Even Now, a Reflection on Matthew 3:10-12

Those of us who are faithful churchgoers and Bible readers may get uncomfortable when we read John the Baptist's warnings to the studious and scrupulous leaders of that time. "Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

He said, "even now." Do we hear the "even now" to extend to our time? Is it still now?

During the season of Advent, we are contemplating the second coming; yet, the first coming gets most of the attention. What do we do with this ax and winnowing fork talk? What kind of trees are we? What is our fruit? Are we more wheat or chaff? Should we just hope that John is talking about pruning a few limbs but leaving the main tree standing, separating our bad parts from our good and tossing out the bad?

Here's what Fred Craddock has to say in Preaching through the Christian Year A:

Whereas Mark speaks only of a promised baptism with the Holy Spirit (1:8), Matthew has the stronger image of judgment in the phrase "with the Holy Spirit and fire" .... John's preaching makes it abundantly clear that one aspect of the Lord's Advent is the full revelation of the kind of persons we are and of the consequences of character and conduct that await us.

Offertory Prayers for December 2010

The GBOD has published Offertory Prayers for December written by David Bell.

December 5, 2010 -- Second Sunday of Advent
Lord of our life, the path to you is straight, yet we waiver in our behavior like the Pharisees and Sadducees. Our hopes and dreams often are self-serving and materialistic. We rush through this season, buying gifts that we hope will convey just the right message. However, you invite us to ask ourselves if we are equally as busy preparing messages that proclaim the good news to a hurting world. Through giving, remind us again, O God, of the baptismal covenant. This Advent, may we proclaim a message that is exemplified by our generosity, our kindness, and our prayers. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. (Matthew 3:1-12.)

December 12, 2010 -- Third Sunday of Advent
Redeeming God, you sent us your messenger, John the Baptist, to prepare our hearts and souls for the coming of Christ. Multiply these gifts to echo his message of your greatness and glory. Open our ears to the needs of your people shrouded in depression and despair. Use our voices to tell your stories and to lead others into the community of Christian fellowship. Let our actions of faithful giving be a beacon of our complete devotion to your guidance in our lives. We pray to your glory forever and ever. Amen. (Matthew 11:2-11.)

December 19, 2010 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent
Father, teach us how to listen for your call in our lives. Teach us how to be faithful stewards with the gifts you have entrusted to us. Teach us how to use this offering as a source of your ministry and mission. Teach us how to bow down on our knees and to spend time beholding the miracles all around us. In the name of the greatest teacher, Emmanuel, we pray. Amen. (Matthew 1:18-25.)

December 24, 2010 -- Christmas Eve
Glory to God in the highest heaven! We praise your name with our offerings and tithes. We give these gifts in recognition of Jesus, a tiny babe who from humble birth was created great in your light. Thank you, Gracious God, for pure, unbounded love wrapped in clothes laying in a manger -- a gift so great to share that it could not be contained. Let the joy we feel in our hearts overflow in unending praise. Amen. (Luke 2:1-14.)

December 26, 2010 -- First Sunday after Christmas
Compassionate God, your mercy and unfailing love are as constant as the rising sun. You offer us salvation and swaddle us in your Holy Word. You sent us the example of living and giving by sharing your son, Jesus Christ, and by asking us to follow his ways. We are now ready to follow those ways. We place upon your table the fruits of our labors as an outward sign of our commitment to your bounteous grace. We pray in the name of the one born in a stable, Emmanuel, God with us. Amen. (Matthew 2:13-23.)

Written by David S. Bell, Vice-President of Stewardship with the United Methodist Foundation of Michigan and Senior Design Partner with Design Group International™. You may contact him by visiting www.DavidSBell.org.

Copyright © 2010 David S. Bell. Used with permission. Any local church, regardless of denominational affiliation, or any United Methodist organization may reprint any or all of these prayers provided that the author is cited.

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Repent, Yes, You, Too, a Reflection on Matthew 3:1-9

We are in the time that the church calendar has designated as Advent. Advent, waiting for an arrival. Remembering the birth of a baby and anticipating the return of our Savior. Advent.

While we are waiting, we read this passage from Matthew.

John the Baptist preached repentance. In looking forward, they also were looking back. John and his appearance and his words recalled for them the prophet of an earlier time, Isaiah, who had also preached repentance and hope.

John was addressing people who were living geographically in the land promised to them, but the conquering Roman army was occupying that land. John preaches to them that the kingdom of heaven has come near. Many are listening and responding. They come from the city of Jerusalem and from all over the country to hear John and to be baptized by him.

To summarize, so far: John preached. People responded.

Matthew tells us that among the crowds that came to hear John and be baptized by him, some religious leaders also showed up. John addressed them sharply, calling them names. Look back at Isaiah 28 to read judgment on the corrupt rulers, priests, and prophets of his time--and, to John's time, and, to ours.

Charles Cousar, Texts for Preaching, A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSV-Year A:

What John attacks is the presumptuousness of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The prophet had written, "look to the rock from which you were hewn...Look to Abraham your father" (Isa 51:1-2). The problem was that the rock had become something behind which to hide, a place of supposed protection, a spot of security. John challenges the privileged position claimed by the Pharisees and Saducees...Repentance has to do not only with remorse over past failures, but also with a new heart and a changed life...

It's Time to Wake Up, a Reflection on Romans 13:11-14

Advent theme: It's time to wake up.

"The night is far gone, the day is near."

Then he describes behaviors that we might have indulged in if we thought nobody could see--reveling, drunkenness, debauchery, and licentiousness.

It's time to wake up. It's time to live in the light. Those dishonorable actions of ours weren't really hidden by the dark no matter how we might have thought that they were.

And then, for those who may pride themselves on not being reveling drunks, Paul adds a couple more behaviors to give up--quarreling and jealousy. Two more activities that the dark does not hide. I'm trying to imagine a world in which we had something like AA but for people who were addicted to quarreling or jealousy. Or, do we already have such an organization, and we just need to pay attention?

It's time to wake up.

A Song for Pilgrims, a Reflection on Psalm 122

In this week's passage from Isaiah, we looked back at a time of upheaval and fear and heard words of promise--along with a call to repentance. Isaiah told them what the future was to be--the restoration of place and, moreover, in that place, a life of peace among all people.

We read these ancient prophecies and hear them new for us. We remember what God has provided for us and look forward to a realization of hopes and peace.

Psalm 122 is the lectionary response to the reading from Isaiah.

It begins with an expression of gratitude to be able to go into Jerusalem. We modern day Christians can read this as a reminder of what God did long ago, and we can read these words as a reminder of what God is still doing and will do.

What is our Jerusalem? Where do we see ourselves gathered in worship? Do we visualize this place as one with many kinds of people gathering?

And, there, what do we pray for?

And, having prayed, what do we do when we leave our places of worship? Whose good are we seeking?

Repentance and Promise, a Reflection on Isaiah 2:1-5

Isaiah lived in a time when his nation was under threat--and a time when the leaders and the people of the nation had not been following the instruction of the Lord. Having called the powerful to repentance, the prophet also offers hope to the fearful.

In the season of Advent, we are remembering the birth of the Christ child and we are looking forward to the Second Coming, with the realization of a world like the one described by Isaiah. We are looking back, looking around, and looking forward.

Questions to consider as you read the text:

v1, What new thing have you seen--something that was totally unexpected?
Can you hope for something without working for it?

v2, What parallels do you see between the highest mountain and our places of worship?

v3, Why do we go to church?

v4, How important is the prophecy of peace for us? Do we think we are judged on basis of whether we are will to go to war?

v5, What does the phrase "walk in the light of the Lord" mean to you?

Is this passage from Isaiah about them and then, us now, or us someday?

In his article, "Preaching the Advent Texts: Hope, Peace, Courage," in the Journal for Preachers, Advent 2010, John Buchanan writes:

We know how the story of human history ends--with God's creation healed, whole, and all of God's people, at last, living together in justice and compassion and peace. Advent hope lives in the midst of darkness in every age. It will not be defeated, silenced, or extinguished. The light that is coming into the world shines in the darkness, after all, and the darkness has not and will not overcome it.

A Day of Thanksgiving, a reflection on John 6:25-36 and Philippians 4:4-7

These readings selected for Thanksgiving Day have also been in the lectionary on other occasions.

Repeat from July 2009: True Bread, a Reflection on John 6:28-35
Jesus has told them that they need to work for a different goal.

Both are important--work and what they are supposed to work for.

Their work is to believe. Believe--how hard is that? Believe--is it possible? Believe--does he mean creed or something else?

The goal is bread. And they want it. They ask how they can get this true bread from heaven. Jesus says, "You've already got it. I am the bread of life."

This passage is raising a lot of uncomfortable questions for me today: Why do I go to church? What do I pray about? What am I working for? How do I know if I have passed the "believe" requirement. Am I looking for a sign? And most disturbing, what do I do with verse 35? I know that hunger and thirst exist, and I know that good, believing people are among the hungry and thirsty. And I know that I don't want to metaphorize the terms completely.

and:

Menus, a Reflection on John 6:24-27
Why do we go to church? What do we expect to get out of it?

Or, what methods do we use to try to get other people to join our church? What do we think motivates them?

Jesus told the crowds that day, "You've come because I provided food for you."

He adds, "You're searching for the wrong kind of food. Church suppers are great, but you'll still want breakfast the next morning."

Yet, I don't think he is disparaging typical church evangelistic efforts. We do want to get people in the doors. But, once inside, they need to know more.


and:

Rejoice, a Reflection on Philippians 4:4-7
Always rejoice. Never worry. Tell God what you want.

Are Paul's instructions realistic for you? That is, can you imagine yourself rejoicing at all times? Or, showing your gentleness to everyone? Or, perhaps, even having gentleness whether you show it or not?

Have you experienced the peace of God during a tough time in your life?

What portion of your prayers typically are expressions of joy? or even of moderate gratitude?

How does your congregation live out this passage?

The Vanderbilt Divinity Library offers Prayers for Thanksgiving Day including this one:

O God,
in your Son Jesus Christ
you richly bless us with all that we need,
bread from the earth and the bread of heaven,
which gives life to the world.
Grant us one thing more:
grateful hearts to sing your praise,
in this world and the world to come. Amen.

Offertory Prayers for November 28, First Sunday of Advent

God of the Advent, as we joyfully enter this time of waiting, we feel nestled and safe in your everlasting peace. You have taught us the paths and choices that lead to being in your Temple. We wait, hushed in anticipation of the coming of your son. He serves as the guide of our lives and the shepherd of our souls. We hope to emulate his generosity and compassion as we share these gifts. Use these gifts so others can be blanketed with the warmth of your unconditional love, like a newborn baby wrapped in the loving arms of a parent. Amen. (Isaiah 2:1-5.)

Written by David S. Bell, former Director of Stewardship with GBOD. He currently serves as Vice-President of Stewardship with the United Methodist Foundation of Michigan. You may contact him by visiting www.DavidSBell.org.

Copyright © 2010 David S. Bell. Any local church, regardless of denominational affiliation, or any United Methodist organization may reprint any or all of these prayers provided that the author is cited.

Thankfulness, a reflection on Psalm 100

For Thanksgiving day, the psalm responding to the reading from Deuteronomy is 100. Go to Jack and Lauri Marti or the Norfolk State University Concert Choir sing Psalm 100.

Here's a repeat of a discussion of this psalm I posted in June, 2008 (not Thanksgiving Day but any day is a day for us to be thankful.

Reading Psalm 100 and asking Who? and Where?
I once asked a group of church-goers what scripture they had memorized. Several named Psalm 100. I was not surprised because when I was a child I had been encouraged to learn this psalm either at Sunday School or Vacation Bible School.

I don't know what I made of that phrase "all the earth" when I was trying to memorize Psalm 100. I'm not even sure if I learned it in the NRSV or KJ. I'm not sure what I mean by it when I say it today. Who is being called to make this joyful noise? Am I recognizing Christians in other countries? Am I including Jews? What about Muslims? What about everybody else, those who don't descend from Abraham?

What do I think about "his gates"? Am I restricting the meaning of this phrase to church buildings (and synagogues and mosques)? Can God's gates include somewhere outside the church building? That is, am I restricting worship to a kind of formal space?

The Gift that God Has Given Us, a reflection on Deuteronomy 26:1-5

We in the United States will celebrate Thanksgiving Day this Thursday. For help in planning, see the GBOD website for lectionary notes and lists of other sources. Here's an excerpt:

What feeds your soul?
It is no secret that many of us are driven by a soul-hunger almost impossible to articulate. The Thanksgiving holiday has, unfortunately, become a time to stuff ourselves with what we thought we wanted, while often neglecting what we need most -- Bread from heaven. Jesus declared himself to be the Bread of Life (verse 35), sent from heaven to satisfy the longings of the human soul (33). Have we discovered that God has provided both food and drink for the hunger and thirst of our souls?

Repeat:

When You Get There, a Reflection on Deuteronomy 26:1-5
The book of Deuteronomy as we have it is a reshaping of Moses' words in light of the later experience of exile. We read of the hope that Moses was sharing and realize that, even after failure and loss, we are still offered hope.

The passage begins, "When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you..." We aren't where we want to be, but Moses says that we're going to be.

A second point that was true for Moses' first audience, for the readers of the compiled Deuteronomy, and then for us as well: we won't get there by ourselves--we are going as a congregation, and the achievement is not due solely to our own efforts; rather, the Lord God is making a gift.

Now, what are we supposed to do with this gift? Not hide it or hoard it. Rather than ownership, we have assumed something more like trusteeship. We are supposed to use this gift to continue God's work.

In Moses' time, the distribution was through the priests. We still use the church as one of our conduits.

And not just do it--Moses commands us to say what we are doing, and why.

I'm trying to imagine a church service at offering time when all of us sitting in the pews might say something--either individually or together--as we put our money in the plate. Once again, I am grateful for the choir who takes care of this part for us. Yet, I can't quit wondering what I would say to help me remember that it is God's gift to me that I am sharing with others that day.