Monday - April 17, 2023
Donald (Luke) Day
READING
Grant that we may not seek to be loved as to love.
-From the Prayer of St. Francis
WORDS OF HOPE
There is great wisdom as well as sound advice for living in the famous prayer attributed to St. Francis. We live in a world that is so centered on self-gratification that being loved is of much greater importance than showing love to others. Let’s expand the thought of the Francis meditation and pray: "Lord, to those who need loving compassion, may I express your selfless love and service to them."
Loving compassion is more than simple love. It's a special form of love which implies that you commune with the other person in midst of their personal distress. You are "walking with them" in their suffering, loss or distress. It's an expression of love which becomes deeply personal for them. It's not the greeting card or casserole type of love; rather, it's the sit down and really share their grief type of love. It takes time and requires that you be willing to understand their deep feelings and pain.
It's a love that is based in patience; much like the healing love which Jesus offers when you're distressed. It requires that your love be divinely transformed so that it reaches with healing presence into their soul. And how do you change your love into that type of compassionate love? You offer the opportunity to help someone with your words and your presence up to God, and you ask God to transform that opportunity into an act of divine healing for the distressed person. If you suddenly encounter someone with this type of suffering, you may not have time to think or plan your words or actions.
PRAYER
Lord, take me and my heart; transform me into your divine love to help this person. Go to work through me! May I put your transformative power at work.
DEVOTION AUTHOR
Donald (Luke) Day
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
Need More Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions
SCRIPTURE I Corinthians 1:27-29 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. WORDS OF HOPE Being a fan of the works of Aaron Sorkin (think The West Wing, A Few Good Men, Moneyball, The Newsroom), I find myself wishing I could wake up one morning with the rapid-fire dialogue plus the witty and intellectual banter of one of his characters. Particularly in academic situations, I want to have the banter of President Josiah Bartlett or Anchorman Will McAvoy. Instead, I wake up as the same old me. Writing better than I speak, I can’t recall names when I want to and struggle to put together coherent sentences in the moment. If scripture ever had an Aaron Sorkin character, it would be the Apostle Paul. He is classically trained, a citizen of Rome, well-traveled, and able to debate among the Greeks and in the Synagogue. Yet here, in 1 Corinthians, Paul makes the assertion that the message of the cross is “foolishness” and “a stumbling block” and “a weakness”. He offers a radical redefinition of value and meaning. While human wisdom often seeks logical explanations and strength, Paul insists that God's plan operates on a different plane, one that subverts worldly expectations. Paul asks rhetorically, “Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law?” and argues that God has made the wisdom of the world foolish. This is not a rejection of intellect, but rather a critique of pride and self-reliance. The Jews want miraculous signs, the Greeks want solid philosophic thought. Instead, Paul presents a “Christ crucified” which makes no sense to either group. This inversion is intentional. God does not conform to human categories or expectations but acts through ‘foolish’ means to fulfill God’s purposes. While human wisdom often seeks logical explanations and strength, Paul insists that God's plan operates on a different plane, one that subverts worldly expectations. I still want to wake up one morning with the witty banter of an Aaron Sorkin character. But even more so, I wake up every morning knowing of God’s good grace and humbly accepting that God’s wisdom is greater than anything I could imagine. PRAYER Lord, help me to trust in the wisdom of Your cross, even when it seems foolish to the world. Teach me to boast only in You, knowing that my strength and salvation come from Your grace alone. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Thomas Riggs
SCRIPTURE Habakkuk 1: 1-3 How long oh Lord, must I cry out for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you “VIOLENCE” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife and conflicts abound. WORDS OF HOPE One evening after watching a news report where folks were being arrested at a peaceful demonstration, I literally said out loud, “Really God, where are you during this absolute insanity of injustice? Are you just going to idly sit by and let the destruction happen?” I wondered if I could stay where I am, keep the faith and maintain my calm. While researching the Bible for the answers, I discovered it’s full of folks who felt the same way and found this current situation in our world is really nothing new. In my quest for biblical support, I found solidarity and optimism in the story of Habakkuk. He wrestled with this problem as all around him injustice and fear were running rampant. He too was infuriated by how the wicked always seemed to prosper. He felt like God was just hanging out, doing nothing about all the evil happening around him, and after all, wasn’t that God’s job! So, he cried out as well and petitioned God to do something and stop the chaos. It’s a remarkable story about faith, patience, and God’s timing. In the end, God declares he will deal with evil and restore justice. Habakkuk learns to trust God and live by faith, even in the face of adversity. His experience reminds us though the world may be filled with evil and suffering, God's ultimate plan of justice will triumph even when things seem uncertain or difficult. This includes both the punishment of the wicked and the restoration of the righteous. While I unequivocally believe God will prevail, I am just wondering…..God, could you please hurry? PRAYER Creator God of ALL, give us the stamina to maintain our faith, the courage to stand up to adversity and the wisdom to know your word will prevail! In Jesus name, Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Donna Jackson
SCRIPTURE Proverbs 26:20 NIV Without wood a fire goes out. WORDS OF HOPE The Serenity of Silence Today is Juneteenth, the day slaves in Texas finally learned they were free long after the end of the chaos of the Civil War. Today many African Americans gather in silent prayer to honor the occasion. Silence is not the absence of chaos but the presence of control. Rage is chaotic, so too is lust; neither of which need sound to be present. To quiet the storms in our hearts, we need only bring order to the confusion. One can stay silent only by showing restraint. A teacher should instruct by considering what she or he says. Every manner of thought passes through the mind, every kind of emotion is felt in the heart, but if each thought were said and every emotion expressed, then even in sleep there would be no rest. Silence bridals the tongue and reins in the heart. It does not always stop the fire within, but it keeps the fire from spreading. Consider silence when you do not know what to say. It is better to say nothing than it is to say the wrong thing. How good it is to sleep in peace. It is hard to sleep under a bridge while a train is passing by. Likewise, let your words offer the listener rest and try your best not to argue. Anger without control ruins relationships but anger with control sees the end of it. There are times when we cannot stay silent, for a pot will boil over if the lid is kept on for too long. However, if we are patient and wise, then we will choose the manner in which we speak and the time. Many monks meditate in silence. Some have found silence so valuable that they even take a vow of silence, meaning that they live their entire lives without speaking. Perhaps, this is the reason why they never go to war. How can there be a fire with nothing to burn or how can there be an argument without words? Quiet places are quite peaceful. There is music all around us, and we can hear it only if we are listening. PRAYER Gentle Spirit, Teach us wisdom. Help us to understand. Some of us do not know peace. Grant us the serenity of silence. Let our minds be at rest and our hearts be still. Bless You, for always making a way. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Jonathon McClellan Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE Daniel 1: 11-16 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So, the guard took away their choice of food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. WORDS OF HOPE During the Babylonian exile, the Hebrews adopted a lot of customs and learnings from the Babylonians. This story of Daniel, the same one who was rescued from the “lion’s den” is one I never really examined, but it contains an interesting nutritional observation. Daniel, in his quest to keep what we now call the Kosher Laws refused to eat the food provided and insisted on a diet of simple vegetables and water. Not surprisingly after a few weeks, he was healthier than the others who had been eating what was most likely non-kosher meals and meat, I would guess pork. It’s a biblical argument for a vegetarian diet, but more importantly, it is an illustration of how Daniel followed his traditions as the others adopted those of the Babylonians. Not everything about a new culture is positive, nor is it negative. It is just new, and as such may or may not be a good thing. The story reminds me to be open to new experiences and ideas but to not discard all my old ones. After all the old ones got me this far. PRAYER May we always be open to new ideas yet still be guided by God’s grace and wisdom. DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman
SCRIPTURE Proverbs 13.10 Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. James 3.17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Sirach 11:1,3 The wisdom of the humble lifts their head high. The bee is small among flying creatures, but what it produces is the best of sweet things. WORDS OF HOPE There is so much speculation, so much misinformation, so many outright lies floating around our multitude of news sources these days, we long for some good old-fashioned words of wisdom. Where do we find it? You and I should both know the answer to that: The wisdom literature of the Bible, both in the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures of the Protestant Bible, and in the Apocryphal books of the Roman Catholic version. Sirach is one of the best known of these books. The words are from the great wisdom teacher, Ben Sira. But wisdom, even then, came with a price. Here it is clear that Ben Sira was teaching a group of young men who probably were more privileged in society. Their families may have had enough wealth that the boys got better schooling and were not forced directly into the common labor market. It would have been quite natural that they might fall into the sticky grip of pride; especially, when speaking or teaching other men of less means. However, the danger of pride is not limited to them. How can it affect us today? The character trait of humility is based upon proper acceptance of who we really are and of valid respect for the worth of the other person's life and knowledge. The Psalms and Proverbs are filled with many admonitions for humility, and it was a major trait given example in the life of Jesus. Certainly, it is not a character trait which is given much value by today's onslaught of self-promotional behavior. However curious enough, humility when linked with wisdom is an admired trait when seen in the life of a deceased person. Who gives much honor to the person whose eulogy states that he was an arrogant fool? However, the humble departed soul is revered and remembered for the acts and words of kindness by which that person showed respect for others. The essence of wisdom boils down to a valid acceptance of the equal worth of every human. That’s how God views all of us, worthy of divine love; why can’t we see others as God does? PRAYER Creator of all, help us to remember that the wisest among us are also the humblest. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE Ephesians 4:1-3 (The Message) In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. WORDS OF HOPE Get Going and Use the Gifts You’ve Got! The writings of the Apostle Paul come alive in this contemporary paraphrase of the New Testament by American pastor, Eugene Peterson. There is an importance, an urgency to these words. They call us to the task of living out our journey on the path that the early disciples simply named, “The Way.” It is the path God calls you to travel. Where does that road go? It is a journey that is unique for everyone, yet similar. Whatever our gifts, we are to “pour ourselves out for each other in acts of love.” We are admonished to see beyond differences and quickly mend fences. Wow! Does that sound relevant and needed today! Verses 4-6 continue, “You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.” Then, just when you think Paul’s message is describing some overly homogenized social melting pot, there is verse 7: “But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift.” You may be struggling right now, but don’t ever succumb to the falsehood that you don’t have gifts that this world needs. Cultivate the discipline of a grateful heart. Offer loving kindness to someone who is ignored or rejected. Be the hands and feet of Christ through service, compassion, speaking up, and taking a stand when it matters. We can’t fix everything or save everyone. God doesn’t expect us to. God expects us to use the gifts we were given to bring hope and light to troubled people in tough places. Get going, and remember to use the gifts you’ve got! PRAYER Dear Jesus who loves us, help us we pray, to use what we have, be who we are, and follow Your Way. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley Pastoral Psychotherapist drgk.org