Simply Soul Searching
HOW IS GOD LOVING ME – AND WHERE IS GOD LEADING ME?
READERS: Thank you! Monday, April 2nd
My Dear Readers,
Thank you so much for reading these Lenten devotions. I’m humbled that you have taken the time to read them. It has been my prayer that you have been enriched or blessed in some small way this season. Thank you for encouraging me along the way! You helped me so much, more than you can know.
I have another writing assignment for Christ in Our Home due in a few months, and I also hope to finish up my book. While I focus on these projects I may not blog as often, but I hope you check in once in a while. May I ask for your prayers? Please ask that God will help me to surrender my own ego or agenda and that God may freely inspire and move; that my writing will bless God and those who read and reflect. Thank you, so much.
May we all live in the joy and the freedom of the Resurrection! Love and thanks to all of you.
Karen 🙂
RESURRECTION! Easter Sunday, April 1st
DAY ONE: REBIRTH
RESURRECTION!
Luke 24:1-12 (NRSV)
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.
And then on this one glorious morning, everything changes! Jesus has risen from the dead! He is alive! He is alive forever! Now we will be, too! There is new life all around!
We have so much to celebrate. Jesus’ resurrection is so much more than our eternal life after we die. His resurrection assures us that this is Day One of a brand new beginning- here and now! God has dramatically shown us through Jesus that God overcomes EVERYTHING. Even death. We no longer have any reason to fear any hardship this world may give us. We are gloriously resurrected with each new morning.
Release would be another good word for today. Jesus is totally free- released from his burial clothing, released from the stone that sealed him in, released from the dark tomb, and released from death! Jesus has been released to live in new freedom. Think of how his release is also our freedom! Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we are released from all of our limited confines of life.
Jesus’ resurrection releases us from…
The grave clothes that bind and suffocate us. Are there parts of your life that feel binding or suffocating? Jesus can help free us from the wrappings and the trappings of those ways of living- perhaps habits, routines, traditions, expectations, or obligations- that are no longer practical, useful, or enjoyable.
The stony obstacles that block our way. Are there hurdles that have been blocking your progress? What is preventing you from moving forward? Jesus can free us from being immobilized by offering us alternate routes, helping us to remove the obstacles that are before us, and sometimes showing us the obstacles within us- such as stubbornness, insecurity, lack of innovation, or lack of insight.
The dark tomb that confines us. Are there limitations or uncertainties that confine you in darkness? In what way do you feel boxed in, unable to see the light? What parts of your soul are darkened with despair, worry, or sorrow? Jesus can free us from our own imprisonment by opening new doors, shining his light into our darkness, and revealing our way out.
The deaths that stand before us. What losses or deaths do you fear most? Jesus can free us from our fears because he has overcome the world. He has overcome death. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:38-39), and we can face death directly, without fear. Jesus says to death and loss, “You have no say in this. You have no power over us. We are passing you by.”
It IS a new day. Because of this wonderful Resurrection of Jesus, we are given brand new beginnings with every new day, every new moment. We are FREE; fully FREE! Can you feel the freedom? How will you live NOW? This is Day One of your new life. Thank Jesus. Thank God. And LIVE in Resurrected joy!
God of the Resurrection,
You have brought life out of death in the Resurrection of your Son, Jesus. You have brought us out of the dark tomb into the light of your everlasting love. THANK YOU! Our hearts are filled with joy and gratitude. Beginning with this new day- Day One- help us to live our lives fully free in Resurrected joy! Amen.
REMAIN: Saturday, March 31st
HOLY WEEK: RECOLLECTION
REMAIN
Luke 23: 50-56 (NRSV)
Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.
On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
And now we wait…
We are so fortunate to be living on the other side of Jesus’ resurrection, aren’t we? Can you imagine how sad, confused, angry, lost, and despairing Jesus’ followers, family and friends must have felt on that Sabbath? There must have been SO many questions, so many doubts, so many emotions, so many fears. We can imagine them being anxious to reassure and comfort one another, figure out new plans, or perhaps even flee. But it was the Sabbath, and they were to rest. They had to remain with their broken dreams, their private grief, and their unanswered questions…
Was this all for nothing? Was Jesus who he claimed to be? Were we misled? Did I miss something? What do I do now? Where did we go wrong? Who is to blame for this terrible ending? Why did Jesus not save himself? Where is our Messiah? Will I be the next to die? That Sabbath was filled with the anxious uncertainty of many unanswered questions.
No one was able to know what was going on inside of the dark tomb that day. There was a huge stone covering the opening. Everyone remained in Sabbath quiet rest, away from the burial garden. Silence and sorrow prevailed.
Our word for today is Remain. There are times when we must simply remain with the question before us. An answer hasn’t come or isn’t clear. And when the question is one that makes us uncertain, uncomfortable, or anxious, we don’t remain with the silence very well. We want answers. We want to find reasons. We want to locate someone who can help. We want to resolve issues. We want to know what next steps to take. We want clarity. We want to figure out a plan. We want to move on. We want our lives to make sense.
Our times of uncertainty and unanswered questions can feel like the anxious waiting outside that dark, closed tomb. But in these silent waiting times, God is still at work- especially at work- within us. We need to remain with the question until we have learned what it holds for us. We need to remain outside the tomb, while God is transforming and resurrecting new life in the answer that as yet lies hidden inside the darkness. We need to remain… and we need to allow God to be God.
Today we are to remain before the silence of the quiet tomb. Today we are to remain before the silence of unanswered questions. But we remain with hope in our hearts. We KNOW the glorious answer that will soon emerge from the darkness. We are living on the other side of the Resurrection!
Transforming God,
Today we wait before the quiet, dark tomb. We wait for your glorious work to be revealed in Jesus’ resurrection. Today we wait before the quiet, dark of our own unanswered questions. We wait for your glorious work to be revealed in us. Thank you that we can wait with hope. Amen.
(I have always loved this quote… I hope it speaks to you today.)
“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
RECALL: Friday, March 30th
HOLY WEEK: RECOLLECTION
RECALL
Luke 23: 32-46 (NRSV)
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.
Good Friday. Today is the day for us to recall that terrible, final day of Jesus’ earthly life. We cannot fathom Jesus’ pain, suffering, anguish, humiliation, torment, ridicule, and his slow, tortuous death on the cross. Jesus only wanted to give us life and love, and this is what we did to him. May we all take some quiet time today to recall all of this, to grieve and to despair again, with very sorry and very thankful hearts.
Our word for this Good Friday is Recall. Merriam Webster defines recall in these ways: to remember (something) from the past; to ask or order (someone) to return; or to ask people to return (a product with a defect or problem). Let’s consider all three meanings today.
To remember from the past…
We recall that day with great sadness. But we recall these words of Jesus with thankfulness, deep relief, and greater peace: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”* His words are difficult to believe- that Jesus would do this at all, and that Jesus has done this for us. WE ARE FORGIVEN. There is nothing we can do to merit our forgiveness. This is a gift of complete mercy and grace.
To ask someone to return…
Every day Jesus is recalling us back as his followers. In what ways have we been negligent of Jesus recently? What gifts of God have we been taking for granted? In what new ways might we grow in our discipleship? Jesus asks us always to return to him. In this week of recollection, let’s return to him by revisiting the Good Friday story in the context of his love. Let’s return to him by re-membering him each day with our life and love. Let’s return to him by being attentive and ready with open and thankful hearts, as he recalls us anew each day.
To ask people to return a product with a problem or defect…
Finally, Jesus is recalling us back to the cross. He is asking us to return to him with our own brokenness- our problems and defects. We are imperfect. We need to hear his words of forgiveness once again. Jesus wants to restore us and make us new. On this Good Friday Jesus is also recalling us back to the cross so that we may die to ourselves once again. Let’s go to the cross and surrender. Let’s go to the cross and allow Jesus to keep working in us, perfecting us and completing us, removing every defect. Today is the day.
Loving, merciful Jesus,
Oh, how you love us! On this terrible and Good Friday, we recall your immense suffering and death on the cross, with great sadness and guilt. But we also recall your words of mercy and forgiveness, with great hope and peace. We hear you recalling us today to be your devoted followers. We hear you recalling us back to the cross for surrendering and perfecting. We hear your call. Help us to heed your call. Amen.
(*As I was preparing this devotion, I noticed that the verse, “Father forgive them…” was enclosed within brackets. I learned that these words of Jesus were not included in the original manuscript of Luke, and may have been added later. They also may have at one time been removed by ones who didn’t want to excuse Jesus’ killers. I found several online discussions about this! Did Jesus actually say this? WOULD Jesus have said this? But as we did earlier this week, if we revisit this story in the context of Jesus’ life, love, and his commands to forgive one another, I believe Jesus surely could have said these words, don’t you?)
REMEMBER: Thursday, March 29th
HOLY WEEK: RECOLLECTION
REMEMBER
Luke 22: 14-20 (NRSV)
When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
On the last Passover before his death, Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples. In a solemn and intimate moment, he broke the bread, called it his body, and described it as given for them. He then poured wine, called it the new covenant in his blood, and described it as poured out for them. Jesus told the disciples that whenever they shared this Passover meal of bread and wine, they should remember him. This has become our precious sacrament of Holy Communion.
There are many interpretations of what the bread and wine actually represent in the Christian church. The bread and wine can be understood as symbols of Jesus’ body and blood, or as his actual body and blood, or as a divine mystery where Jesus is present through the Spirit. No matter what we believe about the bread and wine, I hope we can all agree that in Holy Communion, we are to remember Jesus and to know that he is present with us. Remember is our word for this Maundy Thursday. Remember encompasses the meaning of this sacrament beautifully, for several reasons.
When Jesus commands us to remember him, we are to bring his presence to mind when we share this meal. We are to remember the wonderful difference his life, death and resurrection have made for us. We are to remember his commandments to love God and to love one another. We are to remember his teachings and his way of living as our own life’s example. When we share in the bread and wine, we are to remember his last Passover meal. As we remember Jesus this way, the sacrament gives us the gifts of gratitude and grace found in the life, forgiveness, and love of Jesus.
In addition, the word, “member” is defined as part of a whole. So “re-membering” would mean putting the members back together as a whole. In Holy Communion, we remember how Jesus’ body was broken, through his terrible suffering and death. But we also gratefully understand how his body was re-membered in his resurrection! He was restored and made whole. As we remember Jesus this way, the sacrament gives us the hope and joy of our own eternal re-membering when that glorious day comes for us.
~ When I had cancer, Holy Communion became a very significant part of my peace and inner healing. I felt the broken body of Jesus being united with my broken body as I had the bread and wine. I remembered how he was then restored; yes, in a new and different way- but a better way; a resurrected way. I knew that no matter what happened to me, because of Jesus I would also be resurrected in a new way. This sacrament is a healing gift for all of us in our brokenness. We can trust that in all circumstances, we will be re-membered; because of him, we will be put back together in a new and better way.
Finally, because of Jesus’ gift of the Holy Spirit, we all are called and equipped to serve as his body, the Body of Christ in the world. When we gather together at the table, we are re-membering the Body of Christ through our unity, our fellowship, and our service together. In Holy Communion, we become the Body of Christ together, restored and whole. We gather and we re-member Jesus by living as his complete body in the world. As we re-member Jesus this way, the sacrament gives us our purpose and power for living.
Our Jesus,
Oh, how you have loved us! We once again are reminded of the anguish and agony you endured as you followed the path to the cross. Help us to remember and to re-member you in all the ways that you would have us do so. Thank you for sharing this meal with us. Thank you for sharing yourself with us. We are so very grateful. Amen.
REVISIT: Wednesday, March 28th
HOLY WEEK: RECOLLECTION
[These remaining Holy Week devotions will be a recollection of the last days that Jesus experienced and endured. Merriam Webster defines recollection as “the action or power of recalling to mind; something recalled to the mind.” But a second definition struck me: “tranquility of mind; religious contemplation.” May our recollection of the life and love of Jesus as shown in his final days bring us a deeper and humbler appreciation, a quiet and contemplative spirit, and most of all, the peace and tranquility in knowing that, through it all, Jesus has overcome the world.]
REVISIT
Mark 14:3-11 (NRSV)
While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”
Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
This story is retold in Matthew 26, but in John 12, the story is changed a bit. In John’s story, Jesus is at the home of Lazarus, and the woman who anoints him is Mary, sister of Lazarus and Martha. Often times when we retell or revisit a memory, the story evolves and changes. We may have learned additional information since the first telling. We may see certain moments with greater clarity and importance as part of a bigger story. We may gain a new perspective as time passes and we mature. To revisit a moment or memory is to reenter that moment, and to reconsider, reexamine, reevaluate, or rethink the experience. Today our word is revisit.
When we read the Holy Week stories in our Bible, we revisit the events of that week through the words of the Gospel writers. The stories were actually written some years after these days had passed. Had we lived in Jesus’ time, we would not have known what was happening behind the scenes with the religious leaders, understood why certain decisions or actions were taken, or realized where Jesus’ life was leading. We may find it easy to be critical of people who made terrible judgments and decisions about Jesus back then. But these people simply didn’t have all of the information- or the rest of the story that we have.
In this passage, just before the Passover, the woman (or Mary) intended to comfort and bless Jesus with her act of adoration. Had she anticipated the anger that would result from using expensive nard to anoint Jesus, she may have decided against doing this. The anointing even seemed to be the final straw for Judas, who then began planning to betray Jesus. She also upset some of the rest of the disciples, and perhaps Jesus’ words of his burial confused and dismayed them, too.
Could her generous act have contributed to the betrayal by Judas? If she had known where the next few days would take them all, could she have possibly changed the outcome? I am sure many of Jesus’ enthusiastic followers wondered what they had done wrong, or what they could have done differently, in those last confusing and frightening days when their plans began drastically falling apart.
But now when we revisit this woman’s story, we see how it was a necessary piece of the puzzle. There was more to her simple act of anointing than Judas or the others realized. Jesus used her act of love and adoration to foretell what was to come, to show that he was being prepared for his burial. He tried to share this deeper meaning with his disciples. In fact, he even said that what she had done would always be remembered as part of the good news story!
The woman did one simple act of love with good intentions. In the context of the rest of the story, the act became a terrible factor in Judas’ decision to betray Jesus. In the context of the rest of Jesus’ story, the act became a significant gesture of love, as well as a powerful symbol for Jesus to show the disciples what was to come.
When we revisit the stories of our lives, we may remember times when our good intentions did not result in good outcomes. Or we may recall times that didn’t make sense. We made decisions based solely on the information we had at that time, unable to see where they would lead. But if we allow Jesus to revisit these stories with us, retelling them from his perspective, showing us the deeper meaning, we may see how they fit as a necessary piece of our puzzle. It is all in the revisiting, isn’t it?
Precious Jesus,
As we revisit these last dark days of your earthly life, please guide our understanding and comprehension, so that we may truly see your story the way you would want us to see it. Retell your story to us in such a way that we deepen in love and grow as your followers. And when we revisit our own stories, help us to hear your retelling of them, that we may find their significance and meaning. Help us to revisit and retell our story- as part of your true story- with the world. Amen.
REACH: Tuesday, March 27th
WEEK SIX: RESPONSE
REACH
John 15: 12-17 (NRSV)
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
Isaiah 41:13
For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Do not fear,
I will help you.”
On this last day to consider our response to all of God’s goodness, this is what it all comes down to, isn’t it? Everything that Jesus lived and died for are summed up in his final words of encouragement and instruction to his disciples, his friends: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” We are included as his disciples now. Our first priority as followers and friends of Jesus is to reach out to others with his love. This is our word for today: Reach.
After he gives us our mission, Jesus goes on to give us beautiful words of love and blessing. Jesus assures us that he has taught us everything we need to know- everything that he knows from God the Father. He promises us that, as his friends, God will continue to give us all that we ask in order to bear fruit for him, the fruit of love and life for the world. We are to reach others with these fruits of Christ’s love.
Earlier in this chapter of John, Jesus tells us that he is the vine while we are the branches. All that we need to bear and share the fruit of his love comes by being connected with Jesus. We are unable to generate this love on our own. We are only the connecting conduit between Jesus and those we are called to love and help. The love of God flows from Jesus -> through us -> to others.
Isaiah also gives us such a lovely image of connection. God holds our right hand, and we are not to fear. God will help us! God has reached out to us through his Son, Jesus, and God continues to lovingly reach out to everyone. As we cling to God’s hand and then make the next connection by reaching for others, we help extend God’s gracious reach of love.
Envision placing one of our hands in the right hand of Jesus, then reaching out with our other hand to extend that love to others…
Someone is floundering in the tumult of uncertainty and chaos; we reach out as an extension of the strong, stable, anchoring hand of Jesus.
Someone is grieving in the emptiness of loss and heartbreak; we reach out as an extension of the compassionate, comforting, restoring hand of Jesus.
Someone is lost in the darkness of despair; we reach out as an extension of the guiding, illuminating hand of Jesus.
Someone is wallowing in the abyss of pain; we reach out as an extension of the healing, soothing, uplifting hand of Jesus.
Someone is lingering in the shadow of loneliness; we reach out as an extension of the loving, welcoming, clasping hand of Jesus.
Someone is hiding in the closet of fear; we reach out as an extension of the peaceful, reassuring, trustworthy hand of Jesus.
Someone is defensively building a protective wall of isolation; we reach out as an extension of the wounded, empathetic, open hand of Jesus.
We are the branches of the vine. We are the extending conduit for Jesus’ love to flow to others. How might we reach out with that love to make the connection today?
Far-reaching God,
Thank you for reaching us with your love through Jesus. We cling to that love as branches cling to a vine. Help us to produce good fruits of your love and goodness for others to partake. We hold your right hand. Guide us to reach out to others as we let your love flow through us. Amen.
RESEMBLE: Monday, March 26th
WEEK SIX: RESPONSE
RESEMBLE
2 Corinthians 3: 17-18 (NRSV)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:1-2
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
In this week of responding to God’s goodness, today our word is Resemble. We are actually “being transformed into the image” of Jesus, and we are called to “be imitators of God.” I like to think that the longer we live with the Spirit’s presence within, we will naturally become more and more like Christ. (I’ve heard it said that married people begin to look more alike the longer they live together!) As Paul says in 2 Corinthians, the Spirit is the one transforming us as we contemplate the glory of Jesus. Keeping our eyes on Jesus as we allow the Spirit to move within us, we will increasingly begin to resemble him.
People can resemble Jesus in many different ways, can’t they? We can see Jesus in the courageous one who works for justice, or the selfless one who serves those in need. We see Jesus in one who is a gentle and contemplative soul, as well as another who is a lively and humorous public speaker. People who resemble Jesus have a variety of different personalities and ways of serving.
There is often something deeper shining in these people who resemble Jesus, underlying their acts of service and unique personalities. An inner countenance of peace, assurance and love centers and guides them. They are humble, lowly and selfless. In their presence, one feels a genuine, joyful warmth. Today I think of my friend, Heidi, who for me is a wonderful example of all of these qualities.
Thirty nine years ago I wrote in my journal, “There is nothing like the happiness of someone glad to see you.” This holds true for me today. To be seen, to be appreciated, to feel as if you are bringing someone joy by your mere presence, is so affirming and uplifting! When I am in Heidi’s presence, I feel Christ’s presence. By her delighted expression, her attentive care, and her interest in my life, she makes me feel precious, treasured and important. Jesus’ love for people is readily and visibly shared through Heidi’s love for others.
So perhaps how we most resemble Jesus is not through our image but how others see themselves in our presence. We resemble Jesus when we reflect the light of Christ onto them. It’s as if we serve as a mirror for others to see themselves in the Light of Love. Have you noticed how the romantic light on makeup mirrors or in cozy restaurants has a soft rosy glow that diminishes our blemishes and imperfections? In shining the light of Christ onto others, we help them see their beauty, potential, worth, and best qualities. We help them see themselves as Jesus would see them, beloved and treasured. We resemble Jesus not just by the way others see us, but in the way they see themselves in the Light of Christ- the soft, radiant Light of Love.
Jesus, Light of Love,
We want to resemble YOU for others! Help us to grow in your likeness. Keep working in us, guiding us, and changing us until we glow with your Light of love. Help us to mirror to others your soft, loving and perfecting gaze upon them. Amen.
REJOICE: Saturday, March 24th
WEEK SIX: RESPONSE
REJOICE
Philippians 4: 4 (NRSV)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Luke 19:35-40 (NRSV)
Then they brought (the colt) to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
“Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. Many of us will be waving palm fronds and exclaiming, “Hosanna in the highest!” as we reenact the victorious parade for Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. We unite with people from that time and on, welcoming and praising the One who came to save us. We will REJOICE!
And then we will remember with sadness the rest of the story as we enter Holy Week. Jesus will be betrayed, cornered, captured, tried, judged, taunted, tortured, denied, and slowly killed in a terribly excruciating way. On this Palm Sunday, we can assume that Jesus anticipated what was to come. (He weeps over Jerusalem in the very next verse.) And yet, he blessed those who gathered to praise him by letting them have these innocent and unspoiled moments of great celebration and rejoicing.
Our word for today is rejoice. Paul tells the Philippians and us that we are to “Rejoice in the Lord, always.” At times I think we get the impression that as Christians, we are to be happy and joyful, no matter what. That somehow we are letting God down if we grieve or despair or become angry. Certainly we DO always have the comfort and the assurance that God will make good of everything, which gives us our unfailing hope and strength. But joy? How can we possibly rejoice in the death of a loved one? In a painful illness? In a heart-breaking tragedy?
We don’t. We rejoice in the Lord.
We rejoice in the LORD, not in the situation. We rejoice in spite of circumstances as we rejoice because of who God is. I began looking up “rejoice in” verses in the Bible, and all of them point to God’s goodness. We can rejoice in: God’s deliverance (Psalm 9:14), God’s salvation (Psalm 13:5), God’s steadfast love (Psalm 21:1), God’s works (Psalm 104:31), the day the Lord has made (Psalm 118:24), that day we are reviled because our reward is great in heaven (Luke 6:23), hope (Romans 12:12), and LOTS of times in the Lord, in the Holy Spirit, and in God.
Jesus understands our sadness, anger, hurt, and despair. Jesus wept, Jesus agonized, Jesus became angry. We will witness all of these in the week ahead, the worst week of Jesus’ life. Jesus knows and has experienced difficult, painful times like ours (and much worse). Jesus empathizes and accepts our tears, angry words, or feelings of emptiness.
Yet, in the midst of our heartache or pain, Jesus gives us reasons to rejoice, as he did for the palm waving, praising people of Jerusalem. Everything that Jesus did for us is our reason to rejoice. Everything that Jesus promised is our reason to rejoice. Every way that Jesus lived in trust, hope, wisdom, humility and love is our reason to rejoice. (Spoiler alert: at the end of the week, Jesus’ glorious resurrection is our greatest reason to rejoice!)
In our hardest times, we will react, grieve, hurt, become upset, or feel lost. We will then regroup, take a break, recover or heal. All of our reactions are natural and needful. But in spite of all this, we will still have a reason for joy: Jesus. Today I may cry, shout, become frustrated, lament, hurt, become angry, or despair…
Then I will think of Jesus, and rejoice.
Rejoice in the Lord, always. Again, I say, rejoice.
Jesus, our Joy,
Thank you for giving us so many reasons to rejoice, even in the midst of difficult heartache or pain. As we enter this Holy Week, we are sad to think of all the heartache and pain you endured. We are so very sorry. We have no way to thank you enough. But today, may we rejoice and praise you for all you have done for us. May our rejoicing be filled with gratitude, hope, and deep love, for you and only you. Amen.
READY: Friday, March 23rd
WEEK SIX: RESPONSE
READY
1 Corinthians 16:13 (NRSV)
Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.
Luke 9:59-62 (NRSV)
To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
There are several stories in the Bible that warn us to be ready! One of the harshest ones is this passage from Luke. Jesus invites a few people to follow him, but he won’t excuse them to first bury a father or even to say goodbye to those at home! We learn that his call, “Follow me,” is immediate and urgent. Jesus needs them- now. Perhaps he knows he will not be passing by this way again; this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for them. There is no time to wait!
In thinking more about these two unfortunate folks, I wonder if they would have reacted differently had they heard that Jesus was on his way and had planned to invite them. “If I had known you were coming, I would have been ready.” They probably would have been ready to go- hurrying to bury the deceased, saying goodbye to loved ones, preparing themselves to leave home. How sad that they may have simply just been caught off guard.
Therein lies the difference for us. We know that Jesus is here. We know that his calls to new ventures will come, even if we are unsure exactly when or how or where. Now is the time to be ready, to prepare for Jesus’ call to follow him.
How do we ready ourselves? First, we need to be ready for immediate response when we are called to serve or follow. When Jim served as an on-call nighttime chaplain, he had to be ready to go- right when he was needed. He stayed in the vicinity of the hospital. He kept his pager on. He had his overnight bag packed and prepared. He anticipated being called, so he was alert, attentive, and prepared for action.
We can be ready to respond immediately if we stay connected to God, “in the vicinity of God,” through prayer and presence. We will be able to respond with our lives in order because we have anticipated the call. If we know we will be called at some time, we are alert, attentive and prepared for action. We ready ourselves by turning to God for our equipping- asking for courage, insight, strength, words to say- anything we may need to serve well in large or small ways.
But we also ready ourselves by taking inventory of what we have to offer, how we are equipped to serve, and in what ways God has been preparing us uniquely for service. Jim had prepared in advance for this ministry. He studied at seminary, he completed five units of Clinical Pastoral Education, and was ordained as a Lutheran pastor. He had years of experience in ministry. His background, education, experience and faith all helped him to serve well as a chaplain. He loves caring for, praying with, listening to and helping people. Jim was being prepared to serve even before taking this position.
We will be able to discern God’s call more clearly when we know ourselves well. We prepare by creating a “profile” of our gifts and talents, where our personalities best shine and serve, what our interests and passions are, or how our experiences have formed and shaped us for service. We do a spiritual review of our lives and our natures, discerning the ways God has equipped and directed us. To be ready for our moment of call, we take stock of all the things that were leading up to this moment of call. Then, when we hear Jesus calling, we can answer with certainty, “Now THIS is what I was created to do!”
“I’ll be ready. I’m not sure for what exactly. But maybe that’s what being ready really means.” ~Holly Goldberg Sloan (film producer, novelist)
Finally, we ready ourselves by being open. I love this quote. We prepare and are ready with no expectations- except that God will use us. We ready ourselves by being flexible, ready for anything. We ready ourselves by viewing each new moment as a possible opportunity to serve God. Today might just be the day we hear Jesus say, “Follow me- I have something new for you to do!”
Calling Jesus,
We await your calls with eager anticipation. Keep us alert, show us how to best prepare ourselves, and direct us to the path you are walking, so that we do not let you pass by without us. Help us to be ready. Help us to be ready for anything! Amen.
Simply Soul Searching 