23
Aug '20

Who does Jesus say YOU are?

Posted on Aug 23, 2020 in Uncategorized |

23
Aug '20
Matthew 16:13-20 
 
Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
 
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. 
 
Jesus asks the question, “Who do YOU say that I am?”
 
How do you respond?
 
Let me turn the question around by reminding you and me that we begin with God.
 
Our relationship begins with God – who God is, what God does, and how God perceives us. For our relationship with God is not an IF-THEN relationship, but a BECAUSE – THEREFORE relationship.
 
What does God have to say?
 
Who does Jesus say YOU are?
 
This song is one of my favorites. Here is a link to the video –
 

“Hello, My Name Is” by Matthew West
 

Hello, my name is regret

I’m pretty sure we have met

Every single day of your life

I’m the whisper inside

That won’t let you forget
 
 

Hello, my name is defeat

I know you recognize me

Just when you think you can win

I’ll drag you right back down again

‘Til you’ve lost all belief
 
 

Oh, these are the voices.

Oh, these are the lies

And I have believed them,

for the very last time.
 
 

Hello, my name is child of the one true King

I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, I have been set free

“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing

Hello, my name is child of the one true King
 
 

I am no longer defined

By all the wreckage behind

The one who makes all things new

Has proven it’s true

Just take a look at my life
 
 

Hello, my name is child of the one true King

I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, I have been set free

“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing

Hello, my name is child of the one true King
 
 

What love the Father has lavished upon us

that we should be called His children

I am a child of the one true King

 

In response to God’s great love for you and me, we confess Jesus Christ as Lord. When we fail to live as God so intended, he welcomes us back, carries us home and reminds us of his great love for us. He died for our sins. He rose for our salvation. His love is everlasting.
 

Let us pray:

Dear God, it’s me. You name me and claim me as your own. In response, I follow where you lead, for you are my God. We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

22
Aug '20

The Magic Words

Posted on Aug 22, 2020 in Uncategorized |

22
Aug '20
Psalm 138 
 

Thanksgiving and Praise

Of David.
 

1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;

    before the gods I sing your praise;

2 I bow down toward your holy temple

    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness;

    for you have exalted your name and your word

    above everything.

3 On the day I called, you answered me,

    you increased my strength of soul.
 
 

4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,

    for they have heard the words of your mouth.

5 They shall sing of the ways of the Lord,

    for great is the glory of the Lord.

6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly;

    but the haughty he perceives from far away.
 
 

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

    you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;

you stretch out your hand,

    and your right hand delivers me.

8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;

    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

    Do not forsake the work of your hands.
 
I grew up in a suburb of Detroit. The local dairy company in the area was Twin Pines Dairy. I remember the milk trucks with the logo on the sides of the trucks. To promote the company, there was a weekly show on TV called “Milky The Clown” brought to us by Twin Pines Dairy. The show was a typical 1960’s kids show with children in the audience playing games and singing songs with Milky the Clown. My brothers were once in the audience when they went to the show with their Boy Scout troop.
 
Milky was also a magician! And when he would do a magic trick, he would have everyone in the audience, as well as those of us watching at home say the magic words – “Twin Pines!” A great way to promote the sponsor, yes? Name recognition and repetition. And it worked! Maybe too well, as I will share.
 
My mother and I went across the street to visit a neighbor who had been ill, so Mom wanted to check in on her. My older brothers were at school, and I was home in the afternoon after a morning at Kindergarten. So, Mom took me with her to make the visit.
 
We entered the home and were greeted by our neighbor, who was feeling better. She welcomed us in, and we sat down in the small living room of her house. She turned to a table and picked up a small bowl with chocolates, and offered one to me. Of course, I was quick to grab one.
 
Mom turned to me and, to make sure I minded my manners, asked the question, “Charlie, before you eat that, what are the magic words?” Her HOPE was that I would say, “Thank you!” Nope. I shouted out, as Milky had trained me, “Twin Pines!”
 
I still got the candy…and a talking to, once we got home.
 
Thank you. For what do you give thanks?
 
There is much for us to be thankful! In the Small Catechism, Martin Luther writes these words in the First Article of the Creed.
 
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
 
What does this mean?
 
I believe that God has created me together with all that exists. God has given me and still preserves my body and soul: eyes, ears, and all limbs and senses; reason and all mental faculties.
 
In addition, God daily and abundantly provides shoes and clothing, food and drink, house and farm, spouse and children, fields, livestock, and all property—along with all the necessities and nourishment for this body and life. God protects me against all danger and shields and preserves me from all evil. And all this is done out of pure, fatherly, and divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness of mine at all! For all of this I owe it to God to thank and praise, serve and obey him. This is most certainly true.
 
For what are you thankful today?
 

May we respond in giving thanks to God today.

 

Let us pray:

Dear God, thank you for …. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

20
Aug '20

Belonging

Posted on Aug 20, 2020 in Uncategorized |

20
Aug '20
2 Corinthians 10:12-18 
 
12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach out even as far as you. 14 For we were not overstepping our limits when we reached you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the good news of Christ. 15 We do not boast beyond limits, that is, in the labors of others; but our hope is that, as your faith increases, our sphere of action among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may proclaim the good news in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in someone else’s sphere of action. 17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.
 
The Song “Last Kiss” was covered by Pearl Jam many years after J Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers first recorded it in 1964. The song is about a boy who loses his girlfriend in a car accident! It is a great song, but BAD theology.
 
Here is the 1964 classic:
 

Oh where oh where can my baby be,

The Lord took her away from me,

she’s gone to heaven so I got to be good,

so I can see my baby when I leave this world.
 
That is not how God operates. God is the God of life.
 
She’s gone to heaven so I got to be good. Our Lutheran theology is founded on the good news that it is ONLY by God’s grace that we are saved. It isn’t about being good or bad. It is about God.
 
And one more thing – she’s not your baby. She belongs to God. 
 
In today’s lesson, St. Paul warns against boasting about how good we might be. The good news is God is the one who defines who we are. We are children of God. We belong to God.
 

As the lights in the movie theater dimmed, a young man loaded down with popcorn, cokes, and candy paced up and down the aisle, scanning the darkened rows. It was obvious he was looking for the person or persons with whom he had come. After three or four unsuccessful trips, he finally stopped and asked loudly, “Does anybody here recognize me?” 

We all want to be recognized, don’t we? We all want to belong. We all want to be known by others and to know that someone out there knows who we are and cares about us. We have a need to belong, to be in community together. That’s why we join clubs, fraternities, sororities, civic organizations, sports teams, PTA, and even churches. We have a need to be in community with others just like us or close to being like us. That’s part of how we are wired.
 
Belonging is important because it’s the way God created us. We are meant to be in community with one another. God created Adam and Eve together so they wouldn’t be alone; so they would have support, nurture, and care. Even Jesus needed that support. The first thing he did when he began his ministry was to gather a small circle of friends. A group who would eventually become the leaders of the early Church. Yes, he needed to train them but, Jesus also needed their support and their friendship. He even sought their counsel from time to time. At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked them who the crowds said he was. To show how important that relationship was to Jesus, at the Last Supper, he told them all, “I no longer call you servants … now I call you friends.” (John 15:15).
 
Jew, Greek, Slave, Free, Conservative, Liberal, Democrat, Republican, Buckeye, Wolverine, Sinner, Saint.
 
What defines us, what saves us, what ultimately matters to us is what GOD has done, and continues to do.
 
That is something of which we can boast!
 

Let us pray:

Dear God, instead of focusing on how good we are, may we always remember how GREAT YOU are! We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
 

Community

Posted on Aug 20, 2020 in Uncategorized |

Philippians 4 – selected verses
 
1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
 
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
 
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 
8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about[f] these things. 9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
 

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The friends who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of the emperor’s household.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
 
Not one of the assigned readings for today, the passage I chose to share will focus us on St. Paul’s words to the Philippians at the end of his letter. At the end of his letters, there is always a personal greeting of some kind. In each of them, there is a yearning to be together once again, face-to-face.
 
We know that feeling all too well. In the past few days, I have had several conversations with congregation members and colleagues who have all expressed the desire to greet one another face-to-face once again. So much of who we are as the church – the body of Christ – is being in contact with each other.
 
How I long to preach to a congregation sitting shoulder to shoulder, masks no longer needed, singing praises to God with loud voices and freely spewing aerosols without fear. How I miss seeing you all. Preaching to a camera just isn’t the same!
 
I miss you. I know I am not alone when I say that.
 
But I also will confess that I have not taken the time to reach out to those I miss. Not always.
 
So today, I invite you to join me in an exercise of community. As the body of Christ and individual members of it, let us build each other up by reaching out to each other in genuine love.
 
Take a moment and close your eyes (well, wait until I tell you what to do before you actually close your eyes) and recall sitting in worship. Pick a Sunday, or a special service like Christmas Eve, or a special service that was meaningful for you – a pre-COVID day. Consider that day, and when you close your eyes, look around in your memory and see who’s there. Who do you see? Who do you miss?
 
First of all, I invite you to offer a simple prayer. “Dear God, thank you for …..” If you want to add more to the prayer, this pastor is not going to stop you! Thank you God.
 
But, don’t stop there. I challenge you today to send a text or email, or (okay Boomer) pick up the phone and call, or write a note and stick it in the mail. Let someone know that today you are thinking of him or her. And if you wish to let people know you are praying for them (not simply saying that you are praying for them, but REALLY praying for them), let them know that, too.
 
God creates us to be community. We need it to survive. No wonder St. Paul always ends with this recognition.
 
I miss you. I thank God for you today.
 

Let us pray:

Almighty God, thank you for our brothers and sisters in Christ. May we build up one another in love. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God’s Authority

Posted on Aug 19, 2020 in Uncategorized |

Matthew 8:1-13 
 
When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; 2 and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” 3 He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
 
5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him 6 and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.” 8 The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” 10 When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.” And the servant was healed in that hour.
 
I am writing this a week ahead of time, so I can make sure it is into Kathy Whited’s editorial hands in plenty of time. Right now (a week ago to you as you read this), word has come down that Big Ten Football will not happen this fall. The good news in that, as a Michigan fan (Go Blue), I won’t be watching THE University of Michigan getting embarrassed yet again on the football field. 
 
There was a day, not so many years ago, when the tables were turned in this rivalry. During the era of John Cooper as coach of that team down south (see it works both ways), Michigan had a much better track record. In fact, at one point in his career, the joke was to name Route 161 in Columbus after Coach Cooper, as that was his record against that team up north – one win, six losses and one tie.
 
I have told several Buckeye fans that I got to do something many Buckeye fans wish they had the authority and ability to do – I got to tell Coach John Cooper where to go! How many Buckeye fans wish they could have done that?
 
It happened one afternoon just north of Columbus at Riverside Methodist Hospital. I was there visiting a member of the congregation who recently had surgery. As I made my way through the always-crowded lobby to the bank of elevators, I saw Coach Cooper standing in the lobby, turning in circles, looking every which way, with a puzzled look on his face. I asked him if I could help him find something. He told me he was looking for the parking garage.
 
And I told him, “It’s right down that hall, sir.”
 
Yep, I told him where to go!
 
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! 
 
In this Gospel lesson, the centurion understands authority. He knows how to tell people where to go, and when he speaks, those who serve under him listen. He doesn’t need to show them or walk with them. He speaks and expects what is said will be carried out.
 
The centurion understands authority. The centurion believes that Jesus has authority to speak a word, and that order will be carried out. Instead of having Jesus come and heal, the centurion knows that Jesus is the one who has authority to speak the word and it will happen.
 
The word. The Word.
 
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:1-5
 
God speaks, and it happens. God says “Light,” and there is light. Authority.
 
And the centurion (once again, a foreigner, an outsider) is commended for his faith.
 
Does God have authority in your life?
 

Let us pray:

Almighty God, instead of us telling you where we should go, open our ears to hear your word of authority in our lives. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
 

18
Aug '20

Trust in the Big Picture

Posted on Aug 18, 2020 in Uncategorized |

18
Aug '20
Isaiah 43:8-13 
 

8 Bring forth the people who are blind, yet have eyes,

    who are deaf, yet have ears!

9 Let all the nations gather together,

    and let the peoples assemble.

Who among them declared this,

    and foretold to us the former things?

Let them bring their witnesses to justify them,

    and let them hear and say, “It is true.”

10 You are my witnesses, says the Lord,

    and my servant whom I have chosen,

so that you may know and believe me

    and understand that I am he.

Before me no god was formed,

    nor shall there be any after me.

11 I, I am the Lord,

    and besides me there is no savior.

12 I declared and saved and proclaimed,

    when there was no strange god among you;

    and you are my witnesses, says the Lord.

13 I am God, and also henceforth I am He;

    there is no one who can deliver from my hand;

    I work and who can hinder it?
 
 
The word of God that Isaiah shares with God’s people is given to them while they are in exile in Babylon. God has not abandoned them, and God will never abandon those whom God has chosen.
 
God is saying, “I am God.” Simple as that. There is no other. Besides God, there is no savior. You are in God’s hands, and no one can deliver from God’s hand. No one can hinder God’s work.
 
This word given to these people at this time is powerful. Sometimes we need to hear God’s perspective on where we find ourselves today.
 
Corrie Ten Boom wrote the book The Hiding Place. Ten Boom and her family hid several Jews in their home above the family clock shop in Amsterdam during World War II. The family was caught and sent to concentration camps as a result.
 
Ten Boom quotes a poem in her book that I share below. While I don’t completely agree with her theological take, what I do appreciate is the trust in God to see the big picture better than we can. It’s like a mountain climber whose face is up against the wall of the sharp incline, unable to see the path forward. God’s perspective, a wider view of things, may be what we need.
 
Here is the poem – “Life is but a Weaving” (The Tapestry Poem) quoted by Corrie Ten Boom.
 

My life is but a weaving

Between my God and me.

I cannot choose the colors

He weaveth steadily.

 

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;

And I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper

And I the underside.

 

Not ’til the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly

Will God unroll the canvas

And reveal the reason why.

 

The dark threads are as needful

In the weaver’s skillful hand

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned

 

He knows, He loves, He cares;

Nothing this truth can dim.

He gives the very best to those

Who leave the choice to Him.

 

Let us pray:

Almighty God, Master Weaver, you have declared and proclaimed and saved. Help me to put my trust in you. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Keep It Simple

Posted on Aug 17, 2020 in Uncategorized |

2 Kings 5:1-14 

The Healing of Naaman

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. 2 Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 And the king of Aram said, “Go then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.”

He went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of garments. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.”
 
8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?” He turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants approached and said to him, “Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.
 
A local priest and pastor stood by the side of the road holding up a sign that said, “The End is Near! Turn yourself around now before it’s too late!” They planned to hold up the sign to each passing car.
 
“Leave us alone, you religious nuts!” yelled the first driver as he sped by. From around the curve they heard a big splash.
 
“Do you think,” said one clergy to the other, “we should just put up a sign that says ‘bridge out’ instead?” 
 
Sometimes the straightforward message would be a lot simpler than getting too wordy. So here it is: God loves you very much. So much so, his Son died on the cross for you! Tomorrow is in God’s hands. Hope is in God’s hands. You are in God’s hands. Do not fear. Do not be weary. God is good! ALL the time. God’s gifts for you are free! You don’t have to earn them, buy them, save up for them, even come to church for them. They are yours. 
 
Sometimes we make it harder than it is. Sometimes we think there’s got to be a catch to God’s unmerited, unconditional love and forgiveness. There’s got to be more.
 
This Old Testament story of the healing of Naaman is a prime example of that. Elisha the Prophet offered a simple solution to heal Naaman of his leprosy. Naaman thought there must be more – there HAD to be more.
 
God’s promises are given out of God’s great love for us. Our sinful nature brings the focus back on ourselves, and we wonder what we need to do to earn this gift.
 
Remember the story of the Good Samaritan – Jesus is asked by a young man what the young man must to do inherit eternal life. The question is telling – “What must I do? What must I do? What CAN I do?
 
If we could save ourselves, we wouldn’t need a savior. But while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
 
Accept the gift. Keep it simple. Share God’s love.
 

Let us pray:

Almighty God, bring us back to basics. Remind us again who is in charge. Help us to keep it simple and never forget your great love. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen. 
 

16
Aug '20

The Way God Comes to Us

Posted on Aug 16, 2020 in Uncategorized |

16
Aug '20
Matthew 15:21-28 
 
21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
 
She jotted on her order pad deliberately and silently as the father and mother gave their luncheon selection and gratuitous instructions as to what was to be substituted for what, and which dressing changed to what sauce. When she finally turned to the boy, he began his order with a kind of fearful desperation. “I want a hot dog,” he started.
 
Both parents barked at once, “No hot dog!” The mother went on, “Bring him the boiled potatoes and the beef, both vegetables, and a hard roll and…”
 
The waitress wasn’t even listening. She said evenly to the youngster, “What do you want on your hot dog?”
 
He flashed an amazed smile, “Ketchup, lots of ketchup, and-and bring a glass of milk.”
 
“Coming up,” she said as she turned from the table, leaving behind her the stunned silence of utter parental dismay.
 
The boy watched her go before he turned to his father and mother with astonished elation to say, “YOU KNOW WHAT?! She thinks I’m real! She thinks I’m real!!”
 
That is the way God comes to us. God comes to us where we are, and accepts us, loves us for who we are, not what we “should be.”
 
Even when you feel like a loser, God sees you as a winner. At your baptism, he adopted you as his own dearly loved child and promised to help you and walk with you all your days on this earth. This is a richness and a worth that can be found nowhere else on this planet. You belong to God and you are one of his precious children – he even sent Jesus to die for you. He died for losers in order to give them a renewed look at life.
 
Look how the Canaanite woman was blessed. This isn’t only a story about great faith; only a few can demonstrate such a remarkable faith. It is also a story about Jesus’ love – his grace toward someone whom everyone else regarded as a loser, even herself. In the Gospels, it is always those without hope who display the most hope, those without anything left to give who get the most. In the Bible, it is the losers who receive God’s special attention.
 
Before God, we are all Canaanites. We all need God’s grace, and it is because of that grace that we have forgiveness. We have no natural claim on God. He is only interested in us because of his grace and love. As it says in the Catechism:
 

“God does all this only because he is my kind and loving father;

I certainly do not deserve it.

All I can do is thank, praise, serve, and obey God.”
 

Let us pray:

We are all beggars, this is true. God, grant me a humble heart and empty hands to receive your great love. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
 

15
Aug '20

True Riches

Posted on Aug 15, 2020 in Uncategorized |

15
Aug '20

Matthew 14:34-36 

34 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 After the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the region and brought all who were sick to him, 36 and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
 
Gennesaret was a village on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, between Capernaum and Tiberias. This was a trading village known for its riches and fine goods and rich soil. For the beauty and fertility of this place, it was called “the Paradise of Galilee.”
 
This was a place known for its riches. The people here were likely the elite of the area – the well-to-do and well-off, if you will. And yet they were lacking. There were still people who needed healing. Money and riches could buy some things, but some things were beyond even their reach.
 
Jesus comes to shore and the crowd once again presses in, even to simply touch the fringe of Jesus’ cloak and receive healing. Wholeness. Made well.
 
We long for healing. We hope for a vaccine. How we wish a healing touch is all that is needed.
 
What we see in the life and ministry of Jesus is the coming of God’s Kingdom at hand. When Jesus is present the sick are healed, the deaf hear, the blind see, the prisoner is set free, the mute talk, the lame walk, the dead are raised. Healing. Wholeness. Made well. Jesus loves the unlovable, touches the untouchable, forgives the unforgivable.
 
True riches can be found in Jesus Christ.
 
Yes, we live in a broken world, and we long for healing and wholeness.
 
And yes, we have the promise of healing and wholeness in Jesus Christ. For the battle Jesus waged for you and for me is that death is no longer the final word. In Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the final word is life. Healing. Wholeness. Made well.
 
We live in the already but not yet. Already death is defeated. Already God wins.
 
The “not yet” is that the fullness of this victory is still to come.
 
And so we long for Jesus’ healing touch on our broken world. In Jesus, may we find the beauty and riches of God.
 
Amen – come Lord Jesus.
 

Let us pray:

We give thanks for your Son, Jesus Christ, who comes to make us well. Heal us, forgive us, comfort us. Make us well. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
 

14
Aug '20

Now THAT is GRACE!

Posted on Aug 14, 2020 in Uncategorized |

14
Aug '20
John 21:15-17 
 
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” 
 
Once more this week, I am stepping away from the assigned readings from the Revised Common Lectionary to share some illustrations that have come to mind recently.
 
Alone, unsure of what tomorrow will bring, uncertain of what TODAY will bring, Peter and the disciples find themselves back at square one. Back to Galilee. Back to the Sea. Peter says, “I’m going fishing,” back to what is familiar, what is natural, what he once was good at doing. 
 
Maybe Peter is trying to forget the previous few days. If you remember, things had not gone well at all. Still in his mind, he can see Jesus standing across the courtyard of the officials at a distance. Still in his mind, the smell of the charcoal fire that early morning – that Good Friday. Still in his mind, he can hear the people asking him, “Aren’t you one of his followers?” Still in his mind, the sound of his own voice claiming, “I swear, I don’t KNOW the man!” Still in his mind, the sharp light of dawn shedding light on his denial. Still in his mind, the sound of the cock crowing. And every morning since, the rooster’s rude alarm reminds him. 
 
And yet, still in his mind is the empty tomb and the news that Jesus has risen from the dead. If Jesus IS risen, what does that mean for Peter? What next? Peter decides it might be wise for him to brush up on his fishing skills. But after a full night of fishing, they caught nothing. They must have wondered, “Can’t we do anything right?” What next?
 

God gives Peter a second chance.
 
God is not only a God of second chances, but also the third, fourth and fifth chances. The good news of the Gospel is that even though we hit the bottom in our relationship with God because we are sinners, Jesus’ death and resurrection gives us another chance to be his children, and to live as his children, because of the cross and the empty tomb.
 
So what about you? How do you respond when Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” Just like Peter, when our words and actions say NO, the always loving and always forgiving God doesn’t give up on us.
 
God wants you back where you belong – in a loving relationship with God and others. God created us to love and worship God, and love and serve one another – to feed and tend to God’s sheep. Not just to love, but to live out that love by following where God leads.
 
Next time you are hard on yourself because you failed in some way, or you are down on someone because they have failed you and hurt you, remember how God has given you a second chance.
 
Yes, God gives you a second chance. Now THAT is GRACE!
 

Let us pray:

Thank you for today, a day in which we get another chance to live as you created us. Thank you for your grace. May we remember it is about you, not me! We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
 

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