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Wednesday 28 February 2018

"Live by the Spirit... Inherit the Kingdom."


I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully.  I ask for patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion.  I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.

Galatians 5:16-21
16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1) "...Live by the spirit;" "...led by the spirit;" "...

2) These are regrettable words. Paul is making a distinction between two ways of being.  Unfortunately, his use of "spirit" and "flesh" to distinguish the two ways, will get taken literally, to the detriment of the world. Taken literally, this passage erodes an embodied theology... the incarnation itself, the center of Paul's gospel! Suffice it to be that Paul discourages the behaviours of "fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these." It is a "list," probably a stock list inherited by Paul. It is extensive, thought not meant to be exhaustive. Paul wants us to remember that our "belief" and "faith" are followed by a change in behaviour.  To participate in the kingdom of God is to abstain from these behaviours. When we engage in these behaviours, we pound nails in the hands and feet of the very Christ we claim to follow. It seems to me that none of us are free from the accusation of pounding nails into the hands and feet of Christ. I can't imagine many people being free of all of these behaviours... "and things like these." Humility, humility, humility. None of us is all that.

3) What is the invitation in all this? To abstain from behaviours that are a barrier to the Kingdom of God? But that is probably simply not possible.  Maybe it is better to seek behaviours that nurture and engage the Kingdom of God, and to cease behaviour that is contrary to the Kingdom of God when we realize we are doing them, and seek amends immediately.

"Holy One, guide us to your kingdom."

Breathprayer: "Live by the spirit... inherit the kingdom."


Tuesday 27 February 2018

"Called to Freedom... Love One Another."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion. I ask to abstain from anxiety, anger, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 5:13-15
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 15If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.


1) "...called to freedom;" "...opportunity for self-indulgence;" "...through love become slaves to one another;" "...You shall love your neighbour as yourself;" "...through love become slaves to one another;" "...called to freedom;" "...


2) "Freedom" cannot be "absolute." Freedom is found in mutual relationship, love. We are freed to love one another AS ourselves. Not "like," but "as." It isn't a metaphor... to love others the way we love ourselves, but to love others as an extension of ourselves. When my neighbour bleeds, I bleed. We are one body in Christ. When a member of the body is injured, the whole body is weakened and experiences the pain. How "free" can one be if one keeps slamming their foot with a hammer? Devouring another is to consume ourselves. This is certainly not how our world works. Watching 45 proclaim that the solution to mass shootings in the US is to produce, buy, sell more guns, is definitely part of the devour/consume paradigm, not the love your neighbour as yourself/become slaves to one another paradigm. I dislike the "slave" imagery, but I'm open to service, and serving one another. How are we called to serve one another? How are we called to exercise our freedom in service to one another? Do I experience my freedom when serving? yes.  That was a quick response.  I definitely experience freedom when I choose to serve, either by making a generous financial gift, or by giving my time and skills. I have a felt sense of freedom when I choose to serve. On the other hand, when someone tells me I should do "this" or "that" I do not feel the freedom of serving... then I'm enslaved. It is freedom only if I have the choice to freely server or not serve.


3) What is the invitation in all this? To explore how I freely serve.


"Holy One, Thank you for the opportunity to serve, and for the companions who serve with me."


Breathprayer: "Called to freedom... love one another."



Monday 26 February 2018

"Obey... the One Who Calls You."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Christ more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 5:7-12
7 You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? 8Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. 10I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. 11But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offence of the cross has been removed. 12I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!


1) "You were running well;" "...the one who calls you;" "...a little yeast leavens the who batch of dough;" "...I am confident;" "...I am confident about you in the Lord;" "... I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!"


2) This makes me smile this morning.  There are those who unsettle me.  Why do I let them? It does make a small part of my heart smile to think of Paul wishing those who unsettle me would castrate themselves. Perhaps a bit extreme. Better I would just stop letting them unsettle me. "A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough." But which is the leaven and which is the dough?!? Is it a little confidence that leavens the loaf to good, or a little unsettlement that leavens the loaf to bad? I'm afraid it works both ways. It depends on which leaven we nourish. God help me nourish the yeast that comes from the one who calls us. I cannot imagine that the one who is unsettling me spends much genuine energy discerning where their yeast comes from.  Only that one thing feels good to them and another is uncomfortable. And if it is uncomfortable it has to be annihilated. But the one who calls me, calls me to discomfort the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. The problem is that in one way or another, we are all comfortable; we are all afflicted.


3) What is the invitation in all this? To hand it all over to the one who calls us.


"Holy One, receive that which unsettles, send us the yeast that leavens the whole batch of dough for good."


Breathprayer: "Obey... the one who calls you."

Thursday 15 February 2018

"Faith... Working through Love."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully.  I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy.  I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 5:1-6
51For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. 4You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.


1) "...Christ has set us free;:" "...Stand firm;" "...do not submit again to a yoke of slavery;" "...fallen away from Grace;" "...the only thing that counts is faith working through love;" "...faith working through love;" "...the only thing that counts is faith working through love"


2) How easily am I pulled back into an old pattern of behaviour, one that I have given up? I am free without that pattern, but under stress, adversity, conflict, it is so easy to return to that pattern. "Stand firm." I even have friends who prefer the old pattern.  It is as inconvenient to them as to me, learning a new set of practices. And the world gives lots of encouragement to return to the way things were, rather than embracing a new way of being. "The only thing that counts is faith working through love." I'm right.  I want to prove I'm right.  I want the person who has wronged me to admit that they've wronged me and that I'm right.  But "the only thing that counts is faith working through love." I'm so hyper sensitive to enabling addictive/alienating/dysfunctional behaviour. What constitutes "standing firm"? What constitutes rigidly returning to old practices? And what constitutes receiving freedom? What response constitutes "faith working through love"? You can't hurt me that way any more? But I can't make you change. It's all in Christ's hands. "Christ has set us free."


3) What is the invitation in all this? To make "the only thing that counts is faith working through love" my mantra for the day, week, month... season...


"Christ set us free."


Breathprayer: "Faith... Working through Love."



Wednesday 14 February 2018

"Rejoice... You Are Children of the Promise."

As Lent begins, I ask for what I always ask, to pray and meditate faithfully.  I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy.  I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance.  I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 4:21-31
21 Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. 23One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. 24Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written,
‘Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children,
   burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs;
for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous
   than the children of the one who is married.’
28Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac. 29But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. 30But what does the scripture say? ‘Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman.’ 31So then, friends, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman.


1) "...listen to the law;" "...born through the promise;" "...this is an allegory;" "...the Jerusalem above;" "...she is free;" "...Rejoice, you childless one;" "...burst into song and shout;" "...you who endure no birth pangs; "...the children of the desolate woman are more numerous;" "...children of the promise;" "...


2) I appreciate Paul teaching us to read scripture metaphorically, not literally.  I do not appreciate his attempt at allegory. and here is where Paul's letter that has become scripture must be read metaphorically.  It is no longer acceptable to say that any child is "born to slavery," unless it is mean that every last human being is a "slave" to nature. A racial distinction between who is born to slavery and who is born to freedom is simply not acceptable. Those who follow the law, do not experience themselves to be "in slavery." However, when they try to impose the law on others, who have already expressed an experience of salvation through belief in Christ, trespass. But I also think criticizing Paul for his acceptance of the socio-economic reality of slavery is like criticizing us for our participation in fossil-fuel driven socio-eco- economy. It is wrong, we should be criticized, but without a the use of public transit, and occasionally driving my car, given the world as it currently is, I wouldn't be able to do much, like, see my mother or chosen family once a week. We are all born to slavery. What choices can we make so that the freedom we receive in the promise may more clearly be revealed?


3) What is the invitation in all this? How do I live out the promise? How is the promise made manifest in my thoughts, actions and words? How do I choose to live freely and to help others discover freedom? ...with great difficulty sometimes.


"Holy One, help us all live into the freedom of your promise, whatever our practices and observances."


Breathprayer: "Rejoice... you are children of the promise."

Tuesday 13 February 2018

"Pain... Until Christ Is Formed in You."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for tolerance, patience, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 4:17-20
17They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you may make much of them. 18It is good to be made much of for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you. 19My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.


1) "...they want to exclude you;" "...so that you may make much of them;" "...in the pain of childbirth;" "...until Christ is formed in you;" "...I wish I were present;" "...I wish I... could change my tone;" "...I am perplexed about you;"


2) Perplexed.  Paul softens so much in this latter part of the letter.  Such affection comes out, "I am perplexed about you;" "I am again in the pain of childbirth;" "my little children;" "It is good to be made much of for a good purpose at all times;" "they want to exclude you." Here it becomes clear, Paul's wrath has not been with the Galatians themselves, but with those who would convince them that they are excluded, "less than" those who follow the observance of the "law." I know it is easy to forget and obscure with whom and what I am perplexed. It is easy to mistaken someone being perplexed with a situation and perplexed with the person in the situation. I'm seeing this manifest frequently in my community right now. In some situations, I feel I can be really clear with myself and others that I'm perplexed with the situation... not the people in the situation. In other situations, it is not so clear, for me or others. I have difficulty myself separating the individual from the situation. Of course... the individual caused the situation, or let the situation become what it is (I like to think I would have done things differently).  But still, the situation isn't the individual and the individual still needs empathy. I wonder what Paul needs to feel he could change his tone?


3) What is the invitation in all this? to separate individuals from situations. To make a greater effort to address my own tone. I have been... I need to watch my tone with myself too. This whole spiritual practice/growth is about learning to find empathy with the things I hate most about myself.


"Holy One, be with us in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in us."


Breathprayer: "Pain... until Christ is formed in you."



Friday 9 February 2018

"Angel of God... Telling You the Truth."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy.  I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance.  I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 4:12-16
12 Friends, I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong. 13You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you; 14though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15What has become of the goodwill you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?


1) "You have done me no wrong;" "...put you to the test;" "...you did not scorn or despise me;" "...welcomed me as an angel of God;" "...as Christ Jesus;" "...the goodwill you felt;" "...telling you the truth;" "...


2) This seems such high praise.  I have to wonder if it might not have been good to have remembered the affection they'd shared at the beginning of the letter instead of at the end? It's quite beautiful for Paul to testify to the affection he once felt..."had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me;" "welcomed me as an angel of God."  This is high praise and deep affection that sharpens the pain in the following line, "Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?"  But let this perhaps be a lesson... affection first, truth telling next. It is, of course, easier to share truth among those who share affection, less fear of risking the relationship if we can trust the capacity to receive hard truth. But we are really afraid to tell one another truth if it contradicts what we think the other thinks. How blessed I feel in the friends who feel they can tell me the truth. It is hard to talk about truth in general these days, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, interpretation, perspective, context. 


3) What is the invitation in all this? to cherish truth when we hear it. To cherish those who speak truth to us, regardless of the risks. To have the courage to speak truth whatever the risk.  To have the courage and honesty to witness the truth when it contradicts what I think and believe.


"Holy One, help us be bearers of the truth."


Breathprayer: "Angel of God... telling you the truth."



Wednesday 7 February 2018

"Know God... Be Known."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, complaining, discouragement, and self-interest.  I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 4:8-11
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods. 9Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits? How can you want to be enslaved to them again? 10You are observing special days, and months, and seasons, and years. 11I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted.


1) "...come to know God;" "...rather to be known by God;" "...how can you turn back;" "...elemental spirits;" "...I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted."


2) Well, I can identify with the fear that my work with them may have been wasted. I can identify with Paul's frustration with the gap between his intention for the community and the outcome of his ministry. We do not want to change our ways. We do not want to repent. We want the kingdom of God and to do things our own way. I can identify with frustration in general this week. I'm so tired of listening to other people complaining.  And I'm really tired of my own complaining about other people complaining! I can't comfort the inconsolable.  I can't be comforted if I'm inconsolable. Why do I go back to the things that just don't give comfort?!? Haven't I tried that before? I feel like I am constantly dancing on the contour of my own graciousness.


3) What is the invitation in all this? to accept being known by God and to let go of the observances that do not nourish.


"Holy One, create in my a heart that can be consoled."


Breathprayer: "Know God... be known."



Monday 5 February 2018

"Heirs... Children."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy.  I ask to abstain from anxiety, anger, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance.  I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 4:1-7
4My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; 2but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.


1) "...heirs;" "...when the fullness of time had come;" "...to redeem those who were under the law;" "...adoption as children;" "...you are children;" "...God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts;" "...no longer a slave, but a child;" "...if a child then also an heir;"


2) Unfortunately, or not, there are those in disagreement whether or not "the fullness of time had come." And even for those of us for whom "the fullness of time had come," it did not come complete, because it is already... but not yet.  And so we continue to wait. But in that time of waiting, "the law of Jewish observances" does not apply to those not first under the law. It's like we are in that stage of "adulthood" when we can drive, but we cant drink or vote.  So, kind of adults, but not really, or adults in some places, but not others. Paul's most ardent point, however, is that it is wrong for certain Christians to insist that other Christians observe the same practices for the sake of their salvation. They have accepted the Spirit of God's Son into their hearts, they love one another. There are no other requirements for reconciliation. How many times does Paul beseech us to love one another? As if loving one another, acting like we love one another regardless of how we feel, seems more than a challenging enough goal. And if we followed all the "laws and observances" but still failed to show love? What then? Heirs and children are heirs and children.  There is very little in heaven and earth that for good or bad, can sever the bond of heirs and children from their parents.


3) What is the invitation in all this? To love one another first and let all the practices come second, or even third. That's not as easy to do as it is to say.  I feel pretty strongly about certain practices and the reasoning and tradition behind them!


"Help us to love one another."


Breathprayer: "Heirs... Children."