CXXIX The World of Shalom (8/11) The wolf shall life down with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid…they will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:6, 11; read Isaiah 11:1-11) The world of peace and wholeness seems an impossible dream these days. Not only the destruction wrought by the Coronavirus but also the ongoing conflicts... Read more
CXXXVIII The Whole Earth is Full of God’s Glory (8/10) Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts; The whole earth is full of God’s glory. (Isaiah 6:3; read Isaiah 6:1-8) During a time of national crisis, Isaiah retreats to the Jerusalem Temple seeking a moment of peace and quiet. The world is too much with him, and he simply needs a spiritual “time out” to recalibrate his personal GPS. Not expecting anything but a few moments of relief, he... Read more
CXXXVII The World in its Humorous Diversity (8/9) The ostrich’s wings flap wildly, though its pinions lack plumage. For it leaves its eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the grown, forgetting that a foot my crush them. (Job 39:14-16) We live in a grand universe, majestic and diverse. Amazing and humorous. In God’s presentation of the universe to Job – Job’s mystical vision – God reveals to Job the unique wonder of the ostrich. Clumsy, burying... Read more
CXXXVI The Awesomeness of the Universe (8/8) “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the cores of Orion?” (Job 38:41) We are the children of the universe. The wonder of life does not lessen our pain and grief or concern about the pandemic but place them in a much larger story. We are children of the cosmos. God’s spiritual and moral arc in moving and evolving through us and the galaxies. God is energizing the adventures of... Read more
CXXXV The Wonder of Creation (8/7) Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind… “where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth.” (Job 38:1, 4; read Job 38-41) Remember the wisdom of Psalm 8, “when I look at the heavens, the worlds, you have created, what are humans that God is mindful of them?” There are times we are filled with awe and wonder, when we ponder the nature of the universe. No one can fully... Read more
The Adventurous Lectionary – August 16, 2020 – The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost Genesis 45:1-15; Psalm 133; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-31; Matthew 15: 21-28 Today’s readings join reconciliation and grace. They call us to a spirituality of stature that embraces those who have harmed us and persons of other faiths and ethnicities. Largeness of spirit looks for common ground and reconciliation despite past conflicts and then aims at healing in the present and future. This does not preclude protest and prophetic... Read more
CXXXV The Wonder of Creation (8/7) Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind… “where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth.” (Job 38:1, 4; read Job 38-41) Remember the wisdom of Psalm 8, “when I look at the heavens, the worlds, you have created, what are humans that God is mindful of them?” There are times we are filled with awe and wonder, when we ponder the nature of the universe. No one can fully... Read more
CXXXII A Sheer Silence (8/4) God was not in the earthquake, and God was not in the fire, but then there was the sound of sheer silence. (I Kings 11:12; read I Kings 11:11-14) God is present in all things – the majestic and the modest, the flamboyant and the fragile, the awesome and the unnoticed. In today’s scripture, Elijah is on the run. Queen Jezebel has a bounty out for him and he is terrified. He doubts his mission... Read more
CXXXI Scarcity or Abundance (8/3) Elijah said to the widow of Zarephath, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring to me…The jar of the meal was not emptied, nor did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of God spoken by Elijah. (I Kings 17:13, 16; read I Kings 17:8-16) Elijah asks for a meal from a widow and her son. She initially... Read more
CXXXX “Listening for God” (8/2) God called, “Samuel, Samuel” and Samuel responded, “Here I am…Speak for I am listening” (Samuel 3:4, 10; read Samuel 3:1-10) We live in a God-filled world. Inspiration can come at any time. Guidance can arise in any encounter. When God calls, you’re likely to receive a mission. Young Samuel hears the voice of God, and responds “Here I am. I’m listening.” God is still speaking in this time of pandemic. There is much pain and... Read more
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