Words of Hope

Scripture

“The Beloved makes me lie down in green pastures. God leads me beside
the still waters and restores my soul.” Psalm 23: 2-3

Reading

Re-imagining a peaceful night spent in a forest, poet Mary Oliver writes:

I thought the earth remembered me, she took
me back so tenderly, arranging her dark skirts,
her pockets full of lichen and seeds. I slept as
never before, a stone on the riverbed
nothing between me and the white fire of the stars
but my thoughts, and they floated light as moths
mong the branches of the perfect trees.

EARTH DAY

A Word of Hope

Sometimes the need for nature is as strong as thirst on a summer hike. It has been so for many of us during this long pandemic year. And because travel has been restricted, we have re-learned the treasure of daily beauty. A mockingbird singing the dawn awake. Tiny green leaves unfurling after the winter storm. Rolling on the grass with dogs. A loon’s tremolo before returning North. A crow’s guttural “uh-oh” high in a pine. An early monarch floating on the breeze.

Oliver hits on something important in her lines: Nature welcomes us with her beauty like a relative gone missing—which we do with our self-absorption, busyness and worry. Her embrace can even be “forgiving.”

“I know, I know, she soothes. So much comes between us. And now, especially with these pandemics—the sickness unto death, the hatred and violence, the loss. But come to me, you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will re-member you, restore you to wholeness.”

In a 2018 sermon, Barbara Brown Taylor claims, “Beauty might turn out to be so woven into the hem of the Savior’s garment that we cannot reach out to touch it without being healed, then sent on our way to make more of it in the world.”

Prayer

On this Earth Day, and every day, may our work be loving this world and restoring God’s creation in gratitude, in deep gratitude. Amen.

Devotion Author

Dr. Pat Saxon

Scripture

Mark 16: 9-18

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping.

A Word of Hope

Today’s lectionary reading is one of those “proof texts” that provide evidence and names witnesses in regard to sightings and encounters with the risen Christ. As always, the accounts are varied and even sometimes conflicting in the four Gospels, just as witnesses in our world often offer many variations of their reports on a recent event. Point of view, degree of perception, and personal prejudices always contribute to what each considers the “gospel truth.” That phrase alone is ironic since each of the Gospel writers told their own versions of their own truth tailored to the needs and understanding of their particular communities.

On one proof-text fact, however, all of the writers agree. Mary Magdalene was the first person to experience the awe of seeing the empty tomb, and the first to bear witness of that event. On that morning, there might have been at least one or several other women with her, there were sometimes angels present, along with other minor variations reported by the writers, but Mary was always the central figure of this history-altering scene. This is why she rightfully has been given the title of “Apostle to the Apostles.”

Mark tells us that the men history later named the Apostles were together in the famous Upper Room, mourning and weeping that morning that Mary made and reported her discovery. A couple of them were moved enough by Mary’s testimony to follow her to the tomb in order to check out the situation themselves. Jesus had clearly told them that he would rise again, but I’ve often wondered if they would have ventured out of hiding that day to see if he had been telling the truth without Mary’s urging. Would we be reading the empty tomb story today? 

Mary Magdalene had been present throughout Holy Week as Jesus’ final drama had unfolded. She was there at the foot of the cross and she was there at the tomb at the crack of dawn on the morning after the sabbath to carry out the ritual of anointing that was the ultimate symbol of love and loyalty of her people. Later that morning, as she was also the first to encounter the risen Christ himself, Jesus did not feel the need to instruct her as to her next move. All he said was, “Mary.” He knew she would get the job done. She did.

Prayer

Thank you for the consistent love and loyalty Mary Magdalene still demonstrates for us today. May we recognize your voice in our own journey along your path and know in our hearts what route to take when you simply call our names.

Devotion Author

Dan Peeler
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Scripture

Romans 6:5, 9-11

For if we have been united with him (Christ Jesus) in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his… We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died once [as a physical human being], but the life he now lives, he lives to God. So, you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in [the resurrected] Christ Jesus.

A Word of Hope

Today’s Scripture reading are some words of Paul to the young Christians in Rome. Today, if you ask people: “What will happen to you when you die?” Often, you get a blank stare which resembles the eyes of a deer in the headlight of an approaching car. Some will say: “I’ll go to heaven”; whereas some will freely admit that they believe they already have a reserved spot in hell. However, a significant group will have no answer or they will talk about fading away in sleep to nothingness, nonexistence.

 Each of these individuals is deeply invested in their current life circumstances, their health, possessions and prestige; however, they seem to have made little investment (limited interests) in their existence after death. There will be an existence after death for each human. Even those who spurn the welcoming embrace of a loving God will not evaporate into nothingness at death. An afterlife experience was guaranteed at the moment of universal Creation; because our universe was created with an ultimate purpose. And that divinely inspired purpose is for humanity to have an authentic and intimate relationship with the Creator God!

Nothingness after death has nothing to do with it. We were created to be in relationship. Paul often preached that our relationship with the Creator God should be like the vibrant relationship Jesus had with his Abba Parent. The resurrection of Jesus demonstrates to us that such an authentic and vibrant relationship with God is not stamped out by physical death; rather it is resurrected into a new and more vibrant relationship which has no end. We are offered an eternity to be spent in the presence of God or not. But it is not a free ticket offered just because we were born on planet Earth.

We must recognize God as our creator, welcome the divine embrace and invest our life’s effort living up to our part in a vibrant relationship with the Holy One. Jesus’ words of love, his life and resurrection guide and inspire us along this path to an eternal relationship with God. It is my hope that every week of Eastertide will greatly bless you, and the resurrected presence of our Lord will guard you throughout each day.

Prayers

All praise be yours, O risen Lord, from death to endless life restored, both you and our Maker, we adore and Holy Spirit ever more.” (Easter doxology to Jesu dulcis memoria.)

“Yours, O God, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty. Alleluia!” (An ancient acclimation of praise)

Devotion Author

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

Scripture

1John 3:11

For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Words of Hope

It’s a simple message.  Deceptively so. That one sentence sums up the greatest of Jesus’ teachings and yet it is so difficult to hear and even more difficult to put into action.

“Love one another.”

I suspect if you are like me, I usually follow that with a question.  “Yes, but what about people who hurt me?”

“Love one another.”

Yes, but there were kids on school who teased me and called me a “fag” and beat me up?

“Love one another.”

Yes, but what about that guy who I gave my heart to and he stomped on it and left me?

“Love one another.”

Yes, but what about the thief who broke into my house and stole my stereo system, my TV and my computer?

“Love one another.”

But, what about the politician who lied over and over and sponsored bills that tried to take away my rights?

“Love one another.”

Yes, but what about the policeman who beat and almost killed my friend simply because they were black?

“Love one another.”

It’s not so simple is it?  And that is the point.  Jesus doesn’t call us to do the easy things. He calls us to do the hard things: to love people as human beings even though they are flawed, even though they are misguided, even though they don’t love us, even though they are unlovable.

We are called to love everyone as God’s children.  That does not mean we have to tolerate bad behavior, ignore misdeeds or offer blanket forgiveness for something that seems unforgivable.  It means we have to remove ourselves from situations where we or others are being harmed.  It means we must hold people accountable for their actions and it means we must do it with love.  What Jesus calls us to do is to refuse to be motivated by hatred.  We must never succumb to the blind anger and emotions of the moment, but seek justice, not revenge.  We must show mercy in our works and as the prophet Micah said, “walk humble with our God.”

 “Love one another.”

That is the hard path Jesus set us on.

As a more contemporary voice said, ”All you need is love.”

Prayer

May we first love one another and approach every aspect of our life and our dealings with others with this in mind.

Amen

Author

Hardy Haberman

Scripture

Luke 24:13-34

That night at supper table the stranger took the loaf of bread, and he blessed it, broke it and gave it to each of them. Immediately, their eyes were opened to recognize him as their beloved Master Jesus! With that recognition, Jesus disappeared from in front of them.

A Word of Hope

On Easter Sunday this year, many of our church members took the opportunity to worship together in the same space for the first time in over a year. Though socially distance and with excellent safety precautions in place, it was a Resurrection Sunday to truly celebrate!

People celebrate Easter for many reasons. The ancient pagans celebrated this time of new birth for earth’s plants and animals. It marked a new beginning and refreshment for their lives after a long cold winter. Early Christians added to this tradition their remembrance of Jesus’ resurrection and their promise of new and eternal life with him in heaven.

That hope broke loose the chains of the old and opened new prospects for growth in their spiritual lives. In the little town where I grew up, Easter was such a time. Added to those thoughts of celebration was the possibility of a new suit and shoes to wear to church for my brother and me. For our mom it was a new hat and for our dad, it probably meant a leaner wallet to pay for all of it.

The family would assemble at someone’s house and a dinner with far too much food was always gorged down by happy celebrants. Easter was anticipated and celebrated with great joy. No one wanted to miss Easter. We are still in the Season of Eastertide. What does Easter mean to you? That’s a really important question to ask oneself and get a good solid answer. Does its meaning seem to be a superficial celebration, or is it an opportunity to reflect on the hope and joy of relationship with God now and forever?

Does it encourage you to plunge deeper into a spiritual journey with guidance of the Holy Spirit? Does it confirm and strengthen your desire to live a more vibrant life following the teachings of Jesus? Meditate about this for a few minutes before you begin today’s activities. How will it change what you do and say around others? Will these thoughts improve your Christian witness to the world?

Prayer

My God, I come before you in this moment of quiet. I want to be fully present to you so that you can speak to my soul and enlighten my mind. Motivate my hands and feet into ministry which honors you, and in all things that I do and all that I am, may you be glorified and manifested into this world. May your presence which is expressed through my life become a blessing to others. Amen.

Devotion Author

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