e-vo for week of November 14

Dearest e-votees-

I will be about as far away (mentally and physically) from being able to post an e-vo next week as possible as I float about the Mexican Riviera with my newly betrothed so here is the e-vo for the week of November 14th.

Blessings to you and yours.

Peace,
Karl

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11 And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God," 13 and since then has been waiting "until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet." 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

[15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds," 17 he also adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.]

19 Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:11-14 [15-18] 19-25, NRSV

In this text Jesus’ flesh is connected with the curtain (the separation in the Tabernacle between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place—see Exodus 26:31-34). In the Temple there was also a curtain which separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. That curtain was torn, top to bottom, when Jesus died—see Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45b. As Jesus’ life was torn from him the separation between where God was thought to dwell and the rest of the world was torn apart. Humanity has been granted access to God—or, as Peter Mayer sings, God is Loose in the World.

God has spilled into the world and into our lives. We have been cleansed and washed. Jesus has promised to save us. Jesus has promised to hear us. Jesus has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Jesus has promised to go and prepare a place for us and return and to take us to be with him. When Jesus pours gracious promises into our lives they will come to pass. Our eternity is secure. Our eternal life has begun. Jesus will bring all of his good and gracious promises to bear fully on that Day.

So what is left for us to do in the meantime? We can provoke one another to love and good deeds. We don’t do this to secure our salvations—that was tended already by Jesus. We respond to that good news by allowing God to bring love to bear in the world through us. We respond to that good news by allowing God to bring good works to bear in the world through us. This happens as we meet together with other believers and with God and allow that promised presence when 2 or 3 are gathered in Jesus’ name to stir us. We gather that we might praise God and find encouragement. We gather that God might set us loose in the world.


Dear God, you have torn down every barrier between us and you. You have poured love into this world. You have saved us. Help us live in ways that bring your love and salvation to all who need it. Amen.