Endurance for a Lifetime - November 6

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 72; PM Psalm 119:73-96 Ecclus. 43:23-33; Rev. 16:1-11; Luke 13:10-17

It hardly seems possible, but as I wrote this, I realized that we have been sharing Daily Faith reflections for over four and a half years. (On that note, if you’ve been reading for a while and have a story of how your faith has grown or changed through these reflections, I’d love to hear it.)

When I’m well-prepared, I write my reflections in advance—sometimes even a few days ahead of time. Today, I’m writing on Tuesday, November 5.

I mention this because it feels a bit unusual to send an email at 7:45 a.m. CST the day after a U.S. Presidential Election. In this message, I want to acknowledge what it means to be faithful in the midst of our earthly journey. By noting that this was written before any election results, I hope to share what is universally true, unaffected by outcomes or assumptions.

Today’s Gospel shares a powerful truth that feels especially meaningful this morning. Jesus heals a woman who had been afflicted by a spirit that affected her wellbeing for 18 years. Given that the average life expectancy in the Roman Empire was only around 25 years, this woman had endured nearly a lifetime of suffering—yet she still found healing through Jesus Christ.

Recently, we have reflected on how our work as Christians is ongoing. We are called to support each other in love, modeling Christ’s compassion in this world. Our mission does not change based on who holds power in our country or any other. The Gospel transcends earthly empires. No current state of affairs or place in this world is the full embodiment of the Kingdom of God. To be faithful is to offer our lives to the healing work of Christ and to allow Christ to redeem and heal our own brokenness and pain. Today’s Gospel reminds us that even if we struggle for much of our lives, Christ’s redeeming love ultimately has the final word.

Life may be challenging for months, years, or even a lifetime, yet there is always hope. Today, I am going to pray for endurance, that we have the wisdom, and patience to keep seeking—and to keep sharing—the redeeming love of Christ.  May we continue to encourage each other for 18 years or a lifetime. 

Faithfully,
John+

Questions for Self-Reflection: Where do you need healing in your own life?  How can you model and share healing with others? 

Have We Tuned Jesus Out?

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 56, 57, [58]; Ecclus. 38:24-34; Rev. 14:1-13; Luke 12:49-59

In my mid-thirties I experienced my first panic attack. At first, I had no idea how to cope or how to explain it to anyone. It was one of the most frightening, debilitating experiences I’ve  ever had. This first panic attack was triggered by a traumatic event. Thereafter, anything that reminded me of that event sent me into a tailspin. Fortunately, I received good mental health care, began an antianxiety medication, and learned coping skills. I rarely have them anymore; I know what the triggers are, but I can still occasionally be blindsided and it’s not fun.

As it turns out anxiety disorders are one of the most prevalent of all mental health diagnoses. An estimated 31.1% of U.S. adults experience some type of anxiety disorder  during their lifetime. Unfortunately, they tend to be more common in adolescents and young adults when we have fewer coping skills and are less aware of how life can trigger behavioral responses. Many young people go years without a diagnosis and if they spiral out of control can lead to much more serious consequences. Embarrassment and lack of mental health awareness can contribute to feeling as though this is a stigma that needs to be hidden.

In the Chapter from Luke that our gospel reading comes from, anxiety is a prevalent theme. From the very beginning of the chapter Jesus repeatedly warns do not fear, do not be anxious. In the RSV version one of the subtitles is “Do not worry.”  In today’s verses the focus shifts to division, division that is brought on by fear, fear of the future, fear of not having enough, of not being first in line or fear brought on by distrust.

Jesus’ condemnation of the hypocrites for trusting the weather but not his voice, are as relevant today as ever. Our anxiety as a nation, as humanity in general is ramped up to a fevered pitch. Families and friends are divided more fiercely by opposing viewpoints than in recent memory. Our divisions seem relevant, necessary, but are they? Do our lives depend on our being right? Sometimes they do, but rarely. Has our anxiety about the future, our individual prosperity become so strong that we’ve tuned Jesus out? Forgotten to put “love our neighbor as ourselves” first? In as many ways as I can count, we are just as shortsighted, just as obstinate, and dependent on our own devices as those Jesus is addressing. One might say as rebellious as a three-year old toddler who refuses to listen when warned that the pan is hot. We insist on touching, don’t we?

I admit, I’m anxious about the events of this week. I’m worried we will forget what’s really important. Not out of a real need to protect ourselves but out of a need to express our anxiety, fear, and distrust. Love for our neighbor doesn’t only apply to those we like. It also applies to the one who has a dog who barks all night. And yes, it applies to those whose politics don’t agree with ours. In a Richard Rohr meditation, he advises there may be a way, “not to cure us from being human but to help us become more humane, because in the end we are all connected, woven as Dr. King said in ‘an inescapable web of mutuality.’”

When we can see and name one another as children of God, as brothers and sisters in Christ, then we are more apt to see others as humans like ourselves, as someone we can talk to, “to collaborate for the common good (R. Rohr).”   We are more apt to look to God as our only source of real truth. For the love of Christ, for the love of God let’s commit to giving it a try. The worst that could happen is you may find you have a little less anxiety and more peace. And who knows, maybe a few more friends.  

Faithfully,

Sally+

Reflection and Challenge : What triggers your anxiety? What are your coping skills? When you are anxious is God in your tool box? If not, why?

Saints before and behind - November 1, 2024

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

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

In the Letter to the Hebrews appointed every year for All Saints’ Day, we read rousing words of encouragement and hope as the story builds to its crescendo. It is so lovely and long, therefore I want to slow down the run-on sentence and sit with it on this holy day. The opening of Hebrews 12 reads, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely…” I love imagery that we are covered in a fog of saints who are rooting for us to share the Gospel far and wide. And, I can even feel the misty presence of the saints, leaving a touch of water upon me. Water that is a reminder of life and baptism and renewal. Resurrection hope that calls me to put down the sins and hurts that weigh me down, so that the redemption and forgiveness extended in baptism meets me afresh.

The preacher continues, “…and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…” The writer of this letter knows that those in ministry must have endurance to keep up their efforts of teaching and preaching and caring for those in need. If pastors fix their eyes upon their own to do lists, they will grow weary and crumble. They will be overwhelmed and throw up their hands. However, remembering to set one’s eyes upon Jesus, all in ministry can rise up out of their own selves and reaffix their gaze upon Christ the King, who has already blazed the trail and set the path. Some days, that is the reframing I need.

This piece of scripture ends for today with a reminder of Jesus’ work, and where he resides now, “…who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” The ministry Jesus completed in his earthly life was joy. He met that work joyfully and willingly, though it came at a high cost. He suffered death on a cross, yet the shame of that experience did not sully God’s resurrection love and light within him. Jesus landed not in the dust, but seated at the place of honor, at the right hand of God’s throne.

On this All Saints’ Day, may you be inspired by the words of the letter to the Hebrews. And, may you fix your eyes upon Jesus as you contemplate the saints who have come before us and those who will follow us.

In God’s love,

Katherine+

Questions for Self-Reflection and Daily Challenge:

Wondering about All Saints' Day? Here's where you can read more (in brief) about what this day means and where it came from.

What does All Saints' Day mean to you? Take a few minutes to sit and ponder. If you feel moved to do so, write about who and what comes to mind.

An Angry Dinner Party - October 30

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53]; Ecclus. 28:14-26; Rev. 12:1-6; Luke 11:37-52

Today’s Gospel strikes home. A Pharisee invites Jesus to a dinner party, but things quickly go awry. Jesus is criticized for not washing his hands, while the Pharisees are criticized for how they treat others, particularly their lack of care for the poor and marginalized in their community. The situation escalates in a major way.

Life as an American can feel like we are at an angry dinner party, pointing fingers at each other. We live together, so we have to sit at the same table, yet there’s a lot of blame and accusation. Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees—the religious leaders of the time—who are focused on appearances while mistreating others.

As a clergy person serving a congregation that brings together people of diverse opinions and perspectives, I want to share an observation as we approach Tuesday and reflect on how to move forward. I continue to meet people who hold different views from one another and from myself, yet there is no rhyme or reason to who exhibits compassion, love, and empathy. There is so much goodness in this world. At the same time, I worry about the policies, violent language, and dehumanizing rhetoric that dominate our national discourse. This rhetoric can incite violence, which is a real and frightening concern.

One way to read this Scripture is to remember that Jesus speaks to all humanity. In this passage, we might consider that each of us carries some level of hypocrisy in our lives. I know I do. I wonder if, to draw ourselves and others away from violent rhetoric, hatred, and malice, a two-pronged approach is needed:

1. We must acknowledge our own hypocrisy and seek God’s grace and mercy.

2. We must see others first as children of God, and through love and compassion, help them see an alternative to their anger and perceived grievances.

Today, we may be at an angry dinner party. But we are people of the resurrection, who believe that we can find life and hope through pain, sacrifice, and love. There is always hope in tomorrow. May we take the path that begins with love and self-examination.

John+

Question for Self-Reflection: Where are the areas in your life that need self-examination? How can you love someone more deeply who seems to be filled with feelings that are antithetical to the Gospel?

A Time for Solidarity - Saints and Sinners

Today’s Readings: St. Simon & St. Jude:AM: Psalm 66; Isaiah 28:9-16; Ephesians 4:1-16John 14:15-31

When I was growing up there was a joke in our family about my mother’s St. Jude metal that she wore. On the back it said, “In case of an accident call an Episcopal priest and DO NOT TAKE ME TO University Hospital.” Mother had it in her head that patients who went to the hospital where medical students were trained would be guinea pigs, exposed to all kinds of horrific medical experiments. The medical care there was probably excellent but there was no convincing her of that. For years I knew St. Jude was the patron saint of hospitals, but it turns out he was also the patron saint of impossible causes, and desperate situations. I laughed when I realized that mother had been unknowingly asking for protection for our dysfunctional family and for the hospital she feared so much!

Our readings for today honor St. Jude and St. Simon, both considered to be two of the twelve original disciples. These two are honored on the same day because what little information we have describes them as co-missioners who traveled together to Persia and were martyred there.

St. Simon is only mentioned once in the New Testament;  however he’s also associated with one of the many zealous movements, with no clear indication which one.

St. Jude is identified as the patron saint of impossible causes and desperate situations because he preached the Gospel with great passion, often in the most difficult circumstances. It was Jude who after the Last Supper asked Our Lord why he chose to reveal Himself only to the disciples. Jesus replied: "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:22)

The intent of John is to assure Christ’s followers of the presence of the union of Jesus and God, that they are a singular presence in our lives, and what’s more that neither will ever lose any of God’s children, we can never be separated from God’s love, no matter how imperfect we may be.

Prayers to a saint can feel very personal. I can see though, how prayers to the saints can degenerate into a practice of asking for personal favors without a sense of the solidarity we so desperately need now. John assures all who have accepted Christ’s promise of salvation in their hearts that they will never be lost. That none of us will be lost.

I’ve come to consider more thoughtfully the need for solidarity as sinners and followers, in suffering and in rejoicing. In light of Christ’s solidarity, as the one Body of Christ, not only with God but with the children of God, I hope we can each focus our prayers more on our communities, on our “neighbors as ourselves,” and less on our personal needs and opinions. There have been many times in our history marked by difficult divisive forces; now is certainly one of them.

Faithfully,

Sally+

Questions for Reflection: Could it be that we should all be wearing St. Jude metals, praying that we are strengthened as we face impossible causes and desperate situations? How often do you pray for a sense of solidarity with our brothers and sisters? Who is your partner as you go into the world proclaiming the Gospel?

What is it we are missing – October 25

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 31; PM Psalm 35; Ecclus. 11:2-20; Rev. 9:13-21; Luke 10:38-42

Wednesday night, I arrived at Camp McDowell for the annual gathering of clergy conference in our diocese. During our meetings yesterday, we heard from the Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, bishop of the diocese of Indianapolis. She offered fascinating reflections on the ways we attend to our church buildings and pay attention to the movements in our neighborhoods over time. The bishop’s message resonates with me, as I was jogging through the neighborhoods around Saint Stephen’s this week. Real estate development has turned an area that was once known as “Slab Town” into an idyllic neighborhood with beautiful homes and carefully manicured landscapes. I wonder if those living around Saint Stephen’s – especially those new to the area – have heard that this was a space of financial poverty and deep concern fifty years ago. Who will keep telling these stories of who we are and from whence we’ve come? Some details get lost. They always do. There is still meaning, even in the gaps.

Speaking of gaps, in today’s Old Testament reading from Ecclesiasticus – also known as the Wisdom of Sirach - there are two verses missing. Reading these lines of wisdom that feel sage and relevant, I noted that it jumped from verse 14 to 17. Verses 15 and 16 are pulled out into a footnote…but I was unaware until I saw the asterisk. Here’s what is missing: “Other ancient authorities add as verses 15 and 16: Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of the law come from the Lord; affection and the ways of good works come from him. Error and darkness were created with sinners; evil grows old with those who take pride in malice.”

Like people moving into new households around Saint Stephen’s without knowing how this area used to be, I did not realize what lines of scripture had been amid these verses previously. I took the words I was reading at face value and did not think to wonder more deeply. Paying attention to the history of who we have been and what came before can give us the gift of appreciating the changes that have come. One day, our stories will be part of the past, too. Our words and fingerprints will be covered up by others. And this is what wisdom literature in the Bible points out for us: let us live well and faithfully to God this day, for that is all we have – the gift of this moment.

Faithfully,

Katherine+

Going Deeper

What is the story of your neighborhood?

How can you be more curious today - both in the words you pray and in the ways you speak with those who are closest to you?

Be Who You were Created to be

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 25; Ecclus. 4:20-5:7; Rev. 7:1-8; Luke 9:51-62

The evening I was ordained priest, I distinctly remember feeling an immediate overwhelming sense of responsibility. In the first section of what is known as the Examination, the Bishop addresses the ordinand and says, “All baptized people are called to make Christ known as Savior and Lord, . . . ” At the end of a long series of roles the priest is to fulfill, the bishop asks, “do you believe that you are truly called by God and his Church to this priesthood?” The ordinand answers, “I believe I am so called.”

I clearly remember thinking, “Of course I’m called to this and more, whatever you desire Lord.” I was so enthusiastic and filled with hopeful energy that nothing seemed too difficult to take on. And then the weight of what I had been tasked hit me.

To be honest the sense of responsibility may have been more acute that night, but it had begun many years earlier. I remember thinking about 30 years earlier in Sewanee, as I sat in the auditorium, we affectionately called the Pit, watching a fellow student preach, thinking, “What if I get it wrong? I didn’t feel well versed in the scriptures or doctrine and I remember thinking, everyone here is so much smarter than me. I began to question if I should even be there. You see preaching is much like teaching. On a good day a sermon opens the eyes and ears of the listener to see or hear meaning in the readings that they may never have considered. On a better day the preacher hears the Holy Spirit speak and learns something herself. It should challenge the listener to think, to wonder, to question.

That’s very much the same thing that a teacher or a mentor does. It’s who Jesus was in many respects with the disciples and those who followed him as he preached, healed, and taught. As the disciples were swept up in their enthusiastic passion for Jesus, he tried to interpret Hebrew scriptures and explain to them how they applied to their lives. He also tried to impress on them that the life they’ve chosen will be hard and that there could be no turning back. Whether right or wrong, misguided or on-point, they wouldn’t have the luxury to look back. The kind of singlemindedness that Jesus required was a matter of accepting who they had been chosen to be and then living into that way of being. “Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

I recently saw a quote from Brene’ Brown, that read: “Give up who you thought you were supposed to be, and accept who you are created to be.” Once you’ve set your course stick with it. If you believed it was worth the chance that you might be wrong, it’s worth not turning back. It’s worth having trust and faith that even when we get something wrong, we also manage to get something right along the way, too.

 Faithfully,

Sally+

Questions for Reflection and Challenge: How many opportunities have you passed up because you might be hurt? Or, you might be ridiculed? Or, you might be wrong? How many times might you have made a difference?

Physician, Evangelist, Investigative Reporter – October 18

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

I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed. (Luke 1:3-4)

Today in the Church, we remember Saint Luke. You may think of Luke as a physician (about which the apostle Paul writes in Colossians). You may refer to Luke as an evangelist (as he penned a gospel about the life, ministry, and mystery of Jesus – and the book of Acts). The scripture appointed for today from the first chapter of Luke’s version of the gospel gives us a more robust view of this pillar in the church…he was an investigative reporter, collecting the stories of people’s interactions with Jesus. He listened to those telling of the ways Jesus spoke truth, healed the struggling, and fed the masses.

Luke was not one of the disciples of Jesus; he came later and was a contemporary of Paul. Luke had a keen eye and ear for what details the wider audience might yearn to know about Jesus, the Son of God – the long-awaited Messiah. He compiled those stories and crafted this beautiful work so that we “may know the truth” about the details of what it means to follow Jesus. Luke offered a testament to make the embodied grace of Jesus feel real and approachable, for the salvation of God is visceral and palpable.

God’s hope and promise propel us forward, and the stories of grace and truth that we explore in the Good News of Luke’s gospel continue to teach us about healing and repentance, nurture and rejoicing. I encourage you to delve into this gospel, so that the words of Luke – physician, evangelist, and reporter – can equip and draw you closer to the Good News of God in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Faithfully,

Katherine+

Going Deeper

Spend a few minutes reading more about Luke, the evangelist, physician, and reporter. How does his life's work resonate with you? Make plans to talk with someone over a cup of tea or coffee about how Luke’s testimony moves you and deepens your faith in God.

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.