He must increase, but I must decrease

Morning: Psalm 72; I Samuel 1:1-20; Hebrews 3:1-6

Evening: Psalms 146, 147; Zechariah 2:10-13; John 3:25-30

Here, I have sought daily to speak about Jesus in 100 words or less and in non-religious language. Where I have managed to do that, I give thanks! As I let go the reins of the community which I have done my best to serve, I will also let go of these daily reflections. These things are always fraught with the problems of ego, to which I am not immune! So, it is fitting that this final reflection end with John’s remark about Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Friends, I will see you on the path. Onward!

 

The embodied, life-giving Word that holds the Cosmos

 

Morning: Psalms 146, 147; Sirach 43:1-12; Ephesians 4:1-16

Evening: Psalms 111, 112, 113; John 1:1-18

I love words - crosswords, puns, how foreign languages sound, poetry, pithy sayings, the way one word can contain a universe of meaning, and that Jesus is The Word. Have you noticed, I am quite taken with Jesus and with finding words that adequately distil this One Word? Jesus is the embodied, life-giving Word. He challenges me to choose, out of the profusion of possibilities, words not heavily weighed down with sickly piety or spiritual baggage. Which words will I use to speak of Jesus so that you will hear what this Word means, this Word that holds the Cosmos?

We do not lose heart ... Love surpasses knowledge

Morning: Psalms 30, 32; Deuteronomy 5:22-33; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10

Evening: Psalm 104; Sirach 42:15-25; Ephesians 3:14-21

In youth, it is not unusual to have high hopes for all you will accomplish during the seemingly long life ahead. Then, in elder years, even if you have pursued a great calling, you may wonder whether you have accomplished anything at all. Thomas Aquinas, the great medieval theologian, not long before his death wrote: ‘Everything I have written is straw.’ St. Paul, though, is full of encouragement for every step on life’s path ... he says we can rely on a Love that surpasses our capacity to understand it, therefore we do not lose heart.

 

Does what you prize fit your soul?

Morning: Psalm 31; Deuteronomy 5:1-22; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12

Evening: Psalm 35; Luke 16:10-18

On Monday, I’m retiring. As I do, I think about this daily practice of reflecting on the Scriptures; I hope it has stretched and challenged you, as it has me. Now I am looking forward and opening myself up to new possibilities. A couple of questions hold my attention: Does what you prize fit your soul? Does it make your heart glad? ... There are many commendable ways of living, but no-one can live them all. Find a life that fits, then live it with all your heart.

 

Cut one another some slack

Morning: Psalm 37:1-18; Deuteronomy 4:32-40; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

Evening: Psalm 37:19-42; Luke 16:1-9

Zealous to be diligent stewards of all they have received, people of faith can sometimes get pretty rigid about who is worthy of grace and who is not. They are often first hardest on themselves, but this can easily spill over into being judgmental of others’ failings. Jesus encourages us all to go lightly with whatever expectations we have of one another. In this often fraught and angry world, we need friends. Maybe Jesus is saying: Cut one another some slack. Trust one another. Win friends by being humble about your own failings and by forgiving others for theirs.

 

Lost ... and Found

Morning: Psalm 38; Deuteronomy 4:25-31; 2 Corinthians 1;23 – 2:17

Evening: Psalm 119:25-48; Luke 15:1-2, 11-32

I looked for my flip-flops in the Lost and Found at the ‘Y’, which was just a plastic barrel full of indescribably gross stuff. I gave up the search! I did not want the lost flip-flops that badly!! Imagine, though, that your son is Lost. You will gladly endure indescribable torment to find him. And then, if you remember a time when you yourself were Lost and feeling unworthy, when Love reached out and welcomed you home, you may also remember how dear you are to the One who Found you and how glad you both are that they did.

 

What is heaven like? ... like joy in the Cosmos!

Morning: Psalms 26, 28; Deuteronomy 4:15-24; 2 Corinthians 1:12-22

Evening: Psalms 36, 39; Luke 15:1-10

I do not know what heaven is, but I imagine it is like the way you feel after being lost in grief or regret, shame, or remorse, because of something you did or didn’t do ... and then you suddenly realize there is a way forward into reconciliation and a fresh start. You know what you must do. When you find your way like this, you are back in tune with everything, full of joy. You and the Cosmos are saying ‘Yes!’ to one another, and this joy lifts you up. This is what heaven is like, I am sure.

 

Called to give your all for a New Creation

Morning: Psalm 25; Deuteronomy 4:9-14; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Evening: Psalms 9, 15; Luke 14:25-35

In the catalogue of seemingly outrageous and unrealistic things Jesus said, high on the list is this: “None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.” That is ... there are some urgent tasks that involve great personal risk. During the past 18 months, some courageous souls have given their all to care for others in this pandemic, just as soldiers give their all, in war. Jesus’s call is for disciples who are ready to give their all for a New Creation. This is the cost, and the reward, of discipleship.

 

Love ‘don’t come easy’ ... we need the Spirit

Morning: Psalm 118; Isaiah 11:1-9; I Corinthians 2:1-13

Evening: Psalm 145; John 14:21-29

The Beatles released ‘All you need is Love’ in 1967. In 1970, they split up! In 1971, Ringo wrote the line, “Use a little love and we will make it work out better”, in his new song, entitled: ‘It don’t come easy’! Ringo didn’t want to sing about God, but he let George Harrison sing in the song about Krishna (the supreme God in Hinduism); George believed his ‘Sweet Lord’ was the source of Love. In Jesus’s teaching, we need Love, yes, and Love comes not from our own efforts, but from beyond ourselves, from being open to the Spirit.

 

Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert

Morning: Psalms 107:33-43; 108:1-6; Hebrews 9:1-14; Luke 11:14-23

Evening: Psalm 33; Exodus 19:3-8a,16-20; I Peter 2:4-10

Where the Sahara Desert is, ancient civilizations once thrived. Natural climatic changes and human misuse (harvesting too many trees and over-grazing) created desert. Now, the Amazon Basin is under threat of becoming desert, too, if trees continue to be cut down to clear land for agriculture. Jesus warned that when we are divided against ourselves, we destroy our world. Conflicting goals are a spiritual issue with material consequences. Pursuing happiness by seeking wealth at all costs is incompatible with our total well-being, because inner dryness and dissatisfaction of heart and soul creates inhospitable deserts in our outer world.

 

There is need of only one thing ... sit, be still, listen

Morning: Psalm 102; Ezekiel 34:17-31; Hebrews 8:1-13

Evening: Psalm 107:1-32; Luke 10:38-42

Martha is ‘worried and distracted by many things’, says Jesus. Is he judging her? Her sister, Mary, chooses to sit with Jesus, which he calls ‘the better part’. Maybe he means that, ironically, when you fret about your workload, you tend not to make good choices. Martha’s worry causes her to judge her sister’s choices. Jesus does not judge Martha for this; he merely invites her to choose to sit, like Mary, and let him tend her spirit. Similarly, he invites us to spend time being still, listening. It will help us to make good choices about other things.

 

 

Love my neighbour ... who is that?

Morning: Psalm 105:1-22; Ezekiel 18:1-4, 19-32; Hebrews 7:18-28

Evening: Psalm 105:23-45; Luke 10:25-37

Our neighbour sold his house. He did not ask us to approve the buyers. Is this Jesus’s point? Everyone could be my neighbour - stranger or alien - but not everyone is. I cannot love everyone - only people nearby, and people I meet along life’s way. These are my neighbours. Imagine if I loved even just the people next door ... and imagine you did that, too ... and so on. Soon we would have the world covered. Imagine, says Jesus, what a world it could be, then make it happen ... Love your neighbours, love at least them.

 

How shall we use well all that we know?

Morning: Psalms 101, 109:1-30; Ezekiel 11:14-25; Hebrews 7:1-17

Evening: Psalm 119:121-144; Luke 10:17-24

Yesterday, CBC radio reported about the controversial quad-mester system being used in Ontario schools. The host and a teacher talked about education as communicating quantities of information. Our society may think wisdom and intelligence are about knowing a lot. But wisdom is how well you understand, a spiritual quality, a knowing that cannot be taught by downloading information. You can get information on the internet, but not wisdom. I long for our schools to help children explore the question that is hidden from the so-called ‘wise and intelligent’ ... How shall we use well all that we know?

 

Peace to this house ... pray for the peace of Jerusalem

Morning: Psalms 97, 99; Ezekiel 7:10-27; Hebrews 6:13-20

Evening: Psalm 94; Luke 10:1-17

Last Sunday was Jerusalem Sunday, with Israel and Palestine embroiled again in violent conflict ... Jesus tells ‘the 70’ to bring to every house the greeting: “Peace be to this house”. They are to discern whether a ‘child of peace’ lives in the house ... May God grant that now, at the sacred centre of 3 of the world’s major religions, ‘children of peace’ might appear who are ready to work with conviction for healing and for an end to this perpetual strife. Friends, pray courage for the children of Peace, whoever they are; pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

 

Called to a devout and holy life ... not to ‘being nice’

Morning: Psalm 89:1-18; Ezekiel 4:1-17; Hebrews 6:1-12

Evening: Psalm 89:19-52; Luke 9:51-62

In 1729, William Law, a Church of England priest, published: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. Reading Luke’s Gospel reminds me how serious and uncompromising are the demands Jesus makes of his disciples. His call is to a difficult, even arduous, way of life. The urgency and significance of the Christian Way is sometimes so watered down that it gets all but lost in ‘niceness’. Jesus is rigorous. His Way demands courage and lifelong dedication in those who say ‘Yes’ to him. But the reward is big, too - a full and rich life.

 

Do not be afraid

Morning: Psalms 66, 67; Ezekiel 3:16-27; Ephesians 2:1-10

Evening: Psalms 19, 46; Matthew 10:24-42

Jesus often says, “do not be afraid”. He is realistic; we fall prey to fear. He wants us to fear nothing ... except losing ourselves by sacrificing our integrity for something that is not worthy of us. Will we live our lives in fear of falling short of other people’s expectations? Or will we live courageously into what we came here for? Sometimes, the people we love can pressure us to be untrue to ourselves. It is hard to say “no” to them. Courage, friends. Do not be afraid to be the person you are called to be.

 

The least among you is the greatest

Morning: Psalms 87, 90; Ezekiel 3:4-17; Hebrews 5:7-14

Evening: Psalm 136; Luke 9:37-50

Jesus’s disciples lacked faith, understanding and humility. Proving the last point, they argued about which of them was the greatest! Jesus responded by bringing a child alongside him, which was unusual since children were given scant attention in that society. To find and to welcome God, seek out and honour not those you think are the greatest but those you regard as least important. Let go of the status you seek by being around so-called important people. Be honest ... Who are the people you think - consciously or unconsciously - are unimportant? Honour them and you will encounter God.

 

 

Am I open to my lot?

Morning: Psalm 80; I Samuel 16:1-13; I John 2:18-25

Evening: Psalm 33; I Samuel 12:1-5; Acts 20:17-35

When they chose a replacement for Judas, they did not ask whether he wanted the job! They ‘cast lots’, which seems random, but trusted the Spirit to help. When the lot fell on Matthias, they probably informed him that he was the one, and he agreed! What do you think about being open to taking on a task that you do not necessarily want but for which others believe you are well suited? The story of Matthias, whose Day it is today, begs the question for me: Will I be open when ‘the lot’ falls on me?

 

Go ... I’m with you

Morning: Psalms 8, 47; Ezekiel 1:1-14, 24-28b; Hebrews 2:5-18

Evening: Psalms 24, 96; Matthew 28:16-20

Most of us need a purpose, a reason to be, something that gives life joy and meaning. “Go!” says Jesus, as he sends his disciples out to build a new world. They are motivated, for sure. More than motivation, though, we also need people who support us. Jesus promises his friends, “Remember I am with you always.” We can do amazing things when we know we are not alone, when we share the load. In keeping with the Way of Jesus, the simple assurance, ‘I’m with you,’ may be the best gift we can offer or receive.

 

 

Finding our way back home to God

Morning: Psalm 119:97-120; James 5:13-18; Luke 12:22-31

Eve of Ascension: Psalm 68:1-20; 2 Kings 2:1-15; Revelation 5:1-14

Where will our human striving lead us? It depends on what we strive for. Is it for food or drink or clothing? Is it to live long and prosper? ‘Do not keep worrying’ about these things, says Jesus, but strive for God’s ways and you will have these things too. TS Eliot writes: “We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” So, perhaps it is all about finding our way back home to God?

 

Whatever you need ... whatever satisfies your soul

Morning: Psalm 78:1-39; Deuteronomy 8:11-20; James 1:16-27

Evening: Psalm 78:40 -72; Luke 11:1-13

“Ask and it will be given you, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you,” says Jesus. Be persistent in prayer. But look at the story that comes just before this ... the friend in need will be given whatever he needs. Jesus is not teaching that you will be given whatever you ask for, or whatever you seek, but whatever you need. Through prayer you discover and pursue what you need so that you can focus your energy on what satisfies your soul.

 

What is today for?

Morning: Psalm 80; Deuteronomy 8:1-10; James 1:1-15

Evening: Psalm 77; Luke 9:18-27

What is life for? Indirectly, Jesus keeps posing this huge question; he wants us to find ourselves. William Wordsworth admits how hard this is: “The world is too much with us, late or soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.” You may not even know you are lost. It happens gradually. These days you may lose yourself on the internet, click by click, taking the bait, following someone else’s priorities. Even when you discover that life is for finding yourself in, it is better to make the quest manageable ... Try a simpler question: What is today for?

 

Don’t waste too much time on ‘weeds’

Morning: Psalms 93, 96; Sirach 43:1-12, 27-32; I Timothy 3:13 – 4:5

Evening: Psalm 34; Matthew 13:24-34a

Discouragement can come easily, like weeds that want to thwart your efforts to grow good things. Jesus seems to say: Don’t waste too much time on ‘weeds’; give your energy to all the things that you want to see thrive.

 

All shall be well, all shall be well

Morning: Psalms 75, 76; Wisdom 19:1-8, 18-22; Romans 15:1-13

Evening: Psalms 23, 27; Luke 9:1-17

Here is King Herod - troubled soul, guilty about beheading John Baptist. Herod is curious about Jesus, though, perhaps even looking to him for hope? Julian of Norwich is drawn to Jesus, too. (It is Julian’s Day today.) A 14^th century ascetic living in troubled times, she is deeply convinced of God’s all-encompassing Love. Julian believes she hears Jesus say, tenderly, to reassure her, “All shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” Troubled souls, take comfort, even hope, in this universal Love, no matter what evil you may have imagined or done.

 

Get up!

Morning: Psalm 106:1-18; Wisdom 16:15 – 17:1

Evening: Psalm 106:19-48; Luke 8:40-56

When Jesus heals people or raises the dead, he does it without fanfare using ordinary words: “Come out,” or “Take up your mat and walk,” or “Get up!” People think a girl is dead, but when Jesus says, “Get up!”, she does. The power of death afflicts us in so many ways ... Life can be hard, like it is just not worth the effort. When you find yourself in this state, it is good to hear Jesus say, “Get up!”. When he believes that even the depths of despair are not the end, you begin to believe it, too.

 

Figuring out how to express Love in beautiful actions

Morning: Psalms 97, 98; Proverbs 8:22-30; John 13:20-35

Evening: Psalm 145; Isaiah 44:1-8; I John 5:1-12

A friend and I chatted yesterday at a distance - cop-style, cars parked at Timmies! In different ways, we both seek to serve Jesus’s commandment of Love. I think we agreed that this means valuing others, listening to their convictions, expecting to learn from them, serving them. These are the crucial first steps in loving one another. Today is the Feast Day of St. John. John’s life’s work was to pass on Jesus’s message of Love to us using beautiful words. Our life’s work is figuring out how to show Love in beautiful actions ... in serving one another.

 

Pay attention to how you listen to Jesus

Morning: Psalm 72; Wisdom 13:1-9; Romans 13:1-14

Evening: Psalm 119:73-96; Luke 8:16-25

You know how it is, right, when someone is speaking, but you are not really listening? It is easy to get distracted or lost in your own thoughts. At a crucial moment, Jesus calls for people to pay close attention to how they are listening, because something critical is taking place ... a ‘lamp’ is being lit to illuminate human life; a new understanding our ourselves as the human family is forming around the Way of this Jesus; he speaks with authority and power. Pay attention to how you listen to Jesus ... you don’t want to miss it.

 

Sow good things & May the Fourth be with you!

Morning: Psalms 61, 62; Wisdom 10:1-21; Romans 12:1-21

Evening: Psalm 68:1-36; Luke 8:1-15

Knapweed in my garden again! Apparently, it takes 5 years’ constant effort to beat it back; each of its flowers produces thousands of seeds! ... In Jesus’ story, a sower sows grain liberally - lots of seed! When you want to initiate good things, or plant new ideas, you may find yourself competing for space; unfriendly influences often want to choke out new growth. For the promised New Creation, you must sow good things liberally year by year and not let ‘weeds’ get the upper hand! And May the Fourth be with you!

 

Forgiveness is not a reward for love; it is love

Morning: Psalms 56, 57, 58; Wisdom 9:1, 7-18; Colossians 4:2-18

Evening: Psalms 64, 65; Luke 7:36-50

It is fascinating that when I read Scripture carefully, it often reveals things I had not noticed at first, usually because I made assumptions. Like, I assume that Jesus forgives the woman who washes his feet because she shows him love. If I read carefully, though, it says she shows him loved because she first experiences forgiveness. Forgiveness is not a reward for love; forgiveness is love. And love springs from knowing you are forgiven. So ... Whom do I need to forgive? My forgiveness might just free someone else to give and receive love, too. Love begets love.

 

Escaping the vicious cycle of judgement

Morning: Psalms 24, 29; Wisdom 7:22 – 8:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Evening: Psalms 8, 84; Matthew 7:7-14

A lot of what passes for religion is so busy judging others that it is lost and dizzy within its own vicious cycle of judgement. On Thursday, we read Luke’s words about not judging others; now here they are again from Matthew ... Jesus jokes about not trying to take a speck out of someone else’s eye (that is, not correcting their ideas or actions from your own skewed point of view) when you have a plank or a log in your own eye! To clear your vision and free yourself of prejudice ... rely on the Spirit.

 

To bear fruit, you must die to yourself

Morning: Psalm 119:137-160; Job 23:1-12; John 1:43-51

Evening: Psalm 139; Proverbs 4:7-18; John 12:20-26

The compelling way, truth and life of Jesus led Philip and James (whose Day it is today) to serve his Good News of renewal for humankind. Tradition says both died persecuted for their faith. Philip was crucified. James, for 30 years Bishop of Jerusalem, was, at 96, thrown from the pinnacle of the Temple. James prayed forgiveness for the culprits: “They know not what they do.” You do not need to die as Philip and James did; but to bear fruit, you must die to yourself. “If a grain dies, it bears much fruit.” What might this mean for you?