Still looking

 

Psalm 19

¹The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

²Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.

³There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;

⁴yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,

⁵which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

⁶Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.

⁷The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;

⁸the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;

⁹the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

¹⁰More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.

¹¹Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

¹²But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.

¹³Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Reflection

     This may be my favorite Psalm (until I read another one that speaks to my heart that day). It is lyrical and beautiful, a favorite of may. There are several verses that are memorable. The Word certainly can remain with you and keep nourishing you long after you read it or hear it!

     What are you favorite verses?

     What do you make of the line--"Clear me from hidden faults."? I don't know about you, but I feel like my faults are usually pretty obvious and repeated! I generally don't have a problem identifying all of my shortcomings. I am not sure that I want God to add to the list! Yet, I know and confess that there are things that I have done that I am not yet aware of. If I don't know, how can I work to make it right.

Prayer

Lord God, guide me to see the ways that I need to learn to love others better. Teach me also when I need to love and forgive myself so that I can be kind and compassionate with others. Bring us all into a greater sense of your eternal peace. In the Name of Christ, we pray. Amen.

The Great Deep

Reading - Psalm 36:5-10
 Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
    your judgments are like the great deep;
    you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light we see light.
O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
    and your salvation to the upright of heart!

Reflection

     A couple of days ago, I saw a deep water scene similar to the clip above. I noticed that I had an internal strong reaction of fear. I can swim, but I do not want to be out in open ocean. You will not hear about Pastor Fitch swimming the English Channel (and that is not technically open or deep ocean). I suppose that if my life depended on it, I would go as far or as long as I could. There is just a limit to how long you can tread water or swim in the open ocean. I think part of my fear (besides drowning) is the lack of control and knowing what is below.

     "Your judgements are like the great deep"  When the Psalmist wrote this, they had a sense of today's statistic that 95% of the world's oceans are unexplored. I think sometimes we do a disservice to God and faith by trying to give answers. Often times, mysteries remain. We don't know. We don't understand. "You save humans and animals alike." I wasn't thinking that the animals needed saving. Yet, this does seem to be a proof text for "all dogs go to heaven." Certainly God's love for Creation runs deeper than our polluting and consuming ways. Oh, Dear Lord, turn us from being so selfish. Teach us more and more each day to love all as you love. Poke us again to see the value of all creatures and plants great and small. Shrink our pride and arrogance to see our measure against the great deep and the broad expanse. Instill in us awe of all that belongs to you. We thank you for loving us and forgiving us. Move us to work out your justice and fairness. In your Great Name, we pray. Amen.

Yoda was wrong

The Escape to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-18)

When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”

Reflection

I am a Star Wars fan. This Bible story reminds me that Yoda was wrong. He was the wise member of the Jedi Council who memorably said, "Ah, hard to see the dark side is." No, it really isn't. Dark forces usually make big painful messes. Yes, they do prefer to cover up their tracks or hide in lies, but if they have power and time, they will do it again. This story carries the deepest contrast with the Epiphany. The brightness of the Star had just faded, the gold and jingling color of the Magi's travel group were still memorable outside their house. The sinister Herod serves as a painful reminder and warning through the years. Whenever God and God's people work to do something good, there is always a powerful leader that wants to wreak it all for the purpose of self-preservation, lust for power, envy or greed. Yes, the dark side does try to make it seem like they will build you up with their image, but the truth is that if you fail them, you are dead to them, too.

Of course, in the midst of a cosmic clash, the beauty of this story is in the quiet faithful escape of the Holy Family. They listen and act. They follow. Yes, hope and life will always be one step ahead of the forces of darkness. God's goodness does not fail--not then and not now.

Prayer

Abba, Father,

We thank you for your watchfulness over us this day and always. We praise you for your presence with all of the innocents that struggle with the horrible actions of those who do not honor your goodness. We are grateful for your providence and protection. When we don't understand why some suffer and die at the hands of evil, help us to see in faith that you hold all in your hands and will hold all accountable for their words and actions. We pray for your justice to be made known and your escape to be quick for those you shelter. In the Name of the Christ, we pray. Amen.

Songs and a Timely Image

Great God of all,

We turn to you and ask you for mercy, grace and peace. If we can, we also ask you to flex your muscles against all that is corrupt and wrong with our society and world. We pray for an end to the pandemic. Guide us to participate and engage more fully in your good work. In your unequaled Name, we pray. Amen.

Isaiah 42:10-18- New Revised Standard Version
10 Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise from the end of the earth!
Let the sea roar and all that fills it,
the coastlands and their inhabitants.
11 Let the desert and its towns lift up their voice,
the villages that Kedar inhabits;
let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy,
let them shout from the tops of the mountains.
12 Let them give glory to the Lord,
and declare his praise in the coastlands.
13 The Lord goes forth like a soldier,
like a warrior he stirs up his fury;
he cries out, he shouts aloud,
he shows himself mighty against his foes.

14 For a long time I have held my peace,
I have kept still and restrained myself;
now I will cry out like a woman in labor,
I will gasp and pant.
15 I will lay waste mountains and hills,
and dry up all their herbage;
I will turn the rivers into islands,
and dry up the pools.
16 I will lead the blind
by a road they do not know,
by paths they have not known
I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I will do,
and I will not forsake them.
17 They shall be turned back and utterly put to shame—
those who trust in carved images,
who say to cast images,
“You are our gods.”

18 Listen, you that are deaf;
and you that are blind, look up and see!

Reflection

     I was caught by the call to sing and create a new song for God. Writing new songs is hard, time consuming and energy sapping. That is, unless, we hear this as more of a call to be current and free with what God is doing in the world. I have to admit that I only really write new songs for my dogs..."puppers and duppers are what you are..." No, they aren't very high quality, but they work well for feeding time or just being goofy and free. I think this is part of what Isaiah captures here is that spontaneous and creatively loving part of our heart that turns away from predictability, habits and just relishes in God's presence. This is more powerful than we give it credit. It seems, dear church, like we need more workshops on creative song-writing to God!

     I was also caught by the descriptions of the Warrior God who was done waiting. Wow and ouch. I
am sure that this is where a vivid understanding of the "fear of the Lord" comes from. I suppose that this reading was selected more for the image of when God stops waiting, then where my mind went. I know it is almost Christmas, but I thought of the crucifixion of the Warrior God (the book and the reality). This is a great insight into the distinct difference of tone and message from Old Testament to New Testament. God chose to end the warring with our rebellion and disobedience so that we all might be saved. So, the battle for eternal peace is over, but we are all called into the battle work of spreading love and hope! This is noticeably non-violent, all-negativities-absorbing and truth-telling.

Are you done waiting to make hope happen and love spread around you?

Word Pictures

Great God, speak to us through your Sacred Pages. Let us take in the richness of your being in our lives. While our spirit is aware of your presence, make us more aware of your work around us and enable us to be a frutiful and effective conduit of your Way. In Christ, we pray. Amen.

Isaiah 12:2-6
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 

 And you will say in that day:
Give thanks to the Lord,
call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

     It is a well known saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. A word picture in Scripture is worth an unknown number of words. It is perhaps a great deal more, particularly given the number of books written on various passages. Sometimes, though, it is a lot less because the mind and hands are not able to easily write what the spirit quickly perceives. 

     The skeptic might hear a passage like "draw water from the well of salvation..." and ask how are you drawing the water, and what is the water--a portion of salvation? This poetic prophecy defies straightforward logic. Yet, in faith, it makes perfect sense to our heart, soul, spirit, inner being and well drawer.

     We also can connect through time with those in the majority of Isaiah's original audience that would have had many reasons for sensing a tremendous hope in this whole text. We know what it feels like when everything seems dry, cracked and broken without much life. This word picture pulls us up out of our dry place and tells our heart to turn to praise and thanksgiving. God draws us into the recognition of a whole rich reality beyond our current condition. The Creator splashes us with a great and long holy recall of promises kept and many more still waiting to erupt against a time of great need.  Lift up your head! Lift up your voice! Praise God!

"Sir, what are your orders?"

With an opening note of gratitude and appreciation to all of our veterans, we thank you for your service!

     After looking at the texts for today, and considering some of the themes, I considered it a bit comical that these verses are not favorites transferred onto signs and media posts. Read on and see what I mean.

1 Timothy 6:11-21 (New English Translation)
But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession for in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate, to obey this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ —whose appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time. He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.

Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.

O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called “knowledge.” By professing it, some have strayed from the faith. Grace be with you all.

Reflection

     The second paragraph is ripe for the picking, isn't it?! Even if you use a softer word than command, it is still not likely to be well received. It is a well known fact that the rich prefer to stay rich and will use all their power to keep getting richer. It is also true that the wealthy and powerful don't like to be told what to do anymore than the rest of us. Generosity is nearly impossible if you are growing more and more proud and fond of what you have and all that you have accomplished. We also need to remember that we are rich. We possess much more than most of the world. This isn't just about "them."

     Of course, "command" also brings a great deal of good and bad with it. Good for those who chose to serve and fill a position or rank for the keeping of order. Bad with those who abuse their power and issue orders that only hurt and hinder, as well as those who have no right to wield inhumane control over another that they have enslaved. The good followers (soldiers, servants, citizens, etc.) illustrate the meaning of hard-working trust and respect. Sometimes, even well meaning leaders can issue a command that doesn't make sense. Do you know of a veteran that has shared a funny story about obeying orders even when they knew it would end comically? 

     Our veterans could teach us a great deal about obeying and following. Many of Jesus' teachings are met with a mild smile and the thought that it is inspirational, but little in the actual practice. We could do a better job following the order to be generous in giving.

Prayer

We praise you, O God, for watching over us all. Guide us to follow you more closely and to learn more practically what it means to share and give. Enlighten us in our service to your Way of love. Amen. 

Impressive

Focus Verse
Matthew 20:16 (NRSV)
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.

     Maybe it was the Revelation text for this coming All Saints Sunday that connected me to this verse, but I also remembered a time many years ago that I preached a message on this. I am not sure that it was my absolute best in terms of reception, but as a preacher and writer it was memorable for me. It still feels like a bit of a technical masterpiece. I preached it backwards! Of course, the words and sentences were in their understandable order, but the thoughts and paragraphs were essentially in reverse. I wrote it out in regular order and then rewrote it in reverse. Then I added in a few markers and clues for the hearers to get the point and also be able to piece the message back together in their mind. I had a few repeated phrases to be sure that if they got a little lost, the point was still clear--God operates under God's own rules and the Gospel means a reversal of many things that the world holds dear. Of course, the main point of the entire parable that precedes this verse is that God choses to be generous and give abundantly. Sometimes, what God gives will seem "unfair." 

Here is the whole parable:

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.  When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.  Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.  And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

     After I stopped patting myself on the back and remembering all the remarks about it being a good and inspirational sermon, somewhere around Tuesday I realized that I had missed the point. I liked to hear that it was impressive, of course, but the Spirit asked me if my attitude was a part of the Gospel reversal. Pride had ensnared me. It is so easy to get caught up in our accomplishments, no matter how well meaning or positive in sense. This parable is not about hard work, but about the intersection of mercy and generosity in God's activity. To truly understand and proclaim Jesus, we need to let go of our urge to do better and measure ethical behavior only through God's lens of mercy. This in turn yields justice and peace.

Museum of Tomorrow Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Architect: Santiago Calatrava

     I saw a press release that Lego is releasing one of its largest sets of all time--the Titanic. It is $630 (and it is already temporarily out of stock at that price!) and consists of 9090 pieces. Yes, it would be a brag worthy, but not generous or merciful. Impressive buildings are fun to look at, but don't usher in the reign of the Way of Christ.

Dear Lord,

Help us to turn away from greed and wealth. Teach us your way of abundant and sharing love. Mold our hearts into multiple exchanges of mercy. You, O God, are steadfast and ever-living, showing love beyond our merit and our generations. We thank and praise you for choosing as you see fit. We all are dependent upon your grace. In the Name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.