“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you                                         John 14:15-18

I was speaking with a client the other day about grace. I had written about this in the blog titled Healing Grace. I had mentioned to that client, (who felt that her mother didn’t deserve grace), that extending grace is hard to do. In fact, it is not natural, it is supernatural. This client is a very self-aware and dedicated Christian, who grapples with life’s hard issues. She has experienced early life abuse, and recovery is very hard. Indeed, trauma, especially at an early age, literally changes the way that we perceive the world. The fact that she is grappling with the whole idea of extending grace is a testament to the Holy Spirit who dwells within her.

Jesus said that when he left, he would send his spirit to “advocate to help you and be with you forever”. We need to recognize that such a promise is inviting the supernatural to overcome our natural inclinations. Often, following Jesus does not follow human logic, but it supersedes logic by overcoming the world with love.

Grace, indeed is supernatural.

Prayer: We thank you Lord for the Spirit whom you send to help and comfort us, Amen

 

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s

Psalm 103:2-5

Also read Luke 17:11-19 

We read in Luke 17 a story of when Jesus traveled on the border of Samaria and Galilee (cultural and religious rivals). This unpopular and courageous travel plan enabled him to minister to people on the fringes of acceptability. Jesus traveled in the tension of his culture in order to be available to all.

There were ten men traveling together, bound in common by disease despite their cultural and religious differences. When we are in danger or pain, the superficial distinctions of race and religion often give way to more profound bonds that we have as human beings. We are seeing that played out in many ways as we all battle the Corona virus.

Jesus listened to their cries and granted the request for healing. He chose to use this as a teaching moment, so he gave them instructions in the Rabbinic model.

They were to show themselves to the priests, as was the custom for healing leprosy (Lev. 14:2) This was to be a witness to the priests that healing had taken place, and it was consistent with the law. The Samaritan also went to the priest – wonder what that was like?

Jesus gave them directions for healing, but they were not immediately healed. They were healed along the way as they followed the directions of Jesus. When we respond in obedience, we allow God to do His work- work we are unable to do ourselves. What we can do is be obedient to Him, and He will do the rest.

 

Prayer: Father, you can make us whole, not just clean for a time. Thank you for the availability of being whole in Jesus, Amen.

But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.                     Job 36:15

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free…”               Luke 4:18

Thinking of those people around the world today who are suffering. Indeed, there are too many to count. There are millions of people around the globe who are needlessly suffering because of the greed and cruelty of others. I am thinking today of people in Ukraine who have been suffering for years because of the cruelty and ambition of Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

We know that there has been human suffering since the beginning of time. The sad and frustrating part of that is the needless suffering of innocent people who are oppressed by nationalist goals and empire building greed.

Jesus said that there will always be people among us who are poor and suffering, and that he speaks to them in their affliction. I do not really understand this feature of suffering, but I do trust that God has this in his hands. 

Prayer: Lord, we lift up people around us who are suffering today, Amen,

“Ask the beasts, and they will teach you the beauty of this earth…”                                       St. Francis of Assisi

“Mr. Francis”. That was the name given to our statue of St. Francis of Assisi by my son’s baseball friend many years ago. Saint Francis presided over our pond and garden area for many years until his untimely fall, occasioned by a neighborhood cat this past winter. The statue shattered in the frozen air. We have a new statue in his place now.

I contend that his spirit still rules the area. Our pond and backyard remain the home to five frogs, one very large “mutt” goldfish, Hardy, who has dominated the pond since his placement about seven or eight years ago, and various snails and possibly a few snakes.

Near the pond are two birdfeeders, one filled with thistle for the goldfinches, and one filled with sunflower seeds for the house finches, cardinals, wrens, and other assorted winged creatures. In other words, our backyard is somewhat of an animal sanctuary. The squirrels, including Rocky, who is a wounded little guy, feast on what drops from the sunflower seed feeder. Some unknown critter continues to bring a little gift of abandoned wasp nests to our deck stairs. We still cannot figure that one out. 

My point here is that we love to be part of the array of life that graces our backyard. I think that we are called, as much as we are able, to live harmoniously with creation. Yes, indeed, in the past my son and I did battle with some invasive raccoons (a story that deserves its own space), but by and large, we love to witness and protect the natural wildlife around our house.

We constantly are amazed at the beauty and grace of nature around us. I think in that small way, we are heeding the command for us to live peaceably with creation, and to see it as God’s handiwork.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the marvelous diversity of creation, Amen

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.              II Corinthians 13:14

I recently had a discussion with a client about the concept of grace. This client had experienced abuse from her mother. The abuse took the form of emotional, and sometimes even physical abandonment when the client was quite young. Indeed, this has left a mark that stays to this day for this “30 something” client.

We had a deep discussion about the hurts of her childhood that persist to this day. The client is very self-aware, bright and articulate, and she has a strong faith to deal with this trauma. The more we discussed the situation, the client found that she has been withholding kindness and love toward her mother because her mother “does not deserve it”.

I told the client that I understood that position, and that she is still suffering from the lack of trust and acceptance that should have come from a loving parent. She had been wounded. At the same time, we must find a way forward so that the wounding does not continue to harm us.

When I discussed the concept of grace being defined as “undeserved merit”, the client simply paused and said, “when I hear that out loud, I recognize that I get grace from God that I do not deserve.”

The healing is beginning for this client, and she deserves that- we all do. God wants to do a healing in our hearts from the pain of the past. Our part is to be open to the grace that he gives for that healing.

Prayer: Lord, help people to heal with your abundant grace, Amen

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.

I Kings 19:3-9

I was reminded of this passage recently in speaking with a friend. We were talking about mental health, and I was reminded of the prophet Elijah who had his own bouts with fear and depression. After a great victory over the pagan prophets of Baal, Elijah found that he had gone from the heights of victory to the depths of fear and depression. Sometimes, it happens just that fast- an emotional roller coaster that hits us at unexpected times of vulnerability.

The part that I loved about this was the provision made for Elijah. God had compassion on Elijah, and sent an angel to minister to the suffering prophet. Elijah was at his lowest, suicidal even, when God sent a ministering angel who told him, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much…”

The tender acts of service and compassion restored Elijah physically and mentally. Even the mighty prophet Elijah was prone to the common human conditions- fatigue, fear, self-doubt, depression. Such is common to us all.

The restorative acts of service and compassion are also available to us all. We just need to recognize these hurts in our fellow travelers, and act like the angel sent to Elijah. We too can be restorative “angels”

Prayer: Lord, help us to see when those around us need an angel, Amen

In philosophy, Occam’s razor (also spelled Ockham’s razor or Ocham’s razor; Latin: novacula Occami) is the problem-solving principle that recommends searching for explanations constructed with the smallest possible set of elements. It is also known as the principle of parsimony or the law of parsimony (Latin: lex parsimoniae). Attributed to William of Ockham, a 14th-century English philosopher and theologian, it is frequently cited as Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem, which translates as “Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity”

(Wikipedia)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”     John 13:34-35

I have always believed that any kind of theology, that is, a way of understanding God, must be the simplest, most basic thing in the world. After all, God wants his creation to be drawn to him and to know him. God would not make it a difficult and onerous thing to know and relate to him.

So, in my search for knowing God over the years, I have essentially used Occam’s razor to understand his message. The way to understand God must transcend complicated philosophies and bewildering theology.

God sent his son, Jesus, to show us the “way to live”. Hence, the followers of Jesus were known early on as followers of The Way. The way of God, the way Jesus showed, is that to live a life pleasing to God, one must love his/her neighbor. In that way, they love God.

Too simple? Maybe, but for me, the simpler the better.

Prayer: Lord, help us to love one another as a pleasing honor to you, Amen

 But the Advocate (comforter), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.                                                                    John 14:26

When I was a little kid, we learned in Catholic School that there was a Holy Ghost. Now, being a little kid, I was completely mystified by this idea, and a little scared, actually.  I mean, I was pretty sure that a Holy Ghost sent by God must be fine and all, but I certainly did not understand it.

Some years later, the Church revised its name for the Holy Ghost and called it the Holy Spirit. While this seemed like an improvement on the name, I was still pretty unclear about a Holy Spirit. I trusted that the Spirit was true, and somehow I always intuitively knew that there was something right about the concept of God having His spirit with us here on earth.  

As I have grown older, I have become much more comfortable with the idea of the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is that internal assurance that God is with us, and that he loves us enough to want presence with us.

Funny that I used the word “comfortable” above, because the Holy Spirit was sent as a “comforter”. Jesus said that when he left the earth, he would give us a Comforter to encourage our soul, and help us to live out the faith that we cling to.

The Holy Spirit is indeed a mystery still, yet it is another of those things where we trust God, even when we don’t understand His workings fully.

Guess that is why we so dearly need His Spirit to guide us in the world.

Prayer: We are grateful, Lord, for the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, Amen

These are my two historical novels about a character named Joseph Shepherd. The first one is about a mysterious man who appears suddenly onto the earthly scene in the early 17th century. He travels the world with a partner, Luke Greene, and together they meet some of the giants of the century- Galileo, King James, William Harvey, Francis Bacon, Oliver Cromwell, and William Bradford, captain of the Mayflower, among many others.

Shepherd is an archetype of Jesus, placed into the earth once again. I won’t spoil the endings, because they hold the answer to his appearances. My thesis was that if Jesus came again to the earth, he would once again speak truth to power and he would run afoul of the powers of the day. In fact, he would once again be persecuted and possibly killed. Jesus is always a “lightning rod” for controversy since he pursues justice fearlessly. People in power in any empire will always work to retain power, and justice and mercy may be sacrificed as a result.

In the sequel, Joseph Shepherd once again appears, this time in the United States during the Civil War. He becomes a Union soldier (field surgeon), an advisor to several Presidents, and he is involved (and unable to stop) the assassinations of Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley.

Once again, his upright and challenging stances conflict with the current powers, and he ends up being arrested and persecuted. Along the way his adventures bring him in contact with Thomas Edison, a young Henry Ford, Billy the Kid, John D. Rockefeller, Mark Twain, and a host of American luminaries.

My point through these books is that Jesus, no matter when or where he shows up, pursues peace, justice, mercy and healing – and he is often misunderstood and persecuted.

So, if Jesus were to show up again in a human body, how would he be treated today?

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons…                                                              I Timothy 4:1

I am guessing that you are already aware that denial of the Holocaust, which occurred during World War II, is an actual thing. Yes, there are many people who, for various reasons, have minimized or actually denied that Nazi Germany, under Adolf Hitler, undertook to exterminate the Jewish people. Further, other people groups were also targeted, including Roma people, and people with severe disabilities, among others.  Perhaps this is because the magnitude of the atrocity beggars the imagination. We find it hard to accept this perversion in the human spirit. Yet, the unspeakable horror of the Holocaust did indeed happen.

And as frustrating and improbable as that might be, there are thousands of people (perhaps, millions) who participate in this revision of history. Despite firsthand accounts of survivors, filmed documentation of it, and the Nuremburg trials which gave legal sanctions for it with proof, none of this prevails in the mind of some people who would wish it away for racist or political reasons. They simply deny the existence of the Holocaust.

This again is a reminder that the truth needs to be told and retold. If it is not, historical revisionism, lies and conspiracy theories can take hold and deceive many. Especially in this day of misinformation, disinformation, and deliberate falsehoods, we must remain diligent in retelling the truth.

Prayer: Lord, help us spread the light of truth in the darkness of deceit, Amen