you think how ordinary were the persons representing God – a shepherd who stands at the very bottom of the socio-economic ladder in first-century Palestine, a woman with only ten silver coins to her name – you realize that maybe these aren’t just metaphors, but rather that they are reminders that God often works through ordinary people to do the extraordinary work of helping to find someone.” [4]

Each one of us once was lost, and now is found. Praise God! Jesus welcomes you, and He welcomes me, too. We can all rejoice with that very Good News. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-71-god%E2%80%99s-lost-and-found-luke-151-10

[2] https://www.davidlose.net/2016/09/pentecost-17-c-joy/

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

Gathered under God’s Wings!

“Gathered under God’s Wings!”

Matthew 23:37-39 – August 13, 2023

            Growing up in Chicago, I never had the opportunity to see chickens. I mean, live chickens, in a barnyard or roosting in a henhouse. Lately, I still have never gotten up close and personal with a chicken. I may have read the story of “The Little Red Hen” to my young children, years ago, but haven’t had too much more contact with chickens than that.  

            I am certain that this image of a hen and her chicks was much more familiar to the people the Rabbi Jesus spoke to. It was much more common to have chickens in your yard, or at least down the street, in the first century. Remember the reading? Here’s the verse we are focusing on, where Jesus refers to Jerusalem: “I have often wanted to gather your people, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you wouldn’t let me.”

Our Lord Jesus made this serious and sad statement, when He was warning Jerusalem and the people of Israel. This lovely word-picture is so touching and tender! A mother hen fluffs herself up and gathers her chicks under her wings, keeping them safe and warm. Protecting them from harm, too. Jesus often used familiar images and common metaphors in His teaching and preaching. Except – one thing stood out about this particular image Jesus used.

“Jesus, let us note, employs a feminine image for himself and, to the degree that we confess Jesus reveals the essential character and disposition of the One who sent him, also for God.” [1] Those were not my words. Instead, they are the words of a well-respected Bible commentator, Dr. David Lose. (One of my favorite commentators, I may add!) It is not often that the Bible uses feminine or maternal images to describe God, but here is one of them!

I know I have been preaching this summer sermon series about Re-Imaging God for two months now. Many of the examples and Scripture references I’ve been using come from the Hebrew Scriptures. Yet, right here we have an important one, used by our Lord Jesus! At a critical time in His ministry, too. Jesus was in Jerusalem, during the Passion Week, face to face with the Jewish leaders and members of the Sanhedrin. And, what does He do here? Jesus compares Himself to a mother hen, wanting to gather her chicks protectively under her wings.

Just as I have done during this sermon series, David Lose makes the very good point that “if Jesus can describe himself and God as a mother hen, can we not also employ a variety of images to describe God? Scripture, after all, is replete with a variety of images for God, both male and female.” [2] I must say, that most of the images and metaphors used for God in the Bible are masculine and male. However, this week we highlight this important maternal image, given by our Lord Jesus at a critical time of His work here on earth. Shortly before the Passion and Crucifixion.

Which brings us to the following question: who was Jesus talking to? Yes, the Jewish leaders were listening to Him, but in this reading, Jesus addresses Jerusalem. That’s the historic capital of the land of Israel. We see Jesus saying that He has been reaching out to Jerusalem, and the Jewish people, and they have not listened. They have not heard the invitation of Jesus.

We turn to the next question: where do you and I come in? Sure, it breaks my heart to see Jesus offering His powerful, protective love to those He was sent to serve and to save. Yes, that is the people of Israel, but couldn’t it be us, too? Jesus has His arms open wide to us. Are we not hearing? Not listening to Jesus? Or even worse, just like the Jewish people, are we rejecting His love and caring, where He offers to be like a protective mother hen with her chicks?

As the Rev. Janet Hunt says, we are, indeed, “that brood of chicks who are scattered, distracted, unable, somehow, to comprehend the very real danger which is threatening. Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem is also over you and me and this world which all too often still refuses the gifts Jesus would so freely give.” [3] 

This loving image, this metaphor for Jesus is so perfect for all of us, today. Can you see how Jesus as a mother hen would comfort the one who grieves? What about the weary ones who are fearful or anxious? What about protecting the safety for those in the care of Jesus? What about those gathered under His protective love, today?

Today’s Gospel reading does not give instruction, or commands. It does not prescribe something for the followers of Jesus to do or to say. Instead, this reading is descriptive. This description of the loving, caring mother hen – Jesus! – has His wings open wide to us all!

As Pastor Janet says, “we do not hear directly that we are to be or do anything as a result of Jesus’ words today. And yet, how might the world be changed if all of us” stopped to think of the consequences, both for those who wage war and those who suffer as a result. Or, for those who struggle to contain or direct our frustration, our anger and take it out on innocent ones. [4]

            Yes, these words were written almost 2000 years ago, but they resonate so deeply within. I don’t know about other people’s understanding, but these words and this image of the Lord Jesus speaks directly to the heart. Going to some deep, elemental place within, inviting you and me to turn to the One who would draw us close, our Lord Jesus.

If we recognize our deep need for nurture, protection and caring from all that would harm us, we can also watch out for one another! Jesus urges us to nurture, protect, and care for one another, too. As our loving, caring Lord Jesus always does for us. Without fail.

Join me in bringing thanks to our Lord for the loving, everlasting care and nurture of Jesus.  Praise God! Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

(I would like to thank the Rev. Janet Hunt for her commentary on today’s Gospel reading, https://dancingwiththeword.com/mining-the-metaphor-jesus-as-a-mother-hen/. I got several excellent ideas and phrases for this sermon from this excellent article.)

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[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/re-imagining-god

[2] Ibid.

[3] https://dancingwiththeword.com/mining-the-metaphor-jesus-as-a-mother-hen/

[4] Ibid.

God Baking Bread!

“God Baking Bread!”

Matthew 13:33 – August 6, 2023

            Has anyone here baked bread, from scratch? I have, although it’s been a number of years since I baked white bread and wheat bread. Now, I more often bake sweet breads – banana, zucchini, apple, and other types. Homemade bread is such good bread!

            In our short Scripture passage today, we have our Lord Jesus, telling another one of His parables. This one is in chapter 13, which has a number of parables or short stories, all about the kingdom of God. These metaphors and word-pictures are meant to help Jesus’s listeners get a little bit better understanding of this huge concept Jesus taught about!

            The topics Jesus used for His parables are down to earth, from real life. For example, Jesus talks about a farmer and his field, and the weeds that grow. Typical of so many in that time, and relatable to so many of His listeners! Remember, we are looking at Bible readings that help us Re-Image God, in a nurturing, feminine way. The parable we highlight today features a woman. Yes, and something typically known as women’s work, in the home.

An unusual topic for a Rabbi to talk about! I am sure there were (and are) men who traditionally and habitually bake bread, but in Palestine as in many other rural-based cultures, but women often did many of the tasks involved with housework and home-making. Including the regular baking of bread. And, in a typical Palestinian house, a lot of bread needed to be baked each week. In the first century of the Common Era, you couldn’t run out to the local grocery store and get a loaf of bread, a dozen eggs and a gallon of milk, after all.

This parable of the yeast is one where our Lord Jesus focuses on work done by a woman. Sometimes, when the Bible mentions yeast in connection with spiritual things, yeast has a negative connotation. Not here! Jesus did something unexpected! He turned the tables on a typical understanding of yeast, or leaven. This parable is unusual and unexpected! In a matter-of-fact way, Jesus lifts up this work of baking, and the work of women, too. And without specifically naming it, Jesus compares God’s work to women’s work.

One of my favorite commentators is the Rev. Janet Hunt, a Lutheran pastor in De Kalb, a couple of dozen miles to the west of us, near Northern Illinois University. She loves to bake bread, and talks about her baking at length in her article about this particular parable. Pastor Janet’s mother used to bake bread, too. According to Pastor Janet, she was told “that our mother’s mother also baked as her mother did before her in a time and place where doing so was not an occasional practice or a hobby as it is with me, but was a necessary part of one’s weekly tasks, for bread was an everyday staple and it was not yet sold in stores.” [1]

Even today, in some rural areas and small towns, baking bread at home is much more common than it is in urban areas. The woman in this parable took a lot of flour – over a bushel of flour! She probably ground that flour with a hand-cranked little mill, too. And then, baked some bread. Jesus said that she mixed the yeast into the flour until it had leavened the whole big batch of flour! In case you are not familiar with the process of leavening, the introduction of the yeast causes a transformation of the dough.  

Before the adding of the yeast, before its mixing and incorporating into the whole batch of dough, what do we have? A big pile of flour, and some water to moisten it. Perhaps a bit of sweetener like honey, perhaps not. But, imagine the working and mixing of the flour, water and yeast! As this unnamed woman mixes and kneads the dough, the yeast gets incorporated throughout the whole. As the dough rises, the yeast does its work unseen, quietly.

The woman of Jesus’ parable “would not have had a finely tuned gas or electric oven in which to bake her bread. It would likely have been done in a clay oven over hot coals. And while she certainly could have turned her attention to other things while the bread rose or the coals came to the right temperature, baking the bread would have required her to stay nearby all day long so as to be ready for the next step. For in fact, it is possible to let bread rise too long, making the final product less appealing. And coals need to be at a certain temperature to make the baking optimal.” [2]

I hope I am making the baking of bread sound like a challenging activity, because it was, and is! Let us take a step back, and consider again this short parable of Jesus. He compares the kingdom of heaven to yeast. Could it be that our Lord is saying that “Kingdom work” takes time, energy and attention, just as the work of yeast and baking takes time, energy and attention? That it sometimes requires patience as we wait for ‘yeast’ to rise?    

Time after time, I have heard stories and read accounts of the slow or hidden or pain-staking work of the kingdom of heaven finally showing fruitfulness. Finally, good dough baking and bringing forth good, homemade bread, as we recognize the kingdom of heaven at work in our lives or in the lives of those near and dear to us! We can take common things, everyday materials, and have them transformed by God.

God loves to take things as simple as bottles of water given out for free at a farmer’s market, or boxes of cereal or feminine hygiene products brought to a local food pantry to be a part of God’s kingdom. Because, they are! Something as simple and as straight-forward as common, everyday activities or items can be used and transformed into God’s purposes – God’s work – God’s kingdom.

Remembering this parable of the yeast, we can see how God works quietly, confidently, sometimes over a long time. Today, we come before God to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, that meal of common things that our Lord Jesus transformed into a sacrament. We come to meet God in a special way at God’s table, doing what Jesus commanded us to do. As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we celebrate our Lord until He comes again in glory.

Doing Kingdom work as Jesus told us to do from this parable, we can bring glory to our God in common ways, using everyday things. We don’t have to be extraordinary ministers or missionaries, or God’s adventurers. As Jesus told us? We can use ordinary things, everyday items, common ways. And, this will indeed bring glory to God. Let us take these words to heart, and go and do them. Amen, alleluia!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://dancingwiththeword.com/a-one-sentence-parable-which-opens-up-the-world/

[2] Ibid.

“Held Close to God!

“Held Close to God!”

Hosea 11:1-4 – July 30, 2023

            Do you know a family who has a complicated relationship with each other? Some couples and some families have some problems that they deal with on a continuing basis. And how! I see all kinds of things in couples and families right now, in my job as hospice chaplain.

            The prophet Hosea had all kinds of problems in his relationship with his wife and family, too. I don’t know if you know much about the prophet Hosea, but he followed some specific directions from the Lord for his marriage and choice of wife. The Lord told him to marry a prostitute (who would later leave her husband). And, the Lord told Hosea to love her, cherish her and treat her really well (as all spouses ought to treat each other). This was even though – or perhaps because of – her past and future occupation.

Hosea tells a series of stories in this short book – true-life stories, from his own life. The tie-in or connection comes from a very similar story, about the nation of Israel. This true-life story “is that when God’s people were slaves in Egypt hundreds of years before this, God had freed them and led them through the wilderness to a new Promised Land.

“While they were in the wilderness God taught them what it meant to be God’s people. God gave them the 10 Commandments and taught them how to live together and how to love God. It was kind of like teaching a baby to walk. Unfortunately, when they got to the Promised Land the people forgot what God had taught them. They lied. They cheated. They stole from each other. They even worshiped other gods. God loved them too much to let it go on.” [1]

The prophet Hosea was a fascinating story-teller, and he had lots of people in the nation of Israel on the edge of their seats as he told his many-part story from God over a number of years. Hosea has moved on to relating several metaphors or parables. Like this one, here at the beginning of chapter 11.

Remember how I started this sermon? Talking about mixed-up, complicated relationships? That’s what Hosea relates at the beginning of chapter 11. Remember how the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt centuries before this time! Listen again to the words of Hosea: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. ² But as the saying goes, “The more they were called, the more they rebelled.”They never stopped offering incense and sacrifices to the idols of Baal.”

This child Hosea talks about? This child isn’t just one person. “The child is all God’s people – and they had been really, really rebellious for a very long time. God is about to let them be conquered and taken prisoners to Assyria. It is sort of like God was giving all the people a big “time out.” That’s the secret! “Child” is really all God’s people.” [2]

But first, before mentioning the punishment from the Lord, Hosea gets very tender. Listen to verses 3 and 4. “³ I took Israel by the arm and taught them to walk. But they would not admit that I was the one who had healed them. ⁴ I led them with kindness and with love, not with ropes. I held them close to me;I bent down to feed them.”

In this summer sermon series, “Re-Imaging God,” we are looking at a number of Scripture readings which show the nurturing side of God. Or, a loving, mothering kind of God!

While it is much more common for Scripture to show our God as a heavenly Father, especially from the many descriptions our Lord Jesus gives to us while He was here on the earth, the imagery here is very feminine! Can you imagine a mother, teaching her little one how to walk, feeding them, and picking them up when they are hurt or injured? And, what about “leading them with kindness and love?” Our loving heavenly Parent cradling the small child Israel close. All such nurturing, caring activities. Here, Hosea gives his readers a warm, loving word-picture of our Lord. Such tender compassion shown!

Who remembers reading children’s picture books? I am thinking of several picture books I read to my small children many times. These books are about a parent who loves their child very, very much, no matter what! These books – “Runaway Bunny” by Margaret Wise Brown and “Mama, Do You Love Me” and “Papa Do You Love Me,” both by Barbara Joosse –  are wonderful expressions of the nurturing, embracing love we as human parents can show.

Hosea tells us a similar story! He insists that God loves all of the nation of Israel as much or even more than a human parent! Even when the people of Israel go their own way, stubbornly refuse to follow their God, and instead follow foreign idols, and other ungodly attractions.   Our God still loves the nation of Israel! And, our God still loves us, even when we go astray!

I can remember my small children not wanting to come home after a long playtime at the playground in the park. I would call them, and every once in a while, they would try to run away and hide, and refuse to come home. Did I walk away, and leave them there at the park? Of course not! I still loved them, even though they were disobedient. I still continued to love them, as they grew, no matter what.

We need to share a word of caution, however. In some families, relationships are definitely imperfect. Some parents feel the angry rebellion of their children. Some teachers face opposition from their students. And, some mentors want to give up on their charges. Plus, some children have parents who are distant, uncaring, or even hurtful. If that is your experience of your parents or grandparents, I am sad and sorry, and have great compassion for you. [3]

            But, there is Good News! In fact, the Greatest News of all!

Our God will never be distant, or uncaring, and especially not hurtful! Even if human relationships are like that sometimes, our relationship with our Heavenly Parent stands the test of time. The persevering love, caring and nurture of our Lord is rock solid and true. We can trust the faithfulness of God in this story that Hosea tells us. Remember, our God is always faithful, always loving, and always has arms outstretched to embrace us. No matter what.  

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2016/06/year-c-proper-13-18th-sunday-in.html

[2] Ibid.

[3] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/prophet-margins/eighth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-c-lectionary-planning-notes

God Comforts Us!

“God Comforts Us!”

Isaiah 66:12-14 – July 16, 2023

            Many people I’ve talked with are interested when I talk about puppies. Or, kittens. Or young bunnies, or chicks or ducklings. When we see them at a pet store, or at the zoo, or on television or documentaries, a common reaction is, “Awww!” and “How darling!” Can you imagine watching a mama cat or dog, washing her little ones, or making sure that they are safe and warm, cuddled up and safe next to their mama.

            So similar to what the prophet says about the nation of Israel, here in Isaiah 66! Listen again to these verses: “¹² For this is what the Lord says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. ¹³ As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

            The prophet Isaiah wrote at a time of great upheaval in both the kingdom of Israel and the sister kingdom of Judah. The kingdom of Israel had been conquered by the Assyrians a few decades before, in 722 BCE. Isaiah was a prophet in and around the city of Jerusalem, in Judah. I am certain that the political situation was precarious for many years following the conquering of the northern kingdom, the domination of that part of Palestine by the Assyrian army.

            Sure, Isaiah was a prophet of the Lord, and as such had many words of warning and judgment for the nation of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. Yet, Isaiah is also one of the most hopeful and positive of the prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures.

            Here in chapter 66, the last chapter of the book, the prophet writes about the future. Coming attractions, for the Jewish people. “Rejoice with Jerusalem! Be glad! Rejoice!” Such calls are common in this section of the book of Isaiah following chapter 40, where hearers are called to rejoice, take joy, exult, sing and shout out.” [1] The commentator Kristin Wendland makes special note of the personification – the metaphor of the nursing mother, here in Isaiah 66! In these verses we see the future, restored Jewish community made whole again. We see children and toddlers born, nurtured, nursing at the breast and dandled on the knees.

            What is more, the prophet is hearkening back to a time two or three generations before, when the city of Jerusalem was under siege for an extended period of time. There was great starvation within the city, and mothers could not feed their babies and children. Many today can remember times of recent want and deprivation in their families and loved ones’ histories, just within the past century. I am sure this reference struck a chord with the prophet’s readers!

            Can you imagine our almighty, all-powerful Lord, who made heaven and earth, extending comfort, care and nurture, just like this image of the nursing mother? That is exactly the point! Here we have the highly respected prophet Isaiah saying exactly that.  

            Again, I come back to what the Rev. April Yamasaki has to say about differing views of God. She has preached on Scripture using “masculine, gender-neutral, and feminine imagery to talk about God. God is the father waiting for his prodigal son. God is the mother who comforts us. God is the Rock that never changes.” And, April hits the nail exactly on the head. She continues, “Like it or not, all of these and more are in the Bible.  Humanly speaking, there is enough in Scripture to challenge all of us.” [2]

            You and I might be anxious or downright afraid of a different kind of image or picture of God. You or I may be totally unused to maternal or nurturing Godly images. “But instead of mentally crossing out anything that disturbs us, we need to allow the different images of God in Scripture to challenge us, to correct us, to shape and expand our relationship with God,” says Kristina LaCelle-Peterson. [3]

God’s Divine nature is too immense to be captured by only one image. Moreover, our disparate, all-over-the-board life situations are definitely too varied – too multi-colored! – to be considered by only one Divine reference or metaphor.

            I am re-reading a marvelous book on prayer by the equally marvelous Christian and devotional writer Richard Foster. He suggests that we access this kind of Divine metaphor with our imaginations. Using the prayer mode of Ignatian prayer, we can see these mothering, nurturing aspects of God with our mind’s eye, to see, to hear, to touch what is right here in the biblical narrative.

            Richard Foster tells us “We must not despise this simpler, more humble route into God’s presence. Jesus himself taught in this manner, making constant appeals to the imagination in his parables. Many of the [Christian] devotional masters encourage us in this way.” [4] In this simple, straight-forward way, we are urged to enter into a close, intimate relationship with our Lord. What a way to come home to God!

Who doesn’t want to have a fresh relationship with God? Who doesn’t desire close communication with our Lord? Right here, right now, we are invited and urged to use these vivid mothering metaphors and climb into God’s lap ourselves. Can you decide to welcome such a caring and loving God into your Daily Prayer?  

            God is surely a source of comfort and nurture, for all! Not only for those in Isaiah’s time, but for all of us, all those under God’s loving protection and care. What a promise! What a Divine presence that spells “home” and comfort for us all. Alleluia, amen.          

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-14-3/commentary-on-isaiah-6610-14-4

[2] https://aprilyamasaki.com/2015/05/11/mothers-day-revisited-and-how-god-is-like-your-mom/

[3] Ibid.

[4] Foster, Richard, Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home (HarperCollins: New York NY, 1992), 147.

God Cares for Us

“God Cares for Us!”

Isaiah 46:3-9 – July 9, 2023

            I have wonderful memories of being a mom of small children. I would be fascinated to see their endless awe, wonder and amazement. Small children love discovery and inquiry, they love Finding Out New Things. With discovery and exploring come the possibility for falling down, bumping elbows and skinning knees. Not to mention falling flat on your face! I remember washing the dirt off various owies, putting band-aids on knees, fingers and elbows. Sometimes, a small person would climb up in my lap, ready to rest and be cuddled.

            Here in Isaiah 46, we listen to the prophet talk about the Lord. Listen to this message for the remnant of the nation of Israel: ““Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. ⁴ I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”

            Except, this is a different image of God than we have heard about in other parts of the book of Isaiah. As we have said during the past few weeks, not a strong, mighty, and fearsome Deliverer! No! Instead, we have a another, different view of our Lord. This image is nurturing, warm and mothering.

            I don’t know if anyone here remembers baby slings? A long piece of fabric or material that mothers use to carry their small (and even not so small) infants right near their hearts. And sometimes, as with indigenous mothers, they might carry the child on their backs, secured in a sling of fabric. What a caring, comforting way to carry an infant close to a mom’s heart!

            This image from Isaiah 46 is similar – nurturing and comforting! The God of Israel is “carrying” God’s people close to God’s heart. Like a mother, who carries the child in her uterus for nine months, and afterwards carries it close to her heart. When the prophet actually wrote these words, it had to have a powerful effect upon the nation of Israel. Imagine, actually feeling that God bore them up, and held both them and their burdens close to God’s heart!  

            As we reflect upon our powerful God, God is also creative and caring. We can see that the Lord does not simply wind up the world or the universe like a huge watch, put it down on a forgotten shelf and then go away for centuries, even eons. Remember, verse 4 tells us “⁴ I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”

            Just as the nation of Israel is reminded that they have experienced God’s power by constant benefits, as John Calvin’s commentary on Isaiah tells us, but God diffuses power – and creativity – through all God’s creatures, so that everyone feels God’s strength and energy. As well as Divine caring and salvation! [1]

            This metaphor used in verses 3 and 4 is so expressive. Who has not seen a pregnant mother, or a mother with a young infant? God compares Godself to a mother who carries a baby in her uterus. We hear the Lord speaking of times past, when humans were (and still are) given testimonies of God’s grace! We all can be thankful and grateful that God nourishes not only the people of Israel, but God nourishes us, too! That is, if we are okay with thinking of ourselves as babies and young children in our nurturing, caring God’s lap.

            Alyson Rockhold writes in her article on Isaiah “I sense God’s arms wrapping around me. I hear a gentle invitation to lay down my weary head. In my mind’s eye, I imagine God patting my hair like a mother comforts an overwrought child. It is in intimate moments like this that I experience the mothering God. As a child, I would run to my mother with every skinned knee and broken heart. Her acceptance was total, and her presence never failed to soothe me. Now I’m grown, and an ocean separates my home from hers. Still, in moments of sadness and struggle, I long to feel like a child in my mother’s arms: completely loved and totally accepted. I rediscover this in the Lord’s embrace.” [2]

            In past weeks, this sermon series has focused on Scriptural images of God that are not the usual images put forward. Even referring to God as “mother” might stretch our Divine vocabulary! God as spirit, yes! I would like all of us to think about widening our understanding of God. God is a divine Being beyond male and female, since male and female we all were created in God’s image, in the beginning.

            Here in this summer sermon series, we look at a dozen instances where the Scripture clearly uses feminine imagery and metaphor to explain how God relates to us! We are certainly not referring to any sort of Mother Goddess, or ancient fertility symbol. I know that kind of earthy worship involved agriculture, fertility, sexuality, and even temple prostitutes.

No, this is definitely not what we are focusing on! Neither am I only glorifying God as “Father,” putting human fatherhood and the Divine as Heavenly Father on some sort of lofty, unreachable pedestal. No! As we can see, the Scriptures “consistently merge the images and metaphors of the fatherly God with motherly compassion and love,” [3] as these Scriptural and maternal images tell us repeatedly. Both fatherly and motherly images of our God.

            I encourage all of us to pray with these images. We can all come before God in prayer, climbing up into the Lord’s loving, nurturing lap. Not only can we be grateful for mothering and nurturing of earthly mothers and those who care for us as mothers, around the world.  We can also be thankful for our ever present, sustaining and caring God. Join me in bringing thanks to our Lord for God’s enduring, everlasting care and nurture.

No matter how big or small we are, no matter how grown-up or childlike we may be, we all can say “thank You, God.” Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cal/isaiah-46.html

[2] https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/05/09/god-mother-faith-prayer-240581

[3] https://juniaproject.com/biblical-maternal-images-for-god/  

Like a Small Child

“Like a Small Child”

Psalm 131:1-3 – July 2, 2023

            The news of a happy, healthy birth and new addition to the family is something to be celebrated! I just got the joyful news that a healthy baby boy was delivered to one of the young people at a Presbyterian church out of state, who participated in our trip to Egypt back in March. All of us here in this congregation are so happy when we hear of babies being born! I know some people are less than excited about babies, but not here.  

            The Psalms are no different, as far as containing expressions of families’ emotions. We can find the full range of emotions in our book of Psalms, including joy, celebration and contentment with families and with children, and with babies, too.

            Our Scripture reading for today from Psalm 131 is so appropriate for our Summer Sermon series. We are re-imaging God. Seeing God from a different point of view. We will focus on verse 2, in particular. I will read it again: “I am not concerned with great matters or with subjects too difficult for me. ² Instead, I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother’s arms, so my heart is quiet within me.”

            Have you – or your children, or grandchildren – had experience with a school subject that was really difficult? I know our Psalm writer was probably not thinking of school or of learning concepts that are really challenging. However, this is a way for me to zero in on the psalm writer’s meaning!

            I know I had a real block in my head when it came to certain concepts in high school physics. I had an excellent teacher! But, there were certain concepts that just couldn’t penetrate my understanding, no matter how much coaching I got from my father or extra tips from my teacher. I know I got a really poor grade that quarter in Physics.

 I felt like I was hitting my head against a brick wall. Have you ever felt like that? Most children and young people have experience with subjects at school that are really difficult. As adults, I suspect we can relate! We all have had sad or frustrating experiences where we cope with issues or subjects that are just too hard, too complicated, or too emotionally charged.

With this comforting psalm, it’s like we have the opportunity, even the permission to enter into the holy sanctuary. To come into the gentle presence of God.

We know that little babies – as adorable as they can be – are also totally dependent on their mother’s care. In Biblical times, babies would be breastfed, and a nursing infant would always have his or her mother nearby. Yet, this expression in Psalm 131 refers to a little older child, one who has been weaned. Not solely dependent on its mother for all food and drink.

I suspect most of us here, if not all of us, have memories of toddlers and small children. They were (and are!) endlessly curious about the wide world! Those same toddlers and small children get tired, and hungry, and want to rest. Where do they come at times like these? They return to the safe sanctuary of their parent’s embrace. As Psalm 131:2 says, “I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother’s arms, so my heart is quiet within me.”

As I have said in past weeks, in both the Hebrew Scriptures as well as the New Testament, the depiction of God is so often as a Mighty Defender or Deliverer, strong and powerful, The Lord is described many times in the Hebrew Scriptures as a Rock, or a Fortress. That can be helpful, especially when we are in need of Someone strong to help us fight our battles, or when we need a safe, divine Shelter to hide inside – but quite impersonal.

But, what about when some of us (yes, I include all of us here!) need our God to be something other than distant, cold, and scary? When we really need Someone warm, caring, and compassionate? Like right here, where a small child crawls up trustingly into the lap of a loving God! A loving, caring, welcoming maternal presence. That is exactly what we have right here! As the psalmist says about God’s warm nurture and care, “I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother’s arms, so my heart is quiet within me.”

Yes, the Lord is strong, and mighty, and a powerful Deliverer. And yes, the Lord is loving, caring, compassionate, and has a wonderful maternal aspect, too.

I love the way that Carolyn Brown, retired Children’s Ministry Director and Bible commentator leads us through the first verse of the hymn “Be Still, My Soul.” She describes this very psalm, and uses the words of this wonderful hymn to give us further understanding. Could you turn to hymn #455 and read along with me, as I go line by line through the first verse?

Be still my soul; the Lord is on your side.

God loves you and is on your side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Having God on your side doesn’t mean that everything will always go the way you want it to; but you can get through the bad times knowing that even in them God is on your side.

Leave to your God to order and provide.

Remember that God is in charge.

In every change God faithful will remain.

God will be with you in all the scary and unknown changes.  For children those changes include a new school, moving, the arrival of a sibling, parents divorcing, having to learn something new and hard, going away to camp or to live with relatives….

Be still my soul, your best, your heavenly friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Recall the thorny part of the crucifixion that led to Jesus’ joyful resurrection and note that Jesus is with us all the way through both our joyful and thorny times.[1]

As we reflect upon this gentle psalm, seeking what the long-ago words of the psalmist have for us, today, we come to our God like trusting children. We also seek the food and drink of Holy Communion, which we celebrate today. Praise God that we have the opportunity to lean into the loving embrace of our caring, compassionate God today and every day! Praise God whenever we are hungry, tired, lonely or scared, we can come into God’s gentle, still center.

What a wonderful gift! What a loving God. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2011/01/year-eighth-sunday-in-epiphany-eighth.html

Like An Eagle

“Like An Eagle”

Deuteronomy 32:1-3, 7-12 – June 25, 2023

            Almost two years ago my husband and I went to visit our daughter over Labor Day in St. Louis at graduate school. On the way back, we drove north and stopped at Pere Marquette State Park, at the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. In case you did not know, there are bluffs and rock formations at many points on the Mississippi River. Just the place for eagles to nest and raise their young eaglets! Just like in places around Pere Marquette State Park.

            We are focusing on a Bible reading today from the book of Deuteronomy, in the Hebrew Scriptures. The fifth book of the Bible, a part of the revered Torah of the Jews, this reading comes from chapter 32, near the end of this retelling of the Law – God’s Law – to the people of Israel. And, Deuteronomy also restates God’s covenant, or contract, with God’s people.

            This reading from Deuteronomy comes in the middle of somewhat dry reading material. Most people do not particularly sink their teeth into talk of laws, statutes, and commands, which is what a large part of this book is all about. However, chapter 32 is the last song of the elderly Moses, shortly before his death. Moses’s song has many words of warning for the people of Israel, but it also has words of warmth and nurture: like the passage we look at today!

            This is how Moses describes the relationship between the people of Israel and the Lord! ¹⁰ In a desert land God found him, in a barren and howling waste. The Lord shielded him and cared for him; God guarded him as the apple of his eye, ¹¹ like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft.”

            Right here, Moses is talking about a mama eagle! I suspect Moses and perhaps many other keen-eyed people from Israel had observed eagles and their behavior. Especially, in this case, their nesting behavior, and how the mother eagles interact with their young.

            While my husband and I were at the state park, I want to let you all know that we both were especially fascinated by an actual eagle’s nest in the interpretive center. I suspect you all are familiar with the typical bird’s nests around here, nests from robins, sparrows, cardinals, and other types of birds. The eagle’s nest is absolutely gigantic, compared to a nest that is smaller than six inches around. We could stand in the eagle’s nest and have it be higher than our waists.

            Moses sang about the mama eagle stirring up her nest. More importantly, the eagle hovers over the young eaglets in the nest. This Hebrew verb is the same verb that is used in Genesis 1. Genesis 1:1 (the summary statement for this first chapter of the Bible) says that “God created.” God created the heavens up above and the earth beneath. And in particular, verse 2 describes the Spirit of God as “hovering over the waters.”

If you remember back two weeks ago, I preached on Genesis 1. In the original language of the Hebrew Scriptures, “Spirit” is feminine. What’s more, the Spirit of God hovering or brooding over the waters is – according to the Hebrew language – a feminine Spirit. This verb “hovering” is also mentioned here in Deuteronomy 32, where the mother eagle is protective towards her young in the nest. The “hovering” of God is a mothering activity! Here in Deuteronomy (as in Genesis), God is a protective, nurturing presence over Israel, over the young eaglets in the nest. ^[1] Not just a masculine presence of God, but also feminine. Both/and.

            Commentator Matthew Henry says, “The eagle is observed to have a strong affection for her young, and to show it, not only as other creatures by protecting them and making provision for them, but by educating them and teaching them to fly. For this purpose she stirs them out of the nest where they lie dozing, flutters over them, to show them how they must use their wings, and then accustoms them to fly upon her wings till they have learnt to fly upon their own.” ^[2]

Yes, we often see God pictured in the Hebrew Scriptures as strong and mighty. A strong Deliverer, and mighty to save God’s people! A mama eagle is pretty powerful, too. When we consider her hovering over the nest, her protective presence and action on the behalf of her young is a striking image for the reader. And, in the last song of Moses, he uses this same imagery to show the people of Israel how much the Lord loves, cares for and nurtures them, too.

We young eaglets might be huddling in the nest. We might be frightened, or hurt, or sick. We might not be ready to fly yet. But, the Lord is hovering over us. Our God is protecting us, and keeping the predators away. Besides that, God is teaching us and guiding us to learn how to fly on our own, too.

When my husband and I stood looking at that eagle’s nest, we were amazed at the size of the nest, and the accompanying photos of the actual nests in place and in use. Amazing birds, guiding, guarding and protecting their young. And, that is exactly how God is with us!

We can take heart, too! Right here in Deuteronomy, Moses tells the people of Israel of God’s continuing love and care and nurture. As hesitant to follow God and as foolish as the people of Israel often were, the Lord kept loving them, kept forgiving them, and kept hovering over those eaglets in God’s nest. Just as the Lord does for us!

Sure, we may mess up sometimes. We may turn away from following God, and go our own way. Sure, we might be foolish sometimes, too! Saying, doing, and thinking things that are not what God would have us say, do or think. We know God still is our strong, caring, loving Mama Eagle! And, we can always trust in God’s goodness, caring and nurture towards all God’s eaglets! That is, towards all God’s children. Praise God, God has been loving, caring and full of nurture for us all. God is our protecting Mama Eagle, and that’s a blessed fact. Alleluia, amen.  

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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^[1] van Wijk-Bos, Johanna, W.H., “Reimagining God” (Westminster John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 1995), 72,73.

^[2] https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/deuteronomy/32.html

Have Compassion

“Have Compassion”

Matthew 9:35-9:38 – June 18, 2023

            Today is Father’s Day, the day people set aside in the United States to honor fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers – everyone who takes on a fatherly role in the lives of families and individuals across the country. Even, fathers across the world.

The Scripture reading today is the Gospel reading for this week, from the Revised Common Lectionary. I haven’t chosen an alternative reading for today, because the set reading from the Gospel of Matthew chapter 9 is so appropriate for our Summer Sermon series. We are re-imaging God. Seeing God from a different point of view.

Many, many people throughout the world look at the Holy, the Divine, and see something impersonal. This view of the Almighty can seem to be really far away. Distant and cold. Even forbidding and scary. Other times, some people see our God as a strong and mighty Deliverer. The Lord is described many times in the Hebrew Scriptures as a Rock, or a Fortress. That can be helpful, especially when we are in need of Someone strong to help us fight our battles, or when we need a safe, divine Shelter to hide inside – but quite impersonal.

But, what about when some of us (yes, I include all of us here!) need our God to be something other than distant, cold, and scary? Or Someone else than just a super-strong tough-guy? What then? It is really difficult for certain people to believe that their God could be that way! They cannot even conceive of God being warm, welcoming, caring and compassionate!

In Matthew 9:36, our Lord Jesus feels great compassion, and through the words chosen shows us just how deeply He cares. “When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

            I wanted to see what a proper, in-depth word study on the word “compassion” had to say. According to one word study, “Com-passio literally means to “suffer with.”  In Latin, com means “with” and passio means “to suffer.”  “Passion” is suffering, which is why we talk about “the Passion of Christ” during Holy Week.” [1]    

            As He traveled throughout Palestine from place to place, the Rabbi Jesus had the opportunity to see a whole lot of people. Plus, many of the individuals who came to Him (or, were brought to Him) were not in good health. Many of these souls were distressed. Two other words for that state are “troubled” or the old-fashioned “vexed.” Have you seen troubled souls? Sometimes, these souls carry all their troubles inside, and the only way we know is by looking at their haunted eyes. Other times, some souls have physical aspects of their bodies that show us their distress and anxiety.

            Many of these hurting souls are dispirited. This word means “downcast” or “thrown down.” When people are inwardly helpless and forsaken, often we can see their souls as dispirited. “Philip Keller, in A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 [Zondervan], describes how sheep can get turned over on their backs and not be able to get up by themselves again. Such sheep are called “cast” or “cast down” sheep (p. 60). These sheep flail at the air with their legs, but they can’t get back on their feet without the aid of the shepherd. Left in this condition, helpless and vulnerable to their enemies, they will die after a few hours or days.” [2]

            We can easily see how Jesus as our Good Shepherd would be greatly concerned and compassionate for these dear souls! I would like to return to the word “compassion.” We looked at the Latin roots of that word, but the Gospel of Matthew was written in Greek.

If we take a closer look at what the Greek word “compassion” means, we see the word splagchna, which appears in the letter to the Philippians. The Apostle Paul’s words in the King James Version say: “I long after you all with the bowels of Jesus Christ.”  The word splagchna means “bowels” – literally, the innards in your belly.  It’s an earthy image that might offend some. “The people of the ancient world believed that all of the most intense feelings originated in the belly.  For them, “guts” did not mean “courage,” but depth of feeling.

It’s easy for us to understand why they would believe that, because when we feel anxious or afraid, our stomachs churn.  Our lower innards give away how much we are affected by our circumstances.  The Greek phrase Splagchna oiktirmou means something like “’the bowels of deep feeling.’” [3]

            Our Lord Jesus felt like this for the crowds surrounding Him. He had deep compassion, caring and love! As the classic hymn tells us, “O, the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of ev’ry love the best! ‘Tis an ocean vast of blessing, ‘tis a haven sweet of rest!”

            No matter how our popular culture makes fun of the “kinder, gentler” emotions like compassion, or labels them as “unmanly,” we can readily see from passages like these that our Lord Jesus felt them deeply. No matter how much some scoff at strong, mighty people also being caring and loving, we have a Divine example right here to hold up. To hold on to.

            Moreover, this does not only refer to the crowds Jesus saw in Palestine. Jesus has compassion on us, today, too. “He sees us in our lostness, in our emptiness, under attack by enemies within and without; and he loves us. Although we are harassed and helpless, he loves us. He doesn’t say, “Well, they should have known better.” He doesn’t say, “You’d think that by now they would have figured it out.” He doesn’t say, “What a bunch of losers.” [4]

Jesus has deep compassion for the sheep without a shepherd, centuries ago, and for us sheep, too! Jesus loves us all, cares for us all, down to the very depths of His being.

We can rejoice in the deep compassion, the deep caring, and yes, the “deep, deep love of Jesus.” This is for each of us today, and this is the Gospel truth. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] Compassion in the New Testament (Part 1) http://www.jmarklawson.com/traveling-in-place/2012/03/compassion-in-the-new-testament-part-1.html

[2] https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-1-help-wanted-matthew-935-38

[3] Compassion in the New Testament (Part 1) http://www.jmarklawson.com/traveling-in-place/2012/03/compassion-in-the-new-testament-part-1.html

[4] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/the-path-of-the-disciple-the-weight-of-the-call/third-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/third-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-preaching-notes

God Created

“God Created”

Genesis 1:1-6, 26-28 – June 11, 2023

            With June, everything is blooming! All kinds of trees, plants, flowers and leaves are growing and blossoming, and it’s just like that song from the great American songbook, “June is Busting Out All Over!” We can easily see how much joy God took in creating the heavens and the earth, with how green and verdant all of nature appears, outside.

            And, God not only created the plants and growing things. The Lord created a whole lot more! As Genesis 1 tells us, God created all living things on the earth, sea and sky, and all the heavenly bodies in the universe, too. A mighty act of creation, for our mighty God! 

            This act of creation comes at the very beginning of things, in the very beginning of the Bible. Genesis chapter 1. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

            We are starting our summer sermon series today, Re-imaging God. This series will highlight different ways of thinking about and naming attributes of our God. In this series, we will work on stretching ourselves! We will try to enlarge our image of our God.

            The words we use are important – not only the words we say, but the words we read on the printed page. The words of Scripture are all important, too. Let us take a closer look at how verses 1 and 2 describe our God. Verse 1 (the summary statement for this chapter) says that “God created.” God created the heavens up above and the earth beneath. Verse 2 describes the Spirit of God as “hovering over the waters.”

            This lean, spare description is marvelous! Can you see it? The dark heavens and the earth, formless, empty, just waiting for something to happen.

I don’t know whether you are aware, but different languages use different articles for nouns. In English, we all say “the cat” and “the dog,” and by the article “the,” they could be either male or female animals. However, many languages are structured differently.

In German or Italian, Spanish or Greek, different nouns are gendered. It’s a “male dog,” or a “female cat.” The article “the” in front of the noun changes with the word. Plus, the gender of the verbs must agree with the gender of the nouns! Any native English speaker who learns one of these languages in school struggles with the gender of the nouns and matching the proper articles and proper gender of verbs with the nouns!

It’s the same way with the Spirit of God. In the original language of the Hebrew Scriptures, “Spirit” is feminine. What’s more, the Spirit of God hovering or brooding over the waters is – according to the Hebrew language – a feminine Spirit. This verb “hovering” is also mentioned in Deuteronomy 32, where the mother eagle is protective towards her young in the nest. The “hovering” of the Spirit is a mothering activity! Here in Genesis, the Spirit of God, the Ruach ha Kodesh, is a protective, nurturing presence over the still formless waters. ^[1]

            Just so we do not get lost in the weeds of different languages, here’s the highlight I want us all to focus on. Whether Scripture is in Hebrew or Greek, “both masculine and feminine verbs are used for God, masculine for God, feminine for the Spirit. [And as we will see,] God’s human creation will reflect their creator as female and male.” ^[2]

               Seeing the nurturing, mothering nature of mammals, of dogs, cats, and humans – these mental images of puppies, kittens and babies can bring to mind gentle caring, loving encouragement, and supportive love. These are exactly the kinds of things that describe the activities of the Spirit of God! Plus, God the Father is caring, loving and supportive, too!

And what about the Good Shepherd? That’s Jesus, I want everyone to know. Remember how Jesus cares for His sheep, and how in several places in the Gospels Jesus is described as a loving, supportive Good Shepherd who guards, guides and protects His sheep.

            Isn’t it wonderful to see God as a mothering, nurturing God? Not only mighty and strong – a just, even stern, protector. Yes, God is all of those things. And, mothering and nurturing, caring and loving, too! Both/and – not either/or.

            Let us continue with verse 26: “Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” God has created humans male and female. We, as humans, are created in the image of God! And, this whole chapter of Genesis 1 follows the same pattern, using pronouns of both genders.

            “We forget that Genesis 1 is a chapter brimming with goodness and blessing. In fact, God pronounces blessing on the created order three times. [God] calls creation “good” and “very good” seven times.” ^[3]

            We can see how the earth – the world – the universe was lovingly, joyfully created by God. And, whether we think of the feminine Spirit of God or the almighty Lord, or the Word that was in the beginning (from the Gospel of John), the preincarnate Son of God – however we consider the Triune God – all we can do is lift our hands in worship, thanksgiving and praise.

 What will you and I do with this fresh understanding of God? This understanding that transcends gender? “The creation story insists that God’s mark is imprinted on my very being. I might ignore or distort it, but the mark is always there. Whether I acknowledge it or not, I reflect something of God’s joy, God’s intentions, God’s love, and God’s beauty just by virtue of existing on the earth. I am His, and so He is mine.” ^[4]

            We can go out into the world, knowing that the Creator God made each of us, all of us, in the image of God. Male and female we are made, and each is in the image of God. Just as Psalm 139 tells us, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

            Our loving, caring, nurturing Creator God created the heavens and the earth; God created all humanity, and that includes you and me, too. Praise God! Alleluia, amen. 

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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^[1] van Wijk-Bos, Johanna, W.H., “Reimagining God” (Westminster John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 1995), 72.73.

^[2] Gafney, Wilda, “A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church” (Church Publishing, New York, NY, 2021), 142.

^[3] https://www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20140609JJ.shtml

^[4] Ibid.

Trinity Benediction

“Trinity Benediction”

2 Corinthians 13:11-14 – June 4, 2023

            This is one of my favorite Sundays in the whole church year. Trinity Sunday! Today is a different kind of Sunday, one where we focus on a theological concept and place it in the center of our service today.

Yes, we can talk about the Trinity, and have Bible readings about the Trinity. But, the most important thing is to center our worship, praise and prayer around the indescribable reality of that most holy of holies, the God who created heaven and earth. No matter how many intellectual arguments or theological books we read, all else falls woefully short.

We have two short Bible readings today, one from the beginning of all things, from Genesis 1, and one from the end of one of Paul’s letters. We span from the beginning to a benediction. As we approach the reading from Genesis, it is the very opening of the Bible. The very beginning of the world. I will examine these verses more in depth next week, as I start our Summer Sermon Series, a Biblical view of God as Nurturer, God from a Feminine viewpoint.

 I wanted to highlight something important. When God created all things, God was there as Trinity just as much as God is here today as Trinity. But – you might ask, and I would not blame you if you did – what on earth is the Trinity? Great question! We see Trinity as One God in Three Persons, as from the marvelous hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Yet, even this soaring hymn cannot give us much information about the definition or composition of the Trinity.  

We know about our Lord Jesus, our Savior, the Good Shepherd who cares for His sheep. We have some idea about the Holy Spirit, the Holy Comforter, the one who energizes God’s people (as we heard last week at Pentecost). And, we fall down before God the Father, the Almighty, the Holy One who created heaven and earth. We can say with the host of heaven, “Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three persons, blessed Trinity.” Just as I said a few minutes ago – as I do every week, after the Scripture Reading – “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end, amen, amen.”  

            The Bible does not give a clear definition of the Trinity; it mentions it in general, several times in both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. A mystery: One God, three Persons. We can compare the Trinity to a green, growing clover with three leaves in one plant (as St. Patrick did, centuries ago). We can think of it as St. Athanasius described it, as the three stages of water, as liquid, solid (ice) and gas (steam). All water, and yet in different forms.

            Some people, younger people and small children, find it easier to grasp this challenging theological concept if we use the different names of a person. Talking about different names of a person can be more relatable. Although my children were small, they could certainly understand how my mother could be “Mom” to me, “Grandma” to them and “Sister” to my Aunt Bernice. Three different names, three different aspects, yet one person.

            Most of us, if not all of us, can relate to being called by different names. Daughter, Mom, Grandpa, Brother, Teacher, Nurse, Chaplain, Pastor. Sometimes these names are more functional, some less so. Yet, still, no matter which name is used, you are still you. It’s the same way with God. God can be called any one of dozens of names, describing different aspects and functions. [1] And, these are all various ways of understanding our huge God, just a little bit more!  

            As I have been going over several commentaries and articles about the Trinity and about our Bible reading from 2 Corinthians, this idea of God as Trinity being too immense for us limited humans to understand is one aspect that I am certainly aware of. Yes, we can get a bit closer to the idea of God in Three Persons, but never fully understand it. God is too huge.

As Rev. Janet Hunt said, “Over these last days, I have simply found myself with my eyes and heart open, hopeful to simply see the face of God, even the many faces of God, which is and are represented by the concept of the Trinity.” [2] Is it the marvelous gift of God’s very good creation we hear about in Genesis 1? Is it the holy connection which is ours through Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as described in 2 Corinthians 13?

            Perhaps, we are simply to be blessed by this theological truth, this mystery, and not worry about fully comprehending it? Just as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are in conversation one with the other, blessed One in Three, just as the Trinity is caught up in the eternal I AM, the constant and eternal present tense. How can we understand it, much less explain it, to come anywhere close to God’s reality or satisfaction?

            The apostle Paul shared these words with his readers at the end of this letter. Perhaps he did not understand it either! Yet, he spoke of the Trinity in his benediction with warm, loving words. “¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss. ¹³ All God’s people here send their greetings. ¹⁴ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

            Perhaps this prayer by my friend Rev. Jo Anne Lesco Taylor can add another view to the different understandings I have put forth today, to close this meditation on the Trinity. I hope and I pray these words may bless us all.

Holy One in Three and Three in One, Let me dance with you.

I may not understand how you can be three distinct persons living in unity,
how you can sing in unison and harmony at the same time,
But I do not need to understand in order to trust your Presence.

I need not Know in order to Love as you love, as you open the circle to me
and invite me into your dance, into your grace,
into your wholeness and holiness, into your love.

Let it be so. Let me dance with you, God. Amen. [3]

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2014/05/year-trinity-sunday-first-sunday-after.html

[2] https://dancingwiththeword.com/the-face-of-god/

[3] https://pastorsings.com/2023/06/03/a-prayer-for-the-eve-of-trinity-sunday/?fbclid=IwAR2DW8vuOxwd8OzkZnSS1gD9-w9R4AxHMb66tpWUycbaf2_Ou3G9ZAL-1ZM

Holy Spirit Power!

“Holy Spirit Power!”

Acts 2:1-4 – May 28, 2023

            Wear red for Pentecost! This is a joyful, even beloved tradition in some churches and certain denominations.  As you all can see, I am wearing red today! My stole is red, and the altar cloths are red, too. Red is a celebratory color, the color of today’s Pentecost celebration. We can praise God for the birthday of the church that happened almost 2000 years ago today!  

            Red is the color signifying the Holy Spirit, and a reminder of the flames that appeared above each believers’ head on that first Pentecost, too. “A reminder of that first startling presence that came and rested on them that day. Did you catch that, the resting? What does that mean? This amazing moment, this throbbing with power moment, is … comfortable?” [1] Is it??

            Exactly what our Bible reading for today says. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.”

Yes, the presence of God has been described in the Bible as comforting and gentle – sometimes. But, here, in this Bible reading today, we have anything but!

            What is happening? I thought that our Lord Jesus was gentle and mild, like the Good Shepherd, cradling a lamb in His arms. I thought the Holy Spirit was the Holy Comforter, coming alongside of people in sorrow, trials and grief. Not a violent wind! Not with tongues of fire! That sounds earth-shaking and like the sounds of a powerful locomotive! That looks really scary, that each believer had fire on top of their heads! What on earth would you think if God sent such signs of God’s presence right here, right now? Wouldn’t it be scary, even earthshaking?

            Looking back at the Hebrew Scriptures, fire is a clear sign of the presence of God. Let’s think of the book of Exodus, with Moses looking upon the ever burning bush, burning and yet never consumed by fire. The voice of the LORD spoke out of the flame, telling Moses to take off his sandals, because the very ground he stood on was holy. This is the very presence of God, who identifies as “I AM WHO I AM,” the ever-present God.

            And, later in Exodus 19, we are told about the fire on the mountain where the presence of God, indeed the LORD descended in power. Can you imagine? The whole of Mount Sinai was shaking! The text said the mountain “trembled violently!” And, everyone in the camp where the nation of Israel trembled in fear, too, at such mighty displays from heaven!

            We read about such things, today, and put them back in history. Oh, those kinds of things just happened in Bible times. That was a long, long time ago! But, was it? True, those kinds of awesome, mighty, violent displays of God’s power did happen long ago. But, can they happen today, too? What kind of God do you believe in? How powerful is our God, today?           

The coming of the Holy Spirit was described by Dr. Luke as a violent, rushing wind. Or, to make it understandable to us folks from the modern day, Dr. J. Vernon McGee says: “A friend of my daughter lives in Kansas and went through the experience of a tornado. It did not destroy their home but came within two blocks of it. When she wrote about it to my daughter, she said, ‘The first thing we noticed was a sound like a thousand freight trains coming into town.’” [2] In Acts 2, Dr. Luke said that something very much like that kind of awesome, violent power was what that group of believers experienced on the Day of Pentecost!  

We can see the many symbols and metaphors that are used in the Hebrew Scriptures. These are physical things (and phenomena) that are used to signify spiritual matters. There are several symbols that show us just how mighty and powerful the Holy Spirit can be! (Like wind, which would be a whole sermon unto itself!) But, what a wonderful symbol is found for the person and work of the Holy Spirit in fire. Fire illuminates, and is warm. Isn’t it fitting that Christianity – the founding of the church – is characterized by fire?

One of my commentary writers suggests a grand celebration for the Day of Pentecost. “So, send out the word, “Come wearing red.” Give everyone red ribbons as they enter, drop red confetti when the worship begins, bind everyone together in red yarn, fly red kites. Do something dramatic, something memorable, something that might—let’s be honest—upset some of those who gather as not being “proper” for church. We have tamed worship, tamed Pentecost, trying to be proper and reserved. There is a time and place for proper, and for calm and reserved. But Pentecost is not that time or place.” [3]

  Whether the presence of the Holy Spirit is powerful and earthshaking, or quiet and gentle, whether our church’s celebration of Pentecost is loud or not-so-loud, we all need to acknowledge the mighty power of God in the church today. Right now!

“Oh yes, the Power of the Holy Spirit is not really to be found in the wind and the flames which only seem to foretell the amazing events yet to come.  The Power of the Spirit is discovered between us and among us and through us.” [4]  One way is through the awesome power of believers coming together, the power of all of us here in this sanctuary between us and among us and through us, that power of the Holy Spirit manifest among us today!

So, we can celebrate today! We can make noise, dance in the aisle, do something that could even upset the more staid members of any congregation! Pentecost is truly the day to celebrate! And, the day to recognize that God’s mighty power is present among us. How is the power of the Holy Spirit active in your life today? We all have access to God’s mighty power. Believe it! Claim it! And, rejoice in that power and blessing of the Holy Spirit, today and every day.  Alleluia, amen.   

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/pentecost/pentecost-sunday-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes

[2] McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible Commentary, Vol. 4 (Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville TN, 1983), 516.

[3] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/pentecost/pentecost-sunday-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes

[4] https://dancingwiththeword.com/the-power-of-the-holy-spirit/