Memorial Day

Almighty God, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy, and especially for those who gave their lives. Grant to those whose whom we honor today the light of your grace and the comfort of your spirit, making us all ever mindful of those who have paid an enormous price for us who live today. And in that same spirit help us to use the gifts we now enjoy for the benefit of our fellow humans, brothers and sisters, and to the honor of your name. Amen.

The Advocate Will Come

"The LORD created me at the beginning of his work,

the first of his acts long ago.

Ages ago, I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

...then I was beside him, like a master worker,

and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,

rejoincing in his inhabited word, and delighting in the human race.

And now, my children, listen to me:

happy are those who keep my ways."

(Prov. 22-23, 30-32)

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and delare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare to to you." (John 16:12-15)

Meditation: What would you give to know the truth? Truth is not something we create of is our discovery: it is the gift of God. The truth can be frightening, usually because it is out of our control. We're all familiar with the saying "the truth will set you free (John 8:32)," but sometimes the truth is part of that great unknown. What we don't know usually does hurt us. In this mysterious etheral passage from John, we are urged to faith, faith that our Advocate will come (John 16:7). (see also http://www.rc.net/wcc/reading/john1612.htm)

-------------------

Trinity Sunday:

Prov. 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15

The First Fruits of Summer

If you live in a climate a little more moderate than New England, you might actually see something like this in your own garden! My tomato plants are still seedlings just put outdoors and are about 1-2 " tall!

Today I am meeting a group of "volunteers from the street" to build a small herb garden for a local soup kitchen, and agriculture (and this weeks parabales) are full in my mind. I can't leave the week of Pentacost without reflecting again on the origins of this festival as a celebration of the first fruits of the seasons. Here is a prayer I found, author unknown, from the middle ages for the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot - Pentacost), with a link below it.

I will always remember the wonderful deeds of the Lord
When Israel was in Sinai,
When Moses led the people out of Eqypt into freedom.
They stood purified at the foot of the mountain
To receive your Law, your holy Law; which they swore to obey forever.
And Israel was a holy nation among nations
A holy thing and precious to the Lord.

High on the mountain, your voice was heard, o Lord,
Revealling many things
And then the blind saw your light and the deaf heard your words,
While those who could not speak opened their mouths to recount your grace.

And then, o Lord, you revealled yourself
To those who had sought you, and you said:
I am your rock, the shield and your defense, the one and only God.

You appeared in majesty, glory and splendor,
To deliver your commandments,
And young and old alike were surrounded by the same glory
That surrounds you
And still today in my heart and soul and in my every thought
I profess the wonders that you, o Lord, perform.
(http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/shavuot.htm)


-------------------
Daily office year two:
Prov. 25:15-28; Psalms 30, 32, 1 Tim. 6:6-21; Matt. 13:36-43

How Big is a Mustard Seed?

Matt: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches....Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. This was to fulfill what had been told by the prophet [Isaiah]: 'I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.' "

Meditation (good discussions at http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/parables.html/): God's kingdom starts as the smallest spec in our hearts if we are receptive to God's grace. Grace works unseen and transforms from the inside-out. Sooner or later, if allowed to grow and if we nurture it, God's grace becomes a blessing for others through us. "Let me always be open to grace, and when received, be nurturing. Amen."

----------

Daily office year two:

Prov. 23:19-21, 29-35, 24:1-2; Psalm 31; 1Tim 5:17-22; Matt. 13:31-25

The Parable of the Weeds

The parable in Matthew continues along an agricultural theme in Matthew which would have been very familiar to the people listening. This parable actually reverberates with pieces in the other readings for today, especially with a couple of verses in Proverbs and Psalm 37: good and bad coexist, it is hard to separate them, but there will be a final reckoning. Jesus urges us to trust that there will be a reckoning where the crops and weeds are sorted out and reminds us (again) that there, in fact, will be a reckoning.

Many of us garden. This year in Connecticut has been a tough year for an amateur like me. Yesterday the thermometer hit a record high of 97 (in May!). I remember saying out loud about a week ago that I wasn't going to plant because of the cold and wet! I did however, go out an pull up the inevitable weeds from the places where I intended to put plants. I do this every year with the sure knowledge that even after I put in the vegetables and flowers I want, the weeds will creep back in. It's just a part of nature.

I think this parable is helping me to understand that my life is not going to be perfect. Even though I want to be among the good plants, I will be surrounded by weeds, so I have to trust that things will take their course.

Food for thought (paraphrased from bible.logos.com): God is allowing the fullness of time to play out so that many people can have the opportunity to take part in God's grace and blessings. It is hard for us to understand how a good and gracious God can allow evil to exist and even appear to prosper. To destroy evil now would prevent some from having the opportunity to prosper under God's blessings. "Lord, may your word take deep root in my heart, that I may bear good fruit. May I hunger for your blessings now, so that I can trust in the reckoning to come. Amen." (see rcnet.com)

---------------------
Daily office year two:
Prov. 2:30-22.6; Psalm 37:1-18; 1 Tim. 4:1-16; Matt. 13:24-30.

The Return of the Evil Spirit

Today's Gospel reading from Matthew has two parts: "the return of the evil spirit" and "the true kindred of Jesus." Both of these puzzle me, but having them together in one sitting puzzles me futher!

Here's "the return of the evil spirit" in Matt.:

"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting-place, but it finds none. Then it says, "I will return to the house from where I came." When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits all more evil than itself, and they enter, and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first; so it will be with this evil generation."

Put into context, this whole chapter of Matthew emphasizes the the increasing conflict between Jesus and the local authorities, here the Pharisees with their strict adherence and interpretation of the law. In verses previous Jesus has been asked to show a sign, or some outward proof of his authority. We know that the Gospel of Matthew is noted for Jesus doing just the opposite, that is, not using miracles to prove who his is but rather for healing those in need.

Had the Pharisees really been listening, they should have been really scared: after all, they devoted their lives to strict living by rules and constant "house cleaning." Here Jesus is telling them that evil loves a clean house! But I think Jesus was saying that perhaps they were overzealous in trying to clean other people's houses and ignored what was happening to their own personal souls. Just because the Pharisees cleaned cleaned house once, didn't mean it won't get dirty again! And being "empty" didn't mean that the Pharisees were not vulnerable.

Here's food for thought (paraphrsed from resources at http://www.rc.net/): God wants to fill the void in our lives with himself and the good things he provides for our well-being. If we attempt to leave our lives vacant or fill them with other things, we will be worse off in the end. The parables in this reading make it clear that there are only two options - fill your life with God or leave yourself open to evil. A simple prayer for today: "God, be the ruler of my life and the master of my home. May there be nothing in my life that is not under your care and resulting from your grace. Amen."

-------------------
Daily office year two:
Psalm 38; Proverbs 17:1-20; 1 Timothy 3:1-16; Matt. 12:43-50

A Simple Meal

Better is a dinner where love is, than a fatted ox with hatred in it. Prov. 15:17.

This picture reminded me of a passage in a book I'm reading called Souls in the Hands of a Tender God (Craig Rennebohm) in which he tells many stories of care for people in most need of it. The key word is "companionship" which comes from the Latin cum panis...with bread. "Sharing even the most humble meal," says Rennebohm (p.72), "can be a sacred act. In all known cultures, enjoying food and refreshment is an expression of kindness and friendship, a sign of grace and true welcome."

---------------------
Daily office year two:
Psalm 26; Prov. 15:16-33; I Tim. 1:18-2:8; Matt. 12:33-42