March Week 5

Virtue: Courage
Resolution: I choose to live boldly with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, in spite of fear.

Human Story: Lawrence of Rome (225 - 258)

When we read of the early church, certainly courage is a primary characteristic of many of our older brothers and sisters, and Saint Lawrence exemplifies courage in the utmost.

Roman Emperor Valerian was a persecutor of the church. On August 6, 258, Valerian continued this persecution by having the Bishop of Rome, Sixtus, captured while he was celebrating Mass and had him beheaded. Afterwards, he sent word to the young deacon Lawrence demanding he turn over all the riches of the Church, and he gave Lawrence three days to round it up.

Lawrence worked swiftly. He sold the Church’s vessels and gave the money to widows and the sick. He distributed all the Church’s property to the poor. On the third day, the Emperor summoned Lawrence to his palace and asked for the treasure. With great aplomb, Lawrence entered the palace, stopped, and then gestured back to the door where, streaming in behind him, poured crowds of poor, crippled, blind, and suffering people. “These are the true treasures of the Church,” he boldly proclaimed. One early account even has him adding, “The Church is truly rich, far richer than the Emperor.” (Author, Brandon Vogt)

This, of course, angered the Emperor and Lawrence was scourged, tortured, and imprisoned.

In his prison, however, he took no rest but wounded and bleeding as he was, he baptised the converts won to Christ by the sight of his courageous suffering. He confirmed their faith and fired their souls with a martyr’s intrepidity. When the evening hour summoned Rome to its pleasures, the prefect recalled the executioners to their work, for a few hours’ rest had sufficiently restored their energy to enable them to satisfy his cruelty.

Surrounded by this ill-favored company, the prefect thus addressed the valiant deacon: ‘Sacrifice to the gods, or else the whole night long shall be witness of your torments.’ ‘My night has no darkness,’ answered Laurence, ‘and all things are full of light to me.’ They struck him on the mouth with stone, but he smiled and said, ‘I give Thee thanks, O Christ.’

Then an iron bed or gridiron with three bars was brought in and the saint was stripped of his garments and extended upon it while burning coals were placed beneath it. As they were holding him down with iron fork, Lawrence said ‘I offer myself as a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness.’ The executioners continually stirred up the fire and brought fresh coals, while they still held him down with their forks. Then the saint said: ‘Learn, unhappy man, how great is the power of my God; for your burning coals give me refreshment but they will be your eternal punishment. I call Thee, O Lord, to witness: when I was accused, I did not deny Thee; when I was questioned, I confessed Thee, O Christ; on the red-hot coals I gave Thee thanks.’ And with his countenance radiant with heavenly beauty, … He then raised his eyes to his judge and said: ‘See, this side is well roasted; turn me on the other and eat.’ Then, continuing his canticle of praise to God [he said]: ‘I give Thee thanks, O Lord, that I have merited to enter into Thy dwelling place.’

Reference: https://anastpaul.com/2017/08/10/saint-of-the-day-feast-of-st-lawrence-of-rome-martyr/

Lesson: James 1:12

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

There’s a lot at stake when we are faced with a trial. Romans 5:3-4 tells us that when we persevere under suffering it produces character and character produces hope. But what if we don’t persevere? Some antonyms of character are evil, crookedness, viciousness, depravity, and the list goes on and on. And what do these things produce? Despair, distrust, discouragement, disbelief, and hopelessness. Second Corinthians 2:17 says that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

Think of a child who needs an immunization because her grandfather has Hepatitis B. She is terrified of getting a shot, but this “light and momentary” pain is worth it so that she can have a face to face relationship with her grandfather. As adults, we often look at our situations the same way as this girl – with kicking and screaming and squirming when we come across trials in our lives. We need to remind ourselves what’s at stake (character and hope) and what awaits us in the end (the crown of life).

Remembrance

Henry Suso (1290-1365)

Remember that you will derive strength
by reflecting that the saints,
yearn for you
to join their ranks,
desire to see you fight bravely,
and behave like a true knight
in your encounters
with the same adversities
which they had to conquer
and that breathtaking joy
is the eternal reward,
for having endured a few years,
of temporal pain.
Every drop of earthly bitterness,
will be changed into
an ocean of heavenly sweetness.

Challenge

The girl who needs shots doesn’t want a nurse holding her as the injections are done. She wants her mom holding her, comforting her. Why? Because she knows her mom, she trusts her mom. In the same way, we can only lean into God when facing trials if we have already learned to trust His love for us.

Spend time meditating on these (or other) scriptures and/or listening to some of these songs. Develop a habit that regularly draws you into God’s presence so you can learn to trust Him always but especially in trials.

Scriptures
Deuteronomy 31:6,8
Joshua 1:5
Isaiah 41:10 
Hebrews 13:5-6
Matthew 28:20                 

Songs
I will never leave you by Ben Glover
Never Once by Matt Redmond
A Mighty Fortress
Find You on My Knees by Kari Jobe
Eyes Fixed by Phil Wickham

Reflection

Ponder the trust it required for Lawrence to praise God while his flesh roasted over a fire. Can you trust God with your current trials?

Further Growth: 5th Sunday in Lent

2023: No 5th Week in March

2022: 4th Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Joshua 5:1-12
Psalm: Psalm 34
New Testament: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Gospel: Luke 15:11-32

2021: Wednesday in Holy Week

Old Testament: Isaiah 50:4-9
Psalm: Psalm 69:6-22
New Testament: Hebrews 9:11-28
Gospel: Matthew 26:1-25

2020

Old Testament: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm: Psalm 130
New Testament: Romans 6:15-23
Gospel: John 11:18-44

March Week 4

Virtue: Courage
Resolution: I choose to live boldly with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, in spite of fear.

Human Story: Father Dale Hall

One of the most courageous acts a Christian can display is living counter-culturally. In our American bent toward consumption and greed, it can become common place to succumb to a “get ahead at any cost” mentality. This lifestyle is rarely challenged by the church. It can be daunting to respond to this American ethos with a lifestyle of simplicity and dependency upon God.

Father Dale Hall has chosen to be courageous in this way. He has had a bountiful career in church ministry: church planter, pastor, mentor, spiritual director, counselor, social worker, among others. One of his most inspiring characteristics has been his commitment to a life of simplicity. Below is a transcript of a brief interview with Fr. Dale.

When in your Christian journey did you begin to be drawn toward “simplicity”?

I always liked fixing up old things, reusing and repurposing things. As a child it made me sad to see things not being used. As an adult I really began to reject excessive American materialism early on.

Who were your role models in this process?

Saint Francis and Richard Foster who, in his book Celebration of Discipline, has a chapter on simplicity which was very influential and practical. E.g., I go through my closet and if there are things I have not worn in the past year I consider if it's time give them away, practicing simplicity with generosity.

What advice would you give a 20-something believer who wants to be more spiritually mature?

Make time and be available to be mentored. Look at the early church, that's how it was done. Saint Symeon said this is the “golden chain" of how the church is handed down generation to generation. Also, make a conscious choice to let the uncomfortable things of life be used by God to mold and shape you; He can reclaim many of our worst circumstances and build intimacy with you.

Describe your view on the world now as it relates to material possessions, living your faith in culture, revealing Christ in culture?

Material possessions are only as important as they are necessary. So, ask "What is necessary?" As for culture, I think the culture needs two things from the church:

1) For us to be accessible, meeting the culture whenever and wherever possible. Jesus exemplified this well by where he went and who he spent time with.

2) For us to stay true to the message: That for us and for our salvation Christ came down from heaven, he suffered...was crucified...rose... and will come again. The world needs the faithful presence of the church in both our words and our deeds.

Lesson: HebrewS 13:5 (NIV)

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you'

Have you ever thought about what you look to for fulfillment? What is the one thing you would need to be content? We tend to depend on temporary things that aren’t guaranteed--wealth, fame, or position. It isn’t wrong to have these things, but we must guard against allowing them to consume us. Focusing on these temporary things clouds our understanding that the “one thing” we really need is the presence of the all-sufficient, eternal God through Christ our Lord. Even if everything else is stripped away, God has promised to never leave us or forsake us.

The letter to the Hebrews was most likely written to a local church community facing difficulty because of their acceptance of Christ, and some were losing hope and leaving the faith because of the hardships. Perhaps they saw others prospering while they were feeling mistreated because of following Christ’s teachings. The early Christians receiving this letter would have more clearly understood the Old Testament references than we do. They would have remembered their history as a nation. The Israelites had been safely delivered from Pharaoh’s persecution but found themselves wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. God supplied their needs, but still they questioned if life in slavery might have been better. Finally, with God’s encouraging words, Joshua led the Israelites to that land promised to their ancestors: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV). Although following Christ may not always be comfortable nor will answers to prayer always be known to us, there’s no need to be afraid. Just as God was with Moses, Joshua, and the Israelites, God is also with us. Even if everything else is gone and we feel like we are in a wilderness (whether of our own making or because we are being mistreated), God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. The Holy Spirit is with us, even at times when we may not be aware of his guiding presence. God is the “one thing” we really need, and when we learn to be content in Christ, we discover He is more than enough.

No person is immune to hardships and difficulties, even followers of Christ. We live in a flawed world where we are regularly confronted with pressures and injustices that can distract us or cause us to become afraid. But our faith can be strengthened by remembering our hope is not in the systems or possessions of this world, but rather in Christ and what He has accomplished for us. God is more than sufficient to sustain and keep our souls safe through difficult times and to guide us onward. Fear can fade and our hope can increase if we learn to embrace God’s eternal promise to us: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Remembrance

GOD, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with Him forever in
the next.
Amen
-Reinhold Niebuhr, 1926

Challenge

Father Dale advises that we “make time and be available to be mentored.” You have people in your life who are “older” (physically or spiritually) who could offer encouragement, guidance or advice for your current season of life. Additionally, there are “younger” people in your life who could benefit from your past experiences. Asking someone to mentor you or asking someone if they would like to be mentored takes a lot of courage and a time commitment. This week pray about someone you could ask about mentoring. If God gives you a name, be responsive to His leading.

Reflection

When you read of Father Dale’s commitment to simplicity and ponder the call to contentment in Hebrews 13:5, what areas of your life or future goals feel inspired? Challenged? Are you holding tightly to comfort, position, or excess? May we as a chapel continually redirect one another to Christ’s promise never to leave us.

Further Growth

2023: 5th sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm: Psalm 130
New Testament: Romans 6:15-23
Gospel: John 11:1-44

2021: Palm Sunday

Old Testament: Isaiah 52:13- 53:12
Psalm: Psalm 22:1-21
New Testament: Philippians 2:5-11
Gospel: Mark 15:1-39

2020: 4th Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm: Psalm 23
New Testament: Ephesians 5:1-14
Gospel: John 9:1-13 and John 9:28-41

March Week 3

Virtue: Courage
Resolution: I choose to live boldly with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, in spite of fear.

Human Story: Perpetua and Felicitas ( - 203)

Some of the most powerful examples of supernatural, Christian courage originate in the stories of martyrdom in the early church. When we read the stories of the martyrs or even hear of persecution in the world today, we can easily feel disconnected from their suffering. It is often challenging for those in the western church to relate to the level of determination and courage exhibited by the martyrs. However, it is still important that we allow ourselves to sit with their stories and let the gravity of their experiences inspire and catalyze our faith in Christ.

Early in the third century, the reigning Roman emperor, Septimius Severus, had decided to stop the spread of Judaism and Christianity. Under penalty of death, he outlawed all conversions to Christianity. Intensive persecution was aimed directly at new converts and their teachers. Perpetua was an affluent woman, liberally educated, married, and still nursing her infant child. She had a slave named Felicitas. Both women were a part of a group of five catechumens (followers of Christ preparing to receive baptism) who, in 203 A.D., were charged with disobeying the imperial edict against conversion to Christianity.

When initially arrested, Perpetua’s father came to her to persuade her to save her life by abandoning her faith. She answered that, just as everything has a name and it is useless to try to give it a different name, she had the name of Christian, and this could not be changed. The judicial process was a drawn-out affair, apparently because the authorities hoped to persuade the accused to abandon their faith. Felicitas, who was pregnant when arrested, was afraid that her life would be spared for that reason, or that her martyrdom would be postponed, and she would not be able to join her four companions. But her prayers were answered as she gave birth, in her eighth month of pregnancy, to a girl who was later adopted by another Christian woman. Seeing her suffering in childbirth, her jailers asked how she expected to be able to face the beasts in the arena. Her answer is typical of the manner in which martyrdom was interpreted: “Now my sufferings are only mine. But when I face the beasts there will be another who will live in me and will suffer for me since I shall be suffering for him.”

When the day of martyrdom arrived, Perpetua entered the arena, singing psalms and walking with confidence as the beloved of God. Perpetua and Felicitas had been told in a vision that while in the arena they would be attacked by a ferocious cow. Having been hit and thrown by the animal, Perpetua asked to retie her hair, for loose hair was a sign of mourning, and this was a joyful day for her. Reportedly Perpetua had been so deeply in the Spirit that she was not aware of the initial hit of the animal. She responded, “Stand fast in the faith, and love one another, all of you, and be not offended at my sufferings.” Finally, the two bleeding women stood in the middle of the arena, bid each other farewell with the kiss of peace, and died by the sword.

The account of their arrest and imprisonment is believed to have been conveyed by Perpetua with the final details added by Tertullian:

O most brave and blessed martyrs! O truly called and chosen unto the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ! [Believers] assuredly ought to read these examples for the edification of the Church… so that new virtues may also testify that one and the same Holy Spirit is always operating even until now, and God the Father Omnipotent, and His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, whose is the glory and infinite power for ever and ever. Amen.

Reference: The Story of Christianity, Justo L. Gonzalez

Lesson: Acts 7:51-53 (NIV)

You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.

Western Christianity has significantly influenced the culture of the United States to a point where three out of every four adults say they are Christian. A basic understanding of the Christian faith, along with an elementary level discernment, reveals that this is far from the case. It is quite easy to hide under the label “Christian” in this country, even if that Christianity is, at best, nominal.

In the early church, luke-warm Christianity was as foreign as Florida residents living in igloos. Throughout Luke’s two-book narrative (Luke- Acts) from Jesus’ ministry to the stories of the early church, he is showing that what God has done through Jesus compels a person to respond. Being a follower of “the way” was serious, and much was at stake. Without courage, it was impossible to persevere.

Stephen is as bold of an example of courage as we encounter in the pages of the New Testament. He is a “man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (6:5) and performs great wonders and signs among the people (6:8). The Sanhedrin is a group of powerful religious leaders who would meet on an ad-hoc basis to decide on important legal matters. Stephen’s summons to the Sanhedrin would be akin to an average American citizen standing in front of Congress. The expected response would have been to flatter the members of the group praising their power and wisdom and hope to be let off with a slap on the wrist. Stephen lives boldly and stands with courage. He gives a succinct, yet brilliant summary of Israelite history, followed by pointing his finger in the face of the most honorable men in the temple, accusing them of being no different than those who fashioned a golden calf 1400 years earlier after one of the greatest miracles the world has ever seen. Stephen is re-telling the story and exposing a common theme: unfaithfulness. (See 1 Kgs. 19:10-14; 2 Chr 36:16; Neh 9:26.) When Stephen completed his discourse, the Sanhedrin had him stoned to death.

To speak truth requires courage, for the truth spoken could result in dire consequences. The early Christians knew this. In fact, the first three centuries of church history are filled with martyr accounts, with Stephen leading the way as the first Christian martyr. The culture of 21st century America may be quite different than 1st century Judea, but the seriousness of following Jesus, and the courage it takes to be a true and committed follower, is remarkably similar. The lack of opposition we face today perhaps says more about the commitment level of our relationship with Jesus than the sanctity of modern life compared with antiquity. Stephen surely had fears like the rest of us do, but his courage over-rode those fears because of his commitment to Jesus. Though we most likely will not be stoned, we must be willing to let our courage over-ride our fears, no matter the cost.

Remembrance

A Collect for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, The Book of Common Prayer
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Challenge

Lectio Divina is a fancy Latin word for "Divine Reading". It was coined by Benedictine monks in the 6th century who were seeking to emphasize Scripture as the Living Word, as opposed to just another text to study. Using John 14:25-27 as the text, practice Lectio Divina by following these four steps:  

Reflection

The introduction to March’s devotionals included the following quote from Brene Brown: In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” How do Perpetua’s and Stephen’s resolve encourage you to speak what’s on your heart concerning Christ?

Further Growth

2023: 4th Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm: Psalm 23
New Testament: Ephesians 5:1-14
Gospel: John 9:1-13, 28-41

2022: 3rd Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm: Psalm 103
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Gospel: Luke 13:1-17

2021: 5th Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm: Psalm 51
New Testament: Hebrews 5:1-10
Gospel: John 12:20-33

2020

Old Testament: Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm: Psalm 95
New Testament: Romans 1:16-32
Gospel: John 4:5-42

March Week 2

Virtue: Courage
Resolution: I choose to live boldly with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, in spite of fear.

Human Story: Carolyn Dirksen

Hot, dry, Bisbee, Arizona was hardly fertile ground for the dreams of 12-year-old Carolyn. She wanted to go to college but would be the first in her family to do so. Her widowed mother worked a minimum wage job to support Carolyn, her sisters, and their grandmother, who often warned Carolyn to suppress her college dreams. Since none of them knew about grants and scholarships, it was the kind of dream that caused more sadness than hope, especially for Carolyn’s mother, who had no idea how to make it a reality. It took courage for Carolyn to believe that this dream might have been laid on her heart by her Creator. She persisted, and her mother told her they would pray.

Their church looked a bit like Carolyn’s family—poor, mostly women, and untrusting of academia —but they knew love and prayer. These women, whom she calls her “spiritual mothers,” gathered around Carolyn and her mother. A prophetic word was spoken; Carolyn would go to college. Her dream became a calling, and that calling gave her courage to face the obstacles ahead. She soon encountered brothers and sisters in Christ who saw her call to higher education as sinful or misguided. But she persisted and became the first female faculty member of her college to be awarded a sabbatical. Carolyn used it to pursue her PhD. She faced criticism, direct and latent, for seeking a doctorate when her husband, who “had a good job,” didn’t even have one. She was villainized for pursuing career and “her own wishes.” Yet, she had a calling and so she had courage.

Pursuing her calling had its costs. Even now she tears up as she recalls words spoken to and about her that ranged from unkind to untrue. Her voice cracks as she reflects, “I had to go underground about the things I was doing, which made me trust less. I think I missed out on ‘community.’”

Of late, she has been more vocal in her advocacy for the voiceless and the marginalized. “The time for subtlety is over;” she explains “my days of staying under the radar are past.” Which means she became a target of rude criticism, this time on social media. Carolyn responded with overwhelming grace and dignity. True bravery in this situation, she believes, includes a real honesty with yourself and with God. “When being attacked, you must be certain to look for any truth in the criticism before you respond.”

Dr. Carolyn Dirksen has now retired from a 50-year career in which she was central in transforming Lee College of Cleveland, TN from a small bible college into a thriving Christian liberal arts university. Her impact on the thousands of students she has inspired and taught is hard to overstate. She points to Ephesians 2:10 as a guiding verse that has given her courage. She recalls, “We were meant to build something here for God’s Kingdom. Who could stand against us?”

Lesson: Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians was written by Paul to a church of non-Hebrew believers. The first two chapters make the argument that Jews and Gentiles are equal members of the family of God. Paul is uniquely positioned to make such a claim. When he speaks to the Ephesians as equal citizens in the Kingdom of God, He does so with the authority of a respected believer and scholar of the Hebrew people.

Imagine how meaningful it would be for a natural born son of a family going to an adopted sibling and saying “You are just as much a member of this family as I am.” Paul’s implication is made clear by his repeated use of plural first-person pronouns like “we” and “us” (e.g. 2:4-5). Our membership in the Family of God has nothing to do with our actions, our family heritage or our earthly citizenship. And believing this takes courage.

We long for love and value that is based on our accomplishments. We would love to believe that we have somehow done something to impress our significant other, friend, or boss who looked over a large field of applicants and pulled us out of the pile saying “Yes!” We have been raised in a meritocracy where rising to the top is seen as an indication of value and significance. Yet, Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that our value is that we are made by God. “For we are God’s handiwork...” We’d love to believe we could somehow earn God’s love by impressing Him. Consider this conversation between a painter and God:

ME: What do you think of the painting?
GOD: I love you.
ME: That’s nice, but what do you think of the painting?
GOD: (smiles) I love you.
ME: Yes, but do you see what I did over here, with the shading and the color?
GOD: I love you.
ME: You’re not listening...

Can you imagine what we could possibly “paint on our canvas” that would be more impressive than the work of art that He has done by creating us? It takes courage to surrender our desire to impress, to find our identity in Christ instead of our accomplishments. Our works are not a means to earn God’s love, but rather a gift He’s laid out for us because He loves us. May we have the courage to release our dependence on conditional love and remember that we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Remembrance

An excerpt from C.S. Lewis's The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
     Drinian’s hand shook on the tiller and a line of cold sweat ran down his face. The same idea was occurring to everyone on board. “We shall never get out, never get out,” moaned the rowers. “He’s steering us wrong. We’re going round and round in circles. We shall never get out.” The stranger, who had been lying in a huddled heap on the deck, sat up and burst out into a horrible screaming laugh.
     “Never get out!” he yelled. “That’s it. Of course. We shall never get out. What a fool I was to have thought they would let me go as easily as that. No, no, we shall never get out.”
     Lucy leant her head on the edge of the fighting top and whispered, “Aslan, Aslan, if ever you loved us at all, send us help now.” The darkness did not grow any less, but she began to feel a little—a very, very little—better. “After all, nothing has really happened to us yet,” she thought.
     “Look!” cried Rynelf’s voice hoarsely from the bows. There was a tiny speck of light ahead, and while they watched a broad beam of light fell from it upon the ship. It did not alter the surrounding darkness, but the whole ship was lit up as if by searchlight. Caspian blinked, stared round, saw the faces of his companions all with wild, fixed expressions. Everyone was staring in the same direction: behind everyone lay his black, sharply- edged shadow.
     Lucy looked along the beam and presently saw something in it. At first it looked like a cross, then it looked like an aeroplane, then it looked like a kite, and at last with a whirring of wings it was right overhead and was an albatross. It circled three times round the mast and then perched for an instant on the crest of the gilded dragon at the prow. It called out in a strong sweet voice what seemed to be words though no one understood them. After that it spread its wings, rose, and began to fly slowly ahead, bearing a little to starboard. Drinian steered after it not doubting that it offered good guidance. But no one except Lucy knew that as it circled the mast it had whispered to her, “Courage, dear heart,” and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan’s, and with the voice a delicious smell breathed in her face.
     In a few moments the darkness turned into a greyness ahead, and then, almost before they dared to begin hoping, they had shot out into the sunlight and were in the warm, blue world again. And all at once everybody realized that there was nothing to be afraid of and never had been. They blinked their eyes and looked about them. The brightness of the ship herself astonished them: they had half expected to find that the darkness would cling to the white and the green and the gold in the form of some grime or scum. And then first one, and then another, began laughing.

Challenge

Fasting is an ancient Christian tradition – one that is central to the season of Lent. It seems to have lost a lot of its significance in the midst of today's "Have it your way" society. In an effort to recover this practice, give something up this week (or month, or for the season of Lent) that has become an idol for you. Don't just give it up but replace it with something that particularly helps you draw nearer to God's heart and purpose in your life.

Reflection

Do you relate to the conversation between the painter and God from the lesson? Do find yourself eager to impress God, or are you able to rest in the peace that He simply loves you? Let us be reminded, “Our works are not a means to earn God’s love, but rather a gift He’s laid out for us because He loves us.”

Further Growth

2023 - 3rd Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm: Psalm 95
New Testament: Romans 1:16-32
Gospel: John 4:5-42

2022 - 2nd Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Genesis 15:1-18
Psalm: Psalm 27
New Testament: Philippians 3:17 — 4:1
Gospel: Luke 13:22-35

2021 - 4th Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 36:14-23
Psalm: Psalm 122
New Testament: Ephesians 2:1-10
Gospel: John 6:1-15

2020 - 2nd Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Genesis 12:1-9
Psalm: Psalm 33:12-21
New Testament: Romans 4:1-17
Gospel: John 3:1-16

March Week 1

Virtue: Courage
Resolution: I choose to live boldly with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, in spite of fear.

Human Story: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 - 1968)

On April 3rd, 1968, in a prophetic speech given at Mason Temple Church in Memphis, TN, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said these words:

We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop....Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land! And so I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!

The next day he was shot and killed on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel.

Martin Luther King Jr. was born January 15th, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. His father was a minister, and at 25 years old, after receiving degrees from Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary, and Boston University, he followed in his father’s footsteps to become a pastor in Montgomery, Alabama. After the 1955 arrest of Rosa Parks, Dr. King was put on center stage of the Civil Rights Movement when he and others began planning the Montgomery bus boycott. Under constant harassment, threats, and violent acts, the participants of the boycott held out for over 381 days until the city of Montgomery desegregated their buses.

From that point, MLK’s role began as one of the main the voices in the Civil Rights movement. He went on to help found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a group of African American church leaders that organized non-violent protests and demonstrations around the U.S. to end all forms of segregation. King helped organize sit-ins to desegregate lunch counters in Atlanta, held demonstrations in Birmingham and Washington, marched from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, won a Nobel Peace Prize, and helped get the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act passed. King was also very outspoken against the war in Vietnam, nuclear armament, consumerism, and the oppression of the poor in society. He accumulated a list of trials and troubles that could be laid beside the Apostle Paul’s; he faced beatings and harassment, death threats to him and his family, the police used fire hoses and dogs to stop his demonstrations, he was stabbed, thrown in jail 30 times, and ultimately shot and killed.

In the face of all these afflictions, Dr. King overcame hatred and fear through courage, love, and faith. Like the prophets of old he was a spokesman who called out the injustices of society and expressed love for the oppressed and their oppressors. He had an unshakable belief, “that unarmed Truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality” and could say with confidence that, “right temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”

Lesson: Matthew 10:26-31 (NIV)

So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

This week’s lesson is MLK’s personal analysis of Matthew 10:26-31. This excerpt is taken from his book “Strength to Love” in the chapter entitled, “Antidotes for Fear.” 

Religion endows us with the conviction that we are not alone in this vast, uncertain universe. Beneath and above the shifting sands of time, the uncertainties that darken our days, and the vicissitudes that cloud our nights is a wise and loving God. This universe is not a tragic expression of meaningless chaos but a marvelous display of orderly cosmos – “The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.” Man is not a wisp of smoke from a limitless smoldering but a child created “a little lower than the angels.” Above the manyness of time stands the one eternal God, with wisdom to guide us, strength to protect us, and love to keep us. His boundless love supports and contains us as a mighty ocean contains and supports the tiny drops of every wave. With a surging fullness he is forever moving toward us, seeking to fill the little creeks and bays of our lives with unlimited resources. This is religion’s everlasting diapason, its eternal answer to the enigma of existence. Any man who finds this cosmic sustenance can walk the highways of life without the fatigue of pessimism and the weight of morbid fears.

Herein lies the answer to the neurotic fear of death that plagues so many of our lives. Let us face the fear that the atomic bomb has aroused with the faith that we can never travel beyond the arms of the Divine. Death is inevitable. It is a democracy for all of the people, not an aristocracy for some of the people- kings die and beggars die; young men die and old men die; learned men die and ignorant men die. We need not fear it. The God who brought our whirling planet from primal vapor and has led the human pilgrimage for lo these many centuries can most assuredly lead us through death’s dark night into the bright daybreak of eternal life. His will is too perfect and his purposes are too extensive to be to be contained in the limited receptacle of time and the narrow walls of earth. Death is not the ultimate evil; the ultimate evil is to be outside God’s love. We need not join the mad rush to purchase an earthly fallout shelter. God is our eternal fallout shelter.

Jesus knew that nothing could separate man from the love of God. Man, for Jesus, is not mere flotsam and jetsam in the river of life, but he is a child of God. Is it not unreasonable to assume that God, whose creative activity is expressed in an awareness of a sparrow’s fall and the number of hairs on a man’s head, excludes from his encompassing love the life of man itself? The confidence that God is mindful of the individual is of tremendous value in dealing with the disease of fear, for it gives us a sense of worth, of belonging, and of at-homeness in the universe.

Reference: King, Martin Luther. “Antidotes for Fear.” Strength to Love, Fortress Press, 1963, pp. 128–130.

Remembrance

Celtic Daily Prayer: Book Two: Prayer by Dawna Markova

I will not die an unlived life,
I will not live in fear
Of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days, To allow my living to open me, To make me less afraid,
More accessible,
To loosen my heart Until it becomes a wing, A torch, a promise...

Challenge

Our motives drive us. Reflect on what has motivated you to get where you are right now in life. After an honest self-evaluation, consider the following verse, Hebrews 13:5: "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you." If you identified "control, safety, security, or comfort" as motivating forces in your life, consider how God may be calling you to have the courage to let go of those motives and live a more contented life, trusting in God's provision.

Reflection

In a time when we are bombarded with images of injustice around the world, in our country, even in our own community, what does this quote from Dr. King mean to you and your desire to see peace: “right temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant”? Are there examples of “right” that give you hope?

Further Growth

2023 - 2nd Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Genesis 12:1-9
Psalm: Psalm 33:12-21
New Testament: Romans 4:1-17
Gospel: John 3:1-16

2022 - 1st Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Psalm: Psalm 91
New Testament: Romans 10:4-13
Gospel: Luke 4:1-13

2021 - 3rd Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Exodus 20:1-21
Psalm: Psalm 19:7-14
New Testament: Romans 7:12-25
Gospel: John 2:13-22

2020

Old Testament: Genesis 2:4 — 3:7
Psalm: Psalm 51
New Testament: Romans 5:12-21
Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

March Introduction

March: Courage

Resolution: I choose to live boldly with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, in spite of fear.

The Latin root of the word courage is cor, or “heart.” The concept of courage as “heart” positions like two points on an axis. On one side, courage is what we most commonly envision--bravery, heroic acts, valor. On the other side, there is the subtlety of courage--to speak what is on one’s heart. It is an inner strength that may not be demonstrated by an act of power, but a fortitude to face a difficult conversation. Brene Brown says:

Courage is a heart word.... In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant "To speak one's mind by telling all one's heart." Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences - good and bad. Speaking from our hearts is what I think of as "ordinary courage.”

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” This passage should be compelling. God promises something other than fear. He will give us power, love, and self-control. Power if we need to respond to fear with bravery, love if we need to respond to fear with compassion, and self-control if we need to respond to fear by overcoming our own lack of discipline. If we are called upon to take a dramatic stand against injustice, we will have the power. If we need to forgive someone who has deeply harmed us, we will have love. If we need to simplify our lives in our gluttonous culture, we will have the self-control.

In March we begin, or maybe continue, the season of Lent. Lent symbolizes Jesus’ time in the wilderness. He fasted for 40 days and was tempted by Satan on three different occasions (see Luke 4:1-3). He demonstrated power when tempted to reveal His divinity too soon. He showed love and trust in His father when tempted to short-cut the divine plan to achieve victory over death via the cross. And He had to summon self-control when tempted to turn stones into bread. Jesus embodied courage. Let us follow Jesus’ footsteps as we choose to live with courage.

March: Liturgy

Leader: Almighty Father, You inspired the prophets of old to speak truth to oppressive powers and not be silent about Your desire for Your people. Give us courage to do likewise and be bold in this unjust world.

People: Father, grant us courage to stand for what is true.

Leader: Lord Jesus, You modeled courage for us in the wilderness by not giving in to the lures of earthly temptations. During this season, strip us of all sinful desires so that we may serve the one true God alone.

People: Jesus, show Your power through our weakness.

Leader:  Holy Spirit, Source of our courage, give us clear minds to live boldly during these difficult times. Convict us of individual and societal sin; give us courage to speak and act against evil forces bent on destruction.

People: Spirit, empower us to overcome our fears and instill courage in others.

February Week 4

Virtue: Love
Resolution: I choose to love God with my whole being and my neighbor as myself, especially my enemy.

Human Story: Demetrius Ramsey

Demetrius grew up in Bradley County, Tennessee. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Bradley/Cleveland Community Services Agency. Demetrius has made it a part of his life's work to mentor young people, particularly young African American males, in our community who have similar backgrounds to himself. We had a conversation with him about what inspires him to take the time to love and invest in others, and we think you'll find it inspiring.

Q1: Tell us a little bit about your background/upbringing.

I grew up in a single parent, lower-income home and would have been considered "at-risk" by most standards. My father wasn't in the home and it wasn't until recently that I understood how my father's absence has always been a motivator for me. At 16, my paternal grandfather, Calvin Ramsey, died. He was the closest thing I had to a father figure; he made me think I could do anything - that I could be president one day. From the time I was in the 3rd grade, he was challenging me to be a reader and a learner. When he died, I moved into my grandma's home to serve her because I saw how much she was grieving. This is where service began for me. When I was 24, my grandma passed away. She was my everything. I was devastated, willing to turn to a lot of other bad things and even had suicidal thoughts. I grieved her death for almost 10 years.

Q2: Tell us about these kids [see photo, Demetrius is pictured on the left].

Since 2011, I've had 15-20 kids that I've mentored who had a similar background as me. There have been limitless opportunities to serve these kids because of their life situations. Most of them want to connect with somebody in a real way, and I didn't want these kids to be without a mentor figure. The six kids in this picture graduated college, but as many as that did not. I stay in touch with each one of them to make sure they keep staying on the right track. Kids these days are facing so much pressure--social media, drugs, porn, and other addictive behaviors. Unless we address our youth at a young age, changing the way they respect authority will be really difficult. People ask me, "Why are you doing this?" My response is "There but by the grace of God go I." I could have easily been a different person today had it not been for a mentor figure at that point in my life.

Q3: How would you challenge others to love well and look more like Christ in the way we love?

In order to love deeply, you have to be selfless, vulnerable, and risk being rejected. Every time we give of ourselves, it is a gamble. Sometimes others respond positively, while others do not. Romans 12:1 (KJV) states, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." We have to be willing to get to know each other, the good, bad, and ugly, and still love one another. And at the end of the day, we have to see others as they truly are—made in the image of God. We have to go deeper than the surface. The time is up for loving God and our neighbors with loopholes and contingencies. The time has come for us to expand our definition of neighbor and love one another – as well as we love ourselves. God wants us to ignore the caution lights, take our feet off the brakes and chase Him and Kingdom-living without reservation. And then, without even realizing it, we will love God and our neighbors more deeply. Without thinking about it, we will feed and clothe the less fortunate, welcome in strangers, care for those who are sick and visit prisoners – doing all of this in a manner that honors God – truly exhibiting deep love.

Lesson: 1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Sincere love is a defining characteristic of followers of Christ, but with our busy routines it becomes easy to overlook the opportunities to share God’s love with others. These verses remind us of our obligation and responsibility to love one another as Jesus loves us.

Many of us learned to recite from memory John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (ESV). We find comfort and hope in this promise, and 1 John 3:16 helps us understand better our obligation that accompanies it. Following Christ is not only receiving God’s grace personally but also sharing sincere love with others through our actions and deeds. In our individualistic culture, it is easy to focus on self-preservation more than self-sacrifice. Christ’s example compels us to experience shared community with our brothers and sisters in the faith and to care for others in need, even though it isn't always easy.

The greatest manifestation of love is seen in Christ’s self-sacrifice when He gave His life in place of our transgressions. 1 John 3:16-18 reminds us to exemplify this type of love for the well-being of others in a way that is both voluntary and purposeful. Like the early church community, we, too, have a responsibility to show love and compassion— not only expressing it with words but also expressing it in practical ways.

Let us seek to be more aware of the people around us and allow the Holy Spirit to help us become more sensitive to their needs. Maybe it is by providing food, clothing, or shelter. Perhaps it is by offering hospitality or prayer. It may be through giving power to the poor, being a voice for the voiceless, or taking time to listen and build friendships with those who think differently than we do. In whatever way the Holy Spirit guides us, may we be encouraged to embrace our responsibility as followers of Christ and share God’s love with others as an extension of our worship and witness.

Remembrance: A Prayer for the Seventh Sunday After the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Challenge

Think back on a time in your life when someone sacrificed his/her time and energy to love you well. Perhaps you can even think of someone in the present day who fits this description. Although the chances are great that this person is loving you with no expectation of anything in return, think of a way you might express your gratitude for him/her (a letter, a phone call, a personal visit, a gift, etc.) and do it this week.

Reflection

Demetrius Ramsey said, "Every time we give of ourselves, it's a gamble." What do you think he means by that? What are ways to prepare ourselves to serve others when we know we cannot control how our care will be received?

Further Growth

2023: First Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Genesis 2:4 — 3:7
Psalm: Psalm 51
New Testament: Romans 5:12-21
Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

2022: 8th Sunday of Epiphany

Old Testament: Jeremiah 7:1-15
Psalm: Psalm 92
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
Gospel: Luke 6:39-49

2021: 2nd Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Genesis 22:1-14
Psalm: Psalm 16
New Testament: Romans 8:31-39
Gospel: Mark 8:31-38

2020: 8th Sunday of Epiphany

Old Testament: Isaiah 49:8-23
Psalm: Psalm 62
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 4:1-13
Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34

December Week 3

Virtue: Humility
Resolution: I choose to honor others above self.

Human Story: St Francis of Assisi (1181/2 – 1226)

Francis of Assisi was born in Italy around the year 1181 to a prosperous silk merchant and a noblewoman. Francis lived a high-spirited life typical of a wealthy young man. He was handsome, witty, gallant, and delighted in fine clothes. He spent money lavishly and was renowned for drinking and partying in his youth but soon became disillusioned with the world that surrounded him. Around 1202, Francis joined a military expedition and was taken prisoner. He spent a year imprisoned and acquired an illness that caused him to re-evaluate his life’s trajectory. After his release from prison, Francis heard the voice of Christ who told him to repair the Christian Church and live a life of poverty. He abandoned his life of luxury. He renounced his inheritance and stripped down to his undergarments in the town square as he set off to embrace his vow of poverty, a radical notion at the time. He set out on a mission to restore the church to the original values of Jesus Christ. 

St. Francis advocated gentleness, humility and simplicity. He and his companions desired to fully live by the Gospel. He never set out to have followers, but people were so puzzled by his joyful disposition in spite of abject poverty that they began to listen to his call to repentance. His message of humility and living gently caught on. Francis’ humility was embodied by the way he related to all of God’s creatures.  He took to heart Jesus’ command to love neighbor, even going so far as seeing non-human elements of creation as his neighbor. He believed that God had created everything to be family and to provide mutual care and joy. Rather than thinking of himself as a higher being, Francis saw himself as a brother to the animals and everything that God created and declared good. He taught the world about God’s brotherhood and practiced true equality, showing respect and love to every single person he met. St. Francis rejected his lifestyle full of “stuff” and his dreams of prestige in favor of a simple, gentle, humble life. He found God there; he found freedom and joy in simplicity, and indeed found rest for his weary soul.

Lesson: Luke 1:52 (NIV)

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

Is it possible to get to a high-ranking position without crushing a few people in the process? Has anyone elected president of the United States ever gotten to that position by being humble? The words from the scripture text above were uttered by Mary, the mother of Jesus, in what is called “The Magnificat” (Luke 1:46-55). It is a beautiful poem remarkably sounding like the psalms of old, praising Yahweh the God of Israel for being faithful to what he promised...sending his Messiah to rescue his people! However, in this poem, Mary provides a foretaste for how this Messiah would rule. He will fill the hungry, scatter the proud, and lift up the humble.

The Visitation - by Philippe de Champaigne (1602–1674) - Gallery Katakombe

In the “common sense” views of rational people, leaders need to be assertive, strong-willed, resolved, tough, and embody a “strong man” mentality. History has taught us, time and again, that these characteristics have a high likelihood of leading to destruction, developing a seeming sense of invincibility by the leader yet leading to decisions that result in anything but peace. Mary is giving us a glimpse of the upside-down nature of Jesus’ leadership in His kingdom.

Mary was likely a young teenage girl in an ancient culture that was ruled by older men. She was not important, unnoticed by the people who made the big decisions. Yet God chose her, insignificant as she was, to bring forth the life of the second Person of the Trinity. God incarnate, Jesus, was physically developed in the womb of an unwed, poor, teenage girl. During this Advent season, as you see news headlines focusing on important people of power, ponder what may be making headlines in kingdom news, and shoot for making the front page.

Remembrance:

The Litany of Humility (Contemporary version)

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me. 
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I ,  Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, 
others may increase and I may decrease,  Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,  Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,  Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything,  Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

Challenge

Evaluate how you spend money. Pray and ask God to show you how He desires your money to be used. If you struggle with financial management, consider taking a class or counseling session that focuses on financial education and budgeting. Or, talk to someone at church or a friend who you think might be able to point you in the right direction.

Bless someone who has recently been through a rough time. Go out of your way to encourage resilience and strength in him or her. It could be as simple as sending a hand-written letter to someone.

References: crownonline.org, daveramsey.com, moneywise.org

Reflection

Saint Francis made a radical life change after being captured in war. Have there been moments in your life that have caused you to change your course completely?

Refer back to the “Litany of Humility.” Which desires or fears do you need the Lord to deliver you from in this season? Are there things you need his grace to desire?

Further Growth

2021: 4th Sunday in Advent

Old Testament: Micah 5:2-5a
Psalm: Psalm 80:1-7
New Testament: Hebrews 10:1-10
Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

2020: 4th Sunday in Advent

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 7:1-17
Psalm: Psalm 132:1-19
New Testament: Romans 16 25-27
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

February Week 3

Virtue: Love
Resolution: I choose to love God with my whole being and my neighbor as myself, especially my enemy.

Human Story: Amish community in Nickel Mines, PA

When Jesus tells his followers to love and pray for their enemies, many people may feel that this command from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is great advice but too unrealistic to actually live out. There are, in fact, very real examples of ordinary people choosing to do their best to live out this powerful and challenging command from our Savior. One of the most compelling stories comes from an Amish community in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania.

On October 2, 2006, Charles Roberts entered a one-room schoolhouse in an Amish community, gun in hand, and told the teachers and male students to leave the classroom. He then shot ten of the girls (ages 6 to 13), killing five, before taking his own life. Angry at God for the death of his premature daughter years earlier, Charles thought he was finally getting his revenge.

This devastated community now had a choice to make, “How will we respond?” They chose four ways that shocked the world and pointed directly to the power of love and grace that Jesus preached about on the Mount of Olives. First, they visited the killer's wife and children at their home to offer them forgiveness and comfort. Having just lost their husband and father, the Amish knew that they too had just had their world ripped apart. Second, they invited the killer's wife to the funeral of their girls. Their third response was financial support given to the killer’s family. Then finally, in an almost impossible act of love and forgiveness, members of the Amish community attended the funeral of Charles Roberts. At the funeral, the Amish families wrapped their arms around Charles Roberts’ wife and children. They hugged them and offered them their prayers.

One of the grandfathers was quoted as telling some of the younger boys in the community, "We should not think evil of this man." He described to them how hateful thoughts and bitterness would take root and allow the sin of this act to bring even more death to their community by creating the same holes in their hearts that the killer had in his. Another Amish man said, "I feel bad for the gunman. He had a mother, a wife, and a soul and is now standing before a just God.” In response to their incredible compassion, the wife of the killer said, "Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need... Gifts you've given have touched our hearts in a way no words can describe. ... Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world, and for this we sincerely thank you."

Through heartache and tears, the people of this Amish community chose the more difficult path of loving their enemies, knowing this path would bring true healing to their own deep pain. They believed that the path of forgiveness would allow them to eventually let go of anger, bitterness, and the desire for revenge. It’s a long and difficult path, but they knew they wouldn’t walk it alone. They held on to this truth, because the Savior who commands us to love the unlovable is the One who prayed for those who nailed Him to a cross.

Lesson: Matthew 5:43-46 (NIV)

“You have heard that is was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?" 

Jesus' command to love your enemies is the type of passage that can tempt us to create a distinction between the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament - one angry and ready to judge, the other meek and ready to forgive. But there is only one God and He has been and will be the same for all eternity. In fact, the author of Matthew strives in his gospel to connect Jesus to the Hebrew Scriptures and paint Him as the culmination of everything the Old Testament points toward. So when Jesus uses this phrase, "You have heard that it was said...But I tell you," it is important to remember that Jesus is not undermining the Old Testament. Rather, He is undermining the liberties taken by popular rabbinic teaching, and by doing so, bringing His audience back to the original intent of the Law of Moses.

Never in the Old Testament are we commanded to hate our enemies. Quite the opposite, we are given examples of God’s people being compelled and commanded to love their enemies: David spared Saul’s life, though Saul was actively looking to end David’s (1 Samuel 24); Elisha healed Naaman, a general of Syria, Israel’s enemy (2 Kings 5); Jonah allowed himself to be used by God to bring grace and salvation to the city of Nineveh, despite his personal feelings of anger against its people. Proverbs 25:21 spells it out clearly, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.” The God of the Old Testament delights when His people love and serve their enemies. Why? Because it makes His heart known to the world. It manifested His character. Ultimately, the Old Testament is a story of God's tenacious love and faithfulness to His children, even during their own unfaithfulness. 

While we were still His enemies, God loved us enough to devise a plan of ultimate self-sacrifice, that we might return to Him as His children. Let us then live as His children, loving the world and our enemies as He first loved us.

Remembrance

Christian Love from The Valley of Vision (A Puritan Prayer)

O LOVER OF THE LOVELESS,
It is thy will that I should love thee
with heart, soul, mind, strength,
and my neighbor as myself.
But I am not sufficient for these things.
There is by nature no pure love in my soul;
Every affection in me is turned from thee;
I am bound, a slave to lust,
I cannot love thee, lovely as thou art,
until thou dost set me free.
By grace I am thy freeman and would serve thee,
for I believe thou art my God in Jesus,
and that through him I am redeemed,
and my sins are forgiven.
With this freedom I would always obey thee,
but I cannot walk in liberty,
any more than I could first attain it, of myself.
May thy Spirit draw me nearer to thee and thy ways.
Thou art the end of all means,
for if they lead me not to thee,
I go away empty.
Order all my ways by thy holy Word
and make thy commandments the joy of my heart, that by them I may have happy converse with thee. May I grow in thy love and manifest it to mankind.
Spirit of love, make me like the loving Jesus; give me his benevolent temper,
his beneficent actions,
that I may shine before men to thy glory.
The more thou doest in love in me and by me, humble me the more;
keep me meek, lowly,
and always ready to give thee honour.

Challenge

While we may not experience intense persecution like the early church, we may have strained relationships and/or enemies in a different sense. Take a step toward reconciling a broken relationship this week (even if it is a small step, like praying for the person/people).

Reflection

Thinking back to the Matthew 5 lesson, consider serving your enemy. How would this make God's heart known to the world?

Further Growth

2023: Last Sunday of Epiphany (Transfiguration)

Old Testament: Exodus 24:12-18
Psalm: Psalm 99
New Testament: Philippians 3:7-14
Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

2022: 7th Sunday of Epiphany

Old Testament: Genesis 45:3-11, 21-28
Psalm: Psalm 37:1-17
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 15:35-49
Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

2021: 1st Sunday in Lent

Old Testament: Genesis 9:8-17
Psalm: Psalm 25
New Testament: 1 Peter 3:18-22
Gospel: Mark 1:9-13

2020: 7th Sunday of Epiphany

Old Testament: Leviticus 19:9-18
Psalm: Psalm 71
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 3:10-23
Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48

February Week 2

Virtue: Love
Resolution: I choose to love God with my whole being and my neighbor as myself, especially my enemy.

Human Story: John Goldingay (1942 - )

As a young adult, John Goldingay had dreams similar to others his age: find a job, get married, and start a family. He knew he wanted to go into ministry, and he had a deep love for the scriptures. 

John found his partner, and her name was Ann. They met at a student conference in England at the age of 19. Ann was a medical student, lively and full of energy, and John was a theology student, admittedly quirky yet adventurous. In April 1966, at the age of 22, Ann developed a limp as she walked. As a medical student, Ann’s guess was eventually confirmed: multiple sclerosis (MS). The symptoms of her “attack” subsided after a few weeks. John recalls how close they felt to God and each other during this time, and they were soon engaged. A few months before the wedding, Ann had another attack from the MS, which affected her vision, resulting in a short-term hospital stay. During this stay, a nurse told Ann she had no business getting married and having children with this disease. These words, though disheartening, emboldened Ann. She ended up having 2 sons, and not only did she finish medical school, but she also finished a residency in psychiatry.

The disease was progressive, however, and Ann continued to show symptoms in her early adult life. The symptoms initially were physical but soon became cognitive. By the age of 44, she could no longer perform her job and was asked to retire. Around the age of 55, Ann eventually lost the ability to walk, talk, and eat. Little by little, John had to provide increasing care for Ann.

John always made his decisions with Ann in mind. In fact, John called Ann’s presence her “ministry,” and would often bring her on campus, to chapel, and invite students over so Ann could practice her ministry. John would find out years later the impact Ann’s presence had on the lives of students. According to one testimony, “Ann teaches me that to be human is to experience vulnerability, weakness and fragility. She invites me to embrace all of my humanity; the strong, stable parts along with the weak, fragile ones.” John was not trying to be a hero. In his memoir to Ann, John said: “We aren’t trying to give some Christian witness to the nature of marriage. We are just being married. What else could we do? But if it comes across as countercultural in a positive way, I am grateful that you (Ann) make me do it.”

Ann eventually succumbed to a complication from her illness at the age of 65. Throughout most of their marriage, love was not a response to an easy life. Love was a hard struggle. John sacrificed for her, protected her, honored her, and persevered for her (1 Cor. 13:7). In the end, John’s long-lasting testimony was the love he showed Ann.

Reference: Goldingay, John. Remembering Ann. Piquant Editions.

Lesson: 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NRSV)

[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

You probably recognize this verse from what is arguably the most well-known chapter of all of Paul’s writings. The love chapter in his letter to the church in Corinth is recited in weddings and sung in songs. I remember an assignment to memorize it as a young teen. A phrase from this chapter is inscribed in my wedding band, “Love never fails.” But why did Paul address this discussion of what love is to the church that he labored so hard to establish?

From Paul’s letter, we know the church in Corinth was experiencing several problems, one of which was arguments over spiritual gifts. People were being boastful about their gifts and squabbling over which gifts were greater. Paul explains earlier in his letter that the different gifts work together as parts of a body. He caps off the discussion with the love chapter, stating that without love, the gifts are meaningless. Love will last forever. Love is paramount.

So how do we develop a love in our lives that believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things? Life experiences give us lessons and tests our response to love all the time. Sometimes it comes through an interruption in our plans, sometimes it is through a choice we need to make, etc. With the help of God’s Spirit, we can grow love in our life. When we reject love, we risk bitterness, pettiness, and cynicism. For me, a current lesson is caring for my aging parents, with varying stages of dementia, much sooner than I had ever expected, yet, I know that God is using this experience to grow love in my life.

Remembrance

Love Made Visible by Beth Fritsch (from Seven Sacred Pauses by Macrina Wiederkehr)

An artist would sculpt or paint you and make of you an image
worthy of a gaze
intent enough
to behold all of your wonder in just one glance.
A poet would fashion you into a sonnet or a cinquain,
an ode or a sestina,
or maybe a ghazal
with just enough words to utter you in,
to proclaim you forth, sweetly.
But I have only this work here, day after day,
to attend
and out of this daily drudgery must lift
tired hands
and pull you
out of sheer possibility,
a task so difficult that
some days
my open heart
gapes
and nothing but the swish of
the Spirit’s breath moving through me could ever energize this effort enough to call it a masterpiece.

Challenge

When Mother Teresa received the Nobel Prize, she was asked, "What can we do to promote world peace?" She replied, "Go home and love your family." Many of us have lofty aspirations of being world-changers, but perhaps world change begins with learning to love and be loved healthily in our own families. Consider how you can put your family first this week, above other competing obligations of work or extracurricular activities.

Reflection

Reflect on this quote from John Goldingay and discuss the implications with someone close to you. Does anyone come to mind when God's image is explained in this way?

In lecturing on Genesis, I discuss what Ann’s being made in God’s image tells us about God’s image. Genesis suggests that humanity was made in God’s image in order to share in governing the world on God’s behalf, and disabled people share in that; so they draw our attention to the way poverty, vulnerability, and weakness can have a mysterious power to move and transform, and they remind us how activity occupied God only for six days, not for seven; we are Godlike by inactivity as well as by activity.

Further Growth

2023: 2nd to last Sunday in Epiphany (World Mission)

Old Testament: Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm: Psalm 67
New Testament: Acts 1:1-8
Gospel: Matthew 9:35-38

2022: 6th Sunday in Epiphany

Old Testament: Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm: Psalm 1
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Gospel: Luke 6:17-26

2021: 6th Sunday in Epiphany

Old Testament: 2 Kings 5:1-15a
Psalm: Psalm 42
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

2020: 6th Sunday in Epiphany

Old Testament: Ecclesiasticus 15:11-12 * apocryphal text
Psalm: Psalm 119:1-16
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Gospel: Matthew 5:21-37

February Week 1

Virtue: Love
Resolution: I choose to love God with my whole being and my neighbor as myself, especially my enemy.

Human Story: Xernona Clayton (1930 - )

If you have ever studied the Civil Rights movement in depth you may have heard of Xernona Clayton, even though she was never a very public figure. She was one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s closest confidants and was the one who drove Dr. King to the airport the fateful day he flew to Memphis, a trip from which he would never return.

After leading the movement to integrate Atlanta’s hospitals, she was appointed in 1967 to be one of five people to head the Atlanta Model Cities, an initiative to improve the interracial neighborhoods of Atlanta. However, upon the appointment one of her colleagues gave her a warning: “Be aware, Xernona, one of the men serving alongside you is a Klan member.”

Xernona said that she knew exactly who it was the first day of their meeting. Out of the four other men who helped lead the initiative, three gave her a firm handshake, while one, Mr. Calvin Craig, seemed to cringe when he touched her hand. Xernona began to get to know Mr. Craig. She found out that he attended church twice a week and also faithfully led his Klan meetings. She would question him on how he could align his Biblical beliefs with the hatred of the KKK. They began to have robust conversations. Xernona’s patient, yet persistent presence in his life caused him to begin to soften toward her and to others in the black community. After a long working relationship, Mr. Craig informed Xernona on a Friday afternoon that he was going to surprise her over the weekend. To her shock and surprise, she learned he had called a news conference at his residence, at which he publicly resigned his position as the grand dragon and left the KKK.

In 2010, years after Mr. Craig passed away, his daughter, Gail Mayes, reached out to Xernona. She was surprised to hear that Mrs. Mayes wanted to meet with her. The following excerpt is from an article about Xernona in the Atlanta magazine:

I asked Gail, “What was the compelling reason that you had to meet me?” She said, “I came here especially to thank you, because you healed my father and cleansed our family.” Well, I nearly collapsed, I was so overtaken by those words. And then my mind went back to the years when she was little. I used to say to her father, “I’m concerned about these children, and especially this little girl. You’re transmitting this bigotry and hatred. I just hope she’ll grow up to be healthy, happy, sound, and grounded.”

This story demonstrates how loving our enemy can be the most powerful, transformative force in the world. Through her relationship with Calvin Craig, Xernona’s powerful witness of love caused not only a change for Craig, but for the future of his family.

Reference: http://www.atlantamagazine.com/civilrights/xernona-clayton- kkk-grand-dragon-calvin-craig/

Lesson: Romans 12:14-17a (NIV)

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Paul begins Romans 12 with the intention of describing what it means to be a “living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (12:1), and we find that the requirements are simply to serve God as one can and to love sincerely. While it can be simply said, it would be arrogant to say that such a task is easy, particularly when it comes to blessing one’s persecutors rather than seeking their destruction. Here it is important to recognize that Paul is not calling Christian men and women to become passive in and toward abusive situations, but rather to live with sincere love, which is to resist evil by not becoming evil itself. Of course, there are various degrees of persecution and evil that may require different kinds of responses, but Paul’s point throughout the chapter is that we seek harmony and goodness rather than create more hate in an already wounded world. Xerona Clayton exemplifies this beautifully in that she did not avoid a potentially dangerous situation, but through proximity and persistence, her relationship with Calvin Craig changed a man whose life was dictated by hatred of an entire race. Sincere love, however, is not limited to blessing one’s enemies, but also learning how to rejoice and mourn with those around us and to value each person regardless of situation or demographic. In other words, a living sacrifice and a sincere love is to demonstrate an attentiveness to the wellbeing of those around us by replacing evil with good blessings, joy, and compassion.

Remembrance

Don’t Shoot the Wounded by Chuck Girard (Chorus, Verse 1, Chorus)

Don't shoot the wounded, they need us more than ever
They need our love no matter what it is they've done
Sometimes we just condemn them,
And don't take time to hear their story

Don't shoot the wounded, someday you might be one
It's easy to love the people who are standing hard and fast
Pressing on to meet that higher calling
But the ones who might be struggling, we tend to judge too harshly
And refuse to try and catch them when they're falling

We put people into boxes and we draw our hard conclusions
And when they do the things we know they should not do
We sometimes write them off as hopeless
And we throw them to the dogs

Our compassion and forgiveness sometimes seem in short supply, so I say...
Don't shoot the wounded, they need us more than ever
They need our love no matter what it is they've done
Sometimes we just condemn them,
And don't take time to hear their story
Don't shoot the wounded, someday you might be one

Challenge

Jesus commanded us to love our "neighbor" as ourselves, which has led many to ask, "who is my neighbor?" Instead of being all philosophical about it, like the lawyer in Luke 10, get practical, and choose a tangible act of kindness to do for a neighbor, a stranger, or someone you might think of as an “enemy.”

Reflection

What does "don't shoot the wounded" mean to you? Have you ever been “the wounded”? Can you identify any wounded people in your life?

Further Growth

2023: Fifth Sunday in Epiphany

Old Testament: 2 Kings 22:8-20
Psalm: Psalm 27
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16
Gospel: Matthew 5:13-20

2022: Fifth Sunday In EpiPhany

Old Testament: Judges 6:11-24
Psalm: Psalm 85
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

2021: Fifth Sunday in Epiphany

Old Testament: 2 Kings 4:8-37
Psalm: Psalm 142
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

2020

Old Testament: 2 Kings 22:8-20
Psalm: Psalm 27
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16
Gospel: Matthew 5:13-20

February Introduction

February: Love

Resolution: I choose to love God with my whole being and my neighbor as myself, especially my enemy.

Love is a word carelessly thrown around to a point where it is becoming cliché́ for many of us. This time of year, we naturally ponder love due to Valentine’s Day, which has become a day dedicated to erotic, sensual, romantic, and “butterflies in my gut” love. In the Christian faith, however, love looks quite different. Love is acting toward someone in a particular way that seeks their good.

We get the pleasure of reflecting on love during two seasons of the church year: Epiphany and Lent. Epiphany reveals God love for all peoples and wants all to see that He is the light and truth. He desires all to have an epiphany of revelation that He is God. The season of Lent also reflects the nature of a self-sacrificial love as demonstrated by Jesus’ life. Humbling Himself by becoming human, the eternal Son of God lived, taught, healed, died, and rose again, all for the sake of you and me. In the words of 1 John 3:16, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

The radical nature of our faith is that love does not just go to our family and friends. Love extends even – or especially – to our enemies. The people that hate us, that drive us crazy, that speak bad about us, that prevent us from getting what we want.... they are all images of God for whom our Savior commands us to seek good. No exceptions. As we go throughout our days, may we be people who choose to love God, our neighbors, and especially our enemies as ourselves. In so doing, may we be imitators of our Lord who continue the work of planting signposts to the new creation.

February: Liturgy

Leader:  Father, we may fail often, but it is our desire to truly love You with our whole being including our heart, mind, and soul.

People: Father, help us love You above all else in our life.

Leader:  Jesus, we know that in order to love anyone else, it is important that we love ourselves. We thank You for the way You made us. We are grateful for our individual strengths, gifts, and uniqueness. We recognize that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image.

People: Jesus, open our eyes to see ourselves as You see us.

Leader:  Spirit, give us eyes to see our neighbors as we interact with people every day. Help us be people who are highly aware of the needs of those around us. May we be a people who care about others in both word and deed.

People: Spirit, make us aware of the needs of those close to us.

Leader:  In our society, there are many people that we deeply disagree with. Help us especially learn to love these people. This is the type of love that should be unique among Christ followers.

People: Eternal God, increase our love for our enemy.

January Week 5

Virtue: Diligence

Resolution: I choose to work as unto the Lord in all areas of my life.

Human Story: Hermann von Reichenau (1013-1054)

Hermann is most notably known as a German chronicler, composer, poet, astronomer, and mathematician, but he was also a Benedictine monk. He had an intense interest in both theology and the physical world. He was literate in several languages beyond his native German. Hermann expanded the body of knowledge in the fields of history, mathematics, astronomy and Christianity. His historical writing included a detailed chronicle from the birth of Christ to the 11th century, and the writing was carried on by his pupil, Berthold, and others after Hermann’s death. Some believe Hermann to be the inventor of the astrolabe which is a tool used in astronomy to triangulate in order to determine the local latitude or time or to identify stars and planets.

This is an amazing list of accomplishments for anyone who died at the age of 41, but Hermann wasn’t just anyone. Hermann had a disease from early childhood which basically left him paralyzed. He had much difficulty both moving and speaking, which is why he is often called Herman the Cripple. In his later years as he went blind, Hermann focused on prayer and writing hymns. Though there is some debate as to his musical works, the hymn in the Remembrance section below is traditionally attributed to him.

Hermann’s brilliant mind and love for God motivated him to be persistent in his studies and creativity. He had to overcome a lot of physical obstacles in order to write and invent and create. Thanks to Hermann’s diligence, the intellectual world as well as the Christian community have been blessed by the influence of Blessed Herman the Cripple.

References: https://reginamag.com/blessed-herman-the-cripple-confessor/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_of_Reichenau

Lesson

Proverbs 13:4 (NKJV)
The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

Ecclesiastes 9:9b-10a (MSG)
Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!

It is so easy for us as humans to think that because of our circumstances or how we feel today, we have an excuse to not press into the mundane or hard things of life. If you are a student, do you take your studies as the gift they are? Are you making the most of this time in your life? Maybe you have a strong-willed child you have let go on his own path because you don’t want to be “too hard” on him or have him think you don’t love him. Or you might have a friend who is making bad choices concerning her marriage, but you don’t want to confront her for fear of losing her friendship. Perhaps you are afraid to stand up against sexism or racism in your workplace because you fear being fired. The pleasures of this world might be clouding your judgement or drawing you away from your devotion to Christ. Or maybe you have a physical condition, like Hermann, which makes doing just about anything difficult.

Whatever your hard situation is, be diligent about it. Press into the difficult. Don’t just let life carry you into its sea of complacency. Even if the situation doesn’t turn out as you expected, you will be able to say, without regrets, that you have given it your best effort.

Remembrance: Veni Sancte Spiritus

Literal English Translation

Come, Holy Spirit,
send forth the heavenly
radiance of your light.

Come, father of the poor,
come, giver of gifts,
come, light of the heart.

Greatest comforter,
sweet guest of the soul,
sweet consolation.

In labour, rest,
in heat, temperance,
in tears, solace.

O most blessed light,
fill the inmost heart
of your faithful.

Without your spirit,
there is nothing in man,
nothing that is not harmful.

Cleanse that which is unclean,
water that which is dry,
heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible,
fire that which is chilled,
correct what goes astray.

Give to your faithful,
those who trust in you,
the sevenfold gifts.

Grant the reward of virtue,
grant the deliverance of salvation,
grant eternal joy.

Original Latin text

Veni, Sancte Spiritus,
et emitte caelitus
lucis tuae radium.

Veni, pater pauperum,
veni, dator munerum,
veni, lumen cordium.

Consolator optime,
dulcis hospes animae,
dulce refrigerium.

In labore requies,
in aestu temperies,
in fletu solatium.

O lux beatissima,
reple cordis intima
tuorum fidelium.

Sine tuo numine,
nihil est in homine,
nihil est innoxium.

Lava quod est sordidum,
riga quod est aridum,
sana quod est saucium.

Flecte quod est rigidum,
fove quod est frigidum,
rege quod est devium.

Da tuis fidelibus,
in te confidentibus,
sacrum septenarium.

Da virtutis meritum,
da salutis exitum,
da perenne gaudium.

Challenge

Pulling yourself up by your boot straps is often seen as diligence, but that attitude is steeped in pride that says, “I can do this myself.” The virtue of diligence, however, acknowledges that our perseverance in deliberate acts and repeated efforts are undergirded by the strength and grace of God. What are you trying to do in your own strength? How can you change that situation to be “as unto the Lord?”

Reflection

True diligence runs contrary to human nature.         - Steven K. Scott

Further Growth: 4th Sunday of Epiphany

2021
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 18:15-22
Psalm: Psalm 111
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

2020
Old Testament: Micah 6:1-8
Psalm: Psalm 37:1-11
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

January Week 4

Virtue: Diligence

Resolution: I choose to work as unto the Lord in all areas of my life.

Human Story: Phileena Heurtz

In her late thirties, Phileena Heurtz was on the brink of burnout. She had spent more than half her life in social justice work among the world’s poor. Together with her husband, Chris, she worked with Word Made Flesh in some of the darkest and most desperate situations in the world. They served in more than 70 countries, building community with former child soldiers, children with HIV and AIDS, war brides, and victims of human trafficking. Throughout that time, they engaged with incredible human suffering and brutality. At the height of the war in Sierra Leone, the pain and suffering Phileena witnessed became unbearable. 

After almost twenty years of service, she went on sabbatical attempting to create more space within herself to process all of the life and death she witnessed. Through spiritual direction and walking an ancient pilgrimage, Phileena encountered ancient contemplative practices that began to open the depths of her heart, where she held the pain and suffering of the world. She needed to surrender her heart to Christ to heal, refill and bring wholeness. As motivation, she held close the words of an early mentor, Mother Teresa, “The inner life makes the active life burn forth and consume everything, it makes us find Jesus in the dark holes of the slums and the most pitiful miseries of the poor, in the God-Man naked on the cross, mournful, despised by all, the man of suffering, crushed like a worm by scourging and crucifixion.” 

Stillness, solitude, and silence became three of Phileena’s greatest teachers. Through cultivating consistent spiritual practices, she began to diligently treat her heart as a wellspring of life that would overflow into her work of bringing justice to the world’s most marginalized. Choosing to dedicate twenty minutes to centering prayer, twice a day became a discipline that Phileena integrated into the daily rhythms of her life. Her diligence in seeking and persistently practicing contemplative prayer has transformed her capacity to serve others.

“A meditation practice like centering prayer helps us open to the process of being reformed. The work of transformation is God’s. We must only cooperate by putting forth effort to make time for spiritual practice. Spiritual practice is our way of saying ‘yes’ to God, letting God do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Over time as we yield to this mysterious work of Grace in us, we are changed, little by little.”                            

Currently, Phileena and Chris are the co-founders and directors of Gravity Center, a retreat center for Contemplative Activism. There they share the wisdom, “Solitude teaches us to be present. Silence teaches us to listen. Stillness teaches us to engage... This spirituality anchors us in a way that allows us to be transformed, so that the world can be transformed.” Phileena is still serving those in the margins of society by nourishing and equipping the souls of those in ministry of social justice. Phileena speaks, teaches and writes about contemplative spirituality, gracefully guiding others toward personal growth, bringing harmony to the active and contemplative dimensions of life.  

References:
https://cct.biola.edu/doing-good-better-active-contemplation/
www.phileena.com
http://wordmadeflesh.org/center-of-gravity

Lesson: Proverbs 4:20-27 (NKJV)

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;
For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

A proverb is a short, poetic saying that “expresses an insight, observation, or advice that has been popularly accepted as a general truth…if applied at the right time.” It is important to note that proverbs are not promises. They are not universal absolutes. Job and Ecclesiastes remind us of this fact. Proverbs are advice to live by as we attempt to live a good life. Proverbs 1-9 is a section composed of lessons from a father to a son. The ultimate question that Proverbs sets up for its reader is, “Will you dine with Woman Wisdom or Woman Folly?” Woman Wisdom represents God, and Woman Folly is all the false gods that entice followers away from God.

The Hebrew word “heart” wasn’t just the internal organ that pumped blood throughout the body. It was used to describe where we think (intellectual), feel (emotional), and desire (affection). In Proverbs the father commands his son to “guard,” “keep,” or “watch over” his heart. The idea is one of protection, and protection requires diligence. If a soldier is given a task to guard a prisoner, the soldier would not put on headphones and take a nap. Guarding requires attention, alertness, sobriety, and diligence. To paraphrase, the father is saying “The part of you responsible for making yourself you…protect it. Keep it safe.”

The father’s point is that everything we do flows from this decision-and-person-making organ; thus it contains the “sources of life.” The heart can be the source of much good if properly protected, but this protection does not come naturally. It requires careful, persistent work, nothing sloppy or lazy because folly crouches at the door. The spirit of the advice is captured in the command of Jesus: “Stay awake” (Mark 13:37). As His followers, let us be diligent in protecting our thoughts, feelings, and desires.

Reference: How to Read Proverbs by Tremper Longman

Remembrance: “Blessing from Wisdom’s House”

May Wisdom’s long-lasting blessings be upon me.
Keep me from short-sightedness and the ease of the crowded road.
For narrow is the way and full is the heart on the path of Your blessing.
Keep me on that path as I lie down at night.
Keep me on that path as I set out again by day.

Challenge

Phileena’s experience with centering prayer was transformative and healing. Centering prayer is a very simple, contemplative Christian practice that is deeply nourishing to one’s soul.

1.     Sit in an upright, attentive posture in a way that allows for an erect spine and open heart. Place hands in your lap.
2.     Gently close your eyes and bring to mind your sacred word or image as your symbol to consent to the presence and action of God within you. Your sacred symbol is intended to be the same every time you pray. It helps to ground you in the present moment, allowing you to give your undivided loving, yielded attention to God. Choose a name for God or a characteristic for God like, Love, Peace, etc.

3.     Silently, with eyes closed, recall your sacred symbol to begin your prayer. As you notice your thoughts, gently return to your sacred word. Do this however many times you notice your thoughts.

4.     When your prayer period is over, transition slowly from your prayer practice to your active life. Begin with 5 minutes of prayer and over time increase to 20 or more minutes.

https://gravitycenter.com/practice/centering-prayer/     

Reflection

“Solitude teaches us to be present. Silence teaches us to listen. Stillness teaches us to engage.” How are you guarding your heart today? In our days full of information, to-do lists, disruptions, disappointments, and even successes, we can grow weary, even depleted. Do you have established practices to restore your soul? Consider adding solitude, silence and stillness to your routines.

Further Growth: 3rd Sunday of Epiphany

2021
Old Testament: Jeremiah 3:19-4:4
Psalm: Psalm 130
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

2020
Old Testament: Amos 3:1-11
Psalm: Psalm 139:1-18
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Gospel: Matthew 4:12-22

January Week 3

Virtue: Diligence

Resolution: I choose to work as unto the Lord in all areas of my life.

Human Story: Mary McCloud Bethune (1875-1955)

In each experience of my life, I have had to step out of one little space of the known light, into a large area of darkness. I had to stand awhile in the darkness, and then gradually God has given me light. But not to linger in. For as soon as that light has felt familiar, then the call has always come to step out ahead again into new darkness…. I had faith in a living God, faith in myself, and a desire to serve.  

- Mary McLeod Bethune

Born in a simple cabin in South Carolina only a decade after a war fought by a divided nation, Mary McLeod Bethune was the fifteenth child of parents who were former slaves. With their newfound freedom, Mary’s mother earned pay by washing clothes of former slaveholders while her father farmed. When accompanying her mother to deliver the washed clothing, Mary often visited the children her age and saw their toys. Once she picked up a book only to have it snatched away by a little girl who suggested it was not for Mary since she could not read. It pierced Mary’s childhood spirit, but she determined within herself to learn how to read. 

Soon Mary attended a one-room school taught by Presbyterian freedmen, and at home she taught her family what she learned each day. Mary was diligent in learning to read and advancing in her studies. She eventually attended Scotia Seminary for five years before enrolling in what is now Moody Bible Institute with the hope of becoming a missionary to Africa, but she was rejected by the mission board. Mary did not lose heart. Instead, she refocused her efforts as an educator. 

Teaching at various mission schools in the U.S., Mary eventually settled in Florida with her husband, who abandoned the family a few years later. With $1.50, Mary opened a “Literary and Industrial Training School” for African American girls in 1904 and even made the desks and seating herself using discarded crates. In time the school grew, eventually merging with an African American boys’ school and renamed Bethune-Cookman College. Mary was one of the earliest black women to serve as a college president.

Not only was she diligent in her efforts to improve life for African American children, she expanded her vision to provide opportunities for all African Americans. She actively helped register black voters, even when her life was threatened by those who opposed her cause. Presidents Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, and Franklin Roosevelt each noticed her efforts and sought her advice and collaboration. Mary formed a national women’s council in 1935 and helped form an advisory board for the Roosevelt administration that served as “the first collective of black people working in higher positions in government.” For these efforts to improve civil rights she became known as "The First Lady of the Struggle." 

Throughout her life Mary exhibited diligence in learning, overcoming difficulties, and using her voice and energy to enact change for the marginalized, which she understood as God’s calling for her. She later reflected, “The whole world opened to me when I learned to read.” And when the world opened to her, she helped change it for the better.

References:

McCluskey, Audrey Thomas, and Elaine M. Smith. (1999). Mary McLeod Bethune: Building a Better World: Essays and Selected Documents. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

"Mary McLeod Bethune." Great Lives from History: The Twentieth Century (Online Edition). Salem Press. 2013.

Lesson: Galations 6:9 (NRSV)

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.

In our culture today, we tend to desire immediate gratification for the “good” things we do. When we work hard, do right by someone, serve another, etc., it only seems right that there would be positive results. However, these results may look differently than we might expect and may come at a different time than anticipated. Our diligence to continue “doing what is right” regardless of the immediate outcome is the key here.

The word “reap” reveals some farming connotations; if one reaps, then there had to have been a time of sowing. Some crops naturally yield their return quickly, while others require a time of waiting. Regardless, the farmer has to diligently and persistently tend to the crops in order to support their growth. In this particular verse, Paul is speaking to the Galatian Christians, a network of churches Paul had helped nurture in the faith. Paul has chided them at length for adding on to the simple gospel he preached, reiterating the fact that Christianity is a multi-ethnic faith, and one does not have to follow the old Jewish customs in order to be a part of this new movement (Gal 1-4). Paul is giving advice for Christian ethics, answering the question “how do I live as a member of the family of God?” The answer is through living by the Spirit, and he goes on to show how that happens, using gardening metaphors to make his point. Here Paul urges them to “do good” among one another and those they encounter in the world with the hope that eternal life will be what they ultimately “reap”. Because life can be arduous, circumstances overwhelming, and everyday tasks mundane, consistent diligence is of utmost importance due to the rewards to come, even if it does require a taxing time of waiting in the process.

Remembrance: “O Spirit, Come…” -Macrina Weiderkehr in Seven Sacred Pauses

Come with your transforming power. Breathe upon and into my thoughts and actions this day. Let my work be a labor of love. May those who come in contact with me feel sheltered and cared for. May I do or say some small piece of goodness that will help others feel affirmed and supported. Let your wind and fire move me into the places where I am needed. Let me become your breath so that I may assist you in breathing new life into places that are stale and unfruitful. Make me forceful and gentle, powerful and humble. O Spirit, Come!

Challenge

Breath prayer is an ancient Christian prayer practice dating back to at least the sixth century. Historically, it is associated with the Eastern Church, particularly Greek and Russian Orthodox churches. Breath prayer is a good example of “praying without ceasing” as St. Paul admonished us to do and has the potential to become as natural as breathing. It is intended to be a very short prayer of praise or petition, just six to eight syllables. The words of the prayer can be easily adjusted to your heart’s desire.

“O Spirit, Come…” is a powerful phrase that can be recited with one’s breath to bring openness to transformation and the awareness of the Spirit in your life. Find a quiet place, and in a comfortable seated position, close your eyes and with the rhythm of your breath recite this prayer aloud or silently. The diligent practice of “praying without ceasing” draws you into a closer relationship with Christ.

Reference: https://gravitycenter.com/practice/breath-prayer/

Reflection

Consider again the life of Mary McCloud Bethune and her words, “I had to stand awhile in the darkness, and then gradually God has given me light. But not to linger in. For as soon as that light has felt familiar, then the call has always come to step out ahead again into new darkness…” To most people, Ms. Bethune had every right to grow weary in doing well. What elements of her story might inspire you to continue sowing good work, kindness, and hope even if the harvest is not immediately obvious?

Further Growth: 2nd Sunday of Epiphany

2021
Old Testament: 1 Samuel 3:1-20
Psalm: Psalm 63
New Testament: I Corinthians 6:9-20
Gospel: John 1:43-51

2020
Old Testament: Exodus 12:21-28
Psalm: Psalm 40:1-11
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Gospel: John 1:29-42

January Week 2

Virtue: Diligence
Resolution: I choose to work as unto the Lord in all areas of my life.

Human Story: John Wesley (1703-1791)

On March 1, 1791, a day before his death, John Wesley lay in bed surrounded by his friends. He told his nurse, Eliza Ritchie, that he wished to write. However, when she gave him a pen, he found he didn’t have the strength. She asked what he wished to write, and he replied, “Nothing, but that God is with us.”

John Wesley was born June 17, 1703 in Epsworth, England. Wesley was raised in a very religious home, his father being a clergyman in the Church. When it was time for college, John entered Oxford University. While there, he and his brother Charles started a group that became known as the “Holy Club” because the members took vows to lead holy lives, take Communion once a week, pray daily, and visit prisons regularly. In addition, they spent three hours every afternoon studying the Bible and other devotional material.

After college, John went to the British colonies in America where he spent a couple of years in Georgia serving as a parish priest. After this brief and disappointing position, he returned to England where he had a life changing experience during a church gathering at Aldersgate street in London. While Martin Luther’s thoughts on the book of Romans were read aloud, the reader came to the passage in the book of Romans concerning faith in Christ. John felt his heart being warmed in that moment and he knew that he did trust in Christ alone for his salvation. After this experience he joined with a college friend George Whitefield and began preaching anywhere that people would listen. He encouraged people to work diligently to bring about personal and societal holiness. Some of the pillars of John Wesley’s preaching were taking care of the poor, fighting against the evils of slavery, and founding small groups for accountability. Eventually his movement split from the Church of England; the Methodist church was born.

After six decades of preaching over 40,000 sermons, traveling 4,000 miles each year, and giving away £30,000 of his income, John Wesley could leave this world with the knowledge that he had diligently served God with his whole heart. He knew that “the best of all is, God is with us.”

References:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/denominationalfounders/john-wesley.html http://www.mymethodisthistory.org.uk/page/eliza_ritchie_wesleys_nurse

Lesson: Deuteronomy 6:4-8 (NIV)

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

What does it mean to love someone? Think of your best friend, spouse, child, or perhaps a parent. Think of all that goes into the relationship. Loving someone involves multiple factors. It is certainly not just a feeling. It involves thinking about the person, learning about them, talking to them, spending time with them, sharing experiences together, and at times putting your desires aside to make them happy. We’ve been taught that loving God is having a quiet time, going to a Bible study, or going to church and listening to an informative sermon. Or perhaps we think loving God involves serving others, but in reality, we really don’t always practice what we have learned. The constant, daily posture of love to God and neighbor remains absent in our lives. Diligence in our spiritual lives is often nowhere to be found.

Historically, Deuteronomy was written after the Israelites had endured 40 years in the wilderness. Moses is talking to the next generation of Israelites that were on the verge of entering the land God was providing. Unfaithfulness had already been evident in their short history, and God, through his spokesperson Moses, was giving his people instructions for avoiding future unfaithfulness. Moses retells their history (Deut. 1-3) and implores them to be more faithful than their parents were (Deut. 4-11).

Preceding the daily rhythms that Moses suggests is what is known as the Shema (Deut. 6:4-5). The Shema is considered the most essential Jewish prayer and is repeated twice daily by devout Jews. We can learn from our faith ancestors by adopting similar rhythms. God calls His people to a particular way of life, the instructions of which are to be on our “hearts,” meaning our thoughts, feelings, and desires. It is worth noting during this season of Epiphany, that God has always called His people to a different way of life for the sake of others. The Israelites were to be a kingdom of priests on behalf of all nations (Exo 19:5-6). God’s heart has never exclusively been for a select few, but for calling some for the sake of all peoples. Therefore, our devotion to God through the practice of daily rhythms shapes us into a particular kind of people not for our holiness alone, but also for the sake of others. Our love for others, flowing from God’s love for the nations, should lead us to diligence as individuals and as a community of believers.

Remembrance: “A Sonnet for Epiphany” by Malcolm Guite

It might have been just someone else’s story,
Some chosen people get a special king.
We leave them to their own peculiar glory,
We don’t belong, it doesn’t mean a thing.
But when these three arrive they bring us with them,
Gentiles like us, their wisdom might be ours;
A steady step that finds an inner rhythm,
A pilgrim’s eye that sees beyond the stars.
They did not know his name but still they sought him,
They came from otherwhere but still they found;
In temples they found those who sold and bought him,
But in the filthy stable, hallowed ground.
Their courage gives our questing hearts a voice
To seek, to find, to worship, to rejoice.

Challenge

Establish a new, healthy rhythm (or renew/bolster an old one) in your home aimed at nurturing your spiritual health. Consider adding a spiritual discipline of study, meditation, prayer, remembrance, or celebration to your daily routine.

Reflection

As a believer considering the life of John Wesley and meditating on Deuteronomy chapter 6, what does God’s call to live differently mean to you?

Further Growth: 1st Sunday of Epiphany

2022: 1st Sunday of Epiphany

Old Testament: Isaiah 42:1-9
Psalm: Psalm 89:1-29
New Testament: Acts 10:34-38
Gospel: Luke 3:15-22

2021: 1st Sunday of Epiphany

Old Testament: Isaiah 42:1-9
Psalm: Psalm 89:1-29
New Testament: Acts 10:34-38
Gospel: Mark 1:7-11

2020: 1st Sunday of Epiphany

Old Testament: Isaiah 42:1-9
Psalm: Psalm 89:1-29
New Testament: Acts 10:34-38
Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

January Week 1

Virtue: Diligence
Resolution: I choose to work as unto the Lord in all areas of my life.

Human Story: Millard Fuller (1935-2009)

Millard Fuller, born in 1935, grew up in a working-class family in rural Alabama. By the time he was 25, he had a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Auburn University and a law degree from the University of Alabama. Over the next 4 years, with his wife Linda, Fuller become a very successful banker and a “self-made millionaire” at the young age of 29.

Despite the rapid rise to prominence, Millard and Linda were both unhappy. Their marriage was on the brink of disaster, and they knew something needed to change. Money and a very “successful” life were unsatisfying. So, in 1968 they sold everything and moved to Koinonia Farms near Americus, GA. Koinonia (Greek for “fellowship”) was founded in 1942 by Clarence & Florence Jordan and Martin & Mabel England to be a radical, inclusive, Christian community aimed at being a “demonstration plot for the Kingdom of God.” The Jordan’s and England’s had committed themselves to:

1.     Treat all human beings with dignity and justice
2.     Choose love over violence
3.     Share all possessions and live simply
4.     Be stewards of the land and its natural resources 

Clarence Jordan became a mentor to the Fullers once they arrived. He had earned a PhD in Biblical Greek and passionately believed that good theology (right thinking) must lead to good work (right action). He and those at Koinonia were profoundly countercultural within their surrounding context of conservative, segregated South Georgia. 

While at Koinonia Fuller helped pioneer a project called “Partnership Housing” based on the principle that the poor need more capital instead of more charity. With a “sweat equity” model, the beneficiaries/partners of this endeavor help both themselves and others ultimately earn a low-cost, 0% interest loan against their own house.

After five years at Koinonia, the Fullers took this concept to Africa’s Democratic Republic of Congo where they helped build 100 homes in three years. They came home for sabbatical in 1976 and officially founded Habitat for Humanity using these same principles. Since then, Habitat has grown to become one of the world’s most successful nonprofit organizations, helping build over 1 million homes with the help of the low-income families they serve.

In 1994, Fuller wrote a book about this approach to ministry called Theology of the Hammer in which he described how a living and active faith is much more than head knowledge. He never claimed to be a theologian, but instead a practitioner, making the title of the book all the more poignant. Once when asked where he went to seminary, he replied, “I packed pecans and milked an old cow with Clarence Jordan…He taught me obedience to Christ and authentic participation in God’s work in the world.”

References:
Fuller, Millard. Theology of the Hammer. Smyth & Helwys Publishing Inc. 1994
Habitat for Humanity: www.habitat.org/about/history/habitat-for-humanity-co-founder-millard-fuller, accessed 12/2017
Koinonia Farm: https://www.koinoniafarm.org/about-koinonia-farm/, accessed 12/2017.

Lesson: Colossians 3:23-25 (NIV)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

During one of Paul’s imprisonments, he was met by Epaphras who informed him of philosophical issues facing the new church of Colossae which prompted him to write a letter to help these believers carry out genuine spiritual maturity. Located in the Lycus Valley in Asia Minor, Colossae had substantial Jewish and polytheistic populations whose beliefs were influencing the theology of the young church. 

The centerpiece of this epistle is Paul’s appeal for Christian maturity (2:6-4:6), where he contrasts their old way of life (distorted sexuality and destructive speech) and challenges them to live a new way of life characterized by mercy, generosity, forgiveness, and grace. In verses 3:18-4:1, Paul unpacks what this might look like in a first century Roman household, which was an extremely authoritarian and patriarchal institution. Paul does not affirm the institution of slavery nor the subjugation of women, but rather contrasts it by instructing the Christians in Colossae that in whatever they do, do it unto the Lord. With Christ positioned as the true master, Paul instructs wives to submit to their husbands (3:18), husbands to love their wives (3:19), children to obey their parents (3:20), fathers not to embitter their children (3:21), and slaves to obey their earthly masters as work to the Lord. 

Paul challenges them to shift their perception beyond the limitations and privileges of power in their current context, and to fix their hearts, minds, and work on Christ. Paul helps us understand the promise and the good news of a heavenly inheritance and the justice that awaits Christians. For it is Christ that rewards and Christ that repays wrongdoing without favoritism. A part of Christian maturity is not only making sense of this truth but allowing it to inform our attitudes about work and decision-making.  

This is certainly no easy task. However, we are all called to live and diligently work as new creations in Christ Jesus. Although there is a sizable time gap between the church of Colossae and the present day, we too need to carry out Christian maturity in all facets of our lives and pray for the Spirit’s guidance as to how it is translated into our present situation. 

Reference: The Epistles of Paul to the Colossians and to Philemon by N.T. Wright

Remembrance: “Your labor is Not in Vain”

The Porter’s Gate Worship Project (Click to listen.)

Your labor is not in vain
Though the ground underneath you is cursed and stained
Your planting and reaping are never the same
Your labor is not in vain

Your labor is not unknown
Though the rocks they cry out and the sea it may groan
The place of your toil may not seem like a home
But Your labor is not unknown

The vineyards you plant will bear fruit
The fields will sing out and rejoice with the truth
For all that is old will at last be made new
The vineyards you plant will bear fruit

The houses you labored to build
Will finally with laughter and joy be filled
The serpent that hurts and destroys will be killed
And all that is broken be healed

I am with you, I am with you
I am with you, I am with you
For I have called you, called you by name
Your labor is not in vain

Challenge

Choose a task to give your all to complete. It might be an everyday task or a special project. Consider the ways you can do more than just do the work but complete it with diligence and the attitude of doing this work for the Lord. Practice inviting God’s presence into this activity. After completing this task, evaluate your attitude and feelings about this work.

Reflection

In what ways can the work of our hands be an expression of worship to Christ?

Further Growth

2022: 2nd Sunday of Christmas

Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm: Psalm 84
New Testament: Ephesians 1:3-14
Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

2021: 2nd Sunday of Christmas

Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm: Psalm 84
New Testament: Ephesians 1:3-14
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

2020: 2nd Sunday of Christmas

Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm: Psalm 84
New Testament: Ephesians 1:3-14
Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

January Introduction

January: Diligence

Diligence is defined as, “Careful and persistent work.” These words describe the aspects of diligence that we as a Chapel hope to embody.

Paul says in Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive an inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” The resolution for January reflects this passage: I choose to work as unto the Lord in all areas of my life. The goal is not to become overwhelmed with “work” or to be dedicated to some overly lofty standard of perfection. It is, rather, to be full of care and faithfully present in our work. If we will do this, we will demonstrate the virtue of diligence.

January regularly denotes a time of new beginnings or fresh starts. Many people will set goals, establish new habits, and re-evaluate aspects of their lives. This often produces a season of diligence. These changes become lifelong commitments or short-term changes, but diligence is often on our minds in January.

January also marks a shift in the Christian calendar. We go from Christmas to the season of Epiphany. Epiphany begins on January 6 and lasts until the day before Ash Wednesday (the beginning of the season of Lent). Epiphany means “to show,” “to make known,” or “to reveal.” During this season, we reflect on the many times in the New Testament when Christ was revealed to people.

We can reveal Christ to our culture through our diligence. By our careful and persistent work, we can be a representation of Christ in our world. May we “show up” to others as we work unto the Lord in all areas of our lives.

January: Liturgy

Leader: Father God, we thank You for calling each of us to tasks this year through responsibilities in our community and roles in your Kingdom. We are reminded that Paul says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord...”

People: Help us to honor You with our vocation.

Leader: Father, we thank You for the truth that You have gifted each of us. We have been uniquely equipped to be Kingdom bringers in our circles of influence. We thank You for giving us the strength we need to follow Your call on our lives.

People: Help us to honor You with our gifts.

Leader: Father, Your work is easy and Your burden is light. In our diligence, help us remember Your promise of rest and peace. May we not be so consumed with success that we forget our priorities. Help us to prioritize You above all.

People: Help us to honor You with our priorities.

December Week 5

Virtue: Humility
Resolution: I choose to honor others above self.

Human Story: St. Therese of Lisieux (1873 - 1897)

Marie-Francoise-Therese Martin was born in France on January 2, 1873 to Louis and Zelie Martin. From an early age, it was obvious that Therese was intelligent, cunning, stubborn, and full of life. She began her education under her older sisters, but her father officially enrolled her in Lisieux’s Benedictine Abbey school of Notre-Dame du Pre in October of 1881. Therese’s five years at this school were miserable. She loved catechism, history, and science, but struggled in other areas. Her level of intelligence was so advanced that classmates became envious and did not treat her kindly. At only 9 years old, Therese attempted to join Lisieux’s Carmelite Convent, but she was turned away because of her young age. During this time, Therese suffered a severe illness; as a result of her time in pain, Therese concluded at the age of 10: “I was born for glory.” She perceived her life’s mission as one of salvation for all people. She wanted to become a saint. She understood that her glory would be hidden from the eyes of others until God wished to reveal it.

As a teenager, Therese attempted to enter the Carmelite Convent once again. She, along with her supportive father, confronted both the Bishop and the Pope, pleading them to let her enter. Finally, when she was 15 years and 3 months old, she was admitted into the convent. It was here that Therese developed her “Little Way” of living as she recognized her spiritual “littleness.” She said, "It is impossible for me to grow up, so I must bear with myself such as I am with all my imperfections. But I want to seek out a means of going to heaven by a little way, a way that is very straight, very short and totally new." Therese went on to describe the elevator in the home of a rich person. She concluded, "I wanted to find an elevator which would raise me to Jesus, for I am too small to climb the rough stairway of perfection. I searched then in the Scriptures for some sign of this elevator, the object of my desires and I read these words coming from the mouth of Eternal Wisdom: 'Whoever is a little one let him come to me.' [Prov. 9:4]. The elevator which must raise me to heaven is your arms, O Jesus, and for this I have no need to grow up, but rather I have to remain little and become this more and more." And so she abandoned herself to Jesus and her life became a continual acceptance of the will of the Lord; she performed the smallest of tasks with humility and patience that had not characterized her up to this point.

After living a simple and quite ordinary life in the convent, Therese died on September 30, 1897 at the age of 24 due to tuberculosis. Although her life may not look extraordinary in many ways, her development of the “Little Way” holds significant spiritual value and can teach us much about performing all the small tasks in our lives with great love and intentional humility.

Lesson: Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

The "Little Way" that St. Thérèse developed consists of simplicity in life, prayer from the heart to Jesus, total trust in God as our Loving Father (not a stern judge), being a true child of God our Father rather than doing our own thing, seeking God's will in our everyday activities, doing everything for the love of Jesus with humility, being kind to people we can't stand, and a sincere desire to be with Jesus forever rather than to be in this world.1

The world does not live the Little Way. If we were truly living the Little Way:

•      we would be delighted to take the last place in line
•      we would recoil from flattery
•      we would rejoice in the success of our neighbors
•      we would make no excuses for our sins
•      we would be quick to admit our weaknesses
•      we would prefer hiddenness to acclaim
•      we would be grateful when others criticized us and pointed out our shortcomings
•      we would not be undone by the injury and injustice we suffer
•      we would be unmoved by worldly status, fame, and prestige
•      we would experience peace in the midst of the world’s conflict, turmoil, and strife.

If you were to clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience as Paul urges, do you think you would be characterized in a similar vein as the ‘Little Way?’

References:
St. Therese’s Little Way, catholicbible101.com/stthereseslittleway.htm, accessed October 20, 2019.
Cameron, Father Peter John O.P. First Steps on the Little Way of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. https://www.kofc.org/un/en/resources/cis/cis307.pdf, accessed October 19, 2019.

Remembrance

Sometimes, when I read spiritual treatises in which perfection is shown with a thousand obstacles, surrounded by a crowd of illusions, my poor little mind quickly tires. I close the learned book which is breaking my head and drying up my heart, and I take up Holy Scripture. Then all seems luminous to me; a single word uncovers for my soul infinite horizons; perfection seems simple; I see that it is enough to recognize one's nothingness and to abandon oneself, like a child, into God's arms. Leaving to great souls, to great minds, the beautiful books I cannot understand, I rejoice to be little because only children, and those who are like them, will be admitted to the heavenly banquet. – St. Thérèse

Challenge

To the right and to the left, I throw to my little birds the good grain that God places in my hands. And then I let things take their course! I busy myself with it no more. Sometimes, it's just as though I had thrown nothing; at other times, it does some good. But God tells me: 'Give, give always, without being concerned with the results'. – St. Thérèse

This week, how can you give, give always, without being concerned with the results? Make a plan and then do it.

Reflection

St. Thérèse saw the limitations of all her efforts. She remained small and very far off from the unfailing love that she would wish to practice. She is said to have understood then that it was from insignificance that she had to learn to ask God's help.

Further Growth

2021: No 5th Sunday

2020: No 5th Sunday

December Week 4

Virtue: Humility
Resolution: I choose to honor others above self.

Human Story: Pope Francis (1936 - )

Shortly after Francis became pope in 2013, he washed the feet of Muslims. The Pope turned heads and profoundly broke with a papal Holy Week tradition of celebrating the evening Mass at a Rome basilica. Instead, he ventured out of the Vatican to the Casa del Marmo Young Offenders Institute in Rome for the Holy Thursday Mass. The male and female detainees, ranging in age from 14-21, are mostly immigrants from a wide range of religious backgrounds. The detainees led the Scripture readings and the prayers of the faithful, while prison volunteers provided music for the service. Staff members of the facility also attended the mass.

The Pope demonstrated the importance of washing another’s feet. According to Pope Francis, this service shows that “the person who is most high among us must be at the service of the others. We have to help one another, each one. To wash your feet, this is a symbol, a sign that I am at your service,” the Pope said. “But it also means that we have to help each other.” He added that he would wash their feet with love. “It’s a duty that comes from my heart because I love doing this, because this is what the Lord taught me. This sign is a caress from Jesus, because Jesus came exactly for this, to serve and to help us.”

He expressed Christ’s love for everyone in attendance while he was washing the feet of 12 young detainees. These 12 were of different nationalities and faiths, including at least two Muslims, and two young women. The 76-year-old Pope Francis knelt on both knees before the youth, washed, dried and then kissed their feet. The ritual was extremely moving. Many of the young people had tears streaming down their faces. The Pope was warm and exuded happiness while he was celebrating Mass at the prison. 

While the prison Mass marked a first for the modern papacy, the practice was nothing new to Pope Francis, who as Archbishop of Buenos Aires used to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in prisons, hospitals, and shelters for the poor. This act reflects on the call to imitate Christ by serving one another, and it commemorates Jesus’ gift of the Eucharist, worthy to be shared with the marginalized.

Lesson: John 13:1-17 (NIV)

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Ethiopian Art: Jesus washing feet

So begins Jesus’ final night and last words to his disciples. He is preparing them for his coming death. The setting is the Passover festival, one of the major annual Jewish celebrations which had been going on for well over 1,000 years.

We read the story of washing feet and it sounds kind of strange to us. In ancient societies, it was as familiar as having a server at a restaurant. It was the job of a common servant. Ancient societies were also honor-shame cultures. The goal of life was to continually try to gain more honor. Jesus was a “rabbi” (teacher) to a group of others. A rabbi was a position of honor. It would have been unheard of for a rabbi to take on the role of a common servant and wash the feet of his students, for this would bring great shame upon him doing something that was beneath him. This is one of many examples of Jesus taking what society values and turning it upside down.

Ponder this: A superior stooping down to wash the feet of his inferiors. Jesus uses this as a symbol for his life purpose: to reveal God’s nature as a being of self-giving love. Jesus uses this action to give his disciples a command: follow my example. In other words, love one another as I have loved you. As our monthly resolution states, honor others above self. Make yourself the least important person in the room. It is important to note here that Jesus says this to his disciples. He is appealing for unity and love amongst Christians. While we are to love everyone and strive to live in peace with all, Jesus wants us to focus on “one another.” The hallmark of Jesus’ followers is radical acts of service and love towards each other. This is how “outsiders” will know we have the truth. Some today, like Pope Francis, still do the actual act of foot washing in imitation of Jesus as a symbol. This can be a powerful practice that helps a humble posture sink into our bones. As we go through our days we need to continually find new ways to make ourselves a servant, for Jesus tells us doing these acts results in blessing.

Remembrance

Listen along as you meditate on the words.

O come, O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears

O come, thou Wisdom from on high
Who orderest all things mightily
To us the path of knowledge show
And teach us in her ways to go

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here
And drive away the shades of night
And death's dark shadow put to flight

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

Challenge

Make one counter-cultural decision this week. Be inspired by Wendell Barry's poem "Manifesto: Mad Farmer Liberation Front," particularly the last stanza:

"As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn’t go. Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection."  

Carve out time to serve or bless your neighbor or volunteer with a local organization who assists people in need.  For inspiration, visit: www.unitedwayocoee.org/funded-partners.

Reflection

Washing one another’s feet is not an everyday ritual, but picture yourself seated before a friend, loved one, or even a stranger ready to wash his or her feet. What would this practice require of you? Are there ways to serve or honor people in the way washing their feet would? Ponder Pope Francis’ question to the detainees: “Am I really willing to help others?”

As you reflect on this season of Advent and the coming of Jesus, do you find yourself hopeful for something? What does His common entry into the world, despite having the rights of a king, mean for you and your life?

Further Growth

2021: First Sunday of Christmas

Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10 — 62:5
Psalm: 147:12-20
New Testament: Galatians 3:23 — 4:7
Gospel: John 1:1-18

2020: First Sunday of Christmas

Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10 — 62:5
Psalm: 147:12-20
New Testament: Galatians 3:23 — 4:7
Gospel: John 1:1-18