Lenten Reflection for Thursday, February 23rd

Mostly Dead Molly Baskette

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: “I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God.” – Revelation 3:1-2 (NRSV)Some of our churches, as Revelation puts it, have a name of being alive, but they are dead. Or rather, in the words of Miracle Max from The Princess Bride: they are only “mostly dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive.”Coronavirus—and the adaptive challenges it continues to pose—laid bare the proximity to death of a lot of our faith communities. Some churches may be looking to the future and not seeing one at all. They just can’t make the changes needed to survive. They don’t have the know-how, or the money, or the will.Some of our churches are dying despite having done everything “right.” But some of our churches are dying because of imperfect works in the eyes of God: neglecting hospitality or holding on to homophobia and other heresies. Some are afraid of innovation, afraid to confront bullies and old conflicts, or afraid to be truly vulnerable and real with the people next to them in the pews.God sometimes corners us so that we have to change—our institutions and our selves. Along our slow path toward self-destruction, God takes us by the ankles and dangles us over the cliff upside down to remind us how desperately we actually want to live. God activates our immune system so that we will get our fight back.Now is just such a moment for us, individually and collectively, as people of faith. We’re in full Lenten living. And here is the final exam for this semester, with only two questions:Where are you feeling almost dead?Where are you coming alive for the first time in years?PrayerGod, wake me up, wake up my church, and strengthen in us what is on the point of death. We long to live. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHORRev. Molly Baskette is the lead pastor of First Church Berkeley UCC and the author of books about church renewal, parenting, spiritual growth and more. Sign up for her author newsletter or get information about her newest book at mollybaskette.com.

December 24th - Final day of Advent

Psalm 118:24-- This is the day the lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.Each day is a gift from God to us. It is up to us how we decide to use it. When I wake up each morning and regain full consciousness while basking in the warm water of a morning shower, I thank God for the gift of the new day and ask for guidance in helping me to use it the best way I can. I ask for help in finding ways to serve God by looking for opportunities to help others. Of course, it is easy to rejoice and be glad on a bright sunny day when I am going through life without a care in the world, but there are also gloomy days when it is hard to feel like rejoicing.  It is on those days when I try to remember that God gave me resources to get through those days. During this Christmas season we can rejoice because God gave us Jesus who is a source of eternal hope and who lived on earth to teach us the right ways to lead our lives. On Christmas Day our savior Jesus was born and that is surely the most important reason to rejoice and be glad.Dear God—I thank you for all of the blessings that you have given to me and to my family. I rejoice for the days that I have been given to enjoy these blessings. Help me to grow in my faith so that even on difficult days I can rejoice in the knowledge that God gave me Jesus to show me how to live them.  AmenMM

Friday, December 23rd

Isaiah 11: 6,9 - The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall down with the kid, and the calf and the lion together, and a little child shall lead them… They will not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, or the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah is foretelling the birth of Jesus. Jesus will bring a glorious new kingdom where the prey and predator of the animal kingdom and the human race will lie down together, and peace will reign. Imagine the beauty of total peace in this new kingdom.

May the kingdom of Jesus begin Lord. Amen

Thursday, December 22nd

John 1:16-17  - From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace.  The law was indeed given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.Grace, the ceaseless activity of divine love, is ours to claim. We do not earn it through deeds or works, it is a gift that flows freely and is never withheld.  It is a gift to all who are loved by God to be his holy people, (Romans 1:7).  While the laws, such as the Ten Commandments, were brought by Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. It is by grace that we have been saved, through faith and not from ourselves.  Like the hymn says, it is “Amazing Grace.”Dear God, may our faith in you open our hearts and minds to follow your will for our lives.  Thank you for your infinite source of saving Grace.           MT

Wednesday, December 21st

 

John 1:43

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Phillip and said to Him, “Follow Me”.

 

I journeyed to Fenway Park last summer to see a Red Sox game. My friend who had our tickets, hurried confidently ahead of me thru the crowd, saying, “follow me!” I had great difficulty doing so. I kept losing sight of him. My friend knew to which section we were going, but I did not know. Following Jesus is sometimes difficult too. He doesn’t always travel in a straight line; he often moves ahead faster than I do; people kept stepping between us. For a few scary moments in Fenway, I lost sight of my friend altogether; the back of his head looked like everybody else’s. I managed to stay close enough not to get hopelessly lost. Suddenly, he turned up a ramp; I followed close behind. We emerged into a sunlit stadium filled with people looking for a place to rest, with ushers pointing the way. Following Jesus is not always easy – I think however, that in a crowd, he somehow keeps track of each one of us.

 

Thank you, Lord for waiting for me to catch up. AMEN

 

PV

Tuesday, December 20th

Isaiah 52: 7 - How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”At a time when the Jewish people were defeated by powerful enemies, many people held in captivity and their land overrun by foreigners, God through Isaiah promises good news!  They will have peace and be saved, set free, restored!  How often do we feel oppressed by life events, discouraged by family divisions, anxious about money, stressed by events all around us that seem so negative and depressing.  God says to us:  good news is coming, you will be found by the One who is coming, comfort, peace, love are on the way!Jesus, our Brother, we need your gifts of peace, hope, love today and always.  Amen  DJT

Monday, December 19th

John 1:22-23Then they (the Levites) said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us.  What do you say about yourself?  He said, I am the voice of the one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isiah said”.John the Baptist is explaining in John 1:22-23 that he is not the Messiah he is leading the way to the Messiah.  He is showing everyone the way as he is a messenger of God.  No matter who we are we all have the ability to show others the way to Jesus.  Just like John the Baptist we can lead others in our daily words and actions to comfort others and show them the way to God.We can be messengers of God just like John the Baptist.JD

Saturday, December 17th

Genesis 1:21 - So God created the great sea monsters, and every living creature that moves, or every kind, with which the waters swarm and every winged birds of every kind.  And God saw that it was good.My morning routine usually involves a walk around my neighborhood.  It allows me to clear my mind as I start a new day.  I usually see birds, rabbits and squirrels going about their morning routine.  Occasionally, I see deer out grazing or a fox pass by and on the very rare occasion, a bear.  They remind me of God’s gifts on earth and life’s simplicities.Dear Lord, Thank you for all that you have given us.  Help us slow down and take time to see your beauty all around us.  Yes, it IS good.  Amen  TR

Friday, December 16th

John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.The mysticism of uniting the physical world and the spiritual world come to me through these words and give me hope for peace.  Christ was the embodiment of grace and truth in very difficult times.  He came armed only with those two elements to try to tell us that if we could follow his messages and example, we would find the same, Truth and Grace and peace of heart and mind.  What gifts may be given to us today!!Thank you, God, for these gifts, I pray that I may be open to them in my daily life, … in OUR daily lives.  Amen  SS

Thursday, December 15th

Isaiah 40:11 - He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; He gently leads those that have young.The symbolism around shepherds and flock is embedded in our consciousness: the flock need leading because individuals follow the group, and the group are prone to wander aimlessly. The lambs are weak, vulnerable, innocent. Sometimes we’re the sheep, sometimes the lambs, sometimes a shepherd, living our lives at the behest of the Shepherd.May we follow the Shepherd’s lead and be willing to change direction when called to do so.MF 

Wednesday, December 14th

Matthew 3: 16-17   And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were open to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”An interesting feature of some traditional scriptures that are read in Advent, is to focus on John who was the baptizer and the life changing event of Jesus’ baptism. What a way to begin his public ministry with the Spirit of God affirming Jesus as beloved. And in our relationship with God and the One whose birth we remember, we are also (all of us!) beloved by God. Let that thought give you joy and strength every day!Jesus, Beloved One, come to us and abide with us now and always. Amen. DJT 

Tuesday, December 13th

Isaiah 12:2 - God is indeed my salvation; I will trust in the Lord and won't be afraid. Yes, the Lord is my strength and my shield; God has become my salvation. The strength and shield referenced in this passage reflects the courage and openness it takes to recognize when we've veered toward becoming enemies of ourselves, thus enemies of our shared humanity. All has been forgiven by God for the sake of replenishing our love from the seeds of our core. The mistake(s) you made in the past? Forgiven. Divine forgiveness is not a pass "Go" card to march along as though the mistake was never made. It's a compassionate invitation from God to recognize the inner turmoil we feel after recognizing we made a mistake. This inner turmoil, a sibling of our conscience, functions as a signal. When we look at our mistakes honestly and with curiosity, we can see...beneath layers of whatever-got-the-best-of-us is fear in the driver's seat. Perhaps fear of being lonely, fear of failing, fear of losing something or someone, fear of pausing, fear of listening. And the deeper we trust the Lord to carry us with divine momentum toward salvation, fear evaporates. Anew, our intuition becomes fortified by self-respect and pragmatism, greater connection to our shared humanity, and infectious love that soars.Dear Lord, thank You for leading us toward the science and experiential learning that demonstrates the functions of our emotions. Thank You for giving us options. As we reflect, observe, and pivot, please remind us that we are always uplifted by you even as we are learning difficult lessons. Fear has a function: for our species to survive, never to punish. As fallible humans, when we misinterpret Your signals, please remind us to remain open to reconsidering. We want to learn, and we need to learn. Amen.    OK

Monday, December 12th

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is this child who has been born king of the Jews?  For we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.”  Matthew 2: 1-2I looked up the definition of ‘pay homage’. It is a public display of respect and honor, it involves admiration and reverence. It can mean to worship or acclaim. And carries with it the idea that the other may have influence or inspiration in the life of the one paying homage.The Baby Jesus has for over 2,000 years been worshipped, admired, followed as an example of love for others and for God. This holy season is calling me to not just have a sentimental encounter, but a life changing relationship with Jesus.Even as I pay you homage, Dear Jesus, I want to be more like you in my living. Amen.DJT

Saturday, December 10th

If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peacefully with all.  Romans 12:18As horrible as war is, sometimes it is necessary, as it has become for the besieged people of Ukraine defending their homeland.  For those of us fortunate to have a choice, we can exercise this choice to be peacemakers in all our interactions.  If we consciously, mindfully, strive to live peacefully with those around us, our lives will touch others, who may be inspired to be peacemakers too.Dear God – Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.  In Your name, Amen  DP

Friday, December 10th

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:9A lesson I am working to teach my children, every day, more than any other is “Do right, be the light, choose kindness, accept all and strive to love.” The challenge with this is that there is no instant gratification. There is no award, no accolades given for choosing to turn the other cheek….to choose peace, or kindness. It’s moreover quiet and ordinary and not celebrated.The reality is that extraordinary acts of patience, acceptance and kindness do not reap rewards like a farmer harvests his crops. There is no harvesting, weighing, and market value for being kind.Our faith is never about accolades. We don’t choose to help, lend, donate, spread love, feed, stand in the light or promote peace and inclusivity and acceptance because we are hoping to fill our own baskets and feel important. We do it because our sense of reaping a harvest is watching love and acceptance grow within our community.CM

Thursday, December 8th

Matthew 1:20  An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”Joseph doesn’t get a whole lot of credit for his great act of faith.  He also doesn’t get much credit as Jesus’ earthly father.  Joseph taught his trade of carpentry to Jesus as he grew into a boy and young man, before Jesus began his ministry.  Working closely together, Jesus would have spent many, many hours at his father’s side.  He would not have grown up to be the great teacher he was without learning more than just carpentry from his father.  Without Joseph’s quiet faith and fatherly care, we would not have the Christ as our great teacher and redeemer.Dear God -- Help me to be humbled by your blessings and to seek to do your work in the world without expecting recognition or credit.  In Your name, AmenDP

Wednesday, December 7th

Matthew 3:1-2  In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.John the Baptist was a strange man, he ate locusts, lived in the woods and never visited the local barber. He has a really good message to give to us, but it gets buried, mostly in theinterpretations that have been given to the word Repent. Over the centuries this passage has been understood as: We are all unredeemed, unrepentant sinners, whom God cannot love or forgive and at the end of our earthly lives we find ourselves in the eternal burn pit.  But there is another understanding of this verse. The word ‘repent’ in Greek means to change. This scripture asks us to acknowledge what we have done wrong. It assumes that we are capable of this.  John is giving us a choice in this passage. He asks us to change our ways because Jesus, who embodies the kingdom of heaven, is coming near. Now is our chance to make a change in our own lives, to draw ourselves closer to the savior and what he represents for us, the kingdom of heaven. Not flames but love, not fear, but forgiveness.Loving God, help us to remember that first and foremost, you are a loving God and so is your son, Jesus.LO

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  First Thessalonians 5:16-18I find some challenging instructions in this letter from Paul to the Thessalonians. Part of being human is experiencing a wide range of emotions. Are we to be grateful when tragedy strikes?  Maybe what Paul is saying is that we can be grateful to God in all circumstances rather than for them. We can be sad and grateful at the same time as we recognize that gratitude to God is a source of healing.  Underneath every circumstance is an unconditional love that will never let us go. No matter what we are going through or feeling, we are held by God. Our responsive scripture reading on November 27th was Psalm 148 and surely reminds us of the many gifts we can be grateful for as we see the miracles of beauty and wonder all around us.Gracious God, thank you for always loving us. Thank you for the gift of emotions that can guide us and teach us. Help us trust that through all the circumstances in life, whether the journey is easy or difficult, your abiding presence is with us. We will never stop being grateful. AmenCB

Monday, December 5th

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.  Matthew 6:12As we reflect on past slights and transgressions against us, let us keep in mind that things don’t always happen as we perceive them.Help us to find the courage and grace to move forward on a path toward forgiving and being forgiven. SM

Saturday, December 3rd

2 Peter 3:8-9Don’t let it escape your notice, dear friends, that with the Lord a single day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a single day. The Lord is not slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and live.Our Lord is giving us time to change as much time as we need, whether it is a day or a thousand years. it doesn’t matter to him. Our Lord is wonderfully patient with us; he waits until we change while we are alive. As we change our hearts, we grow closer to our Lord.  We change our behaviors to align ourselves with God’s will for us in order to live more meaningful Godlike lives.Dear Lord, Father and Mother of Us All, Help us to remember how great your love is for us and how patient you are with us, as we grow closer to you in thoughts and deeds.  AmenLO