LVIII. MY CUP OVERFLOWS (5/13) My cup overflows…(Psalm 23:5) Whenever I reflect on the line “my cup overflows,” my mind turns to the song “My Cup Overfloweth with Love” from the musical “I Do, I Do,” which portrays fifty years of a marriage. When Agnes asks Michael if he’s disappointed, he sings “My Cup Runneth Over with Love.” In all the ups and downs of a long term relationship, he can honestly say “thank you, for the life we’ve had... Read more
LVII. ANOINTED AND BLESSED (5/12) You anoint my head with oil…(Psalm 23:5) In the Biblical tradition, anointing with oil is a sign of divine favor. To be anointed is to be chosen and to have a special relationship with God and your community. In times of illness, anointing with oil mediates God’s healing touch. Anointing not only soothes our skin, it also calms our spirits. Anointing transforms our cells; it also heals our souls. These days, we all need divine... Read more
LVI BOUNTY AMID THREAT (5/11) You prepare a table before me in the midst of my enemies…(Psalm 23:5) Long before the Coronavirus, people sought to live abundant lives despite adversity and threat. In the Middle East, meals with guests were not perfunctory, they were an opportunity to show your hospitality. A host would kill the fatted calf, bring out the best fruit and bread, play music, and entertain for hours. The meal described in Psalm 23 describes two contrasting experiences:... Read more
LV COMFORT AND GUIDANCE (5/10) Your rod and your staff they comfort me…(Psalm 23:4) We have experienced a lot of affliction lately. Our lives are smaller and we are concerned about the wellbeing of ourselves and our loved ones. We are concerned about the economic wellbeing of our nation, most especially hourly workers and people who have to go to work regardless of the conditions. While God doesn’t want us to be sheep, following any authority figure without question. We... Read more
LIV IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH (5/9) Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me…(Psalm 23:4) Psalm 23 is not for the faint-hearted. The Psalmist describes a dark valley, with threats all around. In ancient times, these threats might have been wolves or wild dogs. Denying their existence would lead to destruction of the flock. It might have robbers or enemy troops. Crying peace with enemies all around... Read more
LIII. PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (5/8) He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake…Psalm 23:3 A pandemic does not excuse us from faithfulness. A pandemic does not excuse us from playing our role as God’s agents in the moral and spiritual arc of history. Friedrich Nietzsche counseled us to be worthy of our sufferings. From the vantage point of surviving Auschwitz, Viktor Frankl claimed that “Everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of the... Read more
The Adventurous Lectionary – Sixth Sunday of Easter – May 17, 2020 Acts 17:22-31 Psalm 66:18-20 I Peter 3:13-22 John 14:15-21 Theological reflection matters. Indeed, theology matters even more in times of crisis. Times of crisis bring out the best and worst of us, ethically and theologically. Many congregations, such as my own, despite lower revenues during this time of pandemic, when sanctuaries are shuttered, have increased their outreach to the larger community. The challenges we face inspire us to... Read more
LI. STILL WATERS RUN DEEP (5/7) He leads me beside still waters…Psalm 23:3 On a regular basis, I stop in the parking lots adjoining Wequaquet Lake and Jonah’s Pond here in Barnstable. I bathe my senses in cool breezes and gentle waters. All is at rest. All is calm. All is at peace. Many of us struggle to find a still point, a quiet center, in this rapidly turning world. While our days have fewer activities – although many of... Read more
LI. RESTORING OUR SOULS He restores to my soul – Psalm 46:3 The word “restore” occurs throughout the Bible as a way of describing a return to health, a recovery of national sovereignty, a return to a former place, and a realization of God’s purposes for us. We need restoration as persons and as a nation – we need personal and national economic restoration, we need a restoration of hope in the future, we need a restoration of trust in... Read more
L IN PLACES OF REST AND BEAUTY He makes me to lie down in green pastures…Psalm 23:2 How good it is to rest awhile! How good it is to sit under a tree, lie down in a field, or plant your beach chair looking at Craigville, Covell’s or Dowse’s Beach! How good it is to feast your eyes on beauty! We aren’t going far from home these days, but many of us feel fatigued. There is no denying that we... Read more
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