Righteousness

Scripture            Matthew 1:18-25   
Focus Verse        Matthew 1:19
Joseph, being a righteous man was unwilling to expose Mary to public disgrace …

Let’s take a moment to imagine, like Joseph, we have no knowledge of God’s plan.  Let all of the emotions that Joseph must have had, believing that Mary had betrayed him, arise:  disbelief, anger, pain, fear, shame, shock just to name a few.  Joseph, even with all of those emotions, being a righteous man, has mercy and compassion toward Mary, and resolves to end their betrothal without publicly humiliating her and putting her in danger of death by law.

Righteousness, translated from the Greek word, dikaiosune, has been defined as being in a “right relationship with God.”  Just like Mary, Joseph was chosen because of his relationship with God, one in which he was sensitive to God’s movements, one who acted with grace in the most difficult of situations.   

Reflection:  If you were in Joseph’s shoes, without knowing God’s plan, what feelings would you have had toward Mary?  What would you have done?  What are the signs in your life when you are in right relationship with God?  How does being in right relationship with God bring out the best in us?

There is a stanza in the song, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," that has a haunting quality that underscores the sense of pain and confusion that sometimes come into our lives.  When I hear this arrangement by Shane (Barnard) and Shane (Everett) and let these words sink into my soul: "beneath life’s crushing load," I can feel the painful steps that Joseph walks before the angel comes to him. Life happens every day, and it is only our relationship with God that holds us up on some of those days as we "rest beside the weary road."  If music is a spiritual path for you, listen with the ears of your heart to the words written in 1849 by Edmund Sears whose context was the social strife and division in our country that preceded the civil war. 

Prayer: Breathing “The Jesus Prayer”       
Breathing in … Lord Jesus Christ
Breathing out … Have mercy
*pray by breathing this prayer repetitively until the prayer prays you. You’ll know the prayer is praying you when the words come to you at random times in random places.  You will simply feel the words on your lips, in sync with your breathing.  And you have begun the process of praying unceasingly through the power of the Holy Spirit! For more information about praying The Jesus Prayer, an ancient prayer form from the days of early Christian History, practiced by the Desert Mothers and Fathers, take this LINK ...

The Spirit of the Lord

Scripture             Isaiah 11:1-10   
Focus Verse        Isaiah 11:2 & 4 excerpt
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD … with righteousness he shall judge …

This short reading from Isaiah is a beautiful positive messianic promise interwoven into some of the harshest words of judgement spoken in the bible.  The stump of Jesse (David’s father) is the once glorious Israel under attack and beaten down by the Assyrians.  Suddenly hope “shoots” up in the midst of despair, the Messiah who will deliver the people!  Once again we find foreshadowing.

It is a beautiful vision that Isaiah creates for us, the Peaceable Kingdom, the one we dream of while we wait … Into the messiness of the feeding trough, Jesus was born.  Into the messiness of life, Jesus walks.   But Jesus never walked alone, and neither do we.

The Spirit of God, the One hovering over the waters of Creation, is and always has been watching over humanity, leading and guiding, teaching and inspiring, convicting and comforting … even praying when we don’t know how.  Paul says our very own bodies are a temple for the Spirit of God. 

Reflection:  How do you experience the Spirit of God in Christ?  Recall times in your life when you've know that Jesus has been your companion on the journey of life.

If music is a spiritual pathway for you, take in link and listen to "Hail to the Lord's Anointed."  Anointing is symbolic of blessing, protection, and empowerment and it's meaning is that of being chosen or "set apart."  This arrangement is beautifully sung by Sandra McCracken and highlights our belief that Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy of the Anointed One, the Messiah. 

Breathing in … Lord Jesus Christ
Breathing out … Have mercy
*pray by breathing this prayer repetitively until the prayer prays you. You’ll know the prayer is praying you when the words come to you at random times in random places.  You will simply feel the words on your lips, in sync with your breathing.  And you have begun the process of praying unceasingly through the power of the Holy Spirit! For more information about praying The Jesus Prayer, an ancient prayer form from the days of early Christian History, practiced by the Desert Mothers and Fathers, take this LINK ...

Salt of the Earth, Light of the World

Today’s passage is a portion of the “Sermon on the Mount.”  In its entirety, the Sermon on the Mount addresses the way people are called to be in the world as disciples, as people in “right” relationship with God.  

Christ Pantocrator, 16 c, By Biełaruś [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

People argue about what righteousness means, what "right relationship" looks like and what it requires of one who seeks to follow God.   People ask the questions:  Who am I?  Because I am who I am, how am I called to “be” in the world and what am I called to “do” for the world?
 

Jesus uses simple, ordinary yet highly important objects of life to begin this portion of his “sermon."  He uses salt and light to describe disciples living in the kingdom of God, right now.  Today, we use salt to season food and enhance the flavor of meat, sometimes without even thinking.  And yet too much salt can be overpowering, ruin the taste of our food, and give us high blood pressure!   

In biblical times, salt was also a metaphor for fidelity or covenant.  

Today, I’m not sure how we would live without light.  How could we live without a lamp to read the newspaper, our favorite novel, or the bible?  How could we live without that overhead fluorescent to cook by?     How could we drive at night without the headlights on our car?   I suppose I consider light to be an essential of living today.

In the bible, God through the prophet Isaiah calls upon Israel, the covenant people, to be a “light to the nations.”

Covenant people are essential.  If you and I are to be disciples in the kingdom of God today, we bring the salt of our souls and the light of our communities into the world through the way we live our lives, both individually and communally in righteousness, or in “right relationship,” with God.  Jesus invites us and challenges us to deepen our relationship with God beyond that of those who put their piety on display for all to see but does not open their heart to God or others.  

One of the best ways to draw closer to God and to deepen our relationship is through daily engaging in "breath prayers."    I invite you to join me as I breathe deeply  

Breathing in ... God of Salt
Breathing out ... Increase my Saltiness

Breathing in ... God of Light

Breathing out ... Let me shine bright

When you are ready to enter the narrative through "Lectio Divina," pray ... God of Salt, God of Light, send your Spirit to lead me into deeper discipleship.  Speak to my heart through your Word that I might hear your voice and respond in grace and peace.  Amen.

Step 1:  Read Matthew 5:13-20 slowly and reverently ...What word, or phrase calls for your attention in your reading?  Spend a few moments pondering how God, through these words of Christ" may be inviting you through your word or phrase ... 

"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.  "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.  No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.  "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.  For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.  Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." 

Step 2:  Read the passage again and Reflect ...
How does your word or phrase from this passage illuminate your life or the life of your community right now?  How is God inviting you to change or grow or pray or act?

Step 3:  Read the passage again and Respond ...
What do you say to God about your light, your life and how you feel you are being called?   How do you pray when you consider what God is saying to you?

Step 4:  Rest ...
Come to a place of silence within yourself and just "be" with God.  Try for 10 minutes or beyond. When you are ready to move on,  pray:

God of all Nations, you are the light of the World.  May I be your servant, a reflection of your love and a beacon of light to all people who cross my path.  Amen.

If music is a pathway to God for you, listen and if images are a pathway to God for you, watch this youtube video called Salt and Light by Jami Smith.  Enjoy!