ISSL Reflections July 18, 2021, Romans 4:1-12 Post 1

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I.
This week we will take some time to notice some of the things that Paul learned by watching Abraham and living with Abraham’s walk with God.

As you read this passage what themes do you notice? What words stand out to you that you sense speak to the core of Abraham’s journey with God and speak to the essence of what Paul is learning from Abraham?

II.

Romans 4:1-12

What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say?

“Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”

Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin.”

Is this blessedness, then, pronounced only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised?
We say, “Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.” How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the ancestor of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them, and likewise the ancestor of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but who also follow the example of the faith that our ancestor Abraham had before he was circumcised.

III.
What word or words move you through this passage?

Take a word (or words) and follow them, noticing how its repetition draws you forward and into what Paul wants to communicate.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 11, 2021, Romans 1:8-17 Post 3

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VII.
Once more let’s turn our attention to this passage –

Romans 1:8-17

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world. For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers, asking that by God’s will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as I have among the rest of the Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish —hence my eagerness to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”

VIII.
In these first few paragraphs of this letter to the church at Rome I begin to notice not only some of the things that go into describing “The Gospel” but ways in which Paul was not only describing “The Gospel” but also making it a lived experience in his life and travels.

So, let’s take some of the descriptions you found here for “The Gospel” and see how your everyday experiences incarnate those. How is “The Gospel” something you and I just don’t define or describe but live?

What might we learn from Paul here?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 11, 2021, Romans 1:8-17 Post 2

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IV.
Let’s go back to this Scripture passage and read it again paying attention to what it tells us about “The Gospel.”

Take a moment and still yourself, then bring your focus to these words of Paul paying attention to what he tells you about “The Gospel.”

Romans 1:8-17

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world. For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers, asking that by God’s will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as I have among the rest of the Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish —hence my eagerness to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”

V.
As I read this I looked for both a way to define “The Gospel” and for descriptors of “The Gospel.”

Initially I came up with 6 definitions/descriptors. What did you notice?

VI.
This passage ends with “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”

How does that work for you as a definition/descriptor of “The Gospel”?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 11, 2021, Romans 1:8-17 Post 1

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I.
Paul begins this letter to the Christians in Rome with,

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son…” (Romans 1:1-3)

And after a few more words he moves to what we can read in part as a prayer.

Let’s take our time and read this week’s focus passage and see what we learn about Paul. You may want to read it, pause then reread it paying attention to what Paul tells us about himself and his rationale for writing to these folk.

II.
Romans 1:8-17

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world. For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers, asking that by God’s will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as I have among the rest of the Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish —hence my eagerness to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”

III.
If you asked Paul what most characterizes his life and work, what answers does he give in these couple of paragraphs?

What passions stand out to you the most here?

What does Paul show you about what most fills his heart and soul?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 4, 2021, Luke 17:11-19, Leviticus 13:45-46, Leviticus 14:1-32 Post 3

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VIII.
Below is the week’s reading from Luke and links to the two readings from Leviticus –

Luke 17:11-19 (NRSV)

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

Leviticus 13:45-46
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+13%3A45-46&version=NRSV

Leviticus 14:1-32
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=leviticus+14%3A1-32&version=NRSV

IX.
In the previous post I stressed the social or community aspects of this healing account. As I read Leviticus 14 I was impressed not only by the details of the offerings to be made when it was thought one was cured of leprosy but the steps or stages involved in bringing one back into the life of the camp, the community.

Maybe we can notice that healing oft times is not only of physical disease (or mental disease) but also of social disease.

The thankful Samaritan was perhaps thankful not only that his skin healthy but that he could go home and be fully with his people.

Who do we name as “unclean” today?

Who do we exclude from full participation in the community, in “our” community?

Who needs the mercy of Jesus and the faith of the Samaritan to recognize that breakdowns in our society can be healed and that honest thankfulness is the necessary response for such healings?

How does it begin?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 4, 2021, Luke 17:11-19, Leviticus 13:45-46, Leviticus 14:1-32 Post 2

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V.
Below is the week’s reading from Luke and links to the two readings from Leviticus –

Luke 17:11-19 (NRSV)

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

Leviticus 13:45-46
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+13%3A45-46&version=NRSV

Leviticus 14:1-32
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=leviticus+14%3A1-32&version=NRSV

VI.
In Leviticus 13 we read that the person with this type of skin disease “… shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.” (Leviticus 13:46) And not only is he “unclean” he must “cry out, “Unclean, unclean” (Leviticus 13:45) so all those in hearing range know not to be near him.

This person is not only excluded from life in the community they must make sure they exclude themselves from the community by always announcing their status as “unclean.”

V.
Ten such persons approach Jesus but keep some distance from Jesus and ask for mercy.

Does Jesus show them mercy? If so, how does he do that?

We read that Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priests. Are they sent on their way before they are made clean, and only notice it as they journey towards the priests or does their status as unclean change to clean as they journey?
Does their journey point them not only to the priests but also to their restoration to community life?

To the one person who returns to bow before Jesus and thank him, Jesus tells him, “Get up and go on your way …” (Luke 7:19)

What is his way to be? To the priests? To community?

We hear Jesus tell him, “… your faith has made you well.” (Luke 7:19)

What has faith done for this one and where will it take him?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 4, 2021, Luke 17:11-19, Leviticus 13:45-46, Leviticus 14:1-32 Post 1

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I.
This week we have as our focus Jesus’ interactions with 10 lepers, their being cleansed of their skin diseases, and their responses to Jesus’ instructions to them.

Two readings from the the book of Leviticus give us some important background, first on how people who had such diseases are to live a life outside the community and refrain from contact with the community, and second, the steps the person cured of such diseases must take and the steps a priest takes to restore the person to life in the community. The reading from Leviticus 14 might seem long but helps us see the serious religious and community implications of being “unclean.”

II.
Luke 17:11-19 (NRSV)

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

Leviticus 13:45-46 (NRSV)

The person who has the leprous disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head be disheveled; and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, “Unclean, unclean.” He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.

Leviticus 14:1-32 (NRSV)

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: This shall be the ritual for the leprous person at the time of his cleansing:

He shall be brought to the priest; the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall make an examination. If the disease is healed in the leprous person, the priest shall command that two living clean birds and cedarwood and crimson yarn and hyssop be brought for the one who is to be cleansed. The priest shall command that one of the birds be slaughtered over fresh water in an earthen vessel. He shall take the living bird with the cedarwood and the crimson yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the fresh water. He shall sprinkle it seven times upon the one who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease; then he shall pronounce him clean, and he shall let the living bird go into the open field. The one who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, but shall live outside his tent seven days. On the seventh day he shall shave all his hair: of head, beard, eyebrows; he shall shave all his hair. Then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe his body in water, and he shall be clean.

On the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb in its first year without blemish, and a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of choice flour mixed with oil, and one log of oil. The priest who cleanses shall set the person to be cleansed, along with these things, before the Lord, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. The priest shall take one of the lambs, and offer it as a guilt offering, along with the log of oil, and raise them as an elevation offering before the Lord. He shall slaughter the lamb in the place where the sin offering and the burnt offering are slaughtered in the holy place; for the guilt offering, like the sin offering, belongs to the priest: it is most holy. The priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot. The priest shall take some of the log of oil and pour it into the palm of his own left hand, and dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand and sprinkle some oil with his finger seven times before the Lord. Some of the oil that remains in his hand the priest shall put on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering. The rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed. Then the priest shall make atonement on his behalf before the Lord: the priest shall offer the sin offering, to make atonement for the one to be cleansed from his uncleanness. Afterward he shall slaughter the burnt offering; and the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. Thus the priest shall make atonement on his behalf and he shall be clean.

But if he is poor and cannot afford so much, he shall take one male lamb for a guilt offering to be elevated, to make atonement on his behalf, and one-tenth of an ephah of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering and a log of oil; also two turtledoves or two pigeons, such as he can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. On the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, before the Lord; and the priest shall take the lamb of the guilt offering and the log of oil, and the priest shall raise them as an elevation offering before the Lord. The priest shall slaughter the lamb of the guilt offering and shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot. The priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand, and shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the Lord. The priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of the right hand, and the big toe of the right foot, where the blood of the guilt offering was placed. The rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement on his behalf before the Lord. And he shall offer, of the turtledoves or pigeons such as he can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, along with a grain offering; and the priest shall make atonement before the Lord on behalf of the one being cleansed. This is the ritual for the one who has a leprous disease, who cannot afford the offerings for his cleansing.

III.
In reading the brief passage from Leviticus 13 we hopefully get a feel for how one with these skin diseases was pushed outside the community and how they were regarded as “unclean” by the community and by themselves.

Did you make it through the Leviticus 14 reading? How do the details of how one might be restored to the community strike you? Did it seem reasonable or excessive?

IV.
Now let’s take a few moments to turn your attention to the Gospel passage.

When the lepers ask for mercy from Jesus why would Jesus tell them to show themselves to the priest without addressing their cry for mercy?

Do you think they were on the way to the priest(s) or headed back to their “homes” initially? Did they all see that they were “clean” from their diseases? If they did, do you think they headed to the priest(s) then or back home?

Notice the one who comes back to Jesus. He is praising God and thanking Jesus. Think about this and think about why he is the only one to do so. Why? What is different about him?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections June 27, 2021, Matthew 14:22-33 Post 3

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VIII.
This week we’ve taken time to read and reread this passage several times. I trust we have not just “read over” it because it is familiar, or “read through” it since we already know what “happens” but have “read into” the account. And more to the point, read ourselves into the account so we become a participant.

Let’s take a few minutes to slow our busy minds, pause for a moment and with an open spirit and open eyes to enter the passage once more.

Matthew 14:22-33

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

IX.
What are you noticing?

Anything new? Anything clearer? Does anything call you to spend more time with these folk?

This is where I would like to hear from you. We need to have a conversation to share with one another what happens for us as we spend time here.

To start the conversation (and not to end it), may I share something I notice?

Peter draws my attention this week.

I usually see Peter as the first to speak, and it often seems he speaks before he thinks or even hears from others.
And, granted, he speaks up here but before he speaks what is going on for him? I read that the disciples are afraid. I count Peter as one who is afraid. I count Peter as one who is not sure it is Jesus coming to them. Another reason to be at least worried if not fully afraid.

Then when I do hear Peter, he is asking the one coming toward him, who he is and asking for permission to act. Not the way I most envision Peter.

Then as he does act and steps out, he is so distracted by the circumstances he loses his way, and his confidence/trust/faith that he falters, begins sinking. And calls out for help.

Again, not the way I think of Peter most often.

X.
I need to spend more time with Peter. I want to ask him what this was like for him. I want to ask him what he took away from this boat ride in the storm. I want to ask him how he saw the world and even Jesus differently after this. And I want to ask him what I might learn from him.

Oh, one more thing – the next time a storm arose for him, what was it like?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections June 27, 2021, Matthew 14:22-33 Post 2

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IV.
Today, take time to read this account again, and again notice who all is present, both named and unnamed.

After you read the account once, pause and notice who you are drawn to and read the passage again seeing all that happens from that person’s perspective.

V.
Matthew 14:22-33

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

VI.
Whose eyes did you view this through?

Why do you think that person drew you in?

Did you notice anything you did not notice before?

What do you notice about the other people?

What stands out to you about the boat, the water, the storm, the people who were on shore earlier, about Jesus?

VII.
Read the passage again and be present to all that is happening on shore, on the water, during the storm, as you see the “ghost,” as you recognize Jesus, as Peter leaves the boat, as Peter sinks in the water and as Jesus responds to Peter’s fear.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections June 27, 2021, Matthew 14:22-33 Post 1

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I.
A couple of weeks ago we saw Jesus and his disciples in a boat when a storm came up. This week we start with the disciples in a boat being “battered by the waves” and Jesus is not with them. We do notice that Jesus told them to get in the boat and go to the other side of the lake but he did not travel with them.

Read the passage and pay attention to all the folk you see and hear. Watch them carefully and listen to what is said and it might be good to notice what is not said and who is not heard from.

II.
Matthew 14:22-33

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

III.
Who do you want to pay attention to the most?

The disciples … Peter … Jesus … ?

Where would you be? In the boat? Or with the crowd that Jesus sent away? Or, maybe you followed, or tried to follow Jesus up the mountain to see where he was going? Or, did you hang around the shore and notice the brewing storm? Did you step out into the water?

Where would you be?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}