MOSAIC bible reflections ... listening to the still, small voice of God

Hallelujah! Praising God ...

2012-01-27T03:52:00.001-06:00

Hello friend ... I invite you to breathe deeply. Take a few moments to center yourself on God and allow yourself to consider what you have to be grateful for right now. As you breathe and settle into a place of deep gratitude within yourself, listen for the echoes of the deep love and care God has for you ... can you sense the gentle breezes of peace on the sea of your soul? An yet we do not always "feel" praise and thanksgiving ... if other feelings arise too, welcome them all with this part of Contemplative Outreach's Welcoming Prayer ...

Focus, feel, and sink into the feelings, emotions,

thoughts, sensations, and commentaries in your body.
Welcome the Divine Indwelling in the feelings,
emotions, thoughts, commentaries, or sensations

in your body by saying
“Welcome.”

If other feelings emerge, welcome them all as they come by circling back to this prayer as often as you need to. If you find yourself doing this often consider exploring spiritual direction with a trained spiritual director whose gift is to be a companion on the journey of others. Spend time with this welcoming prayer until you feel it is time to move from prayer into the sacred reading of the biblical text, and then ... Pray:

As I welcome you into my time of sacred reading with fear and trembling, O God, reveal yourself to me and fill me with wisdom as I praise you. Amen.

Read Psalm 111 slowly, immersing yourself in the images of God that are held within this public psalm of praise ... praising God for who God is and praising God for what God does ... in "fear" which means awe and reverence, we stand praising God ... so perhaps you might read this psalm out loud as you work through it ...

Psalm 111 (NAB=New American Bible)
Hallelujah. I will praise the LORD with all my heart in the assembled congregation of the upright. Great are the works of the LORD, to be treasured for all their delights. Majestic and glorious is your work, your wise design endures forever. You won renown for your wondrous deeds; gracious and merciful is the LORD. You gave food to those who fear you, mindful of your covenant forever. You showed powerful deeds to your people, giving them the lands of the nations. The works of your hands are right and true, reliable all your decrees, established forever and ever, to be observed with loyalty and care. You sent deliverance to your people, ratified your covenant forever; holy and awesome is your name. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are all who live by it. Your praise endures forever.

Read the passage again slowly and Reflect on the Psalmist sense of who God is.   Listen for a word or a phrase that draws your attention.   Repeat that word or phrase. Ponder this Word or phrase through which God is speaking to YOU as you let the story unfold in your mind and heart.   Where does your word or phrase intersect your life where you are right now … as you feel yourself listening, not listening, obeying, not obeying, doing, not doing, speaking, not speaking, praying, not praying, fasting, not fasting ... How are you responding, not responding … make an honest assessment, where are you?

Read the passage again slowly and Respond.   Share with God how you feel about what you are hearing through your word or phrase.   Speak your word or phrase out loud and ask God to help you surrender to the word you have heard and the wisdom it holds as you explore its meaning for you where you are right now.   Take a moment or more to journal in the form of a "praise psalm."

Read the passage again and Rest. Allow the presence of God to surround you and deepen your faith so you are able to surrender to God's call. Rest until the peace of God settles into your soul ...

When you sense the time to move on, Pray: Hallelujah! I praise you God with all of my heart. I see your works in my life and I praise you God. I see your works in the world and I praise you God. I praise you God! Your praise endures forever!    Amen.

Cindy's Journal Reflection ... all my heart, what does this mean ALL my heart! It is hard to fathom what it means to give all of one's heart to anyone or anything ... I suppose this means love, yes? To love with all of one's heart .. I suppose the closest I have ever been to this love is the depth of my love for my children and I wonder, O God you must love me so and simply ask that we praise you and love you and serve you as much as we possibly can, ever so much more that we praise and love and serve ourselves ... O break open my heart so that I might praise you and magnify your name. Hallelujah! Praise God!

Jonah ... Get up and Go!

2012-01-18T22:58:00.000-06:00

Dear friend ... Breathe deeply. Take a few moments to center yourself on God who calls us to come, calls us to get up and calls us to go. As you breathe and settle into a place of deep quiet within yourself, listen for God ... if other voices distract you from your time of quiet, stop and acknowledge those errant voices, plan to attend to them after you finish your time with God and turn your attention back to your breathing! If you aren't sure where the voices are coming from ... the silent one is God :)

As you breathe deeply, say a "breath prayer"

Inhale: God of Jonah ...

Pause ...

Exhale: I will go ...

Pause ...

Repeat this breath prayer or create your own until you feel it is time to move from prayer into the sacred reading of the biblical text, and then ... Pray:

Let me hear your voice in the text as I read

Read this Jonah passage slowly, immersing yourself in this story of the prophet who finally surrenders to the call of God to carry a prophetic message. Remember (or read Jonah 1-2 if you don't know the story) that Jonah has previously run from God the first time God spoke, let's just say he didn't care for his assignment, and wound up languishing inside a great fish for 3 days. He had time for some serious self-evaluation and prayer before finally being spit out upon the beach to live another day ...

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 (NLT) Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” This time Jonah obeyed the LORD’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

Read the passage again slowly and Reflect on the journey of Jonah from hearing to doing. Or perhaps you find yourself thinking about those Ninevites as they come to believe Jonah's words. Listen for a word or a phrase that draws your attention. Repeat that word or phrase. Ponder this Word or phrase through which God is speaking to YOU as you let the story unfold in your mind and heart. Where does your word or phrase intersect your life where you are right now … as you feel yourself listening, not listening, obeying, not obeying, doing, not doing, speaking, not speaking, praying, not praying, fasting, not fasting ... How are you responding, not responding … make an honest assessment, where are you?

Read the passage again slowly and Respond. Share with God how you feel about what you are hearing through your word or phrase. Share with God how you feel about your sense of response. Speak your word or phrase out loud and ask God to help you surrender to the word you have heard and the wisdom it holds as you explore its meaning for you where you are right now. Take a moment or more to journal what you are hearing and how you will respond, don't think about the words, just write and let your deepest thoughts rise into your consciousness.

Read the passage again and Rest. Allow the presence of God to surround you and deepen your faith so you are able to surrender to God's call. Rest until the peace of God settles into your soul ...

When you sense the time to move on, Pray: God of Jonah, you know where to challenge me and you know what my response will be before I even make it. Let me always go where you lead me and speak the word you give to me. And if I am on the other side have mercy, O God, and help me weep and turn and follow you. Amen.

Cindy's Journal Reflection ... God changed God’s mind! In religious terms, God repented? God turned and went in a different direction. God was going to destroy evil, but God instead invited change … and brought transformation to a people … transformation that came through hearing a word from God AND from fasting and prayer, that's some serious self-evaluation. God changed God’s mind. I remember the many number of times I deserved to be destroyed but God chose life for me. And I am grateful! I remember how many times I have struggled to respond to God and God waited with me through my own serious self-evaluation. And I am grateful! I remember that sometimes I feel that I am inside the great fish, and sometimes I feel that I have been spit out upon the beach, and sometimes I get up and go! Perhaps that is what serious self-evaluation takes. If I am honest, today I am feeling that I am inside the great fish :( doing some serious self-evaluation myself ... and even though I don't feel it, I know that God is with me ... and I am so grateful! Thank you God ... Amen.

Speak, for Your Servant is Listening!

2012-01-13T20:35:00.001-06:00

Dear Servant of God ... Breathe deeply and take a few moments to center yourself on God who is always present with us. As you breathe, let all of your distractions come and go ... if your distractions are overwhelming you, stop and acknowledge them, commit to attending to them after you finish your time with God and turn your attention back to your breathing!

As you breathe deeply, say a "breath prayer"
     Inhale:   Speak Lord ...
   Pause ...

     Exhale: Your servant listens ...
   Pause ...
Repeat your breath prayer until you feel it is time to move from prayer into the sacred reading of the biblical text, and then ...

Pray: I desire to hear your word deep in my heart

Read the passage slowly, immersing yourself in the story of Samuel the boy and Eli his mentor. This would be a wonderful passage to close your eyes and listen to ... Take this Link to BibleGateway's Audio Bible, choose your version (New American Standard=NAS) and your reader, then insert the passage reference and play audio and listen to:

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (NAS) Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent. It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well), and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was, that the LORD called Samuel ; and he said, "Here I am." Then he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, lie down again." So he went and lay down. The LORD called yet again, "Samuel !" So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he answered, "I did not call, my son, lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him. So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. And Eli said to Samuel, "Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel ! Samuel !" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."

Read (or listen to) the passage again slowly and Reflect on the journey through which Samuel moves from unknowing (God) to knowing (God). What word or phrase shimmers up off of the page to grab your attention? Repeat that word or phrase. Ponder this Word or phrase you've been given. Let God's presence call you as Samuel was called ... This kind of calling can come in so many different ways. How do you recognize God's voice? Sit for awhile with what God is bringing to your mind as you ponder your word or phrase.

Read (or listen to) the passage again slowly and Respond. Share with God how you feel about what you are hearing through your word or phrase. Speak your word or phrase out loud and ask God to fill you with confidence and courage as you explore its meaning for you in the life you are living. How much of yourself can you offer to God right now? Take a moment to journal your commitment to God.

Read (or listen to) the passage again and Rest. Allow the presence of God to surround you and lift you up and lead you deeper into your calling for this day. Rest until the peace of God settles into your soul ...

When you sense the time to move on, Pray: God of Samuel and Eli, speak to me for surely I am listening for your voice. I want to know you as Eli knew you for so many years and as Samuel came to know you in this dreamy encounter. Amen.

Cindy's Journal Reflection ... ministering to the Lord ... this phrase intrigues me for I don't really think about ministering "to" the Lord. Ministering simply means "attending to the needs of" in a nurturing way. Does that mean that God has needs or that God desires to be nurtured? How does one can nurture God? The Hebrew word, sharath {shaw-rath'} means serve, assist, attend to, care for. Sometimes, this means just showing up. And so in this new year, I am feeling called to "show up" in a more faithful way!

Show me Your Glory ...

2011-10-11T01:05:00.000-05:00

Beloved of God ... Breathe deeply and take a few moments to center yourself on God who is always present with us. As you breathe, let all of your distractions float away ...

As you breathe, say a breath prayer
     Inhale:   Lord of Moses ...
     Exhale: show me your glory ...
repeat your breath prayer until you feel it is time to move from prayer into sacred reading, and then ...

Pray: revealed in this sacred text

Read the passage slowly and open your heart and mind as you read...

Exodus 33:12-23

Moses said to the LORD, "See, you have said to me, 'Bring up this people'; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.' Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people." He said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." And he said to him, "If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth." The LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." Moses said, "Show me your glory, I pray." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, 'The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But," he said, "you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live." And the LORD continued, "See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

Read the passage again slowly and Reflect. What word or phrase seems important to you as you read?   Repeat that word or phrase. Ponder this Word and find wonder in it. How does this Word speak to your relationship with God?    What you sense about who you are as a follower of God?   How do you feel about God?   How does God feel about you? How do you feel about yourself? Welcome your feelings ... whatever they may be. Have mercy on yourself and simply let your feelings "be" without judging yourself through them.

Read the passage again slowly and Respond.   Tell God how you feel and how you experience the presence of God through this text and your meditation with it?   What do you say to God about who God is to you and about who you are in God's presence?    What can you offer to God right now?   Take a moment to journal your feelings and your thoughts in a stream of consciousness ... and let it be what it will be.

Read the passage again and Rest.    Allow your mind to come to a sense of awe in the Presence of God. Let the love and care of God cover you and hold you close …

When you sense the time to move on, Pray ...

Lord of Moses, be gracious, have mercy on me, and show me your glory as you care for me so tenderly. Amen. Cindy's Journal Reflection ... O God your presence is so strong and bright, too strong and too bright for me to contemplate. Your glory is pure light, so pure that we cannot look upon you. And yet, we must. Look around and see the presence of God in every smile ... in every child ... in every circumstance and in all suffering. You are there to give us rest from our quest ... deep deep rest. Amen.

The Lord is Near

2011-10-04T00:59:00.000-05:00

Dear friend ... Breathe deeply and take a few moments to center yourself on the God of Peace who is always with you. Let all of your distractions float away ...

As you breathe, say a breath prayer

     Inhale: Spirit of Christ ...
     Exhale: fill me with peace ...
repeat until you feel the time to move from prayer into sacred reading, and then ...
     Pray: as I read your holy words

Read the passage slowly and open your heart and mind as you read...

Philippians 4:1-9 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. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Read the passage again slowly and Reflect. What word or phrase seems to speak to you? Repeat that word or phrase. Ponder and refine the Word emerging within you. Where does this Word interact with your world right now? How does this Word shine light on your current circumstances and the way you are living? How do you feel about this Word? Welcome your feelings ... whatever they may be and simply let them be without judging them.

Read the passage again slowly and Respond. Talk to God about what you are feeling and experiencing through your pondering on this passage? What do you want to say to God about this Word from your time of reflection? What part of your life or your self do you want to offer to God? Take a moment to journal your feelings and your thoughts in a stream of consciousness ... simply let the words pour upon the page.

Read the passage again and Rest. Allow your mind to come to a gentle place of peace. Let the peace that surpasses all understanding guard your heart and your mind …

When you sense the time to move on, Pray ...

God of Peace, still my heart and my mind as I rest in you. Amen.

Cindy's Journal Reflection ...

The Lord is near

The Lord is near ...

As the sun sets

the cool breeze

brings rest

I feel

your gentle Presence

sitting beside me

and Peace fills my heart ...

My Beloved ...

2011-09-27T02:20:00.000-05:00

Dear One ... Breathe deeply and take a few moments to center yourself on the music in your soul that is God. Remember that you are invited to sing your own song in this present moment ... the song that God has placed within you.

As you breathe, say a breath prayer ...

Inhale: Symphony of Song ...

Exhale: fill me with kindness ...

when you feel the time to move from your prayer, invite God to move with you

Pray: as you guide me into your holy words of life

Read the passage slowly with a sense of openness to the Song of the Spirit in your soul ...

Isaiah 5:1-7 Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!

Read just these few words again slowly and Reflect. What word or few words draw your attention?   Repeat that word or few words. Ponder this Word that desires to be heard deep within you. Let any feelings that have been stirred bubble up to the surface of your consciousness. Welcome your feelings ... whatever they may be ... Let your feelings teach you about God ... let your word and your feelings help you to know God … what are you learning about yourself?

Read the passage again slowly and Respond.   Talk to God about the song that is being composed deep within you. What part of yourself do you want to offer God?   What would you like to say or to sing to God who is your beloved? Take a moment to journal your feelings and your thoughts … allow your mind to wander freely and simply write what comes to your mind.

Read the passage again and Rest.    Allow your mind to come to a gentle place of love and acceptance of self. Let those feelings of warmth surround you and give you peace …

When you sense the time to move on, Pray ... Loving God, thank you for composing my life with me and help me to be free to sing my song and not the song others give me.

Cindy's Journal Reflection ...

beloved … beloved …. beloved…

my very own dearest Beloved Symphony Spirit, as I close my eyes and rest in the dissonant chorus, I hear the faint whimpering tune of wild despair …

as grapes dropping from the vine …

each one a cry of the girl who doesn’t know Is each note I hear and absorb a cry of one deep within me I’ve yet to meet?

Amen. Beloved, Amen.

Will You or Won't You?

2011-09-20T21:54:00.000-05:00

Dear One ... Breathe deeply and take a few moments to center yourself on the presence of God in Christ. Remember that you are being invited to dwell within God's presence with each breath ...

As you breathe, pray ... Holy Breath, come into my heart with the wisdom of your Word.

Read the passage slowly with a sense of openness to the Breath of God ...

Matthew 21:28-30 "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?"

Read just these few words again slowly and Reflect. What word or few words draw your attention?   Repeat that word or few words. Ponder the Word that desires to be heard deep within you. Let any feelings you have about yourself and your own way of being emerge. Welcome your feelings ... whatever they may be ... know that God stays with you until your heart and your mind are in sync.

Read the passage again slowly and Respond.   Talk to God about your natural way of being. What part of yourself do you want to offer God?    As you seek to know and do the will of God, what commitment would you make to draw closer to God in your spiritual life?

Read the passage again and Rest.    Allow your mind to come to a place of silence. Let all of your thoughts evaporate until you are simply sitting with God, rocking on the porch of your consciousness ...

When you sense the time to move on, Pray ... God of infinite Patience, thank you for waiting for me to find stillness in my heart.

Cindy's Journal Reflection ...
will, your will or my will ... I feel like my will is so strong and how easy it is to simply do what I want to do and call it the will of God. How do I know the will of God anyway? How do I rest in a life of ... not my will but yours be done? How do I love others in the way of Christ? How do I embrace sacrifice in the way of Christ?

Holy God, with each breath may I whisper deep within ...

not my will but your be done

Amen.

Living a Life Well

2011-09-12T02:22:00.000-05:00

Dear One ... Breathe deeply and take a few moments to center yourself on the presence of God in Christ. With each breath, remember that you are being invited to live an abundant life.

Pray ... Living God, reveal yourself to me and fill me your Presence as I read your Word.

Read the passage slowly with a sense of openness to God's Spirit ...

Philippians 1:21-30 If I live, it will be for Christ, and if I die, I will gain even more. I don't know what to choose. I could keep on living and doing something useful. It is a hard choice to make. I want to die and be with Christ, because that would be much better. But I know that all of you still need me. That's why I am sure I will stay on to help you grow and be happy in your faith. Then, when I visit you again, you will have good reason to take great pride in Christ Jesus because of me. Above all else, you must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then, whether I visit you or not, I will hear that all of you think alike. I will know that you are working together and that you are struggling side by side to get others to believe the good news. Be brave when you face your enemies. Your courage will show them that they are going to be destroyed, and it will show you that you will be saved. God will make all of this happen, and God has blessed you. Not only do you have faith in Christ, but you suffer for him. You saw me suffer, and you still hear about my troubles. Now you must suffer in the same way. (CEV)

Read the passage again slowly and Reflect. What word or phrase are your drawn to linger over? Repeat that word or phrase and ponder how your word/phrase comments on the life you are living in Christ. Let any feelings you have about struggles or sufferings rise up within you. Welcome your feelings ... whatever they may be ... know you are loved by God in the midst of any struggles and sufferings.

Read the passage again slowly and Respond. Talk to God about your life. How do you respond to this God who carries you through every moment of suffering and trials? How might you move closer to living your life in a way that brings "honor to the good news about Christ. ?" Is there a commitment you need to make as you build and live your life with Jesus as your guide and your companion?

Read the passage again and Rest. Allow your mind to come to a place of silence and visualize yourself sitting with Jesus in a safe place. Continue in gentle companionship allowing your visualizations to fade into interior silence for as long as it is restful to you ...

Pray ... Loving God, help me create a life which honors the good news of Christ!

Cindy's Journal Reflection ... life, living my life, living my life well ... what does that look like right now, in this present moment. God loves me ... good news ... God will always be with me ... good news. There is such joy in this good news. When I suffer and the tears flow freely, Spirit is there to comfort me and heal me through my tears. How do I live my life well, full of God's love and presence? How do I talk about it with others?

O God, with each tear I shed ... shower me with healing grace!

Amen ...

Have Mercy!

2011-09-06T00:54:00.001-05:00

Dear One ... Breathe deeply and take a few moments to center yourself. With each breath, remember that you are being invited to live within the reign of God. Trust that God knows your heart and offers mercy to all who seek to live as servants in the kingdom.

Pray ... Merciful God, speak your Word to me and change my heart.

Read the passage slowly with a sense of openness to God's Spirit ...

Matthew 18:23-35 ... the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

Read the passage again slowly and Reflect. What word or phrase do you sense that God is bringing to your attention? Repeat that word or phrase and consider where it might illuminate your own life. Let the feelings you have about your life right now rise up within you, welcome your feelings ... whatever they may be ...

Read the passage again slowly and Respond. How do you respond to God? Spend time rejoicing with God over your feelings of consolation and lamenting with God over your feelings of desolation until you come to peace with your life in this present moment.

Read the passage again and Rest. Allow your mind to come to a place of silence and sit with God in gentle companionship for as long as it is restful to you ...

Pray ... Be merciful to me, O God.

Cindy's Journal Reflection ... Be patient. O how I struggle with patience. Overwhelmed with life and people and stuff, I often run and run, here and there. I desire to do everything and wind up doing nothing of lasting value. Be patient. Seriously! Suddenly, I am merciless with myself, feeling like a failure ... I think I feel like Elijah. And I think it must be impossible to be merciful to others unless I can be merciful to myself. Otherwise I am a hypocrite!

O God my refuge and my comforter, soften my heart and help me feel your mercy within myself, for myself, for others.

Amen ...

Put on the Armor of Light

2011-08-31T23:15:00.000-05:00

Dear One ... Breathe deeply and take a few moments to center yourself. With each breath, remember that you are loved by God. Trust that God wants to lead you and guide you.

Pray ... Loving Spirit, guide me in my reading and speak your Word to my heart.

Read the passage slowly with a sense of joy and openness

Romans 13:8-14 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. (NLT)

Read the passage again slowly and Reflect. What word or phrase draws your attention? Turn it over in your mind simply holding the words close to your heart. Write down your word or phrase as you contemplate what God is saying to you.

Read the passage again slowly and Respond. How do you respond to God's still, small voice? You may find yourself wanting to respond in prayer as you talk to God about what you have heard in this time of quiet. Write down any action or commitments you desire to make.

Read the passage again and Rest.

Pray ... Clothe me with your Presence, O God.

Cindy's Reflection ... Put on the armor of light says the NRSV ... so much more beautiful than the shining armor of "right living." Light attracts ... Right living attracts. Walk in the light, the way of God ... light, light, shining light.

God of Shining Light, fill me with your light and guide me in right living ... every step. Let your light reveal the state of my heart and the purity of my life. My armor, I feel it is lacking. Give me strength, O God of Life. Give me the confidence to wear the shining armor of light over my heart and stand strong in your love for me. Help me stand in the light and always do right!

Amen ...

Lectio Divina: Holy Reading

2011-08-01T14:47:00.002-05:00

Hello dear MOSAIC Bible Study followers ... I'm taking a Sabbatical Month during August 2011 and will return on September 1 ... In the meantime, why not take a "study" breather with me by practicing the art of Lectio Divina, literally sacred reading of Scripture ... practically praying with Scripture. When we engage in Lectio Divina, we "hear with the ear of the heart" and we concentrate on listening and responding to the message God has for us as individuals who are living our spiritual life in love and obedience.

The Gospel lectionary readings in August (found below) take us through a lovely narrative section in the Gospel of Matthew beginning right after the powerful episode of "feeding" 5000 men +women and children with 5 loaves and 2 fish ... You are invited to use my "way" of Lectio Divina for your study I find that journaling helps me to go deeper but many people prefer to simply sit with the text. There are many many ways to engage in this ancient spiritual practice. I encourage you to make Lectio Divina your own by changing it in whatever way works for you.

Before you begin, take a few deep breathes to center yourself.

Pray for guidance ... Spirit of God, read with me and reveal to me what I need for this day. Amen.

READ. Read the passage with a sense of openness ...

READ and REFLECT. As you read the passage again ... what word or phrase calls to you? Write down the word or phrase. If you aren't sure, simply rest in the reading of the sacred word and choose a word or phrase that seems to have meaning for you. Know that God is with you as you rest and meditate on the Word. Say the word or phrase over and over slowly to yourself allowing the possibility of meaning to speak to you. Write "I hear ... " Write a few lines that expresses what you are hearing as you pray.

READ and RESPOND. As you read the passage again ... how do you respond to what you are hearing from God? Write "I ... " Write a few lines that prayerfully express your response ... make a commitment during your prayer if you feel called to do so.

READ and REST.   As we surrender our lives to God in faith, we find that our power to hear and respond to God comes from God. As you rest with what you have discovered, allow God to empower you to grow and change without fear.   Come to a sense of centered silence. Amen.

WEEK 1 AUGUST 7
Matthew 14:22–33 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

WEEK 2 AUGUST 14
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?" He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile." Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.

WEEK 3 AUGUST 21
Matthew 16:13-20
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

WEEK 4 AUGUST 28
Matthew 16:21-28
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." Then Jesus told his disciples, "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 will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Blessed are Those who are persecuted for rightousness sake

2011-07-29T06:44:00.002-05:00

Read Matthew 5:1-11

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Setting the Scene: Points to remember …

Beatitudes => Blessing
Blessings => “a deep joy in God’s presence”
Blessings 1-4 => relationship with God\
Blessings 5-8 => relationship with Others
Sermon on the Mount => Jesus sets context for ministry and talks about the kingdom of heaven => or reign of God
Kingdom of heaven/reign of God => knowing God as sovereign ruler, living in the will of God, kingdom as already here but not yet fully realized … Foundation of the blessings in 3rd verse, knowing who we are in relation to God … living in total dependence upon God

This week we conclude our summer study together!

O what a journey it has been to come to this point, a point that most of us will never experience. Persecution translated from the Greek word, dioko {dee-o'-ko}, in the form used in the final beatitude has the sense of prolonged communal suffering at the hands of others. In our overview, we learned that a “blessing” evokes the sense of the deep joy of God’s presence, even in circumstances that are less than ideal. If we are honest, persecution as a blessing seems beyond basic human comprehension. Or is that just me?

The early church community was persecuted in ways that those of us who live in the United States cannot even imagine. However, even though we are comfortable in our faith and free to engage in religious activities, we acknowledge that many of our Christian brothers and sisters AND devout persons of other faiths as well are persecuted all over the world today by many different people for many different reasons. Join me and let us keep our brothers, our sisters, and all the people of the world in our prayers as we seek to “make” peace … especially this week as we consider the “blessedness” of persecution … but not just any kind of persecution, for Jesus is talking about persecution for “righteousness’ sake.”

Remembering the past weeks of our study, the other 2 key concepts in this passage are the “kingdom of God,” translated from the Greek word basileia {bas-il-i'-ah} which can be understood as the reign of God, and “righteousness,” translated from the Greek word dikaiosune {dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay} based upon the Hebrew concept of tsaddiyq {tsad-deek'} which means being in a “right, or just relationship with God.”

This blessing is so important and so difficult and so incredible that the writer of the Gospel expands it for 2 extra verses where we find that not only are we blessed, we are expected to rejoice and be glad for we are living a “prophetic” life.

Making Connections:   Who have you known or learned about who was persecuted for their beliefs or for the way they live their life that may be “different” than we consider to be “normal?”

Going Deeper: The Israelites had a long history of persecution, pain and suffering documented in the bible because they refused to accommodate themselves to the world. That sounds a lot like Jesus but I wonder if it sounds like us?   Perhaps Joshua said it best, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (24:15c) Have you ever contemplated the implications of a commitment to this statement?   What were your conclusions?

Read the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3:8-30.   What strikes you about this story? Remember a time when you went through a great trial … did you feel God’s presence with you as these men did?   As you grow closer to God are you developing an awareness of God’s presence?   How do you “feel” God’s presence?

Have you ever heard the story of your birth? Families rejoice over stories of new life. Luke’s Jesus grew up knowing that he was born in a foreign land because his family fled the slaughter of innocent children. He was and still is the kingdom of God. He was the reign of God on earth and while we “say” Jesus reigns in heaven … he also reigns here on earth anytime a Christian stands up for justice and righteousness not just with words but with the way we live our lives. As you consider the life and ministry of Jesus, what one encounter captures the sense of discipleship you want to live?

Jesus lived under the constant threat of violence and finally died of crucifixion, one of the cruelest forms of capital punishment for sedition … a crime we don’t really understand. He told his followers this would happen but they didn’t seem to understand that most of them would literally follow in his footsteps all the way to martyrdom. Read about the stoning of Stephen in Acts 6:8-15, 7:51-60. What strikes you about this story?

Read the account of Perpetua’s martyrdom. What strikes you about her and her community? Do you agree with the way she lived and died? What question does this account raise for you?

Pondering: Read Hebrews 12:1-2. Who are the cloud of witnesses who help you lay aside the “sin that clings” and help you “run with perseverance?”

Conclusion: Jesus calls us and challenges us and empowers us to live in the kingdom of heaven … under the reign of God as a way of life. The way of the world is domination and social hierarchy. The way of Jesus is humility and egalitarianism.   As we’ve made our journey deeper into the day by day experience of living under the reign of God, I’ve found it harder and harder to call myself a “Christian” as Jesus calls each one of us to BE and harder to act in the live-giving ways that Jesus calls us to ACT.

Marjorie Thompson says, “Deep inside the spiritual wisdom of the Beatitudes lies a paradox that runs through the heart of the gospel: The power within and behind the entire universe does not assert itself as raw power; it is, rather, revealed in self-effacing humility and love. Jesus shows us the transforming power of the self-emptying love of God.” (Companions in Christ: The Way of Blessedness, 23)

How do you understand this statement after having studied the Blessings? As you move forward from our study, where do you plan to look for the kingdom “in your midst?” How do you plan to “be” the kingdom, responding in love rather than violence? What one change will you commit to in the way you live your life under the reign (self-emptying love) of God?

Prayer:                                     God our Father, Remember your followers:

Children deprived of love, joy and peace.

Guard them and save them and give them your healing.
Show us your strength. Show us once again!
Jesus our Brother, Remember your followers:
Men who are threatened for loving your name.
Protect them from evil, and help them bring glory.
Show us your strength. Show us once again!
Spirit our Mother, Remember your followers:
Women who suffer oppression and grief.
Give them your courage, provide for them daily.
Show us your strength. Show us once again! AMEN!

Blessed are the Peacemakers

2011-07-14T01:01:00.047-05:00

‘Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Setting the Scene: Points to remember …
Beatitudes => Blessing
Blessings => “a deep joy in God’s presence”   .
Blessings 1-4 => relationship with God
Blessings 5-8 => relationship with Others
Sermon on the Mount => Jesus sets context for ministry and talks about the kingdom of heaven => or reign of God. Kingdom of heaven/reign of God => knowing God as sovereign ruler, living in the will of God, kingdom as already here but not yet fully realized … Foundation of the blessings in 3rd verse, knowing who we are in relation to God … living in total dependence upon God

As we have made the journey through the blessings so far, I have been growing deeper in my understanding of what it means to be blessed by God and what it means to live under Gods reign. I’ve also found that moving through the second 4 blessings is really hard, for me … maybe not for you, but this way of living is truly the foundation of living in union (meaning, not my will but yours be done) with God. The way I treat others reveals my relationship with God … to me, which invites me to change!   Indeed, John says, “Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from God is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”   Can I hear faint whispers in my ear … who is my brother? Who is my sister?

This week we go deeper into our relationship with God and others as we are called to be peace “makers,” which is a translation of the Greek word eirenopoios {i-ray-nop-oy-os'} which literally means one who makes peace.   The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT) says these peacemakers are “those who promote human concord (not simply general well-being or peace with God); God calls them his children because they are like him.”   Eirene, which is the root word of eirenopoios, refers to the sense of peace that emerges from the Hebrew OT sense of shalom. The only New Testament use of this form of the word eirene {i-ray'-nay} translated peacemaker is found in the Blessings.

Biblically, Shalom means completeness in number, safety and soundness in body, welfare and health and prosperity, peace and friendship in human relationships and with God in a covenant relationship.    Once again, we hear echoes of earlier blessings in which the covenant of God is of critical importance as we contemplate living in a relationship with God in which God reigns over our lives. The prophet Jeremiah talked about this covenant repeatedly, especially in the time of exile when there was “no peace.”

Read Jeremiah, 30:1-5, 31:1-6 and 31-34.   God invites the Israelites to turn from the past and to look to the future. the new covenant, a time when “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.   No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord.”

Making Connections: What does “peace” mean to you? Have you lived through times of “no peace?” What was that like? How were you able to move into “peace?” Who do you long to be in peaceful relationship with in your life right now? How might you pray into action?

Going Deeper: (*please see end note) In every worship service at our church, we “pass the peace.” I often make this invitation myself, and I struggle theologically with contemporary urgings (from church growth consultants) to “loosen up” when it comes to this communal time of blessing. It seems that in order to be welcoming we can no longer use certain words … like peace??   Although I am one of the first persons to encourage losing archaic words which no longer have meaning in today’s language, I can’t believe the word peace has lost its meaning to the point that we can no longer use it. I confess I am very uncomfortable inviting people to just stand up and say hi to one another. So ... I don't. I still invite people to "pass the peace :)"

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

The Priests blessed the people of Israel with this blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26. When we talk about peace in the world, we are not just talking about peace as a calm feeling inside a person. We are not talking about a world full of people who live in their own isolated place of inner tranquility. We are not talking about peace in the sense of an absence of chaos or physical conflict or a world where we would just ignore each other to "keep" the peace.   When blessings are offered in the sense of shalom we are invoking the deeper meaning of the Hebrew word … As a Jewish rabbi, the sense of communal harmony of shalom would have permeated the life of Jesus and informed the way he lived within the Jewish community. Read Luke 24:36-49. When Jesus appeared to the disciples in a post-resurrection episode, he greeted them “Peace be with you!” I am quite sure Jesus actually said Shalom!

As we engage in the “passing of the peace” in the Christian church, we are not simply greeting one another with an ordinary “hello” that equals the hellos and goodbyes we say all the time without a second thought. We are engaging in a communal act of reconciliation, and we are promoting the general well-being of our community.

What does shalom mean to you?

As you share shalom with others, how does it make you feel?
How do you experience more than hello as you greet people in Christian love?
What emotion or attitude, etc. do you need to give up in order to embrace shalom as a way of life?

And YET you might ask, in Matthew 10:34, didn’t Jesus say, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Continue reading with Matthew 10:35-37. The TDNT helps us to understand that when Jesus uses the word sword in this context it “is obviously figurative. Those who follow Jesus must be prepared for hostility even in their own families.” Let us rest with this explanation until next week … when we talk about persecution.

Pondering: One more example from the communal act of passing the peace :) Last year our book discussion group read You don’t have to be Wrong for me to be Right: Finding Faith without Fanaticism. Brad Hirschfield, a Jewish rabbi, describes an experience he had during the “passing of the peace” at a Catholic Church in Poland. A bishop, knowing that he was present made “a beeline” toward him. Hirschfield says, “He took my hands in his hands and looked deep into my eyes and said, not in Polish, not in English, but in Hebrew, Shalom.” Overwhelmed by this gesture (and others) Hirschfield was moved to tears. I am in awe of this incarnational act of grace across lines of faith.

When we engage in incarnational ministry, we intentionally seek to follow the risen Christ in reaching out to others with healing grace. As we acknowledge that Jesus lives and moves among us today through the Spirit, we extend ourselves for all people, saints and sinners alike. We are as Christ to others and we may pray that others see Christ in us. God takes our efforts and transforms the lives of the people we meet. Read Philippians 4:4-4:9. Focus on verse 7, which reads “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Do you consider your own ministry as incarnational?
If so, how so? If not, why not? Are there any changes you would like to make in the way you engage others in ministry ... not just in the church but in the world?
Who is God calling you to reach across boundaries to extend the hand of grace? Are you ready??
When have you experienced this "peace that surpasses all understanding?"

Praying: St Francis of Assisi was the son of a wealthy fabric merchant in France during the 12/13th centuries. After returning home from war, the young Francis took a vow of poverty and gave his life for others. He was a lover of animals and a committed advocate of peace.   You are invited to pray The Prayer of St Francis as an act of incarnational peace-seeking.

The Prayer of St Francis ...
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
   Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
   Where there is injury, pardon.
   Where there is doubt, faith.
   Where there is despair, hope.
   Where there is darkness, light.
   Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
   grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
   to be understood, as to understand;
   to be loved, as to love.
   For it is in giving that we receive.
   It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and
   it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.     Amen.

END NOTE: Gandhi said, "I must be the change that I want to see in the world."   Much of the material in this week’s lesson emerges from my long exploration of peace and my desire to bring peace in the world by “BEING that change ... BEING peace.” Honestly, every single day I fall short and every day I must seek God and God's presence in order to grow deeper in my journey to true and lasting peace in my soul and in the world.   Although there are some new thoughts, much of these ponderings have been adapted from my reflection blog.    Shalom, Cindy

Blessed are the Pure in Heart

2011-07-13T04:33:00.003-05:00

‘Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

‘Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Setting the Scene: Points to remember …

Beatitudes => Blessing
Blessings => “a deep joy in God’s presence”
Sermon on the Mount => Jesus sets context for ministry and talks about the kingdom of heaven => or reign of God
Kingdom of heaven/reign of God => knowing God as sovereign ruler, living in the will of God, kingdom as already here but not yet fully realized … Foundation of the blessings in 3rd verse, knowing who we are in relation to God … living in total dependence upon God

We’ve talked about the structure of the Blessings as a    4 + 4 equation. As we move through the first 4 blessings we grow (vertically) closer to God. Finally, as we are filled with God’s presence, our attention turns to our horizontal relationships, meaning how we relate to others. As we draw closer to God and grow spiritually, we are called to reach out to others and grow in our love of others, which is manifested as we move through the second 4 blessings.    Last week this was easy to see as we talked about treating others with mercy and receiving mercy ourselves … in the beginning we experience our relationship with others as a mutual giving and receiving.

This week our blessing is not so transparent. It sounds as if we have gone back to our relationship with God as we find that the “pure in heart” are blessed by “seeing God!”   Suddenly I wonder … is that a good thing? I mean, have you read the Old Testament??   Are we to wrestle with God until God faces us and should we demand God’s blessing as Jacob did? In Genesis 32:30 we read, “So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.’”   Jacob limped away from the encounter but he was truly blessed for his relationship with his brother Esau was restored, tenuous as it was.   And what about Moses? Exodus 33:11a reads, “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”   BUT in Exodus 33:20 we read, “But, [God] said, ‘you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.’”   So … did Moses “see” God? Let us not get hung up on literal translations. Moses had a vibrant relationship with God which prepared him to lead the Israelites into relationship with God as well.   “Seeing” God is a very good thing!

As a matter of fact :) if we look at the way John talks about the relationship between Jesus and God we find that his Jesus so identified himself with God that he says, “whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”   See John 14:9b and read the entire chapter of 1 John 4 for context. Yes! “Seeing” God is a very good thing!

Interestingly, the word translated “see” has a layered meaning: optanomai {op-tan'-om-ahee} or optomai {op-tom-ahee} which means 1) to look at, behold 2) to allow one's self to be seen, to appear.   Who is invited to “see” God? The “pure” in “heart” see God. There is another Greek word translated “pure” and it isn’t the one that is used here. The Greek word translated in this passage as “pure” is katharos {kath-ar-os'} which although it does mean clean, purified by fire, like a vine cleansed by pruning and fit to bear fruit, ethically free from corrupt desire, sin and guilt, sincere, genuine, blameless, innocent, it should be understood in its OT levitical sense:   to be “clean” as opposed to be “unclean.”

Kardia {kar-dee'-ah} is the Greek word translated heart as the seat or center of the physical life and spiritual life, 1) of the mind as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, and endeavors, intelligence, the will and character and 2) of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions.   In Jewish tradition, the center of one’s being is referred to as the heart.

Making Connections:   Where have you “seen” God lately?   How have you responded to “seeing” God?

Going Deeper: Danish theologian Soren Kierkegaard said, “purity of the heart is to will the one thing.” This basically means our heart should be united with God’s heart in thought, will, and being. Jesus said, “Not my will but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Read Luke 10:30-37. An expert in the law challenges Jesus after a discussion on loving God and loving neighbors as the mosaic key to eternal life. He asks “Who is my neighbor?” to which Jesus replies with the story of the Good Samaritan.   Perhaps this would have been a good story for mercy … but this story goes far beyond mercy. Remember the nuance of the Greek translation of purity in its levitical sense. This story reveals the purity of the “unclean” Good Samaritan’s heart. At the same time this story reveals the “impurity” of the religious people’s hearts ... and maybe ours!

How does your inner life and attitude affect the way you encounter other people?
How far are you willing to change in order to embrace God in other people?
Who is the person, or what is the issue that you will cross the street (choose) to ignore?
Why?How far are you willing to change in order to embrace God in the “Samaritan” in your life?
How does that reveal the “purity” of your heart?
Take a deep breath and visualize your Samaritan?
Can you “see” God in your enemy?
If not, are you willing to pray to receive God’s healing for your broken relationship?
How will you begin your prayers?

Pondering: I once heard a journalist talk about traveling to India to visit the Sisters of Charity while doing a story about Mother Teresa. Although he had tried to secure an interview before going, it didn’t happen. He went anyway. Although he didn’t interview her, he did have a quick opportunity to meet her. He asked her, “Can you teach me to be more compassionate?” She said, “No, but I know someone who can.” She led him to the bedside of a man dying of aids. She said, “This man has no one to care for him. If you stay and care for him, you will find the compassion within you” and then she left the journalist alone with the suffering man. He experienced a great struggle because he had a job to do and he wanted to interview her. He alternated between anger and disappointment. He did not care to do the menial task of caring for a dying invalid. However, it seemed that there was no one else to do it. He told us, “I stayed and I washed the sores of that dying man. It changed my life.   Today I see the face of Jesus in every person I meet!”

This was the lifelong message of Mother Teresa who wrote this meditation (adapted) …
Jesus is the Hungry - to be fed.
Jesus is the Thirsty - to be given a drink.
Jesus is the Naked - to be clothed.
Jesus is the Homeless - to be taken in.
Jesus is the Sick - to be healed.
Jesus is the Lonely - to be loved.
Jesus is the Unwanted - to be wanted.
Jesus is the Leper - to have his wounds cleansed.
Jesus is the Beggar - to be smiled at.
Jesus is the Drunkard - to be listened to.
Jesus is the Mental - to be protected.
Jesus is the Little One - to be embraced.
Jesus is the Blind - to be lead by the hand.
Jesus is the Dumb - to be spoken for.
Jesus is the Crippled - to be walked with.
Jesus is the Drug Addict - to be a friend to.
Jesus is the Prostitute - to be removed from
danger and befriended.
Jesus is the Prisoner - to be visited.
Jesus is the Old - to be served.

Take time to read Mother Teresa’s meditation several times slowly. As you read, allow God to bring to your consciousness someone within whom God wanted you to “see” Jesus. How did you respond?   What changes, if any, would you make?

Prayer: Read Psalm 139:1-7 and 23-24 as a prayer …
O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Amen.

Blessed are the Merciful

2011-07-08T05:03:00.001-05:00

‘Blessed are the merciful,

for they will receive mercy.

‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Setting the Scene: Points to remember …

Beatitudes => Blessing
Blessings => “a deep joy in God’s presence”
Sermon on the Mount => Jesus sets context for ministry and talks about the kingdom of heaven => or reign of God
Kingdom of heaven/reign of God => knowing God as sovereign ruler, living in the will of God, kingdom as already here but not yet fully realized …

The Foundation of the blessings are found in the 3rd verse, knowing who we are in relation to God … living in total dependence upon God

Today we begin the second half of the blessings. We have been talking about the “vertical” relationship between God and human beings for four weeks but this week we turn to the “horizontal” relationship, human being to human being. This blessing is about both sides of mercy, giving and receiving. It reminds me about the line in the Lord’s Prayer: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and I hear echoes of the golden rule found in Luke 6:31: Treat others just as you want to be treated. (CEV)

As the word mercy is the English root word in this blessing, the word eleemon {el-eh-ay'-mone} is the root word/concept in Greek. It means much the same thing as “mercy” in English: to have pity on, to help one who is afflicted and/or seeking aid, to bring help to the wretched. And yet, once again we find a word that means so much more when you examine it in the original writing and culture.   The Hebrew concept that lays the foundation for mercy as Jesus defines mercy, comes from the word hesed, which means loving-kindness, love, loyalty, and faithfulness. Hesed is used to refer to both God and certain human beings as well. The Harper Collins Bible Dictionary illuminates the word further as it refers to the “emotion aroused by contact with undeserved suffering, compassion, and a deeply felt love for a fellow human being …

In the OT, mercy is associated with the covenant obligation between God and humans.” (674) Remember the Ark of the Covenant which was a manifestation of God’s Presence?   The Ark was originally housed in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle and subsequently placed in the Temple until it “disappeared” during the destruction of Jerusalem by the invading Babylonians in 586 BCE.    The “mercy-seat” was seen as the throne of God from which the will of God was discerned through the “cloud” of God’s Presence. The mercy seat was also the place where forgiveness was granted and atonement was made for the sins of Israel on the Day of Atonement by the sprinkling of sacrificial blood upon it. Remembering that the Sermon on the Mount is all about living in the kingdom of God … is it any wonder that “divine and human mercy are closely associated with justice and righteousness because all refer to behavior appropriate to a relationship.”
(HC, 674)

Making Connections: Have you ever been deserving of condemnation and yet were the recipient of merciful behavior from another person?   How did that change you and affect your behavior toward others?

Going Deeper: Read John 7:53-8:11 and consider a woman, dragged into the public arena to be accused of the crime of adultery. Keeping the historical context (she is living in a patriarchal society which viewed women as the property of men) and the “law” (after a trial, mandatory stoning for a person caught in the act of adultery) in mind: Does the woman deserve to be condemned to death by stoning by the men who caught her? Why or why not?    Does she deserve to stand alone to face her punishment?    What is Jesus reaction to the woman?   Why does Jesus pause?    What does he do? How does Jesus feel about this situation? Suddenly Jesus is alone with the woman. What does he do? Do you agree or disagree with the way Jesus offers mercy to her in her situation? Now that Jesus has offered the woman mercy, what does he expect of her in return?   What does this teach you about giving mercy? About receiving mercy?

Read Luke 23:32-38. Consider the suffering of Jesus. In the midst of his own suffering what does he do in regards to those who are tormenting him?   What do you believe that Jesus draws upon in order to ask God for forgiveness for those who are set to crucify him?   What is their response?   Now continue with Luke 23:39-43 and consider the thieves hanging on the crosses next to Jesus. Jesus is suffering terribly and yet he takes the time to offer assurance of salvation to a thief who recognizes him and offers kind words to him. What does this teach you about giving mercy? About receiving mercy?

Pondering: In one of the most poignant human stories about forgiveness and mercy I’ve ever read, Archbishop Desmond Tutu tells the story about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission during which the only payment rendered for complete exoneration of terrible crimes against humanity was the truth. How was this possible? Tutu credits the African concept of ubuntu. Ubuntu is an African concept which I understand to mean, “I am what I am because of what we all are together …” and if there is even one person on the earth suffering, I am suffering even if I don’t know it. This is his way of saying that humanity is so intertwined and interconnected that mercy shown to others is truly mercy shown to our own self. Our ability to offer mercy even in the darkest situation brings deep healing to us. When we are able to offer mercy we are a fully engaged human being and can accept mercy from God with a deeper sense of wholeness.

Praying: A Prayer to be Merciful …
Written by St. Maria Faustina
"O Lord. I want to be completely transformed into Your mercy and to be Your living reflection.
May the greatest of all divine attributes, that of Your unfathomable mercy,
pass through my heart and soul to my neighbor.
Help me, O Lord, that my eyes may be merciful,
so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors’ souls and come to their rescue.
Help me, O Lord, that my ears may be merciful,
so that I may give heed to my neighbors’ needs and not be indifferent to their pains and moanings.
Help me, O Lord, that my tongue may be merciful, so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbor, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all.
Help me, O Lord, that my hands may be merciful and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to my neighbors and take upon myself the more difficult and toilsome tasks.
Help me, O Lord, that my feet may be merciful,
so that I may hurry to assist my neighbor, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness.
Help me, O Lord, that my heart may be merciful
so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbor.
O Lord, May Your mercy rest upon me" Amen.

If music is a pathway to God for you, take a moment to listen to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXP3oUatFt0

Blessed are Those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

2011-06-30T04:02:00.003-05:00

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain;

and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.

Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

‘Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are you when people revile you and

persecute you and utter all kinds of evil

against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,

for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Setting the Scene: Points to remember …

Beatitudes => Blessing
Blessings => “a deep joy in God’s presence”
Sermon on the Mount => Jesus sets context for ministry and talks about the kingdom of heaven => or reign of God
Kingdom of heaven/reign of God => knowing God as sovereign ruler, living in the will of God, kingdom as already here but not yet fully realized …

Foundation of the blessings in 3rd verse, knowing who we are in relation to God … living in total dependence upon God

Jesus tells us we are blessed when we hunger and thirst for righteousness.   The Greek word translated hunger is peinao {pi-nah'-o} which means to crave ardently and to seek with eager desire in a metaphorical sense. Thirst is translated from dipsao {dip-sah'-o} which means to painfully feel desire and eagerly long for those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened.

If we can manage to really connect with what Jesus is saying here, we understand that he is talking about a painful spiritual longing deep within our heart, the center of our being. What are we longing for?    It is a longing for “righteousness.”

The concept of righteousness has its roots deeply embedded in the Hebrew of the Old Testament. The Hebrew word translated righteousness over 500 times is tsaddiyq {tsad-deek'} which means quite simply, justice.   Both God and people are described as being “righteous” or “just.”   These words are almost interchangeable.   The Law of Moses was written in an attempt to give the people guidelines so that they knew how to live a righteous life, a life in “right” relationship with God and with people. Unfortunately, as human beings we often seek to be “right” without being in “relationship” with God and with others. We refer to this arrogant attitude as “self-righteousness.”

Turning to the New Testament, the Greek word translated righteousness over 225 times is dikaiosune {dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay} which means, in a broad sense, the state of one who is as he/she ought to be, in a condition acceptable to God. We are “made right” with God through “just”ifying grace, which is a gift of God in Christ. Because of our hunger and thirst for God, we continue to seek God. As we seek God, we grow in righteousness (right relationship with God) through sanctifying grace.

We long for a healthy relationship with God and others. We come to God with profound emptiness. And we are chortazo {khor-tad'-zo}, which means our longing is fulfilled or satisfied by God.

Making Connections: Have you ever been painfully hungry or thirsty? How did your pain manifest itself in your body? How was the pain satisfied (alleviated)?

Going Deeper: Jesus attracted a lot of people with his teaching, preaching, and healing. Just like Jesus, many of those people were the poor and disadvantaged of the Jewish community. Jesus often used easily relatable situations to help his listeners understand his teachings as he gave people hope in a world of hopelessness. In this case, he used the common feelings of hunger and thirst when speaking to a spiritually starved people who had, most likely, truly suffered from real, raw hunger and thirst. They might have been feeling the pain of starving bellies and the parched throats of an arid land that very day. It may have been a day much like this one … from Mark 8:1-8.
In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus called his disciples and said to them, ‘I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way—and some of them have come from a great distance.’ His disciples replied, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?’ He asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’ They said, ‘Seven.’ Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.

Many commentators tell us that the real miracle was that Jesus inspired the sharing of food resources … It brings to life this recent quote from June Kim, in an article found in New World Outlook magazine, “It is not a question of whether there is enough food but a matter of accessibility and equal distribution to all people.”

How does this commentary challenge you?

Pondering: It IS hard to imagine that every single day there are people in the world dying of starvation (almost 16,000 children/day=one child every five seconds) and from lack of clean water to drink (2.2 million/year). But as the statistics show us, it happens.

And here we are with our full bellies, many of us just as spiritually starved and parched as others are physically. We simply don’t know it. We suffer from an emptiness that we try to fill with all kinds of things that will never satisfy us for God is not found within them. Each of us has our own weak spots that we try to fill to the brim!

Have you ever felt a sense of longing for God?
How painful was your longing?
How did you seek satisfaction for your longing?
Looking at any vessel, we find that emptiness is a prerequisite for being filled. Have you ever felt a sense of spiritual emptiness?
How is emptiness different from longing?
How is emptiness the same as longing?
Can you describe the spiritual emptiness within?
What are the things that you try fill up your emptiness with? What works? What doesn’t?
Challenge: Fast a meal and allow your body to give you a sense of spiritual hunger. With each pang, turn to God with prayers of longing and allow God to fill you ...

Prayer: from Psalm 42:1-6a
As the deer longs for flowing streams,
   so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and behold the face of God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
while people say to me continually,
   ‘Where is your God?’
These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:
how I went with the throng,
   and led them in procession to the house of God,
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
   a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
   and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again sing praises,
   my help and my God.

If music is a pathway to God for you, find and listen to an arrangement of …

As the Deer ...
As the deer pants for the water
So my soul longs after you
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship you
You can find a fine arrangement of this song at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkdN_M7OrPg&feature=related

Blessed are the Meek ...

2011-06-23T03:40:00.002-05:00

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

‘Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
   righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful,
for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for
   righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Setting the Scene: Remember these points from the Overview and Week 1 study … We are studying the beatitudes, which means “blessing.” Blessing means “a deep joy in God’s presence.”   At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus gives a series of teachings called the Sermon on the Mount which sets a context for ministry. In his teachings and with the way he lived his own life, Jesus calls us to live in the kingdom, or under the “reign of God” rather than living under the power of others in the way of the world.   All of the blessings rest upon verse 3, which is about poverty of spirit, or knowing who you are in relation to God …

Jesus tells us we are blessed when we are meek. The Greek word, praus {prah-ooce'} is translated in scripture most often as “meek.” However, it can also be translated as gentle or humble. Here is the way Eugene Peterson translates meekness in his paraphrase, The Message: being content with just who you are—no more, no less.

There are commentators who argue that these blessings as a whole are eschatological, meaning in the future, at the end of time.   The Greek word, kleronomeo {klay-ron-om-eh'-o} is translated “inherit.”   Hebrew tradition required blood kinship for the transmission of possessions upon the death of the owner. Looking deeper, “the term inheritance is used in theological contexts to affirm the relationship between God and God’s people.”      (Harper Collins Bible Dictionary, 453) So … we belong to God, we live under the reign of God, we are children of God!

This blessing embodies “meek-ness,” and we are children of God, so what is our inheritance?   Ge {ghay} which is translated “earth” is the “dwelling place of man.” (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament).   In Psalm 37:10 we find a comparable message: But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

We are called quite simply to live in this world under the reign of God!

Making Connections:   Who are the people in your life that embody the sense of the word “meek?”   When you think of these people what additional words would you use to describe this quality of their life?

Going Deeper: This week we learn that the meek are blessed! That doesn’t sound like good news to many of us. Who in this world wants to be known as “meek and mild.”   For some, the term “doormat” comes to mind. For some, the word meek is interchangeable with the word “weak.” There is no way for the meek to get ahead for they are always being taken advantage of.

What is your initial reaction to the word “meek?”
Where does the need to get ahead come from?

And yet, in Matthew 11:29, Jesus says (as translated in older versions) “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” In more contemporary versions we hear Jesus say, “I am gentle and humble in heart.”

How would you describe Jesus to those who do not know him?
How have you “taken up the yoke” of Jesus?
How have you experienced this “rest” that Jesus talks about?

No matter what version you read it in, Jesus clearly identifies himself as a gentle soul. Good Jewish rabbi that Jesus is, we might wonder if there is a historical role model that Jesus looks up to. In Numbers 12:3, we read, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Remember Moses’ reluctance to speak to the people when God called upon him? He seemed to be not only gentle, but he seemed to be weak as well! And yet, Moses spoke for God and led an entire nation to the brink of the Promised Land. Underlying this word, meek, we find a quiet strength in the man called Moses.

How is Jesus like Moses?
How and where do they draw their strength?
How is Jesus different from Moses?

Pondering: Human beings like neither meek-ness nor weak-ness, within themselves or in others. They certainly don’t like weakness in their leaders. Paul writes to the Church in 2 Corinthians 10:1 saying, “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.” This verse may be easier to read in more contemporary language … (CEV) Do you think I am a coward when I am with you and brave when I am far away? Well, I ask you to listen, because Christ himself was humble and gentle.

How do you feel about the word “coward” to describe meekness?
What is the relationship between meekness and surrender to God’s will?
What gives you strength to surrender to God?

Prayer: There is a song called Mary, Meek and Lowly. For some, Mary, the Mother of God, is the epitome of surrender to God that emerges not from weakness, but from inner strength.

Mary’s prayer of surrender is called The Magnificat. Pray this prayer with Maryfrom Luke 1:46-55 as your own prayer of surrender to God with gentleness and meekness:

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and fromnow on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy,
and he has done great things for me.
He shows mercy from generation to generation
to all who fear him.
His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
He has brought down princes from their thrones
and exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has helped his servant Israel
and remembered to be merciful.
For he made this promise to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever.” Amen.

Blessed are Those who Mourn ...

2011-06-17T03:32:00.003-05:00

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

‘Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful,
for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Setting the Scene: In the Summer Blessings Overview, we learned that through the Sermon on the Mount, of which these blessings are a part, Jesus calls us to see things from a Kingdom or a “Reign of God” perspective. The blessings evoke a sense of the deep joy of God’s presence, even in circumstances that are less than ideal.

Spiritual poverty is underlying blessing in this passage. Basically, when we are living under the reign of God, we know we are completely dependent upon and trust God completely. This is the source of our blessing! As we move through each of the other verses, remember this truth ... we are utterly dependent upon God ... as a foundational principle of the spiritual life in the Kingdom.

In addition, we learned that each verse follows a form of parallelism, a literary device in which the two parts of a passage say, not just complementary things, but basically describe the same state of being. As we look at this week’s verse, when God reigns in our life, at the moment we enter into a state of mourning, we are in the presence of the God who comforts … even if we don’t feel like it!

The Greek word translated “mourn” is pentheo {pen-theh'-o} which means to lament a loss. In Jewish tradition, wearing sackcloth and ashes was an outward sign of suffering, repentance, and humility and accompanied the act of lament.

The word “comfort” is much richer than one might imagine. This word is translated from the Greek word parakaleo {par-ak-al-eh'-o} which means, summoned or called to come alongside. This Greek word is only a slight variant from the same word that the Gospel writer John uses to refer to the Holy Spirit, parakletos {par-ak'-lay-tos} through whom we embody the presence of God in the world.

Making Connections: Have you ever experienced deep grief?   Consider your memories and the responses of the people who surrounded you. What was the most helpful response to your grieving? What was the least helpful response?

Going Deeper: The bible does not shy away from suffering, loss and grief.   People are invited by the Scriptures to be brutally honest with God about their feelings. The Jewish people had a long tradition of mourning with sackcloth and ashes which brought suffering into the life of community in a tangible way. After his brothers sold Joseph into slavery and told their father he had been killed, “Jacob tore his garments, and put sackcloth on his loins, and mourned for his son for many days.” (Genesis 37:34)

    How comfortable are you when others grieve with visible lamenting and tirades of anger and anguish?
    How comfortable are you in expressing your grief outwardly when you are by yourself? when you are in the presence of others?

When a loved one dies, it hurts. Divorce brings suffering to families and children. Losing a job can mean losing a carefully built life. For some people, losing a beloved pet means losing the one living being that loved them unconditionally. Abuse tears into the fabric of humanity and hunger bring senseless torment … we could go on and on.

In the 4th chapter of Esther, “Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces, giving orders to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day … when Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went through the city, wailing with a loud and bitter cry … In every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

    What issue causes you to lament?
    What emotions emerge in your lament?
    How do you express your darker emotions?
    Have you ever used the Psalms to lament? If so, how helpful is it to express yourself outwardly? If not, you’ll have a chance to do so this week.

Pondering: In her book, On Death and Dying, Elizabeth Kubler Ross, noted five stages of grief that people go through in the process of dying:

    Denial: “This can’t be happening”
    Bargaining: “How can I get out of this”
    Anger: (at the dawn of realization) emotions turned outward
    Depression: (realization sinking in) emotions turn inward
    Acceptance: “It is time to move on”

Over the years, researchers have found that these five stages can apply to many different kinds of losses and life situations, especially the forgiveness journey. Because anger emerges at the dawn of realization, this tells us that lament is a critical stage in the journey through grief. Although it may make us uncomfortable, the healing of our souls depends on our ability to let go and allow God to comfort us!

    As you look back on the main losses of your life, can you identify ways in which the presence of God comforted, or came alongside you?

Praying: Modern people often “put on a brave face” and hide their emotions but we sense their lack of authenticity. In Scripture, lament is an acceptable way to pray. The Psalms are full of lament … Remember the issue that you identified as the one that calls you to lament? I invite you to pray Psalm 13, in solidarity with one who suffers:

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
   How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I bear pain in my soul,
   and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes,
or I will sleep the sleep of death,
and my enemy will say, ‘I have prevailed’;
   my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
But I trusted in your steadfast love;
   my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
   because God has dealt bountifully with me.
Amen.

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit ...

2011-06-07T18:31:00.003-05:00

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful,
for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Setting the Scene: Remember that we are sitting at Jesus’ feet on a mountain listening to him teach. The Greek word, ptochos {pto-khos'}is translated “poor” and means destitute of wealth, influence, position, and honor … lowly, afflicted, helpless, powerless …in pneuma {pnyoo'-mah} translated “spirit” meaning the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, and decides.    When Jesus uses the phrase “poor in spirit,” he is using the broad Hebrew sense of poor, in both a socioeconomic and a religious sense.

In the overview, we learned that the kingdom, basileia {bas-il-i'-ah} of heaven can be understood as the reign of God. This translation also encourages us to understand that Jesus is calling us to an inner space rather than a literal place.

Making Connections: Take a moment to think about your life and its challenges.
 Have you known a time in your life that you consider yourself to have been “poor in spirit?”
 Can you describe what that feel like?
 How did you overcome your spiritual poverty?
 How were you able to sense God in your times of spiritual poverty?

Going Deeper: The world tells us that we must be self-sufficient and independent if we want to succeed in life. If we listen, the world tells us that our wealth defines us and tells us how valuable we are.
We are often judged by the clothes we wear, the work we do, the car we drive, and the house we live in.   When we step back, we can see how shallow that is. And yet, often we struggle to find our true value in the eyes of God.

 Who judges you? Who do you judge?
 What defines you?   How are you defined?
 Who accepts you? Who do you find it hard to accept?
 Who encourages you? Who do you encourage?

In the classical sense of literary parallelism, each of the two parts of each phrase in the beatitudes would mean the same thing. If we read this beatitude in that way, poverty of spirit and kingdom of heaven (reign of God) would mean basically the same thing. This invites us to look at poverty in a different way.

 St. Augustine said,
“Lord, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you.”

   o Have you felt this restlessness?
   o How do you calm your restless soul?

 Blaise Pascal said something similar about our inner life as an
“infinite abyss can be filled only … by God.”

   o What are the things that you are tempted to fill up that God-shaped void with
       … other than God?
   o How do you overcome this temptation?

In 1 Corinthians 6:19, the Apostle Paul said, “do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?”   Paul says that we do not belong to ourselves, we belong to God. This makes us completely dependent upon God.

So we wonder … what does this look like?
We can see a glimpse of this in Philippians 2:5-8 …
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.

Jesus emptied himself.   Marjorie Thompson says, “Jesus shows us the true meaning of poverty of spirit: a mature, freely accepted dependence … the strength and transforming effect of Jesus’ ministry come from a willing surrender of his will to God’s.” (Companions in Christ: The Way of Blessedness, 29)

Pondering: I sometimes have the privilege to sit with a homeless or an incarcerated person and I am able to listen to a story here and there. I have come to know God, as One who comes to us right where we are, through their stories. These men and women may not have a pillow to lay their head upon but they know God in a way that many of us do not for when God is all you have, GOD is your all in all!

 How do you understand spiritual poverty?
 What is the source of your spiritual poverty?
 How do you “know” God?
 What images do you have of God?
 What words would you use to describe the God that you know?
 How much do you trust God?
 What is your level of dependence upon God today?
 How is God inviting you to change … to depend more upon God’s love and grace in your life?

Praying: A prayer from the heart of Thomas Merton … Take a deep breath and pray these words from your own deepest longing. Feel free to change the words and make this prayer your own.

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.              -Thoughts in Solitude

Summer Blessings: Introduction to the Beatitudes

2011-06-07T18:07:00.001-05:00

The Beatitudes, in Matthew 5:1-12, introduce the Sermon on the Mount.

After his baptism and subsequent testing in the desert, Jesus has begun his ministry proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”   Repent is translated from the Greek word metanoeo {met-an-o-eh'-o} meaning to turn around, to see from new point of view, to walk in a different direction.   And why should we turn around? “The kingdom of heaven is near,” says Jesus. Kingdom is translated from the word basileia {bas-il-i'-ah} which means having the authority and power to reign over or to rule.   The Sermon on the Mount is all about the kingdom, or more accurately understood, the Reign of God.

Jesus has called the disciples to be “fishers of people.”   He has traveled throughout Galilee teaching, preaching, and healing. Great crowds have begun to follow him. He leads the disciples up on a mountain and is joined by crowds … where he delivers the Sermon on the Mount.

The word Beatitude is translated from the Greek word makarioi {mak-ar'-ee-oy}.   The literary form of the beatitude had been around for a long time when Jesus created these teachings. In the Old Testament, we find beatitudes most commonly in wisdom literature, such as the psalms and proverbs.   Modern translations today translate the word, makarios {mak-ar'-ee-os} as “blessed” which evokes the sense of the deep joy of God’s presence, even in circumstances that are less than ideal.

In Matthew’s beatitudes we find a sense of irony through which Jesus challenges us to see from a new perspective, a “reign of God” perspective, which emerges from the spiritual realm rather than the worldly (materialistic) realm.    The focus of the beatitudes is not on any gift we receive but the Giver who gives!
Each of the beatitudes is composed of a statement of who is blessed followed by a statement of why the person is blessed. The main body of the beatitudes was written with a special symmetric order or pattern called a chiasm, which is a form of parallelism.

There are 8 verses in the main body. These 8 verses can be divided into 2 sets of 4 verses. The first set emphasizes our vertical relationship to God (Love God), and the second set emphasizes our horizontal relationship to people (Love others as self).

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness, for they will be filled.

‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Notice the kingdom of heaven is mentioned in the first and last verse of the passage. They are the bookend verses which hold the teachings of the beatitudes together and alert us to the theological purpose of the Sermon on the Mount overall and of the beatitudes in focus. This purpose is centered on the reign of God. *Please note that verse 11 is an expansion of verse 10 and does not introduce a new blessing.
Jesus calls us and challenges us and empowers us to live in the kingdom of heaven … under the reign of God as a way of life. The way of the world is domination and social hierarchy. The way of Jesus is humility and egalitarianism.

Marjorie Thompson says, “Deep inside the spiritual wisdom of the Beatitudes lies a paradox that runs through the heart of the gospel: The power within and behind the entire universe does not assert itself as raw power; it is, rather, revealed in self-effacing humility and love. Jesus shows us the transforming power of the self-emptying love of God.” (Companions in Christ: The Way of Blessedness, 23)

The Day of Pentecost: Breathing in the Spirit and Breathing out our Witness

2011-06-07T17:55:00.001-05:00

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

Mexican Pentecost Icon (Public Domain)

and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’ But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

“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.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
   and signs on the earth below,
     blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
   and the moon to blood,
     before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Sermon: Today’s message really began on Easter Sunday … when the Risen Christ made his first appearance and then began to move among his followers, appearing and disappearing until finally, appearing one last time before ascending into “heaven,” Jesus made them a promise and gave them a purpose.

In Acts 1:4 & 8, Jesus said … “Stay in Jerusalem …. you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you (that’s the promise) and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (that’s the purpose)

Today’s reading from Acts 2 … records the fulfillment of the promise that Jesus made and marks the beginning of the fulfillment of the purpose that Jesus gave them!

Listen to the first 4 verses of that passage again … When the day of Pentecost had come, the Jesus followers were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Tongues of fire appeared among them, and rested upon them.

Each of those present were filled with the Holy Spirit … there’s the promise! They began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability … there’s the purpose!

When the day of Pentecost had come … Pentecost is the Greek word for “fifty” and that is why we celebrate Pentecost on the 50th day after Easter Sunday. But Pentecost is not just a day for Christians. As the followers of Jesus gathered together on that day in Jerusalem, the Jewish community, of which there were still a part … was there were in the midst of celebrating Shauvot, the Feast of Weeks, and the town was overflowing with people from all over the land who were required to make that pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

As the followers of Jesus gathered together on that day, one of the most holy days of Jewish history, they were celebrating the “sending of the Torah, the Law of Moses” to the Israelites gathered together at Mount Sinai   It is a custom of Shauvot to stay up all night reading and studying the Torah … Can you just imagine those followers of Jesus pouring over the book Exodus … Can you just imagine them reading verse 24:17 … the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.

When … suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Tongues of fire appeared among them, and rested upon them … Each of those present were filled with the Holy Spirit … there’s the promise!

So let’s talk about this promise … Who is the Holy Spirit?   What do you know about the Holy Spirit? Just like Jesus is God, Spirit is God.   Spirit is the third person of the Trinity … In traditional Trinitarian language we pray in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

With contemporary Trinitarian images that emerge from the book of Genesis, we might say God the Creator, Word, and Spirit. In Genesis 1:2 the translated text says, “the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a “wind” from God swept over the face of the waters.”   In this text, Wind, is translated from the Hebrew word, ruwach {roo'-akh} which means breath … So … Just like Jesus, the Word of God was, in the beginning … Spirit, the breath of God was, in the beginning as well.

The Scriptural images most often associated with the Spirit are fire and wind … both of which we find in today’s reading. The image of Wind, pnoe (no-ay) and the Spirit, pneuma (noo-ma) both emerge from the same Greek root word, pneu (noo) meaning a dynamic movement of air such as breathing in and breathing out.     Jesus promised that we will be filled with the Spirit of God … So, as we breathe in and breathe out, God is just that close to us!

Can you imagine what it means to know that God is as close to you as your very own breath?
God is so close … Paul says, “do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, (that’s the promise) and that you are not your own? (our purpose comes from God)

Breathing in (the promise) results in … Breathing out (the purpose)
Breathing in (the Spirit) results in … Breathing out (your Witness)

Breathing in (the Spirit) is about who we are in our inner being … Who am I? So when we are breathing in the Spirit, we are living and being guided by the Spirit … slowly our inner being begins to bear fruit, the fruit of the Spirit as Paul writes to the Galatians. Do you remember the fruit of the Spirit … love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.   Remember the balloon … what you see indicates what is inside … If these fruit are evident on the outside, we know the Spirit resides on the inside!

Breathing out (the witness) is about what we do in the outside world. What is my purpose in life?   Paul says, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good … and that our spiritual gifts are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.”

Do you remember what is included in the various lists of spiritual gifts … faith, wisdom, knowledge, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning spirits, tongues, interpreting tongues, administration, helping, hospitality, exhortation … Although the gifts of the Spirit are primarily given to build up the body of Christ, we can see in the book of Acts that it is not only the spoken word that gives witness to Christ … the Communal life itself gives witness to the Risen Christ.

As the book of Acts continues to unfold, we find the Jesus followers breathing in the Spirit and breathing out their witness on every page we turn.

This is the natural rhythm of a healthy and vibrant spiritual life. Try to breathe only in OR to breathe only out. It’s impossible. You can’t do it.   When we develop minor “breathing problems” our spiritual rhythm gets out of sync and we begin to struggle a little bit in our spiritual life.   This kind of struggle is a natural part of the spiritual growth process.   Because it is a growth process … you will find yourself coming out of those times of struggle stronger and more steady in your breathing and your living … until your next growth spurt comes along.

I hit one of those growth spurts at some point last year … I was moving along doing pretty well I thought and then I ran into Margaret Hafer in the grocery store.   If you didn’t know Margaret Hafer, let me just tell you that she had the spiritual gift of hospitality. Margaret was able to give you her complete and undivided attention at any given moment and that you were the only person in the world … she made me feel valued. One day I went to Randall’s at Memorial and Dairy Ashford … I never go to Randall’s … that’s the only time I’ve ever been there … I think I saw some of you there that day, it was freaky. Anyway, Margaret said something to me that helped me to see something about my spiritual life that called me into a bit of spiritual struggle.   Her husband, Jim, was not doing well … and she said, “O Cindy, I know how busy you are but if you could possibly spare a prayer for Jim and me, I would be so very grateful.”   As I walked out of Randall’s that day … I said with a lot of sadness in my heart, “O God, if I am too busy to pray for Margaret Hafer … I am too busy!”   Now let me just say that this is nothing new for me … All of us will have certain struggles that God uses to bring us knowledge and growth.   Our spiritual struggles are only a problem if we get stuck in our struggles and can’t move past them …

All of the things I’ve said about the individual spiritual life can be applied to our communal spiritual life as well. As we think about our church community, let the image of Acts 2: 42-47 encourage and challenge us …

The Jesus followers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers ... Wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people …

Breathing in (the Spirit) THAT’S THE PROMISE …

Breathing out (their Witness) THAT’S THE PURPOSE …

day by day

(the text says)

the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Amen and Amen!

Praying: Let this prayer of St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) become your Prayer of Pentecost!

Take a deep breath and center all of your attention on God who is always with you and within you ...

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit that my thoughts may all be holy;
Act in me O Holy Spirit that my works, too, may be holy;
Draw my heart O Holy Spirit that I love but what is holy;
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit to defend that is holy;
Guard me then O Holy Spirit that I always may be holy. Amen.

The Ascension of Christ

2011-06-03T02:13:00.002-05:00


The Ascension by Giotto di Bondone 1313 AD Italy

Acts 1:1-11 So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Setting the Scene: We are approaching the end of Eastertide; we have made our way through the book of Acts immersing ourselves in the power of the Holy Spirit. Always when we work with the lectionary, we are not working with a chronological story (what happened when) as much as we are working with a theological story (what this tells us about God). So now we come full circle. We are back at the beginning of the end, once again … and we begin again.

Let’s review the important details: Jesus appeared to his followers for 40 days following his death and resurrection. He spoke about the kingdom of God.   He asked them not to leave Jerusalem so that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit … Why? Jesus calls all those who would follow him to be witnesses in the community (Judea and Samaria) and in the world (to the ends of the earth).

And then Jesus left …

The Community was left to develop their belief (and ours) about Jesus Christ.   The Apostle’s Creed may be the oldest official “affirmation of faith” that we know about. The word “creed” comes from the Latin word credo which means “I believe.” This Apostle’s Creed originally emerged as a baptismal confession.   Many people believe that the roots of this statement of Christian faith came from the teachings of the Apostles in the early church beginning right after the ascension.   Here is what the creed says as a “witness” to Jesus:

I believe … in Jesus Christ, [God’s] only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
      born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father Almighty.
   from thence he shall come again to judge the quick (living) and the dead.

Making Connections: Have you any recollection of reading or reciting the Apostle’s Creed during worship? As you read over these words, what thoughts come to your mind? Is this what you believe? Why or why not?

Going Deeper: Several years ago I went to see the “Passion Play” in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It is quite a production … one of the best I have ever seen.   I can still remember the gasps of awe from children and adult alike when Jesus was lifted up into the heavens right before our eyes.   It was so well done that Jesus seemed to just disappear into the sky. I knew it was just a production, I knew that this man wasn’t Jesus, and I knew this wasn’t actually happening but that didn’t stop the overwhelming sense of “drama” from washing over me.

Do you know what clouds are? Have you seen outer space?   For me … the ascension is one of the hardest biblical narratives to wrap my mind around. We read … “a cloud took him ...”   So where exactly did those little bitty water droplets take Jesus? How literal are we to take this mysterious little passage of Scripture. Do I have to check my brain at the door in order to have faith in this man called Jesus, this man who floats into the clouds?     Dear God, what are you trying to tell, me???

All of these questions, which are inevitable in the skeptical world we live in, obscure the power of the message of the ascension. The ascension lays the ground work for the promise of the Holy Spirit to be realized and the power of the Holy Spirit to propel the fledgling Christian community into action.   BUT WAIT! Oh … and while you wait, PRAY!

Acts 2:33 says, Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. As we read and experience the ascension, we simply know that Jesus has joined God, not in a physical way, but in a metaphorical way. In the culture, one who stands or sits “at the right hand” shares authority with the one who is established.   And yet, Jesus not only stands, he is exalted and he has shared his power, the power of the Holy Spirit with his followers.

In Acts 2: 4 … 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.

Looking forward to find a “glimpse of what will be” gives our “what’s happening now” context and hope.

Pondering: Throughout his ministry and in the end of his time with humanity, Jesus speaks of the kingdom of heaven, which really (in most instances) is better translated as “reign of God” because it isn’t a physical place but a spiritual disposition manifested in the ascension. Jesus returns to God but we are not left alone. We follow with hearts overflowing as we are filled with the Spirit. Does God in Christ reign in your heart? What difference does that make in the way you live your life as a witness to Christ?

Praying: Let this prayer of St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) become your daily Prayer of Eastertide:

The Witness of Paul: Seeking God

2011-05-24T02:16:00.000-05:00


A panoramic view of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece taken from the Areopagus, also called Mars Hill. Photo taken by Ggia and used by permission under a creative commons license [CC-BY-SA-3.0] via wikimedia commons

Acts 17:22-31    Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, ‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, “To an unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For “In him we live and move and have our being”; as even some of your own poets have said, “For we too are his offspring.” Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.’

Setting the Scene: Last week we read the story of Stephen who was stoned to death because he gave a strong and courageous witness about Christ. Take this link and a moment to read Acts 7:55-60. See the young man named Saul at whose feet the men who stoned Stephen laid their coats. In the next verse, Acts 8:1a, we read, “And Saul approved of their killing him.”   The next few verses, Acts 8:1b-3 read, “That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.   Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him.   But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.”   See how this one act served to “scatter” the community of Christ-followers, spread Christianity, and made the world our mission field.

That passionate and brutal young man Saul is the apostle Paul that we read about in our passage for study. Take a moment to simply breathe and try to get a deep sense of just how far God has brought Paul so that he can stand to give a strong and courageous witness about Christ ... like Stephen did.    Scripture does not record the actual occasion or tell us the reason that Saul came to be known by the name Paul. Acts 13:9 simply says, “But Saul, also known as Paul …” and it may be as simple as one side of the “family” calls him Saul of Tarsus and the other side of the “family” calls him the Apostle Paul. However, we know that throughout biblical history a name change (Abram>Abraham, Jacob>Israel, Simon>Peter to name just a few) denotes a core spiritual change within a person.   Saul of Tarsus was actually knocked from his horse, blinded, and “visited” by Jesus. Acts 9:4-6 reads, “[Saul] fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’”    His inner change began in that moment and it was quite a journey from that moment to this one.

Yes, Paul has walked a long way to come to this moment, traveling many miles and entering new places to spread the Gospel. Paul normally entered a new community via the synagogue and yet because of his history, he was not always welcome, for in the minds of the Jewish people he was a traitor to God, to them, and to himself.   At the same time, the fledgling Christians were also afraid of him because he had once sought and obtained permission from the high priest to kill them.   A man named Barnabas was not afraid, and he became Paul’s closest companion. They traveled great distances together spreading the Gospel. One day they had a falling out over a young follower named John Mark and parted ways. Paul took Silas and continued on. Soon after an episode in prison, Paul was sent ahead to Athens where he became distressed over the abundance of idols so in Acts 17:17-18 we read, “he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and also in the market-place every day with those who happened to be there. Also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him.”    Finally, Paul was taken by some of these men to the Court of the Areopagus in order to explain his new teachings. Everett Ferguson, in his book called Backgrounds of Early Christianity, says that “during the first century, [the Areopagus] appears to have regulated educational and religious affairs.” (42) Some believed. Some didn’t …

Making Connections:   Have you ever had a conversation with someone from a different religious background? If so, what was your experience talking about God with someone who didn’t believe as you did? If not, how comfortable would you be talking about your own religion using concepts from another religion?

Going Deeper: In 1 Corinthians 9:22b-23, Paul said “I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.”    Paul seems by nature to be a man who is “all in” to whatever or whoever it is that he believes in.   The Paul I meet in Scripture doesn’t just follow the drama, he creates the drama ... in many ways he is the drama!   And yet, here in this passage, I meet a man I like a lot. Although he is distressed by the rampant “idolatry” in Athens, he does not chastise anyone. Instead, he meets the people where they are. He recognizes something in their religious fervor and finds an opening to teach them about God in Christ.

These Greek intellectuals are so religious that among all of the idols they have built stands a shrine (idol) to worship a God they don’t even know. Is that one of those fearful “just to be on the safe side” acts?   Maybe, but I think more likely this is their way of telling the world that they are perpetual “seekers.”   So, always and ultimately, is Paul!    The prophet Jeremiah once said, speaking for God, “I will let you find me if you seek me with your whole heart.” (29:14)   Paul, a whole-hearted seeker is confident that those who are truly seeking God will find God, just as he did.

Pondering: John Wesley, the father of Methodism, said, “I look upon all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation.”    As I consider this quote, I hear echoes of Paul’s sense of passion for evangelism, which simply means “sharing the Good News with others.”

When you hear the word “evangelism” what comes to your mind?
Have you shared your “Good News” lately?

Gene Mauch, a professional baseball player and manager said, “You can't lead anyone else further than you have gone yourself.” I have heard this said in many different ways by many different people. It reminds me of Paul’s relentless search for God which gives him an uncanny ability to challenge others to grow in their relationship to God.

How would you describe your spiritual journey to a seeker?
How might you invite others to share their journey with you?

A.B. Simpson, a Presbyterian minister and the founder of Christian and Missionary Alliance, said “As long as you want anything very much, especially more than you want God, it is an idol.” This is the essence of Paul’s distress in Acts 17.

What are the “idols” in your life that you are tempted to want more than God?
How do you resist these temptations, smash those idols and turn toward God?

St Augustine of Hippo said, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." As I consider this quote, I remember Paul’s openness to the religion of others as he appealed to a Greek poet who said, “In [God] we live and move and have our being” which ultimately is the the power and presence of the Spirit in our lives.

Has your heart ever been “restless” for God?
How did you find rest for your restless soul?

Praying: Take a deep, deep breath and invite the Spirit of God into your heart and mind as you let this prayer of St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) become your daily Prayer of Eastertide

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit that my thoughts may all be holy;
Act in me O Holy Spirit that my works, too, may be holy;
Draw my heart O Holy Spirit that I love but what is holy;
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit to defend what is holy;
Guard me then O Holy Spirit that I always may be holy. Amen.

The Act of Forgiveness by Stephen

2011-05-17T14:46:00.000-05:00

Acts 7:55-60 But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.

Setting the Scene:   We fast forward in the book of Acts for our study passage in order to see the brutal stoning of Stephen. At the end of last week’s reading, the early church is living a communal life which so embodies the greatest commandments that many people were joining them. Their community was growing by leaps and bounds. So how do we get from that peaceful community to the gruesome act of this week’s reading???

We first meet Stephen in Acts 6 when he is one of seven men, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, chosen to administer a food program which will provide equity between the Hebrew and the Greek members of the community.   These men were engaged in the ministry of diakoneo {dee-ak-on-eh'-o} which means to serve and to minister to others. Stephen was a minister of hospitality. While this may sound like a harmless and mundane ministry opportunity to some, Stephen was known for acts of signs and wonder. He was a man of miracles. He was full of the power of the Spirit and grew in his ability to witness with the wisdom of the Spirit.

Suddenly, in Acts 6:9 we find that Stephen has become the target of a certain community of Jews who bring him before the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Temple. So ... Most likely, Stephen is a Jewish Hellenist. This means that although he was a Jew, he was probably brought up in the diaspora heavily influenced by the Greek way of life and thinking. This cultural difference may have been a point of contention, or perhaps the men were simply jealous of the regard that others had for Stephen. Unfortunately, divisions happen. For whatever reason (and it is not explicitly stated in the text), this Jewish community brings false witness against Stephen. The men accuse Stephen of blasphemy against God. We begin to get the foreboding feeling that all is not well. It is not always easy or safe to share your faith with others!

As he stands before the Temple officials, Stephen gives a passionately articulate accounting of the Good News in Acts 7:1-54 during which he receives a vision of heaven. Yet he greatly offends and infuriates the Sanhedrin as his witness comes to a close and he concludes with, “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

Making Connections: When you have shared your spiritual journey with others, how have you been received? What impact did that response have on your desire to share your story?

Going Deeper:   "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."   George Santayana, a 19th Century Spanish philosopher and poet, is credited with this quote. From the beginning of time, which God created by the way, God knows this is true. God told the Hebrew people to listen to and to follow the commandments they were given.

Early in the history of the ancient Israelites, the book of Deuteronomy was written as a reminder of God’s power to save God’s chosen people. In Deuteronomy 6:4 God says in Hebrew, Shema Yisrael Adonai eloheinu Adonai ehad which is interpreted as Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. This is called “The Shema.” According to the Jewish Virtual Library “the Shema is an affirmation of Judaism and a declaration of faith in one God. The obligation to recite the Shema is separate from the obligation to pray and a Jew is obligated to say Shema in the morning and at night.”

History is SO important, that in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 God instructed the Hebrews, “Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”    Remembering the past became the norm for Jewish families and communities. It was how they knew God and how they kept their faith alive through the most difficult times. The most important recitation of Israel’s history is said on Passover during the Seder.   Although there are some Scriptural contradictions, Tradition says that Jesus shared the Passover meal with the disciples at the last Supper.

Pondering:     Stephen, dude! What were you thinking?! The history of God is SO important to the Jewish people. When Stephen uses Jewish history to convict the Sanhedrin Temple officials through the power of the Holy Spirit, he cuts them to the heart! He says, “You killed the Messiah.”    Is it any wonder that they reacted as they did!    These are highly religious men, but perhaps even highly religious people can go off the deep end when they believe they are right and everyone else is wrong. Did you catch the name of the one to whom the witnesses went to after the stoning. His name was Saul.   And he was wrong. Yes, this was the same Saul who became the Apostle Paul after his own conversion experience.

Forgiveness! As we listen to Stephen cry out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” we realize that this kind of compassionate forgiveness is possible only by the power of the Holy Spirit!   Stephen forgives these men in the same way Jesus forgave those who crucified him. How have you been deeply hurt in your life? How have you been able to experience various layers of forgiveness for persons who have hurt you?   As you think about your own spiritual journey, how would you describe the power of the Spirit in helping you to forgive?

Praying: Let this prayer of St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) become your daily Prayer of Eastertide

The Devotion of the Community

2011-05-13T23:35:00.000-05:00

Acts 2:42-47     They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Setting the Scene: As Jesus promised in Luke 24:49 and as Luke the Gospel writer reminds us in Acts 1:8, the Spirit has descended upon the disciples and followers of Jesus. They have been empowered by the Spirit to speak and hear and teach about God.   Peter has just finished preaching an inspired sermon to the people. He gives a powerful witness to Jesus the Messiah and tells the people about God’s promise to send the Spirit to live within all who believe. After they hear the good news and believe in the Word, three thousand people have been baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ.   We drop in on this early church community right after this powerful episode in which so many people respond. Now it is time for these new believers to join the community as they learn and grow and deepen their faith together.

Making Connections: As you have grown in your spiritual life, what are the spiritual practices that have sustained you and what are the spiritual practices that have challenged you to learn and grow deeper?

Going Deeper: After their baptism, the new believers join the community of Christ-followers. These new believers devoted themselves to things that would draw them closer to God and one another. The Greek word proskartereo {pros-kar-ter-eh'-o} means to adhere to one, to be devoted or constant to one and to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care, to persevere, to show one's self courageous.    They strive to follow Christ with purity of heart, which Soren Kierkegard defined as “to will one thing.”   As I read him, this “one thing” is to seek after the Good, which he considers to be God.   These followers of Christ were truly committed to communal living with a single-mindedness that we should admire and emulate.    By their life of devotion to God, these first followers of Christ embody the purity of heart that Kierkegard wrote about.

The biblical text says these Christ-followers were seeking after God through:

The apostle’s teaching: didache {did-akh-ay'} or doctrine
Fellowship: koinonia {koy-nohn-ee'-ah} or association, community, communion, joint participation, and intimacy
The breaking of Bread: klasis {klas'-is} or literally a breaking of … artos {ar'-tos} or a food the Israelites made of flour mixed with water and baked as an oblong or round cake, as thick as one's thumb, and as large as a plate or platter so that it was not to be cut but broken, loaves consecrated to the Lord, the bread used at the love-feasts and at the Lord's Table
Prayers: proseuche {pros-yoo-khay'} or an address to God, a place set apart or suited for the offering of prayer, a place in the open air where the Jews went to pray, outside the cities, where they had no synagogue

Pondering:   This passage continues to describe even more deeply how committed the people of this early community were to one another. They shared things in common and took care of one another in mutual love and respect, not only on a spiritual level but on a material level as well. This is a hard teaching for those of us who live in a highly materialistic world. “Finders keepers! Losers weepers!” we shout as young children, and we tuck that attitude away in our hearts.   It was hard for those first followers as well … read the story of Ananias and his wife Sapphira found in Acts 5:1-11.   Take a moment to read that story and consider your possessions. Do you possess them or do they possess you?   Open your checkbook or look at your credit card statement.   How do these tools tell you what is important in your life?   Are there any places that you need to make changes in the way you use and share your material gifts with others?

Communal living is not easy, but in the power of the Spirit, people can live in koinonia fellowship together. They can be a part of intimate small groups, learning about God through study and knowing God in prayer. In the power of the Spirit, people do learn to share their material wealth so that everyone has their needs met. In the power of the Spirit, people will see and experience the miracles of God.   Are you are part of a small group? What is the purpose of the time you spend together? How do you spend your time? Are you drawn more to learning about God through study or knowing God through prayer?   How have you experienced God through your experience with small groups?

The community of Acts 2:42-47 is a community devoted to spiritual formation.   Spiritual formation is the process of being conformed to the image of Christ by the gracious working of God's spirit, for the transformation of the world.   As you consider your spiritual journey, how is God working through the power of the Spirit to form you into the image of Christ?

The text says that “day by day the Lord added to their number …”   Now there is a church model for growth!   The growing community is a community that embodies the greatest commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and spirit AND Love your neighbor as yourself.    How does your community of faith, if you are a part of one, embody the greatest commandments?     A growing community is a community that “wills the one thing.”   What are the signs that you see that indicate that your community is becoming a gathering of people who “will the one thing?”    How could you encourage the purity of heart that this requires?

Praying: Let this prayer of St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) become your daily Prayer of Eastertide

The Witness of Peter: Promise of the Spirit

2011-05-05T04:56:00.002-05:00

Acts 2:14a, 36-41        But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.

Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified."   37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"   Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.     For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him."   And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."     So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

Setting the Scene:     Peter’s sermon to the crowd is told over two Sundays. Last week we heard Peter tell the crowds that Messiah had come to them and they (the people) didn’t treat him so well ... they crucified Jesus the Messiah, according to God’s plan. It sounds like a brutal plan to many modern ears. But the good news of last week is that death is not the end. Jesus was resurrected, raised by God! And because of the resurrection we all have the hope of a promise, which is the coming of the indwelling Holy Spirit. As you begin your study on this week’s passage, take a moment and read last week’s portion of Peter’s sermon to get a sense of how he challenges the community to accept and experience Messiah.

Making Connections: How have you accepted and experienced Jesus the Messiah in the midst of your life?

Going Deeper:   When we drop in on the “church” of early Christianity and read closely, we find that Peter is not preaching to just any crowd. He is preaching to the Judean community, people who know the Scripture and their own Jewish roots and traditions.   In these words of witness about Jesus Christ and the resurrection, many errant or fringe followers of God recognize that things have gotten a little rough around the edges of life. People have fallen short of their heritage and history. This grieves them and they cry out in anguish, “What should we do?”

When the people cry out, Peter gives them these instructions: 1) Repent 2) be baptized in the name of Jesus and 3) Receive the Holy Spirit. Do you remember where you’ve heard this message before?   These are not new instructions to the Jewish people … Long before this moment with Peter, both John the Baptist and Jesus preached repentance, or metanoeo {met-an-o-eh'-o} which means “to change one's mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins.” (ref: Bibleworks)

The first response is repentance, which means to turn around and move in the opposite direction.   In the words of the famous hymn, Amazing Grace … I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see. Repentance relies on recognition, which is the first step on the way to God. One realizes that he/she is living in a way that is not good nor is it pleasing to God. One often begins to feel lost and alone which fills the person with a desire for closeness with God that can only come with a changed life. In this passage, the people were "cut to the heart" as they recognized themselves in Peter's words.

As a next response in the early church, baptism was a sign of the desire for new life. The waters of baptism cleansed the soul of the inner remnant of sin. Baptism was an initiation into the early community of Christ followers. As a result of the sermon that Peter preached and a sign of their repentance and turning toward God, three thousand people were added to the community! Today, in Wesleyan tradition and United Methodist doctrine, we celebrate baptism as a sacrament, which is an outward sign of an inward grace.   Baptism is a representation of the new birth in Christ Jesus and is a part of the lifelong Christian journey.

Finally, Peter talks about the “promise” of the Holy Spirit to those who would believe. Only time will tell. Jesus had said to the believers more than once that the Holy Spirit would come to us and teach us, but it was a promise that transcended the individual person.   While Paul in his letters tells us that our bodies are a temple for the Spirit of God, Peter emphasizes the communal sense of the Spirit and even includes those of us who are followers throughout the ages in his sermon as he says the promise is for everyone whom the Lord our God calls.   That includes you and me!

Pondering:     Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Spirit. This is a very simply formula for accepting Christ and being empowered by God and the Church to live a Christian life.   And yet, I fear that is not enough!   How are you able to keep your faith strong as you seek to live an authentic life following Christ in today’s world? How might that look different today than it was in the early church?

Have you ever had the experience of repentance, metanoeo?     What was that like for you?   Were your desires changed or did you have to struggle with them? What does that tell you about God?

The word translated "baptized" in this passage is the Greek word baptizo {bap-tid'-zo} which means to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, or to make clean with water.    Have you been baptized?   If yes, what has that meant to your life, if anything? If you have not been baptized, why not consider baptism as an act of faith in your church community.

The word used by the Gospel writer for the Holy Spirit is pneuma {pnyoo'-mah} which means a movement of air (a gentle blast) of the wind, hence the wind itself, breath of nostrils or mouth, the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated.   Jesus called the Spirit by several names: Advocate, Helper, Counselor … how do you experience the Holy Spirit?   How do you call upon the Name of the Spirit?

Praying: Let this prayer of St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) become your daily Prayer of Eastertide:

The Witness of Peter: Jesus the Messiah

2011-04-29T04:33:00.003-05:00

Acts 2:14a, 22-32 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say ... "You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him, "I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.' "Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, "He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.' This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.

Setting the Scene: On Easter Sunday, we begin a 50-day journey called “Eastertide.” On this journey we walk a path from the resurrection of Jesus to the celebration of the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

http://www.wpclipart.com/index.html

The Lectionary is not particularly concerned with chronological order (what happened when) as much as theological order (how can we know God through what happened) so that our sequencing is often perplexing and can create challenges to us in our study.   As we take our theological journey through the book of Acts we find the power of God through the Spirit as the early church is born and grows.

As the book of Acts begins and after Jesus has ascended to the Father, we find the disciples casting lots to replace Judas. God chooses Matthias, one who has been a follower since the beginning and who was a witness to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Now there are twelve apostles once again but they are not the only ones waiting ... There are also 120 believers in their small but growing community. (Acts 1:15)

Suddenly as we move into the second chapter of Acts, the Holy Spirit (pneuma) falls upon the disciples and perhaps the believers as well. The Spirit makes a violent entrance, loud enough for many people to coming running in an effort to find out what is happening. Much to their amazement, they hear the disciples and believers speaking in their own native languages, which must have shocked them to the core of their being, to the place where there are no explanations.   Faced with the mystery of God’s breaking into present reality, some are bewildered and some make up wild accusations. Things haven’t changed very much!

Making Connections:   Have you ever experienced the "mystery" of God? Can you describe your experience with God?

Going Deeper: Spirit-filled, Peter speaks his witness to the people about Jesus Christ.   He is speaking to “Israelites.” These are people of Judea, people of the Jewish community. Take a moment to read the passage once more as you seek to understand how Peter speaks of Jesus.   Peter begins with the ministry of Jesus and he appeals to common knowledge of the miraculous signs and wonders that Jesus performed.

In the course of his sermonic witness, Peter suddenly takes a shocking turn as he blatantly accuses the people in attendance of being agents of the crucifixion. He basically says, “You killed Jesus.”   A shallow reading of this passage has people rushing to judge people today for something that happened almost 2000 years ago.   It has been said that this kind of prejudicial bias caused the Holocaust.   And this accusation comes from the man who had abandoned and betrayed Jesus himself on more than one occasion. Yet perhaps he softens the blow as he considers the crucifixion to be a part of God’s plan so that resurrection may follow. For the power of God was revealed as God raised Jesus up from death!    And, he says, “all of us are witnesses.”

Pondering:
     Without the cross, there is no resurrection.
     Without the resurrection, there is no Spirit.
     Without the Spirit, there is no Church.
     Without the Church …

How would you finish this sentence?   How has the Church been a witness to you of this journey from Easter resurrection to the Spirit at Pentecost? How have you been a witness to others?

When Peter talks of God’s plan we see that the early faith community saw Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises to King David of Israel and as a calling to become a holy people, sanctified by the Spirit to be a communal witness to the world.   Remember the words of the Samaritan woman, “One day I know the Messiah will come and he will tell us everything.” (John 4:25) Peter wants the hearers of his message to know that Messiah has come!   Through this faith community who were followers of Jesus the Christ, the world will extend the love of God to everyone as the Kingdom of God is embodied through the Spirit of Christ who lives within each believer.

Has the Messiah come in your life? How do your experience the power of God’s Spirit to help you embody the Kingdom of God?    Do you believe God has a “plan?” What does that mean to you and how does what you believe about “God’s Plan” impact the way you live in the world?

Praying: Let this prayer of St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) become your daily Prayer of Eastertide

Easter Sunday/Resurrection

2011-04-24T00:43:00.000-05:00

Read John 20:1-18 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed—for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. Then they went home. Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said.

Nole me tangere means Don't cling to me
© Cindy Serio 2011

She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.

Discover your daily breath prayer as it has emerged from your careful reading of the text. As you continue to pray your prayer as you breathe throughout the day, you may find that the fears and the pain and the silence of all of your yesterdays turn to joy as God’s love resurrects within you the person you were created to be. Have you seen the Lord today?

Take time to quiet yourself within. Acknowledge and then release of all your busy thoughts.
Use the name you usually use when you pray … or allow a “new” name for God to emerge
Consider where you are being called to release, receive, and/or respond to God this day
Ponder until you have about 6-8 syllables which is the most comfortable to breathe … or pray this one:

(breath in) Rabboni! … (breath out) I see you …

If music is a pathway to God for you, listen to this piano and photograph arrangement of Open our Eyes by Ana Kwa

Open our eyes, Lord,

we want to see Jesus,

to reach out and touch Him,

and say that we love Him.

Open our ears, Lord,

and help us to listen,

open our eyes, Lord,

we want to see Jesus.

The Journey to Easter ... Holy Saturday

2011-04-22T22:37:00.003-05:00

Read John 19:38-42 Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

I invite you to discover your daily breath prayer as it has emerged from your careful reading of the text.

As you continue to pray your prayer as you breathe throughout the day, you may find that God’s love becomes a strong fragrance and that others are drawn to God in Christ because of the flowers in your soul.

Take time to quiet yourself within.
Acknowledge and then release of all your busy thoughts.
Use the name you usually use when you pray … or allow a “new” name for God to emerge
Consider where you are being called to release, receive, and/or respond to God this day
Ponder until you have about 6-8 syllables which is the most comfortable to breathe
You may choose to pray this one

(breath in) Fragrant Spirit … (breath out) fill my soul

*See the Sidebar for more information on The Breath Prayer or take this Link to my website.

Let this be a day of simple breathing ... and silent waiting

The Journey to Easter ... Good Friday

2011-04-22T00:34:00.000-05:00

Read John 18-19:37 After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove. Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” “I told you that I Am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.” He did this to fulfill his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.” Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?” So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. First they took him to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.” Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?” “No,” he said, “I am not.” Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself. Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.” Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded. Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?” Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest. Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.” But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed. Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover. So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?” “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted. “Then take him away and judge him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied. (This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way he would die.) Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him. Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?” But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.) Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face. Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.” Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man!”

When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” “Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.” The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.” When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, “Look, here is your king!” “Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!” “What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back. Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, “Jesus of Nazareth,the King of the Jews.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it. Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did. Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also can believe.) These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and “They will look on the one they pierced.”

I invite you to discover your own personal daily breath prayer that emerges from your careful reading of the text or use the one I have provided.

As you continue to pray your prayer as you breathe throughout the day, you may find that you can enter into suffering with those who suffer and you can more readily see the Kingdom of God within your midst as you live a life of prayer and action.

Take time to quiet yourself within.
Acknowledge and then release of all your busy thoughts.
Use the name you usually use when you pray … or allow a “new” name for God to emerge
Consider where you are being called to release, receive, and/or respond to God this day
Ponder until you have about 6-8 syllables which is the most comfortable to breathe
You may choose to pray this one

(breath in) Sweet Jesus … (breath out) You’re my King …

*See the Sidebar for more information on The Breath Prayer or take this Link to my website.

If music is a pathway to God for you, watch this wonderful video with a montage of contemporary images interwoven with images of Jesus. The video background music is a beautiful arrangement of Amazing Love (You are my King) by the Newsboys.

The Journey to Easter ... Maundy Thursday

2011-04-20T22:52:00.001-05:00

Read John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God.

So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will soon give glory to the Son. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

I invite you to discover your own personal daily breath prayer that emerges from your careful reading of the text or use the one I have provided.

As you continue to pray your prayer as you breathe throughout the day, you may find that God’s love has called you to deeper discipleship, changed your heart and others are drawn to God in Christ because of the love you show to all people.

Take time to quiet yourself within.
Acknowledge and then release of all your busy thoughts.
Use the name you usually use when you pray … or allow a “new” name for God to emerge
Consider where you are being called to release, receive, and/or respond to God this day
Ponder until you have about 6-8 syllables which is the most comfortable to breathe
You may choose to pray this one

(breath in ) Spirit, help me ... (breathe out) love all people

*See the Sidebar for more information on The Breath Prayer or take this Link to my website.

If music is a pathway to God for you, listen and watch this youtube video of The Servant Song ... There are a couple of lovely inclusive versions of this song that I really prefer, however I really like the graphics used in this video, especially on Maundy Thursday.

The Journey to Easter ... Holy Wednesday

2011-04-19T23:21:00.001-05:00

Read John 13:21-32
Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed,

“I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!” The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. So Judas left at once, going out into the night. As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will soon give glory to the Son.

I invite you to discover your own personal daily breath prayer that emerges from your careful reading of the text or use the one I have provided.

As you continue to pray your prayer as you breathe throughout the day, you may find that God’s love begins to free you from your tendency to betray God with your thoughts and your deeds and that God in Christ is glorified because of your kindness and mercy.

Take time to quiet yourself within.
Acknowledge and then release of all your busy thoughts.
Use the name you usually use when you pray … or allow a “new” name for God to emerge
Consider where you are being called to release, receive, and/or respond to God this day
Ponder until you have about 6-8 syllables which is the most comfortable to breathe
You may choose to pray this one

(breath in) God of Justice, (breath out) set me free …

*See the Sidebar for more information on The Breath Prayer or take this Link to my website.

If music is a pathway to God for you, listen to Shackles by Mary, Mary ... It may seem a little upbeat for Holy Week but take a deep breath and lean into the sense of struggle that is embedded within it.

The Journey to Easter ... Holy Tuesday

2011-04-18T22:57:00.002-05:00

Read John 12:20-36
Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus. Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him. Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this to indicate how he was going to die. The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”

Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

I invite you to discover your own personal daily breath prayer that emerges from your careful reading of the text or use the one I have provided.

As you continue to pray your prayer as you breathe throughout the day, you may find that the light of God’s love begins to shine more brightly within you and others are drawn to God in Christ because of your prayers.

Take time to quiet yourself within.
Acknowledge and then release of all your busy thoughts.
Use the name you usually use when you pray … or allow a “new” name for God to emerge
Consider where you are being called to release, receive, and/or respond to God this day
Ponder until you have about 6-8 syllables which is the most comfortable to breathe
You may choose to pray this one

(breath in) God of Light, let me … (breath out) shine for you …

*See the Sidebar for more information on The Breath Prayer or take this Link to my website.

If music is a pathway to God for you, listen to this arrangement of Shine, Jesus, Shine ...

The Journey to Easter ... Holy Monday

2011-04-17T22:56:00.013-05:00

Read John 12:1-12
Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him.

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

I invite you to discover your own personal daily breath prayer that emerges from your careful reading of the text or use the one I have provided. As you continue to pray your prayer as you breathe throughout the day, you may find that with each breath that you take, you are worshipping God in Christ and that you are surrounded by the fragrance of God’s love.

Take time to quiet yourself within.
Acknowledge and then release of all your busy thoughts.
Use the name you usually use when you pray … or allow a “new” name for God to emerge
Consider where you are being called to release, receive, and/or respond to God this day
Ponder until you have about 6-8 syllables which is the most comfortable to breathe
You may choose to pray this one

(breath in) Dear Jesus, let me … (breath out) worship you …

*See the Sidebar for more information on The Breath Prayer or take this Link to my website.

If music is a pathway to God for you, listen to The Fragrance of Your Name by Cory Asbury.

Palm & Passion Sunday: Called to Obey God through Joy AND Pain

2011-04-10T22:39:00.004-05:00

This Blog Post is the gospel excerpt of Week 6 of the Lenten Bible Study I'm writing for Good News Sunday School Class at Ashford UMC which we'll study together on April 17.

Palm and Passion Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week. I remember the days when we just "celebrated" Palm Sunday ... there was no "Passion" on Palm Sunday, right? Well, ok I really don't know for sure but I remember that special Sunday when children could walk into church smiling and waving those palm branches and sometimes ... shouting "Halleluah!"   We were the center of attention. And then ... we'd listen to the story of Jesus riding in on a donkey. How cool is that! Now Jesus is the center of attention. It was FUN!

And now ... they've ruined it all ... whoever "they" are. These days we treat this last Sunday of Lent in a rather "choosy" way ... we can celebrate Palm Sunday OR we can do a more somber Passion Sunday OR we can invite our rather chaotic selves to come out to play and do both!   I guess I'm intrigued by this sense of chaos because it is rather like ... L I F E

So here we are, chaotic children of God. And in all of this chaos, we are called to obedience. Don't you just hate that?   We are called to seek and know God in Christ, and to do God’s will in good times and in times of struggle … through joy and pain. Ahhh, through the Palms AND the Passion! Don't you just love that :) !

Think of a time in your life that was filled with joy. What were the circumstances?   On the other side of your pondering, think of a time in your life that was filled with pain. What were those circumstances?   How are these times different and how are they the same?   When do you feel closer to God, in your joy or in your pain?   How do you discern God’s will? Where and how do you get your strength in times of struggle?

As we make our way to Palm/ and Passion Sunday this week, perhaps the highlight of our week is the struggle of Jesus the human being in the Garden of Gethsemane … Having begun in the joyous celebration of the palms we walk with Jesus as he struggles down the long dark path of the Labyrinth with only tiny sparks of light to show the way … letting go … releasing his own human will with obedience to the will of God all the way to the "center" and he receives what he needs in order to cry out ...

“My Father …

I want your will to be done,

not mine.”

Read the Psalm of the Palms 118:1-2, 19-29 as a prayer to begin your time of study

Tell the LORD how thankful you are,
because God is kind and always merciful.
Let Israel shout, "God is always merciful!"

Open the gates of justice!
I will enter and tell the LORD how thankful I am.
Here is the gate of the LORD!
Everyone who does right may enter this gate.
I praise the LORD for answering my prayers and saving me.

The stone that the builders tossed aside
has now become the most important stone.

The LORD has done this, and it is amazing to us.
This day belongs to the LORD!
Let's celebrate and be glad today.
We'll ask the LORD to save us!
We'll sincerely ask the LORD to let us win.
God bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD!
We praise you from here in the house of the LORD.
The LORD is our God, and he has given us light!

Start the celebration!
March with palm branches all the way to the altar.
The LORD is my God!
I will praise God and tell him how thankful I am.
Tell the LORD how thankful you are,
because God is kind and always merciful.

Read Matthew 21:1-11

which is the “Palm” reading for Palm/Passion Sunday using all of your five senses and your imagination.

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.


Entry into Jerusalem. Painting by Giotto, ca. 1300. Public Domain. http://www.gbod.org

The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."

In your mind’s eye (your imagination)

What do you see?

What do you hear?

What do you smell?

What do you taste?

What can you touch?

As you read the text with all of your senses, what do you notice? What emotions can you sense from the crowds? from the disciples? from Jesus? As a bystander experiencing this scene as it unfolds in your imagination, what are you thinking about? What are you feeling? What one word would you use to describe your experience? Treasure that word and carry it in your heart as you journey through Holy week.

Read Matthew 26:14-50 which is a portion of the “Passion” reading (which is Matthew 26:14-27:66) for Palm/Passion Sunday

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?” “As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there. When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples. While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?” He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!” Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?” And Jesus told him, “You have said it.” As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same. Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!” And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

Lectio: Re-read the bold print slowly, savoring each of the words. In silence, identify and recall the word, phrase, sentence, or idea that most caught your attention. Ponder and reflect on it for five minutes or longer.

Meditatio: Read the bold print aloud again.

Ask yourself: Where do these words touch my faith and my prayer life?

Pause again and reflect for five minutes or longer.

Is there an invitation to prayer and obedience? How so?

Oratio: Sacred reading leads us to prayer.

What begins as God addressing us – through the reading and our response – leads eventually our movement toward God in prayer. Respond to God in prayer. Carry that prayer with you today.

Contemplatio: Rest in the presence of God in blessed silence for at least five minutes. Amen.

This week we are challenged to consider both our Joy and our Pain as opportunities to experience God’s presence with us always. We are encouraged to remember that it is God who gives us the grace to enjoy the good times and to strength to endure the twists and turns on this Labyrinth of Life we are living. This is a really tough teaching because it simply doesn’t make sense to our human sensibilities … does it? And yet, it is our remembrance of the consolations of God which carries us through in the disconsolate times.

There is a wonderful little book by the Linns: Dennis, Matthew, and Sheila Fabricant. It is called Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Gives You Life. They begin the book with this story … During the bombing raids of WWII, thousands of children were orphaned and left to starve. The fortunate ones were rescued and placed in refugee camps where they received food and good care. But many of these children who had lost so much could not sleep at night. They feared waking up to find themselves once again homeless and without food. Nothing seemed to reassure them. Finally, someone hit upon the idea of giving each child a piece of bread to hold at bedtime. Holding their bread, these children could finally sleep in peace. All through the night the bread reminded them, “Today I ate and I will eat again tomorrow.” (1)

Many of us struggle with obedience, not because we do not want to follow God’s will but because we have a difficult time determining what God’s will is … Can you imagine Jesus the human being struggling with the reality of what God the Father was asking him to do? I believe it was a real struggle … not because he didn’t want to but because he had a hard time grasping the horror of it all ... and it was horrible, wasn’t it? And yet, we are called to trust in God ... for as Jesus finds in the Garden, we can was the path of obedience when we trust in God completely. Sleeping with Bread is about engaging in the spiritual discipline of the Daily Examen, during which one would “light a candle, become aware of God’s loving presence, and take about 5 minutes of quiet while [asking two questions.]” (5)

As a result of our study this week, we might ask:

1-where did I experience the greatest love or joy today and

2-where did I experience the most discomfort or pain today?

The Linns tell us that “this simple process is the most helpful way for people to hear the voice of God guiding them from within.” (back cover) Over time, we learn to find God’s voice in the consolations and the desolations of life.

I invite you to engage in the Daily Examen each day until Easter Sunday. I challenge you to continue until Pentecost!

Perhaps you might find it becomes easier to discern God’s will and become obedient to God. Experiment with many questions or just a few until you find the (2) questions that fit your personality and your spiritual life. Consider sharing your experience of the Daily Examen with another person or a small group that you are a part of.

Read the Psalm of the Passion 31:9-16 (CEV) as a Prayerful Amen (which mean “so be it”)

Have pity, LORD!

I am hurting and almost blind.

My whole body aches.

I have known only sorrow all my life long,

and I suffer year after year.

I am weak from sin, and my bones are limp.

My enemies insult me.

Neighbors are even worse, and I disgust my friends.

People meet me on the street, and they turn and run.

I am completely forgotten like someone dead.
I am merely a broken dish.
I hear the crowds whisper, Everyone is afraid!"
They are plotting and scheming to murder me.
But I trust you, LORD, and I claim you as my God.
My life is in your hands.

Save me from enemies who hunt me down.
Smile on me, your servant.
Have pity and rescue me. Amen.

If art and music is a pathway to God for you, this is a wonderful arrangement called Ride on to Die from Michael Card, with an art and video montage which manifests our palm/passion story in a beautiful way.

If music is a pathway to God for you listen as you watch this video which emerges from verse 15 of Psalm 31 called My Life is in Your Hands. It is a sung by Kathy Troccoli. She begins "Life can be so good. Life can be so hard." Joy and Pain ... we trust in God and respond to God's call with obedience.

Lent 5 Lazarus: Called to Live a Resurrected Life

2011-04-04T13:21:00.001-05:00

This Blog Post is the gospel excerpt of Week 5 of the Lenten Bible Study I'm writing for Good News Adult Sunday School Class at Ashford United Methodist Church. We will study this lesson together on April 10, 2011. If you would like to have the entire 5-day Bible Study, for your own study or for a small group, which integrates all four lectionary passages see the sidebar E-Blast for a link to my email address. Send me an email and I'll send you a full printer-friendly PDF File as an attachment each week of Lent. Thanks!

This week we are called to live a “resurrected” life. The Harper Collins Bible Dictionary defines resurrection as “a rising to life from death.” (926) The concept of resurrection emerged from Jewish apocalyptic literature such as the book of Ezekiel. (See Ezekiel 37:1-14) Apocalyptic literature focuses on “end times” and contains visions that are often mysterious and strange to us today.

Ancient peoples did not think of resurrection as life after death in the individualistic way modern people do but rather they concentrated on “a complete transformation of the human being” in this life. They believed that at the end of time “God would raise all of the elect” together. As we journey continue to walk the path to Easter Morning, we see how that theological belief articulated in Ezekiel begins to be challenged, deepened, and changed through the journey of the Hebrew community and the life of Christ found in the Gospels.

Read John 11:1-45 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them." After saying this, he told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him." The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right." Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world." When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Remember the bickering sisters named Mary and Martha … (You can read their story in Luke 10:38-42)

Jesus negotiated their sibling rivalry once upon a time with a balance of reprimand and grace. Today there is no sibling rivalry for we can see that their relationship has deepened. They have grown to respect one another in their different ways of being. As we sit with Mary and Martha in their grief, I invite you to think of a time when you experienced this kind of grief. Sit with those feelings for a moment and allow them to illuminate this passage. Do you approach grief in the rational way that Martha does or in the deeply felt way of Mary?

True to their personalities, when Martha heard Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him and Mary waited for him at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” As you look at the way Martha questions Jesus and the way Jesus responds to Martha in her grief, what do you notice? Where does her understanding of resurrection come from? What does Martha need at this time and how does Jesus reach out to her?

See the gentle way Martha comes to Mary and how Jesus waits for her to come to him. See how others follow her … See the gentle way she falls at his feet weeping, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” As you look at the way Mary questions Jesus and the way Jesus responds to Mary in her grief, what do you notice? What does Mary need at this time and how does Jesus reach out to her? How does Jesus reach out to each of us?

These sisters say the same thing to Jesus, but they say it in different ways to him, and they need different responses. Jesus shows a great depth of knowledge of them. How well does Jesus know you? Are you willing to be known even more by God?

As you consider the relationship between Jesus and these two sisters, how are you like Martha? How are you like Mary?

He (Jesus) was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved … Jesus began to weep … Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. What does the way Jesus responds to the death of Lazarus tell us about God? What do we learn from Mary and Martha about human beings? What do we learn from this passage about the relationship between God and us?

He (Jesus) cried with a loud voice "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." As we remember that resurrection is “a rising to life from death” we are filled with wonder at this sign that Jesus performed.

The Resurrection of Lazarus/Artist: VASZARY, János Date: 1912

As we have been making our labyrinth journey through Lent, we have begun to hear the call of Easter … New Life … Resurrection! And yet there is still much of the path left before us. We have been challenged this week to notice those places in our souls and our lives where we despair and face death. What are the things that bind you to a “dead” life? What more is left for you to release so that you are ready to receive “new life” once again and again and again! Yet even as we despair, have we not been comforted with the realization that Jesus meets us where we are, thinks with us, weeps with us and waits with us? What are the remnants of “death, the bits and pieces of an old way of thinking or being that Jesus is asking you to let go of?” Where is God calling you to embrace Spirit and “come out” of the tomb? How is God calling you to live a resurrected life … a life of freedom … right now, today?

How does God call you to step out on the path with specific actions?

As we continue this week leading up to Palm Sunday, we continue to breathe deeply as we hold death and life in greater depth and tension … dear friend, where are you on the great labyrinth of life? Are you standing on the edges, longing to enter? Are you in a time of releasing? receiving? responding? Have you wandered out … wondering … questioning … have you found a labyrinth to walk and meditate with your questions?

You know … God awaits!

Perhaps the “call to live a resurrected life” resonates with you but perhaps it doesn’t. If not, how have you been called by God this week? How are you being called to live and breathe more deeply within God’s indwelling Spirit?

Read Psalm 130 as a Prayerful amen to your study …

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.

Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?

But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in your word I hope;

my soul waits for the Lord

more than those who watch for the morning,

more than those who watch for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the LORD!

For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with God is great power to redeem.

It is God who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

If music is a pathway to God for you, listen to this youtube video of More than the Watchmen by Rebecca St James …

Remember ... If you would like to receive the full 5-day printer-friendly PDF version with all 4 lectionary readings integrated, see the Email Blast sidebar for email link. Email me and I'll put you on my weekly distribution list. Thanks!

Lent 4 A Blind Man: Called to See from a New Perspective

2011-03-27T19:22:00.003-05:00

This Blog Post is the gospel excerpt of Week 4 of the Lenten Bible Study I'm writing for Good News Adult Sunday School Class at Ashford United Methodist Church. We will study this lesson together on April 3 , 2011.

Today we read the story of a man who was healed by Jesus on the Sabbath. This particular violation of the Sabbath seemed to cause more controversy with the Pharisees than usual. In the Scriptures, blindness is equated with spiritual ignorance and a refusal to recognize God. This still happens today. Blindness is used by preachers and teachers to embody “sin.” However, in her book A Healing Homiletic, Kathy Black points out that even if we quite clearly talk of blindness as sin only in a symbolic context, the implication is “that once a person has faith, he or she will see again.” (58) This can be devastating to someone who is physically blind especially if one feels that if they only had enough faith God would “cure” them of their blindness. It is important to realize that scripturally-speaking, healing (sozo {sode'-zo}) means wholeness, wellness, and even salvation, but it does not necessarily mean "cure."

What do you think and how do you feel about Black’s statement?

Once again we read John 9:1-41 using the labyrinth as metaphorical study device: Release-Receive-Respond. Read carefully because just as there are many turns on the labyrinth there are several walkers on the path and many turns in their journey!

MOSAIC 24 foot labyrinth available for loan or consultation

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." They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet." The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out. Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.

MOVEMENT INTO: RELEASE … Identify what each of these person or groups of persons must let go of in order to “see.”

Disciples=

Blind Man=

Pharisees=

What do you need to release in order to “see” from a new perspective?

CENTER: RECEIVE … Identify the gift and/or the challenge received from God when the heart is open to “see.”

Disciples=

Blind Man=

Pharisees=

How open is your heart to “see?” What is the gift or the challenge that you received from your study?

MOVEMENT OUT OF: RESPOND … Identify how each person or group responds to Jesus

Disciples=

Blind Man=

Pharisees=

How will you respond, with specific actions, to the gift or the challenge you have discerned?

This week our reading challenges us to new vision. We are called to move from one side of the issues to view them from a new perspective. As you make your way through Lent, consider times when you have found your perceptions to be wrong. Have you ever had an opinion of someone that proved to be unfounded?

Consider times when you have found your perceptions to have been inaccurate. As you look back , think about where you may be noticing God inviting you to deeper reflections and new vision. As you ponder the possibilities, what will you need to release … to let go of … in order to take the next step in your spiritual journey? Why not try to find the beauty of a labyrinth to walk with these questions ... God is waiting!

Perhaps the “call to see from a new perspective” resonates with you but perhaps it doesn’t. If not, how have you been called by God this week? How have you changed as a result of stepping back to see with new eyes?

Read Psalm 23 in this contemporary version (CEV) as a Prayerful amen to your study …

You, LORD, are my shepherd.

I will never be in need. You let me rest in fields of green grass.

You lead me to streams of peaceful water, and you refresh my life.

You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths.

I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won't be afraid.

You are with me, and your shepherd's rod makes me feel safe.

You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch.

You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows.

Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life,

and I will live forever in your house, LORD. Amen.

If music is a pathway to God for you, watch this video of Mercy Me’s Open the Eyes of My Heart

If art is a pathway to God for you, visit this image by EDY-LEGRAND, Edouard Léon Louis From François Amiot's and Robert Tamisier's Bible, edited 1950

If you are a visual learner, you might want to watch this clip from The Visual Bible: Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind.

Lent 3 Samaritan Woman at the Well: Called to Satisfy your Thirst with Living Water

2011-03-21T00:29:00.055-05:00

This Blog Post is the gospel excerpt of Week 3 of the Lenten Bible Study I'm writing for Good News Adult Sunday School Class at Ashford United Methodist Church. We will study this lesson together on March 27, 2011. If you would like to have the entire 5-day Bible Study, for your own study or for a small group, which integrates all four lectionary passages see the sidebar E-Blast for a link to my email address. Send me an email and I'll send you a full printer-friendly PDF File as an attachment each week of Lent. Thanks!

•   Have you ever been thirsty?
•   Think about a time that you were truly thirsty and were unable to satisfy that longing for water.


12th Century Artist Unknown Public Domain

Read John 4:5-42 and simply savor the beauty of the story before beginning your study. You may want to read it in your own preferred version,

So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?" Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water." 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 worshiped 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 worshipers 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."

Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you want?" or, "Why are you speaking with her?" Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city.   She said to the people, "Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?" They left the city and were on their way to him. Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, eat something." But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." So the disciples said to one another, "Surely no one has brought him something to eat?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more, then comes the harvest'? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I have ever done." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word.They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world."

This week as we ponder the labyrinth as metaphorical journey we find Jesus sitting by the well at the center of the winding path. The first movement of the labyrinth journey is release … letting go.    Jesus the human being himself has walked the path to the center, hasn’t he?    What physical boundary did Jesus the weary traveler need to cross in order to sit at Jacob’s well?   As the woman approaches the well she sees Jesus. Suddenly we have a culture clash. Samaritans were born of intermarriage between Israelites and people from Babylon and other parts of Mesopotamia and Syria. What social boundaries did Jesus the Jewish man have to cross in order to ask this Samaritan woman for a drink?   What social boundaries did the Samaritan woman cross in order to answer the question that Jesus asks her … with a question?   What kind of social boundaries do you encounter today? How do you handle those boundaries?

Jesus and the woman meet in the center at the well. When we reach the heart of the labyrinth, we receive.   Jesus offers the Samaritan woman “living water.”   Clarke’s Commentary says living water was common to the inhabitants both of the east and of the west, and meant spring water, full of life, in opposition to dead, stagnant water contained in ponds, pools, or cisterns. In your own words, describe the living water that Jesus offers as you understand it. (See John 7:37-39) The woman seems unable to accept it yet.    What holds the woman back?   What hold you back?

The woman continues her conversation with Jesus with questions which arise from their own shared patriarchal history … the history of Samaritans and Israelites. Samaritans believed and claimed theirs was the true religion of the ancient Israelites before the time of the Babylonian exile. It is said that the most notable difference between their beliefs concerned the proper place to worship God. The Jews believed God must be worshipped in Jerusalem, which was the dwelling place of God on earth, Mount Zion. But for the Samaritans it was Mount Gerizim. This woman asks Jesus the prophet THE theological question that separates their religions – the “proper” place to worship God ... it is a real “worship war.”   Why do you think Jesus chose to engage this woman about spiritual things?   Are you surprised that this woman of her time knows this history and uses it as she talks with Jesus?    Is there a possibility that she has deeper understanding of spiritual things than many give her credit for?    What do you think is the source of the woman’s deep thirst?    Can you describe your own thirst for God?

Suddenly Jesus brings up the woman’s living situation.   Why now does he decide to challenge the woman’s character?    Does it seem like an abrupt transition?    What does Jesus want from her?    Was it a test? Did she pass?

Jesus knows the woman … he looks deep into her life and her soul.   In response to his deep knowing, she recognizes him as a “prophet.”   A prophet is a truth-teller, someone who knows God and speaks for God to people.    What “truth” do you need to hear from God?

This woman is waiting on Messiah. Along with her deep thirst, she has a deep trust that Messiah will come and explain everything to her. She says, “I know.”   How does she know Messiah will come?    How does Jesus the Messiah satisfy her thirst with living water?   How does Jesus satisfy your thirst with living water?

After we receive the living water that God has for us in the center of the labyrinth, we get up and go ... we respond. We take the winding path bath in the direction we came from, satisfied, restored and energized. Immediately after Jesus tells the woman he is Messiah, she leaves! She runs! She leaves her water jar! This was a woman in a hurry.   Why do you think she is such a rush to get back to town?   How do you think she is feeling as she runs “home?”   When she encounters the villagers, she says, “Come and see.” The woman asks, “Could he (Jesus) possibly be the Messiah?”    What does it mean to you that Jesus is “Messiah”?

In this woman’s witness, we hear the expression “He told me everything I ever did!” This tells us how important “story” is. There is a longing deep within us to be known, heard, and accepted as we are.   There is a deep thirst within us to connect with God in the larger story of life.   Think about your “story.”    What memories are important in your faith journey?   How well do you know yourself?   Where does your story connect with the larger story?   How?

Finally the villagers claim they believe from their own experience. How important is it for us to trust people to live their own story and walk their own path?   Using one word or phrase, describe your “path?”

Read Psalm 95:1-11, reread verses 1-7 (adapted slightly) as a Prayer …

¹ Come, let us sing to the Lord!
      Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
² Let us come to him with thanksgiving.
      Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
³ For the Lord is a great God,
      a great King above all gods.
⁴ He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
      and the mightiest mountains.
⁵ The sea belongs to him, for he made it.
      His hands formed the dry land, too.

⁶ Come, let us worship and bow down.
      Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
    ⁷ for he is our God.
   We are the people he watches over,
      the flock under his care.

If only you would listen to God's voice today!

⁸ The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah,
      as they did at Massah in the wilderness.
⁹ For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience,
      even though they saw everything I did.
¹⁰ For forty years I was angry with them, and I said,
   ‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from me.
      They refuse to do what I tell them.’
¹¹ So in my anger I took an oath:
      ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”

⁶ Come, let us worship and bow down.
      Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
    ⁷ for he is our God.
   We are the people he watches over,
      the flock under his care.

[Let us] listen to God's voice today!

This week our lectionary readings challenge us to listen to God’s voice today! We are called to satisfy our thirst with living water. As you make your way through Lent, seek God in your everyday life. As you look back and consider this passage from John’s Gospel, think about where you may be noticing God offering living water to satisfy your thirst? As you ponder the possibilities, what will you need to release … to let go of … in order to take the next step in your spiritual journey? Why not try to find the beauty of a labyrinth to walk with these questions ... God is waiting!

Perhaps the call to satisfy your thirst with living water resonates with you but perhaps it doesn’t. If not, how have you been called by God this week? How will you respond to God’s call with specific action?

Watch this youtube clip of the encounter that Jesus has with the Woman at the well. It is an excerpt from a movie, but I'm not sure of the name of the movie. Comment if you know!

Lately I've found that good Christian "rap" is quite amazing. I've often thought, "Well, this must be the way the Psalms were first heart. Watch this amazing "monologue version" of the woman at the well by a very talented young woman who gives it a contemporary feel. I didn't find her name but she touches me.

If Art is a pathway to God for you, view this painting of the Jesus and the Woman at the Well by Daniel Bonnell and this compelling image of Jesus and the Woman at the Well from Mario Sironi from 1947.

Remember ... If you would like to receive the full 5-day printer-friendly PDF version with all 4 lectionary readings integrated, see the Email Blast sidebar for email link. Email me and I'll put you on my weekly distribution list. Thanks!

Lent 2 Nicodemus: Called to Seek God in the Unknown

2011-03-13T22:38:00.004-05:00

This Blog Post is the gospel excerpt of Week 2 of the Lenten Bible Study I'm writing for Good News Adult Sunday School Class at Ashford United Methodist Church. We will study this lesson together on March 20, 2011. If you would like to have the entire 5-day Bible Study, for your own study or for a small group, which integrates all four lectionary passages see the sidebar E-Blast for a link to my email address. Send me an email and I'll send you a full printer-friendly PDF File as an attachment each week of Lent. Thanks!

The season of Lent has been characterized by some as a journey to Jerusalem and the Cross. The Labyrinth, too, has been used as a way to envision the journey to Jerusalem and the Cross as a pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is a physical journey with a spiritual purpose. There is a song we sing these days called The Servant Song. It begins “We are pilgrims on a journey.”

How has your spiritual life been like a journey?
How has your community of faith been a part of your life journey?

This week we observe Nicodemus and his encounter with Jesus. Nicodemus is a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the ruling council of the temple. He was a "leader of the Jews." We can determine from all of this information that he was a powerful and influential person in the Jewish community.

Read John 3:1-17 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

As we take this Lenten journey, we are using the movements of the Labyrinth to structure our study.

Outdoor Labyrinth at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco July 2009

Perhaps Nicodemus has been circling the outer edges of the Labyrinth of Life for quite some time. Perhaps he haS begun to feel like there was “something more” to the spiritual life than influence and power. Perhaps he has been watching Jesus and listening to others tell about the miraculous healings of Jesus, his wise teaching moments, and his powerful preaching events. Nicodemus may have struggled for quite awhile before he was able to take that first step toward God in Christ. Perhaps he was afraid. Finally, unable to resist the persistent call held deeply within his soul, he enters the dark of the night … he steps into the Labyrinth of Life seeking God in the unknown.

Have you been circling the outer edges of the Labyrinth of Life for awhile, afraid to go deeper?
Have you ever wondered if there is more to the spiritual life than what you have experienced so far?
Is it time for you to take a step into the unknown?

Christian mystics often use darkness as a metaphor for “unknowing.” As we join Nicodemus on his journey through the darkness to approach the center, of the labyrinth we RELEASE. We surrender ourselves to God. Many people find release, meaning to let go to be the greatest obstacle we face as we embrace our “call” and respond in obedience. And yet, we must overcome great obstacles, and we must be obedient to the call that we have discerned in order to grow and mature in our spirituality and the life we live as Christians. Nicodemus “came to Jesus by night.” As you read this passage closely with an openness to what is revealed to you, it is ok to use your imagination as you ponder …

What are some of the things that Nicodemus had to surrender in order to enter this dark of the night, also known as the “unknowing?” What do you need to surrender to God?
What did Nicodemus refuse to give up, so that he might come in the light of day? Is there anything in your life that you are having a hard time leaving behind in order to move forward on your journey?
When we come to the center of the labyrinth, we pause and RECEIVE. What did Nicodemus receive from God? What is it that you desire to receive from God?

After we receive, we get up and travel the same path out that we came in. As we walk, we ponder and gather the strength we need to RESPOND to God in obedience. As we leave our labyrinth experience, we enter the world changed as we manifest our response to God. Often we feel as if we have been “reborn.” How do you think Nicodemus was changed by his encounter with Jesus? (See John 7:45-52 and 19:38-42)

Perhaps the call to seek God in the unknown resonates with you ... but perhaps it doesn’t. I invite you to spend some time thinking about where you sense the deepest call on your life this week. As you seek to “respond to God’s call” are there any actions that you will commit to as a result of your study this week?

If art is a pathway to God for you, check out The Life of Jesus Mafa Website which are a coherent set of African illustrations of the Gospel. Take the link for the illustration of Jesus and Nicodemus.

If music is a pathway to God for you, I have to say the music this week was hard to find ... I finally chose 2 different videos of In the Secret. The first one is a worship version with lyrics by Joel Engle and the 2nd is a hard and fast version by Sonic Flood.