Rain Bringer

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Jeremiah 14:19-22

 

Have you rejected Judah completely? Do you despise Zion? Why have you afflicted us so that we cannot be healed?

We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there is only terror.

O LORD, we acknowledge our wickedness and the guilt of our fathers; we have indeed sinned against you.

For the sake of your name do not despise us; do not dishonor your glorious throne. Remember your covenant with us  and do not break it.

Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O LORD our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this.

 

1 Timothy 1:8-14

 

We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers-and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

 

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

 

Jeremiah 14:22 Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O LORD our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this.

 

This morning in Knoxville, the skies are bursting with rain and lightning strikes are taking place all around us. We're on a severe storm weather watch, which means that most people in the area will drive carefully or stay indoors until the storms pass over us. Every April, we get this heavy rain, which soaks the entire valley. It's amazing to experience and rather daunting at times, but it brings a lot of good to the land around us.

 

I can remember my mom thanking God for heavy rains. She constantly reminded me that if it wasn't for this kind of rain,  then the sewers would quickly become breeding grounds for all kinds of plagues and diseases. She grew up in a time when bad sewers caused young people and children to get seriously sick and die, including her oldest sister Mary. I think because her family went through that sad experience, my mom never forgot to take the rain or the local utilities for granted. And on days like today, when I'm driving through flooded lanes on the interstate, I continue to thank God for His work in sending these much-needed rains.

 

In Jeremiah's time, his city of Jerusalem was under siege, so rain was very important to the inhabitants to cleanse the streets and provide refreshing water for the community. In the midst of famine and drought, some of the people superstitiously turned to other gods and idols to save them. Jeremiah's prophecies and words reminded them Who was the actual source of all their blessings, and Who was the sustainer of their lives. Even today, in places like Africa, Christians are truly thankful for what the rain brings. It isn't a nuisance or a burden, an inconvenience or a problem. It's a blessing and that's something we should all remember.

 

So, wherever we are today, let's not forget to thank God for the blessing of the rain. Without it, our community could not survive.

 

Prayer:  Lord God, You are the Rain bringer and the Storm maker, the Sustainer of our lives and the Creator of the seasons. We thank You for the blessing of the rains, the enriching of the soil, and the cleansing of our communities. Help us to see Your goodness in all that these rains bring, and keep us from taking Your gifts for granted. In Jesus' Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

 

Little Lambs

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1 Peter 2:25          For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

 

At this time of year, the green fields of Scotland are full of lambs that are usually leaping and jumping into the air, as if they were on emerald trampolines. It’s a pretty sight to see and one that I greatly enjoyed when I ministered over there. The lambs are full of the joys of life, and watching them blissfully gamboling always delighted my heart.

 

The young sheep, however, are notorious for crawling under hedgerows, squeezing through gates, and running out onto the busy country roads. Thus, on several occasions, whilst driving from one parish to the other, I had to stop my car, get out, and try to shoo the wee lambs back into their proper field. Passing motorists would often smile, wave, and toot their horns at me. I guess with my clerical collar on, it looked highly amusing to see the minister actually shepherding some of his flock!

 

Like little lambs, we sometimes go astray, especially in the midst of fulfilling our desires and seeking to please ourselves. We get caught up in doing what we like and sometimes end up in difficult situations. This is when the teachings of the Church and the guidance of the Holy Spirit can show us the way back towards Christ, the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. Left to ourselves, we would become hopelessly lost, but given the right prodding from the Lord, we can return to His flock.

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are our Good Shepherd and the Holy One who cares for our souls. Save us from ourselves, especially when we struggle with our faith and lose our way. Keep us from being careless with our lives, and help us to return to You for pardon and protection. In Your Sacred Name, we pray. Amen.

A Tinker's Tale

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Psalm 86:1           Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Romans 12:16b   Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.

 

When I first started in parish ministry, I made some house calls to an old man who had no family, no property and hardly any possessions. He lived in a Council house and all that he had was a sofa, a bed, a coffee table, some chairs and a hall carpet. I think there may have been some curtains in the living room, but not much more. His family had been 'tinkers' - Scottish traveling folk - who lived off the land. Somehow, he had managed to break away from them, and ended up being looked after by the local welfare office. He had good neighbors, but no real friends. Each time I visited, he appreciated the chats that we had and we talked about his upbringing, which fascinated me. My own father always joked that our branch of the Stuart clan was not descended from the kings and queens of Scotland; he claimed we were the 'tinker' Stuarts, who wandered all over the country like gypsies.

 

One day I went to visit this parishioner and he told me that he had been diagnosed with a terminal cancer. His death was imminent and naturally he was scared. He didn't have anyone to take care of him and he was frightened of being left alone to die. He cried out to God for help in the middle of the night and looked to Him for support.

 

His prayers were answered in a beautiful way. In the neighboring town, a hospice for the terminally ill had just opened and his doctor managed to get him a bed. The old man worried about leaving his own home, meager though it was, because it meant everything to him. I reassured him that he would be given care of by a group of dedicated professional people. He accepted what I had to say and permitted his doctor to transfer him to the hospice.

 

For the last four weeks of his life, the old man was treated like a king. The doctors and nurses waited upon him, hand and foot, and cared for him lovingly and respectfully. When I last saw him, he was surrounded by the hospice staff, and he called them his angels. He had a beautiful, dignified death and it touched my heart to think that someone who had practically nothing and no one to call friend, left this world embraced by compassionate caregivers and devoted doctors.

 

We are all God's children, whether we are poor and needy, or rich and affluent. We all need to be loved and shown kindness. Whoever we meet and greet today, let's treat them like heirs of God's kingdom, as our brothers and sisters in Christ. For there will come a time, when we ourselves will need that same love and compassion.

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of compassionate care-givers in our community. Thank You for their skills and devotion, their dedication and precious gifts. Bless them in the midst of death and dying. Grant them abundant love to reach out to the lonely, poor and needy. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Why, Lord?

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Psalm 30:1-7

 

I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.

O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit.

 

Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

 

When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken."

O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.

 

Matthew 5:43-48

 

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

Matthew 5:45b    He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

 

I was watching a television program yesterday in which Madonna, the pop singer, was being interviewed by a British journalist. He was asking her about Kaballah, an ancient Jewish mysticism that she, and a number of pop celebrities, have begun to dabble in. He asked why she was doing this, and Madonna said that she rejected institutionalized religion because it couldn't answer her satisfactorily about why good things happen to bad people, and why bad things happen to good people. She found what she wanted in Kaballah, which is a belief system that glorifies the believer and reduces the woes of the world to be mere distractions.

 

Madonna's comment is one that we all struggle with, and I don't suppose there will be any completely satisfactory answer this side of eternity. It has to do with grace being applied by God to all of those who least deserve it. That's why He allows the sun to shine on both the good and the bad; that's why He showers His refreshing rain on both the righteous and unrighteous. You see if God was to only bless those who were good, no one would be blessed. If God was to punish all of those who were bad, all of us would be constantly punished.

 

It might not seem fair to us that those who are brazen, selfish, and self-centered, like some pop singers, get the best out of life, whereas those with little power or prestige get a raw deal. On this side of eternity, the scales of success seem to be heavily weighed towards those who look out for themselves. But in the life to come, God's justice prevails and the reverse is true. In other words, those who seek their rewards in this life will not be disappointed; but they needn't look beyond death for anything more from God. As Christ Himself once said, "They will have had all they are going to get."

 

Instead of being envious of the rich, powerful and successful, we should glory in the grace that God gives to all of humankind. Instead of feeling under-privileged, hard-done-by, and unrewarded, we should take time to thank God for the blessings that He shares with both the good and bad, the righteous and unrighteous.

 

Prayer:    Father God, we cannot understand why so many selfish people are successful, or even why bad things happen to good people. Sometimes it frustrates our faith and we feel let down or disappointed by You. Forgive us for being churlish and teach us instead to cherish Your amazing grace, which bestows common blessings upon the good and the bad. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

 

Daily Confessions - Belgic Confession of Faith

 

Article 10 - Jesus Christ is True and Eternal God

We believe that Jesus Christ, according to His divine nature, is the only begotten Son of God, begotten from eternity, not made nor created (for then He would be a creature), but coessential and coeternal with the Father, the express image of His person, and the brightness of His glory, equal unto Him in all things. He is the Son of God, not only from the time that He assumed our nature, but from all eternity, as these testimonies, when compared together, teach us.

The Fearsome Four

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Acts 24:8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him."

 

I don't know what I did that was so wrong, but the headmaster at my elementary school didn't like me. I must have been impertinent or had gotten into trouble for something. When a substitute teacher came to look after our class for a while, the headmaster came in with her. As he introduced her to all of the students, he asked four boys to stand up. I was one of them.

 

"Keep a close eye on these four," he said. "They are the troublemakers in this class. If they give you any problems, send them directly to me. I know these kind of boys. They will never make anything good of themselves."

 

I was totally embarrassed and didn't know what to say or do. For the next couple of weeks, the substitute teacher came down hard on the fearsome four. I never hated school so much in my life and I nursed my anger against the headmaster for a long, long time.

 

Twenty years later, I was officiating at a funeral in my parish. The deceased's brother happened to be my old headmaster. He hadn't a clue who I was and I desperately wanted to tell him that he had been so wrong in condemning me all those years ago. But I didn't, because he had become an old, bitter man, who was alienated from the rest of his family. As soon as his brother's funeral was over, he left without saying a word. I felt sorry for him. My anger against him dissolved, and it turned into pity.

 

Paul was falsely accused by the religious leaders and Roman authorities of stirring up dissension and causing riots. He was unjustly imprisoned and held without trial for a long time. But even although things were stacked against him, Paul didn't allow the circumstances to diminish his faith. Instead, in all of the years that he was a prisoner, he used that time to write some beautiful letters of faith and to spread the Gospel throughout the Mediterranean. Those letters were cherished so much by the churches who received that they have become an important part of our New Testament today.

 

Perhaps we are feeling bad because someone has upset us, or has said something about us that isn't true. Perhaps we feel angry or bitter about some injustice in our life. Don't let it rule over our hearts, minds, or souls. Years of anger only wear us down. Let's take it to Jesus in prayer and then allow Him to transform our feelings into something more positive, more forgiving, more understanding. By doing this, we grow in faith and become better Christians.

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, sometimes we find it hard to deal with criticism, especially when it is unfounded and unjust. Strengthen our spirits so that we may endure such things, and not be over-wrought, overwhelmed or overcome by them. Bless those who unjustly criticize us and help us to forgive them. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Author of Life

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Acts 3:15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

 

It will come as no surprise to you that I like to write. I rediscovered this about two years ago when I felt led by the Spirit to begin writing these daily e-mail devotions. Initially, they were meant for the staff and elders of the church, who are the busiest of servants in the congregation. I believed that if I could inject some daily scriptures into their lives, then it would strengthen their faith, and subsequently make them more spiritually confident about their leadership roles at Erin.

 

The ‘dailies’ became popular and within a month, elders were sharing them with other members of the church, their families and friends. So we decided to open it up to the whole congregation and now, with the advent of the audios, this whole ministry is being shared across the United States and even into Canada. There may even be people in other places around the world that we don’t know about, who receive these devotionals. All I can do is thank God for such a wonderful opportunity to use modern technology to help people in their daily faith journey.

 

I like the title that Peter gives to Jesus in this passage. He calls Him ‘the Author of Life.” I don’t know what it meant to the Big Fisherman, but I like to think that Jesus is writing His story in each of our lives everyday. He is the Author of what we do with our faith; He is the one who writes His love into our hearts; He is the one who inscribes His ministry and mission in all that we achieve and accomplish through the church, in our community, and across the country.

 

So, let’s be open to Christ writing His meaning and purpose into all that we say and do today. Let us gladly welcome Him to sign His name on our hearts, so that His personal style, as the Author of Life, is noticed and communicated to those who read our lives day by day.

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, let Your power be inscribed into our hearts and homes, our churches and communities. Let Your ways and words be written into our faith and daily lives. May we be inspired by Your authorship of all that we seek to accomplish and fulfill for Your Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

People Pleaser

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Mark 15:15          Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

                                         

Years ago, I spent a lot of time ministering to a handful of people who had addiction problems. Because of my alcoholic past, I became a crusader for each of them, and felt that only I could save them from ruin. I personally burdened myself with their responsibilities and they gladly gave them to me. I thought that if I could show them Christ's unconditional love and be there for them every moment, day or night, then they would happily respond by cleaning up their lives and become good church members. My strategy was to please them at whatever cost; my goal was to save them from self-destruction.

 

They became my obsession and I almost lost my family, my friends, and my faith. In my desire to save this chosen handful, I forgot that I had responsibilities of my own. I would go out searching the pubs late at night for each of these people, leaving my wife and two daughters isolated and vulnerable at the manse. I would postpone meetings and cancel house calls to deal with unexpected emergencies from my chosen lost causes. I neglected the people who loved me truly, and it was only when my best friend was killed in a car accident, that I realized how foolish, naive, and vain I had become. I was a hopeless people pleaser, instead of a helpful parish pastor. I was a heedless, holy fool, instead of a husband, father and friend.

 

Pilate makes the same mistake here. He does the expediently political thing of pleasing the people, rather than choosing to do what is right and just. He releases a  god-forsaken murderer and crucifies God's faithful messenger. Pilate knows what is the right thing to do, but he rejects it. Christ is crucified and the crowd is pacified. The Peace Keeper executes the Peace Maker, and all is well in the world.

 

It takes courage and faith to resist the temptation to please people, instead of doing what is right and just. Throughout this sacred week, let's take time to review our own life-style choices and daily decisions by asking ourselves this question: am I always trying to please other people, or am I constantly seeking to please God?

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You never fell into the trap of being a people-pleaser. There were many times in Your life when You could have taken an easy path, when You could have chosen to please the crowds and appease the authorities by doing what they wanted. Instead, You courageously chose to please God which, in the end, cost You Your precious life. Help us Lord, to please You more than we please ourselves. In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen.

Truth Week

 

 

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John 18:37b         Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

 

Perhaps instead of Holy Week, we should call this the start of Truth Week. Holy seems to set it apart from everything else that's going on in the world, and I guess that's what it's meant to do, but by the end of the week has anything really changed?

 

Don't get me wrong, I love the celebrations that take place throughout the entire week; in fact, many years ago, someone called me "an Easter person", which I took as a compliment. It's just that as the years go by, some of the rituals we go through have become so ordinary that perhaps it's about time we rediscovered Easter through a different angle.

 

So why call it Truth Week? Two reasons. First of all because that's what Jesus emphasized at His trial. Whether it was in front of Pilate or the High Priest, He never denied who He was. Whenever they hit upon the truth, Jesus confirmed it, as in the case here when Pilate calls Christ a king.

 

But the second reason is this: the world is love right now with false gospels like the one by Judas, and fictional stories like the Da Vinci Code. People gleefully absorb myths about Christ because they don't want to accept the authority of His Church. They want to make up their own ideas about Jesus and shape Him into something that He never was. In other words, they want to bind and control Him, they want to bruise His reputation and bleed His ministry dry. They want to do anything rather than accept the truth - that He is the Son of God; that He is the Only Savior of our Souls.

 

So, here's the challenge for the week. Instead of being acutely religious and smarmingly holy, let's live our lives as testimonies to the truth that Jesus is our King, and that Christ really is our Lord.

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are the Truth about Life, and in the end, that is all we need to know. Help us to convey that truth to others through the things we say and do throughout this week. And after Easter is over, help us to continue to show to the world that You are the Way, Truth and Life, which leads to immortality and everlasting love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

The Last Battle

 

 

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Revelation 17:14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings-and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."

 

I once had a dream where I was standing in a field looking at an old, dilapidated house which suddenly transformed into a beautiful new building. I was mesmerized by this change and then I looked up into the sky. The white wisps of clouds began to slowly merge until a great bearded figure appeared, carrying what looked like an old lantern. I knew it was Jesus and He was surrounded by a fierce host of angels, who were armed and armored, as if they were preparing for an almighty battle.

 

All of a sudden, I found myself marching in a column of these angelic soldiers, and we were going downhill to beat of a mighty drum. Ahead, I could see the entrance of a colossal cavern and, because I was puzzled, I asked the soldier in front of me what was happening.

 

He answered, "We're taking the last battle to the gates of Hell, where the Lamb of God shall finally extinguish all evil."

 

Every now and then, I think about that dream, especially when the world appears to be going crazy. As each year passes, it gets harder for Christians to maintain their influence over civilization, and we're so divided against ourselves that we cannot make a united stand against the evil that is destroying our world. Pride, war, hatred and greed are the oldest foes the Church has fought against, but instead of diminishing their influence in the world, we've allowed them to contaminate us.

 

It's time to draw a line in the sand and prepare ourselves for the last battle. It's time to seek the Lord's forgiveness and be cleansed of our past mistakes. It's time that this old, dilapidated house, which we call Church, transformed into something new, something strong, and something effective. And it's time to stand beside Jesus and be ready for what lies ahead, for He is the Lord of lords and King of  kings, and He shall overcome all of those who make war with Him.

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, we sometimes forget that our faith is meant to prepare us for that Last Day in History when You shall overcome and vanquish all evil. We mistakenly  quantify faith as a life-style choice, as something that will give us a better life, or as a power that will bring us comfort and success. Remind us that we are in a battle between good and evil, and that only those who repent of their ways and side with You, will be granted salvation and eternal life. Help us to choose this day to be on Your side. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Truth Handlers

 

 

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Acts 7:57-58         At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. (NIV)

 

Sometimes people can't handle the truth. I know that I hate being criticized, especially when it's true. I get all defensive and begin to fluster. I get angry inside and I want to go on the offensive, beating down my opponent with strong words and half-truths, which only makes things worse. And if those mechanisms don't work, then I turn to the old tried-but-true tradition of blocking out what people say or write. If I can't hear them, if I don't see them, then I can get on and do what I want to do.

 

Does it sound familiar? It's a human failing, and sadly it's one that we all are guilty of. In today's New Testament passage, a whole host of religious people are being told the truth by Stephen, and they can't handle it. He's telling them that they've murdered the Messiah, and that they are guilty of resisting the Holy Spirit. He's letting them know what they have done is wrong, and they just can't handle it.

 

They screech and yell and cover their ears, so that they don't have to listen to Stephen. And when he doesn't shut up or go away, they resort to violence - the grand human solution to all our persistent problems. When we can't handle the truth, we bash the truth-sayer by killing him in our hearts, our minds, or even with our hands.

 

To accept the truth is to accept responsibility. To accept responsibility is to recognize that we have failed. To know that we have failed, is to put us into a position of humility. And to be humiliated means we need to go to God to confess our sins, and look to Him for mercy, before we can find peace for our agitated souls.

 

Today, we may find ourselves in unfavorable situations, amongst people who will tell us that what we are doing is wrong. The question we face is this: will we continue to justify our actions and ignore the criticism, or will we choose to change our ways in the light of the truth?

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus. You know us completely and we cannot hide the truth from You. We are far from perfect and make many mistakes. In Your mercy, forgive our faults; and by Your grace, restore us to Your favor. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Schism or Specialization?

 

 

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Acts 5: 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

 

Usually, at Session meetings, I don't have to vote. In fact, in my twenty years as a pastor, I've only had to use my vote once with an issue that evenly divided all the elders. It wasn't a life or death moment, nor did it cause any resignation amongst the elders, nor divide the congregation. It was just one of those unusual times when I had to cast the deciding vote to complete the business.

 

There's a lot of talk right now about division and schism in the church. Mainline Protestant churches are declining by about 2% each year. Within a couple of generations, and certainly by the end of this century, the Church as we know it today, will be radically different from what we are currently experiencing. Some people are anxious about the future of our faith, whereas others don't want to see the changes coming. They are busying themselves into a frenzy of denial, which is equivalent to straightening up deck chairs on board the Titanic. The ship is sinking, but whilst we're afloat, we can always sit in the sun.

 

But our times are still in God's hands, and so, therefore, are all our churches. His Spirit has never left the earth and throughout the centuries, the Church has evolved into whatever God wants. Our whole history is full of separations, schisms and divisions, but they don't have to be thought of as negative. A schism could be God's way of getting His Church to specialize in different areas, different cultures, amongst different and diverse people.

 

One thing is for sure, and we only have to look at Gamaliel's words to recognize it: if these things are from God, then we will not be able to stop it, for we will only be fighting against God. Let's focus on discerning what He wants to do in the world, instead of what we want Him to do for our churches.

 

Prayer:  Lord God, these are troubling times for the Church, but You've seen it all before. We tend to get caught up in our own world, instead of looking at the bigger picture of Your Everlasting Kingdom. Enable us to see the path that You want us to specialize in ministry and mission, so that no matter what division or schism may arise, Your work, Your word, and Your will shall triumph. In Jesus' Name, we pray Amen.

The Shocking Truth

Psalm 10:4           In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

 

Years ago, when I was in seminary, I was amongst a group of divinity students who had arranged a meeting with shop stewards from the ship builders in Glasgow. The men we met were rugged and coarse, who had spent all of their lives building the great Cunard liners that once majestically sailed around the world.

 

We were meeting with them to discuss how the church could effectively minister to the average Scottish working man and his family. We hoped that they could give us an insight into how to make our future ministries more relevant. I was the first to ask a question.

 

"What does the working man think about the church?" I naively inquired. The answer was blunt and shocking.

 

"Nothing," one of the shop stewards replied. "We never think about the church." You could have heard a pin drop and I'm sure that each mouth of us seminarians gaped open in disbelief. He continued, "We work hard, get our pay, spend our money, and provide for our families. We don't have time to think about the church. We don't have a reason to think about the church."

 

It's a lesson that I've never forgotten. Compared to the rest of the world, we live in our own wee community and contemplate about what God wants to do with our lives. For those outside of the church, theological issues and Christian ways are not even on their radar. They work hard, get their pay, spend their money, and provide for their families. Whatever comes before or after life is not important. Whatever faith has to do with them isn't an issue. Just as the psalmist says, in all their thoughts there is no room for God.

 

This is why what we do as Christians, rather than what we say becomes very important. Faithless people may not understand our words, our culture and our God, but they will recognize our help, our support, and our care. So today, let's make and take as many opportunities as we can to be loving and compassionate, to be sympathetic and tolerant, for by those fruits of our faith, they will come to understand what Christians really are, and what Christ is all about.

 

Prayer:    Lord Jesus, we like to think that the world revolves around our faith and that our churches make a difference in the community. Sometimes we delude ourselves into thinking that we are more effective than we actually are. Teach us Your ways of communicating the Gospel, not just by preaching and teaching, but also through healing and helping. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Mob Mentality

Matthew 27: 25 All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"

 

We all make mistakes and, usually, we suffer the consequences of our actions. When I rebelled as a teenager, I did some nasty things that I still regret. When I became a drunk, I put myself into idiotic situations that still haunt my soul today. Now that I have college age daughters, I worry that the weaknesses and excesses of my past will be similarly experienced by them. I don't want them to go through what damaged me. I don't want them to fall into the same pits of despair, depression, and self-destruction.

 

It seems, however, that the mob in Pilate's court didn't care about their children. They were hostile and angry, bitter and determined to destroy Jesus. The clergy had done their work well - they had whipped the mob into a frenzy of hatred, violence and injustice. The people were calling for Jesus to be lynched and crucified. Their bloody tempers were so hot that they even committed their children to this unjust cause. If an innocent man was being tortured and killed, they were ready to take the blame; and even their innocent children were invoked as being part of this shameful hostility.

 

We're still like this today. We're fighting a war and committing billions to it, which our children and grandchildren will have to pay for with their own blood, sweat, and toil. We're living beyond our means and showing our kids a lifestyle that they will never be able to afford, which will ruin their credit, burst their relationships, and cause misery in their lives. We're addicted to pleasure, in love with ourselves, and we selfishly waste the world's finite resources. If it all runs out just after we pass on to the next world, who cares what's left for our children?

 

Jesus was crucified by the mob, but so were the mob's children. The mob crucified Jesus in order to preserve Jerusalem, the Temple, and their way of life, but within a generation, the city would be destroyed, the Temple would be torn down, and their way of life would be changed forever.

 

The challenge that we face today is this: will our own history sadly repeat itself for our kids?

 

Prayer:    Lord Jesus, we all make mistakes, but sometimes it's our kids who suffer the consequences. Sometimes innocent lives are damaged through our selfish sins. Make us more aware that what we do today can destroy our children's dreams tomorrow. Forgive our foolish ways and restore us to what is right. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.