Christ is born, now what?

Scripture: Isaiah 63:7-9  •Psalm 148  •  Hebrews 2:10-18  •  Matthew 2:13-23

I hope you have enjoyed this Advent, and the beauty of the coming of the Christ child. Matthew and Luke give us nativity narratives with wise men and shepherds. Matthew and Luke also tell us about Herod. Make no mistake, times were brutal and oppressive when Christ became the Word incarnate. Stories about the birth of a special precious baby - any precious baby - give us great joy, but we are poignantly reminded in Matthew's gospel that God came to us in the midst of great suffering in his account of the Slaughter of the Innocents: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."

If Jesus saves, which is the meaning of his name, why do children suffer and die, and mothers and fathers weep? Consider The Rev. Pam Fickenscher's "Remembering Rachel: The Slaughter of the Innocents," and, after 9/11, the Oklahoma City bombing of the federal building, the unabomber, Colorado, Connecticut, the Boston Marathon, and countless other shootings, The Rev. Dr. James E. Lampkin invites us to "The New Normal." In the midst of storms, what is our hope? Our consolation? Our salvation?

What Good Dads, and Men, Do...

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-16  • Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19  •Romans 1:1-7  •  Matthew 1:18-25

As we await the birth of the Christ Child this Advent, we read Matthews account of Joseph's dream. Think of what Joseph must have been thinking and going through when learning that his betrothed was carrying a child not his own - especially at that time and place.

What did Joseph do? Look at what it takes to be able to do what he did. It is hard to put ourselves in another time, another culture, and we know "the rest of the story." What do you think you would have done? Consider The Rev. Dr. Janet H. Hunt's "Just What a Dad Does," and The Very Rev. Samuel G. Candler's "Believe in the Dreams of the Person You Love."

May God protect you and yours, and give us what we need to have faith, trust and to believe as we celebrate the coming of the Lord.

**This lesson, with links to Scripture and articles, can be viewed on computers, tablets and smart phones at: http://chuckriffee.blogspot.com/2013/12/what-good-dads-and-men-do.html

Great Expectations

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10  •Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:46b-55  •  James 5:7-10  •  Matthew 11:2-11

What do you think when your idea of what God’s will is, or what should happen does not happen –  when your expectations are not met? This week, while in prison, John the Baptist sends a messenger to Jesus to ask if he is the “one who is to come, or should we look for someone else.” What is hope, and are our hopes misplaced? What was Jesus’ reply to John, and to us? See The Rev. Dr. Amy E. Richter’s “Expecting the Unexpected Messiah.” 

What should we be hoping in and for? What is God doing in our lives? Consider The Rev. Daniel P. Matthews, Jr. “What’s the Plan?”

 

Can we choose how God will bless us? How are we called to face the unknown? Read Sara Miles’ account of Mary’s experience of God, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, and her response in “My Soul Proclaims: Submission and Subversion in Mary’s Magnificat.”

Putting on the Armor of Light

Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5  •  Psalm 122  •  Romans 13:11-14  •  Matthew 24:36-44

We begin the new Lectionary Year A with the first Sunday of Advent, a time of waiting and preparation, a time expectancy for the light which breaks through the darkness, a time of hope for the kind of peace which turns spears into plowshares, and swords into pruning hooks.  

For The Rev. Peter Marty it is a "Wake Up Call." In "Why Advent is the hardest of times for faithful Christians," The Rev. Canon Catherine A. Caimano discusses what we must take off to put on the armor of light mentioned in Paul's letter to the church in Rome.

Christ, the King of Kings

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Luke 1:68-79  •  Psalm 46  •  Colossians 1:11-20  •  Luke 23:33-43

This Sunday we celebrate Christ the King Sunday as we close Lectionary Year C and enter the Advent season in Lectionary A. In her article, Alyce M. McKenzie asks, "What kind of king is this that we honor on the Reign of Christ Sunday?" Consider also Professor David L. Tiede's "Commentary on Luke 23:33-43."

What kind of king do you honor and serve? How do you honor and serve him?

Faith Living: When Temples Fall - Getting Over Ourselves

Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12  •  Malachi 4:1-2a and Psalm 98  •  2 Thessalonians 3:6-13  •  Luke 21:5-19

Over the last few weeks we have explored "faith living" - living the Life Christ calls us to live in such a way that it is so innately a part of what we say and do, that we don't have to even think about it. You might say that God's presence becomes manifest in us. Appropriate, as we approach a new Advent season.

Some of the lessons we have learned are: (1) keep it simple, and go about our work and what is expected of us, with our "hand to the plow" - the reward will come; (2) go about our work with a spirit of humble and joyous thanks and praise for God's gift of a present hope and blessing; (3) the lesson of keeping our faith through persistent prayerful relationship with God, which builds trust and assurance that God's will will be done in God's good time, and God's purpose for us will be fulfilled; (4) learning to see others as Jesus sees them, and us; (4) sharing our faith with the great and the small, and learning to appreciate the love and worth God has for all of us, crossing boundaries of shame, guilt and the judgment of men; and, (5) living a "resurrection" life from the perspective of  being generous with the abundance of life God has given us.

This week as we hear Jesus tell us about the destruction of the temple, and what many have called the "end times," we learn to not invest ourselves, our lives, our hopes and dreams in transient things, but in that which endures, and lasts forever - even when and as "temples fall." See The Rev. Dr. Janet H. Hunt's "Falling Temples." How do we do that? See Alyce M. McKenzie's "Get Over Yourself!"

Resurrection Living

Scripture: Haggai 1:15b-2:9 and Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 or Psalm 98  •  Job 19:23-27a and Psalm 17:1-9  •2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17  •  Luke 20:27-38

As we continue our studies of "faith living," our Scripture readings speak of the resurrection. This week we will discuss "resurrection living."

What is "resurrection living?" See The Rev. Kate Huey's "Praise God" Reflection.

How do we vindicate Job, who "knows that my Redeemer liveth?" See David B. Gardner, Jr.'s "Hearing Job: Vindicating the Traumatized."

Faith living: Sharing Across Lines of Shame, Guilt and Judgment of Men

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 and Psalm 119:137-144  •  Isaiah 1:10-18 and Psalm 32:1-7  •  2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12  •  Luke 19:1-10

We continue our lessons in "faith living." We have read and discussed scripture and articles which have provided things to consider in living out the gospel innately, so that it becomes so much a part of us that we manifest God's presence and love.

Some of the lessons we have learned are: (1) keep it simple, and go about our work and what is expected of us, with our "hand to the plow" - the reward will come; (2) go about our work with a spirit of humble and joyous thanks and praise for God's gift of a present hope and blessing; (3) and the lesson of keeping our faith through persistent prayerful relationship with God, which builds trust and assurance that God's will will be done in God's good time, and God's purpose for us will be fulfilled.

Last week we discussed Jesus' parable of the publican and the Pharisee, and discussed how we see and judge others, (4) learning to see others as Jesus sees them, and us.

This week, the next lesson in "faith living" concerns (5) sharing our faith, as we read about Jesus' encounter with Zacchaeus, with the great and the small, and learning to appreciate the love and worth God has for all of us, crossing boundaries of shame, guilt and the judgment of men.

Consider "Doing Faith," by The Rev. Ben E. Heller, and  "Camouflaged by Shame," by The Rev. Peter Woods.

 

Self Righteous Judgment

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10  • Psalm 71:1-6  • 1 Corinthians 13:1-13  • Luke 4:21-30

The last few weeks we have considered lessons in "faith living." We have read and discussed scripture and articles which have provided things to consider in living out the gospel innately, so that it becomes so much a part of us that we manifest God's presence and love.

Some of the lessons we have learned are: (1) keep it simple, and go about our work and what is expected of us, with our "hand to the plow" - the reward will come; (2) go about our work with a spirit of humble and joyous thanks and praise for God's gift of a present hope and blessing; (3) and, as we considered last week, the lesson of keeping our faith through persistent prayerful relationship with God, which builds trust and assurance that God's will will be done in God's good time, and God's purpose for us will be fulfilled.

Last week we discussed Jesus' parable of the unjust judge. This week, the next lesson in "faith living" concerns our judgment of others.

Consider Bruce Maples' article "Seeing Others as Zeros," and The Rt. Rev. Tony Clavier's "Are We Like the Righteous Man?"

Unjust Judges, Faith, Prayer and Perseverance

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:27-34 and Psalm 119:97-104  •  Genesis 32:22-31 and Psalm 121  •  2 Timothy 3:14-4:5  •  Luke 18:1-8

The headlines have been full of stories about an unjust judge, and other corrupt politicians in our State. This week Jesus continues "faith lessons" with a story of a widow who persists in calling on the unjust judge who gives her justice so she won't wear him out by continually calling on him. Jesus tells us how much quicker God will grant justice to those who call on him day and night.

We have had a series of lessons about faith the last few weeks. I have often thought how we can carry out God's call to us, to live in discipleship without having to think about it, or rationalize it, so that it is such an innate part of us, that God's compassion, love, mercy and justice are manifest in and through us in all we say or do.

Two weeks ago, part of that answer was given - keep it simple, like servants who know what is expected of them, and continue to work without regard for the reward. Last week, we were told to go on living our lives joyously, in thankfulness and praise, and not let the opportunity to hear God's call slip by, even in the midst of crisis, uncertainty - even in exile, and even when we need an exodus. Through all of this, Jesus tells us "Your faith has made you whole."

Drawing on the 2nd letter to Timothy and the gospel reading for this week, The Rev. Nils Chittenden in "Patina of Faith," discusses "tradition" and "reason" and building a trusting relationship with God through persistent calling on him.

The Rev. Kate Huey, in "Ask Boldly, Live Justly/To Speak and Be Heard,"puts this week's gospel in context when she tells us what the word "widow," in that ancient culture, meant and signified. God hears the persistent cries, and prayers of "the silent one," one who is unable to speak, because society considers them unworthy - people without a voice. Sound familiar? The very people Jesus associated with, healed, fed, and liberated by his teaching, love, compassion, and the grace and mercy of his sacrifice on the cross.

This third step of faith enabling us to act out God's love and faith innately, without a second thought, is praying and building a relationship with God which results in trust, and gives us hope that God's will be done in God's time.

Living in Limbo - A Crisis is a Terrible Thing to Waste

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 and Psalm 66:1-12  •  2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c and Psalm 111  •  2 Timothy 2:8-15  •  Luke 17:11-19

These days, more than any time I can remember, it seems like we are living in limbo - waiting for something to happen, not making things happen. Is this what God calls us to do?

In this week's readings, Israel is in Babylonian exile, Paul is in prison. What is the prophet Jeremiah's message to those in exile? What can Paul do in prison?
You've heard the saying "when life serves you lemons, make lemonade." What are we, as Christians, called to do in times of uncertainty, of crisis, when our circumstances and lives change, or face changes? See Daniel P. Clendenin's "A Crisis is a Terrible Thing to Waste - Israel in Exile, Paul in Jail," and The Rev. Rick Morley's "Proper 23: betwixt, between, nowhere, everywhere."

Exile and the Kingdom (L'Exil et le royaume) is a 1957 collection of six short stories by French-Algerian writer Albert Camus.

These works of fiction cover the whole variety of existentialism, or absurdism, as Camus himself insisted his philosophical ideas be called. The clearest manifestation of the ideals of Camus can be found in the story "La Pierre qui pousse." This story features D'Arrast, who can be seen as a positive hero as opposed to Meursault in The Stranger. He actively shapes his life and sacrifices himself in order to help a friend, instead of remaining passive. The moral quality of his actions is intensified by the fact that D'Arrast has deep insight into the absurdity of the world but acts morally nevertheless (not unlike the main character in The Plague). [from Wikipedia]

How does this worldview compare with the Scripture lessons this week, with Christ's "good news"? 

Rick Morley tells us "When you come through the wilderness, the yoke of slavery, the impending reality of graduation, marriage, or retirement – the potential for the grace of God is rich. And the potential for us to miss the holy significance of it is also rife."  

Will we miss the holy significance of the opportunities presented to us to love and serve God and our neighbors?

 

 

 

 

 

 

What did he just say? KISS!

Scripture: Lamentations 1:1-6 and Lamentations 3:19-26 or Psalm 137  •  Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 and Psalm 37:1-9  •  2 Timothy 1:1-14  •  Luke 17:5-10

What did Jesus just say? He's at it again. In Luke's gospel we have considered some hard stories to hear. Squandering, philandering sons, dishonest managers and beggars getting rewards! And this week, hard working slaves are told to come to the table only after they have finished their work, and rather than to expect to be commended for their work, they are to say "We have only done what we ought to have done!"

As Christopher Burkett says, it is no wonder the disciples said to Jesus, "Increase our faith!" What is the point of these parables? Consider The Rev. Rick Morley's "keeping it simple -  a reflection on Luke 17:5-10"; The Rev. Robert Cornwall's "Just Fulfilling My Duty --Lectionary Reflection (Pentecost 20C)"; and Christopher Burkett's "Love bade me welcome."

"KISS: Keep it simple stupid." Is there something in that?

What about money, the rich and the poor?

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 and Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16  •  Amos 6:1a, 4-7 and Psalm 146  •  1 Timothy 6:6-19  •  Luke 16:19-31

Jesus talked about money more than anything else, except for the kingdom of God, and even then he tells us that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than the rich to enter the kingdom of God.

We continue our lectionary study, in year C, of Jesus' stories about the rich and the poor. Our readings this week are "Poverty Reduction - of the Soul, the Parable of Dives [rich man] and Lazarus" by Daniel P. Clendenin, and Alyce M. McKenzie's "The Rich Man and Lazarus - Reflections on Luke 16:19-31."

Does Jesus have it out for the rich? What are we called to do with our "wealth," and what is our wealth? Is it our wealth?

 

Isn't this what happened to us on the Cross?

Scripture: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9  •  Amos 8:4-7 and Psalm 113  •  1 Timothy 2:1-7  •  Luke 16:1-13

What a parable we have to study this week! The parable of the dishonest manager. This follows Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son. What are we to make of the parable of the manager, who, caught with his  hand in the cookie jar, then "cooks the books," slashing debts owed to his master. And what does his master do!? He commended his manager because he acted shrewdly! In both parables we have someone who is trusted with another's possessions and squanders them or gives them away. What does that say about the manager? The master?

Of course Jesus has some other things to say, such as we cannot serve two masters, God and Mammon (wealth), and about faith, trust and generosity.  Consider the perspectives of Nancy Rockwell in "God and Mammon" from her Blog, "A Bite of the Apple," and The Rev. Rick Morley's "squandering right - a reflection on Luke 16:1-13."

What do you think about this parable? What do you take away from it? Isn't this what happened to us on the Cross?

 

Do You Know What God Is Like?

Scripture: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 and Psalm 14  • Exodus 32:7-14 and Psalm 51:1-10  • 1 Timothy 1:12-17  •  Luke 15:1-10

 
Do you know what God looks like? Michael L. Skinner says he does in "I Know What God Looks Like." Compare this with the parable of the lost sheep and the woman who searches for the lost coin. Watch the video in his article about the school bus driver, and consider school employee Antoinette Tuff as she spoke to a troubled 20-year-old gunman. With no choice but to be present to someone who was -- on that day, at least -- very lost, she lit a lamp and bravely started sweeping, saying: “I can help you. Let’s see if we can work it out so that you don’t have to go away with them [the police] for a long time.
Then, as the crisis came to a bloodless end, she soothed him: “It’s gonna be all right, sweetheart. I just want you to know that I love you, though, OK? And I’m proud of you. That’s a good thing that you’re just giving up and don’t worry about it. We all go through something in life.” What characteristics of God, and in his followers do you see?

 

The Rev. Rick Morley says "nobody does this a reflection on Luke 15:1-10," except who?

 

Read "Signs, Sheep and Shepherds" by Kyle Childress, and ask yourself, what kind of church are we? Who are we called to be, and what are we called to do as followers of Christ?