My apologies for not sharing a post last week. The posting did not happen due to the Labor Day holiday. After taking Monday off, I did not get a chance to share my initial thoughts on the passages for September 10th. We will pick up the practice today and attempt to get future posts up on Wednesday if I have Monday meetings/holidays.
This week's readings pick up the theme of forgiveness and reconciliation. This theme builds on Jesus' proclamation that we have the power to bind and loose, to hold grudges and to release/forgive those who sin against us.
Reminder: my thoughts are in italics after each of the readings. If you have any impressions to add or any questions to ask, share them in the comments below!
Genesis 50:15-21:
15Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” 16So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” 19But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
Joseph’s brothers were worried that Joseph may still be carrying a grudge against them, one that he has hidden and chosen not to act upon until their father’s death. Now that Jacob has died, they want reassurance that Joseph will not take his revenge against them. Joseph proclaims that the Lord has taken their betrayal and turned it into something good for the known world: the survival of many thanks to the Lord acting through Joseph.
Psalm 103:1-13
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits--
3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.
Psalm 103 can be broken into three parts. We have the option of reading part one alongside part two. Part one focuses on the Lord’s acts of healing and salvation. Part two focuses on the Lord’s forgiveness and love, comparable to a parent’s love for the parent’s children. Both are words of comfort that deserve to be heard on Sunday.
Romans 14:1-12
1Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. 2Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. 3Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. 4Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
5Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. 6Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.
7We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. 8If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11For it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God.”
12So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
Romans 14 first builds from earlier discussions of eating meat sold in the local marketplaces. Such meat often came from animal sacrifices at local temples dedicated to other “gods,” and many Christians wondered whether eating any form of meat sold at the marketplaces constituted worship of another god. Paul’s conclusion was that we know that these “gods” are merely idols and we are free to eat meat sold at the marketplace. However, if someone specifically claims that the meat in question was offered as a sacrifice at these local temples, then one should refrain from eating to avoid the appearance of participating in the worship of another god. Verses 7-8 are often read as part of the funeral liturgy, usually when the procession arrives at the graveside (we could also include verse 9 in the reading). The final verses push us toward forgiving others rather than acting as judges over others; judgment is in God’s hands, not our own.
Matthew 18:21-35
21Peter came and said to [Jesus], “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
23“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; 25and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. 26So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Does it matter whether Jesus said 77 times or 490 times? Either way, the message is to forgive without limitation. An early glimpse of commentary notes suggested that the debt of 10,000 talents was an “unfathomable” sum of money in those days, well above the 900 talents of tax money the Roman Empire collected every year from their provinces in the Middle East. If we assume that this is meant to be talents of silver, the value of this debt today is $161,722,500 (assuming that one pound of silver is worth $215.63, the value as of September 1, 2017). If we assume that this is meant to be talents of gold, the value of this debt today is $16,059,930,681.80 (assuming that one kilogram of gold is worth $47,109.13, the value as of September 11, 2017). To compare the debts, a denarius was the payment for one day of labor, comparable to a minimum wage. At the current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, 100 8-hour days of labor will earn you $5,800. This is not an insignificant sum, but it pales in comparison to $161 million or $16 billion. And yet, not even $16 billion can truly reveal the depth of forgiveness given to us by the Lord through the death and resurrection of Christ and the sacraments of baptism and holy communion!
Monday, September 11, 2017
Monday, August 28, 2017
First Thoughts on the Readings for Sunday, September 3rd, 2017
As we prepare for the upcoming Sunday, we have the ongoing storm in Texas on our minds. It is likely that the storm and the response to the storm will make its way into the sermon. If you have the ability to do so, I invite you to give a financial gift to Lutheran Disaster Response as they prepare to assist the various communities harmed by Hurricane Harvey.
Reminder: my thoughts are in italics after each reading.
Jeremiah 15:15 - 21
15O Lord, you know;
remember me and visit me,
and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors.
In your forbearance do not take me away;
know that on your account I suffer insult.
16Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart;
for I am called by your name,
O Lord, God of hosts.
17I did not sit in the company of merrymakers,
nor did I rejoice;
under the weight of your hand I sat alone,
for you had filled me with indignation.
18Why is my pain unceasing,
my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?
Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook,
like waters that fail.
19Therefore thus says the Lord:
If you turn back, I will take you back,
and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall serve as my mouth.
It is they who will turn to you,
not you who will turn to them.
20And I will make you to this people
a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
to save you and deliver you, says the Lord.
21I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.
Jeremiah 15 appears to be a dialogue between Jeremiah and the Lord. Modern readers may be uncomfortable with Jeremiah asking the Lord to seek vengeance on Jeremiah’s enemies. We may think back to the verse that proclaims “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord!” We hear that and refrain from seeking revenge, but do we ask the Lord to seek revenge on our behalf? We can also dive into Jeremiah’s question of why he is the one in pain when he is the one who has obeyed the Lord. Surely, if we are obedient, then nothing bad will ever happen to us, right? Right? Yet, we get sick or injured; we lose our jobs; we have a falling out with friends and loved ones. Is this just or fair? The hope of the passage is the promise that the Lord will save and deliver us and that our enemies will not prevail against us. Our enemies may succeed in killing us, but the Lord has the final word.
Psalm 26:1 - 8
Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.
4 I do not sit with the worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites;
5 I hate the company of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go around your altar, O LORD,
7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds.
8 O LORD, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.
Psalm 26 sounds a lot like the first half of Jeremiah 15:15 – 21. The psalmist pleads for the Lord’s attention and response. The psalmist tries to convince the Lord that the psalmist is worthy of a positive response from the Lord.
Romans 12:9 - 21
9Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12 both connects back to the Jeremiah 15 reading and highlights a place where we as the American culture and society often fall short. Paul quotes the verse referenced above as part of his instructions to the people: do not seek vengeance on your enemies, for the Lord will take care of that. Instead, care for your enemies, which includes giving them food and beverage if they need it. Where this hits us today is how often we draw lines separating “us” and “them,” and how often we fail to seek for and do what is good for “them.” Too often, we would rather see “them” suffer rather than do what it takes to “live peaceably with all.” What would it mean if we cared for “them” just like we care for “us?”
Matthew 16:21 - 28
21From that time on, [after Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah,] Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” 23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
27“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Remember, the people had been expecting a Messiah to come for centuries. Over the years, the people formed certain expectations of who the Messiah would be and what the Messiah would do. The plan that Jesus laid out for the disciples was very different than what the Jews had come to expect from the Messiah. So Peter took it upon himself to approach Jesus in private and say “You’re doing it wrong, Jesus!” How quick we are to do the same! Translators choose whether to interpret verse 26 as either “forfeit their soul” or “forfeit their life” and as either “in return for their soul” or “in return for their life.” In Greek, the word can mean both “soul” and “life.” I would say that how you interpret the verse depends greatly on whether you believe in a bodily resurrection at the end of the age or an escape of the soul from the body. Also, in verse 28, is Jesus referring to those who are witnesses to his resurrection and/or ascension?
What thoughts or questions do you have? I invite you to share them in the comments! When I see them, I will respond and address what you have shared.
Reminder: my thoughts are in italics after each reading.
Jeremiah 15:15 - 21
15O Lord, you know;
remember me and visit me,
and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors.
In your forbearance do not take me away;
know that on your account I suffer insult.
16Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart;
for I am called by your name,
O Lord, God of hosts.
17I did not sit in the company of merrymakers,
nor did I rejoice;
under the weight of your hand I sat alone,
for you had filled me with indignation.
18Why is my pain unceasing,
my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?
Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook,
like waters that fail.
19Therefore thus says the Lord:
If you turn back, I will take you back,
and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall serve as my mouth.
It is they who will turn to you,
not you who will turn to them.
20And I will make you to this people
a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
to save you and deliver you, says the Lord.
21I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.
Jeremiah 15 appears to be a dialogue between Jeremiah and the Lord. Modern readers may be uncomfortable with Jeremiah asking the Lord to seek vengeance on Jeremiah’s enemies. We may think back to the verse that proclaims “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord!” We hear that and refrain from seeking revenge, but do we ask the Lord to seek revenge on our behalf? We can also dive into Jeremiah’s question of why he is the one in pain when he is the one who has obeyed the Lord. Surely, if we are obedient, then nothing bad will ever happen to us, right? Right? Yet, we get sick or injured; we lose our jobs; we have a falling out with friends and loved ones. Is this just or fair? The hope of the passage is the promise that the Lord will save and deliver us and that our enemies will not prevail against us. Our enemies may succeed in killing us, but the Lord has the final word.
Psalm 26:1 - 8
Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.
4 I do not sit with the worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites;
5 I hate the company of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go around your altar, O LORD,
7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds.
8 O LORD, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.
Psalm 26 sounds a lot like the first half of Jeremiah 15:15 – 21. The psalmist pleads for the Lord’s attention and response. The psalmist tries to convince the Lord that the psalmist is worthy of a positive response from the Lord.
Romans 12:9 - 21
9Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12 both connects back to the Jeremiah 15 reading and highlights a place where we as the American culture and society often fall short. Paul quotes the verse referenced above as part of his instructions to the people: do not seek vengeance on your enemies, for the Lord will take care of that. Instead, care for your enemies, which includes giving them food and beverage if they need it. Where this hits us today is how often we draw lines separating “us” and “them,” and how often we fail to seek for and do what is good for “them.” Too often, we would rather see “them” suffer rather than do what it takes to “live peaceably with all.” What would it mean if we cared for “them” just like we care for “us?”
Matthew 16:21 - 28
21From that time on, [after Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah,] Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” 23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
27“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Remember, the people had been expecting a Messiah to come for centuries. Over the years, the people formed certain expectations of who the Messiah would be and what the Messiah would do. The plan that Jesus laid out for the disciples was very different than what the Jews had come to expect from the Messiah. So Peter took it upon himself to approach Jesus in private and say “You’re doing it wrong, Jesus!” How quick we are to do the same! Translators choose whether to interpret verse 26 as either “forfeit their soul” or “forfeit their life” and as either “in return for their soul” or “in return for their life.” In Greek, the word can mean both “soul” and “life.” I would say that how you interpret the verse depends greatly on whether you believe in a bodily resurrection at the end of the age or an escape of the soul from the body. Also, in verse 28, is Jesus referring to those who are witnesses to his resurrection and/or ascension?
What thoughts or questions do you have? I invite you to share them in the comments! When I see them, I will respond and address what you have shared.
Monday, August 21, 2017
First Thoughts on the Readings for Sunday, August 27th
It's been a couple of years since I posted regularly in this space. I am attempting to re-launch this blog as a way of engaging with others in Ripley County. It is my intent to share part of my sermon preparation with this blog by posting my first impressions (thoughts, connections, questions) in this space. I invite you to read the Bible passages for the upcoming Sunday, look over my first impressions, share your first impressions, and even challenge my first impressions.
I will format this and future "first thoughts" posts by posting each reading and sharing my first thoughts in italics underneath each reading. Remember that these are not complete thoughts but starting points to work from during the rest of the week.
NOTE: I will start writing other types of posts as well, especially as things happen around the world and around our community. It will be good to address how the Church can respond to what is happening around us and where we see the Lord in all of this. But we will start here, with a weekly posting of initial sermon preparation.
Isaiah 51:1 - 6
1Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness,
you that seek the Lord.
Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the quarry from which you were dug.
2Look to Abraham your father
and to Sarah who bore you;
for he was but one when I called him,
but I blessed him and made him many.
3For the Lord will comfort Zion;
he will comfort all her waste places,
and will make her wilderness like Eden,
her desert like the garden of the Lord;
joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the voice of song.
4Listen to me, my people,
and give heed to me, my nation;
for a teaching will go out from me,
and my justice for a light to the peoples.
5I will bring near my deliverance swiftly,
my salvation has gone out
and my arms will rule the peoples;
the coastlands wait for me,
and for my arm they hope.
6Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and those who live on it will die like gnats;
but my salvation will be forever,
and my deliverance will never be ended.
What is this rock from which we are hewn and this quarry from which we are dug that is referenced in Isaiah 51? The following verse references Abraham and Sarah with the same command, “look to”. We (the Israelites) are descendants of Abraham and inheritors of the promises given to him by the Lord. As the reading goes on, most people will read verse 6 and jump to an end-of-days mindset, but the passage is meant to be a hopeful vision for a people in exile (see verses 4 and 5).
Psalm 138
1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with | my whole heart;
before the gods I will | sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your name, because of your steadfast | love and faithfulness;
for you have glorified your name and your word a- | bove all things.
3 When I called, you | answered me;
you increased my | strength within me.
4 All the rulers of the earth will praise | you, O Lord,
when they have heard the words | of your mouth. R
5 They will sing of the ways | of the Lord,
that great is the glory | of the Lord.
6 The Lord is high, yet cares | for the lowly,
perceiving the haughty | from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you | keep me safe;
you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right | hand shall save me.
8 You will make good your pur- | pose for me;
O Lord, your steadfast love endures forever; do not abandon the works | of your hands. R
Where Isaiah 51 offers the promise of deliverance from exile, Psalm 138 can be read as a response after the people are delivered from exile.
Romans 12:1 - 8
1I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
What does St. Paul mean by “the will of God” in Romans 12:2? We are transformed by the Holy Spirit with the goal of being made like Christ, a process that will not be completed until after the end of the age. In the meantime, a transformation of our minds/thoughts will help us see the world as the Lord sees it and help us discern what the Lord is doing in the world. The rest of the reading launches into a discussion of the different spiritual gifts that each of us possesses and that each gift is equally valuable to the Body of Christ and equally necessary for the Body of Christ; this discussion will continue into next week’s reading from Romans.
Matthew 16:13 - 20
13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
We are missing the rest of the story, and we will not get it until next Sunday. So what might we discuss in the meantime? The language of “the office of the keys” comes from this passage; starting with Peter, church leaders have had the office of the keys, i.e. the hearing of confessions and the binding and releasing of sin. We can focus on Peter, but that overlooks what Peter confesses and Jesus confirms: that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of the living God! But there are contrasting visions of who Jesus should become as Messiah…but that is the rest of the story that we get next Sunday.
I will format this and future "first thoughts" posts by posting each reading and sharing my first thoughts in italics underneath each reading. Remember that these are not complete thoughts but starting points to work from during the rest of the week.
NOTE: I will start writing other types of posts as well, especially as things happen around the world and around our community. It will be good to address how the Church can respond to what is happening around us and where we see the Lord in all of this. But we will start here, with a weekly posting of initial sermon preparation.
Isaiah 51:1 - 6
1Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness,
you that seek the Lord.
Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the quarry from which you were dug.
2Look to Abraham your father
and to Sarah who bore you;
for he was but one when I called him,
but I blessed him and made him many.
3For the Lord will comfort Zion;
he will comfort all her waste places,
and will make her wilderness like Eden,
her desert like the garden of the Lord;
joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the voice of song.
4Listen to me, my people,
and give heed to me, my nation;
for a teaching will go out from me,
and my justice for a light to the peoples.
5I will bring near my deliverance swiftly,
my salvation has gone out
and my arms will rule the peoples;
the coastlands wait for me,
and for my arm they hope.
6Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and those who live on it will die like gnats;
but my salvation will be forever,
and my deliverance will never be ended.
What is this rock from which we are hewn and this quarry from which we are dug that is referenced in Isaiah 51? The following verse references Abraham and Sarah with the same command, “look to”. We (the Israelites) are descendants of Abraham and inheritors of the promises given to him by the Lord. As the reading goes on, most people will read verse 6 and jump to an end-of-days mindset, but the passage is meant to be a hopeful vision for a people in exile (see verses 4 and 5).
Psalm 138
1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with | my whole heart;
before the gods I will | sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your name, because of your steadfast | love and faithfulness;
for you have glorified your name and your word a- | bove all things.
3 When I called, you | answered me;
you increased my | strength within me.
4 All the rulers of the earth will praise | you, O Lord,
when they have heard the words | of your mouth. R
5 They will sing of the ways | of the Lord,
that great is the glory | of the Lord.
6 The Lord is high, yet cares | for the lowly,
perceiving the haughty | from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you | keep me safe;
you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right | hand shall save me.
8 You will make good your pur- | pose for me;
O Lord, your steadfast love endures forever; do not abandon the works | of your hands. R
Where Isaiah 51 offers the promise of deliverance from exile, Psalm 138 can be read as a response after the people are delivered from exile.
Romans 12:1 - 8
1I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
What does St. Paul mean by “the will of God” in Romans 12:2? We are transformed by the Holy Spirit with the goal of being made like Christ, a process that will not be completed until after the end of the age. In the meantime, a transformation of our minds/thoughts will help us see the world as the Lord sees it and help us discern what the Lord is doing in the world. The rest of the reading launches into a discussion of the different spiritual gifts that each of us possesses and that each gift is equally valuable to the Body of Christ and equally necessary for the Body of Christ; this discussion will continue into next week’s reading from Romans.
Matthew 16:13 - 20
13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
We are missing the rest of the story, and we will not get it until next Sunday. So what might we discuss in the meantime? The language of “the office of the keys” comes from this passage; starting with Peter, church leaders have had the office of the keys, i.e. the hearing of confessions and the binding and releasing of sin. We can focus on Peter, but that overlooks what Peter confesses and Jesus confirms: that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of the living God! But there are contrasting visions of who Jesus should become as Messiah…but that is the rest of the story that we get next Sunday.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Things That Should Not Be Controversial But Currently Are Controversial
Among the fallout from recent grand jury decision to not issue indictments against police officers involved in the conflicts with Michael Brown and Eric Garner is a Twitter hashtag war. Those who were upset with the non-indictments expressed their frustrations in many ways, including the spread of the comment #BlackLivesMatter. Many people used this hashtag to connect with others who were upset by the non-indictments and discuss both how they felt and how they could respond to these events.
While some people used these forums to discuss constructive ideas and actions, others used these forums to lash out at either police officers or people who are not African American. This led to the creation of two other hashtags: #BlueLivesMatter and #AllLivesMatter. The first began as a statement of support for police which would counter the anger expressed at many police officers during this volatile time. The second began as an attempt to expand the "Black lives matter" message to include all races.
If you do a search of these three hashtags, however (the links above connect to the appropriate searches on Twitter), you will see that the messages are not consistent. Because of the nature of social media, anyone who wishes to weigh in on a hashtag conversation may do so whether or not the person intends to be a constructive or destructive force within the conversation. This is why you will see messages attacking police in the category #BlueLivesMatter or messages attacking other races in the other two categories. (If you are a regular user of social media, you likely knew all of this already; if you are not a regular user of social media, I hope this gets you up to speed on how people use these hashtags to talk with others via social media.)
These conflicts within social media are spilling over into our real world conversations as well. If someone makes the statement "All lives matter" at a public event, others will rush to criticize that person for minimizing the message that "Black lives matter." If someone makes a statement that "Black lives matter," others will hear within the statement a criticism of police officers whether or not the statement ever addressed police officers. If someone makes a statement that "Blue lives matter," others will rush to condemn that person for not caring about the lives of African Americans.
This blog post will not be able to bring these conflicting responses together and resolve the tensions. However, I believe that it is important that the Church be involved in bringing these forces together to resolve their differences and reconcile with each other. The Church already includes people who believe that African Americans do not receive equal treatment within the justice system. The Church already includes people who believe that police officers are unfairly judged by people who were not present at the moment of conflict and can view the conflict with the benefits of hindsight and multiples viewpoints. The Church already includes people who believe that each of us is created by God and loved by God. Because of this, the Church can bring these three sides together for times of holy conversation regarding what has happened, what is happening, and what needs to happen so that we can address these issues in love, hope, and faithfulness.
While the Church may not stand behind everything that tries to claim the mantle of these three statements, the Church can assert these three things:
1) Black lives matter to God.
2) Blue lives matter to God.
3) All lives matter to God.
These three statements should not be controversial...and yet, in this environment, they may be incredibly controversial. But the Church must still proclaim all three statements because the Lord created, loves, died for, and comes to every person covered by these three statements.
In this season of Advent, with all of the controversy within our world today, the Church continues to pray to the Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus!
While some people used these forums to discuss constructive ideas and actions, others used these forums to lash out at either police officers or people who are not African American. This led to the creation of two other hashtags: #BlueLivesMatter and #AllLivesMatter. The first began as a statement of support for police which would counter the anger expressed at many police officers during this volatile time. The second began as an attempt to expand the "Black lives matter" message to include all races.
If you do a search of these three hashtags, however (the links above connect to the appropriate searches on Twitter), you will see that the messages are not consistent. Because of the nature of social media, anyone who wishes to weigh in on a hashtag conversation may do so whether or not the person intends to be a constructive or destructive force within the conversation. This is why you will see messages attacking police in the category #BlueLivesMatter or messages attacking other races in the other two categories. (If you are a regular user of social media, you likely knew all of this already; if you are not a regular user of social media, I hope this gets you up to speed on how people use these hashtags to talk with others via social media.)
These conflicts within social media are spilling over into our real world conversations as well. If someone makes the statement "All lives matter" at a public event, others will rush to criticize that person for minimizing the message that "Black lives matter." If someone makes a statement that "Black lives matter," others will hear within the statement a criticism of police officers whether or not the statement ever addressed police officers. If someone makes a statement that "Blue lives matter," others will rush to condemn that person for not caring about the lives of African Americans.
This blog post will not be able to bring these conflicting responses together and resolve the tensions. However, I believe that it is important that the Church be involved in bringing these forces together to resolve their differences and reconcile with each other. The Church already includes people who believe that African Americans do not receive equal treatment within the justice system. The Church already includes people who believe that police officers are unfairly judged by people who were not present at the moment of conflict and can view the conflict with the benefits of hindsight and multiples viewpoints. The Church already includes people who believe that each of us is created by God and loved by God. Because of this, the Church can bring these three sides together for times of holy conversation regarding what has happened, what is happening, and what needs to happen so that we can address these issues in love, hope, and faithfulness.
While the Church may not stand behind everything that tries to claim the mantle of these three statements, the Church can assert these three things:
1) Black lives matter to God.
2) Blue lives matter to God.
3) All lives matter to God.
These three statements should not be controversial...and yet, in this environment, they may be incredibly controversial. But the Church must still proclaim all three statements because the Lord created, loves, died for, and comes to every person covered by these three statements.
In this season of Advent, with all of the controversy within our world today, the Church continues to pray to the Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Commemorating St. Lucia and St. John of the Cross
This weekend the Church remembered St. Lucia and St. John of the Cross.
Unfortunately, much of St. Lucia's story has been lost to history. According to some stories, St. Lucia's mother arranged for her marriage to a wealthy pagan man. St. Lucia opposed the arrangement and led her mother to a Christian shrine, the Tomb of St. Agatha. Here at this shrine, the mother's chronic illness was suddenly cured; this healing convinced St. Lucia's mother to cancel the arranged marriage and allow St. Lucia to follow her calling as a Christian.
Other stories allege that St. Lucia was tortured by Roman officials carrying out Diocletian's persecution of Christians. These stories allege that the officials gouged out St. Lucia's eyes, leaving her blind until the Lord restored her sight. The popularity of these stories (and the literal meaning of her name, which is "light") led to St. Lucia being named as the patron saint of those who are blind or suffer from eye troubles. These may also explain why the celebration of St. Lucia often includes young girls wearing on their heads wreaths bearing lit candles.
What we do know is that St. Lucia lived in Syracuse and died a martyr's death during the Diocletian persecution. If you would like to hear more about the stories surrounding St. Lucia's life and death, check out this summary.
We know much more about St. John of the Cross (it helps that he lived and died 1200 years after St. Lucia). St. John's father gave up the wealth and status of his family name to marry a weaver's daughter. St. John grew up in poverty and found work as a caretaker for those suffering from incurable diseases or madness. In these conditions, St. John sought out and celebrated the beauty of the Lord which he could see even within the darkness of poverty and illness. He was recruited to help reform a religious order, but the order imprisoned him rather than agree to the reforms. Even in prison, where he was beaten three times a week, St. John wrote mystical poetry proclaiming the beauty of the Lord even within prison. St. John managed to escape from this prison and went on to become one of the great mystics of the Reformation era. You can discover more about St. John of the Cross by reading this summary.
Unfortunately, much of St. Lucia's story has been lost to history. According to some stories, St. Lucia's mother arranged for her marriage to a wealthy pagan man. St. Lucia opposed the arrangement and led her mother to a Christian shrine, the Tomb of St. Agatha. Here at this shrine, the mother's chronic illness was suddenly cured; this healing convinced St. Lucia's mother to cancel the arranged marriage and allow St. Lucia to follow her calling as a Christian.
Other stories allege that St. Lucia was tortured by Roman officials carrying out Diocletian's persecution of Christians. These stories allege that the officials gouged out St. Lucia's eyes, leaving her blind until the Lord restored her sight. The popularity of these stories (and the literal meaning of her name, which is "light") led to St. Lucia being named as the patron saint of those who are blind or suffer from eye troubles. These may also explain why the celebration of St. Lucia often includes young girls wearing on their heads wreaths bearing lit candles.
What we do know is that St. Lucia lived in Syracuse and died a martyr's death during the Diocletian persecution. If you would like to hear more about the stories surrounding St. Lucia's life and death, check out this summary.
We know much more about St. John of the Cross (it helps that he lived and died 1200 years after St. Lucia). St. John's father gave up the wealth and status of his family name to marry a weaver's daughter. St. John grew up in poverty and found work as a caretaker for those suffering from incurable diseases or madness. In these conditions, St. John sought out and celebrated the beauty of the Lord which he could see even within the darkness of poverty and illness. He was recruited to help reform a religious order, but the order imprisoned him rather than agree to the reforms. Even in prison, where he was beaten three times a week, St. John wrote mystical poetry proclaiming the beauty of the Lord even within prison. St. John managed to escape from this prison and went on to become one of the great mystics of the Reformation era. You can discover more about St. John of the Cross by reading this summary.
Monday, December 8, 2014
Commemorating St. Nicholas and St. Ambrose
Over the weekend, the Church commemorated two saints, one vastly more popular than the other. St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (in modern-day Turkey), is known for many things. He was a survivor of the Diocletian persecution of the Church. He attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.; this council created the original Nicene Creed. In his day, he was well-known as a lover of the sea and a protector of sailors, leading to his designation as the patron saint of sailors as well as many congregations in port cities naming their churches after St. Nicholas. But St. Nicholas is most-well known as someone who protected children and gave many gifts to the poor. These traits of his led to him being the inspiration for Santa Claus. You can read more about these stories here.
St. Ambrose is not as well-known today, but was a key theologian in the early church. He wrote extensively and was highly regarded as a preacher and orator. St. Augustine gave credit to St. Ambrose for convincing Augustine to convert to Christianity. St. Ambrose fought against early heresies within the church and used his extensive knowledge of the Greek language to influence the development of the early Church's theology. A more extensive telling of his work can be found here.
The Church commemorated St. Nicholas on December 6th and St. Ambrose on December 7th.
St. Ambrose is not as well-known today, but was a key theologian in the early church. He wrote extensively and was highly regarded as a preacher and orator. St. Augustine gave credit to St. Ambrose for convincing Augustine to convert to Christianity. St. Ambrose fought against early heresies within the church and used his extensive knowledge of the Greek language to influence the development of the early Church's theology. A more extensive telling of his work can be found here.
The Church commemorated St. Nicholas on December 6th and St. Ambrose on December 7th.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Addressing the Topic of Ferguson, Missouri
It's been a week since the grand jury declined to indict Darren Wilson for shooting Michael Brown. Some people believe that this was the most just outcome because they believe that Michael Brown was the aggressor during the encounter. Others believe that Darren Wilson is getting away with murdering Michael Brown because they believe that Michael Brown was surrendering when he was shot.
While the case is now complete (pending action by the federal government's Department of Justice), the topic will not go away that easily. The case has become a rallying cry for activists who want healthy responses and changes within society and a flashpoint for those who will use any excuse to instigate destructive practices such as vandalism and arson. The violent acts now overshadow the constructive discussions which we could have after this event.
The question becomes: what do we do now? What changes do we make in response to the shooting and the grand jury investigation?
I do not know. The answers lie beyond a quick fix and a change in police training. To fully address the issue in communities around the country, we need to study our society and look at ourselves with a good dose of honesty. What will it take to heal the breach between law enforcement and communities that distrust law enforcement? What elements of our culture do we need to change over the next several years, and how do we start the process?
I have witnessed a healthy relationship between a community and its local police force. I sat in on a neighborhood association meeting. A member of the local police force serves as a liaison between the association and the police force. This officer briefed the association on how the police force was responding to and investigating incidents within the neighborhood, then listened to the concerns of the neighborhood association's members. While this meeting included only a small portion of the local neighborhood, discussions such as these could begin to cut the tensions between communities and police departments.
Where can the Church be involved? It can offer to host meetings like the one above. The Church can also host, participate in, and guide discussions concerning our nation's economy, the racial divides within our culture, and other tough conversations which we as a society need to have. These conversations will be difficult and contentious, but it is only through such (holy?) conversations that we will move beyond quick-fix ideas and into permanent changes that truly address the issues in our communities.
In this season of Advent, the Church can also pray, "Come, Lord Jesus." Healing these divisions will be the work of the Lord. I am confident that the Church will be called to participate in this healing in some form or fashion, but the Church will be called to carry out God's actions, not its own actions. The Church will pray for the Lord's Kingdom to come and the Lord's will to be done while it discerns how the Lord may act through the Church to do these things.
We can choose to debate whether Darren Wilson should be charged with a crime. A better choice would be to choose to discuss the larger issues within our society, our culture, and our communities. We can choose to start the process of addressing these issues now or we can see how long until another incident ignites a heated debate. May the Spirit call us into difficult yet necessary conversations and may the Lord's Kingdom break into our society.
Commemorating St. Andrew
Readers of this blog may have noticed that I am marking the lesser festivals and commemorations of the Church calendar year. I started doing this as both a personal spiritual discipline and a learning experience.
Unfortunately, due to a busy week and an illness running through the family, I missed two commemorations this past week: Clement, Bishop of Rome (Nov. 23) and Isaac Watts, acclaimed hymn writer (Nov. 25). However, I did manage to include a hymn written by Isaac Watts in this week's worship service (O God, Our Help in Ages Past, Hymn #320 in the Lutheran Book of Worship).
Today, the Church commemorates St. Andrew, the Apostle, the disciple of Jesus. John 1:35-42 proclaims that Andrew was the first of the Twelve to be called into fellowship by Jesus. Andrew responds by telling his brother, Peter, that he has found the Messiah, and rushes to bring Peter to meet Jesus. Andrew develops a reputation for bringing people to meet Christ; Andrew brings the boy with the five loaves and the two fish to Jesus before Jesus feeds the 5,000 families (John 6:9); Andrew also brings before Jesus a group of Greeks who approached Philip and asked to meet Jesus (John 12:20-22). While Peter, James, and John formed the "inner circle" among the disciples, Andrew would be the first disciple included when the circle expanded to include others.
After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, Church tradition holds that Andrew preached and traveled within the areas of modern-day Turkey and Greece. He was crucified by the order of the Roman Governor of Patrae in Achaia; according to tradition, Andrew was tied to an X-shaped cross rather than be nailed to a traditional T-shaped cross. To this day, the term "St. Andrew Cross" refers to an X-shaped cross; the symbol can be found on several flags, including the flag of Scotland, which claims Andrew as its patron saint. Russia and Greece also name Andrew as their patron saint.
You can find a fuller account of Andrew's life, career, and legacy here.
Unfortunately, due to a busy week and an illness running through the family, I missed two commemorations this past week: Clement, Bishop of Rome (Nov. 23) and Isaac Watts, acclaimed hymn writer (Nov. 25). However, I did manage to include a hymn written by Isaac Watts in this week's worship service (O God, Our Help in Ages Past, Hymn #320 in the Lutheran Book of Worship).
Today, the Church commemorates St. Andrew, the Apostle, the disciple of Jesus. John 1:35-42 proclaims that Andrew was the first of the Twelve to be called into fellowship by Jesus. Andrew responds by telling his brother, Peter, that he has found the Messiah, and rushes to bring Peter to meet Jesus. Andrew develops a reputation for bringing people to meet Christ; Andrew brings the boy with the five loaves and the two fish to Jesus before Jesus feeds the 5,000 families (John 6:9); Andrew also brings before Jesus a group of Greeks who approached Philip and asked to meet Jesus (John 12:20-22). While Peter, James, and John formed the "inner circle" among the disciples, Andrew would be the first disciple included when the circle expanded to include others.
After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, Church tradition holds that Andrew preached and traveled within the areas of modern-day Turkey and Greece. He was crucified by the order of the Roman Governor of Patrae in Achaia; according to tradition, Andrew was tied to an X-shaped cross rather than be nailed to a traditional T-shaped cross. To this day, the term "St. Andrew Cross" refers to an X-shaped cross; the symbol can be found on several flags, including the flag of Scotland, which claims Andrew as its patron saint. Russia and Greece also name Andrew as their patron saint.
You can find a fuller account of Andrew's life, career, and legacy here.
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