Faithful Conversations #39

Introduction to Readers: 

The Liturgical Calendar

For 26 weeks, we have been in Ordinary Time in the church calendar and this week marks the end of the church year. Let me offer a bit of history here. In 1925, responding to the brutal ravages of the Great War, Pope Pius XI designated the last Sunday in October as “Christ the King” Sunday. Witnessing totalitarian and secular forces marching across the globe, including the rise of communism in Russia and fascism in Italy and Spain (foreshadowing Nazism in Germany), the Pope sought to remind Christians of their true allegiance to God Almighty.   Later, as part of the reforms emerging from the Second Vatican Council, Christ the King Sunday was moved to where it sits in the lectionary today, the final Sunday of the liturgical calendar. A reminder that the ELCA follows the Revised Common Lectionary that emerged in the 1990s, and Christ the King Sunday was absorbed from these earlier changes. My reflections this week will focus on the Gospel, and I will include the posting from this week’s Living Lutheran Lectionary Blog. As always, thanks for your continued interest in exploring the Bible within the flow of our lives! 

Note: I do utilize various hyperlinks within the body here for further exploration on your part if interested! They are a different color and italicized. 

Readings for Christ the King Sunday
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
Psalm 95:1-7a
Ephesians 1:15-23
Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31-46 (Focus Scripture):

Jan van Eyck (1390-1441)
“God Almighty”
The Ghent Altarpiece
Belgium

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, ³³ and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. ³⁴ Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? ³⁸ And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? ³⁹ And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ ⁴⁰ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ ⁴¹ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, ⁴² for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.”

This Week’s Reflection: “The Counter-Cultural Nature of Christianity” 

President Jimmy Carter and First Lady, Rosalynn

Rosalynn Carter’s death this week conjured up memories from the 1970s. As a first-time voter in 1976 (sophomore in college), I cast my ballot for President Carter — and imagine that he and Rosalynn were already in their 30th year of marriage when he was elected! While following their lives, especially in the post-Presidential years, I have always been impressed by the authenticity of this dynamic couple’s faith journey. Both used their positions and influence to promote God’s work in this world, and they did it with amazing grace — and they did it for SO long! What a powerful example they offer.  

Access the full blog here as you reflect on this week’s readings.

Access it here and ENJOY!

Faithful Conversations #38

Introduction to Readers:

Plato (428/427 or 424/423 – 348 BC)
Greek Philosopher

One of my favorite passages from Scripture is 1 Corinthians 13:12:  ^“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” It’s my go-to when I’m struggling to understand God’s word (and is widely applicable in many aspects of our lives, including our understanding of history, by the way!). It gives me great hope — one day things will be clearer! Paul’s Greek heritage is coming through here, particularly the influence of Plato, the philosopher who lived four centuries before Christ’s birth. It was Plato who suggested in his cave analogy that what we perceive to be reality is merely a shadow-like reflection on the walls of the cave, and that truth is outside the cave in splashing sunlight — and that truth is only available to a select few. Forgive the drifty metaphor, but 1 Corinthians 13:12 has been on my mind all week, especially as I try to decipher and process the news of our day. I have had several conversations with friends in the past week who are voicing much anxiety about our world. The readings for Pentecost 25 feel especially modern (or timeless) to me in that regard. And since I have been trying to dig into the Psalms more of late, my focus will be on Psalm 90 and especially the fascinating connection between it and one of the great hymns of the Christian church. As always, thanks for your continuing interest in the Lectionary and I hope your reading is going well. Relax, breathe, and take time to listen as one with a “wise heart” (Psalm 90:12).

(Note: I do highlight phrases, and also offer hyperlinks that offer background — those are of a different color, italicized, and bolded). 

Readings for Pentecost 25
Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18
Psalm 90: 1-8 (9-11) 12 (focus passage)
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (prayer inspiration)
Matthew 25:14-30

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
This is a photograph from 5 days before he was assassinated.

In October of 1863, amidst a raging Civil War, President Lincoln issued a Proclamation designating the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving. Lincoln served the nation in an incredibly difficult time and, like all Presidents, had his flaws. The same man who ultimately brought an end to slavery, for example, pursued policies that meant death and removal to Indigenous people. That said, Lincoln’s humility intrigues me. For example, he penned the following passage as part of his Thanksgiving Proclamation:  “And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him (God) for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.” Would such words be said by a President in the modern era? Lincoln, in essence, asked the American people to seek penance for our national sins as part of their observance of Thanksgiving. Imagine that.  

Isaac Watts
(1674-1748)

And, permit me to draw one more connection regarding Psalm 90 (and late November). As you may or may not be aware (we don’t emphasize them much), the ELCA has many days of commemoration throughout the church year. On November 25th, we honor the life of Isaac Watts. Among other things, Watts was an English Congregational Minister and prolific hymn writer. Reading his biography leaves me feeling completely inadequate — hard to imagine everything he did in his lifetime. He is credited, for example, with producing more than 750 hymns! (“Joy to the World,” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” and “O God Our Help in Ages Past” are his most famous). Psalm 90 provided Watts with the inspiration for the last hymn of the three mentioned, and provides a wonderful example of the power of the Psalms. Take some time and see how the language of the Psalm worked its way into the hymn. Also, I have linked two versions of this glorious hymn below for your listening pleasure. One is a majestic version from England and the other is from an Anglican church in Nigeria. (Note: In our hymnal, the ELW, this is hymn 632 and we have six verses: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9).

Enjoy this powerful hymn!

The English version, complete with brass and organ!

And, from an Anglican church in Nigeria!

Faithful Conversations #37

Introduction to Readers: 
The readings for Pentecost 24 challenge me to ponder WHY we spend so little time in the ELCA on Christ’s second coming (or am I “off” in that assessment?). It is clearly central to our theology, as noted in our public recitation of the Apostles’ Creed each Sunday (“he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead”). Further, we have Christ’s clear language on the matter (note Luke 17:22-24, among other passages). We live with the anticipation of the Second Coming! Let’s think about this as we walk through this week’s readings. My reflections will focus on the passage from Thessalonians, and my prayer is inspired by the words of Amos. 

On another note, we have three Sundays left in our church year (Lectionary A) and on 3 December we will be in Advent and turn the page into Year B (2024). Forgive my repetition, but I cannot believe how fast the time goes! As always, thank you for your continuing interest in taking on the challenge of God’s word!     

(Note: I do highlight phrases, and also offer hyperlinks that offer background — those are of a different color, italicized, and bolded). 

Readings for Pentecost 24
Amos 5:18-24
Psalm 70
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (focus passage)
Matthew 25:1-13

St. Paul by Rembrandt (1606-1669)

The Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. ¹⁵ For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

This Week’s Reflection: “The Second Coming”
My father was a gracious individual but could be blunt at times. Just weeks before his death, I asked him if he expected to see Cathy (his wife of 64 years who died 7 months ahead of him) when he died. It wasn’t unusual for me to ask such questions of him, since we often talked theology. My question was prompted, in part, by the comments people make when a loved one journeys on, and especially the notion that they have now joined their departed loved ones in heaven. In clear language, Unk (my father) responded to me by asserting that “that’s not what our theology tells us — those that have gone before us are at rest and will rise when Christ returns.” I recall being a bit taken aback by his comments and asked him if that is what he truly believed — it seemed less than comforting. Then he winked at me and said, “you know, sometimes we tell ourselves things just to feel better, but death remains a great mystery.” It was a conversation I never forgot. 

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey, 49 CE

So, the Second Coming — what to make of that? Paul’s language in 1 Thessalonians is helpful. As with many books of the Bible, context is truly key. This letter, according to most scholars, is the oldest book of the New Testament, probably written in the early 50s CE, roughly 20 years after the crucifixion. As part of his second missionary journey in 49 CE, Paul and his companions traveled throughout the Roman Empire, in this case to the Macedonian city of Thessaloniki. As was often the case, Paul (and companions Sylvanus and Timothy) were writing to the Thessalonian Christians on many matters of faith to follow-up their earlier visit. Specifically in this passage, Paul is addressing their fear that believers who had died would not share in glory of Christ’s return (verse 13). He assures them that those who have died will be ushered into heaven first, followed by those still alive (verses 14-18), and that all will be with Christ forever.

It is worth noting three things here. First, the notion of our God taking human form and dying a brutal death on the cross and rising again has divided believers since the time of those first-generation Christians. In fact, in the earliest centuries of the Church’s formation, there were those who sought to guard the divinity of Christ — called Docetists — who believed that Jesus, because he was divine, only seemed to die. The Apostles’ Creed, in fact, was written directly in opposition to those who questioned Christ’s humanity — you may want to look at the Creed again. Second, Paul’s language in this passage indicates that he believed Christ would return in his lifetime — a common belief among our earliest Christian ancestors. Amazingly, there were those alive when Paul was writing that had actually witnessed the crucifixion AND may have been among the hundreds of people that saw Christ, post-resurrection! And, let me now circle back to my initial question in the introduction — WHY we spend so little time talking about Christ’s second coming. My sense, based on what I have learned, and especially Luther’s skepticism about the book of Revelation, is that we are wary of getting caught up in predictions regarding the return of Christ. Jesus, in fact, is clear on this point when he tells his followers: “About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). Further, our emphasis on God’s grace perhaps precludes us from coming down too harshly on the notion of eternal damnation — just a thought. Finally, in spite of the mysteries surrounding many aspects of our faith, let us lean in on the assurance of Christ’s return, and let that awe-inspiring hope guide our approach to life. Barbara Rossing, professor of New Testament and the environmental ministry coordinator at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, offers this terrific commentary:   

Early Christians definitely thought they were living at the brink of the end of the world. Love of neighbor and hospitality to strangers was early Christians’ surest response to life on the brink of the end-times. They gathered and worshiped God. They ministered to the poor. They visited prisoners. They broke bread together, they sang hymns. Early Christians nurtured community. By their lifestyle of love and welcome, early Christians resisted the claims of the empire. People around them marveled at their joy and boldness. To look for the coming of Christ, and to live in urgency, means to share God’s love for the world. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as in heaven” is what Jesus taught us to pray. It is not a prayer to take us away from earth but rather a prayer that God’s reign will come to earth — and that it will even come through us, as Martin Luther explained in the 16th century.

United Church of Christ
Ho-Chunk Mission
Established 1878

Finally, this week, a few words about a special event. On Sunday (12 November) we will be joined by several members of the UCC Ho-Chunk Mission Church east of Black River Falls. The church was established in 1878 by missionaries from the German Reformed Church. We are a “full communion partner” with the United Church of Christ, so this joint worship is a natural for us. In addition, within the ELCA we continue to grapple with the difficult history of settler-colonialism and the centuries-long harm inflicted on Indigenous people prompted, in part, by the 15th Century Papel edict known as the Doctrine of Discovery. The ELCA and UCC, along with several other denominations, have repudiated the Doctrine in recent years. Notably, the Catholic Church has done so most recently. Our worship will combine elements of both the UCC and ELCA and will include prayers for healing the divide in our community and beyond. 

As we continue to do this work, our steps feel tentative and halting, but we pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. I ran across this compelling statement from El Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero (1917-1980) — a beautiful and timely reflection:   

Oscar Romero
(1917-1980)

“It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view. The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us. No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection. No pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the Church’s mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything. This is what we are about. We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities. We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.”

Faithful Conversations #36

Introduction to Readers: 
Each time we say the Lord’s Prayer and utter the phrase, “Hallowed be Thy Name,” we are referencing a word of Old English origin, meaning “to make holy.”  Three days this week, collectively known as Allhallowtide, have deep roots in Christian history: All Hallows’ Eve (commonly referred to as Halloween), All Hallows’ (or All Saints) Day, and All Souls’ Day. Those of us who share Lutheran heritage, of course, also recognize October 31st as the date in 1517 that Martin Luther posted his famous 95 Theses on that church door in Wittenberg, igniting a discussion that continues 506 years on. Some have long speculated that Luther chose that day because it would catch the attention of the common folk on the eve of All Saints’ Day, a day set aside to pray for those great examples of faith who have journeyed before us to our heavenly home. Though not verifiable, it is certain that Luther, an Augustinian monk, would have been well aware of the 8th Century origins of All Saints’ Day within the Catholic tradition. That said, isn’t it fascinating (and perhaps a bit troubling) that Halloween in 2023 is primarily a secular holiday, an evolution with a long and winding history?  And, is it just me, or has Halloween grown exponentially in recent years, compared to my memories of it from childhood? As often happens, the origins get lost in the mists of time.   

Approach the events of this week, and the various readings for All Saints Sunday, with this backstory in mind. Also, I heartily encourage you to pray for those saints in your life — people who pointed you toward faith in Jesus Christ. My reflections will draw from the Revelation and 1 John passages. As always, thanks for your continued interest in the Lectionary! We have three Sundays left in our current church year. 

(Note: I do highlight phrases, and also offer hyperlinks that offer background — those are of a different color, italicized, and bolded).        

Readings for All Saints Sunday (Pentecost 23)
Revelation 7:9-17 (Focus Passage)
Psalm 34:1-10, 22
1 John 3:1-3 (Focus Passage)
Matthew 5:1-12

“John Writing Revelation”
Italian Artist Carlo Dolci (1616-1686)

Reading From Revelation 7:9-17
⁹ After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb!” ¹¹ And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² singing,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might
be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

¹³ Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” ¹⁴ I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵ For this reason they are before the throne of God
    and worship him day and night within his temple,
    and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
¹⁶ They will hunger no more and thirst no more;
    the sun will not strike them,
    nor any scorching heat,
¹⁷ for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
    and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Reading From 1 John 3:1-3
¹ See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ² Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. ³ And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

This Week’s Reflection: “Simul Justus et Peccator”
In his commentary on Romans (his favorite book), Martin Luther gave voice to one of the fundamentals of Lutheranism, that in our Christian journey, we are both sinner and saint. Luther wrote and delivered lectures in Latin and the phrase “Simul Justus et Peccator” is how he would have said it (simul = both, justus = just or righteous, peccator = sinner). The lectionary readings for this Sunday encourage us to reflect on this bedrock of our faith.

Thorvald M. Rykken
(1897-1945)

The Revelation passage, especially verses 13-14, immediately reminded of one of the saints in my background, my grandfather, Thorvald Melvin Rykken. Let me explain. Born in 1897 to Norwegian immigrants, TM attended Augsburg College in Minneapolis (connected to the Lutheran Free Church) and Luther Seminary in St. Paul. Upon ordination, he served as mission pastor for eleven years at the Bethany Indian Mission in Wittenberg, Wisconsin (1920-1930), ministering to Ho-Chunk, Oneida, Menominee, and Mohican people, among others. The Rykken family then moved on to Petersburg, North Dakota, where he served several parishes from 1930 until his untimely death (age 48) in 1945. 

Though he died twelve years before I was born, he has been a presence in my life from early on. My father, Thorwald Ansgar Rykken, lost his role model while serving in the Italian Theater in World War II, learning of the death of his father eight days after the fact. Perhaps, in part, to make up for this searing loss, he spent years introducing his “Pop” to me and my sisters through stories, pictures, and various impressions. Among other things, I learned that my grandfather was a bit of a maverick, loved baseball, laughed heartily and often, was deeply patriotic, and intensely driven. One story I heard multiple times was that TM’s favorite poem, one he apparently often referenced, was Vachel Lindsay’s “General William Booth Enters Heaven,” a dramatic portrayal of the moment that Booth, the eccentric founder of the Salvation Army, finds himself face to face with Jesus Christ. Intrigued by this window into the mind of the grandfather I never knew, the poem became a bit of a fascination for me. Here it is.  

William Booth (1829-1912)
Founder of the Salvation Army

[BASS DRUM BEATEN LOUDLY]

Booth led boldly with his big bass drum—   

(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)   

The Saints smiled gravely and they said: “He’s come.”   

(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)   

Walking lepers followed, rank on rank,   

Lurching bravoes from the ditches dank,   

Drabs from the alleyways and drug fiends pale—   

Minds still passion-ridden, soul-powers frail:—   

Vermin-eaten saints with mouldy breath,   

Unwashed legions with the ways of Death—   

(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)   

 

[BANJOS]

Every slum had sent its half-a-score   

The round world over. (Booth had groaned for more.)   

Every banner that the wide world flies   

Bloomed with glory and transcendent dyes.   

Big-voiced lasses made their banjos bang,   

Tranced, fanatical they shrieked and sang:—   

“Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?”   

Hallelujah! It was queer to see   

Bull-necked convicts with that land make free.   

Loons with trumpets blowed a blare, blare, blare   

On, on upward thro’ the golden air!   

(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)   

 

[BASS DRUM SLOWER AND SOFTER]

Booth died blind and still by Faith he trod,   

Eyes still dazzled by the ways of God.   

Booth led boldly, and he looked the chief   

Eagle countenance in sharp relief,   

Beard a-flying, air of high command   

Unabated in that holy land.   

 

Poetry: A Magazine of Verse, 1913

[SWEET FLUTE MUSIC]

Jesus came from out the court-house door,   

Stretched his hands above the passing poor.   

Booth saw not, but led his queer ones there   

Round and round the mighty court-house square.   

Yet in an instant all that blear review   

Marched on spotless, clad in raiment new.   

The lame were straightened, withered limbs uncurled   

And blind eyes opened on a new, sweet world.   

 

[BASS DRUM LOUDER]

Drabs and vixens in a flash made whole!   

Gone was the weasel-head, the snout, the jowl!   

Sages and sibyls now, and athletes clean,   

Rulers of empires, and of forests green!   

 

[GRAND CHORUS OF ALL INSTRUMENTS.

TAMBOURINES TO THE FOREGROUND]

The hosts were sandalled, and their wings were fire!   

(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)   

But their noise played havoc with the angel-choir.   

(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)   

O shout Salvation! It was good to see   

Kings and Princes by the Lamb set free.   

The banjos rattled and the tambourines   

Jing-jing-jingled in the hands of Queens.   

 

[REVERENTLY SUNG. NO INSTRUMENTS]

And when Booth halted by the curb for prayer   

He saw his Master thro’ the flag-filled air.   

Christ came gently with a robe and crown   

For Booth the soldier, while the throng knelt down.   

He saw King Jesus. They were face to face,   

And he knelt a-weeping in that holy place.   

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

 

What to make of this poem? Clearly inspired by Booth’s recent death (1912), Lindsay anchors his poem in the 7th Chapter of Revelation and the Social Gospel Movement of the early 20th Century.  And though written over a century ago, the rhythmic description of Booth and his band of broken souls entering heaven has a modern ring to it. My grandfather’s fascination with it helps me understand what drove him to mission work.

Finally, I suspect most of us have tried to imagine our future journey into the afterlife, the great mystery. The authors of Revelation and 1 John certainly did. Will we meet those saints that have gone before us there, in that place where “God will wipe away every tear” from our eyes . . . “where we will be like him, for we will see him as he is?” This remains our redeeming, liberating, and powerful hope! May we boldly share this message of salvation!     

Soli Deo Gloria

Prayer (Source: Christianity.com: 10 Beautiful All Saints Day Prayers):

God, when I hear the word “saint” I often associate it with those who no longer walk this earth, who are dwelling in eternal rest. I can think of many people in my own life who had an impact with me, who I cannot wait to see them again. Lord, I dearly miss my friends and family who are not here on earth anymore. But I also rejoice that they will no longer experience pain or shed any tears of sadness. God, although I’m sad I am temporarily away from them, I want to thank you so much for bringing them into my life. They have shaped me to be more like you, and I will forever remember their example. Amen.

And, finally, here is a great version of this powerful hymn (from Singapore):  

Faithful Conversations #35

Introduction to Readers: Next Sunday provides an example of how the ELCA and other churches that trace their heritage to the Protestant Reformation utilize different texts than those prescribed by the Revised Common Lectionary.  Recall that the RCL is a guideline for churches, not a mandate, as such. For example, there is also something called the “Narrative Lectionary” and various preaching series that offer alternative texts (sidebar: the same can be said of the various liturgies available to us in the ELW).

The readings listed below will be used in ELCA churches this weekend (while the RCL offers the following for Pentecost 22: Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18; Psalm 1; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; and Matthew 22: 34-46). As you work your way through the Reformation texts, find the common threads and consider WHY each of them is appropriate for a Sunday that focuses on our Lutheran heritage. My commentary will focus on Psalm 46. In addition, I will point you to an excellent commentary focusing on the situation in the Middle East. Thanks for your continued interest in the Lectionary!  

Readings for Reformation Sunday (Pentecost 22)
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Focus Reading: Psalm 46 (text below my reflection)
Romans 3:19-28 (Luther’s favorite book!)
John 8:31-36

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

506 years ago, this week (October of 1517), the rebellious Augustinian monk Martin Luther posted his famed Ninety-Five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany prompting debates that, over time, fractured Roman Catholicism and planted the seeds for the Protestant Reformation. A brilliant and complex individual, Luther spent years translating the Bible into German, produced tracts and commentaries that fill volumes, and produced a large and small catechism for the education of both clergy and common people. A gifted musician, Luther also wrote hymns — thirty-six are attributed to him. Most famously, he composed “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott,” known to us as “A Mighty Fortress is our God” (hymn number 504 in the ELW). Known as “The Battle Hymn of the Reformation,” Luther most likely penned it between 1527-1529, according to Anglican clergyman and hymnology expert John Julian.

Luther’s Hymn — An Early Printing

Luther clearly derived great strength from the Psalms, referring to them as the “Bible in miniature.” Psalm 46 held a special place in his heart, specifically in 1527 with the plague surging through Europe while Luther faced enormous pressures in his own life, including the near death of his son. Reflecting on Psalm 46, Luther made the following gritty observation:  “We sing this psalm to the praise of God, because He is with us and powerfully and miraculously preserves and defends His church and His word against all fanatical spirits, against the gates of hell, against the implacable hatred of the devil, and against all the assaults of the world, the flesh, and sin.” 

There are many great versions of this powerful hymn available, and this one by the St. Olaf Choir is especially majestic. Take a listen while you explore Psalm 46 adjacent to the lyrics of the hymn — imagine the mind of Luther at work!  

Those of us that old enough will recall the Yom Kippur War of 1973, when a coalition of Arab states attacked Israel on the Jewish holiday known as Yom Kippur (I was a junior in high school). Among other major ramifications, it is one of very few times during the Cold War that our nation went to “high alert” with our nuclear arsenal, meaning that use of the weapons could have occurred within 15 minutes! That moment from my youth has been on my mind for the past several days.

We are now 17 days beyond the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israel (October 7), and the heartbreaking story continues to evolve. I am attempting to follow it without becoming overwhelmed, in part, by seeking out good sources of information and commentary. Protestant theologian and scholar Daniel B. Clendenin (who I have cited previously in Faithful Conversations) has offered an excellent reflection on the current situation, and I commend it to your reading here.  He draws inspiration from the Matthew’s Gospel, part of this week’s RCL.  

Soli Deo Gloria

Some Reformation Humor!

Prayer: Luther’s Evening Ritual (a good one!): 
In the evening when you go to bed, make the sign of the holy cross and say:

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. If you choose, you may also say this little prayer:

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Then go to sleep at once and in good cheer.

Faithful Conversations #34    

Introduction to Readers:
The echoes of history lurk around every corner in the tortured factionalism of the modern Middle East. The Israel-Hamas conflict on full display serves as a reminder of our broken world and the failure of political solutions in the seemingly intractable divisions of our time (other regional wars rock out planet right now — Ukraine, Myanmar, and Somalia, to name just three). I suspect I speak for many when I say the issues underlying such conflicts — the full slate of issues — remain known only to God and we are seeing “through a glass darkly” in our attempts to understand. That said, this week I again offer the following explanations (hyperlinked) that, though incomplete, helped me understand things somewhat more fully. I commend them to you if you are seeking more information! (I’m seeking sources that offer balance, but that is difficult when approaching this topic).         

The first comes from an Australian news service and traces the history of the conflict. 

The second one offers a further explanation of the background of Hamas.

We continue to pray for the region and all its people — Jews, Muslims, and Christians — especially those that are most vulnerable. It is truly hard to fathom what they are experiencing. 

Speaking of politics, they are infused into the Old Testament reading and the Gospel this week. My reflections will center on the Isaiah passage and the story of Cyrus the Great. Thanks for your ongoing interest in the Lectionary and may God bless your spiritual journey this week! 

Readings for Pentecost 21
Isaiah 45:1-7
Psalm 96:1-9 (10-13)
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22

Focus Reading: Isaiah 45:1-7 
Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped
to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their robes,
to open doors before him—and the gates shall not be closed:
² I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
    and cut through the bars of iron;
³ I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places,
so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
⁴ For the sake of my servant Jacob and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name; I give you a title, though you do not know me.
⁵ I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides me there is no god.
    I arm you, though you do not know me,
⁶ so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other.
⁷ I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the Lord do all these things.

This Week’s Reflection: Our God and History
He looked at me over his glasses and said, “It’s always important to contemplate the role of God in human history” (I recall him offering Galatians 4:4 as a worthy illustration — you may want to look that up!).  Dr. Herman Larsen (1915-2003), a commanding presence, served as my freshman year advisor at Concordia in 1975. I was doing an oral book report (an intimidating experience) with him in his office for my European history class — a biography of Martin Luther, no less — when he interjected with his admonition concerning history. It was later that I learned that Dr. Larsen, the brilliant St. Olaf and Yale educated man, spent three years in a Japanese prison camp during World War II, a result of his service as a missionary in China. Clearly, this history professor and ordained pastor attributed his survival to God. I thought about him this week while reading Isaiah’s prophetic description of Cyrus.

The Ancient Middle East

Cyrus the Great (590-529 BCE), by all accounts, was a remarkable leader. He ruled over the Persian Empire, the largest at the time, that stretched from present day Iran into modern Turkey. The only non-Jewish person in the Bible referred to as “Messiah,” Cyrus appears 23 times in the scriptures (in Isaiah, Ezra, 2 Chronicles, and Daniel). A hero in Jewish history, this pagan ruler is credited with overtaking Babylon and liberating the Jews being held in captivity and assisting in the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Further, he is often cited as a tolerant ruler, allowing those under his authority to live and worship as they pleased, while having at least some voice in their political lives.

In this week’s reading from Isaiah, the prophet foretells Cyrus’ coming more than a century prior to his birth. Despite not knowing God, Cyrus will be chosen and honored (45:4). Beyond the verses cited in the Lectionary, we hear these words: “I have aroused Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his paths straight; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward, says the Lord of hosts” (45:13). Indeed, Cyrus is chronicled in Jewish history for his great deeds, notably in the book of Ezra, written in 400 BCE and aimed at Jewish descendants of those who were exiled. Note the language attributed to him in Ezra 1:2-4:   

² “Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. ³ Let any of those among you who are of his people—may their God be with them!—go up to Jerusalem in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; he is the God who is in Jerusalem. ⁴ And let all survivors in whatever place they reside be assisted by the people of their place with silver and gold, with goods, and with livestock, besides freewill offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.”

Cyrus and Astyages by French painter
Jean-Charles Nicaise Perrin (1754–1831)

What lessons should we draw from the story of Cyrus? First, I’m drawn back to my professor’s assertion to me from nearly 50 years ago: we should contemplate God’s role in history. Our all-powerful Creator intervenes in ways that may seem evident but, in truth, are often incomprehensible to us. I was not raised within the traditions of those who frame our times within specific Biblical prophecies and always sense some overreach when we do that — there is so much we simply don’t know.  That said, the story of Cyrus reminds us that it is possible for our God to motivate those we may least expect — those outside the traditional faith — to accomplish His ends. Cyrus, it seems, was positioned well to carry out God’s will. 

And second, though our present situation seems fraught with danger and, at times, hopeless beyond measure, our God surrounds us with His love, a love that motivates us to be grace-filled people who are willing to walk into a dangerous world with courage and strength.     

Soli Deo Gloria

Prayer (inspired by Psalm 96):
Lord God, We sing to you this day, a new song and glorify your name. Inspire us to share your marvelous works within our families and communities. You make the seas roar, and the trees and forests sing for joy! May all creation praise your holy name! Amen.    
 

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? We are exploring that question in September and October. We are reading and discussing Michael Foss’s book, Real Faith for Real Life: Living the Six Marks of Discipleship.

We have one meeting left — Wednesday 18 October at 6:30 at ELC. If you have missed the study and are interested in the book, let me know! 

Text (715.299.0311)
Email: pstrykken@gmail.com

Stay tuned for further updates regarding our Adult Education and Bible Studies.  

Faithful Conversations #33    

Introduction to Readers:

The Temple Mount, Jerusalem

The outbreak of war in the Middle East last Saturday (7 October) is a stark reminder that we are members of a faith community that originated in a region of the world that remains remarkably unstable in 2023 (consider the fact that Judaism, Islam, and Christianity all trace heritage to Abraham!). As we are well aware, political extremism among any people springs from a variety of grievances that may go back generations, and when infused with religious fervor, provides a recipe for violence on a massive scale. Unfortunately, as is always the case, innocent people get caught in the crossfire, people who share the same needs and wants that we do, people who want to earn a living, love their families, and enjoy life. It’s heartbreaking. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters in that part of the world. That said, this link will take you to a good “primer” on what is going on is Israel and Gaza — please take time if you feel a bit lost on the complexities.   

My approach to blog #33 deviates from my normal pattern. There are so many wonderful resources available to us on-line, and I am sharing one with you this week. Here are the Lectionary readings for this week. Thanks for your continued interest in exploring scriptures!   

Readings for Pentecost 20
Isaiah 25:1-9
Psalm 23
Philippians 4:1-9
Matthew 22:1-14

Focus Reading: Philippians 4:1-9
¹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. ² I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. ³ Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my coworkers, whose names are in the book of life. ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ As for the things that you have learned and received and heard and noticed in me, do them, and the God of peace will be with you.

This Week’s Reflection: Who Are Euodia and Syntyche?

Euodia and Syntyche

For the past several weeks, I have been focusing on the Gospel readings, and my intention this week was to take a dive into the reading from Philippians, in part, because of the two women mentioned therein, Eudoia and Syntyche, always a curiosity to me. As I began to explore their story, I ran across a terrific essay by Michael Fitzpatrick*, an Episcopal lay teacher and preacher. He does a beautiful job explaining their story! I commend it to your reading — access it here!   

* Fitzpatrick writes for “Journey With Jesus,” a weekly webzine that I often utilize for research as I work on Faithful Conversations (see FC #14). He served for five years in the U.S. Army as a Chaplain’sl lol Assistant, including two deployments to Iraq. 

Soli Deo Gloria

Prayer (inspired by Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A Changin’)
Lord, you have placed us at a time and place of great change within the Christian Church. We ask that your Holy Spirit walk with us through this challenging period of time, guiding and directing our thoughts and actions as we honor you by transmitting the faith to a new generation. Amen. 

Concordia College Choir, Moorhead, MN

*Note: Bob Dylan’s religious journey is interesting, to say the least. You may want to explore that. My sister Beth introduced me to Dylan back in the 1960s, and this song is one of his best. The Concordia Choir (my Alma Mater) recently has done a unique version of Dylan’s famous song. You can access it here. The second to last line of the song reminded me of this week’s Gospel!  

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Join us for an exploration of that question in September and October. We will read and discuss Michael Foss’s book, Real Faith for Real Life: Living the Six Marks of Discipleship. In his book’s introduction, Foss writes: “This book was written to help you grow deep. It was written to help you on your journey of spiritual discovery and renewal.”

We have met twice, and have two remaining sessions — October 11 and 18! All are welcome! 

Faithful Conversations #32

Introduction to Readers: 
Vineyards were part of everyday life in ancient Israel, and the Bible is filled with references to them (a quick google search verifies that). Often, vineyards symbolized the people of God. Stay tuned to that as you explore this week’s readings. My commentary will focus on the Gospel, with references to Isaiah. Thanks for your continued interest in exploring the infinite wisdom of the scriptures!    

Readings for Pentecost 19
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:7-15
Philippians 3:4b-14
Matthew 21:33-46

First Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7
I will sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard:
My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.
² He dug it and cleared it of stones and planted it with choice vines;
he built a watchtower in the midst of it and hewed out a wine vat in it;
he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded rotten grapes.
³ And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.
⁴ What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it?
When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield rotten grapes?
⁵ And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard.
I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured;
I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.
⁶ I will make it a wasteland; it shall not be pruned or hoed,
and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns;
I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
⁷ For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel,
and the people of Judah are his cherished garden;
he expected justice but saw bloodshed;
righteousness but heard a cry!

The Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:33-46
³³ “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went away. ³⁴ When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. ³⁵ But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶ Again he sent other slaves, more than the first, and they treated them in the same way. ³⁷ Then he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ³⁸ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.’ ³⁹ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. ⁴⁰ Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” ⁴¹ They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.” ⁴² Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:

⁴³ “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces its fruits. ⁴⁴ The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.” ⁴⁵ When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. ⁴⁶ They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

This Week’s Reflection: “The Parable of the Wicked Tenants”

The Face of Jesus (using AI)

There has been much in the news of late about Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the ongoing and revolutionary application of this in our lives. The image to the right is a product of AI, and gives us a realistic sense, based on various probabilities from the ancient Middle East, what Christ may have looked like as he walked this earth. It is a reminder to me of his humanity, a mystery to ponder.    

Jesus, the master teacher, speaks to us across time and his use of stories, often in the form of allegories, is remarkable. In literary terms, an allegory is a “story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one” (Wikipedia). For purposes of context, the exchange we witness in this week’s Gospel comes just after the Jewish religious leaders have questioned Jesus concerning his authority. They clearly are disturbed by the young and charismatic spiritual leader, in particular, because of his rising popularity among the people. His defiance of traditional teachings, his radicalism, if you will, cannot stand. As he often did, Jesus offered a parable — one that clearly referenced Isaiah 5 — to highlight disobedience by those that should know better — those same religious leaders — and the consequences of such disobedience.

The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen by Domenico Fetti, 1620

It went like this. A landowner planted a vineyard, secured it, and made it flourish. He then decided to lease the vineyard to a group of tenants (verse 33). In due time, he sent representatives to collect his produce, but the tenants killed them in an act of wicked and greed-filled defiance. The landowner sent a second group who met the same fate (verses 34-36).   Then, naively it seems, he reasoned that if he sends his son as collector, the tenants surely will respect his authority and give the landowner his due. Alas, the tenants murder the son, thereby eliminating the heir to the property (verses 37-39). A gruesome and tragic story. 

Jesus, of course, does not stop there. Beginning in verse 40, he walks the elders and zealots who are questioning him into a fearful realization — he is talking about them! His reference to Psalm 188:22-23 (verse 42), plays to their scriptural awareness, and cuts them to the quick. In verse 46, we get a window into their future response. 

How should we view this exchange in 2023? It’s easy to stand on the sideline and read this story as a harsh rebuke of the Jewish leaders that rejected Christ. My sense, however, is that is too small and feels like finger-pointing. Jesus is talking to us as well, and we must examine our hearts. How are we responding to him? How are we handling the vineyard in our care?

Soli Deo Gloria

Prayer (inspired by Psalm 80): 

Restore us, O God; let your face shine that we may be saved. You are our source of life, and we are the vineyard. O God; let your face shine that we may be saved. Amen.  

Finally . . . one more update regarding our current study: 

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Join us for an exploration of that question in September and October. We will read and discuss Michael Foss’s book, Real Faith for Real Life: Living the Six Marks of Discipleship. In his book’s introduction, Foss writes: “This book was written to help you grow deep. It was written to help you on your journey of spiritual discovery and renewal.”

We have met twice, and have two remaining sessions — October 11 and 18! All are welcome! 

Faithful Conversations #31

“Holy Hill” in Black River Falls, Wisconsin

Introduction to Readers:
506 years ago, a 34-year-old Augustinian monk named Martin Luther, rocked the European Christian world when he tacked those 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. As early as 1519, Luther’s opponents caustically referred to his followers as Lutherans, a term that soon came into common usage. Lutheranism, although not a unified denomination, is one of the five major branches of Protestantism (the others are Anglicanism, Calvinism, Methodism, and the Baptists). In our small city, we live with physical reminders of that rupture in Christendom at the top of what some locals call “Holy Hill.”  

This week’s readings center on the concept of REPENTANCE, and it is noteworthy for us to recall that Luther offered this as Thesis #1 in 1517:  “When our Lord and master Jesus Christ said ‘Repent,’ he intended the entire life of believers to be repentance.” Keep that in your mind as you tackle the Lectionary this week! My commentary will focus on the Gospel, with a reference to the reading from Ezekiel. Thanks for your continued interest in Bible study!    

Readings for Pentecost 18
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
Psalm 25:1-9
Philippians 2:1-13
Matthew 21:23-32

Ezekiel (1510) by Michelangelo (1475-1564) Sistine Chapel in Rome

First Reading: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
The word of the Lord came to me: ² What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? ³ As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. ⁴ Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins who shall die. 

²⁵ Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? ²⁶ When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed, they shall die. ²⁷ Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. ²⁸ Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. ²⁹ Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? ³⁰ Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. ³¹ Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? ³² For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.

The Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:23-32
²³ When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” ²⁴ Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why, then, did you not believe him?’ ²⁶ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet.” ²⁷ So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ²⁸ “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ ²⁹ He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. ³⁰ The father went to the second and said the same, and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. ³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and even after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him.

This Week’s Reflection: “A New Heart and a New Spirit”

“Driving the Merchants from the Temple”
French artist, Jean Jouvenet (1644–1717)

Jesus rarely found favor with the religious authorities of his day. His exchange with the chief priests and elders in Matthew 21 came on the heels of a dramatic moment in scripture — Christ’s righteous anger and cleansing of the temple (Matthew 21:12-17). Prompted by this disturbing temple performance and expanding following, religious leaders, in a “how dare you!” moment, questioned the source of Jesus’ authority (verse 23). Jesus, clearly frustrated with his inquisitors, responded, as he often did, with an unsettling question and simple story, in this case, the parable of the two sons. It goes like this: A man had two sons and asked the first son to go work in the vineyard. The son refused (verse 29) but later changed his mind and did the work requested by his father. The father then asked the second son to go help in the vineyard, and he said he would (verse 30), but then did not go. Jesus then poses the question to the religious leaders, “Which of the two did the will of his father?” (verse 31). The answer was clear — the first son did the will of his father. I’m reminded of that familiar line, “actions speak louder than words.” Jesus followed the story of the two sons with a piercing commentary that must have cut the religious authorities to the quick (verses 31-32). In a stunning reversal of conventional thinking, he let them know that prostitutes and tax collectors — societal outcasts — would enter the Kingdom of Heaven ahead of them! Their disbelief, their dismissal of God’s messenger (John the Baptist), their hypocrisy, was scathingly exposed. In short, their refusal to repent, to turn around, was a roadblock. Jesus’ scolding echoed the words of the prophet Ezekiel: Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!

What should we take away from this challenging exchange? We all can hear different things here, of course, but I’m going to circle back to our fundamental need for repentance as highlighted in Luther’s opening thesis, as cited in my introduction. Listen to these familiar words that are often part of our weekly public confession: 

**Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Those words are worth a hard look. They humble us and bring us to our knees. And though it may seem that repentance is a bit out of style in our 2023 “me-oriented” culture, those words are life-giving and remind us that the path of repentance is a daily exercise, an attitude, that gives us a “new heart and new spirit,” motivating us for action in God’s world.   

Soli Deo Gloria

** The Confession of Sin comes from the English Book of Common Prayer and has been part of the ELCA’s Holy Communion setting for decades. You will find it in the ELW on page 95. 

Prayer (from Psalm 25, the Modern English version): 
To You, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; may I not be ashamed; may my enemies not triumph over me. Yes, let none who wait on You be ashamed; let them be ashamed who transgress without cause. Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day. Remember Your mercies, O Lord, and Your lovingkindness, for they are from old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions according to Your lovingkindness remember me, on account of Your goodness, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He will teach sinners in the way. The meek will He guide in judgment, and the meek He will teach His way. Amen. 

Finally . . . an update on our Adult Education/Bible Study at ELC: 

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Join us for an exploration of that question in September and October. We will read and discuss Michael Foss’s book, Real Faith for Real Life: Living the Six Marks of Discipleship. In his book’s introduction, Foss writes: “This book was written to help you grow deep. It was written to help you on your journey of spiritual discovery and renewal. So it’s more than a book; it is workbook or notebook for the soul. Its pages will invite you to be open to hear the greatest call on earth, the call to Jesus the risen Messiah.” 

We had our initial meeting last week, but there is still time to join!  Remaining meeting dates (Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30) September 27, October 11, and 18) I am leading the study and all are welcome!  We have several books on hand, but you may want your own copy – available at a reasonable cost through Amazon. Feel free to contact me with any questions! Call or text at 715-299-0311.  

Faithful Conversations #30

Introduction to Readers: 
By my count, we have 9 Sundays left in our current church year (Year A on the RCL calendar). Year B (2023-24) will start with the first Sunday in December (Advent). I mention this, in part, because as I get older, time flies.

I ran across this this statement from theologian Frederick Buechner (1926-2022) this week:  “Don’t start looking in the Bible for the answers it gives. Start by listening for the questions it asks.” The readings this week center around the idea of “fairness,” and raise tough questions. Would you agree with me that we all seem to have an innate sense of fairness? As a teacher, for example, it is never good to be accused of being unfair — students and parents will pounce on that in a hurry. Anyway, keep “fairness,” and especially our human notions of it, on your radar screen as you walk through this week’s readings. My commentary will focus on the passage from Jonah. Thanks for your continued interest in Bible study!

Readings for Pentecost 17
Jonah 3:10-4:11
Psalm 145:1-8
Philippians 1:21-30
Matthew 20:1-16

First Reading: Jonah 3:10–4:11
¹⁰ When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them, and he did not do it. 4 But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. ² He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning, for I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment. ³ And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” ⁴ And the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” ⁵ Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city. ⁶ The Lord God appointed a bush and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort, so Jonah was very happy about the bush. ⁷ But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. ⁸ When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” ⁹ But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?” And he said, “Yes, angry enough to die.” ¹⁰ Then the Lord said, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. ¹¹ And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left and also many animals?”

The Gospel Reading: The Laborers in the Vineyard
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ⁴ and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. ⁵ When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. ⁶ And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ ⁸ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ ⁹ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received a denarius. ¹⁰ Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, ¹² saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ ¹³ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. ¹⁵ Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ ¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Hurlburt’s Bible Story Book
(First published in 1904)

This Week’s Reflection:

For many of us, Biblical stories from childhood are part of our faith formation. This week’s reading from Jonah triggered a memory of Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible, a staple in the Rykken household (sidebar: I have searched high and low for the book, but it must be packed away somewhere). I suspect the book was the source of many a bedtime story and the illustrations were especially intriguing to me. The story of Jonah being swallowed by the whale, of course, was a favorite and gripped my young imagination. 

“Jonah and the Whale”
Carlo Antonio Tavella (1668–1738)
Flemish Artist

Here’s the backstory. Jonah lived in the 8th century BCE and was called by God to warn the people of Ninevah to repent for their wicked ways. Ninevah was the capital city of the powerful Assyrian Empire, mortal enemy of Israel, and Jonah wanted no part of this Godly calling. He attempted to flee from God by sailing off to the western Mediterranean city of Tarshish. In the course of the stormy voyage, however, Jonah is cast into the sea by his travel companions (at his request, no less) to appease God, and hopefully save the lives of his shipmates. Jonah, alas, is swallowed by a whale and survives for three days in the belly of the great fish, only to be “spewed” onto dry land, a reprieve for the reluctant prophet. The Lord then comes to Jonah a second time with His Ninevah challenge, and Jonah accepts. He walks into the great city, tersely proclaims the Lord’s judgement, and amazingly, the citizens of the ancient city, including the King, repent from their evil ways! This is where we pick up Jonah’s story this week. 

The Lord’s mercy for the citizens of Ninevah is simply too much for Jonah — it was NOT FAIR that God would spare these evil enemies of the Jewish people (4:1-2). In fact, the prophet is so upset that he asks God to take his life (verse 3), a startling moment. God, then, challenges Jonah with one of those piercing questions: “Is it right for you to be angry?” What follows is a curious object lesson for the pouting prophet (verses 5-11) involving a shade bush, a worm, a penetrating east wind, and scorching sun. The Lord impresses on Jonah that he should not be angry over things which he cannot control (the life and death of the bush), and that God’s mercy for the Ninevites surpasses human understanding. Jonah wants justice and condemnation for the Assyrians, but God has other plans.  

What is the message here for us? I suspect all of us want to see good people rewarded and bad people punished. When the opposite occurs, we throw up our hands in disgust. (I can hear my mother’s voice right now, “Life isn’t always fair, Paul!”). God’s compassion for the people of Ninevah (“who do not know their right hand from their left”) illustrates the restorative nature of His justice, and it challenges our sense of fairness. No one is beyond the reach of God’s love, not even those who rattle us to the core, whose lives seem contrary to everything we believe to be right and true. A hard truth, to be sure.

Soli Deo Gloria

A Prayer (inspired by Psalm 145: 1-8)
Lord, we come to you to offer special prayers today and bless your holy name. As we have benefitted from those who taught us the faith, may we declare your mighty acts to the next generation. We often struggle with that work, and we pray for creative insights and authentic motivation that we may bring to bear to that process in 2023 and beyond. You are gracious and merciful, Lord, and abounding and steadfast love — help us to feel that in our hearts. Amen. 

Finally . . . a promo regarding Adult Education/Bible Study at ELC: 

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Join us for an exploration of that question in September and October. We will read and discuss Michael Foss’s book, Real Faith for Real Life: Living the Six Marks of Discipleship. In his book’s introduction, Foss writes: “This book was written to help you grow deep. It was written to help you on your journey of spiritual discovery and renewal. So it’s more than a book; it is workbook or notebook for the soul. Its pages will invite you to be open to hear the greatest call on earth, the call to Jesus the risen Messiah.” 

Meeting Dates: Wednesdays at 6:30 (September 20, 27 and October 11, and 18) I will be leading the study and all are welcome!  We will order several books, but you may want your own copy – available at a reasonable cost through Amazon. Feel free to contact me with any questions!