Today, we look at a Day 4 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “Boundless: God Beyond Measure.”
Reading Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:6-9) Reflection I’ll level with you here: I’m not exactly certain how you’re supposed to forsake your ways, let alone your thoughts. I mean, my thoughts are my thoughts and they seem pretty intrinsic to who I am. Are they always the best thoughts? Of course not! Do I know the secret to not thinking those thoughts in the first place? Not even in the slightest. So, what are we to do in the face of this call from God through the prophet Isaiah? I mean, clearly, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and God’s ways are not our ways, but I don’t know how to make my thoughts not thoughts for thinking. I don’t think that I can’t think the things I think when the thoughts come. . . you know? But before I get too deep into thinking my thoughts (even the ones I may need to forsake), maybe what I need instead is an interruption. If I can’t not think, then maybe I can instead think anew. Maybe the interruption I need is from the Lord whose ways are as high above our own as the heavens are from the earth. Maybe what I really need is a realignment to God’s ways, to at least steer me away from the thoughts I think when I think I’ve thought it through. Maybe this is why Jesus simply had to teach his disciples how to pray . . . ~ Justin Lingenfelter Prayer . . . Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. May we be aligned in the height your ways through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ___________________________________________________________________________ Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present.
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We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on April 4, 2016.
Reading After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. 9When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15When 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.” 16A 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.” 17He 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. 18Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 21:1-19) Reflection In this season of Easter, we continue looking at Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances. This, I must admit, is one of my favorites. This time, the risen Christ decides to join his disciples in, what some call, “The Last Breakfast.” Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John, and two others are fishing at dawn but not doing too well. They look up, and there is Jesus standing on the beach, having made a fire and cooking some breakfast. Jesus, once again, tells them where to find the fish and, low and behold, their net was overflowing. The net was not even torn even though it was very full. More fish were fried and the disciples once again enjoyed a meal in Jesus’ presence. Scene Two: Breakfast is over. The disciples and their Lord most likely were engaged in some conversation over their morning meal. As the talk was winding down, Jesus and Peter had a “heart-to-heart.” Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him, and Peter replied, “Yes” each time. And Jesus told him three times, in various ways, to feed his sheep. He also predicted Peter’s martyrdom and said once again, “Follow me.” We don’t know why the disciples were fishing. Perhaps they had returned to work after being gone on their bereavement leave. Or perhaps they were fishing to “get away from it all.” Do you perhaps have a place to go to retreat from life’s routines and troubles? For me and for many others, Camp Mount Luther is that place. It is our “Sea of Tiberius” where we go to experience the Risen Lord, just like the disciples did on that post-resurrection morning. Because it is in this place, at the breakfast table, at the pond, and doing many other things, that I truly Jesus in our midst! --Chad Hershberger Prayer Help us to see you wherever we go, Lord, and be in our midst. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:11-14) Reflection All God's creatures got a place in the choir Some sing low and some sing higher, Some sing out loud on a telephone wire, Some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they've got now I love this song, especially when sung at camp “in character,” woofing out dog verses and hopping through the chorus as a frog. It’s a silly, active and wholly engaging song, a reminder of how worship can have deep meaning while still being fun! “Fun” is not a word I’d normally associate with the Book of Revelation, but why not? The author speaks of God revealed…to the WORLD! Certainly cause for celebration. Euphoria. In raptures. I can well imagine all the creatures on earth singing and dancing, praising the Lord and worshiping in unison, clapping their hands, or paws, or anything they’ve got now... --Heather Wolfe Prayer Thank you, God, for the joy in my life from knowing you always. I pray for a day when your loving supremacy are revealed to all and the whole world lifts its happy praise. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” By your favor, O Lord, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed. To you, O Lord, I cried, and to the Lord I made supplication: “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!” You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. (Psalm 30) Reflection Many Psalms are full of praise and thanksgiving for the things God has done. I recently wrote on Psalm 150, which I know as a raucous and joyous camp song. My favorites, though, run more along the lines of this one. Yes, it is full of praise, but it also acknowledges the reality of life. There is loss, and we are mourning. There are foes; there is anger. The beauty of God’s love, the gift of Christ’s sacrifice is not that life is without hardship but that He is with us in all of it. Sometimes life takes us down into the pit, but joy comes in the morning. Thanks be to God. --Erin Hayes Prayer O Lord, you alone can turn mourning into dancing. Bring comfort to those who are hurting and healing to those who are ill. Thank you for being with us always, Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading: Acts 9: 1-6 (7-10)
9 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” Reflection When the kids were small and they would work themselves into a rage or outburst, I would relegate them to the bottom stair for a Time Out. Away went the offending source of rage, until tempers cooled, and logic was restored. Off went the TV game that had frustrated, until tears dried. Siblings would be separated, hopefully before they got to the stage of “breathing threats and murder.” The Time Out wasn’t so much a punishment as an enforced break to let their minds naturally clear. Often, after five minutes or so, we could speak calmly about a resolution to the videogame puzzle or a willingness to consider a brother’s perspective. Saul needed a time out, for sure. In fact, a punishment may have been more expected and hoped for, at least by those persecuted. But Jesus knows what Saul needs. Three days without sight, depending on others, hearing the voice of God and contemplating His call, will ultimately lead Saul into discipleship as the mighty and resolved evangelist for Christ, Paul. Thank God. –Heather Wolf Prayer Abba, thank you for the time outs you provide. May I take the moments you offer for peace and contemplation willingly. May they restore my reasoning and refresh my soul, leaving me calm and ready to answer your call. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Today, we look at a Day 4 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “Boundless: God Beyond Measure.”
Reading Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22) Reflection Did you know that some infinities are bigger than other infinities? Or rather that some infinities could fit inside other infinities with room to spare? Like, there are big infinities and little infinities just floating around out there. It all feels a little oxymoronic, but it’s true! In fact, some infinities are so big that they could fit an infinite amount of little infinities inside them! This, my friends, is the totality of what I remember from my high school calculus courses. Sorry, Mr. Smoyer. I’ve probably held onto it, though, because it seems like a totally ridiculous and irrational notion (because it is)! The thought that there are different infinities that can compound and divide one another out there simply does not make sense! In fact, it makes about as little sense as what Jesus is telling Peter about forgiveness in the passage from Matthew! Wait, what? What do infinities have to do with forgiveness you ask? Well, strap in! Because the question that Peter brings to Jesus here is one that seems rather incomprehensible. His leading inquiry is almost meant to be tongue in cheek. “How often should I forgive, Lord? As many as seven times?” Seven might not seem like all that many times to extend forgiveness (I can still count to it without using my toes), but to Peter and Jesus, the number carried weight! Seven is the number of completion, of totality. It’s a number that implies a certain sort of perfection and wholeness. Though not exactly paralleled, it’s a number that almost acts like a big infinity that could contain any number of smaller infinities within it. Which is what makes Peter’s question so ludicrous. Could anyone really truly forgive to such perfection? Could anyone genuinely be called upon to forgive so (w)hol(l)y as that? Turns out, Jesus calls for even more. Not just seven times, he says, but seventy-seven (or seven times seven) times! Your perfect forgiveness should be compounded by perfect forgiveness, he says! Grace must abound! Mercy ought to win the day! Following this Jesus, there are no bounds to reconciliation! New starts, new possibilities are always close at hand! The limit simply does not exist! Looks like we’re going to need a bigger infinity. ~ Justin Lingenfelter Prayer Infinite God, you call your people to radical grace and forgiveness. Empower us to extend to others the perfect love with which we have been met through your Son, Jesus Christ, our forgiving Lord. Amen. Reading
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:19-31) Reflection Thomas gets a raw deal every Easter season and is shown as an unbeliever until he sees Jesus. I feel that we are too hard on Thomas. I think that if I was in the same situation, I would have reacted the same way. Unless I see - I cannot believe. I need proof. Humans need proof for them to believe. Sometime even if proof is there, people still do not believe. I have said it before, and I stand by it, that we are blessed with having scriptures to turn to. The written down stories of the faithful are very helpful. In fact, as you just read, that was the purpose of the Gospel of John. I hope we live lives that can stand as proof for a God of love and a Jesus who died and was resurrected to save us all. --Charlene Rineer Prayer God of our salvation we are thankful for all you have given us. We are human and we live with doubts. Let our faith and belief in you be stronger than any doubts we have. Help us lead others to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1: 4-8) Reflection If I could have understood Revelation as a child (and I still don’t quite as an adult), I would have known what Amen meant. It’s right there in our text today. So it is to be. Amen. I remember as a child once asking, “What does ‘Amen’ mean?” Amen was said at the end of our family table grace, my bedtime prayer, the Lord’s Prayer in Sunday School and at the end of some hymns in worship. But what does it mean? I was told it means So be it or May it be so or Let it be which sounded a lot like a Beatles song my older brothers listened to so that was cool. But what I really realized was that prayer was me talking to God, God listening to me and it all ending with hope. God is great; God is good…From his hands we shall be fed…So be it. Now I lay me down to sleep…Angels guard me through the night and wake me in the morning light…May it be so. Our Father…forgive us our sins as we forgive…Let it be. I began to understand prayer as getting to the hopeful point of So it is to be. Then one day I asked the organist (I was a very inquisitive child) why he played the Amen at the end of some hymns but not others even if it was there? The organist explained if there was an Amen at the end of a hymn, he only played it if it was the last hymn of the service because that was when our worship was over and it was time for Amen. All that had been spoken, heard, prayed and sung…Let it be. Amen --Ruth Gates Prayer Dear God, all that we say and you hear and all that you say and we hear, with hope we respond, “So it is to be.” Amen Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150) Reflection If you’ve been to Mt Luther during the summer in the last two decades you’ve likely already started to sing. No group exemplifies the din of loud clashing cymbals quite like 50 rowdy campers and staff. It’s harder to muster such joy and enthusiasm some days than others, yet God’s surpassing greatness surrounds us every day. Praise Him with lute and harp, Praise Him like the Evergreen Center full of campers! --Erin Hayes Prayer We praise you Lord, for your surpassing mighty deeds! Thank you for your surpassing greatness! With all that we have, we praise you! Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,[a] yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.[b] 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:27-32) Reflection I am writing this on a day when the Ukraine conflict is still very much underway – so much devastation has transpired: lives lost, homes burned, families torn asunder, churches bombed. Everywhere I turn, there are more reports on the suffering and atrocities being committed. Yet what stands out for me are the several telephone interviews I have heard in which a Ukranian prays for Putin. I had read how religious are most Ukrainians, a nation with many observant Jews and Christians. Hearing their pleas for mercy and God’s grace for the very leader and soldiers invading their country and demolishing their churches feels biblical to me. I have also heard speculation that in their determination to shut down media and news reports that conflict with the Russian narrative, it is possible the leaders of the aggression are not receiving accurate accounts from the field. Yet there is no silencing the truth. As areas of Ukraine are released and UN forces come through, the evidence is undeniable. Some Russian soldiers have deserted, unable to obey human authority in light of actions so immoral and egregious to God (they, too, are religious). And so, I pray that by the time this devotion is read, perhaps an armistice has been achieved. That faith will prevail. That in time, repentance and forgiveness may restore the people on both sides to brotherly love and that the world will join in lifting up prayers for lasting peace. –Heather Wolf Prayer Abba, I weep. For the pain in the world. For the injustices we do to one another. For all those who forget your commandments – to love you and each other, to honor the lives you have afforded – forgive us. Let your Word be taught, and your ways remembered. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. (Luke 24:1-12) Reflection We smirk a little, smile a little, and maybe giggle a bit while they foolishly walk along with their special blend of strong spices. I am imagining basil, but that is probably only because I am looking forward to that glorious summer smell. Myrrh & aloes, aromatics in a thick oil and probably also a pulverized powder. They expected to overpower the smell of decomposition and retard decay. They were so sad. We read on and look forward to the foundational surprise. The little child in us can hardly wait for the verses to roll along. “He isn’t there!” -we want to yell before it is time, like a joyful warning. We know their tears will turn to laughter, so it’s okay that we are early for the punchline. They should have known, we think. He told them so many times, “In three days…” It is kind of funny to us. The joke is on them. Or actually, on death. Which we like even better. Yes, this is one joke that doesn’t hurt any of our feelings! --Andrew Fitch Prayer Dear Jesus, we thank you deeply for making a laughingstock out of death. You have filled our hearts with joy and our mouths with laughter! In your eternal Name, we pray. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Easter brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” (Acts 2:36-39) Reflection What a week for a guilt trip, am I right? Many of you are probably still reeling from the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday in the past 48 hours. Maybe you’re still humming the refrain asking, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” Maybe you can still hear your voice crying out among the crowds to “Crucify! Crucify him!” And don’t bother trying to point the finger in blame or scapegoat anyone else. This one whom God has made both Lord and Messiah is the Jesus whom you crucified. I know because I did it too. As we sit in the liminal space of this Holy Saturday, then, now is our chance to take stock. With the cross still looming over the day, its shadow serves as an indictment for all the ways in which we reel and deal in life-robbing courses of action. Where is it that we have fallen short of the glory of God? Where is it that we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves? Where is it that in thought, word, and deed we have caused an affront to God and one another in the things we have done and the things we have left undone? I’m not going to lie; such honest questioning might get uncomfortable. But then I hear my voice once more calling for crucifixion from the crowd and realize we might just need that honesty to go forward. If you’re there, too, then maybe you’re also left wondering what those around Peter and the apostles were wondering: what should we do? What recompense do we need to offer? How do we change the ways? Well, it turns out the answer is already behind us, even while its fulfillment lies ahead. In our baptisms, being baptized into Christ’s death, we find all those ways hanging on yesterday’s cross. And now, being united into Christ’s resurrection, we keep vigil through this day and look to the dawn that heralds God’s loving response on the horizon. So, cling fast to these promises: new life is just around the corner. ~ Justin Lingenfelter Prayer O God, you are the creator of the world, the liberator of your people, and the wisdom of the earth. By the resurrection of your Son free us from our fears, restore us in your image, and ignite us with your light, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (taken from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Vigil of Easter service) ___________________________________________________________________________ Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. The current season of Holy Week brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?” So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed. Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.” Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.” When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.” And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.” After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. (John 18:1—19:42) Reflection What popped out to you as you read the Passion Story? It is, of course, such a rich narrative that probably many things struck you. Perhaps there were at least a few that you did not remember from a previous reading. (It was likely a year ago at least!) For me, I did not remember that the garden was a familiar place. Jesus took the disciples there with some regularity. It makes me wonder, how could he teach them about love and forgiveness in the place where he could clearly envision betrayal and denial. I can hang on to much smaller slights from others for far too long. It seems that the same strength of will intertwined with divine love also kept him on the cross. Again and again, I read the Passion and new phrases catch me with a different meaning that drive straight to my heart. “What is truth?” This politician asks the profound question in the midst of layers upon layers of twists and lies, now laid bare between himself and a simple man speaking few words. Yet, those that he utters without any fear of reprisal cut through it all. Has he ever known a person speaking so much truth in his life? --Andrew Fitch Prayer We thank you, King of Love—Jesus, for your life. We praise you King of Love—Jesus, for your suffering. We honor you, King of Love—Jesus, for your death. All in the hands of sinners, you absorbed and triumphed, truth-told and exposed, gathered and loved. In your cross, you draw us all to yourself. We delight in this precious closeness to your sacred goodness beyond compare. In your incomparable Name, we pray. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Holy Week brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
13 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants[d] are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. (John 13:1-17, John 13:31-35) Reflection Recently in adult Sunday School, we had a discussion about whether or not it makes a big difference to know something is going to happen ahead of time. You know, like the movies where the world is going to end with the impact of a meteor, or the terminal patient out for their final weeks of life. In most of these dramatizations, the protagonist lives large, binging on favorite foods or denying themselves of nothing. Think about it a moment: If you knew today was to be your last, what would you do differently from any other “normal” day? It is with wonder and awe that we read of Jesus choosing to spend his final moments eating, teaching, and loving his friends. Quietly. Compassionately. Not unlike any other day in the last three years of his time with these disciples. Who can really know what day is their last or what tomorrow will bring? In Jesus we find yet another example to follow: live every day as though it matters and make every moment count. –Heather Wolf Prayer Jesus, friend and teacher, you have called me to be your servant. May I walk in your ways and be a blessing to others. Give me the peace of mind and joy in heart that will follow when my days are done. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Holy Week brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So, while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So, when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night. When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. (John 13:21-32) Reflection I’ve been working on a project for camp this winter about the disciples. Recently, I was reading up on our main character in our story today. There was some debate on whether Judas was “predestined” to be the betrayer or whether it was for another reason. We read in scripture that Satan came into Judas and that may have caused his actions. Judas was a follower and not a leader. He was a listener and not a talker. He was the treasurer of the group. John’s gospel indicates that he was a thief. Judas regularly helped himself to the community purse of the disciples. In this Holy Week, it’s interesting to think about this character that has such an important role in the passion story. What do you think of Judas? Where is God in this story of betrayal? --Chad Hershberger Prayer Know you are with us, Lord, in the good and the bad. Keep us in your kindly care. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Holy Week brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. 27 “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. 34 The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” (John 12:20-36) Reflection As I was reading the Biblical text, I found that there was so much there to unpack. I am sure you found the same thing. I was particularly drawn to the opposites and the voice of God coming from Heaven. Of course, we have the history to understand more of what is being said. If I was a follower of Jesus at that time, I am sure I would have been as clueless as they appear to be throughout scripture. Jesus talks a lot of times using farming language which would have been helpful for the people then. The dying of the grain so more can live is a great visual and analogy. That gives a little clarity, but it still is hard to process. No one truly wants to die so more can have life. That is where we see glory. Having a voice come down from heaven would seem to clarify the situation even more. It certainly would have astounded me and stopped me in my tracks. I would have wanted even more clarity then. Speaking of darkness into light would bring me a little comfort because I would have felt a little better about feeling clueless and gaining more knowledge. Truly following Jesus and being in the light would have helped when the darker times that were to come soon. I truly hope the followers took all to heart what Jesus was saying so when he was crucified, they could lean on the promises of better things to come. --Charlene Rineer Prayer: Glorious God, we thank you for the hope that Jesus brings us. Thank you for speaking from heaven to give the earlier followers some clarity. Help us as we look to scripture to strengthen our faith. As we are children walking in the light help us share that light with the world so they can believe in the promise of eternal life. AMEN Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Holy Week brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on April 6, 2020.
Reading Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’ When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So, the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. (John 12: 1-11) Reflection Whoa! What? There was a plot to kill Lazarus, too? The man who was dead already once but raised by Jesus? I did not know this! Most of our reading today from John 12 is the story of Mary Anointing Jesus (v. 1-8) and I'll admit I kind of skimmed through it. Then I realized I was to continue on through v. 11. So, I kept reading and came upon a bit of information I don't really recall: The Plot to Kill Lazarus!? I admit I read those last few verses again just to be sure. I will also admit I then looked at the margin notes in my Bible because, when uncertain, always try to learn more. Here is what I read, "This brief passage about the plot to kill Lazarus is found only in this Gospel. It links the plot to the one that began to be hatched against Jesus after he raised Lazarus from the dead (11: 45-57). So, of course, I then backtracked into John 11 and reread the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and this time especially noticed the chief priests and Pharisees just beginning their plan to put Jesus to death starting with finding him and arresting him. On to John 12, fast forward over the story of Mary and the jar of costly perfume again, and we see the the plotting to kill net widening to Lazarus. And why? Because a great crowd of the Jews learned Jesus was around and they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. (v. 9) Those crowds were deserting the chief priests and Pharisees and believing in Jesus instead. So they realized they not only needed to get rid of Jesus but also Lazarus. And now I have gone on much longer in a GROW Time devotion than usual. What can we take away from this Whoa! What? reflection? Keep your eyes open for new bits of God's word you may not have noticed before. Always try to learn more. I learned to be a Lazarus - a person Jesus has given new life to and a way Jesus is seen in the world. We each may not draw crowds or become the target of a plot to be stopped. We only hope to love and lead others to believe. -- Ruth Gates Prayer Dear God, open our eyes to things we have missed before. Open our hearts to learn more. May we be something others see to help them know your love and believe. Amen Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Holy Week brings the liturgical and biblical past into the present. Reading
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’” (Luke 15: 11-32) Reflection Luke 15:11-32 is story known as “the parable of the two sons” or “the parable of the prodigal son.” It shows that God forgives us always. However, that version of forgiveness may not always seem fair to us, especially when we know that we and others have disobeyed God. Does God really love us that much? Yes! Activities: Bowl: Gather around your empty bowl and leave it empty. Discuss how you feel about the empty bowl. Activity: Put some coins and dollar bills in the bowl. One person then gives each person a portion of that money (different amounts from each other). Talk about how it feels to have the different amounts. Connect: The money person should then take all the money back. When the bowl was empty, did it feel useless—or was there something still beautiful about it? When the bowl was full of money, what were your thoughts? When you received a certain amount and someone else received a different amount, what did you feel? God forgives us because it is God’s nature to endlessly draw us into relationship. And yet whatever we felt about the money might also be how we feel about God’s lavish forgiveness. Thankfully, no matter how much any of us needs to be forgiven, a little amount or a large, the result is the same: We are found, embraced, and loved by God. --LOM Curriculum Prayer Pray the Lord’s Prayer together (https://www.rca.org/resources/lords-prayer). Agree on a charity where you can donate the money Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Lent, we focus on baptismal identity and the consequent amendment of life. 28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” (Luke 19:28-40) Reflection Palm Sunday is this Sunday, and this is the typical Sunday reading. This is one scripture that we act out almost every year in Sunday School. Some years the youth/children argue about who gets to be the colt (donkey). This animal is very important to the story. It was prophesized in Zechariah that the coming of Israel’s king to Jerusalem would be riding on a colt. The choice of a colt rather than a horse is because the colt was regarded as an animal of peace, while a horse was used for war. Jesus’ use of the colt was also a sign of humbleness even though the whole scene around him was far from humble. The waving of the palms and the shouting out of the crowd is a human act of raising him up and honoring him. Let us continue to sing our praises to the wonderful King of Peace. --Charlene Rineer Prayer Blessed Jesus, we thank you for all you have done for us. As we journey with you from this Palm Sunday, to the cross, to the grave, and to the highest heaven we honor you. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Lent, we focus on baptismal identity and the consequent amendment of life. Reading
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2: 5-11) Reflection When I think of the words “at the name of Jesus every knee should bend”, one thing that comes to mind is my nativity set. It took me a few times of setting it out at Christmas to really notice the Wise Man who was kneeling and also notice that Wise Man was not wearing a crown. His crown is a separate piece of course to be set by Jesus…on bended knee. Now it all makes sense. Each time I set out that figure, I am reminded “at the name of Jesus every knee should bend”. The wise knew that from the moment Jesus was born. Each time I set down the crown, I remember only Jesus Christ is Lord. To the Glory of God the Father. --Ruth Gates Prayer Glorious God, may we humbly come to you on bended knee confessing you are Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Lent, we focus on baptismal identity and the consequent amendment of life. Reading Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away. I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. For I hear the whispering of many— terror all around!-- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love. (Psalm 31:9-16) Reflection Wow, this Psalmist was really in distress. Their enemies/neighbors most have been awful. They must have been really struggling with some heavy problems. They turned to the God who they could trust. They knew that God’s steadfast love could save them. These past two years we have also been struggling and going through some really, tough times. Here are just a few of the big ones - pandemic, racial issues, gender identity and equality disagreements, political problems, and wars. Add to that the various family and friends struggles that are heavy on our hearts. I hope you have gone to God with your sorrows and pains. I know I have because that is what brings me some peace, and I have hope in better things to come. Trust in our God’s love which is steadfast and saves us. --Charlene Rineer Prayer Gracious loving God we come to you like many believers before us. We lay all our struggles and problems at your feet. Help us face our enemies with courage. Help us find peace and comfort. We pray in your Son’s most holy name. Amen. Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Lent, we focus on baptismal identity and the consequent amendment of life. Reading
The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backwards. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. (Isaiah 50: 4-9a) Reflection God blessed us with a tongue to teach and encourage. He gave us ears and eyes so we can listen and observe. With our tongues we may agree or disagree. With our eyes and our ears we can come to understand and discern is God’s will and what is sinful. Our tongues can bring comfort and also bring destruction. We need to listen and be watchful. We need to look to God, listen to what is true, speak what is right and see where there is need. Prayer Dear Lord, help us spread love and kindness with our tongues. May our eyes and ears be open and aware of those hurting and in need. Amen --Alice Yeakel Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Lent, we focus on baptismal identity and the consequent amendment of life. Today, we look at a Day 3 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “Boundless: God Beyond Measure.”
Reading For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (Romans 14:17-19) Reflection Have you sorted out your priorities this Lent? If not, let Paul help you today. As he writes to the Roman community, he is at work demonstrating to them the priority of their calling. While it seems the community of faith is getting caught on a particular sticking point surrounding the propriety of maintaining food and drink standards, Paul does not want the people to lose the forest for the trees. Does the maintenance of a ritualistically proper diet help some people make meaning? Sure, Paul says. But if your food and drink only impede others in this journey of faith, if they become a stumbling block to the more hefty matters of faith, then it’s time to sort out the proper order of things. It’s time to remember that the scope of God’s kingdom is more than what is maintained and ingested, it’s about the scope of God’s mission being carried for God’s people! As we approach the back end of our Lenten journey, consider this an audit, of sorts. What things have we mistaken for being paramount in the kingdom? Because spoiler alert: the kingdom of God is not food and drink. The kingdom of God is not lutefisk and sauerkraut. The kingdom of God is not bricks and mortar. The kingdom of God is not steeples and stained glass. The kingdom of God is not the red/cranberry hymnal or the green one. The kingdom of God is notstreaming services or pew pads. The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of God is setting ourselves to the work of God’s unfolding mission of radical and redemptive love. The kingdom of God is following the Spirit’s call to embody and advocate for that way of divine love, just as surely as the Spirit has met us with love’s way. May all else that follows, all the food and drink and accoutrement, be in service to that kingdom of God. Under that call, with that realignment of priorities, let us then pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding. --Justin Lingenfelter Prayer Good and gracious God, save us from our own devices. Where we mistake our means of piety for the purpose of your kingdom, offer us the cross of your love as interruption. On this Lenten journey, grant us the strength to follow your Son in the ways of your kingdom, setting ourselves to righteousness, peace, and joy you offer. Amen. ___________________________________________________________________________ Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Lent, we focus on baptismal identity and the consequent amendment of life. |
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