Unknown's avatar

Who Are You, Lord?

Featured by

“Who Are You, Lord?”

Acts 9:1-9 (9:5) – May 4, 2025

            Sometimes, asking good questions is difficult.

In the 1400’s and 1500’s, the astronomers in Europe were discovering wonderful things about our solar system. It wasn’t until 1543 that astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus asked, “Could it be that the Earth orbits the Sun?” This was a dangerous question to ask, in his time. Common knowledge and expert opinion were in agreement, in the 1500’s: the Earth was the center of everything. However – Copernicus had the courage to ask this simple—and profound—question, which turned the scientific community on its heads, and changed the world.

            We turn to our Scripture reading for today. Acts chapter 9. Saul, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, was one of the chief persecutors of the early Church in the area of Jerusalem. He had been a witness to the stoning of Stephen, a short time before this reading today. Saul’s zeal in pursuing these “Jewish heretics,” these followers of “The Way” had become legendary. Let me read the Acts passage from an excellent translation by J.B. Phillips.

“1-2 But Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest and begged him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he should find there any followers of the Way, whether men or women, he could bring them back to Jerusalem as prisoners.”

That was the situation. Saul was filled with religious zeal! It wasn’t enough that he had been instrumental in kicking out most of the believers and breaking up the Jerusalem church. He was going to round up these Jewish heretics in Damascus! These false believers! And, extradite them. Bring them back to face the Chief Priest and the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem.

Who was Saul, anyway? Born a Roman citizen in Asia Minor, he was one of the graduates of the equivalent of an Ivy League school—the University of Tarsus, one of the finest universities of the first century. As far as knowledge and book learning was concerned? Saul had it, in abundance! He was trained as a Pharisee, in every aspect of the Jewish religion. And, he was on fire to haul in every upstart Jewish heretic he could lay his hands on!

Just like the scientific establishment in the 1500’s, Saul knew he was right, and nothing could make him swerve from his desire, his zeal to see justice done. Let’s go back to our reading from Acts. “3-4 On his journey, as Saul neared Damascus, a light from Heaven suddenly blazed around him, and he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice speaking to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?””

Wait a minute! Saul is one of the top religious law-followers in Jerusalem. Bam! Here is a clear, Heavenly event happening to Saul. You might have heard about “a Damascus road experience,” meaning a sudden, dramatic conversion experience. This is it. Right here, right now. Paul’s—I mean, Saul’s dramatic conversion experience. This Greek word, an imperative verb in verse 3, is often omitted in translations. Literally, egeneto! One of Dr. Luke’s favorite words: “Then, it happens!” Another way of saying, “WHAM!” This word signals the surprising entry of God into ordinary, every-day events! We see a light flash around Saul.

The risen Lord Jesus also calls twice: “Saul, Saul!” I have a suspicion that Saul immediately “got it.” The mental puzzle pieces started falling into place. Saul finally asked a really good question:  “Who are you, Lord?”

Isn’t that the way it is with you or with me, sometimes? Here we are, headed down Life Road, going about our business. When, boom! A huge event happens. Maybe not as serious as Paul’s Damascus Road encounter, but all the same, earth-shaking. It could be something that happens to our health, or our jobs, an accident, or some type of traumatic happening. Or, if it doesn’t happen to us, it happens to one of our loved ones, or our best friend. Even if it’s something really fantastic, it can still be earth-shaking. Just as much of a shift or change in life.

Similar to the dramatic shift in the scientific world after Copernicus proved that the Earth really did orbit the Sun. He turned the whole world’s attitudes and ideas on their heads and paved the way for a whole new way of thinking. New frames for good questions.

As Saul was lying there in the dust of the road, I am sure a few new thoughts broke into his mind. “Who are you, Lord?” Saul’s really good question was that of a devout Jew who understands the significance of his experience from reading Scripture.

Let’s continue with our reading: “7 His companions on the journey stood there speechless, for they had heard the voice but could see no one.” Do you understand what’s going on? The others in this vigilante group can hear a voice, but have no idea Who is speaking. On top of that, Saul is suddenly struck blind. The companions don’t have a clue what is going on. They need to lead Saul into Damascus, blind and helpless. There he sit, and fasts, for three whole days.

            Sometimes, God chooses the most unlikely person for God’s purposes. Here is the Pharisee Saul, sitting and fasting in Damascus. Lord, what is going on here? In Acts chapter 9, Dr. Luke refers to Paul as God’s chosen vessel – a common, everyday domestic object. This is the same word that Paul uses himself in 2 Corinthians chapter 4: God’s treasure is found in “earthenware vessels.” In other words, Saul (soon to be renamed Paul) is the one chosen to be God’s vessel, or jar, or container. Paul is to carry the Good News, the truth of the Resurrection!

Paul calls himself a common, everyday jar or vessel, used for everyday tasks. With this important distinction: God has appointed Paul to carry the Good News! The same way God has appointed each of us to carry the truth of God’s message to everyone.

Paul was chosen to go to the nations, and not to just preach to Jews. The Lord has called each one of us. God has welcomed each of us into a heavenly embrace. I wonder. The nations are coming to us right here—to Morton Grove, to Glenview, to Niles, to Des Plaines, to Skokie, to Chicago. Is God calling us to be God’s vessels to carry Good News to our neighbors? To those we work with? To the person at the coffee shop or the clerk at the grocery store? 

I offer you the opportunity to hear God’s call! Chances are, it won’t be as dramatic as Saul’s conversion on the Damascus Road. But can you hear God’s call with gladness? You and I are welcomed into renewed relationship because of our encounter with the risen Christ – today!   Paul’s conversion narrative fires the imagination! May we find in its depths a call on every single one of us, for change and new possibility.

Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

Unknown's avatar

That You May Believe!

Featured by

“That You May Believe!”

John 20:19-31 (20:31) – April 27, 2025

            Seeing is believing! Or . . . is it? I wonder what things come to mind when I mention the phrase, “Seeing is believing”? Or even, “I won’t believe it until I see it!” Sometimes, people can be really doubtful about things. I can just imagine several people I know folding their arms across their chests and saying, “Unless you show me . . . “

            In the gospel account we read today, from John 20, the disciple Thomas had just that reaction. After the resurrection, the first time Jesus came to the disciples, Thomas was not there. We’re not told why, simply that he wasn’t there. Maybe he was scared, maybe he was away, or out of town. Maybe he was sick. We just aren’t told why he wasn’t there.

            The ‘why’ is not the important part. The fact that Thomas wasn’t present is. Thomas had doubts. Sincere doubts. Truth to tell, the other disciples’ story was a little farfetched. I mean, how many people have you known who came back from the dead, and walked through walls into a locked room?

            I wonder. I wonder if Thomas’ reaction strikes a chord with anyone here today. How many of us today are like Thomas? Doubting that Jesus has risen indeed from the dead? Or, completely missing Jesus, and doubting that Jesus is even here at all, today?

            Let’s think some more about Thomas and his reaction. Thomas not only doubted, he wanted concrete proof. Tangible proof, proof he could touch and feel and handle. Thomas wanted to put his hands in the nail marks on Jesus’ hands. That’s pretty concrete.

            As I thought more about Thomas and his reaction and attitude toward Jesus and His first appearance to the disciples, the Gospel of John is not clear at this point. We as readers don’t know why Thomas had difficulty believing. But the gospel account says he did.

            How many of us today are like Thomas? Not sure? Not believing? Closed up behind the locked doors of feeble faith? Not believing that Jesus can make a difference in our lives today? Could Jesus come and reveal Himself to Thomas? Can He come and reveal Himself to those today who are fearful, doubting, and unbelieving? . . . Can He reveal Himself to me?

            Perhaps Thomas had difficulty finding something to believe in, since he had so recently seen his Master and Teacher arrested and crucified. Grief, fear, anger, dashed hopes, shattered dreams. I strongly suspect several, if not all of these, were operating in Thomas’ life at this time.

            These strong feelings and emotions inside are intense, and raw. From what is known today about the stages of grief, Thomas could have been feeling awful, and angry, and upset. Thomas could have felt his life was falling apart. But Jesus can break through all of that. Jesus could enter Thomas’ life with new hope, standing right in front of him. In the same way, Jesus Christ can enter through the closed doors of our hearts, meet us where we are, with open arms.

Just as Jesus did not leave Thomas high and dry, to figure things out on his own, so Jesus will not leave us. Our Lord came to Thomas in the upper room, despite his doubts and unbelief, and Jesus also comes to us in our doubts, and in our unbelief.  “The resurrection is among us, whether we see it or not. The resurrection is all around us, whether we recognize it or not. The resurrection is in the midst of us whether we are able to point to it or not.” [1]

            Now, Thomas didn’t actually see Jesus, at first. He had just heard from others who had seen Jesus. But then, a second time, the risen Lord appeared to the disciples. Again, in the locked room, and this time, Thomas was there. What were Jesus’ words to Thomas? “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt, but believe.”

            Thomas responded with that tremendous affirmation, “My Lord and my God!”  Praise God for the sincere, heartfelt response of Thomas.

            Jesus’ words to His doubting disciple serve as words of comfort and reassurance to me. I know I have doubts, sometimes. And just as Jesus did not leave Thomas doubting, so too, Jesus will not leave me doubting, either. He will welcome me with open arms, coming through the locked doors of my fear, anger, doubt and unbelief.

            Thomas saw Jesus. Seeing was believing, in Thomas’ case. And then, the risen Jesus continues with the statement, “Have you believed because you have seen me?” Here’s the best part of all. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

            What was that Jesus just said? Did I read that correctly? “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” So—the Gospel of John says here that all who have not actually seen the risen Lord and yet have come to believe are indeed blessed.

            That means Christians throughout the centuries are blessed, since they have come to believe in Jesus Christ and yet have not actually, physically seen Him as risen from the dead. That means you and I are blessed, since we have come to believe in Jesus Christ, too. How awesome is that? We are blessed because the Lord Jesus says so!

            Just in case we didn’t quite understand where the evangelist was coming from the first time, verses 30 and 31 of John 20 underline this concept. “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in His name.”

            Just as Jesus helped Thomas to believe, so the Gospel of John helps us to believe, too. This Gospel was not only written to bear witness so long ago, in the first century, some years after Jesus was raised from the dead. This Gospel was also written for the many generations which have come to believe throughout the centuries. That includes us, too.

Plus, Jesus does not mean for us to hide this Good News and keep it for ourselves. We all are “to be involved and engaged with the communities around us, in which there are the lives of many who do not yet know the Gospel. We respond to them with loving service, walking alongside them and sharing Jesus with every step.” [2]

Even though we may have doubts, and unbelief, and wonder whether, and why, or even why not, Jesus comes to us in our doubts and unbelief. Our Lord comes to all of us with reassurance and open arms and says “Do not doubt, but believe!”

            Praise God that as we come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, we can have life in His name. Jesus can come to us, at any point in our walk with the Lord, no matter what the circumstance happens to be, no matter where we are in our lives. Thank God that Jesus will be there for us and with us, no matter what. May we all be able to affirm, with Thomas, that the risen Jesus is our Lord and our God.

            Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1]  https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/when-seeing-is-believing

[2] https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/weekly-worship/monthly/2025-april/sunday-27-april-2025-second-sunday-of-easter-year-c

Unknown's avatar

Who Has Seen the Lord?

Featured by

“Who Has Seen the Lord?”

John 20:1-18 (20:18) – April 20, 2025

            Who doesn’t like to hear a good story? Storytellers are wonderful to listen to. Small children love to hear stories. Even grown-ups enjoy stories. Certain stories are told over and over again, in different ways. Cinderella. King Arthur. The Arabian Nights. Aesop’s fables. Even the Wizard of Oz.  What about The Greatest Story Ever Told? That’s another name for the narrative of the Passion Week, following Jesus step by step from Palm Sunday through Good Friday, finishing up with the happily ever after ending on Easter morning! 

            We left Jesus on the cross, on Friday afternoon, when last we saw Jesus on Good Friday. Jesus had walked through the days of Holy Week, debating with the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders in the Temple. He had eaten a Passover dinner with His disciples on Thursday evening. The special thing Jesus did on Thursday was instituting the Lord’s Supper with the bread and cup of the Passover meal. Do this in remembrance of Me, He said.

            After dinner, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He wanted His disciples to keep watch with Him, but they were too exhausted. After the events of a very busy week, just think. The disciples couldn’t keep their eyes open!

            Then the events follow in rapid succession. The arrest, torture, trials, and sentencing. The walk down the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrow. Jesus dragging the cross outside the old city of Jerusalem. The disciples fled. (I won’t blame them—since their Rabbi was sentenced as a criminal and enemy of the state, I suspect the disciples were afraid they might be connected with their leader Jesus, too!) We see the women at the foot of the cross. The faithful women. And Jesus’ mother, Mary. Then—Jesus dies on the cross. The earth quakes, the sky darkened. All creation mourns as the Word made flesh, the creator of all the universe, dies on the cross.

            As we continued to follow the Greatest Story Ever Told, Jesus is taken down from the cross shortly before sunset. His body is turned over to one of the Pharisees, Joseph of Arimethea. Joseph hurriedly lays the dead body of Jesus in a tomb nearby. And, the faithful women are also there. What faith they must have had! What tenacity, and what love. The women disciples follow their leader, their rabbi, their Lord and master, even though He’s dead. To care for His body, in the absence of the disciples – the men disciples who are in hiding.

            The women are there. Not shunted aside, not put in second place. These faithful women disciples play an important role in caring for their Rabbi and their friend, hurriedly washing and preparing His dead body for the grave, before the Sabbath begins at sunset.

            As Friday night swiftly approaches, with it comes the Jewish holy observance. Especially this special Sabbath—which falls during Passover. No work is to be done at all on this holy day of rest, not even the compassionate work of caring for a dead body.

            After Sabbath day and Saturday night end, it is now Sunday morning. Faithful Mary Magdalene heads out for the tomb even before the sun has fully risen. Can you see her, eager in her haste to get to the tomb? With some oils to anoint the body? As she comes near the tomb, she discovers the stone has been rolled away. The tomb is now empty. What happened? Mary runs to get some assistance, someone to come with her and check things out more fully.

            Sure enough, Mary tells what she discovered. Two of the—men—disciples come back with her. Mary returns with the other two, back to the tomb. They see the tomb, and sure enough. It is empty. And then, these two men disciples turn right around. Go back to the rest. In hiding.

            But—what about Mary? What does she do? Again, I come back to the indisputable fact that the women disciples are faithful and true. What a roller coaster ride Mary has been on. Starting on Palm Sunday, their leader Jesus marches right into the lion’s den, right into Jerusalem itself. All through the Passion Week, Jesus appears in and around Jerusalem, in the Temple, doing anything but keeping a low profile. I am certain the men and the women accompanying them knew very well that the Jewish leaders were planning on doing bad things to Jesus.

The women disciples show compassion, love, and care for their Rabbi, their master and friend. Mary stays put near the tomb. Jesus had been her best friend and her teacher. After she met Jesus, her life was different – and lots better! But now, Jesus had been killed and buried. Not only that, it appeared that someone had stolen his body. [1]

            At this desperate point, early on Sunday morning, Mary weeps. She does not know where her Lord and Master’s body has gone! After many days and nights of worry, anxiety, strong emotion, and intense grief, I can well understand how Mary broke down in tears.

            What about us, today? Have you ever been through days of intense emotion, gut-wrenching anxiety, even intense grief? All of those feelings tumbling and roiling through you? Then you know a little of what Mary was going through.

            What Mary did not suspect at first was that she was in the Greatest Story Ever Told. She sees Someone through her tears. She suspects this Person is the gardener, of all things! She says, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 

            Then, Jesus—for it is He!—Jesus speaks to her. Jesus calls her by name. “Mary!”          Do you hear that? Jesus calls her by name. “Mary!” How sweet to have someone who loves you very much call you by name! Remember, I just said that Mary had been on an emotional roller coaster the whole week previous? Just think what this would do! Wow! Mary’s eyes are opened. Mary finally sees clearly, and responds, “Rabbi!” “Teacher!”

            There’s a word in the next verse that is sometimes misunderstood. In verse 17, Jesus tells Mary, “Do not hold on to me.” In the original language, Greek, the word ‘hold on’ or ‘touch’ is a present imperative verb. The verb in the sentence can be translated “Do not keep touching me!” Mary realizes that it was really and truly Jesus, in the flesh. I suspect she fell on her knees and grabbed onto His legs with every ounce of strength in her body. Clutching, crying, laughing. Can you just see her? Jesus, gently trying to get her to let go. “Mary, can you stop clutching at Me?”

            Can you see Mary now, as she understands in full. Jesus is alive! He is risen! She listens to Jesus, returns to the disciples, and declares the joyful truth to everyone!

            Mary is not only a faithful friend and follower of her Rabbi, she is also someone who carries the Good News! The news that Jesus is no longer dead, but He is risen! He is alive again. I want all of you to understand this all-important point. Jesus has entrusted Mary with the Gospel message. She is a preacher of the Good News!

Mary Magdalene is no longer just a supporting player, just a side note in the Gospel. Instead, she transitions to a lead actor in the Greatest Story Ever Told, here in John 20. And, one of the first and best preachers, sharing her experience, hope and joy.

            What a story! Except—this is not make-believe. This is for real. This is very much the truth. Yes, our risen Lord Jesus is alive. Yes, He is Lord. And, yes, He has conquered death once and for all. Do you hear? Listen again to the words of the disciple Mary. She told the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”  

I pray we all can affirm together today: He is risen! Christ is risen, indeed!  

Alleluia! Amen!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2016/02/year-c-easter-sunday-march-27-2016.html

Unknown's avatar

Hosanna to the Messiah!

Featured by

“Hosanna to the Messiah!”

Luke 19:28-40 (19:37) – April 13, 2025

            Have you ever been at a really big celebration? I mean a public celebration—like a ticker-tape parade, a celebration of a world championship, or the visit of an A-list celebrity? Something really, really big?

            From all the descriptions of the Palm Sunday Triumphant Entry in all four Gospels, that’s kind of what we are looking at today in our scripture passage. The celebration is really big, the Rabbi Jesus was a big-name celebrity, and this entry into Jerusalem was a first-century type of a ticker-tape parade. Except with palms!

            Let’s take a closer look. Here’s the situation: It’s almost Passover, the most important religious observance of the year. A great number of faithful Jews from near and far come to Jerusalem, in pilgrimage, in commemoration of the Exodus event. 

Jesus comes, too. He publicly, intentionally enters Jerusalem, even though the religious leaders are not very pleased with Him or what He has been doing for the past few years. Even though Dr. Luke does not mention the prophecy in the book of Zechariah (which the other Gospels do), Jesus’s disciples must have known about the prophecy of an entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. This was clearly a scene with “Messiah” written all over it.   

And Jesus does not sneak into the city, all hush-hush. No! He comes in with a parade! With crowds of people waving palms and shouting “Hosanna!” and “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”

            What is the meaning of those cries of “Hosanna” and “Blessed is the King?” If we look at Psalm 118, we’ll find these words written by the psalmist. This was the usual Passover greeting one person would give another, except with the addition of the word “King.”  Just to let you all know, many of the crowd in Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday morning understood what they were quoting—they were intentionally welcoming someone they hoped would be their Messiah, their King! Someone who would save them from the awful situation they were in.

            There was a disconnect between the people and their limited understanding, and what Jesus actually was going to do. But I’m getting ahead of myself by rushing on to later in Holy Week. We are still here on Palm Sunday. And everyone is still excited to welcome the Rabbi Jesus—their hoped-for Messiah—into the city. They are hoping He will save them from the Romans and maybe, possibly, become their King. Except they had an earthly King in mind.

            But let’s read on in our scripture passage for today. Luke makes another striking statement. He starts to mention “peace.” “Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!” What on earth is Luke mentioning “peace” for?

This sentence is an echo of the Gloria in excelsis Deo that the angels—the heavenly host—sang at the birth of the baby Jesus, several decades before. I know the heavenly host gave the shepherds good news of great joy, but wouldn’t that be good news for anybody? I know that was good news at the time Jesus was born, but isn’t that good news for today, as well? Peace? Glory in the highest? The difference is that at Jesus’s birth, it was peace on earth. Now, the crowd is saying “Peace in heaven.”

            So when Jesus enters Jerusalem, the crowd prays for peace in heaven. But the coming of Jesus causes a division. It causes anything but peace on earth.

            The theologian Tom Mullen makes this statement about his denomination (Society of Friends or Quakers): “They work for peace—and if you really want to cause conflict, you work for peace.” [1]  So it was for the Rabbi Jesus—the Messiah Jesus riding into Jerusalem. For all that Jesus wanted to bring peace, He and His message created division, tension, and crisis—as seen by the violent reaction of the religious leaders.

            I wonder about this tension, this violent reaction, this great desire for peace, yet a creation of division, tension and crisis. I know I have mentioned the Rev. Janet Hunt many time before in my sermons. She likewise ponders as we begin Holy Week, “If Jesus were to ride into my town today, what would be His means of transportation? What signs and symbols would speak today?” [2] The donkey was not the choice for a conquering King entering His capital city! The donkey was definitely a subversive choice for the Messiah, the Rabbi Jesus.

            I am not even going to explore what signs and symbols would display a Kingly entrance into a city today, except to say a royal entry usually entails a large police presence, a security detail, and lots of SUVs and a limousine for the royalty to ride in. Not so for the Rabbi Jesus!

Thank God, Jesus does not do that! He is more powerful than any division, any tension, any crisis. He entered the city not as an earthly King, not as a conqueror, not to set up a nationalistic empire, but as the True Redeemer of Israel. And not of just Israel, but also of the whole world. This Holy Week is where all of the prophecies focus to a fine point, and reveal the Rabbi Jesus as not only the Messiah and King, but also as the Suffering Servant. The Lamb of God, sent to take away the sins of the world.

            As we remember this Passover time, this Holy Week, we can thank God that our Lord Jesus did enter Jerusalem. As a King, as a Messiah, yes! But also as our Redeemer and Savior. Praise God, Jesus is our Redeemer and Savior, just as much as He was Redeemer and Savior for that crowd in Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday. In the first century, Jesus came to save His people from their sins. Praise God, He came to save us, too! Amen! And amen!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] Mullen, Tom, Laughing Out Loud and Other Religious Experiences, (Friends United Press, Richmond IN: 1989) 50.

[2] http://words.dancingwiththeword.com/2016/03/the-donkey-subversive-choice.html

Unknown's avatar

Who is Hallowed?

Featured by

“Who is Hallowed?”

Philippians 3:4-13 (3:8) – April 6, 2025

            When I was in grade school, I used to read the encyclopedia and the dictionary. My grandfather was kind enough to buy my family a multi-volume World Book encyclopedia, and we got the yearly supplements, too! My love of words and desire for information goes back a long ways, and when I was in school, I used to read these reference books regularly, curled up in the arm chair in my parents’ living room!

          We are going to highlight “Hallowed be Thy name” as our section of the Lord’s Prayer for this week. Holy, or “hallowed” is what we say about God and God’s name every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer. I would like us to consider the word “Hallowed.” It’s quite an old-fashioned word! But, before we get to that definition for “Hallowed,” let’s take a closer look at our Scripture reading for today.

The apostle Paul is writing a thank-you letter to the church in Philippi. That’s his primary reason for writing this letter. At the beginning of chapter 3, he is just winding up into one of his great declarations. Do you know someone who boasts and brags a lot? Of course you do! I do, too. We can roll our eyes, or be really impressed, or somewhere in the middle. Paul right here is really bragging – a lot! At the beginning of this reading, Paul ticks off all the things that make him a super special Jewish person. For real!

          The apostle Paul (who often uses run-on sentences) goes on and on about himself, how much of a super Pharisee and righteous Jew he is, and even filled with great zeal for God. He is single-minded for the Lord! All God, all the time! But then—Paul comes to a complete stop. He says all of his marvelous resume is completely worthless, compared to the mega-awesome, super-special magnificence of knowing his Savior Christ Jesus his Lord. 

Listen: “7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith inChrist.”  

Paul – Saul that was – found his own self-righteous actions and trying to make himself righteous enough for God just did not work. There was no way he could earn enough “brownie points” to be acceptable to God.

In other places in the New Testament, Paul describes what an awful mess he was in when he realized this! The Pharisee Saul had lived his whole life acting self-righteous, putting on a show. Here, in Philippians, Paul cuts straight to the chase. He tells us he no longer trusts in himself or his qualifications. Instead, he trusts in Christ! Absolutely, one hundred percent.

We could consider Paul a boastful, self-important guy! I mean, telling us all of those high and mighty things about himself. And yet – look where he comes down. Remember, Paul writes from the perspective of one who has made a commitment to Jesus; and not just the human Jesus, either.  When our Lord and Savior Jesus appeared to Paul on the Damascus Road, that was a huge earthquake of an experience. The apostle Paul gives fascinating autobiographical details about himself, but then says all of that is worthless – garbage! compared to the ultimate joy of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord. Or, is that Christ Jesus our Lord?

Paul actually uses a swear word here, in verse 8. “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” – meaning, putting aside all his training, and superior resume, and everything else – “I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” We might think of a four-letter swear word to use here instead of “garbage,” and that is exactly what Paul uses in the original Greek. He wrote this letter from jail in Rome. Even still, Paul speaks of the ultimate joy he has, knowing Christ!

            Let’s come at this another way. As a believer, Paul regards “everything” – his impeccable resume, his high position in Jewish society, his self-righteous striving to make brownie points with the Lord – of absolutely no value, in comparison with the far greater worth of knowing Christ. Experiencing and understanding Jesus Christ comes first of all, and is of far greater value to him!

We circle around, back to the phrase we are highlighting today, from the Lord’s Prayer. In this church, we pray it every Sunday. We are lifting up “Hallowed be Thy name” today. That quaint, old-fashioned word “hallowed.” But, what does this word really mean?

The retired Director’ of Children’s Ministries and commentator Carolyn Brown compared hallowed to the words awesome, special and wonderful. This is the very, very, very best. When we say “hallowed be Thy name,” those are words that can be applied only to God. Every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer, just like the apostle Paul, just like Mary of Bethany from today’s Gospel reading, we are saying “God, You are holy, You are the very, very, very best there is in the whole universe.” [1]

            Sure, only a small portion of Christians have a sudden, thunder clap of a Damascus Road encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, like Paul did. Yet, we all name Him holy – or, hallowed. Don’t we? We all pray the Lord’s Prayer, don’t we? 

Life was certainly no walk in the park for Paul, especially here. Yet, we can almost feel his joy right through the printed page. Even though, hardship – yet, there was joy! Even though, trials – yet, Paul felt joy! Even though, sickness – yet, Paul and his friends were joyful!

You and I are probably not in the happiest of places right now, with stress, uncertainty and anxiety all around us. Yet, Paul reminds us, we can experience joy in knowing Christ, the very, very, very best Person in the universe! If we place our trust and hope in Jesus Christ, His joy is available to us, any time! What a marvelous promise. Be joyful in Christ Jesus. Hallowed be His name. Amen.

[1] https://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2016/02/year-c-fifth-sunday-in-lent-march-13.html

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

Unknown's avatar

We Are All Prodigals

by

“We Are All Prodigals”

Luke 15:11-32 (15:3) – March 30, 2025

We have the familiar parable of the Prodigal as our Gospel reading today. One of the best known of the parables, one that resonates with the heart and soul of many. It’s the story of two brothers and a father, the story of discontent and disgruntlement, the story of wandering in a far country, the story of return, and most of all, the story of forgiveness, reconciliation and redemption.

What is the setting for this parable? In verse 1 of chapter 15 we see Jesus sitting down to dinner with a bunch of social outcasts. As far as the scribes and Pharisees were concerned, that is—they were outright offended! How could Rabbi Jesus, a self-respecting, reputable rabbi, be associating with riff-raff, with undesirables, with people like that?

Tax collectors, outcasts and sinners. The upright, righteous Jewish leaders even had rules about associating with those people. They just didn’t. They were forbidden to have any dealings with them at all. But—Rabbi Jesus welcomed the tax collectors and sinners. Get this—He even ate dinner with them!

Except, Jesus wanted to stay in dialogue with these Jewish leaders, so He did was he often did – He told them parables. What a story! “And yet, the characters, the scenario, the family dynamics, are so familiar to us, it is real. And it is true in all the ways that matter, of course, for in one way or another we have lived this story. From one viewpoint or another, this experience is ours.” [1] It’s a story about brothers (or, siblings), about family, a loving father, repentance, and ultimately, about forgiveness.

This younger son was no prize, was he? He had been selfish and self-centered, for sure! Imagine, asking his father for his inheritance right then and there! (Which is kind of like saying that he wished his father had died already!) The nerve of that kid! However, his father went along with it, maybe cashed in some stocks or sold some property, and gave the younger son what he demanded. And, the ungrateful kid promptly goes out of the country to live it up.

One title this parable could have is “The Story of the Lost Son,” because the younger brother goes to a far country, spends all his money in riotous, profligate living, eventually doesn’t have a penny to his name, and is forced to herd pigs for a farmer just to scrape by and earn a pittance.

We heard the first half of this parable in our Scripture reading today. I continue now:

Remember, we left the younger son starving in the pigsty, with the pigs. ““When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.”

It’s so easy to point the finger at this younger son, isn’t it? He was selfish and self-centered, wasn’t he? He didn’t think of anyone else, except for himself. Especially when he lived it up in the far country with high living, wine, women and song. Yet – how often are you and I selfish? Thinking only of our own interests, not caring for anyone else? Sound familiar?

Let’s continue with the parable. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” 

My, goodness! What a turnaround this young guy has had! Sure enough, he has had a major change of heart and mind. We can see how much the father loved his younger son, can’t we? Imagine, a fine, upstanding middle-aged landowner comes running to meet his son, from far away down the road! The father must have had an eye out for his son for some time!

Yet, what about the older brother? What has he been doing all this time that the younger son has been partying it up in the far country? “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’”

Think about it. You and I can easily see how “lost” this younger son was. But, what about the older son? On the surface, he’s the perfect son. Always obedient, always compliant.But underneath? Discontented, disgruntled, resentful, angry. Do we see anything selfish and self-centered about the older son? Even though he stayed at home, he was pretty “lost,” as well.  

We are in the middle of Lent, a season of reflection, contemplation, particularly on our human brokenness and our need for God’s redemption, God’s forgiveness.[2] If we are honest, Lent helps us see the “lostness” of all of us – just as much as both the younger and the older sons were “lost,” too.

Both sons need a change of heart, a repentant heart. And, both sons are equally loved and forgiven by their father. We are considering the part of the Lord’s Prayer this week where we say “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” It doesn’t matter whether we say “sins” or “trespasses” or “debts.” What we are asking God to do is to forgive us! Except, we ask God to forgive us exactly in the same way we forgive others!

Just think about that. If you and I are unforgiving people, why on earth ought God forgive our sins? If I come to the Lord, praying the Lord’s Prayer and asking – petitioning – for God to forgive my sins, how can I – you – we – possibly think we are going to get away with regularly being mean, nasty, and especially unforgiving to others?

            Finally, we consider that Lent is the time when we are following Jesus on His journey towards the cross. “the cross is not a means of payment [for our sins] but rather shows us just how far our prodigal God will go to tell us of God’s immeasurable love. Period.” [3]

            Did you ever think of God being a prodigal? Our prodigal God, wandering in the wilderness, seeking each one of us as we sojourn in the far country. Just like the younger son. And, just like the older son – resentful and disgruntled, and especially unforgiving to others?

            In our parable, what is the father’s response? “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

If we had a title of this parable from the father’s point of view, it could very well be “The Story of the Forgiving Father.” Yes, he freely forgave the younger son for his extreme disrespect, for spending all his father’s hard-earned money, and for crawling back home in such a disreputable condition. Plus, the father was loving and welcoming to his older son, the one who seemed to be permanently disgruntled and resentful, with a huge chip on his shoulder.

Praise God, we know how far our Lord Jesus went to tell us about God’s immeasurable love. He went to the cross, for our redemption. For our forgiveness. And with this parable, Jesus wants us to see how much God loves each one of us, and how willing our loving, caring, nurturing God is to welcome us home. Even going so far as to run down the road to embrace us when we return in penitence and tears, or when we stay at home doing our duty in self-righteous disgruntlement and discontent.

Yes, God forgives! And yes, we are to do the same. As the petition of the Lord’s Prayer says, “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.”  God offers forgiveness to both prodigal sons, all wayward children, no matter what. Remember, what a loving, caring God we have. Always loving, caring and welcoming toward each one of us. Amen!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] http://words.dancingwiththeword.com/2016/02/two-sons-how-will-story-end.html

[2] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/perspective-matters

[3] https://www.davidlose.net/2016/02/lent-4-c-the-prodigal-god/

Unknown's avatar

How Different are God’s Thoughts?

Featured by

“How Different are God’s Thoughts?”

Isaiah 55:1-3, 6-9 (55:2) – March 23, 2025

            Sometimes, I get really, really busy. Involved. Even distracted. Doing a lot of things, sometimes attempting even more than I could possibly ever finish in one day. Sometimes, when I get really involved in things or activities, I don’t even think about God for whole stretches of time–for hours, sometimes even days at a time. Sometimes, I discover I don’t even look for the Lord. I don’t even concern myself with finding God. And every once in a while, I don’t even want to go looking for the Lord.

            I certainly admit it. I have been less than a perfect Christian. There have been numerous times when I’ve forgotten to pray, neglected to study the Bible, sidestepped communication with God. I definitely haven’t hit a bull’s eye in my personal Christian walk 100 percent of the time. I do freely admit it. I have a sneaking feeling that I’m not alone. If we were to admit it to ourselves (and even admit it to a few other people, too!), I suspect we would find a number of honest, repentant people, confessing where they have fallen short in their Christian lives.

            That’s bad news! What can we do about that??

            Looking at our scripture reading for today, I can find several things that may help us out when we consider a big problem like falling short in our lives before God.

            Let’s take a closer look at verses 6 and 7. “Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon God while he is near;” Whoa! The Lord is closer than I thought! God’s right here, johnny-on-the-spot! I have a sneaking suspicion the Lord is right next to me, whenever I look for Him. And I have a feeling God will be right there, immediately, whenever I call.

            While I was writing this sermon, I was reminded of the times I played hide-and-seek with the neighborhood kids when I was young. I bet most of you have played hide-and-seek at one time or another, too. When I was seeking the other players, I knew the object of the game. Look for the other players. I understood what I was supposed to do.

            But, there’s a problem here in the scripture passage, in Isaiah 55:7. The prophet mentions the wicked, who pursue their own wicked ways. They are not following after the Lord. They are not even close to doing what the Lord wants them to do. These wicked people don’t even know what they’re missing. They don’t care about the object of the game. “Let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts.” These wicked people, these unrighteous guys are even thinking bad thoughts, thoughts that are not pleasing to the Lord!

            Again, that’s bad news! What can we do about that??

            I’ve been talking about some pretty negative people, and some pretty negative actions, where some people actively go out of their way to be disobedient and disruptive. Some people are like that. The Bible often talks about those kinds of actions and that particular kind of people

            Now, I’ll go off in a slightly different direction—still away from the Lord, but just different. Sometimes, other people get the “busy-sickness.” You know the type. Running around like chickens with their heads cut off.. In a dad-blamed hurry, frantic, running, rushing and dashing around, sometimes even without any clear direction. Sometimes their thought-life (our thought-life?) can be the same way—scattered, rushed, not able to concentrate.

            What’s more, in this culture of consumer abundance, we can become preoccupied with our belongings, with our “stuff.” This sneaky kind of mind-set can sneak into our brains! What we possess and what we think we “need” can be a source of control.[1] Sometimes it can really be difficult for me – for you – for us to figure out what we truly need. Sadly, it’s often something that redirects our minds away from God, which is never good!   

            Again, that’s bad news! What can we do about that? What do you think the Lord might say to those people? What do think the Lord might say to us, to you and me?

            I see the answer right here, in verses 7 and 8. The prophet tells us straight out. “Let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Mercy! Pardon! To me, that sounds an awful lot like GRACE. The Lord wants us to return to Him! The Lord IS gracious! The Lord WILL abundantly pardon! I don’t know about you, but I think that is exciting news.

            I had a general idea of what “pardon” meant, but I wanted to find out the exact meaning. According to Webster’s dictionary, pardon means “to excuse or forgive an offense or penalty.” Wow!! That means even if I do something wrong, or think something I shouldn’t, in God’s eyes, God will abundantly pardon me–God will forgive me!! And God will abundantly forgive you, as well! That’s truly good news!

            Here in Isaiah 55, as we say thank you to God for that marvelous pardon and forgiveness, we also see God providing good gifts for us. The phrase we highlight from the Lord’s Prayer is “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.” With as often as we pray the Lord’s Prayer, I suspect God would be really pleased if we took this part of the prayer seriously.

We know what many of the things that please God look like. We can even make a list! As we consider God’s good gifts, and God’s kingdom, there will be food for everyone, everyone feels loved and loves others, people find ways of settling problems other than war and fighting, and when people hurt each other, people forgive each other.

            We can praise God that – just as in verse 5 where God pours out on God’s people the blessings God promised to King David – the Lord will pour out those blessings on earth! Just as these blessings are true every day now in heaven, they will one day soon be true upon earth. Especially if we all work to make these blessings and love and caring for each other happen! [2]   

            God will be there for us when we need it! God will forgive, and have abundant grace and mercy and pardon for us, and we can count on that! We can have the assurance that as we come near to the Lord, the Lord will draw near to us! What a promise. What a God. Amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/a/18-a/FR-18-a.html

[2] https://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2016/01/year-c-third-sunday-in-lent-february-28.html

Unknown's avatar

Under His Wings

Featured by

“Under His Wings”

Luke 13:31-35 (13:34) – March 16, 2025

During this season of Lent, our focus is on love.

When we think of the animal kingdom—and let’s broaden that to all birds and beasts, all creatures great and small—how does love fit into the picture? Picture this. A mama cat or dog, licking and cleaning her little ones. A mama horse or elephant or dolphin, feeding her baby. A mother hen on her nest, spreading out her feathers, her wings, to keep her chicks warm and safe at night. All loving and caring pictures. All maternal. Motherly. 

When we think about God and God’s actions, maternal and motherly images are not necessarily the first things that pop into a person’s mind.  

This little, short Scripture reading from Dr. Luke today really packs a lot into it! Just four verses, and, my! We start with some Pharisees, coming to warn the Rabbi Jesus. Many Pharisees were part of the Jewish leadership, which generally did not look very kindly upon Jesus. However, these particular Pharisees warned the Rabbi Jesus that King Herod was out to get Him, and there is definitely trouble ahead!

This is one of the times that Jesus is reported calling someone a name, and probably (knowing what we know about Jesus) His words were ironic. Jesus says, “Go and tell that fox: ‘I am driving out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I shall finish my work.’” The appellation “that fox” most probably meant “that wily, scheming person!” All of which was true, concerning King Herod!

Except, we are not going to focus primarily on foxes for our sermon today. No, we are going to continue on in our reading, and examine more closely what Jesus says and does next. But, just one mention first – Herod was someone who did a lot of evil things!

I said last week that we will look at a phrase (or petition) of the Lord’s Prayer each week in Lent. This week we think of “Deliver us from evil.” As we consider nasty King Herod and his evil clutches, being delivered from Herod certainly qualifies as being delivered from evil! But, that is this particular situation, with the Rabbi Jesus. There are plenty of other evil things and evil people in the world, more than enough to go around!

A clear, simple definition of evil is “bad stuff.” When we think of all the bad stuff we need to be saved from, we can come up with quite a list! Bullies, diseases, war, unemployment, natural disasters, anger and bitterness, being greedy. And that is hardly scratching the surface of all the evils that can happen! One of the best, straight forward translations of this part of the Lord’s Prayer is “Lord, save us from all the bad stuff that happens.” [1]

As our commentator on Psalm 27, Beth Tanner, says, “With all of the violence in our world, Christians are faced almost daily with a decision to live in fear, or despite their fear, to trust in God and God’s promises.“ [2]  “Deliver us from evil” is a powerful prayer! A prayer of trust and assurance in God’s provision, in God’s ability to keep us safe, whatever our situation.

Which brings us to the other image Jesus brings up in this short Gospel reading. Jesus says, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets, you stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me!”

In my imagination, I can just see our Lord Jesus, on a hill looking down on a large portion of the city of Jerusalem. His heart is broken, and He says these very sad, very heart-breaking things about the city – and about the residents of the city. And by extension, about the Jewish people. Here is a very maternal, motherly image, “just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” Jesus sees Himself as the loving, caring, nurturing mother hen!

When many people think of our Lord Jesus, often the images that come to mind are strong and mighty. The Lion of the tribe of Judah. The Messiah, the King. The Son of God, the Miracle Worker, the Lord Jesus Christ. All strong, powerful images!  

One of our commentators, Karoline Lewis, reflects that women are made in the image of God just as much as men are. She goes on to say, “if you rarely, if ever, hear about God’s femininity, female images for God, or female characteristics of God, then even that biblical truth will be hard to believe. And, if God is mostly assumed to be male, referred to with male pronouns, and described as male, then it will be more difficult and take more energy to imagine God in female categories — and to believe that you have a place in the kingdom of God.” [3]

I am reminded of the summer sermon series I preached in 2023, where I featured many of the maternal, motherly images of God in both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. This mothering image used by our Lord Jesus in Luke 13 reminded me of a newer hymn, found in several newer hymnals. The lyrics for hymns are often theological, moving and stirring, emotionally and intellectually. Here is the first verse of a hymn called “Mothering God.”\

Mothering God, you gave me birth / in the bright morning of this world.

Creator, source of ev’ry breath, / you are my rain, my wind, my sun. [4]

Of course God has male attributes and characteristics. God also has female attributes and characteristics, as we can see from this motherly word picture that Jesus uses!

            Jesus welcomes us into His embrace, into His community of love and caring. Just as a lost little chick who finally finds the way home into the nest, into his or her mother hen’s warm feathery embrace, so we can find our way into a community of caring, love, nourishing and belonging. I hope our church community extends that caring and loving welcome to everyone. Jesus wants us to know that we are welcome with Him, always.  

            Are you still searching for that community of belonging? That warm, caring place? I pray that we all may find it. Not only here, in this community, but especially in the embrace of Jesus.

            Amen, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2016/01/year-c-second-sunday-in-lent-february.html

[2]  https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/second-sunday-in-lent-3/commentary-on-psalm-27-3

[3]  https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/love-and-belonging

[4] “Mothering God, you gave me birth,” Evangelical Lutheran Worship, hymn #735,

Unknown's avatar

Tempted by the Devil!

Featured by

“Tempted by the Devil!”

Luke 4:1-13 (4:2) – March 9, 2025

With the coming of March, our thoughts can turn to the coming of spring, of Easter, and of spring break. My son Peter will have spring break this coming week, and he has taken advantage of the opportunity to go on a trip. He flew to New York City for six days, to spend time with one of his good friends who is now living there. My son was very much looking forward to this journey, and I hope he has a wonderful time with his friend.  

My son has not made a journey like this for several years. The last trip he made two years ago was by train to New England. As I have been thinking about Lent, similarities with travel popped into my head. The Rabbi Jesus traveled a great deal through His life. He made stops at various places, staying at some for a longer time, some for a shorter time.  Jesus made a journey; a significant journey, a lifelong journey. Specifically, His journey through His public ministry is the subject matter for the four gospels in the New Testament.

Our scripture passage for today tells us about the beginning of that journey. This is one of the first major things recorded in the New Testament. The temptation of our Lord is a really significant event that happened to Jesus. Yes, it’s huge in His life experience. And, we can gather many spiritual principles and several excellent Scriptural examples for our hearts and lives.

We know about the temptations that the Devil used to try to get under Jesus’ guard. These words help to provide us with a big map, where we can more clearly see Jesus and the beginning of His journey. In the same way, each of us has started our individual journey through life. We are all on the way. We all have stops at various places, some big, life-changing events, and some small, little happenings that are hardly worth writing home about. But, all of us are on a journey, too, and we’re actively involved in our journey, at any point along the way.

This Scripture reading is – as I said – foundational for the life and experience of Jesus. Each of our Scripture readings during Lent will be telling us about one of the phrases (or, as they are referred to in “church-speak,” petitions) from the Lord’s Prayer. These clear connections are not necessarily in order, but all the phrases are there. We say the Lord’s Prayer each week; this pattern prayer is meaningful to untold millions of people. Today’s connection is to “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” [1]

Except – what does temptation look like for each of us? If we are unsure about exactly what temptations are, we might not be able to avoid them. Or, we might not be able to answer the Devil back when he tempts us with these sneaky, shiny, sleek, or surprising temptations.  

If we consider some temptations for our children, or our grandchildren, recognizing them can be more straightforward. For example, we might list some familiar temptations such as a plate of cookies left on the counter, or a cool item (maybe a smart phone) left unattended in a very public place, or a set of test answers in such plain view that you can hardly help but see them on the desk of the student next to you. [2]

 However, it’s harder and more nuanced when we come to adult temptations. Sure, some are obvious! Like tempting to outright steal, or flat out lie, or hoodwink blatantly, or a “racy” conversation about sex, or drugs, or power dynamics. Can you and I resist when such tempting rewards are dangled in front of us?

We can read about the three temptations that Jesus faced in the wilderness. You remember, the Devil said, “If you are God’s Son…” Yes, and we see how absolutely effective Jesus was at confronting the Devil with direct quotes from the Word of God! Praise God, we can pattern our lives and behavior after our Lord Jesus.

What would Jesus do today, with our current temptations? Really, and seriously?

In today’s Gospel reading from Dr. Luke, we see Jesus going toe to toe with the Devil. Yes, the Devil is trying “to sow mistrust! You may go hungry; you do not have enough; how do you know God is trustworthy?” [3] We see that our Lord Jesus replies with Scripture. I consider knowing the Bible that well is certainly a help in time of trouble, a refuge and a strength, truly!

Following our Lord’s example, you and I can also get familiar with the Word of God. We can read it on a regular basis, and get so well acquainted with it that we will also be able to answer the little and not-so-little temptations that come up each and every day. To quote from Psalm 119:11, “Your Word I have hid in my heart, that I may not sin against You.” Plus, reading God’s Word, the Bible, is a wonderful way of building a relationship with our Heavenly Father. This is another tool that God gives to us, to help us along the journey through life.

Except – is our simple solution simply having a magic Bible verse for every situation?

As commentator Dr. David Lose says, he wonders “if it’s not so much that Jesus quotes Scripture to deflect temptation as it is that Jesus finds in Scripture the words to give voice to his trust. Because at the heart of each reply is Jesus’ absolute trust in – and dependence on – God for his identity and future.” [4]

I would like each of us today to consider the crucial link between trust and temptation. If we allow natural insecurity to twist our minds and hearts so that we mistrust God for our daily needs, our daily bread (to quote the Lord’s Prayer), where does that leave us? I think that natural insecurity, that lack of trust in our Heavenly Parent leaves each of us flailing and floundering in the wilderness, not on the journey with Jesus. This is the really important part: flailing and floundering is exactly where the Devil wants us to be!  

If that mistrust of God is the case, then we are open to the possibility, appeal, and temptation of the proposition that it is all up to us, that God is not able to provide and so we’d better take matters into our own hands. [5]

Certainly, we are each on the journey with Jesus. It is a day-by-day journey, one day at a time. The best part is that Jesus is traveling with us, by our side. That’s a promise, too. There is a lot to celebrate! God has promised never to leave us, or forsake us. Even though life happens, even though tough times come, Jesus travels with us. And that’s a promise we all can trust.

Amen, amen!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] Http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2016/01/year-c-first-sunday-in-lent-february-14.html

[2] Ibid.

[3] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/trust-and-temptation

[4]  Ibid,

[5] Ibid.

Unknown's avatar

Dazzling White!

Featured by

“Dazzling White!”

Luke 9:28-36 (9:35) – March 2, 2025

Have you ever seen a caterpillar? I know that crawly caterpillars are not particularly exciting to look at. Walking around on multiple little feet, eating big hunks of leaves and generally being crawly – some might say a bit creepy. As caterpillars begin to go through the process of changing from a rather ugly crawly thing into a breathtaking, lovely butterfly, that multiple-day process is called metamorphosis. How remarkable to see a new butterfly coming out of a chrysalis! As it has turned from a crawly caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly!  

I know, this natural process takes a great number of days, and we cannot closely compare the caterpillar-to-butterfly to our Bible reading today. Except – in a marvelous, unexpected way, we can. As we stop, look and see our Lord Jesus transforming His appearance on top of the mountain, I am reminded of the beautiful butterfly we see coming out of the chrysalis.

Christian tradition tells us Luke was a doctor—and a Gentile, a Greek. The only non-Jewish writer of two books of the Bible. Three of the Gospel accounts show us the Transfiguration. But, Dr. Luke is the only one who adds the description of Jesus leading the other three disciples up on the mountain. Let’s take those three disciples, Peter, James, and John, his brother. Jesus asks them to climb with Him to the top of a mountain to pray. This was a regular thing that Jesus did—not the mountain part, but going away by Himself—or with a couple of other people—to pray and meditate in depth.

And, what is the reaction of the three disciples? Where do we find our faithful friends, Peter, James and John? Fast asleep. Again. We do not know why or how they wake up, but they did. They wake to the sight of Jesus looking dazzling bright, whiter than snow, brighter than anything they had ever seen.  

Dr. Luke says, “The appearance of his face changed” (Luke 9:29). “The appearance. He didn’t look like what they were used to looking at. He looked different. He looked … more. Transfigured is the word that we are used to reading here. That sounds more holy somehow, more theological than to say simply that he changed. But the Greek word here is metamorphothe, from which we get metamorphosis. Or change.” [1]

This event is truly a situation where I can say: Oh. My. God!!

I do think our friends the disciples have a bit of a problem. Here they have their Rabbi Jesus, the best example of Godly living the world has ever seen. The best example of living with a close and deep relationship with God, with prayer and meditation front and center in His life. And where are they at this significant time in the life of Jesus? Asleep at the switch. Not paying attention, not getting involved or participating.

Remember, even though the disciples followed Jesus, the disciples were not exactly sure who the Rabbi Jesus really and truly was, before the Transfiguration. True, they understood the Rabbi Jesus was especially anointed by God, and was a definite prophet and miracle-worker, and anointed preacher. They had been traveling with Jesus. They ate with Him and even bunked down by Him at night. You get to know a person very well if you do that for long enough. The disciples knew that Jesus was something special.  However, these earnest disciples may have been confused about the exact identity of who they were following.   

Our Lord Jesus did not need the Transfiguration, certainly. He was rock solid in His identity, and knew He was God’s Son. He understood His mission here on earth. Who needed the Transfiguration, then? God did this special showing or metamorphosis in particular for the disciples, for Peter, James and John. And for those who would later read about it – all of us.

Yes, our Lord Jesus appeared all dazzling white, and was deep in conversation on top of the mountain with a transfigured Moses and Elijah. These disciples had been eye-witnesses to some really big miracles, even before this mountaintop experience! Except … these three certainly were puzzled and amazed here. And, I get the feeling that these three and the other disciples at the bottom of the mountain looked that way most of the time!

 “They knew Jesus was special, but they were never quite sure what that meant.  By wrapping Jesus in a shiny cloud and incredible clothes, God was telling the disciples, ‘Jesus is more than a special person.  Jesus is God with you.’” [2]

What happened on top of that mountain was much more than just a spectacular laser, fog and lights show, with fancy costumes. As Jesus – and Moses and Elijah – appeared in dazzling white, glorious robes, the essence of Jesus became more visible, more obvious. Our Lord Jesus was the same Person who climbed the mountain, the same Person who went down again. He displayed even more of Himself on that mountaintop. He is always who He is, just as Jesus is always present in the fullness of His being.[3]  

And, if that picture is not mind-blowing, I do not know what is!

How can we open our ears and take this narrative into our hearts and lives today? Remember, Jesus took the disciples away to pray with them, there on the mountain top. What happened, again? They didn’t pay attention. They fell asleep. How often do we do the same thing? How often do we just go through the motions? How often do we want the same old experiences and are hesitant to accept any change in life or church or a new part of the service? How often are we more concerned with what our fellow believers are wearing than the condition of their hearts?  Their souls? Their emotional lives? Their physical well-being? Wouldn’t Jesus concern Himself with real people’s lives, with prayer and word and praise? Or would Jesus get sidetracked like the disciples? Going through the motions?

Hard to imagine our Lord Jesus doing anything of the kind.

As we gather in this place for communion today, we remember. Jesus said, “Do this to remember Me.” Do what? Pray together. Participate together. More specifically, all of us are to participate in the communion meal, where Jesus is revealed in the breaking of the bread.

And afterwards, we are sent forth to bring Jesus into the world. Jesus, God’s Chosen One! Jesus, the hope of the nations! Jesus, the Prince of peace.  Alleluia! Amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

(Many thanks to the website www.umcdiscipleship.org for their preaching notes for Transfiguration Sunday! I am very grateful to this wonderful website for several significant ideas for this sermon.)

[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/where-you-are-far-horizons/transfiguration-sunday-year-c-lectionary-planning-notes/transfiguration-sunday-year-c-preaching-notes

[2] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2013/01/year-c-transfiguration-of-lord-february.html

[3] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/where-you-are-far-horizons/transfiguration-sunday-year-c-lectionary-planning-notes/transfiguration-sunday-year-c-preaching-notes