Thursday - October 17, 2024
Dan Peeler
SCRIPTURE
Luke 7.31-35
“To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Humanity has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!’ Nevertheless, Wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
WORDS OF HOPE
I have spent many years of my adult life working with and teaching children, both in church settings and through art museum workshops and lectures. I have always admired their freshness and eagerness to learn. Jesus famously reminded us that we must have the faith of a child in order to discover the central message of his teachings, but in this passage, he is challenging the people of his generation for being stubborn and childish. He is not contradicting his usual teaching. He praises being open and childlike, but denounces adults who act childish, which is the dark side of childlike.
Childish people are never satisfied. They create their own specific rules without sharing them with others and are quick to condemn anyone they judge has broken them. They refuse to listen, learn, or change and take much pleasure in name-calling, bullying, and ridiculing.
They are impossible to please because all that brings them pleasure is criticizing those who can’t possibly live up to the standards that only they are qualified enough to follow. When they break their own standards, and they often do, they are experts at making excuses, including re-defining their own versions of the truth. They are prone to tantrums.
“Wow,” you might say, “those people in Jerusalem had some real problems.” At this point, it is helpful to identify the specific group of people Jesus was addressing in this instance. He wasn’t talking to a mixed crowd of average people on the street, nor was he condemning the usual list of thieves, women of questionable intensions, or corrupt government bureaucrats that were high on the first century’s list of undesirables. He was speaking to their religious leaders.
This short narrative is a perfect example of Jesus’ ministry. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus never wastes his time confronting or condemning admitted sinners, but a great deal of his time challenging people who were certain that they were not. Then as now, people who appoint themselves as models of doctrinal perfection inevitably fail miserably and assume the roles of those children on the marketplace, denouncing, ridiculing, and blaming everyone who will still pay them any attention.
But this passage has a happy ending. Regardless of the failings of certain self-serving groups, Jesus reflects on the Hebrew Scripture personification of Woman Wisdom, saying that overall, her children will eventually recognize and turn away from the failures of those toxic influencers. Meanwhile, as the spirit of Woman Wisdom guides us, Jesus’ faith in a humankind created in God’s own image never faulters.
PRAYER
May we have the clarity of a child’s faith as Jesus beacons us to follow as adults the mind- cleansing path of Woman Wisdom. Amen.
DEVOTION AUTHOR
Dan Peeler
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
Need Some Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions
SCRIPTURE Philippians 2:7,8 [He] emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. WORDS OF HOPE Easter was always a special time for our family. While we were taught to celebrate the resurrection, it was also filled with anticipating egg hunts and special dinners. As a little girl, my mother would wrangle me into some dress for church, insisting I appear pristine for the festive occasion. While I dearly loved my mother and wanted to surrender to her wishes, I recently found a photo where I was all dressed up with an Easter basket in one hand and a baseball glove in the other. Apparenty I wasn’t willing to empty myself completely, but I did try. In the above Scripture, Paul declares the very nature of Jesus Christ, who possesses the image, likeness and glory of God, fulfilling a prophecy by emptying himself to become a servant to all humankind. God did not use nature or divine power to manipulate an advantage over creation but instead became clothed in humility to such a degree that Jesus, God in the flesh, allowed people to spit on him, abuse him, condemn him, deny him, and ultimately kill him. The resurrection was the ultimate servant sacrifice by the very God who was also the Creator of life. Jesus didn’t empty something from himself; instead he emptied himself from something…the very essence of God. I read an article highlighting how the Bible opens with the creation story that describes a loving God who cares for all creation while holding a special love for Adam and Eve. Then the article reflects summations’ of how the rest of the Bible is the story of God orchestrating arrangements through the flesh of the Son, Jesus, to serve the world. From the beginning into eternity, God has always and will always serve the world and all who are in it. PRAYER Creator, Servant, God who devotedly loves ALL creation, fill us with profound humility so we can genuinely reflect your self-giving heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Donna Jackson
READING Blessed Words Antiphon for the Holy Spirit BY HILDEGARD OF BINGEN TRANSLATED BY BARBARA NEWMAN The Spirit of God is a life that bestows life, root of world-tree and wind in its boughs. Scrubbing out sin, she rubs oil into wounds. She is glistening life alluring all praise, all-awakening, all-resurrecting. WORDS OF HOPE Hildegard of Bingen is one of those people who is on my list of historical figures I would like to have met. She lived in the 1100s, was the Mother Superior in her monastery, was a scientist, a theologian, a composer, and a preacher. She’s also credited with having written the oldest surviving morality play. And as the above quotation shows us, she was a poet. This was a period of time when women were very much treated as inferior as much as in any period of history. For her to have accomplished all the things she did against great odds, is amazing to me. She was known to have visions. And she believes she had been instructed by God in one vision to record her visions. Being a woman in that age, she was hesitant to do so. Eventually, she was given dispensation by the Pope to record her visions as revelations of the Holy Spirit. I can personally say I really love and appreciate this poem of Hildegard. It is for me, one of the best understandings of the spirit of God. It clearly states what the spirit of God is and does in a simple yet deep manner. For me, it is an exceptional piece to read and contemplate in those moments when I need some quiet reflection on the power of God and the power of God’s Spirit. I invite you to take a moment with this inspired work and to consider the working of God’s spirit in your life. PRAYER Spirit of God be with me as I go through me days. Awaken me. Resurrect me. Bring me life and life abundant. DEVOTION AUTHOR Weber Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.
SCRIPTURE Matthew 9:27-31 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you have faith that I can do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith, let it be done to you.” And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, “See that no one knows of this.” But they went away and spread the news about him through all that district. WORDS OF HOPE I like this story because it shows a little of Jesus humility and a lot of his followers humanity. Jesus tells the blind men that their faith has healed them and then admonishes them not to tell anyone about what happened. Immediately they go off and spread the word. That’s a very human thing to do. They wanted to share the event that changed their lives in such a profound manner. I would expect it since everyone they knew had seen them as blind and suddenly they could see. Curiosity would lead to questions and by answering they do exactly what Jesus tells them not to do. Jesus on the other hand takes no credit for the miracle. He attributes it to their faith and wants no credit for it. Humility, part of what makes Jesus so interesting. His main concern is spreading the message and not glorifying himself. The miracle in this story is not the important message to me; it is Jesus humility and his understanding of the humanity of his followers. Perhaps the writer of this gospel was trying to convey that to his audience, Jews. Having been raised a Jew myself, I think I sometimes hear Matthew’s words differently than a gentile audience. Matthew refers to “The kingdom of heaven” not the “kingdom of God” since God’s name is revered and is not used in Jewish texts. Adonai, Hashem, Yhwh, and Elohim are used in Hebrew texts as place holders for different aspects of God. Jesus in this story also becomes an aspect of God’s powers, but he doesn’t name it and insists it not be spoken. Maybe that should be enough for us. To know Jesus is bringing God’s message, one that is so profound that it really cannot be put into words without minimizing it and stealing the power from it. Sometimes it is what is not said in the scriptures that speaks volumes about the true power of the divine. PRAYER May we open our eyes to see the Divine in ways we never expected. May the words and actions of Jesus be signposts on our journey of faith. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman
SCRIPTURE Colossians 1.9-14 Because of this, since the day we heard about you, we haven’t stopped praying for you and asking for you to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. We’re praying this so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way: by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God; by being strengthened through his glorious might so that you endure everything and have patience; and by giving thanks with joy to the Father. He made it so you could take part in the inheritance, in light granted to God’s holy people. He rescued us from the control of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. He set us free through the Son and forgave our sins. WORDS OF HOPE In her book High Functioning, Dr. Judith Joseph defines high-functioning depression as a trauma response that can lead to a lack of joy and sacrificing our well-being for others. Have you ever approached work, relationships, or faith this way—being productive on the outside while suffering on the inside? If so, you’re not alone. On most days, I struggle with the sadness that comes from overworking and overcommitting. Today’s Scripture reminds us that God’s love has already rescued us from every darkness, and freedom can be available in any moment. Saint Patrick is a wonderful example. He was sold into slavery as a teenager and forced to work as a shepherd in isolated, often dangerous conditions. In the face of such great trauma, Saint Patrick committed to a life of faith. He went on to escape his enslavers and bring Christianity to all of Ireland. Imagine what could be possible for you if you allow yourself to be filled with all of God’s “ and spiritual understanding.” When I’ feeling sad, I try to take a deep breath and remember that I’ a dynamic expression of God’ love. Then, I focus on something small I can do to reclaim my joy, like making an omelette, taking a hot shower, or reaching out to my therapist. Just as Patrick found God in the quiet of a sheep pasture, we often find God in the simple act of choosing our own well-being over the world's expectations. PRAYER Dear God, thank you for providing all the love I need to break every chain. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Logan Alexander Johnson
SCRIPTURE Psalm 42:11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. WORDS OF HOPE Does your soul ever feel ‘flat’? Do you feel like going to worship is just going through the motions? Does it seem like prayers evaporate before they even reach the ceiling? Do you long for a time when you felt close to God, but now, not so much? Spiritual dryness can feel unsettling. And we naturally wonder: Have I done something wrong? Has God withdrawn? The psalmist knows this path. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” Thirst, by definition, means something is missing, but it doesn’t mean we’re spiritually dead. Like the psalmist, what we may have a deeper longing – a truer desire for God that is not emotional and excitable. Something that is more tangible and less about a feeling. In these times, faith needs to shift from feeling to trust. We read scripture (and listen to devotionals) not necessarily because it thrills us, but we believe God still speaks. We gather in worship not because we are filled with joy, but because we have an empty tank. We pray not because it feels powerful, but because we weakly believe that God is faithful. When Isaiah told us that God pours water on thirsty land, note that She didn’t scold the dryness. She met it with water. He didn’t curse the desert; he sent the rain. These times can deplete energy and cause doubt. They can dry up the soul and steal joy. When you find yourself spiritually dry, stay rooted in simple rhythms of brief, honest prayer. In fact, you don’t even have to use words at all… just sit in silence. Lean on the faith of the community, when your own faith feels evaporated. Find the awe and wonder of sunrises, hands that heal, pets that show up at just the right time. MEDITATION Dry seasons often deepen roots. When the rain finally comes, growth is stronger and more resilient. DEVOTION AUTHOR Thomas Riggs Persistent and loving Savior, when my soul feels dry and distant, remind me that you are still near. Give me patience in the drought and hope for the rain. Teach me to trust you not only in abundance but also in emptiness. Pour your living water into the cracked places of my heart. Amen.
SCRIPTURE Philippians 3:7-9 (The Message) “ The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.” WORDS OF HOPE Winners, Losers, and Jesus Followers If you were given the choice of being a winner or a loser, without any other defining explanation you would likely choose being a winner. Don’t most people want to win, be successful, accomplish something that others might cheer? What if you were given the choice of being positive or negative? Positive is where it’s at, right? Who wants to be a negative person? Now what if the context of those choices were framed differently. For example, if I am taking a blood test to determine if I have cancer, wouldn’t I desire a negative result? I positively would! What if my teenager’s cheerleading team wins a drawing to determine who will be the first to perform before judges at state competition? Typically, drawing the number one position is least favored, as the judges tend to more keenly remember the later performances when scoring so many teams. In this case, being first is the losing choice. Ultimately, life is less about winning or losing but rather about perspective. We can choose to be success-driven and judge our happiness by whether or not we are successful. But who measures success? Public opinion? Our own perception? Whoever is keeping score? The best standard, from my point of view, is to strive to follow Jesus. What are the qualities to strive for? Love and compassion, wisdom and grace, generosity and sharing, boundaries and self-care, sacrifice and commitment, devotion and abiding faith. These things along with hope and promise yield serenity and fulfillment. Such is the nature of a life that chooses not to dwell on winning, losing, or human approval but on delighting in what is truly transcendent. PRAYER Redeeming God, save me from myself, my petty priorities, and my need for other’s approval. May I instead delight in love, compassion and all things truly transcendent. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley Pastoral Psychotherapist DrGK.org