Lenten Devotion – Day 19

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3)

“Blessings on the poor in spirit! The kingdom of heaven is yours” (Matt. 5:3) doesn’t mean, “You will go to heaven when you die.” It means you will be one of those through whom God’s kingdom, heaven’s rule, begins to appear on earth as in heaven. The Beatitudes are the agenda for kingdom people. They are not simply about how to behave, so that God will do something nice to you. They are about the way in which Jesus wants to rule the world.” ― N.T. Wright, Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters

  For centuries, people have debated what "poor in spirit" means in Jesus’ Beatitudes, but understanding the context can help us. Matthew's gospel is written primarily to a Jewish audience and is aimed at telling us that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of David and son of Abraham, and that he's the one who fulfills the law by embodying it. So when Jesus talks about the poor in spirit, our beginning clue is the information that Matthew has shared with the reader before chapter 5 about Jesus and the nature of Jesus own life and character.

  Looking back at chapter 3, Matthew tells us about Jesus' baptism, where the voice of God says, "This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well-pleased" (3:17) Matthew and Jesus often used images taken from the prophet, Isaiah, for example, Matthew later describes Jesus by saying, “just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Matt. 20:28) That's an echo back to Isaiah 42:1, “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.” When God is speaking to the figure called the Suffering Servant. Matthew right at the onset identifies, Jesus, the king of God's kingdom and is marked as a servant who came to give his life for the world (20:28).

  Jesus then immediately obeys the Spirit in chapter 4 and goes out into the wilderness where he engages in radical self-denial. To be "poor in spirit" combines these three traits of Jesus: servanthood, obedience and self-denial. The one who is poor in spirit recognizes that he or she has nothing to offer God on his or her own, that his or her life has no purpose apart from God. They obey God not out of obligation, but out of a desire to gain something better, a life within God's kingdom. The poor in spirit are those who voluntarily empty themselves so that they can be filled by God.

  In both Hebrew and Greek there are two words that are translated into English as “blessed.” The Hebrew and Greek words parallel each other. The first word which does not appear in the Beatitudes is used in the way a worship leader might use it when they ask God’s blessing upon an individual or community eager to receive something from God, i.e., healing, children, wisdom, purpose, etc.

  The other word does not imply a request made to God, not asking God to invoke a blessing. Rather the word recognizes an existing state of happiness or blessing which an individual or community already possesses. The word affirms a quality of spirituality that is already present. We might state, “Mrs. Smith is a blessed person in the church.” We are not asking God to bless Mrs. Smith, we are acknowledging rather that she already possesses this quality as a blessed person.

Introduction to Lenten Devotionals

“GOD IS ALWAYS calling us! But there are distinctive moments in this call, moments which leave a permanent mark on us — moments which we never forget.” - Carlo Carretto, Letters from the Desert

  About the time, I was in seminary in the mid 1970’s, I discovered for myself the significance of the Lenten season. Lent opened up for me a vigorous period of spiritual growth and formation. A time when I could journey to the cross and join together with the whole church, past and present, in being a witness to Jesus’ resurrection. In the late 90’s, I started to share this journey with the congregations I served by developing a Lenten Prayer and Devotional Guide. (Early editions were hard copy printed booklets and have now evolved into an internet based edition, i.e., blog and e-mail)

  This year I decided to base the Daily Lenten Devotionals on the Westminster Shorter Catechism. A hallmark of Presbyterian heritage has been educational ministries and the Book of Confessions (particularly the catechism) were created to instruction us. We need instruction in the faith, because faith is not just a matter of the heart and soul; it is also a concern of the mind. "Speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ" (Ephesians 4:15).

  The Second Helvetic Confession states that "the pastors of the churches act most wisely when they early and carefully catechize the youth, laying the first grounds of faith, and faithfully teaching the rudiments of our religion by expounding the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the doctrine of the sacraments, with other such principles and chief heads of our religion." (Book of Confessions, 5.233)

  The catechisms in our Book of Confessions (the Heidelberg and the Westminster Shorter and Larger Catechisms) were written, in part, as teaching tools. The question-and-answer format helps students to learn the common elements of faith according to the Reformed tradition. When I was a youth in the Tower Presbyterian Church in Grove City where I grew up, we studied and memorized the 107 questions and answers of the Westminster Shorter Catechism during Sunday school. Many Presbyterians over the age of 50 can still cite at least the first question: "What is the chief end of man?

  Lent seems an appropriate time for us to remind ourselves of our basic beliefs, as disciples of Christ within the reformed tradition. I have selected 47 of 107 questions and answers of the catechism in this devotional. My hope is that you will take some time to read some of the other confessions and catechisms of the church. You can download a PDF file of the Book of Confessions from the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.) web site.

  This Lent I want to challenge you take the time to dedicate yourselves to experiencing the spiritual enrichment of the entire Lenten journey. To stir-up our desire for a relationship with God, we need to begin by listening as God tells us, "You are precious in my eyes and I love you." [Isaiah 43:4] Through these Daily Lenten Devotionals, I hope you will be stimulated to think about the church, our traditions and beliefs, your involvement, your prayers and our desire to discern God’s will as the body of Christ.

  Also don’t keep what you read, pray, think and experience a secret (at least not all of it). Share your thoughts and ideas about the daily selections with others and pray for the future ministry and mission of our church and our life together as the Body of Christ. Use this time of Lent to give God the opportunity to speak to your heart and life in some unique and surprising ways.

NOTE: Each daily devotional has a list of Lectionary Readings for the day, but these scripture readings are not directly related to the subject of the daily devotional text.

Suggestions for Using these Devotions

1. Set aside time each day to read the selection for the day, time to think about it and time to pray.

2. Give yourself time to sit quietly and simply rest in the presence of God. Give God the opportunity to speak to your heart. Listen for God’s still small voice within your prayers.

3. We all know at least five individuals who do not know Christ and/or have no church home of their own. Write those names on a note card and make a point to pray for these individuals daily. Consider sharing with them a link to this blog in an e-mail message and invite them to attend worship with you. Pray that God might use you as a witness in their lives. 

4. Pray for all those you know who are sick, ill, injured, lost or having any problems in their lives.

5. Keep a prayer journal and record all the people and things, which have been the subject of your prayers and record God’s response to those prayers.

6. Pray for the all ruling elders on the Session, whom we have selected to lead this congregation. Pray that God will empower them as spiritual leaders for this congregation. Pray that God will give them vision, knowledge and purpose as they do their work for the mission and ministry of the church in the twenty-first century.

7. And lastly pray for the pastor, I sure could use them. Pray that God will make me a better preacher, a better teacher, and better pastor to all I meet, giving Glory to God in all that I do.

Scripture quotes used in this year’s 2014 Daily Lenten Devotionals are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, unless otherwise stated. "New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Christmas Cheer is a Lifelong Joy – Advent Devotional

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6)

Daily Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7

  Every year during Advent, I have the same familiar experience, one shared by anyone who goes out shopping. I enter a store and select my products and while going through the checkout line, and paying for my things, it happens. When the cashier hands me my receipt and/or my the change, they'll say "Happy holidays," or perhaps even "Merry Christmas."

  I realize the cashier's greeting might not be given out of genuine interest in whether or not I enjoy Christmas. Chances they are only following company policy and have little other options but to comply. I imagine somewhere there is a memo from corporate headquarters directing cashiers when to switch from "Have a nice day" to "Happy Holidays," on the assumption that this will somehow help cement a lasting bond between the store and the customer and build loyalty to the store.

  I'm aware of all that, and suspicious of the whole business. Then the moment comes at least once, when a cashier looks me in the eye and says "Merry Christmas," and you know immediately they really mean it. And it changes your whole day, you have a momentary experience of joy.

  There really is something genuine to this whole idea of Christmas cheer. As Dec. 25th draws near, people warm up just a bit. If you're out and around on Christmas Eve, you'll notice that people are kinder and gentler than on any other day of the year.

  People begin to warm up when they are mindful of the Christ child's birth, and make an extra effort to practice the virtues the angels sing of "peace on earth, goodwill towards men."

  Why does this surge in warmheartedness stand out? Unfortunately, for many joy has become a seasonal event rather than a standing policy. I remember the movie, “Scrooged.” Bill Murray playing the lead role at the conclusion of the movie after he has been visited by the three ghosts, gives a speech. He reminds us that Christmas provides us the moment, if only briefly to become the people we want to be. Each Christmas, we all for a short time attempt to try just a little harder and for just a little longer, when we share the greeting, “Merry Christmas!”

  When Christ entered our world, Jesus didn't come to brighten our Decembers, but to transform our lives. It is challenging to do the hard work to practice good will towards one another year round, but this is what Jesus is calling to practice daily. Jesus came as Isaiah tells us, to become our “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6) We are not alone in doing the hard work of bring joy to this world of ours.

  The Gospel accounts of Jesus' ministry provide the blueprint for loving our neighbor in a busy and complicated neighborhood. Christ made a point of seeking out the broken and disenfranchised people of his day - the lepers, prostitutes and tax collectors - and he saw the value in each one of them. And in so doing, He helped them recognize the value in themselves. If Jesus can do it for the most alienated of our world, we at least can start with the everyday, common people of our neighborhoods.

  This Christmas season, let us recognize that just as faith is a decision, good will towards people is a series of decisions that work themselves out not in temporary holiday cheer, but in the details of everyday life.