Tuesday - August 16, 2022
Kris Baker
READING
“Do you want to improve the world?
I don't think it can be done.
The world is sacred.
It can't be improved.
If you tamper with it, you'll ruin it.
If you treat it like an object, you'll lose it.
There is a time for being ahead,
a time for being behind;
a time for being in motion,
a time for being at rest;
a time for being vigorous,
a time for being exhausted;
a time for being safe,
a time for being in danger.
The Master sees things as they are,
without trying to control them.
She lets them go their own way,
and resides at the center of the circle.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
WORDS OF HOPE
There is no denying that this world in which we live feels crazy, confusing, and, at times, scary. Is this the same world that Lao Tzu speaks of as being sacred? Is it the same world that God made and then proclaimed, “It was very good…”?
I suspect that most of us have had days in the recent past where the alarm clock goes off in the morning and we wish that we could pull the covers over our head and not face whatever inevitable chaos is going to be thrown our way. Or, when we do put our feet to the floor and dare to brave the day, we are struck with an overwhelming desire to “do something” to make this place in which we live better, only to be knocked in the head by the realization that there is so much to be done and I am only one person. How do we see the sacredness, the holiness in each day?
We must make a conscious choice to respond, rather than react, to what this day has laid out before us.
What if rather than reacting by passing judgement on all of the glaring imperfections and failings of the day, we respond by accepting that this day is exactly as it is designed to be and
thus we respond to it with love and gratitude? This is not to say that we should overlook injustice, suffering, and desired change; but instead, acknowledge that these harsh realities do exist and we are choosing to see and respond to them with a Christ-like heart. We bring the all that we have and all that we are on this day, consciously leaving behind the “has beens” and avoiding focus on the “should- and could-bes.”
Living in the present moment, acknowledging what today brings, imperfections and all, gives us insight into who we truly are and helps us to see clearly and appreciate all that is around us. Being fully present to the now helps us to learn and grow and gives us wisdom to take with us on tomorrow’s journey. If we respond to each new day by choosing to make this day better, even if only in a seemingly small way, we are giving a perfect gift to others and to ourselves. And, we are doing what Jesus would do. It is through our faith that, even in the midst of all that feels troublesome, we are able to see infinite possibilities rather than overwhelming problems.
PRAYER
Divine Creator and Maker, open my heart and mind such that I may be fully present to what this day brings, even its imperfections. Help me to respond with love and gratitude towards others and myself. Amen.
DEVOTION AUTHOR
Kris Baker
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
Need More Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions
SCRIPTURE Genesis 1.1-4 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now, the earth was formless and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light. And there was light, and God saw that the light was good and separated the light from the darkness. WORDS OF HOPE Happy First Monday of Eastertide! “But”, you might say, “Easter was yesterday and the chocolate eggs are already gone.” That would be true, yet in the wisdom of our spiritual ancestors, the story of the Resurrection is too glorious to be concluded in just one day. We have a 40-Day Season of Easter ahead of us. After Christmas Day, we celebrated the 12-Day Season of Christmastide to reflect on Jesus’ birth, but the creators of the Church Calendar are giving us even more time to contemplate the world-changing events of the Redeemer’s sacrifice and resurrection. The forty days also coincide with the amount of time the risen Christ was among us before the Day of Ascension. It is no coincidence that today’s lectionary reading is the first nineteen verses of one of the Bible’s most beautiful examples of Hebrew poetry, the story of Creation. It begins the entire library of books we call the Hebrew Scriptures. The first four verses parallel the Christmas story of the coming of the Light to the world. Eastertide is the time of year to remember the Light of Christ could shine on the Disciples in physical presence at any random moment, even when they least expected it, at a meal, on a fishing trip, strolling down a road; never announced, always inspiring. Today, we have the opportunity to experience that Light, too; to experience the presence of Jesus, maybe through the eyes of a child, the greeting of a long-time friend, the prayers of a stranger on social media, the longing of a person in need. Remembering that we are in Eastertide can be our greatest motivation to be conscious of living out the Light of Christ ourselves for all those diverse neighbors of our lives. This 40-Day Season can serve as a warmup to being the physical presence of the love of Jesus in a season that never ends. PRAYER May the coming Days of the Easter Season transform each of us celebrate the Living Christ by enriching all the ones who surround us. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dan Peeler Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. WORDS OF HOPE Today is Good Friday, a day of reflection and gratitude for the ultimate act of love and sacrifice. When Jesus spent his last moment on the cross, he wasn’t looking for instant gratification he was fulfilling his sacrificial commitment to God. When the sacrifice was complete and not a second sooner, Jesus stayed the course, bowed his head and gave up his spirit. As a young girl in the 70s and 80s, I witnessed the give it to me "now" culture. Frozen TV dinners coupled with the introduction of microwaves meant my physical hunger could be satisfied immediately. We could cook an entire meal in literal minutes. Wasn’t the same as Mom’s home cooking, but it satisfied my immediate hunger. Cordless phones and instant photos from a camera helped build a generation where technology quickly filled our needs. Today, instant gratification has become a lifestyle! We are inundated with immeasurable amounts of data that can distribute our thoughts in a nanosecond to absolute strangers. Even modern medical treatments claim to cure our ailments quickly while credit cards give us everything with just a tap. So often we hear about folks being depressed if they only get a few likes on social media. As believers in Christ, we don’t need to worry about how many followers we have, we just need to make sure the one we are following is the inclusive God of everlasting life. Reading scripture and praying may lack instant results but we are always guaranteed a message we can embrace in the midst of a society that feeds us lies. Jesus laid his life on the line because we are loved, not because we are perfect, but because He is gracious. Next time you’re impatient to wait 3 minutes for food, stop and remember how Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice by hanging on the cross for 3 Days to become our eternal bread of life! PRAYER Thank you, God, for your sacrifice and for the time Jesus spent living out the promise of your love for the sake of ALL humankind. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Donna Jackson
SCRIPTURE Isaiah 41.10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. WORDS OF HOPE Never Alone; A Meditation for Maundy Thursday God is a companion more desirable than a million friends. It is better to be alone with God than it is to be surrounded with much company and no fellowship with the divine. God is the friend that never leaves you and never forsakes you. Who is a better friend than God? I have had many friends, and many times we parted ways because of our differences, but God will never abandon you. Why should I be lonely when I am not alone? God is everywhere. Where I am God is. God is with me on top of the mountain and is with me when I am in the lowest valley. In the shadow of death God is with me; therefore, I will not fear. No one can make you feel lonely without your consent. If you are convinced that you are alone it is because you agreed to the suggestion. Seek God and you will find your best friend. A person with a million friends has little remembrance of their need of God. I would rather be popular with God than be popular with much of humankind. This is not to say that companionship is not to be desired. Companionship is good. When we do good unto others it is as though we are doing it unto the Lord. Fellowship is not to be forsaken, and the opportunity is a precious gift from above. However, to have fellowship with God is far more desirable of an opportunity. To have a lot of company is a gift, but so too is isolation. Many friends bring much happiness. Isolation gives you the opportunity to sit down with the Hole One. Pray for understanding. Isolation is not a curse, but an opportunity. The love of God far surpasses romance. Intimacy with God develops when one is alone with God. The Lord’s love is the greatest love; therefore, choose God. PRAYER My God and dearest friend, Show us that You are here right next to us. Comfort us with Your words of love. Teach us wisdom and incline our hearts towards Your presence daily. Thank You for never leaving us. When I am aware of Your presence, all is well with my soul. Keep our eyes on You always. Bless You Lord for these gifts of time with You and companionship. We love You God. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Jonathon McClellan Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE John 13:21-26 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 close to his heart; 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. WORDS OF HOPE This scene is much more than a foreshadowing of Jesus’ betrayal, it gives an intimate glimpse into the personal lives of the disciples. It’s easy to imagine everyone sitting and in the case of one, reclining across Jesus’ lap, close to his chest. An intimate meal among very close friends and one that seems not only personal but sensual. I like knowing that Jesus and his chosen family were human. That they ate, drank and slept together as they traveled around teaching and healing. I find their humanness is what makes them believable, not the miracle stories, but the small impressions the gospel writers give. I believe in Jesus. I believe in his teachings and his words and his presence in my life. Had he not been depicted as a human, I would find the scriptures harder to believe. PRAYER Holy One, who gave us the prophets, who gave us your commandments, who brought Jesus into the world, I give you thanks. Without your word and Jesus, my life would be less filled with love and grace. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman
SCRIPTURE 2 Corinthians 2:15 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. WORDS OF HOPE On this Holy Tuesday, as Jesus made his words and presence known among every level of the population of Jerusalem, let’s consider the wisdom in this prayer by John Cardinal Newman: "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, O Jesus, 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 the love my heart and life bears for you. Amen" 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. The phrase that stays with me the most from this prayer is: "Dear Jesus, help me to spread your sweet fragrance everywhere I go." When I was a kid, we used a common phrase to describe another kid whom we disliked: "he's a stinker!" It may have become part of our vocabulary from the old Our Gang movies, in which one little nuisance boy was named Stinky. Have you ever wondered if your presence, words and actions within the group might be given a similar label? As we go about our life, we emit an emotional and “spiritual fragrance" which has an effect upon other people. Will it be good or "stinky"? All of us have known individuals whose fragrance spreads gloom, doubt, suspicion and gossip. However, a life filled with the Spirit of God has a very different fragrance. Each Christian is like a rose bush which God planted in the individual’s daily life. The loving life of Christ shines upon its leaves and urges each rosebud to open its petals wide to let the sweet scent of God's love perfume the whole garden area. I’m reminded of the words from 2 Corinthians 2:14-15; "But thanks be to God, who in Jesus Christ always leads us... and through us spreads in every place [we go] the sweet fragrance that comes from knowing Jesus. For we are the aroma of Christ among those” [with whom we have contact]. (II Corinthians 2:14-15) Will our aroma be one of kindness, forgiveness, love and acceptance which is the scent of God to a needy world? PRAYER “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 John 12:1-3 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. WORDS OF HOPE When you read the first 11 verses of the twelfth chapter of the Gospel of John, with whom do you identify? Who are you in this narrative? Are you Lazarus, recently raised from the dead by Jesus? One moment, you’ve experienced the pain of dying and the moment of death. The next moment, you’re home with your sisters, reclining at the table and eating food, things you thought you’d never experience again. Are you Martha, moving about the kitchen and the dining area? One moment, you’re grieving the loss of your brother and the loss of any status in the community. The next moment, you’re serving food to your once deceased brother, to your miraculous friend Jesus, and the rest of the men who are disciples of Jesus. Are you Mary, pouring a pint of your treasured perfume on the feet of Jesus, wiping his feet with your hair? One moment, you would give literally anything to have your brother back. The next moment, you’re so moved by gratitude and worship that you literally give everything you have to anoint the feet of the miraculous Savior. Are you Judas Iscariot, complaining that extravagance was literally poured on the rabbi? One moment, you are wondering if you’ve taken too much from the money bag for yourself instead of the poor. The next moment, you can’t imagine how much more could be in that bag of money, if it weren’t for that woman’s gratitude. Are you a member of the crowd, hoping to catch a glance of the itinerant and miraculous rabbi and the man whom he raised from the dead? Are you looking to see the miracle for yourself? Are you hoping for a miracle in your own life? Could the rabbi possibly do that for you? Are you one of the chief priests who feel ever more threatened by this Nazarene named Jesus? One moment, he’s a bothersome rabbi who is distracting the people from your selfish agenda. The next moment, he’s raising a man from dead and receiving a grateful anointing that you’ve never received? As you walk with Jesus during this Holy Week, find yourself in the story. Read about the people in the story and wonder if you don’t see your own life in theirs. Immerse yourself and see the Passion narrative in a new way. PRAYER Let us pray. From the Collect for Monday of Holy Week in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer: Almighty God, whose dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other that the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Thomas Riggs