Psalm 22

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?…Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” vss. 1, 3

When we get a good dose of suffering on the discipleship trail it’s not unusual to feel as though we’ve lost touch with God. We wonder why rotten things are happening in our lives and, even though we know better, the word “why” keeps coming to our lips. Those days can be excruciatingly painful and the feelings of alienation and separation hang with us through each passing hour. Some have reported finding consolation in the initial words of Psalm 22, the same words Jesus used as he hung on the cross…his only words according to Matthew and Mark. It’s not just that misery loves company, though that may be a factor, but we really do connect with him in a new and intimate way. “Wow,” we think to ourselves, “so this is how Jesus felt!” It’s important for us to remember in those moments that Jesus, like the psalmist, uttered those words in the context of a deep and abiding faith. Even though Jesus in that moment felt estranged from God he also knew that God was majestic and holy, greater than any imperial power, even more powerful than death itself. That’s our hope too in our moments of darkness. Beyond our suffering there is new life…and a love that will conquer all.

Thought for the Day: Why does misery love company?

John 13:31b-35

“Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’” vs. 33

Goodbyes are never easy! And the ones we say toward the close of our lives are probably the hardest of all. Sometimes we don’t know if we’ll ever see this person that we’ve loved so much ever again. Maybe distance is the factor…many times it’s age. We have the sense that death is going to come…never again will there be conversation or hugs. The disciples must have had those premonitions as they gathered with Jesus in that upper room for their Passover meal. Jesus certainly knew that time was short. Words said in those last encounters are important…they often are emblazoned in our memories. The disciples never forgot what Jesus told them in that last time together…and neither should we. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” These words were intended by Jesus to be the identifying mark of his followers. As we practice this directive in our congregations we provide a witness to the world and fulfill the deepest desires of our Lord and Teacher. Even though Jesus died he continues to be present to us in the love we have for one another…and it’s for this reason that this day is called “Maundy Thursday.”

Thought for the Day: What does the word “Maundy” mean?

Hebrews 12:1-3

“Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.” vs. 3

Most of us will, at one time or another in the course of our lifetimes, discover that there are people who have it in for us. Sometimes we’ll know the reason. We’ve done or said something that has caused offense and the victims are simply getting even as best they can. Their rationale is obvious: we’ve hurt them, and now they’re going to inflict some pain in return. But at other times we really don’t know what the problem is…we just know that there’s real hostility in each of our encounters. That’s kind of the way it is in this world when the tentacles of sin can insinuate themselves into most every relationship. Our journey is never without complications. The writer of Hebrews offers some direction to readers. Likening life to a race he advises them to run with Jesus and to remember that Jesus too faced hostility along the way. If it happened to him we can be pretty sure that we who bear his name will face the same challenges. It’s just part of the job description! Jesus didn’t lose heart…and neither should we! Living by faith we slog our way through the toughest times with confidence. In Christ we’re all going to be winners!

Thought for the Day: When have I encountered hostility in life?

Psalm 71:1-14

‘Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you…Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent.” vss. 6, 9

Not everyone comes to faith as a child. Many followers of Jesus report that their parents gave them little spiritual direction as they grew up and that they were left to make their own decisions about how to live and what to believe. It was only after experimenting with a variety of life-styles that they discovered the Jesus Way and made a conscious decision to become a disciple. Other folks have had a different experience. They’ve never known a time when God wasn’t at the center of their consciousness. From the time of their birth they’ve felt a connection and have always made an effort to walk in the way of the Christ. That kind of long-term relationship with God is such a blessing…and sometimes those who have lived that way don’t even realize how special it is. It becomes particularly important as we move into the time of life when strength fails us and we feel the effects of physical aging. The psalmist prayed that God would continue to offer peace and support in those years when his physical body began to wear out. After all, it’s at that stage of our lives that faith is our most precious possession, the one thing that can’t be taken from us.

Thought for the Day: When did I first realize how precious faith is?

Isaiah 42:1-9

“Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:” vs. 5

The prophet knew that the Creator of the Universe had given spirit to every breathing person on the planet. That spirit is our God connection and is humanity’s common inheritance. It doesn’t just belong to Christians, Jews, Buddhists, or Muslims…it belongs to us all. Of course many people of all races and creeds live as though they have no relationship to God. Some are caught up in the desires of the flesh and even deny that God exists. Those who do have a spirit consciousness have a special calling. As the prophet puts it, they have been given as “a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” It’s no accident that this sounds very much like the mission that dominated the ministry of Jesus. In him, and in us, the spirit of God has been enfleshed and through us light shines. The world would like us to believe that all is darkness and terror. That’s just not true! The light is shining brightly in every land…and if we open our eyes we’ll see it!

Thought for the Day: Where is the light shining in my neighborhood?

Luke 23:31-49

“Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last.” vs. 36

According to Luke’s sources, Jesus’ last words were, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, the Inspired One expired, and gave up his spirit. Whether or not this is a description of what happens at the point of death is not the point. It’s the words that touch our hearts and minds! They reflect the submissive nature of Jesus’ entire ministry. Always he craved to do God’s will and that desire continued to the end of his life. We pay attention to last words…often they provide a precious remembrance of our loved ones. Some say that they confirm and endorse the values and faith of one’s life. Martin Luther famously wrote his down, “We are all beggars, it is true.” It’s not likely that we’ll be able to rehearse our last words, and of course, many are not memorable. Still it is good at the moment of our deaths to be at peace with the world and with God. Life is a great gift! As we live we don’t have a good sense of when the end will come and sometimes we don’t have time to prepare. How good it is when we can treat each day as our last and live it with thanksgiving in our hearts and love on our lips! And if our last words were to echo those of Jesus? Well, what could be better than that!

Thought for the Day: What would I like my last words to be?

Luke 23:13-30

“But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed.” vs. 23

In a world where despots are in control matters of justice are subject to the whim of the ruler. According to Luke Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent and had him crucified anyway. The demands and loud shouts of the crowd were all that mattered. As citizens we have an interest in the justice system. We claim to want strict adherence to the laws and appropriate sentencing for the guilty. We expect that the innocent will be exonerated and set free. What actually happens is far from what we say we desire! Too often the innocent suffer and the guilty walk free! That’s what happens in a world where power and wealth trump justice and the loud shouts of the self-interested prevail. It’s likely that this corrupt system is the best our society can do…it’s been around for centuries. But followers of Jesus continue to hope and work for something better and dream of a world where justice for all is the norm. It’s what spirit-filled leaders have been advocating all along. Micah puts it well, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.” Jesus didn’t receive justice…sometimes we don’t either. But always our call is to act justly in every circumstance, every single time…even if it’s not the way of our world!

Thought for the Day: When am I most likely to act unjustly?

Luke 23:1-12

“But they were insistent and said, ‘He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.’” vs. 5

The scribes and the Pharisees were right. Jesus had stirred up the people with his teaching wherever he traveled. He had painted a picture of the kingdom that touched the hearts of the multitudes and made them feel as though they were loved and included. He had compassion on them and treated them with dignity, reaching out to touch even those who were considered outcasts. In his presence ordinary people felt loved and they felt a connection with God that their religion had never given them. Jesus had even stirred up his enemies. They were crazy with jealousy and fear and it boiled over with Jesus’ arrest. Of course the charges were a lie, but lies sell in the world of politics and the religious authorities knew how the system worked. All they had to do was cause a ruckus in Jerusalem and the governor would do their bidding to maintain order. In that kind of an atmosphere goodness doesn’t have a chance. Shouted accusations drowned out the truth and an innocent man paid the price. We know what that’s like in our tweet-crazy world. The loudest lies carry the day and ends always justify means. But just wait! Easter is coming soon. The Christ always has the last word and love will ultimately be the big winner.

Thought for the Day: What stirs my passions?

Philippians 2:5-11

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…” vs. 5

Jesus was the incarnation of the Christ…and so are we! In us the very essence of God is pleased to dwell and through us the world is being transformed. This truth has been around for millenia and it’s about time that we begin to take it seriously. It’s not that we’re called to puff up our chests and lord it over others as neighborhood know-it-alls or petty politicians. Paul makes our role pretty clear: the mind of Christ, the one that was in Jesus, is rooted in humility, the abdication of power and might. Instead of ruling over others our role is to subvert the ways of the world from beneath, by adopting gentleness and kindness as our weapons. Of course that isn’t any easier for us than it was for Jesus. Ultimately it means the death of self, the putting aside of our own aspirations in favor of lifting up the needs of others even if it means following Jesus on the road to suffering and death. It’s as we carry our crosses on the way of discipleship that the great paradox kicks in and we discover that in losing our lives we actually have begun to get a foretaste of resurrection. As St. Francis put it, “It’s in dying that we are born to eternal life.” It’s in emptying ourselves that we find fullness.

Thought for the Day: What would happen if I emptied myself?

Psalm 31:9-16

“I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.” vs. 11

The tough times will often reveal our truest and dearest friends. If we’re involved in a scandal, some sort of obvious misstep, folks will fall all over themselves in establishing distance…there’s no way they’ll want to be tainted by an association with us. Sometimes, even in cases of divorce or death, we’ll discover that some friends will begin to practice avoidance, perhaps because they don’t know what to say or do in our presence. Often our isolation comes as a surprise. No words are spoken…but connections are damaged and we feel out of touch. When such alienation takes place our souls are wounded and the loneliness can be intense. The psalmist found consolation in faith. He knew that God would never desert him…and he was right! When friends fail our Lord will continue to love and protect…and in the dark night of our souls we discover that deep and abiding Presence. And sometimes in those lonely times there will be those who draw near rather than pull away. Occasionally we’ll be surprised by the friends who show up…we may not have known the depth of their caring. And in their hugs we feel the embrace of God.

Thought for the Day: Who would visit me in prison?