Monday, May 19

Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 148; Genesis 1:1-2:3; Matthew 17:22-27; Philemon 1-14; Psalm 8

From my early twenties through my mid-thirties, I had a clear pattern when it came to my living situation. I would live in a place for a couple of years and then move to a new place. In fact, during that time period the longest I lived in one place was three years. One of the reasons I moved so frequently was that I loved the notion of having a fresh start. By this I mean I could move in to a sparkling clean apartment (I hated cleaning so after the first couple of months my place was anything but sparkling) in a new neighborhood that I could spend time exploring. I loved that! During this time period, however, I never pushed myself to see if I could make the old situation seem new. In today’s sacred reading from Philemon, that is exactly what Paul is challenging two people to do; he’s asking Philemon and Onesimus to return to their previous situation and treat it as if it were a new circumstance. So what would have changed in the arrangement that might have suggested the possibility of change? Their faith, that’s what. So often in our lives, we find ourselves doing what I did in my young adult years; spending time and energy “moving” from one situation to another. If we get into relationship troubles, what do we do? We move on to a new relationship. If we have trouble at work, what do we do? We move on to a new job. If we get bored in the city we are living, what do we do? We move on to a new city. Rarely do we follow Paul’s admonition to put on our new lens of faith and see the same old things with new eyes. Today, I would invite you to do just that. Spend some time exploring a challenging area of your life with new eyes and then see what happens. Perhaps you’ll have the opportunity to experience a taste of new life in the same old place. Til next time…

Saturday, May 17

Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 89; Job 38:1-11; Matthew 17:14-21; Acts 2:43-47

When I was growing up, there was a tremendous amount of emphasis placed upon the stories that told of the miracles Jesus performed in my Sunday school and Vacation Bible School classes. There was one dimension of the New Testament experience, however, that was entirely left out. That dimension was referred to in today’s passages from Matthew and Acts. An important point is made in those passages; the point being that Jesus’ followers have been empowered to do the same sort of work that Jesus did. This point is particularly clear in the passage from Matthew where – following the disciples botched attempt to heal a man’s son who had been racked with seizures – Jesus said, “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle” (Matthew 17:20 – The Message). My question for you today is this: Do you believe that? As you survey the challenges and opportunities that lie before you in your life, do you operate from this amazing sense of empowerment of which Jesus spoke; or do you see yourself as a victim whose life is determined by elements beyond your control? As you face those challenges, I encourage you to remember today’s passage from Matthew and then go forth and move the mountain in your life. Til next time…

Friday, May 16

Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 2; Deuteronomy 6:1-15; Matthew 17:1-13; Acts 2:37-42; Psalm 99

Nearly all of us who arrive at a place of faith get there because of the work of someone who has come before us. For some, it might have been a Sunday school or Vacation Bible school teacher who connected with us when we were very young. For others, it might have been a friend or neighbor who embodied God’s love and acceptance for us. For still others, it might have been a respected co-worker or colleague who one day shared with us over coffee or a meal the foundational part of their life. For me, that individual was my mother. She was a quiet individual who modeled for me each day what a life of faith looked like. She taught me lots of important lessons like “It’s not what you say that defines your faith; it’s how you act that defines your faith”. It’s those people that come before us that help prepare the way for our lives and our ministries. This is even true for Jesus. For in today’s Gospel passage, we hear the story of Jesus’ transfiguration. Immediately after that experience, the disciples ask Jesus why the scholars of their day said someone had to come before Jesus. Jesus hears that question and answers almost matter of factly by saying (and I’m paraphrasing here using my own words), “Of course someone has to come first. The person comes first in order to get things ready”. Unfortunately, Jesus adds, people rarely recognize those pioneering folks who come first and get things ready. Jesus’ words opened their eyes and enabled them to recognize the one who had come to get things ready for Jesus – John. Today, I would ask you, “Do you recognize the one (or ones) that came before you to pave your way?” Take a few moments today to recognize those individuals who have played such a role in your life. Then give thanks for the way their preparatory work enabled you to embrace your faith. Til next time…

Thursday, May 15

Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 116; Deuteronomy 4:15-31; Matthew 16:21-28; Acts 2:29-36; Psalm 115

Over the years, I’ve noticed an insidious process at work in those who would like to be “agents of change” in the world. The “agents of change” will often start at an entry level position in the group in which they are serving. They might have very clear, very direct ideas about what needs to be done in order to improve the group. In order to make it through their probationary period, however, the “agent of change” will keep his or her mouth shut. “If I don’t,” they reason, “I’ll be tossed out of the system and consequently will never be able to effect the change I want to make.” After they make it through their probationary period, the “agent of change” begins to look around and see opportunities for promotion within the group. Of course they still have ideas about what needs to be changed in their minds. They think to themselves, however: “While I’ve cleared probation and am now a part of the system, if I can keep my mouth shut just a little while longer, I’ll get the promotion I deserve and then be in a position to implement the changes I believe in.” Years pass and they get a series of promotions. While they are consistently in positions to effect change in their group, they begin to see opportunities to serve a broader constituency. So once again, they decide to remain quiet in hopes of achieving the highest position possible in order to effect change. Sadly, before they realize what has happened, they wake up on the morning of their retirement celebration and ask themselves: “What happened to the changes I was going to make?” I was reminded of this age old pattern, when I read today’s passage from Matthew. For in that passage, Jesus talks with Peter and is able to reveal a set of assumptions Peter had about how things were supposed to unfold. Peter’s expectation is that things are supposed to unfold neatly and easily. Jesus doesn’t let Peter off easy – doesn’t let US off easy. He confronts both Peter and our assumption that things out to be easy if we embrace the reign of God when he said: “Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?” (Matthew 16:25-26 – The Message). Today, I would invite you to explore the question: “Are there things that you are trading your soul for? Have you constructed a series of mental hoops through which you jump in order to justify the trade-offs you settled for?” If so, may you put those hoops aside and open yourself to new ways of being – God’s way of being – so that we can help birth the coming of God’s reign - in our personal lives and in our world. Til next time…