Thursday, November 8

Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 69:1-36; Zechariah 3:1-10; Luke 23:1-12; Romans 11:7-12

If you were to ask most folks on the street to give a one word description of Christianity, I wonder what word they would use. Given Christianity’s treatment in the media, I suppose some of the descriptions would include things like “divisive”, “judgmental”, or even perhaps “self-righteous”. Of course, none of these descriptors are words that capture the true essence of Jesus. So what other words could be used to describe Jesus and his followers? Well, today’s reading from the Gospel of Luke provides a word that’s hidden in the accusations against Jesus by the assembly. That word? “Subversive” (actually, “subverting” in the NIV translation of Luke 23:2). That word got me to thinking about how much our reputation as followers of Jesus has changed over the last two millennia. While Jesus words often were subversive to the status quo, all too often Jesus’ words today have been tamed by the institutional church which has re-made Jesus into the poster boy for the status quo. Today, I ask you to consider the affect encountering this Jesus has had on you. Has it made you a poster girl/boy for the status quo, or are there whispers that you – a follower of this Jesus – just might be subverting the status quo as well? If so, you are in good company! Til next time…

Wednesday, November 7

Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 71 & 142; Zechariah 2:1-13; Luke 22:54-71; Romans 10:21-11:6

One of the themes that undergirds the Gospel of Mark is often referred to as “The Messianic Secret”. This means that Jesus reportedly warned the disciples not to tell anyone who he was because it was not yet time for them to hear the news. When I was younger, Jesus’ approach there always frustrated me because it seemed as if Jesus and the disciples should have gotten the word out immediately and let the people decide whether or not they were ready to receive the news. As I’ve gotten older, however, I’ve realized Jesus’ wisdom in recognizing the importance of waiting until someone is ready to hear something before you share it. Today’s reading from the Gospel of Luke picks up on this nugget of wisdom when Jesus appears before the council of elders and is questioned by them. When they ask if he is the Christ, his response was simply, “If I tell you, you will not believe me; and if I asked you, you would not answer” (Luke 22:67-68). Often when we want to reach out to help or connect with others, we fail to consider whether or not they are ready to receive our efforts. This lack of consideration often leads to hurt feelings and bad experiences. The next time you are ready to say or do, I invite you to consider Jesus’ approach and ask yourself, “Are they ready to receive my offering or should I wait?” Til next time…

Tuesday, November 6

Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 2 & 33; Zechariah 1:17-21; Luke 22:39-53; Romans 10:17-20

It’s easy for me to get so caught up in the demands of my daily schedule that I lose time to practice my daily spiritual disciplines. That’s especially true when it comes to my prayer life. I try to convince myself that this is okay to forgo my time of prayer since I’m connecting with God in other ways (i.e. acts of service, etc.) Today’s passage from Luke, however, is a reminder that I have no excuse for being too busy for prayer and centering, as the passage provides the example of Jesus who – on the verge of his arrest, trial, and crucifixion! – found time to pray on the Mount of Olives. That, for me, is lesson one: always find time to connect with God – especially at the most difficult times when you are tempted to forget this connection. There’s a second lesson regarding prayer in today’s passage as well. It has to do with the content of one’s prayer. In modeling a way to pray for us, Jesus said, “Please, not what I want. What do you want?” (Luke 22:42 from The Message) What a powerful way to help us re-conceptualize our prayer life – a way where our prayer life is built upon something other than just our wishes and desires. Today, I invite you to join me as we incorporate both lessons into our lives by first making the time to connect with God and then spend that time pursuing God’s desires and not simply our own. Til next time…

Monday, November 5

Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalms 144 & 143; Haggai 2:10-23; Luke 22:31-38; Romans 10:10-16

As I explored emergent worship during my summer sabbatical, what most impressed me about faith communities exploring emergent worship was their willingness to let go of established patterns and routines and open themselves up to fluid ways of being that allowed for the movement of the Spirit. In most cases, the emergent communities were collections of individuals who had the luxury of choosing a new way of being. Today’s words from Haggai, however, remind us individuals and communities don’t always have the luxury of choosing new ways of being. In speaking to Zerubbabel, the governor of Juday, Haggai spoke these words: “I am about to shake up everything, to turn everything upside down and start over from top to bottom” (Haggai 2:21 in The Message). Often, we assume that having our worlds turned upside down is automatically a bad thing. But is it? In Zerubbabel’s case, the turning upside of his world meant Zerubbabel was taken as God’s “personal servant and I will set you as a signet ring, the sign of my sovereign presence and authority” (Haggai 2:22). Perhaps you are facing a circumstance in your life in which your world seems to have been turned upside down. Take some time and see what possibilities or opportunities might be opening themselves to you as a result of this traumatic time. Til next time…

Sunday, November 4

Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 3 & 122; Haggai 2:1-9; Luke 19:1-10; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12

This morning’s passage from Luke is a great eye opener for me. For in the passage we are introduced to an individual named Zacchaeus, a man whom is viewed one and only one way by his peers: as a Tax Collector. This title established not only Zacchaeus’ standing in the community, but his identity as well. This was so entrenched that no one – not even Zacchaeus – could imagine seeing himself any other way. Along came Jesus, however, who was willing to do something no one else was willing to do – look at Zacchaeus with new eyes. This willingness led Jesus at the end of today’s passage to establish a new identity all together for Zacchaeus; instead of being simply a Tax Collector he became seen as a Son of Abraham. The story reminds us that when we see the world through Jesus’ eyes, things begin to change. Today, I invite you to take a glance at the world from Jesus’ perspective. You might be surprised what you see. Even in yourself! Til next time…

Saturday, November 3

Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 89; Haggai 1:1-15; Luke 22:14-30; Romans 10:5-9

Just yesterday I was having a conversation with a friend about what it means to be living in an age designated “the Post-Christian Age”. The Post-Christian Age simply means that we are living in a time in American society when the power and privilege Christianity has historically enjoyed has passed. We are now in a time where Christianity has become just one of many, many things competing for our time and energy. The result is that in many cases, our faith has come to rank very low in terms of our overall priorities. We might think that this development is new, but the prophet Haggai’s words in today’s lectionary reading reminds us, it’s not. In the passage, the prophet decries the fact that folks of his day have neglected their faith in favor of their own pursuits. In exploring the lives of his peers in Haggai 1:6, the prophet utters: “You have spent a lot of money, but you haven’t much to show for it. You keep filling your plates, but you never get filled up. You keep drinking and drinking and drinking, but you’re always thirsty. You put on layer of layer of clothes, but you can’t get war. And the people who work for you, what are they getting out of it? Not much – a leaky, rusted-out bucket, that’s what.” Amazing how little things have changed over the last several thousand years, eh. So what was God’s advice for Haggai’s peers – for US, today? “Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over.” Today, I invite you to do just that. Take a priority check and see where – in this Post-Christian Age – your faith ranks in terms of all the things competing for your time, energy, and attention. And if you don’t like where it ranks on your scale of priorities, DO something about it. Today. Til next time…

Friday, November 2

Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalms 41 & 55; Proverbs 25:15-28; Luke 22:1-13; Romans 10:1-4

In several discussions over the years involving the sacred readings of our faith, I’ve heard folks be dismissive of Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament readings) they struggle to understand. Often they’ll say things like, “I’m not sure what to make of that passage, but it doesn’t really matter because I’m a New Testament Christian so I don’t have to worry much about the Old Testament.” Every time I hear that response, it makes me sad for I don’t believe you can really make sense of who Jesus was – and how his ministry was shaped – without a solid understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures. This point was brought home for me today as I completed my daily readings. Let me tell you why this issue was raised. Lots of folks probably remember Jesus’ teaching about our enemies that read: “You have heard that is was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:43-44). So where are the roots of Jesus’ teaching (besides, of course, his huge heart and spirit)? Proverbs 25:21 in the NRSV reads: “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.” The passage may have stopped short of using the word love, but a similar sentiment is there. Today, I invite you to consider the ways your faith has been shaped and informed by not one testament, but two. Let us give thanks once again for an expansive God that continues to take us outside our comfort zones as we explore our faith. Til next time…