Love your enemies ... love your enemies

Morning: Psalm 119:49-72; Exodus 33:1-23; Colossians 1:24-2:7

Evening: Psalm 49; Luke 6:27-38

“Love your enemies.” Jesus says it twice, perhaps because it’s counter-intuitive.  But some grasp its wisdom and live it ... I think of two in particular.  The followers of Mahatma Gandhi (not a Christian but a disciple of Jesus) practised non-violent resistance to the abuses of the British Raj, loving the soldiers who beat them.  Martin Luther King said Jesus was very serious when he gave this command ... so when someone mistreats you, you just keep loving them and they can’t stand it too long ... there is something about love that is redemptive ... so, “Love your enemies.”

A captive to the Spirit

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

Today the Church remembers Matthias, who replaced Judas.  Tradition holds Matthias is the first apostle chosen, not by Jesus but, by the Spirit.  The Acts of the Apostles describes the early Church as living in the power of the Spirit.  St. Paul’s life is so directed by the Spirit that he is “a captive to the Spirit.” Many early apostles let go of their own priorities and give their lives over to sharing Good News.  But their ‘captivity’ is not harsh or onerous to them ... they gladly let their lives be directed by the power of the Spirit.

Sometimes, people try to be holier than God!

Morning: Psalms 41, 52; Exodus 32:1-20; Colossians 1:1-14

Evening: Psalm 44; Luke 6:1-11

The leaders of the synagogue rage against Jesus for what they see as his breaking the law by allowing his disciples to pluck grain to eat and by healing on the Sabbath.  Jesus responds by saying that since he is the human face of God (or ‘the Son of Man’) he did in fact make the Sabbath Law (the 4^th commandment), and therefore he is ‘Lord of the Sabbath’ ... And he says that sabbath rest is meant to benefit humankind, not to be a burden.  Sometimes, people try to be holier than God!

Build on rock not sand

Morning: Psalms 63, 98; Exodus 28:1-4, 30-38; I Peter 5:1-11

Evening: Psalm 103; Matthew 7:15-29

If you believe modern-day rhetoric, you may think ‘fake news’ is a new evil.  But Jesus, long ago, warns his hearers: “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.  You will know them by their fruits.”  In other words, beware of those who tell you “this is true”, while deliberately lying to you.  Discern what is true by checking the outcome.  Don’t believe every silver-tongued peddler of ‘truth’. Put your trust in what bears good fruit.  Build your life not on sand that changes with every tide, but on rock-solid wisdom.

Everything will change ... it must

Morning: Psalms 30, 32; Daniel 6:16-28; 3 John 1:1-15

Evening: Psalms 42, 43; Luke 5:27-39

This week I was privileged to attend the première of a film about climate action (Resilience).  A university professor interviewed in the film says that the climate crisis demands ‘transformational change’ in our culture that will affect every aspect of our lives.  Some have been saying this for years, but I pray we are now at a tipping point.  The scale of change we require is exactly what Jesus is talking about when he speaks of societal transformation.  Jesus says it’s like ‘new wine’ that requires ‘new skins’ ... Everything will change.  Because it must.

The power of prayer and a simple touch

Morning: Psalm 105:1-22; Daniel 6:1-15; 2 John 1:1-13

Evening: Psalm 105:23-45; Luke 5:12-26

Before modern medicine, fear of contagious diseases like leprosy provoked many safeguards to protect populations from infection ... Lepers were permanently isolated from their families and communities.  Think for a minute about the healing power for you of someone’s caring touch.  It must have been incredibly healing for the leper when Jesus simply reached out and touched him.  Where did Jesus find the courage to do that?  Luke says Jesus “used to slip away to remote places and pray”.  It was in prayer that Jesus nourished his spirit and his extraordinary and ‘infectious’ Love and healing power.

When Christ calls a person ...

Morning: Psalm 37:1-18; Daniel 5:13-30; I John 5:13-20

Evening: Psalm 37:19-42; Luke 5:1-11

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, theologian and leader in the German resistance against Adolf Hitler, writes: “When Christ calls a person, he calls them to come and die.”  And Bonhoeffer does die, at the hands of the Nazis.  Jesus, after showing seasoned fishermen how to catch fish, calls them and says: You and I are going to be working together from now on to draw others into the Way of peace.  It’s not an invitation; it’s more like a command.  Jesus is willing to give his life for justice and truth and does not shrink from expecting others to give their lives too.