Category: Uncategorized

Isaiah 6:1-8
Romans 8:12-17
John 3:1-17

Dear Friends,

In Isaiah’s vision of God, the prophet is transported to the Holy presence of the living God!  Even as he sees his own frailty and unworthiness and the brokenness of his culture (unclean lips), grace is immediately extended to cleanse him.  Now, Isaiah also is part of the heavenly conversation, not as an angel, but as one who can go in service for the Lord among the people.

In John 3, Jesus has a conversation with Nicodemus about the kingdom of God.  Human beings cannot participate in this “God reality” without first being given a new life from God’s Spirit.  Jesus is surprised that a faithful Jewish leader like Nicodemus, who can see that God’s presence is with Jesus, cannot understand that it is the Spirit of God who comes to give this new kingdom life.

In Romans 8 Paul contrasts the flesh and the Spirit, much as did John chapter 3 above.  There is “flesh” – human life lived by its own resources; and there is another kind of life lived by the Spirit which adopts us and leads us.  Jesus, who was lifted up first on a cross and then ascended to the presence of God, gives this Spirit life to those who believe/trust/hope in him.

Comment: Why were these readings selected for Trinity Sunday?  Perhaps because they show the work of the Holy God, who restores human beings with God’s own Spirit and purpose through the Son who is lifted up on the Cross.  Let us praise the God who reaches to our unclean and hurting lives with his healing fire, includes us in his conversation, and asks if we are willing to be people sent into our world by God’s own Spirit.

Ezekiel 37:1-14
(or Acts 2:1-21)
Psalm 104: 25-35,37
Romans 8:22-27
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Dear Friends,

Ezekiel 37 describes the “Valley of Dry Bones” – an “image parable” which represents the people of Israel, defeated and in exile, cut off from hope and life.  While this was an actual historic situation, it is not unreasonable to see it as representative off any kind of human situation in which we feel lost, powerless, and hopeless.  But the point of the parable is clear: what is impossible for us is possible for God’s Spirit, who gives life and new hope where there is death and despair.

In the Gospel reading from John, Jesus describes the “Counselor” or “Spirit of Truth” who will come in place of his physical absence.  The Spirit bears witness to Jesus and guides Jesus’ disciples into truth.  It works to reveal to the world its sin (refusal to believe Jesus), to reveal righteousness (the witness to Jesus) and bring judgment (against the powers/forces in the world that are opposed to God’s life and salvation).

[Acts 2 gives to us the dramatic story of the Day of Pentecost, when the praying disciples are filled with the Spirit of God in a dramatic way.  Peter explains to the confused crowd how this day was anticipated by the prophet Joel.  We see the Spirit doing what John’s Gospel said: bearing witness to Jesus and call people to belief in the risen Christ.  This witness will place the disciples into conflict with the world – the same ruling council who sentenced Jesus to death!]

The entire chapter of Romans 8 contains a great deal of teaching from Paul about the Holy Spirit.  The verses assigned for Pentecost make the amazing statement that the work of God’s salvation isn’t merely focused on human beings, but the entire creation that God originally declared as good and wants to restore from brokenness.  And even as we human being groan in our own weakness, the Holy Spirit is working and moving deeply and beyond our own conscious thoughts – to accomplish the purposes of God!

Comment:  We who believe that Jesus is risen and has sent the Spirit of God should take great courage from the witness of Pentecost.  We may not be conscious of it, we may not “see it happening” – but the Spirit is moving among us.  And sometimes we do get glimpses of the often hidden presence and power of God working in this broken world.  As one simple prayer puts it, may we say: “Lord open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world around us!”  May we add to this another prayer: “…and Lord, let me be an instrument of your peace/life/love.”  Come Holy Spirit!

Acts 4:5-12
Psalm 23
1 John 3:16-24
John 10:11-18

Dear Friends,

John 10:11-18: This Sunday is sometimes called “Good Shepherd” Sunday.  We turn to John’s Gospel as it describes Jesus as our Shepherd, showing us that Jesus now fulfills in his person the words of the 23rd Psalm.  In this Gospel reading and in 1 John 3 the emphasis is placed on the offering of Jesus’ life, who lays down his life for the sheep.  The Gospel reading also notes the relationship between shepherd and sheep – the Good Shepherd knows his sheep and they listen to him.

Acts 4:5-12 continues the unfolding of events after Easter and Pentecost.  Peter stands before the same council that condemned Jesus, and declares Jesus is risen and at work by healing a man in his name.  The Peter who once denied knowing Jesus to save his own skin now boldly proclaims Jesus as the source of salvation without fear of the consequences!

Comment:  It is God’s desire to be our “shepherd” – to guide and care for us.  The resurrection of Jesus and the Holy Spirit empowerment of the disciples ushers in a new covenant/shepherd relationship between God and people.  I recognize that I am in need of a good and true shepherd among all the many voices that call out and seek to influence me for their own agendas. You and I are challenged daily to know the voice of Christ and respond to his guidance and grace.  And if we are doing this, it will show: we will “lay down our lives” (time, energy, resources) to take up the hard work of loving the people in our world us as Christ loves us.  We will want to let people know who he is!

Isaiah 25:6-9

Acts 10:34-43

Mark 16:1-8

Dear Friends,

Isaiah 25:6-9: The prophet looks forward to the day when death is swallowed up, tears washed away, all disgrace and mourning taken away from “all the earth.”  Meanwhile we wait, but as people who have hope in what God will do.

Acts 10:34-43:  Peter declares that God is not “partial” but speaks peace to anyone in every nation – “peace by Jesus Christ – he is Lord of all.”  This message that began in Jesus could not be stopped by killing him. The risen Christ now sends the message through his witnesses that “everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Mark 16:1-8: On Easter morning the women find the huge gravestone already rolled back and the tomb empty.  They are given the message that Jesus has been raised and they will see him.

Comment:  With Isaiah, we still wait for the day when all causes of mourning and loss are swallowed up forever.  We wait for “thy kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven.” As we wait, we are given a powerful message: “Christ has been raised, and you will see him!”  We who have been blessed to “see” and experience the risen Jesus in so many different and unique ways are invited to take heart.  We are able to live as people who are assured of God’s victory over everything that destroys life.  The power of God that raised Jesus from the grave really is alive and at work in each of us who believe.  We become the risen presence of Christ to our world!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

The Lord is Risen indeed!  Alleluia!

Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
John 2:13-22

Dear Friends,

This Sunday in Lent gives us the Ten Commandments as written in Exodus 20. It is easy to see that the “weight” or emphasis is on the first three commandments that address our relationship to God.  God is “jealous” and will tolerate no “rivals” nor the misuse of God’s name.  From there, the commands call us to participate in the renewing rest of God (Sabbath) and in constructive relationships with family and neighbor. When we worship and rely on God, not human individuality, possessions or power, we can live rightly with others.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus goes up to the temple in Jerusalem, the place that signifies the dwelling of God in the midst of the people.  Jesus is “jealous” for his Father’s house, which is being abused for the sake of human agendas. John tells us that Jesus points to a new place of God’s presence – his own risen body – that is to come after his death.

Referring to the cross of Christ, Paul talks to the Corinthians with a paradox: the power and wisdom of God appears weak and foolish to people. Yet the followers of a rejected Savior find the power and wisdom of God in this crucified and risen Lord.

Comment: Human jealousy is destructive, seeking to possess another person exclusively for ourselves. In a sense, we are putting too much “weight” on a single human relationship. No one can be everything to us!  In contrast, God’s jealousy is true and saving: in God alone can we find lasting life and peace that is present in no other thing or person. God rightly wants me to place him – and God’s Son by whom I really can know and belong to God – above and before all others.  May I think of myself today as belonging wholly to God. God has an absolute claim upon me, a claim spoken in Jesus Christ. May I see the people upon whom I place the greatest expectations as people who also belong to God much more so than they belong to me, freeing me to love them for God’s sake and not my own!