For the Days Ahead

 Friends,

Following last night’s presidential debate many of you have shared your deep concerns over the state of our politics and even the future of our country.  I, too, share your concerns. The level of discourse we witnessed last night was a travesty. But beyond the unsettling tenor and tone of the debate in general, President Trump’s specific refusal to pledge that he will wait on independent certification of the election before declaring himself its winner was deeply disconcerting. Such an open unwillingness to commit to such a basic democratic convention should disturb us all. Even more, the President’s unwillingness to clearly condemn a white supremacist group but instead tell them to “stand back and stand by” is simply shuddering. 

Given the troubling signs we saw and heard last night, and all we have witnessed over these past several weeks, months, and years, allow me to offer three recommendations for this particular day and the no-doubt difficult days that are to come up to and following the election. 

1. Vote; and do whatever else that is within your power to aid in the facilitation and protection of the democratic process. It is we the people who must determine this election and the ultimate course of our nation.  The power belongs to the people and we must exercise it appropriately. 

2. Prepare for a long, hard road ahead. In the coming weeks and months we are facing not only a presidential election, but also the prospect of a Senate fight over a nominee for Supreme Court Justice, a Supreme Court fight over the validity of multiple state elections, questions over the peaceful transition of power, and multitudinous tests of the legitimacy of our government as a whole. We need to brace ourselves for a season of almost-overwhelming uncertainty and struggle. We cannot allow ourselves to be overwhelmed. 

3. Finally, read and commit to the below practices outlined by St. Paul in his epistle to the Church at Rome, a church comprised of its own people enduring their own almost-overwhelming uncertainty and struggle amidst their own most-trying of times.  The practices St. Paul names can help us keep control of what is within our power, even amidst what are otherwise extremely chaotic and out of control circumstances, and aid us in guarding our hearts and minds in the way of Christ Jesus even while the ways of this world threaten to trouble and undo us.  

These are extraordinarily difficult times. But we cannot allow our fears and our dismay to overwhelm us. Nor can we let our hearts turn cold.  “For these three things remain — faith, hope, and love”.  Faith in a genuinely democratic vision. Hope in a shared humanity of all people. And love for a country which upholds the dignity, rights, and votes of everyone — including friends and foes alike. Faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these must be love. 

From Romans chapter 12:

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Daily Lesson for September 30, 2020

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 2 verses 1 through 3:

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him.

When Herod heard of another king vying to take his place, he went off the rails, but not for the first time. Herod rarely ever was on the rails. Maniacal and self-absorbed, he would do anything to stay in power -- anything. And that is why the Bible says that when he about the birth of another king "he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him." All Jerusalem and all Israel knew how mad he could be. In fact, all Rome knew it; and that is why the Emperor sat Herod into vassal power, because Herod was just deranged enough to do whatever was necessary hold onto the power he had, even if that meant killing innocent people -- even children.

So, the Holy Family -- Joseph and Mary and Jesus and perhaps other older half-siblings and cousins -- had to flee. Warned by an angel in a dream, they became refugees overnight.

Herod was afraid. And all Jerusalem was afraid also. And according to the angel in the dream, they had every right to be afraid. For this was no game.

And so only by believing the angel, and seeing the circumstances soberly, did Joseph save Jesus.

For fear had turned to rage in Herod; and soon Rachel would weep for her children, because they would be no more.

NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow's Lesson comes from Matthew 3; Mark 1; and Luke 3.

Daily Lesson for September 29, 2020

Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 2 verses 1 through 7:

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Read the history books and you'll discover all the man names and titles Gaius Octavius had bestowed upon himself as Emperor. There was princeps civitatis, which roughly translates as “the first citizen.” There was Pater Patriae, meaning “Father of the Country." There was augustus, meaning venerable. And, finally, there was divi filius meaning "son of God".

Into this world of self-designated titles for a self-grandiose and narcissistic emperor came the birth of a little baby, whose parents only had a few hand-me-downs and a little toy box to wrap him in. Who would have known that this barn in the back where the baby was born would become the first church, and the humble baby would grow up to take the title from all emperors, authorities, kings, and presidents, and rulers everywhere -- including "son of God".

But that is how it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, God's world without end. Amen. And amen.

NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow we will read Matthew chapter 2.

Daily Lesson for September 28, 2020

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Malachi chapter 2 verse 17 and chapter 3 verses 1 through 4:

17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “All who do evil are good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

We've come to the end of the Old Testament, which closes with a prophecy of the coming again of God's "messenger" -- later identified as "Elijah", the one who will be sent to purify the priests and the offerings of the Temple. He is the one sent "to prepare the way" and make ready the people. He is a "refiner's fire" and a "fullers' soap".

Malachi is a book about a nation needing integrity. In the bible it is often describe as "holiness". But the Greek word "holy" means with complete integrity or "wholeness". Malachi says God is weary with a people lacking integrity -- doing evil, which a people celebrate as good. And some even wonder if there is such a thing as a "God of Justice".

The things of God require more than a tip thrown into the offering plate. That's a bought-off god; and Malachi laments so many priests serve him.

But the God of justice demands more. The God of justice calls for the integrity and wholeness -- wellness -- of the whole nation and all its priests and people. And so the messenger will be sent to prepare the way.

The messenger will be sent to ancient Israel -- and also to us.

NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow we pick up with the New Testament reading Luke 1-2, John 1, and Matthew 1.

Daily Lesson for September 25, 2020

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Nehemiah chapter 9 verses 32 through 37:

32 “Now therefore, our God—the great and mighty and awesome God, keeping covenant and steadfast love—do not treat lightly all the hardship that has come upon us, upon our kings, our officials, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until today. 33 You have been just in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly; 34 our kings, our officials, our priests, and our ancestors have not kept your law or heeded the commandments and the warnings that you gave them. 35 Even in their own kingdom, and in the great goodness you bestowed on them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you and did not turn from their wicked works. 36 Here we are, slaves to this day—slaves in the land that you gave to our ancestors to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts. 37 Its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins; they have power also over our bodies and over our livestock at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.”

One thing I deeply appreciate about the Jewish tradition is its willingness to admit the faults of its own people. There is and always has been a tradition of truth telling about it. And the idea of collective confession -- acknowledgement of the sins of the past, even the sins committed by the patriarchs and matriarchs Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and Jacob.

Would that our country might embrace a deeper truth telling about itself. Yet attempts to tell a more accurate and complete truth are contemptibly labeled as "unpatriotic".

But I've always liked what the 20th century prophet William Sloane Coffin said about patriotism.

"There are three kinds of patriots, two bad and one good," he said. "The bad are the uncritical lovers and the loveless critics. Good patriots carry on a lover's quarrel with their country."

Right now the uncritical lovers want to set our nation's curriculum and textbooks from pre-K through graduate school. And those opposed aren't all loveless towards this country. Most, in fact, are good patriots, who love their country enough to tell it the truth.

NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Over the weekend we will finish Nehemiah, read Psalm 126, finish the Old Testament with the book of Malachi, and begin the New Testament with Luke 1 and John 1. Wow!

Daily Lesson for September 24, 2020

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Nehemiah chapter 6 verses

10 One day when I went into the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his house, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, tonight they are coming to kill you.” 11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Would a man like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!” 12 Then I perceived and saw that God had not sent him at all, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He was hired for this purpose, to intimidate me and make me sin by acting in this way, and so they could give me a bad name, in order to taunt me. 14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

The governor Nehemiah is attempting to build and guard the city. But strong forces set themselves up against him. They conspire, and collude, and recruit even some of the prophets to join in the intrigue. The purpose is to intimidate Nehemiah into backing down and giving up. They want him to give up on the idea that the city is worth saving, and they use mob tactics to try to make it happen.

But Nehemiah will not back down. He refuses to be pushed around. He will not be bullied into giving up on rebuilding the city's walls.

Friends, the walls of our own cities' are being threatened. Whether it be our school boards, our city halls, our attorney generals' offices, our election boards, or any manner of other democratic institution apparatuses, powerful forces are conspiring to undo the work. There are enemies -- both foreign and domestic -- who are trying to sabotage our democracy. They are doing this in part with the same intimidating tactics as we see in Nehemiah. They tact is to get the leaders to give up and the people to give in.

We need strong, courageous leaders at all levels of government now. We need people of principle. We need officials of ethics. And, we need the people -- you and me -- to join them in helping to guard the gates, lest the thief come in and steal, not only our cities, but our whole country away from us.

NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow we continue with Nehemiah chapters 8-10.

Daily Lesson for September 23, 2020

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Nehemiah chapter 4 verses 15 through 22:

15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”

21 So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. 22 At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day.”

This morning I am thinking about all that is before us. We have so much work ahead. So many things which have been knocked down, run over, or undone. The last six months has just been a final toppling for many But the walls were faltering for years and even decades. There is now so much to rebuild.

But even now we can't simply rebuild. We also have to watch, be aware, and protect ourselves. We have to remain vigilant. We have to be on guard.

It would be easy for us just to stop there. It would be easy for us to stay in self-preservation mode. But we can't do that. We also need to move forward -- to build.

The Israelites built by day and guarded by night. Some wielded the axe while others watched with the sword. Nothing was sure. All wasn't settled. There was still danger, which they took seriously and prepared for.

Yet, they pressed on -- to build the foundations, and the walls of their nation back again; that they might still dare to dream of something more perfect and lasting than the past.

NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow's Lesson will be from Nehemiah chapters 6 and 7.

Daily Lesson for September 22, 2020

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Ezra chapter 10 verses 9 through 15:

9 Then all the people of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. All the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have trespassed and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel. 11 Now make confession to the Lord the God of your ancestors, and do his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.” 12 Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, “It is so; we must do as you have said. 13 But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for many of us have transgressed in this matter. 14 Let our officials represent the whole assembly, and let all in our towns who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of every town, until the fierce wrath of our God on this account is averted from us.” 15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levites supported them.

This Scripture, for me, is one of the most difficult to read and accept.

The Israelites have returned to the Israel after exile. Some of them have subsequently married foreign women. With the backing of the Persian King Artaxerxes, the priest Ezra returns to the Jewish homeland to re-establish the Temple and "build a wall" around the Jewish people. He then institutes a draconian policy of dismissing the wives -- some versions add children -- of the men who married foreign women.

The irony of this is that Ezra's policy of separating the foreigners is done by force of law supported by foreign aid. Purity then seems only to have limited meaning. When I read the text I always wonder if the hard rain that is referred to in the text -- an oddity for the Bible which rarely notes weather without meaning -- is a way of telling us God wept on this sad occasion.

The Scripture says two men, Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah were opposed to the what took place on that day. But the Bible is ambiguous. Were they opposed to Ezra's general policy, or only to the way in which it was to be carried out?

I prefer the former, as the latter means there was no one to speak up for the sake of these families -- except, of course the whole book of Ruth, which as I already noted in my understanding of the story is actually a dissenting opinion written against Ezra's ethnocentric policies.

For, as the writer of Ruth notes, if there hadn't been foreign marriage there wouldn't have been Obed. And if there hadn't been Obed there wouldn't have been Jesse. And if there hadn't been Jesse there wouldn't have been David.

And, I might add, if there hadn't been David there wouldn't have been Jesus.

NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through. Over the next several days we'll be reading the book of Nehemiah. Tomorrow we begin with chapters 1-5.

Daily Lesson for September 21, 2020

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Esther chapter 4 verses 10 through 14:

10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mordecai, saying, 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—all alike are to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to someone, may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days.” 12 When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, 13 Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.”

"Thank you, your Honor; and may it please the Court . . ."

Saturday night we watched "On the Basis of Sex" as a family in honor and memory of the recently-passed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It tells the story of her rise as a young law student then trial attorney, dedicated to ending discrimination based on sex and gender.

RBG was a modern Esther -- two women called for just such times as the one in which they lived.

We mourn Justice Ginsburg's passing. But we also believe, with Mordecai in today's lesson, that more women like her and Esther are to come from "other quarters".

Many scholars have pointed out that there is no miracle in the book of Esther. I disagree. While there is no supernatural feat, there is the miracle of a person rising up -- perhaps with fear and trepidation -- but rising up nonetheless, to speak with courage and conviction.

May the miracle happen again -- for just such a time as this.

NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow we begin reading Nehemiah chapters 1-5.

Daily Lesson for Friday, September 18, 2020

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Zechariah chapter 8 verses 16 and 17:

16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace, 17 do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, says the Lord.

Contrast these words with what has become acceptable in America when it comes to lying, cheating, defaming, and devising all manner of "dirty tricks" in order to slander a name, steal an election, and divide a people.

Contrast also the two contexts:

Zechariah's in the rebuilding of the nation, the stitching back together the fabric of society after 70 years of exile.

Ours in a post-truth America, where winning seems to come at all costs, even that of veracity and character.

It is not too late for us still. But it requires everyone to take responsibility, lest our 70 years of punishment come.

NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Over the weekend we will finish up Zechariah and read the book of Esther.

Daily Lesson for September 17, 2020

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Zechariah chapter 3 verses 1 through 5:

Then he showed me the high priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this man a brand plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was dressed with filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And to him he said, “See, I have taken your guilt away from you, and I will clothe you with festal apparel.” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with the apparel; and the angel of the Lord was standing by.

In recent weeks I have read several stories about the clergy in the pandemic and their struggles to make it through these times. Everything has turned upside down and its hard to make sense of where we are. Finances are tight in most every church-- tighter than ever in a lot of churches. The local congregation is on the margins. Many pastors are taking pay cuts. Almost all are being blamed in some fashion -- whether for staying shut down or in whatever degree opening back up. One story I read suggested there's going to be a huge exodus of clergy leaving the Church sometime soon. It's a mess.

But this morning's Lesson gives us another vision. The priest has endured the exile. He's weathered the storm. Haggard and sullied, he's nonetheless survived Satan's assaults. And he stands before the angel of the LORD who clothes him anew.

Clergy friends, my love to you. Some of you will need to say goodbye to this call -- at least for while. There is no judgment in this from me. Our first duty is to stay alive and stay sane.

And still others of you will hold out. "Afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair," you are still at it. May the LORD's angel come to you soon, to remind you of your calling, and put a new garment of affirmation on your weary, weary bones.

It will be enough.

NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow we continue with Zechariah chapters 5-9.