June 11, 2020

Encountering God

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God makes us right, gives us peace, brings us into grace, and offers us hope for the future. Despite our own best efforts and mighty struggles, God is always before us offering us a hand and inviting us to take the first step toward “the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory” (The Message).

A retreat I attended in college used an article from theologian Paul Tillich entitled, “Accept That You Are Accepted.” It was a dense paper, but I still remember the title and the relief I felt that I did not have to earn, win, or beg for God’s love.

After his theological welcoming statement to begin Chapter 5, Paul addresses the challenges that new Christians are facing. Paul names the suffering, our feeling “hemmed in with troubles” (the message). He does not deny present suffering but looks deeper and longer to see what may emerge as we face the challenges.

Can we get a new perspective on our challenges? Can we see God at work amid difficulties? Can we cultivate patience and deepen trust? Once when I was looking for new ministry, I felt God was opening doors as I had three wonderful possibilities to pursue with new applications. After all three doors closed, I began to question the confidence I had in God when the three had seemed so right and good. My spiritual director reminded me to have hope and take the long view. Sometime later, a new door opened that was an even better fit than the previous opportunities.

Behold, God is able to do a new thing, working through difficulties and troubles and strengthening our character and our hope so we are not disappointed and often are surprised.

Hold me, loving God, and steady me to keep walking with you on the paths you open. Give me patience and persistence in following your call. Amen.

Pray the Scriptures Using Audio Lectio
Read Matthew 9:35-38 , Read Matthew 10:1-23

Matthew 10:1-23

¹ He called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to throw them out and to heal every disease and every sickness. ² Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, who is called Peter; and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee; and John his brother; ³ Philip; and Bartholomew; Thomas; and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Cananaean; and Judas, who betrayed Jesus. ⁵ Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, “Don’t go among the Gentiles or into a Samaritan city. ⁶ Go instead to the lost sheep, the people of Israel. ⁷ As you go, make this announcement: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, and throw out demons. You received without having to pay. Therefore, give without demanding payment. ⁹ Workers deserve to be fed, so don’t gather gold or silver or copper coins for your money belts to take on your trips. ¹⁰ Don’t take a backpack for the road or two shirts or sandals or a walking stick. ¹¹ Whatever city or village you go into, find somebody in it who is worthy and stay there until you go on your way. ¹² When you go into a house, say, ‘Peace!’ ¹³ If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if the house isn’t worthy, take back your blessing. ¹⁴ If anyone refuses to welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that house or city. ¹⁵ I assure you that it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on Judgment Day than it will be for that city. ¹⁶ “Look, I’m sending you as sheep among wolves. Therefore, be wise as snakes and innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Watch out for people—because they will hand you over to councils and they will beat you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ They will haul you in front of governors and even kings because of me so that you may give your testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ Whenever they hand you over, don’t worry about how to speak or what you will say, because what you can say will be given to you at that moment. ²⁰ You aren’t doing the talking, but the Spirit of my Father is doing the talking through you. ²¹ Brothers and sisters will hand each other over to be executed. A father will turn his child in. Children will defy their parents and have them executed. ²² Everyone will hate you on account of my name. But whoever stands firm until the end will be saved. ²³ Whenever they harass you in one city, escape to the next, because I assure that you will not go through all the cities of Israel before the Human One comes.

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Lectionary Week

June 8–14, 2020

Scripture Overview

The readings this week lack a common theme. Genesis recounts the promise of Isaac’s miraculous birth and the fulfillment of that promise—a key story in the history of God’s people. The psalmist cries out with gladness to the Lord, for we are God’s people and the grateful recipients of unending faithfulness. Paul rejoices because we have peace with God through our faith in Jesus Christ. This is not because of anything we have done or could do; rather, God’s love sent Christ to die for us when we were distant from God. In Matthew, Jesus calls his disciples and declares that God’s harvest is vast, but there are not enough workers willing to go into the fields. It is a call for us to go as the disciples did.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

Read Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7. How does your faith invite you to laughter?
Read Psalm 100. How do you make a joyful noise to God? Consider trying a new practice of joyful praise.
Read Romans 5:1-8. How has God’s love for you prompted you to “the second movement of the symphony,” to share God’s love with others and all creation?
Read Matthew 9:35–10:23. How are you called to participate in Christ’s ministry of healing?

Respond by posting a prayer.

Encountering God

The Wisdom of the Body

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Encountering God

Romans 5:1-5

Matthew 9:35-38

Matthew 10:1-23

The Wisdom of the Body

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