An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

Then Jesus began to speak,  and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit,  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (from Matthew 5:1-12 ) To say the least, I am greatly disturbed by the videos of the Memphis police beating Tyre Nichols.  I am heartbroken as I watched his mother passionately talk about his life and the type of person he was. Analysts discussing the videos not only highlighted the violence, but also the culture that assumes a Black person means trouble. Tyre Nichols followed the teachings for people of color being stopped for a traffic violation: be calm, do as the police say, and you will be okay. What is it that God has to say about episodes like these? God speaks through Jesus' Beatitudes beginning with either "blessed" or "happy". I am wondering how on earth was Tyre Nichols blessed? Or how was his mother happy? Or is there a blessing for the rest of us as we watch yet another violent act based on racial profiling? It seems to m...

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined. (from Isaiah 9:1-4 ) I admire the faith of the Ukrainian people, who in the midst of war, destruction all around, not knowing when the next explosion would occur, attended church. The Ukrainian backstory is one of domination by the Russians due to their geography which would eventually lead to an attack of some sort. Deep darkness for them is brutality, poverty and hunger, leaving a time without hope and creating anguish and contempt. Walking in this darkness of destruction, the Ukrainians trusted the light of Christ to illuminate hope in their time of trouble. A similar situation faced the tribes of Zebulon and Naphtali who were vulnerable to attack during the Syro-Ephraimite War and the anti-Assyrian coalition which causes the downfall of Israel by Assyria. Israel's deep darkness is similar to Ukraine experience of brutality, poverty and hunger leaving...

Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever. (From Psalm 40 ) The psalm composer and U2 have something in common. King David, Psalm 40's author, describes deliverance from trouble, set on firm ground, do providing a reason to praise the Lord for steadfast love and faithfulness. This salvation experience gives David a “new song" of praise telling of the Lord’s goodness hoping it leads others to trust in God’s salvation. The Irish rock band U2, on their 1985 album “War”, included a song called “40,” roughly based Psalm 40:1-3. The song begins as the singer waits patiently for the Lord's deliverance described as hearing the plea for help, being rescued, and set on solid ground.  A miraculous turnaround and transformation occurred in the singer's life enabling him to sing positively instead of in grief.  Each verse concludes with the refrain: "I will sing, sing a new song". In the final, not part...

"And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him." (From Matt. 3:13-17 ) God was with Jesus. God certainly traveled with Jesus on his road trip from Bethlehem. Jesus was almost killed by Herod who ordered the slaughter of boys under two; He traveled as a refugee from Bethlehem to Egypt; his family couldn't return to their hometown so they lived in Nazareth.  Decades later, Jesus travels to Galilee where his cousin John is baptizing in the wilderness. Jesus wades into the Jordan is baptized, comes up from the water, a dove descends, and a voice from heaven speaks, "This is my Son the Beloved". In this glimpse of glory, Jesus' baptism is God's sign of hope announcing Him as the one who will redeem Israel.  For decades prophets such as Amos, Micah, and Hosea have been speaking God's word, which seems unheard, so through t...

"In his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old." (from Isaiah 63:7-9 ) John Wesley felt lifted and carried by Christ. Wesley, upon returning from Georgia feeling discouraged and depressed, attended a prayer meeting in Aldersgate Street where he heard Luther's preface to Romans . Wesley described having a heartwarming experience because he heard an assurance that his sins had been forgiven and that God loved him, even him. "I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." (John Wesley, May 24, 1738) The Aldersgate, redeeming, life changing event, became the foundation of the Methodist Movement and a re-awakening of Wesley's faith and relationship to God. Mike felt lifted and carried by Christ. For years Mike had been struggling with the addictive powers of alcoholism leading him d...