Tuesday - December 17 2024

Weber Baker

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 market-place 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 Man 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


Often times, when I read the Bible I do not “get it”. A passage I am reading may not speak to me at that moment. But then I reread the passage and encounter something at another time and it speaks to me. The first part of this passage is like that. It never seemed to mean much to me. But as I read it now it speaks.


The children calling to each other remind me so much now of the way things seem to be in our society. These children seek recognition. They want acknowledgement for what they have done. They expect their actions will produce a desired result. “We played the flute for you, and you didn’t dance”. They didn’t ask if their peers wanted to dance or even to hear music. They just expected everyone should have stopped and been moved.


I almost wonder if the wailing they did was in frustration of not having attention paid to them. Children can be known to do that sort of thing. But here, Jesus is telling an adult audience they are acting like children.


But then Jesus talks about the reaction to John and himself. It’s hard to call what Jesus is referring to as anything but hypocrisy. He points out that John has come as an aesthetic. He eats no bread he drinks no wine. He eats whatever he encounters (locusts?). And he’s accused of being possessed. Jesus comes along acting in a fairly conventional manner, eating, and drinking, like everyone else, and he’s accused of being a glutton.


In addition to that he’s accused of hanging around with tax collectors and sinners. And from what we know of Jesus, this is probably an accurate statement. Because those are the people who most need his message.


Jesus is essentially saying you can’t have it both ways. You can’t say that John is possessed by a demon because of the way he dresses and acts. You can’t say Jesus is a gluten because of the way he dresses and acts just because those two things are the opposite ends of the spectrum. Not everyone is going to fit into your middle of the road concept.


From the description, there’s no doubt that John does not fit in with a society around him. And while it may not be evident in this passage, neither does Jesus. While he spends time with those who would be considered outcasts, he also spends time with the “upper crust”. In the passage that immediately follows this one, Jesus has dinner at the house of a Pharisee. But all the while Jesus is presenting a message that does not fit what many of the Jewish community would be the one that comes from the Messiah. Many expected a strong military leader; not unreasonable, given both the history of Israel and the history of Rome.


So, in thinking about it, I came to realize that there is actually a connection between these two passages. And all of it has to do with attention. The children in the street were playing the flute and nobody‘s dancing. They want attention. The people who are attacking John from one end and Jesus from the other are doing so I think because they don’t like the attention being pulled away.


While this may seem to be a passage about hypocrisy and judging people based on appearance and lifestyle; I wonder if what Jesus is really talking about here is jealousy. The people who are complaining about him and John are basically jealous that these two people are drawing the attention of the crowds, of the Pharisees, of everyone. They failed to recognize that the message of both are messages for all.


PRAYER


Great Creator, we look to see your spirit that resides in all people, regardless of whether they act or look as we expect. Help us to understand that we, too no doubt appear strange to someone; but we are all the same in your enveloping love.


DEVOTION AUTHOR


Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare


Need More Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions

Thursday - December 18, 2025

By Donna Jackson • December 18, 2025
SCRIPTURE Luke 1:38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. WORDS OF HOPE She said yes!! These are words we usually hear from an engagement proposal and in this circumstance, it was Mary, who out of complete blind faith, said “YES” to Gods call. Mary, an ordinary girl, planning a wedding with her fiancé, took a huge leap of faith, trusting Gods word when it was the most uncomfortable. She responded to the angel, “let it be according to your word” then a messenger appeared with the news, and she agreed to have a child that would literally change the course of mankind. She had unwavering faith in a God she had never seen yet knew the moment she leaned into that faith; all would be well. I personally believe I have faith, I say I practice faith and assure others walking in faith is the ultimate connection to God. Yet Mary’s faith is a stark contrast to anything I could ever imagine. Mary simply “believed God” and that was enough for her. She was an ordinary woman who set her heart toward godly purpose. God’s Word became more important than her comfort, more powerful than doubt, ridicule, shame, or loneliness. Mary’s unwavering faith continued when there was no place to give birth, bright stars lit up the skies and kings showed up to worship the child with gifts of gold. Little did she know her faith would take a different course at the eventual sacrifice of this child’s life. The theory of faith is easy to follow, while living in faith is challenging. Surrendering to live as a vessel for God, holding onto an unbelievable promise, no matter what the outcome, is the ultimate expression of faith. It points out that our purpose is to be filled by a divine power that will enable us to carry out God's plans and be conduits spreading Gods love. It’s so awe-inspiring to know a self-sufficient God would deliberately choose us to serve. PRAYER God, just like Mary, teach us to trust in you when we least understand, believing the blessing will ultimately overshadow the cost. In Jesus name. Amen  DEVOTION AUTHOR Donna Jackson

Wednesday - December 17, 2025

By Hardy Haberman • December 17, 2025
READING Zechariah 8:16-17 These are the things that you shall do: speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace, do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these are things that I hate, says the Lord.” WORDS OF HOPE The Prophet Zechariah is speaking to the people of Israel and about God’s promise to restore Jerusalem. It is something many of the Old Testament prophets speak of, Rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem and a return to the glory days of that city. He also gives some advice for people and it’s very similar to the advice given by Jesus. He admonishes people to seek justice, speak truth and make peace. A very simple message with a very simple goal. It’s the same goal and advice we receive from the Ten Commandments and considering Jesus was a Jew it’s not surprising that his teachings were similar. Essentially these words offer a framework for living a good life and creating a healthy community. They are words that are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. Perhaps if we took this to heart we could really bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. PRAYER May we listen to the words of the prophets and take their advice for living a good life to heart. In that way, may we find peace, happiness and abundant life. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - December 16, 2025

By Weber Baker • December 16, 2025
SCRIPTURE  Jude 17-25 But you, beloved, must remember the words previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, for they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.” It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies. Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. WORDS OF HOPE If ever there was a set of instructions for being a Christian, there is no doubt in my mind that this part of the epistle of Jude would be included. What stands out to me? It’s their somewhat simple direct instruction on how to deal with having mercy. There is a reflection of the prayer, we call the Our Father. In that prayer, it says, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. In this passage, we are told to look forward to the mercy of Jesus when he comes and have mercy to others. Specifically hear the mercy is to be shown, it seems, to those who are having trouble accepting or understanding Jesus‘ message. And all of this opens with a warning about those who will not listen to the message at all and who scoff and cause the division. The epistle of Jude was not written specifically to any one group as were, for example the letters to the Romans or the Galatians. And as such, it is not geared towards any specific issue or a problem that one group of Christians is having. It is meant to build up all Christians. The last part of this letter which is the last of the entire epistle, is referred to as a doxology. A small, short prayer praising God. For me, it is one of those verses from the Bible that is short, to the point, and makes an excellent focal point for meditating on the word. PRAYER Merciful Savior. We revel in your mercy and we live in your forgiveness. Help to keep us from falling; help to remove the blemishes of sin that we might have so that we can indeed be in the presence of your glory with rejoicing Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Weber Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Monday - December 15, 2025

By Thomas Riggs • December 15, 2025
SCRIPTURE  Acts 5:14-15 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. WORDS OF HOPE Buried within this story from Acts chapter five is a quiet, extraordinary beauty—a hidden gem of Scripture that invites us to pause, reflect, and discover the deeper wonders often overlooked. The stories of ‘signs and wonders’ being done had made Peter and the other apostles popular among the people. The positivity of their ministry and their miraculous acts not only made them visible but brought others into their community of believers. And so moved by the stories and rumors of healing, people carried out their loved ones to the street, hoping that Peter’s mere shadow would pass over them. In Hebrew thought, the “shadow” can represent the presence of someone powerful and sacred. Just as touching a high priest’s robe or other objects could mediate God’s blessing, so too the shadow symbolized an indirect contact with holiness and healing. Such extraordinary faith in the blessings passed down through human agents gave hope and healing in a hopeless and sick world. The apostles, being the conduits of God’s blessings, confirmed that the message of Jesus was true. It was the combination of God’s power and the faith of the people that brought such blessing to ones who so desperately needed it. All from a mere shadow. As you hear and digest this hidden truth, think about the people around you and even the chance people whom you will pass along the way. People and situations that so much need a shadow to pass by. Just as Peter’s shadow was a conduit for God, our very lives, actions, and witness can channel God’s blessings to others when aligned with Him. A person known to me refuses to let their feet hit the floor before they are done praying for the loved ones in their lives and for the places in which they will find themselves that day. Then, they move gracefully through the day, being ever more keenly aware of how their ‘shadow’ is bringing love, peace, healing, and blessing. How can our shadows bring healing this day? How can we be a channel of blessing today? PRAYER Lord, May our lives, like the Apostles’ shadows, carry Your presence, healing, and blessing to those around us. Help us walk today with faith, bringing comfort, hope, and Your love in every step. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Thomas Riggs

Friday - December 12, 2025

By Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley • December 12, 2025
SCRIPTURE Psalm 25:1-5 (New English Translation) O LORD, I come before you in prayer. My God, I trust in you. Please do not let me be humiliated; do not let my enemies triumphantly rejoice over me. Certainly none who rely on you will be humiliated. Those who deal in treachery will be thwarted and humiliated. Make me understand your ways, O LORD. Teach me your paths. Guide me into your truth and teach me. For you are the God who delivers me; on you I rely all day long. WORDS OF HOPE “Which One Are You?” It was simply a loving mother and her teenage daughter who were taking a drive to the big city, but it was a trip that would be life changing. They lived in a small, East Texas town, and were driving to Dallas so that the daughter could participate in a group for transgender youth sponsored by Resource Center Dallas. The Resource Center supports LGBTQIA+ people with safe places, friendly faces, supportive programs, healthcare, and housing. The daughter was transgender. Transgender persons are our neighbors, siblings, teachers, athletes, first responders, clergy, physicians, soldiers, artists, laborers and other everyday people whose physical gender differs from their own gender identity and experience. They live, laugh, dream and cry as do most any human. And like most human beings, they long for acceptance, understanding, respect, and to be treated equally and fairly. Bullies and closed-minded people are their greatest threat. Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggemann was a beloved pastor, esteemed Bible scholar, prolific author, and a prophetic voice. He wrote the devotional book, “Celebrating Abundance,” that we read for Advent last year here at Cathedral of Hope. In it he quoted from Psalm 25 and observed that there are three kinds of people: Those who know too much. Those who expect nothing. And those who know what to expect but do not know when. Those who know too much are consumed with shaping the world in their preferred image. For them, things should be according to their narrow norm and in compliance with their religious beliefs. Anyone who looks, thinks, behaves or believes differently than their definition of “normal” is to be stifled, suppressed or, better yet, considered invisible and eliminated. Brueggemann writes: “They know too much and reduce God’s freedom to the timetable of their ideology.” [p. 36] Those who expect nothing are comfortable in their own ideas and affluence. They do not expect the Gospel to be made real and are simply annoyed by those spouting timetables or rigid expectations and requirements for salvation. Then there are those who know what to expect but do not know when. They know from the teachings of Jesus that love of neighbor is the core of the Gospel, and apart from that we cannot truly love God or follow in the path of Christ to bring about a just society (the realm of God). They know this is true, but don’t know when it will be realized. So, this Advent, we live and act with the abundance of God’s Grace, the mercy of God’s love, and the hopeful expectancy that Christ brought into the world. Christmas is coming and it is more than a day to be celebrated, but a reality to model and live into for all the world to see. PRAYER Come, Holy Spirit, and so touch the hearts and lives of both doubters and believers that justice may roll down like waters, and abundant grace might wash away our scarcity of thinking, living, loving and sharing. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley Pastoral Psychotherapist drgk.org

Thursday - December 11, 2025

By Dr. Pat Saxon • December 11, 2025
READING “Let every heart prepare him room.” (“Joy to the World”)  WORDS OF HOPE When someone dear, someone treasured is coming to visit, excitement leaps in my chest. Memories come unbidden--of times we’ve spent showered in nature’s glory, leaning into intimate conversation and laughter across meals or on road trips or settled into couches while stroking well-loved animals, memories too of faithful companionship in sickness and loss. Waves of gratitude wash the shores of my heart. I stock the fridge with food and clean the house, though anyone who knows me is used to being “rolled” for dog hair before leaving. The scent of balsam and cedar fill the air and bright flowers rest in small vases on bedside tables. Now the waiting begins. The tender- hearted waiting. So how can we prepare—especially in this season of frenzied activity-- for the most treasured guest of all, for the Christ who is born in us? The line from “Joy to the World” gives one direction: Let every heart prepare him room. Thomas Merton would invite us into a contemplative spiritual practice which includes solitude and silence, a “prayer of silence, simplicity, contemplative and meditative unity, a deep personal integration in an attentive, watchful listening of the heart.” In a world where we are deluged by words and images, it can be unsettling at first to release our dependence on this input, but, ultimately, it clears the way for the voice of Love. According to Archbishop Oscar Romero (may his memory be a blessing), a certain kind of inner disposition opens us to Advent birth: to experience our poverty, our need and longing for God. If we are so full—of ourselves and/or the world’s privilege—it is difficult to acknowledge our need and therefore make room for Christ. Isolating self-sufficiency, vanity, and pride all inhibit the holy growth.* Perhaps the simplest way of all to prepare him room is to earnestly call out to him, cry out for him--as people have done for centuries: Come, Lord Jesus, Come—or to sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. This spiritual “pedagogy” allows us to slow down enough to ponder what is really important and to settle into who deep down we are called to be—the divine Christ-self to be offered in service to the world. PRAYER God of Advent, make our hearts your Bethlehem. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dr Pat Saxon *(From Romero’s homily for his Advent Mass, December, 1978)
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