Tuesday, January 25, 2010

Lately I have been very puzzled and troubled by how I see myself and others acting within my faith community. To me we are far too inwardly focused, and, being so self-absorbed, miss the opportunity to focus our energies outward. One recent thought I had while sitting in church on Sunday was "The church is out there, not in here."

In the Old Testament section of today's lectionary Abram enters into a covenant with God, not knowing or understanding what the implications will be, though God promises protection, reward, and an heir - very important to Abram! God brought Abram outside and said "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them."

Abram couldn't count them...and neither can we. But we can get a sense of the magnitude of living a life of faith, outwardly focused, faithfully believing that we are and will be cared for.

The contemporary collect for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany reads:

"Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever."

Yes we are part of a whole world and should not let our personal fears overtake us, but become part of the larger community under God. Whatever that call is, I believe it is to look outward. And my prayer for myself today is that I will listen closely.

Daily Office Year Two
Gen. 15:1-11, 17-22; Ps. 45; Heb. 9:1-14; John 5:1-18

January 18, 2010

As long as the earth endures,
Seed time and harvest, cold and heat,
Summer and winter, day and right,
Shall not cease.
(Gen. 8:22)

The portion of Genesis in the daily lectionary today tells of the end of the flood and Noah's offerings of thanks to God for delivery and giving the earth a second chance. Despite God's acknowledgment of the innate nature of people to NOT always do the right thing, God gives the promise to restore the cycle of life in the verse above.

The cycle of life in Noah's time revolved around agriculture. Today I wonder what our cycle of life is. Early this morning walking my dog in the cold sleet and blowing wind, the picture that came to my mind was business people in suits driving to work and parking in covered parking lots. If you're an executive, those lots are highly secured! So even if, like today, it's pouring mushy sleet and pretty hard to walk at a normal rate outside, many people go on as if this day is no different from any other.

What are we protecting ourselves from? Being the stubborn person I can sometimes be (just ask my wife), I park outside at work, so I can feel the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter. There is something deep and fundamental in my nature that wants to know that outside everyday is not the same, despite the heating and air conditioning systems cranking away where I work. I often look out the window (I have to get up from my cubical to find one) to see what's happening out there! Will I have to scrape ice off my windshield when I leave for home? Will there be a foot or more of snow to sweep away? I find connectedness in parking outside so I have to spend at least a few minutes each day encountering the natural and greater world and great creator.

Daily Office Year Two
Gen. 8:6-22; Ps. 25; Heb. 4:14-5:6; John 2:23-3:15

January 15, 2010

Psalms 16 and 17 both have allusions to what happens when we are asleep. To me that means dreams.

Ps. 16:7b - in the night also my heart instructs me.
Ps. 17:15b - when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.

I never paid a lot of attention to my dreams until I began taking pastoral care and counseling courses a couple of years ago. The focus of those first classes was decidedly Jungian. After discussions with the teachers and classmates, I began to pay more attention to my dreams and learn what others with similar interests had to say about dreams.

The two Psalm "clips" above are definitely taken out of the whole message and purpose of the psalms, but they tell of a truth. If we believe we are made in the image of God and have God's stamp on and in us, then it is not a big leap to believe that when we dream, there is apart of us which belongs to God and has a close affinity to God that is reverberating, causing our dream images.

I refer people to John A. Sanford's book Dreams: God's Forgotten Language. Here are some thoughts from his "Introduction":

"This book is about dreams and religion and in particular about the relevance of the dream to the Christian experience. It is not a textbook on dream analysis.... Nor is this a textbook in psychology; though much Jungian psychology is discussed....[This book is intended] to give a feeling and insight into the religious function of the dreams that are dreamed every night."

This spiritual approach to dreams affirms that our dreams are not only interesting, but they have something to tell us and are worth listening to. Quite often we push important pieces of ourselves out of the way because they interest with our, say, getting ahead in our careers, or wanting to maintain a strong outward appearance. Sooner or later, what we deny in ourselves comes out in unexpected ways, and dreams can have something specific to tell us about that process.

John Sanford is a Jungian analyst and Episcopal priest, and is the author of many books including The Kingdom Within and Between People, both good reads.

Daily Office Year Two
Gen 6:1-8; Ps 16, 17; Heb 3:12-19; John 2:1-12

January 14, 2010

Psalm 18 has this wonderful, personal prayer in vs 2:

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.

... a good personal devotion to memorize.

Daily Office Year Two
Gen 4:17-26; Ps 18:1-10; Heb 3:1-22; John 1:43-51

January 11, 2010

I got hung up in Genesis. This portion of the lectionary reminded me of an Old Testament survey course I had taken which opened up the door of exegesis for me. I was deeply impressed by the "four source theory" which provided an explanation of the interesting and sometimes contradictory authorship of the Torah. This explanation gave me much comfort and grounding to think that the authorship of the first five books of the First Testament were a collaborative effort in an attempt to unify a scattered, chosen people and communicate individual, tribal faith and beliefs to future generations.

Daily Office Year Two
Gen. 2:4-25; Ps. 1, 2, 3; Heb 1:1-14; John 1:18

Today's lectionary has quite a collection of favorite Bible verses!

Psalm 121: I lift my eyes to the hills -- from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth..

Psalm 122: I was glad when they said to me: "Let us go to the house of the Lord!"

Psalm 123: To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!"

John 8:12: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me wil never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."

There are images of light and openness throughout the readings. Paul's letter encourages us to continue in our faith that "all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom" will be open to us through Christ.


Daily Office Year Two
Isa. 45:14-19; Ps. 121, 122, 123; Col. 1:24 - 2:7; John 8:12-19

January 8, 2010

A couple of years ago during a very trying time, I began what proved to be a wonderful discipline of reading the daily lectionary at the very beginning of the day and writing whatever struck me. That evolved into a pattern. In 2010 I have picked up the discipline again and ask for your prayers that I can continue that discipline. Also, please feel free to add your comments, as we are all one body in the Lord.

In a notebook I enter the Scripture readings, then read them, adding words or phrases that catch my attention - those I believe are things that are speaking to me and resonating in me. Then I'll write some sentences or a short song or poem at the end.

Here's today's:

Exod. 17:1-7: He named the place Massah (Testing-Place) and Merribah (Quarrelling)...."is God with us or not?"

Ps. 117: God's faithful ways are eternal.

Ps. 118: God tested me, he pushed me hard, but he didn't hand me over to death.

Col. 1:15-23: We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created.

John 7:37-52: "If anyone thirsts, let him some to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says."

January 7, 2010

The context of Deut. is the end of the journey and impending entrance into the Promised Land. During this journey God sustained his people in many ways: His presence through faithful leaders and care for the physical needs of the people (water, meat, manna). Remembering that one rendering of manna is "man hu" may mean "What is it?" from the Aramaic, at the end of our journey to fulfill our faith, what is it for us?

The Psalm today gives thanks for all those things God provided during the journey and Col. continues to urge us to mind the way God works so that we may work on and perfect our work in our lives.

Jesus urges the people to "throw in your lot with the One God has sent." (The Message) he is the One example of how to live.

Daily Office Year Two
Deut. 8:1-3; Ps. 103; Col. 1:1-14; John 6:30-33, 48-51

Epiphany January 6, 2010

The believers, the people of God,
are the light for the world.
God's spirit reverberates in them
igniting the true light of hope
for all humankind.


Daily Office Year Two
Isa. 49:1-7; Ps. 46, 97; Rev. 21:22-27; Matt. 12:14-21