Wednesday - August 31, 2022
Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas
Scripture
Luke 14.15-24
The Story of the Dinner Party
That triggered a response from one of the guests: “How fortunate the one who gets to eat dinner in God’s kingdom!” Jesus followed up. “Yes. For there was once a man who threw a great dinner party and invited many. When it was time for dinner, he sent out his servant to the invited guests, saying, ‘Come on in; the food is on the table.’ “Then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses. The first said, ‘I bought a piece of property and need to look it over. Send my regrets.’ “Another said, ‘I just bought five teams of oxen, and I really need to check them out. Send my regrets.’ “And yet another said, ‘I just got married and need to get home to my wife.’ “The servant went back and told the master what had happened. He was outraged and told the servant, ‘Quickly, get out into the city streets and alleys. Collect all who look like they need a square meal, all the misfits and homeless and down-and-out you can lay your hands on and bring them here.’ “The servant reported back, ‘Master, I did what you commanded—and there’s still room.’ “The master said, ‘Then go to the country roads. Whoever you find, drag them in. I want my house full! Let me tell you, not one of those originally invited is going to get so much as a bite at my dinner party.’”
WORDS OF HOPE
Jesus uses parables and stories to teach us values that hold true for us as followers of Jesus. In today’s story, he speaks to those of us who forget that our faith is one of relationship and making time for God in our lives.
Sometimes, our busy-ness distracts us from the need for taking this time seriously. We forget to pray, to listen, to replenish our spirit. I would argue that we each need to spend time with God to ensure that our motivation for being of service in the world is not driven by personal ego or a need just to feel good, but rather a response to our faithfulness.
This worship song was introduced to me several years ago and rings in my head whenever I read this passage from Luke’s Gospel. The chorus says this:
I cannot come.
I cannot come to the banquet,
Don't trouble me now.
I have married a wife,
I have bought me a cow.
I have fields and commitments
That cost a pretty sum,
Pray, hold me excused,
I cannot come.
Worship, prayer, reading the Bible, even reading this devotional today is a way to hear the voice of God, to know that God that is still speaking. It fills us up so that our response to the call for being of service is from a place of abundance. Being spiritually empty is not a place to lead from and Jesus invites us to be filled from a table that is filled with grace, and love.
The invitation today is to know that there are many excuses that we can use to keep busy, many calls on our lives to be of service. However, we must also keep just as “busy” in taking time to refresh our souls.
What will you do today to attend as much to yourself as to the needs of others? May you find balance and heed the Savior’s call to you today.
PRAYER
Life-giving God, help me to breathe the breath of God into my spirit this day so that I may breathe God into my world. Amen.
DEVOTION AUTHOR
Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas
Need Some Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions
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
SCRIPTURE Numbers 6: 24-26* The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. WORDS OF HOPE A couple of weeks ago I woke up to find that my heating unit was suspiciously quiet. I was grateful that it hadn’t quit during the icy grip of winter earlier, but it was still chilly. Sage and I both bundled up for our walk, and when we got back, I kept her wrapped in her rainbow fleece—just to be sure she was warm enough. At 8:00 I texted Sam, my repairman who over the years has rescued me from emergencies in broiling heat and shivering cold. Faithful as ever, he came that afternoon. My unit is aged, and as soon as he started to examine it, I said, “Sam, you know I can’t afford to replace the system; we’re gonna have to find a work around.” His reply was that the same was true of so many of his clients. Sam is thoughtful and quiet, and after some sweet talk with Sage, he set about to trace down the mystery of why things had shut down. After a while, he’d located the problem, found the parts to repair it, and gotten things going again. As he walked out of the house and down the steps, he turned to say good bye, and I said, “Sam, I appreciate you so much.” A small thing, maybe—an appreciation not just for a job well done, but for who Sam is and for his faithful care all these years. Endings are more important to me these days—the quality of endings of all kinds: the end of a life, the end of a relationship, the end of a group meeting, an interaction at church, a visit with a friend, a casual talk with a neighbor, an exchange with a waiter in a restaurant…and more. The source of this feeling is in part an awareness of aging and the limited time I have left here. But it is also the experience of having cancer steal away my partner all too suddenly. As well, I have witnessed how many people are unable to have the kind of endings they wished because their loved one is in such pain that they must be under heavy sedation or are intubated or the like. Family divisions can also harden hearts and keep us from the bedside of someone. As much as I can, then, I want to be present and attentive to the quality of endings. A long-time life group member is leaving soon to live in Mexico. Though she hopes to be able to continue meeting on zoom with us, we’ll miss the face-to-face conversations and full body hugs at church. Earlier, when she retired, we gathered the group for a Texas-sized meal and shared remembrances (a get together that was followed by a pod of the group going for ax throwing!!). And we continue to keep with the progress of her transition and write notes of appreciation. BLESSING The Bible is filled with poignant farewells, but one of the most beautiful is the Aaronic blessing cited above in the scripture section. Moses delivers these words from God to Aaron, his brother and high priest of Israel. In ending, I offer them as a blessing for you, for our church and for our nation through John Rutter’s beautiful musical treatment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZN1mryHEnQ DEVOTION AUTHOR Dr. Pat Saxon *I have chosen to keep the original words of this ancient blessing. A more inclusive version follows : “May the Lord bless you and take care of you; may the Lord be kind and gracious to you; may the Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.