Tuesday - November 8, 2022
Weber Baker
SCRIPTURE
Genesis 1:1-5
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness God called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
WORDS OF HOPE
Today is X-Ray day, the day celebrating the discovery of X-Rays in 1895 by William Röntgen. At the time no one knew what these electromagnetic waves were; hence “X” rays. When I read this, in that mysterious way, the mind works, I thought of the creation story.
I admit that I find personally that there is no way to take the Bible literally. However, that does not mean to me that the Bible does not contain truth, or that it is not wrapped in historical fact. I think a great deal of the Bible is metaphorical.
The passage above from the book of Genesis is to me a very good example of that metaphor. If you have ever had the chance to watch Neil DeGrasse Tyson talk about the Big Bang he says frankly that there is no knowledge, at present, of what went on before that event. I find a reading of Genesis is a reasonable, poetic, explanation of the big bang. That may seem a stretch. Here is my understanding.
Visible electromagnetic radiation, which we call light, is one portion of a much larger, electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared, ultraviolet, electricity, are all part of that electromagnetic spectrum. We cannot see them; we can only feel their effects; and in modern times, we can measure them and make them “visible“ in many ways.
But our ancestors, people of ancient times did not understand electromagnetic radiation. What they knew was light. The sun, the light of a fire, lightning, the glow of a forge, were what they knew. So, when they went about explaining creation, they had an instinctual, understanding that light, a form of electromagnetic radiation as we now know it, was basic to creation. Like Neil deGrasse Tyson, they had no idea what really came before. So, they envisioned a great void.
And then in their understanding, God said, “let there be light”. In our modern understanding we might hold God to the words “let there be electromagnetic, radiation”. I suspect such a thing would cause a really big bang.
So while I don’t think the book of Genesis gives us a scientific view of creation, or of evolution in the passages that follow, I think it gives a pretty good poetic, metaphorical summation. It does rely on the direct creation of everything and not the slow evolution that science presents. But it gives meaning to creation in terms that ancient people needed to feel secure.
So today I would like to suggest for your devotion time, that you look back on your Bible understanding in both Testaments and see if you can accept the metaphors without getting hung up on the literal explanations. I think you will find truth. I think you will find Hope. I think you’ll find much about the meaning of existence.
PRAYER
God of creation be close to us as we go through our day. Give us understanding of your words that lead us to know the why of our lives, and your creation so that we can live and love all creation, the way you do.
DEVOTION AUTHOR
Weber Baker
Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare
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SCRIPTURE Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. WORDS OF HOPE On this Friday, January 2nd, the celebrations are still not over for a lot of us since it begins a holiday weekend. But, the holidays are not always a happy time for so many people, but over the years, I have been blessed with the ability to put the bad memories behind me and gravitate toward the things that have warmed the holidays of my life. It’s a New Year, but still Christmastide, and although none of my grandparents are still alive, there are so many “Santa Claus – time” things they did that stick out in my mind. Today we have things like Pinterest to look at all the visuals of what some people call “Vintage Christmas” where we can relive some of our generic favorite memories. But my memories are specific. My maternal grandmother created so many indelible holiday memories, certainly without knowing it. She probably didn’t realize that making granny’s popcorn balls would be a memory that would literally stick with me forever. One year I think she might’ve been behind schedule when she asked all the grandkids to butter up their hands and help her make popcorn balls, which we had enjoyed almost every year when she was alive. It’s amazing what those 15 or 20 minutes did for me as we had been given the honor to help make her famous holiday treat. We felt important, useful! In fact, none of us realizes what a simple smile or friendly gesture does for someone this time of year. We don’t really know what’s going on in somebody else’s world. But my grandmother’s lesson is one that I became very conscious of at this time of my life when I see Sunday school kids I taught years ago, all grown up and out of college, some of them with children of their own. Those kids are the same age their parents were when I had the privilege of being a small part of their lives. I am fortunate to still know many of those kids of yesteryear and hear them reminisce about the good times we had together. My grandmother would never know the warmth she created in my childhood would be my favorite holiday memories today. She taught me, without words, that each of us could be the creators of happy times now that will be the treasures of someone’s future. In this New Year, what is something you or I can do that might forever enhance or change someone else’s life? If we live our lives with Jesus’ love model as our guide, it’s usually not something that we’ll think about ahead of time. That was my grandmother’s way. She loved us. I’m sure sharing those buttery popcorn treat moments we treasure now were her own reward. And she was truly creating many future Happy New Years for the ones she loved. PRAYER May each of us today be someone’s happiest holiday memory tomorrow. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Charlie C. Rose Order of St Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE 2 Corinthians 4.16-18 Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. WORDS OF HOPE A Poem for the New Year We are Eternal My steps in the sand go very deep. And forgive my defiance, But you are not my god to Tell me otherwise. If a house fly lives for two days, Assuming it dies naturally, Then assuming I die naturally, It is as though millennia are passing. And time, Being relative, No longer matters. Though I see that it matters to you. In this known universe, Countless “trees” seem young and old. But the “forests” are really continuums. See the forest from the trees. How many organisms live and die in Milliseconds? How many stars live and die in Millions of years? Don’t ask, “How long is eternity?” Eternity is how many steps Can be taken in a perfect circle. If you can perceive Your agedness, Then tell me, How does a fly measure time? PRAYER From John 17.3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Jonathon McClellan Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE Revelation 21.1-2 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. WORDS OF HOPE Today’s Scripture reading is from the Book of Revelation. It’s been called by several longer titles such as the Revelation of Jesus Christ to Saint John the Divine and incorrectly referred to simply as Revelations (plural). The “John” referred to is undoubtedly not the Gospel writer John who wrote the gospel of Love. Most of the book is about the bad guys being defeated and punished by a variety of angry angels and monstrous composite animals. However, the creators of these daily lectionary readings showed mercy in choosing this New Years’ Eve passage. They skipped to the happy ending. This is apocryphal literature, which was almost always directed to the persecuted masses, and spends a lot of time picturing their oppressors suffering a lot, and finally ends with the victims being much richer and more privileged than their rulers ever were. Revelation is specifically directed to the early Christian churches who, along with the Jews of the first century, had suffered through many years of prejudice, ethnic hatred, Totalitarian rule, and an emperor who was literally worshipped as a god. This idea of their world having “passed away” and replaced by an idyllic new world was standard prophetic language used by Isaiah, the Apostle Paul, and even Jesus on occasion to award their depressed audiences with a glimmer of hope. Isn’t that the way a large percentage of people feel this New Year’s Eve? But, I’ve had similar feelings on this occasion in previous years; regrets for failures, big and small, for things I have done, but usually for things I never got around to doing. Add to that the dissatisfaction with the government, the decrease in civility in our interactions with our neighbors; you know the list. The first century Christians’ lists were much longer. In the days Jesus walked among us, God was thought of as an anthropomorphic deity who sat on a throne above the clouds. Jesus preached that this wasn’t the case, that the Spirit of God was always among us available to guide and inspire us, to forgive us for our shortcomings and teach us to forgive others and ourselves. God would not be seated on a throne descending from above in a golden cloud city. Jesus made that concept archaic. God was beside them then and is beside us now. That knowledge gives us hope for every New Year. PRAYER Forever-present God, thank you on this New Years’ Eve when we can reflect on the state we have made of the world and our lives. May this ending of an old year remind us that there is never an ending to your love and guidance for us as we precede with hope to a better new one. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Dan Peeler Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE John 15:12 (NIV) My command is this: love each other as I have loved you. WORDS OF HOPE It’s almost a New Year and time to get back to the basics. Jesus talked about love many times. He lived his life, coming from a place of love and he died for all of us, because he loved. In this scripture, he is saying, I command you to love each other like that! I admit, I am a bit daunted when I face this challenge. As I see it, that leaves no room for me to pick and choose which, among his children, we will love. It leaves no room for us to mete out little bits of love. This is full out, love, as we have never loved before. We cannot count the cost. We cannot just love with our hearts. We have to love with our whole beings. That's a bit overwhelming, but God has provided the miracle of the Holy Spirit to make up for our human weakness. There is no limit to what God can do through us if we let ourselves be challenged beyond limits. I know that I have seen God transform lives, and give hope where there was no hope. I believe God can use committed people who trust him, to create change in our families, our communities and our world. It can happen if we love as Jesus Loves. PRAYER Beloved God, God of Amazing Love, I read your word, and I feel excited and challenged. I feel small when I consider what big things are needed. But I know you, God. I know you will make me brave when I am afraid. I know you will put people in my path who need your love. Help me to do what is needed rather than what I think I can do. Help me to love bigger than I know how to love. Help me to love as you love. I give myself to you. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Carole Anne Sarah
SCRIPTURE Acts1.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. WORDS OF HOPE Anticipating the beginning of the year, we begin to think about the type of spiritual fuel we will need to empower our daily life with others. When we read today’s Scripture, we stop at the divine gas station and get our tank full for the new day's opportunities. But, before we head out from the station, we may need some advice about current traffic conditions or problems... get some help to travel the route. Consider this prayer: "Christ Jesus, may I go forth next year to be and to do your divine will in all the opportunities you give me each day." In the days the Greek Scriptures were written, servants were foolhardy to go out into the daily marketplace and expect to accomplish their master’s request if they were not accompanied by a recognition or authorization from the master for whom they worked. Similarly, we cannot expect to do God's business without the divine living presence with us. It's that simple! If we don't recognize the need to live our active lives with God's constant presence, we venture forth on our own and without that divine loving presence. Now, the real problem is not one in which God chooses not to work with and through us; rather, it is our constant need to recognize that we must have the living presence of God to facilitate our life actions! For that reason, we need to pray each day and be very mindful that we seek God's presence to be expressed in all that we do. God is very willing to go with us, but we cannot ignore the divine presence’s help. It's so easy to get caught up in the moment's actions, thinking that we have it all figured out, and forget about God's always-present help for the situation. Each day, we need to think about our self in the plural - we together – act and speak with others. And the "we together" must always be God and us! PRAYER Christ Jesus, may we TOGETHER go forth this day to be and to do your divine will. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE Acts 6. 8-15 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’ They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.’ And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. WORDS OF HOPE December 26 is an interesting day in the church and secular calendar. It is Saint Stephen's day in Western Christianity (December 27 in the Eastern orthodox.) It is the day which Stephen, one of the first chosen leaders of the disciples was martyred. In the passage immediately before the one above, Stephen has been chosen as one of seven to help with the distribution of food among all the disciples. Stephen is described as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Essentially the seven were chosen because the Apostles were not able to handle the duties of the day today and also preach the gospel. In the United Kingdom and many parts of the former British empire, today is Boxing day. Is the day on which servants and tradesmen were given a Christmas box containing a little money, a small gift, perhaps some food leftover from the Christmas table. This seems to be an appropriate thing to do on the second day of Christmas, (the 12 days of Christmas last until January 6 with the arrival of the Magi). The first day of Christmas is the great gift of the birth of Christ, the second day, is a day to recognize and give something to those who perhaps have less than we do. Or at least two people who work very hard so that we have more than they do. Just as Stephen became a servant, (a waiter at the table, as the previous passage says), so we have many of those who serve. Boxing Day gives substance to that recognition. Today is also Thank You Note Day. It is intended for handwritten thank you notes to be produced and to be sent. With email and text messaging and various electronic means of greeting ‘cards’ we have perhaps lost some of the simple joy that comes from receiving a handwritten note in the mail placed on our front door. I personally admit I'm a sucker for this. Since I was a small child, I have loved going out to the mailbox to see what has arrived. I don't know if I got the same sort of serotonin boost that they claim people get when their phone dings, but I suspect that's exactly what happened. I am old enough that within a week of having received a Christmas present, my mother made me sit down and write thank you notes. This is something that I fear we are losing in our society. And I will bluntly state that this is a bad thing. So today as a devotion I ask you to sit and make a list of people who are giving you something not just for Christmas but throughout the entire year. Sit down and write them a thank you note. You may be thanking them for a physical gift; or you may be thanking them for a job well done; support or love or friendship. These too are valuable gifts. If you can, send it through the Postal Service or deliver it yourself. And in all of that, don't forget to thank the God who brought those people into your life. Don't forget to thank the God who sent Jesus to show you a way to God. And try with great devotion, prayer, and meditation to make your thanks more than an obligatory action (like many of mine that my mother made me do) that is a true heartfelt thanks for things, small and large that have been done for you in your life this last year. PRAYER God of gifts, God of life, God of all, thank you for this world and all that is in it, and all the people with whom we interact each day. Help us to see that of God in every person so that we may be thankful for their presence. Bring to us the thankfulness that we need for our friends and our enemies that we may all come together in peace. DEVOTION AUTHOR Weber Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare