Musings for September 5

Sunday, September 5, 2010
Lectionary 23
Proper 18
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Midweek Musings
Reflection by Karen Grover

INTRODUCTION
Called to contemplate the cost of discipleship today, we might be helped by translating Paul’s request to Philemon into our prayer of the day: Refresh my heart in Christ. Strengthened by the company and forgiveness of the Christ in the blessed sacrament and recalling God’s grace in remembrance of baptism, we can be strengthened in this hour to "choose life"—to choose life in God as our own.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)
Direct us, O Lord God, in all our doings with your continual help, that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy name; and finally, by your mercy, bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading Deuteronomy 30:15–20
Moses speaks to the Israelites, who are about to enter the land promised to their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In this passage, he lays out the stark choice before them: choose life by loving and obeying the Lord; or choose death by following other gods.

15See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. 17But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Psalm (ELW) Psalm 1
They are like trees planted by streams of water. (Ps. 1:3)
1Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel | of the wicked,
nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats | of the scornful!
2Their delight is in the law | of the LORD,
and they meditate on God's teaching | day and night.
3They are like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that | do not wither;
everything they | do shall prosper.
4It is not so | with the wicked;
they are like chaff which the wind | blows away.
5Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when | judgment comes,
nor the sinner in the council | of the righteous.
6For the LORD knows the way | of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked shall | be destroyed.

Second Reading Philemon 1:1–21
While Paul was in prison, he was aided by a runaway slave named Onesimus. The slave's master, Philemon, was a Christian friend of Paul. Paul told Onesimus to return to his master and encouraged Philemon to receive Onesimus back as a Christian brother.

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God 5because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. 6I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. 7I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
8For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, 9yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love — and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. 11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. 12I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. 15Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, 16no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother — especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. 20Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. 21Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

Gospel Luke 14:25–33
Jesus speaks frankly about the fearsome costs of discipleship. Those who follow him should know from the outset that completing the course of discipleship will finally mean renouncing all other allegiances.

25Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, 26"Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' 31Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 33So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

REFLECTION
I remember an essay written by Paul Hammer in the D&C awhile back. He wrote on "absolute biblical truth." Briefly he noted (and I hope I am remembering correctly) that John 14:6 says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." In these words Jesus is the exclusive way to God. Rev. Hammer feels that John's Gospel cares little about our way to God, but it cares about God's way of love to us. Thus Jesus is not an exclusive way to God but a way to God's inclusive way of love to the whole world. John 14:6 is what my faith is all about, but we are all his children and He loves us all very deeply.

I would like very much to rearrange, in a similar manner, Luke 14:26--"Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple." This verse just hits like a ton of bricks. Hate my father and mother, Don, Kimberly and Erika? I don't think so. But in this verse, that appears to be the absolute biblical truth. I always have been in awe of the disciples' decision to leave their families and walk with Jesus. I am so sure I couldn't do that. Does that mean I can't be a disciple? Maybe, just maybe, if I could give up my possessions I could be (Luke 14:33.) I did give up many "possessions" that I would have loved to keep when recently cleaning out my parents' cottage. Even surprised myself, but not enough. Jesus doesn't leave much wiggle room in 14:26 & 33. In fact he makes it impossible (at least for me) to be His disciple. But He died for me. I should be able to give up more for Him, but I just don't. I pray for His forgiveness. And every Sunday I take solace in His grace when I confess that I have not been the person He would like me to be, and every Sunday I receive His forgiveness at His table. And at the end of the service I am directed to go out into the community to serve the poor as a disciple.

LET US PRAY
that we find ways to be God's disciples where needed
for the many who are sleeping on the streets tonight
for the people of Iraq and the military who are helping them
for peace in the Middle East
for peaceful solutions on our streets

Mary, Mother of our Lord

Sunday, August 15, 2010
Mary, Mother of Our Lord
Midweek Musings
Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION
Mary's role is not limited to giving birth to Jesus and mothering him in his childhood. In John's gospel, she is among the women standing near the cross; in Acts, she is among the disciples awaiting the gift of the Spirit. Through all that happened she continued to see how God was at work through her son, keeping the ancient promises to her ancestors, brushing aside the rich and powerful, and focusing on those as poor and powerless as Mary herself.
Mary, Mother of Our Lord
The church (including Martin Luther) honored Mary with the title theotokos, meaning "God-bearer," for her role in giving birth to the Son of God. Her song, the Magnificat, speaks eloquently of God's lifting the lowly and feeding the hungry.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)
Almighty God, in choosing the virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son, you made known your gracious regard for the poor, the lowly, and the despised. Grant us grace to receive your word in humility, and so to be made one with your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING Isaiah 61:7–11
The prophet proclaims a hopeful message: The Lord loves justice and will make an everlasting covenant with Israel and her descendants. In response, the prophet sings a joyful song, like Mary many generations later, about God's mercy and salvation.

7Because their shame was double,
and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot,
therefore they shall possess a double portion;
everlasting joy shall be theirs.
8For I the LORD love justice,
I hate robbery and wrongdoing;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9Their descendants shall be known among the nations,
and their offspring among the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge
that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.
10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.

PSALM 34:1–9
Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD. (Ps. 34:3)
1I will bless the LORD | at all times;
the praise of God shall ever be | in my mouth.
2I will glory | in the LORD;
let the lowly hear | and rejoice.
3Proclaim with me the greatness | of the LORD;
let us exalt God's | name together.
4I sought the LORD, who | answered me
and delivered me from | all my terrors.
5Look upon the LORD | and be radiant,
and let not your faces | be ashamed.
6I called in my affliction, and | the LORD heard me
and saved me from | all my troubles.
7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who | fear the LORD,
and de- | livers them.
8Taste and see that the | LORD is good;
happy are they who take ref- | uge in God!
9Fear the LORD, you saints | of the LORD,
for those who fear the | LORD lack nothing.


SECOND READING Galatians 4:4–7
In the promise of the Incarnation, Jesus Christ embodies God's mother-father heart, in love claiming people as adopted children.

4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

GOSPEL Luke 1:46–55
Mary's song, the Magnificat, serves as a thematic anthem for God's work in the world and therefore for the ministry of her son, Jesus. In Mary's praise we hear of a saving God who remembers the humble, scatters the proud, lifts up the lowly, and fulfills all things.

46And Mary said,
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

REFLECTION
I remember growing up in a predominately Roman Catholic city of approximately 60,000. Mary was not all that well appreciated by those who were not Roman Catholic. I’m not sure if that was because of anti-Roman sentiments at the time and place where I lived in the midst of conservative Lutheranism or simply because Mary was so prevalent and held up as model that she became ‘overdone’ in our eyes.

Whatever the case might have been, it took me a number of years to grow in appreciation of the role of Mary in the salvation story, her life in the church and her profound acceptance of the responsibility to be the God-bearer.

This Sunday we will celebrate the feast day of Mary, Mother of Our Lord and focus, via the lessons, song and sermon, on the ministry that she was so intimately involved in as she gave birth to the Christ child and walked with him to the cross and beyond.

Mary is certainly a model to be lifted up for us if for nothing more than her response to the angel’s announcement, ‘let it be with me according to your word.’ May we be as open as Mary to God’s movement in our lives and discover ways to give life to the Christ child within us.

LET US PRAY
For those who seek healing
That those who mourn will be comforted
For the ability to act faithfully and not out of fear
That the people of Pakistan affected by flooding, may find relief and hope
To be open to the Spirit’s intervention in our lives

QUOTE
One should honor Mary as she herself wished and as she expressed it in the Magnificat. She praised God for his deeds. How then can we praise her? The true honor of Mary is the honor of God, the praise of God's grace . . . Mary is nothing for the sake of herself, but for the sake of Christ . . . Mary does not wish that we come to her, but through her to God. (Explanation of the Magnificat, 1521). Martin Luther