Luke 6:17-19

“They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.” vs. 18

According to Luke there was no great mystery about the crowds that followed Jesus throughout Galilee. He was a teacher, a healer, and an exorcist, and in an age with few doctors and no hospitals, people were desperate for relief of every kind. In this instance a huge multitude gathers in a level place in what must have been a chaotic scene. The word had gone out that all one needed to do for a cure was to touch Jesus–we can imagine the pushing and the jostling that went on. That’s how people are when news of miraculous healings are spread. We’ll go anywhere and do anything to get the latest drug or be treated by reputed healers. We want to hang on to good health for as long as we possibly can and when illness intrudes we crave restoration. Followers of Jesus have inherited this basic ministry from the beginning–with the support of the Church hospitals were built and physicians and nurses were trained. Always there has been a concern for the poor and a conviction that healthcare is a basic right for all people, not just the rich. Most congregations regularly offer prayers for those who are sick. Often there are healing services with the laying on of hands and anointing with oil. We know in our hearts that wherever the Christ is present, healing will happen.

Thought for the Day: Why do some say that good healthcare is a privilege?

1 Corinthians 15:15-20

“If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” vs. 19

Some of us grew up believing that the whole point of having faith in Jesus was to insure that we would have eternal life when we die. There was great joy when, on their deathbeds, people would accept Jesus as their personal savior and receive the assurance of new life with him in heaven. When such confessions were not made, either because of stubbornness or unexpected death, folks didn’t say much. There was a dull ache inside and a fear that this loved one would be damned. Heaven was what life was all about! In recent years though many have begun to rethink the whole matter of eternal life and have come to believe that the emphasis on the life to come is misguided. They believe that all things will be brought to completion in Christ Jesus and that not even death can separate us from the love of God. We become followers of Jesus, not so we can go to heaven when we die, but to be the presence of Christ in the world now, and as we live in Christ we can enjoy the incredible peace of God in this life. We don’t have to wait! Of course there are those who refuse to believe that there is life beyond death for anyone. They insist that what we see is what we get, and Paul would say that they are of all people most to be pitied!

Thought for the Day: What comforts me when loved ones die?

1 Corinthians 15:12-14

“Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?” vs. 12

As part of his proclamation in the early congregations Paul regularly spoke of his personal encounter with the Risen Christ. In that transformative moment he was called to become an apostle and to stop persecuting Christians. So when he ran into believers who claimed that there was no resurrection of the dead he was astounded–their claim didn’t make any sense. For him resurrection was at the core of the gospel, his whole reason for being a preacher! Obviously, that question is still around…there are many who struggle with resurrection. Some who are scientifically minded say that it goes against nature and is impossible. But still others go to nature for metaphors to prove that resurrection is not only possible but real. To some extent our position on this matter will depend on our definition of resurrection. But Paul’s point is well taken. Without resurrection there would literally be no Christian Church. There would be no Body of Christ in the world today! But there’s a further question here too! What about our own personal resurrection? Paul says there is no doubt. If Christ has been raised then those who are in Christ will also be raised. Life always triumphs over death! If that conviction fades away, it’s hard to know what we would say when death visits us and our loved ones. Resurrection really is the core of the gospel!

Thought for the Day: How do I understand resurrection?

Psalm 1

“Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” vs. 5-6

When the Pharisees that Jesus encountered made distinctions between the sinners and the righteous, and encouraged strict separation, they weren’t just making stuff up. Those ideas had been around for a long time and were even embedded in their holy scriptures. So biblical literalists of every age can find a multitude of verses that reflect the natural human tendency to judge and condemn those who do not live according to certain religious, moral, or ethical standards. In fact those who stand on high holy ground even seem to enjoy looking down on sinners and predicting their sad endings. But what’s really interesting is that Jesus didn’t do that; he enjoyed the fellowship of sinners and actually preferred their company–he chose some of them to be his closest disciples. He was aware of what folks like this psalmist had written, and he had nothing against living decent and fruitful lives, but he believed that all people were loved and redeemed by God and could walk in the way of righteousness. So that’s what he preached and practiced! So what shall we do with the condemning passages we find scattered through scripture? Some choose to ignore them, but that’s risky business! It’s far better to use them to explore our own tendencies to separate and judge, and, in so-doing, glimpse anew the radical nature of Christ’s grace.

Thought for the Day: When is it okay to disagree with scripture?

Jeremiah 17:7-10

“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream.” vss. 7-8a

To emphasize the importance of trusting in the Lord Jeremiah used an amazing metaphor that is as apt for us as it was for his original hearers.  He says that those whose trust is in the Lord are like trees planted by water, sending out their roots by the stream. He goes on to say that such trees will thrive and bear fruit even when there is no rain or in a time of drought. What a beautiful image! It explains the phenomenon we see regularly in our congregations. All of us know people whose trust in the Lord is beyond question–it’s a part of who they are. And that trust is totally unconditional–it does not depend on the externals of their lives. They endure sickness, financial reverses, family crises, any number of soul-numbing events, but because their roots are deep, and their trust is in the Lord, they continue to produce the fruits of love, joy, peace, and patience. Through their faith they have tapped into the Divine Presence which pervades all of creation and which does not ever fail them, no matter what their external circumstances. Quite obviously they are blessed in their trust, but more than that, their fruits are a blessing to us all.

Thought for the Day: Where are my roots planted?

Jeremiah 17:5-6

“Thus says the Lord: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord.” vs. 5

As a prophet Jeremiah believed that he had been sent to the people with a word from the Lord, so he often prefaces his comments with the words, “Thus says the Lord!” He wants his hearers to know that he’s not just sharing his opinions about life, but that God is speaking through him. It’s the sort of thing that any faithful pastor or preacher should be willing to say at the start of every sermon. Such a conviction is what a congregation expects when a call is issued. No believer shows up at worship to hear a series of half-baked personal opinions from the preacher. People truly want to hear a word from the Lord–and they should expect that from time to time it will be offensive. What a pity it is when pastors pander to their audience and deliver messages designed to tickle ears and court favor. Certainly Jeremiah never did that, and he wasn’t received kindly. Ultimately his congregation threw him in a pit! So it’s not easy for a pastor to preach with Jeremiah’s conviction–every sermon will be an exercise in fear and trembling. It’s an awesome responsibility to bring God’s word in a way that will feed hungry hearts. It’s not that preachers always get it right–sometimes they mess up big time. Thank God for those pastors who keep trying–authentic words from the Lord are a precious gift!

Thought for the Day: Where am I hearing a word from the Lord?

Luke 5:6-11

“But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’…Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’” vss. 8, 10b

As Luke tells the story, when Simon saw the magnificent catch of fish, he recognized that he was in the presence of holiness, and, like Isaiah, felt an immediate and overwhelming sense of unworthiness. Evidently he was a product of his culture which made a rigid distinction between the righteous and sinners. In those days there wasn’t any doubt about where a person stood–either you were in or out. And Simon just didn’t measure up. He was a sinner! Now that doesn’t mean he was morally bankrupt or corrupt–he just didn’t measure up to the strict purity code required by the law. And he wasn’t alone. Countless people within Judaism were classified as sinners–and the righteous took care to separate themselves from them to avoid contamination, which is why Simon warned Jesus to go away! What’s really interesting here is that Jesus could care less–in fact he made Simon the first of his disciples and told him that he had work for him to do. Think of it! Jesus could have chosen any number of righteous folks as disciples, but he didn’t. He loved sinners–and they became his chosen missionary force. Oh what a friend we have in Jesus–he loves sinners, and he’s crazy about us! (Provided we don’t get all righteous on him!)

Thought for the Day: Why are righteous folks kind of off-putting?

Luke 5:1-5

“Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’” vs. 5

The gospels present a couple of different scenarios to describe Simon’s introduction to Jesus. Luke was evidently aware of Mark’s brief account but chose to flesh it out with some helpful detail, e.g. we discover that Simon had let Jesus use his boat as a pulpit to address the crowd that had gathered at the beach. Simon may even have liked what he heard, though Luke goes on to tell us that he was reluctant to trust Jesus as a fish locator. Still, he did what was asked–even if he didn’t have high expectations. That’s a hard thing to do! Many of us have particular areas of expertise, and generally we don’t take kindly to neophytes who presume to tell us our business. In fact, most would probably just ignore the advice and move on. Simon was tired, his nets needed mending, and his men were ready to go home. But there was just something about Jesus–and even though he didn’t know a perch from a pickerel, Simon did what he was told. Maybe he just had a hunch! It’s amazing how many blessings come our way when we lay aside logic and start following our hunches! These are the moments when trust trumps rationality and we catch glimpses of the Divine Presence. It happened for Simon; it can happen for us.

Thought for the Day: A time when following a hunch really paid off!

1 Corinthians 15:6-11

“For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am…” vss. 9-10a

Paul still had to pinch himself when he considered his calling to be an apostle–he knew he didn’t deserve it–that he was unfit because of his prior record as a persecutor of Christians. But he had no doubt about his call, and when challenged by other apostles, he refused to back down. It’s probably because of that background that he became such a fierce advocate of grace as the only way of salvation. That’s how it continues to be in the Church. Those who have experienced the dark side of life seem to have a much greater appreciation of the Light that is ours in Christ Jesus. They know there is nothing in their history that gives them any worthiness or merit, so when they experience love, they become passionate about grace. On the other hand when people have been born to faith and never ever wander to any great extent, the whole matter of grace can seem theoretical. Sometimes such persons are lackadaisical about commitments and have little appreciation of the gospel’s power to transform and renew broken people. The truth is that all we are and all we have is purely by the grace of God, and like Paul we have been called to spread that good news in every way we can–especially when we believe ourselves unworthy!

Thought for the Day: When is it healthy to feel unworthy?

1 Corinthians 15:1-6

“For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures…” vss. 3-4

Paul has had a lot to say to the Corinthians and the nature of their life together. He’s told them the kinds of things that they should be focusing on instead of bickering and engaging in power struggles. And now he completes his message by coming back to the core of the gospel, the death and the resurrection of Christ Jesus. This was the focus in 55 CE and it’s still the central message today for all who are in Christ. Two things have always gnawed away at the human heart: we worry about the past and we’re anxious about the future. And those are the two issues at the center of the good news. It really isn’t that complicated! Jesus died and Jesus rose again. However we understand his crucifixion, it has always been connected to God’s love and unconditional forgiveness. We don’t have to carry a burden of sin or guilt one step further than we already have! And even if resurrection remains a mystery, it means that life persists beyond the grave. And so we have it: forgiveness and hope, the answers to the deepest human needs. And in the presence of those two great gifts, faith brings us perfect peace, the greatest gift of all.
Thought for the Day: Why is peace the greatest gift?