March 8, 2020, Habakkuk 1:1-4, 12-14 – Post 3 – ISSL Reflection

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VI.
Judgement – Confrontation – Hope

When you think of the Hebrew prophets how do you first characterize their messages?

One of judgement, confrontation, calling attention to what the people’s problem is, or hope?

If we think of it enough, probably all of these, but I suspect, a lot of us think first of judgment?

What of these words of Habakkuk we have heard?

As the people hear Habakkuk, they hear him giving voice to their complaints with God –

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not listen?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
and you will not save?

Why do you make me see wrongdoing
and look at trouble?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.

So the law becomes slack
and justice never prevails.
The wicked surround the righteous—
therefore judgment comes forth perverted.

VII.
So this prophet stands before the people, before God, between the people and God and voices the cries the people have and maybe have not shouted to God?

That may be a proper role of the prophet – to name the situation, to help the people give voice to their fears, frustrations, and anger. And maybe that can encourage us to do that also.

But do we hear hope here?

VII.


Are you not from of old,
O Lord my God, my Holy One?
You shall not die.
O Lord, you have marked them for judgment;
and you, O Rock, have established them for punishment.

Your eyes are too pure to behold evil,
and you cannot look on wrongdoing;
why do you look on the treacherous,
and are silent when the wicked swallow
those more righteous than they?

Those words are full of questions and perhaps disappointment? Does the prophet help the people to voice their disappointment, frustration, that God has let them down?

Listen once more –

Are you not from of old,
O Lord my God, my Holy One?
You shall not die.

Your eyes are too pure to behold evil,
and you cannot look on wrongdoing;

The will to voice these words to God, may be the evidence of the prophet’s faith and the people’s faith. Their very shouts at God, show a faith and hope.

The prophet is one who can let people know they can still come before God with the hope of being heard.

Can that be a sign of faith?

What words of discouragement, frustration, and yes even hope can we offer today?

charles
{Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

March 8, 2020, Habakkuk 1:1-4, 12-14 – Post 2 – ISSL Reflection

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IV.
In my last post I asked you how contemporary you find Habakkak’s words.

Since that post I came across this prayer from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, which likely was written when Bonhoeffer was imprisoned by the German government during World War II.

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.

Help me to pray;
and to concentrate my thoughts on you;
I cannot do this alone.

In me there is darkness,
but with you there is light;

I am lonely,
but you do not leave me;

I am feeble in heart,
but with you there is help;

I am restless,
but with you there is peace.

In me there is bitterness,
but with you there is patience;

I do not understand your ways,
but you know the way for me. . . .

Restore me to liberty,
and enable me to live now
that I may answer before you and before men.

Lord,
whatever this day may bring,
your name be praised.

Amen.

V.
Bonhoeffer gives expression to his lament and to his hope, such that it is.

It is almost as if the darkness he finds himself in, keeps the light and hope out, but he does not give in to that.

Have you heard the expression, “… to hope against hope.”

Is that the place of Bonhoeffer’s hope that darkness cannot overcome?

Can you find that place in yourself?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

March 8, 2020, Habakkuk 1:1-4, 12-14 – ISSL Reflection

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I.
We turn this week to the Prophet Habakkuk.

The prophet begins with words that could come right from the Psalmist.

“O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen?”

Do you recall the Psalmist uttering these words only once, or time and time again?

Who else can you hear crying out these words?

Read this week’s selection from Habakkuk and listen not just to the words but listen for who you hear crying out these words. Whose voice do you hear? What is their tone? Do you hear pain or anger?

II.
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 12-14 (New Revised Standard Version)

The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw.

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not listen?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
and you will not save?

Why do you make me see wrongdoing
and look at trouble?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.

So the law becomes slack
and justice never prevails.
The wicked surround the righteous—
therefore judgment comes forth perverted.

Are you not from of old,
O Lord my God, my Holy One?
You shall not die.
O Lord, you have marked them for judgment;
and you, O Rock, have established them for punishment.

Your eyes are too pure to behold evil,
and you cannot look on wrongdoing;
why do you look on the treacherous,
and are silent when the wicked swallow
those more righteous than they?

You have made people like the fish of the sea,
like crawling things that have no ruler.

III.
Who did you hear?

What do you think they have seen and heard that brings forth such a lament?

How contemporary do you find these words?

Do you think you might hear someone today or tomorrow or this week or next week with these words in their mouth?

Do you feel you have or could give voice to such a cry?

What of Habakkuk’s words come closest to words you’ve spoken or could speak?

Stay with the prophet’s cry for a while and notice what you identify with.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

March 1, 2020, Amos 5:18-24 – Post 3 – ISSL Reflection

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VIII.
Can we agree the prophet wants the people to have no uncertainty that their festivals, assemblies, offerings, sacrifices, songs and music do nothing to move God. All the things they might count on as proper religious activities are worthless.

What are they left with? What can they do?

I wonder if the closing sentence from this week’s reading may offer clues?

But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

IX.
If we take time to read the prophet’s words that precede our week’s reading we will notice him reporting God’s word to the people is,

“ … Seek me and live … Seek the Lord and live … Seek good and not evil, that you may live … Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate…”

Maybe a people can put so much confidence in what they come to regard as their proper religious practices, they forget the call to love God and to love the neighbor. Might they forget that the practices are not an end in themselves or a means to get God to be on their side but are a means to draw near to God and even to more closely look like and act like his daughters and sons.

X.
Our spiritual practices might not look like the ones Amos condemns but it might do us good to remember that just as the people Amos spoke to could put too much confidence in and trust in their practices, we too can become so enamored with our personal spiritual disciplines we forget they are about bringing us to the place we can more fully love God, love our neighbors and love ourselves.

Don’t neglect your spiritual practices, just hold them lightly so you can let go if the prophet comes with a word for you.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

March 1, 2020, Amos 5:18-24 – Post 2 – ISSL Reflection

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IV.
Judgement – Darkness – “ … Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light — pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?”

Most of the time we would think – or certainly want to think – the “Day of the Lord” would come with light and joy, but that is not what Amos portrays. And there is much in the passage to assume that is not what his hearers expected.

V.
“… without a ray of brightness …”

Does Amos want to “pull the run out from under the people”?

Does he want them to give up hope? At least what they have based they hope on?

Where has their hope been placed?

VI.
I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
your assemblies are a stench to me.
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.

VII.
What festivals? What rituals? What routines? Do you and I hope in?

What do we keep doing out of habit that we think will bring us closer to God or at least closer to what we want from God?

When has being in the dark a while been helpful, a growing place for you?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

March 1, 2020, Amos 5:18-24 – ISSL Reflection

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I.
With this week’s lesson we begin a journey with the Prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures.

When your mind turns to the Hebrew Prophets, what is the first thing that comes into your consciousness? Fear? A message of judgement? A message of hope? Redemption? Punishment? Exile? The loss of the Temple? Defeat?

All those might be possibilities, but stands out to you?

II.
Let’s read this week’s passage from Amos. Pay attention to the tone of his pronouncements.

Amos 5:18-24 (New Revised Standard Version)

Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord!
Why do you want the day of the Lord?
It is darkness, not light;
as if someone fled from a lion,
and was met by a bear;
or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall,
and was bitten by a snake.
Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,
and gloom with no brightness in it?
I hate, I despise your festivals,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
I will not look upon.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

III.
Let’s see – “… fled a lion … met by a bear … rested a hand … bitten by a snake … the day of the Lord [is] darkness, not light”

How would you characterize Amos’ message?

So is this negative of a “sermon” ever a good thing?

Has it ever been more redeeming for you to hear a message of judgement rather than a message of hope?

Or, is it misleading (in part or in whole) to call these words “a message of judgement”?

Think that over for a while, and let’s talk again later.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

February 23, 2020, Luke 11:1-13 – Post 3 – ISSL Reflection

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VIII.
Do you know how to leave your routines to be Jesus for others?

Do you know how to leave your comfort zone, when Jesus puts someone or something in your path he wants you to fully see and be with. Not just notice but recognize as your time to embody Jesus’ love and service.

It seems for me routine can get in the way of my noticing what is going on and what is needed, even when it is right in front of me. I can go on doing what I usually do and be blind to those really around me.
.
IX.
Where has Jesus called you to be his disciple this past week?

Look back over the last week and see when you have not just said the words of “The Lord’s Prayer,” but have lived the prayer.

X.
We may not know what tomorrow may bring our way, but do you think Jesus can be with us then?

Why not offer his prayer as your acknowledgement that he walks with you into the future?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

February 23, 2020, Luke 11:1-13 – Post 2 – ISSL Reflection

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IV.
Let’s look to the words of Jesus that follow his prayer.

He gives several images that I suppose he hopes will help us understand the life that can grow out of the way he shows his disciples they can pray.

V.
Luke 11:5-13

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

VI,
Which of the images holds your attention the most?

Why? Are you already following your prayers with this way living into being Jesus’ disciples? Can you think of times you have been in that place?

VII.
Or, maybe it grabs your attention because you sense this a place you need to grow?

I can’t know the answer for you, but it’s probably a good place for you to spend time giving your thoughts to Jesus.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

February 23, 2020, Luke 11:1-13 – ISSL Reflection

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I.
We closed last week taking note of a short “commentary” that follows the recording of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Matthew, and open this week looking at the Prayer in its context in the Gospel of Luke.

We want to spend time this week with the prayer and also with the words of Jesus that precede and follow the prayer.

Let’s begin by fully pausing, and clearing our minds so we can pay attention deeply to this Scripture.

II.
Luke 11:1-13 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

III.
Let’s start by noticing what leads into the prayer – on this occasion we find Jesus praying, with his disciples near, maybe near enough to see him in prayer (do you think they heard him?). The disciples acknowledge that other of God’s prophets taught their disciples/followers how to pray. They ask Jesus to teach them to pray.

Do you think they ask because they might have wanted to tell others, “This is how WE learned to pray FROM JESUS …” Maybe with even some arrogance in their voices?

Or, did they see something in how Jesus prayed that they wanted to come nearer to in their prayers? Had they begun to glimpse a way to come near to the God and Father of Jesus?

What about us?

What do we need to learn of prayer and praying and the lived experience of prayer from Jesus?

Let’s stop for a few moments and name the places we need Jesus’ help in learning to pray. Ask the Father to help you see and name where Jesus can help you. Take your time, don’t rust, wait on the Spirit.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

February 16, 2020, Matthew 6:9-15 – Post 3 – ISSL Reflection

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IX.
Today let’s return to the prayer and also once again to the brief words that follow it and give it our attention.

Matthew 6:9-15 King James Version (KJV)

After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

X.
As you take time to reflect on the prayer, notice the words that follow “Amen.”

Would call those words a footnote or maybe even a commentary on the prayer?

Does it suggest we are not to leave the prayer in the sanctuary but take it with us into our daily life?

Are we expected to not only pray about forgiveness but to actually practice forgiveness?

XI.
Take a few moments and look back over the prayer and give some reflection to other aspects of the prayer we might be called on to take with us into our daily life.

Now might you and I make this prayer a reality in our lives today?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}