Luke 11:37-54

As Jesus headed to Jerusalem, he was not just a do-gooder, healing and helping people in distress.  Nor was he only engaging his followers, people who were on the same wavelength as him.  In the last half of chapter 11 of Luke, Luke shares about Jesus eating in the home of a Pharisee.  We often think of the Pharisees as the bad guys but here we see Jesus reaching out.  I suspect it is a bit like a Democrat sitting down to dine with a bunch of Republicans.  The host noted that Jesus did not follow the ritual of washing his hands and asked Jesus about it.  Jesus had his toe in the door to talk.        Jesus honestly talks with the man about all the customs that divided people into good and bad categories and create walls and accusations.  For example, eating with dirty hands must point to a disregard for law. Jesus was able to challenge the guests to deeper thinking.  Perhaps it would not be dissimilar to having a heart to heart with someone who doesn’t wear a mask.  Honest exchanges need not mean hostile exchanges but often they become just that, relationship breakers.

         Jesus tackled ways in which we are hypocritical.  Jesus points out that there is a difference between the outer facades we present and inner realities of which we are, forms vs. intent.  Looking holy is different than being holy.  Tithing to promote a cause if we live unjustly is pointless.  The goal is not just creating laws to avoid punishment but to create systems that promote health and justice.  Seeking honor but not being honorable doesn’t work.  When we live in a disingenuous way, we bring woe on ourselves.

         Lent is a time when we reflect on our spiritual journey.  It is a time when we ask ourselves tough questions.  Are there ways that I try to wash up, either myself or my situations, to make myself appear better than I know I am?  Are there tithes I give to look good but forget to act justly?  How do I play the phony?  That’s a tough question that might be worth pondering, confessing and seeking to straighten out in my life.  Lent is about more than refusing chocolate or candy but it is looking deeper into those issues that bring woe to others, to ourselves, and to our God.  It’s not easy but in the end woe isn’t either. Blessings as you reflect.

         Here is our Lenten challenge, for that jar to give to a charity after Easter: “More children die from had water and poor sanitation than from hunger.  Give 25 cents for every faucet in your house.”

Luke 11:14-28

Jesus is headed to Jerusalem and the cross but on his journey people are watching his actions and debating what his power source is.  Jesus drives a mute spirit out of a man and the man can then speak.  The people reason that if Jesus is able to drive out spirits because he has the power of Beelzebul, prince of demons, then perhaps he can make signs appear from heaven. Where does his power come from?  We know that debate today as rulers fight.

         Jesus points out that if Satan drives out demons by the power of Satan then Satan is dividing his house, and that house will fall.  Division implies disunity and leads to defeat.  That is different than diversity that implies  different ways and different talents to reach a common goal with common values. Jesus continues on to say that the defeated, humiliated demon will find seven friends and returns for another battle and possession.  Defeat through war and humiliation can only lead to disaster.  Here we see the difference between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of this world.  God does not rule by bringing divisions.  God woes us to agreement and mutual support in the midst of our differences.  God uses love and unity.  Consequences come because of our choices, not his power.

         Perhaps Jesus would say that the real important question is what fills the houses of our lives?  Refusing evil needs to be followed by choosing God and filling our hearts with his wisdom.  Often we look at the less fortunate and pat ourselves on the back that at least we are not like them.  Being slightly in debt may indeed be better than being deeply in debt but it is not the same as being friends with the owner of the bank who will lend you whatever you need.  It doesn’t always seem that easy in the midst of the fray, choices never are.  So let us reflect on what we are filling our hearts with today.  Are we filling our lives with fluff and noise, not necessarily evil but not necessarily character building either?  But likewise we must realize that in our own strength, we cannot fight off evil.  It is only our relationship with Jesus that gives us strength.  What disciplines do we have that give us strength to confront evil and how can we strengthen them during this lenten journey?

Luke 11:5-14

Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them how to pray and from that comes what we call the Lord’s Prayer.  But Jesus did not give it like a command saying that is the form that prayer must always take.  He continues on to give us a picture of what prayer is like.  He paints a scene of a person caught unprepared and in need so he runs to his neighbor for help.  Our person has an unexpected visitor and his own cupboard is bare.  The friend  who has already retired, does not inconvenience himself to earn love from his neighbor but responds out of love.  God does not give snakes when we ask for fish and he does not give us a scorpion when we ask for an egg.  We are free to ask for our daily bread, that which we really need, because he loves us and we are not bothering him.

     I worked in a former famine relief camp when we first went to Kenya where there were 5,000 starving people living in cardboard huts around our station.  A time of famine came and people came to our door begging.  I was down to sharing my potatoes that we had hauled from down-country.  I vividly remember a little old lady spitting at me as I explained that the potato could be put in water and boiled and mashed if necessary for her baby.  Her response was that she did not eat rocks.  She wanted milk!  She suspected I was hiding the good stuff necessary for a mug of chai.

     The biblical story focuses on the need of the moment, the guests are at the man’s house now and he needs food.  How often do I spin tales in my mind about the problems I suspect I will have tomorrow when for sure, tomorrow may never come.  How often does God give me a potato but I am so focused on wanting milk that I distain the gift I’m given.

         Jesus is walking to the cross but he focuses on the needs of the people he meets on the way.  We too are walking through Lent, walking through the trials that we are facing us today.  Tomorrow is a different set of problems.  May we trust that God is giving us fish and eggs even when life seems harsh and tedious, more like potatoes.  May we have eyes to see the gifts of the day and may we be deep in prayer for those who are overwhelmed with the challenges of war, of disease, and poverty.  Lord have mercy.  “Give us each day our daily bread.  Lead us not into the temptation of greed and guard us from an attitude of ingratitude!

Luke 11:1-4

We continue this week with Jesus enroute to Jerusalem.  We are introduced to Mary and Martha, the thinker at Jesus’ feet and the doer in the kitchen hostessing.  Yup, still today we have different strokes for different folks.  The next lesson, though, we all agree on. “Lord, teach us to pray!”  Whether we think great thoughts or do great deeds or are just ordinary like most of us, like the disciples, we realize that when approaching the God of the universe, we need help.  Prayer was obviously a secret source of power for Jesus and it works in our lives in multiple ways too.  For times of deep grief, prayer comforts.  For times of confusion, prayer helps us sort ourselves out and center and clarify our thoughts.  For many of us now we spend time bringing the warring factions of our world before God, praying for mercy and the end of violence.  Sometimes prayer will move that mountain in front of us into the sea and other times it helps us persevere in climbing it.  Luke gives the shorter version of the prayer:

“Father,

Hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread,

Forgive us our sins,

For we forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.”

“Father” might be hard for some because of abusive human relationships but the truth is that God is approachable and we can relate regardless of the title we feel comfortable.  Sometimes it is Lord, sometimes Father, sometimes God, El Shadi or our own prayer name.  We are invited into relationship!

         We want the wars, the refugees, the famines, and the politics to end and we want a kingdom run by the golden rule, a just world.  “Daily” reminds me to focus on now and not the imaginary woes of a future the evil one loves to tease me with but which has not materialized.  Help me be content!  Forgiveness is key also.  Often I need help because I cannot forgive in my own power.  I keep remembering the insult, the injury and the wrong keeps burning in my heart.  I do not want to be a bitter old person, hating the world and my life and chasing everyone away.  Temptation is so real and I need help to stay focused on God’s way.

     Each phrase can be a theme for prayer for a day of the week.  Sometimes we say the prayer routinely and don’t think but then there are the times when the words burn into our heart as we struggle with the dynamics of our lives.  Likewise as we say the words in church with the congregation, we are reminded that we are part of a body, the body of Christ that he walked to Jerusalem to save.

         Perhaps we can pray this prayer today thinking of those caught in the dynamics of war, fleeing violence, opposing violence, and seeking refuge.  Lord, help!

This week we went from Epiphany to Lent, celebrating Ash Wednesday.  This week we all watched with horror and grief as we saw the battle unfolding between Ukraine and Russia.  Ukrainians are bravely resisting and many women and children are fleeing their home country to be refugees.  Russians are bravely resisting and demonstrating against this invasion and paying a big price and some are fleeing a country they no longer feel represents them.  Lent too is a journey, a journey to the cross.  It is the journey in opposition to all the evil of this world.  It is a stand against violence and anger as a demand tactic.  Hatred and vengeance solve nothing.  The Negro Spiritual that I chose embraces this prayer for Jesus to walk with us in our personal trials, in our national trials and with all who are seeking a haven of safety tonight.  Please enjoy and pray for pilgrims on this journey.

Luke 10:25-32

“Go and do likewise.”

Truth is beginning to dawn.  Jesus is no longer a new voice people are curious about but has become a challenge to Jewish, spiritual thinking.  Most of us have heard about Jesus, if only as a swear word and we have heard about God but what does that really mean to us today where our lives meet the trials of life?  An expert in the law asks Jesus a question to test Jesus, “What must I do to be saved?”  The man knows the answer, love God with you heart, soul, strength and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus agrees.  The problem is not knowledge but will.  The expert keeps pushing, “So who is my neighbor?”  He wants a set of rules.  He wants his boundaries defined.  He wants to live life in control, knowing he is ok, not life as grace and a gift from God.  Jesus gives him a picture and a parable many of us know, The Good Samaritan.

         A “nobody” was beaten up, robbed, and left for dead on the road.  Three “somebodies” walk by without helping.  It is not their responsibility.  But…but a foreigner sees the man and helps.  So Jesus asks, “Who do you think was a neighbor to the man in distress.”  Caught!  The man is convicted by his own words.  I suspect the guy hung his head and mumbles, the foreigner.  Jesus responds, “Go and do likewise.”

         The opening question rings in our ears, “What must we do to be saved?”  In fact this feels like it is being played out on our world stage today!  What must we do?  We must lead lives of integrity spiritually, socially, and personally.  As we walk through Lent, I hear Jesus challenging me to take him seriously and not play games.  I do not know how that parable speaks into your life or the political powers of our world but let us take a moment to consider who our neighbor is today.  Who needs our encouragement, our forgiveness or our love?  Is there someone you have walked by that God is asking you to engage with?  Spend one minute in silence and see if a name comes to your mind.  Blessings.

         Our Lenten challenge for today, ”In the United States, more than 35 millions people are hungry.  Give 35 cents today (Put 35 cents in your Lenten container) and pray for these people.”

Luke 9:43-62

Jesus comes down from the Mount of Transfiguration and tells his disciples, “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.”  The disciples did not understand what it meant and were afraid to ask.  It is about like the doctor diagnosing my husband’s Parkinson’s disease.  Hospice came in and the nurse looked me in the eye and said, “It is a terminal disease and we will walk with you on this journey.”  We know we will die some day…but not soon hopefully.  We do not want to hear that diagnosis!  The disciples were coming to believe Jesus was the Messiah but they still were thinking of freedom from Rome, not freedom from death.

         Three men come to Jesus in the reading today and try to bargain with Jesus about their discipleship.  One wants to bury his father first and then he will follow Jesus.  Another wants to return home and have a farewell party with his family.  Another is told point blank that this person will only be able to claim heaven as home, not any home in this world permanently.  We all have our excuses for following …later we think.  We all have our fears…God may ask me to be a missionary, to love my enemy, or to give away my money.  We all have our fears, excuses and “complications” that make tomorrow a more convenient time to follow Jesus.

         The first temptation Jesus had after his baptism and forty days of fasting in the wilderness was to turn a stone into bread.  The call to self centeredness is always there.  We want to follow our agenda rather than God’s agenda.  During Lent we will continue to follow Jesus for 40 days but may we be aware of our own temptations to deny that we have a “terminal diagnosis!”  We need to take this journey!

     Our prayer for today, “Pray this Latin American prayer at mealtime: ‘To those who hunger give bread, and to those who have bread, give the hunger for justice.’”  Blessings on you face into the journey of Lent to Easter!

Add or Subtract?

Today we turn from the season of Epiphany when we looked at the life of Christ and what he revealed about the nature of our God, to the season of Lent when Jesus came down from the Mount of Transfiguration and headed to Jerusalem for the crucifixion.  We will be looking at how Jesus approached death.  Ash Wednesday marks the start of the journey we know we must all take.  It is not a mandatory holy day for many Christians but it is one of the most heavily attended services for Anglicans, Lutherans, Catholics and other Protestant churches.  During the service, ashes will be rubbed on our foreheads in the shape of a cross, reminding us of our mortality, our broken relationship with the divine and with each other.  We need for a savior.  Many will hear the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”  As we look out at our world bombing neighbors in Europe and as we look at the divisions within our own country and the weakness within ourselves, we can only bow our heads and pray!  Lord have mercy!

         For many Lent is a time of fasting, of refusing something we like, perhaps chocolate, so when we feel “the pain” we remember to turn to prayer and draw near to God for comfort.  We call that subtraction.  Others prefer addition.  A spiritual discipline can be emphasized or practiced more intently.  I bought a small labyrinth to add a period of prayer to my morning devotions, a time of prayer for our world.  My church has given us a calendar for the next 40 days till Easter (Sundays don’t count) to remind us of the work of the church in charities.  We are encouraged to create a little jar to collect an offering daily. So for today I read, “Did you know that the ELCA Hunger Program works in 63 countries (including the United States) and within 34 U. S. states.  Give 63 cents.”  That’s less than a cup of coffee!  We can be creative and round up or round down and give to the charity of our choice.  Will you be adding or subtracting during Lent?

         Whether we add or subtract, fast or do not, the next month we will focus on lent for our devotions on Luke’s report on how Jesus lived out his last days as he knew he was approaching death.  Lord, open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts to the lessons you would teach us during this season.  Blessings.

Proverbs 30:7-9

⁷ Two things I ask of you;
    do not deny them to me before I die:
⁸ Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
    give me neither poverty nor riches;
    feed me with the food that I need,
⁹ or I shall be full, and deny you,
    and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or I shall be poor, and steal,
    and profane the name of my God.

Today many celebrate Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras.  It is also known as Shrove Tuesday.  It is always 47 days before Easter and the day before Ash Wednesday.  Many Christians will now start to fast, or eliminate something from their lifestyle or diet, as a form of repentance leading up to Easter.  Other Christians will focus on a spiritual discipline to add for the 40 days before Easter, like a time of prayer or daily Bible reading or perhaps having a jar to put loose coins into each day during Lent to be donated to a charity after Easter.  Fat Tuesday is also called Pancake Tuesday.  One tradition focuses on eating all the fattening foods in the house on Tuesday so they use up milk, cream, butter and flour by making pancakes.  Some will not eat meat till Easter.  Generally speaking then, today is a day to eliminate things that might draw our attention from God for the next 40 days.

         The above proverb ties in to this idea, I would suggest.  The writer prays to not be too rich or too poor but to be satisfied with his daily food.  Riches tempt us to forget God and think we are self sufficient. The reverse, poverty, can drive us to steal and similarly try to provide for our own needs, eliminating trust in God.  Both extremes make the mistake of not figuring God into the dynamics of our lives.

         At we watch the thousands of refugees fleeing, protesting, and scavenging for the basics of life, we grieve.  It is so easy to see pictures on a TV or listen to the news and the needs of others seem sooo distant or perhaps not as thought consuming as our own dynamics.  May I suggest that today is a good day to remind ourselves of our need to guard from thinking that ignores God.  Is there a discipline you would like to add or subtract starting tomorrow to focus yourself spiritually?  Blessings as you ponder!