New Brothers and Sisters - October 30

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44; Zech. 1:7-17; Rev. 1:4-20; Matt. 12:43-50

In the postscript from Sebastian Junger’s book Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, Junger tells a story that he found in some research about the Cree Indians.  He tells a story from anthropologist Eleanor Leacock who went on a hunting trip with a Cree named Thomas.  They were deep in the bush when they encountered two men who were total strangers, lost and hungry and completely out of food.  Thomas’s response was to give them all of his flour and lard, resulting in having to cut their own hunting trip short.  When Thomas is asked why he did this, he responds to Leacock, “Suppose, now, not to give them flour, lard,” he said.  “Just dead inside.”[1]

Junger’s work is on tribalism, and he aims at trying to understand why soldiers have such a challenging time returning to an affluent and Western culture after war.  I find it deeply compelling and continue to return to his book year after year.   His answer is purpose.  To not help another human being is to be dead inside. 

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is expanding his tribe. He is making a rather profound statement when he looks at his friends and sees them as his mother and his brothers.   Because we will care for our family. When we expand our notion of who our family really is and who we are responsible for, we expand our capacity to care.  This is at the thrust of Christianity which understands human relationships to comprise of the body of Christ.  We are adopted into God’s family. 

I share the reflection from Junger because in our capacity to care for one another, we actually find life.  It might be why people show up to church, looking for meaningful ways to live out their faith, or why people show up at an outreach event wanting to contribute meaningful work.  We find life when we extend care to one another.  Jesus said that he came so that we might have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10).  Maybe it’s in learning to see each other as our sisters and brothers, together as the human family.

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  Who do you find it easy to help and who do you find it difficult to help?  Why do you think this is?  Who is your tribe?  Is that helpful or limiting? 

[1] 136, Junger, Sebastian. Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging.  Twelve Publishing, New York, 2016.

Creating Our Own Lament

Today’s Readings Friday:

AM Psalm 31; PM Psalm 35
Ezra 3:1-13; 1 Cor 16:10-24; Matt. 12:22-32

Today’s Reflection

In his landmark book, The Psalms and the Life of Faith, Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann devotes an entire chapter to "The Costly Loss of Lament." Given that nearly half of the 150 psalms in our scripture are psalms of lament, we can trust that this way of praying to God was critical to our forefathers and mothers. Unfortunately, our current culture can dismiss the need to cry out to God in anguish and pain. There can be a misguided understanding that voicing our complaints, anxieties to God is a version of not trusting God.

A stark example of this happened to me when I was serving as an Emergency Room Chaplain during my required Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). Before entering one of the patient rooms, I looked on the patient's chart and recognized the name of a frail, elderly woman who had been in the Emergency Department a number of times in recent days. In our conversation she cried out in anguish that "God had forgotten her." I encouraged her to put words to her anger at God and her desires for God to alleviate her suffering. Immediately her son jumped out of his seat and asked me to leave. "We do not talk to God in that way! We give thanks to God the almighty!" I left the room a bit shaken and a lot sad that this woman wasn't given the space to lay out her concerns to God. I felt as if she was being forced into a one-dimensional relationship with God which was dismissive of the breadth and depth of our human emotions and experiences.

This morning's Psalm 31 is a psalm of lament. Brueggemann writes, "The lament psalms, ..., are a complaint that makes the shrill insistence that:

• Things are not right in the present arrangement.

• They need not stay this way and can be changed.

• The speaker will not accept them in this way, for the present arrangement is intolerable.

• It is God's obligation to Change things" (105)

Inherent in a lament psalm is the trust that God is listening--in relationship with us, and that we, as God's people, deserve an audience. All of the lament psalms, except Psalm 88, conclude in praise and thanksgiving.

Today we grieve the horrors in the Middle East, and Ukraine, in Lewiston, Maine, and the many heartbreaks in our personal lives. Perhaps there is a psalm of lament that you wish to cry out, to pray to God, trusting God loves all of God's creation; that God desires to be in relation with you. Or, perhaps you would like to write a lament using the four points outlined above and ending in praise and thanksgiving.

Here is my attempt at a psalm of lament. Please feel free to send yours to me.

Guns and greed,

religious wars and political misdeeds.

Where, Oh God

are you in our time of need?

Bombings and babies crying,

Nursing mothers starving.

Where, Oh God

are you in our time of need?

Shooter drills

way too many pills.

Where, Oh God

are you in our time of need?

Hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires

Emergency workers, police, teachers spent and tired.

Where, Oh God

are you in our time of need?

Stir up your power

and save your planet.

Stir up your compassion

and save your people.

Stir up your grace

and open our hearts to one another.

Into your hands

we commend our spirits.

Into your heart

we rest our souls.

We lift up our lives to you

and

praise your name

forever and ever.

Amen. Amen. Amen.

Yours in Christ,

Mary Bea+

Rollercoaster – October 25, 2023

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 38; PM Psalm 119:25-48
Lam. 2:8-15; 1 Cor. 15:51-58; Matt. 12:1-14

Groups of teenagers and adults at Saint Stephen’s are preparing for a very special day – November 5. It is on this day that we celebrate All Saints Day and welcome the Rt. Rev. Glenda Curry, our Bishop Diocesan, to lay her hands upon their heads and welcome them as confirmed members of the Episcopal Church. Through classes, conversation, study, and prayer, these people have been preparing themselves. They have been exploring what commitment to God looks like as they get read to affirm their faith in our Lord.

Faith in God is sometimes beautiful and other times it is messy. The apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth about the promise of God’s mystery – that we will not all fall asleep or die, but we will be changed. Our mortal bodies will be swept up into immortality. Sin and death will be no more through the power of Jesus. Those are sweet words upon the ears of those who also sit in the Lamentations of Jeremiah, wrestling with the prophetic lyrical composition that described the defeated Jerusalem. Because of the Lord, “Her gates have sunk into the ground; he has ruined and broken her bars; her king and princes are among the nations; guidance is no more, and her prophets obtain no vision from the Lord.” There is weeping from the prophet’s eyes, churning of the stomach, and retching. There is much illness, hunger, and brokenness…and it is grounded in the sinful nature and flailing faith of the Israelites.

There are days when we feel the promise of leaning upon God. There are other times when we feel at an all-time low. If we remember that we experience those mountaintops and deep valleys, then perhaps in our prayer life we will remember that others go through those cycles and rollercoasters, too. How are you and I staying in tune with those around us? How are we listening to the needs of others? Faith in God through Jesus steadies us so that we are inwardly fed and then looking outward to others. Let us not neglect those in our net who are hurting this day. For, it is in nurturing our own that our faith in God is deeply revealed.

Katherine+

Questions for Self-Reflection and Daily Challenge:

Think about what commitment means to you.

In the Baptismal Covenant, we promise to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself.” In what ways are you serving others in your circle of influence?

Feast of St. James - October 23, 2023

Today’s Readings: AM: Psalm 119:145-168, PM: Psalm 122, 125; Jeremiah 11:18-23; Isaiah 65:17-25; Hebrews 12:12-24; Matthew 10:16-22

Today is the Feast of James of Jerusalem who the New Testament refers to as the brother of our Lord.  James was considered to be the first Bishop of Jerusalem, and some think he was the author of James.  In the 7th chapter of John, we are told that Jesus’s brothers didn’t believe him, a wonderful reminder that people come around with enough time.

The Gospel text selected for James’ feast includes this passage from Matthew: ‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.’  James is martyred in the year 62 AD.  The historian Josephus wrote about James and there were reports that he was respected even by the Pharisees for his piety and adherence to the law. 

In full disclosure, I don’t pay that much attention to the Feast days in the Episcopal Church, but seeing James, brother of Jesus, and Bishop of Jerusalem it seemed fitting to reflect on his life.  When we have a feast day in the church, there is an accompanying Collect to go with the readings for the day.  Our collect for today is:

 Grant, O God, that, following the example of your servant James the Just, brother of our Lord, your Church may give itself continually to prayer and to the reconciliation of all who are at variance and enmity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever. Amen.

 On this day when we remember James of Jerusalem, it seems as fitting as ever that the prayer for James invites us to prayer and to the reconciliation of “all who are at variance and enmity.”  The Bishop of our Holy land and one of the sources of perpetual conflict in our world, would be fitting to call us to pray for all who are at variance and enmity. May those prayers be heard especially today, we beseech thee O Lord.

John+

Questions for Reflection:  How do you pray for people who are at variance and enmity? What are the ways you work to help create opportunities for the work of reconciliation to take place in your life and the lives of those around you?

Sharing Our Stories

Today’s Readings

Friday. AM Psalm 16, 17 PM Psalm 22  Jer. 38:14-28;  1 Cor. 15:1-11;Matt. 11:7-15

Today’s Reflection

Ours is a tradition built on stories. In fact, all traditions are built on stories. In today's readings we hear the story of an ongoing conversation between the prophet Jeremiah and King Zedechiah. One of the ways to interpret that story is for the Israelite people to remember that things did not go well for the king when he didn't listen to the prophet about following God's way. So listen to your prophets; follow God's way. We also hear St. Paul's often told faith story of how Jesus died for us, was raised from the dead. Paul was passionate about telling the story so more people would believe.

Think of the stories your family tells when you are a gathered for a celebration. If your family is like mine, we spend time reminiscing and laughing about some of the same old tales--like the Christmas Eve when my, then elementary school, brothers thought my father was Santa Claus. My brothers were sneaking down the step to glimpse Christmas gifts, and my father was sitting on the couch, feeding my baby brother a bottle. All my brothers could only see were dad's red pajama pants and they were convinced Santa was resting our our couch.

Yes, some stories are funny; some stories are painful. Many stories we tell help us make meaning of our lives. The way we tell our stories has a great impact on how we experience life. And of course, no story is complete without a storykeeper--someone to listen to our stories.

This Sunday during the Adult Forum (10:15 am in the Parish Hall) I am thrilled to be collaborating with my dear friend and in many ways, mentor, Elizabeth Vanderkamp will begin our interactive three-part series "Discovering Our Stories in Sacred Story." Elizabeth is an extraordinary storyteller and storekeeper. I hope you will join us as we wonder together about how to tell and share our stories, and explore some of our favorite Bible stories.

Yours in Christ,

Mary Bea+

Expanding our Gifts – October 18, 2023

Today’s Readings for the Feast of St. Luke:
AM: Psalm 103; Ezekiel 47:1-12; Luke 1:1-4
PM: Psalm 67, 96; Isaiah 52:7-10; Acts 1:1-8

I have always been interested in medicine. As a child, I could get splinters out without wincing. I read books about animal care. I wanted to be a large animal veterinarian – for that would mean I could routinely be around horses, my first great love. That passion shifted when my cousin Barton was diagnosed with a rare cancer as a young teenager. Three years my senior, I adored him like an older brother. I was so worried when my parents told me about his illness. My mom and I drove up to Birmingham from Montgomery to see him during one of his stays at Children’s Hospital. Walking down the hallway that afternoon in our Sunday best, I saw lots of sick kids. I remember feeling a blend of anxiety and hopefulness. Barton had lost some of his thick, dark hair and walked with his IV pole as his buddy. We played arcade-style video games Pac Man and Donkey Kong (as this was the mid-1980s). Playing with him helped move this shared time from a fear-filled emergency to a comfortable reunion.

Barton’s medical teams were able to treat his disease through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, as a five-year study of that pediatric cancer had just been concluded. He was given a five percent chance to live to his 40th birthday. He turned 50 last month, thanks be to God!

In the wake of my cousin’s disease process, I wanted to be able to help other kids get to the other side of cancer – to live fully in remission. My dream and goal of becoming a physician did not come to fruition in the way I expected. And yet, what I get to do as a priest in God’s church is to be with people in tender times, bringing reminders of the grounding peace and healing power of God’s love into those spaces that are complex and messy.

On this day, we celebrate the feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist, who was also a physician (per Colossians 4:14). It is curious to me that, though he was a physician, the Church remembers Saint Luke as the Evangelist, for he helped spread the news of Jesus through writing the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Luke paid attention to the details surrounding the ministry and life of Jesus – and shared these details as he told the stories of the Messiah and the early church. He penned in the opening of Acts, “I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.” (1:1-2) Luke continued, “After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” (Acts 1:3-5)

Luke did not speak much about himself, except to give a nod to the miraculous testimonies he saw through the trajectory of Jesus’ ministry and the post-resurrection reactions. He demonstrated his faith by naming who Jesus was and what he did. Luke’s accounts showed his care for the precise details of people and their humanity - the human love of Christ; the downtrodden and lame; the women who supported the ministry of Jesus.

Luke was a powerful witness to Jerusalem and to the world. Jesus changed his life and expanded Luke’s gifts - from being a physician, to being an evangelist for the Good News of the resurrected Christ. Likewise, Jesus expands our lives.

May your eyes be opened to see where the Holy Spirit is giving you courage. May you tell the stories of God breaking into your life. May you continue to lean on Jesus as the Good Shepherd who guides and guards you each day.

Katherine+

Questions for Self-Reflection and Daily Challenge:

Look around you. Reflect on what you love about your workplace or workspace.

What realities suck joy out of that space? Where is God calling you to find fulfillment and peace?

Love never ends - October 16

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 1, 2, 3; PM Psalm 4, 7; Jer. 36:11-26; 1 Cor. 13:(1-3)4-13; Matt. 10:5-15

More weddings than not invoke the words of Paul to the community of believers in Corinth.  His passage on love is one of the more familiar passages in all of Holy Scripture.  I especially like the passage in verse 8, “Love never ends.”  I had the privilege of preaching at two funerals last week, one of a long-time member of our community and the other a family member through marriage.   The gift of walking with families through funerals is the window into their lives and the window into the life of the deceased. It’s a gift to witness others authentically share about the person they love. 

Maybe it’s me, but I often think most about the impact that love has on me.  What does it feel like to be loved by someone else, or my children, spouse, or parents?  But our outward expression of love has qualities that transform the world.  Our love for others changes their lives too.  I know because I hear it at every single funeral and it’s the hope at every wedding.  We hope that love will transform the couple, forever.

Love never ends, because we are different every day because our lives are consistently being molded by the people who love us. Maybe you behave differently because you love your children or your spouse. Maybe you become less selfish because of your love and in turn, those who receive your love become more grateful and humble forever altering the course of their life too. Love never ends.  It is always changing us. 

The love that God has for each of us should be no different.  We too are always changing.  We should not be the same person tomorrow that we are today.  And that’s a good thing.  Because love never ends.  So if you aren’t completely pleased with yourself today, tomorrow is a new day.

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  How has your life been permanently altered by someone’s love towards you?

A Heart For Peace

Today’s Readings AM Psalm 137:1-6(7-9), 144; PM Psalm 104 Jer. 35:1-19;  1 Cor. 12:27-13:3; Matt. 9:35-10:4

Today’s Reflection

While in seminary, my field education parish was Saint Alban’s in Washington, D.C., sometimes referred to as the “State Department Church” because of the abundance of U.S. State Department employees worshipping there.

One of my liturgical responsibilities was to read the Gospel. My first time I was quite nervous. That morning, the “Gospeller” (the person processing with the Gospel Book), was a stately, bespectacled gentleman with a white beard and mustache. Before we processed into the nave, he gently introduced himself as Sam Lewis and asked how he could be helpful to me.  I was comforted by his graciousness and kindness.  

After the service, Sam went out of his way to introduce me to his wife and ask how I was doing living so far from my husband who was back in Alabama.  Reflecting on my encounter with Sam, something kept niggling at me—Sam Lewis, Sam Lewis, that name seemed so familiar. I mentioned this to my field education supervisor who burst out laughing and said, “He helped broker the 1978 Camp David peace accord between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin!" Oh, former Ambassador to Israel—THAT Sam Lewis!

I remember Sam and his wife Sallie frequently seeking me out for conversation and offering to be of assistance. My favorite memory of Sam is of him humbly holding the Gospel book, eyes downcast as I read the scripture. Here, this man who shuffled between Menachem Begin, Jimmy Carter, and Anwar Sadat treated me, a seminarian, with such respect. Sam embodied his devotion to the Gospel.

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he reminds us that all members of the body are important; that we are all one in Christ and no part of the body any more or less important than the other. 

As our hearts break with yet another horrifying war in the Middle East, perhaps we can find humble inspiration in the life of Sam Lewis—a humble Christian man with a heart for peace who treated Muslims, Jews, Christians, Presidents and seminarians alike with respect.  

Like the blind men crying out to Jesus in today’s Gospel we cry out as well.

Lord, have mercy on us!

Heal us of our blindness to our shared humanity.

Heal us of our anger.

Heal us of the horrors of war and injustice.

Heal us of our complacency.

Kyrie eleison

Christe eleison

Kyrie eleison

Yours in Christ,

Mary Bea+

Sam Lewis' Washington Post obituary

Reflection Questions: Who has inspired you to be more humble and to treat all persons with respect? What is your prayer for peace?

Listening for the Spirit in Scripture - October 6, 2023

Today’s Readings: William Tyndale Psalm 15, James 1:19-27, John 12:44-50

Up until the 16th Century, there were no English translations of the Bible. Obviously, this greatly limited the ability of nearly all English-speaking laypersons to read or study scripture. William Tyndall (1494-1536) was a priest educated at Oxford and Cambridge in England. Even though he was a man of privilege, he was passionate about making scripture available to all persons. King Henry VIII was adamant in his opposition to making scripture more readily available in this way. Tyndale was subjected to great dangers and perils for his persistence in making scripture more accessible, and for his beliefs on grace. Ultimately, he was tried for heresy and with the passive cooperation of the papal authorities, burned at the stake.

Before his death, Tyndale translated the New Testament and portions of the Hebrew Scriptures directly from the Hebrew and Greek into English. Later, Tyndale's work was completed by Miles Coverdale. Tyndale and Coverdale's courage and passion were instrumental in the Reformation of the Church in the 16th Century.

I take for granted the ability to read scripture in my native tongue. Yes, no translation is perfect and yet, I give thanks that God speaks to me through praying with and studying The Hebrew Scriptures, The Gospels, and the Epistles. All of the English Bible translations we have available to us today owe their origins to Tyndale and Coverdale in some way.

If you desire a deeper connection with Christ, I encourage you to consider how you are spending (or not) time reading and studying scripture. Perhaps you would like to try this simple practice: light a candle, slowly read aloud one of the passages from today's scripture (below), and sit in silence with God for at least five minutes. Thank God for the time together and notice how the scripture continues to speak to you throughout the day. I pray this is a fruitful time for you.

Grace and peace,

Mary Bea+

Frank of God - October 4, 2023

Today’s Readings: The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi - Psalm 121, Job 39:1-18, Matthew 11:25-30

As I get older, I name more freely that I relish gardening. I love tending flowers, picking weeds, scoping out ideas for growing vegetables in our terraced beds, and all the details in between. My husband Sam knows that anything related to outdoor gardening will be a well appreciated gift. This morning I am reminded of a statue he gave me. It stands about 30 inches tall and has moved with us several times. We always find a fitting place in the yard for Frank. You see, that is what we call him – Frank of God. We did not call him that from the start. It was after a period of time … kind of like when a nickname or word of affection arises because of relationship and exposure. This rendering of St. Francis of Assisi is a fixture in the places that I tend and relax and create.

Today the church honors and gives thanks for St. Francis (1182-1226), who lived a life of monetary privilege and then gave it all away to tend God’s house – and the most vulnerable in God’s creation. Others were influenced by his scrappy work ethic and faithfulness to God. This small group of men became officially acknowledged by the pope a few years after their inception – and we know of them as Franciscans. These friars in the cloistered order preached in the world, using words if necessary. The acclaim of St. Francis continues into the present, with hallmarks in simple living and a life of poverty.

One of the Bible readings associated with the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is Matthew 11:25-30. As I read part of this scripture, I am reminded of what it is like to pull weeds and tend the plants around our statue Frank of God. It is work, to be sure. And yet, it is refreshing and fun. Jesus says to those who will listen, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” The work that St. Francis did to serve God gave him respite. He put down the work that was put upon him by family expectations and worldly goods. And he picked up the yoke of Jesus and learned from him. That work was restorative and life giving.

We cannot all be Francis…and we can be inspired by his dedication and listen for where God is calling us to tend the spaces in need within our hearts and in this world. The places of brokenness and sickness. The spaces where a companion can bring a reminder of the resurrection hope of Jesus.

May God lift up your eyes this day,

Katherine+

Questions for Self-Reflection and Daily Challenge:

Think of your life.

When do you feel close to God? When do you feel far away? What or who brings you home?

Notice what is around you - October 2, 2023

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 89:1-18; PM Psalm 89:19-52; 2 Kings 17:24-41; 1 Cor. 7:25-31; Matt. 6:25-34

This past weekend, while attending a family wedding, made a trip to the Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts.  It was the perfect place to spend a few hours both for our children and for adults.  One of the exhibits on the top floor featured insects and I was especially drawn to a complex ant home that spanned two separate areas.  In one area, you had ants grabbing leaves and marching down an elongated tube to a large multilayer structure where the ants were building a home.  We marveled at the complexity of the ants’ existence and how well they worked together for the common good and their own ability to survive. 

A few hours later, we were walking through the markets near Faneuil Hall, watching street performers and pigeons compete for space and attention, tourists crowded around and soaking up the culture and cosmopolitan vibe of downtown Boston.  There was a lot of life happening, people coming and going on their own little missions, not too much differently than the beautiful ant colony exposed to those who had wandered into the insect exhibit.

There is a lot of life happening around us at all times.  Sometimes looking at what is happening beneath our feet or in visiting a cosmopolitan city, can change our vantage point.  It’s easy to feel the weight of the thousands of decisions we make every day, some important and necessary for our lives.  Maybe that’s why we hear in today’s Gospel from Matthew to consider the birds of the air, or the lilies of the field.  We need to see all of the life teaming around us, thriving, growing, moving, living, and connecting so that we can also be reminded that God has created our lives and put before us what we need to live in the kingdom of God too. 

This certainly doesn’t mean that life will be absent of hardship or challenges, but seeing all of life moves us from being the center of the universe and gives a healthier framework for seeing God’s agency in all of life and can move our worries from being overly consuming by changing our framework. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” – Matthew 6:25

John+

 Questions for Self-Reflection: Think about the last 24 hours.  What has given you joy? Name it and give thanks!

Michaelmas - September 29, 2023

Today’s Readings….

St. Michael & All Angels:
AM Psalm 8, 148; Job 38:1-7; Hebrews 1:1-14
PM Psalm 34, 150 or 104; Daniel 12:1-3

Today’s Reflection

Today is the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels. This day is also called "Michaelmas." The word "angel" or angelos in Greek means messenger. Throughout Hebrew and Christian scripture angels play a prominent role in pivotal moments. A few of those many angelic encounters include: an unnamed messenger interrupting Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22:11), Michael and Gabriel's roles in the Book of Daniel (8:16, 9:21, 12:1), Gabriel's message to Mary of her chosen status (Luke 1:28) as well as angelic assurance to Joseph in a dream that it was God's will he wed Mary. In the Book of Revelation an epic battle results in the Archangel Michael and his angels defeating Satan (12:7-12). Thus, the title "Archangel," meaning Michael is the "chief of the angels."

Each Eucharist, we sing or say, "Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sent this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name..."(BCP, 362). What a glorious image of the merging of heaven and earth at the Holy Table.

Today, our tradition honors the many ways that God sends messengers to us in "human or non-human forms." (Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2006, 398) My hope is that we find comfort in knowing that we are not alone; that God is commanding God's angels concerning us to guard us in all our ways (Psalm 91:11). Perhaps we might even be especially inspired this day to pay attention to God's messengers in our midst.

I invite you to close by praying the Collect for this day: Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Full discloser--I went down a rabbit hole with this one and had a blast. If you want to learn more about angels in Jewish antiquity, here a great article; If you want to read about a tradition that imagines angels preceding each one of us announcing "Make Way for the Image of God" check this out; or if you're curious about how "Michaelmas" is celebrated in Scotland, and finally, Forward Movement has a wonderful reflection on this day as well.

Grace and Peace,

Mary Bea+

Why do we love boldly? - September 27, 2023

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:97-120; PM Psalm 81, 82
2 Kings 6:1-23; 1 Cor. 5:9-6:8; Matt. 5:38-48

Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109) was a renowned Christian philosopher and theologian in the eleventh century. As a leader, he rose through the ranks of the church to become Archbishop of Canterbury. As a scholar, he wrote various works exploring how we understand God’s being and how we relate to God; his writing poured over from cognitive reflection to spiritual direction. Some of his prayers translated into English can be found here.

One of my favorite prayers of Anselm echoes through the words of Jesus this morning in the excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5). Jesus challenged his listeners to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (v. 44). This must have been hard to hear, for there was tension in the Temple at times. Advocating for the love of God could get the disciples in hot water! Rather than steam and wish ill for their rivals, Jesus called his followers to be different. To double-down in prayer. And he even gave them a reason, “so that you may be children of your Father in heaven”. In responding in this way, their actions would exhibit whose they truly were – children of God.

Jesus ushered the audience into a deeper level of profundity as he spoke of his father: “for [God] makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” (v. 45) God cares for all of the Earth, for all of creation, for all of the humans and those more-than-human beings. The sun shines upon all, and rain falls upon all. This is a challenging premise, when different people groups across the world want God to be on one “side” or another “side”. To love across boundaries is not easy – and yet, avoiding the hard work does not build up our faith. Jesus told his listeners, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?” (v. 46a)

As I sit with Jesus’ words, I wonder what growth or change happens if I stay within the boundaries of comfort and predictability? How often do I lean upon God for guidance if I already know what to do?

Saint Anselm wrote a prayer for heavenly mindedness. Jesus’ words from Matthew greatly influenced what he prayed in the 11th century. Let the message of Jesus and the prayer of Anselm inspire you this day:

O merciful God, fill our hearts, we pray You, with the graces of Your Holy Spirit, with love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Teach us to love those who hate us, to pray for those who despitefully use us, that we may be the children of You our Father, who makes Your sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. In adversity grant us grace to be patient; in prosperity keep us humble; may we guard the door of our lips; may we lightly esteem the pleasures of this world, and thirst after heavenly things; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Katherine+

Questions for Self-Reflection and Daily Challenge:

What does it mean to you today to pray for those who are hard to love? Where does God's perfecting love factor into this for you? Let Jesus be your guide today as you listen through prayer and pondering.

Shining On - September 22

Today’s Readings AM Psalm 69:1-23(24-30)31-38; PM Psalm 73
2 Kings 1:2-17; 1 Cor. 3:16-23; Matt. 5:11-16

During the height of the pandemic, my husband Malcolm and I had good friends who seemed to maneuver the difficulties of that time better than most, and certainly better than we were.  At one point, I asked our friends what was sustaining them.  They mentioned a few important things like staying connected to family in the creative ways many of us employed during that difficult time. They became most animated talking about the innovative ways their exercise class  found to continue to meet.  Racks of weights were rolled out into the parking lot; yoga mats covered the pavement; and instructors found ways to shout out instructions in the dark of the early hours of the day.  

Our friends’ enthusiasm was contagious and after a long haul of at-home-exercise videos, we decided to try their gym.  I began attending an early class and was warmly welcomed by the instructor.  She encouraged me, was patient with me, and at the end of most classes, would connect me with others.  For the past 18 months, I have watched this inspiring instructor not only teach about exercise, but perhaps more importantly, engage her gifts for creating safe community.  Each week as new persons try the class, she gently enfolds them in her care and entrusts them to the rest of us who follow the lead she models of acceptance and kindness.  In the midst of a worldwide loneliness pandemic, every morning a group of us come together to sweat it out and share our lives, nurtured by our faithful instructor.  

Jesus says, “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Each human being is a unique expression of God, made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).  As we humbly and generously offer the gifts God has given us to offer, the fullness of God’s nature is revealed.  When we hide our light, the world is denied an aspect of our Creator that God desires to reveal for the healing of the world, and the healing of our own lives.  If there is a place in your life where you have been timid about shining your light, my prayer is that you bravely, humbly radiate for the glory of God.  

Grace and peace,
Mary Bea+

Questions for reflection: Is there a place in your life where God is encouraging you to bravely, humbly offer more of yourself/your gifts? What is one step you can take in that direction? Who has inspired you in the past by joyfully sharing of themself?

Do. Or do not. There is no try. - September 20, 2023

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 72; PM Psalm 119:73-96; 1 Kings 22:1-28; 1 Cor. 2:1-13; Matt. 4:18-25

“Do. Or do not. There is no try.” - Yoda

This week, I was able to observe a therapist at work with a group counseling session of people struggling deeply with depression. Goal setting was at the heart of the counselor’s agenda that day, though the participants met his attempts with varied levels of willingness to incorporate such rules and framework into their daily schedules. And I get it. I live many days upon a pendulum where either I have a penchant for putting structure to every detail of our lovely, messy life, or I go with the flow and hold space for the needs and cares of the moment.

As the therapist engaged the men and women in the session, I could hear one participant wrestling with a goal. The idea of the desired result was there. She could even put words to it. She had enrolled in classes. Her perseverance and motivation to get started were lacking. A few times in conversation, the participant said she would try to begin…that she would try to work on some SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound) goals. When I think of her now, I see the image of an enormous speed bump blocking any efforts for her to move forward.

Then, the dynamic in the room shifted. The counselor said to the “stuck” participant, “Let’s do something. Try to stand up.” The person arose from her chair and stood up.

“Sit down. Do it again. Try to stand up.”

She looked at him quizzically and stood up. And then sat down, knowing that his teaching was not sinking in yet.

“Try to stand.”

Ah! This time, she leaned forward in her chair and did not move further. There were noises of understanding and comprehension among the group.

The therapist said, “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”

Silence. Someone asked him to repeat himself. He said it again: “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”

Another participant or two began chuckling after a moment and said, “Star Wars!” The therapist smiled and conceded that he was quoting Yoda, the mighty little green Jedi master who taught Luke Skywalker about using the Force.

This story bubbles up for me this morning as I read about Jesus recruiting followers in his ministry. Walking along the Sea of Galilee, he calls out to Peter and Andrew. They leave their nets and follow him. James and John stop their other tasks of life and follow Jesus. They go and do. The ministry and model Jesus demonstrates is one of living fully. It is a call to go and be and do. The disciples do not say, “Okay, Jesus – we will try to follow you.” They just do it. And when the ailing come flocking to Jesus for healing, the Son of God removes the speed bumps that preclude them from living fully into God’s love. He heals the stricken, expels the evil spirits, calms the synapses of those who are epileptic, frees the muscles of those who are paralyzed. He cures them all (Matthew 4:24). And he does this in a community of support – and with the love of God the Father.

Jesus is not calling us to try to live as followers and believers. Jesus is calling us to follow him. To believe in him. We will stumble. And with God’s help, we will get up. So, do. Or do not. There is no try.

Katherine+

Questions for Self-Reflection and Daily Challenge:

What does it mean to you to live into the love and Good News of Jesus? What goals will you set for living a Christian existence today? Use the framework of setting SMART goals – those that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. For example, one could say, “I will read the Gospel of Matthew for ten minutes on three different days this week.”Or, “I will pray for those on the parish prayer list on Wednesday and then send a card of encouragement to one person on that list.” Use the framework of goal setting to live into your faith in concrete ways this week.

The Wilderness - September 18

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 56, 57, [58]; PM Psalm 64, 65; 1 Kings 21:1-16; 1 Cor. 1:1-19; Matt. 4:1-11

“He (Jesus) fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.” – Matthew 4:2 

Jesus’s forty days in the wilderness are filled with temptation.  The gospel writer makes sure that the reader knows that Jesus is famished.  One thought might be that Satan visits Jesus three times while he is fasting in the wilderness with the idea that maybe Satan can persuade Jesus to be weakened in some way.  It is only in the wilderness during this period that Jesus is tempted by Satan.  It’s easy to make the assumption that when one is outside of their element, cut off from the world without the comforts of day-to-day life life would be more challenging.

Another reading might be, that Jesus is aware of the forces of evil precisely because he is in the wilderness in touch with his own suffering.   

I’ve written over the past few weeks about my engagement with Bonhoeffer’s Letters and Papers from Prison. One of the ideas that has been most stirring has been his criticism of people and their suffering.  Bonhoeffer’s composure in prison is rather remarkable as his faithfulness enables him to remain positive (most of the time) seeing even his imprisonment as part of the life that God has given him.  He argues that being able to accept his misfortune, and be faithful through his misfortune, is precisely how he is able to have compassion and remain connected to others who suffer without despair that would render him unable to care.

Maybe there are always temptations in our life.  Yesterday as we baptized several young people in our congregation, we were asked a few different questions.  “Do you renounce sinful desires that draw you from the love of God?  Do you renounce the evil powers of the world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?  Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?  These aren’t questions for when we are stuck in the wilderness famished and looking for hope.  These are everyday questions about our values, and practices of life that deepen our relationship with God and with each other.  We just become more aware of what those forces are when our lives are famished, and we find ourselves in a spiritual wilderness. 

The real challenge is to learn to see the wilderness as a gift from God too so that the totality of our lives can be a faithfulness that helps us learn to not only be more grateful of the God who created and redeemed us, but better in touch with our care for each other, especially those who find themselves in a wilderness too. 

Faithfully,

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  When have you found yourself in a spiritual wilderness?  When are you most attuned to the suffering and pain of others? 

Rituals for Yesterday and Today – September 15

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 40, 54; PM Psalm 51
1 Kings 18:20-40; Phil. 3:1-16; Matt. 3:1-12

Someone reflecting on a difficult dissolved relationship recently said that they longed to be cleansed of hurt feelings and hard memories. The listener suggested tapping into a ritual or prayer for healing and blessing – like a custom in which people burn incense to remove negative or harmful energies.

Thinking of this exchange, my mind drifts to two liturgies used in the Episcopal church. One is house blessings, in which a candle is illumined, prayers are said, and blessed water is sprinkled from sprigs of rosemary into the rooms of the home. Completing the blessing of the home, the prayers ask that those dwelling in this place “grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of Jesus,” who provides guidance, comfort, strength, and peace.

The other rite is the Reconciliation of the Penitent (BCP 447) – in which a private confession is made, usually to a priest. After words of comfort and counsel are offered, two questions are asked: “Will you turn again to Christ as your Lord?” (the response is “I will.”), and “Do you, then, forgive those who have sinned against you?” (the response is “I forgive them.”).

These practices offer avenues, through words and actions, for us to turn away from what came before and open ourselves – now unencumbered – to something new and hopeful.

Our Daily Office lectionary provides a variety of rituals for us to explore today. John the Baptist (in Matthew 3) shouts to all who will listen, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” People from across Judea flock to him and are baptized in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. They are looking for hope and new life – and John promises that the best is yet to come…one who wields the power of fire and the Holy Spirit.

A less familiar story comes from 1 Kings. Upon Mount Carmel, Elijah and the Israelites have a competition of religious practices, at the prophet’s urging. Those worshipping Baal and those praying to the Lord follow the same steps: prepare a sacrificial offering of a bull upon a bed of wood and put no fire to it. Each group calls the name of their god and they wait to see what happens. Those calling “O Baal, answer us!” go unanswered all day. No smoke or flame appears upon their offering.

Then, Elijah calls the distraught and disappointed people to come closer to watch him. He takes additional steps to set up his altar: four jars of water are poured on the bull and wood, until water pools all around the site. The prophet calls the name of God, naming the faithful ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Elijah asks that God answer, so that others will know and believe in the Lord. Then, fire falls upon the sacrifice, the wood, and even the water. It is all swept up in the flames of the Lord. The people who were unfaithful to God fall upon their faces and proclaim, “The Lord indeed is God!”

Christian rituals and practices can help us get back to a place of feeling centered, cleansed, and refreshed. They can help us clear out the clutter, name what we have done before, and move forward with healthier choices and Christ’s love at the center. Whether cataclysmic or miniscule, these conversion moments can be grounded in prayer and praise to God. The prophets hold up for us ways to live into saying yes to hope and new life as we affirm that “The Lord indeed is God!”

With God’s help,

Katherine+

Questions for Self-Reflection and Daily Challenge:

In this excerpt from Matthew 3, John the Baptist models a method of evangelism that is challenging. He lives humbly, yells loudly, and speaks the truth – even when it is not invited. How does his life and ministry resonate with you today? Pray about where God is calling you to learn from John the radical baptizer.

Who is Christ actually for us today? - September 13, 2023

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53]; 1 Kings 17:1-24; Phil. 2:1-11; Matt. 2:1-12

On April 30, 1944, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote his closest friend Eberhard Bethge a stirring letter from the Tegal prison where he was being incarcerated.  He writes, “What keeps gnawing at me is the question, what is Christianity, or who is Christ actually for us today.”  He wonders if we are approaching a completely religionless age, “even those who honestly describe themselves as “religious” aren’t really practicing that at all; they presumably mean something quite different by “religious.”  I find these questions provocative as he raises the question of 100 years ago if even the Western form of Christianity was in a preliminary stage of a complete absence of religion.  

The context might help some.  Bonhoeffer has watched the Nazi government grab hold of the German state church.  He has been imprisoned for his resistance to the Nazification of the German church, and his work to help pastors evade military service. He is watching his whole identity as a Christian being co-opted by power and in this letter from April 30, wonders, if what has found its place is “human beings becom(ing) powerful enough to push the boundaries a bit further and God is no longer needed as the outside force (deus ex machina).”

 His words are stirring as we live in a culture where a lot of people claim religion that seems so absolutely absent of humility and compassion and completely surrendering to the awe of the mystery of the power of God.  Instead, it feels like people grab a hold of Christianity to gain power, exercise control of one another, and be liberated from any personal responsibility for one another. “Who is Christ actually for us today?” Bonhoeffer’s question has only grown in importance.

Today’s epistle from Philippians explores this tension.  This text which draws upon an ancient hymn can be found in our liturgical life more than any other of scripture and reminds us that Christ didn’t grab ahold of power, but emptied himself in the ultimate act of humility and compassion.    

“Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
 who, though he was in the form of God,
   did not regard equality with God
   as something to be exploited,
 but emptied himself,
   taking the form of a slave,
   being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
   he humbled himself
   and became obedient to the point of death—
   even death on a cross.” Phil. 2:4-8

Who is Christ actually for us today?  It may be as important a question for us today as it was in 1944. 

Faithfully,

John+

Question for Self-Reflection: Who is Christ actually for us today?  

Eyes, Hearts, and Lives for God – September 11

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44
1 Kings 13:1-10; Phil. 1:1-11; Mark 15:40-47

The Saint Stephen’s Bible study that meets on Thursday afternoon has been reading the Acts of the Apostles. We are tracking the tales of ministry and relationship in the Apostle Paul’s travels across the coastal towns along the Mediterranean Sea. It is in Acts 16 that we first read of Paul’s stop in Philippi. He baptized households, healed those afflicted by demons, and ended up in jail. He also endured an earthquake during imprisonment. Lives were changed through this time of Paul’s pilgrimage. The affinity for this church community is obvious in the Letter of Paul to the Philippians.

Addressing the message to the saints – the people encompassing the heart of ministry – and those in leadership – the bishops and deacons, Paul and Timothy begin, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” They open with a salutation, relaying God’s grace and reminding the hearers and readers of God’s peace. We find similar openings in Paul’s letters to the churches in Corinth (1 Cor 1:3) and Galatia (Gal 1:3).

Then, Paul expresses how he gives thanks to God each time a memory of his ministry in Philippi crosses his mind. Do you ever think about a meaningful time and find yourself slipping into a space of gratitude and appreciation for those people, places, and things? As our minds wander and reflect, what would happen if – even for those really hard experiences – we looked for where God was present with us and those around us?

Paul says that he is “constantly praying with joy in every one of [his] prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.” (v. 5-6) Can you imagine how affirming that message would feel if you heard those words? There is a deep connection between the missionary and the church community, for they influenced one another profoundly. Paul’s preaching in Philippi fueled the hearers to spread the Good News to their European neighbors, passing along the hope, healing, and transformation that comes from the love of Jesus.

Paul did not issue these words lightly. He knew that persecution and trials were ahead for him, and for the church. He knew that following the words and message of Jesus was risky. He also knew that the promise of new life through the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Christ was the way, the truth, and the life. Love grounded in that reality of redemption and rebirth was something worth the effort. I read Paul’s words in Philippians 1:9 and appreciate them more deeply as I remember the context surrounding his ministry: “And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best” (v. 9).

That feels like my challenge today – to pray this prayer for all in my circle…and then to widen that prayer to include those for whom it is hard to have love. For when our love overflows, everywhere we step is filled with love. And for that love to be overflowing with understanding and awareness and wisdom – we will have clarity of vision. And with clear eyes and full hearts, in the words of Coach Taylor in “Friday Night Lights”, we cannot lose…for we are grounded in the love of God.

Humbly,

Katherine+

Questions for Self-Reflection and Daily Challenge:

In this excerpt from Philippians, Paul models a method of teaching and support that we can incorporate into our lives: Reflect. Give thanks. Pray to God. Relate those feelings of appreciation to those we love. Spend some time today applying this process to those for whom you are connected.

Getting out of the weeds - September 8

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 31; PM Psalm 35; 1 Kings 11:26-43; James 4:13-5:6; Mark 15:22-32

Yesterday, our staff gathered for our fall retreat. I invited a friend to facilitate, and we have been going back and forth for the past several weeks about the content. Earlier this week, he was walking me through his plan. He would present an idea, I would push back, and we would talk about it. About fifteen minutes into our conversation, he astutely noted, “John, you are so much in the thick of launching a program year, onboarding new staff, teaching, preaching, and leading, that it’s impossible for you to step back and see the whole picture about this retreat. Just trust me and we can process what you learn afterwards.”

His words have stuck with me all week, that reminder that even I get stuck in the weeds unable to see everything that is unfolding. We often have blinders or are unaware of our blind spots, good at seeing what we want to see, but not much else. To see the bigger picture, we need to be well enough, calm enough, and centered enough to step outside of our limited view. And sometimes the blinders can be caused by even positive forces in our life keeping us too busy to notice much else.   

The journey of faith can be similar. As Christians, we have been entrusted with the story of God’s salvation that has been passed down to us. Knowing, believing, and living into the resurrection means we have been given a broader view than the immediacy of our lives. Whether moments of joy, or moments of struggle, pain, and loss, our faith can help us put our trust in the one who brings life out of despair.

The story we encounter in today’s Gospel is the crucifixion from Mark’s gospel. The chief priests and the scribes are mocking Jesus. “He cannot save himself” they pronounce to others. In the thick of it, it certainly appears that way, but part of the reason they see Jesus’s life this way is they haven’t stepped back enough to understand what Jesus had been saying. And they don’t know the full story. This is a hopeful story because we know what happens on both ends, but only when we aren’t consumed with the details. 

What is keeping you from a more faithful life? Are you stuck too close to a story, muddled in the details of life? Step back for a moment. God promises to be with us in all things, but sometimes it takes a new vantage point to see God’s truth.

Faithfully,

John+

Question for Self-Reflection: What pressing needs are keeping you from seeing God’s work in your life? How can you step back for a moment and gain greater clarity in your life? What creates your blind spots?