The Story
Nov. 3, 2019
Feast of All Saints (transferred)

Luke 6:20-31

Then Jesus looked up at his disciples and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.

But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. ” 

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Something to Do

A Different Interpretation

Read Eugene Peterson’s interpretation of Luke’s Beatitudes and see if it shakes loose a new understanding for you.

From The Message:

You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all.
God’s kingdom is there for the finding.
You’re blessed when you’re ravenously hungry.
Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal.
You’re blessed when the tears flow freely.
Joy comes with the morning.

“Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!—for even though they don’t like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this.

But it’s trouble ahead if you think you have it made.
What you have is all you’ll ever get.
And it’s trouble ahead if you’re satisfied with yourself.
 Your self will not satisfy you for long.
And it’s trouble ahead if you think life’s all fun and games.
 There’s suffering to be met, and you’re going to meet it.

“There’s trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.

 “To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.  “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! 

Love your enemies

Is there anyone giving you a hard time lately? Maybe you wouldn’t call them an enemy – or maybe you would – but someone who is on your nerves or making life more difficult than it needs to be; someone who is unkind or unhelpful to you or to the world as you understand it?

How can you love them? Is there something nice you can do for them? A gesture of friendship or of cooperation? What prayer could you offer for them?

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Something to Wonder

Blessings and Woes

Once again, Jesus flips things upside down from what common sense would have us believe – hunger brings joy and plenty bring suffering.

Is there a time in your life when things felt flipped upside down like this? A time when it looked like you had reason to be sad but instead were joyful or a time when it looked like you should be joyful but instead were sad? What was the situation?

You want me to do what!?

The to-do list at the end of this passage is pretty daunting – there is a lot of self-sacrifice and counter-cultural responses being asked of us.

• Which of those things seem most difficult to you? Why?
• Which seem most possible? Why?
• Do any of those things seem simply wrong or irresponsible? If so, which and why?

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Something to Learn

Turn the other cheek – perspectives on Christian pacifism

Pacifism has a long and complicated history in the Christian tradition, with many versions and many arguments for and against those various versions.

Ted Grimsrud is a Mennonite scholar and pacifist. Read his discussion of Christian Pacifism in Brief (not actually that brief) on the blog, Peace Theology.

The BBC has many resources on the subject – begin with this article on the Christianity and the ethics of war and just keep following the hyperlinks.

In a post for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the the Southern Baptist Convestion, Joe Cook provides A brief Introduction to the just war tradition. (actually pretty brief)

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Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.

The Story
October 27, 2019
20th Sunday after Pentecost

Luke 18:9-14

Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” 

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Something to Do

Be merciful to me, a sinner

The Orthodox Church has a tradition called the prayer walk. It is, quite simply, walking while praying in time with your steps. The prayer used most traditionally is called the Jesus prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. The prayer reminds us of our fallibility, our reliance on Jesus, and Jesus’ faithfulness.

Go for a prayer walk and see how it feels to use the traditional prayer. You can, of course, create your own short prayer to accompany you on your walk.

Embodying the Story

Read the story – either out loud or silently. When you read the Pharisee, hold your body the way you imagine him standing. How does this posture make you feel? If you were talking to someone (like, say, God), what would you be communicating? When have you held your body this way? Why?

When you read the tax collector, hold your body the way you imagine him standing. Beat your chest like he does. How does this posture make you feel? What are you communicating? When have you held your body this way? Why?

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Something to Wonder

Look in the Mirror

An interesting question to bring to any Bible story but, perhaps, especially to parables is this: Who am I in this story? The answer you give to that question might change every time you read the story or you may find that you are persistently the same character.

Take a good look at yourself in the mirror of this parable. Are you the self-satisfied Pharisee or the tax collector desperate for God’s help? In what way?

What is it like seeing yourself in the parable?

All who exalt themselves will be humbled…

This feels like an interesting text for the week after the election we just experienced. What lessons would you draw from Jesus’ story for us as citizens? What lessons would you like to share with the various politicians that have been called to service?

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Something to Learn

More about the Jesus Prayer and Prayer Walks

Orthodoxprayer.org offers a fascinating glimpse into the spiritual practices of Eastern Orthodox traditions. The whole site is worth exploring but here’s a link to a commentary on the Jesus Prayer, written by St. Theophan the Recluse, a Russian bishop who lived from 1815-1894.

For a more contemporary view, and briefer article, on the Jesus Prayer and its use in prayer walks, visit Orthodox Way of Life, a site maintained by Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

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Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.

The Story
October 20, 2019
19th Sunday after Pentecost

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

Gospel Reading: Luke 18:1-8

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Something to Do

Proclaim the Message

Our baptismal vows include the promise to proclaim, in word and deed, the Good News of God in Christ? Fulfilling this promise requires us to know what that Good News is – and each of us will have a slightly different answer.

Whatever our answer, though, we are called to proclaim the message – not whisper or suggest or allude to the message. Proclaim it. Your challenge this week is to find a way to do that.

Bonus points if you tell someone from your church community about what you tried and how it felt!

More proclaiming…but less daunting

Choose a Bible passage you really love and proclaim it. This is more than just reading it out loud – it’s about reading it out loud because it’s important and exciting and good news. Read it in such a way that any one who hears you will be drawn to actually listen.

And again with the bonus points: commit it to memory! Something very interesting happens when you memorize even a short passage (more than a verse – it needs to have some sweep) and proclaim it from heart.

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Something to Wonder

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful…

How do you react to this claim? Are there parts of scripture that make this hard to believe? If so, which ones and why? How do you explain their inclusion in the Bible?

If you happily embrace this claim, how would you explain your feelings and ideas to a fellow Christian who did not?

Be persistent

Who are the persistent evangelists who have shaped you, patiently teaching and guiding you to deeper understanding and greater faith?

Who are the persistent evangelists of our age and what is their message? Are they teaching truth or just telling stories people want to hear?

What is the message God has entrusted to you? Have you been persistent in sharing it?

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Something to Learn

Biblical Storytelling

The Network of Biblical Storytellers provides resources and training in this particular art form. See some of their storytellers at work. Learn about what they do and why they do it.

3 Reasons Why the Bible is Worth it

Pete Enns is a biblical studies professor, author, and speaker. His blog is full of witty and thoughtful reflections on the nature and content of the Bible, its lack of inerrancy, and the joys that brings. This entry is particularly lovely: 3 Reasons Why the Bible is Worth It.

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Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.

The Story
October 13, 2019
18th Sunday after Pentecost
Thanksgiving Weekend

Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” 

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Something to Do

Prostrate Yourself

Prostrating yourself (lying face down on the ground) is not something we do very often. It’s a very dramatic gesture which takes some effort to execute and leaves us very vulnerable and pretty uncomfortable. It signifies an intensity of emotion and a complete self-giving, whether in service or in gratitude or in despair. In this week’s Gospel, the healed Samaritan prostrates himself before Jesus as an act of radical gratitude.

Prostration is sometimes used liturgically. In some diocese, ordinands prostrate themselves during the prayers that come right before they are ordained. In some churches, the clergy prostrate themselves at the beginning of the Good Friday service during a time of silent prayer.

I don’t think we are going to introduce prostration into our liturgy at Ascension but you could try it out during a time of private prayer (or have your kids try it out while you say a prayer of thanksgiving and/or dedication). It will probably feel silly at first but hold on for a little and see what happens. What other feelings rise within you? What does the prayer become?

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back…

Sometimes, we don’t say thank you because we don’t notice the gifts we have been given. Spend some time this week taking stock of where you have experienced healing or growth. Say thank you to the people who have contributed to that gift. Say thank you to God (maybe while lying prostrate…)

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Something to Wonder

Your faith has made you well

This is a familiar refrain in the Gospel healing stories but, in this story, it comes after the healing has been received which suggests that the wellness that has come through faith is about more than the physical healing.

In what ways has your faith made you well?

Ten Lepers

Imagine how the lepers felt when they saw Jesus coming into their village. They had obviously heard of him and knew he had a reputation as a powerful healer. I wonder if they were sceptical or hopeful or nervous or…

And how did they feel when all he did was tell them to go and show themselves to the priest. And when they realized that they were healed?

What do you think the 9 lepers who did not return to Jesus did?

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Something to Learn

Speaking of Samaritans…

The Jewish Encyclopaedia offers a long but skimmable article on the history of the Samaritan people and their relationship with the Jews.

And CNN has a short and fascinating article on the very tiny modern Samaritan community that continues to live in Israel and Palestine today.

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Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.

The Story
October 6, 2019
17th Sunday after Pentecost
with a celebration of St. Francis

Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’” 

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Something to Do

So just how big is a mustard seed?

The grocery store can help us out with this question. Stop by the spice aisle this week and take a look at the real thing.

I bet your faith is at least that big. Imagine the things you can do!

We have done only what we ought to have done.

How often do we want praise for doing what we are supposed to do? How often do we want to make what we are supposed to do into something more complicated or mysterious than it really is?

As our observation of the Season of Creation draws to a close, make a list of things you ought to do in order to care for the world God made. Now do them.

Might it actually be that simple?

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Something to Wonder

Responding to God’s Call – St Francis style

The Feast of St. Francis is on October 4th so we are going to remember his example of fearless faithfulness this Sunday. Francis heard God calling him to a new way of life that connected him deeply to creation, to people who were poor and vulnerable, and to worship…and Francis responded with a kind of wild abandon that continues to inspire us.

What do you think that kind of response feels like?
How does imagining it make you feel?
Exhilarated? Scared? Ashamed? Eager?

Can you think of other people who model this fearless faithfulness?
What do their lives look like?

What would your life look like if you embraced this kind of fearless faithfulness?

From Mustard Seeds to Worthless Slaves

Jesus seems to be rambling a little in this passage – what’s the connection between the mustard seed of faith and the slaves who just do what they ought to do and expect no thanks?

I think it might be “Just do it”. The disciples ask for Jesus to increase their faith and he seems to be telling them they have all the faith they need – since all they need is faith the size of a mustard seed. Then he wonders why they expect to be served by the one whom they are supposed to be serving instead of just getting on with what they need to do.

They have the faith they need. They have the job they need. They just need to do it.

What do you need to do?

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Something to Learn

All My Relations and the Canticle of St. Francis

The Indigenous teaching of “all my relations” is the insight that all life is related to all life – and not only in a technical or mechanistic way. All of creation is connected like a family is connected. The same life force flows through all. The same love flows through all. We are all related. This insight is revealed in the language often used by Indigenous elders and teachers, naming rocks and waters and sun and moon as grandmothers and grandfathers, aunties and uncles, brothers and sisters

This teaching is not foreign to western Christian thought – although it has often been ignored or diminished. St. Francis wrote a hymn that celebrates the great family to which we belong in creation.

The Canticle of the Sun was written around 1224, in an Italian dialect, and is thought to be among the first (and maybe the very first) work of literature to be written in Italian.

Here it is in an English translation

Most High, all powerful, good Lord, 
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honour, 
and all blessing.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong, 
and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, 
especially through my lord Brother Sun, 
who brings the day; and you give light through him. 
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendour! 
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon 
and the stars, in heaven you formed them 
clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind, 
and through the air, cloudy and serene, 
and every kind of weather through which 
You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire, 
through whom you light the night and he is beautiful 
and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth, 
who sustains us and governs us and who produces 
varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord, 
through those who give pardon for Your love, 
and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those who endure in peace 
for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord, 
through our Sister Bodily Death, 
from whom no living man can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin. 
Blessed are those whom death will 
find in Your most holy will, 
for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord, 
and give Him thanks 
and serve Him with great humility.^[3]

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Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.