Refugees, Slaughter of Innocents... Where is God?

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

In Matthew's gospel this week we have the story of Joseph and Mary taking the baby Jesus to Egypt, as refugees, to escape the wrath of Herod, Herod's slaughter of the Innocents, and Rachel, who weeps for her children. Sound familiar? Where is God in all of this? In our grief and sorrow? In times of violence, suffering, war, false promises, appeasement, prejudice, and hate?

In "Remembering Rachel: The Slaughter of the Innocents," The Rev. Pam Fickenscher says Matthew is telling this story, not for the events themselves, but to draw us into the experience. This is a brutal world. The child, whose name means "God saves" is born into a world much like the one we live in. The peace he gives to us is not cheap. here is no cheap grace, cheap sympathy, cheap comfort. A price is paid, and was paid, and in the midst of suffering, mourning, even dying, we know that God has been there before, comes near and is in the midst of our pain, suffering, and mourning. As this baby was rescued by loving human parents, we can do the same, for our children, and children who are refugees from violence, hate, prejudice, and evil. In so doing, God comes near, not only to those we rescue, feed, clothe, or shelter, but to us. The Rev. Dr. James Lamkin, in his "The New Normal," tells us God has been there before. He is with us now, and will meet us again. Whether we recognize God, or not.

 

God pitches a tent... and is always with us

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:7-14 or Sirach 24:1-12  •  Psalm 147:12-20 or Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21  •  Ephesians 1:3-14  •  John 1:(1-9), 10-18

This week of Christmas, we read another account of the Christ coming into our world. This time it is not as a babe in a manger with shepherds and wise men. In the first chapter of the gospel of John, we are presented with a cosmic account being with God from the very beginning. He is the Word made flesh. God tabernacled in the flesh in Jesus, and chose to live with us, and within us. Read The Rev. James Liggett's perspective on John's gospel in "The Same Story."

Moses was not allowed to see God. He hid in the cleft of a rock while God passed. God was not in the fire, the wind, or the quake of the earth. He was to be found in the sound of sheer silence, or as Father Paul Bresnahan would tell us, in the "daughter of a sound." Jesus told his disciples that "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." And he told us he is always with us. What is it to see a "Permanent Glimpse of God," as The Rev. Dr. Thomas Lane Butts tells us?

The Rev. Dr. Janet H. Hunt tells us that the Fourth Gospel, the Gospel of John, tells us that in the life of Jesus, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The English word “to dwell” is derived from a Greek word that literally means to “pitch a tent.” Though not particularly poetic, the Gospel of John actually reads, “The Word became flesh and pitched a tent among us.” What does pitching a tent among us, tabernacling with us mean? Consider The Rev. Dr. Hunt's "And pitched a tent among us..." and add your thoughts.

This Most Tremendous Tale of All - Do we mean and do what we say?

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7  • Psalm 96  • Titus 2:11-14  • Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)

In the times in which we live, it is more important than ever to recognize, and state the truth. And not just speak the truth, but mean and do what we say. In other words to live in truth. In the first chapter of the gospel of John, we are told that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

In our celebration of the Eucharist, every week the priest invokes the power of the holy mystery of the presence of Christ, Immanuel - God with us, in the sacraments of wine and bread.

Daniel Clendenin in "This Most Tremendous Tale of All," presents an honest challenge to us all. I choose to believe in the One who brings hope to the hopeless, who is the Truth, and who holds the power of liberation, not conquest, to free us from all which separates us from the love of God and each other. This is beyond sentimentality. Beyond shallow claims of personal salvation without accepting responsibility for our actions and the consequences of our actions. To be the hands which feed, clothe and care for those in need, for those living in poverty, the sick, the lonely, depressed, and outcast, and those imprisoned by whatever imprisons them. Real Christianity comes with a cost. A cost of discipleship. Will the Church be the Church of Christ, or lost in gaudy, loud and glamorous displays of emotional sentimentality, saying one thing, and then doing another, proclaiming to be "pro life," but engaged in the practice of death?

"... And is it true,
This most tremendous tale of all,
Seen in a stained-glass window's hue,
A Baby in an ox's stall?
The Maker of the stars and sea
Become a Child on earth for me?

And is it true? For if it is,
No loving fingers tying strings
Around those tissued fripperies,
The sweet and silly Christmas things,
Bath salts and inexpensive scent
And hideous tie so kindly meant,

No love that in a family dwells,
No carolling in frosty air,
Nor all the steeple-shaking bells
Can with this single Truth compare —
That God was man in Palestine
And lives today in Bread and Wine."

- Britain's Poet Laureate John Betjeman (1906-1984)

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.

* All Sunday School Lessons may be viewed at http://chuckriffee.blogspot.com/?m=1

 

Abounding in Hope

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10  • Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19  • Romans 15:4-13  • Matthew 3:1-12

This week in the Advent season we read about a shoot growing out of an old stump, a righteous judge who will bring equity to the meek and poor. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.

 The apostle Paul tells us we shall have hope by the steadfastness and encouragement of the scriptures. We are to welcome one another and rejoice, as Christ has welcomed us. Paul prays: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

When things seem hopeless, how can we have hope? How can we abound in hope?Consider The Rev. Janet Hunt's Abounding in Hope, and Steve Goodier's No Hopeless Situations.

You might say, I'm too old now, or too young, too weak, not knowledgeable enough, not good enough,or use some other excuse to miss what God is calling you to do. Citing today's gospel and John the Baptist, in New Life Stirring in an Old Stump, The Rev. Whitney Rice tells us "All the old condemnations of ourselves and others are to be chopped down and thrown away, making room for the new shoot of Jesse to grow up within us. That is how we prepare the way of the Lord. John the Baptist is not preaching a message of condemnation, but rather one of liberation, of freedom from the thick, choking overgrowth of sin that has trapped us in misery and hopelessness." It's never too late. There's always hope. Now is a good time to start.

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.”

Advent begins: 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.  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.

In Like a Thief, Debie Thomas explores what considers Jesus means when he says we must be alert and awake for the life giving birth and coming of the Son of Man.  What is coming for us? What is life giving? What is not? 

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." 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."

The Sadducees in today's gospel do not believe in the resurrection. They try to trick and ridicule  Jesus with their absurd and extreme examples about marriage partners in heaven if people married more than once. Jesus did not treat them with scorn, but with patience and assurance in his answer. What was his answer? 

What do you think about resurrection? Especially in a post modern, empirical verification based age? How does that compare with life two millennia ago. Read Debi Thomas' "Children of the Resurrection."

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 considered Jesus' parable of the unjust judge. This week, the next lesson in "faith living" concerns our judgment of others, and the trap of being self righteous in the process. What are the consequences? In our judgment of others how can we avoid being self righteous?

Consider Bruce Maples' article "Seeing Others as Zeros," and The Rev. Joseph Pagano's "Modern-Day Donatism and the Gospel."

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 negative political attack ads and corrupt, or dishonest politicians. 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?

 

Keep it simple

Scripture link.

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."

And on a cheeky note,"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?

Mismanagement in serving, and who, or what, and how, do we serve?

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!? 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? Us?

Of course Jesus has some other things to say, such as we cannot serve two masters, God and Mammon (wealth). What does he mean?  Consider the perspectives of John W. Martens in “You cannot serve God and wealth” (Lk 16:13)and The Rev. Rick Morley's "squandering right - a reflection on Luke 16:1-13."

What do you think about this parable?