Tag Archives: Loving Like Jesus

Overcoming Evil

Eastertide

April 11, 2021

Scripture Reading:
John 20:19-31

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.‘—John 20:24-29

Thomas would have been an empirical scientist today. He wanted to see the facts of Jesus’ Resurrection. Jesus understood Thomas and responded by showing him the nail holes in Jesus’ hands and the place where the spear stabbed him in the side. Thomas gets a bad rap for wanting proof. We need to remember that upon receiving the news that Lazarus had died, Thomas was the one who said we must go and die with Jesus if necessary*. Thomas loved Jesus with all his heart.

God created diverse people because a wealth of wisdom is required to properly care for the earth while living together within a loving framework. I learned a lot from studying the Myers-Briggs personality types. Sixteen different types are identified from combining various traits. There are other such tests, but most conclude that it takes a wide range of skills working in harmony to maintain a peaceful society. I think that achievement is what Jesus promised and described as abundant life.

Living together in community requires us to learn to love and trust one another. Evil wins by divide and conquer. It studies our weaknesses and pounces on them. Jesus admonished us in Matthew 10:16, See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.  Jesus called us to be one. To do that, we must intentionally turn the energy of evil into a power source of love. Maintaining our relationship with God is fundamental in accomplishing that feat.

Prayer: Lord, fill us with your love and light as we work to replace evil with love. Amen.

*John 11:16

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Kindred

Eastertide

April 7, 2021

Scripture Reading: Psalm 133
How very good and pleasant it is
   when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
   running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
   running down over the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
   which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the Lord ordained his blessing,
   life for evermore.

I acknowledge the basic idea that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, kindred if you will. The more I delve into genealogy, the more I realize we are, at least, all biological cousins. I wonder how often we read the Bible searching for documentation of concepts already ingrained in our souls. For example, we cling to specific laws that we follow with zeal while ignoring many we do not heed.  The existence of slavery throughout the Bible credentialed the slave trade in America whether it was the right thing to do or not.  

The author of the Bible book of John elected to reach back to Genesis 1 when the author started writing. In the beginning was the Word. We all would benefit from heeding this example. I read an open inquiry on my genealogy software from an African American man tracking his linage. We share a DNA link. Our ancestor was the slave owner who impregnated the man’s great, great grandmother, his slave. I did not have much to share with him about this man that he did not already know. I sent him what I could. After all, he is my half-cousin several times removed. Our DNA link gave him additional proof that the man was his ancestor.

I think about that when I see mistreatment of people on our streets because of some reality we have created called race. When our ingrained ideas about people get in the way of loving them just as they are, we might want to recall the verse: How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

All my ancestors arrived in the New World before 1790. I have not yet tracked down all of them, but of those I have, all were devout Christian folk, and all but one owned slaves. They lived in both the north and the south. I think it is rather telling that my one ancestor who did not own slaves was an indentured servant. He, too, was Christian and prospered just as well as the rest of them, or better, after completing his indenture. God’s abundance is not limited to or defined by privilege and greed.

Prayer: Lord, cleanse us of the baggage of prejudice we have packed along life’s way. Open our hearts to see the kindred souls with whom we share this earth you created for all of us. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

After Death

Silent Saturday

Silent Saturday

April 3, 2021

Scripture Reading:
John 19:38-42
After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

My Dad, a disabled vet, suffered a massive heart attack and was eventually rushed to the cardiac care unit at the Veterans Administration for care. One week later, I walked into his room and found him sitting on the side of the bed looking healthier than I had seen him in years. Having worked at a hospital as a social worker, I have seen and read lots of machines surrounding patient’s beds. That morning when I looked at his cardiac read-outs, I saw something I had never seen before. His heart readings looked like a picture a toddler might scribble on a plain piece of paper. I stepped out of the room to the nursing station and asked about what I had seen. I was assured that that happened at times, not to worry about it. When I walked back into the room, my Dad looked at me and said very calmly, “Marilynn, it is worse than they think.” He died about two hours later. He was preparing me for his death. I think of that experience each Holy Week as I read about Jesus’ preparing his followers for what he knew was coming.

Joseph of Arimathea, who previously had served Jesus secretly for fear of the Jews, now has the motivation to claim his body for burial. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, obviously interested in what Jesus said and did. Nicodemus also did not want to be too public about it. He joined Joseph in burying Jesus. What does it take for us to commit ourselves entirely to serving as God calls us to help to risk our reputation while stepping outside the world’s definition of justice and righteousness?

While healing and saving people, Jesus taught prevention. The Sermon on the Mount cautions us to prevent the things that lead up to murder. We are to be a light to the world so people can not stumble into trouble. Feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, and welcoming the stranger opens the door for all of God’s children to thrive and be the people God created them to be.

The day after a death is often a day of reflection. Some call the day after Jesus’ death Silent Saturday. His disciples then and we disciples now can use this day to consider our service to God as we work to do justice in the same kind of world that crucified a man for teaching and modeling justice through love.

Prayer: Lord, help me gauge my actions by your purposes. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Growth from Guilt

Good Friday

April 2, 2021

Scripture Reading:
John 18:1-19:37

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing round it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. –John 18:15-18

I listened to the young man testifying at the trial related to Georg Floyd’s death and cried for him. He felt at fault for Mr. Floyd’s death. If he had just refused to take the $20 bill he thought was counterfeit, the police would not have been called, and Mr. Floyd would not have been dead. The clerk was doing his job. I ran a cash register many years ago, where the staff was constantly warned about checking for counterfeit bills. The clerk was doubly concerned when he thought Mr. Floyd was high on drugs. That clerk will carry the guilt of the situation into the future. I pray for him that the experience turns him into a stronger person who can face the challenges of injustice within the context of righteousness. The witness has a good role model to follow, Simon Peter.

Peter, too, lived throughout his ministry with the knowledge he had denied Jesus. Tradition indicates when Peter was crucified in Rome many years later, he asked to be hung upside-down on the cross because he was not worthy to die the same death Jesus experienced.  The truth is that you and I would not have ever heard of this chosen One, this Jesus had there not been Peters and Pauls and James and Johns in the first century who shared the stories of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and worked to model his love. None of us are perfect. The witness to George Floyd’s death did his job correctly. What matters now in his life is how he grows in wisdom and in truth from that experience.

That clerk and the rest of us are called to recognize the societal ways of being that are not of God pandemic in our world. We must take up the mantle of those disciples who went before us and work for the justice and righteousness and love Jesus exemplified.

Prayer: God, empower your children to love like Jesus, who was willing to die on the cross for all, as we work to build a just world. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Dog on Ice

Lent

March 31, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 36:5-11
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
   your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
   your judgments are like the great deep;
   you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
   All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
   and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
   in your light we see light.

O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
   and your salvation to the upright of heart!
Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me,
   or the hand of the wicked drive me away.

I had just watched the rescue of a dog from a floating piece of ice on the morning news when I sat down to consider the above scripture for today. I smiled when I read you save humans and animals alike, O Lord. We serve an awesome God who loves all creation including a dog running from a coyote, that got stuck on ice. God calls all of us to love all his creation, stirring the heart of one man to risk his own life to save that dog.

As our society is struggling with how to deal with a horribly dangerous and determined virus, we also are experiencing a pandemic of being out of touch with reality. We are learning the hard way that the idols of the world, such as pride, greed, lust, and envy ultimately have no power in a world created by God who is Love. Yet, we cannot recognize and accept that reality and invest our lives in saving others’ lives. Over 500,000 people in the USA have died from COVID, many needlessly because we will not wear masks, socially distance, and get vaccinations. We have lost the art of loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Holy Week is the best time of the year to reengage with God as we observe the sacrifice of God’s Son on a cross to save us from those very idols we cannot seem to let go. The love of God can and will sever those ties if we let it.

Prayer: Creator God, forgive us for turning to the idols of the world in our fear and reaction to things that threaten us. Surround us with your love enabling us to love you more dearly and to love one another. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

God’s Abundant Life

Lent

March 20, 2021

Scripture Reading:
John 12:20-33

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. John 12:20-26

I do not recall ever seeing the connection between a Greek, most likely a gentile, wanting to talk with Jesus and the discourse that follows. It seems a little out of place. I get what talking to a Greek has to do with planting seeds. Why must Jesus die for the spread of his Word to happen?

We get caught up in our routines of life. We can miss the things that really matter. We parse our lives in service to God like a tithe, giving God 10% of our resources—money, time, and talent. The tithe was established to support the functions of the priesthood. The percentage amount did not apply to our love and service to God. Of course, for most of us, God does not get 10% of anything. Only 5% tithe, and 80% of Americans only give 2% of their income*.  Christ calls us to dedicate everything we do to God’s service. While that seems like a lot to ask, in Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus is quoted as saying,

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Getting our priorities straight always makes for a more abundant life**. Changing our preferences to match Christ may indeed result in the death of previous priorities that we once worshipped. Yet, God loved us so much that he was willing to sacrifice for our sake God’s Son, Jesus, the Christ, who was indeed a blameless good seed.

The more complicated truth is even with Jesus’s death and resurrection, we continue to shift our priorities away from the life of living and loving like Jesus to following those earthly idols such as self-righteousness and greed that kill our souls***.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we stray from the pathway you have set forth for us. Lead us toward loving your abundant life. Amen.

*https://nonprofitssource.com/online-giving-statistics/church-giving/#:~:text=Only%205%25%20tithe%2C%20and%2080,state%20that%20they%20regularly%20tithe.
**John 10:10
***Matthew 10:28

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Seeing Clearly

Lent

March 3, 2021

Scripture Reading: Psalm 19

The law of the Lord is perfect,
   reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
   making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
   rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
   enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is pure,
   enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
   and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
   even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
   and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is your servant warned;
   in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect their errors?
   Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
   do not let them have dominion over me.   and innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
   be acceptable to you,
   O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. –Psalm 19:7-14

I am nearsighted, farsighted and have a bad astigmatism. I have not seen anything clearly without the help of contacts or glasses at least since I was eleven years old and failed the eye test given at my school. When I read the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; I know those laws would not be enlightening to my eyes without the aid of my glasses. God’s commandments are made clear only when they are understood through the lens of God’s love for all people, including me. For me that corrective vision is provided through the life, death, resurrection, and ultimately example of Jesus.

Further down in this scripture we read the words Clear me from hidden faults. Many of our hidden faults are caused by following the worldview of our times rather than the wisdom and love of God.

Prayer: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you,   O Lord, my rock and my redeemer Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Reading the Gospels Again for the First Time

Lent

February 27, 2021

Scripture Reading: Mark 8:31-38
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’

The Greek word, epaischunomai,translated above as being ashamed of, in this case, Jesus means, they misplaced their confidence or support (“believed the big lie”)* Reading that definition had a chilling impact on me. In preparing for a Bible study, I realized that the phrase, What would Jesus do? is no longer used much anymore. In our culture, catchphrases come and go. What would Jesus do?  has perhaps completed its cycle. I wonder if it lost its appeal because our society does not relate well to shaping our way of being after that of Jesus. Are people who call themselves Christians ashamed of Jesus who loves everyone, turns the other cheek, heals the sick, feeds the hungry, welcomes the stranger—a leader who teaches justice and mercy.

I love Marcus Borg’s book title, Reading the Bible Again For the First Time. (The book was good too). During this Lenten season, we might do well to read the gospels again for the first time and seek the characteristics of the One we are called to serve and emulate him in our service.

Prayer: Enable us to live in such a way that our lives reflect your love and that we never cause you to be ashamed of us. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/1870.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Advocacy

Lent

February 23, 2021

Scripture Reading:

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.’ Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, ‘As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.’

Jesus talked about being brothers and sisters in his name, Mark 3:35, Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’ My pursuit of genealogy has assured me that we are at least all cousins. Now, I know that families feud and can be as dysfunctional together as any group. I do not understand why we as humans seem to need to create hierarchies of worth among people. The story of creation attests to the idea that all people are made in the image of God. The story of Abraham describes the covenant God made through him to the nations of the world. Jesus calls all his followers to be one in him.

As an advocate volunteer, I tracked both federal and state legislation to keep citizens, particularly people of faith, informed on pending legislation. It would break your heart if you saw all the bills that are designed to discriminate against people. Many of those bills were requested by people who identify as Christian. You will not see the word “discriminate” in the bill’s language, but that is the essence of creating new law or changing existing law.  The LGBTQ population seems to be targeted this legislative session.

As Christ-followers, we need to invest time and energy in discerning what is of God and what is not as we strive to fulfill our civic duty. I do not know a single scripture where God indicated any group of people that we should not consider our neighbors and thus love them no matter what. Jesus was also clear that he was the ultimate judge of humans. None of us humans drew that assignment.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we fail to recognize that all your children are our siblings and deserve our loving concern and care. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Dealing with Treachery

Ash Wednesday

February 17, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 25:1-10

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
   do not let me be put to shame;
   do not let my enemies exult over me.
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
   let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
   teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
   for you are the God of my salvation;
   for you I wait all day long. –Psalm 25:1-5

If—by Rudyard Kipling is good advice for all people. It certainly is appropriate for times such as these.  It is posted below if you want to read it. I memorized it in grade school, and it floats through my mind occasionally now. The first phrase, If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, crossed my mind when I read the scripture for today.

I must confess some of the Psalms of retribution make me uncomfortable. I would like to think I am above such resentments. Wanton treacherousness does exist in our world. Truth has become what can be repeated the most by many sources, dubious though they may be. Yet, freedom of speech is a bedrock of the USA democracy.

So, I thank God for being there for me when I need to rant and rave about some injustice I have observed or mistreatment I have perceived. I probably would never publish those words. Yet, I think the Psalms of vengeance and retribution permit us to take our frustrations and fears directly to God. When we turn them over to God and God cleanses us of their uselessness, God transfers that energy into resilience for doing justice and seeking God’s righteousness, enabling us to keep our heads when others are not.

Prayer: God of Mercy and Justice, thank you for hearing us out when we are frustrated and do not know how to deal with wanton treachery. Channel our emotions into positive work toward justice and righteousness throughout our world. Amen.

If you can keep your head when all about you
    Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
    But make allowance for their doubting too;  
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
    Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
    And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;  
    If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;  
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
    And treat those two impostors just the same;  
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
    Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
    And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
    And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
    And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
    To serve your turn long after they are gone,  
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
    Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,  
    Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
    If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
    With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,  
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, 
    And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.