e-vo for week of March 19

Dearest e-votees-

For the Wednesdays of Lent at Christ the Good Shepherd this year we are using the epistle texts from the preceding Sunday in our midweek worship.

For e-vos we will be doing the same thing. Blessings on your experience of Lent this year.

This week's lesson comes from Paul's letter to the church at Rome distinguishing justification by works from justification by faith.

Peace,
Karl

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1 What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5 But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.

13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

16 For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, NRSV
In the economy of this world we work for things (paychecks, respect, people's attention, positions on sports teams, degrees and certificates, etc., etc.) When we think we have completed what is required we believe we are entitled to our due. We are aware that such things can be lost if we perform poorly, get caught in bad situation or just lose our edge. If we embrace this world view too tightly we become competitive, possessive and willing to tear others down that we might appear to shine a little brighter.

When this world view slips into the realms of faith and justification we start looking like a Pharisee who went into the Temple one day:

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’...

Luke 18:9-12, NRSV
We feel that God owes us something for our good life. We feel God owes other something when we think they don't measure up. We see specks in the eyes of others but miss the logs in our own eyes. We make up rules and apply them to others and to God in order to be able to judge and dismiss others. We create a system that makes us and everyone else fit for hell. We seek out to know good and evil and end up bringing curse upon curse on all of us.

Jesus came into the world to bring forth a different economy. There are glimpses of this coming into being in the faith of Abram (aka Abraham). God makes promises (about new lands, about generations to come (numerous as grains of sand and stars of night), covenants and unquenchable loving regard). God calls into existence in Abraham's life things that do not exist. Forgiveness and new starts and right standing are given as gift.

When this world view slips into the realms of our broken and fallen world we start relating to a tax collector who went into the Temple one day:

...13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 18:13-14, NRSV
We realize that we cannot save ourselves and are undeserving to stand in God's house let alone in the presence of God. We are saved by gift from God--pure grace. Because the giver is faithful we need not fear losing the gift. Because God chooses us we don't need to worry so much about how well we chose God. Because God's economy calls into being those things which weren't we have a sure and certain hope.

Because we have been washed into this promise through baptism we just might be able to shine a little brighter so others might see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Thanks be to God.


God, help us lean hard into the gift that you purchased for us at so great a price. Amen.

e-vo for week of March 12

Dearest e-votees-

For the Wednesdays of Lent at Christ the Good Shepherd this year we are using the epistle texts from the preceding Sunday in our midweek worship.

For e-vos we will be doing the same thing. Blessings on your experience of Lent this year.

Peace,
Karl

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12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— 13 sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. 14 Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. 16 And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17 If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. 19 For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:12-19, NRSV
The plain reading of this text is that there is a difference between the transgression of one man (Adam) that had dire consequences for all and the salvation brought by another man (Jesus) that brought justification and life for all. We can read this passively as something that happened, not our doing, that caused disastrous problems and that something else happened, also not our doing, that undid those consequences. We're like spiritual drifters tossed to and fro by currents and movements much more powerful than us. We could plead inability to battle forces so much more powerful than us and thereby try to sidestep culpability.

Or we could enter into this text in a little more nuanced fashioned. The truth is that we in our unredeemed states--old Adam and old Eve--are just as likely as Adam and Eve were to strike out proudly on our own. We would seek to usurp God's rightful place. It wouldn't take long for us to transgress against any structures laid out for our care and our protection. Adam and Eve aren't distant relatives but kin as close as can be found. We would, and have, trespassed. We would, and have, merited condemnation. We would, and have, brought the full sentence of death to bear. We are the one.

Jesus comes into the world bearing the gift of salvation. All of us to a one have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus stooped and was raised up to display the glory of God's mercy and forgiveness. Through one, me, death came into the world. Through one, you, death came into the world. Through one, Jesus, life came into the world--for all, me and you and everyone else. We are made righteous. This is as much about being restored in right relationship as it is in having our slates wiped clean. The transgressions that our old selves embrace bring separation from God. God's grace and mercy refuse to let that state be the final state of affairs. Thanks be to God. Perhaps the best picture of this is the father of the prodigal son refusing to give up on one who severed the relationship. Perhaps God says to the heavenly host "Rejoice and kill the fatted calf my son, my daughter who was lost has been found!"

That is the greatest gift we could ever receive.


God, help us lean hard into the gift that you purchased for us at so great a price. Amen.

e-vo for Ash Wednesday

Dearest e-votees-

Remember you are dust.

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and to dust you shall return.
Peace,
Karl

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8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion for his children,so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
14 For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:8-14, NRSV
When we impose ashes on Ash Wednesday we remember the curse in the garden. The humans have broken relationship with God and are condemned to return to the dust from which they were formed. God's breath will leave them at some point and their bodies will return to their elemental constituents. On Ash Wednesday we remember our mortality, our separation, our broken ways and the deep sin that grieves us.

In the Psalm above we are reminded that God remembers our dusty ways too. God comes at us with grace and forgiveness when we deserve law and condemnation. Our sins are stripped away from us and moved from as far as one can see one way to the complete other side. God has compassion for us and for all--God's children. God remembers creating us from dust. God remembers where we are headed--particularly when left to our own devices--and leads us out of the dust. If we truly experience this love of God we cannot help but be changed. And if that is so we remember others that are in dusty places, too, and reach out to them as the Lord does to us.

God we are dust. We are your dust. You do good work with the dust. Make us new and draw us to you. Amen.

e-vo for week of February 26

Dearest e-votees-

This Sunday bookends Epiphany with an echo of the voice we heard at Jesus' baptism.

Jesus, beloved of God, is the one with whom God is pleased. We overhear the charge to listen to him. Our response may be one of fear--dread terror or reverent awe--but nonetheless Jesus will urge us to rise and not be afraid.

For Jesus himself will rise and through his perfect love will drive out all fear.

Peace,
Karl

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1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Matthew 17:1-9, NRSV
Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets. The exemplar of the law, Moses, is present talking to Jesus. The exemplar of the prophets, Elijah, is part of the conversation too. Luke 24:44 has Jesus saying that he will also fulfill things written of him in the psalms. I wonder why the exemplar of the psalmists, David, wasn't here on this holy mountain as well. Jesus has a conversation with these luminaries of the faith (fitting for a shiny season like Epiphany). Luke 9:31 tells us that they were discussing what Jesus would accomplish in Jerusalem.

Peter wanted to stay and to build booths or shelters or tents (most likely a reference to the Old Testament Festival of Booths). Peter wants to make a dwelling for these holy guests and dwell with them. God has other plans that include the cross and the resurrection in Jerusalem. But, in the end, God will make booths or shelters or tabernacles with God's people (see Revelation 21:3). God will indeed choose to restore and redeem and reside with God's people.

Peter was present at so very many of Jesus' miracles and moments of teaching yet the only reference in scripture from the books with Peter's name on them is back to the Mount of Transfiguration. This moment shaped Peter. This moment inspired Peter. This moment revealed God's work to Peter. That is what Epiphany in general and Transfiguration in particular are about. May our commemoration of the last Sunday of Epiphany and the day of Transfiguration shape us and inspire us and reveal God's work to us.


God, thank you for choosing to dwell with us. Give us faith to follow you down the mountain and to where you would lead us. Help us neither fear the cross nor the grave but know that your resurrection assures us of ours too. Help us live into the love that God has for us and for all people. Amen.

e-vo for week of February 19

Dearest e-votees-

One of the purposes of the law is to drive us to the foot of the cross.

Jesus, this week, takes what has been said and commonly repeated and cranks it up even further. To those who were (or are) satisfied with the status quo (thank you Lord that I am not a bad a sinner as that one [see Luke 18:9-14]) Jesus greatly increases the expectations.

The truth is we can't under our own power or understanding come anywhere close to where God needs us to be. With us this is impossible. Thanks be to God that it doesn't depend on us or our strivings towards perfection.

Peace,
Karl

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38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:38-48, NRSV
The eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth is a way to constrain retaliation. If someone knocks a tooth out you should exact no more revenge than up to one tooth in return. If someone pokes your eye out you should exact no more revenge than up to one eye in return. Jesus states this with an implied assent from the crowd. He then greatly intensifies the expectation. Give people more than they want to steal from you. When they hurt you give them that opportunity again. When they work you unjustly work even harder for them. When people beg from you give what they want and more. This makes little sense and infuriates the fairness barometer in me. I really don't want to be spouting such things from the pulpit. What Jesus is really saying, I think, is rather than fixate on how much revenge you can exact work on finding ways to bless even those who hurt and curse you. It is how Jesus treats those of us who put him on the cross. He expects us to learn from his example.

Jesus goes on to assert love your neighbor and hate your enemy with the refrain of the implied assent from the crowd. Jesus again greatly intensifies the expectation. Love all, especially those who persecute you. Pray for them (as Jesus did from the cross). Offer forgiveness and the hope of salvation (as Jesus did from the cross). Give all you can to show love to those who profoundly hate you (as Jesus did from the cross). Jesus showed us what perfect love looks like.

We are invited to be made perfect in that love. We can't do what Jesus did on our own. It isn't about our efforts or our failings. It is about Jesus completing the work begun in us all to God's glory. When that is done we will be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. Thanks be to God.


God, make us more like Jesus on the cross. Continue to bring your perfection to bear on our imperfections. Amen.

e-vo for week of February 12

Dearest e-votees-

We are in a world where we are taught to look out for ourselves. Our primary task is to make sure our needs are met and our ravenous desires are sated. We are to choose what suits us.

Jesus prayed for unity for all those who come to belief in him in John 17. Jesus wants us to be like him and put the needs of others on a par with our own. Our task shifts to make sure that the needs of all are met and that those who are hungry all have a place at the table. We are to choose to take up the cross which is what suits those who follow after Jesus.

The tension is one as old as the dirt in the garden of Eden. Are we gods? Or are we God's? How we answer that should make all the difference in the world.

Peace,
Karl

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3 And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? 4 For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely human?

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. 9 For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

1 Corinthians 3:1-9, NRSV
Jesus came into the world and became one of us. That is what we call the incarnation. He took on flesh. He took on meat and bones. He took on a personality and a voice, an appearance and a biography, an ethnicity and mannerisms. In the person of Jesus we come to know the 2nd Person of the Trinity--the Savior, the Creator, the Redeemer, the Son, etc., etc. By knowing Jesus we have a vision of the unseen God. (see Colossians 1:15) When we see Jesus we see the Father. (see John 14:8-9). Jesus reveals God to us. If we want to follow in the ways of God we are wise to belong to Jesus. We belong not because we choose Jesus but rather because Jesus first chose us. As God helps us live into the choosing we come to know God.

Other people can help incarnate God to us. They are not God in the sense that Jesus is but they can help to reveal God to us. Through their personality and stories, through their caring gazes and testimony, through their culture and their rituals these people can help us to experience Jesus and by extension the Holy Spirit and God the Father. When we see the image of God in those people we see God. By knowing them and their faith stories we have a vision of the unseen God. They reveal God to us. If we want to know God more fully it makes sense that we might find delight and joy belonging with them. There is nothing wrong with having allegiance and positive regard for one who has made God known to you.

Who are some of those people in your life? What are their names? Who are your Paul and Apollos and Cephas? In my own journey they have names like Sue, Robert, Wilbur, Rick, Deanna and Kim. Who are they for you? I give thanks for these people that have shaped your faith and revealed God to you.

The issue becomes when we substitute the messenger for the message. The workers in God's field are not to supplant the harvest that is God's. God is revealed through others so often in our lives but that shouldn't cause divisions. If we are the spiritual people God is wanting us to become we can give thanks for Paul and Apollos and Cephas without choosing favorites. We belong to God. Those who have made that clear belong to God too as our brothers and sisters. Choosing favorites among our siblings is simply unwise.

The real joy is that God will use us, too, to reveal God to others. As people look at us they will hopefully see God's image and God at work. When given opportunity we are best to imitate John the Baptist: "I must decrease that Jesus might increase." (see John 3:30) The world teaches us to admire the one in the mirror. But the wise one knows it is better to reflect God and to deflect honor and praise heavenward.


God, thank you for all who have incarnated you in our lives, particularly Jesus. Help us do the same all to your glory. Amen.

e-vo for week of February 5

Dearest e-votees-

This Sunday we are celebrating a baptism here at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran. We are remembering the good promises God makes to Abigail and to all of us. We are made right with God through what Jesus has done. We are restored into right relationship. We are made well (what salvation means in the fullest sense).

And then we are given opportunities to live and serve in ways that bring glory to God. I have always loved the part of the baptismal service where we quote Matthew 5:16 where Jesus says: "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

Peace,
Karl

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13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:13-20, NRSV
What does it mean to say that we are the light of the world? Or that we are the salt of the earth? Are we something that brings life to the world? Or are we more like a revealing or an intensifying agent? Are we the bread of life? Or are we the salt that can help that bread be more fully engaged by the world? Are we the light that has come into the world? Or are we a conduit or lens or mirror or some other optical channel that helps reveal Jesus, the true light coming into the world?

Our text study group this week spent a good deal of time talking about righteousness not being strictly about doing the right and proper things but being in right relationship. The call to be more righteous than the scribes and Pharisees isn't about being more pious than they (which would be exceedingly hard to do) but rather to be more fully restored into the relationships for which God has created us.

Jesus has come into the world to fulfill the law and the prophets (and the psalms, see Luke 24:44). Our task is to allow ourselves to be entered into the kingdom of heaven through what Christ has done. The world needs the bread of life who gave himself in communion and on the cross. Our spiritual hunger can most fully be sated through Christ. It we lead salty lives God just may be able to use that to bring more folks to the table. The dark world in which we dwell needs the light of the world, Jesus, to draw us out of our sin and isolation into restored community with God. If we lead shiny lives God just may be able to use that to bring more folks out of the shadows.

The scribes and Pharisees seemed more interested in having everyone know they were more righteous and more faithful than others than just about anything else. We can't compete with their piety. And we don't have to. Jesus has done what is required. We are back in right relationship with God. And when people see us living that way, and perhaps even hear our testimony to that end, they will see and taste the good works that Jesus has done in our lives and give glory to his Father and our Father in heaven. Thanks be to God.


God, make us salty and shiny all to your glory. Amen.