Devotional

Saying Grace

/ JJS / Leave a comment

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 88; 148, Deuteronomy 26:1-11, 2 Corinthians 8:16-24, Luke 18:9-14

Jesus told a parable about two men praying at a temple, one a Pharisee – a citizen of high standing – and the other a tax collector – a Jew who worked for the occupying Roman empire. The Pharisee thanked God that he was not like sinners such as the tax collector, and reminded God that he fasted twice a week and tithed a tenth of his income. The tax collector humbly asked God for mercy. Jesus said the tax collector was the one who went home justified.

This parable is a bit of a paradox. We probably do want to try to live a life that looks more like the Pharisee’s than the tax collector’s. Avoiding sin and practicing spiritual disciplines – such as tithing and fasting –are good choices. Helping exploit the oppressed is not as good a choice. Yet according to Jesus, the state of our heart is at least as important as our actions.

Exalting ourselves is a good indicator we’ve forgotten to be grateful. The Pharisee could tithe and fast because he was in a comfortable position, yet he thanked God for nothing but his own (self-) righteousness. Someone without enough food or money would not have had the luxury of tithing and fasting. We don’t know anything about the tax collector’s circumstances, but we do know he was grateful for the mercy of his creator.

When the Jewish people reached the promised land, they began sacrificing the first fruits of each harvest to the Lord. As they did so, they recited the story of how God liberated them from slavery in Egypt and delivered them to the land of milk and honey. No matter how hard they toiled in the field, they did not take credit for their own well-being, but expressed gratitude to God for making it all possible. Somewhere along the line, the Pharisee seemed to have forgotten this important lesson.

Let’s remember where we came from. While we rejoice that God loves us, let’s also remember God’s love is a gift, not a reward for good behavior. We say grace before we eat, not after.

Comfort: Remember that God loves you.

Challenge: Remember that all you have comes from God.

Prayer: God, be merciful to me, a sinner!

Discussion: Are you ever tempted to compare yourself to other people? If so, how does it usually make you feel?

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Justice isn’t blind yet.

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justice-9017_1280

Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 143; 147:12-20, Deuteronomy 16:18-20, 17:14-20, 2 Corinthians 8:1-16, Luke 18:1-8

As the Jewish people prepared to settle into the promised land, God laid down some rules about who might be their king. The king could be rich, but not too rich. He could have wives, but not many wives. And quite specifically, he could have horses, but not too many horses, especially if he had to get them from Egypt, where the people were forbidden to return. These conditions were meant to keep the king focused on God and to prevent him from “exalting himself above other members of the community.”

The wealthy and powerful have always lived by different rules than others, not only because they can afford to buy their way out of consequences for their actions, but because we make different assumptions about the wealthy and the poor. And since we have not yet untangled our nation’s historical relationship between race and poverty, that disparity becomes even more pronounced across racial divides. Add to that mix the prosperity gospel which teaches God financially rewards the faithful – and conversely implies the poor are lacking faith and morality – and the down-on-their-luck are perceived as unworthy of luck. Outcomes of the supposedly blind justice system are more predictable by economic status and race than by similarity of crime. From health care to education to housing loans, many systems are designed – often through lack of understanding but sometimes intentionally – to give further advantage to the already advantaged, and more insidiously to make us believe that’s just and fair.

What’s the remedy for this? In 2 Corinthians, Paul tells the church a “fair balance” is not based on what you’ve earned, but on what needs you can help relieve. He reminds them, “It was written, ‘The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.’” Moving money around is relatively easy. Moving social capital around is more difficult, is more time-consuming, and requires more intentional education, effort, and sacrifice. Jesus invites us to develop a deeper sense of justice more concerned with who we can serve than with what we deserve.

Comfort: We are all equal before God.

Challenge: Read this article about racial disparities in criminal sentencing.

Prayer: Merciful God, may Your justice transform our land and lives. Amen.

Discussion: What can you do to promote justice in your community?

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Jump In With Both Feet

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 65; 147:1-11, Deuteronomy 13:1-11, 2 Corinthians 7:2-16, Luke 17:20-37

“He who hesitates is lost.”

The exact origin of this proverb is unknown, but it persists because it is timeless. We find or make up all kinds of excuses to hem and haw about decisions, only to regret opportunities that slip by. In business this phenomenon is sometimes called “analysis paralysis.”

Jesus warned his followers that when the day of reckoning came, it would be sudden and people needed to be ready at a moment’s notice. Anyone looking back toward home to gather belongings or tie up loose ends would be left behind. Does this seem harsh? Who wouldn’t be tempted to reach out to a loved one, or say good-bye to an old life?

“Justice delayed is justice denied.”

Another popular expression with vague origins. If we are waiting for justice, every minute of delay is essentially another minute of injustice. What could be more just than following Christ? Every minute we don’t follow him completely is a minute we’ve denied him. It seems unlikely he’s going to show up tomorrow, but that doesn’t excuse a lack of dedication. In what ways are we holding out? Maybe we’re waiting for an apology from someone before we forgive them. Or maybe we’re planning to spend more time in prayer and praise once things settle down at work or at home. Because we think of Jesus as loving and forgiving (both true), we can forget he also makes demands and approach discipleship like a diet that always seems to be starting “next” Monday. Or we can take him for granted and treat him like a family member who takes second place to our job “just this once” … for the second, tenth, or hundredth time.

No one’s dedication is perfect, but we can do our best to make sure we look forward toward Christ and not backward toward the attachments which prevent us from pursuing him unencumbered. Since we never know which moment will be the pivotal one in our relationship with Christ, why not assume they all are?

“I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” – Abraham Lincoln.

Comfort: Jesus is ready for you right now.

Challenge: He wants you to be ready, too.

Prayer: Lord grant me the conviction to follow you right how. Amen.

Discussion: What makes you hesitate to commit to something?

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One of these things is not like the others…

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christhealingthelepers

Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 54; 146, Deuteronomy 12:1-12, 2 Corinthians 6:3-13 (6:14-7:1), Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

Jesus asked where the other nine might be, but it seems he should have known; after all, he had told them to go to the priests for ritual cleansing. The one he praised for returning had actually failed to follow instructions. When someone is rewarded for breaking the rules, how does that make us feel?

When do we think it’s appropriate to break the rules? Here’s one possible answer: when it brings us closer to Christ. In the case of the Samaritan leper, that closeness included physical proximity. Technically, before getting a clean bill of health from the priest, he should not have approached Jesus, let alone gotten close enough to fall at his feet. Of the ten, he alone seemed to understand it was his relationship with God and Christ, not his adherence to instructions, which made him whole and presentable.

Don’t let anyone’s expectations stop you from rushing toward the love of God. Not when they treat you like an outsider. Not when their rules are designed to hold you back. Not even when your own expectations leave you feeling unworthy. No matter how much you think the odds are stacked against you, throw yourself at the feet of that love. Your faith will make you well.

Comfort: God loves you regardless of anyone’s rulebook.

Challenge: You have to be willing to accept that love.

Prayer: Merciful God, I throw all my cares, praise, and gratitude at your feet. Amen.

Discussion: Has anyone ever made you feel unworthy of God’s love? If so, how have you overcome those feelings?

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Generation J(esus)

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 57; 145, Deuteronomy 11:13-19, 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2, Luke 17:1-10

Millennials are unfairly stereotyped, but that’s nothing new. Every generation criticizes the ones that follow: “Kids today!” – as if younger generations made a group decision to irritate us, when in truth they are the product of all the generations that came before, including our own. The things we complain about are the very things we created. On some level we understand this, so maybe that’s why we fixate on them. They reflect back our own shortcomings  and – even worse – have the gall to name them out loud. They might not yet realize that it will soon be their turn, but then neither did we in the hubris of youth.

Lost in all the finger-pointing is the reality that people essentially haven’t changed. For every viral millennial blogger boasting how corporate America should fear them, a thousand more are trying to make ends meet under difficult circumstances and working just as hard (and probably smarter when it comes to technology) as their elders.

If we’re still tempted to paint them with the “participation trophy” brush, maybe we can remember these words from Jesus to his disciples:

Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'”

In other words: “Don’t expect a reward just for showing up and doing what you were supposed to do anyway.” Not a new problem, it seems.

When we experience generational conflict, let’s not reflexively blame it all on the younger or the older. People stay relatively the same but society does change, and children are often mastering difficult changes which confound their parents. Rather, as Paul recommends, let’s build one another up. It takes humility both ways to admit we can learn from each other. Mentoring isn’t an extra credit activity – it’s vital for healthy communities.

Our ultimate reward has been won for us by Christ. Our level of participation does not influence that grace. Our level of gratitude is evident in how we love others.

Comfort: Our generations are more alike than different.

Challenge: Make a point each week of spending time with people who are younger or older than you. Listen to what they have to say.

Prayer: Loving God, I thank you for the generations before me, and ask you to make me a blessing to those who come after. Amen.

Discussion: Are you surprised to find yourself doing anything that your parents or elders did, especially things you said you’d “never” do?

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Flaming shots for everyone!

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Pentecost, Jean II Restout, 1732

Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 104; 150, Isaiah 11:1-9, 1 Corinthians 2:1-13, John 14:21-29

Readings for Pentecost:
First Reading Acts 2:1-21, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b,  1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, Gospel John 20:19-23

Blessed Pentecost!

The Sunday of Pentecost is affectionately known as the birthday of the Christian church. Today we commemorate the day the Holy Spirit descended on the gathered disciples in tongues of flame. As this happened, they began to speak in many languages, and members of the crowd – who came from many places in Europe, Asia, and Africa – heard them in their own native languages. Many were “amazed and perplexed” while skeptics suggested the crowd was drunk at nine in the morning.

Now that’s a party.

Birthdays and anniversaries are important events for many people. On those dates, we acknowledge the past and look toward the future. Can we imagine a future when we are once more so full of the Spirit that some people can’t help understanding what it’s all about and others think we’re intoxicated (not in a barroom brawl sort of way but more in the vein of “I love you, man!”)?

We may not have tongues of flame dancing over our heads, but Jesus promised the Spirit would be with us always. How can we live fully into that promise every day? We can speak with and listen to people where they are. The gathered crowd did not suddenly all speak the same language; the Spirit transcended language. Living into the Spirit doesn’t compel us to make everyone the same; it helps us bridge the spaces that were once walls. Strangers cease to be objects of concern, and become objects of love.

We can also let go of worrying about how our attitudes and actions appears to others, and surrender to joy. People may call us naïve, foolish, and weak. Let them. Sacrificial love and forgiveness are not languages everyone is willing to hear, and to them it will sound like gibberish and nonsense. Our joy comes not from how much we receive, but from how much we give. Don’t let other people’s lack of understanding keep you from unwrapping your gifts.

Nine in the morning may be a little early for a drink, but when it comes to the Spirit it’s always five o’clock somewhere.

Comfort: The Holy Spirit is with us always.

Challenge: Meditate on what it means to listen for the Spirit.

Prayer: Holy God, I am open to hearing you however you will speak to me. Amen.

Discussion: When does your faith feel most like a celebration?

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I’m Rubber; You’re Glue

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 92; 149, Ezekiel 43:1-12, Hebrews 9:1-14, Luke 11:14-23

“Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

We hear that message from the time we are children, yet many adults don’t seem to get it. We divide ourselves into polarized tribes until what’s wrong and what’s right surrender to what’s won and what’s lost.

“My liberal candidate is corrupt? Well what about this conservative corruption over here?”

“My orthodox church acted hypocritically? Well your progressive church is intolerant of my beliefs!”

When our tribe sins, we rationalize away exactly the behavior we condemn our opponents for. An idea we loved when our side recommended it becomes toxic if the other side does. When Jesus cast out demons, the Pharisees accused him of doing it in the name of Beelzebub. Jesus countered by asking them in whose name they cast out demons. Too often we want “them” to lose more than we want to do what’s right. That’s just the way things are.

Or is it?

Let’s not be fooled into thinking there’s any such thing as a “typical” liberal or conservative, politically or religiously. Whichever camp you fall into (if you do), you know the tribe is not in lockstep. Internal divisions can be as spiteful as external ones. We allow the most extreme and loudest members of the “other” to define them, but dismiss our own extremists as aberrations. The truth is, people of good faith and intent can disagree on any number of issues but still find common ground and common good … as long as they remain one body.

Jesus said “Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house.” It seems the first step to removing divisions is not to label other people, but maybe it’s to stop labeling ourselves. Once we embrace a label, we diminish critical thinking about our tribe and adopt antagonism toward the “other.” No label – even “Christian” – is definitive. We are limbs of the same Body. We can make slow, clumsy progress trying to force both legs to jump together, or we can stride steadily forward trusting both legs are working in opposition to get to the same place.

Comfort: The only label you need is Child of God.

Challenge: When you talk about or with someone you disagree with, try avoiding blanket words like conservative, liberal, etc. and describe the specific attitude or behavior you oppose.

Prayer: God, help us to remember we are one Body in Christ. Amen.

Discussion: What labels for people have you found to be especially harmful?

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Downstream

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 96; 148, Ezekiel 34:17-31, Hebrews 8:1-13, Luke 10:38-42

When God spoke through Ezekiel, he compared the corrupt and powerful who exploited the poor to sheep who bullied other members of the flock:

Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture? When you drink of clear water, must you foul the rest with your feet? And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have fouled with your feet? …[Y]ou pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide.

God promised to judge between the overfed and the starving – and it’s no surprise which side he favored. We can read this as a metaphor for spiritual corruption, but in a land where religion and government were the same, corruption and neglect left people starving in many ways.

Are we even aware when our daily activities foul the waters? How often do we look downstream to see how actions impact the people living there? The further upstream we are – in terms of wealth or status, or sometimes literally – the deeper our effect. The waste we generate goes somewhere, and it’s not landing in affluent suburbs.  The money we save by insisting on the lowest possible prices comes out of someone’s wages, but probably not the CEOs.  Luxuries like cell phones and electric cars include materials from mining processes that endanger children and poison the air and water of unprotected lands around the globe. Neither the pasture we trod and the stream we foul, nor the dignity and mercy God asks us to show each other, stop at state, national, or continental boundaries.

Ezekiel tells us God is not concerned with whether the overfed sheep feel they’ve been treated fairly, but with how brutally they wield their flanks and horns to fill their bellies. We’re all upstream of someone. Through conscious effort we can make more justice-oriented decisions about how we live so that those downstream have cleaner, more plentiful water. Less is more.

Comfort: If you are in need, God is on your side.

Challenge: Read this article on how wealthy nations are dumping toxic waste in poorer nations.

Prayer: Merciful God, forgive me for those I have harmed downstream. Grant me the wisdom and strength to do better. Amen.

Discussion: Do you know what happens with the hazardous trash generated by your community?

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“One of the good ones.”

/ JJS / 1 Comment

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 47; 147:12-20, Ezekiel 18:1-4, 19-32, Hebrews 7:18-28, Luke 10:25-37

We all know one. A relative, friend, or co-worker who isn’t a terrible person but can’t completely shake off remnants of bigotry. When conversation touches on race (or religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation, etc.) they make unkind blanket statements. And when we ask them how they can say that when they are friends with Sammy (who is Korean or Muslim or whatever), they say, “Oh he’s one of the good ones.”

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a story about “one of the good ones.” There was no love lost between the Samaritans and the Jews, so when one of them became the hero of a parable answering the question “Who is my neighbor?” many Jews probably considered him the exception rather than the rule.

What’s the difference between “the good ones” and the rest? Most of the time, it’s simply that we know them. When we eat lunch every day with Sammy, or when he helps us change a flat tire in the parking lot, or when he brings a casserole to our house because our spouse is ill, our conscience won’t let us lump him into a category of people we stereotype. But somehow, sometimes, we can’t make the leap to realizing Sammy isn’t an exception.

When someone categorically condemns a class of people we happen to belong to, based on the bad behavior of a few, we leap to point out, “Not all of us.” Historically (and ironically) we are less likely to be as understanding of other groups as we expect them to be of us. It’s only after we get to know people who are different from us that we recognize our similarities. Anyone who’s been in a high school cafeteria knows that’s not something we do naturally.

The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us God made Melchizedek a high priest not because he was born to the priestly class, but because he was righteous. God sees beyond categories and into hearts. Christ invites us all to the same table. We all live in God’s neighborhood, so why not get to know each other?

Comfort: Differences are not threats but opportunities.

Challenge: Rather than make assumptions about people different than you, befriend and ask them about their lives.

Prayer: Loving God, thank you for the beauty and diversity of your creation. Amen.

Discussion: What’s a stereotype you once believed but learned wasn’t true?

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Perks

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 99; 147:1-11, Ezekiel 11:14-25, Hebrews 7:1-17, Luke 10:17-24

Tech companies like Google and Facebook are well known for providing their employees remarkable perks. From free unlimited beverages, to massages, laundry, on-site medical staff and shopping malls, they offer services that help attract and retain talent. These seem like great benefits for employees, but in the long run they benefit the company by creating an environment that minimizes the need to leave work – ever. In an unspoken agreement, employees are expected to pay for these luxuries with time away from home and family (if they can find time to have one).

Jesus warned his disciples not to be seduced or distracted by perks. When they returned from spreading his ministry far afield, they were joyful to have discovered that even demons submitted to them in his name. Jesus told them they could walk unharmed among snakes and scorpions and all manner of powers of the enemy, but not to rejoice in these things, “but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

In the end, we love God and Jesus not because of any special treatment or abilities they may give us, but because they love and forgive us. That alone is enough reason for our loyalty, worship, and praise. If the scorpion stings with the venom of ill health, poor finances, or grief, our Lord and Savior have not abandoned us. If all the perks are stripped away, the center and purpose of our faith remains strong. In the corporate world perks and loyalty depend on finances and performance; when things get tough, employees may find themselves burned out or downsized. Our God, ever true, sustains us through difficulty and asks us to lay our burdens before the cross. When the perks disappear, God is more appealing, not less.

There’s a reason true spiritual leaders embrace humility and simplicity: these practices, devoid of perks, remove distractions and barriers between us and our God. The more we think God is supposed to do for us, the less we understand what it is we are meant to be for God. We already have every reason in the world to rejoice.

Comfort: God is with you, always.

Challenge: Ask yourself if you are expecting things from God that you shouldn’t.

Prayer: Faithful and Loving God, thank you for letting me rest in your presence. Amen.

Discussion: Have you ever found a job more meaningful because of the perks?

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