Musings for Christ the King Sunday

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Christ the King

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION

On this final Sunday of the church year our gospel is Jesus' great story of judgment. In the end, the faithful are those who served Christ by ministering to those who are poor, hungry, naked, sick, or estranged. In the first reading God is the shepherd who seeks the lost, weak, and injured and feeds them with justice. We gather this day to celebrate the reign of Christ and his victory over death, yet awaiting the consummation of all things yet to come. Acknowledging Christ as our merciful ruler, we go forth that his reign may be known in our loving words and deeds.

Prayer of the Day

O God of power and might, your Son shows us the way of service, and in him we inherit the riches of your grace. Give us the wisdom to know what is right and the strength to serve the world you have made, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24

Since Israel's kings proved to be bad shepherds, Ezekiel declares that the Lord will assume the role of shepherd in Israel. The Lord will also set over them a shepherd-messiah, "my servant David," who will feed and care for the people.

11For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 12As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. 14I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. 16I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

20Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, 22I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

23I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.

Psalm 95:1–7a

We are the people of God's pasture and the sheep of God's hand. (Ps. 95:7)

1Come, let us sing | to the LORD;

let us shout for joy to the rock of | our salvation.

2Let us come before God's presence | with thanksgiving

and raise a loud shout to the | LORD with psalms.

3For you, LORD, | are a great God,

and a great ruler a- | bove all gods.

4In your hand are the caverns | of the earth;

the heights of the hills are | also yours. R

5The sea is yours, | for you made it,

and your hands have molded | the dry land.

6Come, let us worship | and bow down,

let us kneel before the | LORD our maker.

7For the LORD | is our God,

and we are the people of God's pasture and the sheep | of God's hand. R

Second Reading Ephesians 1:15–23

In this passage, God is praised for revealing ultimate divine power in raising Jesus from the dead. The resurrected, exalted Christ is Lord both of the church and the entire universe, now and in the age to come.

15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Gospel Matthew 25:31–46

Jesus compares himself to a king who moves among his subjects to see how he is treated: what is done for the least of those who belong to his family is truly done for him.

31When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' 45Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Reflection

We’ve come to the end of another church year somehow, where the time has gone I don’t know but it has. Much has occurred both in the congregation and the world as we find ourselves at a much different place than we did on this day in 2010. For us, however, this is New Year’s Eve as we celebrate Christ the King Sunday.

One of the major festivals of the church year, this day looks backward as well as forward as we reflect on what has been and hope for what might be. Jesus centers us quickly in both directions by asking us what we have done for the least and what we will do in the future for the same population.

I often wonder if the process gets in the way of the people. Do we spend so much time planning and preparing in order to execute those plans accordingly that we miss the mark?

As we move through life do we really see Jesus in others? I know from personal experience as I move through times of volunteering that it’s difficult if not impossible to see Jesus in those who abuse the system, find ways to work beyond the parameters and abuse opportunities. Then I am reminded that I am not called to judge but to offer, offer what has first been given me as well as to look beyond what appears to be and see in others the image of God, face of Jesus, presence of the living Christ.

Unfortunately our prejudices and past experiences stand in the way but Jesus won’t hear any of that; the call is to be with and for the least. Not a bad agenda to set as a community of God’s people in life and in love. Care to join me?

Let us pray

• To be Christ’s presence to those in need
• To see Christ in others
• For those who cannot afford their mortgage payments
• This country as we live in these challenging times
• All who struggle with day to day life

Quote

“Nobody gets to heaven without a letter of reference from the poor!” Matthew 25:31-46. Rev. James Forbes:

Epiphany 4

Sunday, January 30, 2011
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany / Lectionary 4

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION
Who are the blessed ones of God? For Micah, they are those who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. For Paul, they are the ones who find wisdom in the weakness of the cross. For Jesus, they are the poor, mourners, the meek, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers. In baptism we find our blessed identity and calling in this countercultural way of living and serving.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Holy God, you confound the world's wisdom in giving your kingdom to the lowly and the pure in heart. Give us such a hunger and thirst for justice, and perseverance in striving for peace, that in our words and deeds the world may see the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading

Micah 6:1–8

With the mountains and the foundations of the earth as the jury, God brings a lawsuit against Israel. God has "wearied" Israel by his long history of saving acts. God does not want or expect lavish sacrifices to attempt to earn divine favor. Rather God empowers his people to do justice, to love loyalty to God, and to walk shrewdly in God's service.

Hear what the LORD says:
Rise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice.
2Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD,
and you enduring foundations of the earth;
for the LORD has a controversy with his people,
and he will contend with Israel.
3"O my people, what have I done to you?
In what have I wearied you? Answer me!
4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
and redeemed you from the house of slavery;
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
5O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised,
what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the saving acts of the LORD."
6"With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
8He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 15

LORD, who may abide upon your holy hill? (Ps. 15:1)
1LORD, who may dwell in your | tabernacle?
Who may abide upon your | holy hill?
2Those who lead a blameless life and do | what is right,
who speak the truth | from their heart; R
3they do not slander with the tongue, they do no evil | to their friends;
they do not cast discredit up- | on a neighbor.
4In their sight the wicked are rejected, but they honor those who | fear the LORD.
They have sworn upon their health and do not take | back their word.
5They do not give their money in hope of gain, nor do they take bribes a- | gainst the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be | overthrown. R

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 1:18–31

According to the world’s standards of power and might, the message of the cross seems stupid and offensive. Yet this word reveals the paradoxical way God has chosen to work power and salvation through weakness, rejection, and suffering. Hence the message of the cross becomes true wisdom and power for believers.

18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
26Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

Gospel

Matthew 5:1–12

Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount by naming those who are blessed in the reign of God.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Reflection

“What does the Lord require of you?” It’s a question I ask myself quite frequently in life and ministry. What do I have to do to please God or sometimes, perhaps appease God? In Micah the writer asks if massive numbers of burnt offerings with calves a year old, thousands of rivers of oil or even one’s first born would do the trick? What is necessary in order to properly live out the life of one who calls God God?

The answer is quite simple actually; do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God. I’m not sure if any one of those is easier than the others, they all seem to be tied together as I read the text. Walking humbly with God might seem the simplest to understand yet I’m not quite sure what even that means. And then one gets into justice and asks the question: “Whose justice are we talking about?”

This Sunday the ELCA will celebrate Reconciled in Christ Sunday. While the focus for some is on welcoming persons of all sexual orientations, at its very heart is the drive to welcome all people from all walks of life, all backgrounds and all abilities; there is no one to be excluded from the church and its ministries.

I think perhaps that’s what Micah is getting at when he talks of justice. To live our lives as God has shared and shown his throughout history, moving toward God’s people constantly even when they moved away, forgiving us when we can’t forgive ourselves and caring for each and everyone of us, no matter who we are. It’s a place we can begin to understand the call of the prophet, it’s a place we can begin to ground our lives.

Let Us Pray
That we might be open to all people and welcoming despite our difference
For the courage to invite others into the house of the Lord
For those who are battered, abused and left behind
To be open to God’s calling and Spirit
For healing and civility in this country and around the world.

Quote
The ultimate measure of a person (man) is not where she/he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where she/he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love, 1963

Musings for Advent 2

Sunday, December 5, 2010
Second Sunday of Advent

Year A

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION
At the heart of our Advent preparation stands John the Baptist, who calls us to repent and make a new beginning. As the darkness increases we turn toward the light of Christ's coming. For Christians he is the root of Jesse, the righteous judge who welcomes all, especially the poor and meek of the earth. We wait with hope for that day when the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and there will be no more hurt or destruction. From the Lord's table we are sent in the spirit of John the Baptist to proclaim that in Christ the kingdom of God has come near.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming nurture our growth as people of repentance and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading

Isaiah 11:1–10

In today's reading the prophet describes the ideal ruler who will come in the future as a green shoot springing from a dead stump (David's royal line) of Jesse (David's father). Gifted by the Spirit, this messiah will seek justice for the poor, and the reign of this monarch will be experienced as paradise regained.

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
²The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
³His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
⁴but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
⁵Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
⁶The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
⁷The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
⁸The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den.
⁹They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
¹⁰On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 72:1–7, 18–19

May the righteous flourish; let there be an abundance of peace. (Ps. 72:7)

¹Give the king your jus- ^| tice, O God,

and your righteousness to ^| the king's son;

²that he may rule your ^| people righteously

and the ^| poor with justice;

³that the mountains may bring prosperity ^| to the people,

and the ^| hills, in righteousness.

⁴Let him defend the needy a- ^| mong the people,

rescue the poor, and crush ^| the oppressor.

⁵May he live as long as the sun and ^| moon endure,

from one generation ^| to another.

⁶Let him come down like rain upon ^| the mown field,

like showers that wa- ^| ter the earth.

⁷In his time may the ^| righteous flourish;

and let there be an abundance of peace till the moon shall ^| be no more.

¹⁸Blessed are you, LORD God, the ^| God of Israel;

you alone do ^| wondrous deeds!

¹⁹And blessed be your glorious ^| name forever,

and may all the earth be filled with your glory. A- ^| men. Amen.

Second Reading

Romans 15:4–13

God's promise to include Gentiles within the circle of God's blessed people has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Christians live out their unity by welcoming and encouraging each other just as Christ has welcomed them into God's family.

⁴For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. ⁵May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, ⁶so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. ⁸For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles,
and sing praises to your name";
¹⁰and again he says,
"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people";
¹¹and again,
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples praise him";
¹²and again Isaiah says,
"The root of Jesse shall come,
the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles shall hope."
¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Gospel

Matthew 3:1–12

Just before Jesus begins his public ministry, John the Baptist appears, calling people to mend their ways and speaking of a powerful one who is to come.

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ²"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." ³This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.'"
⁴Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, ⁶and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
⁷But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸Bear fruit worthy of repentance. ⁹Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ¹⁰Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
¹¹I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹²His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

Reflection

The shoot which shall come from the stump of Jesse has held a special place in my heart since seminary days. You see, it was the logo for Seminex, a seminary formed from a former seminary; one that appeared to have died but in fact was brought back to life through nurture and commitment. I still have a button on my dresser at home from those early days.

The image speaks of life coming from what appears to be death. It also suggests that when pruning takes place at times new life is allowed to flourish and grow beyond our imaginings. I think of trees and bushes that I have trimmed around the house, the lower leaves growing on the new tomato plant removed to allow more life to rise toward the top and corrections made in life that foster growth and development.

All are signs of hope and promise and new life, central to this Advent season. It is a season that calls for introspection and insight as to how we live and where our lives are taking us. It calls on us to recall what is truly needed, not wanted, in these days and reminds us that even in the midst of the darkness of this world there is light and hope and the promise of peace which will one day come.

Where does pruning need to take place in your life? Where is new growth occurring? What is truly essential in the run up to the birth of the Messiah? Advent and its opportunity for increasing light and hope offer us the opportunity to ask these questions. May your journey be blessed with answers and with peace.

Let Us Pray

For times of quiet so that we might hear God’s voice speaking to us

That enemies might find common ground to work toward peace

For caregivers, that they may find times of respite and hope

For those undergoing surgery and recovery, that they will discover healing

To be peacemakers in our own lives and time

Quote

"During Advent opportunities for works of charity abound calling out for Christians from every side: a sack of food for a needy family, money dropped in a Salvation Army kettle, a donation to an Indian school, a toy for ‘Toys-for-Tots,’ etc. Unfortunately, these works of charity so easily can assuage the Christian conscience, while doing nothing to being about a solution to the root causes of the problem.

"Works of justice, on he other hand, follow the road less traveled of Advent’s hope to pursue solutions for difficult problems. Hope comes through works of justice rather than simply performing works of charity."

Fr. Brian Cavanaugh, TOR

Musings for Pentecost 21

Sunday, October 17, 2010
Lectionary 29
Proper 24
Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION
Pray always. Do not lose heart. This is the encouragement of the Christ of the gospel today. Persistence in our every encounter with the divine will be blessed. Wrestle with the word. Remember your baptism again and again. Come regularly to Christ’s table. Persistence in our every encounter with the divine will be blessed.

Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, martyr, died around 115
Ignatius was the second bishop of Antioch in Syria, the city where the name "Christians" originated. Ignatius is known to us from his letters, which encouraged Christians to live in love, yet stand firm in true doctrine.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

O Lord God, tireless guardian of your people, you are always ready to hear our cries. Teach us to rely day and night on your care. Inspire us to seek your enduring justice for all this suffering world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading

Genesis 32:22–31

Returning to the home he had fled many years before after stealing his brother's birthright and his father's blessing, Jacob wrestles all night long with a divine adversary who ultimately blesses him and changes his name to "Israel," a name that means "he wrestles with God."

²²The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. ²³He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. ²⁴Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. ²⁵When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. ²⁶Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." ²⁷So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." ²⁸Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." ²⁹Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. ³⁰So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." ³¹The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 121

My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth. (Ps. 121:2)

¹I lift up my eyes ^| to the hills;

from where is my ^| help to come?

²My help comes ^| from the LORD,

the maker of heav- ^| en and earth.

³The LORD will not let your ^| foot be moved

nor will the one who watches over you ^| fall asleep.

⁴Behold, the keep- ^| er of Israel

will neither slum- ^| ber nor sleep;

⁵the LORD watches ^| over you;

the LORD is your shade at ^| your right hand;

⁶the sun will not strike ^| you by day,

nor the ^| moon by night.

⁷The LORD will preserve you ^| from all evil

and will ^| keep your life.

⁸The LORD will watch over your going out and your ^| coming in,

from this time forth for- ^| evermore.

Second Reading

2 Timothy 3:14—4:5

Paul continues his instruction of Timothy, his younger colleague in ministry, by emphasizing the importance of faithful teaching despite opposition.

Chapter 3

¹⁴But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, ¹⁵and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

Chapter 4

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: ²proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. ³For 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, ⁴and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. ⁵As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

Gospel

Luke 18:1–8

Jesus tells a parable of a hateful judge who is worn down by a widow's pleas. Jesus is calling God's people to cry out for justice and deliverance. For if an unethical judge will ultimately grant the plea of a persistent widow, how much more will God respond to those who call.

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. ²He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. ³In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' ⁴For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, ⁵yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'" ⁶And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? ⁸I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Reflection

Ever wrestled with God? OK, that was a rhetorical question. I think it is safe to say that all of us have at various points in our lives. We ask questions for which we seek answers and more often than not don’t receive them. Why did they have to die? When will I find a job? Why me? Why now? What do you really want me to do, I can’t believe it’s that!? What does grace truly mean?

You can add questions of your own with some ease I would guess. Yet sometimes I wonder if it’s not so much that we wrestle with God as that God wrestles with us. Is that possible? At the Jabbok he wrestled with Jacob whose name, because of his persistence, was changed to Israel. God wrestles with us at the crossings of our lives as well, not to beat us into submission but rather to help us understanding that God is in control and if we let God be God we can move forward in trust and hope.

Wrestling with God is a good thing for when we do we walk away with a blessing and not a limp. Ask the tough questions, push the limits and know that God is ready, willing and able to respond in helpful fashion.

Let Us Pray

For an openness to ask the tough questions

That all who mourn might be comforted with the promise of the Gospel

To be light in the darkness of this world

For generous hearts and lives

For all who serve in our armed forces

Quote

People wrestle with God for one of two reasons:

1. They don't know God's will and are trying to find it.

2. They know God's will and are trying to decide whether or not to do it. Kent Crockett

Holy Trinity

Sunday, May 30, 2010
The Holy Trinity
First Sunday after Pentecost

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION
"O Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" Today we celebrate the name of God: holy blessed Trinity. There is no other day quite like this one in the church’s year. There is no other god like ours. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Almighty Creator and ever-living God: we worship your glory, eternal Three-in-One,
and we praise your power, majestic One-in-Three. Keep us steadfast in this faith,
defend us in all adversity, and bring us at last into your presence, where you live in endless joy and love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading

Proverbs 8:1–4, 22–31

In the Bible, wisdom has many faces. It is portrayed in terms sometimes human and sometimes divine. Often, it is personified as feminine. In this passage, Woman Wisdom is depicted not only as the first creation of God but also as God's helper, rejoicing in God's creation, especially in human beings.

Does not wisdom call,
and does not understanding raise her voice?
²On the heights, beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
³beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries out:
⁴"To you, O people, I call,
and my cry is to all that live.
²²The LORD created me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of long ago.
²³Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
²⁴When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
²⁵Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth —
²⁶when he had not yet made earth and fields,
or the world's first bits of soil.
²⁷When he established the heavens, I was there,
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
²⁸when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
²⁹when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
³⁰then I was beside him, like a master worker;
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
³¹rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the human race.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 8

Your glory is chanted above the heavens. (Ps. 8:2)

¹O ^| LORD our Lord,

how majestic is your name in ^| all the earth!—

²you whose glory is chanted above the heavens out of the mouths of in- ^| fants and children;

you have set up a fortress against your enemies, to silence the foe ^| and avenger.

³When I consider your heavens, the work ^| of your fingers,

the moon and the stars you have set ^| in their courses,

⁴what are mere mortals that you should be mind- ^| ful of them,

human beings that you should ^| care for them?

⁵Yet you have made them little less ^| than divine;

with glory and hon- ^| or you crown them.

⁶You have made them rule over the works ^| of your hands;

you have put all things un- ^| der their feet:

⁷all ^| flocks and cattle,

even the wild beasts ^| of the field,

⁸the birds of the air, the fish ^| of the sea,

and whatever passes along the paths ^| of the sea.

⁹O ^| LORD our Lord,

how majestic is your name in ^| all the earth!

Second Reading

Romans 5:1–5

Paul describes the life of faith with reference to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Even now, we have peace with God through Jesus, and our hope for the future is grounded in the love of God that we experience through Christ's Holy Spirit.

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. ³And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Gospel

John 16:12–15

Jesus' ongoing presence with the disciples will be borne by the coming Spirit, who will guide them and communicate to them Jesus' will and glory.

¹²I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Reflection

How good are you at dwelling in mystery? I would guess that if you thought about it quickly your initial response might be ‘not so good’. Yet given further thought you might agree with me that we dwell in mystery each day of our lives and while we’d love to know the answers there is some wonder to be found in the dwelling in the unknown. It would be tough to do all the time but from time to time it’s a good place to be.

This Sunday we celebrate the Trinity on a Sunday called by the same name. Could you explain the Trinity to me? Three in one and one in three? Is it like an apple; skin, fruit and core? Is it like water in different stages; boiling, frozen and in a glass to drink? No matter what analogy or picture we might throw at it or paint, it will come up short. For, when all is said and done, it’s a mystery.

Maybe we should just stand back and revel in it as opposed to trying to figure it out. We begin to understand its expressions in the three article of the Apostles’ Creed but once we start pushing those boundaries it gets a bit confusing.

This past Sunday we celebrated the gift of the Spirit as the disciples, waiting in Jerusalem, received it. Each Sunday as we gather we celebrate the Body and Blood of Christ in, with and under the bread and wine. And when we, like the psalmist, walk outdoors we are in awe and wonder at what that Father has wrought in creation.

How do we put the three together and understand them as an undivided unity yet separate in person? I don’t know, my tiny mind can’t explain. But…I believe it and I trust it and I have experienced it in all its grandeur and glory. And…I’m fascinated to dwell in its mystery!

Let Us Pray

For patience in understanding regarding those realities that escape us

For leadership and wisdom in the gulf coast in light of the ongoing oil spill

For whose lives and livelihoods are affected by the spill

That those who mourn may be comforted with the hope of the resurrection

That the unemployed would find meaningful work

Quote

The much-maligned doctrine of the Trinity is an assertion that, appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, there is only one God.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit mean that the mystery beyond us, the mystery among us and the mystery within us are all the same mystery. Thus the Trinity is a way of saying something about us and the way we experience God.

The Trinity is also a way of saying something about God and the way he is within himself, ie., God does not need the Creation in order to have something to love because within himself love happens. In other words, the love of God is love not as a noun but s a verb. This verb is reflexive as well as transitive.

If the idea of God as both Three and One may seem far-fetched and obfuscating, look in the mirror some day.

There is (a) the interior life known only to yourself and those you choose to communicate it to (the Father). There is (b) the visible face which, in some measures, reflects that inner life (the Son). And there is (c) the invisible power you have in order to communicate that interior life in such a way that others do not merely know about it, but know it in the sense of its becoming part of who they are (the Holy Spirit). Yet what you are looking at in the mirror is clearly and indivisibly the one and only You. Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking.