e-vo for week of December 10

Dearest e-votees-

The epistle lesson appointed for this Sunday could easily get lost in the shadows of the Magnificat (Luke 1:46b-55 which is an option for the psalm reading this week) or portions of the prologue of John (John 1:6-8, 19-28) talking about John the Baptist. That would be unfortunate because the lesson from Paul’s pen is quite potent and poignant as well.

We will hone in on that lesson for our time this week.

Peace,
Karl

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Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, NRSV

Bible trivia: “Rejoice always,” (1 Thessalonians 5:16) is the shortest Bible verse in the original Greek (14 characters). “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35, NIV) is the shortest English verse but has 16 characters in the Greek.

Part of the challenge in living in the world in which we do is that there is far more information available than can ever be sensibly processed and categorized. Back in the day someone like Isaac Newton could be an accomplished musician, mathematician, physicist and everything else he was. It was possible to get to cutting edge knowledge in several fields. Today one can devote their life to study a particular species of poison dart toad and still not learn all there is to know.

It is very similar in the spiritual realms. There is so much material out there. More than can ever be sensibly processed and categorized. It is not so much about learning everything as learning to sort out what you encounter. We are called by Paul to be able to “test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from any form of evil.” We don’t do this alone. God is at work in us.

Part of the way to constant rejoicing is knowing that we don’t have to know it all. We can learn what we can and trust God to guide and direct when things come our way. We can embrace the good. We can resist the evil.

We can’t keep our spirit, body and soul blameless. But God can. And God does. And God will. God is faithful and God will do this.

Because God is faithful we can rejoice even when we are not faithful. We can give thanks in all circumstances even those that seem unwelcome and uncomfortable. We can trust God to sanctify us even when we feel stained down to the core. God’s Spirit is at work and we should not quench the Spirit.


God, teach us to be a faithful and rejoicing people. Stir us to rejoice always. Do your work in us. And may your peace sanctify us completely. Amen.