Tuesday - June 23, 2025
Dan Peeler
SCRIPTURE
Revelation 2. 9-11
I know your tribulation and your poverty, but you are rich and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. To the one who has an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.
WORDS OF HOPE
Every time one of our daily lectionary readings is from the Book of the Revelation, I think about Martin Luther who was a vocal critic of many books of the Bible. He famously detested the Epistle of James, labeling it an "epistle of straw" due to its perceived lack of grace by emphasizing justification by faith. And the Book of Revelation! He just wanted to trash the whole thing.
He saw it as a writing that was not Christ-centered at all, no gospel of love anywhere in sight, all about punishment, hatred and revenge. The Book is actually about the Roman Empire’s persecution that believers must endure due to their faith, full of metaphors about outrageous mythical tyrant beasts who finally burn forever in the pit of fire.
The words of a brighter future in it, however, come when they are encouraged to remain faithful even to the point of death with the promise of eternal glory as a reward, emphasizing the assurance of security to believers. The “pie in the sky when you die” that was preached so often in some evangelical churches of my youth. Even though Martin Luther knew a lot of persecution himself, he just wasn’t buying it. It wasn’t speaking to his generation.
He was right. Whenever we attempt to adapt some of the metaphors and monsters understood by the first century readers into warnings and predictions meant for our era, we have a problem. The bad guys in Revelation were the Roman Emperor and the corrupt leaders of their religious system, not the list of individuals we don’t like today, people we like to call Satan, the devil, or the Anti-Christ in our memes. The stories that keep modern Prophecy Seminars well-attended and profitable.
The message I like to take from Revelation is not about the gospels of hatred and revenge, but the importance of faith in the worst of times, the faith that directs us to the gospel missing in the Book: the gospel of Love.
PRAYER
May love continue to bind us together, regardless of the trials and persecutions of our lives, and regardless of promises of future rewards for our faith, knowing that the true reward, the true comfort, is living that gospel of love this day. Amen
DEVOTION AUTHOR
Dan Peeler
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
Need Some Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions
SCRIPTURE Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. WORDS OF HOPE I love the idea of ordering things from a kiosk, like the ones they have at some McDonalds - Not that I allow myself to eat there too often. It seems virtually trouble free and accurate. You can add extra cheese or pickles, tell it no onions, and the list appears before you on the screen. Oddly enough, I first discovered these kiosks while on vacation one year in Paris at the equivalent of McDonalds they call the Q, I think. The biggest difference is they are actually good burgers without all the added chemicals we allow in the States, and which are outlawed in Europe. I like that. Europeans are smart and they seem to have each other’s backs. In fact, I don’t think we’re too far away from ordering medical services from kiosks. We have telemedicine already. It seems like a natural next step. You could be an A-lister and get premium, but non conflicting treatments while you’re out cold. Think of it! Having your gall bladder out? You could add on cutting of that ingrown toenail while they’re at it. Come to think of it, we already do that with religion and spirituality. So many of us pick and choose our favorite things to either believe or omit out of all the things religious practices offer. Uncomfortable with the dark-skinned Jesus? Make him lighter. Middle Eastern Jesus too Jewish? Make him a protestant televangelist full of the right gospels to fit specific political temperaments. Want a more exciting origin story? Make Jesus’ birth take place in Roswell New Mexico. No limits to the menu. It seems like this kiosk thing is an idea that has been waiting to be born for centuries. If you have one, what does your Jesus look like? If you could order up your own custom afterlife, what would that look like? Is it a big party with all your loved ones with you, or is it lights out, you’re at peace? I don’t have to wonder if I would want Jesus to be there. After all these years of picturing my own image him, I have no doubt I would be surprised. PRAYER Lord Jesus, in our fast-moving world full of changes and distractions, help us to slow down long enough to get to know you better in the assurance that you know us and care for us 100%. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Charlie Rose Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE Psalm 63:1,3-4 O God, you are my God, I seek you, my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water... Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. WORDS OF HOPE In Love I am moved by this love poem from the psalmist to God. If written from one mortal to another, we would say he was “definitely in love". I still say that he was and believe that it is a wonderful thing to be in love with God. Those who know me well will not be shocked. They know that I am a great proponent of being "in love." I confess publicly that love is a risk and I am a compulsive gambler. Some think that love is a feeling that just happens when the right two people get into close proximity. I believe that it is much more easily understood and predictable. "Falling in love happens when we allow ourselves to be authentic and honest, daring to share things about ourselves that we are afraid may not be acceptable to another. When the other person hears our truth, and understands or even celebrates us as we are, something goes zing within. They are inspired to dare sharing a piece of their truth and experience a zing when we accept. On it goes, until we are both feeling known, really known, and zings abound as we finally declare ourselves "in love". I think I understand how the Psalmist got to the place of writing this beautiful poem to God. The writer bared his soul, accepted that God knew the very worst of him and the depth of his longings, even those for which he had no words. And he allowed himself to experience the love of God both in spite of and perhaps even because of who he was. That is how I believe we too can experience the amazing love that inspired this psalm. PRAYER God, my first lover and my greatest love: I come before you, knowing that you see every truth there is to know about me, even those which I have not permitted into my own awareness. I am humbled by the knowledge that you love me, sometimes in the presence of my bad and my ugly parts, sometimes because of the good or even great that is within me that I cannot see. I love you, God. I love to be in your presence. Help me make time to spend alone with you so that our love can grow. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Carole Anne Sarah
SCRIPTURE Matthew 15: 33-38 The disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?” Jesus asked them, “How many loaves have you?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all of them ate and were filled, and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. WORDS OF HOPE This well-known miracle story is one that has been dissected many times, but the phrase that speaks to me is the disciple’s question, “Where are we do get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?” It’s a question we are still asking today. There are countless people in our own city facing what is referred to now as “food insecurity” but I prefer the term “hunger”. We live in a society that has enough riches to create trillionaires yet so many people go hungry. I think the point of the story is not the miracle Jesus performed, but the question of how to do it. If we ask it of ourselves the answer becomes clear. We must share our riches. Whether through taxation or charity, we can feed everyone. We do it at Cathedral of Hope every week, serving literally millions of meals every year to anyone who needs a meal. We manage to do it and yet we still each have enough for ourselves. It’s a “no-brainer”. If we truly want to follow Jesus’ guidance, we should share our resources. PRAYER Help us to learn the discipline of sharing, whether through tithing or acts of generosity. We have enough to make sure no one goes hungry. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman
SCRIPTURE Acts 2.44-47 All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. WORDS OF HOPE Today’s Scripture reading from the Book of Acts paints a picture of an idyllic and serene beginning of the early church with everyone living in a Christian Camelot and we would not be surprised to hear them bursting into a chorus of : “A law was made a distant moon ago here…July and August cannot be too hot...and there’s a legal limit to the snow here…” The Book of Acts of the Apostles was written by the Gospel writer, Luke, and described a blossoming era well before the letters of Paul which spent a lot of time addressing conflicts in the churches and listing rules of appropriate behavior. In Galatians we read about volatile conflicts between Peter and Paul themselves. No one is immune to being human in the Scriptures, even in the remainder of the Book of Acts. I’ve heard sermons a distant moon ago that declared no one could be a good Christian unless they followed this Acts example of selling all their property and giving their money to the poor. Of course, the scripture doesn’t say that. They sold some of their possessions and property, not all of it. They were basically generous with one another, especially regarding those most in need, as they celebrated their new faith together. I’m grateful to the church councils and faith leaders who compiled the writings that we now call the New Testament. They gave us a good cross section of the best and the worst of times. They let future generations know what to expect. The road to following the Way of Jesus was rocky then and it’s rocky now. Camelot had its problems, too. In Texas, we are assured that July and August temperatures cannot be regulated by the law. And we know that churches are imperfect. Yet, these beautiful words Luke left to us in Acts 2 are always there to remind us that the faith which brought the body of believers together then is the same faith that brings us together now. They set the standard that was a natural result of following the Gospel of Love. PRAYER Thank you, God, for the examples set by those who came before us. May we always remember that the same exuberance for your gospel is alive and in our midst every time we have the opportunity to live it together. Thank you for your church. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dan Peeler Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE Matthew 14:16-21 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. WORDS OF HOPE Several years ago, I had the joy of attending a dear friend’s installation as the new priest at an Episcopal church. The Gospel reading for that celebratory service was Matthew 14:13-21, the beloved story of Jesus feeding the five thousand. My friend was both excited and understandably nervous; stepping into a new ministry in front of his congregation, family, and friends who had traveled to support him. He began his sermon with a bold line: “I don’t know if the feeding of the five thousand was a miracle or not.” I cringed inwardly, wondering if this was the ideal opening for his first sermon in a new church. Yet he continued thoughtfully, suggesting that perhaps the true wonder was Jesus’ ability to gather five thousand people to sit, listen, and share. After all, many in the crowd would likely have brought food for their journey. With a spirit of generosity sparked by Christ’s presence, there was suddenly more than enough for everyone. But then my friend landed on the heart of the passage with conviction: everyone was invited to the table. No one was turned away. To me, this remains the most powerful truth in the scripture—not debating the mechanics of the miracle but embracing the radical hospitality it reveals. Jesus takes what little is offered, blesses it, and multiplies it so that all are fed and satisfied. This same open invitation echoes every Sunday at the Cathedral of Hope: “Everyone is welcome at God’s table.” In a world often marked by exclusion, scarcity, and division, Jesus models abundance born from compassion and community. When we bring our small loaves and fish—our limited time, resources, or gifts—and offer them willingly, God multiplies them for the good of all. PRAYER O God, may we, like those gathered on the hillside, accept Christ’s invitation without hesitation. Let us come to the table with open hands and hearts, ready to receive, ready to share, and ready to witness miracles of grace in our own lives. In Jesus’ name, all are fed and all are welcome. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR David Sims, Deacon
SCRIPTURE Romans 9:6 It is not as though the word of God had failed. WORDS OF HOPE There are moments in history when people of faith must decide whether we will merely preserve religion or embody the Gospel. We are living in such a moment now. As Paul writes Romans 9, he is wrestling with questions that continue to haunt the Church today: Who belongs? Who is chosen? Who gets to define the boundaries of God's love? These are not merely theological questions. They are questions with profound consequences for real people, real families, and real communities. Paul's answer begins with a declaration of hope and resistance: "It is not as though the word of God had failed." God's promises have not failed. Human beings have failed one another. Political systems have failed the vulnerable. Religious institutions have too often failed to stand with those whom Jesus embraced. But God's promise to love, to liberate, to heal, and to reconcile remains steadfast. For those of us who have spent our lives ministering alongside LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, people of color, women seeking equality, and all who have been pushed to the margins of society and the Church, this truth is not theoretical. We have seen the damage caused when religion is used as a weapon. We have witnessed the pain inflicted when laws target transgender youth, when immigrants are demonized, when racial justice is dismissed, and when Christian faith is distorted into a tool of exclusion, nationalism, and fear. And yet, we have also witnessed resurrection. We have seen rejected children become beloved adults. We have seen wounded communities become places of healing. We have seen churches once defined by fear transformed into sanctuaries of hope. We have seen God's grace repeatedly break through every boundary humanity has tried to construct. Paul reminds us that God's purposes cannot be confined by our prejudices, our politics, or our anxieties. The God revealed in Jesus Christ consistently disrupts systems of oppression and calls God's people to do the same. Today, on System Administrator Appreciation Day, there is perhaps an unexpected lesson for the Church. So much of what sustains our lives remains unseen. The people who maintain our systems, networks, and infrastructure often labor quietly and faithfully behind the scenes. The same is true of the countless organizers, advocates, pastors, volunteers, caregivers, and justice-seekers who continue the sacred work of building God's beloved community. Their labor may not always be visible, but it is holy work. As followers of Jesus, our calling is not simply to believe that God's promises endure. Our calling is to make those promises visible. This is not a season for silence. It is not a season for respectability politics or cautious neutrality. When vulnerable people are under attack, when truth is distorted, and when fear masquerades as faith, the Church must speak with moral clarity and act with courageous love. The Gospel calls us to defend the dignity of transgender people. The Gospel calls us to welcome the immigrant and refugee. The Gospel calls us to confront racism, poverty, and injustice. The Gospel calls us to reject any theology that diminishes the sacred worth of another human being. God's promise has not failed. The question before us is this: Will we have the courage to live as though we believe it? PRAYER God of justice, compassion, and boundless grace, give us courage for this moment. When fear tempts us to retreat, call us forward. When injustice tempts us to despair, strengthen our resolve. Make us a people who proclaim Your love not only with our words, but with our lives. May we stand where Jesus stood: with the marginalized, the oppressed, the excluded, and the hopeful. And may we never forget that Your promise has not failed, and neither must our witness. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Rev Dr. Neil G Thomas Senior Pastor Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ