Jesus defies your expectations

Morning: Psalms 101, 109; Hosea 4:11-19; Acts 21:15-26

Evening: Psalm 119:121-144; Luke 5:27-39

Jesus defies your expectations ... like the mistaken idea that he only associates with ‘good people’. For him, all are good. Yet, none are perfectly good; all need refinement. Jesus is ever new, always bursting containers where you try to confine him. The way you think about Jesus is probably too narrow. He will usually defy your expectations and give you a more complete perspective, if you are ready for it. Like a moving target, when you think you have him in your sights, Jesus moves on unexpectedly to touch the life of another imperfect person, someone like you.

 

Touched by the better angels of our nature

Morning: Psalm 8, 148; Job 38:1-7; Hebrews 1:1-14

Evening: Psalm 104; 2 Kings 6:8-17; Revelation 5:1-14

Today is Michaelmas, the Church’s day to celebrate angels, whom tradition believes are spiritual messengers, or mystic spiritual forces, which act mostly for our good. Yet, one of the 7 archangels (along with Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and the rest) is Lucifer, or Venus, the morning star who got too full of himself and was cast down to the depths (Isaiah 14). When Abraham Lincoln hoped, at his inauguration, that Americans might be “touched by the better angels of (their) nature,” he implied our common spiritual battle. May Lincoln’s hope for America be our prayer for ourselves, and our real experience.

 

When Jesus calls, you go

Morning: Psalm 89:1-18; Hosea 2:14-23; Acts 20:17-38

Evening: Psalm 89:19-52; Luke 5:1-11

You are an expert fisherman who knows his profession. You are quite sure ... you cannot catch fish on Lake Galilee in the daytime, only at night. But this new teacher tells you to throw out your nets. You think, ’Yeh right!’ but he seems like a decent man, so you humour him ... and you catch more fish in one net than you could ever have imagined. Now he invites you to follow him; he wants you to learn how to attract people to a whole new way of life. What can you do but go with him?

 

God’s dream of joy for us and for the earth

Morning: Psalms 66, 67; Hosea 2:2-14; James 3:1-13

Evening: Psalms 19, 46; Matthew 13:44-52

The Bible is the story of God’s desire for the earth. Clearly, all is not entirely rosy just yet. But there is enough goodness in the Creation for us to catch glimpses of God’s dream. Jesus helps us to realize the joy we will experience when things are the way God intends them to be (the ‘Kingdom of God’) ... It will be like finding treasure, or like a merchant who finds the most amazing and precious pearl, or a fisherman whose net is full of fish. Beyond our present troubles, God is bringing joy.

 

 

Signs that God is nearer than we know

Morning: Psalms 87, 90; Hosea 1:1-2:1; Acts 20:1-16

Evening: Psalm 136; Luke 4:38-44

When Jesus speaks, by his own awesome power he heals people, just as he promised ... release to captives, sight to the blind and freedom for the oppressed. In his life, Jesus reveals the awesome power of God. Nobody has ever seen anything like this, and millions still make pilgrimage to Capernaum to celebrate him.  A church stands where Peter’s house was, and a ruined synagogue where Jesus healed the man possessed. People flock there to celebrate that they, too, have seen signs - right where they live - that God is nearer to all of us than we know.

 

Healing of Body, Mind and Spirit

Morning: Psalm 88; Esther 8:1-8, 15-17; Acts 19:21-41

Evening: Psalms 91, 92; Luke 4:31-37

After experiencing rejection in Nazareth, Jesus goes to Capernaum, 40 kilometres away on the Sea of Galilee. There is a man that Luke says has “the spirit of an unclean demon”, which is how mental illness is explained back then. Mental illness really is like being possessed by forces beyond your control.  Jesus addresses this ‘demon’, which leaves the man without harming him. Not shrinking from mental illness, nor denying it, Jesus’s particular ‘talk therapy’ is effective in healing it. Jesus’s healing power is wholistic, touching our whole human personhood - Body, Mind and Spirit.

 

Good News - release, sight, freedom

Morning: Psalms 116, 117; Esther 7:1-10; Acts 19:11-20

Evening: Psalms 85, 86; Luke 4:14-30

Jesus describes his mission by reading from the prophet Isaiah: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ Those held captive by blind ideas, poverty and violence will become free! Jesus’s mission - carried forward by us - was never more relevant for the world than it is today. His is Good News for a troubled world.

 

The World, the Flesh and the Devil

Morning: Psalm 119:97-120; Esther 6:1-14; Acts 19:1-10

Evening: Psalms 81, 82; Luke 4:1-13

The three temptations of Jesus in the wilderness were: 1. give priority to satisfying the desires of the flesh; 2. seek the praise of others; 3. do evil that good may come. The Prayer Book refers to these temptations as: “The World, the Flesh and the Devil”. It’s still a good summary of what leads us astray in life. Jesus’s responses to these temptations were: 1. life is more than physical or material satisfaction; 2. serve God, not yourself; 3. bargaining with God is futile. These are still very good answers for what will get us back on track again.

 

Celebrate someone else, then let them shine

Morning: Psalm 78:1-39; Esther 5:1-14; Acts 18:12-28

Evening: Psalm 78:40-72; Luke 3:15-22

John the Baptist, Jesus’s cousin, knows his own gifts and limits. His example is powerful and authentic. John has a strong following, he is a well-respected leader and teacher, people flock to him at the Jordan. He knows, though, that his work is not to promote himself, but, rather, the one in the crowd on whom the Spirit descends. John gladly points to Jesus; then his work is done. You may be on the right track when you can point, genuinely and gladly, to the qualities and gifts of others; then, step aside and let them shine.

 

St Matthew - something new out of the old

Morning: Psalm 119:41-64; Isaiah 8:11-20; Romans 10:1-15

Evening: Psalm 19, 112; Job 28:12-28; Matthew 13:44-52

This is St. Matthew’s Day. His Gospel is a work of great artistry that connects the ancient wisdom and hope of Israel with the hope and promise that find fresh expression in Jesus. His parables of the kingdom presume you would give everything you had to bring it about; it is more precious than anything you could imagine. Matthew spent his life inviting others to seek the ‘kingdom of God’. It is a priceless treasure because following the Way of Jesus brings justice and truth to life. 

 

Whenever you pray, or give, or fast ...

Morning: Psalms 93, 96; Esther 3:1-4:3; James 1:19-27

Evening: Psalm 34; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus says, “Whenever you pray, or give alms, or fast”, not, “Be sure you do these things.” He assumes people will. His teaching is, rather, that we take care not to be self-righteous about prayer, nor ostentatious about giving, nor proud about fasting. How refreshing! ...to understand spiritual practice as a part of life, as natural as eating or sleeping. Prayer, giving and fasting are not moral obligations but they do contribute to a healthy human life, as do eating and sleeping. ... All are central to our well-being and it’s essential to learn how to do them well.

 

I do not want you to remain in the dark

Morning: Psalms 75, 76; Esther 2:5-8, 15-23; Acts 17:16-34

Evening: Psalms 23, 27; John 12:44-50

When someone says, “I do not want you to remain in the dark”, they have something to tell you that is important for your well-being. Jesus’ message has that kind of urgency; he insists that the things he has said, and taught, and done have come directly from God. And his mission is not to catch people out in wrongdoing - which is how faith is so often perceived. His mission is to help humanity find wholeness and fullness of life ... so that rather than stumbling about in the dark, we might walk by the light of his Word!

 

Whose approval do I seek?

Morning: Psalm 69; Esther 1:1-4, 10-19; Acts 17:1-15

Evening: Psalm 73; John 12:36b-43

People carry a lot of religious baggage in our society. I am still amazed that some treat me differently (not always kindly) when they discover I am a priest! Why? What life experience leads to this? Some Jewish leaders worried about being rejected if people knew they were secret disciples of Jesus? They cared more about the opinions of others than about God’s. It is well for me to be aware whose glory I seek - other people’s, or God’s? Do I just want people to think well of me, or am I ready to be true to myself?

 

Irresistibly drawn to the light

Morning: Psalms 70, 71; Job 28:1-28; Acts 16:25-40

Evening: Psalm 74; John 12:27-36a

Moths are irresistibly drawn to light. Probably by an evolutionary instinct that predates electricity, moths are attracted to starlight. Stars attract us, also, by their beauty and mystery. Imagine this ... the light that telescopes can see from even the nearest galaxy to ours (Andromeda) left there 2.5 million years ago! Starlight is amazing! Jesus said that when he was lifted high, all people would be drawn to him. He meant the Cross, yes, but didn’t he also mean the light of his life and ways, visible in the world? His is a light more irresistible to us than starlight.

 

What kind of ‘somebody’ will I become?

Morning: Psalm 72; Job 42:1-17; Acts 16:16-24;

Evening: Psalm 119:73-96; John 12:20-26

There is so much in Scripture about how to live, if we but attend. Jesus’s journey leads him towards his final confrontation with, and overthrow of, the deathly powers that dominate human life: “Unless a grain of wheat ... dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” You have to lose yourself - lose your precious ego needs, your quest to ‘be somebody’ - in order to find yourself and become a life-giver for others. It’s the opposite of what you expect ... which is the point. Your expectations can lead you astray.

 

 

It is pointless to resist

Morning: Psalms 61, 62; Job 40:1, 41:1-11; Acts 16:6-15

Evening: Psalm 68:1-36; John 12:9-19

In the 1980 film, The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader tells Luke “it is pointless to resist” the dark side. This echoes what other dark forces say about Jesus: “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!” The power of darkness wants us to believe that resistance is futile, but Luke knows better and the Pharisees agree ... They find themselves admitting that the power that shines in Jesus is truly irresistible. Even a little light breaks the darkness, so when a great light shines, resistance to darkness becomes irrelevant, because light makes darkness disappear!

 

Holy Cross Day

Morning: Psalm 66; Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:11-17

Evening: Psalm 118; Genesis 3:1-15; I Peter 3:17-22

On September 14^th, 335, the Emperor Constantine dedicated a shrine on the site where Christ was crucified and buried. A relic was found there that tradition came to believe was the Cross. For 1685 years, the Church has paused on this day to joyfully recall Christ’s suffering and death for the world’s healing. Now, when an ordinary human being lovingly endures suffering to save someone else from suffering, you know something amazing and full of grace has happened. But then, when you discover God loves the world that much, too, a whole new world of possibilities comes into view.

 

Take the initiative to be reconciled

Morning: Psalms 24, 29; Job 38:1, 18-41; Revelation 18:1-8

Evening: Psalms 8, 84; Matthew 5:21-26

I love the wisdom of today’s Gospel. I also realize that it keeps teaching something hard but central to what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. It is simple and complicated. It’s like this ... If you know someone has something against you, go and be reconciled with them right away. Do not wait for them to make the first move, even though it’s their problem not yours. It’s as simple and as complicated as that. I am grateful for this teaching and also a bit annoyed at myself that I need to keep being reminded of it!

 

No unrighteous power can stem the tide of justice

Morning: Psalm 55; Job 38:1-17; Acts 15:22-35

Evening: Psalm 138, 139:1-17; John 11:45-54

The powerful fear that people will follow prophets who demand justice. Prophetic Belarusians, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and Maria Kolesnikova, and Russian, Alexei Navalny, are currently in mortal danger from murderous clandestine powers. In John’s Gospel, Caiaphas, the high priest, thinks killing Jesus will stifle opposition. And today, some imagine they can silence the prophets. But Jesus’s death, ironically, defeats the powers that kill him. For the creation moves naturally in harmony with the power of life to overwhelm the power of death. The creation yearns for justice and right relationships among all creatures. No unrighteous power can stem this tide.

 

Alive but not yet free

Morning: Psalms 40, 54; Job 29:1, 31:24-40; Acts 15:12-21

Evening: Psalm 51; John 11:30-44

The terrifying shock-waves of September 11^th still reverberate down the years. The power of death was no more evident at any time than on that day. We may still be bound by it, 19 years later. After Jesus raised Lazarus, he said to those watching: “Unbind him, and let him go.” He seemed like a prisoner, alive but not yet free, still needing to be released from death’s power. Pray that we may live our lives free of the invisible bonds of fear. Pray that we all may find freedom from whatever numbing terror threatens to hold us prisoner.

 

Those who believe, though they die, will live!

Morning: Psalm 50; Job 29:1; 31:1-23; Acts 15:1-11

Evening: Psalms 93, 96; John 11:17-29

Jesus’s mission in the world was to defeat the power of death. What does that mean? The power of death is whatever prevents you from being fully alive ... whatever sucks the life out of you or others. But when you are really ‘alive’, you suck out all the marrow of life, so that, when you die, you do not find out that you never really lived (Thoreau). Jesus raised Lazarus, who would eventually die. Until then, I imagine Lazarus’s life was like an amazing new gift to be savoured to the core. He was alive, and he lived.

Confronting the power of death in the world

Morning: Psalm 119:49-72; Job 29:1; 30:1-2, 16-31; Acts 14:19-28; 13:44-52

Evening: Psalm 49; John 11:1-16

After narrowly escaping stoning there, Jesus returns to Judea to confront the power of death. He starts by raising Lazarus from death. But the power of death is any power that diminishes, terrorizes, dehumanizes or kills any person, group, race, or nation. Jesus’s mission is to address this power of death in the world and to defeat it, so that all may live in abundance of life and without fear. He does this, paradoxically, by dying at the hands of those who wield unjust power. Victory over death’s power is not won without cost. And his mission is now ours.

 

Remarkable things you can trust

Morning: Psalm 45; Job 29:1-20; Acts 14:1-18

Evening: Psalms 47, 48; John 10:31-42

esus did remarkable things, but, because he claimed to be God’s son, religious people wanted to stone him. He said, if you don’t believe me, believe the remarkable things. The world contains many remarkable things ... In May, we planted 5 tomato seeds; those 5 plants are now weighted down with abundant and beautiful fruit. It is astounding to me that 5 seeds contain such riches! One old Grace says: “Back of the bread is the flour, back of flour is the mill, back of the mill is the wind and the rain, and God’s gracious will.” Yes.

 

Believing is hard

Morning: Psalms 41, 52; Job 32:1-10, 19 – 33:1, 19-28; Acts 13:44-52

Evening: Psalm 44; John 10:19-30

Believing is hard. We rightly question things. Some spiritual practices do stand up to scrutiny - science shows that meditation is beneficial. However, believing that Jesus is one with God requires both belief in God, and belief that God was in Jesus. One of these is difficult enough, but both!? And without proof!? Yet if we look at Creation in a particular way ... maybe we will begin to see a certain order that points to the power behind Creation ... to God. And if we look at Jesus, he may help bring God down to earth for us.

 

Becoming Real People ... the Salt of the Earth

Morning: Psalms 63, 98; Job 25:1-6; 27:1-6; Revelation 14:1-7, 13

Evening: Psalm 103; Matthew 5:13-20

In Margery Williams’ story, The Velveteen Rabbit, a boy loves a toy rabbit so much, it becomes shabby and worn. The boy gets scarlet fever, the rabbit has to be thrown away; it is so sad, it sheds a real tear and ends up becoming a real rabbit! Love makes the rabbit real. Perhaps becoming real is becoming able to shed a (salty?) tear for someone you love? Jesus calls his disciples the ‘salt of the earth’, which we all know means they are real people, made real by the great love, and sadness, they experience with Jesus.

 

Jesus, the gate and the shepherd

Morning: Psalms 30, 32; Job 22:1-4,21 – 23:7; Acts 13:26-43

Evening: Psalms 42, 43; John 10:1-18

Gates have multiple purposes and meanings. Often, they are to contain animals. When gates are for containing or keeping out people, they seem more ominous. In John’s Gospel, through the Way and Word of Jesus, God shepherds us to freedom - freedom from enslavement ... by other people who may oppress you, or by things that may captivate your soul. Jesus is the gate, through whom you will experience freedom for your spirit, freedom to become yourself. And Jesus is the shepherd in whom you will find a spacious place of welcome for your soul, acceptance for who you are.

 

The blind see; those who see become blind

Morning: Psalm 31; Job 19:1-7, 14-27; Acts 13:13-25

Evening: Psalm 35; John 9:18-41

Jesus helps the inwardly blind to ‘see’. He also challenges those who claim to see the truth but do not. An open spirit is needed. Only when you can admit your inner ‘blindness’ will you open up to truth. One example might be this approximate quote from Sally Armstrong’s 2019 Massey Lectures ... ‘Men will only begin to be free when they see that gender inequality diminishes both men and women.’ And, ironically, men who claim to see the truth about gender inequality will only really begin to see when they admit that they don’t!

 

“I was blind, but now I see.”

Morning: Psalm 37:1-18; Job 16:16-22; 17:1,13-16; Acts 13:1-12

Evening: Psalm 37:19-42; John 9:1-17

Many people know ‘Amazing Grace’. Some may not know it was written by a man who had been a slave-trader in the 1740s and 1750s, John Newton. Newton slowly realized the error of trading in human lives. He later became an Anglican priest. ‘Amazing Grace’ was part of his New Year 1773 sermon, in which Newton gave thanks for the grace of inner sight that changed his life from being an exploiter of other people to being an advocate for the abolition of slavery: “I was blind but now I see”. Check today’s Gospel for where Newton got the words.

 

“I AM” ... the call to serve truth and freedom

Morning: Psalm 38; Job 12:1; 14:1-22; Acts 12:18-25

Evening: Psalm 119:25-48; John 8:47-59

Among the most significant words in the New Testament are the two little words, “I am”. On Jesus’s lips, they constitute the remarkable claim that this teacher from Galilee is the same eternal God who speaks to Moses out of the burning bush. There, God empowers Moses to lead Israel out of slavery into freedom. Moses asks, “Whom shall I say sent me?” The Voice of God responds, “Tell them I AM sent you.”  When Jesus says, “I AM”, God sends us out, too, to be individuals and communities who serve truth and freedom in the world.

 

The dream of freedom from all that enslaves us

Morning: Psalms 26, 28; Job 12:1; 13:3-17, 21-27; Acts 12:1-17

Evening: Psalms 36, 39; John 8:31-47

Last Friday was the 57^th anniversary of the 1963 Civil Rights march on Washington and of Martin Luther King’s famous, “I have a dream” speech. King dreamed of freedom not only for black Americans but freedom from all that enslaves or imprisons the human spirit, freedom for all from the slavery of both oppressor and oppressed. MLK spoke in the tradition of Jesus, who declares: “If you continue in my word ... you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Jesus’s invitation has still not been accepted by all, but his promise of freedom stands.