pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: compassion


by Leave a comment

Blessings

Reading: Matthew 14:13-20

Matthew 13:20 – “Everyone ate until they were full, and they filled twelve baskets with the leftovers.”

This week’s gospel lesson is about compassion, challenge, provision, and abundance. These four things were a part of Jesus’ life and they should be a part of our lives. It is not always easy to practice these four things. As our story opens, it is one of those times. Jesus is grieving and wants to be alone. But the crowds follow him. He could send them away or he could try harder to escape their presence. But, instead, he chooses compassion. This leads Jesus to heal many people. Inferring how many from the rest of the story, I bet Jesus healed every single person who came forward for healing. All.

At the end of his long day, the disciples suggest dismissing the crowd so that they can get some food. Compassion. But Jesus challenges them: “You give them something to eat.” Just as Jesus’ emotional tank was about empty as the day began, the disciples have just five loaves and two fish among them. I imagine there was a very uncomfortable stare, pausing on each of the twelve, before Jesus said, “Bring them to me.” From next to nothing comes provision and abundance. The food is blessed. It gets distributed. We read, “Everyone ate until they were full, and they filled twelve baskets with the leftovers.” All eat. A huge crowd is fed. And all twelve disciples have a basket full of leftovers. A blessing upon a blessing!

The miracles begin with compassion. God works through faith and a willing heart. How might God use what you think is meager – or next to nothing – to feed or clothe or house or heal or… others? Where do you feel compassion? See the need and allow the Holy Spirit to stir your heart. Take on the challenge: step forward in faith and trust. Offering what you have opens the gates for God’s abundance to flow. Where is the need in your world?

Prayer: Lord God, sadly, there are needs all around. Poverty, loneliness, hunger, loss, abuse, illness, oppression – all around. Open our eyes and stir our hearts. Move us to action and service. As we offer what we can, multiply it by your power, O Lord. Use us to bless others. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Justice, Goodness, Righteousness

Reading: Psalm 17:1-2

Psalm 17:2 – “My justice comes from you; let your eyes see what is right.”

In Psalm 17 David names injustice and trusts that God will make things right. This is summed up in verse 2: “My justice comes from you; let your eyes see what is right.” God is the source of justice… and of goodness and righteousness, of mercy and compassion, of empathy and forgiveness… In God’s world, all of these things are interconnected and intertwined. When one stands against oppression, for example, it is driven by empathy and compassion for the victim(s) and it is fueled by one’s sense of justice.

Our reading begins with David imploring God to listen. Listen to what’s right. Listen to my prayer. He feels he can come before God in this way because is living a righteous life – his lips don’t lie! When we live a devout and holy life, we too feel like we have standing before God. In turn, our alignment with God guides our sense of justice…

It is easy to name injustices in our world. The treatment of marginalized and vulnerable populations comes to mind. The high cost of living and limited access to health care are creating hardship for many. The ways that “power over” is exerted and abused, leaving people broken and hurting, needs to be addressed. Systems that increase the gap between the haves and have-nots continue to churn along, oblivious to the negative impact on many people’s lives.

The more challenging step is to take action, to give voice and power to those without, to stand for what is just and right and good. When we allow our faith to guide our way, when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead our words and actions, then we can declare as David did: “My justice comes from you; let your eyes see what is right.” May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, I know that my list is missing many injustices that tear at your heart. You see them all. But this list is my list. We all have our own list. Begin here, O God, in us all. Work in each of us so that we stand and speak for justice, goodness, and righteousness. Use us to fight for a better and more just world. Amen.


by Leave a comment

The Life We Choose

Readings: Psalm 119:105-106 and Romans 8:1-5

Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp… a light for my journey.”

Romans 8:4b – “Now the way we live is based on the Spirit, not based on selfishness.”

Light and dark

In this week’s Disciplines devotional, Reverend Bruce Reyes-Chow connects a verse or two from Psalm 119 with another lectionary passage each day. As I like the connection, I will follow his example this week. In Psalm 119, we read this today in verse 5: “Your word is a lamp… a light for my journey.” In church yesterday, we sang the hymn “Thy Word.” Today’s verses and this familiar song identify God’s word as our guide in this life. Within the scriptures we find the Word. In the gospels we see Jesus’ light and love as the example of how to live faithfully in this sinful world.

In Romans 8 this week, Paul contrasts living in the Spirit with living in the flesh. As is the case with much of Paul’s writing, this contrast is presented as a clear choice: Spirit or flesh? Good or evil? Life or death? But as we learned last week in Romans 7, this is a “war” that is constantly ongoing. One simply doesn’t choose to live by the Spirit and that’s that. As Paul wrote in Romans 7:25, “evil is right there with me.” The fleshy part of us never fully dies.

Based on Jesus’ example and empowered by the Holy Spirit, Paul offers this declaration: “Now the way we live is based on the Spirit, not based on selfishness.” While our Spirit-flesh decision is not a “one-and-done” decision, the side we choose and intend to stand on matters. Choosing the Spirit, we are guided towards a life of love and light, of humble service, and of generous compassion. This life is the opposite of the selfish, inwardly focused way of the world. May we, as Paul encourages, choose to live a life “based on the Spirit.” In this life we find love, peace, hope, joy, contentment, and meaning. May this be the life we choose today, tomorrow, the next day, and the day after that day…

Prayer: Lord God, while the war truly rages on day after day, where we take our stand matters. Each day, Lord, empower us to choose you and a life lived in the Spirit. Strengthened and encouraged, light our path and show us the way of love. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Open Hearts

Reading: Matthew 10:5-23

Matthew 10:7 – “As you go, make this announcement: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.'”

Photo credit: Paz Arando

Having named and empowered the twelve, moving forward in chapter 10, Jesus gives the disciples instructions for when they go out into the world. The first is this: “As you go, make this announcement: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.'” We recall how Jesus did this in the ordinary, daily living of his life. In all that he said and did, Jesus proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God. His vocation was prophet, preacher, and healer. For some of us, ministry may be our vocation too. But for many it is not. Many are bankers or construction workers or nurses or stay-at-home parents or… Yet make no mistake, all who call on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are called to proclaim and to bring near to others the good news with our lives. While I do offer a message on Sundays and teach a small group here and there, much of the work of my witness to the world occurs outside of the physical church building.

As the passage continues to unfold, we note how Jesus tells us to go. Don’t take a bunch of stuff with you – all you need is in your heart. Don’t expect everyone to instantly commit their lives to Jesus Christ – maybe a few will but it is a process for most. Expect to be harassed and maybe even abused. The good news convicts sin. Change is hard. Move from place to place, person to person. Be present and meet needs – physical, emotional, spiritual… Trust that the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say in the moment. Trust that your compassion and love will touch many hearts, opening the door for Jesus to enter those hearts. As we work to bring near and to build the kingdom in our time and place, may the Lord bless the harvest!

Prayer: Lord God, open our hearts to your presence. Fill us with your Spirit and open our eyes to see those you place in our lives. Seeing, give us the words to say and show us the steps to take so that the list may be drawn to you. Use us today to bring the good news to the world. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Compassion and Love

Readings: Matthew 9:35-39 and 10:1-4

Matthew 9:37 – “The size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers.”

Photo credit: James A. Molnar

Our gospel passage opens with Jesus doing what Jesus did. He is going here and there, to villages and cities, preaching and healing. Jesus is proclaiming the “good news” of love and grace and forgiveness. He is healing “every disease and every sickness.” All that Jesus does and says is driven by compassion. Merriam-Webster defines compassion this way: “sympathetic consciousness of other’s distress together with a desire to alleviate it.” Jesus saw the needs and brought hope and healing and wholeness to the “sheep without a shepherd.”

In response to the needs, Jesus invites the disciples – then and now – to do as he is doing in this passage. In verse 37 we see why he invited them and why he invites us into this work: “The size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers.” The harvest is the saving of souls through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Just as it was in Jesus’ day, there are many people today who do not believe in Jesus. The harvest remains huge. So we do as Jesus asked, pleading with the Lord to send out more “workers.” As we plead, though, we realize that we are often the answer to our prayers.

Moving into chapter 10, Jesus gives the disciples authority to do as he has been doing. Empowered to heal, the disciples will find opportunities to share the good news. The twelve are then named: Peter, Andrew, James… They are filled with compassion and love for the lost sheep of Israel, just as Jesus was filled. We too can be filled with compassion and love. We too can be sent to the lost sheep of this world. O Lord, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, as I sit at my desk, as I walk my loop in just a little while, I see and will walk past many houses, past home after home. Some know you but many do not. The harvest is plentiful. The same is true for us all, Lord, no matter where we live. Fill us with compassion, fuel us with love, empower us through the Holy Spirit. Then send us out to share the good news and to invite others into the healing and wholeness found in you. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Hope, Peace, Love, Joy

Reading: Psalm 130:7-8

Psalm 130:7 – “Israel, wait for the Lord! Because faithful love… because great compassion is with our God!”

Returning to Psalm 130 today, we hear a call to community as we prepare to join together for worship. This song sung on the way to praise and worship in the temple reminded Israel of their journey together – with God and with one another. As we gather today, let us also remember the blessings of community: support, encouragement, presence, love, help in times of need.

Reflecting back on this week’s readings, we recall how God brings life to dry bones, faith to those lost in despair and hopelessness. We remember that Jesus offers us resurrection and new life, both here and now and one day eternally. And we once again hear the call to live in and by the Spirit, freed from our selfish and sinful nature. We remember because this is the God that we praise and worship today.

Verse 7 of Psalm 130 reminds us that as we journey, as we head to worship, we do so with hope. We read, “Israel, wait for the Lord! Because faithful love… because great compassion is with our God!” Because of God’s faithful love and great compassion, we know hope and peace. We also know forgiveness and redemption through God’s love and compassion. As we journey towards Easter, especially in our times of waiting, may we hold to the hope and peace and to the love and joy that we find in communion with God and with each other. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, as we head to worship today, be that in a sanctuary, on the couch, or anyplace else, draw us deeply into your loving presence. As we gather in community, connect us to one another as we connect to you. In you and in the community of faith, may we find hope and peace, love and joy. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Being and Doing

Reading: Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew 5:13… 14 – “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”

Returning to the Sermon on the Mount today and tomorrow, Jesus declares first that we are salt and light for the world. We begin with a question: Is Jesus talking about our being or about how we are to act in the world? Are we light or are we to be light?

As there should be a connection between our being and doing, the answer is “both.” We are salt and light. Our faith flavors all aspects of our life. Our faith is the light that guides us to walk as Christ calls us to walk. Our salt and light are not just for our benefit, though. We are to act and be in the world in ways that flavor or season the world around us. Just as salt makes food taste better, so too should our faith make the world a better place. In the same way, the light of Christ that is within us should shine out into the world, helping others to see the way that they too are called to be and to walk in the world.

We are also reminded today of what happens when we do not live our faith out in the world. People get trampled under foot. People get lost in the darkness of this world. These things should not be so. Instead, may we let our faith be known, seen, and tasted, so that people “can see the good things you do and praise your father who is in heaven.”

Prayer: Lord God, be present in us, flavoring our lives with your love, grace, mercy, peace, joy, compassion, hope… Let your light shine upon injustice, oppression, marginalization, violence, addiction… moving our hands and feet into action against the darkness of our world. Use our actions and words, O Lord, to do and to bring good into the world. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Forever Faithful

Reading: Psalm 112

Psalm 112:7 – “They won’t be frightened at bad news. Their hearts are steady, trusting in the Lord.”

Photo credit: Felipe Correia

Psalm 112 describes the outcomes of a righteous life. Our passage today echoes many of the themes and calls that we’ve been reading about and pondering these past few weeks. From the Beatitudes to Micah and Isaiah to the letters of Paul and on into today’s Psalm, themes of mercy, justice, and faithful love resound. Actions reverberate throughout these texts and, in fact, in all of God’s word: obedience to God alone, being a light in the darkness, walking steadfastly with the Lord.

The psalmist begins by declaring that those who love God’s commands are “truly happy.” Their hunger and thirst for God leads them and their descendants to righteous living. The faithful will “shine in the dark” and will be guided by mercy and compassion. The followers of God will be generous and will conduct themselves always with justice. In all these ways, the faithful take on the attributes and character of the God they worship with their whole lives.

Walking humbly with God, “these sorts of people” are not shaken. They are steady and true. With firm hearts and a steady faith, their relationship with God guides them through troubles and “bad news.” As it was in Jesus’ words and in Paul’s writings, this abiding faith, this trust in God, this selfless and humble way of life, it is frustrating to those living by the ways of the world. But this will come to nothing. Our righteousness will “stand forever.” Thanks be to the Lord our God!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the reminder today. Thank you for lifting up our call to faithful living, day by day, moment by moment. Guide us to be faithful in all of our ways – in a discrete act of kindness, in a powerful grace in a difficult situation, in bold courage as we walk through the storm. Strengthen and encourage us, Lord, when our faith is challenged – both from within and without. Walk with us each day. Lead and guide us to be forever faithful. All for your glory and praise. Amen.


by Leave a comment

A Right Heart

Reading: Micah 6:1-8

Micah 6:6 – “With what should I approach the Lord and bow down before God almighty?”

Returning to Micah 6 today we read the verses that lead up to the well-known call to practice justice, to embrace faithful love, and to walk humbly with God and with neighbor. Verses 1-7 lay out “why” Israel should live in these ways and it points out Israel’s failed attempts at true worship. The passage is set as if in a courtroom as God brings God’s case against Israel. In a lawsuit, if you are the one seeking justice, it is good. But if you’re on trial, this is not a good place to be. For the people of God, they are on trial. “With Israel, he [God] will argue.”

God’s case opens with questions about how Israel has gotten to this place: What did I do to you (or fail to do)? How have I wearied you? God is wondering aloud how God displeased Israel, how God bored them into this disobedience. God then reminds Israel what faithfulness looks like. From leading Israel out of slavery to giving them good leaders to protecting them from their enemies, God has always been there for Israel – irrelevant to their commitment, regardless of their unfaithfulness, no matter their sin and wandering and idolatry.

God then lays bare the reality of their present worship. These acts themselves, prescribed by the Law, can be pleasing to God. But volume and simply going through the motions? If one if just playing the game and trying to impress God along the way, then God is not interested in the least. Micah muses, “With what should I approach the Lord and bow down before God almighty?” Returning to verse 8 we find God’s answer. We are reminded that a right heart, a heart right with God and with one another, this is where worship that is pleasing to God begins. With a heart that reflects God’s heart, this is the place that we are filled with love and grace and mercy and peace and hope and compassion and… Filled, we are then ready to be these things to the world. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, strip away our pretense, break down our barriers, wipe away the noise of the world. Bring us to a place of transparency, honesty, and sincerity – not for your sake but for ours. You see through it all. You know the true condition of our hearts. Beginning in a place of humility, guide us then to be practitioners of justice and steadfast love. This is the worship that is pleasing to you. Living and being this way, may our lives reveal to the world what is good and what is required by you. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Light, Guide Our Way

Reading: Isaiah 9:1-4

Isaiah 9:4 – “You’ve shattered the yoke that burdened them.”

The first section of Isaiah speaks of God’s sovereignty and calls the people away from sin. Running throughout chapters 1-39 are words that speak of the consequences of sinful living. The defeat and time in exile feel like a train barreling down the tracks – swift and unavoidable. Here and there, though, we find words of future hope sprinkled in amongst the doom and gloom. This mirrors Israel’s political history. Ever since the time of King David, a string of evil and bag kings is halted by a good and righteous king. After a short time, the evil and bad king run begins again. This promise of “a great light” would raise up hope for a good and righteous king to once again restore Israel.

The hope of being a great nation, of again experiencing joy in the land, of seeing abundance in the harvest – these words sound wonderful to a people headed into a time of suffering and exile. These words tell the people that this coming hard time will not last forever. To be honest, I often feel like Israel must’ve felt. I need to hear these words and to believe that our current darkness will not last forever. I need hope stirred up in me – that the poor will be fed and clothed and sheltered, that the marginalized will be welcomed in, that those living in fear will know peace.

Verse 4 shouts hope to such as these. Here we read, “You’ve shattered the yoke that burdened them.” In Isaiah’s time, the system was broken. A good king could only undo so much evil before the darkness rise up anew. Today, much feels broken. Many systems need to be changed, to be made anew. We need the light of Christ to guide our way to being a more just land. Oppressing and arresting and abusing vast swaths of certain ethnic groups is not the way to fix a broken system. There is not a simple or easy solution. But if we choose to be light in the darkness and if we allow the light of Christ to guide our way, then we will find a just and right solution. May your light shine in and through us, O Lord, bringing hope and peace, justice and grace to our land. May it be so, O God. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, the rod of the oppressor is heavy on the backs of the vulnerable. The fear of unjust actions is running high in many places. There is a cleansing that needs to occur, a revision that must happen. Lord, let your light guide us to establishing a more just world. Guide us with peace, compassion, and empathy as we work our way to the world you envision. Amen.