Welcome to the May 2025 Archive. You are welcome to read the entire archive, or find a topic on the list below that is of interest to you. Just click the link, and you will be taken directly to the day it was written. Enjoy, and may you know God's peace as you read His Word.
You are welcome to use these writings or pass them on. All we ask is that in all things you remember the Author and give Him the glory, and remember this vessel which He has used to bring them to you. Peggy Hoppes
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Scripture on this page taken from the World English Bible which belong to the public domain.
A WORD FOR TODAY, May 2025
May 1, 2025
“Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens! From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him? For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. You make him ruler over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet: All sheep and cattle, yes, and the animals of the field, the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas. Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8, WEB
I saw a meme that had a picture of a bison with a ripped pair of jeans on one of his horns. The caption said, “Getting excited for the start of Buffalo Petting Season.” It is a reference that all too many people think that buffalo (bison) are calm critters, friendly, and accessible. They think they can leave the path to get a selfie with a bison. After all, they look so sweet lying in the meadow surrounded by wildflowers. When we were in Yellowstone last fall, we saw two bison that were very close to the boardwalk in one of the geyser areas. One was resting just fifteen feet from where we were walking. The other was grazing and could have easily attacked in seconds. I would have respected the land anyway, because you never really know where there might be steaming mud ponds in those geyser regions, but I also respect the power and danger of those sleeping and grazing giants.
So, the National Parks and other natural recreational areas are putting out reminders to respect the wildlife in their parks. Wildlife is wild. That cute cougar is not a house cat. That cute grizzly munching on berries in the tree is not a teddy bear. Even the deer, which seem peaceful and vulnerable, are strong and dangerous if they think you are threatening them. It is also important that we do not treat wildlife as if they are pets. Never feed the wild animals because our human food is not healthy for them. It also makes them too dependent on human interference. Too much interaction can make them lose their fear and it can make them aggressive. There are reports yearly about animals destroying vehicles and campsites in search of camper provisions.
We don’t know how wildlife will react to our presence. Those bison in that crowded area of Yellowstone were probably more tranquil than the herds that roam in the wide valleys because they are allowed so close to the human walkways, but they are still wild and can surprise us when they react to unexpected interaction. We cannot outrun a bison, even on a boardwalk. We need to learn to respect the places we visit this summer, following good stewardship, and taking care to enjoy them without destroying them. Don’t litter. Stay on the paths. Leave everything as it is found. As they say, “Leave only footprints and take only pictures.” And don’t try to get a selfie with a bison.
We are reminded in today’s Psalm that God created us in His image, crowned us with glory and honor. We have been given dominion over the whole earth, to rule with reason, grace, and humility. Everything that is God’s has been given to us as His agents to act on His behalf and thus are cautioned to remember that it is God s world, God’s creation and God’s kingdom over which we have been given rule. And because we have been given rule over everything, we also have the responsibility to take care of it.
Sadly, we are selfish, unfaithful, and sinful beings. And there are a lot of us. Most recent estimates put the world population at over 8.2 billion people. And sometimes it seems that half the population is in the National Parks at the same time. We live in a broken world with dis-ease, anger, and hatred. We are not the center of the universe, and we have to be aware of our surroundings so that we are doing what is good for our neighbor, both human and the rest of creation. The people that do crazy things out in the wild think that it is acceptable because they are the center of the universe, but the psalmist teaches us that we are to see the world through God’s eyes.
Are we making things better for others? Are we serving God? We might be able to list a resume full of achievements, but in the entire scheme of things, do they really have value? After all, we are nothing more than tiny specks in the vast universe and our lives are nothing more than a brief moment in all of eternity. No matter what we think of ourselves, we are really unimportant and unworthy of attention.
The truly amazing thing, however, is that the Lord God Almighty cares for you. He cares about every hair on your head and every tear that you shed. He cares about your pain and your heartbreak. He cares about every thought, word, and deed. Why does He care? He cares because He created you, and He planned a special purpose for your life. He is Sovereign, and though He has given us His authority and power, honor, and glory, He is above it all. Rejoice and praise the Lord for He loves you so much. How majestic is His name in all the earth!
May 2, 2025
“We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have toward all the saints, because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News which has come to you, even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth, even as you learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love, in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.” Colossians 1:3-14, WEB
Summer vacation means travel, with many families planning trips to those natural places. It is also a time for churches to share the Gospel message with children in their neighborhoods through Vacation Bible School. Summer camps are preparing to welcome children to their facilities. The camp where I went for a retreat this weekend had several work crews making the grounds better, with some trimming dangerous trees and others rebuilding stairs and tables. These opportunities for learning during the summer are fun for many, young and old alike. Though the camps are often designed specifically for children, the youth and adults that are leaders and sponsors enjoy the opportunities to spend time with God and other Christians, doing camp activities and fellowship.
God calls us to these opportunities, both as learners and leaders. Faith means we enter a special space, even if it is not separate from the world in which we live. We have the hope of eternal life, but that life is in the here and now. We aren’t in heaven, but we are in God’s Kingdom now and forever. This means living accordingly, caring for neighbors and serving them to the glory of God. As those who visit the natural parks, we are to respect those who cross our path, treat them with grace and mercy, so that they will know God and believe in Him.
Bruce and I are going to Honduras to a farm where girls who experience crisis at home live to help them grow into strong, independent women. The farm is run by a Christian ministry and they get visitors like us on a regular basis, so the girls have been introduced to Jesus and faith, yet they aren’t all baptized Christians. We will also minister to the community around the farm, touching lives that need to hear the Gospel. We generally think that the people who come to our camps and Vacation Bible School already know about God, but that isn’t always true.
I helped at a Vacation Bible School a few years ago where most of the children were not Christians. They were from a school in the neighborhood, invited by the congregation to enjoy a few days of exciting activities, singing, crafts and games, learning about Jesus and other stories from the Bible. Even the teachers from the school joined in the fun. Some of the children and teachers had never been to church; they did not know Jesus at all.
One day while we were listening to a story, a young girl was sitting on my lap. She was a sweet, very shy little girl who had adopted me during the week. She was always by my side, holding my hand. She loved being there, hearing the stories and playing the games, but she was never quite sure about what it all meant. During one story she looked at me and asked, “Who is God?” I was surprised by the question, because even those who do not believe usually at least have an idea of what people think He is. She had never heard of Him at all. I tried to explain, the best I could for a five-year-old mind to understand, that God created whole the world, including her, and that He loves her so much that Jesus died for her.
Faith is the foundation of our every thought, word, and deed in ministry for Christ, but it is important for us to have knowledge to help us on our way. We need knowledge of the facts and an understanding of the Gospel so that when we are asked about God or Jesus, we have an answer to give. We have this knowledge through study of the scriptures, both on our own and in studies with other Christians. God has appointed teachers and preachers to help us understand, and He calls us to teach others so that they will hear the Gospel and grow in faith and knowledge, too.
As the school year ends and summer begins, let’s join together in prayer for all those who will be serving and working with the children who will attend camps and Vacation Bible School. Ask God to give them the knowledge to share the stories of God. Pray also for the children, that they might hear about Jesus and believe. Since this is also a time when many groups, including ours, will go on mission trips, whether domestic or foreign, pray that those groups will have safe travel and wonderful opportunities. It is good for us to pray one another, seeking God’s grace on whatever opportunities we might have as learners and teachers this summer, growing our faith through those special places that are found in the midst of a crazy and chaotic world. Ask God’s help for us to keep our eyes on Jesus, to trust in Him, and to speak His Word with grace and mercy.
May 5, 2025
“Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, WEB
Texas has an interesting history and more diverse culture than you might expect. I was surprised when we moved to Texas how many places have German roots. As it turns out, many people immigrated to Texas from Germany in the mid- to late-nineteenth century. They weren’t the only ones. Among the most common cultures besides the Germans are American Indian, Scottish, Czech, Polish, Mexican, Chinese, Wendish, Jewish, African American, and Greek. Many of these cultures are like islands in the midst of the diversity that is Texas, with communities of people who continue to embrace the traditions of their past through their churches, museums, and shops that sell their food and crafts.
This diverse history means that we have many unique holidays or days of remembrance. San Antonio celebrates the history of the city during last few weeks of April with a huge party called “Fiesta.” Though many of the events are all about food and fun, there are solemn remembrances at the Alamo and religious events. There are parades, including the Battle of Flowers Parade which celebrates the Battle of San Jacinto, the final and decisive victory in the Texas War for Independence.
Today is another of those days that has its foundation in the battle over this region of the world. Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The funny thing about this holiday is that it is more popular in the United States than it is in Mexico. I first learned about Cinco de Mayo and the fiesta atmosphere when we lived in Arkansas. The children attended International Studies schools. The focus country for the elementary school one year was Mexico one year and the PTA used that as the theme for our spring fundraiser. We held a Fiesta Party, which helped the children actively participate in the culture of Mexico.
The food area was decorated to look like a marketplace. There were crafts and games and demonstrations of how to make tortillas and spin yarn. There were dancers and a singer. There was even a petting zoo and pony rides. One booth sold cascarones, which are eggshells filled with confetti and covered with tissue paper, which children crack over their friends’ heads so that they are covered in tiny pieces of paper. Children love sneaking behind people with their eggs and surprising them with the burst of confetti. These eggs are popular around Easter, too. They leave a mess but are so much fun. I was the victim of multiple attacks at our Fiesta party, and the children laughed as they ran away because they knew I was ready to return the favor! The food was delicious, the games were fun, and the displays were educational. It was a wonderful experience for everyone. The children learned about the reason for Cinco de Mayo during the school year, but I imagine most of them remember the party far more. Most people who are celebrating Cinco de Mayo don’t even realize that it is the remembrance of a victory.
Paul tells us that God won the greatest victory through Jesus Christ. Death and hell and sin no longer have power over us. We are made free from their oppression by the blood of Jesus Christ. So why don’t we celebrate this? Why don’t we share this incredible story with the world? Have you ever thought about what it must have been like to be one of the first disciples? They were threatened with imprisonment, beatings, even death. Many were martyred for their faith. They were attacked physically, emotionally, and spiritually for the work they were doing. They were rejected, but they never stopped celebrating the amazing grace of God and sharing it with their neighbors. They saw incredible growth in followers for the Way. Whole villages saw the miracles that were done in Jesus’ name and accepted Jesus and accepted Him as their Lord and Savior The disciples saw the great joy that followed the message of God’s love through belief in Jesus Christ; they saw people freed to live in peace and joy.
Sadly, we don’t see the same growth and joy as they did in the early days of the Church. Just as Cinco de Mayo is no longer remembered by many as a celebration of a victory, so too our Christian faith has been diminished to be less than a victory for God’s people. We live our faith, but do we really live as though we have been made free through the victory of Christ to be steadfast, immovable, abounding in the Lord’s work, knowing our labor is not in vain? We have the promise of eternal life which is ours by God’s grace through faith. We can live in peace and joy every day, even when we face the struggles of life because He won the greatest victory and set us free to live to glorify Him and His Kingdom forever and ever.
May 6, 2025
“Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face so that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away. But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away. But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, ASV
Morgan’s Wonderland is an accessibility-focused theme park in San Antonio, Texas that was founded in 2010. I worked as a volunteer for awhile when it was first opened. I loved greeting guests as they came to the park, directing them to the right place. Since many of the guests have physical or mental limitations, the check-in process was more complicated than at other entertainment venues. Every guest wore an RFID wristband that made it possible to keep track of everyone in a group. Unfortunately, it took some time to figure out how to make it all work. The processes were confusing in the early days. The wristbands didn’t always work. We had to figure out ways to keep the people calm and organized. It was not always easy.
Morgan’s Wonderland was a great destination for school field trips. They had groups from the beginning, but schools tend to save their trips until the end of the school year. That meant we had multiple large groups nearly every day in May. The park has expanded significantly since it opened, and the prices have gone up, but I’m sure it is still a favorite place for schools to take the children for a fun day away from school.
It was a little overwhelming when we received thousands of students. Some of the groups brought only special needs students and their caregivers, but other schools have brought entire classes. We received a mad rush of buses first thing in the morning, as hundreds of children were brought to the park. We could not allow any group to enter the park until every person had an identification band. It was impossible, however, to put the bands on every person at once. So, we had to greet each group one at a time. There was always someone who had to wait. We tried different ways to make it move more smoothly, so that everyone would enter the park quickly and safely. It took time to develop the right policy.
We couldn’t allow the groups to enter the park until every person has an identification bracelet. This is a safety precaution, an important part of what makes Morgan’s Wonderland so special. It is impossible, however, to put these bracelets on every person at once. So, we have to greet everyone one class at a time. In the process, someone has to wait. We’ve tried different ways of doing this so that everyone will be allowed in the park quickly and safely. It has taken time to come up with the right policy.
I only worked one morning a week, so I could not tell you what happened on the other days. It was interesting to see the changes as they happened from week to week. Each day a new solution would be tried, and sometimes a new problem was solved. We discovered things that worked and things that did not work. We streamlined the process and established regulations that helped. We got better, but there was always work to do. I made some recommendations one day that I thought might make a difference with the hope that one day it would be perfect. I haven’t worked there for a long time, but I’m sure the process has not gotten less complicated over the years as the park has expanded.
We could hope we would find the perfect processes, but nothing is ever perfect in this world, is it? Even if we figured it out, there was always a new volunteer or employee who didn’t know what was happening. Schools and sponsors often made mistakes with names and parents often decided to join the group at the last minute. The busy days meant dozens of buses first thing in the morning with hundreds of children who were anxious to get into the park. We were not ready for every situation that could occur, but we kept working to make everything the best we could.
That’s life isn’t it? We want to be perfect, but there’s always something in this fallen and broken world that keeps us from living life as we want to live it. We have the hope of what is to come, but we have to wait for God’s promises to ultimately be fulfilled. In faith we live on the edge of the “already” and the “not yet.” We are saints and yet still sinners. We are being perfected daily, but we are not perfect. We reflect the glory of God; as each new day dawns we reflect His light a little more brightly. Day by day, week by week, year by year we are being changed into what we were meant to be. It will take time: a lifetime. Thankfully, God has given us His Spirit today to walk in His ways and do the best that we can, living in His forgiveness and the hope of His promises.
May 7, 2025
Lectionary Scriptures for May 11, 2025, Fourth Sunday of Easter: Acts 20:17-35; Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could count, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” Revelation 7:9, WEB
Glencoe is a village in the Scottish Highlands, located in a valley that was shaped by glaciers and volcanic activity. It is known for its scenic beauty, with waterfalls and dramatic mountain and loch views. The town is picturesque and has a museum that teaches local history. The valley has rugged hills and rocky cliffs that are challenging for hikers and climbers. The region has been used in film. We enjoyed the beauty of Glencoe, and though that was the attraction for us, the region is more well known for its history. In the year 1692, government troops tried to massacre and entire clan of people.
The chief of the MacDonald Clan was late in making a vow of loyalty to the king of England. The men in charge were glad to have an excuse to be rid of those people. The betrayal was incredible. The government troops moved into the homes of the MacDonalds and enjoyed their hospitality for ten days. Then one bitter winter morning, the order was given to slaughter the entire population of Glencoe. Most managed to escape, thanks to the warnings of the troops. Only 38 people were killed that day, including children and elderly. Some also died in the harsh weather. Those who survived returned to Glencoe to restart their lives, but the place was never the same. Glencoe is in a narrow valley which has come to be known as the “valley of sorrows” or “valley of weeping.” It has even been referred to as “the valley of the shadow of death.” Glencoe is a place of beauty, but the pain of death lingers on in the minds who remember the massacre of 1692.
It is impossible to walk through this life without being reminded of the pain of sin and death, especially when we hear the daily news stories of violence and hatred all over the world. As we face these valleys in our life, we are reminded in the words of Psalm 23: God is with us, He loves us, and we have nothing to fear in this life. Life does go on, even in the most desolate places.
Those desolate places are different for everyone. For some, it is the grief they are experiencing over hearing about the death of a friend. For another it is in the news recently received from the doctor of an illness. Some are suffering with questions about the future and their financial well-being. Others are facing separation from loved ones as they begin new phases of their life. Modern issues in culture, politics and even religion can also cause people to feel despair. Our desolate places might not seem so horrible to someone else, but for us they are places where we have to deal with fear and our ruin of our expectations.
The words of the Psalm were written by David and they come from his experience as a shepherd. Though Psalm 23 has been comforting for many generations of believers, sometimes the language is beyond our understanding. Yet, we can find peace in the words as we relate them to God’s care for us. These words remind us how our Good Shepherd can, and does, meet our every need, especially when we are in our own “valley of sorrows.”
I am currently reading through what Martin Luther called the Apocrypha, these are deuterocanonical texts. The edition I am using comes with notes from Martin Luther and other Lutheran theologians. The understanding of those books is that they are useful and good to read, but that they are not part of the core canon. Luther also suggests that some of these books are not valuable as devotional works. The Apocryphal books come between the Old and the New Testament, and they provide a bridge between the two. We say that God was silent for four hundred years, and in some ways that is true because there is no authoritative prophetic voice, but the Apocrypha adds to our understanding of God and the history that continued in the world of the Jews.
I am currently reading 1 Maccabees, the story of the Hasmoneans who were the ruling party from 140 B.C. to 37 B.C. It is a tedious history of the wars between nations in that time, although it does provide valuable lessons in faith, courage, and endurance in the face of persecution. The Jews have always been troubled by their neighbors. The writer of 1 Maccabees shows God’s favor on the Hasmoneans, despite the fact that none of those who lead Israel in those days were part of the line of David, or even the house of Judah. It is a book filled with intrigue and struggle, pain and victory, and is helpful to understand the history of the nations at that time. In it we see that the enemies of Israel were not just those from the outside, but also many Jews who had embraced Greek life and culture. Much of 1 Maccabees parallels the reports from Josephus in his writing of the history of Israel.
One of the reasons why the book of 1 Maccabees is valuable to us as a Christian is because Jesus celebrates a festival that comes from an event in that book. In the 2nd century B.C., the Maccabees, who were a priestly Jewish family, took back the city of Jerusalem and restored the Temple. As the story goes, the family of priests, after defeating Antonius, the Jews shattered the statue of Zeus and cleaned the Temple the best that they could. They found the Menorah, but according to Mosaic Law, there was a special ritual oil that had to be used to light it. They only found one flask, and it would take eight days to produce more. Hanukkah celebrates the miracle that one flask lasted eight days, though that story is not found anywhere in the canonical or deuterocanonical texts.
The reason this matters to us is because in today’s Gospel lesson, John tells us that Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication. This is what we now understand as Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights. Earlier in John at the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus said, “I am the Light.” (John 8-9) Jesus often compared Himself to the symbolism of Jewish life. We see that in John’s “I AM” statements. While the Menorah stayed lit for eight days, Jesus is the true light. Now, a few weeks later, Jesus was in the Temple celebrating not only the miracle of lights, but the amazing victory of the Jews by the priestly Maccabee family. God bless the Maccabees because of their zeal and faith in the face of persecution. They trusted Him and were committed to upholding Jewish law and tradition. They were not perfect, abusing power and not caring for the people of Israel. They might have been priests, but they weren’t very good shepherds of God’s people. Jesus, on the other hand, is the Good Shepherd.
Jesus’ words in our Gospel lesson today comes in a response to a question. “Are you the Messiah?” There may have been some in the days of the Maccabees that wondered if perhaps one of them was a messiah, a savior. They won many battles. They negotiated deals that eased the oppression on the people. God blessed them. Yet, in the end, like all human dynasties, they fell. None of them were the Messiah.
Jesus was the presence of God incarnate in the flesh of man. He was the light of the world. He was the Good Shepherd. He spoke with authority and performed miraculous deeds of healing and forgiveness. Yet, there were those who did not recognize Him. “Tell us plainly,” they said. Jesus answered, “I have told you.” They did not recognize His voice. When He called, they did not hear. His sheep are those who hear, but hearing is not a passive verb in the scriptures. Hearing is doing, it is acting, it is following, it is obeying.
I remember having a lot of freedom as a child, especially in the summer. I didn’t have to tell my mother where I was every minute of the day. We never knew where we would end up, whose house we would invade, whether we would wander in the woods or go to the arcade right down the street. It would have taken too much time to go home to tell mom every time we went to do something different. We didn’t wear watches. We didn’t worry.
When it was time to go home, Mom would go to the door and yell. I was usually somewhere that I could hear, but not always. She would yell until I came home. She didn’t worry about me; but she became annoyed when she could not immediately find me. I can remember my reaction whenever I heard my mother’s voice calling to me. I was usually disappointed because I was having too much fun with my friends to stop playing. I can still remember her voice crying through the summer evening air calling me home. Sometimes, I confess, I wanted to ignore her voice. Sometimes I had selective hearing.
Those who have children are quite familiar with selective hearing. Kids hear what they want to hear. I am sure that there were times my mom called me more than necessary because I did not hear. The last thing a child wants to hear on a pleasant summer evening is Mom’s voice calling them to go home. I probably heard it with my ears, but I didn’t respond with obedience.
Jesus clearly declared with word and deed the truth of His identity and purpose. He was the Good Shepherd. He was the Light. He was the presence of God they so desperately were seeking in their oppression, and they did not hear because He was not what they wanted for a Messiah. They wanted a new Maccabee who would fight with zeal and overcome with violence the oppression they experienced. They didn’t see how He could be a king; He could not deliver them from their enemy. His teachings were different than the established Jewish thought. They did not want to hear because they had rejected Him. He did not fit into their expectation, so they ignored His voice. They were not His and it was not because Jesus rejected them. They rejected Him.
John was exiled on Patmos when he wrote the book of Revelation. In this week’s text, we see a vision of a great multitude, more than anyone could count, from every nation praising God with palm branches in their hands. In this vision, John tells us that the earthly cares will no longer be concerns for God’s people. We may look to others to be our saviors, but Jesus is the true Messiah, the Son of God who saves.
We acted out this picture of heaven during our worship on Palm Sunday, remembering Jesus’ victorious ride into Jerusalem the week before His crucifixion. The Romans would have understood that moment to be a victory parade, since palms were used to reward returning heroes and the champions of the games. The Jews were also known to carry palms at festive times. As a matter of fact, palms played an important role in the ritual at the Feast of Tabernacles. As the people presented their offerings in thanksgiving to God, they waved palm branches to rejoice over His blessings.
The palm branch means many other things. In Judaism, the palm is a symbol of peace and plenty. It is also believed that the palm represents the Tree of Life. Muslims believe that Mohammed built his house out of palm branches and is therefore a symbol of hospitality. To the ancients, palms were a symbol of the connection between heaven and earth and were also a symbol of longevity. The midrib of the palm was strong enough to be used as a walking stick.
John describes Jesus as the Lamb of God whose blood sets us free. In this vision of heavenly worship, a great multitude from every nation and tongue are standing before the throne of God in white. They are waving palms, just as been done in religious ceremony for generations. The symbolism here can mean many things: God’s victory, hospitality, peace, and strength. It can represent the joy of the multitude and their thanksgiving for God’s blessings.
The white of their robes does not come from their own righteousness, but because they have washed them in the blood of the Lamb. They cry out, “Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” They sing out praise and thanksgiving to God for to Him belongs the blessing and honor and glory for ever and ever.
In this passage we see the Lamb as the Good Shepherd who will guide His people to the springs of the water of life. They will no longer hunger and thirst; they will not mourn as God wipes the tears from their eyes. This is such a vision of hope and promise; that God is with us. Those who will be standing at the throne of God praising Him will not do so by our own power or ability. John tells us elsewhere in Revelation that the Lamb is like one who was slain. He is the Son of God who was sent to save us, not through military might, but by His own blood. He won the victory by dying on the cross. It is only by His grace that we will wave those palms and proclaim thanksgiving for His blessings.
The Church was bought at a heavy price. Jesus calls us so that we will stay on the right path, to live in obedience the life He is calling us to live. When we read the stories of God’s people, both in the canon and in the deuterocanonical works, we see that it isn’t easy to live according to God’s Word. Generations of people came before us. Over and over again in the scriptures we see that it only took a few generations for God’s people to turn away from Him and follow the ways of the world. Though there were faithful judges, kings, and priests to shepherd the people, their sons often turned to other gods. It took catastrophic events to bring God’s people to their knees so that they might seek His grace and return to Him. Then they'd be faithful for a generation or two, quickly forgetting all that He had done for them.
We might think that because we live under the grace of God that we will be more faithful than those previous generations, but we face the same temptations. We can be led astray by the expectations of the world and the ways of those who have selfish or self-righteous ambitions. Paul warns us that fierce wolves will try to twist the Gospel and lead the people astray.
Paul is warning us that it does not take long for a false gospel to sound right, especially when it tickles the ears of those listening. We can see examples of this in the church today. Leaders get rich selling a gospel that is not what Jesus taught. We forget that we are sinners in need of a Savior. Prosperity gospel and works righteousness are rampant these days. The “shepherds” often seek all the wrong things, like fame and fortune, willing to do anything to get it. Division is caused by those who seek to keep their power, “killing” Jesus for their own sake, like the leaders in His day.
The leaders of God’s church are meant to be like Paul: humble, obedient, and unafraid. He spoke the truth with passion, despite the reality that it would get him killed. Are any of us willing to do the same? Are we willing to tell those wolves that they are wrong? Are we willing to go against the expectations of the world and do God’s will over those of men? The leaders of today’s church must be shepherds that protect the flock. We must be Christ-like, doing His work as God intends. We can do so because God is our shepherd caring for us.
This image of God as the Good Shepherd is a comforting image for most people. Though we do not know what it is like to be a shepherd, we do know that the shepherd loves his sheep so much that he takes care of their every need. He protects them from danger, ensures that they are watered, and leads them to the best food. We see those images in the Psalm for today, along with some other aspects of the life of sheep and shepherds. Water, food, and shelter are vital, but so are those other things, like safety and courage, goodness and mercy, restoration and comfort.
The Good Shepherd provides all the needs of his sheep. He makes the sheep lie down. How many of us could use someone to tell us to go to rest, especially when we get ourselves caught up in so many activities? He leads the sheep beside still waters. Our hectic lives are often chaotic like the churning waters of a fast-running river. We need someone who will make us slow down, walk carefully along a better path, a safer path. He leads the sheep in right paths; He helps us to make the right decisions, to do the right things according to His Word. The most comforting thing about this Psalm is the reminder that God is with us. He is with His sheep.
That’s the key message for this week: God is present among His people. He is there doing miraculous things, and yet He is doing them in ordinary ways with ordinary people. He calls us to do the same. We are tempted to offer so many activities that we are constantly busy, but perhaps we should be encouraging one another to practice a Sabbath rest. We are tempted to go our own way, but we are called to follow a very narrow path. We are called to be God’s presence among the people and in the world, and to do so demands a faithfulness that is extraordinary. We cannot go our own way.
The people in the Temple at the Feast of Dedication wanted to know if Jesus was who they thought He was? They wanted Him to make it clear; they wanted it spelled out in easy-to-understand language. Jesus was the Messiah, but they couldn’t see it because they were looking for someone to do it their way. They didn’t understand that God’s work was not to conform to the world, but to overcome the world. Suffering and death don’t fit when we are looking for prosperity and success.
We might want this life to be filled with the fulfillment of all our wishes and dreams; we want to be satisfied. But that’s not why Jesus came. He didn’t come to make life easy or to give in to all our whims. He didn’t come to make our foolishness acceptable to God. He came to restore us to Him, to overcome sin and death and to provide us with a new life. That life is meant to be lived under the care of God, following His path, doing His work. That means giving up the world. That means being a sheep, but not the kind of sheep that follows every voice. His voice is the only one that will lead us down the right path.
His voice is hard to hear in the cacophony of noise that we hear every day. Every generation faces it, but I think it might be even harder for us. We can't go to the market without being inundated with temptations. We even carry it with us, on our phones and tablets. Everything is acceptable and embraced in our entertainment. Faith is ridiculed as something that is a way for people to blind themselves to the reality of life. God is a myth. Jesus is just another prophet or teacher. The Church is filled with hypocrites and sinners.
Of course, they are right about that last one, but what they don’t see is that God embraces those who hear His voice, and He gives them forgiveness and life. Yes, we fail, but Jesus died so that we might be forgiven. Yes, we wander away, chasing after our own wishes and dreams, but Jesus the Good Shepherd calls our names and draws us back into His presence. Those who do not believe do not hear His voice. They aren’t His sheep, they are of this world. And while it is up to us to share the Gospel with them, we must never allow ourselves to be conformed to the world. When the wolves come, we must be sure to remember the true Gospel, not follow the false gospels that lead us astray.
Jesus answered their question, “I told you, and you don't believe.” I think this is hard for us to understand for two reasons. First, I'm not sure I have found anywhere in the scriptures where Jesus tells us plainly that He is really the Messiah. He says many things that lead us to believe in Him, but does He ever say plainly that He is the Messiah? And those who do not believe because they aren’t His sheep. Why? Doesn’t God love all His creation? Doesn’t He promise His grace to all? How can there be sheep that do not belong to Him?
His sheep are those who hear, but hearing is not a passive verb. Hearing is doing, it is acting, it is following, it is obeying. Paul heard and he believed. He went out and began preaching the message of the Gospel to all who would hear. The Jews heard, but they did not believe. They demanded proof. They wanted to see Jesus do and say what they expected from the Messiah, but Jesus didn’t fit their mold. He refused to conform to their expectations because God had already proven Him to be who He said He was. Jesus’ authority and power were established in the signs (especially in John’s Gospel) and in the words He spoke. Saying “I am the Messiah” would never change their hearts.
Paul knew the truth: it is all about God. He is The Good Shepherd. He is the healer. He is the Savior. Are we ready to be His sheep, to follow Him wherever He leads? Our story might not be as extraordinary as Paul’s, but we are called to do the same thing: to speak the truth, share the Gospel, and live faithfully in this world. We might even be called to die. But whether at the hands of nature or man, death will bring one thing: the eternal life God has promised us.
Do not fear, for the Good Shepherd is nearby. Hear and believe. Go and speak and do as He has commanded. God has chosen you to be the vessel through which He will guard and protect and provide His sheep with everything they need so that we will be part of the multitude that will spend eternity together dressed in white robes, with palm branches in our hands, singing God’s praise and thanksgiving at the foot of His throne.
May 8, 2025
“My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor is with God. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.” Psalm 62:5-8, WEB
I love road trips. I know that I can get from one place to another more quickly by airplane, but I enjoy the opportunity to see other places, even if we see it just from the car window as it passes by. You don’t realize how diverse our landscape is: cities and mountains, fields and all sorts of water bodies. I still get excited to cross the Mississippi River, no matter how many times I’ve crossed it. We’ve made the trip home enough times to look for certain landmarks we love to see. There is a building that looks like a caterpillar somewhere south of Dallas. The Pyramid in Memphis is fascinating. If we take the southern route to Pennsylvania, we cross over the Bayou in Texas and Louisiana. I love seeing the different types of forests that line the highways, and the wildflowers if we travel at the right time of year.
My mom took us on several road trips when I was young. She had siblings who lived halfway across the country, so we visited several times. Those road trips sometimes included small stops along the way. We often went to see state capital buildings along the way. I remember one trip when we happened to drive by a building fairly late in the evening. It was surprisingly brightly lit, so we stopped the car and went in. We didn’t stay long, but their governing body was in session, so we watched for a few minutes. That’s the kind of experience you will not get if you just fly from one place to another.
Road trips also include stops to roadside attractions and rest stops. When I was little, the place was Stuckey’s. It was a place to use the restroom, get a snack or a meal, buy gas, and buy souvenirs from the USA or the local area. They were famous for their pecan logs and other nut products. I have a charm bracelet of all the states I’ve visited; most of those charms were purchased in a Stuckey’s somewhere in the United States. Another favorite for many today is Cracker Barrel, where you can get good home cooking and buy country gifts for all your friends. It is more about the meal and less about a quick stop, but it is a great place to take a break. I love being able to buy some of my childhood favorite sweets and snacks.
You can still easily find a Cracker Barrel, but Stuckey’s are few and hard to find. They still have a presence with business partners that sell their pecan rolls and other items. You can also shop their online store, but we often have to rely on truck stops for those quick stops for restrooms and snacks. We do plan our trips around another roadside rest stop that began in Texas in 1982. Buc-ees is like Stuckey’s in that it is a place where you can use the restroom, buy snacks, gas, and souvenirs, although the Buc-ees tend to be much larger.
Buc-ee is a beaver, a silly little character that keeps the kids entertained along the way while guiding weary drivers to a place with “fabulous restrooms” and cheap ice. We discovered this place when we traveled to and from Houston. It is hard to miss. In the 200 miles between the two cities, there are dozens of signs with Buc-ee advertising all the wonderful reasons to stop at the store. They have pork rinds. They have fudge. They have brisket and kolaches. The signs encourage you to stop for Beaver Nuggets.
It is hard to believe that there are fabulous restrooms, after all, rest area bathrooms tend to be well used. The walls in those truck stop restrooms are often decorated with graffiti and the doors never close right. The floors are covered with a substance you’d rather not identify. It is frightening to use the restroom in some gas stations. How could any rest area call their restrooms “fabulous?” One day we decided we would try it, and I have to say that they are fabulous. The restrooms are nicer, and cleaner, than mine at home. There are plenty of stalls, even if a bus arrives while you are there. They even have a gallery of art pieces for sale along the hall into the restroom. We tend to schedule our rest stops at times we know we will find a Buc-ees, which is getting easier as the chain expands beyond Texas.
Many people don’t understand the “cult of Buc-ees,” and perhaps it is silly to get so excited about a store. Good marketing draws many travelers, plus they have excellent products and the fabulous restrooms. As with the old Stuckey’s the draw is the experience and the availability of things that are just not offered anywhere else. At the opening of a store in 2012, the General Manager Dan Parkinson joked, “This is just another step in Buc-ee’s quest to take over the world one clean restroom at a time.” In a time when too many people want to take over the world for their own benefit, it is nice to see someone who wants to give people what they need, when they need it, in a place that just makes people happy. For tired travelers, a good rest stop can make the rest of the trip safe and pleasant; it can be a refuge from the tediousness and dangers of the road.
The real refuge is God, of course. The thing is that our relationship with God is seen by the world much as the love of Buc-ees is seen by people who don’t get it. People who do not think there is anything special about the stores constantly make negative comments, just looking for something negative to say. People in towns where Buc-ees is scheduled to build yet another store are worried about how the traffic will interfere, although many agree that the jobs will be welcome.
It is not unusual for Christians to experience the same kind of naysaying. They do not understand how God provides us with everything we need. He makes our journey safer and more pleasant. He really is a refuge. But we know, and we can sing His praise today, even while we are headed out to Buc-ees for some Beaver Nuggets and a quick trip to the fabulous restrooms.
May 9, 2025
“His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd. 20 Some people told him, ‘Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you.’ But he answered them, ‘My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.’” Luke 8:19-21, ASV
My son asked me “What are we doing on Sunday?” I knew what he was asking, but I hate making decisions. Mother’s Day is difficult because I don’t like crowds, and most families take their mothers out for lunch or dinner, crowding every restaurant. I’ve joked that I would be happy with fast food. I know that they want to do something special, because it is my special day. Another favorite joke is that I expect plenty of love and attention. After all, I say, “Every day is Father s Day!” This is a joke, but when my kids were young, it did seem to have a glimmer of truth. My children are grown now, and what I really want from them is texts that say, “I was thinking about you today. I love you.” I really don’t need fancy dinners or presents. I simply need to know they appreciate that I played a small role in the life they are living today.
It is thought that the Mother’s Day in the United States was first started in the late 1800’s by Julia Ward Howe, the author of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” She wanted the day to promote peace. Mothers were encouraged to gather at an organized meeting in Boston, Massachusetts each year. In 1872 she asked for June 2nd to be identified as “Mother’s Day for Peace,” but her campaign was unsuccessful. By 1893 she considered transforming July 4th into Mother’s Day. In 1908, Anne Jarvis held a memorial service for her own mother and then campaigned to make Mother’s Day a nationally recognized holiday. By 1911, it was being celebrated all over the U.S. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday. Anne Jarvis was disappointed that only a few years later the day had already become over-commercialized. She hoped that it would be focused on faith, with attendance at a special worship.
A celebration in the United Kingdom called “Mothering Sunday” has become more like the secular holiday in the United States, but it was not really focused on people’s mothers. It is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, and is a day when Christians visit their home church, or “Mother Church,” the place where they were baptized. In Europe, churches are often connected to one another through a main church or cathedral, giving a place for parishioners to gather together at a special service. On Mothering Sunday, domestic servants were given the day off so that they could go to church with their own families. It was not necessarily a day to honor each person’s mother, but rather to celebrate the body of Christ and our “mother” the Church.
Just as Ann Jarvis was disappointed that Mother’s Day had become commercialized, the same is still true. The flower industry makes about 25% of their yearly sales for Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is the most popular day for making telephone calls worldwide. Churches will likely be more full than usual, as children go with their mothers this one day a year, but the focus will more likely be brunch and presents. Worship is rarely the purpose of the gathering, but a convenient coincidence.
We might hear today’s passage and think that Jesus was being disrespectful of His mother, and yet we know that He took special care to ensure her well-being from the cross and His brothers eventually believed and continued His work. At this moment they were concerned that He was exhausting Himself and they wanted to take Him away to help Him rest. Jesus knew His time was short, something they were unwilling to understand. He pointed to those who were listening as His mother and brothers: they were the Church and His work was to make them part of God s Kingdom, His family.
Mother’s Day is a chance to give our mothers the love and appreciation they deserve for all they have done and continue to do for us. But it is also good for us to think about our “Mother church,” and our siblings in Christ. We have been joined together into one body by the Holy Spirit and by the love of Jesus to help us grow in faith and work for God’s Kingdom. Don’t go to church on Sunday with your mom just because it is a convenient coincidence but go with the knowledge that all those believers are as important to your eternal life as your mother is to your physical life.
May 12, 2025
“How lovely are your dwellings, Yahweh of Armies! My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Yes, the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, near your altars, Yahweh of Armies, my King, and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house. They are always praising you. Selah. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage. Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs. Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength. Every one of them appears before God in Zion. Yahweh, God of Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, God of Jacob. Selah. Behold, God our shield, look at the face of your anointed. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly. Yahweh of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you.” Psalm 84
There’s a song by the musical group Chicago about time. “As I was walking down the street one day; A man came up to me and asked me what; The time was that was on my watch, yeah...And I said; Does anybody really know what time it is; Does anybody really care; If so I can't imagine why; We've all got time enough to cry; And I was walking down the street one day; A pretty lady looked at me; And said her diamond watch had stopped cold dead...And I said; Does anybody really know what time it is; Does anybody really care; If so I can't imagine why; We've all got time enough to cry; And I was walking down the street one day; Being pushed and shoved by people trying to; Beat the clock, oh, no I just don't know; I don't know, and I said, yes I said; People runnin' everywhere; Don't know where to go; Don't know where I am; Can't see past the next step; Don't have time to think past the last mile; Have no time to look around; Just run around, run around and think why; Does anybody really know what time it is; Does anybody really care; If so I can't imagine why; We've all got time enough to die; Everybody's working; I don't care; About time I don't care.”
Why do we worry about time? For most of us, we have to be in contact with a clock because others are expecting us at specific times. We have appointments. We have to shop while the stores are open. We have to pay attention to calendars. But the question in the song asks, “Does anyone really know what time it is?” Do we? There are scientific clocks that tell the precise time according to the sun and moon and the earth. There is, in human terms, a way to measure time. Time is a human construct based on the creation of God, but I have to wonder, does God measure time? We know that for God a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. Does God care about the hands of a clock?
I rarely care about time, unless I have something I need to do. A few years ago, I was staying in a hotel room and was able to sleep in, but I did have to get to breakfast before 9:00 am. I didn’t bother to set the alarm relying on the bedside clock to tell me the time. I realized that the clock was thirty minutes off. I have noticed in years since that hotel clocks are rarely set to the proper time. Like most of us, I now rely on my cell phone when I’m traveling because I know the time is correct. I hadn’t even looked at the clock before I went to bed, which just goes to show you how often we do not even really know what time it is.
I like what it says in today’s passage. The psalmist writes, “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” What matters is not time, but what we do with it. Are we accomplishing something wonderful for the glory of God or are we wasting our hours away doing something that meets only our own lusts and needs? We may not really know what time it is, but if we spend our minutes, hours, and days focused on the Lord, we’ll find that it doesn’t matter. We may have to follow a clock or a calendar for the sake of others, but let’s not worry about the minutes of our time because we’ll enjoy eternity where we will spend every moment with our Lord.
May 13, 2025
“But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat; and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight. Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.” 2 Peter 3:8-15a, WEB
The people in Peter’s day were hopeful for Christ’s return. They were expecting Him at any moment. They were even beginning to doubt the words of Jesus because it seemed to be taking so long. They wondered where He might be and why He was late. There were, I’m sure, even some who were trying to find a way to hasten His coming. In the past two thousand years there have been many people who have tried to foretell the time and day when the Lord would come, and some even acted in ways they thought would force God’s hand. Cults exist because people often believe that they know God better than He knows Himself and they are determined to fulfill God’s promises in their own way.
We are no different. The end times is a topic that finds its way into many conversations. It is found in the media. Though not explicitly religious, many television shows interpret the idea of the end of the world in new and frightening ways. There are plenty of books, both fiction and nonfiction, that deal with the issues and the interpretation of the signs. Of course, every time there is a natural disaster someone will cry, “This is it!”
It is interesting to think about the scriptures and what they mean for us as Christians today. We have to be ready because it is true that Christ could come at any moment. However, the focus on the end times often leads us to stop living to watch and wait. Jesus calls us to live for today; we look forward to that Day of the Lord, but we should not make it the entire focus of our faith. Rushing the coming of the Lord will leave us frustrated. When we are too busy waiting, we miss the opportunities to bring Jesus to the world in life changing ways.
We talked about time in yesterday’s devotion, and we were reminded that time for God is much different than for us. Peter tells us that a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day for God. What has taken forever for us has only been a moment for Him. The time has not yet come because everything is not yet ready. God is patient because not everyone for whom the promise has been given has heard it. There is great hope in this message: God does not want any to perish. He is patient and longsuffering. Christ will not come until all is ready.
In this passage, written for the believers, Peter says that God is, “longsuffering to you-ward.” There is work for us to do, and God is giving us the time. Those who have yet to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ are out there in the world, walking in darkness. We are the light, sent to give hope and peace to all whom God has chosen. God is patient, not for those who haven’t heard, but for us. He is waiting until we do what we have been called to do. God’s patience is our salvation. He is waiting until we have accomplished all He has commanded us to do. It might happen in this generation, but it might not happen for another thousand years. After all, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day to God. He will fulfill His promises in His time according to His word.
May 14, 2025
Lectionary Scriptures for May 18, 2025, Fifth Sunday of Easter: Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-7; John 16:12-22
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4, WEB
I heard a joke this morning that questioned why no one talks about Jesus’ greatest miracle. We, of course, recognize the resurrection as being the greatest, but the jokester said that Jesus’s real miracle was having 12 close guy friends in his mid-30’s. I suppose we could question whether Judas was really a close friend, but even eleven seems like a high number. How many people, male and female, can say that they have that many friends who would live, and possibly die, for them? I’m well beyond my 30’s and I have many friends, but I’m not sure how many of them would come at the drop of the hat if I called in need. My mother had a friend she called regularly for pie and to talk. They shared their joys and worries and always felt better after they had that time together.
Close friends usually have something in common, yet many of the disciples were unique. Though we often hear about the fishermen, there were other men with much different vocations. Matthew was a tax collector and Simon was a zealot. Talk about opposites! Matthew worked for Rome and Simon fought against Rome. Judas is identified as a thief and we have no idea what type of work Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, and Thaddaeus did, but I suspect they had little in common. The only connection was probably religion, though we can’t be sure how pious any of them were. Jesus noted that Nathaniel (Bartholomew) was a true Israelite, and the other disciples seemed comfortable with Jewish worship, but how deep was their faith and knowledge of the scriptures? It wasn’t until after the resurrection, the forty days Jesus spent teaching them, and Pentecost that they really began to understand Jesus.
Can you imagine how these twelve felt as Jesus spoke the words in today’s Gospel lesson? This passage is part of one of several monologues Jesus gave in John. This one is called the “Farewell Discourse.” Jesus was preparing them for the day when He would no longer walk beside them in the flesh. This discourse was spoken as the disciples gathered for Jesus' final Passover meal. Jesus prayed for them, gave them a few final thoughts, encouraged them to face the difficulties with faith, and warned them of what would happen.
They didn’t get it. They were confused because Jesus was not making sense in their minds, despite three years of telling them that this is the way things had to be. He repeatedly told them that He would have to suffer and die, but they held out hope that Jesus would overcome the persecution and take the throne of Israel. We look back on those references to His death throughout the scriptures and wonder how they could miss it, but we have to remember that we see the cross through hindsight. We know the end of the story; they didn't.
Sometimes it all seems so clear; sometimes we wonder what God is trying to tell us. This has been true of every generation of Christian since the very beginning. Sometimes what is clear for me is confusing for you and vice versa. God speaks to us as individuals even as He has spoken to all His people. Sometimes the lesson just makes sense to one of us more easily than others. I have to admit that I get frustrated when I try to explain something as I understand it, but it doesn't make any sense to someone else. I have to remember that the Holy Spirit makes it clear and I am simply a helper. We wonder when someone “gets it” but the “it” is completely different than what we were trying to teach. I’ve heard several pastors recently say that this happens to them all the time. The Holy Spirit reveals the Living Word through us, even when we don’t know what they need.
There was a school in Georgia that help separate proms for the black and white students. The school was about fifty-fifty, and everything else in the school had been integrated for decades. The students never saw this as a racial issue, it was simply that separate parties were planned by the parents for the black students and the white students. In 2007, the class president had a dream of doing something new; with his lead, the students planned their own prom. The prom was controversial in the community and some did not participate, but for those who did, it was a step in the right direction. This prom was not about integration; the prom was about table fellowship, having a social experience together rather than gathering separately for such an important event in the life of a High School student.
The Jewish community of Jesus’ time had strict rules about their socialization. They could not eat with people who were not circumcised. In the days following Jesus’ resurrection, as the apostles were beginning to teach and preach the Good News to the world, they continued to live according to the rules of their community. Peter refused to fellowship with those who were not circumcised.
That was until he had a vision from God. Peter might have rejected the call from Cornelius, but God showed him a better way. As the three men from Caesarea approached, Peter was on his roof praying. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” Peter was upset by this command, because the food before him was unclean according to the law of the Jews. “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This vision happened repeatedly, to ensure Peter that what he heard was the truth of God. When the vision ended, the men from Caesarea asked Peter to go with them.
Peter did not hesitate to visit the home of Cornelius. Peter told Cornelius it was against his law for him to be there but asked why he had been called. Cornelius shared the story of the angel and Peter understood that the vision was not only about food but also about people. So, Peter stayed with Cornelius and shared the Good News with his whole household. They believed and the Holy Spirit came upon them. The circumcised Jews who had come with Peter were amazed that God would pour out His Spirit on gentiles, but they heard them praising God in other tongues.
After this visit, Peter returned to Jerusalem to tell them about God’s grace to the Gentiles. They were not so upset that God would bless the Gentiles, they were upset that He expected them to accept the Gentiles into their community and at their table fellowship. The Gentiles were expected to convert to Judaism before they could become Christians. Peter discovered that God’s grace was not dependent on being a certain kind of person, but that He can bless whomever He pleases. That’s why Jesus picked a ragtag group of friends to follow Him. Those who have been saved by the Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit are part of the same fellowship and are welcome at the same table based on God’s grace. It isn’t easy, of course. The prom was controversial at first but has continued in the years since. Though some today still have a separate party, the official school sponsored prom is for all the students.
Christianity is about overcoming obstacles. The cross and the resurrection are certainly the most obvious events in which God has overcome our greatest obstacles, but there are many other ways in which we overcome. Jesus taught us to overcome fear, barriers, biases, hatred, doubt, hunger, loneliness, imprisonment, thirst, despair, sin, and death. Many of the Christian writing, both canonical and the writings of Christians throughout the ages, focus on overcoming our difficulties. Often those difficulties are based on the messages that are received from society in general. In today’s world, self-help books fill our bookshelves, so Christian writers also share ways in which the Christian message can help people overcome.
Things were not much different in John’s day; the gods which the people worshipped were different. Ours have names like “work”, “money”, “leisure.” Though the Hellenistic culture in which John lived was in many ways similar to our own, they had a list of gods which they honored with temples, pilgrimages, and religious rituals. The Christians had to overcome people’s reliance on those gods while drawing them into the heart of the One true and living God. In the story of Paul in Athens, Paul used their superstitious beliefs to introduce them to Jesus. They had an altar which had no name that was dedicated to whatever god they may have forgotten. Paul described the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who was incarnated as Jesus Christ and told them that this God they did not know was the only God they needed.
John used the culture of his day when sharing the message of his vision of the Revelation. For the people to whom he was writing, the culture of their day was filled with frightening images. Though they had faith in the One true and living God, they could not help but to be aware of the other stories that lingered in their midst. The Jews had what we would consider an irrational fear of the sea. This is understandable because they never had to sail anywhere as a people; they were nomadic and moved by foot until they reached the Promised Land. To them, the sea-loving Philistines were evil, and that judgment was based on their love of the sea.
The fear of the sea might have come from the ancient creation stories in which the gods were brought forth out of the sea. Tiamat was like a dragon but was the goddess of chaos and salt water. She was the mother of all living, of all the Babylonian gods and dragons. It is no wonder, then, that the Jewish readers of John’s Revelation would find comfort in the end of the sea. When John wrote that the sea was no more, we wonder why it would be so important to emphasize that fact. To the Jews and early Christians, the disappearance of the sea would also represent the disappearance of all those other gods who are such a large obstacle for them to overcome.
Since religious devotion was often directly connected to all aspects of society, living in a world worshipping One God verses the many gods, brought about persecution. Without the sea, without the chaos, without those gods, the world would be a much better place for the Christians. It seems insignificant to us, even unwarranted, since the sea is such an important part of our world, but to them, the sea represented the worst of their problems and when everything is made new by God’s grace, then there would be nothing left to fear.
The new frontier is space, and many people fear what might be out there. Human beings have long asked the question, “Is there life out there?” We have wondered whether or not there are any planets anywhere else in the universe that might have some form of created beings. Science Fiction often puts alien life on the planet Mars; UFOs have always been filled with Martians. As our scientific technology advances, we’ve been able to make strides in finding information about the worlds outside our earth. High powered telescopes and cameras have shown evidence of water on Mars. This was an amazing discovery and many have suggested that this means that Mars has the potential to sustain life.
Great strides have been made in the past few years by the Kepler telescope. Several exoplanets have been found throughout the universe that are very similar to Earth in size and location within a solar system, making it quite possible that they could support life as we know it beyond our borders. The government has begun releasing classified documents of UFO, or UAP as they are known today, encounters around the world. There are many theories about these encounters from Martian invasions to interdimensional beings to foreign military aircraft to optical illusions. Some are explained by weather phenomenon, while others are beyond explanation.
From a Christian point of view, we know there is life “out there” although our understanding of beyond our borders is much different than science. I find it interesting to think that perhaps the rumors of UFOs might be true and that there are other beings trying to reach out in fellowship with us. However, we do not need any evidence of alien life forms to know that we are part of something bigger than the tangible life we have on earth. When we sing the songs of thanksgiving and praise, like this one from the Psalms, we can see that there is something greater. We aren’t in it to be alone, but to be part of the whole, whatever we discover that whole to include.
There are many people who prefer to exercise their life of faith in God alone. They argue that the Church is not a building, but individual believers in personal relationship with Him. They claim that God can be found anywhere, in the quietness of the fields and under the shade of a tree. While this is true, there is something to be said about joining together in the fellowship of the saints, not only through time and space, but where we are here and now. Our praises, sung together in the presence of God is far more beautiful to His ears than those we sing alone.
Jesus called and gathered the twelve, and many other disciples, and walked with them in the world. They weren’t alike, they were unique. We, too, are called and gathered by Jesus, through His Holy Spirit to join with the entire creation to sing praises to God our Father. He hears our praise wherever we are, because everything He has made sings along with us, perhaps even beings lightyears away.
Yet, there is something very special when Christians raise their voices together to glorify God when they gather for worship. When you consider the entire creation - the heavens that reach far beyond our imagination, the planets in the universe that might possibly sustain other life forms, the microscopic organisms that could destroy a population of humans, the redwood trees that reach so high we can’t see the top, the depths of the sea that are too deep for our technology - it is easy to see the greatness of God. It is also easy to see that we are not much in the entire scheme of things. It is humbling to realize our place in this world. Yet, He has created human beings to be the crown of His creation. Should we not want to glorify Him together with one voice of praise? He has given us the heavens and the earth. He has given us the sun and the wind and the rain. He has made the animals, birds, plants and trees for us. And He has given the care and love of one another.
I think it is arrogant of us to assume that we are the only sentient, reasoning beings in the universe. Cannot God, who created us have also created others He loves and redeems? Time has been a subject in our devotions this week. Does anyone really know what time it is? God’s time is different than our time. What is time?
Science Fiction fans are familiar with the concept of time travel because many Sci-Fi shows use it as the basis for the problems and solutions that make them so exciting. I never watched the show “Heroes” but it seemed from the clips I’ve seen that time travel had an important place in the story-line. The same is true of movies like “Back to the Future” and books like the “Outlanders” series. The method of time travel is different for each, sometimes it is a state of mind, sometimes it is a strange machine and sometimes it is a glitch in the fabric of the earth. In Sci-Fi stories, time travel is always a two-way street, the traveler able to go both backward as well as forward.
Though physicists are still discovering new ideas, it was Einstein who best laid out the reality of time travel as we understand it today. It is complicated, but he discovered that time is not constant, but that it is relative to the one who is traveling through it: the faster you travel, the slower time moves. In other words, if you were to travel into space at nearly the speed of light and return to the earth after two years, you would find that much more time had passed. Since the speed of light is constant, the observers from earth-time perspective appear to slow down. Time seems to stay the same for the one traveling at the speed of light. By this theory, it seems time travel is possible, however it is only possible in one direction. You can never go back to the past.
Clifford Pickover wrote, “Most cultures have a grammar with past and future tenses, and also demarcations like seconds and minutes, and yesterday and tomorrow. Yet we cannot say exactly what time is. Although the study of time became scientific during the time of Galileo and Newton, a comprehensive explanation was given only in this century by Einstein, who declared, in effect, time is simply what a clock reads. The clock can be the rotation of a planet, sand falling in an hourglass, a heartbeat, or vibrations of a cesium atom. A typical grandfather clock follows the simple Newtonian law that states that the velocity of a body not subject to external forces remains constant. This means that clock hands travel equal distances at equal times. While this kind of clock is useful for everyday life, modern science finds that time can be warped in various ways, like clay in the hands of a cosmic sculptor.
“The line between science and mysticism sometimes grows thin. Today physicists would agree that time is one of the strangest properties of our universe. In fact, there is a story circulating among scientists of an immigrant to America who has lost his watch. He walks up to a man on a New York street and asks, ‘Please, Sir, what is time?’ The scientist replies, ‘I'm sorry, you'll have to ask a philosopher. I'm just a physicist.’”
As long as there is a clock close-by we think we know the time. Yet, the reality of time is far more complicated. Scientists like Albert Einstein and Carl Sagan spent much of their careers seeking to better understand time and all that is related. It was much simpler when we could keep the concept of time locked in a box, or a watch, or a clock. Even so, we joke about time like how we wish we could have twenty-five hours in a day or eight days in a week. Perhaps time travel would help us with our hectic schedules!
We try to keep God locked in a box. As we look back to the beginning of creation, we see that what God created He called good. The earth, the heavens, the plant and animal life, the man and the woman are spoken into life by God and He said, “It is good.” When sin entered the world, everything became corrupt and perishable, ravished by time. In his sin, Man tried to confine God to make Him suit their needs with idols, locking God behind the doors of their hearts and their temples so that He could not disrupt their plans.
But like time, God is not constant and can’t be locked in a box. He is bigger than anything we can create. God is not hidden behind a curtain or held by our ideology and biases. That’s what Peter learned in the vision and encounter with Cornelius. He learned that God’s grace is available to all those who hear, not just for those who exist in a certain time, place, or culture. He took that news to the Jews and opened for them a whole new world. The new world was one in which God’s love extended to people from all nations. This new world is made visible in the love of Christians for one another, the love with Jesus Christ commanded for His disciples. It is in that love which is not just a feeling but is an active love between brothers and sisters that God is glorified in this world and He is manifest for all to see.
God cares about all His creation: every bug, fish, bird, animal, UAP, and every human being. Human beings might be the only creature that creates buildings in which to worship God, but we are just a small part of His entire creation. The sun, the moon, and the stars all praise God. The heavens and the raindrops glorify God; the earth and all that lives on land and in sea sing His praises. The elements, the mountains, the hills and all the trees praise God. Wild and domesticated animals, clean and unclean and birds of the sky all join in the worship. For all we know, beings on other planets sing praise God God. No human being is greater than all this, whether ruler or servant, young or old, male or female. All creation was made by God, and all creation sings His praise.
Unfortunately, not every human being has benefitted from the saving grace of Jesus Christ; not all our neighbors have faith in our God. However, we are reminded by our scriptures that we cannot judge our neighbors’ faith by our expectations. God may just be sending you as a witness to the very neighbor you want to reject. The atheist that is unwavering in their lack of faith could be the next one upon whom God’s Spirit will fall. We might just be surprised; we might just realize that just as God is not limited by time or space, there are no limits to God’s grace.
God has done something new, but it isn’t really all that new. It is as He always intended. The psalmist shows us that the entire creation sings His praise. In Revelation we see all God’s people, no matter who they are, joining in the eternal worship of the One who did it all. Death and tears may have entered the world, but God has overcome death and will wipe away all our tears. One day we will join in the praise of the whole creation and all the Church for eternity, dwelling once again with the God who created us, loves us, and saves those who hear His voice and believe in Jesus Christ our Lord.
May 15, 2025
“See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. Beloved, now we are children of God. It is not yet revealed what we will be; but we know that when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and no sin is in him. Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him and doesn’t know him. Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed: that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:1-8, WEB
Keanu Reeves is known for his kindness. Stories abound about his generosity. He saved a woman who was about to be evicted from her home by paying her bills. He often gives money from his earnings to other people working on his films because he believes they deserve more. He gave a large amount of money to a set designer as a bonus because the family was having difficulty. He helps on set, carrying equipment or other labor. He hangs out with people, fans and others, just because he wants to be with them. He once drove a girl out of his way because her car broke down. He’s humble, or as one article suggested, “self-deprecating.” He is incredibly generous with his resources, giving to charity secretly through a private foundation that aids children’s hospitals and cancer research.
A story from 2019 caught my eye this morning. He was on a flight from San Francisco to Burbank that was forced into an emergency landing in Bakersfield. The airplane landed safely and everyone was unhurt, but they were stranded about two hours from their destination. Keanu Reeves could have easily hired a private car and taken off while the other passengers had to wait or struggle to find a way, but instead he helped coordinate a large van. When the van arrived, he joined the other passengers for the tedious journey through the desert, and he spent the time entertaining them with stories and trivia, joining in singing, engaging in conversation. The passengers told stories of how Keanu helped calm them during the trip. He helped unload the luggage and then slipped away without fanfare.
He is quoted as saying, “I believe that kindness is the most important thing in the world. It doesn’t matter how much money or fame you have - what matters is how you treat others. We all go through difficult times, and the best way to help others is by showing them compassion and understanding. I’ve experienced a lot of loss in my life, but I’ve learned that the key to moving forward is by being kind to yourself and others. Life is unpredictable, but kindness is always within our control. We can all choose to be kind, and that makes the world a better place.”
Keanu went to a Catholic school but does not have confidence in his eternal destination. I’m not sure that his kindness to others has anything to do with trying to earn his eternal bliss, he seems to be so naturally kind and generous, but he offers an excellent model for how we who know Jesus are meant to live. Jesus Christ commands us to love one another and lay down our lives for our friends. We are commanded to bear fruit, lasting fruit, fruit built on love. His command is that we live as He lived, in selfless, sacrificial love, not only to those who treat us well, but to everyone. We are to serve our neighbors then slip away without fanfare. Sacrifice means giving up something, perhaps something we love or something we have earned through our own suffering. It means changing our ways.
When we practice sacrificial love, we do not experience a sense of loss or emptiness because we find real joy in the relationship we have with Jesus Christ through our obedience to His commands. The grace of God does not come to us because we are obedient or kind or generous. Instead, we receive God’s grace which fills us with His love until we can do nothing other than be obedient and kind and generous. We thank God for His grace by joyfully abiding in His love, sacrificing for others as Jesus Christ sacrificed for us.
May 16, 2025
“Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them. He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.” Romans 4:9-12, WEB
Certain questions have plagued the human mind for generations. “What is the meaning of life?” “Why is there suffering in the world?” “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” Though most people know that there is no easy answer, some people are very passionate about their opinion. For those who believe in God, there is no question. For those who have found their purpose in life, it seems silly to ask what it all means. Those who believe in evolution generally believe without a doubt that the egg came first and creationists believe the chicken came first based on the biblical narrative. Everyone has a reason, whether logical or emotional, for why they believe their answer is right.
So, which came first? This question can be put into other contexts also. When it comes to religious faith, one of the greatest theological questions ever asked is “Is our salvation dependent on faith or works?” I recently read an article from a local pastor cautioning the readers to be careful about mixing their faith in God and their reliance on works to give them the assurance of salvation. The article suggested that many people mix grace with works and confuse law and Gospel.
“Do we choose God or does God choose us?” The scriptures certainly give us some indication that both answers are correct, and yet it always comes back to the basic question, “Which came first?” The bottom line is that God came first. He was before all things and will be long after all things have passed away. God is the Creator, Redeemer, and King of all creation. We can go back into the lives of the patriarchs, judges, kings, and prophets to know that in all things God comes first. Moses could not have been the deliverer if God had not revealed Himself first. David would not have been king if God had not anointed him. Isaiah could not speak the words of truth to the Israelites if God had not put those words in his mouth. Yet, they all believed and then God put them to service. How and when does faith enter into the picture?
The people in Jesus’ day thought that their act of circumcision was what brought them the blessings of God. But this letter from Paul to the Christians in Rome shows us that it was not Abraham’s actions which brought God into his life. Instead, Abraham recognized God’s blessings and responded to His call. Faith did not come because Abraham chose to be obedient or because he had done anything to bring it about. God came first, revealed Himself to Abraham who believed and in faith he walked as God commanded.
That’s how it is for us. The question, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” may never be answered to anyone’s satisfaction. Even those who believe in the biblical creation story can wonder if God created the actual chicken or an egg first. When it comes to faith, however, there is no question: God came first. He reveals Himself to us in Jesus Christ, through the scriptures and the fellowship of the saints. By His Word we believe. In faith we respond to God’s love in worship, service and witnessing to others in this world. Which came first? God is always first, in love, mercy and peace. All else comes after by faith in that which God has promised.
May 19, 2025
“Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth. If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be. He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap. As you don’t know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don’t know the work of God who does all. In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don’t withhold your hand; for you don’t know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good.” Ecclesiastes 11:1-6, WEB
We once decorated a newly planted tree in our yard with plastic Easter eggs. It was just beginning to take root, with leaves just beginning to poke from the tips of the branches. The eggs offered color on the nearly bare trees. It looked a little silly, but made us happy in the days leading up to Easter.
One day I noticed a bird in the tree. He had a strange look on his face as he hopped from branch to branch, looking at the eggs. I wondered what he was thinking, but he was obviously trying to figure out what those colorful things were. Were they food? Were they a strange flower with nectar? He finally found a branch and egg that he could reach to get a closer look. He pecked at the egg all of a sudden and was taken aback when it was hard and swung back at him. He hopped into a few more branches and then flew away. The eggs were useless to him, but he would never have discovered that if he had not tested one with his beak. Those eggs might have been something good to eat and the only way to find out was to adventure forth and try.
I can’t say I’m terribly adventurous. I do try new things sometimes, but usually only after careful deliberation. Take restaurants, for instance. My husband and I will talk about a new restaurant, often saying “We should try that the next time we go out,” every time we see it. Then, when we do go out, we are always in the mood for one of our favorites. “Next time,” we think. We waited so long for one restaurant, that we noticed it had gone out of business before we got around to trying it. We often find, when we get around to trying that new place, that we really like it. Several restaurants have become our new favorites because we stepped out of our comfort zone and tried something new.
I’m sure we aren’t the only ones who get stuck in old routines. We have recently been thinking about the way we use our resources, asking the question, “Is this the best way to glorify God with our money?” We are generous and have been very consistent with some of our donations. I know when it is time to write a certain check or purchase in-kind gifts; it has become a habit. I don’t think twice. Yet, I’ve recently realized that there are so many other places that can use our gifts. We have had to think about whether or not we are truly glorifying God with our habits, or whether He is calling us to something new. It is hard to make the decision. Can we be sure about the new charity?
I was thinking about this situation when I read “Cast your bread upon the waters,” in today’s scripture quotation. This seems silly. Bread on water will melt away and disappear. Or it will be eaten by fish or birds. Yet, the teacher says, “You will find it after many days.” The point that the teacher is making is that we should not be afraid that we will be wasting our bread by casting it upon the waters, but that God will use it according to His good and perfect will. “Give a portion to seven, yes even to eight.” We are not to worry that what we are doing, but to step out of our comfort zone and try something new because God can make good things happen out of our courage. There is so much we don’t know, but if we listen to God and trust in Him, we’ll see amazing things happen.
There are so many wonderful things for us to do in this world, however we often avoid doing them because we do not know what it might be like. We reject new groups of people, new activities, new restaurants, thinking they will be useless. We keep doing the same old thing because it is comfortable, not knowing what a blessing something new might be for us. When we reject new things outright, we miss out on the adventure and we lose out on so many good things. We do need to deliberate about our actions as we move forward, because there are reasons to be cautious, but God has called us to be like the birds, venturing forth in faith that He is with us and will guard us through any misadventures. When we trust in God and let go of ourselves, we find that He returns our faith with many blessings. If we stick to only what we know, we may find that it will fail eventually. But when we try new things and spread out our gifts, we will see success in something even if another thing fails.
May 20, 2025
“Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity. Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.” Ecclesiastes 11:7-10, WEB
Someone I know had a really bad day. Well, I suspect many of us have had similarly bad days in our lives. We all deal with health issues, car accidents, financial problems, disagreements. Sometimes we get caught up in the issues of the day that create tension with people we know, even people we love. Bad weather sets us on edge. Sometimes it takes just the smallest thing to make a day really, really bad, but it really wasn’t just that one thing. It was more likely a thousand little things that led up to that moment when the day became bad. We can handle just so much until we finally break.
And then it becomes difficult to praise God. We’ve all had a moment or two in our lives when we have said “woe is me.” “Why me?” we ask. We wonder why these things go wrong. We think we deserve better because we have done good works or kindnesses for our neighbors. Shouldn’t God bless me because I gave food to the food bank or mowed my elderly neighbor’s yard? Why should I suffer ill health or financial difficulty when I give generously of my time and resources? We let those little things build up in our hearts and when the moment comes that we break, we forget the millions of blessings that God has provided for us throughout our lives.
This is why we are to live a life of rejoicing. Our pastor (and I’ve seen others encourage the same practice) has asked us to write down three good things every day. We are to thank God for those things. They don’t have to be anything special. Today I wrote that I was thankful for air conditioning. I was having a less than wonderful weekend a few weeks ago, struggling with a situation that had me on edge. Through the practice of joyful thanksgiving, I found positive aspects about it. I praised God for the good things. I made opportunities to do good things for those who had caused me pain. It didn’t change the situation; it changed my outlook. I could have responded to the hurt with more hurt, but that would not have made anything better. I could have asked God, “Why me?” That wouldn’t have helped either. Instead, I looked for the lesson. I looked for God’s grace. I looked for a way that might change the situation for someone else in the future. I also looked for my own fault in the situation.
The teacher in Ecclesiastes encourages his students to rejoice, to let their hearts cheer them. We are to remember that God sees even our hearts and all that we do. He knows our struggles. He knows our pain. He has promised to be with us through them. “Woe is me” is nothing but vanity, but “Praise be to God” will always keep us on the right path. We will have good days, and we will have days of darkness, but when we rejoice every day, we’ll realize that good can come out of the bad as we grow in faith and trust that God will always make all things right.
May 21, 2025
Lectionary Scriptures for May 25, 2025, Sixth Sunday of Easter: Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:9-14, 21-27; John 16:23-33
“Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.” John 16:32-33, WEB
I have made several different paintings using the idea of the “Tree of Life. One of the first is a large painting with a very dark background with the branches and trunk of the tree painted in metallic gold. The background is also outlined with gold. Then I painted leaf stamps with many different colors and stamped the canvas with leaves. The other “tree of life” paintings are similar, with leaves or flowers that were stamped on the cavasses. I’m not sure you can picture these paintings from my description. Sometimes things need to be seen to be understood or believed.
I recently saw someone say that the Book of Revelation is frightening. I suppose in some ways it is, with symbolic languages and images that are difficult to interpret. These word pictures are unsettling for most who read them. Some suggest that the visions John was seeing were of future things, that the monsters could be interpreted as modern weapons of war or other technology from our day. They look at Revelation from the point of view that it is a foretelling of what life will look like for those who live at the end of time. They suggest that John simply did not know how to describe the indescribable.
I can understand the fear. The Book of Revelation is filled with demons, plagues, natural disasters, and war. Satan and his minions do horrific things to the people of God, causing pain and threatening death. Those who were experiencing the persecution of John’s day better understood the symbolism that John was using.
John used the culture of his day when sharing the message of his vision of the Revelation. For the people to whom he was writing, the world was a frightening place. Though they had faith in the One true and living God, they could not help but to be aware of the other stories that lingered in their midst. The false gods of their neighbors were constantly an obstacle and temptation for God’s people. Religious devotion was connected to all aspects of society, so living in a world filled with many so-called gods while worshiping the One true and living God caused persecution. John uses the imagery to help the Christians realize God’s grace in the midst of their troubles and turn to Him for all they need.
The Book of Revelation certainly has some frightening and horrific imagery, but it is really a book filled with hope. Instead of seeing it as a timeline, we can understand it as a spiraling cycle of visions that begins with heavenly worship then God’s judgment against the world with a call to repentance and a promise of God’s forgiveness which leads us back to heavenly worship over and over again. John was warning the Christians of the difficulties they would face from the world and from their own sinfulness. In the midst of the warning, however, he encourages them with words of comfort and hope. “Stand fast and you’ll dwell with Jesus forever.” Some are lost in each cycle of destruction, but we are comforted by the promise that God will forgive us and lead us back to faithful to worship as we turn to Him.
Today’s passage from Revelation is a visual image of heaven given to us in words. We can’t even imagine the reality and won’t be able to do so until we are in the midst of it all. The City of God, the New Jerusalem, is so big that it would cover about half of the United States. We want to relate this image to our human experience; we want to try to imagine a city that looks like a perfect cube measuring 1400 square feet along the width, height and depth. It doesn’t make sense to our human minds; cities aren’t perfect cubes that big. However, John was describing the indescribable with words his readers could understand: this vision he saw was immense, magnificent, and greater than anything in this world.
The assigned passage does not cover the whole description, but it is worth reading through Revelation 22, where John describes the Tree of Life. I often think about that tree and wonder about the size. It is often depicted as being twelve different trees because it bears different types of fruit, however God can do anything, and I imagine that it was one enormous tree with a new harvest every month. Can you imagine how big it would have to be to provide fruit for all those whose names are written in the book of life? Can you imagine a tree that can bear different types of fruit each month?
Once again, we see the importance of symbolism to John. The number twelve is a number of completion or perfection and governing authority. Think about how often the number twelve appears in the Bible. Jesus was twelve when He was teaching in the Temple, and He healed a woman’s twelve-year hemorrhage. There were twelve baskets of leftovers when Jesus fed the five thousand. In the Old Testament there were twelve priestly divisions, and twelve spies were sent into the Promised Land. The Bible promises that Jesus commands twelve legions of angels. Twelve is a number that relates to the full congregation of believers as seen in the tribes of Israel and the number of disciples. In the Book of Revelation, John describes the New Jerusalem as having twelve foundations stones.
It isn’t surprising then, that the Tree of Life would have twelve fruits. When we think of fruit in faith terms, we turn to Galatians 5:22-23. In modern versions of the Bible, there are nine fruits of the Spirit listed, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. I think it is interesting the list is slightly different in the Latin Vulgate, which is a Latin translation that was created mostly by Jerome in the late fourth century which became the official Latin Bible for the Catholic Church and some of the modern translations used this as their basis. The difference between this one and the verses with which we are familiar is that this has twelve fruits rather than nine.
Some are bothered by the difference in texts, but numbers here don’t matter. Augustine wrote about this passage, “The Apostle had no intention of teaching us how many [either works of the flesh, or fruits of the Spirit] there are; but to show how the former should be avoided, and the latter sought after.” I am not sure why Jerome would have added the three, which are longanimity (which means patience in affliction, different from the first patience which means bearing with the imperfections of others), modesty (which means humility), and chastity (which means indulging in physical desires only when appropriate) but they are certainly fruit that we could use these days.
When Augustine said “former” he was referring to Galatians 5:19-21a, which lists the deeds of the flesh. This list is much longer and includes even “and things like these” to cover all the other sins that keep us from a relationship with God. That’s what happens over and over again in the Book of Revelation. Though we see the beauty of heavenly worship, human beings are constantly tempted away from God by the things of this world. We are tempted to sin over and over again. When we fail to live up to the expectations of God, He provides discipline, offers us a vision of what life is like without Him and calls us to repentance, which then leads us to forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration to a place where we will worship Him with all our hearts. Sadly, this spiral happened over and over again in the Old Testament. It happens over and over again in the world. And, it happens over and over again in our lives. We sin, are called to repentance, are forgiven and restored so that we can worship Him again. In the end, those of us who believe will
We automatically think of fruit like apples, oranges and peaches when we think about a tree bearing fruit, but wouldn’t it make sense that the Tree of Life might bear fruit in keeping with faith? What an awesome world the New Jerusalem would be if these were the fruits on which we were living! After all, they say you are what you eat.
When we read this passage from John, we try to imagine what he is describing, but our imaginations are simply incapable of seeing that which we will see in that day. It is like we are trying to imagine a painting just by the words describing it. We will be delightfully surprised to see the City of God, to dwell in the presence of God and the Lamb, to drink from the River of Life and to eat of the Tree. And though it will be immense, it will be personal and intimate and perfect. Sometimes we should probably stop and consider the truth that because of the faith we have in Jesus, our life will one day be one of peace and joy forever.
The Psalm for today includes a word that is used more than seventy times in the psalms and a few times in a poetic portion of the book of Habakkuk. That word is “Selah.” It is not easy to identify the meaning of this word, though many would suggest it is simply a liturgical word in the midst of the psalm to direct the music, like a rest or a stop does in modern musical composition.
However, there are those who think this word actually suggests something much deeper than just a pause in the music, that it is also instructional to the singer and listeners. The word “Selah” is thought to mean something like “stop and listen” indicating that the words deserve some extra attention. Others take this meaning even further, suggesting that it is related to the Hebrew word that means “to measure.” With this understanding the listener and singer are given the command to do more than just listen, but to also consider or “measure” the words. In this way, the verse to which it refers should be heard and understood and applied to our lives. Listening is more than hearing; it is stopping to really listen so that we will understand what is happening.
In this passage, the word “Selah” is used twice. The first is following a benediction. “May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us.” Stop and listen; measure these words and those that which comes after, “That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations.” God blesses us to be a blessing, and the purpose of that blessing is so that the world knows His salvation. His blessings to us are not for our own good, but for the good of the world. The second usage comes with a directive to the people, that they – meaning all nations – be glad and sing for joy, for God’s mercy and judgment is given without favoritism. The blessings are not meant for one people, but for all people. God’s grace extends far beyond our borders, beyond our walls, beyond our opinions and biases. Selah. Stop and listen. Understand that God has created and redeemed the whole world and one day the whole world will sing His praise.
Our first lesson during the Easter season, from Easter to Pentecost, focuses on the beginning of the church from the book of Acts. We see how faithfully the apostles willingly obeyed the call of God in each of these stories. Peter went into a Gentile home to share the Gospel. Paul stopped persecuting Christians and became the most zealous evangelist. Peter went before the Jewish Christian leaders to tell them they were wrong about the Gentiles. Ananias went to Paul despite Paul’s horrible reputation. These men all believed the word of God and did what He told them to do. They believed the visions, believed the call, and obeyed.
I think it is interesting that the vision in today’s passage came to Paul from a man in Macedonia calling Paul to come and help them, yet Paul never meets a man in this story. It is a woman who listens to the Gospel and believes. Just like Peter last week, Paul discovers a place for the Gospel that is mostly Gentile. Yet, in this story it is not a man who seeks to know the truth. Lydia was a woman of prominence and a woman of faith. She was a minority in Philippi, since the city had very few residents who believed in the one true God. Philippi was a community of retired Roman military men, most of whom worshipped the Roman gods. Would Paul have gone over to Macedonia if the vision had been of a woman?
Paul may not have ignored the vision, but we have to wonder what made those apostles and early Christians believe in the visions they saw. How did they know what was real and what was not real? Did they respond to every dream, every vision, every voice they heard? We see only the stories that were put into the scriptures, but for every true call from God we experience dozens of false calls from the adversary who is trying to get us to go in the wrong direction. Certainly, they had similar experiences.
Was Lydia what he expected when Paul arrived in Philippi? I’m not so sure. But in this story, we see that Paul presented the Gospel to those who crossed his path, no matter who they were. As Peter had learned that it was good to preach the Gospel to Gentiles, Paul learned that it was good to preach the Gospel to women. God sent him on a journey and met him with surprises, but in the end, God’s will was done when Paul baptized her entire household. That was the beginning of the Church in Philippi and Lydia most certainly offered leadership among those early Christians.
Life does not always provide for us what we expect. We have to be careful to discern whether the dreams and visions that we see are true and that they are from God. As we willingly follow God’s call, obediently sharing the Gospel with those who cross our path, we may experience something different than we expect, but we will see the blessings of God clearly.
I saw a joke on a satire page this morning with the headline, “Every Lutheran Splits Into Own Individual Synod.” I confess that I am a Lutheran, and though it is an exaggeration, it is sadly true. I was helping a friend better understand what I call “the Alphabet of Lutheranism” and the chart I found had about ten different denominations or associations. Sadly, that’s just a fraction of the number. According to one report, there are at least forty different types of Lutheran churches in the United States alone. The total is about a hundred and fifty around the world. If you think that we Lutherans just can’t get alone with each other, the numbers are similar in other types of Christians. Worldwide, there are more than two hundred groups that identify as Baptist. There are three times as many Pentecostals. We could do similar counts for many other types of Christians. Sadly, the fact that there are many different types of Christians is a statement in itself. Though we agree on some things, we do not agree on everything, so we build a new church on every corner, “splitting” into our own little corner of the world with like-minded people.
Have you noticed how often there are competing drug stories right across the street? There are five different kinds of auto parts stores in less than a mile near my home. Every town has an auto mile where you can find any brand of vehicle. There was a road in another town near where we once lived that was “Church Row.” It was almost like the street was zoned only for churches. There was one after another. I can’t imagine what traffic was like on a Sunday morning.
You might think it would make more sense to merge those churches, especially since some, if not all, were struggling. Some even had similar heritage (I think there were three different Lutheran churches and multiple Baptist churches in a matter of blocks.) Yet, each of those churches, though all Christian, were unique. They each had their own style of worship, their own mission focuses, and their own preferences in the administration. They all share Christ but had aspects that make them unique. And it was those unique aspects that make their identity.
I love my church. I have chosen my church for a reason. I have tried other churches, and I appreciate those who enjoy and prefer their practices even though I was not particularly comfortable with them. That’s ok! We all have unique personalities and like the chain drug stores, there are those of us who are loyal to a particular type. I am delighted to know that there’s a place where someone who likes to shout “AMEN” can go and worship God in a style that gives them joy, but also a place for the quiet, introspective type to find the joy of God in prayer and listening.
We often mourn over the fact that there are so many church bodies because it seems like we are too divided, and yet what a blessing it is to have so many different ways available to us so that everyone can find God in a style that suits their personality! God gives us what we need in many and various ways. That “church row” might seem impractical, but it is actually a gift because it offers opportunities for the Church to minister people from every culture. We want our pews to be full, but our task is to share Jesus and every person needs to find ways to experience Him that fills them with joy.
How did Paul know that he was obeying a vision? What made him follow? Did he ever have any other visions that he ignored? Would he have followed the vision if it had been the woman Lydia who had called him to come? It is impossible for us to answer these questions, but it is helpful to realize that the apostles most likely suffered from the same kind of questions that we ask today. For every story of a healing, there must have been a dozen people who weren’t healed. For every conversion there must have been hundreds that never came to faith.
That’s what happens when it is all about “we.” We forget that we do not know the mind of God. We do not have a complete picture of His plan. Our image of success is deceptive. We want to fill the pews and to grow like the church next door, but what God truly wants from us is faithfulness. We have a purpose; we have work to do, and that work is to share the Gospel in a voice that will be heard by the one whom God has opened their heart to hear. That voice might loud and joyful, full of AMENS or quiet and introspective with prayerful listening. God knows and He’s called us to be true to our own identity for His sake. We can’t do that if we are so busy trying to be something we aren’t for people who can’t hear because God is not drawing them to Himself.
It is sad that there are so many different churches, but that’s how it is in this world. The passage from Revelation makes a promise, however. There is a time coming, hopefully soon!, when there will be no need of a temple, or church, or river community because we will dwell in the New Jerusalem. We will dwell in God’s eternal Kingdom, and there will be no need for special places for us to worship in our own personal, individual ways.
Jesus knew it would be this way. He warned the disciples, “Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.” He was addressing the disciples and the fact that they would scatter after His arrest, but isn’t it also true for us today? Aren’t we scattered and in our own worries and fears of failure, and don’t we also sometimes forget the right focus of our ministry?
When our churches seem to be failing, when our pews are empty and we aren’t sure what will happen to our congregation tomorrow, we can have hope: Jesus Christ has overcome the world. We can live in peace even in the midst of chaos because God is with us. We gather together not to be successful but to rejoice in our God. When that is our focus, we will see God doing great things among us.
God calls us to take the risk, to go out into the world and find those opportunities that He has prepared for us to share His Gospel. We just need to go out in faith. God knows when and how it will happen. Thanks to the mark of Christ, we have nothing to fear; our names are written in indelible ink in God’s Book of Life. We aren’t called to worry about the numbers of people in our pews or doubt whether we are doing everything we can do to be successful. We are called to believe. We are called to take one step at a time, sharing with one person at a time.
We don’t need to wait for the Heavenly Jerusalem to come because God’s Light already shines on us even though it seems like there are too many different churches along the road and the people inside are not what we expect. As the body of Christ, we dwell in His glory now just as we will dwell with Him forever, together with all believers in every time and place. The psalmist wrote, “Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah.” Let us stop and listen to hear His call so that we can follow obediently to His Word.
We can believe in the indescribable promise written by John in the Book of Revelation because we know the end of the story. We already have a place in this incredible city because we have been forgiven. That hope is our foundation, and it is even more beautiful than the jewels John uses to describe it. So let us dwell in this world as if the New Jerusalem has already come to us and share the Gospel so that those hearts which God has opened might hear and receive the forgiveness and hope of Jesus Christ who has overcome the world. Then by His grace they will know the peace that comes from knowing that their names are written in God’s Book of Life.
“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine and will declare it to you. All things that the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine and will declare it to you.” John 16:12-15, WEB
Yesterday was the last day of school for many of the students in our area, including the school we host at our church. I attended an art show and end of school program last night. The children showed off some of the things they learned. The older children put on a skit which made us laugh. The younger children sang songs. The teachers were recognized, as well some other people who helped the school throughout the year. We prayed for a student who is moving on to Middle School. It was fun to see the art work of the students, some were very creative. I enjoyed seeing the children interact with one another and with their families.
It was also an emotional night, since we won’t see those children for the next few months. That’s not quite true since our school is hosting four summer camps for the children in our community. Many of the students from our school will be attending. It will be quiet for most of the summer, though. Our pastor commented that it was too quiet in the church this morning. We pray for our children over the summer with the hope that they will stay safe, but also that they will be prepared for new academic opportunities when the new school years begins.
See, it is easy for the students to lose touch with what it means to be in school. Knowledge from the previous year can be forgotten, particularly in reading and math. Summer vacation can mean isolation from other children, especially if they can’t go to camps or other group activities. There is a lack of routine during summer, but it can take time when the students are back in school to reestablish the daily structure. This lack of routine can also lead to boredom and negative habits. Parents can become more stressed because they have to find ways to keep the children busy, or they leave the children unsupervised which can lead to risky behavior and injury. Three months without school can leave the children unprepared for the next grade, so teachers will often give summer homework to help prepare the students, to keep the idea of school a present thought even though it isn't something they experience daily for a time.
We could not wait for the freedom of summer vacation when I was a child. I often joke that my mom kicked us out of the house and told us to go play. We spent hours in the pool, running from one house to the other. We played board games that lasted for days (you can get really, really rich playing a Monopoly game for a week!) We rode our bikes and walked to the arcade around the corner. We played in the woods behind our house. The worst of our injuries was usually sunburn, because that was long before we know how bad it was. We had campouts in our yards and played flashlight tag until late at night. We collected lightning bugs and just hung out.
We didn’t worry about school for three months. Did we lose some of the knowledge and skills over those carefree days. I do recall that the first few weeks of class were usually spent in review. We received lists of book recommendations and were encouraged to read over the summer, and we knew that our teachers would give us writing assignments when we got back to school to report on our summer activities. Some teachers recommended keeping up with basic math skills and I recall at least one teacher allowing us to take home out of date textbooks to keep our minds active, but we were never required to do the amount of homework that seems to be expected of kids these days.
Times have changed. Our children are expected to know more than we did in our day. Kindergarteners that can’t read and thought to be behind. High school students must take levels of math beyond what we took when we were in school. It isn’t enough for a child to go to a fun summer camp these days; they need to spend time daily preparing for the next school year. It was funny when my children were still in school because the time came far too early that their lessons were beyond my ability to help. I’m a fairly intelligent woman, but I could do nothing when they didn’t understand high levels of math. I had little experience with foreign languages, and though I read a lot, I had never heard of some of the books they had to read during summer vacation. Their High school expectations were often higher than my college requirements, so I learned after a time that I had to let go.
Our children grow up more quickly than we would like. By the time my daughter was in High school, she had no interest in the things that interested me. She wanted to wear different clothes. She had, and still has, different opinions about what happens in the world. My children did not always accept my advice, and often had to learn lessons the hard way. They often accepted what others told them without question while rebelling against my ideas. It is hard to let go, but I know that it is necessary so that they would grow up and become their own persons.
The disciples were saddened that Jesus had to leave them, and we think the same. He was the visible manifestation of the Eternal One, raised from the dead to a new life that would last forever. Couldn’t He stick around to continue guiding and leading His disciples? Wouldn’t it have been easier that way? They sometimes argued with Jesus, like when Peter said that Jesus would not die, but they believed and trusted in Him. If Jesus had stuck around, we may not have the differences of opinion on theology and the issues. Peter and Paul may not have disagreed with each other. If we experienced a problem, we could just go to Jesus and ask Him for the answer.
However, Jesus knew that a time would come when He would not be with them. Sadly, for the disciples, that time would happen much sooner than they ever realized or expected. The day would come when the disciples would not receive directly from Jesus what they would need to do His work in this world. As a mom I always hoped that I would be enough for my children, but the reality is that I was not. The same is true about those parents who are trying to figure out how to spend the summer with their children. Summer homework may not be fun, but it can make things better for our children when they go back to school at the end of summer.
Is Jesus enough? Yes, He is, but in another sense He is not. It is impossible to think of Jesus not being enough for us, but as a flesh and blood man, Jesus was as limited as we are. He couldn’t be in two places at once. He could not stand in the flesh with me in Texas and you wherever you might be. Jesus had to leave so that we could receive the Spirit that can be everywhere at once, joining us together in His life by faith. The disciples didn’t want to let go of Jesus, but Jesus had to let go of them because only the Spirit would be enough to help them accomplish His work. In our scripture for today, Jesus said that they could not bear to hear everything. They could not because they did not have God’s Spirit dwelling with to give them the gifts necessary to bear it. As long as Jesus existed in flesh on earth, they could not have fully what He had to give. The Spirit prepares us for whatever comes next, giving us everything we need.
“Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another. ‘Be angry, and don’t sin.’ Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, and don’t give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need. Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:25-32, WEB
A man was visiting an executive from the company for which he worked. He arrived at the home in a limousine, but when he discovered that the driver would have to wait in the car while he was visiting, the man insisted that the driver join them in the house. At the end of the evening, the man sat in front with the driver and when he learned that they were going to pass the driver’s house, the man insisted on meeting the driver’s family. The family was thrilled at the unexpected visit and the man entertained the family by leading a sing-a-long and telling them stories. The man was Fred Rogers, famed for his delightful children’s show “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.” Fred Rogers was as kind in real life as he was on television.
If you do a little Internet research on Fred Rogers, you will discover that everyone wants to claim him for their own. They see a characteristic in his life that reminds him of their own world view, so they assume he must hold the same view. Yet, people who have a distinctly opposite world view also see characteristics that make him like them. Some claim he must be one thing, others claim that he could not possibly be. It may seem simplistic, but the best, and perhaps only, characteristic we should attribute to Mr. Rogers is kindness. It didn’t matter who you were, he loved you. Even when you did not agree with something he did or said, he loved you.
Love, and kindness, was so deeply embedded in his life that even his weight was a manifestation of it. The number 143 was his favorite, often referenced in his stories and conversations. He liked that number because it represents the phrase “I love you.” “I” is one letter, “love” is four letters and “you” is three letters. He was almost fanatical about keeping his body weight at 143. It may have been the ideal weight for his body type, and he kept to that weight in a very healthy manner. Yet, I suspect that he did it also to keep his own heart and mind on the true purpose of his life: to love others and to treat them with kindness.
Fred Rogers was once asked if he ever got angry. The questioner wanted to know if he ever lost control. She could not imagine him having a knock-down drag out with his wife. “Do you ever yell at her?” He answered that she should ask his wife but then admitted that he had a very modulated way of dealing with his feelings. He didn’t scream. He did not throw things. He never felt the need to manifest feelings of anger. Notice he doesn’t deny having those feelings. We all get angry sometimes. He simply learned how to deal with anger in a loving and kind way. Today is 143 Day in Pennsylvania. Fred Rogers was a native son, having been born in Latrobe. The governor decided to honor him on the 143rd day of the year. It is meant to be a day when everyone remembers Mr. Rogers with love and kindness. Of course, the hope would be that it would not be limited to one day a year, but at least for today, Pennsylvania will be an especially lovely place to be today if everyone follows the directive.
As I looked for scripture for this special day, I found this verse from Ephesians about being kind to one another. I thought it was interesting, then, as I read the verse in context, to see that Paul also talks about anger. “Be angry. Do not sin.” Many of us consider anger itself a sin, yet it is a very real emotion that we all feel from time to time. Paul’s words do not tell us to never be angry; he tells us that when we are angry, we need to find a loving and kind way of dealing with it. We want to scream and throw things, but perhaps we need to learn to modulate the way we deal with our own feelings. This could be said about all our feelings. The life of faith is a life lived in love and kindness so that we will not express our feelings in a way that might harm others.
That verse comes from Psalm 4:4, “Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds and be silent. Selah” (ESV) Check your heart. Anger can be a very positive emotion because it can lead us to do something to change the circumstances that make us angry. Jesus got angry, so Paul is not telling us that anger is a sin. Instead, he reminds us to modulate the way we deal with our anger. He quickly tells us to be kind to one another, to forgive as we have been forgiven. We may think the temperament of Mr. Rogers is unattainable, but our Christian faith calls us to a life of love and kindness. It is a way of life toward which we can and should strive.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” John 15:12-16, WEB
The last Monday of May in the United States is set aside as a day to remember those who have died in service to the United States. More people than ever are expected to travel this weekend. The Automobile Club of America has suggested that as many as forty-five million people will go at least fifty miles from home to have fun with family and friends. It is known as the official start to the summer season, and many will travel to the beach, the lake, or the mountains. Some will go to amusement parks or pools. Though this is a weekend for fun, it is also a time for remembrance. At cemeteries throughout the world men and women are being honored for their courage and sacrifice during war. Veteran’s groups will be out in force giving paper poppies to those who pass their way.
The “Buddy Poppy” program helps disabled American Veterans who are paid to make the paper poppies. Donations also support VFW programs that help veterans and the families of fallen service people. The poppies have been used since the program started in 1922, but the idea of the poppies comes from an older poem. Moina Michael was inspired by the 1915 poem “In Flanders Field” written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. McCrae is said to have been mourning the loss of his friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer who was buried with many others in the fields of Flanders. The field was covered with poppies, flowers that leave behind abundant seeds that begin to bloom when the soil is disturbed. So, when the bodies of soldiers were buried in that field, the ground was covered with these bright red flowers, leaving the impression of the blood of the fallen on the hearts of those who were left behind.
The poem “In Flanders Fields” continues to leave a lasting impression on our hearts. “In Flanders fields the poppies blow... Between the crosses, row on row... That mark our place; and in the sky... The larks, still bravely singing, fly... Scarce heard amid the guns below... We are the Dead. Short days ago... We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow... Loved and were loved, and now we lie... In Flanders fields... Take up our quarrel with the foe... To you from failing hands we throw... The torch; be yours to hold it high... If ye break faith with us who die... We shall not sleep, though poppies grow... In Flanders fields.”
Moina Michael was so touched by this poem that she began wearing a poppy in remembrance that same year. She began making and selling the poppies to help servicemen in need. Madam Guerin took the project to France and earned money to help widows and orphans. People in other countries followed suit. By 1922, the VFW was involved, and now you’ll see veterans handing out poppies in front of Wal-Mart or at the mall or on Main Street around Memorial Day. When you do see them, remember they aren’t just trying to help you remember the fallen heroes of our nation. They are helping those who continue to suffer their loss.
For many, Memorial Day is a time for picnics, for gathering with families and friends and for getting started on the summer season. I hope it is also a time when we will think about those who made great sacrifices so that we can live freely and share generously all we have.
And we can take time today to consider the sacrifices we are called to make for the sake of others. Few are called to give their lives, but we are all called to give ourselves and our resources generously. How can you make a difference today? Is there a program you can join to give your time to help others? Is there some need in the world you are drawn to meet? Have you seen something like those poppies in the fields of Flanders that you can use to share God’s grace with the world?
“So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13, WEB
I like to play a number of games on the Internet. I wake up in the morning to several word good games that I claim help stimulate my brain, enhance my memory, and help me focus during the day. I like these games because they are limited, there is one round and so I can be sure I’ll be able to play for just a few minutes and be done. It is so tempting to get into a game that goes on and on forever, especially since I am a bit competitive. I have worked toward high scores on games because I want to be the winner. One game I used to play had weekly high scores and an all-time high score. I had the all-time high for a long time and joked with one friend how I would always stay ahead of her. I had another friend who was even more competitive than me. When I beat her high score, she beat mine within hours.
I used to spend so much time playing one game that I ran out of levels. I began to go back and replay levels to raise my score, especially if I discovered that my friends had higher scores. I realized one day that I was wasting too much of my time chasing after something that didn’t really matter. That’s when I decided to play only games without unlimited levels, keeping my game time to a minimum. Unfortunately, I have recently found a new game that I love. This one has levels, and for a long time I was able to limit myself to just ten levels at each sitting. There is a side game where players race for the highest total. In the beginning you could choose to play the extra game, but now you are automatically enrolled. It is so tempting to just keep playing to win that side game, and I do. The game told me today that I’ve won first place six times. This means I play that game too much!
They say records are made to be broken and it happens all the time. Basketball players that are still considered the best in their sport have lost their records to younger players. Peggy Fleming was one of the best ice skaters of all time, but she would never have even considered doing some of the flips, jumps and spins of today’s competitors. Runners are faster than their predecessors. The previous records give new competitors a goal and they work to beat it. Everyone wants to be the best.
Sadly, we don’t just want to beat our neighbors at video games or sports; we even want to better our God. Oh, we know we are not better than God; we act humble and meek before God’s throne. Yet, we often do the very things that show our hearts on the matter. We try to be good. We believe the good works we do are enough to make us right before God. We credit ourselves with our humility, confident at His feet that He will find us good enough because we are kneeling before Him. It seems as if that humility is a sign of our righteousness to us. Yet the very fact that we humbly approach the throne of grace without trembling is a sign of our own conceit. We will never be good enough; even the best of us cannot approach God without fear.
John Calvin wrote, “This is the truth. Awakened consciences, when the have to do with God’s judgment, recognize [God’s mercy] as the only safe haven in which they can securely breathe. For if the stars, which seem so very bright at night, lose their brilliance in the sight of the sun, what do we think will happen even to the rarest innocence of man when it is compared to God's purity?”
I learned some time ago that I need to choose games that do not tempt me away from the things that are a waste of time. I have to allow that there will always be someone who will get the better score or set the better record but no matter how we try, we will never be better than God. No matter how good we are, no matter how faithful we are to God’s Word, no matter how gracious we are to our neighbors, no matter how innocent we appear before the throne of grace, we will never be good enough. When we do face God's judgment, let us not do so with self-righteous humility but with fear and trembling. God loves us and works in and through us for His glory, and when we trust in Him we will win in a way that really matters: experiencing God’s peace through His mercy.
May 28, 2025
Lectionary Scriptures for June 1, 2025, Seventh Sunday of Easter: Acts 1:12-26, Psalm 133, Revelation 22:1-6 (7-11) 12-20, John 17:20-26
“Behold, I am coming soon!” Revelation 22:7a, WEB
We have been looking at the final chapters of Revelation over the past few weeks. In those verses, John describes heaven with words describing the indescribable. We can’t imagine the reality! I have been blessed to visit some of the most beautiful and unique places in the world, most recently the National Parks of Northwest Wyoming (Yellowstone and Grand Teton). I have seen incredible sunrises and rainbows, waterfalls and mountains, the rolling planes of the Midwest and the wildflowers of Texas. I’ve seen kittens born and majestic deer in my yard. I see so much of the world through my camera lens, like butterflies and birds, wild and domestic animals, children at play and couples in love. So many of my memories are of things I can describe but really must be experienced to really appreciate them.
Our transient military life meant that we were blessed to live in many different places. Our many homes meant the opportunity for our family and friends to visit and experience what we were able to experience. We had many visitors when we lived in California and enjoyed the incredible national treasures that were just a few hours from our home, including the Redwoods in Northern California. We loved looking at those amazing trees that are so large that you can’t even see the canopy hundreds of feet above the ground.
Among our souvenirs from that trip was the seedling of a redwood tree. We were going to plant that tree in our yard so that one day it would tower over the neighborhood for all to enjoy. It was an impractical idea for many reasons, including the reality that we’d never enjoy the tree because we would be gone long before it grew. Also, I doubt it would have survived in the ground where we lived. Even though redwood trees grow to be hundreds of feet high and wider than you can imagine, they have very small root systems. During one visit to the groves, we saw a tree that had been recently felled by a storm. I was shocked by how small the roots were; they were barely larger than the trunk and only a few feet deep. It is no wonder that the tree fell; there was nothing to hold it up.
One of the biggest problems is that redwood trees cannot survive alone. Those old growth forests lasted for centuries, or millennia, because they live in groves. They count on the other trees to help them stand. Their root systems intertwine, giving the group greater strength than any individual tree. That one tree was just far enough from the others that it had no support and thus no strength.
Our readings from Acts in the lectionary since Easter have told the story of the early days of the Church. Acts 5 talked about the signs and wonders that the disciples were performing signs and wonders and were all with one accord. They faced persecution but proclaimed that they would obey God rather than men. In Acts 9 tells us about Paul’s transformation and Ananias’ obedience despite his fear and anger at the way Paul treated the Church. Acs 20 is a sermon from Paul talking about God’s love and grace for all nations and the responsibility of all disciples to stand firm in the Gospel, to live the life God is calling them to live, and to be His witnesses in word and deed. In Acts 11, Peter reports to the Jews that God has no favorites, and that He gave the same Spirit to the Gentiles as He gave to the disciples. Finally this week, we return to the beginning of Acts, to the earliest days of the Church. The Twelve were diminished because Judas was gone, and they cast lots to choose a new apostle. There in the upper room, they prayed steadfastly along with others who had followed Jesus.
They were waiting. In the first few verses of Acts, Luke talks about the Ascension of Jesus, which we will be celebrating tomorrow. Ascension Day happens forty days after Jesus’ resurrection, after Jesus has been with the disciples, teaching them (again!) everything they needed to know to continue His work in the world. As they gathered around Jesus, before He was taken up to the right hand of God, Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem because He was going to send them the Spirit to fill them so they could be His witnesses.
He told them to wait. I don’t think any of us are very good at waiting. We learn to be patient as we get older, but there’s always something we just can’t control. Even as adults we get anxious or excited. We worry, we wonder, we watch the clock. No matter how good we are at driving, all of us manage to creep up to the stoplight as we anticipate it changing. We look forward to big events, sometimes because we want them to be over. We get frustrated in grocery store check-out lines. We have no patience to sit and wait so we find something to do. We take a book to the doctor’s office. We surf the internet on our phones while we wait for our food to arrive at a restaurant. We sweep the floor while we wait for our children to finish getting dressed in the morning. We can’t just wait; we have to do something to make good use of our time.
I am sure the same could be said about the disciples in those days between the Ascension (tomorrow) and Pentecost (ten days later). They would be Jesus’ witnesses, but they needed to wait for the gift He would send. This Sunday is a day of waiting, wondering, and praying. They did this together in faith that Jesus would be faithful to His promises.
There are, unfortunately, too many Christians who think they can go it alone. Perhaps you remember Thomas who was in hiding after the crucifixion and missed seeing Jesus the first time He appeared before the disciples. Imagine how lonely he must have felt, how he must have struggled with his grief and fear. The disciples dealt with the same emotions, but they did it together in the Upper Room, and they were there to see the truth that Jesus was alive. Thomas didn’t believe that truth when he returned; he needed proof before he would believe.
Those Christians who think they can go it alone choose not to participate in the fellowship of the saints, to join others for worship, word and sacrament, or Bible study. Their reasons might be different than Thomas, but then again, they might have some of the same emotions. They are disappointed because things are not going the way they expect. Many modern Christians are disappointed with the body of Christ because they have been hurt by individuals, or they do not like what they’ve seen happen in congregations. They reject institutionalized faith and try to live their faith on their own. When they do this, they stand separately, alone in the world. Like those redwood trees, when the storm hits there is nothing to help hold them up. They have no unity with others who can give them the support they need to stand. They are too far from that which gives true strength in Christ: The Church is strongest when we are one with each other in Christ Jesus.
In our Gospel lesson from John, Jesus prayed for the unity of believers, that they would be one just as the Father and Son were one. He was not just praying for the disciples that were with Him in the Upper Room, but for all Christians over time and space. We are diverse; we come from different times and places. The Church has existed for two thousand years and has touched nearly every corner of the world. Unity does not necessarily mean that we will all be the same. That is impossible. Not even the twelve disciples were the same. There were fishermen, a tax collector, revolutionaries, and others. At least one was married. Some were brothers. They were from different villages. In the scriptures we can see they had different personalities. The early Church faced difficulties. Peter and Paul did not always get along. Even when Jesus was with them, the disciples often bickered.
When Jesus prayed for the unity of the believers, He was praying for them - and us - to be of one mind. That mind is not our own, or even a human mind. That mind is Christ’s. As we have seen over the past few weeks, Jesus set down how we could be unified. We are called to love one another with an active love. In service to our brothers and sisters in Christ, the world will see that we are one and will know that God is the Lord Almighty. They will see our unity and will know that God does exist in and through our lives.
We struggle with some of the language in John’s description of heaven. We love the beauty he describes: a crystal-clear river, a magnificent tree, no more curses, and the face of God in our sight without fear of dying. There will be no night or lamps because God’s Light will illuminate them. God the Father and Son will reign forever on the heavenly throne.
Our struggle comes with some of the other things that John writes, they don’t seem to fit the image of God that we desire, particularly the idea that there will be some left out of the Kingdom. The Revelation of Jesus Christ according to John is the end of the story. God has accomplished all that is necessary for His people to spend eternity with Him. John’s revelation makes it clear that the grace of Jesus Christ is greater than we can imagine. How is it that John is still talking about dogs and punishment? How is there anyone left to experience judgment after all the apocalyptic events described in his book? No matter how big God’s grace is, there will always be some who do not live according to God’s Word. There will always be some who do not believe in Jesus. There will always be some who walk their own path of destruction where they will experience judgment not the life God has promised.
There are different types of judgment described in the Bible. The first is the final judgment. We are people who think chronologically, but as strange as it may seem, the final judgment has already occurred. The cross of Jesus Christ was God’s final judgment. Thanks to the willing sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the judgment of sinners is done; some will live and some will die, but eternal life is entirely dependent on faith. The second kind of judgment is that which we do on the earth when we judge between people in a court of law or we judge someone for their wrongdoing. The advice given for those of us in this world who will judge (all of us at some point in our lives because we all find ourselves in the position to judge, even if it is only to judge the actions of our children) is that we are to be careful because we will be judged as we have judged. So, if we accuse and condemn someone for an action, we will be accused and condemned if we are unrepentant about doing the same thing
The third type of judgment is the believer’s judgment. Those who are believers will be judged according to the works that they do. We see this especially when Jesus talked about how we serve Him when we do good things for those who need us (Matthew 25:31-46). In the parable, those who fed the hungry, gave water to the thirsty, clothed the naked, and visited the imprisoned were serving Jesus and would inherit the Kingdom. Those who did not do those things would be separated and sent to the fire. We know God is gracious and loving so this image of Him sending anyone to the fire is counter to our expectation of God.
The same is true of the verse in this passage from Revelation. John is describing the New Jerusalem where the believers will live forever in the presence of God. We are disturbed by the image that there is or will be some who are not given the same blessing, that there are those who will remain outside the city walls.
The list is very specific: sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters and liars. The point of the Revelation is to draw the believer’s attention to what will come when Jesus returns so that they will be prepared. It will come when we least expect it, and John’s language demands immediacy. Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming soon!” John encourages his readers to act now. “Don’t wait until tomorrow, for tomorrow may be too late.” Those with washed robes are those who repented. They heard the Word and by the faith given in that Word they turned to God and responded to the invitation to “Come.” It is easy for us to become complacent, after all Jesus has been coming quickly for two thousand years! Even the earliest Christians began to struggle with their faith because Jesus did not come back right away. How much more do we question the reality of these promises and warnings after such a long time?
This passage teaches us that Christ is immediate, but not as we understand immediacy. It was certainly written for their moment and for their time, but it is also for our moment and our time. Though the Church has been waiting for two thousand years for the second coming of Jesus Christ, there is never a time to procrastinate. The time is now. It doesn’t matter that generations of Christians no longer live in this world. Don’t think you have time to wait. Christ is coming. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Sunday may be a day of waiting, but we know the rest of the story. Ten days after Jesus ascended to heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. Something changed on Pentecost. The promise that God made throughout the Old Testament was finally fulfilled. In Joel, God said, “I will pour out my Spirit.” In the appearances of Jesus following the resurrection, He breathed on them with the Spirit, but it was like the Spirit given in the Old Testament: an outer force breathed upon them to keep them until the day when they would fully receive the gift of God, the Spirit of Christ dwelling in their hearts. That Spirit brings us together, gives us the same mind as Christ, unifies us in ways we don’t always understand. Jesus prayed for our unity, but without His Spirit it would never happen. Even so, we still disagree with each other about too many things. We do not act like one body, just like the first apostles. Just like Peter and Paul.
The problem is that we hold on to our ideas, we have to win, we have to be right, we have to hold on to our truth no matter what. That’s why we often jump into tasks while we wait; we don’t want to give anyone a chance to get control of our world. We think that they should be of our mind, but Jesus prayed for us to have His mind, which is not like the human mind. We are unified by the Spirit and our testimony of the Gospel, through which Christ is glorified. We share in the glory of God by witnessing together, sharing the Gospel. This begins with the declaration of the forgiveness of sins that is given to all who believe through the blood Jesus shed on the cross and then continues in the life of faith and discipleship which we are made free to live. This is our command, our mission. This is what we are called to do.
I have to admit that sometimes I get tired of waiting for the promise to be made real. I am in no sense suicidal, but I’m ready for heaven. Life in this world sometimes seems so hopeless; it seems like nothing I do makes a difference. I know the only real answer to all our fears is for Jesus to return. I want to dwell in the garden that John described in Revelation. Who doesn’t want to walk beside the river of life that flows from the throne of God? Or eat from a tree that always bears fruit? Or worship at the throne of God for eternity?
The Garden is the New Jerusalem. There is no night and no evil to be found inside the city. The gates are left open because there is no need to lock out the dark things of this world. There is nothing impure, nothing shameful, nothing deceitful. There is no more sin because Jesus Christ has overcome all that is against God and reconciled the world to Himself. This is the world in which I want to live.
I don’t want to wait, but I must. There is still work to do. There are still people lost in the darkness who need to hear the forgiving and transforming words of Jesus Christ. There are still people that need the Gospel so that they can join me along that river, under that tree, worshipping God for eternity. John encourages his readers to act now. “Don’t wait until tomorrow, for tomorrow may be too late.” We are given the power and authority of God to call those lost to faith. We are sent to call the world to repentance, so that they can join us with washed robes in the promise of eternal life. It is our task to invite people into the fellowship of believers so that they, too, will share in the fruit of the tree of life.
Isn’t it funny, though, how we are so impatient for so many things, but we do not have the sense of urgency needed to do the work God is calling us to do? We don’t mind waiting for the right moment to tell our neighbor about Jesus. We don’t mind waiting to call someone out of darkness and to repentance so that they might experience the forgiveness Jesus has promised. After all, perhaps tomorrow is a better day. Perhaps tomorrow the neighbor will be ready to hear the truth.
We don’t feel the same sense of urgency that the first Christians heard because we’ve had two thousand years of waiting. What’s another day? Two thousand years is a long time, and we have lost the sense for urgency that makes us zealous. We have allowed the doubts and fears to creep into our faith, and we justify the time by saying that God didn’t mean it the way we think. We minimize the significance of the Gospel message and justify our lack of action. We have allowed the worries and the cares of the world to temper our enthusiasm, and we have followed a skewed sense of purpose. We forget that for God a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. For God the beginning of the church was just a moment, but His promise is as imminent today as it was for Peter and Paul and John.
Our work is as vital now as it was two thousand years ago. We don’t know what tomorrow holds; even if Jesus doesn’t come right now, we might just lose our chance to be the witness God has called us to be. One more day in the world makes every heart harder against God. Every lie that is told makes the truth harder to believe. Every moment takes each one of us closer to the end of our life on earth. What if today is the day you or your neighbor will die?
The message of Christ is immediate; it is for this moment, for this time. Though we’ve been waiting for two thousand years for the coming of Christ, this is not the time to procrastinate. There are so many who need to hear the Gospel. We may not think the time or the place is right, but God knows, and He is directing the movement of His people in a way that will bring salvation to the world. The time is now to act. Don’t wait! Christ is coming. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
We are His witnesses, sent to share the Gospel message with the world that continues to be lost in darkness and sin. We are the witnesses who will call them to repentance, reveal God’s forgiveness and call those believers to a life of faithful living in this world. Though we may have to wait another two thousand years before Jesus returns, there is someone in your little corner of the world today who needs to hear the Good News. They need to be healed. They need to have their demons cast out. They need to be baptized with water and spirit so that they too can become part of the unity that we have in Christ Jesus. The need is still urgent, the mission still immediate. Jesus is coming. Soon. Let us continue to live in expectation of the promise, knowing that God will make good come from all we do, even when we seem to fail.
This Sunday we are waiting with the disciples, but we are not waiting for the promised gift. The Holy Spirit comes to all who believe, beginning with the apostles who were filled with the Spirit at Pentecost. We have to wait for heaven, but we are called to join in the prayer and worship of the disciples as they waited during those ten days in the Upper Room, encouraging one another with reminders of the forgiveness Jesus Christ won for us when He atoned for our sins with His own sprinkled blood. We wait, but for now, we are sent into the world with the power, strength, boldness, ability, and confidence to be witnesses for Jesus because He sent His Spirit to make us all of one mind with Him.
Jesus prayed for unity, and the psalmist sings in hope of it. “See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!” The Christian Church is filled with people from many different times and places, so it is impossible for us to be of one mind if that mind is human. Even the disciples were different. They did not always get along, just like us. God is not calling us to become like others so that we can be the same; He is calling us to share the mind of Christ and the Spirit of God. The common bond that makes us one is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, the world does not see one body when they look at the Church. There are many reasons why we disagree, we are still dealing with the same troubles as the first Christians. We have built fences between our brothers and sisters that block the Spirit of the Living God from displaying His power to the world. He doesn’t need us, yet He wants us to be part of the blessing that comes from unity of spirit. Christ’s Church is made up of unique and interesting individuals who together form a beautiful picture of life in Christ. May we always remember the things that bring us together - faith, hope, love, and God’s Spirit - so that we can work together to serve God in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
“For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you and the love which you have toward all the saints, don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:15-23, WEB
Bob Hope was an incredible man. He was known the world over for his humor, talent, and kind heart. He was a centenarian and served many generations who laughed at his jokes, movies, and television shows. His greatest contribution was his live performances with the U.S.O. for military troops. He gave so much for the joy of others, and he will always be remembered. I have always wondered what it would have been like to know him personally. Unfortunately, this would have been impossible because he was one man trapped in time and space. We knew him, loved him, and considered him a friend, but there was no way Bob Hope could ever have known each of us personally.
Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be a friend of Jesus? To travel with Him, hear Him preach and teach, and see His miracles? It must have been a joy just to be with Jesus. He met many people during His three years of ministry, but His circle of friends was much smaller. Throughout His ministry Jesus revealed to the disciples the will and purpose of God, that He came to die, and that they would be witnesses of His grace for the world. Despite being God in flesh, Jesus could never know every person personally, just as Bob Hope could never know everyone, because Jesus was flesh, He was just as limited in time and space as you and I. God had a plan, and Jesus gave them a promise: He would know each of us intimately, but something had to happen first.
Jesus had stayed with the disciples forty days after His resurrection, then the day Jesus came when He had to leave. We celebrate that moment today, which is known as the Day of Ascension, and it always falls on the Thursday before the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Pentecost is in ten days, and on that day everything will change for the disciples, and for us, forever.
Luke gives us two different versions of what happened when Jesus ascended into heaven. In the Gospel, Luke tells us that they worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. In Acts, Luke tells us that when Jesus rose into heaven, they stood there staring into the sky. While they were looking up, “two men stood by them in white clothing, who also said, ‘You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.’” In one story, the disciples worshipped Jesus and went joyfully to wait for His promise. In the second story, they stood gaping at what they had seen, unmoving perhaps because they are unsure of what they should do next. Some might call this a contradiction, but it is the reality of our faith in Christ. We joyfully worship and wait, but we also wonder and worry. We know Christ and His promises, but we aren’t sure of what it means.
You might think that after three years and the forty days the disciples would fully understood what Jesus taught and what God intended for them. Yet, as Jesus was about to leave, they still asked, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus reminded them that it is not for them to know the times or seasons which the Father has set. This is why the disciples always looked at the mission of the church as urgent. The coming of Christ was, to them, an imminent event. There was no time to wait. Yet, Jesus told them before He ascended to wait for a gift He would send. I imagine the disciples wished He would stay.
So, why did Jesus have to go? The Church would never have grown if Jesus had stayed. He could not have touched the hearts of people in the four corners of the world as a man of flesh, even with His resurrected body. Jesus ascended into heaven so that He could send the promised One, the Holy Spirit. Though Jesus is not here in flesh, He is here in a much better way, a way by which we all can know Him. The Ascension was a sad moment for the disciples, they grieved the loss of their friend and teacher, but it was a reason for joy for the Church because it assured that we can have a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus.
Jesus told the disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus did teach them everything they needed to know, but they also needed the Spirit to accomplish the work. The Spirit would remind them of His teaching and more. The Spirit would give them the gifts, authority, and power to continue sharing the Kingdom of God with the world. So, they stayed in Jerusalem as they waited. The gift would come at Pentecost.
When Jesus was raised to the right hand of God, it left little room to question the very nature of this man they had known. Jesus was God in flesh, worthy of their worship and praise. They must have also struggled, though, knowing that He left them alone, seemingly abandoning them with nothing but a promise of a helper to come. He sent them into the world to share the Kingdom of God but would no longer be there to pick them up after they fell. It was up to them to do the work they were called to do. It was no wonder that they stared into the heavens as He was raised. It would have been easy to stay right there at that spot and continue looking toward heaven for Jesus’ return.
Would we know Jesus if He hadn’t ascended into heaven? Perhaps that’s not an appropriate question, but the reality is that even His disciples did not truly understand who He was until they received the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. If Jesus had continued to walk on earth, as He did during His ministry and for those forty days after, He would not have been able to touch nearly as many people. Even if He lived forever on earth, His impact would have been minimal since He could not possibly reach every human being born. Even with modern technology like the radio, television and Internet, Jesus might get lost among the names that are more familiar. Without His Spirit, we would never truly know Him.
Ascension Day might seem like the end of something (Jesus’ time on earth,) but it was really a new beginning. Jesus did not intend for them to stand around and wallow in the past. There are times in our own lives that we can understand why the disciples would stare after Jesus. It is easy to gape at the clouds and hope for His return, but they were called to live in that day, to worship Him by doing the work He prepared them to do. On this Ascension Day we are also encouraged to move forward, to go out in faith and do all that He has called us to do. We don’t always understand the timing, or truly understand our purpose, but Jesus has promised to be with us and to provide us with everything we need. Christian faith means waiting urgently. We are not to be passive as we wait. We are to actively share the gifts of God with others. Like the disciples, it may seem like Jesus seemingly abandoned us, but He really does have a plan and He is always faithful to His promises. Jesus is where He needs to be, at the right hand of God so we can be one body in Him, filled with His Spirit, doing His work together from now until the day when He comes again.
We long for the day for God’s promises to be ultimately fulfilled; we are anxious for the day when all the faithful will join in the heavenly worship for eternity. There is no time to spare, but we’ve waited for two thousand years. We are reminded by the lives of the disciples that we are not to be passive as we wait. God has given us gifts to share His love, grace, and forgiveness with the world so that all will believe. Though we’ve waited for two thousand years, our mission is as immediate as it was in the days of those first disciples. Now is the time. Today is the day. Amen, Come Lord Jesus.
May 30, 2025
“An argument arose among them about which of them was the greatest. Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side, and said to them, ‘Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great.’” Luke 9:36-38, WEB
We are beginning to plan our summer vacation. We will be driving home to spend a week or so with family. My husband will attend his fiftieth class reunion. We want to visit a park with a trail of waterfalls. I always set a goal of eating as many cheesesteaks as possible, and we really want to eat a hoagie. We’ll enjoy the company of family and friends, visit the gravesites of our parents, and drive the old familiar roads. We are planning to drive home, so we have to plan our route and reserve rooms along the way. Some wonder why we would drive, since it takes so much longer than flying, but we love to take road trips and prefer the advantages than those of flying. We like having room to take everything we need, including gifts for our family and friends. I prefer my own pillows, and I like to overpack so that I have extra clothes “just in case.” Besides, there are so many wonderful things to see along the way.
I don’t care how many times we’ve done it; I still get excited when we cross the Mississippi River. I enjoy looking for landmarks along the way. I am amazed at how diverse the landscape is across the country. I search for the first sight of the big cities as their skyscrapers reach toward the heavens. It is fun to travel at different times of the year to see the creation during different seasons. Sometimes our view is not pretty. We’ve traveled through storm ravaged areas and seen the destruction. We’ve seen changes as small towns have grown larger. We’ve experienced more road construction than I would like to admit. A flight home might not take as long and the views from an airplane window can be amazing, but there’s something about seeing the details, looking for the little things, that fills me with joy. They bring a smile to my face. And I’ve realized that the little things really do matter.
Jesus noticed the little things. It is said that children should be seen and not heard, but children are often not even seen. They have no value in too many societies, so they don’t matter until they are grown. Only about half the children born in Jesus’ day even made it to puberty. Though children are always important for the promulgation of society, they weren’t given personhood until majority. In a society that separated men from women, the children were given free reign of the home, moving between the men and the women. While we might think that raises their importance, it actually shows that adults didn’t pay any attention to them.
Jesus paid attention. He saw the little children and He valued them. He saw in their faith an example we should all imitate. He stopped teaching to bless them. He touched them and loved them. In today’s story, Jesus heard the disciples arguing about how was the biggest and best, and He put a small child into the center of the group and told the disciples that if they want to be great, then they should pay attention to the least of God’s people. “Don’t ignore the little ones, for in them will be found God’s grace.” Then He took the lesson a step further by telling the disciples they should not try to be the biggest and best, but they should be like the little children. Whenever we feel like we don’t matter, we can remember that God doesn’t look down at us from some heavenly throne but is so close that He sees every detail of our lives. He delights in each of us. We bring a smile to His face. And He has called us to be living examples of faith, willingly living as one who is the least so that He can make us great.