Musings for the 5th Sunday of Pentecost

Sunday, June 27, 2010
Lectionary 13
Proper 8
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Reflection by Gary Lazenby

INTRODUCTION
We have no good apart from God. That makes our Lord’s call to follow him an invitation to freedom. This is freedom to revel in the Spirit’s fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, and the like. This is the path of life.

Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, died 444
Cyril defended the orthodox teachings about the person of Christ. After a conflict involving all of the major Christian leaders of the time, it was decided that Cyril's interpretation, that Christ's person included both divine and human natures, was correct.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)
Sovereign God, ruler of all hearts, you call us to obey you, and you favor us with true freedom. Keep us faithful to the ways of your Son, that, leaving behind all that hinders us, we may steadfastly follow your paths, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading 1 Kings 19:15–16, 19–21
In the story preceding today's reading, the prophet Elijah flees for his life to the security of God's mountain. There the Lord reveals to Elijah that there are still other faithful people in Israel and commissions him to anoint new leaders, including his own successor, Elisha.

15Then the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 19So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. 20He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." Then Elijah said to him, "Go back again; for what have I done to you?" 21He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

Psalm (ELW) Psalm 16
I have set the LORD always before me. (Ps. 16:8)
1Protect me, O God, for I take ref- | uge in you;
I have said to the LORD, "You are my Lord, my good a- | bove all other."
2All my delight is in the godly that are | in the land,
upon those who are noble a- | mong the people.
3But those who run after | other gods
shall have their troubles | multiplied.
4I will not pour out drink offerings | to such gods,
never take their names up- | on my lips.
5O LORD, you are my portion | and my cup;
it is you who up- | hold my lot.
6My boundaries enclose a | pleasant land;
indeed, I have a | rich inheritance.
7I will bless the LORD who | gives me counsel;
my heart teaches me night | after night.
8I have set the LORD al- | ways before me;
because God is at my right hand, I shall | not be shaken.
9My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spir- | it rejoices;
my body also shall | rest in hope.
10For you will not abandon me | to the grave,
nor let your holy one | see the pit.
11You will show me the | path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for- | evermore.

Second Reading Galatians 5:1, 13–25
For Paul, the freedom Christ gives is not permission to do whatever we want. It is the invitation to be what we could not be otherwise. The power and guidance of Christ's Holy Spirit produce a different kind of life, one marked by the fruit of this Holy Spirit.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
13For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
16Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

Gospel Luke 9:51–62
Jesus is unwavering in his commitment to his mission in Jerusalem and will not be swayed by pettiness. In a series of striking cases in point, he calls his disciples to a similar single-mindedness.

51When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" 55But he turned and rebuked them. 56Then they went on to another village.
57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." 59To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." 62Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Reflection
How often do you make excuses? If you are like me, it is frequently. Too tired to exercise. I deserve the large dessert because I worked hard. I really need (not want) the new stainless grill with 3 burners. Making excuses is not new. People even made excuses in Jesus’ day. In Luke’s Gospel for this week, Jesus was walking along the road with a group of people. Jesus turned to one of the men and said to him, “Follow me.”

The man answered, “First let me go and bury my father.” That sounds like a good excuse, but we don’t even know that the man’s father was dead. He may have wanted to wait until his father died before he began to follow Jesus.

Jesus answered him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Jesus did not like the second man’s excuse either when directed to follow Jesus. Jesus was calling those who would give up everything – family, friends, their job – and follow him. What he got instead was excuses.

Jesus is still calling today. Can you hear him say, “Follow me!” Will you follow, or will you make excuses?

Let Us Pray…
…for those who sacrifice and follow Jesus
…for those at Atonement who provide leadership to follow Jesus
…for those who are church-less and unable to hear Jesus calling to follow him
…for those who are in need of others who follow Jesus

Quote
“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” Benjamin Franklin

Musings for Pentecost 4

Sunday, June 20, 2010
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Deb Johnson

INTRODUCTION
This Sunday’s texts paint startling pictures of the horrific—the demonic—nature of sin. The church’s repeated celebration of the holy communion counters that tragic reality in a continued showing forth of the death of Jesus "until he comes." It is a dramatic declaration of "how much God has done for you."

Prayer of the Day

O Lord God, we bring before you the cries of a sorrowing world. In your mercy set us free from the chains that bind us, and defend us from everything that is evil, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading Isaiah 65:1–9

The prophet announces God's impatience. The people's self absorption is idolatry, and images from pagan worship fill this reading. Like a vintner who crushes the grape to release the wine, God will use Israel's exile to establish a new community of the faithful.

I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask,
to be found by those who did not seek me.
I said, "Here I am, here I am,"
to a nation that did not call on my name.
²I held out my hands all day long
to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good,
following their own devices;
³a people who provoke me
to my face continually,
sacrificing in gardens
and offering incense on bricks;
⁴who sit inside tombs,
and spend the night in secret places;
who eat swine's flesh,
with broth of abominable things in their vessels;
⁵who say, "Keep to yourself,
do not come near me, for I am too holy for you."
These are a smoke in my nostrils,
a fire that burns all day long.
⁶See, it is written before me:
I will not keep silent, but I will repay;
I will indeed repay into their laps
⁷their iniquities and their ancestors' iniquities together,
says the LORD;
because they offered incense on the mountains
and reviled me on the hills,
I will measure into their laps
full payment for their actions.
⁸Thus says the LORD:
As the wine is found in the cluster,
and they say, "Do not destroy it,
for there is a blessing in it,"
so I will do for my servants' sake,
and not destroy them all.
⁹I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
and from Judah inheritors of my mountains;
my chosen shall inherit it,
and my servants shall settle there.

Psalm Psalm 22:19–28

In the midst of the assembly I will praise you. (Ps. 22:22)

¹⁹But you, O LORD, be not far away;

O my help, hasten to my aid.

²⁰Deliver me from the sword,

my life from the power of the dog.

²¹Save me from the lion's mouth!

From the horns of wild bulls you have rescued me.

²²I will declare your name to my people;

in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.

²³You who fear the LORD, give praise! All you of Jacob's line, give glory.

Stand in awe of the LORD, all you off- spring of Israel.

²⁴For the LORD does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither is the LORD's face hidden from them;

but when they cry out, the LORD hears them.

²⁵From you comes my praise in the great assembly;

I will perform my vows in the sight of those who ^| fear the LORD.

²⁶The poor shall eat ^| and be satisfied.

Let those who seek the LORD give praise! May your hearts live forever!

²⁷All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD;

all the families of nations shall bow ^| before God.

²⁸For dominion belongs to the LORD,

who rules over the nations.

Second Reading Galatians 3:23–29

For Paul, baptism is a powerful bond that unites people not only with God but with other believers. Those who call themselves children of God experience a transformation that removes prejudices of race, social class, or gender in favor of true unity in Christ.

²³Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. ²⁴Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, ²⁶for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. ²⁷As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Gospel Luke 8:26–39

Jesus' mission includes foreigners, and his authority extends to the casting out of demons. Some who witness Jesus' work are seized with confusion and fear, but the man who was healed is commissioned to give testimony of God's mercy and power.

²⁶Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. ²⁷As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. ²⁸When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me" — ²⁹for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) ³⁰Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. ³¹They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

³²Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. ³³Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

³⁴When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. ³⁵Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. ³⁶Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. ³⁷Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. ³⁸The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, ³⁹Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you. So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

Reflection

Sometimes I am never quite sure what the lessons for the week mean. As I read and read again, I seek “insight”. So over time, I wait, wonder, and start anew. This time two phrases popped out: “Here I am, here I am.” and “In the midst of the assembly I will praise you.”

Here I am. Here I am, Lord, here I am. In my office is where I am. In the garden pulling weeds, mowing the lawn and trimming a tree, here I am. Walking the dog, washing the car, eating with friends, here I am. What is wonderful is that it is in all of these places and in all of these interactions, wherever I am, there is God also. Lord wherever I am … is where I am … Lord, use me as an instrument of your peace.

I, the Lord of sea and sky

I have heard my people cry

All who dwell in dark and sin

My hand will save.

I who made the stars and night

I will make the darkness bright

Who will bear my light to them

Whom shall I send?

I the Lord of snow and rain

I have borne my people's pain

I have wept for love of them

They turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone

Fill their hearts with love alone

I will speak my word to them

Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord

Is it I Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night

I will go Lord

If you lead me

I will hold your people in my heart.

I will hold your people in my heart...

In the midst of the assembly I will praise you. As Lutherans the concept of “praise” is sometimes something someone else does in an assembly. Can you imagine it, raising your hands and saying “praise the Lord” … at the end of a hymn shouting “Amen?” I have a hard enough time praising God with others, let alone in an assembly. So where do I start? Praising God in writing for the wonders of the world, for the heart of another, for time, for rain, for friends, for music, laughter, a faith community. Its my way to move from the cognitive to the affective praising!

Here you are … praise God! Wherever you are, stop and praise God.

Let us pray

For those seeking healing and restoration.

For the damaged waters of the Gulf.

For those who travel these days and those charged with providing safe journey.

For laughter, tears, joy and sorrow.

For children waiting adoption.

Pentecost 3

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Lectionary 11

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION

Confession and forgiveness frequently serve as a doorway to worship. We come into God's presence not because we earn it, but purely as an act of grace. Today's readings introduce us to some of the world's great sinners, and we take our place among them, hungry to taste the wonderful love of God.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

O God, throughout the ages you judge your people with mercy, and you inspire us to speak your truth. By your Spirit, anoint us for lives of faith and service, and bring all people into your forgiveness, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

First Reading 2 Samuel 11:26—12:10; 12:13–15

God sends the prophet Nathan to rebuke David the king for his abuse of power in deceiving and killing Uriah and taking Uriah's wife.

Chapter 11

26When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. 27When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD, Chapter 12

And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2The rich man had very many flocks and herds; 3but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. 4Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him." 5Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; 6he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."

7Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; 8I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. 9Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. 13David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan said to David, "Now the LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child that is born to you shall die." 15Then Nathan went to his house. The LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became very ill.

Psalm 32

1Happy are they whose transgressions | are forgiven,

and whose sin is | put away!

2Happy are they to whom the LORD im- | putes no guilt,

and in whose spirit there | is no guile!

3While I held my tongue, my bones with- | ered away,

because of my groaning | all day long.

4For your hand was heavy upon me | day and night;

my moisture was dried up as in the | heat of summer.

5Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not con- | ceal my guilt.

I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." Then you forgave me the guilt | of my sin.

6Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in | time of trouble;

when the great waters overflow, they | shall not reach them.

7You are my hiding-place; you preserve | me from trouble;

you surround me with shouts | of deliverance.

8"I will instruct you and teach you in the way that | you should go;

I will guide you | with my eye.

9Do not be like horse or mule, which have no | understanding;

who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will | not stay near you."

10Great are the tribulations | of the wicked;

but mercy embraces those who trust | in the LORD.

11Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice | in the LORD;

shout for joy, all who are | true of heart.

Second Reading Galatians 2:15–21

Paul explores the dynamics of grace. We are made right with God through Jesus and are crucified with Christ. We trade the old life of sin for a new life with God.

15We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. 17But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. 19For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; 20and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Gospel Luke 7:36—8:3

A forgiven sinner expresses great love for Jesus. This humble act reveals what is lacking in the self-righteous who feel no need to be forgiven.

Chapter 7

36One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. 37And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him — that she is a sinner." 40Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he replied, "speak." 41A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" 43Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly." 44Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." 48Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Chapter 8

Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, 2as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

Reflection

It is so easy to see the sins of others, isn’t it? At least it is for me. I can look at how others live their lives, what they say and who they are in relationship with and make snap judgments as to rightness or wrongness of each. It is quite easy to compare myself to others, to think of the good that I do and try to do and then, line it up against others and see their faults, shortcomings and sins. I, after all, try to do my best and love God. I understand the realities of the journey of faith and many of its complexities and when I see others living outside of those bounds it is so, so easy to point the proverbial finger and find them in the wrong.

Yet the story of Nathan and David catches me up short. David was furious at the interloper who moved in and took the poor man’s lamb and without second thought David condemned him and sentenced him to death. He did it, that is, until Nathan looked him square in the eye and said “You are the man!” It wasn’t said with admiration…

I only need look in the mirror to know the reality of my sinfulness and shortcomings. Sure, I can count my successes and best attempts at following a holy path but lost in that process are all the failures, all the name calling and all the looking down on others that occurs from time to time. Then I am pulled up short and made to see the realities of my existence. I think we all find ourselves there from time to time. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that God sees us for what we are and then loves us as he looks at us through the eyes of Jesus’ death and resurrection and the forgiveness which is ours through his sacrifice. That doesn’t mean I can go out and start all over again but it does mean I’m forgiven. And…it suggests strongly a change of course and attitude in life toward others and ultimately toward God. God’s love is inclusive of all people, none are excluded, not even me. Can I be less toward others?

Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. He sets the example and way and even when we fail stands ready to forgive. May I come to see all people through those holy and forgiving eyes.

LET US PRAY FOR

Clarity of inward vision

To see others through the eyes of God

For families mourning the loss of loved ones

For those who serve in the armed forces

For our enemies

For hearts of forgiveness

QUOTE

There is so much bad in the best of us and so much good in the worst of us that it doesn't behoove any of us to talk about the rest of us. -- Unknown.

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians, 4:31-4:32.