A whole lotta faith!

Matthew 21:21-22New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.”

When I started writing these meditations on the daily lectionary, and then other parts of scripture, I approached them as I did in my very first Bible class in Seminary.  I wanted to reflect without other commentary, unless it was commentary I remembered having read before.  Or commentary that had already been absorbed into my thought processes about the text.

Every so often, however, a text comes along where I really wish I wasn't going in without a net, so to speak.  This text is one of those.

These two verses come at the end of one of the most difficult stories about Jesus.  He has just cursed a fig tree because it wouldn't bear fruit.  It withered and died, and would never bear fruit again.

And these comments from Jesus on faith close that passage out.

There are two difficult strains of thought.  First, the fact that Jesus is linking faith to the destruction of the fig tree (and also the violence that would come from moving a mountain into the sea)!

The second, however, is the notion that if we have faith and not doubt, that we too can make such destructive and supernatural feats!

If indeed, that's what Jesus is saying...

It occurred to me this time as I read the passage, however, that the very notion of faith - of hope even in the midst of doubt and absent of any certainty - IS in and of itself a supernatural feat!

That most likely 100 times a week you find yourself in a circumstance that feels like moving mountains, and yet you still come out to the other side.

That's faith.

That every day, despite the 24 hour news cycle showing us terrors and tragedies all day long, the little tiny bit of faith you have, gets you through the day, sometimes dropping to your knees in prayer just to say "help" or "please" or "Lord have mercy."  

That's faith.

That despite living in an often cynical and sometimes nihilistic world, you feel compelled to be with other folks in community - whether in church or in another group - just so you can be with them and provide support and love and comfort and sometimes even just plain fun!  

That's some faith right there too.

That sometimes the doubt that has haunted you becomes less of a burden and more of a point of growth and curiosity and hope.

That is faith blooming and blossoming!

There's much else to wonder about as to why Jesus cursed the fig tree to begin with, but perhaps that nudge of doubt might be OK to just sit with.  Might be OK to pray about.

Might be something to just know that we can't have certainty about, but can have perfectly supernatural, super-sized hope about.

God of mystery and hope, help us to cling to the faith you have created in us. Amen.

Better than gold and silver

Psalm 119:72New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The law of your mouth is better to me
    than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

We don't usually think of laws with such high praise, do we?

As a Lutheran, I've had drilled into me theology around law vs. gospel. Well, it isn't really "versus."  It sometimes feels like it.  That law is harsh and bad and gospel is freeing and good.  That's how it often seems.

But here, the Psalmist clearly sees freedom and goodness in law as well.  There is goodness to be found in the community that law generates.  There is freedom to be found in the care for our neighbor that the law commands.

There is love to be found in the law.

There is value to be found in the law.

It's important to remember God's purpose for the law: to build community; to create a people who loved and served each other even as they served God.

The law was created out of love for community and for service.  

It was created to build.  Not to tear down.

Have we used it that way?

What laws exist within the communities you are a part of? Not just faith communities, but all the communities you are a part of? How do they strengthen the communities?

How are they valuable?

God of law and gospel, write your law on my heart that it might be sweet honey on my lips.  Teach me to use your law to build up my community, rather than tear it or anyone down.  Amen.

Being made one

Leviticus 4:27-31New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

If anyone of the ordinary people among you sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done and incurs guilt, when the sin that you have committed is made known to you, you shall bring a female goat without blemish as your offering, for the sin that you have committed. You shall lay your hand on the head of the sin offering; and the sin offering shall be slaughtered at the place of the burnt offering. The priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and he shall pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.  He shall remove all its fat, as the fat is removed from the offering of well-being, and the priest shall turn it into smoke on the altar for a pleasing odor to the Lord. Thus the priest shall make atonement on your behalf, and you shall be forgiven.

"Atonement" is one of those words that I struggled with for a long time.  President David Lose of Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia helped a lot with that in his book, Making Sense of the Cross.

He pointed out that the definition is right there in the word.  Atonement is literally "at-one-ment."

The process of being made one.

Leviticus often feels like a long slog.  Whenever I've had anyone tell me they have decided to read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, I always know there's going to be that time when they hit Leviticus where they are going to start regretting that decision!

That doesn't mean there's no value in reading Leviticus.  The law may feel arcane to us, but the reasons behind them and God's role in the narrative of these laws are every bit as important and vital now as they were then.

God throughout the Old Testament is all about creating a special community of people.  A people who would be "at-one" with God, and "at-one" with each other and eventually, "at-one" with their neighbors as well.  The laws were a means to that, and the priests were the vehicle through which that "at-one-ment" occurred.

As Christians, the cross is now how we understand our "at-one-ment" to have happened. And to continue to happen. 

No atonement theories here.  Just an understanding of what it means.  Why we need atonement.

To be made one.  To be whole.  To be complete.  God wants the community of God's people to be made one.

In Leviticus and today.  

The rituals have changed.  But the love behind the desire to be one with us remains.

Lord, we are one in you and through you and with you.  Thank you!  And help us to live our lives remembering that always.  Amen.

Simple, not easy

Romans 13:8-10New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

You know those "Keep Calm and Carry On" T-shirts that everyone seems to be wearing these days?  Well, I found a website where you can generate your own T-Shirts and posters and whatnot with similar phrases.  And one of the ones (found here: http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/life-is-simple-but-not-easy/) says "Life is Simple, but not Easy."  (So, I guess you're supposed to keep calm about that!)

The idea of "simple not easy" is one that is also common among AA circles.  Bill W., the creator of AA talked about the process being one that is simple in its steps, but not at all easy. 

A couple millennia before Bill W. talked about AA being simple but not easy, the Apostle Paul related the simple Christian message to Jesus' followers. 

It ALL comes down to "love your neighbor as yourself."

Simple, right?

Easy?

Paul himself knew it wasn't easy as earlier in Romans he bemoaned: "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate."

Love your neighbor couldn't be a set of simpler instructions. 

Until you realize it means:

Love the neighbor who you disagree with adamantly with at council meetings.

Love the neighbor who wants to change how we do worship.

Love the neighbor who doesn't take part in any of the activities you've planned.

Love the neighbor who starts going to another church.

Love the neighbor who voted Republican/Democrat/ Libertarian/Green Party.

Love the neighbor who is pro-life when you are pro-choice, or pro-choice when you are pro-life.

Love the neighbor who lives a thousand miles away in a different economic reality from yours.

Love the neighbor who doesn't see eye to eye with you about race relations in our country.

Love the neighbor who is pro-NRA when you are against guns.

Love the neighbor who is a pacifist and didn't go to Vietnam when they were drafted.

Love the neighbor who is LBGT when you see homosexuality as a sin.

Love the neighbor who voted against gay rights when you are LBGT.

Love the neighbor from Mexico or Central America.

Or Iraq.

Or Afghanistan.

Or Iran.

Love the boss who just won't give you the promotion you deserve.

Love the neighbor who lives under the same roof as you but whom you just can't seem to understand anymore.

Simple.  Not easy.

Not easy also when we think of all the ways in the world we hurt and violate and break each other.  Not easy to know when love means having to walk away or turn someone in or discipline them or confront them.

I'm guessing that we all have someone in our lives we find difficult to love.  Someone whom loving doesn't seem simple OR easy.

Think of who that person is. (or perhaps group of persons).  Write their name(s) on paper or on your heart.  Sometimes when loving seems impossible, praying for might be the thing to try.  Put them first in your prayers and see if maybe, just maybe, it gets a little easier to love them...maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow.  But maybe eventually.

God of love, you have given me the simplest command of all: to love.  Help me, Lord, because so often it isn't easy. But with you, all things are possible!  Amen.

Ezekiel 24:2-3a

Ezekiel 24:2-3New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Mortal, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. And utter an allegory to the rebellious house.

Spoiler alert!

The allegory that God is describing to Ezekiel isn't full of sunshine and good news.  It's full of images of bones and blood and rust and the wrath and fury of God.  It foretells the destruction of Israel by the Babylonians.

Allegory is a common - and effective - way that Scripture presents God's message to God's people.  It's one that I believe is still effective.

Allegory gets lost in the "Bible as literal" debate.  Allegory is not literal.

But allegory is powerful.  Words evoke power in allegory and metaphor and symbolism in a way I think that the literal word can't always do.

Think of truth itself.  How would you describe truth literally in a way that was effective?  It's hard to do and do well, or do persuasively.  Things like allegory, metaphor and even hyperbole strengthen the presentation of "truth" by opening the mind's eye and imagination.  God we know, is a creative God.  God likes imagination.  God likes imagery.

I've often found that I've learned more about things like truth, and faith, and beauty and love and courage in more of the fiction books I've read than in non-fiction or text books.  

And I've been captured more by the Biblical story - the sometimes imperfect witness and confession of those who framed the Biblical narrative - than I have by literal sound bytes from scripture.

Allegory in the Old and New Testament might be confusing (see Daniel and Revelation!) and it might be hard to peg down, but even if it is not "literal," it has an important and inspirational place.  

Once we see the images God wants us to see and hear the story God wants to be told, truth opens up and bigger and wider and more encompassing than literal facts.

God of Truth, help us to hear your message of salvation for this world through the images and stories and allegories and metaphors put down by the Biblical witness of your people.  Guide us to be witnesses to your story ourselves using images that draw people to your Word of love.  Amen.

Matthew 12:22-28

Matthew 12:22-28New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. All the crowds were amazed and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons.” He knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

Do you know of any divided houses?

Depending on who you talk to, America has never been more divided than it is right now.  The news would seem to back it up: Ferguson, Washington, the border...There seems to be a huge breakdown somewhere.

However, historically speaking, huge divisions have existed in this country since day one.  Patriots vs. Tories; Federalists vs.anti-Federalist Jeffersonians; Abolitionists vs. Slave owners.

What does it say about how we do or do not stand?

In the midst of a divide country (or even divided churches and homes), trying to put our situation within this teaching of Jesus can be tricky.  

Until perhaps we look at ultimately what it is that is happening here. 

Healing.

In a home divided, who is it that is trying to repair?  When sides are drawn up, who is trying to heal?  When churches battle over polity or theology, who is trying to restore and forgive and reconcile?

There's a lot that needs healing these days.  There always has been.  And sadly, in the news, we don't often hear about the healing that is happening.

Division happens.  And division weakens.  It weakens the foundations of countries, communities, churches, and families.

And division needs healing. Healing, Jesus says, that comes from the Spirit.

The Spirit makes whole.  The Spirit heals.

If there is division in your home or church or community, look to the places and people who seek healing and wholeness.  The Spirit is at work there bringing God into the midst.

God of justice and reconciliation, send your Spirit to blow through our lives bringing healing and wholeness to the places that are divided and broken.  Amen.

2 Samuel 12:1-7a

2 Samuel 12:1-7aNew Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.” Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

Nathan said to David, “You are the man!"

This is probably one of the greatest "gotcha" moments in scripture.  I can just hear Nathan, turning slowly to David, finger pointed accusingly:  "You are the man!"  It's like the end of an Agatha Christie mystery where the detective carefully lays out the story of the crime and then declares "Whodunnit!"

Not long ago I was going through I Samuel and David's story.  I never made it to the story of Bathsheba, and here it is.  Rather after the fact.  David has already done his bad deeds:  spied the married Bathsheba, seduced (raped?) her, got her pregnant, sent her husband, Uriah the Hittite, to the front lines to get him killed, and then married her.

It's almost a throwaway line about David "laying" with the married Bathsheba.  Much is made of her being married and much is made of the fate of her poor husband, and yet Bathesheba in some ways is thrust to the background.  We are told David sent messengers to bring her to him and then lay with her.

What Bathsheba thought about all this is never mentioned.

Yet following this accusing parable told by Nathan to David, Bathsheba will lose her child.

Whodunnit indeed.

I've never quite known what to make of what happens before and after Nathan's accusation.  The accusation itself is a great dramatic moment.  Yet lost somehow in the shuffle is the human tragedy that surrounds that moment.

We know David grieved for the child he lost, but we are told nothing of Bathsheba's grief other than David consoled her by...well, by laying with again and getting her pregnant again.

This time with Solomon.

It is difficult to read passages like this through our 21st century lens.  It's difficult to take a passage out of the whole sweeping context of the story and try to make sense of it.

Because Scripture is story.  It is a book of faith and it is story.  And in story, sometimes even the heroes don't act the way we want them to.  

And that's maybe the sense to be made.  David, like us, made a mess out of a lot of parts of his life.  Maybe not the same kind of mess, but the kind of mess that needs forgiveness and mercy.  And through David, we get a view of how forgiveness and mercy play out in a life.

It isn't a straight path, and like David, I've found myself veering off course many times.  But the path has a guide who is ever leading us on, even when we stray.

Bathsheba deserves more mention, but the fact is that when the story was told, her perspective wasn't what was viewed as important.  David's sin and David's salvation are the thrust of the story.  Yet perhaps, with our 21st century lens, we can know now that God's love and mercy also extended to Bathsheba, even if it doesn't get the mention it deserves.

God of mercy, forgive us.  Pull us back when sin makes us stray.  And help us to extend the same mercy and forgiveness to others. Amen.