A reflection on Luke 24:13-35

I read today what seems to be to be about the saddest sentence in the Bible. It comes from Luke 24:21, on the walk to Emmaus where two disciples encounter a 'stranger' on the road and tell him about what had happened to Jesus. They explain how he was crucified and then say: "But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel."

Imagine the way they had said that. "But we had hoped..." The same way that somebody might say: "But we had hoped the chemo would work." "But we had hoped the accident wasn't so bad." "But we had hoped she would lead a full life..." The sense of loss is staggering. Hope and faith are kind of friends that walk hand in hand, and if you lose one, the other tends to fade away. For these disciples who had probably walked with Jesus and seen his miracles and hoped that things would change, this was an expression of the deepest despair. "We had hoped things would change. We had hoped things could be fixed. We had hoped... but now we don't."

The thing that catches me again and again about this passage is God's response to this hopelessness. He doesn't leave them because they lacked faith, but instead he gently scolds them for still seeing the world how they had always seen it when the point of Jesus was that things would be different. Their hope had been lost and their faith was dying--or perhaps their faith was in something more real to them, more easily verifiable: death. So what was his answer? It was to walk with them. It was to reveal himself by teaching them, by being present with them and enduring their faithlessness and calling them back to belief. It was to make himself known in a new way--in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus didn't suddenly appear and they didn't immediately recognize him. Instead, he appeared to them but they didn't get it so Jesus stuck around, and it was only in looking back that they realized their hearts had been burning the whole time. Where has Jesus been in your hopelessness? Where might God be injecting hope in your life? The Lord is risen indeed, and he has appeared... to Simon, to the disciples on the road, to the eleven, to Mary Magdelene, and to you. He is risen, and he is with you. Amen.

Week Six

 The worst thing is never the last thing.

Monday, March 25^th

Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Reflection: Paul speaks of being in every kind of suffering, and yet still carrying on. How is it possible that we can be afflicted but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair when it feels like these things have the last word? Think about all that Christ went through—people conspiring against him, being rejected and chased out of town, being arrested, mocked, crucified, and dying the death of a prisoner. We don't often face these things in our lives, but we certainly face endings. What can come after the terminal diagnosis? What can come after the death of a child, parent, or spouse? Are we not part of Christ's journey because of our baptism? Perhaps the key to understanding what comes after devastation for us is remembering what came after Christ's suffering and death...

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: God, your power is greater than my understanding, and your imagination is unlimited. Open my eyes to see that even death is not final for you. Give me faith to understanding what comes next for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Tuesday, March 26^th

Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Reflection: What are the properties of a clay jar? It is usually something carefully crafted by a potter, beautiful, but also functional. It is used to carry water or keep grain. If it is no longer water-fast, it can be used to store cloth, skeins of yarn, or it can simply be used to brighten up a room with its artistry. You are a clay jar. Reflect on your properties. What has defined you up until now? Maybe career, family, or something you're not proud of. What is your purpose today? What might your purpose be tomorrow, next week, or in a year? What has God crafted you to do and be, and what kinds of things are you holding inside you? We all bear the death of Christ inside us, but do you recognize the ways in which you are also bearing his resurrection?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: God who crafted the mountains, the sky, and me, you have told me that your purpose for me is life, but I often only feel tragedy, loss, and grief. The bad things so often overwhelm the joy you give me. Teach me that I am a vessel designed to carry life rather than death, and abundant joy rather than pain. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wednesday, March 27^th

Reading: 1 Peter 2:9-12

Reflection: When you think of your membership in a club, family, or workplace what does it entail? Usually it's not just a plaque or something to put on your resume; it doesn't simply mean you belong somewhere—it means that you are part of an organization which stands for something and does something. Out of all the planets and solar systems and stars and universes that exist, you have been elected as part of a chosen people. What does it mean to be a part of God's people? What do we know about the character of God? We know that God is creative, powerful, loving, and beyond our ability to fully comprehend. What does membership in God's family call and empower you to do and be which is contrary to what the powers of death would have us do and be?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: Heavenly Lord, I know that I'm not called to death, but to life, and to sow life in the midst of all the decay that this world has to offer. The best defense against the darkness is light. Guide me to know how to light up the world with you, so that even the darkest nights reflect your brightness. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Thursday, March 28^th

Reading: 1 Peter 2:9-12

Reflection: Have you ever been given a surprising gift totally out of the blue? Maybe your child drew you a picture, or your spouse got you a little token of their love. Even if you were having an absolutely rotten day, a simple expression of someone's love for you can be enough to make it feel much better. God's love is like a totally unexpected, wonderful gift that brightens your day, but unlike these small gifts from our loved ones, God's gift is one which continuously speaks love in the midst of disengagement or alienation, and speaks joy in the midst of sorrow and sadness. It is a transformative gift, that actively changes what was to what will be. What does it mean to have this gift which continually gives? What changes have you seen, and what kinds of transformations can you expect as you constantly receive God's free gift of grace?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: God, you give me grace upon grace upon grace so that even when I'm in big trouble you are constantly overflowing with a word of truth that tells me that the bad things won't last, and I am and will be new. Show me what to do with my new life so I can live in gratitude to this gift!

Friday, March 29^th

Reading: Revelation 22:1-5

Reflection: Time isn't confined to a linear realm with God the way it is for us. The beautiful imagery described in the book of Revelation demonstrates for us one possible vision of what future exists because of Christ, but this grand vision of a new heaven and a new earth begins with our lives today. Where has God's shining river of life cleansed you of pain or sinfulness? What kind of fruit do you now bear that in your younger days you couldn't bear? What kind of love have you given that you didn't know you were capable of giving? What kind of daylight has replaced a dark night? God is the river flowing through your past and cleansing and forgiving all your failures. God is the nourishment which causes your barrenness to become fruit of the spirit—peace, patience, kindness, love, joy, and gentleness. God is the lamp which shines through you when you serve others, and which shines through others to illuminate your darkness. God offers a promise for a new future, but for God whose time has no meaning, the future is present, and you are alive each day because of it.

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: Dear God, you are my light and my all. You are the gentle river which washed me in baptism. You are a word of promise spoken in the face of uncertainty. And most importantly, you are present with me now. Reveal the ways that you are working in me, and give me a spirit of gratitude to live as a new creation in the joy that is possible because you loved me in all times, past, present, and future. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Saturday, March 30^th

Reading: Revelation 22:1-5

Reflection: Faith and trust can never entirely banish fear. There will always be worries about life and fear of pain and loss and death, but what we can trust is that the worst thing is never the last thing with Jesus. Who we are as a resurrection people is a people who believes that love is stronger than death, God is for us, and ultimately, God gets what God wants—and that is for you to be a new creature, leaving behind your old self and the old world of death and decay for the new world of joy and life. The best solution to driving out fear is living out love! How will you live in love today? On what will you dwell? Perfect love drives out fear—who is the source of such perfect love? In whom will you place your trust?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: Risen Lord, I love you so much and I know you love me so much more. Help me to put my trust in your promises, to dwell on what you have done for me so that the whispers of fear will be drowned out by the chorus of faith which you give me. Show me how to contribute to that chorus, so that through loving others, I may reveal your kingdom to them the same way that you have been revealed to me. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be always on you and what you have done for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Passion Sunday

Here is the sermon I preached this morning.

--- 

Baresheet bara elohim et hashimayim vaet ha-aretz... thus begins the book of Genesis. In a beginning, God created the heavens and the earth... and we know how it continues: the earth was formless and void. The story of creation began with a formless universe, one in which all the components of life swirled and moved without discernable order; it was chaos. Then God spoke. And the Word of God was unlike anything else that had ever happened—it was a force which turned the proteins and carbons into organized elements, which caused cells to come together and then divide, which caused life to begin. The Word of God was action and it made a world that existed in a state of shalom—not just peace, but wholeness. Very briefly, we thrived in this world of wholeness; of shalom.

And then came un-creation. Humans, actively rebelling against God's beautiful, ordered universe peaked outside of that order, opening the metaphorical door just a crack, and chaos flooded back into the world. Suddenly things that were made became unmade: order, relationships, lives. Since the moment of uncreation, or what we call the fall, the violence of chaos entered the world, and we became active participants. It wasn't long before the first murder took place. Cain met his brother's giving heart and generosity with violence, and soon the world degenerated into such violence and brutality that God was sorry that humans had ever been created, and he destroyed everyone except for one righteous family. But even Noah fell into drunken disorder, and from there came Sarah's violence toward her handmaiden Hagar, who she gave to her husband, and Jacob's wrestling match with God and Joseph's brothers violently throwing him into a pit and selling him into slavery. Where once there was a harmonious picture of creation, only a jumble remained, and it just got worse from there. Slavery, idols and human sacrifice, war, captivity... What was God to do in the face of this ever degenerating world?

God had tried to start clean by the flood, but loved us too much to put an end to humankind. God wanted instead to redeem us, so God gave us the law to try to guide us, but we rebelled against that too. The law gave some kind of order, but it wasn't the same kind of order as God had first made. It wasn't shalom. So God spoke again. This time, the Word that God spoke became embodied in human form and walked on earth. Jesus began to undo the violence and uncreation that we enacted. Jesus preached, speaking a Word like the Word that God had spoken, which rejected violence for relationships. Jesus healed, taking the destruction of decay, disease, congenital illness, psychological damage, and even death, and restored things nobody thought could be fixed. Jesus even turned the social order upside down by rejecting the type of rigid order that the law enacted and replacing it with the kind of order that promoted wellness and relationships. For a while it seemed like it was making a difference and people were going to be swept up in this radical movement.

But God knew that the human propensity for uncreation would overwhelm, so Jesus had prepared to do something even more radical than fight against uncreation one illness, one person at a time. Jesus went to Jerusalem and was welcomed with expectation and happiness, with the people waving palms and laying down their coats. He entered into chaos and the pharisees tried to quiet the chaos. They wanted order, a kind of worldly, shallow peace that we laugh at when a Miss America contestant declares her desire for “world peace”--what they wanted was an absence of conflict. Jesus wasn't bringing the order that we wanted or expected, and so again we acted violently. A crowd of welcome turned into a mob shouting crucify him, crucify him! And so they led him to a brutal death; the death of a prisoner, a death like a gay man attacked in the South; a death like a family murdered in Sudan; a death like the long, drawn out illness of a family member. The solution to violence became violence, and so the cycle continued. And so the story ended.

But Jesus wasn't just a man. Remember who we said he is? He is the embodiment of the divine Word that was spoken in creation, where chaos and not-creation turned into life flowing from the force of all order. Jesus was the one the prophets spoke of, who was supposed to turn swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks; implements of death into tools used to nurture and sustain life. And so how could he be defeated by our human brutality? For God the story can't end there. The story continues in the transformation of human violence into something more than peace—into a wholeness that calls us beyond our childish understanding of peace into a new creation where all the things that were once used to destroy become things which engender life. It is only God, whose very words are a force of creation, that can transmute even violence itself into peace. And so we walk with Christ to the cross, understanding our brutal, broken nature which led him there, waiting for Easter... Amen.

Week 5

Rejoicing through the fear.

Monday, March 18^th

Reading: Philippians 4:4-8

Reflection: Do you remember when you were a child and you got scared or worried, and somebody bigger and smarter and stronger than you told you it would be okay, and you believed them? When we're children, it's so easy to trust these words of reassurance that are handed to us by those we love. As we grow older, we learn that even our parents don't know the outcome of things, and sometimes bad things happen despite the most hopeful reassurances. This breaking of trust is a tragedy. We forget that God's promise to walk with us through the hard things and make all things new is bigger than the words of our parents, teachers, spouses, or friends. The word of God has power that human words don't, and in the same way we ran to mom, dad, or grandma when we were children, we are instructed to run to God when anxiety is encroaching on us, choking our trust and hope.

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: God, you are like my mother, who hugged me when I was afraid or hurt. Although I can't feel your arms around me, please help me run to you the same way. Teach me that I'm safe with you, and give me faith to know that your Word is eternal, and trustworthy. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Tuesday, March 19^th

Reading: Philippians 4:4-8

Reflection: When was the last time you worried about something? Negative thoughts seem to be a force of nature sometimes. One bad thought occurs, and from there it's like a flame as possibilities meet an imagination energized by fear. Soon, possibilities like the death of a loved one or the loss of a job become inevitabilities in our minds, and the tiny spark of fear that fueled the fire has become a raging wildfire. Praising God is like water for these flames. Because we believe in the God who created everything, and who defied death for our sake, we know God's peace, promise, and restoration are inevitabilities. The question is, then, which is more productive: worrying about endless possibilities, or focusing our minds and hearts on the inevitability of resurrection and the end of all sin and death?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: Maker and restorer of heaven and earth, let me think about all the things you have created! You made the beautiful sky at dusk, deep oceans, flowers, trees, and prairie. You created robins, finches, and nightingales. You made graceful giraffes and powerful lions. You made me, and everybody that I love. Thank you for these gifts! Direct my mind to all that you have done, so that when fear of what might happen grips me, the knowledge of the certainty of your love and power overwhelms all those fears. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wednesday, March 20^th

Reading: Acts 16: 25-33

Reflection: Jailed for preaching the gospel, Paul and Silas were having an inarguably bad month. In fact, it wouldn't have been too surprising to either of them to wind up with their heads on a platter. Where do you find the strength to praise God when facing something difficult? The challenge to rejoice through trials is a lot easier said than done. When your heart is crushed with grief, pain, fear, or depression, it can seem impossible to gather the strength to rejoice. But perhaps, you don't need to find the strength to rejoice and carry on, but rather need to rejoice in order to find the strength to carry on.

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: God, when I have only fear, move my lips to praise you. Lord, when I have only pain, move my heart to prayer. Father, when I'm too weak to carry on, carry me with hope enough to sing one hymn of praise to you. And let the tired, half-hearted words on my lips bloom into faith that with you, anything is possible. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Thursday, March 21^st

Reading: Acts 16: 25-33

Reflection: Has your life ever fallen apart around you? Your spouse betrays you, you face a difficult illness, lose a job, or maybe all those things happen at once. Sometimes it seems like defeat is the last thing, and nothing could happen to redeem loss. But could it be that in the midst of the greatest tragedy lies the greatest potential for new life? The prison guard watching Paul and Silas in jail thought that his life was over, but it was exactly at that moment when, in desperation, he realized his need and was able to receive the gospel. What might be waiting on the other side of failure, loss, or desperation?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: Lord, give me imagination to see what might rise from the ashes of my life. Let your grace fill me when I'm most empty, and hold me when I fear that the worst thing is the last thing. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Friday, March 22^nd

Reading: Psalm 92:1-5

Reflection: It's hard to imagine a worse situation than being taken into captivity. Imagine what it would be like to be stolen away from your home and family and all those you love. Imagine being sold off as a slave to a family or household, and forced to labor. Imagine losing everything, and not knowing if you might even lose your life. During times like that, sometimes the only thing to cling to is your identity, but if your identity is tied up only in where you live and who you know, loss of those things can crush you. Even in captivity, the children of Israel, God's chosen people, sang of God's goodness and faithfulness. Because they understood God's character, they understood that they were still loved despite their failure. When we praise God, we assert that who we are is a people worthy of grace; a people of life rather than a people of death. Who do you say God is? And can you use that understanding to fight against uncertainty about your future?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: God, I sing because you made me and because you are always working to save me. I know that you are faithful to your promises, and that you have promised to make all things new. Help me sing your praises even when I'm scared and can't see the outcome. Help me sing even when it looks like all hope is gone. Help me sing as a way to remember that who I am is so important to you that you gave up your son for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Saturday, March 23^rd

Reading: Psalm 92:1-5
Reflection: What are you thankful for? It may seem cliché, but what is the bright side of your situation? If your car broke down, maybe you got to speak to a stranger who helped you. If you lost a parent or a child, did you feel the love of a community grieving with you? What is there in the midst of darkness that fills you with light? We may not see the resurrection of the dead, but if we look carefully, sometimes we can see little resurrections all around us. What are the gifts you might not be seeing? If you're having trouble seeing them, is there somebody who can help you see them?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for small blessings in the midst of big messes. I am so thankful for everything you've done: [lift up with gratitude all the blessings you can think of]. Show me where there is life in places that seem to be dead or dying, and teach my heart to rejoice in them. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Week 4

In our weakness, we are made strong.

Monday, March 11^th

Reading: Hebrews 11:1-2; 8-12

Reflection: A common misconception about faith is that it is must exist entirely without fear or doubt. Fear is human; it comes from uncertainty and a desire to protect our interests. Imagine how Abraham must have felt, receiving a call from God to travel into a foreign land with his wife. What must have been going through his head? Here he was, practically dead, and God wanted him to go off and start a whole new people. It's ridiculous, and he must have been terrified. What if something happened to his wife and the other people he was responsible for? What if he left it all only to find out that there was no promised land, there would be no descendants, and that he was about to die alone in a strange place? Abraham must have experienced plenty of anxiety, and yet he left his homeland and trusted God, and it was “reckoned to him as righteousness.” What do you think this says about faith? Is it about certainty, or could it be about trust in spite of uncertainty?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: God, I'm so scared sometimes. I'm scared about my health, I'm scared about my family, I'm scared about my work, and so many other things. Please help me to trust you through my fear. Take my hand and guide me to the next step even though I can't see the ground, and don't know where I will end up. Thank you for being with me, and being patient with my frail human trust. Guide me, redeemer. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Tuesday, March 12^th

Reading: Hebrews 11:1-2; 8-12

Reflection: Part of fear is the inability to imagine a better future. When Abraham looked into the future with his aging wife, do you think he could imagine a courtyard full of giggling children? Or do you think he imagined dying alone, his estate going to some distant relative? Learning to move beyond fear has less to do with being able to see the future based on your current circumstances and more to do with being able to imagine a different future. What seems impossible in your life right now? Do you have rebellious children or a frustrating job? Are you facing illness, or living out the rest of your years without your spouse? A future that follows from your situation now might seem hopeless, but God is the creator of possibility. What possibilities can you imagine that are based not in your present suffering, but in God's promise of restoration?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: Dear Lord, my imagination is so weak. It's hard for me to see that something better can come out of this situation. Help me to see not to what I am capable of achieving, but what you are capable of delivering. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wednesday, March 13^th

Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:6-10

Reflection: Paul indicates that sometimes our suffering is a part of our growth. Regardless of how you believe suffering comes about, we are told that “all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) In other words, God doesn't necessarily cause suffering, but uses even the bad stuff to help us become who we were meant to be. It can be really hard to see how a bad situation can turn into something beneficial, especially in the midst of suffering. But try to think back to something you went through a few months or even years ago. Do you think that God used that to strengthen you or teach you something? Do you regret who you are now, or are you glad you grew through the hard stuff? How might God be using your present struggles to shape you?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: Heavenly Lord, I have no idea what you're doing with my life right now, but I know you're doing something. You always walk with me and use even the worst things that the forces of evil throw at me to recreate and repurpose my life. Thank you for always walking with me, and help me feel your presence when I have no idea what will come out of my suffering. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Thursday, March 14^th

Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:6-10

Reflection: We have a particular way of looking at the world: weaknesses or failings are bad, and successes and strengths are good. We think that Jesus on the cross is a defeat, we think that death is the end, and we think that failing means the game is over. Paul says that the gospel is “foolishness” to those who are perishing, because the gospel is so contrary to everything we think is true about the world. He says here that being weak actually makes him strong, but how can that be? Have you ever been defeated by something? By depression, or a bad job or family situation? Was that the end, or did you, in your moment of defeat, experience grace from those who supported, helped, and cared for you? Sometimes it's in our weakest moments that we realize that our strength is not our own, but comes from those who lift us up when we can no longer carry ourselves. How is God lifting you today?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: Dear Lord, your wisdom is so different from mine that it's hard to understand. My weaknesses knock me down, and I feel like I can't get up again. Help me to see that my weaknesses provide an opportunity for your strength to carry me. Help me accept the strength of others in my weakness, and be the strength for others during their weakness. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Friday, March 15^th

Reading: Matthew 26:36-46

Reflection: Jesus demonstrates trust and obedience in the face of fear. Jesus knew that the culmination of his ministry would be incredible suffering, and even knowing that death would not have the final word was not a comfort during this time. He asked not once but three times for this cup to be taken from him. He accepted his role, but it wasn't easy even for him! How much harder is it for those of us who don't know the end of the story? But it is possible to acknowledge your fears while accepting what you have been called to do. What are you facing right now? Whether it be a serious illness, a challenging period of career growth, parenthood, or even death, remember that your anxiety is real and normal—and that you have a choice of what to do with it.

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, you know what it's like to be afraid. Because of your suffering, you know what it's like to face sickness, pain, loneliness, loss, and death. Give me courage like you had when I'm struggling so that I can keep moving toward the future you have called me into. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Saturday, March 16^th

Reading: Matthew 26:36-46

Reflection: Where do you think Jesus' courage came from? Jesus was divine, but also human and experienced the whole range of human emotions just like you. Do you think that Jesus went to the cross without any doubt or fear, or do you think that Jesus went to the cross in spite of fear, because you were worth it? You were born into death and all the evil of this world just like every other human that has ever lived, and the hard, bad, scary stuff is inevitable. But you were also born into Christ's death through your baptism, and as Christ went to the cross in order to be raised, you can walk toward all your deaths, both big and small, knowing that you, too, will be raised.

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: God, give me courage! Help me when I'm terrified of what's to come, when I know that I will suffer and be in pain and need you. I know I can't control the bad things that happen to me, but please help me to see that the frailty of my human suffering allows me to experience the fullness of your resurrection. Be with me in that, and give me hope for what's to come. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Week 3

Monday, March 4^th

Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:8-11

Reflection: Ecclesiastes is not a happy book. It's about the writer's search for meaning in a world that seems empty to him. We all struggle daily, but sometimes you may go through longer periods of darkness. Do you ever feel guilty for your despair or darkness, or frustrated at yourself for being stuck in it? Be graceful to yourself. These dark periods in life are not failures, but times to be reflective and to grow through grief, hardship, or fear. Whether or not such dark periods are productive depends on how you define what comes next. Do you see these times as the end, or a place to begin?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: Heavenly Lord, you are walking with me when I am scared, depressed, grieving, or anxious. Help me to understand what you can bring from this time of darkness, because I know it's only through death that you can bring about resurrection. Please reveal a glimpse of the future that is made possible in you and help me carry on. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Tuesday, March 5^th

Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:8-11

Reflection: Sometimes a truth is revealed by making us question an opposing statement. The author of Ecclesiastes writes that all things are meaningless, that there is nothing new under the sun and that nothing matters because all is forgotten. When we are scared and alone, it often feels like the world is full of absolutes. But are these absolutes true? Is there no meaning, or have you found or felt meaning in ordinary things? Do you think there is truly nothing new for you? Is not God a God who created all things from no-thing?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: God of creation and newness, show me how you are creating meaning in the presence of senselessness in my life. Show me how you are doing a new thing when everything seems old, tired, and dead. Help me to see glimmers of what is possible by showing me what I think is impossible. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wednesday, March 6^th

Reading: Lamentations 3:16-24

Reflection: Lament is a type of poetry common to the ancient world in which people cry out in their anguish. This particular lament was written while the people of Israel were in captivity, enslaved and taken from their homes. These painful cries are usually directed at God; it is an appeal to help. Pain and suffering are a part of life, but the thing about lament is that even in the deepest misery, the writer is still in conversation with God. What is your heart's lament? Is it sadness? Is it grief? Is it rage? God wants to have that conversation with you. Can you have a relationship without communication? Even an expression of sorrow can mean growth in your walk with God.

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: [Take this time to pray your own laments. Hold nothing back.] Dear Lord, I know you hear me when my loudest thoughts turn into nothing but a quiet whimper. Be my strength when I'm weak, forgive me when I'm wrong, and show me the future you are creating for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Thursday, March 7^th

Reading: Lamentations 3:16-24

Reflection: When you think of the word faithfulness, what do you think of? We say, “So and so is a faithful follower.” “She is such a faithful person.” “He was always faithful to her.” It's a state of being that implies loyalty, determination, and keeping of trust. The sad thing is that as a species, humans are not very faithful. Marital infidelity is high, people cheat on their taxes, and sometimes we even cheat ourselves out of opportunities because of fear and doubt. We fail, and sometimes face the consequences of our faithlessness. The writer of this lament understands his own faithlessness all too well. How have you been unfaithful to God, to others, or to yourself? We are not a people of integrity, but we worship a God who is. Our salvation is made up entirely of God's action in the face of our inadequacy, so you can have hope that even in the midst of your biggest failures, disasters, and sorrows, God is faithful to you. What does that say about what will happen after even the darkest night?

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: God, thank you for faithfulness despite my imperfection and infidelity. Please teach me how to love you the best way I can so that I can learn to love others that way too. Show me that even when I wander away and mess everything up, you are faithful and you will help me make it all right again. Help me hope and trust in your faithfulness when I'm struggling the most. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Friday, March 8^th

Reading: Psalm 90:1-6

Reflection: Think about your home. Is it cozy or spacious? Is it messy or clean? However it functions, you are comfortable there. Your dwelling place is a retreat from all the noise of the outside world, from neighbors and events, from cold temperatures and wind, and the hot sun in the summer. It shelters you, and protects you. What does it mean that God is your dwelling place? Imagine how vast God is, who created the world, who sees your life like the blink of an eye, and yet who cared enough about you to send Jesus. Despite the grandeur, that is the kind of God that you, personally, can dwell in.

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: Lord, be my dwelling place. When the world seems out of control, remind me how big you are. Remind me how you created the world, and how your Son spoke and calmed a storm, and raised the dead. Let me rest in you when I feel small and insignificant, and show me how important I am to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Saturday, March 9^th

Reading: Psalm 90:1-6

Reflection: You are like a Morning Glory, waking up bright and alive with color and dew in the morning, only to wither and fade in the afternoon sun. The daily life of a Morning Glory is short. You shine and shimmer with life and vitality for only a short while, and then the ravages of time take their toll. Eventually, all things wither. But with God, the end of the day is not the end of all things. God has been present from the beginning and will always be present. Like the morning glory that rests during the day and night and opens anew in the morning, so you are renewed every day. What old hurts have healed? What new opportunities and growth have come through loss or endings? The future we are too limited to imagine is not only possible, but inevitable with God. God makes all things new.

Take time to reflect, meditate, or pray in silence.

Prayer: Everlasting God, you make all things new every morning. Give me eyes to see your continuing work in the world, and to understand that your time is different from mine. Help me to trust in what you are doing, and trust that even in wilting and death a new thing arises. In Jesus' name. Amen.

The full armor of God

This morning my personal devotion was in Ephesians. I don't follow any set devotion, but usually try to find something relevant to whatever is floating around my heart or mind to meditate on for a while. This morning I was looking for encouragement because it's lent and my life is a little crazy right now, professionally and personally. I read Ephesians 6:10-17:

 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

I don't generally enjoy the war metaphors Paul sometimes uses in his letters, because I think it encourages a certain type of martyr complex which is unhealthy, especially in my context (middle America, where some schools still have release time in the afternoon for church education). It breeds this paranoid 'war on Christianity' stuff. There is a war on Christianity in some places in the world where Christians are still persecuted and killed, but that ain't here. But I think it's a helpful metaphor if you are careful to define what you are defending yourself from and how you're doing it. I don't think God calls us to war, but I do think that spiritual warfare is very real in our lives. I got to thinking about what that looks like in my life.

I don't generally feel attacked by outside forces in my life. Maybe it's because I'm a white kid raised by upper middle class parents, but I can't complain too much. I've gotten some funny looks from my fiance's more atheistic colleagues because they don't quite know how to handle starting a friendly relationship with a minister-to-be, but I would hardly call that something I need to defend against. I've found in my life that the harshest attacks on my faith are the most subtle, and usually they're not external. The biggest thing attacking me right now is probably a lack of confidence that I am equipped to do the job God has called me to do. That kind of thinking, at least in me, breeds some despair and fear, and turns out to be very draining of my energy. The thing which is attacking me isn't from the world, but from my own lack of trust. I know it's a lie, but it feels very real to me, and plays on my deepest insecurities of never being good enough or capable enough.

My hunch is that Paul is talking about here isn't just defending against outside things, but against the kind of subtle, insidious lies that threaten our identity in Christ. These lies sound just plausible enough to ring in our heads and breed more lies. We know, of course, that the best antidote to lies is truth, and so he provides tools for defense against the insecurities, stumbling blocks, fears, selfish ambitions and other things that weaken us and our relationship with God and one another. In fact, he begins with the belt of truth, the underlayer that holds your pants up. This is the foundation. Righteousness is not just about our behavior but about our being made righteous. Arm yourself with the identity that you are worthy, loved, and redeemed. Put on shoes that will enable you to live that out, to walk forward proclaiming what God has done for you and others. The shield is of faith, the thing revealed to us through Christ's work, that which gives us something tangible to hold onto--the death and resurrection of Christ. Put on the helmet of salvation and use the word of God as your sword to destroy the lies told to you and about you.

What this meant for me in my reflection this morning is that the most dangerous evil in my life right now is doubting who I am and what I'm called to be. Being tentative about my call sometimes makes me feel like a failure who will never be good at anything. Most days I don't think that's true, but some days I do. But the defense is that even if it is true that professional ministry is ultimately not my calling, I am still a child of God created lovingly, called worthy and given a special calling in the world. I know that, and it's important for me to be able to root my identity not in what I'm doing but in what God is doing for me. I have no idea what I'm doing most days, let alone what God is doing! But my strength comes from the truth that even if I don't know who I am or what I'm doing, God does. I can't rely on my own strength, but I can be strong knowing that despite all the fear and anxiety, insecurity, and everything else attacking me, God is defending me.