Who is Hallowed?

“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: “⁷But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What 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 ⁹and 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!

We Are All Prodigals

March 30, 2025 by chaplaineliza

“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! ¹⁸I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰So 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. ²⁶So 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. ²⁹But 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. ³⁰But 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. ³²But 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/

How Different are God’s Thoughts?

Featured by chaplaineliza

“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

Under His Wings

Featured by chaplaineliza

“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,

Tempted by the Devil!

Featured by chaplaineliza

“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.

Dazzling White!

Featured by chaplaineliza

“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

We Should Love WHO?

Featured by chaplaineliza

“We Should Love WHO?”

Luke 6:27-38 (6:35) – February 23, 2025

Throughout history, we can trace many battles between enemies. I don’t mean outright war, like between armies with guns and tanks and bombs, but I mean enemies, nevertheless. Serious sports rivalries can turn ugly, causing fistfights and even rioting. Factions and strife in a town can even cause a cohesive neighborhood to break up. And in recent times, political differences can cause serious rifts between former friends. Deep tension even makes family members stop speaking to each other, sometimes for years.

What is this corrosive feeling between enemies? Some say envy, others say fear, others say hatred, plain and simple. Which brings us to the Gospel reading for today. What does Jesus say about enemies?

First, we need to back up, and remind ourselves of what came just before. Or rather, what we heard last week. Just a reminder that Luke chapter 6 contains much of the same information that Jesus preached in Matthew, chapters 5, 6 and 7. Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount—leading off with the Beatitudes—is summarized in about one third of the space, right here. In Dr. Luke’s Sermon on the Plain.

I do not want you to take my word for it! Let us listen to the words of our Lord Jesus, again, the words I am highlighting for us from the Sermon on the Plain. “²⁷“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹If anyone hits you on one cheek, let him hit the other one too; if someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you for something, and when someone takes what is yours, do not ask for it back. ³¹Do for others just what you want them to do for you.”

Loving our families? Yes, certainly. Loving our acquaintances? Well, that seems possible. But, loving our enemies? Those who are mean to us, or hurt us? Humanly impossible!

How on earth does anyone expect us to love our enemies? “Are these words we really want to hear, to really listen to, and perhaps change our lives around? Well, no, let’s be honest. [Especially in today’s political climate] we live in a world that nurses grudges, that licks wounds, that lives to get even. Talk about swimming against the tide. These words of Jesus here in the Gospel of Luke sound like a discordant note out of tune in the symphony of our lives. Love your enemies? Come on!” [1]

How does Jesus expect anyone to even come close to loving their enemies?

Jesus’ own country of Israel was under occupation. Just imagine occupied France or the Netherlands during World War II under Nazi occupation, and you are on the right track. The hated Romans were Israel’s overlords, and the whole country had to pay Roman taxes. Essentially, paying tribute to Caesar and his armies. The Roman soldiers threw their weight around, and it was backed up by the threat of force of arms. In other words, Roman garrisons were stationed in towns throughout Israel, keeping the populace in line and making certain there was order in Rome’s occupied territory.

Somehow, I doubt whether the Rabbi Jesus scored many points with either the Jewish leaders or the Jewish people by preaching about loving their enemies.

Let’s take a closer look at what our Lord Jesus actually said. He repeats the same charge, the same command, four times. Jesus says, and I quote, “Love your enemies. do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.” In other words, love those who hate you. Love those who curse you. Love those who abuse you.

In Scripture, where there is repetition, pay attention! The speaker is making a huge point! And, repeating it four times, with slight variations – Jesus underlines His point, right here!

Jesus actually provides more context. Love, do good, bless, pray for. In these four specific but related ways Jesus tells us how to put this command into practice! Jesus is NOT telling us just to roll over, or play dead, or sit and take whatever enemies deal out. No! Jesus “doesn’t tell us to be the doormat of anyone and everyone. What He tells us is, don’t become them. Don’t harbor the kind of corrosive hate that allows abuse and cursing to happen.” [2]

I would like to remind everyone that this Gospel reading from Luke this morning features the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In the United Nations Building in New York there is a large mosaic by Norman Rockwell that depicts people of all ages, of different genders, and many nationalities; embedded within the tiles are those same words, the words of the Golden Rule. Yes, they are the words of our Lord Jesus! We need to recognize that they are also words from other faiths, other traditions, and other cultures. [3]

We can see how we might begin to love our enemies, by treating them the way we want to be treated ourselves. Please, notice the variations in what Jesus says. “Do good” means encounter, to get close enough to impact our enemy’s life, in some way. As we encounter in love, we are treating our enemies as we ourselves wish to be treated.

When we “bless” our enemies, that can be at arm’s length. Perhaps it is not so safe to come nose to nose with our enemies. When enemies are cursing us, sometimes it might be very prudent to step back. However, we can still bless them, with all sincerity! Blessings can come from a distance, and be just as effective, too.

We can “pray” while our enemy or abuser is at work or some distance away. And, we always need to act with prudence and wisdom. It is so important that we “pray for God’s healing and God’s love to transform the abuser. Leave behind the inclination to return the hurt as you have been hurt. [That inclination] doesn’t help with healing. It doesn’t make right what has been a horrible wrong. Let it go and love. Love from a distance. Or better yet, pray that God’s love can do what your love is incapable of at the moment.” [4]

And if all else fails – if we just cannot, cannot love enemies by our frail, human selves – we can pray that God will step in and love our enemies with us, through us, and even – despite us.

Please God, help us all to love our enemies, as Jesus commands. If you need help? Ask Jesus. He will help us to love everyone, and help us as we follow Him.

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 Epiphany 7! 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/seventh-sunday-after-the-epiphany-year-c-lectionary-planning-notes/seventh-sunday-after-the-epiphany-year-c-preaching-notes

[2] Ibid.

[3] https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/weekly-worship/monthly/2025-february/sunday-23-february-2025-seventh-sunday-after-epiphany-year-c

[4] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/where-you-are-far-horizons/seventh-sunday-after-the-epiphany-year-c-lectionary-planning-notes/seventh-sunday-after-the-epiphany-year-c-preaching-notes

Let’s Go Deep!

Featured by chaplaineliza

“Let’s Go Deep!”

Luke 5:1-11 (5:4) – February 9, 2025

When did God become real to you? Were you sitting in Sunday school, when you felt deep within that God was real, and you felt wonder? Or, were you at a camp or retreat, around a campfire, when something let you know God was the real thing, and you felt nothing but awe? Or, perhaps, were you praying next to a loved one’s bed in the hospital, and you powerfully understood that God is real, and you felt deep comfort? Have you had a God-encounter?

The situation here today is where God becomes real for these people. Edward just read the Gospel lesson from Luke 5 to us, and we heard about Jesus calling the first disciples. But, we need to back up in this reading, before the Rabbi Jesus calls anyone to be a disciple.

We break into the action quite early in the public ministry of Jesus. So early, in fact, that He has not even called anyone to follow Him, to be His disciples. We see Rabbi Jesus, alone, teaching, preaching, healing, and beginning His ministry. Luke starts off with the phrase “One day as Jesus was standing on the shore of the Lake of Gennesaret.” I think Doctor Luke meant this to say that this was a typical day in the life of Jesus. Teaching, preaching, doing miracles. All in a day’s activities, for the Rabbi Jesus.

But, Jesus is not the only one mentioned in this Gospel reading today. We are introduced to Simon. (or Simon Peter, but that name comes later on.) Simon did not have a good night fishing. In those days, people fished at night.

“The fishermen would spend the night in the shallows, tossing their nets and pulling in the catch. Then as dawn broke, they would bring the fish to shore and sell them at the market. Because of a lack of facilities for preserving fish, this was a daily event. Except this day.” [1]

Have you ever had a bad day (or night) at work, too? Or how about at school? Has everything gone off the rails? Did you get off on the wrong foot? Or, was your supervisor, or teacher, or co-worker just downright grumpy, and their negative attitude threw a monkey wrench into the whole day?

I suspect our friend – and future disciple – Simon could relate. He caught nothing the whole night long, so he had nothing to sell at the local market, and nothing to take to his folks at home to eat. No one knows for certain how Simon was feeling, but I know that many people in a similar situation would feel demoralized, defeated, or just plain empty inside. All because the nets had been empty all night long! But this Gospel reading does not only feature Jesus and Simon, No, there is a crowd, too!

The crowds who have gathered to hear the Rabbi Jesus teach and preach—and watch the miracles!—I suspect are filled with wonder, curiosity, and questions. Who is this rabbi with such clarity in teaching the word of God? Who is this rabbi with such power and authority? Yes, we see the people crowding around Jesus so much that He got in a boat by the seashore, put out a little way, and then preached to the crowd.

(Did you know—little known fact—that Jesus was using the natural amplification of the water to make His voice heard better? When someone is out in the water a little distance from shore, their voice can be heard as naturally amplified because of the sound waves bouncing off or echoing off of the surface of the water and traveling on towards the shore.)

Doctor Luke tells us what happened next. When Jesus was done preaching, He asked Simon to cast off, take the boat out again, and lower his nets. Now, fishermen would customarily dock the boats, then wash their nets away from the boats. They had already cleaned up after a night and early morning’s work and were ready to go home. [2]

And yes, this non-fisherman Rabbi Jesus asked Simon to start all over again. To go out into the deep water and go fishing – again! In the daytime! Against his better judgment, Simon agrees to traipse out to the deep water to go fishing, even though they have worked hard all night, because Jesus requested that he and his co-workers go out and try fishing again.

We know what happened. Hardly had the nets gone into the water, but the fish came swimming into the nets. The nets were filled to bursting! It was a miracle. Simon Peter and his co-workers experienced it—they were eye witnesses.

“Just think. A little invitation from Jesus, a small inconvenience, and before you know it, Simon was in over his head. Did Jesus show up that day looking for followers? Or was that a bonus? The catch of the day?” [3] Was this all because Jesus asked them to go deep, and to set sail for deep waters?

What was the surprising response? Continuing from Luke 5: “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”⁹For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.”

What happened? Simon Peter had a God-encounter, there in the boat. God became real to him. Simon Peter deeply experienced God as very real to his life, but couldn’t handle it. What is Jesus’s unexpected response? Jesus tells Simon Peter and his co-workers, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” Jesus calls them into a God-encounter.

For Simon Peter and his co-workers, his friends, this was decision-time. They decided to drop their nets on the shore, leave their boats where they were, and follow Jesus. There were many, many people in the crowd who also had the opportunity to follow Jesus, but they did not. The crowd only stayed for the good preaching and the miracles, not the following-Jesus-part.

Has Jesus struck you to the heart and soul, like Peter? Has God become real to you, through this Scripture reading? I encourage you to follow Him today. Thank Him for forgiving your shortcomings and sins. Thank Jesus for inviting you to come with Him for the journey.

What can we do with this newfound, exciting relationship with God? Become a disciple. Go out and talk about how God became real in your life. Talk about God’s Good News, today. God will be wonderfully praised by all who tell how God has become very real to them, and changed their hearts and lives.

How has God become real to you? Go deep. Become a disciple. Go and tell.

@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.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/where-you-are-far-horizons/fifth-sunday-after-the-epiphany-year-c-lectionary-planning-notes/fifth-sunday-after-the-epiphany-year-c-preaching-notes

[2] http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/c/5-c/A-5-c.html

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

Love: God’s Better Way

Featured by chaplaineliza

“Love: God’s Better Way”

1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (13:4) – February 2, 2025

One of the most popular themes for songs is that of love. Songs that describe love of one person for another, or songs that tell about how awful it is to have unrequited love. Also, songs that tell about the emotions and feelings that come with being “in love.”

One classic popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David talks about love in a basic and simple way. Saying, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.”

What is the state of the world, anyway? Judging from a quick view of the local news, the city of Chicago, the state of Illinois, the federal government, the uproar in Washington D.C., unemployment, not to mention abuse of different kinds—against women, children, and seniors. That is not even mentioning the various armed conflicts throughout the world—fights over territory, disputes over resources, differences between people of different religious beliefs.

What can possibly bring harmony, hope and wholeness into the world today?

This brings us to our scripture reading for the day, from 1 Corinthians 13. This chapter is called the Love Chapter. It is so often used as a scripture text for weddings! Perhaps you or a friend or relative had this chapter read at a wedding. But, did you know that the apostle Paul did not write this chapter to glorify romantic love?

One of my favorite commentators, Karoline Lewis, states “that this “Wedding Text” is not a passive, observable event that seeks our affirmation and support, but something that calls for our participation. This is not a text where we are asked to look on as guests, dressed for a party and seated dutifully in the church pews, but rather necessitates our involvement.” [1] Did you hear? Our participation! Our involvement!

We are not supposed to sit quietly in a pew and let love happen to us. We are not supposed to sit in the bleachers while the professionals handle this love business. No! Let us take a closer look at exactly what Paul tells us to do, and how we are to get involved.

Let us listen again to a portion of the words of 1 Corinthians 13, as brought up to date by Eugene Peterson in his modern translation “The Message.” “Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel.”

This is a penetrating way to teach people. Show them by example—examples of how not to love. Examples of jealousy or boasting, arrogance or rudeness. And especially, an example of a horrible injustice, where people are openly bigoted against females. (This can also be true of people who are bigoted about other differences, too, like about handicaps, or people of color, or of a different class of people, or of other nationalities or countries of origin.)

Those bad examples? Paul shows us clearly in this passage—don’t do those things! Don’t be that way! Sometimes, a bad example is the quickest way to our hearts and minds.

Paul was involved in a longer argument here in chapters 12 and 13 of his first letter to the Corinthian believers. Chapter 12 was all about the spiritual gifts that came from God, and meant for the strengthening of the body of Christ – the Church. Then in chapter 13, Paul zeros in on the most excellent of all of these God-given gifts. The gift of love. (or, charity, if we are speaking in a more flowery, King-James-version kind of a way).

In this section I just read, Paul tells his friends and former church members what love is definitely not! Doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, isn’t always “Me First!” Paul was making comparisons here! He had lived in the city of Corinth for many months, while he was pastor of this young church. He knew the rough and tumble, political attitude of the general population of the city of Corinth. Plus, he knew that this uncaring, callous attitude was rubbing off on the people inside of the church, too! That is why he wrote these words.

If we want to find out more about 1^st century Corinth, “Charity [or, love] was not the activity of his opponents that spread their agenda. They promoted themselves, acted with arrogance, even engaged in shameful activities (backdoor politics?). As they sought personal gain, they provoked others, instilled animosities, and celebrated when others “lost face.” These were not the hallmarks of Christian community.” [2] In fact, all this crony-ism and inside politics sounds sadly familiar to me. But then, I grew up here in Chicago.

Instead, the apostle Paul gives us a marvelous example of what true love – and Godly caring, support, empathy – looks like. Listen again: “Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.”

I don’t need to scramble and strive to love all by myself, trying really, really hard. It’s not all me, putting together my own faulty, human kind of caring. No! God freely gives gifts of love to all God’s children. That is what true love looks like. This is what true church looks like, too.

We can clearly see that Paul’s ministry of love, harmony and wholeness is for the whole world. Not just about taking care of those in our own families, although that’s important. It’s more than “taking care of our own,” although that is certainly laudable. It’s about showing love for everyone. For those affected by loneliness, or despair, disaster or disease wherever they are, without exclusion of those not like us or even of those we fear. Everyone.

Ending as I began, we look again at the Bacharach and David song, “What the World Needs Now.” The chorus of the song tells us the world needs love, sweet Godly love. Needs it badly. “No, not just for some, but for every, every, everyone.” Amen, Lord. 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/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fourth-sunday-after-epiphany-3/commentary-on-1-corinthians-131-13-3

[2] http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/c/4-c/SR-4-c.html

God-Given Gifts!

Featured by chaplaineliza

“God-Given Gifts!”

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (12:12) – January 26, 2025

At this time of the year, many people get all excited about sports. Hockey, basketball, and especially football. The end of the football season is upon us! There are many different types of positions on a football team. I was wondering: how good would a team be if all of the players were big and bulky, like offensive linemen? Or, how about if all the players wiry and nimble, like wide receivers? How successful would a team like that be?

The Apostle Paul told the church in Corinth about another group, or team. Except, he called it a body—God’s Body. God put together all the different believers into a team, or body called the church. God’s team. When we consider our Bible reading for today, we can also see that God made different kinds of gifts. God’s plan is for human beings to live together in one body. That is, with one another, in a great big community, in all its colorful diversity.

What on earth is Paul talking about? A body? Why is he mentioning a metaphor like that? He was responding to a letter from the church in the city of Corinth. He had spent a number of months in the city, teaching and preaching. Then, he went on his way to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to other cities. He was an itinerant preacher and missionary, after all. I suspect Paul had a great number of people sending him letters, asking him questions, wanting his advice about continuing problems in the various churches he had founded. A number of big things were the matter with the church in Corinth. In his letter, Paul tried to correct several issues, including this important issue about spiritual gifts, and unity in the church.

What is the background of today’s reading? One chapter before, in chapter 11, Paul offers instruction on public worship. He deals with the believers in church acting inappropriately, and lets them know they ought to straighten up, and be unified – together! Then, in chapter 12, Paul continues the theme of unity – except he brings in the wonderful concept of spiritual gifts in the Church. Diversity of spiritual gifts, given to each member of the Church, of the Body of Christ.

That is not just a few members, or only some members of the Church. It is not even most members of the Church. God gives gifts to ALL members of the Church, of the Body of Christ. Each person in the Church, no matter who, no matter where they are from, is a beloved member of the Body of Christ. That is the Church Universal, and God gives gifts to all.

Not just the church on this side of Morton Grove, not just the church that holds their worship services in English, not just the church that has people who “look like us.” No, each individual person is beloved, and is given a share in the diverse gifts of the worldwide Body of Christ. Can you, can I possibly imagine the diversity in that worldwide body? And, can you, can I possibly begin to understand that God is so pleased when we all, worldwide, agree together and act and worship and live together in unity as a loving Body of Christ?

We all are probably familiar with a popular children’s toy. Put out by Hasbro, small children have played with it for decades. Made even more famous by an appearance in Toy Story movies from Pixar. Mr. Potato Head, accompanied by his partner, Mrs. Potato Head, of course. You remember how Mr. Potato Head works. A large potato. And, the separate parts of the body: eyes, ears, nose, mouth. Hands, feet.

Reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s metaphor of the Church, the body of Christ, doesn’t it? But what if our Potato Head had all eyes, and no hands? Or, all ears and no feet? What then? Lopsided? Wouldn’t work properly? Just imagine if our local church, St. Luke’s Church, was all lopsided like this? Wouldn’t work properly? Not only is the Church meant to have unity, and work well together, it is also made up of diverse or different parts, on purpose!

Looking back at Genesis, we can see that diversity is definitely in God’s plan for humanity from the very beginning. The sheer creativity of God in creation is so big and so varied. A countless variety of individuals made in every size, shape, color, ethnicity. Having endless variations of gifts and abilities that God gave to each of us.

This is a recurring problem in Corinth – the people were convinced that some people and some gifts were better than others. They completely missed Paul’s repeated statements that God gives a multitude of diverse gifts and abilities to all of God’s beloved, diverse church members! Not that some church members were better, or more popular, or had a greater gift than everyone else. No! Paul states plainly that every person counts! Every gift counts, and every single person in each of their lovely, multi-colored, multicultural diversity is beloved of God. What is more, has received God’s spiritual gifts for free use in the multi-colored, multicultural Body of Christ!

Yes, tension and division and racism and enmity exist – all within the Body of Christ. I cannot even imagine how that breaks God’s heart, knowing that churches on one side of town are arguing with churches on the other side of town. Or, that some churches are ignoring the plain words of the prophet Micah to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. Or, ignoring the plain words of Jesus to be merciful to the powerless and the least of these.

Yes, in today’s uncertain times, the Church has “tensions from within and without which are bringing doubt and confusion to the Body as we face the challenges of the near and distant future.” [1] Thank God we have a firm foundation on which we all stand. Thank God we have the words of Paul here in 1 Corinthians calling us to unity under God, rejoicing in our diversity with all the multi-colored, multicultural people of God, worldwide.

Yes, each of us is different from each other. And, yes, we are all one in Christ Jesus. We can celebrate that blessed both/and reality today! Just imagine what a marvelous job each Church could do, if each member used what God has freely given to each one, to the best of their ability! What an opportunity for ministry and outreach!

What possibilities lie before us as a church, as the Body of Christ in this place? May each of us prayerfully ask today what God would have us to do with the gifts and abilities God has given each of us. Amen, alleluia!

@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.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/weekly-worship/monthly/2025-january/sunday-26-january-2025-third-sunday-after-epiphany-year-c

Pastor, Preacher, Pray-er

Pastor and Chaplain. Preacher of sermons. Prays well with others.

Tag Archives: Bible

Who is Hallowed?

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?

How Different are God’s Thoughts?

Under His Wings

Tempted by the Devil!

Dazzling White!

We Should Love WHO?

Let’s Go Deep!

Love: God’s Better Way

God-Given Gifts!