Beginning to Pray

Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38–42 (RSV)

"First of all, it is very important to remember that prayer is an encounter and a relationship, a relationship which is deep, and this relationship cannot be forced either on us or on God. The fact that God can make Himself present or can leave us with the sense of His absence is part of this live and real relationship" Archbishop Anthony Bloom

Beginning to Pray p. 2

Martha was not wrong to say there was work to be done, there was. The work was not unimportant. It wasn't the good portion, the needful thing. Mary grasped this; thus, the needful place was at Jesus' feet. The work would keep for a later time. In that hour, it matters very little if the work that occupied Martha ever got done. Jesus is the good portion of the Father who Mary had set aside all else to receive.

Mary was learning to pray as she listened to Jesus. She was learning to allow her focus to be on Him as He fashioned ties between Himself and Mary. Pray is born as our relationship with Jesus begins and does not end this side of the resurrection. 

Mary discovered that prayer is to listen to Jesus. We too often fill the air with our words, thinking that prayer is a thing we must perform to please the Lord. We hope that if we say the right words, in the correct amount, then we break through to Jesus. If this is our only prayer, it will never mature beyond our reciting a list of our wants and needs.

A priest in rural France newly arrived in his parish, discovered that an old villager came to the church every day and sat in the same pew. He never said or appeared to do anything. He silently sat, sometimes for a few minutes, other times for an hour or more. This ritual never failed, regardless of the weather or the aches the old man obviously suffered.

One day the priest sat near the old man. As they sat in silence, the time ticked by until the priest spoke, 'You are here every day. You sit in this same spot, and that is all you do. What purpose is there in this?'  

The old man replied in a voice barely above a whisper, 'I come to Him, He comes to me. I share my heart with Him; He shares His heart with me. We do not need words, for He knows my prayers before I can say them. He answers them all with His love, and then I depart in His peace.'

Mary sat at the Lord's feet, learning prayer as did the old man in the parish church centuries later. Our prayer is Jesus, and He is the answer to our prayer. He is the good portion that cannot be taken away. 

On Shepherds

It has been a very long eleven months, longer than any of us could have imagined as Lent began in 2020. We have not come out of Lent. We did not celebrate Holy Thursday. We did not gather at the cross on Good Friday. We did not unite our voices in a joyous melody on Easter Sunday.

We are carrying the Long Lent with us as we wander in this foreign land called COVID 19. All the familiar markers of our lives were not there these many months. Yes, we gathered for worship, though we sit like lepers, separate and cut off. Now the pandemic has forced us out of our sanctuaries again.

I ask your pardon today as I have need to write about this Long Lent as a pastor knows it. We have journeyed with our flocks through uncharted lands, seeking a place where we can gather without fear. We had hoped we had found that place but are now driven by things we cannot see as they turn the world upside down.

A pastor is a shepherd whom God has called to tend His flock. We grow to love His flock, caring for them with the gifts God has given us. We rejoice with them at the font as the promise of new life in Christ is shown in Holy Baptism. We patiently teach these baptized children what the Father's promise means for them. We have pride as they affirm their faith.

We guide them as they plan to marry as a witness to the oneness of love we have in Christ. When their lives are hurt, we listen to their challenges, struggles, and heartaches. We know the routine of a hospital, for we have visited those who are ill. We sit with sheep of His flock in care centers as age draws life away. We bring them the Holy Supper so they may have confidence that even in the face of death, God's mercy is theirs.

Our hearts ache as we commend people we have known and loved in Christ to their resting place. We weep with their families, in the hospital room, the hospice, their home, at the grave. We often weep in our studies as the weight of years of losses inhabits our hearts.

In this Long Lent, we can only watch from a distance as His flock faces the pandemic. We cannot extend our touch for fear it may carry sickness and death. Yes, posts on social media, newsletters, phone calls, and visits from a 'safe distance' can be done and are with compassion.

Still, we are the shepherds of God's flock, and a shepherd longs to be with His flock. He longs to guide them to the Lord's green pastures. He wants to defend them from the wolves known as COVID 19. He simply wants to be among the flock.

When this Long Lent will end, who can say, save God? It will end, I pray God soon, so Your shepherds can be with the flock You have given into their care.

On the Wonder of God

In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." Luke 10:21–24 (RSV)

Emma, age 4, can write her name. She learned this milestone in her pre-Kindergarten class. She spoke the letters as she wrote them, her face beaming at the wonder she had created. She had written her name.

As much as I rejoice with her accomplishment, something is fading from her eyes. Emma is our youngest grandchild. She is the last one whose gaze held that wide-eyed wonder. If you pay attention, you can see in the eyes of even a newborn a look of absolute wonder, amazement, joy at the world they are discovering.

Though they see so many things for the first time and have little comprehension of what they are seeing, they see even the most mundane object as it were the beauty of heaven. Emma still has some of it in her eyes, but it is fading.

Jesus blesses the Father that the wonders, the mysteries of His purpose, are hidden from those who think they know God. The Father has revealed them to the wide-eyed wonder of a child, who may not comprehend what they are seeing, but know it to be truly good.

I bless God that I park my car in what we call the upper garage. It is the old garage detached from the house. I walk from this garage to the house, not a great distance, unless it is pouring rain or -30 degrees.

But on a cloudless night, I can gaze up at the night sky and see the bit of the universe in which we live. I often stand, transfixed, gazing at the night sky. It is a marvel that brings me close to Emma's wide-eyed gaze. The vast wonder of God's creation reminds me that the Father is mindful of me, even me.

When we get lost in the complexities of life, when the pandemic threatens to overwhelm us, when I get too caught up in the study of God to be amazed by Him, it is a blessing to see as does a child. It is a blessing to trust, not concerned that I may not fully grasp the divine purpose, to simply trust.

On the Exercise of Power

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen." Revelation 7:9–12 (RSV)

One of the unfulfilled dreams of the human race lies in the hope that somehow we can unite as one. Voices call for this now that the election has passed. We should come together for national healing.

It is something a sane person would agree would be good for our nation. It is right of the President-elect to call for this. It may come to pass in some small, limited ways. It will be limited for the simple reason that far too many don't wish it to be so.

I have read far too many statements that will not grant humanity to those who voted the 'wrong way.' It has always been so for sin, our sin, will not let us love as Christ has loved the world. We lust after power and might over other human beings. We think we can exercise it well or pretend we can.

We are driven mad when power falls into our hands. We will do whatever it takes to keep it and deny it to those who are not like us. Think this is not true? Is it any wonder that history is one of the first things to disappear when we have power? If we cannot make it go away, then we distort it and twist it until it has no truth left in it.

We must pray for those who have been given the power and authority to govern. Their souls are in grave danger as they exercise the might put into their hands. We pray for them for the sake of their souls. We must pray for them for the sake of our neighbor as well, that those in power will not be unjust.

As those who name Jesus as our one true Lord, we call upon Him to keep the harm we would do at bay. We call upon Him for He, and He alone holds the blessings we long to receive. He alone is glorious and wise. He alone we honor above all else, offering our thanksgivings and praise.

Jesus alone can wield the power and might of heaven to provide us the safety to worship before the Throne of the Father. Until that great and wonderful day comes, let us pray for those to whom Jesus has given the authority to govern.

On God's Purpose

When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him; but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.

As they were going along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:51–62 (RSV)

The purpose of human life is to live in the love and mercy of God. God creates us so we might know Him and live our lives in relationship with Him. He provides us with heart, soul, and mind so we might know there is a God, thus enjoying life in Him.

It is this love of the Father that desires us to be free to know and love Him. It is that freedom to love the Father we so often abuse. We use it as an opportunity to love ourselves over even the Father.

Yes, the Father wants us to know and love ourselves. He desires this and it is in the fulness of His love that we will know ourselves. When we choose to love anything before we love Him, we lose the fulness of His love.

Even as Jesus is going to Jerusalem to by His death and resurrection redeem all things, our self-love blinds us to the love of the Father. The Samaritans would not see it as Jesus was going to a place they disliked. James and John could not see it when they wanted to call God's wrath down on the Samaritans. Each of the three Jesus called to follow Him could not see it as they placed something in their lives more important than Jesus.

Some would argue that Jesus is unfair to demand such devotion. It would be unfair if it were anyone other than Jesus. Jesus has come to restore all things to the love of the Father. He has come to restore us to our purpose for being. Once restored, all things will be ours as we live in His love.

Apart from the Father's love, even the most wonderful thing of this life is a barrier to the Father's love. This barrier denies us the joy and blessing of our true humanity. Let us love as we are loved. Let us live in the Father's love so all things will bless us as is the Father's desire.

On Temptation

Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:12–13 (RSV)

St. Paul is correct; everyone is tempted in some way. It is the spiritual condition in which we find ourselves. We have inherited this weakness from our first parents, Adam and Eve. Every temptation has, at its core, our desire to be God.

It may not appear so to us as we being tempted, but it is the goal of any temptation. Even if there were no devil to whisper in our ears, we would find ourselves tempted to rebel against the Lord.

We are engaged daily in spiritual warfare against the devil, the world, and our sinful self. One or all of these three are working on us in their effort to lead us away from God. Every Christian is to be on their guard to see it for what it is when temptation comes.

St. Paul reminds us that we will not be tempted beyond our strength. We will be provided the means to endure and escape the consequences of any temptation. We may say, "How can this be? I have been tempted and failed far too often." True, we all have failed when tempted. We have been unable due to our reliance on ourselves alone. If we try to endure temptation apart from the strength of the Lord, we will fail.

The Lord is our strength. When our strength fails, when we cannot stand any longer on our own, it is the Lord who rescues us. Jesus endured all manner of temptation. He died on the Cross. He has promised to be with us in all our trials, for He endured them all. We ask Him each time we pray the Lord's Prayer, "Lead us not into temptation," or as some translations read, "Save us in the time of trial."

However they come, no temptation can overwhelm us as we stand firm in Jesus.

On Humility

And an argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But when Jesus perceived the thought of their hearts, he took a child and put him by his side, and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great." Luke 9:46–48 (RSV)

For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him. Romans 12:3 (RSV)

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less," C. S. Lewis

It is clear from Scripture that each one of us is of infinite worth to the Father. Before all the ages were called into being, it was in the mind and heart of God that we should exist. We see the love of the Father for us in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Surrounded by such wondrous love, it would seem justified that we should think quite highly of ourselves. If God cares so much about each of us, why shouldn't we be a bit puffed up? It seems only natural.

It may be natural, but it is also a hazardous way to live. Yes, we are unique and blessed individuals, but if we stop there, with only ourselves, we miss the more profound purpose the Father has for us.

When the disciples get caught up in arguing about which one of them gets the best spot in the Kingdom, Jesus gives them a corrective. Placing a child in the midst of them, Jesus taught how things are in the Kingdom. Whoever cares for the least and most helpless truly serves the Lord.

C. S. Lewis echos St. Paul when he points out that this humility is not a sign of weakness. It is the way a person who is wrapped in the love of Christ lives. We live our lives in Christ as we love and care for the helpless ones.

There is no weakness in humility. Instead, the humble person is the one with the greatest strength, for they can let go of themselves to serve the neighbor.

On the Glory of God

Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became dazzling white. And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they wakened they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah"—not knowing what he said. As he said this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silence and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen. Luke 9:28–36 (RSV)

"And they kept silence and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen."

Even if they could have found the words to describe what they had seen and heard, who could believe it? It is like the great composer who crafted a majestic symphony, the pinnacle of his talent. On the night of its first performance, the composer conducted the orchestra, directing so artfully that the audience was astounded by what they heard. The applause went on and on, so great was their appreciation.

The audience departed the theatre. A man made his way to where the composer, praising the symphony and the composer. 'It was beautiful. Could you describe what you were saying through the music?' With a hint of a smile, the composer responded, 'My dear man, if I could have explained it, I never would have composed the symphony.'

Peter, James, and John had no words this side of the resurrection, to attempt to tell what they encountered on the mountain. The beauty and majesty of God are not for mortal eyes and ears. The glory of that nature can only begin to be described through faith that has encountered the Risen Lord.

We can grasp the depth of the Lord's divine beauty as we see Jesus' wounded hands, feet, and side. We, like Thomas, can confess, 'My Lord and my God!' It is in the Risen glory of Jesus; we can finally express the true wonder of the Kingdom.

How fortunate we are that He has given us the very heart of His will and purpose to share with the world. We need only confess and proclaim, 'Christ Is Risen! He Is Risen, Indeed!'

Carrying the Cross

And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:23–26 (RSV)

"We all have our crosses to bear," goes the platitude quoted about some trial a person experiences. It implies that it is a passing event, and you will soon return to everyday life.

It also has nothing to do with what Jesus is teaching His disciples. The believer takes up his cross daily and follows Jesus. This cross is not a thing we endure for a time, then go on with our lives. Cross-bearing is our life in Christ. It begins with denying ourselves. We are no longer the center of our private universe.

Self-denial is the opposite of the choice Adam and Eve made in the Garden. They chose to take the fruit so they could be God. The core of sin is the self turned in on the self. The more we turn ourselves in, the less and less there is of our true self. We become enslaved to the very thing that is killing us, our sin.

We deny ourselves so we may die daily on the cross. Just as Jesus suffered for the sin of the world, dying to set us free from ourselves, so we will surrender that pretense of life. We can only begin to live unless we have been crucified with our Lord so that we may be raised with Him.

What does the world matter to us if we do not have Jesus? There is nothing of this world that will not slip from our dying fingers. The billionaire will have nothing more than the pauper in the grave. Life, eternal life, is found in Jesus only.

We die to ourselves each day so that we may follow Jesus. It is in Him, and Him alone, do we find the life this world cannot give.

On Anger and Elections

"You have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire. Matthew 5:21–22 (RSV)

I went to bed a little after 1 a.m. this morning. I watched the election results come in, wondering if we would know the outcome of the voting. It became apparent that we wouldn't, and is still that way this morning. It may be a few days before we know.

I can live with that as it is far more critical that we get the vote right than we call an election prematurely. If a person casts their vote, that vote is counted correctly and fairly, regardless of party affiliation. I have confidence that the Constitution of our republic is crafted well enough to protect all our citizens.

It is troubling to see the number of people whose anger, no, rage, is nearly pathological. If you did not vote the 'correct' way, you do not deserve the right to be considered human. This level of anger is toxic. It is like an acid that destroys everything it touches.

Our Lord's words from the Sermon on the Mount, which speak to anger and murder, are words we need to take deep into our hearts. Murder, violence toward others of any kind always begins with anger.

Anger left unchecked will lead to the dehumanization of others. Once dehumanized, it is easy to harm, even commit mass murder when a person no longer has human rights. The many mass killings we have seen began in anger. The Holocaust of World War II started in the anger at Germany's loss in World War I, which sought someone to blame.

Jesus is serious about anger; unchecked, it can and will do terrible things. St. Paul is correct when he teaches that we should not let the sun go down on our anger. As a Christian, this level of anger cannot live among us.

We are a forgiven people. It becomes our responsibility to seek reconciliation. Reconciliation is the hard work of mercy and forgiveness. It is the heart of our life together as the Church. It is what we can offer to our nation.

Little Girl, Arise.

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus' feet he besought him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well." And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Luke 8:40–42, 49–56 (RSV)

We have a rule in our home, it applied to our children, and now applies to our grandchildren: "There is no jumping on the beds." There are no circumstances in which it is allowed. There is no celebration marvelous enough for this rule to be suspended. We would have written it on the stone tablets Moses brought down from Sinai if we had the opportunity.

We had just moved to Williams, IA to St. Paul Lutheran Church in the early Fall of 1979. Our twins were not quite two years old. We loved the small town. We love the fact that Jackie's folks were only twenty minutes down the road. We were glad to be back in Iowa.

I can't quite remember the phone call. One would think that it would be seared into my memory, but I can't recall it. I remember the drive to Des Moines to the Children's Hospital, where I met the family for the first time.

Little Brenda had been jumping on the bed, goofing with her older brother, when she fell, striking her head on the dresser. Her parents could not wake her, a panicked call for the ambulance, and a high-speed trip to Des Moines. Brenda was only a few days older than our girls.

She never regained consciousness. They made the heart-wrenching decision to turn off life support. I held my girls close that night, tears streaming down my cheeks. What could I begin to say to a mother and father whose little girl we would bury less than a week after she fell?

Jairus and his wife would know what Brenda's parents knew. The heartache that no words can describe the pain they shared. They felt their world shrink the moment death came for their daughter.

Jesus has raised them both. Jairus' daughter for a time, until she would know death once again, and Brenda, through her baptism into His death and resurrection. It was the hope that her parents clung to as they let their little girl go.

Brenda sleeps, as did Jairus' daughter until Jesus says to them both: 'Talitha cumi, Little Girl, Arise."

Sharing the Good News

Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:35–39 (RSV)

Jesus healed the man who had been possessed by demons. He had been a terror to everyone in the area. The violence he inflicted on others had become legendary, to the point that he was left alone among the tombs.

When Jesus had arrived onshore, not far from where the man was hiding, the demons cried out in fear, fear of what Jesus might do to them. Jesus banished them, and the man was restored to himself.

A miracle of God can unsettle those who have experienced it. The man's return to sanity, the demons' flight, and their lack of understanding leads them to beg Jesus to leave. They were not ready for what God had done among them.

Understandably, the man wanted to go with Jesus. He felt alienated from the people who had driven him out into the tombs. They could not rejoice in his healing, fearfully asking Jesus to leave.

Jesus sent him home, to proclaim what God had done for him. One would think that this would be too hard to do. He goes, nonetheless, for God had given him his life. The same power that had driven the demons away now led him to share the Good News, confident in the Lord's strength at work in him.

All Saints Day

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light shall the nations walk; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it, and its gates shall never be shut by day—and there shall be no night there; they shall bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.

Revelation 21:22–26 (RSV)

Our earthly altars are a reflection of the glory of the worship where God dwells in uncreated light. We need not be discouraged by this, for our worship is a 'foretaste of the feast to come.' They are the praises we can offer while waiting to join the chorus of angels, archangels, cherubim, and seraphim. They blend their voices with those of the saints of all the ages in eternal praise of our God.

All Saints Day is a bittersweet day for us as our worship recalls those who have fallen asleep in the Lord. Our hearts are glad that they are in the heavenly chorus. Our hearts are touched by sorrow, for they are separated from us.

The separation is because our earthly senses cannot perceive what Scripture describes touching the holy place where our praises are sung. Though our ears cannot hear, nor eyes see, each altar intersects with the worship before the Father. The angelic hosts and saints blend with our praises in a harmony that blesses the Father upon His throne.

Among the voices that lie just beyond our hearing are the voices of those who we love. Though they have died in this life, the new life in the Kingdom is theirs where they are more alive than we could ever be here. They sing with us as we praise the Father. They gather at the Table as we receive the Supper. As we anticipate the great banquet where they already feast, All Saints Day is a reminder that in Christ, we have lost no one, for death no longer holds them.

On Halloween

Today is October 31st - Most folk know it as Halloween. The following was written by a colleague and is an excellent explanation of the day.

From a friend:

Halloween is not a pre-Christian holiday or a "day of the devil"`

1. People claim that Halloween came from a pagan Irish festival of the dead called Samhain. But that claim did not appear until the mid-20th century, and there are no records of the celebration of Samhain until the 10th century, almost 600 years after the coming of Christianity to Ireland. Even then, Samhain was a seasonal festival, the end of the harvest, and the beginning of winter. There ARE records of Irish Christians celebrating All Saints Day in 843 AD, however.

2. Halloween is based on All Saint's Day, not the other way around. Everything you read about October 31st being the time when ancient Celts believed the spirits walk the earth and must be placated with food or they will play tricks, and the living must dress up in disguise to fool the evil spirits--none of it is true. There is no primary-source evidence for it and plenty that shows that this was something made up in the 20th century. There were indeed ancient Celtic festivals of the dead/spirits, but they were not near the day we know as Halloween.

3. It is also not true that the Church tried to take over this supposedly-popular ancient Irish holiday of Samhain and "Christianize" it, stealing it from the non-Christian Irish. Pope Gregory III moved Hallowmas (what we know as All Saints' Day) to November 1st in the * 8th-century*, when leaders in Rome did not care one bit what the backwater Irish were doing. Before that, All Saints had been celebrated in May and had been celebrated since the 2nd century. Keeping in mind calendar changes (Julian to Gregorian) and the fact that Samhain was a lunar festival, not solar--there is no evidence to support the fixed date of October 31st as anything other than the Eve of All Hallows, shortened to "Hallow E'en."

4. Halloween is great fun--one of my absolute favorite holidays!--, but the traditions and backstory we associate with it are both modern and Anglo-American, not the 20th-century inventions of ancient pagan roots portrayed in the media and popular culture. Don't believe everything you watch on the "History" Channel: Halloween is a child of the Church.

5. Christians should absolutely be free to observe Halloween, and All Saints Day (November 1st), and All Souls Day (November 2nd) as a time to give thanks for the saints, and for all our beloved dead, and to tweak the nose of Satan, too, knowing that no matter what beasties and creepy clowns and ghosts may be lurking in the dark night, Christ always has the final victory over the devil, and death has no power over us ever again!

Copied from a FaceBook post by Rev Pari Bailey STS

A Ready Heart

And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience. Luke 8:9–15 (RSV)

We can talk about the heart from a strictly biological understanding and should be concerned about its health. We can also talk about the heart as the mysterious center of spiritual life within each human being.

Jesus' parable of the sower is about the heart and the Word of God. A human heart has been created to live in response to the Word. In the world before Adam and Eve rebelled against their Creator, their hearts were perfectly tuned to the heart of the Father. When they surrendered to the temptation to be God, their hearts were estranged from the Father's heart.

Throughout the Scriptures, we see the Father appealing to the hearts of His people to return to Him. They do, for a time, then they turn away again. Still, the Father does not cease His efforts, sending His Son to take on human flesh, a human heart, to redeem our hearts.

Jesus does not pretend that every heart at all times is ready to hear the Word. At times our hearts are so hardened against God's Word that they are easy pickings for the devil. The Word has no time to take root, having no hope of growing there.

As Jesus teaches about the different states of the heart, we discover our hearts could fit into any one of the 'soils' in the parable. We could despair that our hearts may be trapped with no hope of change. We could despair if we were solely responsible for renewing our hearts.

It is important to remember that we may be powerless to change, but Jesus is not. Jesus has come to redeem humanity, all of humanity; this means our hearts as well. Our hearts can be renewed and made into good soil for the Word by our Lord through the Holy Spirit.

On God's Mercy

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house, and took his place at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "What is it, Teacher?" "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 7:36–50 (RSV)

Jesus and Simon the Pharisee were alike in many ways. They were men of faith who trusted in God. Simon was curious about Jesus, wanting to know more of what Jesus taught. The invitation to a meal was an opportunity to ask questions, discussing the deep things of faith.

Simon and Jesus were very different in living the faith. Simon is dedicated to the Law of Moses. He believed the Law was a good and a blessing from God. He believed that the Law was to be kept, never treated lightly. Just as it showed a man how life must be lived, it also revealed sin as an attack on the Law, on God who gave the Law.

Jesus would agree that the Law is good and a blessing. He would agree that the Law was to be kept. Jesus would keep the Law in a way that Simon the Pharisee would not have considered. The woman of the city, a euphemism for a prostitute, became the one in whom the two ways of understanding the Law would be shown.

Simon saw clearly that this woman had no place in his house. She came uninvited and was making a spectacle of herself, weeping all over Jesus' feet, drying His feet with her hair, kissing, and anointing them. The Law told Simon that this woman was outside the bounds of God's grace. He was amazed that Jesus tolerated her touch, tears, and ointment.

Jesus saw clearly that the woman was precisely where she needed to be. He saw that the Law would not let her pretend that she was not a sinner. She did not need Simon to tell her that she already knew. The Law had stripped her of any notion that she deserved to be a Jesus' feet. She could not ask for what she needed, so she wept.

Simon would send her away, unfit to be near himself and his guest. Simon had long forgotten what the woman knew all too well; sin left her hopeless before God. All she could do is sob at Jesus' feet, not imagining that mercy might be hers.

Where Simon measured God's love by the things he refrained from doing as well as the things he did, Jesus measured God's love by the mercy given to a weeping, hopeless woman. The Law cannot bring anyone to the mercy seat of the Father. It can reveal sin. It is very good at revealing sin. It is so good at revealing sin that apart from a merciful God, we can only shed bitter tears.

Mercy is what she received, unmerited mercy, flowing from the Father through the Son to the woman in tears at Jesus' feet. Simon would never have imagined forgiving her for the Law had not been kept. Jesus gave her forgiveness, for He is the fulfillment of the Law.

SS Simon & Jude

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1–6 (RSV)

The Feast of SS Simon & Jude.

I am not sure who decides these things, but October is supposed to be Pastor Appreciation Month. I can affirm that it is not on the liturgical calendar. That said, the Feast of SS Simon and Jude is an excellent example of those who take on the mantel of pastoral ministry.

Simon and Jude were among the twelve called by Jesus. Simon is often known as Simon the Zealot. He had belonged to the messianic faction within Judaism that sought the coming of the Messiah. They saw this as a sign that all Israel would rise, cast out the Romans, and establish true worship in the Temple.

Jude, also known as Judas Thaddeus, to not be confused with Judas Iscariot, is less well known. While he is listed among the disciples, we have little more than that. It is within the tradition of the Church that Simon and Jude traveled together following the resurrection.

As eyewitnesses of the Risen Jesus, they proclaimed the Gospel of Salvation in His Name, bringing many to our Lord. They were martyred for their faith in Christ in Beirut on the same day.

We honor SS Simon and Jude, not for their fame, the vast library of writings, or wondrous miracles wrought at their hands. We honor them for their faithfulness to the Gospel. We honor their willingness to die for the sake of our Lord. We honor them as being faithful pastors of the young Church.

Thus, we could say that Pastor Appreciation Month took its inspiration from these faithful servants of Christ. SS Simon and Jude labored not for fame or recognition. They preached Christ and salvation in His name. We celebrate the Feast of SS Simon and Jude, faithful pastors of the Church.

Think back over your life in Christ, recall the pastors God has sent your way, and give thanks for them all. Give thanks for those who touched you with the love of God, for those who challenged you spiritually, and for those who were not all they could be. In one way or another, the Spirit made use of them to lead us deeper into the love of the Father.

A Widow's Son

Soon afterward he went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.  As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."  And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"  And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. Luke 7:11–17 (RSV)

We know from Scripture that Jesus raised three people from the dead. Jesus raised his friend, Lazarus of Bethany, Jairus' daughter, and the son of the widow of Nain. Of these three, we know the least about the widow of Nain and her son.

The death of anyone is sorrow. These three deaths were no different from all those who died in those days. They were loved. Hearts were broken, tears shed, and the living left wondering how their lives could go forward.

Luke gives us a few details of this resurrection that speak to the tragedy of this young man's death. His body was being carried out of the city to be buried. It was the practice to bury the dead within 24 hours. We have no knowledge of the man's death. We do not know if it came at the end of an extended illness or if he died suddenly, from an accident or other trauma.

Luke tells that he was his mother's only son, and she, a widow. She is bearing not only the pain of her son's death, but her future is now uncertain at best. One duty of a son was to care for his parents in their old age. Her only son's death now dimmed her hope of care as she grew old.

Luke does not indicate that Jesus knew the woman; thus, His actions were an act of grace. Jesus halted death's procession, touching the bier upon which the body lay. 'Do not weep,' Jesus says to the grieving. As He did for Mary and Martha, for Jairus and his household, before there was a hope of life, Jesus asked them to cease their tears.

If these words were on the lips of anyone other than Jesus, they would be heard as callous. Indeed, they were heard by many who could only see the power of death at work. Still, wherever Jesus is, there is life. 'Young man, I say to you, arise.' Where death seemed to reign, life burst forth. Where there was only sorrow and loss, Jesus brought joy.

We speak of death often within the faith. We speak of it because though it once held sway over all the human race, Jesus has made it as nothing by His dying and rising.

On The Way

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep, and laid the foundation upon rock; and when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But he who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." Luke 6:46–49

(RSV) Today, I spent some time pointing out to one of my older grandchildren that Confirmation is not like graduation. This is not a new conversation about Confirmation. It does seem like graduation. There are robes, families gather, pictures are taken, special instruction has ended, and gifts are given. The comparison to graduation is understandable. Understandable, but wrong in pretty much every point.

Our life in Christ is never completed while we are in this world. Jesus leads us each day to a deeper relationship if we are willing to go where He leads. In this deeper relationship, we find the strength of spirit to contend with all the challenges we will face in this life.

Think on your own life to this hour. How many joys and sorrows have you known? Has the night seemed unending as you stared into the darkness, and prayers could not come? Watching a western sky as the sun descended has a sunset blessed you unlike any before or since? Have you simply stared at the night sky and marveled that in all that vast expanse of stars, galaxies, and unknown wonders, that God is even mindful of you?

We have not been created and given the Spirit of God to drift through this world as an aimless leaf on a fall breeze. God has given us hearts and minds that can thrill at an infant's first cry and grieve as a final breath slips past the lips of a dear friend.

One span of years is not the beginning of enough to grasp all that our Lord has done. He calls us to root our lives deeply in Him so we can bear it all. We can receive the joys that lie beyond words and bear the pains that apart from Jesus would crush us.

No, nothing is finished on Confirmation Sunday. The white robes return to the closet, but the path that follows Jesus has only begun. No, nothing is finished until we see Jesus face to face in the Kingdom.

Jesus and My Faith - Ryan Schroeder

I taught my first confirmation class in 1975 at St. Olaf Lutheran, Ft. Dodge, IA. I hope I didn't do too much damage to the faith of those seventh-grade confirmands. After all these years, when I read the essays by the confirmands, I wish I could have done more for them, yet am filled with joy over how wonderful their faith is.

 

Jesus and My Faith 
By: Ryan Schroeder

Confirmation Verse

Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

The song “Jesus Loves Me” is probably the only church song that I know by heart. I remember learning it in Sunday school when I was 4 or 5 years old and it just stayed in my head. Even though it is an easy song for little kids, I feel like it is a reminder to me, even as a teenager, that Jesus is always here and looks after me. The song also reminds me that “when I’m weak, He is strong”. This means that when I’m feeling sad, frustrated or just don’t know what to do, that I can turn to Jesus for guidance and strength.

When I was baptized I became part of His family and through baptism and Holy Communion my sins are forgiven. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that someone can just ask for forgiveness and they will be, then I remember that Jesus was born as God’s only son and suffered so that we could be saved. It makes me feel pretty lucky.

I also feel lucky that I have both my family and the members of the church to teach me about Jesus, take me to church and make me come to confirmation. I realize how important it is for me to learn more about Jesus and the Bible so that I will always be grateful for the plan that God has for me. Even when His plan may not always be what I WANT, it probably is what I NEED.