Isaiah 42:1-9

“He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.” vss. 2-3

While Isaiah was not speaking of Jesus, he did provide a template for his ministry. There is little doubt that as Jesus began his work in Galilee he saw himself in the description of the Servant. When he stood before the congregation in Nazareth and proclaimed, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your presence,” that’s what he was doing. He was adopting the role of the Servant for himself. He would be the one who would faithfully bring forth justice. And he did it just as Isaiah described, not with military might or heavy-handed revenge, but in a quiet way that respected the dignity of every person. His would be a gentle justice, one that lifted up the broken and gave dignity to the oppressed. And even though Jesus endured enormous injustice in his suffering and death, his disciples have been fulfilling his vision ever since. All over the world they have been the ones quietly raising their voices on behalf of victims and refugees, and working to correct the rampant injustices that plague the good of God’s creation. They work behind the scenes to ensure that the hungry will be fed and prisoners be set free. They have no choice in their work. After all, they are servants of the Servant!

Thought for the Day: Where do I see justice being done?

Luke 24:26-49

“But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.” vs.49

As the afternoon drew to a close on that fateful Friday, Jesus cried out, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,” and breathed his last. The chief priests and the scribes lifted up the hems of their robes with thanksgiving and went home rejoicing at the death of their enemy. The repentant thief wondered and waited, and the centurion in charge of the execution praised God and said, “Certainly, this man was innocent.” And all his disciples, male and female, stood at a distance just watching!

This Friday some of us, likely not a lot, will gather in our sanctuaries around the cross again. It’s likely that we’ll be wondering too, and maybe even praising God for the amazing sacrificial love and forgiveness that is represented in the cross. But a good number of us will be there watching, not quite sure how to feel, and not at all comfortable with the inevitable approach of death. Maybe, like the thief, we’ll be puzzled about the radical nature of Jesus’ promise, and wondering what it might mean to be with him in paradise. There’s a lot that goes through our minds in the course of Good Friday worship. The cross really is the central image of our common faith, and it’s a blessing to have a chance to think about what it means.

Thought for the Day: How is praise connected to the death of Jesus?

Luke 24:1-25

“A third time he said to them, ‘Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.’” vs. 23

The gospels present the trial of Jesus as being a complete miscarriage of justice. The charges presented by the religious leaders were misrepresentations of his words and actions and some were outright lies. Neither Herod or Pilate were convinced of his guilt and both believed him to be innocent. Yet by sheer belligerence and persistence the chief priest and scribes got their way–Jesus was handed over to his executioners. Because we’ve heard the story so often, the outcome doesn’t surprise us, probably because the same sort of thing continues to happen in our world. Justice is as elusive today as it ever has been, and lawyers have become adept at using the courts for political or economic gain. Innocent people are jailed without due process or cause. Guilty folks with deep pockets can escape consequences for nearly any crime or behavior. Some would even say that justice itself has been perverted. For those who have come to put their trust in government or world leaders such news is deeply upsetting and disturbing. We wonder where we can turn. Jesus doesn’t seem to have had such misgivings. Having put himself in the hands of God long before, he was silent before his accusers, and continued to trust God even in the face of death. He reminds us that there really is a Higher Power!

Thought for the Day: How can a justice system be perverted? 

Philippians 2:9-11

“Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth…” vss. 9-10

Paul tells the Philippians that the Jesus who humbled himself unto death has been highly exalted and is worthy of worship. While Paul doesn’t specify the form of that worship, believers have certainly taken his words to heart. Their faith communities regularly gather for worship and almost always there will be a cross or crucifix to remind them that Jesus is to be their center of worship and praise. Paul doesn’t direct the form or style of worship and countless varieties have evolved through the centuries. In recent years, as worship has come to be seen as entertainment, some believe that the place of Jesus as the center of attention has been replaced by gifted musicians acting as song leaders. In their estimation the change has diminished opportunities for meditation and reflection. Paul seems to have seen worship as a time to “bend the knee” and indeed, for centuries no worshiper would dream of approaching the cross without genuflexion, a conscious bending of the knee in entering the sanctuary. There is much to be said for that practice, even though it’s not a part of all traditions. The bent knee and the bowed head remind us that Jesus is our Lord, and that we haven’t come to be entertained, no matter how talented the current performers might be.

Thought for the Day: How do I acknowledge Jesus as Lord in worship?

Philippians 2:5-8

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

The Philippians hadn’t gone through confirmation or participated in new member classes. Some of them were Jews, many were Gentiles, and they had no common traditions or doctrines. So it’s not strange that there was confusion in their community about their new life in Christ and what that meant for daily living. Paul wasn’t living with them any longer and he didn’t know if he’d ever visit their congregation again. So as he writes to them he establishes what might be called his first principle for Christian living. His words are plain and to the point, “Let the same mind be in you  that was in Christ Jesus.” And what was it about the mind of Christ that they should emulate? “He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death.” In other words Jesus surrendered himself to the power of God, quietly submitting to the direction of God’s Spirit on a daily basis, and he never wavered in his obedience. For Paul that was the only teaching that the Philippians needed. He had the confidence that the key to the new life in Christ was humility, a decision to look to the needs of others rather than to one’s own, and if people actually lived that way, the congregation would be just fine. Two thousand years later, that’s still how it is!

Thought for the Day: What are the external marks of a humble spirit?

Psalm 31:9-16

“But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’  My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.” vss. 14-15

The psalmist doesn’t specify which terrors were plaguing him at this period of his life. It could have been almost anything: illness, persecution, depression, aging. The list of those things which bring us to our knees in the course of a lifetime is endless. But we do know that he was almost at the end of his rope. Since he had tried everything to find peace and security he has been left with only his faith. Some know that feeling! It’s not at all unusual for us to be overwhelmed with all the ugly stuff that can come our way–and it’s not all because we’re paranoid! Often our enemies are real and the diseases incurable, and, of course, there’s nothing at all we can do with the gradual diminishment of body and mind that comes with aging. And while the bad days can sometimes mind their own business and leave us alone, more often they gang up on us, and we’re completely overwhelmed. In those moments, as for the psalmist, it’s our faith that gives strength. And as we surrender our whole selves to the care of the Divine Presence we discover the peace that passes all human understanding. We don’t understand, but we just know that all will be well. Our times are in God’s hand.

Thought for the Day: What does it take to drive me to my knees?

Isaiah 50:4-9a

“The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.” vs. 4

Isaiah recognized that his primary function as a prophet was to teach people the way they could live God-pleasing lives. But beyond that he also realized that he had been uniquely gifted–he’d been given the tongue of a teacher. We know what he means.  Some people simply have a gift for teaching and, blessed are those who have encountered such folks in the course of their education. They not only have the necessary knowledge–they also know how to pierce the often resistant skulls of their students. What’s the primary secret of such teachers? Isaiah knew it well. He had learned never to open his mouth without first listening. Oh, that more of us could learn that skill! Isaiah seems to have made it a part of his daily routine and started every day with listening to the Lord. Perhaps it was a part of a meditation process, a time alone simply waiting in God’s presence and praying for the insights he needed to meet the challenges of each hour. Jesus followed this routine during his ministry, rising before dawn to listen for the whispers of God in the silence. Teachers who use their ears before their mouths will be especially equipped to reach the hearts of their students. 

Thought for the Day: What have I learned from listeners?

Luke 19:28-40

“As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

When Jesus was approaching Jerusalem for the last time he made a conscious decision to enter the city riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey. That image has taken hold of our imagination almost as completely as that of the cross. His mode of transport made abundantly clear that he was coming to his end, not as a majestic and triumphant king, but as the humble servant of all. Through the centuries men and women who have taken seriously their call to serve have chosen to identify with Jesus by adopting his spirit of humility. St. Francis of 13th century Assisi got rid of his expensive garments and wore the mantle of a beggar. Currently the pope bearing his name has chosen to live, not in the papal palace, but in a small one bedroom apartment. Imagine what it would be like if those claiming to be spiritual leaders today would have the same desire to walk humbly with the Lord! It’s astounding what an affect our decision to adopt the servant model will have on our witness to the world. What a contrast this is to the jet-set lifestyles of contemporary evangelists! Of course it’s not easy to live humbly in our consumptive culture. We’re daily bombarded with messages encouraging us to adopt the habits of the rich–and sadly, some go into debt in their reckless pursuit of luxury. What a waste!

Thought for the Day: What is luxurious living?

John 12:4-8

“You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” vs. 8

Jesus was of course right. We always have the poor with us, and as even Judas understood, we have a responsibility to use our resources to lift them out of poverty and enable them to experience the material blessings of life in this world. Many believers have been faithful to that ministry of caring and are currently supporting relief and charity work all around the world. Whenever there are disasters people of faith respond generously–these are the times when humans are at their best. Love flourishes in times of need. Right now, many of those relief organizations are facing a huge challenge. Most of them have been the recipients of grants from our government that enabled them to provide the best care possible. Now those funds are being discontinued and those caring ministries are being threatened. Healing outreach programs have been eliminated with medical assistance rapidly coming to an end. Some are thrilled by this change–they believe tax dollars are best spent for defense and to support the wealthy. The challenge is obvious for those who are the hands and feet of Christ in the world. It is more important now than ever to support the work of those helping the poor. In fact, as Jesus has said clearly, what we do for the least of these, we are really doing for him!

Thought for the Day: What motivates the desire to neglect the poor?

John 12:1-3

“Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” vs. 3

John, after telling how Lazarus received new life at the hands of Jesus, goes on to share a story about Mary and Martha that reminds us of Luke’s story of the sisters. Again, Martha is the one given to serving, and she takes charge of the celebratory dinner. But this time Mary isn’t content with just listening to Jesus. She also takes action, anointing Jesus’ feet with a pound of costly nard, and then wiping them with her hair. It was an extravagant gesture of love and did not go unnoticed. In fact the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Love frequently has this effect in our lives, especially when we’re in the throes of a romantic attachment. In those moments even normally frugal folks will max out their credit cards in some attempt to win the hearts of their beloved. But that’s not what Mary was up to. Her love for Jesus was of an entirely different kind. It was a spiritual connection, and her loving gesture was done purely to give him thanks and praise. Many believers continue to express such generosity in their relationship to Jesus, and have come to regularly give enormous gifts on a weekly basis in support of his mission. They do it not to get special standing in his kingdom but as an unmistakable act of love.

Thought for the Day: How do I show my love for Jesus?