ILC Devotion - 4 February 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church Weekly Devotion

Monday 4 February 2013

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Luke 9:28b-31^NRSV Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹ And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. ³⁰ Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. ³¹ They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

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It is ironic this season of Epiphany - a season of light - is celebrated during winter, when at least in the Northern Hemisphere it is mostly dark. Epiphany starts with the magi coming to celebrate the new light which comes into the world - which no darkness can overcome. The season ends with Jesus shining with the glory of God, and God saying to Peter, James and John: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

Jesus is basking in the glory of God, but there is an ominous foreshadowing going on here as well. Jesus will go from the mountaintop experience and we will walk that lonesome valley with Jesus as he sets his face towards Jerusalem. The prophets Moses and Elijah speak to Jesus of his departure which is to accomplish in Jerusalem. This is the last Sunday before we celebrate Ash Wednesday and our journey through Lent. Jesus is recognized by God the Father and claimed as His Son. On Good Friday, Jesus will wonder where his Father is, as he dies on the cross. Two mountain top experiences, one glorious, the other is ignominious, sad and heart wrenching. The disciples, through the transfiguration as well as at Jesus betrayal and crucifixion, are a rather clueless. Jesus indeed has taught them, been with them, they have witnessed the signs, and manifestations of God’s glory through Jesus, but they do not understand what Jesus will have to go through in Jerusalem or why he will have to suffer and die.

There is something about Epiphany - we don’t want it to end. It starts with Jesus receiving gifts from magi from the east. It ends on the mountaintop full of light. In between we have witnessed the sign of the water turned to wine at the wedding feast of Canna. Jesus is welcomed at his hometown synagogue. It starts well at first but soon becomes ugly. Again, more foreshadowing of what Jesus will face in Jerusalem. Some of us welcome the light, especially during the darkness of winter. But there are some people who have embittered hearts who would rather live in the darkness and shun the light. Jesus comes for both, and there are times when we are both types of people. At this one last shining moment when Jesus is with us on the mountain, share the joy of the light, God’s proclamation to us of Jesus, His chosen one, His Son.

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We pray: Lord God, only you can turn us away from the darkness and share the joy of the light of the world - your Son, Jesus. Forgive us our hardened hearts and help us to see the joy of the light which comes into our lives - your Son Jesus. In His Holy Name we pray.  Amen.

ILC Devotion - 28 January 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church Weekly Devotion

Monday 28 January 2013

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^NRS 1 Corinthians 13:3-8a  If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. ⁴ Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. ⁷ It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸ Love never ends.

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The above text is part of the 13^th chapter of First Corinthians. The 13^th chapter is often selected by couples and used in their wedding. Sometimes families select the 13^th chapter for use in a funeral service. Maybe we need to apply the above text to our daily lives, rather than saving it for weddings or a funeral. Before writing my Monday devotion, I saw a TED talk on domestic violence - see link:

http://www.ted.com/talks/leslie_morgan_steiner_why_domestic_violence_victims_don_t_leave.html?utm_source=newsletter_weekly_2013-01-27&utm_campaign=newsletter_weekly&utm_medium=email

Leslie, the speaker, offers a compelling narrative of her experience of domestic violence. Domestic violence is what happens when Paul’s 13^th chapter is not heard, honored or followed. In domestic violence, love is perverted, love is desecrated - turned into a demonic caricature of control, anger and abuse. There are two victims: the abuser and the one being abused. For whatever reason the abuser has lost this ability to love and forgive. Love becomes a manipulative tool, used to control and intimidate. The abuser has lost any sense of the beauty, trust or comfort love brings to a relationship. Likewise the one being abused sees love in a distorted sense where the warmth, trust and beauty of love has been transformed into something grotesque and damaging rather than edifying.

The only way to save love is for the one being abused to leave, escape the abuser. Both need to find healing. But all too often the abuser continues abusing others. The one who was abused has to work to rebuild their confidence in love as Paul represents it. Paul presents the ideal of love, as God intends it for us in our daily living. Love is a bright light proudly shining in our lives. Abuse of love hides in the darkness. In darkness is the power to deceive.  It [love] does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. Paul calls upon us to live in the light of love as God intends it and to shine the light of truth in situations where abuse takes place.

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We pray: Loving God, you bestow upon us your perfect love and call upon us to share this love with everyone. Forgive us when we distort this precious gift. Help us to live in your love and faithfully share it with others. In your Holy Name we pray.  Amen.

ILC Devotion - 21 January 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church Weekly Devotion

Monday 21 January 2013

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^NRS Luke 4:16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

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When we hear scripture read to us, or read it ourselves, how many of us truly comprehend what we hear or what we read? How does the scripture speak to us? Engaging scripture can be hard work at times, demanding our concentration, time and thought; asking us to change. It is not always easy trying to discern what the writer is telling us, let alone responding to God’s call to us through scripture.

 Jesus’ proclamation rings true with the same promise Isaiah proclaimed to the exiled Jews in Babylon. Just like Isaiah, Jesus is God’s messenger. Jesus is also God’s agent, God’s Son, who will offer the promise of redemption. The Spirit of the Lord does rest upon Jesus; Jesus comes to announce release from bondage - the bondage of sin. Jesus will give sight to the blind - he will reveal God’s glory to the people. Jesus will speak for the oppressed - declaring they are favored by God. Most importantly Jesus will proclaim the love of God is present with them - he will personify God’s love to the people.

Now Jesus makes this declaration in his home town. But in this passage from Luke, Jesus is rather skeptical, critical of his fellow Nazarites. Maybe he knows them all too well. For Jesus says to them: “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his own country.” Yes, Jesus comes for the lost sheep of Israel, but we see a foreshadowing of Jesus’ ministry and God’s, reaching out beyond the people of Israel - God’s chosen people. God’s love is offered to all humankind, all who is willing to hear it and accept it are welcomed. There are no ethnic limitations regarding God’s favor. Any who are poor, captive, blind, and oppressed, who hear, believe and follow - are people of God. Yet, those of us who feel like we are the privileged people of God, how do we  hear and respond to Jesus? The invitation to follow Jesus is offered to all - no exceptions. We may think we are privileged, but how are we held captive, what are we blind to, how are we poor, do we oppress? This is where hearing or reading of scripture gets difficult. We are asked to change - change our minds, change how we act, change how we think, change how we respond to Jesus call to be part of our lives. It is hard work. If we respond to Jesus, Jesus will help us work through our difficulties; with Jesus transformation and change is not only possible but guaranteed.

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We pray: Lord, we come before you poor, blind, held captive to sin. Forgive us, open our eyes, release us to realize the freedom we have to act through you. We ask this in your Holy Name. Amen.

ILC Devotion - 14 January 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church Weekly Devotion

Monday 14 January 2013

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^NJB John 2:1-5  On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. ³ And they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the feast had all been used, and the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ ⁴ Jesus said, ‘Woman, what do you want from me? My hour has not come yet.’ ⁵ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’

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If we are entertaining guests, it is a bit of an embarrassment to run out of food or beverages. Anyone planning a for a gathering of people would rather have a bit too much left over than not enough. Susan is very good about making sure we have plenty to offer everyone when we are entertaining. It is a sign of good hospitality to share one’s abundance with others, and to make sure everyone has plenty to eat and drink.

Jesus, his disciples, and his mother are three days into a wedding - when the wine runs out. In Jesus’ time, this is not an inconvenience, it is a catastrophe. The wedding will be going on for another 3 days. Jesus’ mother, tells him about this situation. Apparently the mother of Jesus is well aware of what God can do through him. Jesus is a bit reluctant, but the servants do as he tells them - a simple task, fill six jars with water. This is the first sign Jesus offers the people. Devine acts in the Gospel of John are not miracles, but signs of the power of God at work through His Son, Jesus. The six jars of water are turned into wine, and not just run of the mill wine, but the best wine, about 150 gallons worth. Jesus provides an abundance of the best - Jesus does not offer us second best; Jesus gives us the best - God’s love, Good News, and ultimately himself.

      The next time we see the mother of Jesus is at the foot of the cross, where her son is crucified. His hour has come. Jesus gives of himself so we can have an abundance of God’s grace and mercy. We, who usually are clueless and unworthy, are given the best God has to offer. How do we respond to this gracious abundance of God’s love for us? Do we share this abundance with others so they may see the sign of God’s abundance in their lives? God’s love is something we will never run out of, it is never be second rate - it is the best.

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We pray: Dear Lord, we thank you the sign of your abundant blessings given to us through your Son Jesus. Empower us to be open and recognize your gracious mercy given through your Son Jesus and share your abundant love with others. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen.

ILC Devotion 7 January 2013

Immanuel Lutheran Church Weekly Devotion

Monday 7 January 2012

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^NJB Luke 3:15-16  A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to wonder whether John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, “I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, who is more powerful than me, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

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This coming Sunday we celebrate the baptism of our Lord. Baptism is a rather intriguing ritual and sacrament of the Church. Baptism represents a ritual cleansing, washing away of our sin. So why did Jesus seek to be baptized by John? As we read in this Gospel text for this coming Sunday, after Jesus is baptized the Holy Spirit descends upon him. God announces: “You are my Son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased.” I would imagine Jesus’ baptism as an initiation ritual - the coming out of Jesus, as he starts his ministry. It marks the beginning point of Jesus’ preaching and teaching. He is touched by God through the Holy Spirit. Jesus receives the power, gets plugged in, so to speak.

      In the birth narrative in Luke and the pre-birth activity we read about in Luke - we know Jesus is destined to be special. But as a baby Jesus does not do anything divine, he is just a baby. Luke is the only Gospel writer that has anything to say about Jesus as he grows older. In Luke 2:39-52 we read about Jesus as a 12 year old going to Jerusalem and meeting for three days with teachers discussing Holy Scripture - the Torah - and the prophets. So far Jesus is the precocious adolescent who has this thing for the study of scripture. Only after Jesus is baptized does he engage in divine activity and purposefully begin to preach and teach.

      I had the pleasure of baptizing two brothers on Christmas Eve, who were 3 and 12 years old. They both spoke for themselves declaring they were ready to be baptized. Their baptism marks a new beginning in their lives. They are named and claimed by God as children of God. They now begin their faith journey learning about and living into what it is to be a follower of Jesus. They join with us, the baptized faithful, on this journey of discipleship and discovery. This coming Sunday we will celebrate Jesus’ baptism by honoring the remembrance of our baptism. God will never forget his claim on us, as children of God. We need to be reminded at times of this claim God has on us. With the distractions of living life, we tend to forget. This is a reminder of God’s claim on us and our response to our baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection.

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We pray: We give you thanks O God, for your gift of baptism to us. You name us and claim us as your children. Forgive us when we are distracted and forgetful of your calling to us. Awaken us anew to this vocation as followers of your Son Jesus, so we may walk with him and follow him on the way. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen.