Adding It All Up

Mark 11:12-26

Our reading from the gospel today includes what is commonly referred to as “The Cleansing of the Temple.” This is one of a handful of accounts that appear in all four gospels in essentially the same form (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48, and John 2:13-17). Each tells the story of Jesus entering the temple in Jerusalem and driving out those who did business there, selling livestock or changing money. Quoting from the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, Jesus accuses these business people of changing the temple from a house of prayer into a haven for thieves. In short, worldly qualities and values had taken root within this most holy of places, where God’s presence alone was to be recognized.

Jesus’ response to the state of affairs in Jerusalem should not surprise us. As was often said of him, he was zealous for God’s will. But I wonder what Jesus might do were he to enter one of our congregations today. In fact, this is a question we all should struggle with. Financial concerns occupy a great deal of time for church leaders. Annual budgets, stewardship campaigns, endowments, investments, bequests, building loans, insurance policies, salaries, utilities and so forth are constant factors of church life. Have we turned our places of worship into erstwhile financial institutions? Well, frankly, we are probably more money conscious than we should be. Most spreadsheets leave little room for faith as a line item. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Giving, in and of itself, can and should be a form of spiritual discipline; a “get-to” not a “have-to” as it were. But it should not replace prayer, study, or active participation as our primary function.

In my opinion the congregations that worry the most about money are probably the ones in most danger of considering it to be essential for survival. Ultimately money should only be seen as a tool to do the work of the Lord, not as a reason for being. Financial well-being is important, but a Spirit-filled, Christ-centered group of people can accomplish great things with very little, as long as God is at work there.

Prayer: Lord, bless us with the tools we need in order to serve you most faithfully. And help us to use what we have wisely and generously. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Remember My Chains

Jeremiah 32:1-15

Colossians 3:18-4:18

Luke 7:36-50

At the conclusion of the letter to the church at Colossae Paul stops dictating to a scribe, takes the writing implement into his own hand, and adds a few words. Among them are these: “Remember my chains” (Colossian 4:18). Presumably he is asking his readers to pray for him in his imprisonment. But is it also possible that he is apologizing for his poor handwriting caused by restricted movement? No matter. Despite his imprisonment Paul is determined to continue sharing the gospel with all who will listen.

The prophet Jeremiah was also imprisoned. He had chosen a time of national crisis to express God’s judgment and been arrested for it. He might have grown discouraged or disgusted, yet when given the chance he offered a sign of profound hope by purchasing a field. The day will come, he was saying, when God’s people will be restored to their land (Jeremiah 32:15). The woman in Luke’s account did not live in literal chains, but she was bound by her reputation which, according to Jesus’ host, was as “a sinner” (Luke 7:39). But even her lowly social status did not prevent the woman from ministering to Jesus or receiving his assurance of forgiveness.

You and I carry chains as well: of sin, regret, loss, anger. We might consider our condition to be more than we can overcome. We might give up and become passive, allowing our faith to dwindle. Or we could remember Paul, Jeremiah, and the unnamed woman from Luke’s gospel, each a person bound in some way yet determined to serve God as best they could. Seen in this light our chains become far less significant to who we are and our opportunities to serve become far more numerous. There are tasks to be done, and by the grace of God we are the folks called to do them. In this way we will find our true freedom.

Prayer: God of freedom and mercy, help us to rise above that which binds us and to embrace the good news of the gospel as a message to share and a path to trod. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

New Growth

I see a theme or connection, especially between the Jeremiah and the Romans texts, but the John passage fits in as well. Jeremiah 11:16 says, "The Lord once called you, 'A green olive tree, fair with goodly fruit;' but with the roar of a great tempest he will set fine to it, and its branches will be consumed." In Romans 6:11 Paul says, "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." The olive tree, which represents Israel (the people of God), consumed in sin like a mighty fire, has been nurtured and brought back to life in the death and resurrection of Jesus. It reminds me of what happens in the seasons after fire purges a forest area. Slowly new growth returns and, in time, the forest is restored. In the death and resurrection of Jesus, in which we share, God is bringing new growth for the community of faith. John 8:34-35 says, "Jesus answered them, 'Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household…'" Sin leaves us prone to death and estranged from God. But through Jesus Christ we find that we are nurtured, cared for, and allowed to grow into what we were meant to be: a pleasant planting of God.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Here are some thoughts I have based on the readings for today from the Daily Lectionary. We are currently in Year 1, the 3rd week of Lent. Quotatations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

Jeremiah 8:4-7, 18-9:6-- Verses 8:22-9:1 say "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored? O that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people!" God's poor people--Judah-- have within their grasp the power to be restored. It is God's word which is just as close and personal to them as the resin of the Styrax tree, a healing ointment. Incidentally, this morning my wife said she was very happy to be reminded that there is a balm in Gilead. I guess that would be her verse for the day from Jeremiah as well.

Romans 5:1-11--I've underlined vs. 3-5: "And not only that, but we also boast in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts thought the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." This whole chapter is powerful, but this portion on finding hope in the struggles we face is especially moving to me.

I'm not crazy about John 8:12-20. (I notice we skipped the woman caught in adultery.) But vs. 12 is helpful: "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'" Sometimes I find myself in some pretty dim places. It is good to know that Jesus is the light that can lead me home!