Pointed Texts- Devo# 4: Psalm 21

 

 

Psalm 21 has 13 verses – the verses this devotion focuses on:

Vs 13.  Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.

Vs. 6   You bestow on him blessings forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.

 ---Paul T's pick

I was once told by a rabbi that public reading of the Psalms in a synagogue, never leaves the reading on a sour note. If the final verse of the Psalm is negative, the first verse (or an alternative stanza) will be repeated at the end. This Psalm provides its own ending verse to turn us from the unsettling nature of vs. 8-12 (I’ll come back to these verses) to focus on God’s power.

·         When it comes to matters of country – on a world stage whether government, sport, rankings of any kind- do you like to see Canada ‘win?’ Whether it is troops on the ground in NATO operations; winning Olympic medals or the World Juniors; or our ranking on the treatment of Indigenous peoples being better than country x, y, or z?

·         What does being winner or victorious mean?

·         If we consider Canada victorious, does this make ‘the other’ enemy, loser, or less than?

 

As all Psalms are wont to do, this Psalm of David, draws out a full spectrum of emotions. The hymn is a royal thanksgiving for victory. It includes a prayer for the long life of the monarch and a royal blessing predicated on royal obedience. The hymn takes a turn in verse 8-12 describing fiery wrath on enemies and then closes with a statement of praising God’s power.

 

·         What are the emotions you feel as you read through the Psalm?

·         What does ‘the joy of God’s presence’ mean to you?

·         How do you describe and/or understand God’s power?

 

Victory, winning, blessing, gladness, divine presence, hating one’s enemies, enemies receiving their just-reward, praising divine power --- what a rollercoaster! Psalms are a poetic expression of human emotion, opening readers to their humanness and often the shadowy places in ourselves that we hide or push down.  It is okay if our sensibilities and ideals of political correctness make us cringe as we read the text. The exploration of the emotions, our humanness, biases, and what we act on when living life in relationship to others, God, and creation, is the whole point of the Psalms. It is the reason Psalms have depth and have given comfort for millennia. This art form helps us wrestle with difficult feelings, questions, and theology.

·         Have you ever considered the Psalms to be a self-help book? Emotional therapy? A resource to help your psyche wrestle with the state of world?

 

·         Reflect on the connection of ‘the joy of God’s presence’ and ‘be exalted O Lord in your strength.’

 

As I close off this devotion, I am left pondering our broken world and the moments I feel the joy of God’s presence. I feel God’s presence most deeply in places where one might not expect to feel or see God. This is the power and strength of God to be exalted. Consider what power and strength it takes God – the divine- to enter the world and be present in the messiness of humanity.  Praise God that God has not abandoned us.

 

 

At the beginning of the week, I will post a devotion on a pointed text from scripture. I will include commentary and questions for reflection. Answers and other questions and comments can be sent to me at halifaxlutherchurch@gmail.com ,put in the comment section of this blog, or on FB where the link to this devotion was shared. Fridays I will share the messages (conversation) received via the church email list

 

Nets Are Cast - This Is a Big Deal!

 

God’s grace changes everything. Follow me, fish for people, and the disciples did. Casting nets -not with the intention of making more followers- casting nets of grace that embraced people: with words of hope, vision for the future, actions of mercy, rallying for justice, revolution upturning the world’s ways, encouragement to kindom build, offers of forgiveness, and magnificent healings. Casting grace was God’s work through them. 2000 years later we have been caught in God’s grace – thanks to the work of fisherfolk who continued to cast nets in the footsteps of Jesus. I believe that God’s grace has changed us and that this grace can change the world. Today we are called to continue to fish for people – cast God’s net- cast grace indiscriminately, not with the intent to make more Christians, but with the purpose to heal and to change the world. In this is Jesus’ revolutionary teaching brought to life. In this is the kindom of God.

 

Yes, you heard those words preached last Sunday. They are repeated today not just by me, but in the mouth of Micah the prophet. The practice of grace, ‘the what’ of what it means to cast grace is directed to three practices:

Do justice, love kindness (mercy), walk humbly with God.

 

In the past seven days, God’s grace through us worked its purpose of healing and changing the world. The healing isn’t complete, neither is the change required, but God’s grace did amazing things. Jesus’ revolutionary teaching was brought to life, as was the kindom of God.

 

The past decade has seen the Eastern Synod and the National Church engage in being a companion Synod and accompanying church to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land. Our benevolence dollars contribute to this ministry. Christian Arabs in Palestinian Territory are a small group – Lutherans make up a large part of the group. Lutheran delegates to Synod assemblies express their appreciation for companionship because it is a source of hope when they feel small, oft times forgotten by the world. Companionship too is an outside voice for a people restricted in their movement and facing day-to-day persecution.

But this past week – Lutheran Bishops from Canada, representatives from the Lutheran World Federation were able to be in the Holy Land to celebrate God’s grace and kindom.

 

Rev. Sally Azar, a Palestinian Lutheran Christian became the Holy Land’s first female pastor. Pastor Sally is described by the local Christian community as daughter, sister, and also mentor, leader contributing to the life and mission of their churches. This is a big deal. The Christian church in Jordan and the Holy Land is small but has expansive nets that cast grace – grace worked through specific focuses of gender justice and peace work. Christian presence is the mediating voice between Jews and Muslims. Support through scholarships and the work of Canada Lutheran World relief have also contributed to four primary schools where children of Abrahamic faiths learn together, and a hospital that services Palestinian people including access to dialysis.  This is a big deal.

 

Earlier in January, in the same part of the world, the protestant cemetery on Mount Zion was vandalized and desecrated. National Bishop Susan Johnson, along with Anglican Primate, wrote a letter, inviting other churches to sign it, addressed to the Prime minister urging the government of Canada to express  concerns for the safety and dignity of the Christian community in the Holy Land and to support the right to security of its people, buildings, and property. Bishops were present and went to the cemetery while there for Pastor Sally’s ordination because God’s presence is to be visibly seen in solidarity with one another. The point was to bring awareness and to upturn the world’s understanding. This is a big deal!

 

 

Do justice, love kindness (mercy), walk humbly with God.

 

Do you know what is so hard about being a person of faith? It is not about me and yet it is very much about me.

It is God’s grace that changes everything; a grace that has changed me. I strive to live faithfully. So often though I feel like I am not enough, I haven’t produced the healing or affected the change desperately needed in the world. I perceive that I am too small.

 

Maybe you feel that way too?

The messages coming from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land say otherwise. Solidarity, justice, kindness, walking humbly with God are manifest among them. Holy healing and change are happening, bringing the kindom of God near. They are witnesses to these things.

If you have given even $1 to benevolence – you have been part of an extraordinary casting of grace. I am not small, rather, I forget that I am part of a community of faith, who is part of a larger body of faith, who is part of a even bigger body of faith--- each with its own focused ministry and abilities. This large community is grassroots; its us -our faith, nets, and resources- that trickle up.  We do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God, on the world stage. As part of the larger Lutheran body we have a voice to speak directly to world leaders, the resources to run the world’s largest refugee camps, the clout to be named Sponsorship Agreement Holders for refugee resettlement, the platform to host world class conferences on issues like climate justice and gender equality, the immediate ability to respond on the ground to crisis like war in Ukraine.

 

Just because we do not see the net. Just because we do not see the justice, the love, the mercy. Just because it is not here in our face … do not forget that we have cast God’s grace.

Think of it for a moment, when you cast a net, do you throw it over yourself? Do you throw it so it still touches the side of the boat? No, of course not. You cast it as far as you can.

 

Hold the hope of this … just because you can’t see the catch – where the grace ends up- believe that grace goes out and brings healing and changes the world. Believe that God’s kindom is here now.

Praise God that grace has worked through us! This is a big deal.

 

Continue to cast nets -fishing for people – do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.

Pointed Texts - Devo#3: Micah 4: 2

 

And many nations will come and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.   --- Joyce’s pick

 

 

Chapter 4 of Micah is a three-part poem that describes the prophet’s understanding of an ideal age. It is an oracle of hope. The concepts expressed (especially verse 1-4) are nearly identical to Isaiah 2. Micah is conveying words that have spoken before his time and repeated after his time.

 

Verse two – the pointed text- points to an idea of pilgrimage to the mountain of the Lord and points to an ideal of instruction. In prophetic text of this time, instruction, refers to being taught the Law and Covenant made between God and the people.

 

·         What is a pilgrimage? Have you ever been on a pilgrimage? Would you consider going on a pilgrimage?

·         What does it mean to value instruction?

·         Are pilgrimage and learning connected for you?

 

An ‘ideal age’ – or what I would describe as the reign of God, or kindom of God- requires two things: a turning or returning to God and a learning of the Law (adherence to the covenant).

In further verses of Micah’s poem, readers learn that returning to God and learning to live into the covenant (loving God and loving neighbour) brings about a change in the world; a place where:

Vs. 3 – swords are beat into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks; nations do not go to war or learn to war;

Vs. 4- people will sit under their own vines and fig trees; no one will make the people afraid.

 

·         Does our returning to God and learning to live the covenant change the world around us?

·         Do you have an example where you changed something in your life and it changed you, and consequently the people around you?

 

Micah, known for his judgmental tone, was a prophet in the late eighth century BCE (759-687BCE). He prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem, yet his writing articulates a deep seeded hope and faith in the future.

·         When you look at the world around you – a world where there is war, destruction, system-failure- do you have deep seeded hope and faith in the future? If so, where does hope and faith in the future come from? How is it nurtured or shared/taught to others?

 

 

At the beginning of the week, I will post a devotion on a pointed text from scripture. I will include commentary and questions for reflection. Answers and other questions and comments can be sent to me at halifaxlutherchurch@gmail.com ,put in the comment section of this blog, or on FB where the link to this devotion was shared. Fridays I will share the messages (conversation) received via the email list.

Caught in God's Grace

 William Sloane Coffin, an American clergyman, leader in the Civil Rights movement, leader in the peace movements of the 1960sand 70s; once president of the US’s largest social justice group – gave this blessing:

May God give you grace never to sell yourself short; Grace to risk something big for something good; And grace to remember that the world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love.

This is the Gospel for today. The blessing explains what the story of Jesus calling the fishermen to leave their nets is all about.

How often have we heard this preached with a direction to 'fish for people' in a sense of catching people to follow Jesus, to get their bums in a church pew, to grow Christianity one baptism at a time? The image is reeling people in… catching people.

But what if this 'fishing for people' is a different kind of expedition?

What if the emphasis is on the fishing not the catching? Notice the text says nothing about catching. As Jesus walked by the Sea he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea.  Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’

 

Simon, Andrew, James, and John fish in the Sea of Galilee.  They fish by casting nets. What if Jesus is talking about just casting nets, where the net is grace? This is Coffin’s blessing in action:

 God give you grace never to sell yourself short – Jesus specifically called these fishermen. He stopped, looked at them, drew them to his cause, and called them for important work.

Grace to risk something big for something good – and risk they did. To leave their nets would be to endanger the social order, their families fishing operation, and anger the rulers of the day. The Roman rulers set quotas, collected taxes, took so much of the catch for themselves, so to turn ones’ backs on the economical system threatened their livelihood and that of their families; slavery, imprisonment, even death were real possibilities. Following Jesus ---as we will be reminded many times in coming weeks- was following a leader who was about overthrowing the unjust systems of his day, righting inequality, redistributing wealth, showing mercy; in other words, revolution and bringing the kindom of God.

And grace to remember that the world is too dangerous for anything but truth – first-hand the fishermen are reminded of this. John the Baptist has been thrown into prison; a preacher who has been giving hope, empowering the broken, and pointing fingers at those in power. A man who believed that repentance, that turning around, that loving God and loving neighbour could change the world.  This belief threatened those in power, for the world would change if were to live remembering, that the world is too small for anything but love.

 

In their world, in our world there are nets and traps all over the place. Jesus taught the fishermen to cast their nets into the world – on top of, around, beside, the nets miring people in stagnant pools, polluted waters, chaotic whirlpools, rogue waves. The fishermen learn to cast a different kind of net – to cast grace – God’s grace. We have heard Jesus’ parables: the sower went to sow seed, extravagantly casting seed everywhere. This idea of casting nets and seeds indiscriminately is repeated often by Jesus. When cast, a net gathers everything in its reach. The fishermen cast mercy, cast grace, and whether a person wants it or not they are caught by grace. Changing them in some way.

Simon Sinek in his book, Start With Your Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action,  tells the story of Samuel Pierpont Langely and the Wright brothers, both working at the same time, but in different locations, to create the first heavier-than-air flying machine; an airplane.  Langley had prestigious, an academic community. He was well-connected to powerful people in business and government. He was well-funded and had the greatest minds on his team.

The Wright brothers had no funding just money from their bicycle shop. There were no government grants, no high-level connections, and their team had no college degrees among them. On paper Langley was set up for success, yet it was the Wright brothers who were first to fly.

 Why? Well, as Sinek writes – the Wright brothers “had a dream. They knew WHY its was important to build this thing. They believed that if they could figure out this flying machine, it could change the world. They imagined the benefits to everyone else if they were successful.”

On the other hand, Langely’s dream was a self-serving goal: being the first to create a flying machine was about personal achievement, acquiring prestige, fame, and fortune.

It was belief in something bigger than the individual. It was belief that together -for the common good- their work could change the world.

 

Jesus had a dream. He knew WHY it was important to build God’s kindom. He believed that if the disciples could figure out this kindom living, it could change the world. He imagined the benefits to everyone else if they were successful.

The disciples had a dream. They knew WHY it was important to carry on Jesus’ way. They believed that if they could figure out ‘fishing for people,’ it could change the world. They imagined the benefits to everyone else if they were successful.

What I believe – I have a dream. I know WHY it is important to build God’s kindom, to carry on Jesus’ way. I believe that God’s grace changes everything and that this grace can change the world. I imagine the benefits to everyone else when we are successful.

People with a belief in a higher sense of purpose will leave their nets to tackle seemingly unprecedented and difficult tasks, finding opportunities, while successfully navigating the struggles of their day.

 

God’s grace changes everything. Follow me, fish for people, and the disciples did. Casting nets -not with the intention of making more followers- casting nets of grace that embraced people: with words of hope, vision for the future, actions of mercy, rallying for justice, revolution upturning the world’s ways, encouragement to kindom build, offers of forgiveness, magnificent healings. Casting grace was God’s work through them. 

2000 years later we have been caught in God’s grace – thanks to the work of fisherfolk who continued to cast nets in the footsteps of Jesus. I believe that God’s grace has changed us and that this grace can change the world. Today we are called to continue to fish for people – cast God’s net- cast grace indiscriminately, not with the intent to make more Christians, but with the purpose to heal and to change the world. In this is Jesus’ revolutionary teaching brought to life. In this is the kindom of God.

 

May God give this congregation the grace never to sell ourselves short; Grace to risk something big for something good; And grace to remember that the world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love.  AMEN.

POINTED TEXTS - Devo#2 - 1 Kings 12: 24

“Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up or fight against your kindred the people of Israel. Let everyone go home, for this thing is from me.” So they heeded the word of the Lord and went home again, according to the word of the Lord.     ----Carolyn's pick

These words are spoken by a prophet, probably one whom you have not heard of, Shemaiah (the man of God). Shemaiah pointed these words at a King to deflate a tense situation and stop a civil war from starting. And the prophet’s pointed message of God’s word did just that!

 

After a long reign King Solomon dies. His son, Rehoboam, travels from Jerusalem to the Northern territory – a Tribal Confederacy of 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel.  He goes to be recognized and installed as the 'king of Israel.' The tribal confederacy was to participate in a ceremony to hail Rehoboam as king. When Rehoboam arrived the tribal confederacy had conditions before naming him as their king. Years before, Solomon had indentured many northern people into labour gangs; now they were asking for an end to such practice. Rehoboam refused (against the counsel of his aides) and openly defended labour gangs, implying the practice would continue in just as harsh a manner. The Tribal Confederacy did not hail Rehoboam as king.

 

Have you ever been part of a family argument that got out of hand?

Have you been part of a family disagreement that has permanently pulled the family a part?

Labour gangs were a form of slavery. Consider how families operate. Are there actions or dynamics in your family that hold other family members hostage (bound or enslaved)?

 

The Twelve Tribes of Israel -named after Jacob’s sons- came into a land and settled by family tribe. Each tribe was connected but had independence from the others. By the time of Solomon much had happened between the tribes. Rehoboam’s choice of how he would be king was the last event in a long line of choices made by previous kings, that drove an unfixable rift between the family tribes. The 10 northern tribes decided to choose their own king, becoming the “Kingdom of Israel.” The southern tribes centered around Jerusalem, had Rehoboam as king, and were known as the “Kingdom of Judah.”

 

God, via the prophet’s words, ordered Rehoboam to go home. What was the benefit of this?

Have you walked away from a family quarrel?

Is healing possible from deep rifts?

Does God have a hand in how you approach family arguments?

 

1 Kings is a pointed text – at the time pointed at Rehoboam- now, it can be interpreted pointedly with personal questions. It too is a text that could be used to think about civil and tribal wars found throughout our world today.

 

On Tuesdays I will post a devotion on a pointed text from scripture. I will include commentary and questions for reflection. Answers and other questions and comments can be sent to me at halifaxlutherchurch@gmail.com ,put in the comment section of this blog, or on FB where the link to this devotion was shared. Fridays I will share the messages (conversation) received via the email list.

 

 

Pointed Texts

 

2^nd Sunday After Epiphany

Jan. 15, 2023--- Rev. Dr. Kimberlynn McNabb, Prepared for ELCIC sermons by email

 

 

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days God has spoken to us by a Son. (Hebs. 1:1-2)

 

Greetings and peace from Kjipuktuk – the Great Harbour- in Mi’kma’ki, traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq people.  It is with gratitude that I, Pastor Kimber McNabb, and the people of Resurrection in Halifax, join with you and other congregations across the ELCIC to reflect on the Word.

 

Flip through photo albums from my husband’s family and you will see picture after picture of family members on vacation pointing to the attraction they have stopped to see. I always wondered about the pointing, as if the viewer can’t see the only attraction in the photo.  I have concluded that the pointing had two purposes: one was for emphasis, and the other was to keep children’s hands from bothering or teasing siblings or cousins.

Pointing in pictures to the main event was not invented by my husband’s family. Way back in Medieval times, paintings often had figures pointing. For example, the Grunewald altar piece, has John the Baptist pointing at Jesus being crucified, as if the image of Jesus crucified doesn’t already have the viewer’s attention. Lucas Cranach the Elder painted the crucifixion with Luther pointing at the Word (an open Bible in his hand) while a reformer in the group beside him points to the cross and the crucified Jesus.

Go back further and we hear today’s Gospel, a story of John the Baptist pointing, Look here is the Lamb of God.

 

As much as we might find pointing in photos and paintings unnecessary, the world is in desperate need of pointers; people whose mission it is to point out the Lamb of God.  Pointers are needed for many have not heard, and those who have are occupied, preoccupied; heads are busy; hearts are heavy; people are lost in schedules and everyday responsibilities.  Even the most attuned need the occasional pointer to be jolted into seeing, turning around, and waking up. Car horns, alarms, and timers were all invented because people loss focus, and get caught up not paying attention to the world around them, including where God is in the world.

 

As followers of Jesus and practitioners of faith, we have the skills to be pointers. Look here is the Lamb of God. Once upon a time, cartography maps, mapped known areas and named settlements and features; places on the edges -the unexplored or unknown- were marked with phrases like ‘here be dragons.’ As people we understand this practice and readily participate in marking areas: look! here be war, here be racism, here be injustice, here be a falling apart healthcare system, here be a truck convoy, look here be wrong. Followers of Jesus and practitioners of faith get sucked into the world’s pointing of fingers, forgetting that the Gospel is to point towards God, God’s love, grace and mercy, and the work of the kindom.

 

How many of you had to point when posing for family photos? No matter - because today we are going to take a moment to practice pointing at the main attraction. Get your pointer finger at the ready, and follow my lead. As I point to a person in the congregation, do you know what I see?  Look, there be Christ! Look, there be Christ! To those of you on the other side of the video screen, look, there be Christ. Now you try it.

…

 

Yes, we have, look, the Lamb of God, in our skill set. We just identified and pointed to Christ in our midst. We can take this skill into the world. I know it will be harder to practice in the world, but you have it. You can do it. During that practice of pointing to Christ, you didn’t once think about ‘there be dragons,’ did you? Being practitioners of faith is continually returning to simply sharing and highlighting the Gospel; pointing to God present in the world.

 

The letter to the Corinthians tells us: just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you – so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gifts as your wait for the revealing of Christ.  (v6)

This is the second part of John the Baptist’s Look, the Lamb of God. John has a more pointed practice, the practice of testimony; of telling his testimony of Christ. I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Jesus. I myself did not know him….”and so on.

 

Now for those who are one step ahead of where the preacher is going – as I am guest in your midst, not knowing how talkative you may be, and not wanting to overly stress out the sermon deliverer – I will not ask you to turn to your pewmate and have you give testimony of Christ; an experience of Christ that you have witnessed. But consider, if I did ask you too, what would you tell?

 I suspect many of you are quite relieved by not having ‘to tell.’ Perhaps you find yourself tongue-tied, can’t think of an example, or are not so courageous.

 

Recently in Halifax, the church started hosting a community story circle. Each gathering of the story circle has a theme, and those gathered are invited to share a story on that theme for the rest of the group to hear. Everyone has a chance to share their story. Before we get to the main storytelling time, facilitators have found it important to do a few warm-up exercises designed to get people comfortable with each other and speaking in a group, to warm up imaginations, and practice organizing thoughts and articulating feelings. What is learned from community story circles is that: one, storytelling is difficult at first and can be uncomfortable; and two, storytelling is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and honed.

Testimony -a public recounting of a God experience, or a declaration of faith- is storytelling. Like storytelling, the ability to give testimony can be learned, practiced, and honed.  Testimony is modern examples from your life experience that are the Gospel. Testimony is an additional kind of pointing – you are giving a pointed account, a pointed interpretation of an event; telling stories and talking with pointed reference and direction to God, God’s love, the work of the kindom.

A beginning practice is to reflect on that-to-which you point, look there be Christ, and articulate the scene in words: Look there is Christ. That person has taught me about peace in times of difficulty. I’ve seen them pray. They have prayed for me. No matter what the person faces they radiate a divine grace and peace.

 Testifying to Christ is framing what we see and experience from a Christ perspective and practicing the telling of the story in testimony style.

The sunrise this morning was beautiful. God the Creator warmed my heart through this gift.  …

I did hear about that news and my first response was a prayer, Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. The news didn’t change through the day, but I did, I felt a peace and hope greater than myself and because of that was able to figure out how to address the circumstance with a doable action…

In the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, I saw people helping each other – God’s love being passed from neighbour to neighbour…

These kinds of remarks and responses are pointed. It is more than just a conversation that we are engaged in. It is pointed testimony pointing to Look the Lamb of God.

 

Today we claim the pointed text from the letter to the Corinthians: You are not lacking in any spiritual gifts as you wait for the revealing of Christ ---

We are not lacking the skill, the spiritual gift, of being pointers: basic pointing and pointed storytelling. Even as we wait for the revealing of Christ, we point out Christ already revealed.

 

As followers of Jesus and practitioners of faith, may 2023 be the year our photo albums, social media feeds, annual congregation reports; our words, actions, and lives, boldly point and testify look, the Lamb of God. Look, there is Christ!

 

 

 

Pointed Texts Series - Hebrews 13: 5

 

These texts were chosen by the congregation picking up their Bibles, closing their eyes, letting the Bible fall open, and POINTING..... Pointed Texts.

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.”   ---Hebrews 13: 5

                                             ---Rachel

 

We begin this series of Bible studies with a text of unknown origin and of unknown date (likely between 60 and 100 CE).

 

Hebrews is a letter that points to the importance of scripture and of Jewish tradition for those who were followers of Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles, at the time it was written. Early Christians did not have Bibles as we have them today. Their scripture was what is commonly called the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) including for some communities the apocrypha books (the ones found in Catholic Bibles). This is important to keep in mind as we journey through this series. All but two of our ‘Pointed Texts’ are from the Hebrew scriptures, texts that were in the hands of those to whom the letter of Hebrews was written.

 

How important are Hebrew scriptures to you?

When you read Hebrews 13:5 does it sound like a scripture you have heard from Hebrew scripture?

What is the point of this verse?

As a follower of Jesus, what will you apply this pointed text to your everyday life?

 

The letter of Hebrews points to scripture texts and interprets them for the Jesus’ community. Hebrews 13:5 is an example. In it I hear the Law written as a proverb, with an added Psalm phrase. I look forward to discovering the points you find in the text.

 

For today and coming weeks -

You are invited on journey with early Christians. On Tuesdays I will post a devotion on a pointed text from scripture. I will include commentary and questions for reflection. Answers and other questions and comments can be sent to me at halifaxlutherchurch@gmail.com (or put in the comment section of this blog). Fridays I will share the messages (conversation) received via the email list (and attempt to put responses in the blog comments.)

 

You Are Beloved. You Are Beautfiul.

 

We can feel both thankful and dissatisfied about our appearance at any given moment...

There are a whole host of reasons why that is: our self esteem, cultural influences, how we were raised…

But there is something I want you to know, ... I think your face is beautiful.

You might be thinking: You’ve never seen my face … How could you possibly know if my face is beautiful or not?

It’s because it’s one of the few things we all have that’s uniquely ours. There is beauty in that…

 

Face the world as you.

We want you to face the world with confidence. To feel that you can handle whatever this year brings you. And to do it in your own unique way - no matter what that looks like…

And just in case you need to hear it again: I think your face is beautiful.      -Riversol Canada

 

What you have just heard is a portion of a message I received in my inbox as the New Year began. I received this personally addressed note from the skin care company I use. They didn’t have to send this note. I suppose you could call it good business. But, this note touched me - it is different from other communication.  When I read the Gospel for today and realized this is the Baptism of our Lord Sunday – I figured out why the note affected me.

 I think your face is beautiful. Face the world as you.

This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased. -Mt. 3: 17

 

Baptism is a moment in our lives when we are named and marked with the cross of Christ. Most of us don’t remember our own baptisms, but, every time we participate in a baptismal service, an affirmation of faith, or (like we did this morning) give thanks for baptism, we are reminded – you are a child of God. You are beautiful. You have worth. You are loved.

 

At baptism, Jesus is marked with God’s word, God’s love, God’s pleasure. This is my Son…

As you know, after baptism Jesus goes into the desert and then starts public ministry.

With you I am well pleased. Go be ‘the you,’ I have called you to be.  And Jesus does just that.

 

The note sent to my inbox touched me because it directed positive statements personally to me; calling me by name, repeating more than once I think you are beautiful, and commending me to go out into the world and be me. The message resonated because I have heard it before -not from the business world- but from my church family. It is a message that I have strived to convey throughout my ministry. I hope you have heard loud and clear: I have called you by name. You are a child of God, you are precious, you are beautiful, you are loved. Go let your light shine, go in peace and serve the Lord, do not be afraid.

 

The note had me consider the roll of the church, the people of God, in our world today. If a business acts in goodness, to share love, and empower people -to name them and affirm them – is there need or room for the church? Or more pointedly is business demonstrating faithful living more obviously than the church?

 

In this part of the world, on the corner of Allan and Windsor St., the church -Resurrection- is needed. This is where I come, and I hope you come, to hear positive affirmations that fill you and send you out to be a hand of healing in your small corner of the world with God’s love. It is a place that I come to hear that I have worth, that I belong, that God loves with unconditional love.

 

The note and the gospel reading remind me that I am beautiful and loved, that I have worth.

This time of year, this message is super important for people to hear. Christmas into the early weeks of the New Year, exasperates the sense of loneliness many people feel and it translates into a rise in the number of suicides. In 2015, Dove surveyed close to 6500 women of various ages, in five cities around the world. The campaign ‘Choose Beautiful’ discovered that 80% of women say that all women have something beautiful about them; the campaign uncovered the sad truth that 96% said they wouldn’t use the word ‘beautiful’ to describe themselves.

 

Would you describe yourself as beautiful? A child of God? Loved? Worthy? Precious?

 

At baptisms, the congregation participates and makes promises along with the family. We promise to support and pray for the baptized in their new life in Christ.

If we think about that in terms of the scripture for today:

How many of you are God-parents?  When was the last time you did something God-parenty? Or have any of you thought about, supported, or prayed for those who have been baptized over the years?  

In a time when global surveys indicate that 33% of adults worldwide experience feelings of loneliness, there is no time like the present to fulfill the promises we make to the baptized. Consider sending a personalized note to your God-child, or a niece or nephew, or friend from church, a neighbour – call the person by name and include a repeated affirmation – you are beautiful, you are loved, you are a child of God, you are worthy, -go be you, thank you for being you.

 

Doing the math of 33%, means that 1/3 of those gathered here in worship right now– in the pews and online; 1/3 of us experience loneliness. The other math is that for every 25 women, 24 do not self-describe as beautiful (and although I do not have data for men, I assume the number would be high as well). Most of us here need to be reminded of and hear the gospel too:

This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased.

This baptismal epiphany – and the journey we take with Jesus now through Easter- is a series of epiphanies, people being shown again and again, the lengths to which God goes to say: you are chosen. You are loved. You are worthy. You are a child of God.

 

In God’s eyes, in my eyes, you are beautiful!

Loved, go and be the unique you, you are, sharing the gospel to heal loneliness and empower people.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.