Author: lakewooducc

Lent Devotion 40

“I do not call you servants any longer. . . but I have called you friends.” This verse from the gospel of John may have made the disciples’ chests swell. Wow! Friends! That implies equality, mutuality, respect. We’re no longer just underlings trying to catch on to what he is showing us. Evidently, we’ve gotten it. We’re not apprentices anymore. It’s an elevation in status. The disciples could have been glowing.

But before they finish patting each other on the back and high fiving there’s the rest of the story. There usually is more, with Jesus. Friends. What does it mean to be friends? Evidently, it means laying down your life. “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Lay down your life? Maybe being friends doesn’t look so good. Maybe it’s easier to be a servant or a slave. Just work for someone, not die for them. But regardless of what we think our status is, Jesus sees himself as our friend. And he lays down his life. In fact, he not only lays down his life for his friends, he lays down his life for his enemies as well.

Good Friday is a day to consider this kind of love and to ask ourselves how we are befriending the world for which Jesus died.

Prayer: So often we have sung, “What a friend we have in Jesus.” Today we remember what that really means. We pray for the courage and strength to be Jesus’ friend loving the world as he loves even unto death. Maybe it won’t be the death of our bodies, but it may be the death of some of our attitudes or values or behaviors. It may be the death of our worldview. It may be the death of our apathy or complacency. It may be the death of our selfishness or greed. Help us to see who in the world needs our friendship. Jesus did not fear death. He trusted God. May the same be said of us. Amen.

Lent Devotion 39

The Brazilian soccer star Pele was a household name known by young and old alike. He could name his price for endorsements of commercial products. But there is one thing he would never endorse – cigarettes. He could have made a fortune endorsing them but he refused. Why? He explained, “I love kids.” He did not want to do anything that would be harmful or detrimental to children and young people. Out of love, he was committed to his principles and he maintained them.

As we remember the last days of Jesus’ life, we might imagine Jesus being asked why he didn’t run, flee, fight back, defend himself, or soften his message. And perhaps his response would be simple: “I love the world.” Because of love, he remained committed and would not sacrifice his principles, his values, his morals, or his trust in God. He would rather give up his life than give up his trust in God and his message of good news for all people.

As we think about Judas’ betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, Peter denying Jesus, and the other male disciples scattering and hiding this is a time to ask ourseves what compromises are we making? How are we denying and betraying our love for the world? Can others count on us to love: To do what is in their best interests, to not harm them in any way? Can the very creation count on our pure, undivided devotion and love? We should also examine how are we staying true to our beliefs and our commitment to love.

Prayer: Jesus was true to God. His love for the world was pure. We pray for divine love to fill us and to wash away all the distractions and diversions that dilute our loving. We pray to love fully, robustly, and joyfully! No holding back. No turning back. That is the way of Jesus. That is the way of life. Amen.

Lent Devotion 38

“Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it,” Jesus instructs his disciples. [Luke 22:8] Jesus, a devout Jew celebrates the Passover according to the dictates of his faith tradition. Passover is a remembrance of the Exodus and the freeing of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. Every spring, Jewish people around the world follow the mandate in the book of Exodus: “You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.” [Exodus 12:14] Despite the threat to his life, Jesus would not be dissuaded from carrying out the rituals and responsibilities of his faith as a Jew. He celebrated Passover right up until the bitter end.

This year the Jewish celebration of Passover began on Monday March 25. Passover often falls near Holy Week for Christians. So Christians and Jews around the world are often celebrating their holy days at the same time. It is ironic then, that the stories of Holy Week are often the ones that are cited when justifying Christian anti-Semitism. That sounds like an oxymoron. Christian anti-Semitism. Can there be Christian anti-Semitism? Can a Christian be a true Christian and be anti-Semitic? Some, including me, would say, “no.” Jesus was a Jew. So to be against Jews is to be against Jesus’ people. Also, to be anti-Semitic violates the Christian commandment to love. In any case, Christians throughout the ages have justified anti Jewish sentiment by pointing to the gospel verses that declare that the Jews killed Jesus. Actually, the Jews did not have the power to carry out capital punishment, so the Jews did not have the authority to kill Jesus. Only the Romans had the authority to crucify. The verses in the gospels pinning Jesus’ death on the Jews stem from the acrimonious separating of Jews who believed that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah from Jews who did not believe that.

Sadly, the story of Holy Week, a story of God’s universal love for all of humanity and all of creation, has also spawned a story of Christian prejudice and violence against Jews.

Last week, as I looked through a circular that comes in the mail, among the classified ads for an antique sofa and and entertainment center, was an advertisement for Passover. This is what it said:

“Passover Peace. It’s at this time of Passover that we renew our dedication to freedom for all the people. As we strengthen our faith we become better human beings. As we become more faithful, we also become more interested in all humanity.”

To me, this sounds like a Jewish affirmation of my faith as a Christian. I hope that we as Christians can affirm the faith of our Jewish sisters and brothers and put an end to anti- Semitism which violates not only the teachings of Jesus, but Jesus himself.

Prayer: This Holy Week, may we celebrate God’s love for all which stops at nothing. May we stop at nothing in our loving in the name of God. May we redeem the death of Jesus with our affirmation of his faith tradition. May our love embrace not only our sisters and brothers in Christ, but our sisters and brothers on the paths of Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and all other spiritual traditions. Amen.