Good Morning Friends,
New Normal is a term in business and economics that refers to financial conditions following the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the aftermath of the 2008–2012 global recession. So even the term is new relative to history, but the concept is Biblical and has application in the area of social justice as well. The term has been used in a variety of contexts to imply that something which was previously rare has become commonplace. Think of people wearing masks when they are sick, but also think of the reality that people might actually be breathing a little easier when God’s justice is served, and people actually care enough to be concerned for others. Today’s scripture reference of Saul marks the to be Apostle Paul’s entry into the storyline. He is identified by his Hebrew name of Saul and not his given Roman name of Paul. But it is the same creature destined to become a different person. For him, the power of the Holy Spirit would create a new paradigm. So, today we have the before shot picture, in stark contrast to an after transformation shot once Paul submits to Jesus. His role in today’s text is of the silent witness and as a consenting supporter of the stoning of Stephen. And this event marks the beginning of the reality that Christianity would not bloom as a sect or branch of Judaism alone, but as something new and better. Christians were being kicked out of Jerusalem and dispersed like a seed pod freed by fire to propagate the world. We see this beginning in the work of Philip and as the beginning of a seed planted in Paul, who would find himself on the other side of the equation, in jail and stoned as a tool of the movement of God. We get a sense of this new creation in Rembrandt’s painting of the Gardener and the Garden depicting Jesus at the empty tomb on the first day of a new creation. The resurrection. It is included as part of this devotional. And it reminds me that we really want to see the face of Jesus even if it is in places and events, we might not initially think would or could be enjoyable. For what becomes clearer as we recognize and apply the characteristics of Christ in our daily living is that good things will come, and we will be changed in the process if we believe that Jesus is making a way for us. Yes, change was hard then as it is now. But it boils down to this shared hope and belief, So, What Will You Believe And Then Do To Help Make The New Normal Be Better Than The Old?
Scripture: And Saul approved of their killing him. That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city.
Acts 8:1b-8 (NRSV)
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”
John 6:35-40 (NRSV)
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ‘ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her. When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’
John 20: 11-19 (NRSV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 28:19 (NRSV)
Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise. Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you. All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you, sing praises to your name.” Selah Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds among mortals. He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There we rejoiced in him, who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations— let the rebellious not exalt themselves. Selah
Psalm 66: 1-7 (NRSV)
Message: In previous devotionals we have asked what work God requires of those called into service. The context in the liturgical year is of the journey to Pentecost and it is seen against our mindset and comparing it to the mind of God. It is about the mystery of believing in Jesus and abiding in the Spirit during times of great change. And the thing is that we cannot have selective participation here.
We must be intent on what is happening. In the sixth and twentieth chapters of John, Jesus is interacting with his disciples who have been raised with an external, works-centered holiness. Jesus boils down an answer to one simple action of being and believing. And it is an action which is not possible without the work of God Himself. There is no sanctification of humans without God. There are no miracles without God. So, in today’s storyline we see something amazing. We see belief in the face of adversity. We see joy in the work of making disciples in the life of Philip. Friends, here we see joy in the face of adversity…. joy in the face of a Civil War we each battle inside. Here we must get out of our comfort zone and embrace the Spirit of change. Friends, Christ brings Good News to all who would accept it. But God takes the first step by choosing us to believe. But the marks of a true disciple of Christ goes beyond believing and to actively engaging in the Lord’s chosen method of spreading the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. This is what is happening in the world. Yes, the answer is Jesus. And when Jesus is in the room it changes the dynamic of the situation for the good.
And So, maybe we might ask how long it is going to take and the answer is a very long time to be satisfied if God is not in the equation. For only Jesus’ love satisfies, and that is how we are to recognize him in this satisfying love and how we are to recognize each other in a new normal. The story of him appearing to Mary and the disciples is in John 20. The first scene is the empty tomb. And it is as if we have just come out of the tomb of Plato’s cave into a new world as we share the moment depicted in today’s painting from Rembrandt. It is of Mary looking up and inward seeing Jesus. Her face reminds me of Stephen’s in yesterday’s painting of the Stoning of Saint Stephen…all aglow. So, note the angels in the tomb and the connection to the Garden of Eden. Note the Tree in the Garden tended by the Second Adam. Note the New Jerusalem in the background. Note that the deeper meaning is of Christ the cosmic gardener preparing a new heaven and a new earth for us. Friends, the way to experience this life of love requires that we must believe and put our faith in Jesus, realizing that nothing transformative happens without this power and gift of the Holy Spirit. Logic nor experience alone brings this faith, but they can clear away the obstacles. Yes, faith in Jesus is rational but also supernatural in the way it gives us peace and rest. But applying this for our bodies and life in the spirit and peace in our souls is not so ease if we do not trust enough to love. The work is in believing in a way that transforms. And this is what is going to happen to Paul and what I hope is an ongoing work in you. Believe the new normal will be better than the last…that the new garden better than the first. Have faith in the promise.
Pray we have the courage to start again. Pray we rejoice in the reality that we have been destined to submit to Jesus and the newness God brings to our experience of life. Pray
therefor
we are claimed by God to receive the power and the promise of the Holy Spirit in our daily living for a purpose that glorifies Jesus in witnessing the making of all things not just new but better. Pray we have a holy peace in this regard and not cling to a false past. Pray we realize that it is the unsought grace of God that found us and transforms us into servants with a Kingdom purpose.
Pray therefore
we do not put the natural above the divine. Pray we do not have selective listening to the Spirit. Pray we make ourselves available. Pray we realize that nothing is too small for something God is intent on making great. Pray we listen to God’s bidding. Pray we listen knowing that we can do nothing unless led by God. Pray we are ready to share the message of Christ and point to the gift of Christ. Pray we keep the focus on people. Pray that we realize that we cannot give what we do not possess. Pray we realize that our individual work relates to believing and our collective work relates to making disciples. Pray we trust and love in the Spirit of Jesus. Pray we believe and apply the characteristic of Jesus to our work of making disciples in the new normal.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 