Devotion

Scripture

John 16:4-6

But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts.

Words of Hope

This passage reminds me of the adage, “you never know what you have until it’s gone.”

Perhaps the disciples took Jesus for granted. Never imaging he would go away, even though he told them he would several times. They were happy to have him with them and that seemed good enough.

I have had many times in my life where I was content with my situation. A rewarding job, a good relationship, dear friends and family around all the time. Yet all of could change in an instant. Jobs go away. Relationships end. Friends and family leave or die.

We can lament the loss and grieve for a time, but it is all too easy to become stuck in that place. Unable to move forward. Unable to get over the loss.

There is a place for grief and mourning, for lost people and lost opportunities. I am reminded of my Jewish upbringing where after a loved one dies you are expected to “sit Shiva” for them. Shiva is a period of 7 days where the family or friends of the loved one who has dies gather and sit together. There are prayers, the mourners Kaddish, but there is also food brought by friends. It is a gathering where the departed is remembered with stories and anecdotes and generally a low key celebration of their life. Afterward, it is traditional to go on a walk together. This symbolizes entering back into the world and is a gentle way to restart life.

It’s as if Jesus is telling his followers to remember how good they have it and how good things can and will be. It is now up to them to carry out His mission and bring heaven to earth.

That too, is our mission. To keep moving on with our lives and make them and the world as good as we possibly can.

Prayer

Exalted and hallowed be God’s great name
in the world which God created, according to plan.
May God’s majesty be revealed in the days of our lifetime
and the life of all — speedily, imminently,
To which we say: Amen.

Author

Hardy Haberman

Reading

“Let me preach you without preaching, not by words alone but by my life example; by the captivating force and sympathetic influence” [of Christ’s presence in my life]. John Cardinal Newman (1801-1890)

A Word of Hope

On this Ascension Day, let us recall that the presence of Christ still walks the earth, living and working in the bodies of those who follow his way; those who live by his words.

The words in Cardinal Newman’s prayer are often thought to be attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. I’m not sure that he actually spoke them, but I am certain that he lived them. As a young Baptist boy, I was urged to memorize many Bible verses, including a string of verses from Paul’s letter to the Romans (the Roman Road to Salvation). I was supposed to use these as a preaching tool in witness to others. The whole effort was nerve-racking and often caused me to shy away from any opportunity to witness about Christ’s love.

Not emphasized was the last half of the above prayer line… “not by words alone; but by the captivating force and the sympathetic influence of what” Christ is in me. It is our active example of loving care which best preaches Christ’s nature and its offer as a comforting source to others. Remember that God’s welcoming hand of forgiveness, love and care usually begins at the end of the sleeve of your shirt or blouse. We reflect it; we present it, and when received by others, God does the healing work.

Were there specific portions of this prayer which had extra meaning to you? That’s probably God’s Spirit talking to you about your life’s need for a more vibrant spiritual life. We can meditate on this one sentence of prayer in the next few days and concentrate on that as a point for spiritual growth. Think about these things and be aware of divine urging. The result can be an ascension of the soul.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, help me to spread your sweet fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that my life may be only a radiance of your life. Shine through me, and be so in me, that every soul with whom I come into contact may feel your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see not me but only you Jesus and give you glory. Stay within me and then I will begin to shine as you shine; so, to share as to be a light to others, and that light will be all from you. It will be you shining on others through me. Let me preach you without preaching, not by words alone, but by my life example; by the captivating force and sympathetic influence of what I am which is the evident fullness of love my heart and life bears for you.” Amen

Devotion Author

Donald (Luke) Day
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Scripture

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. (Mark 16:19-20)

A Word of Hope

We have all probably uttered the words, “It’s a sign from God” at least once or twice, either seriously or rhetorically. How do we know that something is a sign from God? In the above passage, the disciples went out and preached. The word of the Lord was confirmed by “the signs that accompanied it.” To know what those signs were, we must back up a couple of verses in this chapter from the Gospel of Mark.

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

These are some rather specific and tough feats required to be seen as a believer. I don’t know about you, I’ve never consumed deadly poison and, though I consider myself a believer whose faith is strong, I am not willing to put that to the test by drinking that poison with the confidence that it will not harm me. The snake handling, however, may be negotiable depending on the kind of snake. In all seriousness, what signs do accompany those of us who call ourselves believers? As I thought about this question, this hymn came to mind:

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

– Peter Scholtes

Working to restore unity, walking and working side by side with my brothers and sisters, respecting and guarding the dignity of every human being, and saving each person’s pride by loving one another seems much more appealing. And though loving everyone is challenging at best and may feel outright impossible at times, doing my best to share love seems more plausible than does the list given in the above passage from Mark.

Prayer

Resurrected Christ, know that I desire to carry with me the signs of a true believer. Work with me and in me such that all those whom I encounter will know you by my love for you and my love for them. Amen.

Devotion Author

Kris Baker
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Scripture

1 Tim 6.13-15

In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time.

Word of Hope

A little research led me to learn that this part of the letter of Timothy is meant for Timothy himself. This letter is full of instruction for running the church. Much of the sixth chapter seems to be general instructions or heard to specific groups; this is aimed at Timothy. That is not to say it is not applicable to us today.

Timothy was a convert who travels with Paul and had distinguished himself at a young age as someone who had “genuine faith” (Paul’s words). He has been entrusted with leadership of several churches. Why would such a person need to be reminded to keep the commandment?

As we all know, whatever our endeavors, burn out or discouragement can happen. When results are not immediate, when we take two steps forward and sometimes three back, it is easy to give into anger or despair. Timothy is a relatively new follower of Jesus (then again so were all Christians at the time). His flocks even newer. I know I’ve been overly eager when involved in a new thing. Often this is to the dismay of those to whom I should be listening and from whom I should learning. Paul probably was preparing Timothy for that by encouraging him to stay strong until the manifestation of Jesus.

And when would that be? Who knew, (who knows)? So, though Paul is setting an expectation and a goal for Timothy it is an indefinite time. But it will be the right time.

And that is the lesson for all of us. Keep Jesus’ command. Remember your faith confession even when you find yourself tested in your faith; which is like Jesus in front of Pilate.

The right time will come.

Prayerful Words

Loving God, we hope for Jesus to manifest in our lives and hearts so that we can keep the commandment to love You and to love or neighbors as ourselves. Be with us, strengthen us, love us.

Author

Weber Baker
Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Scripture

Micah 6:8

God has told you, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Word of Hope

Baptism does not make us perfect Christians. Being vaccinated does not make us perfect citizens.

Even after we are vaccinated, we still have obligations. Wear a mask to protect others. Do not be part of large gatherings. Encourage others to be vaccinated. Help those who do not have easy access to register for vaccinations. We may need a booster at some time. We must stay informed.

Just because we feel safer does not mean our medical heroes have it any easier in their job. It does not mean teachers lives are back to normal. Or that our neighbors around the world have access to vaccinations. If we do not continue to vote and support those who are trying to help recovery we could continue in economic troubles. Small businesses and those who are out of work because of covid shutdown still need support. Families of people below the poverty line have suffered beyond belief during this time.

Being baptized is not just a ticket to heaven as some churches have taught. The church of my youth demanded I memorize scripture and learn the steps to salvation. I was always worried someone would go to hell because I did not tell them about these steps to salvation and get them baptized.

Cathedral of Hope encourages us to proclaim Christ through faith, hope and love.

We believe we are called together in community:
to experience a God of love
to share in Christ’s Baptism and holy communion
to embrace the joy and cost of discipleship to be in service
to others to join Christ in including everyone and excluding no one

We have a vision to be a growing community of faith that connects the unconnected and empowers disciples of Jesus to embody God’s inclusive love.

CoH tries to help us all learn how to take our next steps on our journey with Jesus.

A journey WITH Jesus is so much easier than fear that I am responsible for someone going to hell! And I personally feel like we make our heaven on earth by the way we travel our journey. We do not have to spend our life waiting to die and go to Heaven. Believing in a God of love who does not exclude anyone is so much easier than trying to convert people from all the list of sins! Praise God for learning about a God of total inclusion!

Prayer

God of inclusive love, we thank you for vaccinations. We thank you for our church. We are thankful for wise leaders in all areas who have kept us safe during this pandemic of disease and through times of religious teachings that cause us to doubt inclusive love. Help us walk with you each day.

Devotion Author

Jan Nunn
CoH Volunteer

Scripture

Isaiah 42: 5 (The Message)

“God’s Message,
    the God who created the cosmos, stretched out the skies,
    laid out the earth and all that grows from it,
Who breathes life into earth’s people,
    makes them alive with his own life . . .”

A Word of Hope

I am very embarrassed by something I said the other day.   I feel so foolish that I will share only a general description and spare you (and me) the awkward details.

It was a conversation with work colleagues.  Via Microsoft Teams video as everything is these days.  I was complaining about my online Chai tea retailer being out of my favorite tea.  I ranted for several minutes while my teammates laughed at (not with) me.

After I logged off, I started to realize how stupid I must have sounded.  Why was I raving on and on about tea?  Oh, and it isn’t that the tea isn’t available, it just isn’t available in the bulk packaging I prefer.  Talk about a problem of the privileged.

Has my world become so small, so self-centered, that the most important thing to me at that moment was some outrageously expensive tea? 

Over the past 15 months of the COVID pandemic my world has shrunk.  Most days, I am the only one living in it.

How do I open myself up?  How do I reenter the world?  How to I become reengaged?

These are not idle questions.  The world and our community are increasingly complex – the issues we confront are greater and more dire than ever.   I don’t need to recite them.  You know them.

So, how do I get back involved?  How do I channel my energies toward others and away from me?

The words of today’s assigned reading in Isaiah 42 ring familiar and give me a place to start.  I begin by tapping into an intimate God who is as expansive as the universe.  A God I can experience.  A God as big as the cosmos but also one who is as familiar and close as my breath.

God’s life can be my life.  Big. Bold.  Out in the world.

Prayer

God of my being.  Open me up to the world.  I have forgotten how.

Devotion Author

Dennis Bolin

Reading

“Yearning for a new way will not produce it. Only ending the old way can do that. You cannot hold onto the old all the while declaring that you want something new. The old will defy the new; the old will deny the new; the old will decry the new. There is only one way to bring in the new. You must make room for it.” Neale Donald Walsch

A Word of Hope

The spiritual journey doesn’t allow for a lot of coasting. While certainly we have periods of release from our striving and blessedly rest in God’s grace and love, again and again we are called into a deeper learning, a wider vision, a more radical compassion, a stronger commitment to justice. One of these large lessons is about decentering.

While it takes many of us a long time to truly believe that God loves us beyond our wildest imaginings and intimately abides with us in the core of our being, mature spirituality also teaches: “It’s not about you.” At least it’s not about our ego-self, our false self. Yet this is an essential lesson taught by our wisdom teachers, contemplative prayer, and sometimes by the crash-landings of experience. Decentering in this larger sense asks us to release all that blocks us from the fullness of God in our lives.

For those of us who are white, decentering in our anti-racism work is extraordinarily important. A beginning is heightening our awareness of all that our privilege has afforded us historically and in our current lives. Peggy McIntosh of the Wellesley Center for Women has generated the following questions to raise consciousness about this issue. https://projecthumanities.asu.edu/content/white-privilege-checklist

Moreover, we can listen for whose voice is dominant in relationships, whose voice inserts itself most prominently in our meetings—and is most affirmed by authority figures. People of color commonly experience being marginalized or having an idea “hijacked” by a white colleague and only supported after they speak it.

Even when we truly yearn to become better co-conspirators in the pursuit of justice, we regularly stumble. Too often we want to tearfully “confess” our past racist sins to our siblings of color, relieving our own guilt. Some African American authors are very direct about this tendency: Don’t do it. Do your own work. Sadly, it is easy to “take umbrage” when we hear this message. But relinquishing that is part of the work of decentering. And as we draw closer with our beloveds of color, we become more sensitive to how exhausting and painful are the daily burdens of systemic racism (even in our churches), workplace prejudice, inequity, and microaggressions.

Though there is much more to say and learn about this topic, it is essential to “loving our neighbors” to undertake decentering in the hard and holy work of justice. To do that, we must get used to being uncomfortable. *

Prayer

Hold us in your strong right hand, O God, as we set out for the higher ground of Justice and Love. Amen.

Devotion Author

Dr. Pat Saxon

*A banner at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis gives instructions for honoring that sacred space—one to the general population, but another to whites, including decentering. https://sputniknews.com/us/202104221082697169-in-particular-white-people-given-special-instructions-at-the-entrance-to-george-floyd-square/

Scripture

Mark 12.33

To love God with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

A Word of Hope

Today is Cinco de Mayo (in Mexican Spanish, the “Fifth of May”) It is an annual event celebrated on May 5, but usually starting with parties on the weekend before. The date actually commemorates a victory by the Mexican army over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862. The forces were led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. The victory of the smaller Mexican force, sometimes using pitch forks and shovels as weapons, against a superior and well-armed French force was a major morale builder for the Mexicans. This information can be expanded by a Google search, but I have never been told any of these details by any of my neighbors who joyfully celebrate the holiday every year. Never.

Theirs is a celebration of the heart, not the history. In my neighborhood, I am surrounded by the colorful sights, delicious smells, and jubilant music that make the whole community robust and engaging. I am always welcomed to participate in their joy and can be assured that there will be treats delivered to my door whether or not I attend the festivities. It is a send-up of family more than anything else and I am always assured that I am part of theirs. Everyone plays a part in the activities, young, old, and in between. It is a picture of mutual respect and unity like no other.

This year I have been invited to sponsor a waterslide in my front yard; one of those huge blow-up monsters, and I can’t wait. It’s also for a child’s birthday party, another hugely important yearly event and the neighbors in the house behind me needed more room. I was glad to volunteer my space. My lawn will get a little extra watering and I’m sure there are a few additional tacos in it for me. I really love my neighborhood.

I have lived predominantly in the same house, my parents’ old family home, since the mid ‘50’s and I have seen a lot of changes throughout the years. At the beginning, all of the neighbors looked like me. They were nice folks, but even as a child, I wished for more diversity. I certainly wasn’t experiencing any ethnic or cultural inclusivity at school. I never even heard about a holiday every 5^th of May. I moved away for a few years post college and after my parents’ departure, I decided to take up residence in the old house. The neighborhood had changed, and certainly for the better. My street looks like the U. N. especially on holidays, and on Cinco de Mayo everyone from every ethnic group is welcomed.

My neighborhood is the picture of what I wish every church should be and I thank God for the efforts our own church continually demonstrates in truly practicing what we preach; declaring all are welcome and meaning it. It is the work of Jesus.

 Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Prayer

Dios te bendiga a ti y a tu familia

Devotion Author

Dan Peeler
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Reading

“There will come a time when you believe everything is finished; that will be the beginning.” 

Louis Lamour

A Word of Hope

This became true in my life recently. It’s no surprise that the pandemic has caused an upheaval of change for quite a few months. The church has had to change considerably, creating new ways to serve the congregation and re-structuring some established traditions and ministries. We’ve had months to think outside the bricks and mortar confines of the local church and to push the restart key with the ending of some ministries and the beginning of others.

My membership in the Order of St. Francis and St. Clare, however, has not changed, but refocused. It is a life-vow, with my primary commitment to the church these days being the writing of devotions since there is presently no Reflect service or other in-person activities that paused last year.

Certainly, I’ve always had a warm spot for teaching, especially teaching children. That started in a Dallas area Bible church and continued at the Cathedral of Hope where we reshaped our thinking with an inclusive, gender balanced approach that we never considered in other church experiences. As I have now moved on from those ministry duties, I know what the children taught me all those years will never leave me.

I began considering this was not actually an ending but a brand-new beginning with possibilities of a broader audience and the focus on getting our stories out to the generations of the future. I had been given the opportunity to rethink future goals and consider what I would love to add to my dormant bucket list. Energy flows where energy goes and God’s energy flows forever. When I found myself with more time in my current situation, the phone started to ring. God was at work.  In a matter of a couple days I was receiving phone calls and emails from current and former clients wishing to begin new projects while restarting projects that were left behind a year ago.

Along with that, one of our original Sunday school students from years ago (now an ad agency executive) contacted me about beginning a brand-new project using our curriculum. God’s floodgates had opened. They have yet to close. That’s when I remembered that Louis Lamour quote.

What new beginning is God working out in your life? Just be still and listen….

Prayer

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love God, who have been called according to the Divine purpose. Romans 8.28

Devotion Author

Charlie Rose
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Scripture

Isaiah 51.10

Was it not You who dried up the sea,
The waters of the great deep;
Who made the depths of the sea a pathway
For the redeemed to cross over?

A Word of Hope

Against the Odds

Where does our victory come from? Perhaps, it is decided for us before the battle ever begins. Maybe, our circumstances decide. For those who put their faith in God, we know that we never fight alone. It gives us hope, courage, and strength to do the impossible because we believe that with God, we can do anything.

The future is not made by God alone, but by we who must decide what the future will look like. Standing before us is an open door. The door is a gift from God and proof that the Divine is on our side. Through that door is the future. God has already done the job of making a way for us, but each of us must decide whether or not we are going to walk through that door or turn away from what was meant to be ours. As much as we depend on God, our Heavenly Parent will not make the journey for us. We must be the ones to move and to press onto what is on the other side of that door.

God will not do what we must do ourselves. We were gifted with free will so that we could make choices. We choose the consequences of our lives. The problems we face are often walls that we must climb over, and we all start at the base of the wall. It looks impossible because the wall is so much taller than we are. Alone it is impossible, but if one person stands at the base, then another can climb onto that person’s shoulders. When we all work together, each supporting the other, the wall that was once blocking us becomes the very thing that teaches us how to rise and climb our way in spite of overwhelming odds. God is the ground beneath our feet, and together, we are the ladders that will rise over the greatest of walls.

Prayer

Bless You, Abba God,

For You are the ground that I stand on. My foundation is the Almighty. You are the reason I can achieve great things. Help us to come together when the odds look stacked against us. May we stack even higher united shoulder atop of shoulder. Thank You for making a way, Almighty Spirit. Amen.

Devotion Author

Jonathon McClellan
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare