Good Morning Friends,
We are all to have a relationship with Jesus and since Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever it seems right to think that we would have a similar view of him…the experience of despair turning into joy for example. But not everyone is so blessed, even though God is available to everyone, and perhaps this is because our focus and retention of knowledge and life experiences are not the same. We do not all have the same capacity to love those not like ourselves. And matters like this have been exasperated during the pandemic. Still, I wonder if we would have a more unified faith if we were able to extend our ability to love in creative and healthy ways so that those who have been in isolation might believe. Such personalized ministry is desperately needed now. But How Do We Remember What Is Important In God’s Eyes During A Pandemic?
Scripture: Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:1-8 (NRSV)
King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
Mark 6: 14-29 (NRSV)
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!
Psalm 27: 1-9 (NRSV)
Message: There is something here I want you to remember and not miss. You see, during the pandemic we have gotten into new behaviors and some of them we will want to continue and some of them post pandemic we will need to rethink. You see typically we think of hospitality we think of feeding the hungry part first and indeed there are a lot of hungry people, but today’s focus is on the outreach to strangers, to the isolation and loneliness of people. Not just feeding a hungry person but getting to know them and helping as we have been helped to know Jesus. Now before you get a little nervous about this let me say that visiting people in prison or greeting strangers may not be for everyone especially during the pandemic. You need to be prepared to discern the Holy Spirit as well as know the environment and people with whom you are interacting. But as more and more people get vaccinated this more personal type of ministry needs to be reinstated. For most of us feeding hungry people… is fine, clothing naked people… is fine; but comforting a stranger during a pandemic, that is inviting danger, right? On the surface it is edgy and risky and may require a relationship you do not want. After all who wants to associate with outcastes, tax collectors, prostitutes, sick people and convicted criminals and sinners? But wait a minute. That is what Jesus did. So yes, it is part of the mystery of our faith to have an outreach to the stranger. To be a strong community of faith we must not all look and act alike. We must have diversity but still have a focus on the same Jesus. For that reason alone, it is important in personal ministry to be prepared for the Holy Spirit to give cues for our action to reach out to someone we do not know and who is not like us. For in remembering them with dignity looking into their eyes we meet Jesus and so might remember him. In the pews on Sunday morning, we have the Passing of the Peace, that now has motions linked to it. We put our hand over our heart and then offer it out with an open palm in the direction of another person. It is a safe way of passing the peace during a pandemic. But that safe and controlled environment is not where this sharing is meant to end, begin perhaps yes, but not end. We are to spend time having an honest conversation with a stranger, not just those in a worship service, all the time remembering Christ. It is a Holy activity to remember strangers…to tell and write stories that link their story and our story with His Story… with History… passing on knowledge from one generation and culture to another of our journey into the Holy and out of bondage, realizing all the while that someday we will, each one of us die. There is so much we have in common if we would just remember where we came from and where we are going. So, we tell stories that comfort us and wean us from the concept that we are in control. We tell our stories of how we have learned that our redeemer lives. These are not trivial anecdotes or mindless twitter, but a remembrance of our process of salvation. We are to remember the when…. the where…. and the why of our salvation. We are to describe what our life was like before and after. Our friends and the truths we have learned are to be remembered and shared. We are to remember the roots of our faith, the great writings of the ages. We are to sing the old hymns as well as the new and especially we are to read the Bible. But in all this reminiscence, this sharing, there is nothing more important than to embrace that inspiration, that transformation of our life, from turmoil to transcendence in the experience of remembering our Lord and that joy of believing that someday we will be renewed with a new body, a new mind, a new home, and a new beginning that is post pandemic. Telling our story and writing it down linking it to Jesus helps. Yet there are some things about the Kingdom of God we are just not going to understand. There are some things we will forget. There are some things too strange to us and that is sad. However, I think to have the right memories we need to risk enough to honor those who have served and remember the Spirit in the ultimate outcome of their lives and imitate their faith of reaching out to those who have been in isolation. It is in doing this that we remember what is important.
And so, in a way we remember Jesus and Jesus remembers us in those micro moments of love that provides us an antidote for fear. Risk here has its rewards for in this way we offset the addictions that keep us off the path of the life abundant. It is through a love that risks we remember the important things in life. Friends, when we are truly hospitable…. when we love someone, who cannot love us back, that is when the reality of God comes alive. Here we can help those who question the reality of God because the love they have always received has never felt genuine. Here God can help us to know what dignity in life is all about. So, get vaccinated and be thankful, but then help to rebuild.
Pray we keep the first things first. Pray we take time to remember the hospitality of the Lord in our lives during the pandemic. Pray we resolve to learn from the experience. Pray we remember the joyful experiences and challenges, so we can share the detail of our journey of faith when moved by the Spirit to help others. Pray we remember the heroes and leaders in our life that spoke the Word of God into our lives. Pray we help to bring health back to others. Pray as a community of faith that we are strengthened in our diversity, in the presence of Jesus as we serve and grow. Pray we risk enough to reduce the barriers that isolate people from Christ’s love. Pray we remember the love and sacrifice of Jesus in communion. Pray we often remember the joy of Jesus in our life and His faithfulness especially to those in need. Pray we be strengthened and renewed in the process when Jesus remembers us. Pray we remember the importance of love received and shared. Pray we take time to share a love story. Pray we model our lives after Jesus. Pray we discover the wisdom of being content. Pray we realize that Jesus gives our hearts courage and liberty of conscience when we love in creative and wise ways. Pray we declare our belief in the greatness of God. Pray that despite our vulnerability that we, in the light of Jesus’ love, that we live with confidence and wisdom and faith.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 