Tuesday - February 11, 2025

Kris Baker

READING


The courage to be brave when it matters most requires a lifetime of small decisions that set us on a path of self-awareness, attentiveness, and willingness to risk failure for what we believe is right. It is also a profoundly spiritual experience, one in which we feel a part of something larger than ourselves. And guided, somehow, by a larger Spirit at work in the world and in us. Decisive moments make believers out of everyone, for no matter what name we give to it, the inexplicable, unmerited experience of power greater than our own working through us is real. -Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde

 

WORDS OF HOPE

 

This morning as I was scrambling eggs for breakfast, admittedly coming to the task on autopilot rather than from a place of gratitude, I reached for the spice jar, one that is always on the counter in the same place by the stove. As I unscrewed the lid, something I have done many, many times, the name on the label jumped out at me like I was seeing it for the very first time…Outrage of Love, from Penzey’s Spices. Why today? Why did I need to know on this particular morning that I was starting my day by sprinkling “outrage of love” on my eggs?

 

Though I have used this spice blend for a while, I had no idea what was actually in it, so I read the label more closely. Outrage of Love contains salt, black pepper, citric acid, shallots, lemon peel, white pepper, garlic, and green onion. That explains why it makes my eggs taste so good, but why do those things in combination deserve the lofty name, Outrage of Love?

 

I started thinking about the individual spices contained in this blend and the symbolism of each.

 

Salt symbolizes preservation, purity, loyalty, as well as enduring covenants. When Jesus tells the disciples that they are “the salt of the earth,” he is telling them that they are to preserve the goodness in the world, to be love in the world. In the Gospels of both Mark and Luke, Jesus also says, “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?” He is using this metaphor as a teachable moment for the disciples. If the going gets tough and your loyalty, your love wanes, how do you restore it? Jesus shows here that love can be tough and it takes courage, and perhaps a little outrage, to restore and sustain what may have been taken for granted.

 

Shallots, onions, and garlic are associated with good things like health, strength, good fortune, and protection. Certainly, loving amidst all good things seems easy, but what happens when we are called to love when we don’t feel strong or protected? In Numbers 11:5, the Israelites comment, “We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.” They are wandering in the wilderness with only manna to eat, remembering the good taste of the food that they consumed in Egypt. But, they are forgetting that they were slaves there and are now being led to freedom. In their minds, the immediacy of good tasting food seems more important than the long-term goal of being freed from captivity. This is also a story about being outraged enough “to fight the good fight.” 

 

It is easy to get caught up in the here and now of love, but our courage to love is tested when “it doesn’t taste good,” when we are wandering in the wilderness, when we lose sight of why we love. Again, courage and outrage are needed to keep going, to persevere through the challenging times those inevitable times in the wilderness.

 

Though black and white pepper and lemon peel have no Biblical references, they do each carry some symbolism. Pepper can be symbolic of worldly things, sin, temptation and distraction. Though we may not want to admit it, these things do inform our ability to love at times. Lemon is associated with love and longevity.  Bring on the lemonade!

 

For me, it is more like bring on the scrambled eggs.

 

To actively love as Jesus calls us to do requires that we navigate many different circumstances, a lot of them quite difficult. Love is not easy. Loving is even harder. Amidst the hatred, injustice, and chaos of our current times, a healthy sprinkling of Outrage of Love may be the only thing that helps us to survive. Isn’t that how Jesus made his way in the world? 

 

We fail as Christ-followers when we give up and are no longer outraged by the injustice in the world. When we walk with our Jesus, we are made strong; our hearts are filled with a perfect love. We must continue to be outraged by the ugliness that surrounds us while we also work diligently to fill the world with the kind of love that Jesus exemplified. Our outrage must sustain us until justice and peace extend to every corner of God’s creation.

 

Seasoning my eggs with Outrage of Love this morning was “a small decision” that set me “on a path of self-awareness, attentiveness, and willingness to risk failure for what I believe is right.” Today I thought deeply about what it means to be filled with the outrage of love - love for family, stranger, our physical world…and enemies. Now, each time I pick up that bottle of spice, I will be reminded again and again to go about my day filled with the outrage of love. More importantly, I will walk out into the world nourished with a healthy serving of outrage and the belief that I am a part of something larger than myself and am being guided, somehow, by a larger Spirit at work in the world and in me.

 

PRAYER

God whose spirit is at work in each of us, help me to feel and use the positive power of my outrage to be the change this world needs, to be a bearer of hope, joy, love, and peace. Amen

 

DEVOTION AUTHOR



Kris Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Need More Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions

Friday - November 7, 2025

By Thomas Riggs • November 7, 2025
SCRIPTURE Jeremiah 2:8  The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols. WORDS OF HOPE There’s a certain kind of rejection that feels more painful, more insidious than others. It’s the kind of rejection that occurs when you pour yourself out for someone and they take advantage of your kindness. It’s that moment where you realize the love and care that you showed in their hard times was selfishly forgotten when things got better for them. God speaks to this deep ache of being a forgotten friend. Being brought of out slavery, through the wilderness, and into a promised land of abundance, God’s people became so accustomed to comfort that they forgot to ask, “Where is the Lord?”. Their hardened hearts wandered, and they sought meaning and security in things that could not sustain them. They chased after empty things and became empty themselves. And God ached for them. How often do we go through the motions of faith and forget to ask, “Where is the Lord in this?” In worship, service, and ministry, we can become so focused on managing outcomes, maintaining institutions, and following our own plans. And yet, God calls us to return, to be grateful, to be humble, and to trust in Her. Jeremiah’s words caution us against finding our worth and security in our own plans—trusting in ourselves or in idols that hold no power. Yet they also extend an invitation: to seek the Lord again and again, not by clinging to the past, but through a renewed and living trust. We are called to release what cannot give life and to place our full confidence in the One who can. Let us pray. PRAYER You are always faithful and loving, Lord Christ, giving gifts even and especially when we need you most. Forgive me when I forget to ask “Where are YOU in this?”. Call me back to your company. Let my work, my worship, and life be a reflection of the abundance that you have given me. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Thomas Riggs

Thursday - November 6, 2025

By Jonathon McClallan • November 6, 2025
SCRIPTURE  Joel 2. 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. WORDS OF HOPE We sleep at night not knowing the journey our soul is making. Usually, we do not remember our dreams. Sometimes, however, we remember in the morning what was happening underneath the cover of darkness we call the night. We plant seeds deep into the dirt not knowing which direction the roots grow. When we dig, we discover the countless roots that lie hidden underground spanning all directions. If there is anything the darkness of the night or the depth of the Earth has taught me, it is that sleeping things move and buried things grow. To put it another way: progress is not limited by what we can see. Sometimes, the world seems to be in an endless night of sorrow buried in its own despair. Nevertheless, as each day passes, the next generation is coming closer and closer to inheriting this Earth. Everything that we have planted, the good and the bad, is going to bear fruit to the future. Bitter and sweet fruits are sure to grow according to what has been planted, but I trust that the sweet fruit will always be preferred over the bitter. We always desire for our children to have better, to live better. In this way, each generation that comes into its own leaves behind the promise for a better future. It was not even a hundred years ago that a gay, black man who struggles with mental illness would not have had the simple opportunity of writing these words, but here I am, the fruit of my foremothers and forefathers. I am proof of their progress despite centuries of injustice, cruelty, and evil. Our children are the evidence that what prevails in this world are our collective hopes and dreams. Like those who came before us, we must give our children everything, all of our love, and anything worth passing onto the future. We must demonstrate our love by believing in our children, for they are the greatest part of us. PRAYER Spirit of hope, It is often that we are so limited by what we can see. Despite that, allow our hopes and dreams to go beyond every barrier and obstacle set before us. Grant us the simple joy of leaving behind what we ourselves have inherited, this thing called love. We trust You, although we do not see You and we love You even when we are buried in the night. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Jonathon McClellan Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - November 5, 2025

By Hardy Haberman • November 5, 2025
READING “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ” . . . “If it weren’t for Christians, I’d be a Christian.” Quote attributed to Gandhi.  WORDS OF HOPE Long before I converted to Christianity, I read a lot of Eastern philosophy. Among the books I read was “Gandhi on Christianity” a collection of essays and writings from him about the Christians he came to know. I also read a good deal of work by Thomas Merton, an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, and scholar of comparative religion. He was a monk in the Trappist Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, near Bardstown, Kentucky. His books gave me insight into the Eastern religions and how they all seemed to have similarities. Having come from a Jewish upbringing, a lot of what religions like Taoism, Buddhism and others taught felt surprisingly familiar in their views of the Divine and more specifically how to achieve enlightenment and live a good life. When I examined the teachings of Jesus, I found much the same thing. It seems that great thinkers, prophets and teachers all grasped that bringing heaven to earth was not a magical thing, rather the product of contemplation followed by doing the actual work. Jesus tells us this over and over and His message resonated with me enough that I decided to follow His way. Perhaps, if more people who professed to be Christians actually followed Jesus we would have a better world. The divisions we perceive between various religions are minor when we look at their essence. PRAYER Great Divine Power, help us to find a way to your love and strength to do the work to bring heaven on earth. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman

Monday - November 3, 2025

By Dan Peeler • November 3, 2025
SCRIPTURE Mark 6.47-51 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately, he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. WORDS OF HOPE Following the life of Jesus, Mark continually reports the most remarkable of events in the most casual of ways. He writes in succinct news reporter terms, sharing only the facts without commentary. He would never be able to find a job on the legacy networks today. His favorite word is “immediately”, never troubling us with superfluous details. Mark just reports the news. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus notices the disciples’ difficulty with the oars. Later, he casually walks on the water to check out the situation and is about to stroll on by when he hears cries of fear from the boat. We are informed that the men are believers in ghosts, which heightens their fear, so “immediately” Jesus calms the situation down, first his friends and then the storm. Mark concludes that the astounded boat crew does not have any spiritual understanding of who Jesus was or what had happened. Earlier that day, they had witnessed Jesus feeding thousands of hungry people from a basket of bread and fish. They readily believed that the apparition on the lake was a ghost but, were unable to accept the conspicuous fact that they were in the presence of God. Their hearts were hardened. Are our hearts hardened these days? Are we so numbed by sensationalized news or political partisan rhetoric that it will take a storm to wake us up to the presence of God in our lives? If this story teaches us anything, it is that God is ever present, always aware, hears our cries, and then moves as God moves. Mark, in his succinct accounts, never gives us a formula for gaining immediate access to God. He simply states that in any situation, God is always there beside us. The rest of the story is up to us. And that’s the way it is. Mark’s news reporting at its best.  PRAYER Ever present God, you have stilled countless storms in our lives. Please help us to remember that you will always be there beside us for the next one. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Dan Peeler Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - October 31, 2025

By Charlie C. Rose • October 31, 2025
SCRIPTURE Matthew 19.14 But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'" WORDS OF HOPE Do you have any favorite Halloween memories? Growing up, I knew from shopping with Mom, when Halloween was approaching. We’d see all the latest costumes fresh on the racks. The big names were Batman and Superman for the boys, then Batgirl and Supergirl for the girls, if you wanted to be a superhero. The littler kids could be Casper the ghost, or maybe a Smurf. Then there were the usual suspects of a witch, gypsy, hobo, or vampire. I remember one year I got the mask for Frankenstein’s monster; no pullover costume that would have been labeled “Universal’s Frankenstein’s Monster” just the mask so we could make the costume at home. A few of my friends grew up in super conservative Christian homes. Their churches had Halloween parties labeled Fall Festivals and they had to dress as their favorite Bible character. No ghosts or witches allowed! They might be sent out as Jesus or maybe Samson. God knows they could have raked in the candy if they thought about calling the mummy costume Lazarus. Then they could also have trick-or-treated in the real world, too. How sad for those kids whose parents weren’t well-versed enough in their Bible knowledge to know the Good Book talks about the Witch of Endor and the Ghost of Samuel. Even Jesus’ disciples believed in ghosts, since they first thought Jesus was one when they saw him walking on water. Then real horror began to strike door to door trick or treaters as sick adults began to put pepper or drugs in candy, and many of the more caring churches, like Cathedral of Hope, began to sponsor Trunk or Treat and supervise the source of the candy. (And no restrictions allowing Bible character costumes only.) Halloween parking lot events are often scheduled in full daylight. Sort of takes a lot of the spooky magic away, but safety is the prime directive. But modern kids will never know what we had back then. Halloween was cool. And most of the neighbors knew each other. There were incentives to creatively dressing up if you wanted to get the best candy! Halloween was earned and every Bit-O-Honey and Tootsie Roll you got were the fair wages of participating in ghoulish delight. Halloween adventures and costumes are still some of my best childhood memories. I hope children now will have wonderful Trunk or Treat memories as well. Anway, Happy Halloween! PRAYER Creator God, thank you for giving us imaginations and the incentive to use them. Thank you for opportunities to enrich the lives of children and be part in creating a few positive childhood memories. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Charlie C. Rose  Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - October 30, 2025

By Donald (Luke) Day • October 30, 2025
READING An ancient Church Doxology Glory to God our Creator, Glory to Jesus, Revealer of the Divine, Redeemer and Lord, and Glory to God's Spirit, indwelling, enabling and sustaining. WORDS OF HOPE Today’s meditative reading emphasizes some of the characteristics of the three Divine manifestations of the Trinity (Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit). It makes us more conscious of their significance whenever we say this or a similar doxology with prayers or hymns. In fact, if we add it at the beginnings and at the ends of our prayers each day. It represents a wonderful way to clear our minds before we proceed with whatever is on our minds to speak to God about in our meditative times. It’s a way to sustain our consciousness of the Divine One at the conclusion of prayer. Our God is indwelling, enabling and sustaining. "Amen", which means "be it so" to affirm your prayer statements, does not carry the same lasting impact of the holy which this doxology might. If we memorize these words of worship and use the doxology often, reviewing them aloud or silently, as we go through routine moments of life, it is a great way to "stay connected" to God even in busy times. As we say this doxology of divine praise, we should be conscious of what it really is - a hymn of praise! We should hang on to the thought of each word... savor each word like a good piece of Godiva chocolate, and get all of the sweetness out of it! Our God is indwelling, enabling and sustaining. PRAYER Thank you, God, for loving and giving us your help to be examples of your love to others. We acknowledge that you are our Maker, in whose Hand we are held, and in whose Presence we live. O God, may I obediently listen to your guiding voice. Glory to God, our Creator; Glory to Christ Jesus, Revealer of the Divine, Redeemer and Lord; Glory to the Holy Spirit, indwelling, enabling and sustaining. As it was in the beginning, is now and will be into eternity. Glory be to God! Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
More Posts