Words of Hope

Scripture

Job 38.4-7

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

A Word of Hope

Unanswered Questions

As our vision of the universe gets larger, our knowledge about it, gets smaller and smaller. Einstein observed that the more he learned, the less he knew. It is often that when we answer a question, ten new questions arise each leading us to more undiscovered and unanswered questions. I find that a flower is not just a stem and its petals, but it is also its seed. What is a seed without its journey? The flower is connected to generations of flowers. A person’s name can imply where they come from and who they are connected to. A rock is the culmination of many smaller particles. I have found no simple answers, but always, more to discover.

Humility is considering the possibility that what we do not know we do not know. I do not see all the pieces of life’s puzzle or things that I have yet to experience. If I were to try to define anything, then that would mean pretending I had an understanding of universal truths when I do not fully comprehend anything. We believe that God exists, but what or rather who is God? I could say that God is love, but consider how long it would it take me to describe all of God’s love if I could.

Why do so many religious people believe that God is love, but then, condemn people for not believing that their religion is the right one? They have neither learned what love is nor who God is, yet they can judge. How can we judge God’s creation without knowing all the facts? Humanity has more in common than it realizes, for many faiths teach that God is love. The scriptures teach us that we have the ability to set aside our differences and be kind to one another. One day, differing faiths may have less strangers, and more friends. Perhaps, because if we know less, then there is more to learn about each other.

Prayer

Lord of mercy,

Only You know everything and only You can judge. Help us to be forgiving and kind to strangers. Grant us a humble spirit. Show us how to disagree lovingly. Bless You because You are patient with us. We love You, yet we do not know You fully. Help us to love those that we do know, yet don’t comprehend. Amen.

Devotion Author

Jonathon McClellan
Order of St. Francis and St. Clar

Scripture

John 8:28-30

So, Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

Words of Hope

If one is to believe the legends of rugged individualists who forged their own path and became self-made men or women, you ignore reality. No one does everything on their own.

As a former FedEx employee, I was very familiar with the founder Fred Smith’s story.  He started the company based on a term paper he wrote while at Yale.  His system designed for urgent deliveries started in Little Rock but later moved to Memphis and has become a leading air delivery and ground delivery giant.  But Fred didn’t do it on his own.  He inherited $4 million from his father and got additional cash from venture capitalists to start this company.  He also got concessions from Memphis to improve their airport to accommodate his business. He did it with the help of thousands of employees and contractors. He didn’t do it alone and Fred Smith would be the first to acknowledge it.

All of us depend on the actions or words of another as we go through life.  From the moment we wake and step out our door, we are dependent on the infrastructure of the cities where we live, the roads, the power grid, the public safety system.  We don’t do it on our own.

Jesus acknowledges that he was not doing it alone either.  He gives all credit to God and shows his humility by clearly stating so.  People believed him because of not just his words and actions, but his humility and humanity.

He also reminds us that we are not alone or apart from God.  God does not leave us alone.

Prayer

May I remember to live with humility and acknowledge that each day I live my life with the help of others and in the presence of a God who will never abandon me.

Devotion Author

Hardy Haberman

Scripture

1 Kings 6:1-14

In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the temple of the LORD. The temple that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty wide and thirty high. The portico at the front of the main hall of the temple extended the width of the temple, that is twenty cubits, and projected ten cubits from the front of the temple. He made narrow windows high up in the temple walls…

…The word of the LORD came to Solomon: “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.” So Solomon built the temple and completed it.

[Preparation: Take a couple deep breaths and place yourself in the Presence of God.]

A Word of Hope

There are many ways to study the Hebrew Scripture and the New Testament. The general purpose of study is to discern the inspired word of God in each passage. This task is not easy even for those dedicated to the academic pursuit of language nuance, geo-political and cultural sate of the authors, etc. It is not easy either for those whose investigation of Scripture is primarily spiritual, that is, what is the message for our (or my) spiritual growth and therefore its application to my personal life and that of my community. Such is the challenge of our passage today that specifically reports on the final dimensions of the Jewish Temple after so many years of promise – reported to be over 400 – since the Exodus from Egypt. Try the following methodology using one of the gifts of God – your imagination!

It is a Wednesday in February. {What is the time of day? What is the outside temperature? After a good sleep and a small breakfast of apricots, an orange (your favorite this time of year), unleavened bread and tea, you were off to visit with your friend Izzy. [why is it that you are going to spend time with Izzy? Are you wearing a light of heavy cloak?] On your way across Jerusalem, you are struck by the lack of workers at the Temple construction site. The last time you were by this corner the workers were climbing all over the structure! You pick up from the buzz of the street crowd that today marks the end of construction. [what does this fact mean to you? To your community? When will you tour the inside? Why are you anxious to tell your siblings and your parents?] How proud are you of this architectural achievement? What does it mean?

When you accomplish your goal(s) does it make you justifiably proud? Do you set new goals? Why? How patient are you with the “building” association with achieving goals? Where do you

find your resources to build your personal and spiritual life? Are there persons who have been building longer than you that you know who may be of any help to you as guides?

Prayer

Holy One! I know that you are not done with me yet. I am still learning and being “built” to your greater honor and glory. Help me to be patient remembering that sometimes I follow your plan and other times I don’t. I know you love me as I am today, but as I grow, I want to serve those less fortunate than I.

I make this prayer in your many names, O God! AMEN!

Devotion Author

Bob Shea
Cathedral of Hope / United Church of Christ

Scripture

Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him. Psalm 127:3

A Word of Hope

Today we observe National Care for Kids Day. To anyone who is the primary caregiver to a child, every day is care for kids day, but as a society, especially for those that don’t have this direct responsibility day in and day out, it is important to take some time to think about the important role children play in our community and our inherent responsibility as adults to this next generation.

Children today are forced to deal with “adult” problems much earlier than I remember encountering such things. Is this because as adults we are failing to protect the youngest and most vulnerable among us? It seems like children, and many of the greater issues surrounding their care-education, healthcare, safety, have been reduced to nothing more than political pawns. So many of the current debates among our politicians attempt to pull at our heartstrings by purporting that their positions are in the best interest of our youngest citizens.

I find it amusing that diametrically opposed opinions, whether it be gun control, abortion, school funding, or mask mandates for school children, all claim to be the most caring options for our children. I am not trying to debate these issues, but rather to say, as adults, we need to do better for our children. They are not bargaining tools for our selfish ways. They are precious gifts given to all of us by God. It is our job, all of us, to nurture, protect, and sustain them. That is what God calls each of us to do every day. This is not always an easy job, but it is always an important and non-negotiable one.

Recently in our small group, we opened our gathering with meditation on the 1985 song “We are the World” written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, and which was recorded by many of the top superstars at the time. The proceeds from the song were donated to United Support of Artists for Africa. The goal of these monies was to provide food and relief to the starving people of Africa, particularly Ethiopia. In 2010, after the devastating earthquake in Haiti that killed over 200,000 people, musicians again came together to record “We Are the World,” with some revised lyrics, to raise money for the people of Haiti.

The words of the song are timeless. In fact, Lionel Richie has suggested that it again be recorded as we all navigate the COVID pandemic.

The opening verse and refrain say it all…

There comes a time

When we heed a certain call

When the world must come together as one

There are people dying

Oh, and it’s time to lend a hand to life

The greatest gift of all

We can’t go on

Pretending day-by-day

That someone, somewhere soon will make a change

We’re all a part of God’s great big family

And the truth, you know, love is all we need

We are the world

We are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving

There’s a choice we’re making

We’re saving our own lives

It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me.

Indeed, it is “time to lend a hand to life, the greatest gift of all.”

Prayer

Oh God, parent of us all, I pray that I will open my heart to all of your children so they will know that someone cares. I pray that I will do my part to make their lives strong and free. I pray that I will always be willing to lend a helping hand. Amen.

Devotion Author

Kris Baker
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Scripture

Psalm 84:1  

“O God of Hosts, how dear to me is your dwelling. My soul has desire and longing to be present in the courtyards of your Temple.”

A Word of Hope

Doesn’t that verse from today’s reading make each of us want to yell out “Amen”! We long to return to our familiar pattern of in-person unmasked worship at the Cathedral of Hope. But we must wait. Then, I remember the plight of the Jewish people who survived when Roman forces destroyed Jerusalem and completely tore down their Temple structure (70 CE). With the total destruction of the building and death of hundreds of its priests and attendants, how could they practice their worship of God? Certainly, that was a “sour lemon” situation. However, some of the faithful leaders scattered from the ruined city and moved their lives and spiritual influence to other towns in Palestine, Egypt and elsewhere.

In these new locations, they developed centers for Jewish education and new synagogues. From these faithful Jews, the new Jewish rabbinic tradition developed. There was no central Temple for animal sacrifice. Instead, new synagogues sprang up where they taught Jewish history and the Law. A philosophy of life was created which was based on a personal commitment to a moral life and social goodness as God had always wanted. Out of the ashes of the destroyed Temple structure, this new rabbinic tradition flourished and has nourished Jewish people spreading their faith throughout the world. With our cooperation, God can make great lemonade out of a great disaster!

The Temple building of Jesus’ time was not the first Jewish Temple. Centuries earlier, a first Temple had been built and became the heart-center of Jewish religious life. However, it was destroyed by the invading army of Nebuchadnezzar and much of Judah’s population exiled to distant Babylon (586 B.C.E.). They were forced to live in an enclave in that land of strange language, religion and customs. Those Je ws were utterly bereaved by the loss of their national identity and religious practices. They called themselves “gola” (exiles) and sought to forge a new Jewish identity in this foreign land.

They struggled to understand this terrible event because God had promised protection to their forefathers. With divine help, they creatively remade their spiritual practice without the formality of a temple structure. Their worldview changed and they tended to look toward a day of God’s salvation as the underpinning of their spiritual lives. They developed a social lifestyle which reflected the Laws of the Torah. In Babylon, they became known as “people of the book”. Then God acted to bring salvation to them. Cyrus, the King of Persia who had defeated Nebuchadnezzar’s empire, was inspired by God to build a new Temple in Jerusalem. In order to construct and manage it, he ordered that the captive Jewish population return to Jerusalem and rebuild a great temple to worship Yahweh. This gave them a new opportunity.Their religious life, practices and social influence were renewed, actually re-created… sweet lemonade indeed!

Prayer

Regardless of what life gives, may we always remain people of the book. Help us to remember that, with our cooperation, God can make great lemonade out of any challenge or even worldwide disasters.

Devotion Author

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