Wednesday - January 31, 2024

The Reverend Dr. Neil G. Thomas

SCRIPTURE

Mark 5. 1-20

Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

WORDS OF HOPE

At first glance, this scripture seems a little weird. Jesus arrives on the other side of the sea and is confronted by a man who has made his home among the tombs, among the dead. This is his environment and his expectation based of his circumstances and Jesus meets him. Mark says that the man fell to his knees at the sight of Jesus and is confronted by his own question, “What do you want from me?” In the ensuing conversation Jesus offers him freedom from the impure spirits that had tormented him and sends them into surrounding pigs who run off, rushing down a steep bank and into a lake where they are drowned.

Those who witnessed these events, those who saw the impact of Jesus’ encounter with the man were both confused and perhaps frightened, asking Jesus to leave their region. The man is left to witness to his own people just what Jesus had done for him and, with his testimony, the people were amazed.

Of course, as with all Scripture you must be able to contextualize them within the times that they are written. Pigs are not kosher and the book of Deuteronomy states that the Israelites shall not eat their flesh or touch their dead carcass. In their tradition they are unclean, and it is understandable why pigs are used in this miracle.

The bigger story, for me, in this miracle is in the question that the man asks of Jesus, ““What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” While this is a question from within him, from the “legion”, this is a question that is vital for us all.

We are so often taught a theology of asking God for things. This is not a bad thing. In my daily prayers I often find myself asking God for things, for answers, for other people to be blessed. However, it is less regular that I sit in my own life and ask God to tell me what God wants from me. Is this your story as well?

The more I thought about this today, the more I realized that perhaps, if I spent more time asking God this question, perhaps I would have more clarity for my life and my vocational work.

Believe me, I am grateful to a God who has often rescued me from numerous situations that could lead me on a destructive path or a path that is not beneficial. I am grateful to God who has offered me ways to follow the call that I believe that God has placed in front of me. I am grateful to God who reminds me every day that my everyday actions can make a difference. Today, I am convicted by the question what more can I do for God and what does God want from me.

The conclusion of this story is a testimony to what happens when you are listening to God’s response to our question. For the man in the story, he found wholeness and healing. He found a new life that bore testimony to others, leading them to belief in Jesus.

Friends, our story is a testimony for others and Jesus calls us to live our story – a story that is still evolving and not yet finished. However, this story has an impact and will help others to see your changed life. This is the miracle.

In the words of one of my favorite hymns, Amazing Grace, “I once was lost but now I’m found.”

May we take a moment, amid our asking God for blessings, to also ask God, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”

PRAYER

God, thank you for your faithfulness toward me, hearing my prayers and responding to my needs. Hear me today, O God, as I ask You – What do you want from me? Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

The Reverend Dr. Neil G. Thomas

Senior Pastor

Pronouns: he/his/him

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Need Some Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions

Friday - July 10 , 2026

By Weber Baker • July 10, 2026

READING The first service one owes to others in a community involves listening to them. Just as our love for God begins with listening to God’s Word, the beginning of love for others is learning to listen to them. God’s love for us is shown by the fact that God not only gives God’s Word but also lends us God’s ear. . . . We do God’s work for our brothers and sisters when we learn to listen to them." ——-Dietrich Bonhoeffer WORDS OF HOPE Listening. I have come to realize that listening is a skill. It is learned. I liken it to learning any skill. It takes desire, practice, patience and control. And having a good role model helps. This of course, is not meant to be confused with hearing. We hear lots of things. We may be sitting in a coffee shop and hear a conversation near us. When I was young, I was taught it was rude to listen in on such conversations. Listening means not just hearing the words, but as we listen, we pay attention and interpret. We must have a desire to listen to others. It means not just hearing what they’re saying, but looking for the meaning, the emotion, the soul that they are expressing to us. In the current age, we have far too many people who do not care to listen more or even to hear words of others who do not see things the way we do. And even if we have the desire to listen to others, we must practice listening. I was a middle school teacher for 25 years. It took me a while to get to a point where I was able to truly listen to my students. I had the desire; but I did not possess the skill. It took a while for that to develop. And one of the things that I realized was, I couldn’t just passively listen but I also needed to ask when I did not understand. And while we may not realize that when we’re doing it, that asking conveys our desire to listen. It gives an indication that we are truly listening. And why we may think we should listen quietly. It is important to understand what we are being told. I would argue that patience is also a learned skill, and that while we are practicing listening, we must also be learning and practicing patience. If we do not already have some patience built up this can make it even more difficult to listen well. Practicing patience starts, I believe, with conscious effort. We let someone in line in a traffic jam. We let someone ahead of us who has fewer items than we have in the grocery line; etc. When listening to others, truly listening in order to absorb, interpret, and feel what the other person is trying to communicate, we need to exercise control. It is too easy to jump in with suggestions, advice, or interpretation before we have heard everything, before we have had a chance to truly absorb what we are being told. In talking about community Bonhoeffer makes it clear that listening is something we owe the community and which brings us into community with others. Listening to God‘s Word allows us the chance to integrate that Word into our life. And it further gives us the opportunity to integrate that word into our actions within our communities. Listening to others is indeed God‘s work. PRAYER Great Creator, we thank you for listening to our prayers and supplications. We ask you to help us develop the skills necessary to be effective listeners to others so that we may learn to love them and to include them in our communities. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Weber Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Thursday - July 9, 2026

By Dr. Pat Saxon • July 9, 2026

SCRIPTURE Isaiah 40:31 But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles. WORDS OF HOPE High, high up in the sky over the lake, I watch the flight of what can only be an eagle, its broad circles tracing arcs in the blue. Periodically he needs to gather energy and directed movement, so he flaps his strong wings, but with a seeming ease which belies the power. Then coast, soar, circle. The movement of a fish flutters under the surface of the water and suddenly he dives to capture breakfast. I long for this eagle vision in my spiritual life—the ability to see the smallest movement—but from a larger “field.” And I yearn too for the soaring. Back home and closer to the ground, the Mississippi Kites still roam our skies in the morning, their paths curving over the oaks. The grey falcon-like birds have taken up residence in my neighbor’s yard across the street since Grandmother oak cracked open, collapsed, and was carried away to be recycled into mulch by the city. Though their nest is obscured by a veil of leaves, it’s clear they have young ones as one of the parents carries a largish insect, a grasshopper perhaps, back to the fledglings. Today, walking Sage in the early morning breeze, I stand and gaze upward again—at how they hold steady in a wind and with just the slightest adjustment of their wings, they glide off, cutting arcs as masterfully as an Olympic skater. I marvel and would wish to surrender to the winds of God to carry me in the currents of my life. The song my mother chose for her memorial service sings in my memory, the rich baritone of her pastor full of feeling: You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, Who abide in His shadow for life, Say to the Lord, "My Refuge, My Rock in Whom I trust." And He will raise you up on eagle's wings, Bear you on the breath of dawn, Make you to shine like the sun, And hold you in the palm of His Hand. (Michael Jonca) PRAYER Breath of God, Breathe on me and lift me up to soaring even before my final transition. May each of us know such soaring in the arms of Love. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - July 8, 2026

By Jonathon McClellan • July 8, 2026

SCRIPTURE Job 38.4-7 Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? WORDS OF HOPE Unanswered Questions As our vision of the universe gets larger, our knowledge about it, gets smaller and smaller. Einstein observed that the more he learned, the less he knew. It is often that when we answer a question, ten new questions arise each leading us to more undiscovered and unanswered questions. I find that a flower is not just a stem and its petals, but it is also its seed. What is a seed without its journey? The flower is connected to generations of flowers. A person’s name can imply where they come from and who they are connected to. A rock is the culmination of many smaller particles. I have found no simple answers, but always, more to discover. Humility is considering the possibility that what we do not know we do not know. I do not see all the pieces of life’s puzzle or things that I have yet to experience. If I were to try to define anything, then that would mean pretending I had an understanding of universal truths when I do not fully comprehend anything. We believe that God exists, but what or rather who is God? I could say that God is love, but consider how long it would it take me to describe all of God’s love if I could. Why do so many religious people believe that God is love, but then, condemn people for not believing that their religion is the right one? They have neither learned what love is nor who God is, yet they can judge. How can we judge God’s creation without knowing all the facts? Humanity has more in common than it realizes, for many faiths teach that God is love. The scriptures teach us that we have the ability to set aside our differences and be kind to one another. One day, differing faiths may have less strangers, and more friends. Perhaps, because if we know less, then there is more to learn about each other. PRAYER Lord of mercy, Only You know everything and only You can judge. Help us to be forgiving and kind to strangers. Grant us a humble spirit. Show us how to disagree lovingly. Bless You because You are patient with us. We love You, yet we do not know You fully. Help us to love those that we do know, yet don’t comprehend. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Jonathon McClellan Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - July 7, 2026

By Donald (Luke) Day • July 7, 2026

SCRIPTURE I John 1:5 This is the message we have heard and proclaim to you, that God is light and in God there is no darkness. WORDS OF HOPE After reading todays’ scripture, take time to be quiet with it and let God's Spirit talk to you about what you've read. Quietly read it again several times: “This is the message we have heard and proclaim to you, that God is light and in God there is no darkness.” Try meditating on those words to better explore the fullness of their meaning. Try to be so mindful of the words that you feel like you're falling into a pool of deep water... a pool of deeper experience with God. I believe that if you practice this approach, you will be drawn into a richer awareness of your relationship with God. In cultivating a richer awareness of God, define the scripture to yourself. God is pure light, perfect light, not a speck of darkness, a holy brightness. Our faith always has taught us that the Creator God's nature is perfect in all aspects, perfect wisdom, perfect love, and perfectly pure and holy. That perfection contrasts with humanity's mottled behaviors and failings. Our human character is often inconsistent and mixed in motive. Even in the midst of human goodness, perfection is elusive. The Judeo-Christian God has always existed separate from our less-than-perfect humanity. Part of this realization is the basis for the concept that God is holy. In the Psalms, we read that: "Holy is God's name." (Psalm 30:4) The Jews thought that you could understand the nature or characteristics of another person if you knew or spoke their name. When God blessed Abram and promised that he would be father to a multitude of offspring, God gave him a new name, Abraham, which denoted that promise. When we speak of God as holy, we state that God is set apart from us, other-than-us, God is pure perfection. It is our affirmation that God is different from us; we are not God. In meditating on the eternal truth that in God there is no darkness, we come face to face with the "otherness" of God, and that should instill a sense of awe in us. It is a true declaration of worship... Awesome God, Holy God, Pure and Perfect One. PRAYER Lord God, quiet my mind and open my heart to learn more about you. Guide my times of meditation, and allow me to better experience your unlimited majesty. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - July 6, 2026

By Jan Nunn • July 6, 2026

SCRIPTURE Psalm 19:1 The Heavens are declaring the glory of God, and their expanse shows the work of God’s hands. WORDS OF HOPE How often do you ask God to do things for you and either do not wait for God to act, or do not recognize God’s answer and blessing to you? I found a cute example of ways we expect God to respond, but miss seeing God’s answer to us: A Reflection: The person whispered, "God, speak to me." And a meadowlark sang. But the person did not hear. So the person yelled, "God, speak to me!" And the thunder rolled across the sky. But the person did not listen. The person looked around and said, "God, let me see you." And a star shone brightly. But the person did not notice. And the person shouted, "God, show me a miracle!" And a life was born. But the person did not know. So, the person cried out in despair. "Touch me God, and let me know that you are here!" Whereupon God reached down and touched the person. But the person brushed the butterfly away and walked on. Author unknown MORAL: Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way you expect. PRAYER God who is always near, help us to see you in the wonders you send to show us your amazing love. DEVOTION AUTHOR Jan Nunn Cathedral of Hope Volunteer

Friday - July 3, 2026

By Charlie C. Rose • July 3, 2026

SCRIPTURE Luke 15.16 But Jesus would often go away from the crowd to pray in quiet places. WORDS OF HOPE I recently attended something called a “new moon sound bath.” It sounds mystical, doesn’t it? It’s actually a yoga space filled with about 25 or 30 people engaging in light stretching, breathing, and the soothing tones of singing bowls. It’s relaxing and allows your mind to either engage…or wander. Occasionally, someone would fall asleep, signaled by a bit of snoring. Nobody cared. The hum and vibration from the sound bowls, chimes, and rain stick felt almost otherworldly. Those natural, non-electronic sounds, while staring quietly at the ceiling, invited a release from the noise of the day. I often find myself unable to control the moment. Too many days are filled with anxiety from listening to endless news and politics, always politics. Sometimes I wonder why I’m so drawn to that uncontrollable static in the first place. The yoga space glowed with purple and pink lighting, almost like staring into a distant galaxy. We were given permission to drift away. Only once, during one of these sessions, did someone truly doze off hard. Evidently, the release was deeply needed. Whatever worries had carried them to that moment were simply gone. The room filled with intermittent giggles before someone finally nudged them awake. A faint “sorry” was whispered, and we continued with gentle movement. The entire experience lasts only about an hour, yet it feels much longer—as though time itself briefly loosens its grip. For lack of a better description, it’s an inner-city wilderness moment. For a short while, we surrender worry, schedules, and the exhausting need to stay in control. Do you meditate or pray? In Retreats throughout the years, I’ve heard descriptions of intense meditation practiced by both Christian and Tibetan monks, and I sometimes wonder if deliberately seeking collective peace can somehow quiet the low vibration of fear and chaos around us. In a similar way, what did Jesus experience during his walks in the wilderness? Surely, away from the crowds, there was silence there. Prayer. Reflection. Release. Years ago, I walked among the giant trees in Muir Woods in California. It’s difficult to explain, but I felt a powerful vibration in my chest, almost overwhelming, as though the ancient forest itself was welcoming me into communion. Perhaps that’s why one section there is called Cathedral Grove. A posted sign read, “Enter Quietly.” Where are your Cathedral woods? Where will you give yourself permission to commune on a higher plane? When will you finally release the need to control? When you arrive at that place, a place unique to you, no one will need to tell you to “enter quietly.” PRAYER I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. Lord, guide my thoughts and keep me focused on Your truth. Amen. -Psalm 119.15 DEVOTION AUTHOR Charlie Rose Order of St. Francis and St. Clare