Philippians 4:6-9

“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” vs. 8

Paul’s final admonition to the Philippians is worthy of our attention, and many would reply to it with an “Amen.” It is important to focus our thoughts on those things which are uplifting and edifying–it’s a good way to keep from spiraling into depression by being caught up in negativity. Some have had a hard time doing this during these last few days as events have spun out of control in Israel and Gaza. The news reports and videos have been heartbreaking–many have a hard time even looking at the scenes that are being broadcast to the world. The atrocities are  beyond comprehension! In the face of this barrage, many have chosen to take Paul’s words to heart. They deny the images and the stories entry into their conscious minds and choose to focus instead on what is honorable, pure, and commendable in their immediate surroundings. It just breaks their hearts to see the horror, and they would rather not deal with it. We can understand that decision.  At the same time we know that people of faith can’t turn away from suffering and pain any more than Jesus could have turned away from the cross. It’s just that sometimes it really hurts to see the pain!

Thought for the Day: How do I deal with horrifying news?

Philippians 4:1-5

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.” vss. 1-2

For centuries Pauline scholars have wondered what it was that Euodia and Syntyche had been up to that caused Paul to mention them in his letter to the Philippians. Evidently both were equally culpable, but all we know is that they were active in  the congregation, and were not of the same mind about something. Of course it’s not a surprise to find folks were bickering in Philippi, after all, the same thing happens regularly in every one of our faith communities. The reasons vary. There seems to be no limit to the things that cause people to get irritated and voice their complaints. Sometimes we disagree about matters of substance, but mostly the issues that come up seem petty and superficial. But no matter what the cause, the disagreements do affect the feeling of unity within the Body. For Paul this was a big deal–he wanted all the believers to have the same mind within the congregation that they had in Christ Jesus. And that can happen even when we have different opinions. We don’t all have to think alike or belong to the same political party, but we can be one in the Lord. And when that does happen among us, it really is a beautiful thing!

Thought for the Day: What do people bicker about in my congregation?

Psalm 23

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.” vs. 6

The psalmist knew that he continually lived in the Divine Presence. There was never a day when he was apart from God, and as a result goodness and mercy were his constant companions. He had the kind of close connection that many crave, and few seem to have. It really is a gift to have that intimacy, and people all around the world, from every kind of religion, keep trying to figure out how to make it happen. Of course it has little to do with theology or doctrinal purity, and it isn’t even necessarily connected with going to church. In the end, the road to unity with God isn’t that complicated or difficult. The simplest formula can probably be summed up as “Be still and know that I am God.” Those few words hold the key to a God connection that can be sustained for a lifetime. For some, those words lead to a regular practice of meditation, a sustained period of silence in which we let go of our thoughts and efforts to connect, and allow our souls to be restored. In those moments the God who is fills our presence with goodness and mercy and we learn to live in God’s perfect peace. Why doesn’t everyone do this? Well, the truth is that it’s hard to be still! And when we can’t be still we really miss out!

Thought for the Day: What keeps me from being still?

Isaiah 25:6-9

“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines…And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever.” vss. 6a, 7

Isaiah had a vision for this world that extended far beyond the power politics of warring Middle Eastern nations and the relentless thirst for violence that has bedeviled humanity from the beginning. One day, he says, the Lord will prepare a rich feast for all the peoples of the earth and swallow up death forever. That’s exactly the vision of the future that our world has needed in every tormented age, and especially in these latter days. Everyday we hear stories of unspeakable cruelty and many can’t even imagine how it is that people in the 21st century can behave in such barbaric ways. We would like to believe that in this time of advanced knowledge and progressive thinking it would be impossible for such things to take place. It would seem that in the right circumstances anyone can engage in wanton killing, and even find justification for our behaviors. Can it really be that Isaiah is right and that one day there will be a heavenly banquet at which all people will feast and be satisfied? It’s hard to believe, but such is the promise of scripture–and we can only hope that it’s true!

Thought for the Day: What might lead me to become a killer?

Isaiah 25:1-5

“For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.” vs. 4

As a prophet Isaiah regularly took the people of Israel to task for behaviors unbefitting the people of God. He pointed out their sin and called them to repentance, but those words of judgment should not imply that he believed God to be angry and vengeful. Indeed Isaiah had the highest regard for God and understood that God is a refuge to the poor and to the needy. The downtrodden don’t stand much of a chance in this world of tyrannical rulers and dominating powers. Those who battle to control the wealth of the nations simply don’t care about those on the bottom of the economic ladder. But as God works through the hands and feet of the faithful millions, the poor are given relief and the needy are lifted up in their distress. In times of earthquake, flood, and scorching heat God gives shelter and enables survival for the broken and forlorn. If ever we should wonder where God is, we should look for those places where the least of these are being fed, clothed, and sheltered. It is God who gives asylum, who offers work permits and green cards. This is how God operates. Isaiah knew it and gave praise and thanks! And so do we!

Thought for the Day: What signs of God do we see in the lives of the rich and powerful?

Matthew 21:42-46

“Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.” vs. 43

The scribes and the high priests may not have gotten the point when Jesus told the parable of the unjust tenants, but they had no doubts about his interpretation. As he had many times in his ministry, he makes it plain that God doesn’t care a fig about our fine theologies and traditions, or even our sabbath activities. God simply doesn’t care about religion or religious people. All those externals are nothing but a pious show! What God cares about is fruit, fruits that befit repentance, and where those fruits are present God is pleased. And what are those fruits? Again the gospel is clear! We are called to care for the least and the lost wherever we encounter them. Our ministry is to the homeless and the hungry, the refugees and the asylum seekers–all those people who society forgets and marginalizes we are to remember and serve. Paul tells us that the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. These are the attributes that will be seen among us as we reach out to the lost and lonely with tender mercy and generous hearts. And where these things are happening, no matter who is doing them, the Divine Presence rejoices.

Thought for the Day: What is God seeing in my faith community?

Matthew 21:33-41

“Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” vs. 40”

The chief priests and the scribes were able to answer the question that Jesus asked at the end of his parable about the vineyard. It was easy, like the questions a pastor asks during a children’s conversation. The problem is that the question wasn’t the point of the story–it was a trap. Their answer was an indictment of themselves. It had never dawned on them that they were the tenants who had usurped the owner’s vineyard. In our day, we who are the stewards of creation would do well to pay attention to this parable. Our global village has been intricately knit together in a most spectacular fashion and given into the hands of caretakers who have come to see themselves as owners. If someone were to ask, “What should be done about the ravaging of the environment and the exploitation of resources by those who were given charge of it?” we would likely have a ready answer. “Those rascally caretakers should be punished!” And our answer would be an indictment of ourselves. The problem is that we’ve been lulled into thinking that our standard operating procedure, progress at all costs, is the best stewardship style, and it isn’t! If we continue doing things as we always have, this earth is going to suffer. Somewhere along the line something has to change!

Thought for the Day: What are the limits of progress?

Philippians 3:8b-14

“Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” vss. 13-14

Because Paul knew Christ Jesus he had confidence that one day he would share in the resurrection to new life. But having said that he hastened to tell the Philippians that he was not resting on his laurels–his race was not yet over. He was going to strain on for however many laps remained until he had crossed the finish line. It was then that he would receive the wreath of victory that was his in Christ Jesus. In saying this Paul reminds the Philippians of a basic gospel principle, namely, that the past does not define our future! In fact he says we can forget about all that lies behind us. All our failures, broken promises, and moral lapses can be put in our rear view mirrors as we live out the rest of our lives in Christ. There will be goodness, joy, peace, and love in the days ahead even as our bodies wear out and our health declines. In Christ the best is always yet to come! And it’s not that our finish depends on our effort. We run In Christ, and in Christ victory is assured. Our laurel wreaths are gifts! Praise God!

Thought for the Day: How’s the race going for me?

Philippians 3:4b-8a

“Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” vss, 7-8a

For many, success in life is measured by net worth at the time of retirement. They want to have enough socked away to ensure a comfortable lifestyle throughout their golden years. With that as a goal they choose lucrative jobs or vocations and devote themselves to earning as much as they possibly can during their working years. For others, making a lot of money just isn’t that important. They sense that there are other values that bring much more satisfaction. Paul obviously falls into that category. He had discovered that there was nothing more valuable than knowing Christ. We know folks like that. They live among us. Some are in our congregations. One way of describing such people is to say that they have a moral compass that points directly at the person of Jesus Christ. And everything they do or say is influenced and directed by that deep sense of allegiance and trust. It’s more important than their political or economic convictions and it will carry them through every season of their lives. There is nothing that they have that is more valuable. In fact, they could lose everything and remain content. It’s a mystery why more people don’t carry the Christ card in their heart–it’s easier to get and far more precious than even a Visa or a Mastercard!

Thought for the Day: What is my moral compass?

Psalm 80:8-15

“Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?” vs. 12

Like Isaiah the psalmist uses the metaphor of the vineyard to describe Israel. But the questions asked are different. Isaiah asks “Why did the beautiful vineyard yield wild grapes?” but the psalmist asks “Why did God break down the vineyard’s walls?” Isaiah the prophet implies that Israel had disappointed the Lord, but the psalmist seems to have no clue why the country is being plundered by its enemies. These different perspectives reflect two general attitudes that can be seen among us when ugly stuff starts happening. Some have no difficulty in assigning blame–it’s our own fault. We’re the ones who have screwed up and we deserve the consequences of our sinful actions. But others seem to have no idea why all the bad things are happening to them. They’ve done their best to lead good lives, and in spite of that, they’re being punished–and like the psalmist all they can do is cry out to God for help. Such are the mysteries of life in this world. At various points we’ll agree with the prophet, “Yup, we really have gotten off track. We should have known this would happen.” But sometimes we really do wonder. There just isn’t any good reason for the calamities we’re enduring–and we resonate with the psalmist’s “why.” No matter what camp they are in, people of faith will find their only consolation in the Divine Presence!

Thought for the Day: Who speaks for me, Isaiah or the psalmist?