WATCHWORD:
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God,[a]
he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b]; he took the humble position of a slave[c] and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,[d]8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:1-13
Meditation:
Imitation of Jesus
How has the happenings throughout society, the science part and the protest part, impacted your Christian walk?
There are some obvious reasons for a change, an impact: Churches are closed to all but “essential” services. Some long-standing outreach, support and Bible studies have greatly limited access to the facilities of their church. For the most part, these are geography matters, except those few times when politics rears its ugly head. Outreach and Bible studies can relocate to locations outside the ‘home’ church, while some of the support issues become very limited.
The mental health matter is more difficult to deal with in this environment. From remote locations, within the group supporting the effort, there must be adjustment. Identifying need becomes more difficult, and the act of reaching out, calling, and supporting can become fragmented. Yet, it can and is being done, to a far less effective way.
I guess, from a purely administrative standpoint, those are minor matters. But, from the standpoint where human connects with human, in relationship with God, it feels like it has become a far lower priority.
I like what Thomas A’ Kempis, Imitation of Christ, has to say from the social distance of 1500 AD: “To preserve peace in time of trouble, our will must remain firm in God and be ever directed towards him. That is, we should be disposed to receive all things from the hand of God from his justice, from his bounty, with humble submission to his blessed will, and not minimize that importance. Good and evil, health and sickness, prosperity and adversity, consolation and dryness, temptation and tranquility, interior sweetness, trials and chastisements, all should be received by the soul of humanity through the graces and the gifts appointed by God. This is the only way to peace.”
This pandemic will move to a more understandable place in our lives. The precautions will continue, probably until a cure, a treatment or preventative is found. The protests, unfortunately, will calm and die out without corrective measures taken, at least for now. But, will the services to humanity, the Bible studies, the support outreach survive? Or will they find other ‘homes’.
The work of the Holy Spirit is both personal and individual, but also “where two or more are gathered in My name…” For churches and dedicated faith organizations, that last point should be a priority, the consistency of the ‘gathering’.
Back to the original question: How has all of this impacted your Christian walk? Our faith is not based on political whim, or situational tragedies, or natural disasters. Our faith is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and the grace of God. Will it remain strong? Of course, but will you remain strong and courageous in the Lord?
In recent conversations with others, the answer to that question seems to be, the revealing of a deeper understanding and appreciation for the work of our Lord in our lives. More time in the Word, more time spent with loved ones, more time to sort out where and how the Lord is leading.
The strength of our faith will be revealed in the long run. My fear, and the fear of so many, is that when we come out of this storm, we will be changed and so will our services, our commitments, and so much more. When that happens, the very strength of our organized religions will be tested. And we will find out what is sustainable.
It is in the hands, the praying hands, of believers, rising up to our Lord and Savior, where our strength resides. Make no mistake about that. Amen. Stan
Bulletin Board:
From our Poet Laureate McKinley:
Spider Webs in the Sky
Spider Webs in the Sky, how from this earth did you ever get so high?
I see you only in the morning mist when the sun rises up over the mountain
just to give you a kiss.
Then you shimmer like silver in your morning glow
as gentle morning mountain breezes doth blow.
You see, I never knew spiders could fly and spread their webs upon the sky.
I think it must be sumpin old men do before they die.
A sittin in their rocking chairs a tryin to see a way up beyond the sky.
You know; up where our spirits go when we die,
and look down to see spider webs in the sky
— Mac
An Irish Confession for our smiles — I went into the confessional box after many years of being away from the Catholic Church. Inside, I found a fully equipped bar with Guinness on tap. On one wall, there was a row of decanters with fine Irish whiskey and Waterford crystal glasses. On the other wall was a dazzling array of the finest cigars and chocolates. When the priest came in, I said to him, “Father, forgive me, for it’s been a very long time since I’ve been to confession, but I must first admit that the confessional box is much more inviting than it used to be. The priest replied, “You moron, you’re on my side.”
Closing Prayer:
Almighty God, you fill all things with your presence. In your great love, keep us near you this day. Grant that in all our ways and doings we may remember that you see us, and may always have grace to know and perceive what things you would have us do, and give us strength to do the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
