Sixth Sunday After Pentecost, July 12

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for July 12, 2020.

“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”

  “Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.””

— Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

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My Two Cents….

“Dinner! Boys, it’s time to eat!”  It was a familiar call at the house where I grew up. Summertime meant it was time to be outside. Even though we had a small backyard, it was the place where our imagination soared. There was a tree for climbing, a dirt pit for digging, a hill for rolling down, and a swing set, which we seemed to use for everything but swinging.    

When mom made her nightly call, we were busy. Although mom was a fantastic cook, meals seemed to always interrupt what we were doing. Our hunger for adventure was usually more significant than our need to eat. So we didn’t hear the dinner call. On most nights, mom had to repeat herself.

Listening can be hard even when your ears check out. Distractions abound. Even when we hear something, there is the additional issue of interpretation and understanding. It is all very complicated.

Enter the Word of God.   

A core part of Jesus’s ministry was teaching about God’s kingdom. His words unlocked mysteries about God and invited folks to a different way of living. The Word was powerful and transforming. It was as challenging to hear as the dinner call of my childhood.  

The parable of the sower highlights the challenge embedded in the gospels. Although the Word of God is full of life, it needs to be understood and applied. If we find ourselves too distracted, busy, or fixated on what we think it says, we can miss what it actually means. We can keep going about our own thing without stopping to follow in the path to which Jesus summons.

Stopping what we are doing to take a deep breath is useful in listening to what God has to say. Ours is a constant need to open our hearts, minds, and ears.   

I have found centering prayer to be helpful in this process. This prayer, without words, allows silence to push away all the distractions, worries, concerns, and things we have to do. Clearing our minds and hearts from various occupiers, a space of receptivity emerges. With great humility, we seek God in the emptiness.  

How might you take some time this week to welcome God’s Word? What would it take to listen more fully to what God is saying in your life? Might you employ silence into your prayer practices?  

I pray that you are safe and healthy.

In Christ’s Light,

Walt

A Prayer for You:

Good and gracious God, more often than not, I find myself distracted by many things. Life is busy; there is much to do. Help me to slow down that I might listen to what you have to say. Allow your Word to be amplified in my heart. Teach me your ways so that I will follow you. Through Jesus, amen.

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Fifth Sunday After Pentecost, July 5

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for July 5, 2020.

“[Jesus spoke to the crowd saying:] “To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds...
At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

 ”Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
”

— Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

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My Two Cents….

It has been a while since I've been to a wedding reception. That is probably true for most given the restrictions and precautions caused by the pandemic. I feel sad for those who have had to postpone or dramatically alter long-held wedding plans. Someday, the changes will make for stories for couples to share on their Anniversaries. For now, the pain is too raw.

Think back to the last wedding reception that you attended. Was it a 'family affair' with guests both young and old? Was music played to which all the generations could dance? Were people out on the dance floor having fun? If so, there was probably a little girl in a pretty dress. Perhaps she was a part of the bridal party?  

Imagine a little girl dancing and twirling, with the frills of her dress swirling outward. Her's is a joy unbridled and infectious. A smile accompanies her freedom. She is not embarrassed by her movement, nor does she restrain it. The little girl glides across the ballroom bringing gladness in her wake. Some take the opportunity to dance with her. Others will get on the dance floor for the first time in years. Even those who remain in their seats will smile.  

We can compare Jesus's invitation to discipleship to a little girl dancing at a wedding. It is a summons to freedom. Unlike the Pharisees, who demanded a rigid adherence to a strict holiness code, Jesus welcomed disciples into the joy of the gospel. Following Christ was to be more about participating in the generous hospitality of God than adhering to unchanging codes of conduct. Mercy (not judgment), inclusion (not exclusion), and forgiveness (not vengeance) are the dance steps taught by Jesus.

Instead of constant worry and judgment, Jesus encourages trust and grace as he twirls out on the dance floor. Christ's movements invite us to lower our guard and empower our participation. Like a little girl at a wedding, Jesus's dance steps captivate hearts with unbounded joy.   

How might you find joy in Jesus's dance this week? What movements will you make that are unbridled, unrestricted, and flowing? How might joy, love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy be part of the way that you interact with others?  

I pray that you are safe and healthy.

In Christ’s Light,

Walt

A Prayer for You:

Lord of the Dance of Life, move within my heart. Create within me the courage to move freely according to the music of your gospel. Allow love, grace, and mercy to guide my steps as I dance with others. Amen.

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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Third Sunday After Pentecost, June 21

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for June 21, 2020.

“[Jesus said to the twelve:] “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!
  “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
  “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
  “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
 For I have come to set a man against his father,
 and a daughter against her mother,
 and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.””

— Matthew 10:24-39

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My Two Cents….

Lectionary preachers are those who use the assigned texts from the three-year Revised Common Lectionary throughout the Church Year. I proudly identify myself as such. It is my experience that following a lectionary forces me to preach upon a broader selection of texts and connects me with ecumencial colleagues who are using the same texts at the same time. From time to time, it is a challenge.

Take for instance - the text for this coming week. At a time of great political division in our nation and unrest around the globe, it speaks about Jesus bringing a sword not peace. Jesus speaks about bringing division among families. Those who follow Jesus pick up their crosses and forge ahead without any thought about the turmoil it causes. Onward Christian soldiers, marching off to war with the cross of Jesus!

I can already see where many of my politically-charged colleagues will go with their sermons. The text almost begs for folks to take sides. And folks will be happy to take sides. There will be cheering and applause from one side of the aisle and hissing from the other. Angry calls and emails will come in and enrage the preachers. In a week’s time, the Facebook clergy groups will contain the battle stories of those who are just “preaching the gospel” and “carrying the cross of Jesus.”

Of course, the preacher could ignore the controversial stuff at the end of the text and go with the sparrows in the first half. God values us more than the sparrows. That is a positive message that is not likely to bristle any hairs on anybody’s back. Without a doubt - that is the safe choice.

What is a preacher to do?

Option two could work especially if the community is dealing with a lot of hurt. If the events of the recent weeks have worn heavy upon the church and folks are weary, then a word about being valued by God would certainly be in order. The gospel of Jesus comes as a healing balm to those who are suffering and in need of care. The experience of pandemic has created great isolation and fear among certain portions of our society. Those who are in nursing homes and senior living facilities have had little to no physical contact with their families. I imagine that some feel like they don’t matter. Jesus’s concern for them ought to be proclaimed.

Option one is filled with many pitfalls. The greatest trap lies in the temptation to take a side and assume that it is the same one Jesus takes. Having committed this preaching mistake more times than I would like to admit, I will say that it is all too easy. Preachers, by the way, aren’t the only ones who make the uncritical jump to light-speed. It is the kind of thing that gives fuel to social media, politically charged websites, and opinion pages. Every Christian imagines Jesus on their side - why wouldn’t Jesus agree with our wisdom?

Might I suggest a step back? Stop. Breathe. Put these verses in the context of the larger Gospel of Matthew. Guiding the larger narrative are the themes of Jesus’ presence and God’s restoration of broken people. Isaiah’s vision of the heavenly banquet where God’s shalom (wholeness) reigns is in the background of Jesus’s overall ministry. The table fellowship of Jesus demonstrates core values of forgiveness, love, inclusion, joy, grace and friendship with God. Throughout Jesus’s ministry, mercy speaks louder than judgement.

Sure, there are political implications to Jesus’s teaching that must be worked out as we put these values into practice. But Jesus’s message does not live in any political system, party, or perspective. Those who claim exclusive access have more in common with the Pharisees than the preacher of Nazareth.

Jesus’s words about his message causing division is an observation not a battle cry. Putting into practice the values of Jesus’s fellowship and teaching requires a humility and openness that places us in the cross-hairs of conflict. In a world hell-bent on ‘being right,’ ‘winning,’ and self-interest, there is little room for conversation, collaboration, and cooperation. Taking up one’s cross is a journey into conflict as Jesus did to set a table where love brings enemies together.

Blessed are the peacemakers… Instead of fanning the flames of division, the challenge of disciples is to navigate the tension with righteousness. (Warning: righteousness is one of those ‘churchy’ words that means to be in right relationship.) Being in a right-relationship with others requires the difficult work of justice and reconciliation. The experience of the saints and martyrs (Christian and non-Christian) over the ages have demonstrated that this work often ends in crucifixion as it is violently opposed.

Of course, the preacher can always use the escape hatch of Lectionary preaching - go to the Psalm for the day! Preachers and people alike - please be kind with one another no matter which path the sermon takes.

I pray that you are safe and healthy.

In Christ’s Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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Second Sunday After Pentecost, June 14

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for June 14, 2020.

“Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
 Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
  These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.

[Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
  “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”]””

— Matthew 9:35--10:8 [9-23]

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My Two Cents….

I must have been in second grade when my mother first asked me to go to Huber’s Deli.   Our home, at the time, was located on the one end of Huber Street, just below the crest of the hill.  On the other end of the street was Huber Street school, where I attended the elementary grades.   Still further on the street was the deli.   It was about a quarter mile of distance between our house and the store.   As a child, who walked to school each day, it seemed much longer.  

With a list in my hand and a few dollars in my pocket, Mom sent me to the store.   It was a big responsibility and made me feel like a ‘big boy.’   My quest for sliced deli cheese, ham, and freshly baked rolls was repeated many times throughout my childhood.   Although no bard ever sang of these grand journeys, I am proud to say that I didn’t disappoint.  

When Jesus sends his twelve disciples out to the surrounding villages it is not for sliced deli meats and rolls.  He does give them a list, however.   Proclaim the good news.  Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons.   Wow!  And I thought my shopping list was complicated!  

With Jesus’s directions to his disciples come warnings.  The road ahead is not paved with lollipops, rainbows, and unicorns.  It is filled with broken glass, potholes, and snarling wolves. Obviously,  Jesus didn’t have help from a promotional/marketing department.   Instead of sugar-coating, Jesus speaks honestly to the reality that the world can be a harsh place.   

In this time of pandemic and social unrest (caused by generations of racial injustice), it is not easy to proclaim the gospel.  Speaking about God’s love when things are in turmoil might seem foolish to some.  We need order, security, and things to go back to “normal.”   For those demanding such things, the proclamation of Jesus’s gospel might have all the importance of a child’s mission to go to the corner store.  

In the real world, the powerful use any means necessary to establish and maintain a status quo.  Therein lies part of the problem.  The world resorts to self-centered and dominating means to establish “peace,” which most benefits those in privileged positions.   

God’s shalom (peace) is something altogether different.  From the prophets of old, through the ministry of Jesus, to the current day, those who seek genuine shalom know that it comes through the pursuit of justice and the establishment of right relationships between people..  Justice comes when love removes the barriers of division, hatred, and inequality.  Justice comes through the restoration of dignity to all people.   

On the original “shopping list” that Jesus gave to his disciples were those who the Pharisees judged and marginalized.  It was thought at the time that physical ailments, disabilities, and mental disorders  were all signs of God’s displeasure.   God couldn’t love brokenness.  

Except, of course, God does love those who are hurting, hungry, and helpless.  The Pharisees got it wrong by the standard of Jesus’s compassionate ministry.  Jesus healed, resurrected, cleansed, and cast out demons as a sign that God seeks restoration of all, especially those at the margins.

So how might we join in that effort this week?  How might we show love in our words and deeds?  After all, Jesus has given us a list and has asked us to head out into the neighborhood. 

In Christ’s Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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Holy Trinity

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for June 7, 2020.

“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

— Matthew 28:16-20

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My Two Cents….

On Holy Trinity Sunday this year we have the Great Commission.  These are Jesus’s final instructions in Matthew’s gospel.  In a clear and focused way, Jesus sends the church out into the world - make disciples of all nations.    

The way that this is usually interpreted is to make the world Christian.  Through baptism and teaching, the church’s purpose is to make disciples.  That is certainly what the words say; convert the world.

Less we get caught up, like many have before, in a blinding evangelicalism, we would benefit from taking a holy pause.  Breathe.  

Before rushing out with our portable fonts, “Christian-izing” the masses, it would b’e prudent for us to stop and reflect.   What is it that Jesus taught?  What’s included in the “everything I have commanded you?”   

As I think about Jesus’s teaching, the first thing that pops into my mind is love.  Jesus taught love - caring, compassionate, non-invasive, non-demanding, and kind love.  “Thou must believe or else” was never a part of his curriculum.  Neither was “my way or the highway!”   Jesus’s love was inviting and allowed others to embrace (or not) on their terms.  The community that Jesus formed was not an enforcing institution but rather a gathering of imperfect and largely unremarkable disciples who were scared, flawed, and in need of forgiveness.  Love creates a community that is more like a dinner party and less like a board of directors.

In our multi-perspective, multi-religious (or non-religious) world, we would do well to interpret the Great Commission through the heart of Jesus’s teaching about love.  How do we point others through Christ through loving words and deeds?   How might we transform the church into a place of welcome that has no restrictions, no judging glances?  

What might you be able to do this week to love others?  Can you respond to the needs that you see in a way that bears the understanding and compassion of Christ? 

In Christ's Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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Pentecost

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for May 31, 2020.

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Peter Addresses the Crowd
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

— Acts 2: 1-21

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My Two Cents….

I love the way that the walls just disappear in this story.  It starts inside the house where the disciples had been gathering for worship since Jesus told them to wait for the Spirit to empower them for ministry.  Inside, they worshiped, prayed, and broke bread together.  They shared in fellowship and common purpose.  And they waited….

And then it happened…. In a way that rivals any Old Testament theophany (those moments when God acted in a decisive way to save the people), the Spirit whooshes in.  Fire and wind - basic elements - anoint and mark the disciples in a way that forever changes not only their lives but also the church.   At that moment, the church (which had already been gathering) is gifted with the very same Spirit that embolden Jesus’s ministry.  

And the walls disappeared!   

Suddenly, the scene shifts to a large crowd that gathers around the disciples.  This group is much bigger than could ever fit in the tiny place wherein they previously gathered.  The people are from all over the world.  They are the scattered people of God that are known as the Jewish Diaspora.   A history filled with many painful moments has separated them.   They yearn for God’s redemption and restoration.

As we continue to live through this pandemic, there are connections for us to make with this crowd.  Covid-19 has been a painful experience world-wide.  It has separated families and communities.  There has been hardship - deep and personal in the isolation.  And there has been grief that touches the core of our being.  We mourn the loss of life and the patterns that have brought meaning to our lives.   

Less we get caught up in the fear, anxiety, and grief of this moment, the Pentecost story reminds us that the Spirit of God remains alive and active.  It is calling us, as it called those early disciples, out into the world.  God empowers us for ministry that bears the Risen Christ into all the broken and hurting places.   

There are some that are calling for the re-opening of churches.  This is misleading and presupposes that churches have closed during the pandemic.  It is not true.  Yes - we have chosen to stop meeting in-person so that we can do our part in stemming the tide of the virus.   But, we have not closed down.  Ministry has continued in new and exciting ways outside the doors of designated sanctuaries.   

The Spirit continues to empower us in Word and service.  By the grace of God, we continue to build and deepen loving relationships with God, with one another, and with our neighbors.  Thanks be to God!

In Christ's Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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Seventh Sunday of Easter

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for May 24, 2020.

“After Jesus had spoken these words [to his disciples], he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”
”

— John 17:1-11

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My Two Cents….

It is not by accident that the final word that Jesus leaves his disciples on the night of his arrest and betrayal is a prayer.  After a long lecture on loving neighbors and abiding in God’s love, Jesus has summarized his entire ministry.  Now, it is time to go and the only thing remaining is to pray.  Jesus’s prayer is one of unity for those who follow in his name.  

As I read this prayer, I can’t help but sense the care and compassion which it contains.  Jesus’s love for those who follow his teaching comes out loud and clear.  It is relational, through and through.  (This, by the way, is what it makes the passage a little hard to read; the gospel writer is constantly networking his language, connecting all dots with one another.)  

It is a prayer that continues to this day.  Jesus continues to deeply love all those who follow his teaching and path for their life.  And, Jesus continues to love the rest of the world.  We ought not to forget that!   The world, though it is hostile to the kind of love that Jesus advocates, remains the object of Christ’s affection.  God loves a broken creation.  That is why Jesus came down to earth in the first place; that the life of God might be experienced in all its abundance.  

When we come together, abiding in God’s love, we give a witness to God’s intent for the whole creation.  We are the ones who help (or don’t) make connections that bring love.   

So how does that look?  

Think simple.  Who is one person that you know that could use a reminder that they are loved?  During this time of social distancing, many people are isolated in their homes.  Can you give the person, which comes to your mind, a phone call today?  Perhaps drop them a hand-written note?  Let them know that you are thinking of them.  It will make a difference.  Showing love always does.

As you make your contact, remember, Jesus is praying for you!

In Christ's Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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Books can be purchased through Amazon and through this website (using the button below). They can also be purchased at St. James (Walt is donating 100% of profits from the books sold at St. James to the Roof Fund).

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Annual Subscribers receive a 30% discount on Light From This Hill purchases including books. (discount does not apply on Mark’s notecards)

Sixth Sunday of Easter

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for May 17, 2020.

“[Jesus said to the disciples:] “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.””

— John 14:15-21

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My Two Cents….

Jesus promises that his followers will never be alone.  He tells them, on the night of his betrayal, that he will not leave them orphaned.  No matter what might happen - they will be okay.  

Wow!  What a promise!  Never alone, they will always have God with them.   Lucky buggas.  I guess that is a perk of being one of the “Original Twelve” (eleven, actually; by this point, Judas has left the party to do the dastardly deed.)  

There are times when I feel like Jesus’s words to those ancient followers don’t apply to me.  After all, he spoke them almost two thousand years ago to someone else.  How could they be for me?

There are times when I feel alone - or left alone.  Sometimes life is so overwhelming - my troubles and worries are so big and I am so small.   Turning inward, I find myself inadequate and unable.   The downward spiral is a rapid descent.   Maybe this doesn’t happen to you - but it is a  part of my reality.   

My fatal, though frequent, misstep at the point of inward retreat, is to forget.   I lose track of my identity as a beloved child of God.  In the life-giving waters of my baptism, God promised me to be ever near.  God’s spirit claimed my life.  I became a part of a fellowship with the Risen Christ.  The words Jesus spoke to those ancient disciples were said again to me.  I, too, am never alone.   God’s spirit is near to me; it is as close as my next breath.  

As we head into this week, filled with all its challenges and opportunities, I need to remember ‘whose I am’.  Lest I get caught up in less-than-helpful spirals, it is important for me to return again and again to the promises of a Loving God.  My life depends upon breathing deeply of the Spirit that is ever near and beckons me into fellowship with Jesus. 

That fellowship opens new possibilities and responsibilities.  It won’t let me think only of myself or hide within.  The same Spirit that accompanies me in this day seeks to redirect my attention to others.  My life is connected.   

Guess what?  So is yours! We are together.

In Christ's Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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Do you like reading Scripture to Start Your Week? Would you like to read more of Walt’s writing?

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Backyard Parables: Discovering Wisdom Close to Home, is Walt’s second book. In it, he seeks God in the space of his backyard through original parables and prayers. The book can be read as a devotional during the Lenten season.

Books can be purchased through Amazon and through this website (using the button below). They can also be purchased at St. James (Walt is donating 100% of profits from the books sold at St. James to the Roof Fund).

Backyard Parables: Discovering Wisdom Close to Home

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Would you like to get the lastest devotional series in 2020?

Why not try out an Annual Subscription to Walt’s upcoming devotional series? In 2019, there were ten devotional series ranging from twelve to fifty days. You can access these as well as the new ones that Walt will write in 2020 with an Annual Subscription. If you are not satisfied, Light From This Hill will refund your money so there is no risk.

Annual Subscribers receive a 30% discount on Light From This Hill purchases including books. (discount does not apply on Mark’s notecards)

Palm/Passion Sunday Lent 2020

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for Palm/Passion Sunday, April 5, 2020.

“Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying,”He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!””

— Matthew 27:11-54

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My Two Cents….

The turning of the crowd took a little prodding from the religious leaders; but not much.  Days before, when Jesus rode into the Holy City, great expectations were in the air. The long-awaited Messiah entered Jerusalem with a flourish.  Hosanna! Praise to God! God’s plan to purge the people’s land of the invading infidels was plain to see. It was just a matter of time before the Messiah would lead an uprising to drive the Romans out.  

But then, Jesus didn’t behave.  Somehow, he never got the script on how a Messiah should behave.  Instead of rallying the people to revolt, Jesus turned over the tables of the Temple money changers.  Jesus challenged the injustice within and sought to change the hearts and spirits of the people! This was not what they had in mind.  They didn’t need someone to connect them with God. Who did he think he was? The Messiah? Pissah! Crucify!!

How quickly they moved from point A to B!   Lest we point our fingers, blame, and condemn ‘those’ people, it would be good to take a step back.  It is prudent to step back and look at our own expectations about God’s chosen Messiah. Palm/Passion Sunday invites us to make such a move.

This year, as we adjust to life during a pandemic, it is especially important to examine our thoughts about God, how God interacts with us, and where we might find the Christ.  The coronavirus has shattered expectations of all sorts. Our need for social distance has canceled and postponed events from regular gatherings to lifetime milestones.

Spiritually, we might wonder - where is God in the midst of it all?  As the death toll rises across the globe, people of faith might ask - where is God’s protection?  Irresponsible theologians have even suggested that God is punishing the world - the outbreak is a sign of God’s wrath.   

STOP!    Breathe!   

Take a moment as you allow the breath to fill your body to be still.  It is time to center ourselves as beloved children of a God who promised always to be near; as close as our next breath.  

Expectations.   What are our expectations when it comes to God?   Do we expect God to ride in on a warhorse and vanquish our enemies?  That is what the faithful folks in Jerusalem were expecting. Do we expect God to keep evil at bay because we go to church or say our nightly prayers? 

The passion story of Jesus points beyond transactional expectations of faith.  It invites us to consider Christ as one who suffers alongside us from all the pain and isolation that this world offers.  God is present in our struggles, including this pandemic, just as God was present with Jesus on the cross. Redemption is not transactional but rather relational.  We are connected to God - by the grace of God- simply because God continues to love us.  

Through God’s love, we find a presence that won’t quit.  God remains with us. What is more, God abides with the whole human race.  Across the globe, from China to Iran, from Tanzania to St. Paul - Christ can be found in every nation.  Wherever love is shared and hearts turn to God, which is the source of all love, God is near.   

This might exceed our expectations, especially if we are used to claiming God’s love as an exceptional treasure.  Yet, it is what we find on the cross. Jesus opened his arms to the world in a loving gesture, pouring out his life for all.   

How might we adjust our expectations of God as we prepare to enter Holy Week?  We won’t be able to celebrate it quite as we have before. There is grief in the fact that we won’t be able to come together on either Palm or Easter Sunday.  Still, God is near and we have an opportunity to welcome the Christ who comes into our isolation and sorrow. Come Lord Jesus and fill us with your love!

In Christ's Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

---

Do you like reading Scripture to Start Your Week? Would you like to read more of Walt’s writing?

Try this out….

Backyard Parables: Discovering Wisdom Close to Home, is Walt’s second book. In it, he seeks God in the space of his backyard through original parables and prayers. The book can be read as a devotional during the Lenten season.

Books can be purchased through Amazon and through this website (using the button below). They can also be purchased at St. James (Walt is donating 100% of profits from the books sold at St. James to the Roof Fund).

Backyard Parables: Discovering Wisdom Close to Home

$12.99

Quantity:

Purchase

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Would you like to get the lastest devotional series in 2020?

Why not try out an Annual Subscription to Walt’s upcoming devotional series? In 2019, there were ten devotional series ranging from twelve to fifty days. You can access these as well as the new ones that Walt will write in 2020 with an Annual Subscription. If you are not satisfied, Light From This Hill will refund your money so there is no risk.

Annual Subscribers receive a 30% discount on Light From This Hill purchases including books. (discount does not apply on Mark’s notecards)

Fifth Sunday in Lent 2020

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for the fifth Sunday in Lent, March 29, 2020.

“When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.”

— John 11:17-45

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My Two Cents….

It is not a tomb, nor is it a prison.  It is my home and in these past few days, it has been both a safe haven and a place of restriction.  As the Covid-19 pandemic rages, home is the place where I’m located. My family joins me and we are faring well so far.  We have used this time of isolation to reconnect - play board games, watch movies, and laugh together. I am grateful that we like each other and value each other’s presence. It is no doubt that there will come the moment when we get on each other’s nerves. Thankfully, it has not yet arrived.  

Social distancing, staying home, online school and worship, working remotely, quarantine, and sheltering in place - all of these are departures from the way that we live usually.  As individuals and as part of communities, we have had a crash course in isolation.

Covid-19 has brought with it a deep sense of grief.  Beyond the inconvenience, disappointments, discomfort, and separation, there is death.  Across the globe, people have died. Compounding this grim fact has been the restrictions placed upon burial practices.  During a pandemic, grief itself is restricted. It is a feeling of sorrow upon a sorrow that loved ones need to bear the pain of death alone.  

Martha gives voice to hurting spirits - “Lord if you were only here… my loved one would not have died!”  In other words, where are you, God? Where is Your breath of life as the virus continues to spread and wreak havoc? 

These questions have haunted the faithful across generations.  Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is there injustice and suffering?  How could a loving God allow for such things? These age-old questions are so common that they even have a fancy theological category of their own - theodicy.   Theologians and philosophers have debated and kicked this can around the schoolyard for years. Honestly, I haven’t found their ‘answers’ all that helpful or definitive.   

I think that the question - why do bad things happen to good people - is misguided.  It assumes a transactional order to the universe. Everything that happens is caused by something else.  Goodness causes good things to happen. Badness causes badness. Although this works most of the time, it doesn’t always.  Hence, a problem arises. Life is more random. Both good and bad things arise unexpectedly, apart from easily recognizable causation.  

No matter how much we try to control or manipulate life, it operates apart from our designs.  Most of the time we can live in denial. We can pretend that we have a plan - might even imagine it to be “god’s plan.”  It is a ruse and a fabrication of our well-wishes.  

Lazarus’s death shatters Martha’s carefully constructed world.  Covid-19 breaks ours.  

At the place of occupied tombs, profound grief, and broken spirits, Jesus appears and offers us the presence of God.  Jesus comes not as ‘answer,’ explanation, or cure. He offers no magic wand, amulet, or talisman to make everything all right.  That is not how God works. Instead of making the bad things go away, Jesus announces resurrection. He shouts new life in the face of death.  

Jesus reveals for us what resurrection looks like as Lazarus emerges from the tomb.  Still wrapped in the grave clothes, which serve as a reminder of death’s lingering presence, Lazarus lives again.  No longer captive to the reality of death, Lazarus is freed to follow Jesus’s way of life.

And so are we - right in the midst of the things that we fear and that threaten our lives.   It is time for us to put aside our inadequate plans and schemes. Our illusion of being in control should also give way.  Instead, let’s look at the life that Jesus gives us. May we follow in the path of the Resurrection and the Life. It is a way that is filled with hope, courage, and new beginnings.   It is time to love as Jesus loves.

In Christ's Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

---

Do you like reading Scripture to Start Your Week? Would you like to read more of Walt’s writing?

Try this out….

Backyard Parables: Discovering Wisdom Close to Home, is Walt’s second book. In it, he seeks God in the space of his backyard through original parables and prayers. The book can be read as a devotional during the Lenten season.

Books can be purchased through Amazon and through this website (using the button below). They can also be purchased at St. James (Walt is donating 100% of profits from the books sold at St. James to the Roof Fund).

Backyard Parables: Discovering Wisdom Close to Home

$12.99

Quantity:

Purchase

---

Would you like to get the lastest devotional series in 2020?

Why not try out an Annual Subscription to Walt’s upcoming devotional series? In 2019, there were ten devotional series ranging from twelve to fifty days. You can access these as well as the new ones that Walt will write in 2020 with an Annual Subscription. If you are not satisfied, Light From This Hill will refund your money so there is no risk.

Annual Subscribers receive a 30% discount on Light From This Hill purchases including books. (discount does not apply on Mark’s notecards)

Fourth Sunday in Lent 2020

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for the fourth Sunday in Lent, March 22, 2020.

“As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out. Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.””

— John 9:1-41

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My Two Cents….

My favorite kinds of movies are the ones in which there is an ironic twist. The story seems to be going one way, and then it takes an unexpected turn. All of a sudden, things are messy. Exciting!

The healing of the man born blind is one such tale. Jesus encounters a man born blind and heals him. It seems simple enough - Jesus performs another miracle. We might even expect that he follows Jesus, forever grateful for his good fortune.

However, the Gospel of Jesus is rarely straightforward. Throughout the Fourth Gospel, there are layers of meaning, symbol, and story. In addition to the story of the blind man, there is Jesus’s ongoing conflict with the Pharisees, who maintain a strict interpretation of the law of Moses. There is also the symbolic interaction between seeing/knowing and unseeing/unknowing. To see is more than to look at something with the eyes. To see is to know and understand. What is more, seeing, knowing, and understanding all relate to belief.

The twist in this story occurs as the controversy develops. At first, it is the blind man who can not see. He also doesn’t know or believe in Jesus. The Pharisees, as trained practitioners of the law of Moses, supposedly know God and see the truth. After the miraculous cure, which is a sign of God’s presence, the man begins to gradually ‘see’ and know Jesus’s identity. In the end, the ex-blind man ‘gets’ it and believes. Ironically, the Pharisees demonstrate through their questioning and refusal to ‘see’ the healing as a sign that they are the ones who are blind. Spiritually blind, they are unable to believe. How’s about that for a twist?

As we enter this week, I wonder where we have closed our eyes, hearts, and minds to the signs of God’s presence in our midst. What ‘blind eyes’ are we turning? Where do we not see? How might Jesus heal our hearts so that we can be open in new ways?

In Christ's Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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Third Sunday in Lent 2020

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for the third Sunday in Lent, March 15, 2020.

“So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.” Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?” Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” They left the city and were on their way to him. Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.””

— John 4:5-42

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My Two Cents….

Each day that she went to the well, she bore more than water. Shame, loneliness, and regret were all burdens that others put upon her. Sometimes she wore these tattered garments all by herself. You could describe her situation as complicated. She did.

This outsider went to the well in the middle of the day. When the sun was high in the sky, at its hottest zenith, there weren't others at the communal well. It was easier that way. There were no icy stares or uncomfortable silence to navigate. Her trip to the well was purely functional.

How can we identify with her story? Have we ever suffered from social isolation and the judgment of others? Do we know what it is like to carry the burden of being an outsider? Perhaps, we can't. Maybe we have always had friends and a good reputation. If so, we would not need to go to the well when nobody else was around. We would be there in the morning when we could fill up on the day's news and laughter.

Whether we can identify with the Samaritan woman's plight or not, we all need living water. There is a part in each of our souls that is thirsty for God. Whether isolated or socially engaged, the human creature yearns for spiritual connection with its Creator. St. Augustine, the great African bishop, once said that our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.

We may not even be aware of this restlessness as a spiritual thing. Some might call it a search for meaning or purpose, longing to find our happy place in the world. We want our lives to matter and make a difference. We seek connection with others and a place of significance in the community.

It was this search that Jesus recognized within the Samaritan woman. Christ's humanity reached out and linked with her. She found the living water that refreshes and reanimates. Whether we naturally identify with the woman at the well or not, this story invites us to do a personal inventory. Where do we find ourselves in need of God's soul-quenching love? Where is the brokeness within that longs for the healing God can provide?

Living God - water us and let us grow in your love!

In Christ's Light,

Walt

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Second Sunday in Lent 2020

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for the Second Sunday in Lent, March 8, 2020.

“Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

— John 3:1-17

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My Two Cents….

Nicodemus has always intrigued me. I can identify with his inquisitive nature. He is a question asker and wonders aloud about the content of Jesus's teaching.

Nicodemus is also afraid. As a religious leader, there is an expectation that he would maintain full public support for the tradition and time-honored teaching of his people. Jesus has challenged traditional practices and teaching.

At the point of Nicodemus's nighttime visit, Jesus caused a public scene in the Temple. Driving out the moneychangers, Jesus called into question the whole sacrificial system as a means of connecting to God. Jesus's "cleansing" of the Temple is a big-time upset.

The religious establishment, which saw its job as keeping order, did not appreciate it at all. I am sure that the talk among Nicodemus's peers is hostile. Jesus is a threat and must be stopped.

Yet, Nicodemus comes to Jesus with a head full of questions. He wants to know, learn, and make sense of things. Night helps to lessen the risk but only a little. If the others find out that he went to Jesus as a "Rabbi," - there would be trouble for Nicodemus, who had much to lose. Still…. the questions inside his head and heart were relentless. Nicodemus must ask Jesus.

What are the questions in your heart and mind about God? If you could knock on Jesus's door and sit down with him over a cup of coffee (or a pint), what would you want to know? Questions and doubts are part of a healthy spiritual life. They drive us to go deeper than our assumptions and the things that others have told us. Sometimes they question tradition and the way that we practice our faith. At other times, the questions go sideways and seem to chase the wind.

No matter. Go with it. Find the courage to explore, wander, and wonder—open conversations with other seekers for truth. Keep judgment away. Trust that God is bigger than the questions. God's love is unable to be insulted or withdrawn from us. The only wrong questions are the ones we can not bring ourselves to ask.

So, go ahead - wonder away and know that God is near - even in the deepest night of our most significant doubts

In Christ's Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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Books can be purchased through Amazon and through this website (using the button below). They can also be purchased at St. James (Walt is donating 100% of profits from the books sold at St. James to the Roof Fund). If you would prefer to receive the content electronically, check out the online devotional (Annual Subscribers have free access - see below for more info).

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Matthew 4:1-11

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for the first Sunday in Lent, March 1, 2020.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.”

— Matthew 4:1-11

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My Two Cents….

Conversations about temptations make me uncomfortable. I switch between paranoia, guilt, and a defensive self-righteousness. Unless we are talking about overeating chocolate, when I hear the word “temptation," I cringe. I prepare myself for someone’s judgment.  

One of the critiques of those who don’t go to church is that the church is all about judgment. There is validity to the view of the church being judgmental. For years, people were excluded from participation in the church because of their gender, orientation, identity, marital status, etc.   Abominations were declared from the pulpit and cold stares from the pews. 

Sadly, this remains true over much of Christianity. We will say that everyone is welcome, that everyone is a sinner, and that Jesus loves all. BUT, we temper that welcome when someone is “different.” We rank sins and quote scriptural prohibitions on the ‘nasty ones.’  Although we maintain that Jesus loves all, we require repentance to access the forgiveness of Christ. So ingrained are these patterns among good church folk that most of the time, we aren’t even aware that we are following them.  

It is a tradition on the First Sunday in Lent to read the temptation story of Jesus.  Jesus battles the devil in the wilderness and resists all temptation. Yay Jesus! We knew you would!   You set the bar pretty high, but we are up for the challenge… a temptation-free Lent, here we come!

Sarcasm aside, instead of focusing on temptation as we start Lent, what if we looked at our judgment?  In what ways do we judge others? How do we judge ourselves?  

What would it look like for us to suspend ‘judgment’ for the season of Lent - as individuals and as a church?  Can we find the courage to trust in Christ’s endless mercy and forgiveness that is true for all? What if instead of judging others (and ourselves) as unworthy or less, we welcome them with the love, compassion, and kindness of Christ?  What kinds of new relationships would emerge?  

How might such an approach allow us to strike a blow to satan’s divisiveness and unending efforts to separate and isolate?

In Christ's Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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Do you like reading Scripture to Start Your Week? Would you like to read more of Walt’s writing?

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Backyard Parables: Discovering Wisdom Close to Home, is Walt’s second book. In it, he seeks God in the space of his backyard through original parables and prayers. The book can be read as a devotional during the Lenten season.

Books can be purchased through Amazon and through this website (using the button below). They can also be purchased at St. James (Walt is donating 100% of profits from the books sold at St. James to the Roof Fund).

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Matthew 5:21-37

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for February 16, 2020.

“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.””

— Matthew 5:21-37

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My Two Cents….

The Sermon on the Mount continues, oh boy!  For the third week in a row, we have a selection from the message that Jesus gives to the crowds.  As a preacher who tries to keep his sermons to ten minutes, Jesus has gone WAY OVER the time limit!  

But who am I to say - after all, Jesus IS the Son of God and I’m sure he captivated the crowds for hours.  Since I’m neither divine or all that captivating of an orator, I’ll keep my sermons short. I’d rather have folks wanting more than checking their watches!

Jesus’ sermon is exhaustive - even if it wasn’t exhausting.  It touches all aspects of life and relationships. Making the point that faith is not a compartment or category of our life but rather a connecting thread.  Faith lives and dies in each part of our lives. We don’t turn faith on for one hour on a Sunday morning and then off for the rest of the week.  

Our faith comes into play as we make our living, order things online, shop in the supermarket, participate in political debates, and engage in relationships with others.  The choices we make have consequences. Connections with others grow or they decline. We act in ways that are both loving and unloving. When it comes to living out our faith in a loving God we will triumph and fail miserably.  

When we hit rock bottom and find ourselves in an unloving (or unloved) place, we are in need of God’s forgiveness.  Through forgiveness, God allows us to pick up the broken pieces of our lives. At times, we might be able to reassemble the shards.  Often there is no way of putting Humpty Dumpty back together again even if you had all the king’s horses and men.  

I think about friends and family who have gone through a divorce.  Rarely is this experience amicable. There is so much hurt and anger when marriages fall apart.  Blame and regret are usually a part of the picture. Sides are drawn and taken - things turn messy.

Unfortunately, for years the church was not much help.  Inspired by these verses from Matthew, the church added to the pain of the situation.  Excommunication, exclusion, and judgments were the ecclesiastical responses. Sadly, we missed the forest for the trees when it came to the proclamation of the overarching love of Christ.    

What is needed is for us all to return to the heart of the text, to God’s love that underlines it all.  In the situation of our lives, even the most broken and painful parts, Christ remains. The kingdom of God is present.  What is more, this kingdom seeks to create a community that is full of forgiveness and love where life can be resurrected.  

How might we take part in God’s kingdom of restoration and resurrection?  Instead of judging others (and ourselves) unworthy, how might we bear Christ’s creative and redeeming word? 

In Christ's Light,

Walt

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Matthew 5:13-20

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for February 9, 2020.

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.””

— Matthew 5:13-20

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My Two Cents….

What?  Unless my ‘righteousness’ exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, I will never enter the kingdom of heaven?  I thought the scribes and the Pharisees were the bad guys, the ones who were always opposing Jesus’s ministry. Wasn’t the point of Jesus’s teaching NOT to be like them?  What gives?

Next Sunday’s gospel from Matthew comes from the sermon on the mount and follows the beatitudes that we had last week.  This is the first of five major teaching sections in Matthew’s gospel. Speaking to a largely Jewish Christian audience, Matthew tells the story of Jesus in such a way as to suggest that he is like a ‘new Moses.’  Recall, Moses received the law from God and according to tradition was the author of the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).  

The key verse in this section is “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”  According to Matthew, Jesus’s ministry is NOT a departure from the tradition or the law of Moses.  Instead, it is a reinterpretation. The law is fulfilled through the life and love of Jesus. We get to see the law in action and we are invited to follow it.

Follow it with all the dedication and passion of the scribes and Pharisees!  This gang had the determination right, even if they were misguided in their application of scripture.  Their big mistake came in losing track of God’s call to love amid all the rule-following.  

Within these passages is a call to discipleship, a turning and living in the direction of God.  This is a good message for us to hear, less we misunderstand God’s grace as a license to go whatever we’d like.  The freedom of the gospel is not ‘anything goes.’  

Love toward neighbor (and self) is what ought to be on our minds and hearts.  Love provides the law that is needed to ground our life and guide our actions in the way of Jesus.  When we misstep, and we will, we are invited to turn to God and the forgiveness that Christ offers.   

How can you practice the law of love this week?  What actions can you take to shine the light of Jesus into the life of someone who is going through a dark time?  

In Christ's Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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Would you like to get the lastest devotional series in 2020?

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Matthew 5:1-12

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for February 2, 2020.

“When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.””

— Matthew 5:1-12

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My Two Cents….

Blessed are those…. In some translations, the word “happy” is used instead.  Happiness… blessedness… these are two horses that run in the same direction of overwhelming joy.  Neither is trite or fickle or fleeting. When you are genuinely happy or feel blessed, there is a sense that ‘life is good’ and that ‘all is right within.’  There is a confidence that permeates being when such a state is achieved.  

When Jesus teaches about the kingdom of God, as Matthew records it in the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-8), he mentions happiness/blessedness.  These things come not from the circumstances of life - one could hardly call grief a ‘blessing’. They are not ends unto themselves. Rather, happiness/blessedness emerges as a result of heading in God’s direction.  Those who hunger and thirst to be in right relationships, those who seek peace, those who care for the needy - these are the ones who are traveling down the roads that God prefers and favors.  

Of course, the direction itself and the effort involved don’t create blessing.  We don’t manufacture either happiness/blessing. It comes as a gift from God. The creator of life lavishes joy upon us.  Like a double scoop of ice cream on a hot day, it is cold and melts all over our hands as we try to lap it up. Often it is a surprise and we don’t recognize it until we are right in the middle of it all.  How sweet and refreshing!   

How might you head in God’s direction this week?  In what ways might you share the love, grace, and forgiveness of Christ?  When joy comes your way, how might you cherish and delight in it?

In Christ's Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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Matthew 4:12-23

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for January 26, 2020.

“Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

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. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

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. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

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.”

— Matthew 4:12-23

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My Two Cents….

“Repent!”  It is such a loaded word.  In popular parlance, it oozes judgment and condemnation.  Repent you lousy and sinful schmucks! Change your ways or suffer the torment of eternal flames!  SHOUT! SHOUT!!!

That was, at least, what was coming from the crackling speaker that was strapped on the shoulder of the guy standing next to the person holding a cross made out of PVC pipe.  Both were wearing black and looked more like bouncers than they did prophets. They stood immovable with solemn faces. Saving souls was a serious business. The microphone was held by an energetic young preacher.  Also clad in black, arms flailing, he yelled at the crowd which parted to avoid the trio.       

They stood in the middle of Bourbon Street, New Orleans.  Each night they “witnessed” to the intoxicated crowds that swerved around them.  

As I saw them, I cringed.  No wonder folks label Christians as judgmental.  In a culture that is rapidly decreasing in its church attendance, this is what folks see.  

Sadly, nowhere in the squawking message was there any mention of grace.  You can’t shout love and convey its meaning at the same time. Hellfire and brimstone miscommunicate the essence of the gospel.  This method of preaching, long-established in parts of the Christian tradition, misunderstands the ministry of Jesus.   

When Jesus called for ‘repentance,’ he did so in the sense that he was inviting people to turn their lives toward God.  Look in God’s direction. See life through the lens of love, forgiveness, and grace. Jesus reached out with the life-giving presence of God and touched those who the “holy” people of the time judged and excluded.  Jesus announced a God-given worth to the ones that the culture devalued. Jesus built a new community around hospitality, inclusion, and good news.  

Turn in the direction of God and live - that is the message of the gospel.     

It is also an invitation for us as we enter this week.  How might we share in God’s good news as we work and play?  How can our actions towards our neighbors reflect Jesus? Can we be gracious and loving?

In Christ's Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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John 1:29-42

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for January 12, 2020 - The Baptism of Our Lord.

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’

I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).”
”

— John 1:29-42

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My Two Cents….

Growing up in the 1970s meant that Saturday morning was “cartoon time.”  For hours, I’d watch Hanna Barbera’s Scooby-Doo, Captain Caveman, Speed Buggy, and Laugh-A-Lympics.  There would also be Tom and Jerry. Coming from the Warner Brothers Studios were all the Bugs Bunny cartoons.   Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd. Bugs Bunny, Tweety Bird, and Sylvester ran around my television screen with their silly antics.  It was a weekly ritual and grounding place for my childhood.

One of my favorite cartoons was the RoadRunner and Wile E. Coyote.  Not such why cartoon characters always chased each other but that is what they did.  It was the case with the hungry coyote and the oversized and oddly colored desert bird.  

Wile E. was a self-proclaimed “super genius” and as such came up with complicated schemes to catch his dinner.  The traps that he built were fantastic: ropes, pulleys, trampolines, catapults, and dynamite. He’d order it all through the ACME supply catalog and it was all shipped in wooden crates.  

None of the elaborate schemes ever worked but it was fun to watch the ‘sure-fire’ plan disintegrate or explode (as was usually the case).  At the end of each attempt, Wile E. was smoldering or a tiny poof at the bottom of a canyon. The RoadRunner would “Beep Beep” and zoom away.  

Wile E. never accepted defeat.  Each week, he’d be back at it. The chase continued until Mel Blanc (the voice of all the Looney Toons characters) spoke his last and Warner Bros. animation stopped creating the reels.  

When it comes to John’s witness to his disciples, there is no elaborate contraption or scheme.  He is with his disciples as Jesus walks by them. Look - there is the Lamb of God! This simple observation was all it took to capture the hearts of John’s disciples.  One of them turns out to be Andrew. 

When Jesus notices them following him, he asks them what they seek.   A bit confused, they want to know where he is staying. Another simple response - “come and see.”   That is all it takes for not only Andrew to become a disciple of Jesus but also for him to get his brother, Peter.  The rest is apostolic history.  

Simple.  Not complicated.  No need for complex drawings with ropes, pulleys, or dynamite.  John simply points Jesus out and Jesus invites with “come and see.”  

The invitation to discipleship is open-ended and allows for free-response.  It doesn't trap or trick. There is no manipulation either. Andrew is left to wonder and wander in Jesus’s direction. 

As we enter this week, how might we provide a similar witness when it comes to sharing our faith?  What would it look like if we pointed out God’s presence in our lives to those around us? Look! See that blessing?  I’m thankful to God for that kindness or sign of love.  

How many times do you speak the word “God” in a positive way during the course of the day? Try this out.   Count the number of times that you mention God during a regular day. Once you have a baseline (0,1, or 100), challenge yourself.  See if you can say “God” one more time a day for a week. Allow God-language to slowly seep into your regular speech.  

When you start using God’s name in a regular way, you will be giving a witness to the presence of God in your life.  Be prepared, people will react. Some will be put off. Don’t worry, they might get used to it. If not, that it on them.  Others will be curious to learn more. In time, they might even ask you more about the God of whom you speak.

If that should happen - don’t use the big theological words that you remember from confirmation class.   Don’t slip into the mode of Wile E. Coyote and rush to construct an ACME wonder to catch them for Christ.  Such efforts will explode in your face.  

Take a page from Jesus’s own playbook.  A simple “come and see” is all that it takes.  Invite them to see what God means to you by walking with them for a while.  Share God’s love and grace. Be welcoming. Tell them about your own practices of worship, prayer, and study.  Invite them to join you.

In Christ's Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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Matthew 3: 13-17

A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for January 12, 2020 - The Baptism of Our Lord.

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
”

— Matthew 3: 13-17

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My Two Cents….

Do you recall the day when you were baptized?  I don’t and I’m guessing that if you grew up in a church that practices infant baptism that you didn’t either.   

When it comes to baptism the Christian church is divided among those who baptize at any age (which includes a wide spectrum of traditions from Roman Catholic to Lutheran to Episcopalian to Presbyterian to Methodist, etc.) and those who only baptize adults who can make a statement of faith prior (which include the Baptists, and so-called non-denominational (which are really closet Baptists)).  The difference between these two groups hinges upon whether baptism is primarily an act of God or humanity. Do we choose to be baptized or is it a gift that is bestowed on us? In both traditions faith brings folks to the waters of baptism and through the water the Holy Spirit works to bring them into the community of Christians.  

Back to my memory.   I said that I don’t recall my baptism.  It happened on March 14, 1971 when I was slightly less than three months old.   My mom still has the photo evidence from that day. I can see my family holding me at the wooden font in the back of Bethany Lutheran church.  Their smiles indicate that they were all happy to witness the joyous event.

It isn’t the picture that lets me know that my baptism happened.  It is the constant reminders that the church has provided me over the years.  Others proclaimed the word of my baptism to me. This communal word has solidified the memory of baptism into my consciousness.  It has also helped to shape within me a baptismal identity.  

I am a baptized child of God.  Each morning that I wash my face in the waking waters, I claim that identity.  Baptized. Beloved. God’s grace claims my life with unstoppable forgiveness and love.  No matter what the day might bring, nothing can take away this precious connection.  

The story of Jesus’s baptism, appointed for this coming Sunday (The Baptism of Our Lord), connects the life story of Jesus with everyone who has ever been baptized.   No matter if you were baptized as a baby or adult - you are connected to Christ. No matter if someone carried you or you walked to the water yourself - you are part of Jesus’s life.  Christians of all traditions and baptismal practices share in a united identity - the children of God.  

Baptism, however, is the first - albeit important - step.  Linked with the identity of being a child of God is an invitation to live out that reality.  Baptism is not to be understood as a private treasure. We live it out (or don’t) each time that we interact with others.  Does the love of Jesus find expression in what we say and do? Do others know of God’s grace and forgiveness through us?   

This week, will you allow your baptismal identity to give shape to you words and actions?  Will others know that you are connected to the life of Jesus?   

Baptized child of God - remember this - you are beloved, forgiven, and invited to shine with God’s love.

In Christ's Light,

Walt

Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends.  Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger

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Sign up to receive a free 19 day subscription to Walt’s best devotions from 2019. These devotions come from the ten series that he published during the past year. Starting on January 10, you will receive a devotion a day in your email inbox in time for your morning coffee. Nurturing your faith through daily devotions and prayer is a great way to start the new year. This will help!

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Would you like to get the lastest devotional series in 2020?

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