Monday - July 24, 2023

SCRIPTURE  James 3:13-16 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. WORDS OF HOPE Many of us find ourselves drawn to wholesome and uplifting characters and people. We’re drawn to the inherent goodness of Superman (and the actor David Corenswet who plays him), the unwavering optimism and kindness of Ted Lasso (and the actor Jason Sudeikis who created him), the smart and kind Elle Woods (and the actress Reese Witherspoon who played her), or the tough-love patriarchal Uncle Phil (played by the equally cool and supportive James Avery). These characters not only entertain and inspire, but in many ways, they make us feel seen, heard, and understood. We admire and often want to be like “nice” people who see the world through optimistic eyes, living a humble and selfless existence. When the apostle James asked the piercing question “Who is wise and understanding among you?”, his answer was not found in blustering fools who coexist comfortably with injustice, but among those whose life showed wisdom through a “gentleness born of wisdom”. Rev. James H. Cone, a pioneering American theologian and founder of Black Liberation Theology, argued that Christian wisdom must be measured by its solidarity with the oppressed and its resistance to systems that degrade human dignity. Any “wisdom” that coexists comfortably with “bitter envy and selfish ambition”, Cone insisted, is not from God. It is the source of disorder and evil. Wisdom that protects power at the expense of people is, by biblical definition, false. “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. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” This peace is described by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as the presence of justice. Black theology reminds us that peace is not a concept, but something practically made. It is created through courage, truth-telling, and communal love. The apostle James, the Rev. Cone, and Dr. King invite us to examine the wisdom shaping our words, decisions, and relationships. Are we producing humility or self-protection? Mercy or control? Disorder or life? How can we cultivate a wisdom that does not boast, a peace that does not lie, and a courage that does not dominate? PRAYER God of truth and justice, strip from us the false wisdom of envy, ambition, and self-protection. Teach us the humility that shows up in merciful deeds and the courage that stands with those pushed aside. Plant in us your wisdom from above— pure, peace-making, and full of life— so that our lives may bear a harvest of righteousness. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Thomas Riggs

SCRIPTURE  John 1:5 (NIV) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. WORDS OF HOPE I was once called a “Pollyanna” on social media for an attitude that was too optimistic and perhaps too cheerful. I quickly realized that judgment was surface level, based on a single post, and couldn’t touch what runs much deeper in me. I sent my friend a private reply, saying I could understand how she might see it that way. But I also explained some origins of my optimism. I didn’t grow up in a particularly happy household. We lived under the constant threat of my father’s unpredictable behavior. He was both an alcoholic and bipolar. At least one of those conditions wasn’t his fault and bipolar medications were a few decades away. As to the alcoholism, he came from an era when heavy drinking was accepted, even encouraged, as well as the notion of men ruling the roost with an iron fist; those days when discipline often crossed into what we would now call abuse. We never knew what mood we'd get. When someone lives that way, it’s hard to trust the rare moments of calm, or the sudden bursts of happiness that can tip into mania. Looking back at childhood photos and my grandfather’s 8mm home movies, I notice a consistent optimism on my face. I wasn’t hiding my feelings, exactly—I had found refuge in creativity and comic books. That world became my escape, and, I think, my survival. There was also something inherent in me, a defiance of the depressing household climate. Some of us are born into circumstances that force us to develop inner light early. I know I sublimated those feelings by escaping into my fantasy world of writing and art. What we create in our minds often shapes our emotions and actions. Today is Optimist Day. What stories of your own past have taught you to be optimistic today? We live in a fragile world. These are violent, unpredictable times and the actions, the hopes, of your younger self should spark the same optimism many of us had in our childhoods. It’s ok to dream, to have visions of a better world, to know that silver linings are still not out of style. I recently watched the movie Pollyanna again and better understood the word’s origin. I’m a little prouder now to wear that label— and I should remember it more often. So should all of us. Everyone needs a smile. Even our darkest moments are temporary. PRAYER My Creator, I know I find it difficult on some days to be a beacon of hope to the people I encounter, so I ask that you help me see past my own despair as a bridge for somebody else. In your name, Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Charlie C Rose Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

SCRIPTURE  Luke 6:24-25 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.” WORDS OF HOPE This is from the passage in Luke often called the “Sermon on the Plain”. In it, Jesus doesn’t seem too fond of rich people, more specifically greed. Because of this I don’t hear this quoted much by folks preaching “Prosperity Gospel”. Seems to me Jesus was not a fan of transactional faith. It feels too much like a business arrangement and for me my relationship with the Divine is not a business model. I believe Jesus was encouraging us to weigh the importance of possessions in our pursuit of happiness and grace. Things hold no permanence, but faith and God’s grace are eternal if we open ourselves to that miracle. I was reminded of this recently when I saw a building that had always been a fixture in my life’s history being imploded to make way for something else. That edifice that seemed so solid and permanent was gone in seconds. What remained for me were memories of it and the people and events surrounding it. Those cannot be blown up and carted away. It is those memories that I find much more valuable than the building. Like my faith, they are contained, not in an edifice, but in my mind and to some extent my soul. PRAYER Eternal God, may we receive your grace and hold it fast to our souls for it has more value than any earthly riches. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman

SCRIPTURE Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. WORDS OF HOPE  Throughout my years of teaching Bible truths to children, I used the memorization technique of acting out Scriptures with broad body motions. Of all the scriptures we learned, I hoped that the one they would take with them into the world was Jesus’ Love Commandment covering love of self, love of neighbor, and therefore love of God through practicing those virtues. The motion we used for “love your neighbor” was creating a large circle with both arms. My final question to them each Sunday was, “And who is your neighbor?” “The whole world!” they would eagerly respond. That statement still holds true and will never change. Jesus came to fulfill the complex laws of the Prophets and he fulfilled them through preaching love, the greatest power on Earth. Yet, in the course of human history, loving our neighbor seems to often take a back seat to the glorification of power. Our most foolish and egocentric leaders in every era have practiced that obsession through invasions and wars against our neighbors. Some of them, from the Crusades until now, have even identified themselves as Christians. What happened to Christian love? Cole Arthur Riley is a spiritual educator at Cornell University, best known for her book This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us . She is the creator of Black Liturgies, which integrates Black culture with spiritual practices, centering on themes such as liberation, lament, and justice. Her discernment and wisdom speak to all of us. She has this to say about love and power: “One of the greatest problems of history is that the concepts of love and power are usually contrasted as polar opposites. What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive and that love without power is sentimental and anemic.” Riley’s observations are profound. Love is not just a good feeling we talk about in Sunday School. It is an action, a spiritual practice, the most powerful gift God has ever given. How we’re going to use that gift is up to us. In our personal relationships, in our prayers, in our social media posts, we must never abandon or squander the power of love. But, who can possibly benefit from our persistence? Our neighbors; The Whole World. PRAYER God of Love, God of Divine Power, in our communicating, we are sometimes tempted to adapt the age-old rhetoric of hatred and distrust that surrounds and distracts us. Remind us of your greatest gift. Guide us on the path of love for all that Jesus paved for us. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Dan Peeler Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

SCRIPTURE Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  READING Rev, Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. As you press on for justice, be sure to move with dignity and discipline, using only the weapon of love. WORDS OF HOPE A Cause Worth Fighting For Today, on this first day of Black History Month, we find ourselves in an argument as old as civilization itself. This argument has been repeating itself, beginning again in every generation, every nation, every city, and in every home. But this argument isn’t happening between two opposing parties. In truth, it is rare for anyone to be as good as they appear or as wicked during a war. People tend to live according to the passions of their convictions, and in doing so, tend to feel justified. And bludgeoning someone with one’s convictions becomes a never-ending cycle–escalating over time, demanding greater costs and greater sacrifices. However, true justice has always been hard won, has always needed to be defended, and has always yielded itself to morality. We need not merely the appearance of the moral high ground, but rather the examination of what exactly the moral high ground is. When faced with a seemingly insurmountable climb, Martin Luther King Jr.’s biggest obstacle was not the opposition, however, but his own heart, and how many times must a man who was publicly shamed, shackled, beaten and berated every time he left his house… How many times must he have been tempted to give in to his wrath? How would he have been able to successfully lead a movement using only the weapon of love if he had? At the end of the day, we won the argument because we won the battle over the heart; and if we need to ask ourselves what love is or what goodness looks like, then remember that Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was modeling himself after Christ. PRAYER Merciful Creator, though we are tempted to give into wrath, it is because of our sadness and despair that makes the temptation the most terrible battle for us all. But You are greater than our circumstances and Your salvation must certainly come. Fill our hearts with Your love like a healing balm and deliver us from temptation. Bless you, God, Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Jonathon McClellan Order fo St. Francis and St. Clare