Susanna

He revives my soul . . . and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 - From Psalm 23

Today's reading includes the apocryphal passage from Daniel, Chapter 13, about the upright and godly woman, Susanna. Intermixed with the story, are sections dealing with false witness, about judging not, and about some problems putting "elders" in charge.

It's always the "elders" that seem to be stirring things up. When then elders are good and just, they are clearly the ones that should be put in charge. But when some elders use their position to manipulate events in an evil direction, then we've got serious problems. 

I wrote about division in my last post. The people are divided because of Christ. And you often find "elders" pulling the strings that make people hate each other so.

And we can define "elders" today, as anyone in authority: teachers, professors, experts, lawyers, politicians; if we only had a healthy distrust of their motives, we would be fine. But too often we just roll over and yield to their judgments. 

Susanna is an account of a pure and upright woman that was falsely accused. The crime for which she was accused had a death sentence. But she confirmed that she would rather do right, and be falsely accused, in order to retain God's favor. She had her eyes on the Kingdom of God. She knew her life would be restored, and that she would dwell with The Lord forever. 

People will miss the point of Susanna. All they will see is these two old men (probably white men in suits) accusing her of a crime she did not commit. People will miss the larger point: Susanna's purity, her steadfastness, her faith . . . and the promise of eternal life. They will miss the elevation of such virtues as self-control. They will miss the central role of faith. They will miss the point that we ALL place too much trust in human elders, when we need to focus on God.

Division, Because of Him

So there was a division in the crowd because of Him.

- John 7

So what else is new? Since the time of Christ, there have been divisions, because of Him. When it comes to the very Source of Life, to the Person that can grant us the thing we want more than anything else: eternal life - we find ourselves in conflict against one another, because of Him.

Why? Christ taught humility, and putting others first! Shouldn't the fundamental attitude on the way to winning the fundamental prize, be evident everywhere? Why do we find believers in Christ, angry at one another? He was as a lamb before the shearers: making not a sound in protest. He ignored government. He was against divisiveness. He lived to serve.

Why the arguments?

Well, we see one particular group of people still stirring up the crowds: the "educated." The Scribes and Pharisees pointed this out. The crowds were not educated. they were ignorant. They were sure the people had been "deceived," (and which one of us actually enjoys being told by a college-educated guy that we are being "deceived"?)

Arrogant people always rest on their "knowledge" (the Tree of Knowledge is key to the downfall of humanity). Trust in your knowledge, in your smarts . . . the same hated Christ, They have the knowledge, the power, and the money.

(Ask me how much regard I care to give to the educated.)

It is the same today. These talking heads, these Ivy League-educated; these college professors and wealthy business magnates. We want to impress them because we believe they can do some nice things for us.

But they are the deceivers. Listen to the humble mechanic or blue-collar worker around you. They have true wisdom.

God laughs at all of it. Avoid dividers. Avoid the educated.

And sit in the quiet shadow of The Carpenter.

Called

"The Lord called me before I was born."

 - Isaiah 49:2

If you read Scripture diligently, if you strive to make it literal, true, and relevant for yourself; if you want to be inspired by it; it if gives you direction; then, perhaps . . . by and by, you read this particular sentence from Isaiah. You read it out loud. And then you ponder and reflect on it.

You say it again.

You hear yourself proclaiming: "The LORD called me before I was born."

It is a big deal to be called by God. Yet if God has a plan for each of us - a purpose - then it is true that we all have been called . . . to do something. And now, you have just admitted it: He called me. 

God doesn't call you to do selfish things. Nobody gets called just to play music. You don't get called just to start a business. You do not get called just to teach, or to do taxes, or to heal people. 

We get called to build God's Kingdom . . . and the only way to do that is to serve others, to put others first, to set yourself and your interests to the side, in order to touch other lives.

So many "freedoms" today; or efforts in regard to "justice," really are not toward the satisfying of the needs of others. A lot of our social movements today are focused on the selfish, the physical, the sensual, the temporary: on things that make us feel good . . . but do nothing to strengthen us as selfless, pure vessels of God.

The called of God practice self-denial. It is one thing to deny climate science. It is quite another to deny yourself. The called of God put away whatever makes our senses happy . . . because the satisfying of one's senses is the satisfying of one's self. And where is the growth, the spiritual uplift, without learning to say NO to the world and it's pleasures?

God called us. He called me. He put all of the focus on you, because He wants you to put all of the focus on others. 

Come On - We Really Do Believe You Are Our Equal

"I truly understand that God shows no partiality . . . "

 - Simon Peter, in Acts 10

This may very well have been the start of it all: That moment when, in history, people began to be concerned about the issue of "equality."

"Justice" had always been a big deal. It had been promised to God's people since the days of the early Patriarchs. But Peter had been shown, by the Lord, that in Christ, we were all going to be treated equally: male, female, slave, master. It made no difference. Our worldly statuses were not going to hold up in the kingdom of God. This is a big element in the Good News - those people that think they're better than you? They're not. God says so.

And then Paul the Apostle carried the message even further, by transitioning from the most vile practitioner of the law and superiority of it over all other cultures, into someone that placed acceptance of all others, no matter their background, in the center of God's Kingdom.

Any good thing, in excess, becomes harmful. Too much water is poisonous.

And our generation has taken the idea of equality to such an extreme, that we actually believe that people that do not define it as us, are definitely not our equals. We want to deprive others of their rights, that do not agree with us.

But in the Church it is different. Just accept all people. Treat all with kindness. Look not on the outside, but value what's on the inside. 

Having said that, we have a problem. We're human, and are not capable of practicing such godly love. But that's okay. God loves us anyway. The idea is to have that perfect standard before us, and to strive towards it. We're not perfect. That doesn't make us hypocrites if we define it for others.

The Church, and the true believers therein, beg of those around them: "We do see you as our equal. Now just give us a chance to show you."

Justice and Righteousness

"I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations....

I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,..."

From Isaiah 42

The Left seeks justice.

The Right seeks righteousness.

Both are needful. One values people as they are, accepts them, and affirms them.

But the other calls them to higher levels of personal behavior.

And we humans take our pick - one, or the other. But God calls us to seek both.

It is such a difficult balancing act. "Hate the sin, love the sinner." But the sinner certainly does not feel loved when we show them a better, a purer way. Even if we LIVE the godly life, without preaching about it, they get mad. And it's hard to pick out one sin that we NEVER commit, and advocate for it . . . while ignoring the 99 other sins that we do all the time, without thinking. Non-believers (and many believers) have a word for that: hypocrisy.

The Left calls out the Right - saying why are you judging others? You're not perfect. But in making this assertion, they are admitting that a sin has indeed been committed. Children desperately desire acceptance, even when, especially when, they do wrong. Adult sinners living publicly and defiantly in lifestyles that clearly are not pure, nor particularly loving (a word whose definition we have lost); lash out when questioned, even gently. In the dark of the night, cockroaches skitter away when a light turns on. This is us. We hate . . . HATE . . . to be called out. And we all are deserving of it.

But God wants BOTH from us: desire justice until your head aches. But live in righteousness (self-control, purity, charity), until your desire to taste the world's delicious poison bends you to the breaking point. The search for justice can break your bank. Your giving in to temptation can waste your bank. Your elevation in both areas is painful and backbreaking. 

But you HELP others by doing both. Justice helps the physical needs of others by protecting them. Righteousness helps the spiritual needs of yourself by keeping your soul pure. 

We need both. Go for broke. Go for both. 

He Carries Me

In his love and mercy he redeemed them;
    he lifted them up and carried them
    all the days of old.

Isaiah 63

I am excited to revive my Reflectionary blog this year. I hope that my four readers enjoy it.

The year begins with me having endured an on-line pommeling, for expressing my emotions about the danger of auto traffic, and the too-real hazards of being in an accident. 

People said I was too "preachy." Hmm . . . 

How many would-be preachers never enter the ministry, because nobody wants to be considered "preachy"? Most people just don't want the trouble. Research shows that most people just want safety and security. There are very few outliers. Unfortunately, in our times, the outliers seem to have the advantage. 

The Mainstream is being tugged along by the nose, by people on the fringe. 

But our first promise from God this year, is that He will "carry us."

In the midst of all of the trouble and discord . . . surrounded by people that want to violate us in the most fundamental of ways: they want to silence us - - - God promises to carry us.

The advantages to being carried by God are numerous:

If you are under attack, yet at the same time comfortably in the arms of the Lord, then He surely will take our case. Remember that.

In our on-line angst . . . just remember: God is carrying you. Let HIM deal with it. Say a prayer. Get your guidance from Him. And if no answer comes, it's because He wants you to just forget about it. Give it time.

In my post this morning, about the auto accident in our neighborhood, two people confronted me, and as I said, accused me of being "preachy," (the first thing to notice is . . . these are the same people that consider it a virtue if you don't care what others think). 

But someone very close to me, that I really trust, called me, and called me out. On her advice alone I deleted the comment, and then wrote a more gracious comment regarding the accident, with an apology.

But let me move on forward a little bit. My response was to take my things and go climb up into God's arms. As soon as I read the Isaiah reading above, from the Lectionary, I received a notification that someone had posted a response to my apology. She said that I did not need to apologize, that I had done nothing wrong. 

That was God carrying me. 

The Seventh Month of Christmas

In Preparation for a recognition of the Twelve Days of Christmas in 2016, we list, each month, the elements of each of the twelve days.

And so on the 6th day of each month, which, in January is the day following the Tweflth Day, I'll provide some background with limited commentary. 

On the Seventh Day, we may focus on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit:

1. wisdom
2. understanding
3. counsel
4. knowledge
5. fortitude
6. piety
7. fear of the Lord

It is also suggested that we receive instruction in the seven sacraments. Now granted, these are the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. But upon further reflection we may well consider how all Christians may elevate the role of each, in their daily walk:

1. Baptism
2. Confirmation
3. Communion
4. Penance
5. Anointing of the Sick
6. Holy Orders
7. Matrimony

Historically, also, January begins the Forefeast of the Theophany.

And so the 7th day of Christmas, New Year's Eve, gives us a chance for one more secular type of celebration. Of course, in our culture, there will be many opportunities to do this, from college bowl games to New Years Eve parties. I would suggest that, this year anyway, all readers of this blog avail themselves of a New Year's Eve party. And if you are not invited to one, have your own! Or visit some local watering hole that will be open.