Why pray? What do we pray for? What should we pray for?

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34  •  Psalm 97  • Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21  • John 17:20-26

This week, Jesus prays for us in John's gospel account before his passion. What does he pray for? Do we pray? Why do we pray? What do we pray for? What should we pray for? We can find some answers in Jesus' prayer for us. Relationship with God and one another are a couple of good reasons. And through good relationship we can learn what Jesus means "that they might be one," who our neighbors are, and how we can love God, each other, and ourselves. Debie Thomas in "On Behalf of Everyone," works through this, and ends by saying Jesus prayed for us "because he loved us too much not to. May we bravely and humbly do likewise." 

Jesus' prayer for us concludes with "so that the love with which you [the Father] have loved me may be in them, and I in them."  As Paul exhorted us in his first letter to the Corinthians, "Do all things in love."

More Than We Can Ask or Imagine

Scripture:

Acts 16:9-15  • 

Psalm 67  • 

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5  • 

John 14:23-29 or John 5:1-9

This week, we visit Lydia,  a wealthy trader in purple cloth, who listened to the good news shared by Paul, and after being baptised, she and her husband invited him to stay in their home in Philippi. The Rev. Ben E. Helmer tells us Easter prepares us with tools to defeat that which drags us down, and if we step out in faith, like Lydia, we can accept and expect God's abundant gifts which surpass all understanding, and exceed all we can desire. Read his "Such Good Things," and see how that is possible.

The Rev. Debi Thomas, explores the depths of Jesus' question, "Do you want to be made well?" The man had not walked for 38 years.  No introductions, no small talk, sermon, no "if you have faith." Jesus point blank asked the lame man if he wanted to be made well. The man never asked for healing. Perhaps he had accepted defeat, was jaded, or awash in self pity. We don't know. Jesus simply tells him to take up his mat and walk. Read The Rev. Thomas' "The Question That Hurts," to see why it hurts, and how healing begins.

If You Love...

Scripture: Acts 11:1-18  • Psalm 148  • Revelation 21:1-6  • John 13:31-35

Before his ascension, Jesus gives us a new commandment. If you love, love as I have loved you... this is how you will be known - if you love one another.

As Christians, how are we known? The media focuses on the sensational. Even so, the media provides a reason to examine how others perceive our faith, generally, as a church, and individually.

How did Jesus love? How do we love... if we love. Do we love as Jesus loved, and loves us? What keeps us from loving as Jesus loves?

Debie Thomas gives us insight in her "If You Love," as does The Rev. J. Barrington Bates in "The Way of Love," including how we use social media.

The Rev. Charles Hoffacker in "Time" discusses different understanding of time in  this week's passage from Revelations, "See, I am making all things new."

Finally, Michael Fitzpatrick , a former chaplain and PhD candidate, tells us of the shekinah, the glory of divine presence, as he and we seek a new home, discussing our Revelations passage, and what that 

means for us in "The Home Of God Is Among Mortals."

How, in What, in Whom, Can We Believe?

Scripture: Acts 9:36-43  • Psalm 23  • Revelation 7:9-17  • John 10:22-30

This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday. In Year C of the lectionary cycle our gospel account is set in winter during the feast of Dedication/Renewal (Hanukkah), and is the last encounter Jesus has with religious authorities at feats. They were in suspense and implored Jesus to tell them directly if he was the long awaited Messiah. 

This week's author, The Rev. Debie Thomas brings it home in our times in her "Tell Us Plainly" In our busy lives, flooded with endless media, 24 hour news, political attack ads, we need truth, not "fake news," something, someone, we can always trust and depend on. 

Rev. Thomas gives us fresh insight into whom, what, and how, we can trust and believe in that which gives our lives meaning and fulfilment. Jesus tells us what has to happen in order to believe, using the Shepherd - Sheep analogy. What, in whom, and how can we believe? Belong, Believe, Become.

Do You Love Me? How can we be reconciled?

Scripture: Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)  • Psalm 30  •  Revelation 5:11-14  •  John 21:1-19

This week's gospel has been my favorite passage for years. When it seems your hopes and dreams have not come to fruition, or maybe even dashed, read John chapter 21. The disciples have returned to their occupation as fishermen after Jesus' crucifixion and Resurrection, having previously left their world behind as Jesus called them to be "fishers of men." 

Like Peter, they may have been wrestling with inner demons such as disillusionment, or, as The Rev. Debie Thomas points out in her "You Know Everything," personal shame and failure, and uncertainty about the future.

This chapter in John's gospel speaks to me especially reading the different Greek words for "love" as used here. Three times the risen Jesus asks Peter if he loves him, the first two times using the Greek word agape (ἀγάπη), a self sacrificial highest form of love. And Peter, somewhat abashed, tells Jesus, "you know I love you," using the Greek word filia (φιλια), brotherly love, or friendship, for love. When Jesus asks Peter the third time, Jesus uses the word φιλια. For me, it shows Jesus present, amid our doubts, indecision, indiscretions, sin, frustration, anger, shame - in all our humanity, and offers us, on our own level, where we are in the moment, his peace, healing and reconciliation. And yes, his love. But we are not to stop there. He tells us to feed his little lambs (ἀρνία) once and his sheep (πρόβατά), twice.

All of us have been sad, disillusoned, angry and upset, ashamed, or disappointed, and have sinned for missed the mark. What can we take from this gospel, and message? Is there value in a sense of shame? Has that changed culturally, and if so, how? In a postmodern age, and times of division and uncertainty about God and values, and how Christianity (and other faiths) sees itself and acts out today, how can we become whole and reconciled?

It helps to see Jesus on the shore as we go about our daily tasks, offering us a charcoal breakfast, meeting us where we are, sharing our humanity, and loving us through it all. I experienced such an occasion on an overnight camping and fishing trip with my dad at Summit Lake near Richwood when I was in my late twenties. An experience that has lived on in my heart and mind my entire adult life, for so many reasons.