e-vo for Christmas week

Dearest e-votees,

Merry Christmas.

Peace,
Karl

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2 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.

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among
those whom he favors!”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Luke 2:1-20, NRSV

If you ask people their favorite Bible verse so very often people will respond with John 3:16. For God so loved the world that Jesus was sent. Christmas is the realization of that verse.

Think of all the preparations when a great dignitary arrives--the president or the pope or some other powerful or influential celebrity. Streets and hotel floors are cordoned off. The finest musicians and caterers are summoned. The unsightly and troublesome are disappeared. All is made neat and clean and tidy and presentable. We know how people of merit deserve to be treated. After they leave we mark where they stayed or sat or ate. We make shrines of a sort. We photo-document the day so we might never forget when power and influence came near.

In Jesus' case, the inns were cordoned off to keep the holy family out not to ensure room and safety for them. They were regarded as more akin to the unsightly and troublesome than the bearers of God's promise of salvation to the world. There was nowhere neat and tidy and presentable for these peasant citizens looking to participate in the census and God's plan for salvation so they were stalled with the animals. The only thing close to a caterer's serving dish was the manger that served as a makeshift bassinet.

There were no pictures to capture the birth or the visit. Any depictions that have been created after the fact are woefully "photoshopped" with halos and babies that don't cry and luminescent holy family members. All is made sanitary and acceptable in post-production.

This birth of the Christ child was certainly no modern-day dignitary visit. And as if to desecrate the moment even further, the shepherds, absolutely card-carrying members of the "unsightly and troublesome" enter into the story. They would never be granted access to a modern-day dignitary. It seems as though God doesn't understand how things ought to be done as we do.

But that is exactly the point. We would create a king's entrance and birth event that separates. It would hold the baby beyond arm's length of those who need to draw near. "God with us", Emmanuel, would be something more akin to "God is as close as you'll ever get, now please stay behind the line and don't cause any trouble". We would put too much emphasis on what we can do or can't do and not nearly enough on who has come to do what we could never do. Throughout Jesus' life and ministry all sorts of people of the wrong cut were granted way too much access. Jesus responded when they came and sometimes hunted them out when they didn't. He didn't worry about his food nor accommodations but made sure those who were hungry were fed (literally and metaphorically) and came to make room for all at the table here and at the banquet in heaven. I heard a sermon where the wedding guest who was given the bum's rush out of the wedding reception (Matthew 22:1-14) was Jesus who had given his appropriate clothes to the likes of us. Jesus puts aside all care, consideration, honor and the like for himself in order that we might receive those things. How blessed are we?!?

So when we go to church tonight, or whenever, or when we go out into the world and bump into "unsightly and troublesome" folks can we treat them as Jesus treated us? Can we put aside our own issues and bigotries and judgments and reach out to them with love and honor? Jesus was pretty clear how we ought to treat the "least of these" in Matthew 25. May peace be among those whom he favors (which includes you and everyone you might deem "unsightly and troublesome").

Blessed Christmas to you and to all you encounter.


God, help us, like Mary, ponder this Christmas miracle in our hearts. Help us, like the shepherds, respond to the birth and bear this good news to others. Help us, like the angel, proclaim God's glory and speak "Fear not!" to a fear-steeped world. Amen.

e-vo for week of December 9

Dearest e-votees,

This coming Sunday our assigned lectionary text captures John the Baptist's intriguing proclamation out in the wilderness.

Peace,
Karl

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7 John [the Baptist] said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Luke 3:7-18, NRSV

I can just see the plans for the mission start church now: Working Title = "Brood of Vipers Lutheran Church"

Who starts a message by calling those in earshot a "brood of vipers"?!? John the Baptist. He continues his message with warning the hearers that their spiritual lineage won't save them. Claiming this or that allegiance or connection isn't sufficient to spare one from the consuming fire. Mincing words isn't one of John's gifts.

This sharp-toothed opening gets the attention of those in the audience. The crowds begin to ask in turn "What should we do?" John responds that they should treat those around them with gracious charity and justice. For those those with excess they should share with the ones in need. For those with opportunities to deal with others in an oppressive or predatory manner they should resist and treat others as they would want to be treated. In other words they should love their neighbor as they themselves would want to be loved.

Hearing this the crowds wonder if this one in their presence just might be the Messiah. Perhaps they were getting ready to love John with all their hearts, souls, minds and strengths. John quickly and completely ducks from their adoring gaze. He points away toward Jesus (a move he demonstrates throughout classical artistic depictions of him). John does what he does boldly and with great faith and zeal. He knows who he has been called to be and he is certain who he is not. Would that we also lived with such a balance of earnest humility and grounded reality.


God, thank you for the ministry and testimony of John the Baptist. The words that cut to the hearts of those in the wilderness cut us to the quick as well. Shape us into ones ready to receive Jesus more fully. Amen.

e-vo for week of December 2

Dearest e-votees,

Our appointed gospel text locates itself firmly in history and then proclaims the history-changing message of God's salvation that has broken through time and brings hope and light to all who would hear.

Peace,
Karl

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1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled,and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight,and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
Luke 3:1-6, NRSV

Meticulous Luke makes sure to carefully locate the story he tells in time and place. He names names and gives titles. He lists places. He speaks of Roman structures and of Jewish structures. He makes connections to powers, principalities, religious leaders and political ones. For those who want facts and dates, times and places, Ts crossed (taus for Luke) and Is dotted (iotas for Luke) he is your man. This is a historical occurrence presented thoroughly and concisely.

Into this historical setting comes John the baptizer. He is connected with the prophecies of Isaiah. Luke tells us he is the one crying out in the wilderness (cue up Handel's Messiah or the Godspell soundtrack). He tells of John's work to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Terrains shall be transformed. Contours and pathways shall be realigned. Hearts will be brought to repentance and salvation will be made evident. The gospel in Luke bursts into history and recharts her waters. Through the baptismal ministry of John people are prepared for the Lord to come.

As with many texts of scripture there is a now and a not yet part. Jesus has come. John has prepared the way. Salvation has been revealed. This is in the now of the text. But we wait for Jesus to come again and to come in his fullness. We wait for our own hearts and lives to be prepared for Jesus to enter in more fully as Emmanuel ("God with us"). We wait for salvation to come fully to bear into our lives and our world. We know Jesus has come but we want and need him to come again and completely. This is what we wait for and what we pray for in Advent.


God, come into our historical realities. Enter into the realms of the here and now. Bring your salvation and your light in us and through us. Help us wait well and welcome all who would hear. Amen.

e-vo for week of November 25

Dearest e-votees,

Our appointed psalm for the 1st Sunday of Advent is Psalm 93.

As we gather this week for Thanksgiving with family and friends may God stir our hearts to reach out to those who are estranged from families and friends and neighbors. And may we always be mindful of how Jesus answers questions like: "And just who is my neighbor?"

Peace,
Karl

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1 The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be moved;
2 your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring.
4 More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is the LORD!
5 Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.
Psalm 93, NRSV

Floods are powerful and destructive. They can lift up to places we wish were sheltered. They can shatter our peaceful existence with their roaring. Our cries for help can be drowned out in the thunder of their mighty waters.

The seas and oceans are mysterious and fickle. They can provide food and sport and a means of transportation. They can serve us up as food and make sport of us and deliver us to a final and undesired destination. In ancient times the water were chaotic and powerful and to be feared (in every sense of the word "fear"). Floods and sudden squalls and major storms were hazardous and quite possibly deadly. It wasn't always clear what was lurking under the surface. People carved out an existence with the waters but it wasn't always an easy or a safe one.

Perhaps with our modern sensibilities we have come to terms with the waters. We are perhaps more aware of the expanse of the waters and the hazards. We have people who can give us advance warning and coast guards that can come pluck us from danger as needed. Perhaps we have been lulled into too easy a sense of security. Probably so.

But waters surely roar and thunder and lift us to this day. Violent crimes rise up within our borders and across the globe. Chaos and calamity, natural and human-induced, churn and foment. Our cries of fear and anger and despair can get drowned out by the events of the headlines and the arguments within our leadership and into our very homes. The sea may have shifted form but the dangers are ever present.

The appointed psalm lifts up the Lord as stronger and more steadfast than any waves that rise against us. The world has been divinely established and shall not be moved. The majesty and power of the seas are no match for the majesty and power of the Lord. God has given decrees. God seeks holiness. God's ways shall not be eroded no matter size of the storms that come. The leviathan might seek to make sport (or lunch) of us but it is God who made the leviathan for the sport of it. (Psalm 104:26) The raging seas are no match for our loving Lord.

God has given us decrees. They are summed up as "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind." and "Love your neighbor as yourself". These decrees are sure and trustworthy. Storms come into proper perspective when we build our homes on these decrees. Our neighbors are so much more than those who look, think, act, dwell and live like us. Whenever we seek to draw boundaries God says "You missed some" of the neighbors on the other side of our obstruction.

Holiness befits God's house. If we seek to be holy ("set apart" and "made righteous") then we need to allow Jesus to work on us. Holiness comes from without and comes to life as Jesus works change and renewal in our hearts and minds and actions. Holiness means bringing others into God's house that they might be made holy too. It means setting a place at the table for those we fear and those we loathe. It calls us to take up a basin and a towel and serve all including those who betray and those who deny. Holiness is best expressed in the cross with a demonstration of sacrificial love. We are called to take up our crosses and dwell in the way of sacrificial love as well.


God, be with us this Thanksgiving. May our bellies be filled, our hearts warmed, our loved ones gathered and those challenging, threatening and fear-mongering others made in your image find a place at our tables too. Help us to trust in your decrees and to be grown in holiness. Amen.

e-vo for week of November 18

Dearest e-votees,

This coming Sunday is the last Sunday of the church year--Christ the King.

We are reminded in the conversation between Jesus and Pilate that the reign of God looks very different than the powers and power holders of this world.

With all of the news of powers and warring "kingdoms" of this world so painfully apparent in recent events perhaps we should be pleased and hopeful that Jesus comes into the world with a different looking reign--one that is cross-shaped, with a basin and a towel as its symbols and gracious prayers for one's enemies as a guiding principle.

Peace,
Karl

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33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

34 Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”

35 Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?”

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?”

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

John 18:33-37, NRSV
Pilate represents the powers and the posturings of this world. Pilate has the power to set free or to condemn to death. Pilate finds himself in a position of interrogating Jesus. Just after our appointed text for this Sunday Pilate waxes philosophical about what truth might be.

We find ourselves in Pilate. We are affected by and attempt to hold sway over the powers of this world. We try and force our ways. We play into the posturings of this world. We think we hold more power than we really do as we seek to free or condemn others made in God's image. We can get lost in vain thoughts and self-absorbed philosophizing. In the height of sin we set ourselves over Jesus (which hearkens back to our ancestors in the garden).

Jesus holds to his own truth and calling. He refuses to deny himself and engage the world on its terms. He faces the cross and the powers of this world. He yields to them. But he does not acknowledge their authenticity. He knows who he is and where he is from and where he will end up. He remains true to himself and authentic. And because he does this we are saved. We are liberated through Jesus from the ways of this world. The fallacy of our power games and our posturings are revealed.

When the time runs out the folly of our ways will be fully revealed. Jesus' kingdom will be most fully revealed. Until then we wait and we trust.


God, bring the Pilates in us to a rightful demise. Bring Jesus and his ways to the fore in our lives. Use us to challenge and reject the ways of this world that deny and betray your truth and your gospel. Amen.

e-vo for week of November 11

Dearest e-votees,

Perhaps you've seen the studies about how fewer and fewer people are going to church. That people may claim the "spiritual" tag but are averse to the "religious" one. Straying from the support, encouragement and protection of the great cloud of witnesses can severely hamper our walk of faith.

Divide and conquer is a time-tested strategy for winning a battle. The devil knows how to fight. Good thing victory is not up to us. We do well to continue to gather and encourage and wait until the battle is over once and for all.

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 10:11-25, NRSV
We as Christians have put our faith in the life, work, ministry, death, resurrection and faithfulness of Jesus. Because of the promises and the faithfulness of Jesus our lives, works, ministries, deaths and resurrections are made surer and deeper. Because our salvations are not ultimately dependent on us we can enter into the grace and freedom of hope without wavering. It's not about us and our good works. It is about everybody and Jesus good works. We get to live in response to the freedom granted to us in Christ. We get to be gathered into the great cloud of witnesses.

So how do we grow in faith and trust in a world that can be so fracturing and while resisting an adversary that can be so effective at picking us off the herd? We meet together. We meet with our friends and with those hypocrites we believe are lurking among us. We meet when it is easy and life-giving and when it is hard and requires determined commitment on our parts. We don't just go when we perceive something is there for us (being spiritual consumers if you will) but when our only reason for being there might be to be a blessing and a comfort and an encourager to another even the hypocrites(a religious devotee if you will). It's not about us and gratifying our spiritual fancies. It is about us being part of the family of God--warts and all--and them being there for us too.

The Day is coming. Our futures are safe and secure in the work and love of Jesus. While we wait let's allow the Holy Spirit to encourage and assure us and to send us out to bring other sheep that have wandered back into the flock. It's what Jesus would have us do.


God, thank you for making room for us in the community of faith. However we and others come--curiosity, obligation, necessity, seeking, grudgingly, desperation--let all be well received and encouraged all to the glory of God. Amen.

e-vo for week of November 4

Dearest e-votees,

I can't help but think Jesus is talking about me in the first paragraph of this Sunday's gospel reading. Perhaps it feels pointed at you as well.

Peace,
Karl

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38 As [Jesus] taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

John 12:38-44, NRSV
So Jesus says beware of the scribes (as I am busy electronically scribing this devotion to you). Beware of those who like to walk around in long robes (I don't know if I always like it but I certainly don an alb and stole on a regular basis). Beware of those who like to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces (who doesn't like a kind and deferential greeting when we are out in the world?). Beware of those who like to have the best seats in the synagogues and at banquets (okay, I'd rather be on the fringes here). They say long prayers (guilty as charged) and devour the houses of widows (not intentionally but I have turned a blind eye to the plight of others who are struggling--that is most certainly true).

I find more resonances than not with the description of the one Jesus warns about. Let those, including me, who have ears hear.

I want to share with you an experience I had long ago that still propels offerings and stewardship in my life:

I was in Mexico on a mission trip. We were in a long-winded (3 hour) worship service that was all in Spanish. I had trouble following much of what was happening. At one point, however, the offering plate came around. I knew what to do here--or did I?

I had (as I opened my wallet) two bills--a $20 and a $1. This $21 was all I had for an offering and for my meal money over the next 36 hours or so as we were about to board our bus for the return trip. I briefly pondered making change but that would a. look tacky and b. leave me with a pesos which weren't so easy to spend in the U.S. I realized my choice was no offering (not an option), $1, $20 or $21.

I had a sense come over me that I should put in the $20. I impulsively did. I now had $1 to eat for the next day and a half. I spent the rest of worship doing calculations of how I could best stretch $1 over the next meals (perhaps a bag of combos at the Texas panhandle and something like Jujubes once we reached Iowa?).

Later that day someone in our group (who as far as I know had no knowledge of my offering) came up to me and said "God wants for you to have this" and gave me a $20 bill. Never before or since has this person done anything like that with me. I was floored.

What I learned is that when God prompts me to give I can give and trust that provision will come. My giving has never been the same. I don't think this was a prescriptive model of how I should always give but I was deeply impressed by God's care for me at that time and I trust and believe it will always be there for me.

Bottom line, in a very small way, I was like the widow. I put nearly all I had into the offering plate. I didn't make a big show of it. But God noticed and lifted up that meager offering and made it something much deeper and lasting. Truth is that we don't know what the widow's intentions were--sacrificial giving trusting God to provide? Maybe. Last offering before giving up all hope and the ghost? (like the widow of Zarephath making a last meal for her son and herself) Maybe. Impulsive offering with no clear plan? Quite possibly.

I share my story not to say "Look at me, look at me!" as perhaps the long-robed scribe would in the marketplace. I share my story to say "Look at God, look at God!" God did a profound and miraculous thing some 28 years ago and it is still bearing fruit. In the risk and the daring of an impulsive gift to God I received it all back and so much more. Perhaps as you consider your giving and stewardship you might like the Holy Spirit blow you to an impulsive and blessed place.


God, help us grow in trusting you. Stir us to be bold and trusting in our benevolence. Help us beware of those Jesus describes and help us to distance our own behaviors from them. Amen.