Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 7

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:31-44

Jesus begins to perform miracles of exorcism and healing.  It is interesting to note that earlier in the chapter, the devil makes the questioning statement, "If you are the Son of God" in verses 3 and 9 while we end the chapter with the demons shouting, "You are the Son of God!" in verse 41.  

These are the first miracles we see in Luke.  Earlier at Nazareth in verse 23, we understand that Jesus has not only been to Capernaum before but that he has already performed miracles there.

He does the first exorcism and heals Simon's mother-in-law of the fever on the sabbath which was frowned upon in that time.  This was prior to Simon Peter's calling which is about to occur in Luke.  When the sun goes down, and we see the masses show up, it is officially no longer the sabbath.

You never know when you
are going to need a good doctor!

At the end of the chapter, we see that the crowds track Jesus down in a deserted place (presumably to pray).  They want to prevent him from leaving.  It would be quite a feather in the cap of Capernaum to have a local healer and exorcist living among them.  Presumably, everyone had been healed already but you never know when something else might pop up!

What does it mean for us to hoard the healing energy of God?  There are others in neighboring towns who needed him now just as they had the day before.  But they tried to prevent him from leaving because of their future (not present) need.

Where is it that we do the same thing today in the church?

Where do our decisions turn inward toward meeting the needs of the members rather than outward at meeting the needs of the community?

It may be that we need Jesus the exorcist as much today as we did then!

Prayer of the day:

O Holy One of God, we pray that you would heal us of our illnesses that are physical and emotional.  But we also pray that you would exorcise those things which seek to block your spirit from moving through our lives.  Help us to see that as we remain in Christ, we are able to share you with the rest of the world in a wide variety of ways.  We pray this in the name of Jesus, the Son of God.  Amen.

Photo by Mike Kanert via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 6

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:1-30

Today, we have the forty day fast which ties Jesus to earlier religious figures.  Moses fasted for forty days on Mt Sinai as he inscribed the tablets with the 10 Commandments.  Elijah also fasts as he makes his way to Mt Horeb (which many equate with Mt Sinai).

Jesus keeps this fast following his baptism and he considers what his baptism is calling him to do.  Mark agrees that he was tempted but doesn't elaborate.  Matthew and Luke draw on other sources to expand his time away from civilization.  They largely agree on the details but trade the order of the second and third temptations.

The temptation for Jesus to feed himself may have been a temptation on a larger scale.  Would he have been tempted to just go from village to village feeding people as in the miraculous feeding of the 5,000?  He would have been popular, but his teaching has undoubtedly outlasted this temporary satisfaction to help feed our world today.  

How are we tempted today to give in to various wants rather than have difficult conversations about what is needed in the long-term?

The second temptation for Jesus in seeing all the kingdoms of the world may have been a temptation to be the kind of military leader that everyone expected.  He would have grown up hearing stories about Judas the Hammer (Maccabee) liberating Judah.  He obviously saw this as being at odds with who God was calling him to be, but I get the temptation.  

How are we tempted today to exercise power over the other?  

The third temptation for Jesus in throwing himself down from the pinnacle of the temple may have been a temptation to doubt God's love for him.  As a perceptive person, Jesus could likely foresee what happens to people who preach change.  He may have felt God calling him to this mission but would like to avoid the outcome (if possible, take this cup from me).  

How are we tempted today to doubt God's love for us?  This may come to us from time to time considering Covid and polarization and a world where we see Russia invading Ukraine.  

Jesus answers the temptations by leaning into his identity (the scriptures that formed him as he grew up).  We see him begin his mission and right off the bat, they want to throw him off the cliff!

How does our own sense of identity lift us up during troubled times?

Prayer for the day:

Gracious God, we ask you to "lead us not into temptation."  We may pray this because we know we find our way there on our own.  Give us resolve.  Help us understand who we are in Christ.  And may this allow us to know we are indeed loved.  Grant us insight that this is enough.  Amen.

Photo by farhad pocha via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 5

Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-38

John the Baptist is not pulling any punches in today's reading.  We should recognize his symbolism of baptizing in the Jordan River where the people of God first came into the Promised Land.  This is truly representative of new beginnings or starting over as the people of God.

The symbol of immersion is to be buried (under the water) and to be raised up again (emerging to a new life).  As Jesus is baptized, we see a foreshadowing in what is to come.  And we note that Luke's genealogy takes Jesus back to Adam where Matthew's begins with Abraham going forward.  Luke's going back to Adam may be a foreshadowing of the title we see Jesus use for himself, "Son of Man."

John's message for the people comes in a time of scarcity.  People are living under subjugation and stress is high.  It is easy to turn on one another.  

John reminds them that we are a community.  When we have more than we need, we should lift up those who don't rather than hoarding our toilet paper food and coats for ourselves.  It is interesting that Luke's Gospel also includes tax collectors and soldiers in this group coming for baptism.  Tax collectors were seen as sell-outs to the oppressing foreigners and soldiers were the oppressing foreigners!

Is it possible to include our enemies in the beloved community?  John bids them to not abuse their positions.  If they will abide by the contract given them and not use their positions to their advantage, then we may indeed abide together.

In a day when some United Methodists seem poised to separate, it becomes easy to divide into camps.  Us and them.  John seems to be offering a different way if we are willing to hear.  How does his sermon speak to you today?

Prayer for the day:

Loving God, as we live out our day, you remind us to ask you for no more than our daily bread.  Help us to apply this same sufficiency to our relationships.  May we not seek to save up more than we need or take advantage of our neighbors.  Allow us to be satisfied with who we are together in the moment.  And in doing this, may we see your kingdom come on earth.  We pray these things in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Photo by Rick Massey via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 4

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:25-52

Maybe it is because I usually don't read this passage in Lent (when we think more about the cross), but it really struck me today about the encounter with Simeon.  Luke utilizes Simeon's prose in verses 29-32 to really foreshadow the Christian mission to the Gentiles.

As we see this proclaimed about Jesus at the beginning of the Gospel through Simeon, I am drawn to the end of the Gospel when Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the cross of Jesus: 

"As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus." (Luke 23:26, NRSV)

Safety Simon probably wouldn't
advise carrying the cross!

Of course, Simon (Peter) is the first disciple Jesus calls in Luke's Gospel (although his brother Andrew holds this distinction in John's Gospel).  

In all of these ways, it may be that we are Simon.  Like Simeon, our own encounter with Christ gives us peace.  And like Simon, we find that we are called by Christ to follow him and that sometimes, like Simon of Cyrene, this even leads us to carry the cross.

Luke's Gospel dispels any notion that if we only have enough faith, our suffering will cease.  Simeon tells Mary, the mother of Jesus, "and a sword will pierce your own soul too."

But as we have faith in Christ, it is this faith which allows us to endure the suffering that is a part of all life.  And this is the faith which Luke reminds us at the end of the Gospel in 24:34, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”  May this be so for us as well!

Prayer for the day:

Lord, we would seek to glorify you for your grace which spans a world.  May we not be in opposition to your love or put our own ends above your will for the world.  Let all of our actions be life-giving to those we encounter this day.  Amen.

Photo by Old White Truck via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 3

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-24

I'm continually struck by Luke's emphasis on the shepherds within the nativity.  As we consider the Son of God, the angels could have appeared to anyone to announce this birth.

Why shepherds?

As we think about cultural influencers today, shepherds would not have been on the list as holding this job in first century Palestine. 

Some shepherds really enjoy
their work!

To me, this is the reminder that God has come for everybody.  It is also a good reminder that everybody has something to offer, if given a chance.

When they came to see the Christ child for themselves, they told Mary and she "treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart."  We have no evidence of angelic confirmation coming to Mary after the birth.  When we have a significant religious experience, the intensity usually doesn't stay with us.  Sometimes, we can be left wondering, "Did this really happen?"  Mary gets assurance from the shepherds that she isn't crazy!

We get further confirmation of Mary and Joseph being common people in their offering in Jerusalem.  Leviticus 12:6-8 outlines the offering to be given as a sheep but gives allowances for birds if they can't afford it.  Evidently, God did not choose a family of means!

To me, this is a further example of God's grace, freely available to all people.  When I try to make grace conditional, I may find myself losing the Christmas Spirit so to speak.

The pandemic we are moving through was first thought to be a great equalizer in that it touched rich and poor alike.  We quickly found that treatment and time off work was not the same for everyone.  What would be God's preferred outcome if we take today's text into consideration?

In the United States, we value equality based on how we govern ourselves.  But we still have status that keeps us from truly seeing one another.  Maybe if we remembered the shepherds from the nativity more often, we could begin to see how God sees!

Prayer for the day:

Loving God, I give thanks for your grace that comes to me daily.  I would like to earn it but when I fail to live up to the high calling of love, I am glad for your mercy.  Help me to offer mercy as much as I receive it.  And help me to realize how often I receive it.  In the name of Jesus who came for all.  Amen.

Photo by Jeanne Menjoulet via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 2

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-80

It is interesting to me to note that Mary's song or The Magnificat was attributed to Elizabeth in some early manuscripts of Luke.  It does make for a pairing with Zechariah and his prophetic offering.  Her prayer also has similarities with Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1-10.  And of course, both Hannah and Elizabeth had difficulty conceiving.

Regardless of who uttered it, the words for Luke are shining a light toward the Christ.  This will be John's role as we see from his reaction in the womb!

It is important to remember that the Jewish people during this time were under the dominion of Roman rule.  They were looking for someone to set them free.  

As I think about the state of the world today, those in Ukraine might easily repeat
the words of Zechariah in verse 71, "that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us."

Those of us living in more peaceful (yet polarized) conditions might state these as well.  But as I think about our sisters and brothers whose lives are on the line, I wonder about my own feelings of enmity.  

The banner for this peace march for Ukraine
is directed at Putin but it may be a good question
for any of us in dealing with our own hostility.

Jesus can accomplish this salvation from our enemies and those who hate us, but he doesn't do it with weapons.  

If his salvation comes in an unexpected way, I must ask myself why I fall back into the old patterns so easily.  This is an especially appropriate question during Lent.

As I hear Zechariah's words echo to me, how do I receive the light as I "sit in darkness and in the shadow of death." 

And how do we allow the risen one "to guide our feet into the way of peace"?

Prayer for the day:

God, help us to live in holiness and righteousness today and in all of our days.  And help us to recognize that our holiness and righteousness comes with a willingness to forgive.  And when this gives us pause, grant us resilience to follow our Lord.  We pray these things in the name of the Christ.  Amen.

Photo by Elvert Barnes via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 1, Ash Wednesday

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:1-25

As we begin our journey in Luke, I want to remind us that Luke originally wrote for a Gentile Christian audience.  But he begins the Gospel with a Jewish witness - the parents of John the Baptist.

John, of course, did not have the breakthrough into the larger Gentile world - his influence remained largely in Palestine.

His father, Zechariah was a Levite - of the priestly order.  And his mother, Elizabeth was descended from Aaron - the high priest and brother of Moses.  John's pedigree was ripe for a new witness to the Jewish people.

It is interesting that we see John tied to Moses (through Aaron in verse 5) and Elijah - through power of the Holy Spirit in verse 17.  We'll see this duo re-emerge later in the Gospel.  We also remember that Elijah was rumored to come prior to the Messiah which Luke will reveal to be Jesus.

As I read this story again, I'm struck by Gabriel muting Zechariah's voice.  The rationale is a lack of faith when the angel tells him the plan.  I must admit that I would also have some incredulity about a birth during my old age.  

The punishment is especially difficult in that the job of the priest liturgically is to speak on behalf of God to the people.  Gabriel may be saying that if you don't have the proper faith in this instance, you may need to listen more and speak less while you consider how you share faith with God's people.

I wonder how many times our own sense of doubt gets in the way of our witness to God?  

Have you ever known the right response but failed to speak because you didn't know how it would be received?   In essence, our own doubts and fears can silence who we are and how we share.

As we walk with Jesus during these 40 days, my hope is that we can speak to our faith while we prepare for Easter.  We certainly want to do so in a way that won't turn people off, but this reasoning shouldn't make us think that faith sharing is off limits either.  Maybe our prayer needs to be, "Lord, help me find my voice in a way that can be heard."

Prayer for the day:

Ever-present God, you have shaped our lives in ways that we do not fully comprehend.  Help us to understand more fully who we are in you.  And as we understand more of who you have made us to be, help us to be vulnerable enough to share ourselves with the world.  We pray this in the name of the Christ.  Amen.

Photo by Simon Johansson via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.