Psalm 118:17-19

“I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.” vs. 17

The psalmist had feared that his end was near. We don’t know what kind of crisis he had been caught up in. The context points to a military victory over a longtime enemy, but it could also have been some dread illness, or just one of the many challenges that are faced in the process of aging. At any rate, the prospect of an imminent death had diminished, and his health and vigor had been restored. He knows he’s going to live and he wants to give thanks to the Lord in the presence of the whole congregation. Now it’s not likely that the psalmist was thinking of life beyond death–that wasn’t a part of the Jewish belief system. But because we live on the other side of Easter, we can’t help but apply his words to our own situation. For us, though death remains a lifelong enemy, it’s lost its power and sting because of what has happened in Jesus. We will die–it happens to us all. But then we shall be made alive, and for that reason we too gladly recount the deeds of the Lord. That’s why early Christians gathered for worship on the first day of the week. Every Sunday became another Easter for them, a time to celebrate new life, and to give thanks to God for the promise of victory over death.

Thought for the Day: What keeps me away from worship?

Psalm 118:14-16

“The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.” vs. 14

It’s fitting that a psalm of praise and triumph be assigned to this week following Easter, our great festival of life and resurrection. The psalmist, writing in celebration, loudly proclaims his trust in the Lord. Because of that strong faith he has come to see the Lord as his strength and his might, the source of his salvation. Typically we become conscious of that confidence after passing through some life crisis from which we’ve emerged relatively unscathed. We may have taken our faith for granted, but in that challenging moment, as we realize our innate weakness, we are amazed that the Lord really is at hand and has become our strength and salvation. This is how it’s possible for people to suffer great pain and loss and still be able to laugh and sing for joy. We’ve seen it happen in our faith communities. Horrible things happen to people, but instead of losing their trust in God, they seem to find it. They’re knocked down but not out, and in their weakness they’re lifted into the arms of grace that have been there all along. And it’s not a momentary respite. From that point on they never miss a chance to offer thanks and praise to the Lord of their salvation. Once they were on their own, but now they have been found.

Thought for the Day: Where is my strength?

Acts 5:27-32

“But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority.’” vs. 29

After initial disbelief, Luke reports that Peter and the other disciples, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, began to proclaim the resurrection boldly throughout Jerusalem. Unafraid of anything, they even preached in the temple precincts and incurred the wrath of those who had so recently killed Jesus. It was a difficult choice but they were compelled to obey God rather than human authority. Those crucial decision points continue to regularly show up in the lives of believers. Martin Luther faced one when he stood before the Emperor at the Diet of Worms in 1521 and launched the reformation. As we move into this new age of authoritarianism many people are finding themselves in positions where they are being forced to make a decision between obedience to political leaders or their own moral principles. Many are choosing to speak out even at the risk of losing their positions–some are even facing the threat of prison unless they acquiesce. While for some this is just another political squabble, others believe that there is something deeper involved. For them, like the disciples, it’s a matter of faith and integrity. They know that there are eternal values at stake, that truth is sacred, and that there is a Higher Power who deserves obedience at all costs. The apostle’s devotion to the sacred gospel has meant the triumph of life, and now it’s our turn. When the moment comes to decide, where will we take our stand?

Thought for the Day: When have I compromised my values?

Luke 24:8-12

“Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.” vss. 8-9

Luke reports that when the women arrived at the tomb of Jesus with their spices for anointing his body, they found it empty, and were baffled. Then in a scene reminiscent of the transfiguration, two men in dazzling garments joined them and announced that Jesus had been raised from the dead. After a moment of disbelief the women rushed to tell the disciples what had happened. We can imagine them rushing into the room where the eleven were hiding out and saying, “Christ is risen,” the same good news as we’re sharing in worship today. But on that day the response was not, “He is risen, indeed,” but “You’ve got to be kidding!” The men dismissed the women’s story as an idle tale. Now there’s a good likelihood that some who hear that message this Easter morning have that same dismissive attitude. Such a response is not surprising–resurrection is hard to grasp. But many more will feel joy inside, and like Peter, be amazed at the wonder of it all. The women’s story was the spark that has changed our world, and is the source of hope in the face of death. In the midst of darkness there is light, and life always triumphs over the grave. And it’s true whether we believe it or not!

Thought for the Day: What draws people to worship on Easter?

Luke 24:1-6

“The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.’” v. 5

In many cultures when death occurs, it’s the women who seem to know what to do. While men lament the loss, the women take charge of the body and get things ready for burial or cremation. Such was the case when Jesus died. God only knows what the male disciples were doing on that Saturday, but the women were already making plans to do what they’d been unable to do when Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross. First thing on Sunday morning, they told each other, they’d go to the tomb with spices and do what their tradition prescribed. It’s nice to have people around who know what to do when death occurs. And it’s even better to have a plan! Often, in our death-denying culture death throws people into a panic, and people are forced into making decisions that they’ve mostly avoided thinking about. Blessed are those families who have a plan and who know what phone calls to make and what needs to be done. The death of a loved one can be an opportunity for family and friends to come together in love and unity. It’s a time for shared memories and maybe even a few laughs. And we do it best when we trust that the words of the angel are true. “He is not here, but has risen.”

Thought for the Day: What plans have I made for my death?

John 18-19

“When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” vs. 19:30

New Testament scholars have examined the differences between the gospel of John and the three other gospels at length. Some of those differences are most apparent in the descriptions of Jesus’ death and resurrection. John’s account is written in a unique style and contains details not found in the other gospels. While it’s fruitless to take some of his words literally, there is no doubt that he had a purpose for every sentence and image that he used, and his perspective on Jesus’ death has enormous value. For John the cross was the climax of the whole gospel, the culmination of Jesus’ life and mission. When Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit he had achieved his purpose, he had ascended his throne. He was a king who would reign from the cross and that has been how he ruled ever since. It’s so important that we remember this at a time when riches, power, and prestige are exalted over all else. John knew that the heart of the Christian message included the embrace of suffering, and he was right. It is at the time of human frailty that we are at our best, and in death we have learned to celebrate life. Tonight as we gather again at the cross we will be reminded that this is the most powerful symbol of love our world has ever known.

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

John 13:1-12, 31b-35

“So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” vss. 14-15

As is typical of John’s gospel, Peter and the other disciples didn’t quite understand what Jesus was doing when he washed their feet at the Passover meal. So when he had finished he explained what he had done, and told them to do likewise. The message is pretty straight forward and sums up our mission quite nicely. In some faith communities tonight there will be reenactments of the Passover foot-washing ceremony as a part of the liturgy. It can be a powerful and humbling experience, but its chief benefit is the clear direction it gives for the fulfilling of our mission as disciples of Jesus. Never are we to lord it over others–our role is consistently to be that of a servant. And that’s not to be considered an anomaly, a symbolic task to be performed once a year. Jesus intends that whatever our position in life, whether as a server in a restaurant, a nurse in a care center, or the CEO of a large corporation, we are there to see to the needs of others, and not to just gratify our own needs and desires. Some of his followers “get it,” and demonstrate by their words and actions that their greatest delight is to be of service to another person. Where they are, Christ is made known!

Thought for the Day: How do I live out my servanthood?

Hebrews 12:1-3

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…” vs. 1

The writer to the Hebrews couldn’t help but admire the faithfulness of the great company of saints who had come before him. In his book they were nothing less than remarkable and he found their courage inspiring. We know what he means. Even though studying history is boring to some and a waste of time to others, there are many who consider historical knowledge an essential ingredient for understanding what is going on now. It is even said that those who ignore the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them. There really is nothing new under the sun, and rascals show up in every age! But it’s also true that goodness is contagious. And as we get to know the stories of our ancestors we can use their examples to live better lives now! There are some who believe that those who have gone before us, those who now rest in peace, are actively encouraging us in our journeys. It’s because of their faith that we are where we are today, and we owe it to them to keep trudging along. And what’s even better, Jesus has gone this way before us, and as we walk in his footsteps the fruits of faith will abound.

Thought for the Day: Which of my ancestors do I find most inspiring?

Psalm 71:1-14

“Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent.” vs. 9

We should not be surprised to see a psalm written by an old person who is not feeling particularly good about having moved into the “golden” years. After all, old people have been around for a long time and pretty much all of them have the same laments about their declining strength and loss of status. At a time when memory can begin to fail, and peers are dropping like flies, it’s not at all unusual to begin to question our relationship with God. Like the Psalmist some have trusted God through their entire lives–faith came to them as a child and they’ve never wavered in their allegiance to their Rock and their Fortress. But as we lose our connections in the community of faith and even our families grow distant, loneliness seems our only companion. Of course we battle on! We know how precious life is, and that we do what we can with diets, exercise, crossword puzzles and even memory pills to stay relevant and stave off the approach of the end. It can be taxing, this constant obsession with aging, and some find themselves thinking of little else. How good it is when, like another psalmist, we realize that our times are in God’s hands, and our fretting is a needless distraction. When we come to that point, hope springs alive once more, our lips return to praising God, and joy comes to visit every morning.

Thought for the Day: The joy that comes with aging!

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?