In this week's Gospel lesson, Jesus quotes Scripture to the Pharisees who have come to test him. "We're not supposed to undo what God has done," he tells them. Although we have come to view divorce differently from Jesus' time, we still look to God's intentions and achievements as we work on ours.
Repeat from an earlier post:
"O God," the Psalmist sings, "When I consider your glory, when I consider your power, when I consider what you have created, I wonder why you bother with us."
God is greater, much greater than human beings. Yet, don't get too humble. God has a job for us.
Many of us can use this psalm to prod us or to assure us of the value of what we're trying to do--or, ought to be. We're responsible for maintaining, caring for, being responsible for, God's creations--human and earthly.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday School Lessons for October 2009
The Mississippi Advocate has posted Sunday School Lessons for October.
4 Looking for Jesus Mark 1:35-45
11 Recognizing Jesus Mark 5:1-3, 18-20
18 Begging to Get In Mark 7:24-30
25 Opting Out Mark 7:17-31
Could bad news be good news?
Looking for good news? After studying health trends for the decades around the Great Depression, researchers from the University of Michigan conclude that recessions may be good for your health.
Bone of my Bone, a Reflection on Genesis 2:18-24
In the chapter 1 version of creation, every day God looks at that day's work and pronounces it good. Light was good, separation of land and water was good, vegetation was good, separation of night and day was good, creatures of sea and sky were good, and, as a culmination, land animals, especially humans.
In the chapter 2 version of creation (2:4b-25), the order of what gets created when is different from chapter 1's version. For example, God puts a man on earth then plants a garden.
Another difference is the one that is the focus of this week's Old Testament lection that has been chosen to respond to the Gospel lesson--that is, that the woman is not created at the same time as man, as in Genesis 1, but rather is created to serve a need, a need of the man.
Unlike Chapter 1, God sees that something is not good: "It's not good for a man to be alone. He needs a partner," God says.
And, as soon as Adam saw the woman that God had carved out for him, he was grateful, "Finally, someone for me."
Living alone is tough. There's something in us humans that needs and benefits from a relationship.
So God created humankind inhis image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27).
In the chapter 2 version of creation (2:4b-25), the order of what gets created when is different from chapter 1's version. For example, God puts a man on earth then plants a garden.
Another difference is the one that is the focus of this week's Old Testament lection that has been chosen to respond to the Gospel lesson--that is, that the woman is not created at the same time as man, as in Genesis 1, but rather is created to serve a need, a need of the man.
Unlike Chapter 1, God sees that something is not good: "It's not good for a man to be alone. He needs a partner," God says.
And, as soon as Adam saw the woman that God had carved out for him, he was grateful, "Finally, someone for me."
Living alone is tough. There's something in us humans that needs and benefits from a relationship.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Questions that Test, a Reflection on Mark 10:2-16
Is there any reason to believe that the Pharisees had any sincere concern about women who were being divorced by their husbands, women who would have been left destitute?
They were asking a hard question hoping to catch Jesus in an embarassing answer. Would he stick to Scripture?
In that particular confrontation, he did, and even quoted some additional verses.
And, we're left with a disconcerting lesson. Matthew modified it some. Paul, in writing to the Corinthians did, too.
We continue to struggle with the need to obey God's will in troubling situations.
And we continue to see instances of modern-day Pharisees trying to embarass other Christians.
They were asking a hard question hoping to catch Jesus in an embarassing answer. Would he stick to Scripture?
In that particular confrontation, he did, and even quoted some additional verses.
And, we're left with a disconcerting lesson. Matthew modified it some. Paul, in writing to the Corinthians did, too.
We continue to struggle with the need to obey God's will in troubling situations.
And we continue to see instances of modern-day Pharisees trying to embarass other Christians.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
When to Pray, a Reflection on James 5:13-20
James reminds us that Christians know both the bad and good of life. "When you are suffering," he says, "then pray." We are not alone. We are not with help. And he tells us, "When you are cheerful, sing songs of praise." Again, we are not alone, and we need to remember with gratitude the help we've received that led to our cheerfulness.
Also, James reminds us that being a Christian is more than that me-and-Jesus thing. He says to confess our sins to each other. To each other?
And not just pray for my healing, my gratitude, my sins, but also I'm to pray for yours.
James uses the Scripture to bolster his teaching: Remember Elijah.
Tangent: Shelly Cochran in the Guide to the Revised Common Lectionary makes this comment about one of the passages skipped by the lectionary, a diatribe against rich people:
Also, James reminds us that being a Christian is more than that me-and-Jesus thing. He says to confess our sins to each other. To each other?
And not just pray for my healing, my gratitude, my sins, but also I'm to pray for yours.
James uses the Scripture to bolster his teaching: Remember Elijah.
Tangent: Shelly Cochran in the Guide to the Revised Common Lectionary makes this comment about one of the passages skipped by the lectionary, a diatribe against rich people:
"The words here are strong, but they also reflect an important truth, that the Christian faith is not really at home in places of wealth."
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The Snare is Broken, a Reflection on Psalm 124
I'm trying to imagine the original setting for this psalm. Everybody is grateful. Everybody is traveling to a great festival. Which is harder for me to imagine happening in my time--that they are on a pilgrimage, or that they are on it together?
This psalm gives us words to express gratitude and reminds us to whom we owe our rescue.
If God had not been on our side, we would have been swallowed up by enemies--human ones and ones of nature.
Although this psalm is written for a community, individuals can also find solace and suggestion in it. When you have escaped from whatever snare had trapped you, you can pray these words. When you are still entrapped, you can use them as a reminder that help does come.
This psalm gives us words to express gratitude and reminds us to whom we owe our rescue.
If God had not been on our side, we would have been swallowed up by enemies--human ones and ones of nature.
We have escaped like a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped.
Although this psalm is written for a community, individuals can also find solace and suggestion in it. When you have escaped from whatever snare had trapped you, you can pray these words. When you are still entrapped, you can use them as a reminder that help does come.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Precautions during Flu Season
The UMC offers a Update for what to do and not to do in worship to prevent the spread of the H1N1 Virus.
Reassurance or Warning, a Reflection on Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
Mordecai, a government employee, and his cousin Esther belonged to a minority group. The powerful Haman was determined to rid his nation of people of their sort.
Assimilation seemed to be the safest option. But, it was not the option that Mordecai and Esther chose.
They risked and won.
Sometimes that's the way it turns out.
This story can be reassuring to people who feel oppressed by the laws of the country in which they are living. It's not so reassuring for people who are in power.
Assimilation seemed to be the safest option. But, it was not the option that Mordecai and Esther chose.
They risked and won.
Sometimes that's the way it turns out.
This story can be reassuring to people who feel oppressed by the laws of the country in which they are living. It's not so reassuring for people who are in power.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Acceptable to the Lord, a Reflection on Psalm 19
Who's allowed to speak and heal in the name of Christ? Jesus was more inclusive than his disciples had thought to be.
Their need to be restrictive (in control?) was not the first time. The elders in Moses time had warned him that a non-elder was prophesying. Moses said they were limited if they thought God's power was so limited.
We still have difficulty in discerning who is speaking for the Lord.
Or, we still have difficulty in accepting that someone who isn't part of our own congregation can be connected with the Lord.
As a help, we could remember the words of Psalm 19--the judgments of the Lord are true, righteous, desirable. We should pay heed to them.
If we do pay attention to God's words and wisdom, then we can evaluate human words and wisdom. We can even pray the psalmist's prayer to be cleared of any movement away from those words and wisdom in our own ways.
Their need to be restrictive (in control?) was not the first time. The elders in Moses time had warned him that a non-elder was prophesying. Moses said they were limited if they thought God's power was so limited.
We still have difficulty in discerning who is speaking for the Lord.
Or, we still have difficulty in accepting that someone who isn't part of our own congregation can be connected with the Lord.
As a help, we could remember the words of Psalm 19--the judgments of the Lord are true, righteous, desirable. We should pay heed to them.
If we do pay attention to God's words and wisdom, then we can evaluate human words and wisdom. We can even pray the psalmist's prayer to be cleared of any movement away from those words and wisdom in our own ways.
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