New Life Reading

Today’s reading is entitled “I Had Been Waiting” and is written by Alfred Kazin, a premier writer and literary critic of the 20th century. It is not clear whether or not the essay is biographical or not, but it chronicles the experience of a Jewish man coming to believe in Jesus Christ of the New Testament as the promised Messiah looked forward to in Judaism, Yeshua. It tells with vivid imagery of how a honest reading of the New Testament led the speaker to know that Christ was everything he had longed for and needed. The realization comes from the work of the Spirit through the recording and teaching of Scripture. In hearing Jesus through the Gospel record the speaker says,

For that voice, that exultantly fiery and tender voice, there were no gaps between images and things for constantly walking before the Lord, he remained all energy and mind thrust his soul into every corner of the world, and passing gaily under every yoke, remained free to seek our God in His expected place.

This revelation is not the result of a stagnant Spirit or a casual reading. This comes from the Diving work of God as someone chooses to dig in to the meat of Scripture. Today’s Spiritual Formation is the meditate on Scripture. The text suggested is Psalm 23. To meditate simply means to give concentrated time and focus to portions of Scripture allowing space for God to reveal Himself and for us to really take it in. The suggestion is to read a different verse each hour over a period of six hours. However you choose to go about it an intense concentration on Scripture yields the opportunity to see God in His word and come away with an anchored conviction of His character and call. Meditating on Scripture allows us to be “free to seek our God in His expected place.”

New Life Reading

Today’s reading is an excerpt from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov. ” In “Redemption” the speaker, Father Zossima is telling his fellow Monk about the role Zossima’s brother Markel played in his personal conversion. The story is really more about the sickness and death of Markel and how he find real life. There is a point in Markel’s last days, during the time of Easter, when he confesses his sins to the birds outside the window to his room. He explains the confession, “there was so much of God’s glory around me, birds, tress, meadows, sky and I alone lived in shame, I alone dishonored everything, and did not see the beauty and glory of it all.” We can quickly become self-absorbed even in worthy pursuits. We are longing to be renewed inwardly but succumb to the temptation of looking for that redemption in ourselves and we miss the glory all around us. One way to come out of this neglect of God’s glory is through fasting. Fasting should be done after consideration of many factors chiefly motivation and proper health. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 that when we fast it should not be to draw attention to ourselves or make a display out of our misery. It should be done in solemn commitment and obedience to God. May we, like Markel, be made aware of what we are missing, even if that means something has to be put to the side for a time.

New Life Reading

Today’s reading is from Leo Tolstoy. It is part of his larger work translated “I Believe” in the Late 19th Century. Tolstoy’s essay is entitled “I, Like the Thief.” In the essay Tolstoy compares his conversion experience with that to the thief on the cross. Tolstoy sees himself on the verge of death, like the thief and sees him suffering in the evil of the world, like the thief. Also like the thief he was dramatically rescued out of death by Christ. The difference for Tolstoy is that he received a new lease on this life whereas the thief had only to look forward to the life hereafter. The most striking line of the whole essay for me is in the first line where Tolstoy says, “I came to believe in Christ’s teachings, and my life suddenly changed;” For me, coming to have a personal relationship with Christ did not result in a dramatic, perceivable life change. But my direction and aspirations did change. A Christ led life is different, it should be and it is worthwhile.

One of the differences is a Christ led life is a life of service. Mark 10:35-45 is instructive for following Christ as a servant. Jesus says it plainly in Mark 10:45 that He came to serve. The challenge of our Spiritual formation today is to find a way to serve another, be it a spouse, neighbor, or stranger. Our life’s change should result in change in another’s life.

New Life Reading

Today we move into the “New Life” section of the Bread and Wine reader. Today’s entry is part of the well-known poem entitled “The Everlasting Mercy” by former British Poet Laureate John Masefield. The poem tells of the hand of God seen in giving life to the dead and life to the crops in the field. In a highly Christoligical section the speaker praises the attributes of the risen Lord. One line in particular sticks out, “O Christ, the plough, O Christ the laughter.” Over the years I have seen and heard different references to the smile and laughter of Jesus. I’ll confess it’s still hard for me to hold His stern obedience and joyful laugh in proper balance in my mind’s eye. For example, when I read the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5-7 I picture a direct, almost stone faced lecture. When I try to picture, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” coming from the mouth of Jesus in a tender, caring demeanor I grow uncomfortable as though His teaching loses the intended force and importance. I know this is not the case but holding “Christ the plough (hard working, direct) and O, Christ the laughter (joy, ease of mind) together is not easy for me. It causes me to confess to the God of perfect balance that I am tempted to either be overly stern and rigid or careless and dismissive, the middle is hard. In His mercy Christ is patient with my out of balance view of Him and unbalanced expression of Him in my own life.

God has mercifully given to us and in response to that we give all of us to Him in a variety of ways. One way is seen in Malachi 3:8-12 as the people of Israel are called to tithe. The New Testament never negates the call for a tithe. It emphasizes that all giving is a matter of the heart in right relationship with God, “for He loves a cheerful (Christ the laughter) giver.” - 2 Corinthians 9:7

Resurrection Reading

In today’s reading, Howard Hageman elaborates on the “already, not yet idea” as it is displayed in the pertinent thief on the cross. Simply stated having the presence of Jesus with and in us now gives us paradise even amidst the harsh conditions of the world. We certainly look forward to its complete fulfillment in eternity but that in no way should diminish the great reality of now. Hageman lays out exactly what he means:

I mean that it is possible even in the contradictions and confusions of this life to keep the center of your being calm and undisturbed. I mean that it is possible even in this life to go through one hellish situation after another with strength and confidence of spirit. I mean that it is possible to endure physical pain and suffering while the mind and heart are filled with peace and joy.

Realizing this paradise is incremental in our lives not immediate even thought the possibility exists immediately. Like so many realities of our relationship with Christ, the actualization takes time and peaks and valleys. Don’t be too hard on yourself but always remember that Christ’s presence in our lives holds the promise of hope and joy even in these often evil times.

On this journey we need others to help us along the way and to be helped by us as well. Let us pray for one another.

James 5:13-18

The Prayer of Faith

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.