Someone, Somewhere

Hebrews 2:1-10
I am always amused by this particular passage in our reading from Hebrews today. “Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. But someone has testified somewhere, ‘What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them?’” (Hebrews 2:5-6). Frankly it sounds like something I would say, especially if I was feeling too lazy to confirm that as a quote from Psalm 8:4. Recently in a sermon I mistakenly referred to Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken” as “The Road Less Traveled.” I was sure I had the right title, so sure that I didn’t take the 30 seconds necessary to verify it on Google. Fortunately, the English teachers in my congregation were gentle in their comments.

The writer of Hebrews did not have the luxury of Google, of course, and may not have been sure of the exact source. But no matter! The verse quoted is apt and to the point, which I think helps to highlight an important aspect of scripture’s power. Scripture does not gain its authority from our mastery of it. This is God’s word; it comes to us with its authority already in tact, its relevance already assured. This is why we wrestle with and allow ourselves to be engaged by passages like those from Hebrews and the book of Psalms, because it is there that we find God’s word for us and for the world. A too-easy comfort with such verses, to me, indicates an unwillingness to be fully impacted by what God is saying. Scripture is hard work, it is long study, it is on-going conversations, it is prayer and reflection, it is honest disagreement and an open examination of preconceived notions. It stands up to and rewards our toughest questions with resilience and strength.

The writer of Hebrews had a message for God’s people. So did the psalmist. But the power of their words comes from God’s Spirit working in and through them. A breezy familiarity with scripture keeps us from appreciating the wondrous power at work there. To me it is far more important to honestly wrestle with words of scripture than to pass by them quickly or with blasé familiarity.

Prayer: Lord, give us ears to hear your word even as we wrestle with its meaning for our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

When Familiarity Breeds Blindness

John 9:18-41

"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'" (John 9:39). Most of us are used to such sayings by now. We've read words like these from Jesus any number of times. We have heard (or preached) countless sermons on the subject. We know that Jesus has come to turn things upside down. The gospels use different terms for expressing the same phenomenon. For instance in Luke Mary offers thanks to God for feeding the hungry and sending the rich away without food (Luke 1:46-55). This is old news for us, right?

But we need to be careful. Once we get to the point where "we've heard it all before" we may have become the ones who think they see but who have actually become blind. Resisting the power of the gospel is akin to ignoring it all together. We may think we have it all figured out when in fact we keep missing the point. For example, I have eaten a lot of meals in my life, but I don't let that stop me from having lunch or dinner one more time. In fact there are are a number of dishes that I like so much that I eat them over and over again. We must treat Jesus' words–and the teachings of scripture as a whole–the same way, returning to them again and again for what they have to say to us and the nourishment they offer.

Jesus came into the world bringing a radically new perspective and a completely new understanding of God. The truth of Jesus' words has not been exhausted, nor have we managed to fully comprehend their meaning. We need to keep trying. We need to live like those who are blind to the full truth, but who are striving to see.

Prayer: Gracious God, help us to hear and see you word anew each time we are encountered by it. In Jesus' name. Amen.

When Scripture Comes At Right Angles

Genesis 27:1-29
Romans 12:1-8
Sometimes scripture comes to us not in parallel lines as it were but at right angles, creating a certain amount of tension as we try to work through what appears to be conflict. To me there is a right angle of sorts between our readings from Genesis and Romans. Let's start with the words of Paul. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters," he writes, "by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2). Paul is encouraging his readers to live lives of honesty and integrity, justice and righteousness. While the world may lead us off the path of discipleship Paul insists that we remain true to God and focused on the divine will.

Our reading from Genesis, however, displays a completely different form of behavior. It is the familiar story of the younger of twins who is able to steal his older brother’s blessing from their father. "Jacob said to [Isaac], 'I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, so that you may bless me'" (Genesis 27:19). We might not find this story so surprising had the scheme not worked so well. Jacob did receive the blessing that belonged to Esau, and Jacob became the one through whom God’s covenant continued to unfold. But Jacob hardly presented himself in honesty or integrity, justice or righteousness to his father. His actions before God, then, were not “good and acceptable and perfect.” How can we deal with such a dichotomy?

Of course, there is no easy answer to the question. Jacob, a real rascal, gets away with all sorts of shenanigans in his lifetime but remains in favor with God. But as Paul reminds us the call to follow Jesus Christ leads us to a more mature faith that seeks to do God’s will, even to our own disadvantage. For me it is helpful to remember that God is able to work in and through sinners like Jacob (and you and me as well). No matter where we are in life God has a place for us and a role for us to play. We should strive for the higher ground, but when we fall short we should not lose sight of the promises that come to us in God’s love. Scripture may intersect in all sorts of crazy ways, but the God we meet in scripture stands over and above it all in truth.

Prayer: Lord, help us to live lives dedicated to you, aware of you, focused on you, and forgive us when we fail you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Look Up From Your Books

John 5:30-47

Today's gospel reading contains a warning for all of us who take scripture seriously and who trust it to guide us in our lives of faith. "You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life," Jesus says, "and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life" (John 5:39-40).

A few years ago I was asked if I believed in the Bible. After some thought I admitted that no, I did not believe in the Bible. "I believe the Bible," I said, "but I believe in God as he is made known through Jesus Christ." In other words, my faith is in that which the Bible itself points toward which is the love and mercy of God. Am I splitting hairs? I don't think so. I think the distinction is clear, especially the way Jesus describes it in John. If we are not careful we may find ourselves so intent on searching scripture - one form of God's Word - that we overlook the real presence of God in Jesus Christ - the Word of God incarnate.

I would contend that many contemporary communities of faith have become so fixated on what they are reading in scripture that they have failed to notice what God is actually doing all around them, touching lives, making men and women whole, anointing with the Spirit of hope and peace. I do not in any way discount the role of scripture as a witness to the saving grace of God, but I do believe it is worth looking up from our texts now and again - our reading about God's work - in order to see what it is that God is actually doing all around us. God may very well surprise us with the life we seek.

Prayer: Lord God, lead us beyond our own feeble efforts to explain or account for you so that we may come to know you as you would be known. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Parenthetically Speaking

John 4:16-26

The translation of scripture into a particular language is not always the best guide to the passage’s intent, but the way the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible renders part of our gospel reading for today is interesting. Jesus is speaking with the woman at the well in Samaria. “The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am he, the one who is speaking to you’” (John 4:25-26). My question is why is the phrase “who is called Christ” placed in parenthesis? This is not a part of the woman’s remarks—the NRSV leaves the parentheses outside of the quotation marks. So if the woman didn’t pause to more fully define “Messiah,” who did? The answer is the author of John did, or at least the NRSV Bible assumes he did. And if the author of John added the words “who is called Christ” it would appear to be for the benefit of those who will encounter the text in years to come; which, by the way, includes you and me.

Think of it this way then: sitting by the well we see Jesus, a Samaritan woman, and everyone who will ever read the account as shared in John’s gospel. That’s us, bound up by the parenthesis, those who can hear the stage whisper, as though the woman herself was saying, “Pssst, I know you’re there, now pay attention,” at which point Jesus himself nods his agreement. Reading scripture should never be taken as a passive encounter. To interact with the word of God is to be subsumed into the story. We may not be characters per se, but we have a role to play. We are to listen, to learn, to grow, and then to share with others which is pretty much what the Samaritan woman did in this story.

John was writing for our benefit, and the benefit of millions of others over the centuries. The parentheses of John 4:25 is just one small reminder that we can not hide unnoticed. We, the readers and hearers of scripture, have been shoved into the scene and given a role to play. This is how story, too.

Prayer: Lord, help us to hear your word and to live out its meaning in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Godspeak

Amos 1:1-5, 1:13-2:8

Luke 21:5-19

The word of God is of utmost importance for people of faith. But when is the word of God not the word of God? Our reading from the prophet Amos for today uses the phrase “says the Lord” no less than eight times. Amos wants us to fully understand that the words of woe which he is sharing do in fact originate with God. According to our gospel reading for today, however, Jesus offered a word of warning to his followers. “Beware that you are not led astray;” he said, “for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them" (Luke 21:8). So there is a difference – a profound difference – between what God says and what others would have us to believe that God has said. How do we know which is which?

I know of no clear and easy answer to that question. The church itself is made up of faithful believers, those who seek earnestly to discern God’s message, but who can not always agree on the true meaning of scripture. What seems perfectly clear to me may strike you as completely false, even though we both affirm our faith in God with sincerity. What can we do? We can trust God. We can continually wrestle with God’s word, question it, challenge it, see what we can make of it, and count on God to speak to us through that struggle. We can trust one another and accept each other as ones who struggle toward a common purpose. Standing on the threshold of our shared belief we can seek to serve the God who created us and who continues to bless us.

Advent begins this Sunday. There is no better time to renew our commitment to this effort, to open ourselves to the voice of God.

Prayer: Lord of all, bless our willingness to hear your word and guide us all the days of our lives. In the name of your Word made flesh. Amen.

Don’t You Get It?

Nehemiah 7:73b-8:3, 5-18

What effect does the word of God have on you? I know that there are passages of scripture that force us to deal with our failings, that remind us that we are not who God created us to be. But taken as a whole the Bible is a story of good news, the very best of news in fact. God’s love and mercy are there for us and God has never given up on God’s people. A small reminder of this comes from our Old Testament reading this morning. “And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them” (Nehemiah 8:12).

When the people understood the word that was read to them their reaction was one of great joy. Yes, there are disturbing images in scripture, and yes there are times for sorrow and remorse, but once we understand what we are reading we will see that God remains closely connected to us and concerned for us. Jesus Christ is the fullest example of God’s love and grace. And though the people of Nehemiah’s time knew nothing of Jesus, they could still see that God was at work in the world and in their lives. They would never walk alone.

When you encounter scripture, when you begin to understand God’s word, what effect does it have on you? If it fills you with joy, with the warmth of God’s abiding grace, then I suspect you are beginning to see what it’s all about.

Prayer: Lord, we praise you this day for the good news of all you have done for us and through us. In Jesus name. Amen.

The Return of the King

2 Samuel 15:19-37

Mark 10:46-52

There is a significant alignment of readings in the lectionary today. According to the passage from 2 Samuel, David and his followers were forced to leave Jerusalem before Absalom could arrive. In the midst of the confusion there were those who offered their loyalty to David and vowed to live or die with him. Centuries later, according to our gospel reading, Jesus was traveling through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem when a blind beggar called to him. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10:47-48). By relating this story Mark makes clear that the King, a true Son of David, is indeed returning to Jerusalem.

Scripture is full of such interwoven events. Words spoken in one time find their fulfillment much later. One event helps to clarify another. Like overlapping shingles—many parts which form an single entity, the history of God’s people meshes together to form one piece, one account, one purpose. It is given to a blind beggar to help us “see” the relationship between Jesus and David. (Remember, Mark’s gospel does not contain details concerning Jesus’ birth, so the connection with David has not been as evident in this gospel as it is Matthew and Luke.)

The interwoven nature of scripture is very like the community of faith in our own time. Though there are countess elements such as individuals, congregations, and denominations, they all intertwine or overlap to form one piece, one account, one purpose. When we regard one another with scorn or animosity we tear the fabric of faith for us all. When we seek to live with mutual forbearance and understanding we strengthen the bonds that connect us and give glory to the God who has called us all into being. We needn’t agree on all points of faith, but we must trust one another and demonstrate the love that Jesus poured out for us all. When we do so the reign of God becomes more visible and the kingdom draws that much nearer.

Prayer: Lord God, help your people to overcome their divisions and live in unity with one another, loving you, loving each other, loving the world you created. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

On Understanding

Mark 6:47-56

Mark tells the familiar story of Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee. Unlike Matthew’s account (Matthew 14:22-33), however, Mark indicates that the disciples still did not grasp what was going on, even after Jesus had fed the multitude with just a few loaves and fishes. “And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened” (Mark 6:51b-52). Indeed, it would seem that two miraculous events so close together (feeding the crowd and walking on the sea) would be enough to convince anyone of Jesus’ divinity. But according to Mark the disciples still didn’t get it. Their hearts were hardened and they lacked faith.

I can’t say that I blame the disciples all that much. I doubt I would have caught on any quicker than they did to who Jesus was. So it helps me to learn of their hardheartedness, of their failure to see what was happening right in front of them. If they, the disciples, Jesus’ own followers, were confused then there is hope for me as well, hope that God will stick it out with me giving me opportunities to learn and to grow in faith, to come to a better understanding of who God is and what Jesus was all about. And here is as good a reason to study scripture as I can think of. When we read the word of God we find that we and others like us are a part of the story. We sit with the crowds on the green grass waiting for bread and fish, wondering where it comes from. We find our place in the boat with the disciples, struggling against the wind one moment and terrified by a “ghost” the next. We follow Jesus into marketplaces, seeking to touch the fringe of his garment so that we might be healed of our infirmities. We accept that our hearts are hard, our minds are clouded, our wits are dull, but that Jesus welcomes us all the same and that God claims us.

The events in scripture are not limited to times gone by, they are our stories as well. And in them we find greater understanding and deeper faith, because in them we finally may see ourselves.

Prayer: Lord, open our hearts and minds to hear and to understand your word for us. And help us to live according to your will, for it is in the name of Jesus Christ that we pray. Amen.

Who Will Lead Us Through the Wilderness?

Acts 8:26-40

If you ever doubted the importance of teaching and education to the life of the church then our reading from Acts for today should convince you. It is the story of the conversion of the Ethiopian by Philip. As the African rides along in his chariot he reads aloud from the Hebrew scriptures. “So Philip ran up to it (the chariot) and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him” (Acts 8:30-31).

“How can I (understand), unless someone guides me?” Often the words of scripture can appear like a trackless region with no clear direction. The fact that Philip met the Ethiopian on a wilderness road may be symbolic of this fact. Left to his own effort the Ethiopian might never have found the truth contained in the Bible, or upon encountering it not understand it. But when given proper guidance by Philip he grasped the meaning of God’s word. Eventually he way his through the complexities to the good news of Jesus Christ. The same is true in our day as well. This is not to say that Bible study is easy. It is difficult work. Nor is there ever an end to the process. Even those who teach need continual refreshing, need to remain connected to the source, as it were.

If you are a teacher or study leader in your community of faith, thank you. The work you do is essential in preparing others to step up and accept the challenge in years to come. In this way the word of God goes from generation to generation and never lies fallow. In this way men and women, young and old, are made more aware of who they are and whose they are.

Prayer: Lord, uphold those who teach and who guide the study of your word. May they know the joy of leading others to better understanding and to lives enriched . In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Remember

Isaiah 63:7-14

Early in the Disney film, The Lion King, there is a conversation between King Mufasa and his young son, Simba.

Mufasa: Simba, let me tell you something my father told me. Look at the stars. The great kings of the past are up there, watching over us.

Simba: Really?

Mufasa: Yes. So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you. And so will I.

Memory plays an important part in our lives especially in our lives of faith. According to the prophet Isaiah, the people of Israel had turned away from God, but “then they remembered the days of old, of Moses [God’s] servant” (Isaiah 63:11). By remembering what had happened in the past the people were able to better understand where they had fallen short of God’s will and to seek God’s forgiveness.

For us, part of the “memory” is bound up in scripture, the stories and teachings collected in the Bible. Some “remembering” is done by sharing the faith from person to person, generation to generation, in the way that Mufasa taught Simba to remember the kings of the past. A profound type of “remembering” takes place during the sacrament of communion when we, as God’s people, are invited to share in the meal “in remembrance” of Jesus Christ. This remembering, this rehearsing of the past is one of the great responsibilities of Christians, as individuals, but particularly as a community. In reflecting on scripture, in attending to the teaching and preaching of the word of God, in telling and singing the great stories of the faith, in sharing the sacrament and inviting others to do so as well, we find strength for our living even as we prepare others to take our place in the future. Mufasa wanted Simba to remember what it meant to be a king. I want my children to remember what it means to have faith in God through Jesus Christ, how generations of their ancestors have been active in the life of the church and have sought to live as God’s people. But before I can share those memories with others, I have to be sure and claim them for myself. And so do you. Remembering leads to better understanding and greater faithfulness. It brought the people of Israel back to God, it can keep us focused as well.

Prayer: Lord, help us to remember your works and your words as we look ahead to your coming reign. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

R-Rated Scripture For an R-Rated World

Nahum 2:13-3:7
Revelation 13:1-10
Luke 12:13-31
When our daughter and son were small they had Bible storybooks written especially for children. I can assure you that neither our reading from Nahum with its bloodshed and carnage, nor from Revelation with its horrific monsters were to be found in those storybooks. I doubt that our passage from Luke was there either. These are examples of what we might call R-rated scripture: stacks of corpses in the streets, scary creatures running amok, a man who dies in his sleep. What are we to say about such things?

Yet, there in the midst of these very stories is a note of hope and of encouragement. “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints” we read in Revelation (Revelation 13:10). “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,” says Jesus, what you will eat or wear. “Instead strive for (God’s) kingdom and these things will be given to you as well” (Luke 12:22, 31). Against a backdrop of violence and woe God is calling people of faith to stand firm, to hold fast to God’s word and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Every day’s news brings word of another crisis, another atrocity, another horrific turn of events. How meaningful would scripture be if only contained material suitable for storybooks, easily grasped morals and lessons about shepherds and rainbows? How relevant would that be in the face of war, genocide, terrorism, torture, starvation, greed, despotism, bigotry, and hatred? But scripture DOES have a word from such circumstances because God’s people have faced such times before and were able to rely on God’s presence then. Even when Jesus Christ died a cruel death it did not defeat God’s will for humanity. God’s word to us today is to hold fast to the faith, especially in times of darkness and despair, the “R-rated” times of life. Stand firm, God tells us, and trust in what God will do. It’s a difficult lesson to be sure, but we can not deny that God has been this way before. Our God is a “real-life” God and not one stuck in a storybook for children. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord, help us to stand firm in times of crisis and to trust in you always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Different…But the Same

Hosea 13:9-16
Acts 28:1-16
Luke 9:28-36
Our readings for today would seem to be about as dissimilar as they could be. The passage from Hosea is an oracle of judgment against Israel strongly condemning the people. Acts continues the story of Paul’s journey to Rome as a narrative. Luke, also in narrative form, tells the story of Jesus’ transfiguration. While God’s words are spoken in Hosea and Luke, God is not directly quoted in Acts. Each reading has a different thrust, with Hosea calling for repentance, Acts demonstrating the healing power of those who followed Jesus and the will of God that Paul arrive in Rome, and Luke foreshadowing the resurrection. And the differences go on from there.

But there are similarities as well. Each account is grounded in human history within a particular time frame. In each, God is working toward the restoration of the relationship between Creator and creature. Behind each reading there is a person of faith who is willing to record words and events for our consideration. And of course, we trust that the Holy Spirit is at work through each passage shedding light on the words and bringing them to life for us.

While there is only one God, the manner by which God interacts with us is not “one size fits all.” Different times and places require a diversity of responses or actions. What God might do in one setting is not what God does in another. If scripture could be condensed to five or six verses I fully believe it would lose it’s elasticity and it’s deft ability to touch us on so many different levels and in so many different circumstances. So thank God for all the variety we encounter in the Bible, but thank God, too, for the similarities that bind it all together and make it such a living (and life-affirming) document.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the word through which you speak to us and offer guidance. May we ever be attentive to you and your will for our lives. Amen.

Oops!

Hosea 4:11-19
Acts 21:37-22:16
Luke 6:12-26
I had finished writing my thoughts on today’s readings—a rather longer than usual entry—when my computer died. While I did not lose all of what I had written, I lost enough of it to take the time to reconsider it. Here is what I have learned this morning.

Thank goodness the word of God does not depend on people like me remembering to save their work on their computers. The prophet Hosea, the apostle Paul, and Jesus himself remain conversant with us today in part because, by God’s grace, their words have been preserved. That’s a profound reality. Over the centuries writers have come and gone, words have risen in importance and then fallen into obscurity, what some consider to be true has been surpassed by new understanding. But through it all, the word of God has remained available to us.

In my family Psalm 121 is of special importance. Generations of Freemans have read or recited it’s words before undertaking a journey. Many find comfort from Psalm 23, John 3:16, Micah 6:6-8, 1 Peter 2:10, and so forth. And while of our readings today only Luke’s may be particularly memorable, each represents God’s active participation in human life whatever the circumstances. If God was at work in Hosea, Micah, the psalmist, Jesus, Paul, and John, and if we have those words available to us today, then God remains at work now as well, the Holy Spirit reaching out to us from the pages of scripture.

My computer may have run out of battery power and I may have forgotten to save my document, but God transcends the feebleness of human language and human activity with everlasting love and truth. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Almighty God, help us to trust in your word for guidance this day and always. Amen.

Mining for Wisdom

Job 28:1-28
John 12:27-36a
“But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?” asks Job (Job 28:12). That’s a question I suspect we all ask from time to time. In fact, I think I must ask it several times a day. Where can wisdom be found? Where is understanding? Why do things seem so mixed up in our world and why does no one seem to have the tools necessary to deal with it all? In his collection entitled Chicago Poems Carl Sandburg included the work “Happiness.”

I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell me what is happiness
And I went to famous executives who boss the work of thousands of men
They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though I was trying to fool with them…

And as recently as the late 70’s singer Elvis Costello asked, “What’s so funny about peace, love, and understanding?” He was speaking for a generation of people who had become very disillusioned.

This is why the first several verses from the Job reading today seem so appropriate to me. The struggle to find wisdom and understanding in our lives can be very much like mining for precious metals or gems. Sometimes we must go to out of the way places, or wrestle with difficult ideas, or strain our eyes (or the eyes of our minds) to see what is not readily apparent. But like miners, if we will continue to work and to struggle and to exert the energy we begin to find ourselves enriched by the results, and sometimes in very unexpected ways. The object, of course, is to be come faithfully obedient to God’s will. “While you have the light,” says Jesus, “believe in the light, so that you may become children of light” (John 12:36a). Keep working with scripture, mining the rich veins of spiritual gold and watching for precious gyms of insight. Continue to tread the familiar ground of “old favorites”: Psalms 23 and 121, Micah 6:6-8, John 3:16. But be willing to search in the places that are unfamiliar to you as well, for “all scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Ultimately Job offers the answers to the questions. “Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28). But to do these things, to learn to fear (or respect) God and to learn how not to do evil are both worth the effort.

Prayer: O God, give us minds to comprehend the depth of your word that it may guide us all our days and help and comfort us throughout our lives. Amen.