The Little Friar

Scripture:  Mark 7:24-37 When I was in high school and college, the acronym WWJD was very popular.  "What would Jesus do?" was supposed to challenge me to act with love and kindness, but I always felt like it was a way to make me feel bad when I wasn't the "Perfect Christian."  You know the kind -- the people who never get upset, who never use bad language, who don't get sassy when they're frustrated or "hangry."  I was never that person. I lean heavily on sarcasm and am easily frustrated. I figured Jesus would reject me for being such a person. But when the Syrophoenician woman interacts with Jesus, she doesn't have a perfect faith. She isn't reverent or quiet or submissive. She's quick-witted, and a bit of a smart aleck. And what does Jesus do? Heals her daughter! Perhaps Jesus doesn't judge us as harshly as we fear. And I'm delighted in a God who can deal with a little sassiness or spunk! Prayer:  God of the surly a...

Scripture: Psalm 146 Praise the Lord! Don't trust in mortals. How hard is that, though? I see the people who get the most attention and praise. I see those in power. I can taste the things money can buy, and I can really be excited by the future that people in power offer. But God doesn't care about the newest fashion, the fastest car, the latest social media trend or what celebrity couple is together this week. God probably doesn't even care about powerful and influential people unless it concerns how they are treating others. God cares about the unflashy -- the poor, prisoners, the blind, strangers, orphans and widows -- you know, those who won't really advance your popularity or status. But when our lives are finished on this earth, our money and fame and big houses won't matter. What matters is that the Lord is steadfast and true forever--and cares about how we treat others. Challenge yourself to care for others--and practice grace for yourself when you c...

Scripture:  Mark 7:1-23 Seven of the 12 "evil things" Jesus mentions as coming out of the human heart directly refer to the second table of the Ten Commandments, the part that has to do with our relations with our neighbor. Surely the other five cause harm to the neighbor as well. The contrast Jesus is drawing for us is not between law and gospel per se but between God's own good instruction, which has the love of neighbor as goal, and all the human additives we devise to put extra distance between ourselves and others. At the same time, the heart affliction Jesus points to is present in everyone, no matter how godly, good or plenteous their rules, and will need a more radical intervention. Hear what Jesus says today, but also look at what he does. He shares his table and he shares food, far and wide -- with disciples, with Pharisees, with crowds, with sinners -- and with you. Prayer:  Gracious Lord, I have too often tried to cloister myself from my neighbor, and ye...

Scripture:   John 6:56-69 When we deal with life, we always seem to have good reasons for why we do things. We go to school to get a job. We get a job to earn a living. We do things for fun, for love or for health. Those reasons we go to for why we do things have a way of becoming our gods if we trust in them to give us life. Yet, often the very things we seek after for security end up accusing us, judging us and condemning us to death. Jesus offers us something quite different -- he give us himself to eat. He promises us that he will deal with our lives by using mercy and resurrection. Yes, he dies to do that for us, and then he rises from death too! Where shall we go to find such a reason for what we do that raises us from death? Where shall we go to find relief from judgment and death? We go to Jesus, our crucified and risen Lord -- and we are not disappointed. Prayer:  Father of Life, fill our hearts with Jesus, so that he becomes the reason we do things. Let h...

Scripture:  John 6:56-69 Life is difficult to deal with at times. We try, and we fail. We make mistakes and are judged. People blame and stay away even from those they love. Who said we have to judge? Who said we have to blame? But doesn't God's law demand such justice? Doesn't even death come as the final judgment on our lives? But judgment and death are not the final word. In our gospel reading we hear the good news that Jesus offers us his flesh and blood to eat. He offers us his death and resurrection. Yes, death is difficult, but when we die with Jesus, we also get his resurrection! Jesus promises us his life and forgiveness to get us beyond judgment and death. The Spirit of Jesus gives us new life and calls us each day to live by trusting in him. Prayer:  Merciful Father, your mercy in Jesus defeats our death. Your mercy in Jesus is given to us in the bread and wine of his Supper. As we eat his body and drink his blood, give us his resurrection. Give us trust in...

Scripture:   Ephesians 5:15-20 Everything we have -- every breath in our lungs, every morsel of food, every sip of drink; every gift, moment, loving relationship; every bit of our story -- comes as a gift from the hand of our gracious God. We have choices about how to receive and what to do with the gifts that have come our way. God's Wisdom has something to say about how we live. We can live self-serving lives of indulgence, debauchery and foolishness. Perhaps we might dress it up a bit and say "I have amassed much; I shall eat, drink and be merry." But the intent is the same. So is God's response. Or perhaps we shall remember Whose we are and from whence come our blessings. We can remind ourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs that we are called to lives of infectious servant love in God. We can make the most of our time loving God and inviting others to share in the blessings we have so undeservedly received. Prayer:  God, thank you. Help us live gra...

Scripture:  Psalm 67 Today's reading from Psalm 67 suggests (twice) how far God wants that wideness to extend: Let the peoples praise you, God, let all the peoples praise you. This psalm is a prayer that all come to know and experience what God is up to in the world -- bringing about universal justice, offering a "saving" health care plan with universal coverage! The psalmist sees God's action in the world as the way for all nations. It's a way where everyone finds justice, where grateful people come to recognize God's mercy and God's blessings in life. As just one example, check out how God operates through mother earth to sustain the blessing of life. The psalmist's hope is that "all the ends of the earth" will acknowledge the breathtaking blessings of a God like this. It's the perfect place for a word we like to use -- awesome! Prayer:  Gracious God, We thank you for our world and everything that lets us live, move ...

Scripture:   Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 In the musical, "1776", Jefferson, Franklin, Adams and the rest of the signers of the Declaration of Independence are in Philadelphia, debating the future of the colonies. A courier delivers a dispatch from General George Washington pleading for support for his wearied troops. A wistful song asks: "Is anybody there? Does anybody care?" There's a pre-school nearby my first church called Open Arms. A name like that suggests presence and caring. Since God's vision for the House of Prayer is inclusive, it's crucial that we let all people know they matter to a God who is there and who cares. For those already within, it means willingness to offer prayers side by side with rejects, foreigners, those who might be on the other side of a spiritual fence. Ours is a gathering God, welcoming all sorts of people into the joy of praise and service. From God's perspective, diversity is not a problem without a solution. ...

Scripture:   Proverbs 9:1-6 The previous chapter of Proverbs gives some context about who this Wisdom is that calls people to a feast of bread and wine. Wisdom's invitation trumps the world's lure of precious metals and choice jewels; leads us to hate pride, arrogance and evil. Why might we reject this invitation to receive such a feast? Perhaps it means admitting we have been foolish in our own journey. Perhaps it means owning some of the wickedness in which we take delight. Perhaps it means letting go of worldly treasures so we might grasp, with Wisdom's help, the bread that is truly life. Perhaps it means sharing a common cup with others and seeing the reflection of God's image in all who have been invited to the table--and we're not there yet. Wisdom calls us to repent, to turn from our own simple and self-destructive ways. We are called to embrace maturity, acknowledge our folly and take our place at the table. Prayer:  God, your call to us i...

Scripture:  Mark 6:1-13 The stilling of a storm (Mark 4). The freeing of the Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5). Two thousand demons sent into a herd of swine (Mark 5). A girl restored to life and a hemorrhaging woman healed with barely a whispering touch (Mark 5). These are the events that immediately precede today's story. And yet none of these miracles are able to happen in Jesus' hometown. It is unclear exactly why Jesus is unable to work his power, but what I find interesting is his response. Instead of throwing up his hands and saying, "A pox on all your houses!" Jesus shifts course instantly. He goes out amongst the villages. He teaches. He trains and empowers others to do these miracles themselves. Jesus does not stop in the face of adversity; he sidesteps, passes the ball and keeps on moving. Where might you be needing to sidestep in your own life? Prayer:  Lord, ease my unbelief, and empower me with the faith to be your miracle worker. Amen.

Today's devotional: Scripture:  2 Corinthians 12:2-10 This is one of those hard biblical texts for many Christians. One who was caught up to the third heaven? Really, now? A person who was caught up into Paradise? We perhaps shiver with discomfort and step back into our comfortable settings, beyond the reach of such dangerous-sounding mysteries. That's not our faith, thank you very much. But this is our Bible. So what are we to make of such boldness? Over the years, I have encouraged our church's kids to watch for "God Sightings" -- someone going out of their way to help another, a beautiful moment in creation, a spontaneous prayer. All good ways in which God shows up in our lives. But I couldn't help but wonder: what are the more mysterious moments where God has showed up for us in a big way? And what might happen if we, too, were bold enough to boast about those? Prayer:  Holy Spirit, your power in my life is beyond my comprehension. But sometimes, ...

Scripture:    Ezekiel 2:1-5 "You can't un-hear things", a wise mentor once told me. Feeling like the words you say to others go unheard can be maddening. But words spoken are never completely ineffective. Words can be run from. Words can be hid from. Words can be buried, repressed, stuffed down and ignored. But words can never be unheard. God sent Ezekiel to God's people in their time of impudence and stubbornness. Maybe you know people like that. Maybe you love people like that. Maybe you are people like that (*raises hand sheepishly*). The good news of today's reading is that even when they (we, I) try to refuse to hear, it never really works. The very attempt to refuse a word is an acknowledgment of the power of that word and its truth which can devastatingly change us. Keep on speaking people of God. And, maybe, try your ear at hearing as well. Prayer:  God, it is so frustrating to feel unheard. Strengthen in me your power of trust that the wor...

Scripture:    Mark 5:21-43 As I read this passage from Mark, Jesus' deep love for others stands out. The woman was suffering. She knew if she could just touch Jesus she would be healed. Immediately after touching him, she was freed from her suffering. Jesus said, "Daughter, your faith has healed you." These two healing stories show us that Jesus' heart is for healing things that seem impossible to heal. Today, we are called to connect and love others. Through faith we can spread the word of God by our actions. How so? Reread the promise in verse 36; what does it say? Jesus is bringing us together in the church to have us be Jesus' hands and feet and show others his deep love. Jesus shows us, by healing these two people, that this is part of who and why we are. Prayer:  Dear God, help me to do your work with my hands. I know it will not be easy, but give me the strength to go beyond my comfort zone and be the light of Jesus for others. Amen.

After nearly two years of writing a devotional for the local newspaper, I finally realized I could share those here, as well.  So, starting today, I'll post my "Good News" devotional that I write for the paper here. I've placed today's beneath the fold.