Deuteronomy 6:1-11

“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.” vss. 6-7

For Jews the heart of the Law was found in these verses from Deuteronomy, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” Known as the Shema this became the daily centering prayer for every Jew. It was written in the mezuzahs that they fastened to the doorways of their homes and in the tefalim that adults bound to their arms and foreheads when they said their prayers. When Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment of the Law this was his response, and then he added a second, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” a verse from Leviticus. Together these verses are the summation of the Law and are the perfect guide for any person’s life. The Jews took great pains to teach the Shema to their children and their example is a guide to followers of Jesus. It’s essential that those who come after us know what we believe and what principles guide our lives. And if our children actually see us putting these commandments into practice in our daily living, all the better!

Thought for the Day: What scripture verses express my core values?

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” vs.1

Religions were developed by humans for some good reasons. They provided a way for people to worship and discern the Divine Presence in the creation. Through the centuries, worship practices were developed to give expression to faith, codes of ethics for community living took shape, and eventually particular writings and stories were adopted as sacred scripture. For the most part these religions, major and minor, have served a useful purpose and have given spiritual direction to billions of people. But sometimes, instead of pointing the way to God, these religions have become ends in themselves and have wreaked havoc with their endless competitions and crusades. Jesus saw that danger in his own religion and warned his followers about those who had subverted the faith. These religious people had turned the worship of God into worship of self and did religious things, almsgiving, prayers, and fasting, not to please God or help humanity, but to elevate themselves in the eyes of others. Religions are still around–Christianity is one of the biggest–and they can be capable of promoting wonderful spiritual growth. Indeed, many people today have found great fulfillment in their associations with religions–their desire for a connection with the Divine is satisfied. But Jesus’ warning remains: beware of religious people! After all, they’re the ones who killed him.

Thought for the Day: How can I avoid becoming religious?

Psalm 51:1-17

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.”  vs. 1

There are likely few people who believe they never do anything wrong. Aside from the narcissists scattered among us most of us are deeply aware of our own sins and transgressions. We know that we have injured ourselves and others with hurtful words and deeds and are often troubled with feelings of guilt and remorse. Certainly that’s what the psalmist was experiencing when these verses were composed–it’s like he can’t find enough ways to express his pain and depravity. And even though some might think he goes too far, his words have resonated with countless readers through the years because sometimes this is exactly how we feel. Spasms of guilt overwhelm us, and we’re heartsick because of what we’ve said or done. In some congregations believers have the chance every week to confess their sins before God. It’s not that they’re reveling in wrongdoing or engaging in self-flagellation, rather it’s an honest confession that they have not lived as they ought. The best thing about such prayers is that they set the stage for words of affirmation and absolution. Like the psalmist we know that God is full of steadfast love and abundant mercy–and will never hold our sins against us. No matter how often we fall away, the gift of forgiveness is always ours! God never fails us!

Thought for the Day: What is a narcissist?

Isaiah 58:1-12

“If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.” vss. 9b-10

For centuries the church has prepared for the season of Lent by indulging in one last festival of excess. Believers have reasoned that it’s the last chance for them to eat, drink, and be merry before their season of deprivation and fasting. Folks spend months getting ready for Mardi Gras in places like New Orleans or Rio and the resulting celebrations are a frenzy of exhibitionism and orgiastic delight. It’s interesting to note that, as these festivals have increased in popularity, authentic Lenten observations have virtually faded from sight. Very few people even make a pretense of taking Lent seriously–fasting is rare and seldom are there attempts at mastering any spiritual discipline. But some folks do care–and this Wednesday they’ll be in their congregations to receive the mark of the ashes and remember their baptisms. A few will hear the words of Isaiah and take them to heart. They may even resolve to use the season for reaching out to the hungry and the needy in some new and inventive ways. They understand that this season of reflection can be a time for spiritual growth and renewal–and their light will certainly rise in the darkness!

Thought for the Day: How am I getting ready for Lent?

Isaiah 58:1-12

“If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.” vss. 9b-10

For centuries the church has prepared for the season of Lent by indulging in one last festival of excess. Believers have reasoned that it’s the last chance for them to eat, drink, and be merry before their season of deprivation and fasting. Folks spend months getting ready for Mardi Gras in places like New Orleans or Rio and the resulting celebrations are a frenzy of exhibitionism and orgiastic delight. It’s interesting to note that, as these festivals have increased in popularity, authentic Lenten observations have virtually faded from sight. Very few people even make a pretense of taking Lent seriously–fasting is rare and seldom are there attempts at mastering any spiritual discipline. But some folks do care–and this Wednesday they’ll be in their congregations to receive the mark of the ashes and remember their baptisms. A few will hear the words of Isaiah and take them to heart. They may even resolve to use the season for reaching out to the hungry and the needy in some new and inventive ways. They understand that this season of reflection can be a time for spiritual growth and renewal–and their light will certainly rise in the darkness!

Thought for the Day: How am I getting ready for Lent?

Luke 9:32-36

“Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’” vs 35

In the church calendar the Transfiguration has been situated on the threshold of Lent as a foretaste of what will be coming at Easter. In Luke’s recounting of the mountaintop vision there is a mixture of light, glory, and fear that anticipates the wonder of resurrection. But there is even more than that. Luke chooses words that echo the words heard at Jesus’ baptism, but this time they’re directed at the disciples. His intention is clear. The transfiguration was for the disciples what the baptism experience was for Jesus. They still didn’t understand the mystery but they did know that the words of Jesus would keep them connected to God better than anything else they would ever encounter. And through the centuries we’ve hung on to that promise. Even though we don’t yet know the fullness of joy that will come with resurrection we are bold enough to celebrate that new life in the present. Even in the presence of suffering, darkness, and death we sing our alleluias and keep on listening to Jesus. The cloud on the mountaintop scared the liver out of the disciples, but when it lifted, Jesus was there, and he went with them down into the shadowy valleys–and he hasn’t gone away since. The neat thing is that his words are still with us, and never fail to give a taste of hope and a jolt of new life.

Thought for the Day: What does transfiguration mean for me?

Luke 9:28-32

“Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.” vs. 32

Luke doesn’t say anything about what the transfiguration meant to Jesus. While he does report that the two men, Moses and Elijah, were talking to Jesus about his departure, there is no reference to details. It could even have been the sort of thing Jesus experienced regularly in his prayers. From Luke’s perspective then, the vision was primarily for the disciples; they were the onlookers, and in spite of their weariness, they saw the vision clearly. Only three were there, probably honored at being invited to accompany Jesus, and obviously overwhelmed by what they saw. They had seen Jesus as a preacher and a healer and had been impressed, but this experience added a whole new dimension to their experience. They had suspected that he might be the messiah but this revelation cemented it for them. And while they still didn’t have a clue about what this might mean for their future they did know that in Jesus the glory of God shone brightly. He was at least the equal of Elijah and Moses, the heroes of the past, and probably a step beyond them on the glory scale. It wasn’t for some time that they would know the ultimate truth, that in Jesus the power of death would be defeated, but for now it was enough!

Thought for the Day: When have your eyes seen the glory of the Lord?

2 Corinthians 3:17-4:2

“And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” vs. 18

Sometimes amazing truths are hiding in obscure passages of scripture that we may not even have read before. Who would have thought that Paul, writing about the veiled face of Moses, would pass on to us some of the most spectacular good news we will ever see or hear. Just look at what he’s telling the Corinthians and us! As we turn to Christ, he says, we are seeing the glory of God being reflected back into our own faces! And more than that, as we continue to believe, we are being transformed into the image of Christ! We are becoming what we have been intended to be from the very beginning of creation. And this isn’t something we have to try hard to become, it is what the Holy Spirit of God is making of us. If we believe this, our whole life in Christ is turned upside down. Being a follower of Jesus isn’t being the best person we can be, it isn’t a matter of satisfying heaven’s minimum entrance requirements so we too can make it through the pearly gates. All that stuff is beside the point! In reality, day by day we are becoming Christs for the world, and through us the peaceable kingdom is being established. Wow!

Thought for the Day: What happens when I see the face of Christ in my mirror?

2 Corinthians 3:12-16

“Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.” vss. 15-16

As a well-educated Jewish scholar Paul knew the scriptures well and had committed many sections to memory. In his letter to the Corinthians he refers to a mysterious passage from Exodus and, like any good preacher, interprets it in a way that gives insight to what they have experienced. He has noted that many Jews seem unable to see Christ in the Law–he says it’s because they have a veil over their minds. For him the Exodus passage is an explanation for their stubbornness. He doesn’t interpret it literally–that’s always dangerous when dealing with scripture–but out of the old he brings something new. The old text shines a light on what had been happening as he preached and taught. Gifted pastors and teachers are still using scripture in that fashion. Because it is our book of faith, they know it well, and understand the context in which it was written. And by getting into the mind of the writer they can, as the Spirit inspires them, offer direction and hope for life in the present. They believe that these ancient passages are alive with insights about God’s involvement in daily living. Through their words, the veil is lifted and even people living in the 21st century are led to see Christ in every part of scripture.

Thought for the Day: What’s the point of studying the bible?

Psalm 99:6-9

“Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the Lord, and he answered them…O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.” vss. 6, 8

Moses, Aaron, and Samuel were great heroes of Israel. Through them this wandering people, freshly removed from Egypt, had become a nation founded on the Law of God, a country envied by all its neighbors. But even these great leaders, the psalmist says, were humble and regularly cried out to the Lord. And the Lord answered them and reached out with forgiveness whenever they violated the Law. But then the psalmist adds a disturbing caveat, one that has been an issue for people in the centuries that have followed. He says that God was an avenger of their wrongdoings! For too many, these words have leaped from the pages and into their hearts. They lose the connection with forgiveness and are convinced that God is judging and vengeful. In their eyes God is a Being to be feared and avoided. They forget that the psalmist is using these words in connection with Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. Even though they were great leaders, the scriptures clearly tell us that  their wrongdoings were not overlooked. They messed up and faced the consequences, and so do we! No matter who we are, we are not only forgiven through Divine Mercy, but when we screw up, there are repercussions.

Thought for the Day: When have I received consequences for wrongdoing?