St. James Day II

Fruit in Its Season

They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. 

— Psalm 1:3

St. James Day I

We Should Not Trouble Them

Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God. 

— Acts 15:19

St. Luke's Day IV

Good News to the Poor

He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.

— Luke 4:18

St. Luke's Day III

 Bring My Cloak and My Books

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 

— 2 Timothy 4:13

St. Luke's Day II

The Hands That Bind Our Wounds

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

— Psalm 147:3

St. Luke's Day I

For They Too Pray

There may come a time when recovery lies in the hands of physicians, for they too pray to the Lord.

— Sirach 38:13–14

I'll Show Them!

When Winning Becomes the Wrong Goal

“The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said.” 

— Matthew 22:15

The Labor of Love

What Does Your Faith Make Possible?

…your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

— 1 Thessalonians 1:3

A God I Didn't Make

Justice, Righteousness, and the Creator of Heaven

O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

— Psalm 99

As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; but it is the Lord who made the heavens.

— Psalm 96

The View from Behind

Recognizing God in Hindsight

You cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.

— Exodus 33

I arm you, though you do not know me.

— Isaiah 45

The People Who Show Up

When the Invitation Goes Beyond the Family

They went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

— Matthew 22

I Choose Gentleness

And Sometimes That Means Walking Away

Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

— Philippians 4

Candor, Then Walking

The Shepherd Is Still There

We have sinned as our forebears did; we have done wrong and dealt wickedly.

— Psalm 106

He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.

— Psalm 23

What Are We Building?

The Golden Calves We Make at Home

Aaron said to them, “Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”

— Exodus 32

When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,

the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place…

— Isaiah 25

I can almost sympathize with Aaron. Moses has been gone a long time. The people are restless and demanding something they can see and follow. Aaron gets creative. Give them what they want, perhaps, while somehow keeping it connected to the God they already know. He collects their gold, makes the calf, builds an altar before it—and then announces, remarkably, “Tomorrow shall be a festival to the LORD.” Maybe Aaron is frightened. Maybe he is trying to meet the people halfway. Maybe he thinks he can have the best of both worlds. Whatever his intentions, though, his religious language cannot change what his actions have produced. There is a golden calf standing in the camp.

Isaiah gives us another startling image. He describes the “ruthless” and compares the “noise of aliens” to oppressive heat. The word aliens catches my attention because immigration and the treatment of foreigners have become such difficult subjects in our own time. Scripture repeatedly commands God's people to care for the stranger and foreigner among them. Yet that doesn't mean every biblical appearance of a foreigner carries precisely the same meaning. Here Isaiah is describing hostile outsiders, and the significant word may be ruthless. God is the refuge of the poor and needy against those who would overwhelm them.

That distinction matters. Welcoming people does not require welcoming everything people believe or do. We can open our homes, communities and hearts to people while still discerning ideas and practices by whether they produce justice, righteousness, mercy and holiness. But Exodus immediately prevents me from turning that observation into an accusation against somebody coming from somewhere else. Israel didn't need foreigners to bring the golden calf into camp. They made it themselves. And Aaron, one of their own religious leaders, helped.

That turns the question around rather dramatically. It is easy to become vigilant about what somebody else might bring through the front door while overlooking what I am building in the living room. Every society has things worth preserving and things requiring repentance. Every outsider can bring ideas that bless or harm, and so can every insider. Sometimes the dangerous compromise even arrives wrapped in familiar religious language. Aaron could call his celebration a “festival to the LORD,” but God's name did not transform the calf into something holy.

We've been asking a similar question throughout these recent readings: What does it produce? The vineyard is expected to produce fruit. God expects justice and righteousness. Now Aaron reminds me that my intentions, labels and explanations aren't enough. What am I actually making from the things entrusted to me? What compromises have I baptized with the right words because they allow me to have the best of both worlds?

Perhaps discernment begins closer to home than I sometimes want it to. Yes, I should care about what enters through the door. But before I become too frightened about what someone else might bring inside, I should take a good look around the room. What are we building in here?

What Is Growing Because I Was Here?

The Fruit of the Vineyard

…the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.

— Matthew 21

What Counts as Gain?

The Things That Measure a Life

For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish…

— Philippians 3

Tend This Vine

What Fear Would Prune Away

The law of the LORD is perfect and revives the soul.

— Psalm 19

…behold and tend this vine; preserve what your right hand has planted.

— Psalm 80

So That You Do Not Sin

What Does God Actually Want?

…so that you do not sin.

— Exodus 20

…he expected justice, but saw bloodshed;

righteousness, but heard a cry!

— Isaiah 5