pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: mercy


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Not of This World

Reading: Matthew 21:1-11

Matthew 21:9 – “The crowds in front of him and behind him shouted… ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'”

Photo credit: Clay Banks

As Jesus nears Jerusalem, he gives two disciples “a task.” They do as he says – as hard as it might have been to believe – and return to Jesus with the donkey and colt. Perhaps these two disciples knew the words of Isaiah and Zechariah and understood that they were about to be fulfilled. The crowd certainly knew these prophesies and longed for their fulfillment. This is why they lined the road and placed clothes and palm branches on the road into the city, creating a makeshift “royal carpet.” This is why they shouted, “Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'” They believed that the Messiah would come to save them and to re-establish the kingdom of God. This stirred up the city as Jesus entered in.

As the week unfolds, though, it becomes clear that the kingdom of Jesus was not a kingdom of this world. The clearing of the temple was a vivid declaration of this fact. This work and all of Jesus’ work was about opening people’s lives to his kingdom of love. The teachings, the healings – all about bringing people into his kingdom. Even the cross was about opening the way for all people to enter into his kingdom of love. Through the transformation of lives – dying to the things of this world and living for the things of God – love begins to rule first in our hearts and then in our world. Through the power of love, peace and mercy and grace and forgiveness and justice and hope triumph over hate and violence and oppression and other injustices. Come, Lord Jesus, come into our hearts and into our world.

Prayer: Lord God, your radical way of love has begun to transform our hearts and lives. We are becoming who you created us to be. Please continue to work in and through us, transforming this world into your kingdom of love. Amen.


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Even Then

Reading: Matthew 26:30-35 and 69-75

Matthew 26:33 – “Peter replied, ‘If everyone else stumbles because of you, I’ll never stumble.'”

Photo credit: Ricardo Gomez Angel

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the day we remember Jesus’ grand entry into Jerusalem. Crowds cheered and declared, “Hosanna!” – the one who saves. Many get caught up in the excitement of the parade. Most forget what they were saying by the time the “prophet” enters the city. Today, in Matthew’s gospel, we dive into a microcosm of this human tendency. According to the timeline in Matthew, the palm parade was four days ago. Since then Jesus has cleared the temple and clashed frequently with the religious leaders – sometimes through hard teachings, sometimes through direct conflict. These tensions lead to a plot to kill Jesus.

Following the Last Supper, in the first part of today’s reading, Jesus says to the disciples, “Tonight you will all fall away because of me.” If heard with ears of humility, one would search one’s heart to see if this could possibly be true. Instead Peter boldly declares, “If everyone else stumbles because of you, I’ll never stumble.” Yes, Jesus, maybe the other eleven, but never me. I’ll never deny you. This last bit of bravado comes right after Jesus says to Peter, “Before the rooster crows…”

Turning to the second part of today’s reading, Jesus’ words come true. He has been arrested and the trial has shifted to Caiaphas’ house. Peter is outside in the courtyard. Once, twice, and three times he denies even knowing Jesus. The simple crow of the rooster breaks Peter’s pride and overconfidence. Crying uncontrollably, the Spirit begins to work in Peter’s heart. God doesn’t leave him broken. The failure? Just a building block or stepping stone. In this passage, we’re reminded that our failures are never final. God works even then, maybe especially then, bringing glory from ashes. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, it can be so easy to slip into prideful thinking, into self-elevating judgment. In our moments of pride and ego, stop us in our tracks. Send the Holy Spirit’s conviction quickly and powerfully. And when we ignore even this, too consumed with self to notice or pay attention, break us down and then pour out your mercy, grace, and forgiveness, restoring and redeeming us to you. Thank you, O Lord. Amen.


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Grace Unending

Reading: Romans 4:13-17

Romans 4:16 – “The inheritance comes through faith, so that it will be on the basis of grace.”

Turning again to Romans 4 today we read that the promise of God to “inherit the world” did not come through the Law. The Law was not even yet in existence when Abram was declared righteous because of his faith. So for Abraham’s descendants – those Paul was writing to then and to us now – the inheritance also comes through faith. One can work really hard to keep the Law (or to do any number of things that we think are pleasing to God), but we will always ultimately fail, bringing upon ourselves the “wrath” that Paul references in today’s reading.

On the opposite end of the scale, we find God’s grace. This free gift of grace is the “basis” for inheriting God’s promises: forgiveness of sin and eternal life. God does not weigh out our worthiness or keep track of how much good we need to do to settle our account. Salvation is not centered on a contractual relationship. There are no transactions needed between us and God in order for us to inherit the promises. There is a grace that washes away our sins and welcomes us back into connection with God and with one another. There is a transformation that occurs – again and again and again…

Paul speaks of this transformation at the end of our passage. This rebirth, this gift of new life over and over, it occurs when God “gives life to the dead.” Once dead in our sin, grace redeems and restores us to life in Christ. Rooted in God’s unconditional love, grace is unending. For the promises grounded in love and grace, we say, thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, living in this world, it can be easy to slip into doing and trying to earn. It is the way of the world: checklists, comparative analysis, judging, then self-doubt, shame, defeat. Your love offers a different way, a better way. Driven by love, you call and reach out in mercy. Fueled by mercy, your grace draws us back to you again and again. Standing there once again, in your love and grace, it feels like we never left. Thank you for loving us this completely, this unconditionally. How great is your love, O Lord. Amen.


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The Flawed and the Faulty

Reading: Romans 4:1-5

Romans 4:5 – “Faith is credited as righteousness… because they have faith in God who makes the ungodly righteous.”

Paul ends chapter 3 stating that through faith we “confirm the Law.” Here Paul is referring not to following the exact letter of the Law but to understanding the Law’s deeper purpose and meaning. We get a practical application of this in the Beatitudes, where Jesus dives deep and unpacks a handful of Laws. Moving into chapter 4, Paul centers in on the faith of Abraham, the founding father of the Jewish faith and the nation of Israel.

Paul reminds his readers that Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith. When Abram obeyed God’s open-ended call to “go,” he did so through a radical faith. God’s promises guided and empowered his decision to be obedient to the call of God. As Paul develops his line of thinking later in this chapter, he reminds his audience that Abram lived long before the Law was ever given to Moses and Israel. Therefore, Abram was declared righteous because of God’s grace, not because he kept the Law – just as the followers of Jesus are declared righteous through God’s grace.

We often think of those “pedestal people” as being perfect. A cursory glance reveals that Abram was anything but perfect. He doubted God and he took matters into his own hands. Remember Hagar and Ishmael? Remember sending them out into the desert to die? God isn’t looking for perfect people to work through. That’s because God didn’t make us that way. Instead, God uses imperfect people to accomplish God’s perfect plans and purposes. And like Abram, we are each called by God, flaws and all. God works in and through our flaws, responding to our faith with a grace that “makes the ungodly righteous.” For this transforming grace, we say, thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for choosing us, the flawed and the faulty. Through your love and mercy and grace you redeem us, refining us for your purposes. Through your guidance and direction you help us to fulfill your call upon our lives. With great patience and steadfastness, you redirect, forgive, and transform us to be your vessels of faith. Thank you for these many gifts. Amen.


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Forgiveness

Reading: Psalm 32:1-7

Psalm 32:3-4 – “When I kept quiet, my bones wore out… your hand was heavy upon me.”

Psalm 32 is a song about forgiveness. While the concept of forgiveness is simple, our human nature can complicate this practice in many ways. In the opening verses David lifts up the benefits of forgiveness. The one whose sin is covered by God and who is guilt-free before God is “truly happy.” When nothing separates us from God and God’s love, yes, we are truly happy! The same can be said of our other relationships. When nothing separates us from our love of family, friends, teammates, coworkers… we are truly happy.

We’ve all experienced this place of joy in our relationships. From this experience, you’d think we’d always be swift to seek and offer forgiveness. Unfortunately, we are often like David. In verses 3 and 4 he writes, “When I kept quiet, my bones wore out… your hand was heavy upon me.” Too often we do not seek or receive forgiveness and the weight of this choice begins to feel heavy upon us. The angst or anger, the guilt or the grievance can fester and grow as we let the unresolved tension continue. We come to the place, too, when God’s hand feels heavy upon us. The gentle nudge of the Spirit feels like a hard shove. This is a good thing. It leads to verse 5: “So I admitted my sin…”

Confession begins the healing process – at least as far as God is concerned. God is quick to remove the guilt and shame, swift to rescue and redeem us and our relationship with God. Sadly, we can struggle with these steps sometimes. Our pride or the hurt can get in the way. We can want to nurse a grudge. We can have a hard time admitting we were wrong. When we are struggling with these or other issues, may we remember that we are made in the image of God. Doing so, may our forgiveness be quick and gentle, honest and complete.

Prayer: Lord God, in the arena of forgiveness, make us more like you. Guide us to be practitioners of grace and mercy, humility and love – the key ingredients to living in right relationships with you and with one another. Amen.


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Answer the Call

Reading: Matthew 5:17-20

Matthew 5:19b – “But whoever keeps these commands and teaches others to keep them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Turning to verses 17-20 today, Jesus connects being salt and light to fulfilling the words of the Law and the prophets. Jesus came as God in the flesh, as one who would model God’s heart being lived out in the world. In Jesus’ words and actions, we see the depth and breadth of God’s love, mercy, and grace. To get an idea of how Jesus teaches us to fulfill the Law, read the rest of chapter 5.

Returning to today’s reading, Jesus then declares that those who ignore God’s heart and who teach others to do the same, they will be “the lowest in the kingdom of heaven.” Later in our passage, we see that Jesus is speaking of the overtly religious of his day. The Pharisees and legal experts knew the letter of the Law inside out. The living out of the heart of the Law was where they struggled. In the context of yesterday’s reading, they knew what it meant to be salt and light, but they were not being salt and light.

Jesus then proclaims, “But whoever keeps these commands and teaches others to keep them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” To keep the heart of God as one’s guide in all of life, this is our call. We teach best by example. That was Jesus’ model. The Law is centered on love – God’s love for all of us, our love for God, our love for neighbor. It is love that guides us and leads us to be people of mercy, grace, forgiveness, hope, repentance, generosity, justice, humility… This is the righteousness that Jesus describes. It is the righteousness that God calls us to. May we answer the call every day.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to not just be hearers but also doers. Yes, we know we are to love you and to love neighbor. Move us beyond our head knowledge, out into the world. Shape and form us to be people who love practically and tangibly, who practice grace and forgiveness in every opportunity. Use us to restore broken relationships and to redeem unjust practices and systems. In these ways, may your righteousness and glory be revealed to the world. Amen.


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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.


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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.


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What a Blessing!

Reading: Matthew 5:1-9

Matthew 5:9 – “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.”

Turning to this week’s gospel lesson for today and tomorrow, Matthew sets the scene: crowds gather so Jesus goes up a mountain, sits down, and begins to teach. Matthew tells us, “his disciples came to him.” We don’t know if the crowd came along too. This leaves us to wonder: if you’d been in the crowd that has heard the good news proclaimed and has seen the healings, would you hike up the mountain too?

Verses 3-9 hold the start of the “Beatitudes.” These statements begin a long teaching known as “The Sermon on the Mount.” Running through chapter 7, this is the longest teaching from Jesus found in the gospels. Traditionally the Beatitudes are seen as gifts or blessings. Other translations begin each statement with “Blessed are…” Perhaps these phrases are also invitations. Seen this way, these statements lay out Jesus’ desires for his followers. Marching orders!

So, who are those that Jesus identifies as “happy” or “blessed?” They are hopeless in this world, so must rely on God. They are mourning and grieving, so they are fully present to one another and to the pain of this world. They are humble and peaceful, so they will inherit God’s kingdom, even here on earth. They are seeking, hungering, thirsting for righteousness, so they will be filled and they will come to see God – in one another and in the world. And they are merciful, so they will receive mercy in return.

Those who are happy see and live by values that are different from the world’s values. They seek to make the good news of the kingdom of God a daily, present reality. And in the seeking, they will come to know God intimately just as they are intimately known by God. What a blessing!

Prayer: Lord God, attune our hearts to your will and way. Draw us, day by day, deeper and deeper into your love, filling us with hope, comfort, peace, humility, righteousness, and mercy. Fill us so that we, in turn, can be these things to the world. Amen.


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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.