Advent 2020: Love

Week 4 of Advent is the week that we light the second to last candle of Advent.  This candle represents love. But what is love? Is it an action? Is it a feeling? 

Love comes in many different ways.  We love movies, certain foods, places to visit, or songs.  There is also the love that has to do with relationships.  We love our parents and family members.  We love our friends.  We love our wives and husbands.  We love our pets.  We love ourselves.  We love God. 

Matthew 1:18-24:

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’

All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:  ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

I look at these verses and I think about the movie The Nativity Story. Can you imagine how hard it must have been for Joseph to not make an accusation and still marry Mary? Here is the woman he was betrothed to, and she's pregnant? Now we all know a modern man would accuse the girl of being unfaithful, and I am sure that crossed Joseph's mind too. In the movie, her parents Joachim and Anna were livid, begging her to say it was one of Herod's men. The entire village gossiped about her. Here was Mary, a virgin when she became betrothed to Joseph, she went to visit her family in near Jerusalem and she comes home pregnant. What was her family to think? 

Mary's only come back was "I have broken no vow. An angel told me..." Now, let's be honest here, if your child came to you and said that an angel had spoken to them, they'd be in the psychiatrists office first thing Monday morning, especially if you've never experienced that sort of thing before or didn't believe in it. Yet in Judaism, angels (Hebrew: מַלְאָךְ‎ mal’akh, plural: מלאכים‎ mal’akhim) are supernatural beings that appear throughout the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), rabbinic literature, apocrypha and pseudepigrapha, and traditional Jewish liturgy as agents of the God of Israel. They are categorized in different hierarchies. Their essence is often associated with fire. The Talmud describes their very essence as fire. And the people of Mary's time would have been familiar with angels as messengers, but ti would still be hard to believe that an angel of the Lord had come to Mary. 

So God sent Gabriel once again to Joseph to assure him everything Mary said was true. Therefore he made no accusation, he took Mary to be his wife and claimed Jesus as his son. I imagine Jesus growing up in his father's carpentry shop learning the trade, even though Joseph is worried he can't teach him anything, yet he taught him how to be a carpenter. 

This week, we see that God loves us so much that He sent his Son to live among us. We see that Joseph loved Mary in such a way that he didn't raise accusations against her, we see that Mary loved God so much that she didn't question Him, and accepted her calling. 

Advent Week 4 Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, The whole meaning of Christmas can be explained in one little four letter word…LOVE. You sent your gift of pure love to us that first Christmas. Love descended from heaven to be born of a virgin. Love lay in the scratchy hay of a manger in a meager barn in Bethlehem. All of your love, God, was robed in the delicate skin of a baby and wrapped in swaddling clothes. This final week of Advent, help us to reflect on the magnitude of love that was made manifest in Jesus.

Your word became flesh and you made your dwelling among us when Jesus was born. You set aside all of the glory and splendor of heaven and chose the most humble way to enter into your kingdom. Beneath the stars, surrounded by all of the hosts of heaven, Love came. Welcomed by an earthly mother and father, shepherds and wise men, Love came. 

You are King and King and Lord of Lords, Messiah and Ruler of All, yet you came not as a lion but as a lamb. You came as an innocent baby whose purpose was walk this earth in complete love, and then to sacrificially give his life as an atonement for the sins of His children. Emmanuel. God with us. Love in the form of a man.

That was your plan. From beginning to end, you knew every minute of Jesus life. You knew that the cross of Calvary was waiting for Jesus, yet you still sent your only Son so that our sin debt could be paid and we could walk blameless because of the shed blood of Jesus.There is no greater gift then this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends. You willing gave the gift of your life because of your love. Your righteous blood covered our sin. You redeem and restore us when we confess you as Lord and Savior of our life. In that moment you give us the gift of your love for all eternity. We receive grace upon grace and mercy upon mercy in that moment.

The greatest gift of all came that first Christmas. It wasn’t wrapped in a beautiful package and set under a decorated tree. The greatest gift came wrapped in the flesh of baby Jesus and laid in the rough wood of a manger. Our perfect gift would later be rewrapped in the scars of our sin and nailed to the rugged wood of a cross on Calvary, all because of love.

Father, this final week of Advent, fill our hearts and minds with the significance of that truth. Thank you, Lord, for loving us enough to send Jesus. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen

Advent 2020: Joy

There is a video on TikTok where "God" asks an "angel" if he's finished scheduling the 2020s. And the angel replies, "2020s, as in plural?" God says "Yes, plural, you didn't schedule 10 years worth of events in one year, did you?" And the angel says "no, no, 2020s." God then says "Did you?" The angel finally replies, "yes" then some profanity ensues then the angel says "and the Americans have an election." There are people who would say that 2020 has been a year that has sucked the joy out of them. 

This being said, today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent; it is time to recognize that our joy doesn't come from this world. 

What is Joy?

Webster's dictionary defines Joy as 1a : the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight. b : the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety. 2 : a state of happiness or felicity : bliss. 3 : a source or cause of delight.

Today's candle is known as the Shepherd's candle, the candle that reminds us of the joy that Jesus' arrival gives, and the joy that salvation gives. 

Now you may be wondering why this candle is different from the others, there are several thoughts on this.  

Although Christians have presented several reasons for the pinkish nature of the candle, from a tradition where priests would wear pink vestments to parents eagerly awaiting the joy of a child’s arrival by painting the room pink, the rosy candle has its roots in something known as Gaudete Sunday. During this third week of advent, this Sunday celebrates the passage Philippians 4:4-5, its verses extolling readers to “rejoice” for “indeed the Lord is near.” 

In other words, this week celebrates the joy of Christ’s coming to earth. 

Even in the disappointments of this years election for many people; we can find the answer to joy in Philippians 4:6-7 In verses 6 and 7, Paul tells us that prayer and thanksgiving lead us to peace and rejoicing. The Message version translates those verses this way: 

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

 
Only then do we find real joy—the kind that springs from the heart, fills the soul, and holds you tight in its embrace, even when the storms of life rage around you. This Christmas, may you find real joy by taking all of your cares and worries to the God who set each star in place, who numbered the hairs on your head, and who loves you so much that He gave his only Son so that you could have the greatest gift of all: eternal life.

Joy came the night of Christ's birth, there is a line in the movie The Nativity Story where after the angel's announce the birth of Christ to the Shepherds they arrive at the stable,  Mary shifts Jesus so the shepherds can get a better look and says "He is for all mankind." That one line brings tears of joy to my eyes and I sob like a baby.

You see things like elections and leaders are temporal; they aren't permanent. People are worried about New World Orders, but aren't worried about the eternity of their neighbors down the street. They are worried about losing worldly freedoms, not realizing the freedom they have in Christ. The election didn't steal people's joy, COVID-19 didn't steal people's joy, people freely gave up their joy.

Instead of letting temporary situations steal your joy, we need to focus on what is permanent and can bring lasting Joy...the hope of Christ's Advent, the peace that He brings and the Joy that we can have eternal life. 

Our prayer should be:

O God, we bring all of our cares, disappointments, worries, heartaches and longings and we lay them at your feet. We ask you to exchange them for your joy and peace. Help us daily to trust in you and to rejoice in your goodness as we seek to share with others your gift of love that has transformed our lives. Amen.

Advent 2020: Peace

It is the second Sunday of Advent and we are about to light the candle that stands for Peace. Again, I think that as Christians this year has not been as peaceful as it could be. For American Christians, this year has been particularly hard, with the election.

Recently, I posed the question, "What if Joe Biden is God's plan for America?" Let me tell you, the lack of peace was definitely shown by people "putting me in my place." Personally, I have peace of the election. Yet, I find it amazing the lack of peace that Christians exhibit even in light of Romans 8:28 which many profess to hold to tightly. 

Earlier this year, my pastoral candidacy came to an end. I was hurt, I was disappointed, I never wanted to go back to church. Yet over the past few months, I have started yet again seeking where God is wanting me to serve. And the peace that I lacked when I was hurt by my candidacy ending, has flooded back to me. Why? 

Because it's God-given peace. I am reminded of a story about Dante. Like many of us, he had attempted to live his life by his own rules and desires. He didn't have peace. In fact such a lack of peace drove him to the Franciscan Monastery at Lunigiana, and when the door was opened, he was asked "What do you want?" He replied, "Peace!"

Our Old Testament (Isaiah 40:1) reading this week starts out with

"Comfort, comfort My people," says your God.

The word for comfort, is נַחֲמ֥וּ (nachem) it means to be sorry, to pity, console. When you are doing these things, especially if you are sorry, and consoling someone you are in effect bringing them peace. Jesus Christ himself said John 14:27, 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

The word here is Εἰρήνην (Eirēnēn) it means peace; by implication, prosperity.

You see 2020 has been a year that has been un-peaceful for many, it's been lacking in prosperity, due to job loss and other issues. But the world is looking for peace, comfort and prosperity as the world gives. Not as Christ gives. All of creation is an imperfect window onto divine reality. God shines through all things — some more, some less. His quest teaches Dante that his fundamental error was to make idols out of icons. That is, he believed that he could find perfect happiness in created things: first, the love of a woman, and then the pursuit of literary fame, political power, and so forth. In truth, Dante was searching for God in all the wrong places, expecting satisfaction from things that can never satisfy.

Not everyone has the same gifts, or the same responsibilities. Do not envy what others have, but accept with gladness the part God gave you to play in the grand drama of life. Love is more important than justice. God doesn’t want you to be just like everybody else; he wants you to be the person he made. Trust him, as does the nun Piccarda, who tells Dante, “In His will is our peace.” 

Whatever your frustrations, whatever is stealing your peace is of this world; it is certainly not of Christ. However, this being said, life will be okay, why? Because God already knows what is going to happen, nothing is a surprise to Him and in Him is our peace.

Advent Sunday, Nov. 29th: HOPE

Hope. What is hope? Is it merely wishful thinking or a kind of strong desire for a certain outcome to happen? Thankfully for the Christ follower, hope means so much more. Hope is not based on chance circumstances or a crossing of one’s fingers and hoping for the best. Rather, hope is a confident and certain expectation. Ours is a living hope given us through the resurrections of Jesus Christ from the dead, and a promised future inheritance that will not perish.

I think we can all admit that 2020 had been a mess of a year. We have lived through a pandemic, and still are. I have lost 4 friends and 2 family members, only one to the pandemic, that I know of. This really got me to thinking back over the year. Each funeral I attended, I heard about hope. I heard about how much people loved their Savior Jesus Christ, then tribute after tribute after tribute one thing became abundantly clear. Each of these people that are special to me had faith in Christ, and the moment they closed their eyes on this side of eternity, the hope they held in their hearts was fulfilled as they opened their eyes in Heaven with God. 

Charles Wesley wrote the Hymn Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Hymn 244 in The Celebration Hymnal). The first verse reads: 

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

This Advent hymn recalls Christ first coming, while hoping for His return. Just as the people of Israel, were living in darkness before Christ's first advent, yet the prophet Isaiah spoke of a hope. Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 

This year has been pretty dark. Even if you didn't lose people who were close to you, you likely know someone who did or was touched in someway by the pandemic. Yet, we have a hope, if we are in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 10:23 states Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Billy Graham put it this way, “For the believer there is hope...because Jesus Christ has opened the door to heaven for us by His death and resurrection.” 

Isaiah 9:6-7 goes on to prophesy the birth of Jesus. 

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 

It is upon this singular prophecy that our hope is placed, and recalled each time we hold on to hope. 1 Peter 1:3-7 

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Yes, we may be experiencing trials, but we must rejoice and place our hope in Him, for we are promised a second advent of Christ. Where is your hope currently? Is it in your job? Is it in what you can see, what you can hold? is it in something tangible or is it in Christ Jesus? 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:12-13

Space: An Apology

I am writing tonight because I need some peace in my life. I don't like it when the world is in turmoil. Some would say this is because I am a libra. I say it's because of who I am and the heart of service that I have. I hate when I see people hurting. 

Over the past few weeks, I have done quite a bit of hurting through social media. I have hurt people and I have been hurt. Earlier this week, I read the following quote by Victor Frankl.

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Victor Frankl is one of many Holocaust survivors. He went on to become a man that I can greatly respect. 

I have spent time mulling this quote over in my head. And I have come to the conclusion that 1) I didn't make good use of my "space" and 2) That Hebrews is right, God will use discipline to reign in his children. Hebrews 12: 6-9 tells us 

6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?

The other thing I have been considering is Ephesians 4:26-27 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.

There are two things I have not been doing, I have not let the sun go down on my anger, I have been pretty angry for a couple of weeks. What I have been doing is giving opportunity to the devil to harbor anger and hatred in my heart for people that I really don't know beyond what I have been told on Facebook or seen on Facebook. So I am taking my blog tonight to write a public apology to those that I may have hurt. To people that I don't know 100% what their motives are. I certainly was not right in pre-judging people and have decided step away from the protests--both sides for my own mental health.

If you are reading this, and I have hurt you, angered you or you were indirectly hurt by the posts online, I sincerely apologize. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, what may work for you is may not work for me.  While we probably can't make all things right, it is my hope that we can meet in the middle to find the hope and the future God has for us (Jeremiah 29:11)

7 Days with the Rosary

Several weeks ago a Benedictine Monk friend of mine sent me a Rosary. I had merely asked him a question about the Catholic Rosary vs. the Anglican Rosary. My friend provided me the answer then challenged me to spend 7 days praying the Rosary. 

At first, being a protestant, specifically a Methodist, this was awkward, but I felt that I was up for the challenge. Even though I say the Apostle's Creed nearly daily, I still had to look it up. Even though I always say the Lord's Prayer, I had to train myself to stop at the deliver us from evil. And I had to learn the "Hail Mary." I also did some side study, because, let's be honest, I was getting ready to embark on a journey that could (and would) change my life...or at least my understanding of the Rosary. 

St. Benedictine Rosary from a Benedictine Friend

Saint John Paul II said of the Rosary "The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christocentric prayer. In the sobriety of its elements, it has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety, of which it can be said to be a compendium. It is an echo of the prayer of Mary, her perennial Magnificat for the work of the redemptive Incarnation which began in her virginal womb. With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love. Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer." Pope Paul VI clearly pointed out: “Without contemplation, the Rosary is a body without a soul, and its recitation runs the risk of becoming a mechanical repetition of formulas, in violation of the admonition of Christ: 'In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think they will be heard for their many words' (Mt 6:7). By its nature the recitation of the Rosary calls for a quiet rhythm and a lingering pace, helping the individual to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord's life as seen through the eyes of her who was closest to the Lord. In this way the unfathomable riches of these mysteries are disclosed”.

My first night praying the Rosary there was loads of mistakes, I am sure. I probably forgot "the Lord is with Thee" about 10 times, probably forgot the Glory Be all 5 times, and only heaven knows if I got the Lord's prayer correct. Over the week though, praying the Rosary became easier and easier; let me say I am a pro at the rosary now! 

Tonight my friend sent me an email and said "So, what did you learn?" Learn? What did I learn? My response was as follows: 

I learned that we need to do a lot less asking of God and a lot more contemplating the mysteries of our faith. I learned that protestants under estimate Mary and Marian devotion. But the most important thing I learned was to appreciate the centeredness I felt when I prayed. I realized immediately what Christians for centuries have found out...it is a singularly meaningful tool for praying more deeply and intimately with God. If we believe we are not to use vain repetition in our prayer, thank God for the rosary, where repetitive prayer is filled with grace.

I had given my hands something to do, my mind was conscience while I moved bead to bead, the repetitiveness of the prayers--consciously engaging my devotional awareness on these multiple levels, and I was in essence freeing up deeper regions of my soul to simply rest in the Divine Presence. So much so that I was able to simply lay down after my prayers and sleep, and not just the sleep of one who was tired, but one who was at peace.

The rosary also introduced me to new prayers and new appreciation of prayer. My new favorite being the Fatima Prayer  “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.” For me this prayer, especially the single last line Especially those in most need of Thy mercy. That prayer, those last eight words became the singular prayer for my former best friend, whose salvation I am completely unsure of. 

I agree with Lee M. of A Thinking Reed "For whatever reason, many Protestant forms of prayer strike me as too wordy and intellectualistic. But I also haven’t had much luck with forms of meditation where you’re supposed to “empty” your mind and wordlessly contemplate the divine. The rosary provides a good balance of structure and freedom, or mind and heart. It’s grounded in the great truths of the faith, and so has a certain “given-ness” and objectivity, but it also allows for one’s personal prayers and affections to range freely."

Today I agree with St. John Paul II just as he said in 2002 "Twenty-four years ago, on 29 October 1978, scarcely two weeks after my election to the See of Peter, I frankly admitted: “The Rosary is my favourite prayer. A marvellous prayer! Marvellous in its simplicity and its depth."

Upcoming Series

Over the next few weeks, I am going to be spending time in prayer; and I am going to be writing my experiences. I have some ideas as to the experiments that I am going to try. We'll explore prayer with the Christian community at Northumbria; we'll also spend time praying the 1663 Book of Common prayer and I want to pray the rosary for a while.

Of course, I'll revisit Lectio Divina. I want this to become a page all about prayer and what it means to spend time with God.

Holy Saturday: Standing in the Silence

Lectio: Luke 23:55 shares, “As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law." 

Meditatio: Today is the last day of the Lenten season...but the day holds more significance than being just the last day of Lent. It has significance because it is a day of anticipation. A day of silence, and preparation. You see the women were preparing to anoint the body of Christ, but they lost time; it was officially the Sabbath (Saturday) and they would be forced to wait to visit the tomb to anoint the body of Christ. I imagine that this day was probably filled with tears of sorrow, despite the promise that Jesus made that He made when he said he would raise the temple in three days. 

The day preceding the miracle is yes, a Sabbath, a day to rest, but it is also a day to be still. Exodus 20:8 is the original verse explaining to God’s people how to observe this law, “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God.” The act of keeping something Holy is to keep it set aside or reserved for a purpose, and this specific day is meant to rest in dedication to the Lord. On Holy Saturday Christians today can take this a step further in resting or abiding in what the Lord is doing today.

Just as Jesus’ followers waited the tedious hours of that Saturday to see what would occur Sunday, so we wait to see the hand of the Lord in our own lives. The prayers that are yet to be answered and the hopes left lingering still can all be placed at the throne of God as we rest and abide in His presence. Exodus 14:14 shared to, “be still and wait for the Lord” as the Israelites stood at the banks of the Red Sea waiting for the Lord to act, and so in that they yielded their fears, their worries, and their own actions to the Father for movement. When it was time to move, the Lord made it clear to them, but there came a time of trusting in being still before He revealed what was next.

Holy Saturday is a time for us to lean into being present in the Lord, placing our own agendas at the door and coming before Him to simply be with Him. The Lord desires relationship with us, and a requirement of relationship is time together. Holy Saturday is a great day not to ask for anything, but to simply spend time within the Spirit of the Lord.

Oratio: Father, We recognize the significance of Holy Saturday for the Easter season. It is not merely a day between Good Friday and Easter, but it is a day to observe in consecration of what You did for us. We leave our own agendas, our own desires, and our own pleas at the door and crave today to be still and rest in Your presence. We are so grateful for the ability to quiet our hearts and stand in Your presence, we want to come to know Your heart more this day. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus to die for us, and thank You that You kept Your promise that Easter Sunday. Let us not be so hurried in our own lives that we forget the glory that You brought forth that day. In Jesus name, Amen

Contemplatio: Take some time today, to be present with God. Be intentional about the silence. Turn off the phone, the TV, the radio and just lean into His Presence. Rest in His presence today. 

Is there enough evidence?

Lectio: Mark 15:1-15 Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law—the entire high council—met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor. 2 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”Jesus replied, “You have said it.” 3 Then the leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes, 4 and Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against you?” 5 But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise. 6 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner—anyone the people requested. 7 One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, a revolutionary who had committed murder in an uprising. 8 The crowd went to Pilate and asked him to release a prisoner as usual. 9 “Would you like me to release to you this ‘King of the Jews’?” Pilate asked. 10 (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 11 But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. 12 Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 14 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!” 15 So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified. (New Living Translation)

Meditatio: In this scripture, Jesus is brought to trial. Pilate questions Him, and finally hands him over to be crucified. But before he hands Jesus over, he asks one question "What crime has he committed?" You see in Pilate's eyes, Jesus' crime was a religious crime, not one against Caesar, not against Roman law, but against the religious elite of the time. Even when he questioned Jesus, it the answers given by Christ give Pilate reason to think he was a threat to the Roman Emperor. Matter of fact, it wasn't Rome that was accusing Jesus, it was the leading priests of the temple. And all Pilate could think to ask was "What crime has he committed?" Surely if Pilate saw no crime then one must have not been committed? I mean after all wouldn't any decent Roman citizen help his neighbor out on the Sabbath? Wouldn't they have helped the poor or even healed someone if they could? According to Pilate's question, there wasn't enough evidence to crucify Jesus and he knew it. 

Oratio: Father, Your son committed no crime and died for our sins. He paid a debt that He didn't owe; and we owe a debt that we could never pay. Lord, let us take this seriously, let us remember that it is Your holiness that we should be after. Not what the world calls holiness, not what the liberals call holiness, not what the conservatives call holiness, but YOUR holiness. Let there be found in me enough evidence that if I were to stand trial tomorrow, the judge could convict me as being a Jesus follower, a Christian. 

Contemplatio: If you were to stand trial tomorrow, would there be enough evidence in your life to convict you of being a Christian?

Forgiveness...

Lectio: 1 John 1: 9-10 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 


Meditatio: This week I have been thinking about forgiveness. It's a deep topic, but one that I feel had to be touched on, especially this week. My meditation on forgiveness was thrown at me while reading a book by Karen Kingsbury called To the Moon and Back. The book is set against the lives of two people who lost loved ones on April 19, 1995 when a bomb ripped through the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. In the book, Karen mentions the evil that must have been the driving force in the bomber. But you see that bomber, that terrorist had a name, his name was Timothy McVeigh. On June 11, 2001, just months before September 11th, Mr. McVeigh's death sentence was carried out. I called my mom that morning and ask "Is it okay that I cried this morning? Is it okay that I cried and it wasn't for the victims? Is it okay that I cried for McVeigh?" My mom, knowing my tender heart and knowing where I was coming from--this was someone's son, someone's brother, someone's uncle, someone's friend, merely said "Yes, it's okay. But why?" All I could think was "what if I am the only person who understands that he asked to be forgiven by God? This man, even though he did terrible things, was still someone Jesus died for, someone Jesus loved."

Oratio: God, thank you for sending Your Son to die for me. Thank you for seeing my sin and knowing that I'd need a Savior. Help me to forgive as You have forgave me. Lord, I pray that You will forgive me my short comings. 

Contemplatio: God has forgiven you, is there someone you need to forgive? Do you need forgiveness? 

Rushing Waters

Lectio: Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. Psalm 32:6

Medtatio: As I sit here, I can almost hear the rushing of waters. I find it amazing that the Psalmist thought that God couldn't hear over the rushing of water. However, the more I think of it, I believe that sometimes it's not that God can't hear us, rather, we can't hear ourselves much less hear God calling to us. There has been many times in my life when I thought I heard God, but then thought "No, that's not God." Only to realize that maybe it was God and I couldn't shout above my own noise. 

Oratio: Father, thank you for hearing the prayers of those who love you. Help me to always be attentive to your voice and to hear above my own noise. 

Contemplatio: Do you remember a time when you thought you heard God? What was it like to hear his voice? Do you remember a time when you realized you had missed the voice of God, what did it feel like for you?

Hopes all things

Lectio: Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. 

Meditatio: Love hopes all things. Love roots for victory in others, for good to win, for truth to come out. In the Bible, hope is more than just a wish, it is a confidence that God will do as He says. Paul began this letter by saying to the Corinthians that Christ will "sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:8). His confident hope for them was one evidence of his love for them.

Oratio: God help me to root for others; to displace my love of myself to others. 

Contemplatio: Do you root for others? Are you happy when they are blessed? 

Believes all things

Lectio: 1 Corinthians 13:7, ESV: "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Meditatio: Love believes all things. Does this make love gullible? No, the choice to believe those who may be deceiving us removes the burden to catch others in the act of lying and projects onto them a respect they may or may not deserve. The one who is loved carries the burden to be truthful or to be held accountable to God, rather than to us.

Oratio: Father, give me eyes to love as you have loved. Help me to love like Jesus; allow the love in me to show respect, rather than catch someone in a deceitful place. 

Contemplatio: Have you ever tried to catch someone in a lie? It was pretty hard I am sure, if you could love like Jesus would you be attempting to catch others in places of deceit? Would it make your life easier? 

Bears all things

Lectio: Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Meditatio: A few years ago, a nasty rumor was going around town about someone that I know. A few weeks later she announced her pregnancy and there was speculation as to whether her husband was the father. I couldn't believe that the very people this person trusted were accusing her of an affair and saying her husband wasn't the father. Especially when we all knew the struggle behind the pregnancy. One day at the gym, I was faced with the rumor. I looked at the woman telling me the latest gossip and said "This friend let you live with her for 9 months and this is how you treat her? HOW DARE YOU!" I was protecting, covering my friend instead of gossiping about her. I was bearing her judgement from others--just as Jesus bore our sins. 
Major English Bible versions translate the term protects (stego) very differently from one another. The word can mean “to endure” or “to cover, protect.” If Paul had in mind the concept of endurance, he meant that love bears with many offenses and does not stop loving even under the strain of difficulties imposed by others, even going so far as to love enemies (Luke 6:27). If he had in mind the concept of covering, then he may have meant that love will not seek to expose the sins of others. Love handles the sins of others in ways that will not bring exposure or shame.

Oratio: Father, give us your eyes to see others as you do. Help us to bear the things that need bearing and to help us love them. 

Contemplatio: Have you ever had a situation like the one mentioned above where someone you knew was the subject of gossip? Would that have hurt the person's reputation? Did you stop to help that person even without them knowing? 

Rejoice not at Wrongdoing, but in truth

1 Corinthians 13:6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Meditatio: This contrast suggests that the term truth means something like “living according to the truth.” In other words, those who truly love do not enjoy seeing their loved ones stumble into evil. They rejoice when their loved ones try to live according to the truth of the gospel. Sin destroys people’s lives, so to rejoice in their sin is to rejoice in their destruction.

Oratio: God help us not to rejoice in wrongdoing, but to rejoice in truth that we may grow closer to you. 

Contemplatio: Do you ever rejoice when you get by with something? Instead of rejoicing, maybe you should be asking God for forgiveness and rejoice in that. 

Be Not Dismayed

Opening Prayer: Speak O' Lord, Your servant hears...

Lectio: 

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Meditatio: Working from home was supposed to be fun. But I have learned that it is harder than anything I have ever done. I already suffer from depression. So much so that I have written several articles about the church and depression.

Today, though, I was working and suddenly I saw a picture of one of the "replacement." When I say replaement, I mean the person who replaced me as a friend for my former friend--or at least who I guess is my replacement. My heart sank. My heart as been heavy most all day. Then as I was studying for this lectio, I felt God pleace in my heart "Be not dismayed." Then I read a prayer from the Parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish. 

O Good Shepherd, You never cease to seek out the lost, to call home the stray, to comfort the frightened, and to bind up the wounded. We ask You to bring (mention names) back to the practice of the Faith, and to remove all obstacles that prevent them from receiving Your abundant Mercy, which flows sacramentally through the heart of Your Holy Church.  Through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God, their Guardian Angels, their Patron Saints, and our ever-faithful patroness Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, may You pardon their sins and unshackle them from whatever hinders their freedom to come home. For you, O Good Shepherd, loved us to the end and offered Yourself to the Father for the salvation of all. Amen

Lent is a time of miracles. It's a time when people find their way home. I don't expect there to be a homecoming for my friend and I; but it's a prayer that God let me find in my time of being disheartened and for that I am grateful.

Oratio: God, Thank you. In your mercy you have brought to mind a verse of scripture meant to comfort your people thousands of years ago, and tonight it brings comfort to me. Help me to continue to be a beacon of light to your people, as I walk in your ways. Amen

Contemplatio: Is there something in your life that causes you to be dismayed? What can you do differently? How should you react to that which is causing you dismay or hurt?

No Joy in Evil

Opening Prayer: Speak O Lord, your servant listens...

Lectio: 1 Corinthians 13:6 Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth.

Meditatio: How long have my people taken pleasure in evil? How often do they call unrighteousness, righteousness? It seems that they have lost their way; they have lost sight of me. They must put their focus on me, and they must not waiver in their faith. There is already a great falling away because of what my people see as right--they have brought along teachers that tickle their ears but don't teach what they need to hear. My people must bend their knee, they must bow down and prostrate themselves before me, I hear the prayers of a contrite heart and I heal a wounded spirit. You sing a song about brokenness being better than a hallelujah and it's true, come to me broken and I will heal you. Do not rejoice in evil, run from it. 

Oratio: God help us to see what is evil in your sight, give us spirits of discernment to run from evil, to flee from sin as from the serpent. Let us bow before you with contrite hearts and wounded spirits that you may heal us and heal our land. 

Contemplatio: Do you call evil good? Do you call sin, okay? 

No Record of Wrongs

^Lectio: 5 Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been  done. (NCV)

Meditatio: A few years ago my friend started dating a guy. Due to my own jealousy, and not understanding of romantic love, I lost that friend. Prior to that another friend had left our friendship. I was far more hurt by the ending of this friendship. And one friend came to me and said "How can you forgive someone who lied about you, who hurt you far worse than the friend who fell in love?" I told her "I don't know." It's not that I didn't forgive my friend who fell in love, as a matter of fact, i was happy she found someone, I was hurt though when she just up and walked away; and I apologized. Today, I was brought up to my friend who lied about me, and someone said "How can you forgive her?" My answer just rolled off my tongue "Love keeps no record of wrong. If she needed me, I will be there." 

Oratio: God, help me be a person who doesn't keep a record of wrongs. Let your love grow in me. Amen

Contemplative: Do you keep a record of wrongs? How would you feel if someone kept a record of every wrong you have ever done? 

Irritability...love is not

Opening Prayer, Speak O Lord, Your servant is listening.

Lectio: 1 Corinthians 13:5 Or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

Meditatio: How often have you woken up irritable? Maybe someone said you got up on the wrong side of the bed. Maybe you didn't feel much like loving someone. It's usually when someone tells you to get over something like they believe it can easily happen. The word “easily” is here a gloss. The corresponding substantive (paroxusmos, whence our “paroxysm”) is used of the “sharp contention” between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:39). Love, when it is perfected, rises superior to all temptations to growing exasperated, although it may often be justly indignant. But, as St. Chrysostom says, “As a spark which falls into the sea hurts not the sea, but is itself extinguished, so an evil thing befalling a loving soul will be extinguished without disquietude.” (1)

Oratio: God, thank you for this lectio. Help me to remember that love is not irritable. Even when i am not interested in not being irritable.

Contemplatio: How can you not be irritable? What is one thing you can do help break the cycle of irritability?

Love does not insist on its own way all the time

Opening Prayer: Speak O Lord, Your servant is listening. 

Lectio: 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.

Meditatio: Love doesn't insist on it's own way. When we look at the needs of others we should ask ourselves, are their needs being met while ours are being met? If not, maybe we should intervene. This shows love in a way that may be tangible to others. Sending time at a food bank just to help people get food for a week. That is love. Your heart shows people you love them. In the middle of a pandemic you helped feed my people. You gave them hope that someone loved them more than they expected. The scripture says when you do for the least of them, you are doing for me. This is what makes ministry so special. Paul probably had in mind here the practice of always putting oneself in first place without due consideration of others. Many situations in life call upon Christians to choose between benefit to themselves and to others. The loving person puts the benefit of others over his or her own good. Paul exemplified this practice when he refused to receive money for his work as an apostle (9:6–15). Jesus’ humiliation was the greatest expression of putting others’ benefit above one’s own (Phil. 2:4–8). It is also important to realize that this practice does not mean ignoring one’s own legitimate needs. Jesus himself withdrew from the crowds for his own benefit, sometimes just to get away and other times to pray (Luke 5:16; 22:41).

Oratio: Father, thank you for teaching us to love. For giving us hearts to serve and to give to others the love they have never known existed. Help me to continue showing love in ways that do not insist on my beliefs, but can also be strong when others challenge me with their beliefs. Amen

Contemplatio: Think of a time when you insisted on your own way? Was it out of love or would it have been better to let someone else's way be done? 

Love is not Rude

Opening Prayer: Speak O Lord, Your servant is listening. 

Lectio: ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. 1 Corinthians 13:5

Mediatio: Love is not rude. What does it mean to be rude? It means to be ill-mannered. Love is not to be ill-mannered. How often have you been ill towards someone? The Greek phrase could literally be translated “does not act unbecomingly” or “does not act inappropriately.” Christian love does not seek to cause problems, and it does not belittle others. Christian love involves choosing appropriate actions and responses that help other people. Love rejects rudeness because rudeness is reserved for the insensitive and the insecure. Just tonight my mother called me stupid for working in the ministry. I don't think that I am stupid for being willing to go an work at a food bank. Right now it may not make sense since we are under strict regulations from the CDC given the coronavirus. However, if you love someone you shouldn't be rude to them. Love is kind, patient, doesn't envy, doesn't boast, and isn't prideful. In fact, these things hurt love, it's why love is so hard for people to accept. It's hard for people to understand that love is a lot of things, but it's not what we think. In our human condition, love is flawed, but it is perfected in us through Christ. Rudeness snatches parking spaces. Rudeness mocks others. Rudeness interrupts. Christ, on the other hand, was courteous. He was patient, thoughtful, and careful to treat people with respect. Notice that the first five letters of the word courteous spell court. In old England, to be courteous was to act in the way of the court. The family and servants of the king were expected to follow a higher standard. So are we. Are we not called to represent the King?

Oratio: God, thank you for the gift of love. Help us to realize what love truly is. We know that in our human condition love is flawed, but we also know that it can be perfected in us through Christ. Pour out your love to each of us, that we may continue to grow deeper in our relationship with you. 

Contemplatio: What have you learned so far about love? When you read that love isn't rude, what do you think that means? Are you willing to stop being rude? 

Love is not Arrogant

Opening Prayer: Speak O Lord, Your servant is listening: 

Lectio: 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 

Meditatio: Love is not arrogant. It doesn't believe that it is more important than others. Love sees itself as humble, it sees itself as equal to the other person. Love is simply unpretentious, it sees people for who they are and doesn't judge unrighteously. Love allows for hurt, but also allows for a welcoming spirit. My children could learn much if they would learn what love is not vs. what they believe love is. 

Oratio: God, allow me to grow in love, help me to apply that love is patient, kind, it does not envy, or boast and isn't arrogant. Help me embrace all that love is, not what I believe that love should be. 

Contemplatio: So far we are one verse into what love is, how have you been surprised? Are you still thinking about love? Has learning this first verse helped you change any preconceptions that you had with love? 

Walking the High Wire: Finding Balance

Opening Prayer: Speak O Lord, your servant is listening...

Lectio: Ecclesiastes 4:4-8

4 I realized the reason people work hard and try to succeed: They are jealous of each other. This, too, is useless, like chasing the wind. 5 Some say it is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing, because you will starve to death. 6 Maybe so, but I say it is better to be content with what little you have. Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more, and that is like chasing the wind. 7 Again I saw something here on earth that was useless: 8 I saw a man who had no family, no son or brother. He always worked hard but was never satisfied with what he had. He never asked himself, “For whom am I working so hard? Why don’t I let myself enjoy life?” This also is very sad and useless.

Meditatio: Keeping up with the Jones'. There is always something more that you can work hard for; but what we need is balance. If a person doesn't have balance they become a work-aholic, lazy, fanatic or indifferent. Where in your life to do you need to find balance? Maybe your balance is that you put too much time into church, you can't say no to anyone. Maybe your time is that you spend so much time saying yes to everything that you forget to say yes to God and the things that truly matter. Finding balance is like a person who walks across a canyon on a tightrope; one move too far to the left and you will fall, to much to the right and you will fall--finding balance brings you into the right mind set to follow the line directly in front of you and not wavering left or right.

Oratio: God, help me find my balance in you and your word Amen

Contemplatio: Where in your life do you need more balance?