Tuesday, July 29

Today’s Readings: Psalm 67; Genesis 43:16-34; Luke 6:12-26; Acts 19:11-20; Psalm 4

As I have shared with you in previous posts, I’m someone who struggles on a daily basis to come to terms with my issues of co-dependence. That’s because I was raised from day one to be a people pleaser. Because of that, I have this sort of impression burned on my psyche that suggests things are automatically okay if people like me or what I’m doing and that things are automatically not okay if people are upset with me or don’t like what I’m doing. In a perfect world where individuals didn’t have hidden agendas or unhealthy needs, I suppose such thinking might work. In the imperfect world in which we live where lots of folks have hidden agendas and unhealthy needs, let me tell you something: “Such an approach does not work!” Of course it took me 40 years to figure that out for myself. If I had carefully read today’s Gospel reading earlier in my life, I might have saved myself some years of painful life experience. In today’s Gospel reading we are told that Jesus’ said: “Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable” (Luke 6:22 – The Message). As I thought about it – especially that second sentence – Jesus’ words make perfect sense: an alcoholic will like you more if you provide them a drink; a control freak will like you more if you give in to their demands; and a self-centered person will like you more if you give them what they want. While each of the persons in these scenarios may like you better if you simply go along, I don’t think you are doing any of them a favor when you do so. It’s only when you have the strength of character to stand up and say things like “No, I won’t give you the drink”, “No, I won’t be intimidated by you and simply give in to your demand”, “No, there are other factors in this decision to consider beside just your opinion” that you bring the truth close to the person. Of course their only natural response will be to become uncomfortable. I don’t know if you have a similar struggle with a propensity to please others. If you do, remember those words from today’s reading and realize a portion of our call is to bring the truth a little too close for comfort for many – including ourselves. Once you realize this, it’ll help you remember that there are more important things to be worried about than simply being liked by others. Til next time…

Monday, July 28

Today’s Readings: Psalm 21; Genesis 43:1-15; Luke 6:1-11; Acts 19:8-10; Psalm 133

Over the years, my paths have crossed with lots of people who have made an impression on me. One person I bumped into nearly 20 years ago now was a woman whom I’ll call Susan. Susan was a co-worker of mine. She was a woman of deep faith. She made a practice, for instance, of attending mass each and every day. Whenever we would discuss current issues or politics in the staff break room, she was the first to make a correlation between her faith and her position on an issue or a candidate. One day I learned something about Susan that surprised me. Folks in the mental health community were working hard to build a home for developmentally disabled folks in Susan’s neighborhood. Guess which of the neighbors took it upon herself to lead a signature gathering position to block the construction of the home? You got it: Susan. And what was her thinking? She didn’t want “such a place” driving down the property value of her home. I remember thinking, “How does a person spend so much time participating in the ritual expressions of their faith and completely miss the point of that faith?” Of course I wasn’t the first one to think that. I have good company. For in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus finds himself wondering the same thing when he was criticized by the Pharisees first for preparing food on the Sabbath and then healing on the Sabbath. In each instance, the religious folks lost sight of what was really important. It would be easy to look down on Susan and the Pharisees as the only ones who do this, but truth be told most of us have similar blind spots in our lives. Today, I invite you to scan the horizon of your life and see if there are places where you have done this – lost sight of what was really important in terms of living out your faith. If you find such an area, take a moment and turn that area over to God and see if that might help you remember what’s really important. Til next time…

Saturday, July 26

Today’s Readings: Psalm 63; Genesis 42:29-38; Luke 5:27-39; Acts 19:1-7; Psalm 111

As someone whose call is to be a bridge-builder between individuals and communities, I’ve learned at least one thing about human beings: virtually all human beings have someone (or some group) that they consider to be “the other” – someone (or some group) who the person feels is either unworthy or beyond redemption. For Republicans, it’s someone like Bill Clinton; for Democrats, it’s someone like George Bush. For Evangelicals, it’s someone like Bishop John Shelby Spong; for Progressives, it’s someone like James Dobson. I could go on and on with this list, but I think you get the point. The question for most of us isn’t, “Is there someone (or some group) I look down upon?” The real question is, “Who is that someone (or group) I look down upon?” This reality was raised for me once again by today’s Gospel reading from Luke. In that passage we are told that as Jesus went out, he had the audacity to invite someone who was despised by all segments of the community – Levi, a tax collector. Tax collectors were so despised that even the religious authorities of the day felt comfortable calling them crooks and sinners. The positive piece of the story was that once the individuals in the crowd got their biases out into the open, Jesus was free to confront that bias head on and make his case for why that bias was wrong. Is there someone (or some group) in your life that plays the role of tax collector for you – someone (or some group) who you would feel empowered to publicly rail against? If so, the first step is to get over your denial (which often takes the form of self-righteous judgment – as in “I may look down on so-and-so but they deserve it…”) and own up to your bias. Once you do that, God will be free to begin working with you in that area. Who knows? Before long you might just be breaking bread with someone who used to represent “the other” to you. Til next time…

Friday, July 25

Today’s Readings: Psalm 42; Genesis 42:18-28; Luke 5:12-26; Acts 18:22-28; Psalm 141

Hidden in the midst of today’s Gospel lesson is a wonderful lesson in selflessness and humility. It’s easy to miss that lesson because it’s tucked away neatly in the midst of the sweeping passage that contains a dramatic confrontation between Jesus and the religious authorities. The lesson I’m speaking of comes in the very first verse of the passage. In that verse we are introduced to a man with leprosy – an affliction that would have made him not only physically uncomfortable but socially isolated as well. If I were in that miserable condition, I would have had one – and only one – thing on my mind: getting cured. So if I had encountered Jesus, what would my first words to Jesus have been? “Cure me - now!” And yet the leper in today’s passage had slightly different words. He said simply, “If you want to, you can cleanse me.” Amazing! Those simple yet powerful words tell me that the leper recognized Jesus for exactly who he was. And the beauty of his statements was that he didn’t make that recognition dependent on getting what he wanted (what I call the “if you are really the Messiah, heal me” approach). Instead, he took all of his wants and needs (and certainly his ego for that matter) and laid them all at Jesus’ feet – literally. That’s an amazing example for us to follow. Often we become so focused on our wants and needs that when we do stop and talk with God, our communication consists largely of us giving our demands. Today – in the midst of the many wants and demands in your life – take a moment and think about the leper’s approach toward Jesus. Then see if you can emulate it. Til next time…