"Dirt + Holy Spirit = People" - January 8, 2024

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 1, 2, 3; PM Psalm 4, 7; Gen. 2:4-9(10-15)16-25; Heb. 1:1-14; John 1:1-18

The second story of creation has some pretty powerful implications.  God takes the dust of the ground to make man.  The literal Hebrew translation is God formed [‘ādām] (which means man) out of [‘adāmâ].  ‘Adāmâ might be best translated ‘dust from the fertile soil.’  And then God breaths into ‘adāmâ and we have a living breathing human being.  The dust from fertile soil plus God’s breath equals humanity.  Maybe a better formula is “Dirt + Holy Spirit = People.” 

God takes some earthy clay and makes the most beautiful of all creations with a little breath – humanity.  

There is much more than meets the eye in this passage.  Eco-theologians have written extensively about the intentional human connection to all of creation.   We could probably unpack this one passage for an entire year and not distill all the wisdom this passage has for us and live a life grounded in living out God’s desire for us to be connected to each other and all of creation.  It evokes a specific relationship between place and people.  However, let’s take just a very simple statement:  God takes dirt and makes the most beautiful creation to ever exist.

This is the first reflection I have written in this new year.  A transition into a new year often evokes reflection on the past, what we have done, and what we have left undone, with a hyperfocus on how this year can be different.  Just as the earth is fertile ground teeming with the potential of all creation, the messiness of our lives is also fertile ground.  How can we move beyond guilt and shame of our past experiences to allow real transformation and growth in our lives?  Maybe it begins with recognizing the Creator’s ability to bring life out of dirt, a reminder that creation is always taking place, and our very lives are fertile ground. 

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  What holds you back from growth?  What negative experiences do you hold on to in an unhelpful way?  How could those be catalysts for change?

Multiplying Our Gifts - December 22, 2024

Today’s Readings:

Friday. AM Psalm 40, 54; Zech. 7:8-8:8; Rev. 5:6-14; Matt. 25:14-30  

Today’s Reflection

This Sunday and Monday there will be six opportunities to worship here at St. Stephen's. You may find the schedule here. No doubt it will be glorious, and at times chaotic, and the birth of Christ will be celebrated with music and prayers and pageants. Earlier this week the staff met to discuss logistics for the services. Do we have ushers for the Christmas Day service? Are there acolytes for Sunday mornings services? When and who will put up/take down the risers?

It was apparent to me that this is a collaborative, organized, and experienced staff. AND, I was once again reminded that the generous offering of the gifts of so many parishioners makes it possible for us to worship not only on festival days, but every Sunday. In the Gospel reading today the landowner is complimentary of those who used the gifts he had given them in ways that multiplied. Conversely, the one who buried his money in the ground was chastised greatly.

This has me imagining each of those sweet children in the pageant--the angels, the stars, the sheep, Mary and Joseph, all of them, as if they are offering their gifts at the feet of Jesus. It doesn't stop with the children. I think of Miss Whitney and Miss Jennifer and how they are lifting up their gifts, and the ushers handing out bulletins and helping people find their seats, and the altar guild preparing the space and the altar so beautifully. Gift after gift; treasure after treasure shared and multiplied in the joyful hearts giving thanks for the birth of Christ. Thank you for the multitude of ways you support beautiful worship.

In light of this scripture, I am inviting you to consider--is there a way that you might desire to support worship here at St. Stephen's? Have you wondered about being a lector, or greeting people, or serving as a Lay Eucharistic minister? If so, please reach out to Gretchen Lerner to find out how you can get involved in one of these rewarding ways to share your gifts in 2024. Also, if you are worshipping here this Sunday, I hope you will consider offering hospitality to our guests, helping them to find the nave, or a seat. The space may be crowded and we may find ourselves abdicating our favorite spot for someone who rarely is here. May they see the face of Christ in your smile. May they feel welcome at this most welcoming of tables, not only on Christmas, but every day.

Yours in Christ,

Mary Bea+

Questions for Self-Reflection:

Who have you noticed offering their talents to support worship? Is there a way you are being invited by God to serve here at St. Stephen's or in the community?

Anticipation - December 20, 2023

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53]
Zech. 3:1-10; Rev. 4:1-8; Matt. 24:45-51

Anticipation. This is a season of more waiting than usual. Waiting in line to check out at the grocery store. Waiting to receive the book that got lost on the first shipment. Waiting to merge on the interstate due to heavy traffic. Waiting for Christmas to get here so that we can have family gatherings, favorite menu items, and open gifts. There is wonder and hope in this space.

There is also exhaustion. And maybe frustration. And anxiety. Why? Because we know these big events are coming. Plans are put in place. And, it is not yet time for them to happen. We wait. We get ready. In the waiting, our minds wander. We remember the disappointments of the past. We wonder if others will show up, or make the ham the right way. We yearn for easier times. We dread the family tensions that could flare up.

All of that superfluous work and worry is not ours to do. In Matthew 24, Jesus tells his friends to keep awake, “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” (v. 44) He moves into a parable contrasting faithful and wicked slaves when no one is watching over them. Jesus says, “Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives.” (v. 46) The Messiah is not urging his friends to fret. He is guiding them to keep engaged and not get complacent. That is what faithful relationship looks like, as we keep the bonds among us taut with meaningful connection.

Though we wait with anticipation for the coming of the Lord Jesus, we have an invitation to participate in life. Whether our “other duties as assigned” are complete or not, we get to practice the spiritual discipline of centeredness. And we can start it now. It only takes a minute:

1.     Sit up straight in a chair, with your feet touching the floor

2.     Place your hands lightly in your lap and close your eyes

3.     Breathe in and breathe out, slowly and deliberately

4.     Listen to the sound of your breath

5.     After a minute (or more), open your eyes

6.     Take note of how you feel and what thoughts are upon your mind

(This and other mindfulness exercises are available at psychcentral.com.)

In Advent hope as we prepare to welcome Jesus,

-- Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

Put your anticipations and hopes into prayer to God. Listen for where God is strengthening you to live more deeply. Pay attention to the spaces and people that sometimes get overlooked in the excitement - especially those who are sick or homebound.

Making things worse? - December 18

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44; Zech. 1:7-17; Rev. 3:7-13; Matt. 24:15-31 

“And I am extremely angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was only a little angry, they made the disaster worse.” – Zechariah 1:15 

I’ve been hovering over these words this past week.  I try to work on my reflections before I go on vacation, so I have prepared for this reading two weeks in advance, although the crafting sometimes takes a little longer (and I think it’s important to be shaped by my experiences).  A week ago, I was in Buenos Aires for a few days.  By some random chance, I was there the same day their new president was sworn in, Javier Milei, who was referred to as the chainsaw-wielding president by the Sunday Times (British Newspaper).  Oddly, his installation was on a day when chainsaws galore made their own pilgrimage to Saint Stephen’s after some horrendous storms.  Milei is an eccentric rightwing libertarian that has risen to power as people become increasingly disenfranchised with the horrible inflation (120% the last calendar year).   

I was invited to lunch the day of Milei’s installation by a retired professor in Latin American studies from the University of Indiana, an opportunity to learn more about this country at least from one person’s perspective.  He shared the history of the country, and how he felt many people were consistently frustrated that whoever they elected failed to follow through with promises made, leading to a sense of desperation, a country always thinking tomorrow will be better and tomorrow never arriving.   

Prophets in the Old Testament, especially Zechariah, often point out how the people have failed to care for the poor or let injustice for those who have been marginalized become the norm. As I read Zechariah this morning, I wonder if the prophet is reminding his people that not only are they failing in their care, but actually making their problems worse. I wonder if this is a result from the abdication of one’s responsibility to care for each other until one has the perfect solution.  Sound timely?   

I don’t have all of the answers for what are the right solutions to care for others that are called for as we are citizens of our great country entrusted with sacred responsibilities for our care of each other.  I even think there are a varying degree of faithful answers that each of us can live into as people of faith.  But I am struck that Zechariah reminds his people that they can make a bad situation worse.  Or maybe he is saying they can even take what is pretty good and destroy it all together.   

The prophets remind us that more than anything, our care for each other, especially those who suffer, who are poor and marginalized, who suffer at the hands of injustice, is at the core of what it means to be faithful. While I acknowledge that not all of us are at ease, most of us enjoy a level of comfort and satisfaction that far surpasses previous generations. In this season of Advent, when we look for light breaking into the dark world, for God’s good news to be birthed into the world, Zechariah’s vision is a reminder of our own agency in the coming of the kingdom. May we be mindful that we are working to create a world where justice and prosperity will be the reality for all. At the very least, let’s not make it worse. 

John+ 

Questions for Self-Reflection:  What are some ways you can be proactive in working towards the kingdom of God?  In what ways have we made things worse when trying to make things better?  

Nurturing Faith

Today’s Readings:

AM Psalm 31; Haggai 1:1-15; Rev. 2:18-29; Matt. 23:27-39

Today’s Reflection

The first parish I served after seminary was The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Alabaster, Alabama; a small, diverse, dedicated congregation. One Lent we invited the youth to lead compline at the conclusion of each of our Wednesday night programs. It was my joy to meet with the youth to plan worship. Since most of them had gone to summer camp at Camp McDowell, they were very familiar with the compline service.

During one of the planning sessions, I sat next to a then-middle school girl, and asked her which of the psalms she would like for us to pray. Immediately she said, "I love Psalm 31. That's the one I always pray--let's do that one." Inherent in her answer was a habit of praying compline, and familiarity with her choices. The portion of Psalm 31 assigned as an option for this service is:

1  In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge;

      let me never be put to shame: *

      deliver me in your righteousness.

2  Incline your ear to me; *

      make haste to deliver me.

3  Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe, 

      for you are my crag and my stronghold; *

      for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.

4  Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *

      for you are my tower of strength.

5  Into your hands I commend my spirit, *

      for you have redeemed me,

      O LORD, O God of truth.

I knew from this child's mother that there was great stress in her home. Somehow, in the chaos of her life, praying compline, ascribing Psalm 31 to her heart, gave her comfort and peace.

Imagine what had to happen for this one child to have a relationship with the Book of Common Prayer and scripture in a way that she had the kind of relationship with God that was a ballast in the storms. Her parents chose to find a way for her to be connected to a faith community. That community chose to feed its young people not only with kid-friendly food and entertainment, but also food for the soul. Camp McDowell staff and counselors chose to take seriously the formation of the campers.

Surely most, if not all, of those persons who poured their time and love and faith out for this child and many others, had no idea the depth of the gift they had provided. In that moment, when I heard her immediately, enthusiastically respond to which psalm we should pray, I witnessed the faithfulness of so many others coming to fruition. As I recall this experience I am grateful to the many volunteers here at St. Stephen's, Camp McDowell, and persons of faith everywhere who sacrificially pass the torch of the tradition down to the next generation so they can faithfully pray for God to deliver them, redeem them, strengthen them. I'm also wondering, is there anything you or I are being nudged to do to support the faith life of a young person in our lives?

Yours in Christ,

Mary Bea+

Questions for reflection:

Who has passed the tradition on to you? How are you sharing your faith and encouraging others in the faith?

Being deeply seen - December 13

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 38; PM Psalm 119:25-48; Amos 8:1-14; Rev. 1:17-2:7; Matt. 23:1-12

Imagine with me: you are feeling down in the dumps, and you have to put on a happy game face. (It is the season for parties and family gatherings, so perhaps this exercise is close to a real-life experience?) You get to the venue for the celebration. Your heart is not in it. You put your best face and foot forward. As the event wraps up, someone comes over to talk only to you. This person has seen through to the real state of your heart and asks how you truly are. “Let’s get coffee and unload about the hard stuff,” they say. And they do not budge at your deflection to humor or change of topic. They really see you.

In this exercise of imagination and empathy, what do you see? What do you think? What do you feel? Who comes to mind?

As I sit with the passage from the Revelation to John appointed for today, I am struck by the experience of being seen. John of Patmos writes to the church in Ephesus, “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not; and have found them to be false…” (Rev. 2:2) This letter comes from someone who really knows what is going on in the community – including how they handle conflict, truth-telling, and the efforts for authenticity. The writer continues, “I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary.” (v. 3) This group of faithful people continues to persist, no matter what.

Then it gets hard: “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at the first. Remember then from what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” (v. 4-5) The writer is working to recenter those whom he sees and loves. He names a hard truth – they have strayed in some ways from their foundation of agape. Unconditional love that feeds the hearts of all. And so what is to be done? Repent. Reconsider. Return to what is most important.

John wants the church in Ephesus to be whole, healthy, and worthy of shining the light of Christ into this dark time. Others cannot be drawn to the light if those bearing it are not grounded in faithfulness to God. Hence his warning that he will remove the lampstand if they do not change their hearts and minds.

This is not unlike our Advent messages to keep awake and be prepared. When we are deeply and truly seen by those who love us, they name for us our spaces of blindness and where we need to pay attention. This message is grounded in God’s love and care for us.

Let us keep awake as we prepare our hearts to welcome Jesus the Christ. Be attentive to your heart. Where do you yearn to be deeply known and seen? Pray that God will put someone in your orbit who will pay attention, speak honestly, and listen lovingly. And perhaps God is preparing you to be this person for someone else.

In Advent hope,

-- Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

Sit in prayer for 10 minutes. Hold in your heart those spaces that feel untethered and painful. Breathe in and out as you sit with the discomfort. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill that space with courage and peace.

Make note of what this experience was like - what you felt, thought, wondered.

The Power of Community - December 11

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 25; PM Psalm 9, 15; Amos 7:1-9; Rev. 1:1-8; Matt. 22:23-33 

Yesterday morning, I worshiped at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and Anglican cathedral in Buenos Aires. I was late by twenty minutes as plans had gone awry due to the investiture of the new Argentinian president taking place that day. A parade was taking place, and it took some fancy maneuvering to get through the crowds of people.  I wandered downtown and up the steps of the cathedral to walk into worship with about thirty others, including a few expats, but mostly people from Argentina.   

I walked in during the sermon, not understanding anything.  By the creed, an usher brought me a bilingual guide.  The church was using our Book of Common Prayer for worship, a more than comforting realization.  A young woman had taken the three children to children’s chapel and brought them back for Holy Eucharist, a similar practice to our own worship at Saint Stephen’s.  We walked forward to receive communion, kneeling at the rail as I would at most Anglican/Episcopal churches.   

Following the service, I was invited to coffee hour, and enjoyed some fellowship and hospitality with the twenty or so who lingered, including a lunch with a retired American professor of Latin American studies and fellow Episcopalian.  It was deeply moving to find Christian community and hospitality and life in worship. 

As I waited at coffee hour, I talked with an Argentinian man who worked as a tailor as he shared how he struggled some with his faith as his parents aged, especially when one was in the hospital.  We talked about the second coming of Christ, and in our own way encouraged each other in our faith. 

As Jesus encounters the Sadducees in today’s Gospel passage, they are struggling to believe in the resurrection.  Jesus teaches them and all walk away amazed.  He encourages them to believe in what they could not believe in their own.  Community has this power, to help each other in what we struggle to believe on our own. 

This is what we do for each other.  The power of community is that God gives us faith through each other, encouraging each other, lifting each other up, and helping each other see what we can’t see on our own.  Thanks be to God for how you share Christ with others, and my prayer is you see the power of the Holy Spirit working in you to build up those around you.  Thanks be to God. 

Faithfully, 

John+ 

Questions for Self-Reflection:  What have others helped you to believe?  Are you aware of helping others grow in their faith, in what way? 

Accept the Invitation - December 8, 2023

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 16, 17, Amos 5:1-17; Jude 1-16; Matt. 22:1-14

Today’s Reflection:

Once, I was in conversation with someone who had gotten scary news, earth-shattering news really. I sat with this woman as she wondered what her suddenly tenuous future might look like and she said, "I guess this is what I have been going to church for all of these years. All of those services and all of that studying, and all of that time with the community, hopefully has helped prepare me to face what is ahead."

I was amazed by the wisdom and equanimity in my friend's words. Since then, I have watched her gyrate from sad, to grateful, to angry, to "choosing joy." All aspects of her response are real and faith-filled.

Truth is, every one of us will have earth-shattering news one day--about our own lives or the life of someone we love. How does our faith inform our responses to illness, or death, or tragedy? I am wondering if we are not better equipped to choose peace, and joy, and gratitude in the midst of our troubles if we have been nourished at God's table and sustained in God's community. How does a pattern of daily prayer and study and reading scripture expand our understanding of God? How does showing up to care for our neighbor humble us to receive care one day? I am not implying that those who struggle during life's challenges have been unfaithful--the struggle is valid and real; and the potential for eventual comfort is real.

Our Gospel reading today is another example of Jesus using a jarring-to-us, genre popular in his day-apocalyptic preaching. Jesus warns that those who refuse God's invitation to be God's guest at the banquet of love, will experience the deepest desolation and anguish. We all experience desolation and darkness at times. Sometimes, it is through the hardships and heartbreaks in our lives that we come to the realization that we cannot manage life on our own--we need God and we need each other.

Every moment of every day, God calls us into deeper and deeper love.

When we continue to refuse the invitation, or show up half-hearted, we waste the opportunity to grow in love and strength and peace which surpasses all understanding. In the midst of the busyness of this season, I encourage us to KEEP AWAKE and accept God's invitation at the banquet of love--and invite others to the table as well.

Yours in Christ,

Mary Bea+

Questions for Self-Reflection:

What have you been holding back? What would it look like to bring our full selves to the banquet?

Nick – December 6

Today’s Readings: Nicholas of Myra: Psalm 145:8-13; 1 John 4:7-14; Mark 10:13-16

Today is the feast day of Saint Nicholas of Myra. He is described as a friend of children, giver of gifts, climber of chimneys, etc. While an historical figure in the life of the church, he is also known across the world by names like Saint Nick, Pere Noel, Father Christmas, or Santa Claus. Nicholas lived in the fourth century in Turkey. Stories are told of his great faith and generous spirit – particularly his penchant for giving gifts anonymously. He was a bishop in Asia Minor and was a passionate defender of the weak and destitute.

Nicholas died December 6, AD 343 and so we remember St. Nick today. In some European countries, gifts arrive on this day rather than on December 25. Presents arrive again on January 6 (Epiphany) when we remember the bright light of a celestial beacon guiding three wise men to present gifts to Jesus the infant.

Each gift given by St. Nicholas and by the Magi is a symbol of promise, prayer, and love. It is this love that we read about in Mark 10:13-16, when Jesus advocates for the children to be brought to him. “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them,” Jesus says. The Messiah sees the hope and glory and promise in each young life. “For it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs,” he continues. The teacher and healer takes these kids into his arms, embraces them with care, lays his hands on them, and blesses them. Because he loves them. He gives them the gift of care and attention, prayer and blessing. It is not necessarily a tangible gift. It is one of presence and respect. It is more of a feeling of warmth and belong that Jesus gives the children. This experience resonates within their senses. In this space, Jesus teaches his disciples about love and welcome.

In the first letter of John appointed on this feast day of Nicholas of Myra, we get to read the stirring words, “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God…God’s love was revealed to us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us…” (4:7, 9-10a) The gift of Jesus was not given to us by God so that we would love God more. Jesus came as an embodiment of God’s deep love for humankind, and as a reminder of God’s care, presence, and promise.

When you think about “Old Saint Nick” and the work of distributing gifts to children anonymously around the globe, remember that through generosity and dedication, we tell the tales while passing along reminders of God’s love. Just as Jesus worked to open the eyes of his disciples to the wonder of the young people around them, Jesus is calling us to welcome the wonder of giving and receiving the gift of love. I pray that God continues to prepare your heart so that you can be present as a child of God in the giving and receiving of love.

-- Katherine+

Questions for Reflection

Think about what it would be like to give gifts totally anonymously this year. How would you feel as the giver? What would it be like to receive gifts anonymously? Where is God in these experiences?

Daily Challenge

Research Saint Nicholas of Myra and read about the stories of his life and ministry. Listen for the ways his legacy inspires you to live into faith.

Missing the Point

Today’s Readings

Psalm 140, 142;

 Isa. 24:14-23; 1 Pet. 3:13-4:6; Matt. 20:17-28

Today’s Reflection

One of my favorite commentaries on the Gospel of Matthew is written by a Trappist monk living at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, MA, Brother Simeon, also known as Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis. Brother Simeon has penned a scholarly, mystically-inspired, thousands of pages long, three-volume set on the Gospel of Matthew. What a life of meaning! What a life of service to those of us who need wise scripture guides!

Truth is, most of us will never accomplish anything as monumental as Brother Simeon's tremendous fete; and yet, each of us is invited to notice how Christ is among us, beckoning us to prioritize how we "spend" our lives and how we might serve the common good.

As I read today's Gospel, I'm almost embarrassed for the mother of James and John--asking for her sons to be treated like royalty, immediately after Jesus has predicted that he would be handed over to be condemned to death, mocked, scourged, crucified, and raised from the dead. Talk about tone deaf. Talk about selfish. Talk about a desire to seek power.

When the other ten disciples learn of the "sons of Zebbedee's" mother's request, they pitch a fit. Brother Simeon points out that all twelve of the disciples are missing the point, not just James and John. They all wanted the coveted seat of royalty.

Brother Simeon writes that we should not imagine Jesus has "risen above" the fray, but the he has "descended among us..." and "...can infuse our human condition ...with the divine peace that is his by rights....Thus, we are to lose no time in running to him, so that he may communicate to us the all-pacifying, all-beautifying, all-transforming energies of the Godhead, which he alone of all men possesses."(Fire of Mercy: Heart of the Word, Volume III, 284)

How might this reading inform our living as we make our way toward Advent? Perhaps we are being invited to "run toward Jesus" with a counter-cultural devotion to take extra time reflecting on how we might be off track in our own lives. Let's face it, we all have a bit of those missing-the-point disciples in us. Taking time to reflect on our lives helps us to get back on the path.

This Sunday at 4pm we will have our monthly First Sunday Labyrinth Walk. Anne Markham Bailey will be our guide and cellist Patty Pilon will accompany us as we walk our prayers. The Celtic Service is at 5pm. Please join us for one or both of these contemplative offerings as an invitation to welcome the "Light of Light" into our hearts. And if you're hungry for great food and company, stay for a simple supper after the service.

Yours in Christ,

Mary Bea+

Questions for Reflection:

Where in your own life are you seeking power, perhaps even at the expense of others? Acknowledging the cultural challenges of the day, how can you carve-out some Advent space in the coming weeks?

Stuff - November 29

Today’s Readings:

AM Psalm 119:145-176; PM Psalm 128, 129, 130
Obadiah 15-21; 1 Pet. 2:1-10; Matt. 19:23-30

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.” This is the verse that opens the reading from Matthew this morning in the Daily Office lectionary. If the chill of the weather doesn’t give us a jolt, then perhaps the Good News will snap us awake! These scriptures around wealth, faith, and heaven are some of the earliest I remember pondering. I continue to wrap my head and heart around these concepts.

What directly precedes this verse is the story of the young man who asked Jesus, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus responded that what one really must do is keep the commandments. The young man agreed that he was already doing all those right things. What was missing? Jesus answered, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” Upon hearing this, the seeker left aggrieved. It was the possessions that were the hardest to give up.

And so, it is in this space that we follow Jesus’ teaching arc to the disciples and others around him. “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven,” he said. They responded in genuine concern, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus answered with a quip that rings of the wisdom of great sages three steps ahead, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

I say yes to Jesus’ statement. Of course, with God all is possible. And then I appreciate Peter, who brought the conversation back to this murky topic of possessions, faith, and heaven. And here’s what is on my heart this morning: all the stuff we crave – whether it is in a tiny box or hauled on a truck – brings us excitement and garners our attention. That is not bad or harmful. The problem is not the possessions; it is our relationship with them. What God wants is all of us; the Lord wants our attention focused on all things heavenly. Jesus wants us to be his followers.

When we are more attached to the things around us, we do not feel the deep need for the salvific gift that God offers us in Jesus. When we find ourselves in comfort and not needing much, we are distracted. And then, we feel that emptiness returning and seek other physical, tangible things to fill the yearnings within us. It is the human condition. We are apt to drift away from God. That is why staying grounded in scripture and prayer and Christian community is vital to spiritual health at any age.

If you have made it to the end of this reflection, you are taking steps to nourish your soul and deepen your own faith through pondering the Good News for us in the Bible. Whether the rhythm and depth of the psalms feeds you, or stories of human foibles reassure you, or the wisdom of Jesus’ friends gives you the pep talk you need to get through today, stick with it. And be mindful that things can distract us from the love of God.

With gratitude and God’s love,

Katherine+

Questions for Self-Reflection and Daily Challenge:

What is your relationship with physical possessions? Take an honest assessment of your own life today. Reflect on where there are healthy attachments, and what might need some tweaking. Take this to God honestly in prayer and listen for where God is calling you lovingly to follow more closely.

Worship as inheritance - November 27

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 106:1-18; PM Psalm 106:19-48; Joel 3:1-2,9-17; 1 Pet. 1:1-12; Matt. 19:1-12

I’d like to offer three ways of considering our worship together that you might not have considered too intently before.  First worship is a gift.  Consider how you first arrived at your worshiping community.  Was there an invitation from a friend or family member?  People have put in planning, choirs have rehearsed, and the preacher has prepared remarks and reflections specifically for that day, but also through the course of their lives and formation.  Most of the time, when we gather, specifically on a Sunday, we receive a gift, a gift of a thoughtfully put-together response to God’s love and invitation to praise God.  That in itself is a gift. 

Second, worship is a privilege.  At Saint Stephen’s, it seems especially fitting that the American flag is not in our sanctuary, but in our narthex.  It is a reminder when we walk into our nave, it is a privilege to be able to worship how we gather, something that is not universally afforded to others in different places in the world.  For us, we receive a privilege when we gather together. 

The final image comes from our epistle reading today.  Worship is an inheritance.  While the reading suggests our faith as an inheritance, we can also see worship, which is our faith through liturgy lived out in the tradition of the church, as something that is passed down to us.  As it is written in First Peter, “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  

Inheritance is a gift, but it is also something more.  Faithfully for generations upon generations, people have worked to preserve the tradition that we have before us and have passed that down to us to carry on.  They have passed on the gifts they have made, beautiful art and beautiful buildings, the prayers, the traditions, and a way of faithfully responding to the world.  It is not just that we have arrived at a place on a random Sunday morning at some point in our lives, but we have inherited a faithful response to our humanity. 

What have you done with your inheritance, the gift and privilege of being together in worship?

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  How does this reflection enhance your understanding of worship?  Does it change anything for you? 

Mountaintop Experiences - November 20, 2023

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 89:1-18; PM Psalm 89:19-52; 1 Macc. 3:1-24; Rev. 20:7-15; Matt. 17:1-13

I love the stories of the transfiguration.  Today’s gospel passage is one of those where Peter, James, and John go up a mountain with Jesus. A large voice from the heavens speaks to them and they are overcome by fear. They see Jesus in a new light, where “his face shone like the sun.” Can you imagine? I can’t even begin to fathom what this experience was like. It’s a literal mountaintop experience.

And while the story is quite a mystic story that might have happened, I am more interested in what follows. The disciples came down the mountain and were ordered to tell no one what they saw, which I doubt was honored, as we know the story today. What is most interesting to me would be the way people would see the disciples from that moment on. They have had a transformative mountain top experience, and then come off it. They are bound to see the world differently. But do people see them differently? Do they know that the disciples have had a transformative experience, or do people have the bandwidth, trust, and openness to observe subtle differences and changes in behavior from the disciples?  Can others see the transformation?  In many cases, probably not, which might be more telling about others and the state of humanity than it is about people who have had mountaintop experiences. 

People are led up mountains every day, and people certainly encounter God on a day-to-day basis.  As people of faith grounded in the stories of transformation, we ought to believe that God loves us just as we are, but we might not be the same people tomorrow.  The same goes for the person who has let you down, disappointed you, or failed to meet your expectations.  How do we know our neighbor isn’t being led up a mountain to see the world differently?  They might be, and we should always be open to that possibility.

Faithfully,

John+

Question for Self-Reflection: Where have you seen new change in others? How does that make you feel? What caused the change?

Keep Awake!

Today’s Readings

Friday

Hugh of Lincoln:

Psalm 15

Tobit 6:1-6

Mark 13:32-37

Today’s Reflection

Our tradition is filled with inspiring persons who courageously spoke truth to those in power. One such soul is Hugh of Lincoln who lived in the 12th century. A member of the strict monastic order called the Carthusians, Hugh risked his life by being plain spoken with King Henry II. Hugh advocated for the workers who were being taken advantage of by the king and other nobility. He made these pronouncements, not long after that very same king played a role in the killing of the Archbishop Thomas a Becket. And yet, not only did King Henry II come to respect Hugh, he grew to love him and cherish his prayers and counsel.

When Hugh was summoned to England to serve, he had been a monk in a French Monastary for 17 years. As a member of a monastic order, Hugh ordered his days according to a Rule of Life--a commitment to live by agreed-upon norms within a community. Unlike other orders, such as the Benedictines, the Carthusians spent a considerable amount of their time studying scripture and praying in solitude.

Our Gospel reading today compels us to "Keep awake" for we do not know when the master will return home. How do we "keep awake?" One way we keep awake is to order our days with regular time with God. A few suggestions for regular time with God include joining your St. Stephen's community for Morning Prayer at 8:30 am, or a strolling outdoors with a walking meditation, or centering prayer, or simply lighting a candle and sitting with God, or listening to pray as you go, or walking the labyrinth. The possibilities are boundless. If you desire inspiration in your daily prayer life, feel free to contact me, or John or Katherine. We would love to wonder where God is beckoning you into deeper relationship.

So, back to Hugh of Lincoln who lived those many years ago. It is not a stretch to imagine that he was able to follow a path of courageous truth-telling for the benefit of those less fortunate because he was steeped in scripture and prayer. Together, let us keep awake with eyes and ears and hearts open to witness to God's presence in our midst.

Yours in Christ,

Mary Bea+

Questions for Self-Reflection:

What one thing could you do on a daily basis to deepen your connection to God? Is there a prayer practice that has spoken to you in the past? Something you have wanted to try? Who could help you stay the course of keeping awake?

Enough - November 15

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:97-120; PM Psalm 81, 82; Neh. 7:73b-8:3,5-18; Rev. 18:21-24; Matt. 15:29-39

In the stillness of the morning, I sit and reflect on the Bible passages appointed for today. The excerpt from the Gospel according to Matthew (15:29-39) is what grabs me most. Each time I read these verses, a different piece of the story stands out.

This is the gist: Jesus walks on the Sea of Galilee and then climbs up the nearby mountain. He sits down. Crowds follow him and he heals people, so that they regain their voice, their gait, their sight, among other things. The people see the faith healings and praise God. Then Jesus attends to their physical needs, calling on his friends. This three-day event is ending, and he wants them to leave nourished. The disciples pool together seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. Jesus tells the great crowd – numbering four thousand men, plus women and children – to sit down. He says words of thanksgiving, breaks the food into pieces, and distributes it to the disciples, who pass out the food to all in attendance. All eat and are filled. The leftovers are gathered up and there are seven full baskets remaining. Jesus dismisses the crowds and gets into a boat.

In these few short verses, we are brought into multiple miracles – and we are given the gift of seeing these exchanges from beginning to end. We get to be with Jesus as he strolls along the coastline and hikes up the hill. We get to observe how he handles the throngs of people with compassion and how he teaches his disciples to be in moments of expectation and uncertainty. Good Shepherd and Gentle Boss. Wow.

I am in awe at how Jesus is not moved by the possible stressors around him. Throngs of people are in the desert and hungry. He stays cool and calm. Yet I am reminded of the times I hosted a party, or back in the early 2000s when I tried my hand at cooking dinner weekly for the Wednesday night program as my church started mid-week programs. Whew! It is a lot of work to pull those moving parts together when not knowing how it will all play out. Do we have enough? Will it be ready on time? While my questions of worry came from a mindset of paucity, Jesus’ approach is grounded in generosity and grace. Miraculously, with God there is enough…and more than enough!

May you feel the joy of being enough in God’s love this day.

With prayers for you this day,

Katherine+

Questions for Self-Reflection and Daily Challenge:

Sit with Matthew 15:29-39 again. Then, pray with God about the spaces in your life that feel "enough" right now. Give thanks to God for those gifts. Turn to the areas that feel empty or broken. Pray that God's grace fills and heals your relationship with those aspects of your beautiful, messy life.

Confession - November 13

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 80; PM Psalm 77, [79]; Neh. 9:1-15(16-25); Rev. 18:1-8; Matt. 15:1-20

“Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads.” This opening line from our passage from Nehemiah this morning is a more regular occurrence than you might believe. Jacob tore his clothes and put on sackcloth. So did David and Job and the elders of Zion (Lamentations). We read about it in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and even in Matthew (11:21) and Luke (10:13). It’s a profound way of both repenting and lamenting loss. It’s a way of submitting and humbling oneself.

In the Book of Jonah (3:5-9) even the animals are required to fast and put on sackcloth when the king of Nineveh arises from his throne to do the same. As I read the text for this morning, I’m struck at what was such normative behavior now feels completely lost. 

We are one year from a presidential election, and I suspect many of us are not looking forward to a year of scapegoating and blaming the other for the problems of our time.  Where is the humility, where is the repentance? 

Two weekends ago, I was one of the spiritual directors at Happening, a youth weekend modeled after Cursillo for young people in tenth through twelfth grade. The weekend is filled with talks about faith and includes much of what our church teaches around sacraments, grace, and even confession. Young people had an opportunity to participate in the rite of reconciliation, where one could confess to a priest and receive absolution. One of my colleagues beautifully referred to this rite as a sacred gift. I couldn’t agree more as there is a power of naming those things we have done and not letting the shame, guilt, or despair corrupt and destroy us from the inside out. 

When the penitent is finished with confession, the priest offers absolution and then leaves with the reminder for the penitent to also pray for the priest who is a sinner too. We aren’t perfect people. We make mistakes, and worse, sometimes we do the wrong thing. We are human after all.  And yet God still loves us anyway. 

Maybe as we hit this season where everyone is vying to persuade us of their vision for leadership and governance, we should remember our Christian ethic of humility and repentance. At the very least, it’s a lot easier than putting on sackcloth and sitting in ashes or putting dust on our heads.

Faithfully,

John+

Daily Challenge: Consider making an appointment with one of your clergy for the Rite of Reconciliation.  To learn more, you can more on page 447 of your Book of Common Prayer or click here.

Epic battles - November 8, 2023

Today’s Readings:

AM Psalm 72; PM Psalm 119:73-96
Neh. 13:4-22; Rev. 12:1-12; Matt. 13:53-58

Do you ever feel like sitting down – not exhaling with great satisfaction and accomplishment but throwing your hands up in the air and saying, “I. Am. Done.” After pouring out heart, soul, and energy into a project, relationship, or even a piece of art, it does not look like there is any forward movement. Maybe things are even messier than when the day started. And sometimes, it feels like the crumbling progressively gets worse. What a low, hard place we find ourselves at points in our lives.

Reading the 12th chapter of the Revelation to John reminds me of such tailspin times. John of Patmos presents vivid, apocalyptical images in a great reckoning: portents, or omens, of changes ahead – a woman of divinity, clothed with the sun and with the moon under her feet, and an enormous red dragon with multiple horns and heads – clash in battle. Divine promise meets evil. The woman births a son, who is whisked away to God for protection. She flees to the wilderness to recuperate. Celestial war breaks out and the archangel Michael and his angels fight the mighty dragon. The dragon loses and is thrown down to earth. And then, there is a loud voice in heaven that proclaims that God’s power is supreme over the devil and warns those upon the earth, “woe to the earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you with great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Rev. 12:12b) As that ominous dragon writhes, I can see the destructive tail creating chaos and disruption with each sweep.

What we miss if we only read the first twelve verses of Revelation 12 is what happens to the woman – that reminder of divine creation, humanity, and resilience. As the dragon wreaks havoc on earth and pursues the woman, she is transformed. The arms that would have held her newborn son are now wings of a great eagle; she can escape evil and go to a place of restoration and healing in the wilderness. Though the dragon tries to harm the woman, the earth protects her. Frustrated, the dragon moves on to torment others.

The Revelation to John is a lot on an early morning in November, and yet, the imagery of the epic battle is compelling. We see ourselves and those around us in these characters: those who do the bidding of the dragon, disrupting and breaking spaces of beauty and hope; those wearied and pursued by evil; and those transformed by sacrifice and equipped with new wings to move into safer environments.

This scripture highlights for me the age-old chasm between the life God wants for us and the existence that we inhabit. Sometimes it is hard to bridge the gap between the two. There are days when it feels like the bad stuff just will not stop and we do not know what to do. When you find yourself here, reach out. Reach out to God in prayer. Reach out to friends – not just to get a cup of coffee, but to pray for you fervently. Reach out to the Bible and read the psalms that offer words of solidarity, direction, and faithfulness. Reach out to the church, so that we may accompany you in these times of darkness and peril.

With prayers for you this day,

Katherine+

Questions for Self-Reflection and Daily Challenge:

Who is it that you call to help in times of need? What prayers or songs come to mind?

If you are unsure of how to answer, when you are in a healthy space, pray for God to guide you. Then, take note of people who encourage or center you. Write down songs and prayers that are meaningful. Keep them in a special place, so that if you find yourself in a low or painful time, you have already prepared a "toolkit" to support you.

Who are you Responsible to? - November 6

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 56, 57, [58]; PM Psalm 64, 65; Neh. 6:1-19; Rev. 10:1-11; Matt. 13:36-43

In preparation for an online group I am leading this month (just send me an email if you are interested in joining), I’ve been working through a profound book called Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most. The book is based on the most popular undergraduate class at Yale University, a class taught by theologians and trying to answer the deepest question we should all seek to answer: “What is a life worth living?” As the teachers have tested the class in some unique environments, it might not surprise you to know that some of the most thoughtful engagement has been at the Danbury Federal Correctional Institution where students truly understand the distinction between “what I want” and “what’s truly worth wanting” as the students almost uniformly realize they have wholeheartedly been pursuing a mistaken vision of life for a period of time.

The larger question is broken into smaller questions, one of which was a late addition to their material. In the middle of a semester, a young Jewish woman who would go on to become one of the first women ordained as an orthodox rabbi, listened attentively to the conversation, and then asked the question, “Who are you responsible to?” The class, professors included, were dumbfounded. Undeterred, this student shared that she “considered herself responsible to her whole community and to God who gave the Torah to that community.”  She continued, “In principle, her failure to observe Shabbat or keep kosher would be a failure to hold up her responsibility to her community and to God.” For her, responsibility changes everything. 

I’ll admit, that I find her argument compelling and considering the question and its implications on my own life. I find much of Matthew’s Gospel challenging, especially passages like today’s where we hear judgmental language such as “Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age,” or “and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” If these passages were taken alone, they would certainly fail to capture what it means for us who believe in the all-loving God who destroys death and cares and loves all of God’s children. 

However, the imagery certainly is powerful and maybe worth considering if it at all inspires us to reflect on our own responsibilities and why it is so important to answer the question, “Who are you responsible to?” What are the consequences of failing to love God and to love our neighbor? Maybe the consequences are what we are experiencing with the magnitude of pain and suffering in this world today. This means when we don’t live up to our responsibilities, there are painful consequences that impact us all.

Who are you responsible to? Family, yourself, your community, humanity, or God?

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  Who are you responsible to?  How can this question be helpful in your own faith journey?

A Conciliatory Spirit

Today’s Readings

Richard Hooker Psalm 37:1-9  1 Corinthians 2:6-16 John 17:18-23 

Today’s Reflection

Today we honor Richard Hooker (1554-1600) who lived in a time when there was great religious controversy. Hooker is credited with being the "father" of the Anglican world view inclusive of the "via media," the middle way. In England there was strife between the Church of England and the Church of Rome. Enmity was so great, that at times heated words manifested into physical violence.

After ascending to the throne in 1558, Queen Elizabeth wisely "appointed Hooker as Master of the Temple Church in London, making him pastor to dozens of lawyers." (Richard H. Schmidt, Glorious Companions: Five Centuries of Anglican Spirituality, 22) Hooker had a quick intellect, a passion for the Gospel, and a "conciliatory spirit." (Ibid, 24). He was able to find the good in his theological opponents while stridently defending his own views.

I am taken with the opportunity to be inspired by Richard Hooker's scholarship, faithfulness, and heart. Where in my life/your life are we given opportunity to trust that in ardently clarifying our position, and respectfully listening to the views of someone with whom we don't agree, God might be calling forth wisdom within us? (Sidenote and a reflection for another day, today's psalm 37 is a beautiful wisdom psalm that I commend to you in prayer.)

Let us pray:

O God of truth and peace, you raised up your servant Richard Hooker in a day of bitter controversy to defend with sound reasoning and great charity the catholic and reformed religion: Grant that we may maintain that middle way, not as a compromise for the sake of peace, but as a comprehension for the sake of truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. To learn more about Richard Hooker, I encourage you to visit this site.



Yours in Christ,

Mary Bea+

It’s Complicated – November 1, 2023

Today’s Readings: All Saints':
AM: Psalm 111, 112; 2 Esdras 2:42-47; Hebrews 11:32-12:2
PM: Psalm 148, 150; Wisdom 5:1-5,14-16; Revelation 21:1-4,22-22:5

Think of someone you really admire. What is it you honor the most about that person? Now, pause for a moment - do you know them well? Can you think of something about that person that makes them more human and imperfect? A quirk, fault, or annoyance? I love it when I get to know someone and see the complicated layers that make them the wonderful child of God who they are.

Today is All Saints’ Day, when we praise God for those who have helped hone, shape, and defend the ways we gather as Church to honor the resurrected Jesus. Those numbered in the saints include those “whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten. Their posterity will continue for ever, and their glory will not be blotted out. Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives to all generations.” Ecclesiasticus 44:13-14

Perhaps you have heard a litany (really thorough, long prayer) of saints on this day. At Church of St. Stephen and the Incarnation in Washington, D.C., I have read that at the principal Eucharist celebrating All Saints’ Day, a lovely litany is prayed, calling all the saints, many across time by name, to “stand here beside us.” You may pray or peruse this fascinating prayer yourself.

I am struck by the call to draw near to the saints of our faith and ask that they stand here beside us in this moment in time. By being in the presence of others of profound faith – like the poets of celestial vision, including John Milton and William Blake, and others named in the litany above – we might grow to know them more deeply. We could learn from them, and they could even be moved by us. We could pray for one another, knit together in the deep love embodied by Jesus.

And then, something beautiful happens. We see the humanity of those near us. They become more complicated. They are not simply the wonderful composer, preacher, advocate. They are messy. And irritable. And funny. And real. In “The Sacred Journey,” Frederick Buechner commended to his readers these words:

“On All Saints' Day, it is not just the saints of the church that we should remember in our prayers, but all the foolish ones and wise ones, the shy ones and overbearing ones, the broken ones and whole ones, the despots and tosspots and crackpots of our lives who, one way or another, have been our particular fathers and mothers and saints, and whom we loved without knowing we loved them and by whom we were helped to whatever little we may have, or ever hope to have, of some kind of seedy sainthood of our own.

We might even believe that we have some miniscule amount of sainthood, too, as foolish and broken as we may be. How does that shape how we see those around us who we might undervalue or misunderstand?

May you be inspired as you contemplate the saints who have come before us and those who will follow us.

Katherine+