Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 33

Scripture Reading: Luke 19:29-48

Common wisdom of the day would look at the actions of Jesus and say that things are not going to end well for him.

We know differently but could certainly see where they were coming from.

As he enters Jerusalem, we must remember that the Passover is nearing.  This is a Jewish holiday where lots of people come from all over to visit the Temple.  It is a time when they remember how God led them out of captivity from Egypt.

If you were a foreign occupier of Jerusalem, this religious observance would make you nervous for sure!

Jerusalem is ripe for riot and revolt.

When Jesus enters Jerusalem in a kind of procession, they are calling him "King" and "Lord".  The Pharisees were calling for cessation in that they didn't want the army coming in and killing a bunch of civilians caught up in the moment.  The cleansing of the Temple wouldn't have toned this down at all.

When Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, Luke has already seen (or at least heard of) the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD.  All of the things Jesus says in this paragraph have essentially already come to pass.  Some see this as prophetic utterings by Jesus while others see it as editorial commentary by Luke.  Regardless of which you believe, we see an important message shared.

If only we could recognize the things that make for peace.  

This is true in our world today as we try to figure out Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It is true in our country today as we wrangle over politics from the federal level down to school board elections.

It is true in our denomination today as some seek to leave for perceived greener pastures.

It is true in some of our families as they disagree over any of the above!

When you're in a war zone,
all you want is peace.

So, we do know that violence is not the end-all.  But rather resurrection speaks a
louder message.  We are reminded that if we are silent, the very stones will cry out!

This phrase is a good reminder that truth will eventually come out.  

Some day.  

But if we can occupy a place for peace in the world, maybe "some day" could come sooner.  Then maybe Jesus wouldn't have to weep over our lost chances for peace today.

Prayer for the day:

God, we often pray for peace.  All of the chaos and turmoil is tiring.  If people would just get on our side, all of this disagreement could end!  We struggle over keeping our ideals to bring healing to a hurting world and getting along with those with an alternate philosophy.  The balance is excruciating.  Help us to remember the root of this word as we approach Holy Week.  In Christ's name we pray.  Amen.

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Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 32

Scripture Reading: Luke 19:1-28

As we approach Palm Sunday this week, we are getting close in Luke's Gospel as well.  It is interesting to see today's scripture passages in context of Jesus entering Jerusalem as the Messiah (which we'll get to tomorrow).  

The Messiah was seen by the Jewish people as someone in the line of King David who would channel the military might of his ancestor.  And so, we have here a passage where Jesus enters the home of a tax collector.  Tax collectors were sell-outs working for the Roman empire.  They knew who to collect from and how much people were worth because they were locals.  You can imagine their popularity!

So, how would a Messiah act in accordance with the populism of the day?  He

It's easier to welcome this kitten
down than it would be someone
like Zacchaeus.

would have knocked Zacchaeus to the ground and ridiculed him for his betrayal.  Maybe the crowd surrounding Jesus would have been stirred to violence.  It wouldn't have been hard.

Is it any wonder that people grumbled at the surprising response of Jesus?

This is where Luke interjects the parable of the pounds.  This is a fantastical tale with astronomical sums for slaves to trade in.  They are rewarded with entire cities to rule so it has a bit of an eschatological air to it.  How does this relate to the grace Jesus shows Zacchaeus?  

Is the money they are dealing with a symbol for the forgiveness they should be offering?  The one who sits on the grace of God and does not multiply it is the one who ends up with nothing.  The violence does come in the story with the people who are unwilling to be led by grace.  It may be that they reap what they sow.

Jesus is giving us clues that he will be a different kind of Messiah.  But his influence is even more transformative than military rebellion.  When a new king comes to power, very often, the systems remain in place and not a lot changes.

As The Who once said, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

But we see the transformation come to Zacchaeus without doing him any harm.  He's not even removed from his position but the way he conducts himself will be with a fair hand to his neighbors from this point on.  So in this way, Jesus brings transformation to the whole community.

Can Jesus be something new for us?  Breaking down our systems?  That would be a Messiah we could follow!

Prayer for the day:

Almighty God, we know that you hold all things in the palm of your hand.  There are many we know with which we would like to see you tighten your grip into a fist!  Yet, we know that our ways are not your ways.  Help us to open our hand to our neighbors as well.  May our touch be gentle with them - like the caress of God.  We pray these things in Jesus' name.  Amen.  

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Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 31

Scripture Reading: Luke 18:18-43

The spiritual blindness precedes the beggar's physical blindness throughout this reading.

When Jesus names five of the ten commandments, the rich ruler (Matthew identifies him as young) seems to respond with hubris, "I have kept all these since my youth."

Sometimes people like to set themselves up to brag.  If he was rich as well as being in leadership, most in that day would assume that he has God's favor.  He may have been looking for praise from Jesus, but he found a challenge instead.  

As we saw earlier in this chapter, self-sufficiency becomes a trap.  It is not that it is a bad thing to take care of ourselves, but it does seem to get in the way of embracing grace rather than entitlement.  What does it mean to give away all our possessions?

It means that we have no choice but to rely on God.

Jesus is going to have to rely on God as he outlines his mission of suffering, death and resurrection.  But the disciples can't see it yet.  It will be resurrection that finally opens their eyes.

What keeps us from seeing?

This blind beggar correctly identifies Jesus as the Messiah ("Son of David").  Jesus asks the man what he wants.  The beggar who is opposite in social status as the rich ruler wants to see.  Both of them were looking for something but the beggar's was more basic.  Jesus heals him and his sight is restored.  

Both were given the option for healing but only one took it.  Notice that the rich ruler was unable to follow even though invited.  The beggar gladly follows.

This makes us think about our own blind spots.  Sometimes we can self-identify them.  Sometimes, like the ruler, we know about them and choose to live with them.  But maybe, like the beggar, we can take them to Jesus and our sight can be restored.

Prayer for the day:

God, you know our weaknesses better than we do.  You call us regardless, but you also give us the freedom to live our lives.  May our offering to you be our weaknesses that you might transform them.  We recognize that we all need to cry out to you, "Son of David, have mercy on us!"  Amen.

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Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 30

Scripture Reading: Luke 18:1-17

Today's reading grants us a certain worldview that Jesus gives his followers.  It is knowing our place in the universe in relation to God.

Children seem to get this better than adults.  They have nothing and they are dependent on others to provide for them.

Adults begin to believe that they are self-sufficient as per the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.  The Pharisee might have been persistent in prayer, but he was doing it wrong!

If we continue to lift up to God our own prejudices in prayer like the Pharisee, do we remain stuck in our rut?  When the widow continually approaches the judge, she is seeking justice.  Since widows in that day were not usually rich, it is likely actual justice she is looking for rather than a perceived need for justice.

Lots of animals play
king of the hill.

But what if I continually pray with a sense of hierarchy?  

If you are churched, it is likely that you would consider yourself more spiritually aware than the unchurched.  This is logical because you do tend to your spiritual life on a regular basis - you are making a disciplined practice of it.  So, those of us who qualify - and I would guess that's anyone reading this blog - do we find ourselves occupying the chair of the Pharisee?

The irony is that the more spiritually disciplined we become, the more we should develop a worldview that God is lifting all of us up.  Becoming more adept at seeing God in the world means that we realize we are all in the same boat.  Isn't this what it means to receive the Kingdom of God as a little child?

Oh, I better pray some more...

Prayer of the day:

Lord, we would pray more often but we get caught up in the world.  Our daily affairs tend to grab our attention and not let us go.  Help us to take more moments to retreat with you during the day.  Give us perspective that heals our relationships.  May the way we carry ourselves around other people be a witness to you today.  In Christ, Amen.

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Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 29

Scripture Reading: Luke 17:1-37

I really like the idea of partnering with God in today's reading.  Strong faith is not something that we can accomplish in a void because faith in the living God means that we are expecting God to work with us in this life.

We are not always thankful
for our siblings.

Notice that Luke places the faith of the mustard seed after the command to forgive repeat offenders!  When Jesus tells the disciples to continue to forgive the same person multiple times, they implore him to "increase our faith!"

I think this is the disciples recognizing, "We can't do all that forgiving alone!"

The illustration of the slaves reminds us to have humility in our accomplishments which is not always easy.  I think we prefer to have others think well of us and sometimes they may not notice all that we have done!  Yet, partnering with God means that we acknowledge our help in the matter.  It really puts to rest the concept of the self-made man (person).

The story of the ten lepers once again has a Samaritan as the good example.  Notice that Luke has this placed right after the notion of humility in our relationship with God.  As Luke ministers to a Gentile Christian community, it is helpful to see that "foreigners" are made well by their faith.  But it also helps the well-established in the faith from staying on their high horse.  As we partner with God, our blessings should be regularly acknowledged.

Finally, we have these apocalyptic images.  These can be scary when life is going well for us.  We don't harken for a quick return of the Lord to end the good thing we have going!  But, for those who suffer, the apocalypse may be a relief.  As in most things, our context means a lot.

So, if we are partnering with God, how can we bring about the return of the Lord for the suffering?  If the Kingdom of God is indeed among us or even within us as it may be translated, how do we share this truth with those in need?

It may be that we are causing little ones to stumble by our neglect.

As we are called to witness, it is often that our best witness needs no words.

Prayer for the day:

Loving God, do we see you within us?  Can you increase our faith so that we may offer grace - even to those we know don't deserve it?  Help us to love more fully, recognizing that our reservoir comes from you.  May we see that it is inexhaustible!  And as we share it, may we remember to return and give thanks to you for the ability to love more fully.  We pray these things in Jesus' name.  Amen.

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Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 28

Scripture Reading: Luke 16:14-31

We see a lot of reversals in today's reading.

Those with wealth assume that they are favored by God and Jesus reverses this thought.

The law and the prophets are to be absorbed in our being rather than followed only as actions.

Divorce is outlawed, granting equality in the marriage relationship to women.

Then we see the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.  In Luke, Lazarus is a poor man rather than the brother of Martha and Mary as per the Gospel of John.  While the resurrection in John is a physical one in this life, in Luke's parable, it comes in the next life.

The reversal in this story comes in the social roles of the rich man and Lazarus.  In this life, Lazarus is lower than the dogs and is ignored by the rich man.  He doesn't even see him.

In the next life, Lazarus is literally on top of the rich man.  Note that the man in Hades tries to reassert his old role and tells Abraham to send Lazarus to serve him.  

Ain't happening!

In Jesus' day, the Pharisees would have been at the top of the Jewish social ladder in a regular town.  Jesus may have been telling them this parable to try to get them to notice the people they saw beneath them.

All social groups have 
a pecking order

Note the foreshadowing of the resurrection.  It is an inditement of those who will continue to reject this reversal even after Jesus is raised from the dead.

The difficulty of social roles is that the hierarchies creep back in.  We have them in the church today even though we would like to hold up an egalitarian philosophy once you come into the sanctuary.

As we see people who we would subconsciously consider lower than ourselves, we may see them in the same way the Pharisees saw others.  How does this parable of Lazarus teach us to really see people?

Prayer for the day:

God, the difficulty of being human is that we get set in our ways.  Sometimes we set them in concrete before we even realize it.  Help us to remember the Way of Jesus.  And as we remember, help us to align our ways with his.  We pray these things in Christ's holy name.  Amen.

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Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 27

Scripture Reading: Luke 16:1-13

This parable is disturbing at first glance.  

Is Jesus praising dishonest actions?

The dishonest steward doesn't have a lot of redeeming qualities.  The charge of squandering the owner's property could just mean he wasn't very good at his job.

Then he admits that he doesn't have the strength for physical labor and has too much pride to ask for charity.

So, he slashes the neighbors' debts without authorization in order to build up enough goodwill so that he will have places to stay.

So he's a free-loader as well!

The only thing he seems good at is protecting his future.

How is this praise-worthy?

As we think about the Pharisees being the targets of Jesus' teaching, he often points out their hypocrisy.  In the previous parable of the Prodigal Son, the older brother doesn't see where he was sinning against the father.  

What is it that we should give away that we don't own?

I find it easier to forgive
a squirrel than a person.
Hmm.

If the master in the parable is God, maybe we reduce what we think people owe God for redemption of their sins.  What if we slashed the debts we held against people for the things they have done against us?

At this point in our lives, it is probable that we can all be a little more easy-going.  The honest thing to do would be to hold people accountable for every little action.  But it may also be the lonely thing to do.

As we think about the debts God forgives us on a daily basis, maybe our realization is that we're the free loaders!

Prayer for the day:

Loving God, we confess that in order to love us, you must have to overlook a lot of the little things we think throughout the day.  There may also be things that we say that aren't featuring our best sides.  Just as you forgive us countless debts, help us not to be so particular in counting the costs against others.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

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