God's Overarching Love - September 30, 2024

AM Psalm 89:1-18;  Hosea 2:14-23; Acts 20:17-38; Luke 5:1-11

The readings for this morning remind me of how incredibly broad the arms of God stretch. I know for myself, sometimes it’s hard to remember how immense God’s reach is. There are times when I feel as though God is so close, that I need to remind myself that God’s also holding the children who are caught in the middle of the horrific violence of the war in the Middle East. In places so far away that I have no concept of the distance. That none of us is ever alone.

The God we see in the Hebrew Bible can seem quite distant at times. There are long stretches when God’s chosen people feel totally abandoned and alone. There are images of a wrathful, enraged God and then today in Hosea there are images of a God so tender, so loving, so present it brings me to tears. The immense breadth of God’s love for God’s children knows no limits. Neither does God’s presence know any limits.

In the reading from Luke for today, Jesus asks the not-yet-called disciples to have faith in him, to trust, to take a step-outside of their comfort zone. Perhaps they intuitively knew, he could be trusted, however, it was definitely a risk, one that proved worth taking.

This past week our community experienced the shock of another mass shooting that was way too close to home. Like so many communities across our nation, where mass shootings are commonplace, there are now flowers and touching memorials in Southside where four lives were taken and many more were injured. It was disheartening to realize something so deadly could happen so close to home, in an area where families gather, where my family has frequently celebrated birthdays and spent time together, never not feeling safe. A place so close that if I had been on my back porch I could have heard the gun fire. Unfortunately, the community of Saint Stephen’s knows what this intrusion feels like much better than I do.

God’s infinite capacity to touch our lives, to be engrained in the very fiber of our being, far surpasses what I can mentally conceive. Perhaps that’s why our faith is so vitally important. To trust those things, we are assured of even though we have limited capacity to even imagine the possibility.

Even though life is full of uncertainty, we also live under the shadow of God’s watchful, loving presence, and no matter how removed we may feel from God, God is never removed from us. The simple fishermen became the cornerstone of what became the church. Their faith and love for Jesus grew and they followed him even to their death. Hosea spoke a message of unending love by God for the people of Israel, even though they had proven over and over to be incapable of faithful, obedience.

I pray that our community has faith in God’s power to heal, to be present and to bless even the worst of circumstances and bring light to solutions in situations where there appears to be none.

Faithfully,

Sally+

Questions to Challenge and Reflect: When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone to be present to others? What might you do to demonstrate your faith in God’s overarching presence and healing power?

The power to cleanse and calm - September 27, 2024

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 88; PM Psalm 91, 92; Esther 8:1-8,15-17 or Judith 13:1-20; Acts 19:21-41; Luke 4:31-37  

Daily Reflection:

Words have power to influence and change, to cleanse and calm. Two readings from Holy Scripture illustrate that in today's lectionary. In Acts 19, we read the story of a riot breaking out in Ephesus in fear that the apostle Paul’s preaching of the Good News will affect the artisan industry in the region. Trading trinkets of the Greek goddess Artemis, the patroness of Ephesus, is big business, and the silversmith Demetrius stirs up his colleagues. There is trouble with a capital T, and that rhymes with P, and that stands for Paul! “There is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be scorned, and she will be deprived of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her.”

Chaos ensues throughout the city for hours. Two of Paul’s traveling companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, are held against their will in the crowd. Paul wants to join but is advised to hang back. It is finally the voice of the town clerk who stills the storm with his words of reason and judicial process. Clearly and concisely, he says, “You ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. You have brought these men here who are neither temple-robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess…if there is anything further you want to know, it must be settled in the regular assembly.” The town clerk shuts down the cacophony with a message of cool objectivity. And then he dismisses the assembly without further issue.

In Luke’s gospel (4:31-37), there is a man in the synagogue at Capernaum who is afflicted with an “unclean demon” (as if there was a shiny, healthy demon?). The man causes a disruption while Jesus is teaching. As Luke describes it, Jesus rebukes the compromised man, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ The demon throws down the man and leaves the body of the man without inflicting additional harm.

Those in the synagogue titter with excitement, amazed, saying, ‘What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!’ Jesus’ voice – simple and direct – quells the storm of chaos inflicted upon the man by the demon. Be silent. Get out now. Then, there is peace.

The messiness of life is not always ordered by the issuance of clear, calm, concise messaging. Yet, we can be attentive to the spaces in our hearts that are receptive to the gift of the stilling spirit of God. In Psalm 147, the psalmist writes, “He has established peace on your borders; he satisfies you with the finest wheat.” What a gift it is to feel that sense of holy, cleansing calm. May your fingertips brush the tassels of that blanket of peace this day.

Faithfully,

Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

Whose voice is one you always listen to and heed? Does that person know the ways they influence you for the better? If not, tell them. Give thanks to God in prayer for the calming sense of clarity people in your life bring you. And then pray about the ways you can be a voice of positive change for others.

The Kingdom, the Power, the Glory - September 25

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:97-120; PM Psalm 81, 82; Esther 6:1-14 or Judith 10:1-23; Acts 19:1-10; Luke 4:1-13

 In today’s Gospel passage from Luke, Jesus spends forty days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan.  It’s a passage that we often hear during Lent inviting one to self-reflection on their own Lenten discipline.  When the passage is heard outside of a penitential season of self-discipline and moderation, the passage can be seen in a different light.  Consider this: Jesus is being tempted with power for consecutive days.  The son of God, who has the power to raise the dead to life also spends a considerable chunk of time being tempted by power, kingdom, and glory. It’s not just a day or moment in time, but 40 days. 

One of the most important books I read this summer (and maybe in several years) is titled, The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism by Tim Alberta.  Alberta is a conservative evangelical and the son of a Presbyterian (EPC) pastor.  As an Episcopalian, I live far removed from the Evangelical world which is undergoing a rapid transformation and decline.  He traces the history of the Evangelical movement including the growth of Liberty University and the rise of many recent mega pastors and faith communities, and explores how the church has been transformed over the last decade.  He argues that the church and people are consistently tempted by power, glory, and kingdom, and we conflate these with God’s realm. It’s a painful, difficult, and important story to read and hear. 

 And while I am grateful to be a part of a community that works hard to put Jesus above our individual and political goals and works to share love, compassion, and mercy with all people, Alberta shows how easy it is for political and personal ambition for power and glory to corrupt in many places what was once a faithful embodiment of the Christian faith. 

Maybe this passage from today’s Gospel is a reminder that if Jesus was tempted by power, kingdom, and glory, we should expect life to be no different.  How does your own desire for power shape your ability to live into the Christian faith?  What is the intersection of the kingdom you desire in a nation and the Christian embodiment of the kingdom of God?   How does your own desire for glory diminish God’s glory?  If these are questions we can ask of ourselves, we can certainly ask these questions of our communities and even our faith tradition.  The grace in these dilemmas is to remember that Jesus wrestled with these very same questions too. 

Faithfully,

John+

Cleaning up Our Path - September 23, 2024

Readings for Today: AM Psalm 80; Esther 4:4-17 or Judith 7:1-7, 19-32; Acts 18:1-11; Luke (1:1-4),3:1-14

In ancient Israel God ordained that there would be cities of refuge. Places of safety where a fugitive, someone who had committed a crime “unaware, with no malice or forethought,” could flee and he or she would be harbored in safety. Once a year, or more often, the magistrates of the district would check the roads leading into these cities and they would clear any stones that might be in the way so that there would be “no stumbling-blocks which might cause the poor fugitive to fall or might by any means impede him in his hasty course. All along the road there were hand-posts with the word "Refuge" written very legibly upon them, so that when the fugitive came to a crossroad, he might not need to question for a single moment which was the way of escape. We should make straight paths for the feet of these poor souls. It should be our endeavor to make it safe and easy for travelling for those weary feet that have to carry such a heavy heart.” (Charles Haddon Spurgeon, from New York Street Pulpit, Volume 6, January 1860).  Once within the walls of the city the refugee would find safety. There would be no condemnation or judgement.

John the Baptist in today’s gospel quotes Isaiah 40:3-8. He’s preaching to all who will listen that someone whose sandals he’s not worthy to untie will come after him. That everyone who cares about their life should prepare, to make straight their lives, to clean up their act, to quit relying on their ancestors to keep them out of trouble. Sure, they may be God’s chosen people, but they’ve sinned, they’ve been unfaithful, they’ve lived an ungodly life and now it’s time to repent. It’s time to remove the “stones” from their path that might cause them to stumble.

What John wants people to understand is that someone is coming who will be their sanctuary, their City of Refuge. Jesus will be their safe place, but there are any number of things in our lives that can block our way, that can be our stumbling blocks: addiction to material gain, selfish and thoughtless use of resources, keeping the best for ourselves, and not sharing generously from our wealth with those who have little or nothing. There are distractions, parts of our lives that are tempting, that capture our imaginations and sense of longing. These desires or distractions become stumbling blocks to being happy in the moment, to being grateful. Jesus gives us a safe place to call home, and with faith we can find our way to that City of Refuge. When was the last time you looked at your life with an honest critical lens and cleaned up your path?

Faithfully,

Sally+

Questions for Reflection: What would you identify as stumbling blocks in your relationship with God? What have you missed because you became distracted, by something that in the end held little or no value?  

Jesus’ voice - September 20

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 69:1-23(24-30)31-38; PM Psalm 73; Judith 4:1-15; Acts 17:1-15; John 12:36b-43  

As my husband’s mother Billie was in her final days, Sam would sit with her for hours. One evening she was fretful, so he pulled the Bible out of his backpack. Sam began reading aloud from the Letter to James, an epistle in the New Testament. As he spoke the familiar words of care and guidance about living as Christian community, Billie woke up a little bit. She opened her eyes and looked over at her son. She said, “You don’t sound like Jesus.”

Sam was taken aback. After a pause, he said, “You’re right, Mom. I am not Jesus. I’m reading the Bible to you.”

“Please read it in Jesus’ voice,” Billie implored.

“What does Jesus’ voice sound like, Mom?”

“Well, I don’t know. But you don’t sound like Jesus.”

Would we know the voice of Jesus if we heard it? In our scripture today from the gospel according to John, the crowd does not realize the depth of Jesus’ power or his true identity. The people ask, “Who is this Son of Man you’ve spoken of?”

Jesus answers, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” (12:35-36)

The crowd misses it. Do their eyes glaze over? Do they get distracted? Are their ears clogged with wax? He is answering them, and they are too obtuse to hear. Jesus has performed many signs of healing and truth, yet they do not believe in him. While he imparts the Good News, it is not as they expect. To them, the message doesn’t sound like the Messiah’s real voice.

I have missed the heart of the matter more times than I can count. How about you? Even when we strive to hear well, we need God’s help to believe. May our loving Lord open our eyes to see and our ears to hear, so that our hearts receive and minds understand the fullness of healing and hope extended to us in Jesus’ words.

May God bless and nourish you this day,

 Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

In John's gospel story, things get in the way of people living into the Good News of Jesus Christ. They misunderstand what Jesus says. They are afraid of being judged by their peers.

Think about matters of Christian faith that trip you up - things you do not understand or topics that are controversial. Have you taken time to reflect on these spaces of tension? Talk with a trusted conversation partner. Ask God to bring openness and clarity into your life.

Bearing much Fruit - September 18

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 72; PM Psalm 119:73-96; Job 42:1-17; Acts 16:16-24; John 12:20-26

“Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”   

This isn’t an announcement, maybe I am even hoping that too many of you don’t read it so that you can be surprised when you get a letter from me.  Last night, our Vestry voted to sponsor and build a house through Habitat for Humanity in memory of our parishioner Barbarann Becket-Gaines who died earlier this year.  This project will take place next year. Most of us called Barlbarann, BA. She saw her Christian community as her family and her generosity will impact Saint Stephen’s forever and it will impact how we care for others forever.

As I read the Gospel this morning I am struck by the motif of death and resurrection and its implications to the life of Saint Stephen’s. We read this reading in multiple ways.  Death to sin or death to our ego can certainly help us bear much fruit and find life. I thought the Rev. Sally Herring captured this beautifully in her sermon on Recovery Sunday sharing insights from Richard Rohr and I am paraphrasing, that all of us are addicted to something, many of us to controlling our lives as opposed to surrendering to God.  In this example, our ego needs to die for us to authentically and faithfully live a life that bears fruit.

However, BA’s story shows something else – our decisions in our lives can have eternal consequences and thanks be to God.  A single grain can bear much fruit in the world.  Death and resurrection is a cycle of growth and renewal. We should all consider not only how we bear fruit today, but tomorrow as well.  I give thanks for our friend and sister BA and I hope her legacy inspires us all.

 Faithfully,

John

Questions for Self-Reflection:  Where in your life do you bear fruit?  Is there something that needs to die in order for you to be able to live more fully?  Have you considered your legacy?    

The Light Within - September 16

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 56, 57, [58]; Job 40:1-24; Acts 15:36-16:5; John 11:55-12:8

Very early in my spiritual journey I found myself living in a new town, without my church I loved or any of the friends and family who I had come to rely on for support and encouragement. I was a young mother and ill-prepared to be facing the challenges that a strong willed active three-year-old presented. My spouse was overworked and not present, so I felt virtually abandoned. What I realize now, is that the vacuum that move created also created a space within my life that was filled by God’s grace and love. I found a church and a priest who seemed to understand how I felt. I found a place where I was needed, a community that lacked any outreach to the poor. As I began to talk to parishioners about the need for a parish food pantry the pushback from the members of my church only made me more certain that this was something we needed to do. It wasn’t just the hungry that needed feeding, they did as well. The food pantry grew into a Community Kitchen. People from across town came out to support our efforts. I got a taste of what it was like to be dependent on God those couple of years and I also found my voice and my call to ministry began to become clear. In a sense it was my “awakening.”

When Thomas Merton had what he described as his “awakening,” he realized that each of us, had a point of light within their soul placed there by God and if we could see that light within others the world would be a better place. His writings shifted from a focus on simple Catholic piety to a focus on social and political concerns, race relations, and economic justice.

The last line from the gospel of John for today always gets to me, “Jesus said, You will always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” My initial reaction to this line many years ago was confusion. Where is Jesus’ concern for the poor? How could he sound so unfeeling? What I came to understand is that his statement reveals a deep heartfelt desire for the poor to be cared about, only he knew who we are and at our best, we will never find a way to adequately love others or address all our social issues.

One of the most vital ministries at Saint Stephen’s is Outreach. On Saturday September 21st, we will host Serve Day. That morning, we will have two offerings for those who want to do hands on Outreach. At Saint Stephen’s we will have a Rise Against Hunger Event. We need 100 volunteers to help pack 16,200 meals that will be sent to people in need. At Christ Church Fairfield that same morning we will be helping with yard work and some cleaning and painting inside. If you could help with one of these ministries, please register through one of the two links below. Encourage friends and neighbors to come along as well. Both offer opportunities for people of all ages, stages, and abilities and a promise to be a fun way to be helpful and get involved in our community. 

https://rah.my.salesforce-sites.com/events/homepage?id=701Pj00000FXlnWIAT

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0A45A5AB2FA6FC1-50950649-serve#/

Questions for Reflection: Where in your life do you see opportunities for action? What holds you back when you see an opportunity?

Lord, if you had been here - September 13, 2024

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 40, 54; PM Psalm 51; Job 29:1,31:24-40; Acts 15:12-21; John 11:30-44  

Daily Reflection:

This week I went to the dermatologist for a routine skin check. Before going into the usual exam room, the technician escorted me to the right and imaged one side of my face. The images produced after three bright flashes of light showed ratings about different aspects of my skin – lines, redness, pores, UV damage, bacteria, etc. With each, she had suggestions about treatments to make improvements or adjustments.

What I found much more interesting than a banquet of skin care options was that one image in the lineup looked just like my sister Virginia. The eye lashes. The bridge of the nose. I could not believe I was looking at a photo of myself, for it looked so much like her. People who see my sisters with me will often say that the youngest and I resemble one another. Virginia’s striking red hair sets her apart visually, though there are clear familial likenesses we share.

Today, I am struck by the way that sisters Mary and Martha connect with Jesus in John’s gospel story of the raising of Lazarus (John 11). Independently of one another, they say the exact same words to Jesus: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” The sisters share the same longing and grief. They share faith in God. They have regret and sadness.

The distinctions of Martha and Mary are quite clear, too. Martha meets Jesus alone as he comes toward the house. They stand outside and speak of Lazarus’ death. Martha articulates her faith and her knowledge of Jesus’ power, “I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” She boldly holds to hope for the resurrection, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” Mary comes out to see Jesus, followed by other mourners. "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." That is all she says. Then, Mary kneels at his feet and weeps. Her emotion opens the way for others’ emotions to pour out. It is here that Jesus begins to weep, too.

Each sister has a distinct and important role to play in the way we live into faith in Jesus. Martha puts voice to her faith. Mary puts feeling to her faith. Together, the picture is more complete. Let us listen for the ways the Holy Spirit is calling us to pay attention to the ways we draw near with our whole selves to Jesus this day.

May God bless and nourish you,

Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

In John's gospel story, Martha leads with words. Mary leads with feelings. Where do you most identify? What can each woman teach you today about drawing near to Jesus? Pray that God opens your eyes to spaces of growth and understanding today!

Recovery and Resurrection

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53]; Job 29:1,30:1-2,16-31; Acts 14:19-28; John 11:1-16

‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.’ Today’s Gospel sets the stage for Jesus’s miraculous raising of Lazarus from the dead. It’s one of the most powerful stories in all of Scripture, Jesus is not just healing, but giving life to someone who has lost life. It is a story of resurrection, of second chances, of finding life when no one else could see life. 

One of the places that I have most clearly witnessed resurrection is with friends who are in recovery. Drug and alcohol addiction can destroy life, and it can be nothing short of a miracle for people to face their addictions and find life again.  

On Sunday, the morning services of Holy Eucharist at Saint Stephen’s will incorporate the twelve steps of recovery into the liturgy.  Addiction touches almost every life in this country, either directly or through the lives of loved ones. As I was reviewing the liturgy, I was struck by many of the prayers such as, “We come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity” and “we make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.” 

I am convinced that these stories of healing in scripture are not intended to be a limited historical narrative about what Jesus did in the past, but invitations to see the powerful and transforming nature of Jesus to give us life, healing, and hope. Jesus not only gives us life but transforms our lives and can bring us back from the dead. I give thanks for the transformative work of the varied 12-step programs. And I pray that all of us may find ways of letting Jesus not only give us life, but to transform our lives so that we may know the healing power of God.

If you are in the Birmingham area, I hope you will join us as we try something a little different this Sunday, with the hope that it points us to the power of redemption and grace through the struggles of so many. And if you are curious about the liturgy and can’t be with us, here is a link to the service (it will work after 9 am on Sunday). 

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection: Where has addiction touched your life? How does your faith play a role?

The Power of Words

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 41, 52; Job 32:1-10,19-33:1,19-28; Acts 13:44-52; John 10:19-30

When one of our daughters was 2-3 years old, we realized that although she made some sounds, they were not what you might describe as language or words that held meaning. Her behavior which had always been easy going and pleasant shifted to erratic and angry. The therapist we saw explained that the urge to communicate is one if not the strongest of all our desires, in other words our ability to be understood ranks at the top of the priority list. She was frustrated.

 Communicating can involve a lot more than words but our language, our tools for expressing ourselves, are incredibly important. We say words can’t hurt us, but they sure can sink ships! Words, misspoken or misunderstood have started unknown numbers of arguments, global conflicts, and possibly even wars. Divisions along political party lines, between countries and families often begin with words. Gun violence can begin with something as simple as a word taken as disrespect. Words can be more destructive than a gust of wind and more soothing than the balm of Gilead. Handled recklessly they can be as dangerous as a trigger-happy marksman.  

In both the New Testament readings for today, words are the key characters. The word of God stirred up and warmed the hearts of believers and incited riots. In the gospel of John, the Word was with God and the Word was God. Jesus was the Word, which had existed before time. Jesus became frustrated when the Jews asked, “Tell us plainly, are you the Messiah? I have told you, and you do not believe.” He probably thought, “How many ways can I say it? “

 How often have we used words to tear someone down rather than build them up? To criticize rather than praise? How often have our words been misunderstood, or re-scripted so that they no longer hold their original meaning? We are inundated by words from every direction. So much so that words threaten to lose their meaning. In 2023, 690 new words were added to the Miriam-Webster dictionary. Scrabble enthusiasts must have had a field day! I for one, stop listening when they begin to crowd out my own thoughts. 

 The sad commentary is that we so rarely hear examples of words that are used to build people up, to bring good news to the poor, to share hope and optimism. Jesus used words to heal, to inspire, to encourage, to lift up the downtrodden and to admonish when needed. The apostles following his example did the same. It’s tempting to block out the crass, thoughtless, way words are thrown around, often with little attention to their veracity. How can we use the same words of the apostles, of Jesus, in positive constructive ways? To approach differences with respect and an open listening heart? How can we craft our thoughts in a more thoughtful way so that our message is one of abundant grace and love, rather than discouraging and negative?

 Faithfully,

 Sally+

Questions for Reflection: How often do you stop before speaking to reflect on the impact your words might have? Have you considered taking time to craft your words more carefully so that they open doors of communication rather than shut them down? 

Repetition and Change-September 6, 2024

Today’s Readings:

AM Psalm 31; Job 19:1-7,14-27; Acts 13:13-25; John 9:18-41

Today’s Reflection:

For some, there is great comfort in repetition in their prayer life. The psalm appointed for today is Psalm 31. If one of your practices is to pray compline, the bedtime prayer in the Book of Common Prayer, (something I highly recommend) you will recognize that verses 1-5 of Psalm 31 are one of the choices for that prayer. Even though I am quite comfortable with change, I pick that psalm nearly every night because it soothes me to end my day with:

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.

I hope you find comfort in the repetition of reading these Daily Faith reflections on most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. With John back from sabbatical, Sally on board, and me focusing more of my time launching the Threshold Center, I will be stepping out of regularly writing a Friday reflection. I will support my fabulous colleagues, John, Katherine, and Sally who will continue to provide these reflections on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Fortunately, they have assured me that they will make space for me to have the opportunity to write here from time to time.

The Advisory Board of The Threshold Center is working diligently to clarify our mission and messaging. We are developing programs not only for Saint Stephen's members, but also for those in our community who are seeking a deeper connection to the Holy, community, and themselves, but may not be comfortable in a traditional church environment. I hope you will consider reaching out to those whom you know who would benefit from two of our upcoming programs, Spiritual Practices for Resilience and A Retreat for Belonging. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of this vibrant, generous Saint Stephen's community. And, I feel the Spirit stirring in this new endeavor. This could not be possible without the visionary leadership of John, the vestry, and the Advisory Board for the Threshold Center. If you would like to be added to the Threshold Center email list please let us know here. Thank you for your generous encouragement and support.

Grace and Peace,

Mary Bea+

Question for Self-Reflection:

How does repetition in prayer support your prayer life? What do you do when it becomes "rote?"

Job's Priorities - September 4

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 38; PM Psalm 119:25-48; Job 12:1,14:1-22; Acts 12:18-25; John 8:47-59

As I rejoin the rotation of reflecting on Scripture, I return to you all with a renewed hope for this practice. Consider this: you are reading a reflection on Scripture. You might click on the hyperlinks and read the Bible passages too. You might be moved by what is written, apathetic, or even disappointed. Sometimes it might bring great comfort or provide an insight that deepens your faith. But at the very least, the action of reading this reflection is a willingness to grow in your faith. And in all fairness, as one of the writers, we are growing with you. 

Putting practices in your life that help you grow seems to be a critical component of living a faithful life. It comes with some risk too, because it implies that we may not always be the person that we are right now. It implies that God may be up to something active in our life. 

As I read the passage from Job assigned for the day, I hear a cautious reminder of our mortality and limitations. We can’t turn the unclean clean. We can’t escape the limitations of our mortal life. Only God can. Job is pleading to let mortality be mortality and God to be God.

One of my focuses of study this summer has been trying to make sense of the changes of perception of Christianity, and how people use faith to justify their own lives, their choices, and their personal beliefs. I find it fascinating how so many people end up with radically different opinions on how their lives and faith intersect. In many ways, this has the potential to be a positive development as it could allow a diverse group of people with different civic ideas to be bound together for the greater good. It could also be problematic when people’s civic identities become larger than their faith.

A challenge of faith in a time filled with competing ideas is to understand what is of God, and what is of man. For me, it feels sometimes like we place our hope too much in other people, or our desire for certain laws, or we make idols out of issues, parties, and flags. And while I certainly don’t want people to become apathetic, or even disengaged from a faithful civic life, Job is reminding us to remember what is of God and what is of man. 

How do we place the simplicity of living out our faith of following the way of Jesus in his great commandment, to love God with all of our heart, and soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves as the ultimate identity of being faithful followers of Jesus instead of the human identities we lift up as idols? How can we see our commitment to each other by recognizing the image of God that all of humanity shines as our ultimate commitment? It might take each of us reordering our priorities. It seems like Job is doing just that too.

John+

Question for Self-Reflection: How do we place the simplicity of living out our faith of following the way of Jesus in his great commandment, to love God with all of our heart, and soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves as the ultimate identity of being faithful followers of Jesus instead of the human identities we lift up as idols? 

Surprised by Jesus

Today’s Readings:

AM Psalm 16, 17; PM Psalm 22
Job 9:1-15,32-35; Acts 10:34-48; John 7:37-52

Reflection:

Some of the people who heard Jesus speak were sure he was a prophet, some the Messiah, and some wanted to arrest him. Same person and many different opinions of him. This is true for us too don't you think? My siblings have one perspective of who I am; my colleagues another; strangers on the street another; and so on.

And, this is true of the people we encounter. Perhaps knowing that we only have one perspective among many, we could humbly make our assessments of people. I am thinking this may be especially true for those whom we quickly judge. When Nicodemus defended Jesus against the accusations of the Pharisees, they replied "Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee."

Who do we quickly discount or judge? Who do we stop listening to before they have a chance to speak? Who do we make assumptions about because of their clothes or hometown or accent or political affiliations? My prayer today is that we will be open to being surprised by how Jesus shows up in our lives in the most unexpected ways.

Grace and Peace,

Mary Bea+

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Life is hard - August 28, 2024

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:1-24; PM Psalm 12, 13, 14
Job 6:1,7:1-21; Acts 10:1-16; John 7:1-13  

The Book of Job is hard to read – both in the horrible losses that pile upon a prayerful man, and in the ways he processes his grief. I believe it is important to spend time in the Book of Job from time to time, and over the next few weeks, we get to do just that! Excerpts from Job are appointed as the Old Testament readings in the Daily Office lectionary through mid-September.

Job’s hardship and loss are extreme. His grief is visceral and honest. His three closest friends come to his side as he faces the destruction of his family and home. Sadly, Job’s friends struggle to find the right words, and so bumbling through, they indirectly and directly blame the devastation on his lack of faith in God. They offer unhelpful guidance. It is uncomfortable to read.

In today’s excerpt, the grieving Job vents to God: “Do not human beings have a hard service on earth, and are not their days like the days of a laborer?” Yes, it is hard to be a human. It is hard to be an adult. It is also hard for kids to be kids. It is hard to be in relationship with others. Our work is hard. Our losses are hard. Circumstances around us do not always feel comfortable or fair or kind or safe.

Job continues in his plea to the Lord: “What are human beings, that you make so much of them, that you set your mind on them, visit them every morning, test them every moment? Will you not look away from me for a while…If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of humanity? Why have you made me your target? Why have I become a burden to you? Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lie in the earth; you will seek me, but I shall not be.” Job is not wrong in his pleading, self-focused soliloquy. And God can take Job’s heat. And Job needs to get those words and feelings out, just as you and I must give space for similar feelings in our lives.

Friends, life is hard. If we cannot be honest about that, the authentic beauty of life gets obscured. Job brings to the surface an honesty that toxic optimism seeks to diminish. This piece of wisdom literature from Holy Scripture is so important to give space to spiritually and emotionally. Our work here on earth is troubled. I believe that is why, in faith, we look to God to lift us up, heal our wounds, and bring completion to the incomplete we lived in. I think about the Vince Gill song, “Go Rest High on That Mountain” which begins with these words and refrain –

I know your life
On earth was troubled
And only you could know the pain
You weren't afraid to face the devil
You were no stranger to the rain

Go rest high on that mountain
Son, your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a-shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son

Our faith informs us of this: at the end of our travails, God meets us in love. And right now, in the midst of this life that is both flourishing and passing away, we are invited into honesty and connection with God and one another.  

May God bless and nourish you this day,

Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

How easy or hard is it for you to hold space with people who are grieving? Where do you feel the discomfort in your body? What does grieving feel like for you?

I invite you to sit with Job today and the next few weeks to explore your patterns of grief - and where God meets you in that tumultuous space. And above all, know that you are loved and not alone in your pain.

Careful Listening

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 1, 2, 3; Job 4:1,5:1-11,17-21,26-27; Acts 9:19b-31; John 6:52-59

When a seminarian finishes his or her studies one of the cruelest realities, she may need to face is how incredibly inept she is. All those things her congregation will expect her to be proficient at are untested tools in her bag of tricks waiting to be used, like undeveloped muscles at the beginning of Spring training. The hope and prayer is that seminarians enter ministry with strong, basic skills and that these will at least be the foundation of what we need to get started.

One thing I did know is that of all the skill sets clergy need one at the top of the list is listening. And an important part of listening is to whom we listen. As the parent of a teenager, I know this is one of my biggest worries - who is he listening to? Who are the people in his life that influence him the most? Of course, I’d like to think he’s listening to his dad and I first, but my gut instinct is that we compete with lots of other voices.

 As an associate rector in a large congregation, I know I need to listen to my members, but in addition, I also need to be listening to God. I can’t say from my experience that this is always easy. Listening to God can be hard, because much like my teenager, we have lots of competing voices in our lives – our friends and family, cultural trends, social media, – the list can be endless.

 In today’s gospel reading from John, Jesus is listening to the crowd and hears their complaints. In response he challenges them to listen to something that will be very hard to accept much less understand. He’s asking his listeners, as well as all of us, to seek something that we cannot see or touch but can only be imagined – to have faith and trust in this unearned gift we are offered. Jesus wants us to realize that the living bread he offers comes only as a gift from God, as grace. We can’t earn it or work for it.

 This is hard, isn’t it? We’re conditioned by everything around us to believe that we must work for everything; that anything worth having must be earned. But when it comes to God just the opposite is true. Like so much of what Jesus teaches, this idea is counter to what our culture teaches.

 So, like the rich young ruler, we hunger for this life-giving bread, and we want to know how to get it. We are, as one writer put it, “Bundles of seemingly insatiable need, running from here to there in an attempt to fill our emptiness.” Jesus says loud and clear, 54Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.” Does this mean we wait for our hearts to be warmed by God’s grace? In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he tells the church “We can plant, and we can water but we don’t make the plants grow – God does that.”  Perhaps what Paul is saying is that we can’t control or conjure up God’s grace, but we can prepare the ground with ideas, experience or an open heart, that will provide good ground for the seeds of God’s grace to grow and bear fruit.

 Saint Stephen’s is entering into the fall program season. There is an abundance of wealth to be had in the form of classes and opportunities to serve. Listening, really listening, always requires taking a breath to focus, listening, not only with our ears,

but also, with our hearts. We have, in our midst, the incarnate God, Jesus Christ. He is offering us the bread that will sustain us through all challenges. Our challenge is to discern, to listen carefully to where God is calling us and then to be ready with ground prepared to be fruitful.

Faithfully,

Sally+

Questions for Reflection: Discernment for where and how God is calling us comes from the Spirit and is fueled by the bread Jesus offers. What prevents you from listening to the Spirit? What are the distractions that you can quiet or eliminate?

Our Unique Paths--August 23, 2024

Today’s Readings:

Psalm 140, 142; Job 2:1-13; Acts 9:1-9; John 6:27-40 

Special Note:

As a precursor to the reflection below, I wanted you to know that The Threshold Center, a new ministry of Saint Stephen’s will begin offering programs this fall.  You may learn more at ssechurch.org/threshold and download a program flyer here. I welcome your questions and participation. Please distribute this flyer to those who you believe would appreciate these offerings. If you would like to receive emails from the Threshold Center, please email admin@thethresholdcenter.org.

Today’s Reflection:

When have you had a dramatic shift in your perspective of reality? Perhaps something wonderful or something tragic caused you to rethink previously held beliefs. For Saul, it was on the road to Damascus, at a time when he was persecuting Jesus’ followers. In a stunning turn of events, confident and cruel Saul, suddenly lost his sight, heard Jesus’ voice, and turned his life from that of a terrorist to that of an evangelist. His transformation was marked by a name change from Saul to Paul.

For me, one of the most painful and profound life-altering experiences was when my best friend, Rhonda Holman died from breast cancer at 39-years-old. Her two young children were only eight and five years old. Rhonda faced her diagnosis and treatments with a fierce desire to live as joyfully as possible. Though she was understandably angry with God at times, she searched many places for hope and healing. Sometimes she prayed in the Catholic Church, other times she attended Indigenous Peoples’ sweat lodges.

Once, when Maya Tiwari was teaching in the San Francisco Bay Area, where were living at the time, Rhonda and I attended her Ayurvedic workshop.  Ayurveda is a medicine system native to India influenced by Hinduism which incorporates diet, exercise, herbs, and other forms of healing. For the first time in my life, I experienced chanting prayers with a group. It felt as if my body’s vibrations changed. I did not understand the Hindu words, but I felt the transcendence of dropping away to a deeper place by the repetitive chant and the many voices carrying me.

Other then purchasing a rarely-opened Ayurvedic cookbook, I never really embraced that philosophy in my life. And, the experience of listening to Maya, a compelling and compassionate woman had a significant impact on me. Not least of which was the gift of chanting as prayer. I have great respect for the teachings of her tradition, even if it is not the path for me. Later, I spent two years practicing and studying Tibetan Buddhism. Again, realizing something was missing for me. It was a Tibetan Buddhist monk who encouraged me to “go home” to Christianity.

It may seem odd for an Episcopal priest to have explored so many different paths to God. I am grateful for each of them.  This intense time of seeking was foundational to a passionate return to my Christian roots; and ultimately a late-in-life call to the priesthood. Each of us is invited to walks a unique path with God. In this moment, I encourage you to listen for the voice calling you home to deeper relationship.

Grace and Peace,

Mary Bea+

Questions for Self-Reflection:

When have you had a dramatic shift in your perspective of reality? What new awareness did you gain?

Bread – August 21, 2024

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:145-176; PM Psalm 128, 129, 130, Judges 18:16-31; Acts 8:14-25; John 6:1-15  

Daily Reflection:

Five barley loaves and two fish. That is what we are told disciple Andrew rounds up when Jesus wants to feed the large crowd following him. Jesus takes the bread and gives thanks before he breaks it up and distributes it. He does the same for the fish. The people – many who tag along because they know of his acts of healing – eat until they are satisfied. Five thousand people share this meal, and then they realize that Jesus is something really special.

We read from this same gospel passage just a few weeks ago in Sunday worship, and so these words feel fresh on my heart. The detail of five barley loaves really sticks with me. I can imagine them in my mind, browned and hearty. I think about Eucharist at Seminary of the Southwest, where several of us baked the whole wheat bread for worship in our homes. Those heavy rounds of bread with simple ingredients were nourishing on multiple levels. At the rail to receive the blessed bread as the Body of Christ and the Bread of Heaven, it felt deeply personal knowing that loving hands within our seminary community intentionally prepared the bread.

I wonder who made the five barley loaves in this gospel account. Was it the boy’s mother? Did the boy help her shape the bread into rounds? I wonder if news got back to the baker that it was bread from their own hearth which was blessed, broken, and distributed to thousands of people?

Jesus tells us that he is the bread of life. He longs for us to be nourished by him. For our needs to be sated by his divine, healing presence. For us to feast on the Word…the Word of God. For in partaking of the bread of life, we draw our bodies and our whole selves closer to God.

I imagine Jesus telling God in prayer of all those he has fed and tended. I imagine God beaming at the ways the Son has brought divine nourishment to a people in need. It truly feels like a space of gratitude and mutual thanksgiving. Those five barley loaves are an image of beauty and love for me today. And I give thanks.

May God bless and nourish you this day,

Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

Reflect on how you see bread in your daily life. Some may feel tension around bread - for carbohydrates, for gluten, and the like. What would it be like to revise how we see all food, so that we see it as a sacred and nourishing gift extended to us with God's blessing? How would we eat this food differently? Consider living in this appreciative mindset for one meal, or one day. Savor the bites of food. Listen to the ways you experience the meal. Give thanks. And take a moment to journal or talk with a friend about the experience.

Teachable Moments - August 19, 2024

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 106:1-18; Judges 17:1-13; Acts 7:44-8:1a; John 5:19-29

I’m certain we’ve all either said or heard this piece of advice: “Do as I say and not as I do.” I can’t count the times when my children were small when I would catch one of them doing something I had repeatedly asked them not to do. However, if all the stars were in alignment, just before I lost my cool, I would realize I had done the exact same thing. Forget to turn out the lights, leave the water on while I was brushing my teeth or worse, make a snap judgement about someone. Unfortunately, those moments of clarity didn’t occur near as often as I wish they had. 

The purpose of this saying is plain but why do we need to say it? Could it be we’re not near as good at being responsible adults as we would like to be? That actions really do speak louder than words? I was with some children this past summer at camp and as I watched them, I realized how much each one reflected the adult influence in their lives. At dinner some offered to pass the food and get seconds for the table, while others would try to get out of cleanup duty. Some would wait patiently for their turn, while others would try to break in line. 

 The truth is we aren’t born and raised in a cocoon, free of outside influence. Some traits are likely inherited but so very much of who we are is environmental. Their environment being their homelife, the adults and other children they’re around, their family, friends, teachers, and school mates, even the TV programs and music to which they’ve been exposed. All these things influence our young people. I remember when one of mine was about 5, she said something sarcastic and my mother looked at me and said, “Well she has you to thank for that smart mouth.” I was immediately defensive, even though she was at least partially correct. As much as I wish I could control my children’s outside influences, I couldn't then and I still can’t. At that point she was in school more than she was at home with me. There were friends of hers I could tell were going to be a good influence and others I wish she had never met.

I have a strong emotional investment in the children I raised and the children in all the other areas of my life. Do I love them? More than I can say but it’s more than that. I have a vested interest in who they become as adults, as the people who will be raising and teaching and caring for other children. One of Jesus’ two most frequented activities was teaching, the other was healing. He taught in every way possible - as he ate with friends and strangers, as he walked, and as he preached. He used every opportunity with others as a teachable moment. Sometimes he taught through mind-boggling parables, and sometimes by example, but always with the intention of creating fertile soil for deep roots and fruitful growth.

 In the gospel appointed for today, Jesus says, “the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father* does, the Son does likewise. 20The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing.” The object of Jesus’ teachings was self-knowledge, for us to discover the image of God which dwells within us all. There is a story about a desert father who was approached by someone who wished to learn from him. The old man replied, I will not tell you what to do but if you wish you can do what you see me doing. Jesus did what he saw God doing. If only we could do and act as the person, we wish our children could be, to help them see the image of God within themselves. Who says we can’t? We can do nothing that is true and good on our own. God’s love and our longing for God are a wonderful place to start. After all, what could be more important than being present in all the good and true ways for our youth? For each other?  

 Faithfully,

 Sally+

Questions for Self-Reflection: Who was a strong, positive influence in your life? What did you learn from them? Do you think about how your actions influence the young people who observe you?

Tired by the journey – August 14, 2024

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30; PM Psalm 119:121-144
Judges 13:15-24; Acts 6:1-15; John 4:1-26 

After a full day yesterday, I arrived home and did something uncharacteristic. I stretched out on the sofa and took nap! I woke up a bit disoriented and felt markedly more refreshed. And so, as I read the Gospel according to John appointed for today, what jumped out at the start was verse 6: “Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.” Jesus was worn out. Exhausted. I don’t know exactly what it felt like for Jesus in the ancient Near East to be wearied by fatigue, but I know how I can feel in those moments: Dragging. Groggy. Encumbered.

Jesus is described many ways in Holy Scripture: The Son of God. The fulfillment of God’s promise. A rabbi. A healer. One who goes away alone to reset and pray. I do not remember reading that Jesus was tired. This very humanizing detail about the divinely sent Jesus adds a different shimmer to this day’s gospel.

There are a few points to note. The first is this: Jesus sat down when he was tired. He listened to his body and committed to scaling back just a bit. His good work did not stop. Jesus simply changed the posture of his body to conserve his strength. Perhaps we can do the same…even when it is a time that we would usually be at the peak of our day’s work.

Secondly, there can be unexpected blessing and gift that comes when asking for help. As his friends had gone to purchase food, Jesus asked a woman who came up to the well to draw up some water for him. This was forbidden on a couple of levels. Men did not speak to unaccompanied women who were not their wives or family members – especially in public. The woman was from Samaria; Jews did not share things in common with Samaritans, for they were people of different faiths and practices. Nevertheless, Jesus asked her for a drink from the well when he was in need. The discourse that followed is the longest conversation in the New Testament that Jesus had with a woman. This conversation at the well became a conversion moment for the Samaritan woman, for she was truly seen by Jesus as a person thirsting for eternal, living water. He saw and named the discomfort of her relationship status – being married five times and now living with one who was not her husband. The Samaritan woman at the well became an evangelist for Jesus, as retelling her story opened the eyes of many other Samaritans to believe that Jesus was indeed the Savior of the world. There can be unexpected blessing and gift that comes when asking for help.



Be gentle on yourself today if you are feeling tired out by your journey. Take a lesson from Jesus. Sit down. Conserve your strength. Ask others for help. God will bestow grace on us, just where we are – especially when we realize that it is the living water of baptism that refreshes us.

May God bless you in your work and rest this day,

Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

How easy is it for you to listen to your body and ask for help today? By extension, who will you help in those exchanges, too?

Sit with God in prayer and lift up those who have, are, and will help you.

Carrying the Light - August 12, 2024

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 89:1-18; Judges 12:1-7; Acts 5:12-26; John 3:1-21

The lectionary the Episcopal Church uses recognizes today the life and work of Florence Nightingale. Ms. Nightingale, known for her role as a nurse, was raised in the Unitarian Church however later joined the Church of England. Not typically known for her role in the church, her faith is considered controversial in some ways because of her disbelief in portions of the Creed. However, overshadowing that was her lifelong total devotion to God. 

 At an early age she decided to devote her life to healing through nursing as her way to serve God. She introduced many innovations that have saved countless numbers of lives and changed the practice of health care forever. When the war in Crimea broke out, she was given permission to lead a group of 38 nurses into the battle fields to care for the wounded soldiers. When she returned to England at the end of the war she was recognized as a national hero. Her ally through all of this was the Secretary of War, Sir Sydney Herbert. When he became ill and died, she prayed that God raise him from the dead because she still needed his help to do her work. When her prayers weren’t answered she expressed doubts about God however she wrote in her diary that God eventually spoke to her and said, “‘You are here to carry out my program. I am not here to carry out yours.’ She wrote in her diary, ‘I must remember that God is not my private secretary.’” (The Satucket Lectionary.)

 The collect for today reads in part, “Grant to all who heal the same virtues of patience, mercy, and steadfast love, that your saving health may be revealed to all . . .” In the Acts of the Apostles, we are told, “Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.” The people were filled with wonder concerning this divine healing power the apostles held. Being filled with jealousy and perhaps fear, the high priests of the temple had the apostles arrested. However, they were released by an angel from God so they could return to the temple where they continued to teach the people who had gathered. 

 Ms. Nightingale’s tenacity and strength, came in part from a sense of compassion for the suffering she witnessed, but it also came from the same sense of vocation and desire to do God’s work that the apostles demonstrated. Even though she became discouraged and angry with God she remained loyal, her faith growing throughout her life. 

 No amount of hardship extinguished her hope and determination; if anything, she became more determined. She was known by many as the “Lady with the Lamp,” because she carried a lamp throughout the dark hospital wards at night, checking on her patients. The “light” she carried was a light that was fueled by her faith. As a result, like the apostles, she created a legacy of inspired followers who have kept the light she carried alive. 

 Faithfully,

 Sally+

 Questions for Reflection: Who do you know who carries the light of Christ? Who or what inspires you to keep going when you feel like giving up? How do your life’s choices inspire others to keep the faith and persevere?