Tag Archives: Oneness

Systemic Justice

Eastertide

Eastertide

April 18, 2022

Scripture Reading: Acts 5:27-32

When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, so that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’

And so, we have another new beginning. God is merciful and just and God never seems to give up on us. Easter was observed yesterday with bright colors, beautiful music, baptisms, and celebration of the resurrection. A new day has dawned. We like the first-century disciples now must lay aside the that which holds us back and as Hebrews 12:1 states, Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

Indeed, we must atone for our individual deviations from God’s purposes. However, we perhaps have homed in on personal sin while ignoring the systemic sin we ignore that hurts everyone. No one needs to be poor in our world today. There are enough resources to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, welcome the stranger, and restore the prisoner. It does not matter what name we give to our form of governance or economic systems. What matters is that all are loved and have access to the basics of life that will allow everyone to experience the abundant life Jesus called for in John 10:10b, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” God’s abundance is not measured in dollars and cents. Such abundance speaks of healthy minds and bodies but also the fullness of love, joy, and hope we possess through our relationships with God and with one another.

As some of us sang on Easter, we do serve a living Savior and he is in the world today. There is nothing we do in service to God and God’s whole creation that is not enhanced by the Spirit’s presence and guidance, let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

Prayer: Lord, lead us to come together in spirit and in truth to address the systemic changes needed in our world today. 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.

Kingdom Building

Lent

April 9, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Luke 22:14-23:56

When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!’ Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this. –Luke 22:14-23

Jesus served the disciples the Passover elements of bread and wine, but apparently, he did not eat it himself in Luke’s writing. Is Jesus saying here that he would not partake until the kingdom of God is fulfilled? At what point does that happen? Is it realized in Jesus’s resurrection or at the end of time? Is it when we get our acts together, all our acts together, and figure out how to love like Jesus resulting in a world where all are welcomed and encouraged to be the person God created each of us to be? A world where everyone has enough of not only the basic needs of life but also enough love, enough faith, and enough hope. I do not know the answer to any of these questions, but I do know we are called to be kingdom builders as Christ envisioned it and I think Jesus Christ would love to eat the bread and drink the cup with us sooner than later.

Both Matthew and Mark imply that Jesus did eat the bread and drink the cup as the word “again” is added before he says he would not partake until the kingdom of God was fulfilled. John chose to tell the story of Jesus washing the Disciples’ feet at that Last Supper together demonstrating their calling and our calling today of serving with humility. I Think Christ would love to pitch his tent among us when we had fulfilled our part in kingdom building and just enjoy a day of Sabbath taken together.

Prayer: Lord, open our hearts and minds to find our way in implementing your kingdom. 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.

Assuring that all have enough

Lent

March 14, 2022

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:1-9

Ho, everyone who thirsts,
   come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
   come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
   without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
   and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
   and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
   listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
   my steadfast, sure love for David.
See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
   a leader and commander for the peoples.
See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
   and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
   for he has glorified you. –Isaiah 55:1-5

Enough is a simple word that sets the boundaries on wholeness which can only happen when supported by oneness and justice. I have spent most of my life addressing issues related to poverty. Poverty is the end result of never having enough of the necessities of life. I once heard a speaker say that the difference between being poor and living in poverty is that the latter live without hope.

The poverty ratio in the USA for four people is $25,701* per year or an annual salary of $12.35 per hour working 52 weeks, 40 hours per week. Sixteen percent of children live in poverty*.

God’s desire is for everyone to have enough. That does not mean everyone must have the same resources but it does mean that all should have the necessities of life written about in the above scripture. We are called to bring hope to the hopeless.

Prayer: Lord, help us assure that others, all others have enough. Amen.

*https://www.povertyusa.org/facts

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.

Representing Christ

Lent

March 10, 2022

Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. –Philippians 3:17-4:1

Would we as Christians feel comfortable in saying to those who are not Christians: join in imitating me? I fear I would, to be honest, sometimes need to say do as I say not as I do. Do we not judge the validity of others by their actions rather than their words? I have already grown weary of the awful political ads that envelop my evening news while the same reporting I am hearing is telling me the ads are misleading or wrong. Paul may well have been a bit egotistical, but my guess is he did practice what he preached. It is hard at times to see through our human filters the Christ in each person we meet. We can only see that deep by putting on the whole armor of God that, indeed, will protect us from the evil that plants those false filters in our being.

Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. –Ephesians 6:11-13

 Prayer: Lord, help us to grow in faith so that we might, too, be a model of your love. 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.

Generous Love

Lent

March 4, 2022

Scripture Reading:
Romans 10:8b-13

But what does it say?
‘The word is near you,
   on your lips and in your heart’
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

I despise the divide and conquer world in which we live. Evil pits people against one another to evil’s benefit. We are seeing that being played in real time via news videos broadcasts from Ukraine. Young Russian soldiers most likely have no idea why they are blowing up apartments where people just like them live. Paul reminds us in the scripture above that the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. Like Russia today, Rome had a small group of very wealthy people that ruled their world.

Strong’s Concordance explains Paul’s use of the word translated generous by referencing Revelation 3, which highlighted the problems in the church at Laodicea. The Laodiceans had success in banking, trade, and commerce – but their spiritual lives paid low spiritual dividends (yields)! The Laodiceans were too highly motivated (conscientious) about earthly matters and lacked real spiritual commitment for wise prioritizing*. Greed feeds on the resources of all.

The Lord’s generosity assures the spiritual wellbeing of all people that results in the provision of enough of the material needs of the people but more importantly brings people together to share in the bounty of God’s love and thus love one another.

Prayer: Lord, we pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia. Teach us all to love one another as you have loved us. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/4147.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.

Being Doers of the Word

Ordinary Time

March 1, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, ‘Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.’ When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, you shall make this response before the Lord your God: ‘A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.’ You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.

Ukraine demonstrating to the USA the importance of democracy is ironic as some factions in the USA are working hard at making us an oligarchy as Russia has become, ruled by the rich. We do not learn from history, yet we fear teaching it in our schools. Ask the Egyptians about how they fell from great power. Divide and concur politics, climate change,

The Ancient Egyptian Empire was one of the oldest and longest ruling empires in history. The empire spanned over 3,000 years. . .. However, history shows that even the mightiest empires can fall and after 1,100 BC, Egypt went into decline. There were several reasons for this including a loss of military power, lack of natural resources, and political conflicts*.

Divide and concur politics along with climate change, both primed by greed now assaults the USA. A periodic report of the progress of climate change was highlighted on the morning news today. The authors continue to say we still have a little time, but less and less, left to curb its worst impacts. How many years have we ignored that advice?

Part of our problem is we view ourselves as the escaping Israelites, not the empirical Egyptians.  Our ancestors in faith also failed to note the transition. We have a little time left, to turn around and follow God’s instruction to love God and one another which requires us to care for the earth and assure that all have enough to survive and thrive.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for burying our heads in the sand, help us to see and do what we need to be the people you desire us to be in the land you provided all your children. Amen.

*https://www.studentsofhistory.com/the-decline-of-egypt#:~:text=However%2C%20history%20shows%20that%20even,natural%20resources%2C%20and%20political%20conflicts.

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.

Health Care

Ordinary Time

February 27, 2022

Scripture Reading:
Luke 9:37-43a

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God. –Luke 9:37-43a

Healing stories of Jesus are prevalent in all the gospels. Taking care of the sick is among the actions by which Jesus indicates he will judge the nations. (Mathew 25:36) When I double-checked the reference on this, I noticed my Bible has this section headed with the words The Judgement of the Nations. That took me by surprise, but it is addressed to the nations in Matthew 25:32. I have always considered this listing of actions as personal challenges, but it also requires us to take responsibility for our nation to be judged by how we treat others. No wonder Jesus thought it important that we all need to become one and work together for the welfare of all God’s children. In 2020, Oklahoma ranked 43rd in Overall health care and 48th in health care access. We as a state are clearly not doing our part in caring for the sick. The United States ranks 18th* in best health care in the world while ranking highest in cost of health care**. The higher cost of our care results from complex systems of pricing and profit-making. We can and should do better than that.

Prayer: Lord, make us advocates for the quality of care we provide as a nation. Amen.

*https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oklahoma

**Health Care Costs by Country 2022 – World Population Review See at https://worldpopulationreview.com › country-rankings

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.

Jesus the Visionary

Ordinary Times

February 26, 2022

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:28-36

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen. –Luke 9:28-43

When I was a child, I had a recurring dream that the school bus did not stop for me, and I ran and ran to catch up with the bus but never did in the dream. I am the youngest child in my family and for two years had to watch my siblings get on the bus when I could not. Some of my other dreams were not that easy to understand. I am not sure I have ever had a vision, but I have experienced anxiety that something bad was going to happen and it did. When my dad died, I called his siblings to let them know of his death. One of my aunts when I identified myself, said “Carl is dead isn’t he.” She had dreamed the night before that she and my dad were playing hide and seek and as hard as she looked, she never found him. I trust that since God knows each of us better than anyone that God communicates in the best way possible for us to receive God’s messages.

I just heard news interviews this morning with Ukrainian citizens both in Ukraine and living in the USA. Even with all the warnings from the US State Department of an imminent attack, the interviewees said they really did not believe it was going to happen. Humans often learn and grow through retrospect. The stories preserved for us in the Bible allow us to look back on the life of Jesus in retrospect and glean the wisdom it has to offer. This story when retold after Jesus’s resurrection reassured Peter, John, James, and the others with whom they shared it that God prepares us for facing the future.

Jesus told us that his plan for us was that we would be one and that he would overcome the world. Let it be so.

Prayer: Thank you for loving us enough to prepare us for the challenges of life. Guide us in being open to your plan and the implementation of our part in it.  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.

Holy is Our Lord!

Ordinary Times

February 23, 2022

Scripture Reading: Psalm 99

The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble!
   He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earthquake!
The Lord is great in Zion;
   he is exalted over all the peoples.
Let them praise your great and awesome name.
   Holy is he!

Mighty King, lover of justice,
   you have established equity;
you have executed justice
   and righteousness in Jacob.
Extol the Lord our God;
   worship at his footstool.
   Holy is he!

Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
  Samuel also was among those who called on his name.
   They cried to the Lord, and he answered them.
He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;
   they kept his decrees,
   and the statutes that he gave them.

O Lord our God, you answered them;
   you were a forgiving God to them,
   but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
Extol the Lord our God,
   and worship at his holy mountain;
   for the Lord our God is holy.

The word “holy” used in this scripture describes a physical presentation or personal manifestation of a deity on a throne*. In ancient times, people who sat on thrones were deemed the highest of the high. Thrones are symbolic of power. The word “holy” when applied here sets God even further apart from the kings and queens of our world. In a news interview with Senator Marco Rubio, he was asked something to the effect what should we in the USA think about the current situation in Ukraine. and he said he was praying, we all should be. He was dead serious. I understand that politicians rolling the words thoughts and prayers off their tongues in response to tragedies has grown old. Particularly when the same actions occurred over and over and are never addressed and yes, we still should pray about them. I think the Senator was expressing the severity of the events in eastern Europe and recognizing that God is better at dealing with evil than any or all of us. We still need to do our part and work for a world where people matter more than power or wealth.

Prayer: Lord, be with our leaders as they struggle to find non-violent means of addressing the problems in Ukraine.  Make our world whole, make us one, make us just. 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.

Enemies to Friends

Ordinary Time

February 19, 2022

Scripture Reading:
Luke 6:27-38

‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. –Luke 6:27-31

I wrote about this scripture last week. I do not know if I recorded the same scripture in two different places or if the creators of the lectionary thought it so important it listed it twice. The scripture is crucial to living as Christ wishes us to live.

What is an enemy and who are our enemies?

Strong’s Concordance describes the word enemy used in this scripture as properly, an enemy; someone openly hostile (at enmity), animated by deep-seated hatred. implies irreconcilable hostility, proceeding out of a “personal” hatred bent on inflicting harm*.

I must say I do not think of others as enemies. Only a few times in my life have I ever felt threatened by anyone who intended me physical harm. Enemies in my world are generally people who feel I am in their way toward attaining an outcome they desire. Isn’t that the purpose of most people we tag with the title enemy? Years ago, a child was brought to the Children’s hospital where I work from her school in severe pain which was quickly diagnosed as acute appendicitis. The school had been unable to contact her mother as she had no phone. Her mother lived in a sordid, dangerous place dubbed Sandtown by locals who avoided it like the plague. I was tasked to go find the girl’s mother and bring her back to the hospital. Having just moved to Oklahoma City, I had no idea where or what Sandtown was. I got the address and when I turned down the street, I needed to travel to reach the mother’s home, I was stopped by rough-looking men who rocked the front of my car demanding to know what I was doing in their community. I told them what my mission was, and they lowered their voices giving me direction to the mother’s house. I found the mother and as we drove by that welcoming committee on our way to the hospital, they waved us on wishing us well.

I am not sure most of us know what drives our desires. Vicious dogs often have been routinely beaten. Most people long for acceptance not knowing what in their lives made them feel unaccepted. Others know only too well why they are mistreated. As Christ-followers we are called to love one another even those who do not love themselves or us. When I got back to the hospital people were stunned that I even went there without a police escort. If i had known what it was, I am not sure I would have gone, but I am glad I did.

Sun Tzu is credited with the phrase “Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.” He was an ancient Chinese general.  His works focus much more on alternatives to battle, such as stratagem, delay, the use of spies and alternatives to war itself, the making and keeping of alliances, the uses of deceit, and a willingness to submit, at least temporarily, to more powerful foes**  I am not sure I agree with all his strategies, but I like the idea of working at making friends of our enemies.

Prayer: Lord, show us ways to heal our relationships with those who struggle against us. Amen.

* https://biblehub.com/greek/2190.htm

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

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