Luke 24:13-27

“Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.” vs. 27

Luke makes it clear to his readers that the good news about Jesus was not self-evident even to his disciples after that fateful weekend in Jerusalem. Some women had spread the news of his continuing presence but their reports were not considered authoritative. What the early believers needed was some evidence that what had happened in Jesus was consistent with the Hebrew scriptures. They didn’t want something that was brand new, they wanted good news that was rooted in the history of their people. And that’s why people today continue to immerse themselves in the study of scripture. We know that folks are making stuff up all over the place, and some of it can sound really good, but without a history it’s impossible to build trust. Of course we’re always coming to new understandings of the scripture–it has loads of surprises for us–but it’s so important to make sure that the truths we entrust our lives to are rooted in our community’s stories. And so we keep on studying ancient creeds and practices. We try to figure out the values and convictions of those who were the pioneers of our faith, always remembering that new occasions teach new duties. And in those connections with the past we’re bound to find our confidence for the future.

Thought for the Day: Why do some people find history boring?

1 Peter 1:21-23

“You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.” vs. 23

Peter’s words to those early followers of Jesus were intended to give them encouragement and hope. They were a holy people, set aside by God to make a difference in the world. Their strength came not from their own merit or worthiness but as a gift from God through the Holy Spirit. The life that had been engendered in them had not come from the union of a sperm and an egg, but from the eternal Word of God, present in the creation of the universe and now present in them through the Christ. They really had been born anew, a new birth celebrated in baptism and lived out in the love that marked their daily interactions. It’s almost as though we exist as two persons in this world, the one that is the product of biological and genetic interconnections, and the other that has been born of God. Sometimes we’re barely aware of our divine selves and live totally in response to our natural appetites and inclinations. We grow, mature, mate, work, breed, and get old–and our other self remains hidden, certainly to others, and often even to ourselves. What a blessing it is when we can begin to relax into the person that God has birthed in us! That’s when love begins to flow and we start to see the joy of living in the moment. It’s a moment of discovery worth savoring!

Thought for the Day: When did I discover my self that is born of God?

1 Peter 1:17-20

“You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.” vss. 18-19

A ransom is typically understood as the payment that gives a person release from captors. In this passage it’s used as a verb to describe how the blood of Christ sets sinners free from their sinful pasts. It seems a fine metaphor and through the years countless Christians have understood that the innocent blood of Jesus is what has set them free from sin. It only becomes a problem when we start asking questions. For instance, to whom is this ransom paid? Or, why is a ransom even necessary if God offers forgiveness by grace? Answers to such questions are seldom satisfying and as a result many have stopped using ransom talk in understanding atonement, and some have even stopped using atonement language altogether. Instead of using a metaphor that arises out of the Hebrew sacrificial system outlined in Leviticus, they’re more comfortable with the language of sacrificial love found in the New Testament. With that understanding as a background, Peter’s words are a beautiful description of the mystical wonder of God’s grace. We don’t have to pay for forgiveness with silver or gold, it’s a free gift–and it becomes ours, not so much through the blood of Christ, as through Christ’s self-giving love.

Thought for the Day: Why does blood imagery touch a responsive chord in so many?

Psalm 116:12-19

“What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.” vss. 12-14

When the psalmist was restored to health there was only one adequate response. He headed to the temple as fast as he could to offer a generous sacrifice of thanksgiving. His response gives us pause for thought about our own situation as we now look forward to the ending stages of this COVID-19 pandemic. As restrictions are eased, a sign that the worst has passed, it would seem appropriate for us to look for ways to express ourselves in thanksgiving. Certainly we’ll want to express thankfulness to health-care workers and others who have put themselves at risk, but some will also want to offer praise and thanks to God. Fortunately there are a multitude of ways to do that. Relief organizations have depleted a large portion of their resources over the last few months–we can certainly funnel our thank offerings to them. And if we’re a part of a faith community there are a multitude of ways to say thank you. Our pastors and lay leaders have shown boundless imagination and creativity in reaching out. They’ve made enormous efforts to stay connected via technology and old-fashioned phone calls. And there have been no weekly offerings! Those congregations are going to need our thank offerings and more. It’s a great way to return thanks to the Lord!

Thought for the Day: How am I going to return thanks to the Lord?

Psalm 116:1-4

“Then I called on the name of the Lord: ‘O Lord, I pray, save my life!’” vs 4

The psalmist was in a buoyant mood; he had a story to tell and he wanted everyone to know his good news. He had been at death’s door, close to giving up his spirit, and very near to entering the dark haunts of the dead. At the last moment he had cried out to the Lord in despair, asking that his life be saved–and his prayer had been heard! In response he composed a psalm of praise and vowed his never-ending love for the Lord. We can understand his feelings. Perhaps we too have had similar experiences–it’s not at all uncommon to cry out to God when death draws near for ourselves or for someone we love. When all else fails, God is the one who is summoned, and sometimes, but not always, our prayers are answered and lives are saved. In those moments words of thanks come almost unbidden from our mouths, and we’re glad to affirm our love for God. But what about those other times, those occasions when fervent prayers go unanswered and death comes to stay? Those are real tests for faith, and some respond with unbelief. But not all! There are many whose prayers are not answered who continue to express their love for God. They have come to believe that their love for God is a reflection of God’s unconditional love for us and not dependent on answered prayers. And they are blessed in their mourning! 

Thought for the Day: What is conditional love?

Acts 2:14a, 36-41

“So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.” vs. 41

According to Luke the growth of the early Christian community was explosive, with 3000 persons being baptized in response to Peter’s sermon. While we might question Luke’s numbers and the impact of a particular sermon, there is little doubt that there was missionary zeal among believers from the very beginning. They’d been touched by the Holy Spirit of God and they believed the message they’d been given was meant to be shared with all people. According to tradition they went with the word in every direction, inviting people of every folk and nation to become a part of Christ’s Body. In our time there has been a slowing of that evangelistic enthusiasm among the followers of Jesus. There’s more a feeling of “live and let live” and almost a reluctance to reach out to others. Some of this may be a reaction to the evangelistic methods and message of the past, which is understandable, but it may also be an indication of an adaptation to our culture. With the move toward inclusion and understanding, we may no longer be convinced that being a follower of Jesus is a benefit to anyone. Perhaps it doesn’t make any difference what people believe, and if that’s the case, why even put ourselves out making the effort to share our faith with others? It’s a crucial question, one that folks claiming to be full of the Spirit should be seeking to answer!

Thought for the Day: What’s the point of baptism in our secular age?

John 20:26-31

“But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” vs. 31

When John wrote his gospel there was no doubt about his convictions or his intentions. He may not have known Jesus personally, but he was certainly aware of his life and ministry, and he had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. He was convinced that Jesus was the enfleshment of the Word present at creation, the One through whom all things came into existence. Jesus was the Christ of God, and through him the Light of God had shone forth for all to see. John also knew that it wasn’t enough to record Jesus’ words and recount the events of his life as other gospel writers had done. So John carefully chose seven events from the life of Jesus that he called “signs.” These were seven times in which Jesus had revealed the glory of God in concrete and visible ways. They weren’t the only signs Jesus had done but John believed that they would be enough to convince his readers that Jesus was the Messiah. Indeed, through the centuries John’s little book has been a particular favorite for many. It’s really more about Christ than it is about Jesus, but through it millions of lives have been changed as people have come to believe Jesus is the Christ, and in believing have caught glimpses of the new life our loving God has for all people. 

Thought for the Day: What do I like about the gospel of John?

John 20:19-25

“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’” vs. 19

The words of this verse seem eerily appropriate for many of us as we continue in this uncertain state we’ve come to call “social distancing.” Because of fear we’ve isolated ourselves as best we can, maybe not locking our doors, but certainly keeping them closed to the threat of contagion. It’s a natural reaction when we’re afraid–we flee from that which threatens us, and the safest place is most often at home. And there we’ve discovered just like the disciples did, that even locked doors can’t keep Jesus out! He came to them in their fear and offered them peace, not the absence of conflict, but the sweet contentment that comes from our connection with the Divine Presence. It’s been strange to worship alone these last weeks. Typically Lent and Easter have provided rich opportunities to sing praises to God and hear well-practiced choirs at their best. This year it’s been different–at best we’ve been watching our preachers and musicians on small screens while missing the blessings of Holy Communion. But Jesus has not been absent–he’s come to us where we are offering peace and hope–and he’ll keep on coming until the crisis is over and we can rejoin our faith communities. After all, he is the Prince of Peace!

Thought for the Day: What have I missed most while staying at home?

1 Peter 1:6-9

“Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy…” vs. 8

We’re all pretty much in the same boat when it comes to Jesus. None of us ever saw him in the flesh and we certainly can’t see him in bodily form now. He lived a long time ago and we’re totally dependent on others for reports of his life and ministry. Yet through the years millions of people have chosen to follow his teachings and walk in his footsteps. Many profess to have a deep love for him. So how is it that people devote themselves to him, and are even willing to give their lives for him? There’s probably no good answer to that question, at least not one that will satisfy everyone. But what seems to be true is that faith in Jesus Christ grounds and centers our lives in a remarkable way. By trusting him and even attaching our lives to him, we find stability and purpose, and even more than that, believers report experiencing indescribable and glorious joy. Of course we can’t see him, but we can have a relationship with him that is enriching and deeply fulfilling. It’s a connection that draws us into community with other believers, and it’s there that we find the physicality that is a part of faith. In that body we actually become his presence in the world, and others will see Jesus through us.

Thought for the Day: When did I decide to devote my life to Jesus?

1 Peter 1:3-5

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” vs. 3

Most everyone is now hoping for a quick end to the restrictions that we’ve been facing because of the COVID-19 virus–even more than that we’re hoping that we can stop living in fear. Not only are we afraid of contracting the disease, we’re also anxious about the economic repercussions of the prolonged shutdown. Of course no expert can give us a definitive timetable of what’s going to happen in the next weeks and months–whether we like it or not, we’re just going to have to muddle through as best we can. What we do know is that in Christ Jesus we have been born into a living hope for the future, one that is completely independent of our personal experiences or the flow of the economy. And that makes a difference! Early Christians were able to endure persecution and suffering because they knew that Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead. The light of that great truth continues to guide our steps in these uncertain times. Life isn’t some form of giant crap shoot where everything is up for grabs. Those who live in Christ have the confidence that all things will be brought to completion in him. We’re going to be okay–this virus will one day be forgotten–our hope in Christ is ours forever.

Thought for the Day:  How can each day be Easter for us?