What is God like? What are we 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.  [Video link: http://www.onscripture.com/i-know-what-god-looks]

Audio of school employee: https://youtu.be/s6mtcRnUGRg.
 
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?

 

The Potter and the Clay - What Does it Cost?

Scripture:  Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18  •  Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Psalm 1  •  Philemon 1:1-1:21  • Luke 14:25-33

This week we have images of artistry and sacrifice, and learn more about the nature of God and ourselves, and our relationship with God and each other. Is God a controlling master, dispassionate, unchanging and without regard to the clay, or the "condition" of the clay?  What is the relationship between this potter and the clay? Between the God who knows our innermost being and us in the poetry of the psalmist? Between master and slave in Paul's letter to Philemon? Are we really supposed to hate our family , give up all our possessions, and carry a cross?  What is going on here?

For thought and discussion consider Dr. Bruce Epperly's "Sacrifice and Artistry: Human and Divine," and Debie Thomas' "What It Will Cost You."

Hospitality and Entertaining Angels.

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:4-13 and Psalm 81:1, 10-16  •  Sirach 10:12-18 or Proverbs 25:6-7 and Psalm 112  •  Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16  •  Luke 14:1, 7-14

This week's letter to the Hebrews and gospel account are lessons in humility and hospitality. Jesus was invited to a Sabbath meal at the home of a leading Pharisee, and tells us where to sit - not in the place of honor, but in the lowest seats where we may be exalted and asked to move up, rather than embarrassed and asked to move down. his lesson, and the real heart of the lesson, is to have the heart of a servant. "The next time you throw a party, don’t invite your rich friends and neighbors, so that they might return the favor some day and invite you to one of their nice parties. Rather, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Then you will be blessed, because they can’t repay you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 

Jesus challenges, and sometimes provokes, the status quo, but always based in compassion and understanding of vulnerability. Ultimately, Jesus is the grace, love and mercy of God. The gracious host who shows us God's kingdom, and appropriate "table manners."  Read The Rev. Kathleen Walker's "Graciously Give Up Your Seat." She says "As faithful people, there should be a recognition that in the eyes of Jesus, we are all equal. Therefore, where we sit is less important than who we offer a seat to. In our zeal to get ourselves situated, we can begin to look like we are playing a game of musical chairs with a complete emphasis on getting in the right chair on time. Let us not be afraid of where we are seated."

Read Steve Goodier's wonderful story about Booker T. Washington, and lesson in humility and spirit in "A Humble Spirit ."

Finally we have that beautiful passage from the letter to the Hebrews,"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." Who are angels who may have shown us hospitality? What is it to be hospitable? What happens when we are hospitable to others? See The Rev. Larry Patten's "Was He an Angel?"

Seeing as Jesus Sees - Fulfilling the Law with Compassion

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Psalm 71:1-6  •  Isaiah 58:9b-14 and Psalm 103:1-8  •  Hebrews 12:18-29  • Luke 13:10-17  

 

In this week's gospel account, Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath. He sees her. She doesn't ask to be healed. She is "bent over" - in a weakened state from the Greek word astheneia. For a good discussion of what Jesus, saw, and why he healed on the Sabbath in the presence of the leader of the synagogue, see Peter Woods' "Believing and Seeing."
 

 What did the leader of the synagogue say? Who did he blame? What was Jesus' reply?

Should one ever "break the law?" If so, for what reason(s)? What should the consequences be for the "law-breaker?"  Consider Ryan Wilson's "When Compassion Trumps the Law," and Jay Taylor's "Making the Crooked Straight."

God's Peace in a world of division, hate speech and violence

Scripture: Isaiah 5:1-7 and Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19  •  Jeremiah 23:23-29 and Psalm 82  •  Hebrews 11:29-12:2   • Luke 12:49-56

 This week's gospel has Jesus telling us "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!" So much for the meek and mild Jesus. This is a face of Jesus which John Dominic Crossan  an refers to as the apocalyptic preacher... or is it?

What does Jesus mean, and why does he tell us this? See Teresa Berger's "Disturbing the Peace."  What is God's peace?

There certainly is division in our country today. Given the gospel lesson for this week, how are we to deal with this division, and how should we interact with those whose opinions differ from ours, especially when the dialogue is heated or personally offensive? When there are natural disasters, or death from cancer or violence, is it a consequence of our actions or withdrawal from God, or the acts or withdrawal of God in judgment? Consider Bruce Epperly's Adventurous Lectionary lesson for this week in Lectionary C , and  Divine Withdrawal and Human Suffering

Possessions, Worry, and Security - Rich Toward God?

Scripture: Hosea 11:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-9, 43  • Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 and Psalm 49:1-12  • Colossians 3:1-11  • Luke 12:13-21

In "Soul Investment," The Rev. Kathryn M. Matthews asks us what makes us secure, and what is of value to us - what do our possessions mean to us, and what do we do with them.

Notice the contrast between Joseph storing up grain in preparation for famine and the rich farmer in Jesus' parable. What are the differences in perspective, what they do, and who they do it for?

What do we worry about? This is particularly relevant today, not only in finances and economics, individually, nationally and internationally, but in terms of security. What is Jesus' answer to our priorities, and worry?

As Debie Thomas says in "Rich Toward God,"we don't like talking about money. She wrestles with Jesus' answer to the perfectly good request of the man who asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide an inheritance with him. He was not asking for unfairness or something unreasonable. What was Jesus' reply? It helps to see what Jesus sees - what is going through the man's mind and experience. What do you get from the parable of the rich man who planned to build more barns to store his wealth to enjoy in his retirement, but whose life was taken from him that night. So it is, Jesus says, with those who store up treasures for themselves, but are not "rich toward God." What doe he mean? As Debie Thomas says "Be rich toward God. Don't shy away. Be brave and wrestle with what this invitation means, because the richness we spend on God is the only richness we'll keep in the end."

The Gift of the Kingdom

Scripture: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20  & Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23  • Genesis 15:1-6 and Psalm 33:12- 2  • 

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16  • Luke 12:32-40

 

How are you at receiving gifts? In this week's gospel, we are told it is God's pleasure to give us the kingdom! what does that tell us about God? What does that mean? Are we ready to receive such a gift? How can we be ready to receive this gift? What happens when we receive the gift of the kingdom? See The Rev. James Jewell's "God Wants to Give You Something."

 

This lesson about God's good gifts to us, of righteousness, peace and joy, also teaches something about possessiveness. Consider Fr. Rick Morley's "selling out for Jesus: thoughts on Proper 14C."