To Be People of Faith

Mark 9: 26b-27: To Be People of Faith

He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.

Because of the disciples’ lack of faith and the naysaying religious leaders’ arguments, the crowd gather around an afflicted boy and most likely shake their heads in doubt, mocking the disciples’ claim to Jesus’ power. The scene looks like a failure, for the disciples are unable to exorcise an unclean spirit. Jesus enters the scene, asks questions, elicits the father’s humility and faith, and frees the child from his spiritual bondage -- all in the presence of a gathering crowd. But when the boy looks dead, people doubt. Jesus, however, takes the child’s hand and raises him up, defying the doubters and restoring life.

It is easy to doubt, argue, and give in to the spirit of negativity that permeates our culture. Quitting comes easy; it is often the path of least resistance. Faith, on the other hand, requires humility and an acknowledgement of hope in a world of despair. So often I find myself giving in, letting go, and wondering why even try? Again, an argumentative, doubtful, mocking attitude is easy. But in Christ, we are called to be people of faith. And faith is a choice. Faith requires cooperation with the Holy Spirit. God’s abundant grace waits for us; Jesus holds out his hand. Are we willing to be raised up, too?

Heavenly Father, we seek to be people of faith, hope, and love. Use us as instruments of your love in this world. In Jesus Christ we pray, amen.

Have a blessed week.

Stan

Where Are Our Roots?

Jeremiah 17:7-8: Where Are Our Roots?

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord; the Lord will be their trust. They are like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It does not fear heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still produces fruit.

Many times when I feel the financial pinch of an impending summer -- I am a teacher after all -- I get grumpy. The prospect of scrounging together enough money for our mortgage, utilities, food, and family needs (dare I mention wants?) is never something I cherish. And no matter how hard we try to plan ahead, the hurdle of unforseen expenses inevitably arises, toppling our delicate house of cards. These are the moments when I realize the beautiful gifts of grace and free will. God gives us the skills and blessings to manage our lives, no matter the hurdles, if we stay focused on his love. If we trust in the Lord, we will be blessed, Jeremiah reminds us. How do we, like the tree in Jeremiah’s simile, root ourselves in the replenishing water of God’s grace? We live as people of faith, pressing on with the strength and skills we are given in this world. We live as people of love and thanksgiving, even in the stressful, pinching moments of worldly worry.

Dear loving God, please replenish us with your life-giving grace and strengthen us in times of stress. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Have a blessed week.

Stan

Why Does God Choose the Least Likely?

The Miracle of God’s Choice

Then I said, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips,d and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

~Isaiah 6:5

For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am.

~1 Corinthians 15:9-10a

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."

~Luke 5:8

Simon Peter, Paul, and Isaiah were ordinary people who experienced extraordinary grace. They were ordinary in the sense that they were sinners, people unworthy to be heralds of God’s love. And each of them in the passages above recognize this. God, however, often uses the least likely candidates to carry his message. What’s the secret? Our repentance, our willingness, and most important, his grace. God’s generous grace is evident throughout the entire canon of Scripture. All we have to do is read and open our eyes and ears to the Holy Spirit’s message. It is plain to see: God employs the least likely but willing people as ambassadors of his Gospel. And each one of us, whether we are aware of it or not, has in some way been called to do the same.

Throughout this week, let us all look at our lives and notice the moments when we are called to be agents of Jesus Christ’s love. Let us not make the mistake of restricting our vision to the mountaintop experiences or the sudden flashes of light on the road to Damascus. Although these events can happen in our lives, they are extremely rare. We should, however, look for the small moments of each day when we are called to smile, be kind, say hello, strike up a conversation, apologize, give someone our place in line, be welcoming, or just listen. When we harness these small, mild moments in love, we are channeling God’s loving grace to make the world a better place. It is something we can all do in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

Have a blessed week!

Stan

Welcome or Rejection?

Luke 4:25-28 (NABRE): Welcome or Rejection?

[Jesus said,] “Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury.

I take part in a men's ministry at my church. Less than a dozen of us gather on a Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m. to discuss our walk of faith and Scripture. Sometimes difficult questions arise, and as I discovered this time, some difficult reactions take place, too.

At our most recent meeting, I brought up a challenging topic that was a segway out of the conversation we were having. I asked, “Why does the church ostracize and demonize those among the faithful who are from the LGBTQIA+ community?” It was a natural question that dovetailed from the direction of our discussion. Many were condemning the “relativization” of our culture, a culture where everything is okay because the times dictate such. My argument was that “relativization” has become a buzz word for the insensitive, small-minded way of handling society’s progression. Why, my train of thought continued, do we demonize and exclude people in same-sex relationships when it was Christ himself who reached out to society’s marginalized -- the leper, the prostitute, the demon-possessed, the tax collector, etc? My questions, passionate and clear, were met with the following response: “This is a good discussion for next month.” Nobody wanted to handle the issue head on. And it was, I fear, a sign of the times.

In this week's Gospel, Jesus is giving a sermon inside of his hometown synagogue. But when he mentions God’s grace given to the gentile widow of Zarephath and Naaman the gentile Syrian soldier, the people of Israel rise up and try to murder Jesus. How dare he preach about God’s love for the outsider over the chosen people of Israel. Our world today is no different.

I am saddened that people like my adult son and the many beautiful students I serve who are of the LGBTQIA+ community feel ostracized, hated, and branded as incompatible or disordered by many Christian church doctrines. The irony is, however, that in God’s mercy and love, he seeks out each and every one of us, especially the most vulnerable in our world, those who are marginalized, ostracized, and hated by people who self-righteously put themselves above others. And it is my prayer that our churches rectify this deficit, opening the doors to all people, welcoming all to the table of God’s love.

Have a blessed week!

Stan