Just a Second Hand Emotion?

Marc Chagall, The Exodus, 1966

For almost every wedding, many funerals and memorial services, there is a request to hear the familiar thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians. Often referred to as the love chapter, this passage concludes:

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. 

In our times, love is a word that is in desperate need of recovery from so much abuse and misuse. Hackneyed to the hilt, love has become much understood. Yet, we still utter it indiscriminately. In the original Greek of the text, the Apostle Paul used a very specific word for love here. There are three other Greek words that can be translated into the single English word love. They all have different meanings and, consequently, specific ramifications.  So, Paul used one of the four.  And the one was ἀγάπη agapē - (affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love).

Interestingly, Paul uses the same word for love in the passage we will ponder together on Sunday morning during our Faith Formation Forum.

. . . God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — not the result of works, so that no one may boast.  (Ephesians 2:4-9)

Here is something to think about in the meantime. Is the love that you experience more often unconditional or conditional? Have you experienced love as a gift or as a reward? As you consider your spiritual well-being keep in mind the question that Tina Turner (in a different context!) so famously asks, What's love got to do with it?

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I spent part of Ash Wednesday afternoon at a local Starbucks nursing a Venti coffee of the day while making myself available to impose ashes on interested inquirers. It was a good experience.  Most of my time there involved conversations with folks who just wanted to talk and share. So I listened much of the time. The experience reminds me of the need to be intentional about getting out of my comfort zone. Being present in public with the unfamiliar, unknown, and unexpected is part of our call as Church. I hope to reflect more on this and share my thoughts here more thoroughly in future posts.  

Meanwhile, this Sunday is the Second Sunday in Lent.  Here are some particulars for your preview:

Prayer of the Day

God of the covenant, in the mystery of the cross you promise everlasting life to the world. Gather all peoples into your arms, and shelter us with your mercy, that we may rejoice in the life we share in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Readings and Psalm

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 

Psalm 27 

Philippians 3:17--4:1 

Luke 13:31-35 

When was the last time you were amazed?

Cherry-Pick or Broadcast

I almost always find it interesting and curious, especially during a contentious election cycle, how tempting it is to selectively cherry-pick passages of scripture that support a politically expedient position. I suppose we also have this tendency at other times too. But it becomes more obvious, for example, once Presidential Primary season rolls around.

Considering our own call, brothers and sisters, may we be attentive to a primary passage from Matthew's gospel that gives us direction as disciples of Jesus:

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."  Matthew 28:18-20

This commission that Jesus lays at our feet is meant to be written on our hearts, rather than relegated to a function handled by so-called professionals in our stead. This is the mission of the whole people of God. It remains a daunting task -- one that overwhelms while simultaneously intimidates. What are we to do when we grow hesitant, comfortable, and functionally indifferent?  As we seek to grow as Christ followers, let's consider these questions as we anticipate our weekly gathering.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  1 Peter 2:9

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First Sunday in Lent

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Prayer of the Day

O Lord God, you led your people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide us now, so that, following your Son, we may walk safely through the wilderness of this world toward the life you alone can give, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Readings 

Deuteronomy 26:1-11 

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 

Romans 10:8b-13 

Luke 4:1-13 

Why is the number forty observed, if not that the excellence of the Ten Commandments is perfected by the four books of the gospel? For as ten multiplied by four makes forty, so we perfectly fulfill the precepts of the decalogue when we faithfully observe the four books of the holy gospels. And if you wish, there is yet another way to understand this time of Lent. From today until the joyful solemnities of Easter there are six weeks, that is, forty-two days. Subtract the six Sundays, and there remain thirty-six days for Lenten abstinence. Since a year contains three hundred and sixty-five days, we, when we mortify ourselves for thirty-six days, give to the Lord as it were a tithe of our year.

—Gregory the Great   [in Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers, II, 34-35.]

Go Figure

This Sunday the church celebrates the festival of the Transfiguration of Our Lord.  We'll hear the gospel from Luke 9:28-43.

I suspect that this story of the Transfiguration of Our Lord is ultimately as much about a transformation of the disciples as it is about the transfiguration of Jesus.  I love the way God interrupts Peter and basically tells him to stop talking, stop doing, stop worrying and take time to listen to Jesus. Sometimes I think we need to stop and listen more than we do.

As you read Romans 12 in preparation for our Faith Formation Forum this Sunday, consider the following:

1. What does it mean to be transformed?
2. What is the goal of transformation?
3. What should motivate us to undergo transformation?
4. What does one do in order to experience transformation?

Meanwhile, I encourage you to be a congregation this Sunday. Congregate! Come together to participate in worship and fellowship. Assemble as brothers and sisters in Christ. While you are at it, invite a friend or relative to come and see.

Heads Up!

Ash Wednesday Services, February 10th at 11:00 and 7:00.  I'll also be at the Starbucks at Target on Ash Wednesday from 1:00 to 3:00 for Ashes on the Go.  If you are unable to attend one of the services, drop by and say hello.

Hindsight, Discernment, and Unity

Within the context of a conversation yesterday in a meeting armed with the the blessing of hindsight, I realized that for the past year or so we have been engaged in discernment. Several times we have actually used the word "discernment" to describe what we were doing. Though I suspect that we thought if it more in terms of planning and preparing. Discovering and doing the will of God is different from measuring and implementing our own. 

Figuring out what God wants you to do (and become) can be frustrating. Rarely is the process quickly accomplished. Sometimes I think of it as a period of gestation that seems to never come to fruition. Despite many idiosyncrasies, we are faithful when we strive forward. 

Since the recent snow accumulation derailed our plans for last Sunday morning, this Sunday morning in Faith Formation Forum we will discuss last week's topic, Growing Together Spiritually. As time permits, we will incorporate the topic for this second week in our six-week challenge, Using Gifts to Work Together.

For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.                    - Romans 12:4-8

Marva J. Dawn, in her book Truly the Community observes the following:

How rarely it is truly understood in the Church that we are really all together in one Body in Christ, and each member has a different function! To our great loss, the idea of unity in diversity in the Christian community is often talked about as a nice theory, but rarely put into practice. We all can see how wonderful the pictures of the Scriptures are, but the friction comes when we try to put them in tangible relationships and structures. Seldom do we actually manifest true unity/diversity in the Body, and, therefore, rarely do we set one another free for functioning in our own unique ways.*

As you reflect on your experience as a member of a congregation, a parish, or a gathering of Christians, consider how you have lived into unity. Have you? Is there room in the midst of it all for diversity?  Are we better at "taking hostages" emotionally or setting one another free for functioning?

* Dawn, Marva J., Truly the Community: Romans 12 and How to Be the Church. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), p. 77.

Dwelling

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.   Colossians 3:16-17

When I started this blog a couple of years ago, it needed a title.  I chose Willing Habitation.  This phrase is adapted from a sentence in a book on preaching by Wallace E. Fisher.  Dr. Fisher was my ordination sponsor. More importantly, Dr. Fisher was a pastor, author, mentor, leader, and faithful servant of the church during the second half of the 20th century.

Although a bit "in your face" this assertion by Fisher below has clung to me for years -- a steady reminder of what's at stake in my vocation.

Christ confronts persons through preachers who, making themselves willing habitations for him, proclaim God's demands and promises no matter what the cost may be to their persons.  Wallace E. Fisher

There seems to be a connection between this notion of being a willing habitation and the call to "let the word of Christ dwell in you.." from the Colossians text. One is an expectation the other is an invitation. Yet they get at the same thing.  Becoming a dwelling place and a willing habitation is not something to which we are naturally inclined. At least I'm not. It is a discipline to make the room and clear out the clutter.

It terms of growing together spiritually, this task of house cleaning seems to be the first, yet often overlooked, step. If not the word of Christ, what is it that dwells in you? What is it for which we would rather provide sanctuary -- serve as a willing habitation?

So, depending on the amount of snow we get over the next couple of days, we will have an opportunity to discuss this at our gathering on Sunday morning at 8:45. As always, your comments and thoughts are welcome. God bless you.

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As you are watching the snow fall, here is Simone Dinnerstein playing Suite Bergamasque - 3. Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy.

6-Week Challenge

In the midst of the bleak mid-winter may actually be the prime time to focus some of our attention on renewal. All around us things seem to be in a state of hibernation. And, if truth be told, sometimes we feel like joining that trend. Imagine, however, using this time to devote our collective attention and energy toward a series of six sessions that will challenge us to deepen our faith and enhance our capacity for mission in the name of Jesus.

Below here you'll see an outline of topics for the next six weeks. Even if you have never attended Sunday morning Faith Formation (Sunday School) you are more than welcome.  I would also like to encourage you to invite others (friends, neighbors, family members, etc.) to come and see. I'm looking forward to our time together.

As we anticipate this Sunday's first session, let's consider a few questions: In your lifetime, what changes have you witnessed in the church? What changes have you experienced in the position of the church in relationship to our surrounding culture? How has your spiritual well-being been nurtured by the church over the years? Has it been? How would you describe your relationship with Jesus?What are some of the activities, priorities, and responsibilities that compete most for your allegiance and devotion?

Faith Formation Forum

St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church

2695 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA

Sunday Mornings @ 8:45

Growing Together: Spiritual Exercises for Renewal

January 17, 2016 - Second Sunday after the Epiphany

Change: Plate Tectonics and the Church

January 24, 2016 - Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Growing Together Spiritually

Colossians 3:16-17

January 31, 2016 - Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Using Gifts to Work Together

Romans 12:4-8

February 7, 2016 - Transfiguration of our Lord

Considering the Mission

Matthew 28:18-20

February 14, 2016 - First Sunday in Lent

Sharing the Faith With Others

1 Peter 2:9

February 21, 2016 - Second Sunday in Lent

Receiving Unconditional Love

Ephesians 2:4-9

Like a Dog

Oliver

Not long after we moved to Chambersburg, we decided to adopt a dog to round out the household. (Apparently three children and two cats weren't enough under one roof.) Oliver came from a local rescue shelter. He fits right in now and is a force to be reckoned with in our family. One thing for sure, Oliver is unwavering in his faithfulness, love, and devotion.  I know this is not a unique quality in our dog Oliver. Yet it remains a constant reminder of what pure unconditional love looks like. No matter what, every time I return home and enter the house through the back door into our kitchen, Oliver is right there to greet me with kisses and a wet nose. 

In the gospel reading for this day of the Epiphany of our Lord, we hear that the wise men from the east have come to greet Jesus:

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”  (Matthew 1:1-2, NRSV)

The Greek word that is translated homage is προσκυνέω (proskynéō, pros-koo-neh'-o).  It means to kiss, (like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):—worship.

The Three Magi: Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar 

from a late 6th century mosaic 

at the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy

What would it look like for us to pay homage to our Lord and King, Jesus the Christ? What gifts can we offer in this Light that no darkness can overcome?

This coming Sunday, the church observes The Baptism of Our Lord.  As we remember Christ's baptism, we also remember our own and give thanks for the gifts that each of us has been given. Chiefly, we remember that we have been adopted and rescued. We have been given the gift of grace that has called us through the waters of baptism to walk as children of the Light. How might this gracious gift of new life shape and inspire our worship and the ways we offer our homage?

Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates Epiphany with multiple baptisms.