ISSL Reflections December 24 2023 Luke 1:36–45, 56 Post 2

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IV.
Today, spend some time with Elizabeth.

Notice what she says to Mary.

V.
Luke 1:36-45, 56 (NRSVue)

“And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

VI.
She calls Mary and “the fruit of her womb” blessed. Then asks,

“And why has this happened to me…”

What is she talking about? That at her age she is pregnant? That Mary has come to visit her? That she is witness to Mary’s faith and submission to God?

Elizabeth calls Mary blessed. Do you think Elizabeth has any idea of how blessed she is?

How blessed do you think she is in being the mother to John?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 24 2023 Luke 1:36–45, 56 Post 1

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I.
This week we spend time with Elizabeth and Mary. In this passage of Scripture, both Elizabeth and Mary have already heard they will give birth to children who will serve very unique roles in the coming Kingdom of God. We should add the two women have very unique roles in not only bringing these two into this world but in parenting them.

Today take time to read this account and notice what you might learn of each woman’s spirit.

II.
Luke 1:36-45, 56 (NRSVue)

“And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

III.
What stands you to you in the words of Mary?

Likewise, what stands out to you in the words of Elizabeth?

What of these women’s words and spirit might you incorporate into your daily life and prayers this week?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 17 2023 Matthew 1:1–17 Post 3

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VII.
As you read these names, pick out a couple of persons you know something about.

VIII.
Matthew 1:1-17 (NRSVue)

An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, who bore Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

IX.
Who did you pick out? What stands out to you about them?

Do you think a descendent of them would take pride in claiming them as an ancestor?

I wonder what Jesus might say about them as an ancestor of his?

Who do you name as your spiritual ancestors? What have you learned from them?

What do you hope your spiritual descendents will say they learned from you?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 17 2023 Matthew 1:1–17 Post 2

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IV.
Returning to this long list of folk who were ancestors of Jesus, are all of them great spiritual models for us?

V.
Matthew 1:1-17 (NRSVue)

An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, who bore Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

VI.
There is no doubt that some of those mentioned modeled a deep spirituality and love for God. Others might exhibit strong moral character.

But maybe not all?

Certainly not all.

Sometimes folk are asked where they come from, who is their family, where they were raised, or “is so-and-so one of your people?” And one could tell by a tone in the voice or how the question was asked, that the “so-and-so” mentioned is not a person to be admired or maybe even liked.

What do we do when faced with those kinds of questions? You probably could call such an accusation more than a mere question.

Do those who make up our family tree determine who we are? Who we can be?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 17 2023 Matthew 1:1–17 Post 1

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I.
What are we to make of the genealogy that the Gospel of Matthew offers?

There are two temptations: One is to skip over it entirely; Second is to bog down in researching every name mentioned.

Today, take time to read these verses, take time to hear the name of each person.

Then spend time with who you are drawn to.

II.
Matthew 1:1-17 (NRSVue)

An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, who bore Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

III.
Probably you recognize some of those named. Is your attention drawn to one of them?

Maybe you are drawn to think about one of the women named.

Maybe you wonder about those we know little or nothing about.

Or maybe it leads you to consider your own forebearers? What did they contribute to who you are today?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL December 10 2023 1 Samuel 17:31–37, 45, 48–50 Post 3

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VII.
As you reread this passage use the words of David as your lens through which you hear and see the scene,

“The Lord who saved me … will save me …”

VIII.
1 Samuel 17:31-37, 45, 48-50 (NRSVue)

When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. David said to Saul, “Let no one’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father, and whenever a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth, and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. Your servant has killed both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.” David said, “The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.” So Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you!”

But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David’s hand.

IX.
It seems David is convinced about The Lord’s abiding presence with him.

Can you identify with David’s words?

Can you find those occasions about which you would be comfortable saying, “The Lord who saved me …”?

Are you comfortable saying “… The Lord … will save me…”?

Why are you comfortable or uncomfortable living into David’s claim?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL December 10 2023 1 Samuel 17:31–37, 45, 48–50 Post 2

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IV.
The other day I asked “What kind of person do you take David to be?”

What progress did you make with that question?

Let’s take our time today reading this passage once again, and look for any clues you see that gives you some insight on who David is.

V.
1 Samuel 17:31-37, 45, 48-50 (NRSVue)

When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. David said to Saul, “Let no one’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father, and whenever a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth, and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. Your servant has killed both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.” David said, “The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.” So Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you!”

But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David’s hand.

VI.
What did Saul say to David?

“Go, and may the Lord be with you!”

Did Saul have some insight into David’s character?

Before Saul spoke those words, David had said,

“The Lord, who saved me … will save me …”

What do you think? Did David’s apparent self-confidence in whole or in part lead Saul to that comment?

Was Saul convinced that The Lord had been with David and did his words take on the character of prayer? Or, were his words without depth?

When we ask what kind of person David was, we also begin to ask how do others respond to David?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL December 10 2023 1 Samuel 17:31–37, 45, 48–50 Post 1

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I.
I suspect to many of us David is a familiar character from the Hebrew Scripture. Can I ask a favor of you today? As you read this passage, read it as the only acquaintance with David you have. If this were all you knew about David, what kind of person would you take him to be?

II.
1 Samuel 17:31-37, 45, 48-50 (NRSVue)

When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. David said to Saul, “Let no one’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father, and whenever a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth, and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. Your servant has killed both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.” David said, “The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.” So Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you!”

But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David’s hand.

III.
The boy, David, tells the King, “Let no one’s heart fail because of him, your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

David is a youngster and he takes it upon himself to tell the King not to be afraid and that he will fight the Philistine’s champion warrior. What kind of youngster says that to any elder, especially to a King?

When the King doubts David is ready for such a task, David’s reply is to tell the King about the lions and bears he has killed to protect his father’s sheep.

Is David exhibiting self-confidence or arrogance?

And then, “The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Is this faith in The Lord, or confidence in David’s own strength and skill?

What kind of person do you take David to be?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections Ruth 1:6–18, 22 Post 3

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VII.
Today let’s focus on the conversation between Naomi and Ruth.

VIII.
Ruth 1:6-18, 22 (NRSVue)

Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had considered his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.” Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. They said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters. Why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me.” Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

So she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said,

“Do not press me to leave you,
     to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
     where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people
     and your God my God.

Where you die, I will die,
     and there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus to me,
     and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!”

When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

So Naomi returned together with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, who came back with her from the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

IX.
As I read and reread Ruth’s words they take on more depth for me than a mere conversation between the two. Should I call Ruth’s words a promise to Naomi? No. That still does not fully capture the spirit and depth for me.

Should I call it a covenant? That gets much closer to the force of the words for me.

What do you hear as the most central to the covenant? That they will travel together? That they will lodge together? That they will die together? That Ruth will identify herself as one of Naomi’s people? Or that they will share commitment to the same God?

Maybe we can hear this as Ruth’s commitment to walk the same path with Naomi even to knowing Naomi’s God as Ruth’s God. She is leaving all she knows to move into an unknown future trusting Naomi and Naomi’s God.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections Ruth 1:6–18, 22 Post 2

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IV.
Today let’s pay close attention to Naomi. What she says, what she does, and as best as you can tell, what motivates what she says and does.

V.
Ruth 1:6-18, 22 (NRSVue)

Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had considered his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.” Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. They said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters. Why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me.” Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

So she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said,

“Do not press me to leave you,
     to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
     where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people
     and your God my God.

Where you die, I will die,
     and there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus to me,
     and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!”

When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

So Naomi returned together with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, who came back with her from the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

VI.
If I follow this correctly, Naomi first starts on the way back to Judah with her two daughters-in-law.

“Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab … So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah.”

What happens then?

“Go back each of you to your mother’s house…. The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.”

Does she have a change of heart? Does she begin to think it not in the best interest of her daughters-in-law to take them away from their homeland? Why?

What is the reaction of the daughters-in-law?

Read the passage once more and see where you find love manifested.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}