An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

" And now faith, hope,  and love abide, these three;  and the greatest of  these is love." ( 1 Cor. 13:1-13 ) How many times I have used this scripture in a wedding as a sort of biblical guideline for a solid marriage. Follow these words of advice from the apostle Paul, I say, and you will live happily ever after. Not really. I chose this photo from a wedding, which, for the boy, gives him a new parent. Adjustments are in his future. I imagine this would be the apostle Paul's reaction if he heard these verses used in a wedding. That's because he was writing to the Corinthian church experiencing deep divisions because of moral and ethical issues. He wanted new life for the church based on higher righteousness and honorable principles.  He is convinced, that with holy loving at the center, people in the church could co-exist  and attain these higher principles. Holy loving, Paul believed, would create, sustain, and build Christian unity among the Corinthians. In r...

"Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him."  (from   John 2:1-11 ) Every young bride wants a perfect wedding.  It didn't happen for one bride. Just before the ceremony started, the groom asked the best man if he had the ring. The best man reached into his pocket, discovered it wasn't there. It was in the motel 20 miles away. In this parable running out of wine was the end of the wedding. No wine. No wedding.  Jesus' mother pleads with him, get some wine so they can party on.  Jesus orders six jars, which hold 18-20 gallons, to be filled with water. The water is transformed into good wine, about 60 bottles worth. They now have enough good wine for the whole village not just a few guests.  The custom was to serve the good wine until the guests got drunk, then serve the lousy wine. Jesus reversed that. He served the good wine to the drunk guests.  Note the setting. Cana is in Gal...

"On the day I called,  you answered me,  you increased my strength of soul." ( Psalm 138 ) Elaine's mother, at age 97, was living through her last days suffering terribly with spinal multiple myeloma. She wanted to die at home, so a hospital bed was rented and home health services were called in. On the day the ambulance brought her home, she insisted on walking into the house, not carried on a stretcher. She must have been in excruciating pain. The psalms call this "a day of trouble" ( Psalm 20:1 ) Someone is going through a really tough time. The term “day of trouble” is vague on purpose. It can mean times of physical illness, spiritual struggle, financial peril, or military threat. This crisis is also known as a “day when I call.” Times of crisis are also times of prayer when a suffering person or people “cry out” to the Lord. In this psalm, the poet has, by the grace of God, been brought through the "day of trouble".  When referring to the "s...

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,  because he has anointed me  to bring good news to the poor. (from Luke 4:14-21 ) A preacher often says this before preaching: "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord" from Psalm 19:14. It's a prayer for the Spirit of the Lord to rest on the preacher. Luke 14:18 has the same meaning. The Man The man, of course, is Jesus.  After 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus returned home to Galilee. While in the wilderness has been tested and overcome temptations.  Jesus, filled with the Spirit, begins teaching on the Sabbath in the synagogue. One Sabbath, he's the reader. He's handed the scroll, opens it, and reads Isaiah 61:1-2 .  This is Jesus’ manifesto.   The Message Empowered by the Spirit, Jesus begins his ministry of proclaiming good news to the poor, freedom for prisoner's, recovery of sight for the blind, setting the oppressed free, and proclaiming the year of the Lord...

 "The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus  in bodily form like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven,  “You are my Son, the Beloved;  with you I am well pleased.” (from  Luke 3:15-17-21-22  and Psalm 2:2-7 ) I have great expectations for 2022. But, I am not naïve. I have just lived through an unimaginable year. That's why the Sunday we renew our baptism vows is so important to me. I am reminded, along with the whole church, I have promised to "resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves." John the Baptizer, makes it clear some "wrath to come" is possible, especially for the hungry. We ask, like the people gathered at the river, "What then should we do?" John declares, "Repent and be baptized." Repent means to turn away from involvement with the old age's values of evil, injustice and oppression and turn towards God's coming age in Jesus Christ. In this setting, Jesus comes to John for baptism ind...

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord  has risen upon you." (from Isaiah 60:1-6 ) The darkest time of the year is upon us.  Celebrating Epiphany, the arrival of the promised coming of a light the darkness cannot overcome, is a sign of hope. The Magi's story (found  here ) is a familiar one.  Not so familiar is the reality that The Magi were traveling in the darkness of a broken world. The brokenness of fear, oppression, poverty, and violence created by a power-threatened Herod. Over 2000 have passed and it seems as though we are living in the darkness of a broken world. The brokenness of fear, oppression, poverty, and violence are still with us.  It can feel as though the promised light that the darkness cannot overcome has yet to arrive. Where are the Magi following a star and offering gifts to the Christ child?  Where has the glory of the Lord risen upon us? God IS redeeming this broken world. "Raise your eyes and look about” ...