Salt & Light

Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its flavour, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. 14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honour to your Father in heaven."

This is about 'being' and not 'achieving'. To be salt and light is a state of life and not a status to be achieved. Jesus asks us to be the agents of change in society.

Let us resolve to talk less about the change we want to see in our society - and just be the difference in society.

Ordinary 22 / Pentecost +15

44 True Greatness

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 271.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

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Blessed are ……

Matthew 5:1  When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2  Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

Mat 5:3  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:4  "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Mat 5:5  "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Mat 5:6  "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Mat 5:7  "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Mat 5:8  "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Mat 5:9  "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Mat 5:10  "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:11  "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Matthew and Luke[1] record these sayings of Jesus. These have the feeling of sayings that have been remembered by rote. And at first glance these sayings are complete nonsense! How is it possible for the poor, the bereaved, the hungry and the persecuted to be called “blessed”. These were the people who experienced life as the “cursed”. Certainly the culture of Jesus day would have pointed to their misfortune and asked what they had done to deserve God’s displeasure.

And this is the point of Jesus teaching: that those who we think of as “cursed” are in fact the precious ones of God. God takes special notice of those who find themselves on the margins of society. The persistent challenge for us who follow the ways of Jesus is the reminder that God loves those rejected by society. While societal norms are for us to reject those on the margins, our Christian norms invite us to embrace the poor, the sick, the weak and the persecuted.   

Ordinary 22 / Pentecost +15

44 True Greatness

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 271.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

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[1] 6:20-23

Life without worry

Matthew 6:25  "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?26  Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?27  And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?28  And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin,29  yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.30  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith?31  Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'32  For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33  But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.34  "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today.

This passage is not an invitation to live without forethought. We are to use our God-given talents and skills to sustain ourselves, clothe ourselves and to provide for our families. This is not an invitation to lazy dependence on the provision of others!

It is an invitation to live without the crippling, life-negating, energy sapping force of worry. Jesus invited his followers to live in a way that affirms our lives as a gift of God. When we choose to believe that God has created us, and that God continues to guide us through each day – then we do not need to “worry about tomorrow”. This frees us to live fully into whatever today brings, and trust that God will be waiting for me when tomorrow arrives.

Ordinary 22 / Pentecost +15

44 True Greatness

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 271.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Practicing Piety….

Matthew 6:1  "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2  "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3  But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4  so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5  "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6  But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7  "When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Jesus teaches that our religious life is not to be used to enhance our own status. Our religious ritual, support for charitable causes, and public prayers, all reflect our relationship with God. When we use this relationship to gain social status we betray the very essence of our faith.

Let our good deeds speak louder than our religious observances. 

Jealousy

Matthew 20:20  Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. 21  And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." 22  But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." 23  He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." 24  When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. 25  But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 26  It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, 27  and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; 28  just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Matthew tells us that jealousy is eating away at the unity of the group. The mother of James and John had asked Jesus for special favour for her sons, and they were mad:   “When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers”.   Mark’s Gospel records the story as initiated by James and John, whereas Matthew remembers this as the request of a pushy mother. What is fascinating is that both disciples remember this story...and it rankles! I have the sense of both Mark and Matthew still fuming over this event thirty years later when it came to putting the story into text.  

The fact is that jealousy eats away at the soul. Whether it is a first generation follower of Jesus, or one of two centuries later, we all struggle with our fragile egos. Our jealousies spring from the perception that someone else has a greater advantage than us. Some seek to counter this with wealth and power; some -like James and John - think that they can regain status by sitting next to powerful people.  The fact is that none of these help strengthen an insecure ego. Jesus offers a way to counter this:  “whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant”.  The secret to being released from jealousy lies in service.

 “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;

It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.” 
― William Shakespeare, Othello

Ordinary 22 / Pentecost +15

44 True Greatness

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 271.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

All who exalt themselves will be humbled ....

Matthew 23:1  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2  "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3  therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4  They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5  They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6  They love to have the place of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7  and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8  But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9  And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father--the one in heaven. 10  Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11  The greatest among you will be your servant. 12  All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

It is thought that “to get ahead in life” an individual must find ways to be noticed. Useful avenues include ostentatious gifts to charity, public observance of religious ritual; and volunteering for an aid organisation.  Twitter, facebook and blogs are harnessed in pursuit of self-promotion, as the individual lets society know what an awesome person he or she is.

Matthew tells of Jesus’ criticism of such relentless self-promotion. He is scathing about the ego-gratifying strategies of the religious leadership of his day:  “They do all their deeds to be seen by others ... phylacteries broad and their fringes long... the place of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues ... to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces.”  It was all about being seen to be important.

Remember, says Jesus, “all who exalt themselves will be humbled.”  If we want to get ahead in the estimation of Jesus, then we are to humble ourselves and become the servants of all.

Ordinary 22 / Pentecost +15

44 True Greatness

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 271.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Psalm 84

To the leader: according to The Gittith. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.

1  How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!

2  My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

3  Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.

4  Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. [Selah]

5  Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

6  As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.

7  They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.

8  O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! [Selah]

9  Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed.

10  For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness.

11  For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.

12  O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.

.....Better is one day in Your courts

Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere......

• Chris Tomlin Lyrics

Ordinary 21 / Pentecost +14

43 Jesus is the Way

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 266.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Sinners

Luke 5:27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. "Follow me," he said to him. 28 And he got up and followed him, leaving everything behind. 29 Then a Levi gave a great banquet in his house for Jesus, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them. 30 But the Pharisees and their experts in the law complained to his disciples, saying,"Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 31 Jesus answered them,"Those who are well don't need a physician, but those who are sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Jesus was not picky about the company he kept. He made friends with a range of people - from the holy teacher Nicodemus to this "sinner" Levi.

Because of this I have confidence to believe that I too will be welcomed. And because of this I am challenged to be as welcoming of people - irrespective of their class, culture or religious standing.

Ordinary 21 / Pentecost +14

43 Jesus is the Way

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 266.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Adrift in the Storm

Matthew 8:18  Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19  A scribe then approached and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." 20  And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." 21  Another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 22  But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." 23  And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24  A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25  And they went and woke him up, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" 26  And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. 27  They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"

Matthew writes this at a time when the first Christ-followers were struggling for life. Following Jesus resulted in some of them losing homes as they fled persecution; others found themselves cut adrift from the traditional (Jewish) faith that had nurtured them; while most had to deal with the loss of Jesus’ company and direction. Matthew remembers a story told by Jesus – a story that tells of a moment when the first disciples were very afraid; and of how the presence of Jesus calmed their fears.

Two thousand years later we too can go to this story and discover courage for our own lives. Jesus does not promise that fearful things will never happen to us. But we can discover the courage of Jesus steadying our frail vessel as we navigate the storms of life.     

Ordinary 21 / Pentecost +14

43 Jesus is the Way

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 266.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Provoking the very best....

Heb 10:19  Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20  by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), 21  and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22  let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23  Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. 24  And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The writer says that Jesus opened up a new and living way which releases us “from an evil conscience”.  This release is described as: “true heart ... sprinkled clean ... washed with pure water”. This will result in lives that show “love and good deeds” and the encouragement of one another.

It is so sad that followers of Jesus often impose ways on people that imprison rather than release them. Instead of opening space for new life, we impose the limits of age-old prejudices; instead of inspiring true hearts, we cause people to hide their weakness behind false smiles; rather than encouraging the good in people, we focus on their worst activities.  Let us who follow Jesus commit to provoking the very best in people.

Ordinary 21 / Pentecost +14

43 Jesus is the Way

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 266.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

     

Are you the One?

Mat 11:1  Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities. 2  When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3  and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" 4  Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5  the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6  And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me." 7  As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8  What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9  What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10  This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' 11  Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12  From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; 14  and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15  Let anyone with ears listen!

Many people were watching Jesus: his disciples, John the Baptist, John’s disciples, and the crowds all ask this question of Jesus: “Are you the One?” This question speaks of the need of the people of the rural areas, and especially John the Baptist, for a Messianic hero.  Jesus, on the other hand, speaks of himself as “more than a prophet”  - one who comes to resist the violence that seek to take the kingdom of heaven by force.

Violence is often the tool used when people want to get rid of the old order and begin a new society. This is the choice currently evident in Syria and Egypt. The way of Jesus is different: he suggests the “way of Elijah” – which is the tougher, long term commitment to building the kingdom of God by means of justice, mercy and obedience to God.

Ordinary 21 / Pentecost +14

43 Jesus is the Way

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 266.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Let not your hearts be troubled....

John 14:1  "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2  In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4  And you know the way to the place where I am going." 5  Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7  If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." 8  Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." 9  Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11  Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12  Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13  I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14  If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

This is a passage of many well known Scripture texts:

·         "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me”

·         “I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also”

·         "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”

·         “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”

These texts have been lovingly passed down from one generation to the next. They have brought comfort to people who have lost a loved one, they have offered hope of salvation to those who thought that they were rejected by God, and they have offered courage to people who are praying for help.

   

Unfortunately these texts have also been used to suggest that Christ-followers can claim special favour from God; and to teach that Christ-followers alone are to occupy the “many rooms” that Jesus is preparing; and that adherents of all other belief systems – and of no beliefs at all – will be damned for all eternity.  This is nothing more than selective “proof-texting” in order to justify a prejudice about people of other faiths.

It is time to resist self-serving Christians who use the words of Jesus to claim that the love of God is reserved only for Christians. In the same way that Jesus welcomed anyone and everyone, so we too need to learn how to offer God’s love to all who come our way.

   

Ordinary 21 / Pentecost +14

43 Jesus is the Way

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 266.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Power and the Authority of God

Rev 11:15  Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever." 16  Then the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17  singing, "We give you thanks, Lord God Almighty, who are and who were, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 18  The nations raged, but your wrath has come, and the time for judging the dead, for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints and all who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying those who destroy the earth." 19  Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

The writer of Hebrews pens this at a time when the Roman Empire reigned supreme. Not only did the Emperor demand human submission, but he also claimed that the gods of the conquered nations were subservient to his power.  Hebrews Ch.11v15 offers a rebuttal to this: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever."    

The kings, and the kingdoms, of this world are subservient to a much larger Divine Authority – whether they recognise this or not! No one can stride this earth as if their authority is beyond question. All power, whether political or spiritual, belongs to God; and all who exercise power must remember that power is on temporary loan and is to be used with wisdom and care.      

Ordinary 20 / Pentecost +13

42 The Kingdom Comes

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 261.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Jesus says: Follow me....to the sick and wounded

Matthew 4:18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. 19  And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." 20  Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21  As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22  Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. 23  Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24  So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25  And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Matthew links following Jesus with acts of compassion for the most marginalised people in society:   “he said to them, "Follow me ... and they brought to him all the sick.....”  The link is unmistakable – if we follow Jesus we will find ourselves amongst those who are most vulnerable: people “afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics”.

Today our news reminds us of such people: In Egypt there countless families mourning peaceful political protesters who have been shot by the military; closer to home we in South Africa mourn the protesters who were shot by the police exactly a year ago at the Lonmin mine in Maricana. Both contexts arose from groups of people whose marginalisation from society led them to believe that public protest was their only recourse. And I suspect that the voice of Jesus can be heard echoing through the mists of time “Follow me to those who are wounded, and those who have died, and to those who are mourning”.  Our challenge is both to bring comfort to those who are hurting, and to address the causes of social exclusion.     

Ordinary 20 / Pentecost +13

42 The Kingdom Comes

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 261.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

The Fire of God.....

Heb 12:18  You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19  and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. 20  (For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death." 21  Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear.") 22  But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23  and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24  and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25  See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! 26  At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven." 27  This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of what is shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; 29  for indeed our God is a consuming fire.

This is poetry. It is an invitation to set aside reasoned, logical thinking and instead allow the words to light up the imagination. This is the language of grandeur, and angels, and assemblies, and of a heaven-and-earth-rattling voice. Such words are essential if we want to encounter Divinity that is beyond human description. This is a God who cannot be controlled, and instead is worshipped “with reverence and awe”.

There are moments when we need to pause in the presence of the Divine. This is a moment when “all our strivings cease”., and we allow the “consuming fire” of God to strip away that which is false and expose life-sustaining truths.

 Drop thy still dews of quietness,

          till all our strivings cease;

          take from our souls the strain and stress,

          and let our ordered lives confess

          the beauty of thy peace.

Text: John Greenleaf Whittier, 1807-1892 

Ordinary 20 / Pentecost +13

42 The Kingdom Comes

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 261.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

This is my body...

Luke 22:14  When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15  He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16  for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17  Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18  for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19  Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 20  And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21  But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. 22  For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!" 23  Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this. 24  A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25  But he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26  But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. 27  For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28  "You are those who have stood by me in my trials; 29  and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, 30  so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Here we have people gathered for a meal exhibiting uneasiness about the order of seating at the table, a suspicion of betrayal, and intervention from a peacemaker.  This is the story of many, many communities. We all wish to be part of a community that offers love and acceptance, and are troubled by the suspicions and betrayals - both received and given.

Human life is an annoying mixture of loyalty and betrayal; of deep passion and petty bickering. The one overriding assurance is of a God who sacrifices his own essential love to benefit humanity – despite our failure and fragility. When we are faced with suspicion and betrayal, we can do nothing less than offer the same God-modelled response.       

Ordinary 20 / Pentecost +13

42 The Kingdom Comes

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 261.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

The Kingdom of God is Near....

Luk 10:1  After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2  He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. 3  Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4  Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5  Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house!' 6  And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7  Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8  Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9  cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10  But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11  'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.' 12  I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.

The Kingdom of God comes near when the followers of Jesus say, 'Peace to this house!' and “eat what is set before you” and “cure the sick who are there”.  What exactly does this mean?

This is about disciples of Jesus

·         who refuse to be part of the division of clan, class & race, and instead are committed to peace;

·         who do not shop around for the finest host in town, but instead are content to eat even the humblest plate of food;

·         and who choose to give up the company of the strong and successful to sit with the sick and the weak.

Those who follow Jesus discover that the Kingdom of God comes near when we hang out with the poor, the sick, and the marginalized.  

Ordinary 20 / Pentecost +13

42 The Kingdom Comes

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 261.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.