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Eden People – The Magi of Epiphany

In the beginning, God created the heavens, the earth, and a garden somewhere in the East. Genesis 2 tells us the garden of Eden, the original heaven on earth, was established in the East.

Now in the book of Matthew, we have mysterious, wise men hailing from the
East. They worship a single God, believe in a coming Messiah, and look forward to a reordering of this world where good triumphs over evil. Unlike the priests and leaders hanging out in Jerusalem, these men are not beholden to the power and brutality of worldly leaders. These men move through this world confidently, seeking truth, following a star across the night sky like Israel once followed a pillar of fire through the wilderness. Their faith is strong, and their expectations are high.

They are looking for the king of the Jews. They want to worship the king of the Jews. They are gentiles, outsiders, but they see Messiah just on the horizon, and they are moving through wilderness to honor and adore him.

These wise men from a long-lost Eden, Kneel before a baby, a child, the most powerless and innocent creatures. Oh, how Herod must have sneered when these travelers walked back out of his palace onto the dusty Road taking their treasures with them.

These gifts were meant for messiah.

These gifts were meant for the one who could rule with justice and equity — for one who leads goodness in triumph over evil.

These gifts were meant for one in tune with God, a holy arbitrator who reconciles his people.

These gifts were meant for the one who brings healing and life, not brutality and slaughter.

These gifts, well, these gifts were meant to adorn a body for burial, the body of the king of the Jews willingly sacrificed, utterly humiliated, and buried in a tomb.

And where are you in this story? And where am I in this story? Do we sit in the halls of power, conspiring to ensure our own security, and our own position at the top of the political order by trampling anyone weaker? Maybe, sometimes, in ways that we’d rather not admit.

But on our best days, in those moments, we are captivated by a light shining in the darkness – We can be like the magi.

We are called to be like the magi. We are called to be Eden People. We are called to be Heralds of the Kingdom of God. The spirit moves us to speak truth, seek goodness, and champion justice without fear or regard for those in power. We are to bring our best gifts and our best selves to the feet of Jesus.

And we are not distracted by the magnetism or ruthlessness of false kings.

And there are a lot of false kings.

I encourage you to think about these wise men, about the kind of people they are. The sort of religious movement they represent. The place from where they traveled and the star which showed them the way. Think about the people they upset and the gifts that they brought, and, most importantly, the child whom they adored. The Messiah, the King of the Jews, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our savior.

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A Prayer for Memorial Day

Lord,

We come to you now, on this Memorial Day. It is a time in our country when we paused to recognize those who have laid down their lives in service to our country.

Lord, we have a great deal of thanks to those who sow fit to lay down their lives for us.

And yet, Lord, there are men and women who bled and died in service and protection of this country. Only to have us dishonor their memory by allowing the persistence of violence here at home.

Lord, we are again are shaken by the scourge of gun violence. We, who are your people, lay flags on graves in honor of those killed and lower flags to half mast in morning for those who have been murdered. The violence in our country seems so unrelenting

Jesus, we your followers admit that we have done very little to be peacemakers in our own lives. We escalate conflict in our places of work. We fail to build bridges within our of schools. We neglect to build community living right next-door. We even fan the flames of division in you very own church.

Holy Spirit, forgive us our failures. Abide within us. Empower us to lay down our idols, our idols of politics, tribalism, consumerism, elitism, racism, and sexism. May we exchange these idols for the mantle of peace. For hearts filled with love. For hands eager to do the work of your kingdom.

Give us courageous leaders. Beholden to your true wisdom, and ready to protect the most vulnerable in our society, rather than the powerful, the wealthy, and the entitled.

May it be truly said of us, that as far as it depends on us, we will live in peace. Even as we work for peace in this world. Lord, living in peace is the greatest honor we can bestow on the fallen, who traded their own lives.

We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, who laid down his life for us, and encourages us to put away our swords, or else beat them into ploughshares.

Amen.

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Part of the Tapestry

All of these new things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation. -2 Corinthians 5:18 CEB

In the Vatican Museum, there are several beautiful tapestries, some of which used to cover the Sistine Chapel. Perhaps the most famous is The Resurrection of Christ. These works of art are so detailed that it’s easy to forget that they’re woven from tiny strands of wool thread. The Resurrection of Christ is so life like that the eye appears to follow the viewer.

I think it is interesting that these tapestries are woven from wool, the material we acquire from sheep. It is as if each little sheep has contributed a little bit of themselves to God’s plan. The Good Shepherd invites us to be woven into the tapestry of reconciliation.

But, what exactly is reconciliation?

The Methodist tradition recognizes that the world is both beautifully made and badly broken. The ties that bound humanity to God are tattered. The threads that connect neighbor to neighbor are terribly frayed by the power of sin. It is as if all creation is a beautiful tapestry, shredded by pain and suffering. 

This tapestry can only be restored through the process of reconciliation. Jesus entered into the world as the means by which we are all reconciled to God. Jesus is like the master weaver. He moves needle and thread in and out of the broken seams, putting the world back together again.

We are called to be instruments of reconciliation. We are called to be sharp needles and strong thread guided by the hand of the master weaver. God asks us to move back and forth in relationship with one another, putting the tapestry back together again.

The work of reconciliation is perhaps best captured by the words attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, and I’ve taken some liberties here:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sew love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. Amen.

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The Big Move

For in him we live and move and have our being. – Acts 17:28

As a young adult, I have never lived in the same place for very long. I moved every year of college, twice in Seminary, then twice when I got married. In the last 12 years, I have lived in two dorms, three apartments, two houses, and a duplex.

Now, we’ve sold our house in the heart of Atlanta. We need more room for our son and want to be closer to my new appointment. However, because of the market’s volatility, we had to wait until closing to have the cash on hand to make an offer on another home. When we bought that house, we had looked at only three places. This time, we looked at around thirty.

This may sound foolish, but this move has been the most significant leap of faith I’ve experienced in my life so far. I thought our biggest challenge would be selling our house before buying, but now we’ve gone under contract on a house that will not be available for 30-60 days.

Praise God for our amazing family who is helping to shelter, move, and support us emotionally during this crazy season. I’ve rarely been more thankful for the community of faith.

Every time I move, I try to remember the promise I made myself when I answered my call to ministry. When I first came to Atlanta, I took an old canvas and covered it with silk flowers, and painted a message on it that I wanted to keep on the forefront of my mind: Live Simply.

I worked my way through Seminary but still had to take out loans. I had so little spending money and all my furniture and dishes, cookware and such were second hand. I really didn’t mind at the time. That’s how most people live in their early twenties. Nevertheless, I wanted to guard myself against acquiring too much stuff. I didn’t want to be distracted or weighed down by possessions. I really did feel like any day God might call me to drop everything and become a foreign missionary, and I wanted to be ready.

Then I got married and had a child. Though my husband still considers himself a minimalist, my child and his grandparents have inundated us with stuff, and I’m struggling to live out my conviction of simple living.

As time goes on, the temptation to “keep up with the Joneses” becomes stronger and stronger. Last weekend, I found myself discussing all the expensive changes I would make to the new house. I suddenly realized I was again falling into the trap of dissatisfaction. How easily does it creep up!

We need to be willing to hold the gifts God gives us with open hands, ready to return them to our Creator when the time comes.

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By Any Other Name

“Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).”

“Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!””
‭‭John‬ ‭20:16 & 28‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

A couple of weeks ago, I received my first piece of mail in which the prefix “Rev.” appeared before my name. It was the first time I had ever seen it written, and it felt surreal.

Becoming commissioned and ordained in The United Methodist Church as an Elder is a challenging process. I love this denomination, but I felt especially challenged because I was not raised a Methodist.

Full disclosure, I was deferred in 2020 primarily due to my lack of theological clarity. I was so upset, but at the time was offered a position as a Local Pastor. In the UMC, a local pastor is a type of clergy with a few differences from Elders. When I was deferred, someone on the board told me not to worry. I’d still be called “Reverend.”

That got me thinking, how important is that particular title to me? How often is one even referred to as “reverend” or “pastor” or “minister.”

I ended up declining the Local Pastor position to focus on my new baby and stay safe during COVID. In retrospect, deferral was such a blessing for my family. I joined a study group of people trying to pass the theology requirement. Funnily enough, none of them had been raised Methodist.

Now that I see the “Rev.” appearing before my name, I’ve started to think about the many names we use for faith leaders. I can recall receiving new clergy and asking them, “what would you like us to call you? Rev. LastName? Pastor FirstName? Doctor? Father? Brother? Minister? FirstName only?

What we call our clergy helps them understand what we want them to do for us. The titles we choose to use conveys how we want that minister (ordained or not) to function in our lives.

Jesus’s disciples called him Rabbi for the vast majority of his ministry. It is the traditional title for a Jewish spiritual leader who operated among the people, which means teacher. At the time, spiritual leaders also had the titles of “Priest” if you worked in the Temple or “Scribe” if you preserved the Holy Texts. There were even a few “Prophets” and “Prophetesses,” and even one “Baptist” that we know of.

When Jesus appeared to Disciple Thomas in John 20, he used a rather unique title, “My Lord and My God,” making explicit what so many already felt in their hearts.

These titles matter because they illustrate the perceived nature of the relationships on behalf the person speaking. Jesus had always been “Lord” and “God” to those who followed him. But it makes an enormous difference to use these terms and recognize Jesus for who he really is!

When addressing unfamiliar clergy, I make sure to use the most formal title available to show respect. I go out of my way to do this for clergy of color or clergywomen, who have been routinely denied the respect they deserve from the church.

I’m thrilled to have “Rev.” appear in front of my name, but I don’t need it. I’d rather people call me whatever they’re comfortable calling me. I’d rather someone use a title or name that helps me understand what role I fill in their life. I am amazed at the power these names and titles hold in shaping our understanding of one another. And, I am in awe of the power in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord, and my God.

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Restoration – The Messenger of Jesus

 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.But who can endure the day of his coming?… For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. Malachi 3:1-2

We will conclude our story of scripture here, with the last book of the Old Testament. The book of Malachi was written sometime after both the temple and the Jerusalem walls had been rebuilt. Though the city and sanctuary were now in functioning order, the people of Jerusalem still yearned for the glory days when they had their own king ruling over them, if those days were any good, to begin with. Things just weren’t what they could be. The Jews longed for a Messiah, a rescuer, someone who could make their world whole.

God speaks through the Prophet Malachi to announce to the people that the “messenger of the covenant”, the Lord whom they desire, is on the way. In fact, the name Malachi means “messenger.”

The prophet announces that there is someone coming who will refine people’s hearts like fire and wash people of sin like strong soap. How will they know when he’s about to arrive? God will send a messenger ahead to prepare the way. The next chapter says that God will specifically send the prophet Elijah. You might remember that Elijah was the guy who called down fire on an altar way back when the kings were still ruling Israel.

When we turn the page from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we find out the identity of these two mysterious figures. The messenger preparing the way is John the Baptist, and the Lord who will refine and wash us clean is Jesus of Nazareth. The story of Scripture has led up to this son of a poor carpenter from a small town in Galilee. He is not rich or royal, but he is the Son of the living God, Emmanuel, God with us. He is slow to anger, abounding in love, champion of the poor, king of heaven, model of humility, savior of all humankind.

As we conclude this devotional series, could you tell someone the story of Scripture? Could you tell someone the story of Jesus Christ? Like the women returning from the tomb on Easter morning, will you be God’s messenger?

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Restoration – Milestones of Faith

With praise and thanksgiving, they sang to the Lord “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many… who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy.  Ezra 3:11

The Temple is being rebuilt. It is literally a dream come true. People are shouting and singing and playing music. They’ve traveled from foreign lands to resurrect the community of God from ashes and rubble. It should be the happiest day of these people’s lives. Yet, when the foundation is laid, some of the older members present begin to cry. Why? Are they happy tears because things are finally getting made right again? Or are they genuinely sad? Overcome with emotion because the old temple is never coming back? It’s difficult to say exactly why these people are weeping, but we can at least say that this is an emotional day for everyone.

Emotions have an important place in our faith journey. Sometimes we find ourselves riding an emotional high after worship. Perhaps we find ourselves convicted and ready to join a noble cause after hearing someone’s testimony. Maybe you’ve caught yourself crying while sharing your own experiences at camp or on retreat.

Emotions are a gift from God that help reinforce our spiritual experience, but it’s important that we do not mistake our emotions for real, solid, faith. The Jews have worked so incredibly hard to follow God’s call in rebuilding the temple. The crazy part is, they have only just started. This is just the groundbreaking ceremony. There are years of work still ahead of them, and they will face all kinds of challenges to get the job done.

The Christian journey is like building a temple. It takes a long time and a lot of hard work. There will be many emotional milestones to encourage us along the way. May we celebrate and give thanks for the joyful milestones in our own faith journey, but never lose sight of our goal in Christ.

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Restoration – Ezra and the Temple

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:  The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Ezra 1:1

In the British Museum, there’s a small stone artifact roughly the shape of a glass Coca-Cola bottle. It’s called The Cyrus Cylinder, and it is one of the few instances we have specific archeological evidence for something that happened in the Bible. The Cylinder is inscribed with an account from Cyrus, King of Persia, which is modern day Iran. It explains that the king spent time and money to restore many temples in the empire, especially ones that the Babylonians destroyed. This included building a new temple in Jerusalem.

The way the Book of Ezra tells the story, Cyrus makes the decision to organize the rebuilding of the temple after God stirs up his heart. It is God who works through this powerful foreign king to restore the sanctuary in Jerusalem, and Jews from all over will be called together to get the job done. God has a habit of stirring up hearts, and it’s our job to work together to get the job done.

One day, God stirred up the heart of UMC minister Rev. Brian Combs with the words from a poor man in his ministry. “The shelter lets out early in the morning and I’m on lockout until afternoon,” the man said. “In the park, there’s a chance of arrest; in the library a chance of getting kicked out, and middle of the day and middle of the week is when I struggle with addiction the most.  I’d rather hear the Good News than get high.”  Brian decided to do something about that, so he founded a church which meets at 12:30 PM on Wednesdays.

Rev. Brian and King Cyrus were both moved by the Holy Spirit to do the work of God. They had their hearts stirred, and they followed through with commitment and action. May God move our hearts to do God’s will and may our hands and our feet follow.

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Restoration – A Good Broken Heart

They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:3-4

Nehemiah was a Jewish man working in the court of the King of Persia. The Persians had defeated the Babylonians many years before and were much kinder. The Jewish people had taken to heart the instructions from Jeremiah to put down roots and get on with their lives in exile. Nehemiah was born and raised outside of Jerusalem. Eventually, some Jews moved back to Jerusalem, and they sent word back to Nehemiah that the conditions in their ancestral home were awful. Nehemiah breaks down and cries. He is broken-hearted, devastated. He rallies himself together enough to go to God in prayer.

The city of Jerusalem is more than walls and buildings. It is supposed to be the place for God’s community here on earth. Living in exile has been tolerable, but Jerusalem is the dream. It is where God’s people are able to worship, read Scripture, and celebrate holy days. It is where real fellowship happens, and the family of God is made stronger. Without walls, not only does Jerusalem look unimpressive, but it is also vulnerable to raiders and foreign invaders. It is unsafe and inhospitable and unsustainable for the community of God.

Nehemiah’s experience makes us ask ourselves, where is our breaking point? Do we care about God’s community as much? Would I ever be so moved about the plight of a city or people? Do I care as much about the community of the church or my small group?

Over the course of the book, Nehemiah raises funds and recruits volunteers and goes about the difficult and dangerous work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. He was broken by what he witnessed, asked God for guidance, and put in the work to make things right. The fact is, there is so much in our world today that should break our hearts and motivate us to do God’s work. Give God permission to break your heart so that you might be a better servant of the community of faith.

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Restoration- The End of Exile

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God; Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for…A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:1-3

The Prophet Isaiah is given this oracle to speak to the people of Israel when they near the end of the Exile. God is calling out to Israel to give them comfort. It’s an important verse in the book of Isaiah because it presents a huge shift in the message of the book. In fact, some people call the following few chapters the “Book of Comfort” because the tone is one of support and encouragement. The Jews are about to go home.

The second part of this passage talks about building a road in the wilderness. A long straight path on which God will travel. But where is God going, and where has God been? Remember that one of the most important themes of Scripture is that God is always with God’s people. The Lord was with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David, Deborah, Ruth, Esther. When Jerusalem was destroyed and the temple was burned, God did not migrate up to heaven or float out into the desert. God went into exile too.

Christian writer Bob Goff tells a story about a tradition he started with his children and neighbors more than twenty years ago. On New Year’s Day, he sent his kids door-to-door to invite everyone to a parade they would be having later that day. The only catch was that no one would be allowed to watch the parade. They all had to march in the parade together.

Isaiah imagines the journey back to Jerusalem like a parade with the living God leading the way. Many generations from now, John the Baptist will use this very scripture to talk about his purpose in preparing the way for Jesus Christ. John will literally go into the wilderness beyond Jerusalem to preach and turn people’s hearts back to God in anticipation for the ministry of Jesus. Imagine God walking side-by-side with you, offering comfort, support, and encouragement.