Monday of Holy Week

April 3, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Isaiah 42:1-9

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
   my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
   he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry or lift up his voice,
   or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
   and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
   he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be crushed
   until he has established justice in the earth;
   and the coastlands wait for his teaching. –Isaiah 42:1-4

I thought of the mentally ill in our country when I read a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; we seem more aware of the disease and, in many ways, do not know how to address it.  Mental illness is not unlike colds or the flu. We all have experienced it at some level—depression after losing a loved one or anxiety after being laid off from work and not quickly finding new employment. Many do not recognize these as illnesses at all. More serious, more challenging mental illnesses threaten the person’s well-being.  When I was a child, the severely mentally ill were hospitalized and kept away from the public. Some of those facilities were horrible, and eventually, more restrictions were put on caring for the mentally ill. I fear much work remains to heal those who suffer from mental illness.

While physical illnesses may not result in the stigma that mental illness carries, the provision of health services in the USA is appallingly behind that of much of the world. The cause is simple to identify and almost impossible to cure—greed. Our healthcare system is driven by layers of profit that have become more important than the care we provide one another.

Isaiah is saying that God’s servant has the patience and heart to heal the sick and demand and produce the justice all people desire. We are the conduits of that justice today.

Prayer: Lord, give us the courage to bring healing through justice to all people.  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.

Lent

April 1, 2023

Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:14-27
Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I betray him to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ He said, ‘Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, “The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.” ’ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, ‘Surely not I, Lord?’ He answered, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.’ Judas, who betrayed him, said, ‘Surely not I, Rabbi?’ He replied, ‘You have said so.’

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you;

Oklahoma farmland has pockets of destruction resulting from the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, where the winds took more than the topsoil but gouged out three-sided gullies. There was one on our farm that was eventually delegated as the junk pile filled with old equipment that had served its purpose. I do not know if that was the case with one of our neighbor’s farms. There was an interesting rock and valley formation that may have been there forever but also could have been eroded into an area that would never be used to plant anything. The owner, however, had a vision of how that land could be useful. With a little rearrangement of some of the areas, he created an outdoor arena that was perfect for an annual Easter pageant.  The churches in my small hometown came together each year to present the story of the last week of Jesus’s life. I am not sure how old I was when I first waved palms and shouted Hosanna as the actor playing, Jesus rode by on a donkey. In junior high, I was one of the people crying out Crucify him! Crucify him! Eventually, I played Solome walking with my sister playing Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the other women who went to anoint Jesus and discovered the tomb was empty.

That experience left an indelible impression on me. I have watched professional reenactments of these same events, but nothing could impress me more than at one moment waving palms of exaltation and just a short time later crying out Crucify him!

I encourage us all this Easter to ponder on the happenings of the coming week and use what we discern as a catalyst for growth in our faith commitment.

Prayer: Lord, open our hearts to the tremendous love you shared with us in sending your Son to be our Savior. 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.

Lent

March 30, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Philippians 2:5-11

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
   did not regard equality with God
   as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
   taking the form of a slave,
   being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
   he humbled himself
   and became obedient to the point of death—
   even death on a cross. –Philippians 2:5-8

If you read these devotions regularly, you have probably figured out that I believe that God created each person with unique skills and talents and tasked us to each work to become the best person we can be within that framework. God also was generous enough to allow a wide spectrum of opportunities to develop our avocation. Growing to be seven feet tall does not destine one to play basketball. You might be the scientist that finds the cure for cancer. It also does not mean that you could not be a basketball star if your adult height is five foot three like Tyrone Curtis “Muggsy” Bogues. He survived the challenges of poverty, a dangerous neighborhood, and an imprisoned father. After being an all-star in the NBA, he worked in several successful ventures. He founded the Muggsy Bogues Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization “organized to assist vocationally bound students with scholarships and develop community outreach programs for at-risk families that address the most basic necessities” and “encourage youth and families by providing resources that emphasize stability and empower youth and families to reach their full potential, becoming well-rounded students and productive adult citizens.”**

Avocation is a subordinate occupation pursued in addition to one’s regular work, especially for enjoyment*. However, the best of all possible careers is when your purpose in life is your vocation fulfilling your avocation. It is rather like being in love with someone you love.

Jesus came into this world as God Incarnate, showing us how to fulfill our life purpose within our called avocation of doing our part in building the Beloved Community, which God initiated at creation. We can best accomplish that by [Letting] the same mind be in [us] that was in Christ Jesus.

How do we gain the same mind that was in Christ Jesus?

• Do not exploit God for our own purposes.
• Empty ourselves taking the form of a slave, thus allowing the Spirit to guide us.
• Be humble.
• Be obedient to the point of death.

Prayer: God, fill us with your Spirit as we strive to gain the same mind that was in Christ Jesus. Amen.

*https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/avocation

**https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muggsy_Bogues

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.

Lent

March 28, 2023

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a

The Lord God helps me;
   therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
   and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
   he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
   Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
   Let them confront me.
It is the Lord God who helps me;
   who will declare me guilty?
All of them will wear out like a garment;
   the moth will eat them up. –Isaiah 50:7-9

The more I listen to news reports and see the anger on social media of discrimination and other verbal and violent attacks on people because of who they are, the more I become concerned about people’s sense of self-worth. I can only think that running down other people makes them feel better about themselves. It doesn’t. Such behavior leaves an emptier place in one’s soul that drives us to work harder at diminishing the self-worth of others so we can feel better about ourselves. Indeed, Isaiah describes well the result of such behavior All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for creating all people in your image, so we can love one another as all people, including ourselves, were declared good at their creation. Enable us to work together to ensure everyone knows your love as we support each other to become who you created us to be. 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.

March 18, 2023

Scripture Reading: John 9:1-41

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, ‘Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some were saying, ‘It is he.’ Others were saying, ‘No, but it is someone like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the man.’ But they kept asking him, ‘Then how were your eyes opened?’ He answered, ‘The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, “Go to Siloam and wash.” Then I went and washed and received my sight.’ They said to him, ‘Where is he?’ He said, ‘I do not know.’ –John 9:1-12

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus healed a man who was blind on the Sabbath, by the Pharisees’ interpretation, Jesus had broken the Jewish law about not working on the Sabbath, and they were outraged. Everyone involved, it seemed, got in a dither, and a review of the whole event followed to determine where sin had been committed. No one seemed to pay much attention to the rather miraculous healing of a blind man. I fear we, too, get so caught up in the right behavior of others that we lose our purpose to fulfill Jesus’ call to actualize the Kingdom of God on Earth. I wonder how much energy those Pharisees burned in trying to correct Jesus for healing the blind man on the Sabbath compared to how much energy they had ever invested in helping him themselves.

Prayer: Forgive us, Lord, when we get too wrapped up in self-righteousness rather than caring for our neighbors.  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.

Lent

March 15, 2023

Scripture Reading: Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
   He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
   he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
   for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
   I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff—
   they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
   my whole life long.

I memorized Psalm 23 when I was a child from the King James version of the Bible. It remains etched in my mind in that format. Grammar rules have changed, and even the meaning of the words has been realigned. I still prefer “and will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” over “my whole life long.” My bias has nothing to do with my concept of life after death. It has to do with the level of my commitment. I do not like the idea of setting a cutoff time for my commitment. It is also not as poetic. I would have left the word “long” off.

I do, however, recognize that times changes, so I have a grammar/spell checker on my computer because grammar is particularly different from when I was in grade school. We use a lot more commas now, for one thing. I do like the change to using the word “they” instead of she or he as the pronoun to correspond to the person.

It is not just grammar or spelling that we need to adjust.  Worldviews change over time. When we read something written 2000 years ago, we must consider the worldview of that time and place and sift out the context of the writing, which is eternal and as meaningful to us today as it was to Abraham or Sharah.

Prayer: Lord, help us to do our best to present ourselves to God as approved by him, workers who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15.) 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.

Lent

March 11, 2023

Scripture Reading:

John 4:5-42

Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come back.’ The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, “I have no husband”; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am he, the one who is speaking to you.’ –John 4:16-26

The Jews anticipated the coming of the Messiah. In Jewish eschatology, the term mashiach, or “Messiah”, refers specifically to a future Jewish king from the Davidic line, who is expected to save the Jewish nation, and will be anointed with holy anointing oil and rule the Jewish people during the Messianic Age*. Similarly, in Christian theology, Messías [is] literally, “the anointed one,” referring to Jesus as the Christ – supremely empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish all of the divine plan**.

The Messiah is a leader worth following. The Messiah, or Christ in Greek, has a plan for our lives built on love, enabled by grace. We were created to participate in establishing God’s divine plan for building the beloved community where we work together as one sharing our diverse talents and skills to create a world where everyone has enough and where are welcomed for who they are as God created each of us in God’s image and recognized us each as good. Working together, we enable each person to be fully the person God created them to be.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for guiding us with your love and your grace. Amen.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_in_Judaism#:~:text=In%20Jewish%20eschatology%2C%20the%20term,people%20during%20the%20Messianic%20Age.

**https://biblehub.com/greek/3323.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.