Shame and Embarrassment - October 16

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:1-24; PM Psalm 12, 13, 14; Jonah 1:17-2:10; Acts 27:9-26; Luke 9:1-17

How do we journey where we don’t want to go but God wants us to go anyway? 

I recently discovered a fascinating story about a Japanese sergeant from World War II, Shoichi Yokoi.  Yokoi fled to Guam to evade capture in August of 1944.   Yokoi was one of 5,000 soldiers who refused to surrender after the Battle of Guam. He spent 27 years in the jungles of Guam until two local fishermen overpowered him in January of 1972. Historians have used his story to show the power of the Japanese philosophy of Bushido which emphasizes honor and self-sacrifice. When he returned to his home country, his initial words were “It is with much embarrassment that I return.” 

Shame and ego can have a tremendous effect on our lives. Imagine hiding in the woods for 27 years because of embarrassment and shame. When Nicholas D. Kristof wrote for the New York Times in 1997, after Yokoi died of a heart attack at age 82, he stated that upon his return to Japan, “he stirred widespread soul-searching … about whether he represented the best impulses of the national spirit or the silliest.” Shame and embarrassment don’t lead us to make the best decisions. I’d even argue it’s why we see grace and love as the most powerful forces in this world, the ability to transform shame into life.

In today’s Old Testament lesson, the Lord provides a large fish to swallow up Jonah. Jonah is refusing to go to Ninevah.  As soon as he hears the message to go to Nineva, he flees to Tarsish. In today’s reading, he is in the body of the fish for three days. Some say it is a rebirth and when the fish spews Jonah on the ground, he heads to Ninevah, although you get the impression he still doesn’t want to go.  When God saves the Ninevites, Jonah is quite upset (that’s a funny story in its own right). 

God calls us into tough places: a tough conversation with a loved one, an honest disclosure with a medical professional, or some confrontation with our own selves. It can be hard to face who we are, who we are becoming, and the people we have entrusted as partners in this life. To be faithful means life won’t always be easy. God doesn’t promise simplicity or ease, but to be with us in the midst of life. Sometimes we have to go to Nineva whether we want to or not. And sometimes God won’t let us run away. 

What is the role of shame or embarrassment in your own life? How can grace and love help you step into an uncomfortable place? I’m trying to imagine what Yokoi missed out on hiding for 27 years and how grace might have given him a different life. Grace can help us go where we don’t want to go.

John+

"Billy" Stories

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 1, 2, 3; Micah 7:1-7; Acts 26:1-23; Luke 8:26-39

Have you ever had one of those weeks when it seems the harder you try, the further behind you become? Or worse, you realize you have more to do than you first thought? That things just keep cropping up? This past week my best bet was Friday, my day off. I could relax and get caught up both at the same time. However, out of nowhere, a call came and a funeral needed to be arranged, for Friday, and I was the only one available.

The woman who died was the daughter of an old friend of the church, Billy Hodges. Billy was a member in the early years and is remembered fondly as a devoted attendee. His daughter as well as her children had grown up attending Saint Stephen’s. When her son Steven called to ask if we could help his family with the service, I could hear his heartbreak. For a few minutes, I selfishly considered explaining it was my day off. I even asked if we could reschedule it, but something felt terribly wrong with that, and so I said I would do the service.

Later that afternoon as I was reading The Rev. Doug Carpenter’s History of Saint Stephen’s, I felt a nudge from God.  It was as if God said, “there’s a reason why Steven called you, no one should ever be buried by someone who knows nothing about you.” I also realized Doug’s stories about her family and God’s guidance would provide me with what I needed.

The next day, as I was telling “Billy” stories to the family and friends that had gathered, I saw smiles begin to emerge on tear-stained faces. It felt as though a family which had been broken by pain and grief, disagreements, and loss, was, even if just briefly, lifted by a sense of their history, and the good that their family represents.

In the 26th chapter of Acts, Paul seems to be having a week that was certainly more stressful than mine. He’s standing before King Agrippa, testifying to who he was in his previous life and who he is now, a follower of the one who rose from the dead, the one to whom he attributes the light that came into his life and opened his eyes. Paul, a self-proclaimed Pharisee, had been on his way to Damascus. He had Christians to persecute. However, God had other plans. Paul was, as the song says, “blinded by the light.”

My experience was nothing compared to Paul’s; however, my eyes were opened to how selfish I had been and how much I need to look to the Holy Spirit for guidance. That afternoon as I blessed Paula’s remains to be lowered into the ground, I was grateful and deeply honored that I was there. I was also keenly aware that there will be lots of uninterrupted Fridays to come, and I was glad this wasn’t one of them. Am I selfish sometimes? Yes. Grateful all the time? I wish I could say I am. Seeking to be open to God? With God’s help, yes.

Faithfully,

Sally+

Questions for Reflection: How often do we pass up opportunities to be enlightened by God’s vision, God’s grace?  How often do we listen and wait for the Holy Spirit to guide us?

The Ministering Women - October 11

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 140, 142; PM Psalm 141, 143:1-11(12)
Micah 3:9-4:5; Acts 24:24-25:12; Luke 8:1-15

In the lectionary appointed for today, we have three little verses in Luke 8 that are only found here in the gospels. We read of the ministering women:

“Soon afterwards [Jesus] went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.” (Luke 8:1-3)

Who were these people Luke named? Mary was from the town of Magdala and had been plagued with multiple demons, before she was healed by Jesus. (In 591, Pope Gregory I identified Mary Magdalene as the profoundly sinful prostitute in Luke 7:36-50; current scholarship has corrected the narrative that this association is not accurate.) Joanna was married to the tetrarch Herod’s household manager, hence she was likely to have had robust means at her disposal and kept company with some influential people. Luke does not give any specific context for Susanna’s story. We know that each of these women experienced life-altering shifts because of Jesus. They became followers because they were healed and changed by Christ.

Theirs are stories of gift economy: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna gave generously because they received greatly from Jesus. They were willing to participate, managing the hospitality of Jesus’ table from their own resources. They joined the diverse group of disciples, students of Jesus who became apostles for the Good News of God in Christ. This group formed community together, centered upon Jesus.

As there is conflict, destruction, and chaos afoot in our world, these players in our gospel story shine the Christ-light for hope and faithfulness for us. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna are among the group of disciples deeply rooted to Jesus. Like the seed planted in good soil that blossoms a hundredfold (v. 8), these women were part of the community who stayed faithful to and present with Jesus – until it was time to go out and spread the good news of the kingdom of God to others. Today we can learn from the witness of fidelity and perseverance modeled by Mary, Joanna, and Susanna, who were among those who witnessed Christ’s death and burial, and they were the first to know of the resurrection. Their story influences our story. Their healing draws us in and anchors us to what is possible in faith. May these women inspire you to lean upon the healing promise of Christ this day.

Faithfully,

Katherine+

Going Deeper

The women in the Luke 8 reading come from different places and stations in life, yet they collaborate in community with one another. How can this inform the ways that you connect to people? How can healing come from unexpected partners in ministry?

Discernment as a Tool for Faithful Living - October 9

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:145-176; PM Psalm 128, 129, 130; Micah 2:1-13; Acts 23:23-35; Luke 7:18-35

‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ 

There are few songs that have made such an impression on me as Naïve Melody (This Must Be the Place) by the Talking Heads.  The iconic Prophet 6 synth sounds (something I have been unable to replicate without the right equipment in my years of playing music), the incredible melody and nostalgic bassline, and the emotionally charged and striking lyrics written by David Byrne make for one of my all-time favorite songs.  I continue to come back to listen week after week for years. The Los Angeles Times’s Richard Cromelin, called it “one of the most luminous love songs rock has produced.” 

Byrne begins the song “Home is where I want to be. Pick me up and turn me round. I feel numb, born with a weak heart, I guess I must be having fun.” Later the line on home changes when Byrne sings, “Home is where I want to be, But I guess I'm already there. I come home, she lifted up her wings, I guess that this must be the place.”  It sounds to me like Byrne is beginning to embrace what is in front of him after years of searching, although it’s clear that there is still some doubt that this is all it is cracked up to be. 

 There is something brutally honest, not just about love, but life and meaning and purpose in this song, that we have to awaken to what is before us, to see it with fresh eyes, and we still may question if it is truly the home (life) we are called to inhabit. Part of being spiritual people trying to discern how to faithfully live is to ask the question, “am I fully living the life God has called me to live?” It’s not just a question for clergy, but a question for anyone who wants to be faithful and use their gifts to be a part of the building of the kingdom of God.  “I guess that this must be the place,” we say, hoping that we have arrived at our life faithfully.  And if I am honest, probably most of us have some doubts some of the time. 

 In today’s Gospel, a few of the disciples of John of the Baptist encounter Jesus, arguably for the first time.  They ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another.” They too are discerning how to live a faithful life.  They are coming to the conclusion that their formation up unto this point hasn’t led them to a full and complete life.  John the Baptist has only prepared the way, but there is someone greater who is to change their life. 

How do we trust in God that we are living our lives?  How do we discern what God is calling us into?  What could be a next step in growing in our faith?   Is it a Bible study, spiritual direction, a series of classes, serving in a ministry, or maybe exploring how we live, share, or make decisions? Perhaps home is the journey in itself?  The better question is how do we faithfully discern our lives.

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  Consider the questions in the reflection around discernment.  What role does discernment play in your life? 

If the River Comes, Will It Hold?

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 106:1-18; Hosea 14:1-9; Acts 22:30-23:11; Luke 6:39-49

This past week our news has been literally flooded with bad news. Forgive the pun but it’s the truth. You cannot turn on a local or national news program without seeing coverage of the damage Hurricane Helene perpetuated on the Western panhandle of Florida and up into Western North Carolina. Friends and family members are digging out of the worst Hurricane damage since Hurricane Katrina. Pictures of familiar cities and towns from family vacations are unrecognizable.

Every day the number of lives lost goes up as loved ones continue to search for missing relatives and friends. In the midst of so much devastation it’s not hard to see how someone whose faith is built on shaky ground might lose their faith all together. It’s also not hard to find generous, caring hearts, people who lost everything helping others who have nothing. People whose faith is the bedrock of their life  - what they have lost and what they have left.

The gospel reading for today is one of those that might leave us more confused than enlightened. The verses from Luke are rich with metaphors that can be clear as mud. However, Jesus’ intent is clear, a life following Christ results in a life that is changed forever, and for the good.

In the reading from Luke, Jesus makes three points: 1.It’s hard to lead if you have no idea where you’re going; 2. Only those who have lived and learned, and are open to being changed can teach; and 3. No matter what you believe, if you do not profess your beliefs in the way you live your life, your beliefs will fall on rocky soil that will not find purchase.

The people of North Carolina and the other areas impacted by Helene will be changed forever. But they shouldn’t be the only ones. We can all be changed and changed for the better. They’re a visual image of what Jesus is preaching and it’s an image that is hard to ignore. We can all learn from it. As they begin to look for ways to move forward, a faith metaphor might serve us all well. Build your house on a strong foundation; know your community, your family and build on your strengths, those things you can count on, like God, faith and family. Always maintain an image of God’s kingdom front and center in your mind. Be open to being changed by your experience, try to learn from past mistakes and be open to taking a new path, to seeing yourself in a new light.

And no matter what, practice what you preach. Kindness, begets kindness, generosity begets generosity and forgiveness begets healing. Never forget, “The church must be hard in the center and soft at the edges.” (The Rev. Peter Gray.) We must be firm and certain at the core of our beliefs and loving and open-hearted to all those people with whom we intersect.

Faithfully,

Sally+

Questions for Reflection: Are you open to recognizing your own blind spots? On what have you “built your house?” If the river comes, will it hold?

Francis of Assisi – October 4, 2024

Today’s Readings for the Feast of Francis of Assisi: Job 39:1-18; Psalm 121; Acts 4:32-35, 5:1-11; Luke 12:13-21

This morning, I told our daughter it was the feast of Saint Francis. She asked if I had already blessed our cat Coco. If anyone needs a blessing, it is this sassy calico tortoise shelled cat. She is always looking for a way to break into the fish tank, attack ankles of oblivious passersby, and when meeting new people, she either disappears or bows up into a hissing fury. We sure do love our fluffy Coco, all the same. And so, I blessed her and she tolerated the “pat-pats” momentarily. (Little did I know that she had already gotten into some mischief as she opened the filter house of the aquarium to pull the filters out this morning!) Cats will be cats – curious, tentative, and tenacious.

When I think of St. Francis of Assisi, I think first of his care for creation and animals. We have a statue of Francis in our garden, amid the flowers and beneath a tree. Yet when we sit with the readings for this Feast of Francis of Assisi, we are refocused to the heart of this man who lived from 1182 until 1226: living simply to be obedient to God. In the young Christian church described in Acts, the people following the Way of Jesus are of “one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common”. In Luke’s gospel, a man asks Jesus for help, for he wants his brother to share the family inheritance. Jesus says to him, “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”

Francis lived like this – simply. After experiencing a wake-up moment that re-centered his purpose in life, Francis eschewed wealth and left behind the great means from which he came. From then forward, he gave deeply of himself, caring for the sick and rebuilding a church with rocks he begged for and scavenged from fields nearby. He fed himself by finding scraps or by asking to be paid for his labor in food, rather than money. Francis took Christ’s teachings of the disciples literally: “Preach as you go, saying, "The kingdom of Heaven is at hand." ... You have received the Gospel without payment, give it to others as freely. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, no spare garment, nor sandals, nor staff.” Others began to emulate his way of life and joined Francis. The community of Francis grew. In 1210, the Pope authorized the Order of Friars Minor (lesser brothers) – the little brothers of Christ. We know them today as Franciscans. The ethos and the history of this Christian order is fascinating.

Friends, not all of us can live exactly like Francis. And yet, I believe that God calls me to pay attention to what Jesus said was first: love the Lord your God with all your heart and your soul and your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37, 39). How about you?

Faithfully,

Katherine+

Going Deeper

If you are curious about Francis' life of fervent simplicity and ministry to the poor, read more about him! Here is a link to one popular biography of St. Francis.

Medicine for our Soul - October 2

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30; PM Psalm 119:121-144; Hosea 4:11-19; Acts 21:15-26; Luke 5:27-39

‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.’

There are many descriptors for this time we live in. I have heard of the age of technology or the age of information. If I had a name for this era of humanity it might be the age of finger-pointing. Maybe due to information and technology, we can see the global problems we as humanity all face. And almost all of these problems are universally someone else’s fault (or at least someone else’s responsibility to fix).  Or maybe it just feels like that to me. 

Twenty years ago or so I was walking through Nashville and I came across a sign outside a downtown Presbyterian church, “Sinners Only, No Saints Allowed.” I chuckled at the time, but the sign made a lasting impression. We are all in need of grace.

Jesus’s call to the sick in Luke’s Gospel is more than just a reminder that we need grace though. If Jesus is for the sick, and Jesus is for you and me, then this passage implies that our identity is one of humility and repentance. How different can our relationships, our communities, and our world truly be if we see the church as the medicine for our souls, a reminder that each and every one of us has work to do. It becomes a little harder to point a finger when we are working on ourselves.  

After all, “sinners only, no saints allowed.” And Thanks be to God.

Faithfully,

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  What areas of your own life can you work to improve?  How can a faith community be medicine for your soul? 

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+

If you would like to be added to the Threshold Center email list please let us know here.