Romans 5:1-2

“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand;” vs. 1-2a

There are some people who stopped going to worship during COVID times and discovered that they really didn’t miss it. They liked having Sunday mornings free and found that they could fill their spiritual needs just as well in walks beside still waters and quiet evenings on their patios. So now they’re wondering why they should ever go back to church–they certainly haven’t missed the doctrinal disputes or political fractures. Some who return will come for the reason laid out by Paul in his letter to the Romans. They’ve fallen in love with Jesus in the course of their lives and they know that in his presence they have access to the grace which gives them peace in daily living. It isn’t that God will love them more if they worship–God’s love is unconditional and not dependent on our behavior.  But it’s in worship that they can come together as a community of faith and feast on the body and blood of Jesus in Holy Communion. It might sound crazy but that experience, which can’t be easily replicated in the world, gives them a taste of a life that overflows with love. It’s true that grace is everywhere, but it is particularly present in the eating and the drinking that is the center of worship. And we are blessed as we return to Christ’s Table!

Thought for the Day: What church stuff did I miss during COVID?

Psalm 8

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” vss. 3-4

The psalmist had never seen a picture from the Hubble Telescope; he didn’t have a clue about how old or immense the universe actually is. His conclusions were drawn completely from observations of the dark skies and years of contemplation. Yet he knew exactly what we know, namely, that in the great scheme of things human beings are pretty insignificant, and it’s amazing that they have a God-connection at all. Yet at the same time this psalmist has an elevated view of humanity’s purpose. He says, “You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet…” And for a long time that’s what humans did. They hunted and fished and domesticated cattle and poultry–and there was a kind of balance in their interactions, an appreciation for creation marked by prayer and thanksgiving. But then things changed and humans began to see the earth as a resource that could be exploited and turned into enormous wealth. Our focus on dominion has caused enormous damage and wholesale destruction of the environment. Species are becoming extinct at an alarming rate. Climate change presents an enormous challenge–particularly to those who are poor. It really is past time for us as the beloved children of God to begin acting as caretakers of the earth, and not as greedy dominators!

Thought for the Day: What will caring for the earth require of me?

Proverbs 8:22-31

 “then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.” vs. 30-31

Occasionally when we look closely at the foundational writings of our faith community we’re surprised at what we discover. For instance, many of us didn’t realize that in the Wisdom book of Proverbs the Lord is described as having had Sophia (Wisdom) as his female partner in the whole process of creation. She rejoiced in all that was done and took particular delight in the human race. Whether that insight appeals to us or not, it’s good to know that we aren’t held to any particular static or fixed notion of how things came to be. Each generation has had its own way of describing beginnings, and each new idea adds to the wonder and majesty of existence. This passage from Proverbs lets us know that humans are not inherently bad, as some religious folks are likely to tell us. We’ve been told for too long that we are “by nature sinful and unclean,” and that pessimistic attitude has led some to believe that our future prospects on this earth are dim. While it is true that we can periodically act as scoundrels and villains, the greater truth is that we are blessed with an enormous capacity for good. Our mother Sophia is delighted with who we are and who we can be!

Thought for the Day: How have my views of creation changed?

Proverbs 8:1-4

“Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice?… ‘To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.’” vss. 1, 4

Many thousands of years ago, as humans began to live in community, they took note of those things that made for peace and harmony, the actions and behaviors necessary for people to achieve common goals and avoid discord. For generations these tidbits of wisdom were stored up by leaders and eventually began to be written down. The Hebrews valued this reservoir of insights and practices and eventually made Proverbs a part of their scripture. For them wisdom was personified as a woman and they made sure that every generation became acquainted with her knowledge. They elevated her status and many believed that she was a part of the divine team that had brought all things into existence. From the very beginning she had been there as a full partner in creation. In Greek she was called Sophia and in our time some have come to see her as related to what we call the Holy Spirit. In their eyes she provides a feminine dimension to the Holy Trinity and is a helpful corrective to the traditional masculine understanding of God. Whatever we might think about that notion, there’s no doubt that our faith ancestors were right on target in believing that the voice of a woman is the voice of wisdom for humanity. How sad it is that too often that voice has been marginalized in the Church of Christ!

Thought for the Day: What makes women wise?

John 14:12-17

“Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” vs. 12

As John recounts Jesus’ words to his disciples during his last evening with them he makes his wishes and intentions crystal clear.Jesus wants them to continue the works that he began, i.e. to announce good news to the poor, release to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and let the oppressed go free. In a word, they are to devote their lives to making the kingdom of heaven a reality on earth. As we reflect on the state of the world on this Day of Pentecost, it’s easy to see that there’s a ton of work left to be done. Oh, we don’t need more denominations or creeds or liturgies–we’ve got more than enough of those. And we don’t need more Christians jumping on political bandwagons–that sort of thing only works to divide us. What we do need is for followers of Jesus to roll up their sleeves and adopt Micah 6:8 as our marching orders: “And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?  On our own we might not be able to pull this off, but today we’re celebrating the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit–and through the Spirit justice, humility and kindness will become the marks of the Church. 

Thought for the Day: How have I been changing?

John 14:8-11

“Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.” vs. 11

Through the centuries Christians have put a lot of energy into figuring out how Jesus could be human and divine at the same time. Early on scholars. borrowing heavily from Greek philosophy, managed to cobble together some credal statements that have proved amazingly resilient. When some believers disagreed they were quickly excommunicated and folks learned to keep their mouths shut if they wanted to stay in the Church. Faith was connected to proper beliefs and not the way of love–which was exactly contrary to the teachings of Jesus. He didn’t insist on proper belief, even in the question of his relationship to the Father. He seems to have known that insisting on correct doctrines could be a huge stumbling block in the continuation of his mission. Jesus was all about the coming kingdom of God, a peaceable kingdom in which people of all stripes loved and cared for each other without conditions. In recent years some believers have come to embrace his vision, and focus on ways of love that draw them together, rather than points of doctrine that drive them to separate. If that movement continues to grow there is a real possibility that the peaceable kingdom of Jesus’ dreams could become the dominant experience of all Christians!

Thought for the Day: What traditional doctrines have I discarded?

Romans 8:14-17

“When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God…” vss. 15b-16

Paul was totally dependent on the Holy Spirit for the direction of his mission and for the reformation of his life. On his own he was driven by old traditions and convictions and totally incapable of doing the things that he desired to do. His desires dominated the direction of each day. But the Holy Spirit had made him question his devotion to the law and had gifted him with love, joy, and peace. More than that, the Spirit had connected with his own spirit and given him the confidence to cry out to God as Abba, the Aramaic word for Father, likely the same word that Jesus had used when he taught his disciples to pray. Some people aren’t comfortable with the word Father for God–it really does come out of a patriarchal system–but whatever words we use, it’s important to find some term that expresses the intimacy that exists between us and our Maker. Jesus said that we are one with God, bound together in an endless dance of love. It’s like the relationship of a parent and a child, but parent doesn’t begin to express the loving connection that is ours with God through the Spirit. In the end, maybe it’s not the words that we use, and it’s certainly pointless to argue about such things. What counts is knowing that we are inextricably connected to God–and the connection will never end.

Thought for the Day: Why are people drawn to the word “Abba”?

Psalm 104:30-34

“When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.” vs. 34

The psalmist believed that all living creatures were a part of a constantly changing, always evolving circle of life. Creation wasn’t a once-for-all time event. Rather it occurred on a daily basis as the spirit of God breathed life into what had died and renewed the face of the earth. Death and the return to dust is never God’s last word. Always new life awaits! The psalmist saw that as he breathed in the wonders of the natural world. The followers of Jesus experienced it in his resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit. And now we see it too! The rhythm of life continues in the seasonal cycles of plants and animals–the winter of death is rapidly replaced by the new growth of spring. We see it as we move from our youth to old age, one stage of life moving inexorably into the next. And when death draws near, whether drawn out or a complete surprise, we know in our hearts that this can’t be the end. There’s always something more–life cannot be obliterated. The Spirit is still blowing through the universe, and there will be re-creation and renewal. And it’s not so much a matter of faith as it is of observation. The green shoot always rises–the face of the ground is renewed.

Thought for the Day: Is resurrection just for humans or for all living creatures?

Psalm 104:24-28

“O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” vs. 24

When we read the foundational writings of our faith community it is easily seen that our ancestors recognized that there was one God who had brought all things into existence. Mountains, plains, oceans, sun, moon, and stars, together with living creatures of all kinds all have their origins in God, the one the Israelites knew as the Lord. And even though the names we use for this mysterious, dynamic Being may have changed, the wonders of creation grab our attention every single day. And what is most amazing of all is that hidden within the intricacies and beauty of our physical surroundings the eyes of faith can distinguish the presence of the Divine. Each morning as we gaze into the eyes of our beloved, walk in our gardens, glimpse the beauty of the dawn, we are seeing the DNA of our creator, and it is a most wondrous experience. Think of it–we don’t have to go to church to get close to God–it’s just as likely to happen in our own backyards or even on the golf course. How sad it is when our lives get out of rhythm and we become so preoccupied with the business of doing that we miss the sheer joy of being. It might be a function of age, but what blessings await when at last we slow down and allow the breath of God to recreate life in our souls.

Thought for the Day: When is my time for breathing in God?

Acts 2:14-21

“In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” vs. 17

Something big had happened on that Pentecost day in Jerusalem, and some of the disciples realized that our experience of God on earth is not static but constantly evolving. No longer would people need temples to worship and sing praises. Instead the Spirit of God would be poured out on all flesh–and all people, men and women, young and old, would participate in establishing peace and justice. No longer would the people of God be bound by old traditions and stifling legalisms–from now on the community would be led by visionaries and dreamers and the Jesus vision of God’s Kingdom would become a reality. Sadly, it was too much for the men who arose to leadership in that fledgling community of faith. They loved the authoritarian ways of the past and it wasn’t long before the Church was every bit as rigid and inflexible as the temple hierarchy. Power was consolidated, rigid doctrines were adopted, and bishops lived like princes as the religious wing of the Roman empire. But the Spirit was not stifled! And after centuries of resistance there are signs of hope among those who call themselves by the name of Christ. The sons and daughters of the faithful are exploring new ways of carrying on the loving, caring, inclusive mission of Jesus–and Pentecost continues!

Thought for the Day: What new things am I seeing in the Church?