Blind, but now I see

Morning: Psalm 34; Isaiah 49:1-6; I Corinthians 4:1-16

Evening: Psalm 104; Zechariah 14:12-21; Matthew 20:29-34

Two blind men call out to Jesus, “Let our eyes be opened!”  Three reasons prevent sight – actual blindness, eyes physically closed, or, you just don’t see the obvious right before your eyes. Jesus is concerned with the third kind of vision problem – seeing but not seeing.  He wants us to see things as they really are and not ‘shut our eyes’ to what we find unpalatable or disagreeable. Interestingly, the two men were blind together and then together they could see.  One person’s blindness may reinforce another’s, or, we may help one another see the truth and follow it.

The measure of greatness

Morning: Psalms 140, 142; Isaiah 24:14-23; I Peter 3:13-4:6

Evening: Psalms 141, 143; Zechariah 14:1-11; Matthew 20:17-28

The first leader I ever heard ask her team, “How may I serve you?”, and mean it, was a manager in a Catholic hospital established by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The sisters modelled their own leadership style on the quintessential servant-leader, Jesus, and this manager caught their vision.  In that 1990s business-type environment, this leader’s question sounded astounding.  But, hers became a team that lived to serve, and was renowned for its excellence.  They were a great team, because their great leader’s first priority was to serve.  Still, I do not hear leaders asking her question often enough.

Quit comparing your work with others’

Morning: Psalms 131, 132; Zephaniah 3:1-13; I Peter 2:11-25

Evening: Psalms 134, 135; Zechariah 13:1-9; Matthew 20:1-16

The landowner in Jesus’ parable values all the workers’ efforts equally, no matter that some worked all day and others only hours.  Each day’s news about climate change from scientists suggests it is ‘late in the day’ already … We may have passed important tipping points, but there is still time, they say, to address this immense planetary crisis. We must act with urgency to help heal the earth.  Even small actions matter.  Jesus teaches that it will help us, too, to stop comparing the value of our work with that of others, and just get on with our own.

The blinding burden of riches

Morning: Psalm 119:145-176; Obadiah 15-21; I Peter 2:1-10

Evening: Psalms 128, 129, 130; Zechariah 12:1-10; Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus says it’s hard for the rich to find life.  Still, people think, “I could manage riches … Let me try!”  Compared with many nations, Canadians are rich.  In general, though, they don’t think so; there’s always someone richer.  So, the rich may not even realize that riches are an impediment to their life.  If you don’t know how fulfilled you’re not, riches are like death … you don’t ‘come back’, after becoming rich, to warn others, because you don’t know how un-fulfilled you are!?  Is that Jesus’ point? … riches can blind us to how deeply they affect us.

Is anything keeping you from being complete?

Morning: Psalms 120 – 123; Nahum 1:1-13; I Peter 1:13-25

Evening: Psalms 124 – 127; Zechariah 11:4-17; Matthew 19:13-22

Jesus does not demand celibacy of his followers.  Likewise, his command “to sell everything and give it to the poor” is not for everyone.  But it begs the question about what may be preventing us from being complete or holding us back from fully embracing who we are in the world.  Celibacy helps some people to devote themselves to God.  Others may find that something is preventing them from being free to serve … for the rich young man, it was his wealth.  Jesus is asking us to let go of anything that holds us back from being truly free.

We are one interconnected whole

Morning: Psalm 106:1-18; Joel 3:1-2, 9-17; I Peter 1:1-12

Evening: Psalm 106:19-48; Zechariah 10:1-12; Matthew 19:1-12

Carl Jung, famous 20^th century pioneer of psychology, taught of the close connection between sexuality and spirituality … We individual human beings are not separate compartments but one, interconnected whole – body, mind and spirit. Jesus’s teaching was similar.  His teaching about human sexuality – today, it is on divorce and adultery – has often been seen as purely moralistic. Jesus’ concern, though, was to help us understand that our decisions about how we use our body, or how we interact with the body of another, also deeply affect our own and the other’s mental and spiritual life.

Mercy depends on justice

Morning: Psalm 118; Isaiah 19:19-25; Romans 15:5-13

Evening: Psalm 145; Zechariah 9:9-16; Luke 19:11-27

Some Gospel passages seem so much at odds with the way we think of Jesus – full of mercy and compassion – that we have to delve into them more deeply.  Today, Reign of Christ Sunday, looks forward to a final fulfilment of justice on earth.  You cannot escape the fact that justice will mean hardship and suffering for those who try to subvert or escape justice.  Mercy does not contradict justice; mercy depends on justice.  In the many justice rallies across the world in the last 10 years, some have affirmed this with placards that declare: “No justice, no peace.”

By forgiving others, you heal your own soul

Morning: Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-13; Isaiah 65:17-25; Revelation 22:14-21

Evening: Psalm 33; Malachi 3:13 – 4:6; Matthew 18:21-35

You can easily forget how much you receive through the generosity of others, and then fail to be generous yourself.  Forgiving others is an act of generosity.  Jesus suggests that it will not go well with you if you receive forgiveness but fail to forgive those who offend you. It’s not that you will be literally tortured by the powers that be if you fail to forgive.  It’s that by holding onto anger and bitterness you will torture your own soul.  Genuine forgiveness comes from your heart; it probably heals your soul, too.

The value of one, the magic of two or three

Morning: Psalm 102; Malachi 3:1-12; Revelation 22:6-13

Evening: Psalm 107:1-32; Matthew 18:10-20

We are obsessed with big numbers as measures of value and success.  But do we know what is truly valuable or what ‘success’ really means?  To Jesus, every single human being is precious, full of unique treasure and gifts.  And, even in a group of only two of three people, amazing things can happen. For Jesus, just one lost human being merits a search party.  And where a few are gathered to learn and to fulfill his purposes, he is with them. That’s how Jesus started out, with a small group of companions … that’s how his work continues today.

Evolution by humility: becoming like children

Morning: Psalm 105:1-22; Malachi 2:1-16; Revelation 21:22-22:5

Evening: Psalm 105:23-45; Matthew 18:1-9

Jesus advocates fiercely for the vulnerable, especially children. If you mistreat a child, it will turn out badly for you … (imagine this stark picture) worse than if you were to have an enormous millstone hung around your neck and be thrown into the sea! For Jesus, if you mistreat a child, you deserve almost the harshest consequences imaginable. Moreover, we are to ‘become like children’.  Contrary to Darwin’s ‘survival of the fittest’, the qualities of humility that characterize children – acknowledgement of our weakness and vulnerability – are, for Jesus, the real signposts to a more highly evolved humanity, and a better world.

Free grace … could it really be free!?

Morning: Psalms 101; 109:1-130; Malachi 1:1-14; Revelation 21:9-21

Evening: Psalm 119:121-144; Matthew 17:22-27

People of faith may sometimes be confused about why they give … Is giving for maintaining the temple, or to buy services and special privileges from God or God’s minions?  No! Jesus is clear … the children of the king are heirs.  What they receive from the king – grace, love and mercy – are free; they cannot be bought.  This means they also give freely – for love and mercy’s sake – without obligation or hope of gain, as their own expressions of gratitude and love. Old habits die hard, though; that mostly commercial understanding of our relationship with God is deeply ingrained.

The power of two

Morning: Psalms 97, 99, 100; Habakkuk 3:1-18; Revelation 21:1-8

Evening: Psalms 94, 95; Matthew 17:14-21

Jesus is annoyed … the disciples forget to trust God.  Perhaps they act alone, trusting only in their own strength rather than leaning on others and on God.  So, it’s wise to wonder … Do I need help?  Our culture may value self-sufficiency, but when you join your gifts to someone else’s gifts, you will find that the power of two acting together is far greater than the power of two individuals working ferociously, but alone.  Now, when you join your strength to God’s? … well, that takes you into a realm where the ‘impossible’ now lies within your reach.

Our hunger for astonishment

Morning: Psalm 89:1-18; Habakkuk 2:1-4, 9-20; Revelation 20:7-15

Evening: Psalm 89:19-52; Matthew 17:1-13

The Gospels are full of astounding things that happen to Jesus and his disciples or are done by them.  Here on the mountain, Jesus’ face shines and his whole appearance becomes dazzling white; a voice speaks from a cloud to affirm Jesus, who then goes on to predict that he must suffer.  It’s all pretty overwhelming.  JK Rowling’s Harry Potter goes through similar astounding things and a few trials.  Given sales of the Bible and Harry Potter, we are hungry for astonishment and enchantment.  There is indeed much in our world to astonish and enchant us, if we pay attention.

Being faithful with a little can be amazing

Morning: Psalms 66, 67; Habakkuk 1:1-2:1; Acts 28:14-23

Evening : Psalms 19, 46; Luke 16:1-13

Jesus is very direct about our core values, because they are hugely important for our well-being … whether we are fulfilled in life or whether we use our gifts well.  He asks us to be honest about one thing in particular:  Whom or what do you serve – God or money?  Because you can’t do both.  This is Jesus’ fundamental and perennial question.  You can get lost serving and giving your allegiance to all kinds of little ‘gods’ – money is one.  Or you can serve something greater than yourself with the little you have … and that can be amazing.

Life is valuable only when you give it away

Morning: Psalms 87, 90; Joel 3:9-17; Revelation 20:1-6

Evening: Psalm 136; Matthew 16:21-28

Jesus says challenging things that most people don’t take seriously … He will suffer and be killed, but then be raised again. His followers must give their lives too. If you live for yourself alone, you waste your life; if you live in Jesus’ Way, you really live.  Maybe all this means … Your life is a priceless gift. When you don’t share it, your life shrinks.  When you serve something bigger than yourself, you might end up suffering sometimes for the truth, but fulfilment in life depends on living for a purpose greater than your own satisfaction. 

Why you hear me talking a lot about Jesus

Morning: Psalm 88; Joel 2:28-3:8; Revelation 19:11-16

Evening: Psalms 91, 92; Matthew 16:13-20

Yesterday, in case you wondered, I mistakenly offered you a reflection based on Matthew 6, not 16!  Back on track today …

The Christian Church is founded on St. Peter’s Confession that Jesus is “the Messiah, the son of the living God”.  ‘Peter’ means ‘rock’ … a solid foundation.  Based on Jesus’s next statement – “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven” – the Church has made proclamations that have turned out not to be true. Also, the Church’s many divisions cast doubt on all of its pronouncements.  The Gospel’s call is for the Church to return to its foundation, and to seek its unity and authenticity in Jesus.  That’s why you hear me talking a lot about him.

Giving and prayer … simply the way to live

Morning: Psalms 23, 27; Joel 2:21-27; Revelation 19:1-10

Evening: Psalms 85, 86; Matthew 16:1-12

Jesus teaches us to give quietly, suggesting it’s best to forget what you give.  If you give expecting thanks, you don’t really give.  Likewise, prayer is not a matter for pride … and to guard ourselves from pride, it is best done in secret.  In effect, then, generosity is not giving a lot but giving expecting nothing in return.  And prayer expects no admiration from others or special rewards from God.  Giving and prayer are just part of being fully human. Giving and prayer are simply the way to live.  And the way to live is … simply.

One earth-system … we’re in it together

Morning: Psalm 119:97-120; Nehemiah 7:73-8:3, 5-18; Rev 18:21-24

Evening: Psalms 81, 82; Joel 2:12-19; Matthew 15:29-39

A local farmer and biologist spoke passionately last week and fed my soul … about growing good, nourishing food in ways that preserve and help regenerate the soil.  Unsurprisingly, this promotes the health of the whole earth. We live within one interdependent earth-system that some call ‘Gaia’; no part is independent of any other.  Realizing our interdependence … teaching about it … acting on this knowledge … these are practical and spiritual steps that earth needs us to take if she is to heal.  They came to Jesus for healing and regeneration; he fed them bread, fish and spiritual food.

The things that make for peace

Morning: Psalm 78:1-39; Nehemiah 9:26-38; Revelation 18:9-20

Evening: Psalm 78:40-72; Joel 1:15-2:2; Matthew 15:21-28

Last night at the Harmony Centre in Owen Sound, over 30 people of different faiths came together around the theme: Making Peace.  We seemed to share a unanimous conviction that what makes for peace among different cultures and faiths is relationships, getting acquainted, being together in common cause, doing meaningful or just plain enjoyable things together.  Jesus, when asked by a Canaanite woman to heal her daughter, decided to step beyond his own culture and build bridges of peace.  Our conversation last night was an example of how rich and peace-making the meeting of cultures and faiths can be.

Do our external actions reflect our heart?

Morning: Psalm 80; Nehemiah 9:1-25; Revelation 18:1-8

Evening: Psalms 77, 79; Joel 1:1-13; Matthew 15:1-20

On Remembrance Day, how do you honour those who stood against evil as they understood it?  Remembering is a good start.  Silence helps.  Yet, if I dutifully attend the Cenotaph today, participate in acts of Remembrance, and then go home and mistreat my spouse or children, or pursue a path that is destructive to myself or others, my morning rituals were empty.  Jesus taught that we sometimes attend to external priorities while forgetting important matters of the heart.  To honour the souls I remember today, I must resist evil with my own life, and with all my heart pursue peace.

Sometimes those invited miss the feast

Morning: Psalms 93, 96; Ezra 10:1-17; Acts 24:10-21

Evening: Psalm 34; Luke 14:12-24

Imagine you’re invited to a wonderful feast. There are a couple of reasons why you might not get to enjoy it … Either the host turns you away (very odd if she invited you!), or, you don’t show up.  Sometimes we think God turns away the ungrateful or unworthy as if in a fit of pique.  But with God, it’s more like … If you think you have something better to do and, as a result, miss life’s ‘feast’, that causes sadness, yes, but not anger. Others are invited and they will come.  And perhaps you will too, eventually?

Pray without ceasing … seek the Creator’s will

Morning: Psalms 75, 76; Ezra 9:1-15; Revelation 17:1-14

Evening: Psalms 23, 27; Matthew 14:22-36

St. Paul taught: “Pray without ceasing.”  Maybe he learned this from Jesus?  After 5000 were fed, before he stilled the storm, Jesus ‘went up on the mountain by himself to pray.’  He prayed before, during and after significant events in his life.  Jesus did not presume to act alone; he called on that Creative power from beyond human life whose will is done in us when we are open.  The Creator’s power is not for our own wishes or whims.  Which is why, taught by Jesus, we pray, “Your will (not ours) be done on earth” … and in us.

Ddefined by the power of love

Morning: Psalm 69:1-23, 31-38; Ezra 7:27-28; 8:21-36; Revelation 15:1-8

Evening: Psalm 73; Matthew 14:13-21

Some people are defined by what happens to them.  Others are defined by their response to what happens; they do not allow events to shape completely who they become, but who they are shapes their response to events. When he hears of the death of his cousin, John the Baptist, Jesus seeks solitude.  People still look for him, though.  And in the end, Jesus’s response to John’s death is that he shows compassion to those whose souls are hungry.  He chooses not to be defined by the power of death but by something far stronger ... the power of love.

And death shall have no dominion

Morning: Psalms 70, 71; Ezra 7:1-26; Revelation 14:1-13

Evening: Psalm 74; Matthew 14:1-12

Those who confront unrighteous power often fall victim to its violence … John the Baptist; modern day prophets too.  Last weekend, Paulinho Guajajara was murdered while protecting his indigenous people’s land and forest against illegal logging in the Brazilian Amazon.  John was murdered for demanding justice from King Herod.  Jesus was also killed by unrighteous power, but he rose to demonstrate that love and justice ultimately hold sway over the power of death. Love and justice overcome the power of death, as Dylan Thomas affirmed: “Though lovers be lost love shall not, and death shall have no dominion.”

Hometown stereotypes

Morning: Psalm 72; Nehemiah 13:4-22; Revelation 12:1-12

Evening: Psalm 119:73-96; Matthew 13:53-58

It’s hard to break free of the stereotypes people in your hometown form about you when you are young … “O, he doesn’t really fit in,” or, “She’s an academic nerd.”  What stereotype do you think they gave you?  People in Nazareth didn’t think Jesus was all that great a teacher!  Maybe he let hometown stereotypes affect him too much at first?  Maybe we do?  Maybe you can come to terms with what people think about you, though – or more importantly, what you think they think – and just get on with being yourself?  Jesus did.  So can we.

The pearl of great price; the one true treasure

Morning: Psalms 61, 62; Nehemiah 12:27-31, 42-47; Revelation 11:1-19

Evening: Psalm 68: 1-20, 24-36; Matthew 13:44-52

Pearls of wisdom are popular internet fodder; they help us make sense of things.  But for Jesus, there is only one true pearl, one real treasure, beside which everything else is as nothing.  That treasure is found in him.  We are vulnerable to injustice and lies and they will bring us to a bad end, like the rotten fish in Jesus’ parable. His Way is diametrically opposed to that. Jesus’ Way, grounded in ancient wisdom, is a startlingly new and vital path of justice and truth.  His call to follow him is urgent … our need is urgent.

The end will be like the beginning, only better

Morning: Psalms 56, 57; Nehemiah 6:1-19; Revelation 10:1-11

Evening: Psalms 64, 65; Matthew 13:36-43

I may have quoted here before Theodore of Mopsuestia (350-428), affectionately known as “Teddy the Mop”?  He taught: the end will be like the beginning, only better!  There has been much speculation about ‘the end’, sometimes put on the lips of Jesus to give it validity.  To hear that the causes of sin will be rooted out and burned gives me hope.  To hear that all evildoers will be rooted out and burned and ‘the righteous will shine like the sun’ gives me the creeps.  (Who is righteous!?)  I’m sure Jesus taught that the end will be better than this.

Do first what is most important and satisfying

Morning: Psalm 24, 29; Nehemiah 5:1-19; Acts 20:7-12

Evening: Psalm 8, 84; Luke 12:22-31

Yesterday, I heard Stratford singer-songwriter Loreena McKennitt say she is giving up music to devote herself to action on climate change and on the impact of technology on young people.  This is momentous. Life calls you to make big choices: based on what you believe is most important and also on your gifts; based on what the world needs most and also on what gives you joy.  There is a place of equilibrium between personal and collective well-being … Jesus says to focus your decisions – without anxiety – on finding that equilibrium, and good things will follow.

All Souls’ Day … so what is a soul anyway?

Morning: Psalms 42, 46; Romans 8:14-19, 31-39

Evening: Psalms 116, 121; John 14:1-6

Rhyl, where my mother lives in Wales, has an all-weather Shannon class waterjet-driven lifeboat ( https://rnli.org/what-we-do/lifeboats-and-stations/our-lifeboat-fleet/shannon-class-lifeboat ); it races at 50 km/h to save people in distress.  Amazing boat!  More importantly, in British lifeboat stations, plaques record brave rescues; if sailors or lifeboatmen perish, a memorial might read: “… with the loss of 5 souls”.  A soul is a human life.  All Souls’ Day is for remembering life-giving human beings (like lifeboatmen, or like my sister-in-law Penny, who died 2 years ago today). Jesus says his way is the way to life for human beings, the life-giving truth we need.

All Saints’ Day … so what is a saint anyway?

Morning: Psalms 111, 112; Hebrews 11:32-12:2

Evening: Psalms 148, 150; Wisdom 5:1-5, 14-16; Rev 21:1-4, 22-22:5

A saint is one who is becoming contented with herself; she trusts that the earth is well made, too.  Wendell Berry (modern saint) says: “For God's sake, be done with this jabber of ‘a better world’. What blasphemy! No ‘futuristic’ twit or child thereof ever in embodied light will see a better world than this. Do something! … The day is clear and bright, and overhead the sun not yet half finished with his daily praise.” A saint sees and knows that everything we need is here already; he lives in celebration of and gratitude for such plenty, wanting nothing.