In the United States, we recognize Labor Day this year on September 22. The GBOD offers a service for Communion and a blessing for workers and all seeking work.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Church Metrics, a Reflection on Luke 14:1, 7-14
I've been reading several web postings about the best way to measure church performance. Should we report membership or attendance? Or, should we focus on age-distribution? And so on.
Then I read this passage from Luke and am thinking about suggesting a different metric. How many poor people did you invite to share a meal with you at your church? Could a crippled person easily get into your building? Could a blind person find the sanctuary, the Sunday School room, the bathroom?
As we answer these questions, let us remember what else Jesus said that day: You will be blessed because they cannot repay you.
Then I read this passage from Luke and am thinking about suggesting a different metric. How many poor people did you invite to share a meal with you at your church? Could a crippled person easily get into your building? Could a blind person find the sanctuary, the Sunday School room, the bathroom?
As we answer these questions, let us remember what else Jesus said that day: You will be blessed because they cannot repay you.
Daily Prayer, Monday, August 26, 2013
Praise the Lord!
7 When Jesus noticed how the guests sought out the best seats at the table, he told them a parable. 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding celebration, don’t take your seat in the place of honor. Someone more highly regarded than you could have been invited by your host. 9 The host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give your seat to this other person.’ Embarrassed, you will take your seat in the least important place. 10 Instead, when you receive an invitation, go and sit in the least important place. When your host approaches you, he will say, ‘Friend, move up here to a better seat.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11 All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up ” 12 Then Jesus said to the person who had invited him, “When you host a lunch or dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers and sisters, your relatives, or rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return and that will be your reward. 13 Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. 14 And you will be blessed because they can’t repay you. Instead, you will be repaid when the just are resurrected.” [Common English Bible]
Prayer for Today: God, help us to be grateful for being invited to share in your generous banquet--and help us to act out that gratitude. Remind us to examine our guest lists in light of yours. Amen.
Happy are those who fear the Lord,
who greatly delight in his commandments.... (Psalm 112:1)
Morning
Invitatory Psalm 95
O come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
O come, let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
O that today you would listen to his voice!
...
Psalm 94
Psalm 96
Daily Lectionary Reading, Luke 14:1, 7-14
One Sabbath, when Jesus went to share a meal in the home of one of the leaders of the Pharisees, they were watching him closely.
7 When Jesus noticed how the guests sought out the best seats at the table, he told them a parable. 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding celebration, don’t take your seat in the place of honor. Someone more highly regarded than you could have been invited by your host. 9 The host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give your seat to this other person.’ Embarrassed, you will take your seat in the least important place. 10 Instead, when you receive an invitation, go and sit in the least important place. When your host approaches you, he will say, ‘Friend, move up here to a better seat.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11 All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up ” 12 Then Jesus said to the person who had invited him, “When you host a lunch or dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers and sisters, your relatives, or rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return and that will be your reward. 13 Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. 14 And you will be blessed because they can’t repay you. Instead, you will be repaid when the just are resurrected.” [Common English Bible]
Midday Psalm 119:129-136
Evening
Psalm 110
Psalm 112
Psalm 113
Psalm 114
Sunday, August 25, 2013
What Cannot be Shaken, a Reflection on Hebrews 12:25-29
"You have not come to something that can be touched," the preacher had said, "a blazing fire, darkness, gloom, and a tempest." He continued on, describing how terrifying that mountain was then contrasted that experience with the approach to the new mountain.
There, at this new mountain, are assembled a congregation before God who is the judge of all and Jesus, the mediator.
And, since Jesus is there, also present is the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
We are cautioned not to refuse the one who is speaking.
Remember. Pay attention. Listen.
Refusal to listen has consequences.
Life here on earth is temporary, but the life promised to us is unshakable.
Thomas Long, in his commentary, Hebrews, part of the Interpretation series, says:
There, at this new mountain, are assembled a congregation before God who is the judge of all and Jesus, the mediator.
And, since Jesus is there, also present is the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
We are cautioned not to refuse the one who is speaking.
Remember. Pay attention. Listen.
Refusal to listen has consequences.
Life here on earth is temporary, but the life promised to us is unshakable.
Thomas Long, in his commentary, Hebrews, part of the Interpretation series, says:
Zion and Sinai are an eternity apart; one is the mountain of the new covenant and other the old. It is true that, like Sinai, Zion has fire and shaking, but under the new covenant these experiences are transformed. Under the old order, fires and earthquakes are destroyers, burning up everything in their paths and shaking down all once-stable structures. Under the new covenant, though, God shakes heaven and earth like an antique collector shakes the dust off an old marble statue: to get rid of everything that hides and defaces the beauty that was intended by the sculptor. In Zion, God shakes not to destroy but to preserve....
Daily Prayer, Sunday, August 25, 2013
Morning
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me and save me. (Psalm 71:2-3)
Prayer for Today: God, open our ears to listen to your word. Open our mouths to express thanks for your gifts to us. Open our entire lives and will to please you. Amen.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me and save me. (Psalm 71:2-3)
Invitatory Psalm 24
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it.
You have founded it on the seas
and established it on the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in your holy place?
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
and do not swear deceitfully.
They will receive blessing from the Lord,
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
Such is the company of those who seek you,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
Who is this King of glory?
the Lord of hosts,
You are the King of glory.
Psalms 90, 92, 93
Daily Lectionary Reading, Hebrews 12:25-29
25 See to it that you don’t resist the one who is speaking. If the people didn’t escape when they refused to listen to the one who warned them on earth, how will we escape if we reject the one who is warning from heaven? 26 His voice shook the earth then, but now he has made a promise: Still once more I will shake not only the earth but heaven also. [l] 27 The words “ still once more ” reveal the removal of what is shaken—the things that are part of this creation—so that what isn’t shaken will remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that can’t be shaken, let’s continue to express our gratitude. [m] With this gratitude, let’s serve [n] in a way that is pleasing to God with respect and awe, 29 because our God really is a consuming fire.
_________________________________________________
l Exod 19:18
m Or hold on to grace
n Or offer priestly service
[Common English Bible]
Evening
Psalms 108, 109
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Mount Zion, a Reflection on Hebrews 12:18-24
The preacher is describing what the community ruled by God is like. He uses the metaphor of two mountains. He describes the first as a place where some things can be seen and heard and touched. The other mountain, Mount Zion, is not like this.
Another important difference is that people had been terrified to approach the first mountain. At Mount Zion is a city whose residents are having a celebration.
From Eugene Boring and Fred Craddock's People's New Testament Commentary:
Another important difference is that people had been terrified to approach the first mountain. At Mount Zion is a city whose residents are having a celebration.
From Eugene Boring and Fred Craddock's People's New Testament Commentary:
The judge is the God of all and therefore, the believers can anticipate fairness, impartiality, and vindication....The righteous dead have completed their pilgrimage, to be joined by the faithful readers....That the blood of Jesus speaks a better word than that of Abel is not a contrast but a comparison; reference to Abel recalls 11:4, which refers to his acceptable sacrifice of an animal (Geneses 4:4).
Daily Prayer, Saturday, August 24, 2013
Morning
_________________________________________________ k Exod 19:12-13 [Common English Bible]
Prayer for Today: Living God, judge of all, you have called us near to you, reached out to us, included us. For this, we give you thanks. Amen.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me and save me. (Psalm 71:2-3)
Invitatory Psalm
Psalm 67
God, be gracious to us and bless us
and make your face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere you.
Daily Lectionary Reading, Hebrews 12:18-24
18 You haven’t drawn near to something that can be touched: a burning fire, darkness, shadow, a whirlwind, 19 a blast of a trumpet, and a sound of words that made the ones who heard it beg that there wouldn’t be one more word. 20 They couldn’t stand the command, If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. [k] 21 The sight was so frightening that Moses said, “I’m terrified and shaking!”
22 But you have drawn near to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, to countless angels in a festival gathering, 23 to the assembly of God’s firstborn children who are registered in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous who have been made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than Abel’s blood. _________________________________________________ k Exod 19:12-13 [Common English Bible]
Prayer for Today: Living God, judge of all, you have called us near to you, reached out to us, included us. For this, we give you thanks. Amen.
Evening
Psalm 107
Friday, August 23, 2013
A Prayer for Rescue, a Reflection on Psalm 71:1-6
When Jeremiah was very young, the Lord appointed him to be a prophet to the nations. "Don't be afraid," the Lord told him, "I am with you and I am with you to deliver you."
When Jesus reminded his listeners of prophets' practice of aiding foreigners, his listeners were incensed. He escaped from their wrath.
The lectionary choice for a psalm to reply to the Jeremiah reading is the first six verses of Psalm 71.
The psalmist is asking the Lord for refuge, deliverance, rescue.
He is asking for help because he needs help and he can remember who has been his help in the past.
A modern discussion centers on why does God allow evil to exist. The question does not arise for this psalmist. Evil does exist, people can be unjust and cruel. And God is the one who can protect him from the wicked.
Daily Prayer, Friday, August 23, 2013
Morning
Prayer for Today: Choose a prayer from Joan Stott's website Timeless Psalms
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me and save me. (Psalm 71:2-3)
Invitatory Psalm
Psalm 118
Psalms 76, 80
Daily Lectionary Reading, Psalm 71:1-6
I’ve taken refuge in you, LORD .
Don’t let me ever be put to shame!
2 Deliver me and rescue me by your righteousness!
Bend your ear toward me and save me!
3 Be my rock of refuge
where I can always escape.
You commanded that my life be saved
because you are my rock and my fortress.
4 My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked;
rescue me from the grip of the wrongdoer and the oppressor
5 because you are my hope, Lord.
You, LORD, are the one I’ve trusted since childhood.
6 I’ve depended on you from birth—
you cut the cord when I came from my mother’s womb.
My praise is always about you. [Common English Bible]Prayer for Today: Choose a prayer from Joan Stott's website Timeless Psalms
Midday Psalm 119:121-128
Evening
Psalm 106
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Call of the Unready, a Reflection on Jeremiah 1:4-10
I remember hearing one time--although I don't remember where or from whom--that baptism is our call. I'm thinking about that as I ponder today's passage from the prophet Jeremiah. First point, the word of the Lord came to him. We are given no indication that Jeremiah was seeking the role as prophet. Second and related point, Jeremiah was not an adult when the Lord sought him out.
God came to the unprepared, unconfident Jeremiah and assured him that he would be capable of doing the work to which he had been called, "I'll tell who needs my words, and I'll provide those words for you."
I'm wondering how seriously we who have been baptized take the call made to us. For instance, who are these "nations" in verse 5? Who is included in this "all" in verse 7? The link the lectionary makes to Luke 4 is helpful (sometimes, another word for disturbing?). First point, repeated: God does the work. Read verses 9-10. The Lord says, "I have given you the words. I have appointed you to speak to people you may not approve of or who have customs you don't understand, or don't look like you."
The message includes destruction and restoration
To uproot and pull down. To destroy and overthrow.
But not just that, also to build and to plant.
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