resources-devotionals

Luke 24:13-35

Thu, 05 May 2011 01:27:37 +0100

Scripture Index: NIV, The Message, NRSV, ESV

When people think of Vincent Van Gogh most remember him as a famous artist whose life was filled with much tragedy. Van Gogh is often remembered for his deteriorating mental state and his infamous exercise of cutting his own ear off. However, we unfairly caricature him if that is all we recall, as he was a far more complicated person. Van Gogh was actually a PK (pastor’s kid) and grew up in a devoutly Christian home. His upbringing eventually led him to a strong call towards ministry, as he became a missionary to poor coal miners in a village of Belgium in January 1879. Taking Christianity to what he saw as its logical conclusion, Van Gogh chose to live like those he preached to. Van Gogh identified with their situation to the point where he slept on straw and gave away all his fine clothing. Consequently, the Dutch Reformed Church that was sponsoring his ministry decided to strip him of his funding within 6 months of his assignment and their reason was that Van Gogh had an unsightly appearance. He was eventually dismissed for “undermining the dignity of the priesthood”.

Vincent had operated from a different lens than his colleagues of the Dutch Reformed Church. In Van Gogh’s eyes, the poor coal miners had a dignity that was more Christ-like than what conventional wisdom understood. We can see a glimpse of his understanding of faith when we observe what many consider to be his first masterpiece called “The Potato Eaters” (see below). The painting is that of a group of peasants who are exhausted from a days work. Their hands are especially intriguing, as they look twisted and contorted. It is a dark painting that reveals the hardships of poverty amongst these peasant farmers. However, this painting speaks another message – one of indictment against the snobs of Dutch aristocracy. Like today, many in Van Gogh’s time believed that God was present when there was wealth and good living. When tragedy or poverty struck then God was absent and far off. Van Gogh’s understanding of faith flipped such a worldview of God. If you look closely at the painting, the visual focus is actually the lamp above the table. You will notice that the light is depicted as a golden star and the faint yellow hue illuminates the faces of these peasant farmers. His favorite color was yellow and he believed that yellow was the color of sacred love, the color of God. Van Gogh wants to shows us that the company of God is certainly present in the midst of hard circumstances.

We see a similar theme in our gospel passage from Luke. Cleopas and an unnamed traveler are on the road to Emmaus and they are discussing the events that took place the last few days. Three days have passed since the tragic death of their dear friend and still no sign of his promised return. They meet another traveler and they do not realize that Jesus himself is amongst them. The two of them retell the story to this stranger and share a meal with him. Eventually, their eyes open and they recognize him. God was in their midst all along as they traveled through the long path home. It is at that very moment that the two of them look back and remember how their “hearts were burning within” when they were encountering their old friend. Just as Vincent Van Gogh reminds us in “The Potato Eaters”, Luke also speaks loudly to us and gives a healing word that when our hopes and dreams seem all lost, God’s presence is right there in the midst of all are hardships. Personal healing is often a slow process and it is not until we look in retrospect where we realize that God’s presence was there all along. Van Gogh and Luke also remind us that God’s beauty is all around us and sometimes we are too blinded by our tragedy. Sometimes it may simply take a meal with our loved ones to realize that the hues of yellow are illuminating our faces, embracing us with God’s sacred love.

Matthew 21:6-11 & Matthew 27:15-23

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:09:56 +0100

Scripture Index: NIV, The Message, NRSV, ESV

The crowds can be a powerful force and they can make us do things we normally would not do. You can call it whatever you want: peer pressure, fitting in, the status quo. Whatever you name it, the fact is that going against the crowd can seem crazy. Our readings today portray this power in a profound way.

Besides Jesus, there is one character that is consistent in both passages and that character is the crowd. Matthew often mentions the crowd or the multitude in his gospel and he does so with a specific purpose in mind: to show us how the crowds cannot always be trusted. In the first reading we see how the crowds were shouting Hosanna in the highest, praising Jesus. Six chapters later, the crowds were now shouting Crucify Him! Yes, like the crowds from 2000 years ago, the crowds today can be just as fickle. Although fickle, the power of the crowd is hard to resist. This is evident by the fact that we live in a time where people are starving for meaning and acceptance and the power of the crowd is so great that we can sometimes sell our souls just to feel like we belong somewhere.

The crowds in Matthews’s gospel snuff out Jesus in the end and we eventually read of the tragic death of this beautiful man. However, you and I know that the story doesn’t end there. We read of those brave women who go back to the tomb to take care of their dear friend one last time. However, instead of sadness and death the women encounter something out of this world, almost cosmic. They experienced and witnessed RESURRECTION! Jesus rising from the dead is God’s message to us that the ways of the crowd, like greed, abuse and hatred are NOT the end. Resurrection tells us that the way of kindness, mercy and love are the way, the truth and the life!

Quote of the Week:

"I believe in the power of weakness."

- Patrick Buckley -

Romans 5:1-11

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:15:12 +0100

Scripture Index: NIV, The Message, NRSV, ESV

A friend of mine once told me that the only way around despair was to go through it. At the time, those words were a bitter pill for me to swallow. I am forever grateful to that friend, as he helped me go through one of the more difficult times of my life. Looking back now, I realized that it was often through the love and care of the larger saint community that enabled me to navigate through the road to hope.

For this week’s devotional, I want to share with you an article from Felipe N. Martinez. He is a program associate for Hispanic ministries in the Whitewater Valley Presbytery in Indianapolis. I hope you are encouraged, moved and inspired by his story and that your personal road to hope through suffering, endurance and character is fulfilled. As Paul reminds us, the foundation of our hope is in God’s love for us and therein lies our boasting. God bless you all and have a blessed week.

Link to Article: Are We There Yet? by Felipe Martinez

John 3:1-17

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:23:22 +0100

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What a curious, curious story. We come to what is probably the most famous passage in all Christendom. Turn your TV onto any sporting event and you will likely see a sign being waved with the words John 3:16. For some, reading this verse may have been the tipping point that changed their lives into being a disciple of Jesus. Ironically, the one person whom Jesus directed this famous verse to disappears into the backdrop of the narrative without an immediate conversion. Nicodemus leaves the story just the way he entered it, into the shadows of the night without anyone really knowing what he is up to.

There is a common misconception out there that says mature Christian faith has to be filled with lightning bolt experiences and that if we do not have those moments of epiphany or a spectacular encounter with the Sprit, then our faith is somehow flawed or insufficient. Certainly, scripture attests to those sorts of encounters: Moses and the burning bush, the Samaritan woman at the well, Jacob wrestling with God. So, yes, some come to the faith quickly. However, I believe others take more time and that sort of faith journey should be acknowledged and accepted as well. Nicodemus’ story is the latter. When we first meet him, he comes to Jesus at night, perhaps fearful of what others might think and encounters Jesus with questions rather than faith statements. The next time we see Nicodemus is in chapter 7:47-52 and he offers a hesitant defense of Jesus. It is not until chapter 19 where we possibly see a change of heart from Nicodemus as he wraps the body of Jesus with spices and linen cloths.

I think John may be recording this story of Nicodemus for those of us who have difficulty believing the Christian faith. Those who struggle with legitimate questions of faith are urged to “come and see” what Jesus is all about (see John 1:35-39). There is no manipulation here, no forceful edict to convert. Rather, there is an invitation for seekers to see for themselves, to test the spirits. Instead of hiding our doubts or walking away because of our doubts, John calls us to encounter Jesus head on with our questions. Be prepared though, as this is a two way street! In the end, we too will be questioned and it is through this relational process with Jesus where new birth truly begins.

Prayer

Lord, there are moments when I am so uncertain and doubtful. Open my heart, Lord, to the right attitude when confronted with questions of my faith. Amen.

Quote of the Week

“Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”

- St. Augustine -

Psalm 32

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 04:08:06 +0100

Scripture Index: NIV, The Message, NRSV, ESV

Today marks the beginning of Lent and it will continue for the next 46 days until Saturday, the 23^rd of April. In Western Christianity Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (March 9^th) and concludes on Holy Saturday. The six Sundays in Lent are not counted among the forty days of Lent because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter”, a celebration of Jesus’ victory over sin and death. Unfortunately, Lent has some baggage associated with it. I think there are many who see Lent as a period of dreariness where one must be overridden with guilt, shame and self-denial. The season of Advent, the days leading up to Christmas, seems to have much more emotions of joy and celebration associated with it. The merry anticipation for Christmas can even be found outside the church as corporations pummel us with advertisements for Black Friday and holiday sales. However, Lent commemorates the time when Jesus, having just received baptism from John the Baptist, retreated to the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. He filled his time with fasting and prayer as he endured through various temptations from Satan. Fasting? Prayer? For 40 days and 40 nights? I do not think you will be seeing commercials from McDonald’s or Domino’s Pizza reminding us that the season of Lent is at hand.

Yes, the season of Lent has what some might consider “dreary” themes: repentance, discipline, sin and confession. However, Psalm 32 reminds us that these themes are not to be viewed with eyes of shame or anxiety. It is tough to view ideas of repentance objectively sometimes, as our culture often produces individuals who refrain from having a contrite heart. Finding public figures that own up to their failures and mistakes are few and far between. When faced with a moment of apology they will often replace “I’m sorry” with “I regret”. Psalm 32 offers quite a different worldview: one of seeking for forgiveness. That is where true happiness resides. Further, happiness and joy is also found in living a life of integrity (v.2). The torture often continues when we hold our secret sins close to us. Guilt, shame and anxiety overtake us when we keep silent (v.3). Ironically, the freedom comes when we own up to our mistakes and Psalm 32 reminds us that God’s love is steadfast and God’s love surrounds us (v.10). Rather than us pursuing happiness, it is God who chases after us and is on high pursuit. Another Psalmist put it this way: “Surely goodness and mercy shall chase after me all the days of my life…” (Psalm 23:6).

Prayer

Forgive me, God, for anything I didn’t do today which I might have done.
Forgive me for any help I might have given today which I did not give. Help me to learn the lesson that selfishness and happiness can never go together. Amen

Quote of the Week

“Forgiveness is the final form of love.”

- Reinhold Neibuhr -

Isaiah 49:8-16

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 06:45:31 +0100

Scripture Index: NIV, The Message, NRSV, ESV

The idea of “exile” may be a hard concept to understand for many of us. I know for me, it hardly crosses my mind. These days I am focused on navigating through the rigors of work, church life, parenthood and marriage. It is passages like the one from Isaiah 49 that forces me to step back from the juggling and ponder on how easily I take for granted the “non-exilic” life I live sometimes. In order to understand what I mean by “exile” we need to take note of the context of what Isaiah is speaking of. The poem of Isaiah 49 was most probably composed during the period of the Babylonian exile. The Israelites at this time were devastated by war and they were deported from their homeland and taken into Babylon. They were a people of captive and surely experienced alienation, ruin and a sense of hopelessness. In response to this uprooting that the Israelites experienced, Isaiah writes this poem to pronounce that God will overcome vulnerability with strength, sadness with hope and distance with intimacy. We see some powerful imagery in verse 15; it is an image that has universal appeal: a mother nursing her child. However, Isaiah makes an incredible claim: God’s care and compassion goes even deeper than that of a woman nursing her child! In direct response to Israel’s complaint in verse 14, we see God proclaiming that the forgetfulness of their cries will never be part of the divine plan. We see another powerful image in verse 16, further emphasizing the persistence of God’s memory: “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.”

Although the idea of exile may seem foreign to many, I think we can still relate to the experience of exile that fell on the Israelites. Exile can take many forms. It can be the result of relationships being broken by abuse, addiction, selfishness or greed. For those struggling to find employment in a sparse job pool, it may very well feel as if the Lord has forgotten. Maybe you are struggling to find a home church and all you feel are the cold walls of solitude when worshipping with strangers. Yes, exile has many forms. It can rattle through our human experience to the point where we sometimes cry out “my Lord has forgotten me.” Isaiah reminds us that even in our most tragic circumstances, God is there, God is present and God never forgets.

Prayer

Lord, I lean on you for strength and help me hold on to the truth that you will bring times of refreshing. Help me to rest on that truth, and in turn help me comfort those who need comforting. Amen

Quote of the Week

"Though our feelings come and go, God's love for us does not."

- C.S. Lewis

1 Corinthians 3:16-23

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 06:13:07 +0100

Scripture Index: NIV, The Message, NRSV, ESV

In the opening chapters of Corinthians, Paul speaks of divisions and quarrels among the members. Throughout the rest of the letter we read of instances of idolatry, disorderly worship, dishonor, and arrogance. The list seems to go on and on with this community. It is easy to look at the Corinthian church with condescending eyes and wonder how they could be filled with so much contempt towards each other. However, before we pass judgment on our brothers and sisters of the early church, we should take notice of how the chaos they experienced is often entrenched in our human condition. Sadly, the church of Corinth mirrors much of what the Church of today experiences. Paul is decisive with his words, providing a sharp tongue towards the divisions that were running rampant throughout this particular community. Some could argue that he has a hint of sarcasm in his tone as he writes. However, in our passage today we see Paul’s rebuke being seasoned with love and concern. Paul reminds his readers that the community of Corinth is God’s temple. We need to be mindful of the special role that the temple played in the lives of the Jewish people. Israel rebuilt its temple after it was destroyed by the Babylonians. The temple was the center of Israel’s worship and the Holy of Holies (the innermost sanctum) contained the very presence of God. To say that the Corinthian community was the “temple” of God may seem far from the truth, with all its divisiveness and grumbling. Yet, Paul does not waver in his claim that God does dwell amongst the Corinthian church and they are holy because God’s spirit rests there. Paul’s words are rooted in an agonizing love for the Corinthian church.

The good news is that God does indeed dwell within the muck and mire of human existence, even when infighting and jealousy take over our lives. We miss out on experiencing God’s company when we forget that “…all belong to you, and you belong to Christ” (v.22).

Prayer:

Lord, help me to understand the gift of Christ more and more each day. Replace my hatred with love, my jealousy with thankfulness and my grumbling with praise. Amen

Quote of the Week:

“What could make me love my fellow Christian better than to see that God loves us all as we are all one soul?”

-Julian of Norwich-