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Jesus Says: Don’t Worry!

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Jesus Says: Don’t Worry!

Matthew 6:25-34 – November 24, 2024

            Some people are real worriers. They worry about their house or apartment, they worry about their children or their parents, they worry about their job, their school, their friends, their car, their health – and that’s just to begin with! All of us know someone like this. And sometimes, worry about one or two, or even more of these things creeps into our hearts, too!

            All of these things are troubles, concerns. Worries. The news on the radio, on the television, different media websites—all depend on worry, anxiety and fear to pull in their viewers.  Here in our bible reading this morning, our Lord Jesus is telling us not to be filled with worry. Worry—anxiety—fear. When we come right down to it, this yucky predicament called worry sounds so familiar! We might not like it, we might be uncomfortable with it, but various yucky, fearful situations still happen to many of us, on a regular basis.

            All the worry and anxiety I just mentioned? That was mostly external. Looking outward. Fear of people, places and things. Yes, common to all of us. Let’s up that worry and anxiety one notch higher. Let’s sprinkle some self-centered fear on it. Does that sound familiar, too?

            Fear of the interior, that’s the inside job. Your insides, my insides. Our feelings and emotions, everything all mixed together like with a blender or a kitchen mixer. I imagine some people are so anxious and worried about what’s going on inside of them that they don’t even want to examine themselves, and do an inventory. They would far rather hide under a blanket. Or check out in ways that involve various addictions.  Emotional insecurity is very real. Lots of people feel alone. All by themselves, and cut off from others. Bitterness and frustration can make things worse. Worry and anxiety can magnify those feelings, way out of control.

            What can anyone do about this huge mountain of worry, fear, insecurity and anxiety?

            Since this Sunday is Thanksgiving Sunday, our Gospel reading has a few things to say about all this worry and negativity. This reading is from the Sermon on the Mount. The second half of Matthew chapter 6 is all about treasure and where we can find it. As is often the case in Scripture, Jesus lets us know that He is summing up this section by beginning with the word “therefore.” “Therefore” is used “to indicate that the writer or speaker is drawing a conclusion. Jesus’ words here are very simple and to the point: worrying is pointless.” [1]

Wait a long minute, there! Worry is part and parcel of the human condition. Anxiety and fear of the unknown (and especially of what IS known, what we recognize coming up!) are so often sad realities. Worry is invasive, like a nasty, invasive plant. Those of you who garden are very much aware of these weeds, these choking, creeping plants that wind around the healthy flowers and vegetables we plant in our gardens.

            I have heard a good deal about worry and anxiety in past years. In my previous job, I worked as a hospital chaplain, and now I am a hospice chaplain. Yes, I would pray with anyone who asked. But, I would also listen. As I listened, I heard about a whole lot of worry, anxiety and concern. And, rightfully so! Anxiety about upcoming treatment, worry about finances, awkward anticipation about losses of various kinds. But I would also hear about depression, anger, and self-pity. I’d hear about these painful emotions mixing and crashing around inside of people. Oftentimes, I would be helpless to do anything about it, except listen.

            In my personal life today, I have concerns. Sure, I have thoughts that sometimes preoccupy my mind. I can live in yesterday for far too long of a time. I sometimes look forward to tomorrow—or next week with some fear and anxiety. I especially have concerns about an upcoming procedure in the hospital, very soon.

But what does Jesus tell us in this paragraph from the Gospel of Matthew? He talks about the beauty and the vastness of God’s creation. He tells us to pick up our heads and look around. Doesn’t God take care of the birds of the air and the beasts of the field? If God takes care of them, think about us. Think about you and me. Do you think for one minute that God would forget about you? Or, that God would forget about me?

            One of my favorite commentators is the Rev. Janet Hunt. She is a Lutheran pastor, serving a church not too far away, in De Kalb – near the Northern Illinois campus. She talks frankly about being a worrier. She carried her fear and anxiety so deeply that her folks had her going to a therapist as a little girl (when that was still pretty unusual!). She said she still worries. She worried about where she put her cell phone the night before, She worried about an upcoming funeral sermon she needed to preach. She even worried about raking the leaves in her large yard!

            Yet, Pastor Janet gets right to the point. She says, “Without a doubt, my worries are small and even when they aren’t they don’t seem to paralyze me as they do some [people].  Still, even my small worries get in the way of my living in the moment God has prepared for me.  They take away from my fully experiencing and appreciating what is right in front of me.” [2]

            This Gospel reading is certainly a challenge for me, today, with the unknown looming ahead of me. Yet, whether our worries are big or small, we can all be reminded of this precious gift Jesus offers us all, in pointing to God’s tender care for all that is in this world.

            Anything can seem overwhelming, if we look at the whole huge thing all at once. Jesus’ words are really wise: “34 So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own.” In other words, one day at a time. “Don’t worry about tomorrow!” Those aren’t my words—they’re the words of Jesus!

            As we consider this Thanksgiving week, and any week of the year, “these words [of Jesus] are ours this Thanksgiving —  urging us to let go of the worry — and to entrust whatever it is that would rob our lives of peace and joy — urging us to finally give it all back to God who gives us all of that for which we give thanks in the first place.” [3]  Praise God!

Suddenly, in this world not worrying actually becomes an option.

Our God can help each of us deal with worry, fear and anxiety, whenever and wherever they might rise up, in each of our lives. We can all say amen to the Lord’s goodness. We can truly give thanks to God.

@chaplaineliza

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

[1] https://lifeprojectblog.com/2024/09/09/worry-5/

[2] http://words.dancingwiththeword.com/2012/11/no-more-worries.html

[3] Ibid.

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Give Thanks Every Day!

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“Give Thanks Every Day!”

John 6:5-23 (6:11) – November 26, 2023

            “We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing!”

            Those words from a beloved, traditional Thanksgiving hymn are so familiar, and so appropriate for this thankful time of the year. Our family just had a Thanksgiving celebration a few days ago, and for many who are followers of faith traditions throughout the United States, Thanksgiving was indeed a day to ask the Lord’s blessing!

            Our Scripture reading is from the Gospel of John, chapter 6. Yet, we could also read about this same miracle from the other three Gospels. This miracle is the only miracle that appears in all four Gospel accounts of the life of Christ.

            This miracle from John 6 is about providing food to a large group of people, yes, and a whole lot more. Let us set the stage. The crowds gathered around the Rabbi Jesus more and more now, because Jesus was gaining a reputation for performing miracles!

            What do you think it would be like, to stand in the crowd and actually see a miracle performed by Jesus? How would you react, or your friends or family react? Would you believe that this Rabbi could actually perform miracles? Or, would you be more skeptical?   

            Each Gospel writer tells a similar narrative. For example, here we have a waiting crowd, eager to see what this unconventional Rabbi is going to do now, and perhaps even get up close to this miracle-worker!

“Here they come, down the road toward Jesus. Can you hear their voices getting louder as they approach and taste the dust that has risen from the tramping of their feet? They are coming closer and closer and they are hungry.” [1]

But, what makes the Gospel of John’s account of this miracle different?

            Think small and simple. Jesus is found in the ordinary and everyday stuff of life. John also called the “miracles” Jesus performed “signs.” This week’s Gospel reading reminds us of John pointing to Jesus in the simple sign of bread. In these verses Jesus uses a few loaves of bread to sustain and calm hungry and fearful folk. Yes, bread says a lot about Jesus’ identity and presence, not only in the sacrament of communion but in daily life. [2]

            Getting down to the specifics of the miracle, the disciples have much discussion about how all of this huge crowd is going to be fed. In the midst of this animated discussion, the disciple Andrew brings a little boy’s lunch to Jesus. But then, he says “How will this little amount go so far among so many?”

            Perhaps you and I are like the disciples. Perhaps we get caught up in the limitations, in our fears, in the worry and concern about “how much?” and “what if?” and “what now?” How on earth are we ever going to have enough? And, how can you and I explain exactly how this miracle happened?    

            That is not the important part, which was about a “who,” not a “how.” Jesus is the focus of this sign, “the meeter of needs, the worker of miracles.” The second “who” is us, or them, “the 5,000 hungry ones on the side of the mountain. Who are us too, by the way, John says with an elbow to the ribs. Get it? We are hungry for something we can’t provide for ourselves.” [3]

            Sure, we can intellectualize this miracle, and talk about the exact number fed, and whether the 5,000 were just men, or whether there were additional women and children, and how many, and where they all came from, and who exactly distributed the food. Or, we can theologize this reading, and talk about the differences between the fine points of the translation of the different readings, or how this reading from John is another metaphor for the Eucharist, the bread or manna of heaven, the communion that Jesus provided for these people in the huge crowd without a thought for the exact theological terms used for this picnic lunch.

            Then, John puts in his occasional editorial comment at the end of this narrative. Perhaps John was the only disciple who actually got the point that our Lord Jesus was making! “We know that by how he describes the event. Did you see it? It’s there in the final verse of our text. The people were hanging out in the place where it happened. The miracle place. But John doesn’t call it a miracle place. [In verse 23] He says that it is the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.” [4]

The first thing Jesus did when he received the little boy’s lunch was to thank God for it. He gave thanks for having the food to offer the crowd of people. Jesus gave thanks for feeding the hungry people crowded around Him. Gratitude and generosity come from a way of seeing and being in the world. [5]

            Perhaps that is our grand takeaway for today. Perhaps that is exactly why there was a miracle, a sign from God, precisely because our Lord Jesus looked up to heaven and gave thanks before He broke the bread and shared out the pieces of fish.

“Think about it. That’s what John wants us to remember: that this meal, this miracle happened after gratitude was expressed. Gratitude for the abundance that didn’t look like abundance. Gratitude for the satisfaction that came out of hunger. Gratitude becomes a way of seeing and a way of being in the world. We give thanks to God for what is about to happen. We give thanks for what we might not yet see, but what we trust God will provide.” [6]

            Jesus showed us – just as much as He showed His disciples and the crowd of people – that He is able, and He will provide for us our daily bread. We can truly have thanks, truly have gratitude for all that God has done, and is continuing to do in each of our lives. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

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

(I would like to express my great appreciation for the observations and commentary from the web page www,umcdiscipleship.org for their brief series on gratitude. I used several quotes and ideas from their useful resources. Thanks so much!)

[1] https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/mind-the-gap-alyce-mckenzie-07-20-2012

[2] https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2012/07/bread-water-and-signs-of-god/

[3] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/our-hymn-of-grateful-praise/christ-the-king-reign-of-christ-sunday-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/christ-the-king-reign-of-christ-sunday-year-a-preaching-notes

[4] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/our-hymn-of-grateful-praise/christ-the-king-reign-of-christ-sunday-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/christ-the-king-reign-of-christ-sunday-year-a-preaching-notes

[5] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/our-hymn-of-grateful-praise/christ-the-king-reign-of-christ-sunday-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/christ-the-king-reign-of-christ-sunday-year-a-childrens-message

[6] Ibid.

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Attitude of Gratitude!

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“Attitude of Gratitude!”

Psalm 100 – November 12, 2023

            Gratitude! Be grateful! Have an attitude of gratitude! But, how on earth do we do that? Great question!

With November, all of us here in the United States enter a time of thanksgiving, a season of gratitude. We can think of the Thanksgiving story, that thankful meal shared several centuries ago in New England. This was a means of showing gratitude for the harvest gathered in, and for the blessings of the bounty of nature God bestows upon those who farm the land.

I’ve lived in the Chicago area all my life. I’ve never lived in a small town, or a farming community, or had anything to do with gathering in crops. The most I’ve ever done is go to an apple orchard in the fall to pick apples – and that was just twice in my life. I know that whole communities rely on the harvest! Except – I have never been a direct part of that process.   

            What we all share, both city folks and country folks, is gratitude. Yes, we all can be thankful and grateful. Yes, we all can lift our hearts to the Holy One to say “thank you” for the bounty of nature, and we can come to God in praise for the interconnectedness of life.  

Autumn is, indeed, a thankful time of the year. But, how can each of us generate an attitude of gratitude? What does a life of gratitude look like? Or perhaps more importantly, what does a life of gratitude feel like?

            I want us to focus on our Scripture reading for today, and take special note of verse 4: “Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100 is a praise psalm or song, the last in a small collection of special psalms of praise and worship. Do these verses get you in the mood of worship? Of praise? Could we see ourselves marching to our particular house of worship looking forward to meeting with God? To serve and praise and bless and be thankful to God? That is exactly what this Psalm is encouraging—no, even more strongly—is commanding us to do.

            The ancient superscription – or introduction – to this psalm simply says “a psalm of thanksgiving.” “On the one hand, there is the idea that thankfulness covers all of life; it is our way of approaching the world and the attitudes with which we choose to live. On the other hand, there is a clear indication that we are making a commitment to God in our choice to live a grateful life.” [1]

A number of verbs, or action words in this short psalm, are clear commands. In the first three verses, “Raise a shout!” “Serve!” “Come!” and “Know!” Verse four has “Enter!” “Be thankful!” and “Bless!” All of these verbs—and they are many of the chief action words in this Psalm—are instantly recognizable as an imperative, a command to anyone who spoke Hebrew!

This grateful commitment to God is quite serious if we follow these commands found in this psalm of praise. The grateful, thankful life shown to each of us in this short psalm is more than just a possibility. It becomes a blessed reality, if we follow through on the commands and promises highlighted by these few verses!

            We look to verse 4 again. We are commanded to “Enter the gates with thanksgiving!” “But what does that mean? Do we come to church with grateful hearts? Well, of course, we do. But more than that, we pass through every door with gratitude in our minds and hearts.” [2] Except, it’s more than that. Yes, we enter every door with thanksgiving and gratitude! And – plus – moreover – we can take the opportunity to incorporate this gratitude into each interaction we have throughout our day. When we enter our homes, we can be grateful for the family of which we are a part. When we go out and about, into the neighborhood or the community, we can be grateful for the abundance we all take for granted far too often. [3]

            And, what about those we encounter in our daily lives? Perhaps we haven’t even thought that far. Could it be that God would be pleased if we are grateful for each person we meet? Each one is a precious child of God, too – even the ones we sometimes struggle to get along with. Perhaps that attitude of gratitude is helpful for bridging the gap, for helping each of us be thankful for every interaction we have, every single day.

            I was so amazed to read about a senior’s daily practice in the preaching notes for this Sunday’s Scripture reading. Listen to this description: “Every morning, Amy Kawahara, ninety-four years old, opens her eyes and thanks God for another day to live. She knows she belongs to God. She reads devotion, prays, and seeks ways to share joy. She sings in the choir to make a joyful noise to the Lord. She leads a prayer group and senior exercise ministry. In every way, she worships the Lord with gladness.” [4]

            Isn’t the attitude of this senior Amy Kawahara a model attitude of gratitude to God?

            What are you thankful for, at this thankful time of year? What is each of us grateful for? There is something behind all this gratitude and thankfulness! We belong! We not only belong to God, but we belong to our church, to our fellowship of believers. “We are a part of something that is infinitely bigger than we can see. Of course, gratitude is the only proper response.” [5]

            This psalm ends with a powerful description: we have a the good God who loves each of us – all of us! Praise-filled, and thankful! May we all come into God’s loving, faithful presence with a joyful noise, giving thanks from the bottom of our hearts. Let us have an attitude of gratitude every day of the year, not only on Thanksgiving Day.    Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

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

(I would like to express my great appreciation for the observations and commentary from the web page www,umcdiscipleship.org for their brief series on gratitude. I used a number of quotes and ideas from their useful resources. Thanks so much!)

[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/our-hymn-of-grateful-praise/twenty-fourth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/twenty-fourth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-preaching-notes

[2] Ibid. 

[3] Ibid.

[4] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/our-hymn-of-grateful-praise/twenty-fourth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/twenty-fourth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-small-groups

[5] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/our-hymn-of-grateful-praise/twenty-fourth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/twenty-fourth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-preaching-notes

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Give Thanks? For What?

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“Give Thanks? For What?”

Psalm 100:1-5 (100:4) – November 24, 2021 (preached at the Morton Grove Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve service, held at St. Martha of Bethany Catholic Church campus)

            What are you thankful for? I don’t know whether you or your family come up with a “gratitude” before you eat your Thanksgiving feast tomorrow. Except, it is becoming more and more common that as families and friends gather around the festive table that they go around the table and say what each one is grateful for. Sometimes, even before they begin to eat. The religious writer Diana Butler Bass calls this “the Turkey Hostage Situation.” No food until everyone comes up with a gratitude!   

            Some years we are more grateful and thankful than others. The psalm we read tonight features thankfulness as a highlight of worship. When we come into our houses of worship, we are supposed to be thankful. Grateful. Especially now, at this Thanksgiving time of the year.

I want to dig more deeply into Psalm 100, and see what else we can discover.

I love language. I loved English classes when I was in middle school and high school. Of course, I loved literature! I was – and still am – fascinated with the way language functions and is put together. This great interest in languages helped me when I went to seminary and studied biblical Hebrew and Greek, the original languages our Bible was written in.   

One helpful tip I remember when looking at the nuts and bolts of a Bible verse or paragraph is to break it down. Look at the different parts of speech: nouns, adjectives, and especially verbs. The verbs in Psalm 100 give us a great deal of insight into this psalm, or song.

Speaking of songs, this reading IS a song. This song gives us instruction of how to come into God’s presence – the how-to’s of worship. The African-American Lectionary commentary says, “The psalmist uses seven different verbs to call to the community to worship: make, serve, come, know, enter, give thanks, and bless. Although there are moments when we need to be still and quiet in the presence of the LORD, this is not one of them.” [1]

I really appreciate and enjoy those times when I worshiped in African-American congregations. Since I lead a congregation now myself, I miss those other opportunities to go, and see other congregations, and enjoy different praise structures and faith traditions in worship.

Yet, I wonder – what is it about this psalm that makes it so marvelous as a template for worship? If we go back to the verbs used in this song, this hymn of praise and worship takes on a more wonderful meaning. And institutional meaning.

True, I have attended worship in a number of different settings, over the years. In many of these, the basic outline of worship remains the same. The worshipers come together, and they know, they understand (as best as they are able) that God is the reason they gather. Then – and this is important to any worship service – they give thanks.

I remember a small, intimate worship service some years ago while I was on a retreat. About 15 people were gathered together. We did not have any of the outside trappings of a building, no special glass, no carved woodwork or stone, no music or musicians. Yet, that was a meaningful worship experience for me, and for many others in that group.

That retreat was not at Thanksgiving-time, yet we were all thankful and grateful the group of us had gathered together. Can you relate? Have you had a feeling like that, a similar experience where you and the other members of your group felt thankful about this holy experience? This worship opportunity where you felt thankful and grateful you and the other people in your group (any group – family, friends, congregation, retreat group) felt the same way? Indescribable, worshipful, beyond words, even divine.  

This psalm talks about experiences like that in worship, and says that giving thanks is an integral part of worshiping God. We can give thanks that God is our God. And, we can give thanks for all that God has given to us.

            I agree with commentator Larry Broding that thanksgiving is one of our primary attitudes of worship. “We are to be happy when we present ourselves to God. We are to be thankful when we are in [God’s] presence. Other attitudes are possible (sorrow, need, intercession, surrender, peace, etc.) but joy and thanksgiving should be our primary focus.” [2] And, this isn’t just at Thanksgiving. It’s at any time of the year.

For those among us who do not feel like gathering with family or friends at a dinner table tomorrow, I relate. Thanksgiving can be a difficult occasion, a complicated time. Know that there are friends who stand with you, or sit beside you, in your discomfort, grief or longing.

            Specifically, what about the upcoming feast tomorrow? Similar to writer Diana Butler Bass, are you and I familiar with the Turkey Hostage Situation? Are we going to hold our turkey – or whatever other kind of main course – hostage while each one around the table scrambles to come up with something they are grateful for? We are grateful for the stuff, the things of our lives! That is turning our annual day of thanks into a commodity-based occasion. [3] It is not helpful for us to twist or force “thankful” feelings and behavior in this way

            Going back to my great interest in language, I found Butler Bass’s alternative for this round-robin of “gratitude” to be a fascinating option. Instead, an alternative suggestion: Perhaps this Thanksgiving is a good time to ask some different questions regarding gratitude:

To whom or what are you grateful?
What challenges have you been grateful through?
Have you been grateful with others?
Where have you discovered gratitude within?
Has something in your life been changed by being grateful?
In what circumstances have you experienced thankfulness?

            Any or all of these are marvelous ideas to ponder. Situations to consider. Again, this may or may not work for the group gathered around your Thanksgiving table. But, it certainly takes our minds off of the tangible, material things, the clutter of forced gratitude at Thanksgiving, and the myriad of stuff we might have randomly filling up our lives, like the stuffing inside of a turkey.

            Tonight, I hope and pray we all can “Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;” may we all “give thanks to God and praise his name.”

             I pray a blessed and thankful holiday upon us all. 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.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupLectionaryReading.asp?LRID=98

Commentary, Psalm 100, Alfie Wines, The African American Lectionary, 2009

[2] http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/Psalms/100.html

·  “How To Prepare for Worship,”Larry Broding’s Word-Sunday.Com: A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.

[3] https://dianabutlerbass.substack.com/about

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Always Giving Thanks!

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“Always Giving Thanks!”

Ephesians 5:15-20 (5:20) – August 15, 2021

            When I mention “Thanksgiving,” what do you think of? The turn of the seasons? The coming of cold weather? Harvest time, pumpkins and spiced apple cider, turkey and dressing? Some people think of football and eating too much Thanksgiving feast, too.

Thanksgiving isn’t just for November, just for harvest time. But, before we get to the thankful part of this Scripture reading from Ephesians, we have to consider several commands and recommendations about how to truly live life as a believer in Jesus Christ.

Paul’s first command is to be wise people. Wise! Not foolish.

Most anyone can describe a foolish person, even pick them out of a group of people, because of their foolish, short-sighted thoughts, words and especially deeds. Who has seen someone being foolish? Either in real life or on television or movies? Often, it’s played up as a comic thing. But, when we see people doing foolish things or saying foolish words, we often can tell right away how foolish they are.

It’s more of a challenge to know the wise thing to do, the wise words to say. When my older two children were little, years ago, I attended church with another couple who also had children around the same age. I vividly remember my friend Mike saying – repeatedly – be wise. He would regularly advise his children to be wise, and cautioned them that it was more of a challenge to be wise. He would say that anyone could be good, without thinking very hard. Except, being wise takes a lot more thinking and discernment. Paul advises all of us to be wise!

Paul’s second command? Be filled with the Spirit. That’s a nice sentiment. But, how?

My husband Kevin was a cub scout and a boy scout. He often went camping with his troop, and they were carefully instructed by their scout leaders to clean up after themselves! No leaving trash around the campsite! They made sure the place looked even better when they left than when they first came. My husband still remembers one of his leaders would say, “Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints.”

Yes, this is how to be a responsible citizen. Commendable to be a caring human being. However, this alone is not the way Paul intends the Ephesian believers to live out their faith. Paul reminds us that we Christians do more than that! We believers in Jesus Christ live out the Good News of Jesus Christ by transforming the world! In whatever way we can.

Sure, we can make certain that we keep things tidy, and clean up our mess. But, transforming the world into the image of God? That we cannot do alone. We need God’s help! We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit – and by God’s grace, the Spirit will partner with us! The Spirit will come alongside of us and help us to do God’s work – transforming the world![1]

And, it’s not only the apostle Paul who advises us to transform the world. One of my favorite Jewish expressions used by some of my Jewish friends is tikkun olam. “In Jewish teachings, any activity that improves the world, bringing it closer to the harmonious state for which it was created. Tikkun olam implies that while the world is innately good, its Creator purposely left room for us to improve upon His work.” [2]  

The third command of the apostle Paul? Sing and make music in your heart to God. That is one thing the Protestant church excels at! Certain denominations are just superb at singing and praising God in four-part harmony. My husband grew up in the Methodist church, and he remembers the church he attended as a boy. The whole congregation sang many hymns with gusto every Sunday. His family is musical anyway, but Kevin is really appreciative of sung music in four-part harmony. What a marvelous way to praise our God!

I do need to make a caution. With the rise of the Delta variant of COVID, please be cautious about singing in public, currently. I know that the apostle Paul tells us it’s a great idea! However, be prudent, be caring, and be wise in your dealings with others, for right now.

We are approaching Paul’s recommendation to give thanks. It seems as if Paul is winding up, getting ready to explode with words of praise in “psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” We’ve seen Paul get all excited before! Remember, at the end of chapter 3, where Paul burst into a glorious benediction proclaiming the glory and majesty of our God.

We are looking to make a difference in the world, correct? That is what we as believers in Jesus Christ are called to do, correct? It’s not just an exterior thing. It is not just give, give, give, constantly doing things for others all the time. Yes, doing that is a way to please God, to be sure! But, we all need to nurture and restore ourselves, too. And, how might we do that? By praising God! By singing in psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit! This is not only a way for me to nurture myself, singly, but it is as way for all of us to restore and uplift each other, too!

Music is a marvelous way for all of us to give thanks, to express praise and thanksgiving to our God. I was trained as a church musician, originally. Music is very close to my heart, and has been, ever since I was a little girl. Paul’s admonition here in Ephesians 5? Like second nature to me! I love to sing and play and make music, and these words tell us that it’s a great idea for mutual nurture and uplifting, too! In whatever way, style or manner fits you and your culture, or how or where you grew up, God is so pleased when God’s people lift praises in music!

Which brings us, finally, to giving thanks. Thanksgiving is not just for a Thursday in November. It’s an everyday thing. A joyous thing! Something that we are all called to do, each day of our lives. We can always find something to give thanks for, “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 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.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/geared-up-for-life/twelfth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/twelfth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-preaching-notes

[2] www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3700275/jewish/What-Is-Tikkun–Olam.htm

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Give Thanks to the Lord!

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“Give Thanks to the Lord!”

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 (107:7) – March 17, 2021 (Midweek Lenten Service, Week 4)

            One thing that I’ve heard many people miss in this time of the pandemic is congregational singing. Sure, there is piano and organ music in worship services, sometimes guitar, violin or cello, even wind instruments on taped services, when no church members are present in the congregation. But, many people really miss singing hymns together in worship services, and can’t wait until it’s safe to sing in a group once more.  

            That’s exactly what we have here today. A congregational hymn, in Psalm 107, one many people would sing together in worship as they marched up the hill to the great Temple in Jerusalem. Or, they also could possibly sing this psalm in praise to God as the worship in the Temple started to get under way.

            Just as modern worship services often begin with praise music, this psalm opens with instructions to the congregation to give thanks to God. We can think of many hymns and praise songs that do this exact thing. In this particular psalm, God, in goodness and steadfast love – or chesed – has redeemed the people from the hand of the oppressor. What is more, God’s people have been gathered “from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south” (verse 3), or from all points of the compass. [1]

            This is a longer psalm, speaking to travelers lost in the desert, prisoners, the sick, and sailors on the sea. God reaches out to all of these groups, to all of these travelers through life. I don’t know about you, but I sure feel lost and alone sometimes – especially after the year of the pandemic. We are now at the one-year point, thinking about all kinds of loss so many have gone through this past 12-month period of time. How have you navigated through these difficult times? What has been your anchor in this time of storm and distress?

            This psalm was written after the exile to Babylon, so I am certain that many of the people who had returned to the land of Palestine had difficult memories of the 50-year period of time just passed. However, this psalm urges us to remember the wonderful things God has done and continues to do for each of us, every day. The Lord is good, and displays steadfast love, or chesed, to all. God’s wonderful words to all the children of humanity completely overwhelm me – looking at the world, the beauty of each day, and the marvels of creation that God freely gives.

Commentator Nancy deClaissé-Walford does remind us, “What about those who in the wilderness and are sick to the point of death through no fault of their own? What about those who are battered by the storms of life? Yes, we can cry out to God; yes, we can hope in God’s good provisions.”

I know this is a difficult thing for some, especially when going through serious illness, extended challenges, or the loss of a close loved one. Yet, God’s mercies are faithful. They are sure every morning. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” is not just a pretty hymn we sing in church sometimes. No, we can remember those mercies, that steadfast love God displays to all, and take comfort and encouragement from those very gifts. Free gifts, given to all, the just and the unjust.

  “We must never forget that those of us who have ample resources and strength are called to be the arms and legs, the hands and feet, the voice of God in this world. God will redeem from the east and the west, from the north and from the south; but the redemption of God often takes human form. And isn’t that what Lent is all about?” [2]

[1]  Nancy deClaisse-Walford, Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages

McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University, Atlanta, GAhttps://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fourth-sunday-in-lent-2/commentary-on-psalm-1071-3-17-22-4

[2] Ibid.

@chaplaineliza

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

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Thanksgiving for All

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“Thanksgiving for All”

1 Tim 2-2 pray, words

1 Timothy 2:1-4 – November 18, 2018

Have you ever had a community leader in the local news—perhaps even someone you know—who annoyed you? Got you so mad, you wanted to hang them up by their toes? Something they said, or did, or some stand they were taking. How could they do such a thing? What cockamamie words to come out of their mouth! We mutter, “Good grief!” or “I cannot believe it!” and roll our eyes, again.

Why did Paul even write to Timothy? True, Paul and Timothy had a close relationship. Just think of someone older, who showed you how to do some work, or perhaps had some good advice for you. A mentor, someone who was wiser than you, back when you were first learning how to do things, or first were an apprentice. Or, perhaps you were a mentor for some young protégé, and had the joy and satisfaction of teaching them the ropes.

The Apostle Paul had some wise words for his young protégé Timothy about just such a situation. What does Paul say again? We are to pray. Listen: “I urge, then, above all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.”

Great advice! But, all of these describing words are kinds of prayer. Paul is being quite specific about prayer. Each of these four terms has a different meaning or nuance. The four Greek words used here have different applications, too. First, petitions, or deesis. This is an appeal for a particular need. Then, prayer, proseuche, a general word for prayer that often occurs in petitions. Third, intercession—exteuxis, which captures an urgent and bold request. Last, eucharistia, or thanksgiving, which means an expression of gratitude. [1]

Isn’t that what we celebrate today, on Thanksgiving Sunday? Isn’t that what we concentrate on at this time of the year? There is a problem. Paul mentions that we are supposed to pray for rulers and those in authority over us. Which brings me back to where I started.

I say again, have you ever had a community leader in the local news—perhaps even someone you know—who annoyed you? Got you so mad? Something they said, or did, or some stand they were taking. How could they do or say such a thing?

If ever there was a time that would test our willingness to pray for those in authority, now would be the time. Am I the only one who is aggravated by politicians? Not to mention the contentiousness of the recent election season! This bible passage could well be a real test of our willingness to follow God’s word.

Except, in Paul’s day, the local politicians—rulers—those in authority—had a lot more control over their constituents than those here in the United States. This is the second time Paul advises his readers to pray for those in authority. (He does so in Romans 13, too.) The emperor at this time was Nero, who was quite antagonistic towards the brand-new sect called Christians.

The commentator J. Vernon McGee says we are to pray even if we have a corrupt administration. If we transpose Paul’s words to today, McGee says the Democrats ought to pray for the Republicans, and the Republicans ought to pray for the Democrats. In a polarized nation and world this is a call to pray for people with whom we agree and for people with whom we disagree.  “We are to pray for whoever is in power. Remember that the man who was in power in Rome when Paul wrote was bloody Nero, yet he says we are to pray for kings and those in authority, whoever they are.” [2] Some of the leaders Timothy and his friends were to pray for were Romans who were trying to imprison and even kill as many Christians as possible.

God willing, we need to pray for all those in authority over us, no matter what, no matter who or where they may be. Paul’s words remind us that our leaders and those in authority depend on God’s guidance, grace and mercy.

Timothy is not only encouraged by his mentor Paul to pray for leaders—above all—but also to pray for all people. Not only to pray, but to intercede for, and give thanks for all people. That is every single person. All. All means all.

That is really difficult! Pray for ALL people? Pray for the funny looking guy at the drug store? Pray for the lady who talks to herself at the supermarket? Pray for that couple across the street with the weird looking clothes? What about the homeless person sitting on the sidewalk? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. We are to pray for, intercede for, and give thanks for ALL people. Especially these people who seem strange, or weird, or don’t speak like we do, or who walk funny, or a hundred other differences. All means all. Paul tells us to pray for everybody.

This is the thankful season of the year, when we express our gratitude to God for all the gifts we receive throughout the year. Gifts of family, friends, food, shelter, and many other blessings. Things that make us happy to be alive! But, where did this modern idea of Thanksgiving come from? Frances Woodruff has a brief history of the origin of our holiday.

“This week we celebrate Thanksgiving. On Thursday, everyone in our country will stop and give thanks for all their blessings. In the early days of our country, families picked their own day of thanksgiving. People celebrated on different days whenever it fit their schedule. Then 150 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln received a letter from Sarah Hale. Mrs. Hale suggested that there be a National holiday of Thanksgiving—that everyone in the country stop on the same day and give thanks. But at that time, our country was at war. The fighting made times sad, food scarce, and money tight. It was hard for people to feel thankful. People thought, We can’t have a holiday now! We don’t have time for a party! There are too many problems to be solved! But President Lincoln and the people soon realized that gathering together was just what they needed to do, especially in those tough times.” [3]

Whether the times are tough, or not-so-tough, whether fraught with danger or filled with peace, Paul tells us to be thankful. He tells us to have an expression of gratitude in our hearts, which will help us to stay positive and keep our eyes on God. Just as people through the years found that gathering together and being thankful together was a wonderful corporate celebration, so, too, with today. So it was in Paul’s day, as well.

Prayer, intercession, and being thankful are surely attitudes and practices that draw us together. Just as at the Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve service this coming Wednesday, where diverse friends from all over the Morton Grove, Niles, Skokie and Glenview neighborhoods come together, we all can be thankful. We all can praise God for another harvest safely gathered in. We all can praise God for warm families, good friends, and another year coming to a close.

All this thanksgiving is good, and it pleases God our Savior,” 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” That is, all people, from all over the world.

God willing, amen. May it be so.

[1] http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1769

Commentary, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Christian A. Eberhart, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2013.

[2] McGee, J. Vernon, Through the Bible, Vol. V., (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983), 436.

[3] https://onthechancelsteps.wordpress.com/2012/11/05/gather/

“We Gather Together,” Frances Woodruff, On the Chancel Steps, 2012.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my regular blog for 2018: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and my other blog,  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!