Eastertide

May 27, 2023

Scripture Reading: John 20:19-23
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’

The Greek word translated here as retained is kratéō – to place under one’s grasp (seize hold of, put under control)

I am never sure what to say when the New Interpreter Bible Commentary begins the discussion of scripture by saying this is a very complex verse to interpret. I grabbed the Commentary because the scripture was a very complex verse for me to interpret. The Commentary introduces its comments by noting that the scripture is a form of the teaching about binding and loosing in Mattew 18:18, Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

I am uncomfortable with being assigned the job of forgiving others for their sins. I can and should forgive anyone who has harmed me in some way; however, taking on Christ’s role of forgiving sins takes on a whole different responsibility. I, first, must be cleansed of my sins. Yet, I am sure that there are issues and actions in my life that I do not even recognize as being a sin. How can I determine what sin is in another, much less consider what would make me refrain from forgiving someone’s sins?

The Commentary discusses this as a community action. We are each responsible for loving others enough to help them maintain a close relationship with God by helping anyone being separated from God by their actions or lack of actions to restore that connection. To do that, we must walk with them until they can receive the forgiveness that reconnects them with God.

Prayer: Lord, create in me a clean heart to enable me to love others as I love myself. 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.

Eastertide

May 26, 2023

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. –Acts 2:1-4

How do we describe the indescribable? Several years ago, I was driving east in a very heavy rainstorm. Suddenly, I saw a car driving west, hydroplaning in circles over the grassy divide separating the highway.  I do remember pulling as far over as I could, and I remember the back of the car slamming into the back door of my car. The next thing I remember was a hard landing followed by seeing the very frightened face of a man tapping on my window, asking if I was all right.  He was the driver of the other car. I said I was. He helped me out of the car with rain still pouring and guided me back across the road, where his car had finally landed on the side of the road. We both sat in his car in some shock. That was before the days of cell phones. Shortly, however, a Highway Patrolman pulled up and assessed the situation. After he examined my car, he returned to say he had called for a wrecker and complimented me for driving up the side of the little hill that changed the trajectory of the coming car, which otherwise would have probably hit my front door and me. I said I did not drive up the hill, and he said well, somebody did because look at your tracks. After coming down the hill, my back wheels slammed into the ditch, which instantly stopped me from driving into the heavy traffic on the turnpike.

That memory flashed in my mind when I read this very familiar scripture about the arrival of the Holy Spirit. I cannot explain how they could all speak and understand each other in various languages. What I do know is that unexplainable experiences often give us greater awareness of whose we are and act as an encouragement to take more seriously doing our part in the furtherance of creating God’s vision of the Beloved Community.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your presence with us in the Holy Spirit. Open our hearts and minds to swerving you more nearly. 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.

Eastertide

May 25, 2023
Scripture Reading:

1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says ‘Let Jesus be cursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

We all have a part to play, and we all must work together as one. That means some of us must be enablers to ensure that everyone feels comfortable in filling their role. That is why education is so important, education that complements the innate skills and talents of each person.  I remember one woman I worked with who applied for public assistance after having a baby when she was a teenager, and the father had disappeared. She was smart, friendly, and she said she had always wanted to be a beautician. Hers was one of the easiest situations with which I worked. We set in motion the training she needed and provided care for her child. She completed the classes and went to work in a salon, and soon, she no longer needed any help. I only saw her when she cut my hair. She eventually had her own salon and rented booths to several hairdressers. A couple of years later, I was transferred to another job in another city. I canceled a scheduled haircut because I was moving and thanked her for serving me so well over the past years. The next day I received a bouquet of flowers from her, thanking me for being her client and wishing me well in my new job. I thanked God for the opportunity to see her blossom into the person she was created to be. I wonder how many young women whose hair she cut benefited from her wise counsel and example.

Prayer:  Lord, help us all to work together toward the benefit of all. 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.

Eastertide

May 24, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
   may the Lord rejoice in his works—
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
   who touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
   I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
   for I rejoice in the Lord.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
   and let the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Praise the Lord! –Psalm 104-31-35

I am a news nerd. I inherited it from my father. He was a farmer, and I am not sure he was as interested in the news of the day as he was in the weather forecast. But the news was played morning, noon, evening, and night in my childhood home, and I now follow the same pattern. Even worse, I listen to national and local news in the evenings, followed by PBS news, which is my favorite, by the way.  I like to know what is happening; I prefer to make my own decision regarding whether the world is coming to an end based on what I am hearing.

This came to mind as I read the scripture above because this Psalms reminds us that God is in heaven, and all is right with the world. Keeping engaged with what is happening about us is one way of finding our calling as we strive to build God’s beloved community on this earth.  

Pippa’s Song by Robert Browning

The year ’s at the spring,
And day ’s at the morn;
Morning ’s at seven;
The hill-side ’s dew-pearl’d;
The lark ’s on the wing;
The snail ’s on the thorn;
God ’s in His heaven—
All ’s right with the world!

Prayer: Help us all understand and live into your promise Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:27). 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.

Eastertide

May 22, 2023

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-21

“In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
   and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
   and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
   in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
     and they shall prophesy. –Acts 2:17-18

Look around you. Whom do you see with the same positive, forward-looking enthusiasm described in the above scripture? The idea is that yes, we have serious problems, but we can do something about it. What I see reminds me of the children’s story of Chicken Little, who ran around calling out: “The sky was falling.” In their hysteria and distraction, they are eaten by the fox. There is a lesson for all in that story.

It has been interesting to observe how we have responded to the recent end of Title 42 regarding immigration. The response and care of people fleeing danger and distress in their homelands is a tremendous challenge. Filtering out the smugglers and crooks makes it even harder. With much hard work by government workers and non-profit organizations, it has not turned out to be the debacle some people projected, and probably some wanted to fail to support their political aspirations.

Are we Christ-followers like scared chickens, or are we following the footsteps of our ancestors in faith, accepting the guidance of the Holy Spirit to envision a better world and implement the steps necessary to make it a reality?

Prayer: Spirit of the living God fall afresh on us. Melt us, mold us, fill us, use us*. Amen.

*Adapted from the chorus Spirit of the Living God.

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.

Eastertide

May 21, 2023

Scripture Reading: John 17:1-11

‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. –John 17:6-11

‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.  (Matthew 12:25)

1 Kings 12-16 tells the story of the dividing of the House of Israel following the death of Solomon. He seemed more interested in wealth and power than in his charge to care for his own people. This might be a good time for all of God’s people to read or re-read the story of Solomon’s reign and the division that happened after his death. The USA seems to be falling into the same trap.

John quotes Jesus calling on us to be one with one another as Christ is one with God. That starts with us being in sync with Christ. I read a comment recently that a person wrote saying that some things are just wrong. I agreed with the person’s sentiment, but we are worlds apart regarding what we each might include in a list of things that are just wrong. For example, I think capital punishment is just wrong no matter what, but I know lots of people who totally disagree with me.

So how do we build a bridge to oneness in God? I think the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) teaches us how to begin that process.  It suggests that we take the time to look at issues differently. Benjamin Franklin may have shaped his comment: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. From that sermon. It applies to most of the challenges we face in our world today. Ending poverty would improve most of our living conditions. Providing quality public education would produce a well-prepared workforce that could be self-supporting. Fifty-nine percent of abortions are related to poverty. Simply raising the minimum wage to a living wage would heal much brokenness.

 Prayer: Lord, remove the blinders from our eyes that make us see only the result of complex problems and turn our hearts and minds to find solutions that prevent problems before they fester into societal sores. 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.

Eastertide

May 20, 2023

Scripture Reading: John 17:1-11

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. John 17:1-5

I have always felt deep in my heart that after we die, we spend eternity with God, and that is all that matters regarding life after death. I fall in the category of those who need to do as much as I can to finish the work that God gave me to do while here on earth. For some reason, I do believe in a final judgment. That is why I think it is important to keep in touch with God in everything I do along the way. I have conducted exit interviews when people I supervised when they retired. Mostly, those were remembrance meetings, reviewing lessons learned, and actions modified as well as the work accomplished. My goal for a judgment procedure would be something like that.

Of one thing I am sure, God wants the very best for all his children and all humans are God’s children. God sent Jesus to model a way of being that actualizes the command to love God and love one another, sent Christ to restore our souls when we choose the wrong path, and sent the Holy Spirit to guide us in setting our steps toward what is right and what is needed.

Prayer

Thank you Lord, for saving my soul
Thank you Lord, for making me whole;
Thank you Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free*. Amen.

*Thank you Lord, for saving my soul, written by Seth and Bessie Sykes

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.

Eastertide

May 19, 2023

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen –1 Peter 5:6-11

I toss and turn in the wee hours of the morning, casting my anxiety on the Lord, and God always seems to reply: So what are you going to do about whatever is causing the angst? I wanted God to fix the issue, The Lord wants me to take up my cross and follow, with the promise that God will always be with me. I am a strong believer in Christ calling his followers to take up his cause and finish as much of the work I can bringing the Kingdom of God, the beloved community, to fruition.

This scripture outlines a good plan for living into that calling.  Trust in God first, discipline yourselves, keep alert, and work, when indicated and possible, in groups.

My mother actively attended church until she was 95. She was never one to grip but she did say to me once that she liked the new songs her church was singing but she just wished that once in a while they would sing one of the old songs she love so much. As I wrote this, I remembered one of her favorites. Here is the first verse, this is for her.

Work, for the night is coming:
Work through the morning hours;
Work while the dew is sparkling:
Work mid springing flowers;
Work when the day grows brighter;
Work in the glowing sun;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man’s work is done*.

Prayer: Lord, sustain us in serving you at all times in all ways. Amen.

*First verse of Work for the Night is Coming by Annie Louisa Coghill see at https://hymnary.org/text/work_for_the_night_is_coming_work_throug

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.

Eastertide

May 18, 2023

Scripture Reading:

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. –1 Peter 4:12-14

When we read of Christ’s sufferings, what instantly comes to mind is Jesus hanging on the cross or being beaten. I am often driven to the picture of Jesus sitting on the hill over Jerusalem and saying, ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (Matthew 23:37) I envision him still overlooking his children, whether in Jerusalem or Washington DC or Oklahoma City wanting to make us one under his wings, and we are not willing.

Jerusalem remains caught in the crossfires of division, but our nation is not far behind. I cannot imagine Jesus withholding health care from any child because they did not meet humans’ cultural selfhood standards. Jesus did have the advantage of being present at creation and taking in the original knowledge that all people were created in the image of God, and thus all people were good. Indeed, Jesus established our providing healthcare as one of the criteria by which all nations will be judged. This will come as a shock to many of us who think the USA is better than any other nation. We, indeed, have by far the highest cost of healthcare in the world. The sad result is that the US health system ranks last in quality of care among High-Income Countries*. In the US, healthcare is a privilege, not a right, and we, the people, pay a heavy price for that.

Prayer: Lord, lead us to being one in you rather than living in a divide-and-conquer world. Amen.

*https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2784346 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