Tuesday - June 3, 2025
Charlie C. Rose
SCRIPTURE
Joshua 2.1-2
Then Joshua, son of Nun, secretly sent two spies to Jericho. “Go, look over the land,” he said. So, they went and entered the house of a harlot named Rahab and stayed there.
WORDS OF HOPE
The routine sexism and degrading language in some of the Old Testament stories is sometimes hard to take. Most of us know the story of Rahab, an innkeeper of Jericho whose bravery and clever maneuvering gave the Hebrews one of their most famous victories. Her actions in the story gave no indications of her being a prostitute, but because she was a successful self-employed woman, the writer presumed she must have been. How else could a single woman support herself? If we take the time to read the story we discover Rahab was actually an innkeeper.
Words can be killers. The great poet and commentator on life, Dorothy Parker proved that statement to be true countless times. In answer to a question about her opinion on horticulture, she once said “You can lead a horticulture, but you can’t make her think.” It was a deliberate pun, begging for a laugh, but I love what she did with clever words. Unlike the misogynist writer of Joshua, Dorothy Parker was funny. Still is. I can look up any quote from her and get a giggle or become lost in thought. She had a lot to say about what she observed, mostly about the hypocritically snobbish and ultra-rich culture where she did her work. She didn’t hold back, and she seemed always quick to make her point.
But before I leave Rahab’s story behind, I was talking to a friend once about her observations on famous Bible prostitutes. My quite liberal friend made me almost spew my absinthe one day. (OK it wasn’t absinthe it was coffee. However, since I was talking about Dorothy Parker, I thought it was more appropriate for the story.) Anyway, she said something to the effect of: “People get up in arms about that Bible harlot Jesus saved from stoning and sent on her way.” My friend said the fact that this was a self-employed woman was inconsequential. The real harlots were the men who wanted to stone her. They had betrayed their faith in a God of love and forgiveness. Profound! She’s right.
In many ways Mrs. Parker had a lot in common with Jesus. You might think I’m off my rocker. Do people still say that? Jesus was eloquent but plain-spoken in addressing his world. If we really take note of the freedoms Jesus’ actions and words were expressing, it’s easy to see Jesus was often not politically correct, was he? He had a thing or two to say about the hypocrisy of the religious snobs of the day as well as their oppressive laws.
The liberation theology in Jesus’ public speeches was ultimately empowering to the powerless. The difference is in his time if you said certain radical things, you could get killed, but in Dorothy Parker’s time, her critics reasoned she was probably just drunk. It eased the sting of the truth.
In retrospect, Jesus did tell us we don’t need a strictly defined, rule-giving God. Look around. We eat well at our cafeteria of spirituality… a little if this and a little of that. Whatever serves our appetite. He described the simplicity of a one-flavor- fits- all kind of God and forget all the rest. Choose love. In fact love IS the only flavor. That’s easy enough.
PRAYER
Give us the courage of Rahab and the perseverance of Jesus to use words to their best advantage, words that respect all people and words that manifest your love. Amen
DEVOTION AUTHOR
Charlie C. Rose
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
Need More Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions
SCRIPTURE Jeremiah 3:1 They say, if a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? Shall not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the Lord. WORDS OF HOPE Aside from a massive dose of slut shaming in this passage, the message is clear. If Israel had turned away from God many times would God accept them again? Later in this same scripture, Jeremiah writes: “Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” It’s a very wordy and evocative way to say that God’s love will still be there for those who turn to Him. It is essentially the same message Jesus speaks, that God’s love surpasses human understanding and extends to all people. It’s a message that I need to remember on a daily basis. PRAYER No matter how far we have strayed from the path God has shown us, we can always return, no questions asked. For that we can be truly grateful. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman
SCRIPTURE Ecclesiastes 9.12-18 For no one can anticipate the time of disaster. Like fish taken in a cruel net, and like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity, when it suddenly falls upon them. I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed important to me. There was a little city with few people in it. A great king came against it and besieged it, building great siege works against it. Now there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. So, I said, ‘Wisdom is better than might; yet the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.’ The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one bungler destroys much good. WORDS OF HOPE I came across the above passage while searching for some Bible references to quiet. There are many, and many that we are probably well aware. But this one was new to me. And the thing that struck me, the most was the short parable in the center about the small city. Admittedly, there is a contradiction that I do not understand where it first says that the wise man’s wisdom delivered the city, and then it says his words were not heeded. Clearly, the city was delivered; someone listened to the wise man. But the words of the wise man delivered the city from the siege. Nonetheless, the last four lines are words that I’m sure we should heed. Quiet words of wisdom not only are effective, not only are useful, but are also comforting. We are in a stage of time where shouts from all directions create such a cacophony of anger and distain for others that we do not hear the quiet words of wisdom. And not just those words of wisdom from outside ourselves. We can also miss those quiet words of wisdom within ourselves; that still small voice that that calls us to be the best, or at least to try to do the best that we can with what we have. Each of us has life experiences, stores of knowledge and internalized wisdom that gives us the ability, hopefully, to discern wisdom versus folly. So, I encourage you today to take some time, maybe even set aside time for several days to listen to the quiet voices, whether they are within or without. Do not let the shouting drown out the wisdom that you know you have. PRAYER Great Creator help us to hear the quiet voices that lead us to wisdom. Bring up within us that part of you that resides quietly within all of our hearts. Help us to drown out the shouting and replace it with your loving voice. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Weber Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.
SCRIPTURE Psalm 16.1-2 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to God, you are my Lord”. All that I have which is good is provided by you. WORDS OF HOPE Today’s Lectionary from Psalm 16 is a short one. It is always helpful to read the passage specified for the day several times, reflect on what you have read, and then take time for personal prayer to God, taking the time to be quiet and seek to hear the voice of God as a part of our reflection. Consider the fact in reflecting on today’s reading that the Disciples had become accustomed to seeking refuge in Jesus. For three years, Jesus had been present to teach and comfort his followers before the bottom had dropped out of their lives. He had died, been buried, resurrected, and two of them had told of his reappearance to them on the road to Emmaus. Confused and in fear, they met together in a room with a locked door. Then suddenly, the resurrected Jesus appeared to them in that locked space and said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” Reflect on Jesus’ words, “I do not give to you as the world gives”. What is the usual rhythm of giving or supplying which is common in our world? It is a give and take, a time of contentment and then sooner or later a time of uncertainty or fear. In sharp contrast, God’s loving peace is constant! That peace referred to by Jesus is an anchor which always holds us. It is our shalom at all times. It is not the world’s give-and-take system. It is the peace of Jesus, now, tomorrow, and forever. PRAYER Morning by morning, our God, may we seek your will in our lives. With your divine presence and guidance, help us to recognize the needs of others and extend our hands and heart, to bless their lives. And in all that we are and do, may you be glorified. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE Philippians 5. 1-18 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. WORDS OF HOPE Today’s Scripture reading was written by the Apostle Paul during one of the many times he had been arrested and thrown into jail through the efforts of the religious establishment. He was literally in chains. In Paul’s day, jails were more like caves, unventilated basements, holes in the ground where prisoners lived in darkness and filth and were chained to the walls. This was Paul’s situation when he wrote these words and the words. When I was in Seminary, I was told that asking questions about scripture was a valuable practice. We learn through our inquiries of who, what, where, when, and why in respect to anything we study, but one question the professors advised we should never ask about the Bible was “How?” This usually applied to the accomplishment of miracles. How did Jesus turn water into wine? How did a serpent talk? How did Jacob roll away the one-ton stone from Rachael’s well? But, along with these magical-sounding events, I always wondered “How did Paul get his hands on the parchments, ink, and quills plus the Scribe he needed to write those letters- and in pitch blackness?” “Don’t worry about it” was the standard professor’s answer. The questions I should have been asking was “How did Paul have the grace and character to center so many of his prison epistles on the forgiveness of the people who had condemned him to chains in the first place? How did he reconcile the triumphs of the false teachers, the envious, the selfish, and the ambitious who continued to stir up trouble while he was powerless in prison? Paul answers that “How” question in the first sentence of today’s reading: “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.” Paul knew how to turn the worst of times into the best of victories for Jesus’ message of love. He had learned to react in any circumstance as Jesus would react. No physical circumstances and no mental torture could eclipse the shining truth of the life of his Savior. And because of this he rejoiced. PRAYER Patient God, today we ask one more “how” question: How do we react today when our defense of the Gospel of love and inclusion is challenged? May we answer our own question by praying how do we strive to react more like Jesus? Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dan Peeler Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE Psalm 34: 18 God is near to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. WORDS OF HOPE I just finished the text of a talk for a Faith and Grief gathering about the death of my closest friend of over 50 years. Writing it has been more difficult than I thought because as I have returned to remember the weeks and months leading up to and following her death on Christmas morning 2021, grief has re-emerged—as well as some warm and wonderful memories. This particular time of loss was different for me because first I buried my sorrow in part because of a desire to be present for Janet, Sis’s wife. But as the months passed, the pressure of “unattended sorrow” built, and when a new grief struck—the unexpected death of my sweet dog Charley--I knew I needed help. Grace led me to just the right person—a spiritual director very skilled in grief, and through our work together, grief began to move through me. During this time I attended a Faith and Grief retreat in the hill country and experienced a powerful cathartic experience. The text speaks of it, saying, “One afternoon while walking up the long incline to Cathedral Hill, I began talking to God out loud and sobbing uncontrollably, my heart broken wide open, coming to the realization that I had buried my grief because I could not stand to face the loss of all that Sissi had been to me in the course of my life.” Though the pain of the heart broken open will bring us to our knees, I believe with Parker Palmer that it can open us to “largeness of life, a greater capacity to hold our and the world’s pain and joy. Heartbreak can become the vessel of compassion and grace, enlarging us for empathy and attuning us to the suffering of others.” https://couragerenewal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/PJP-WeavingsArticle-Broken-OpenHeart.pdf Palmer proposes that the process by which this happens involves 3 main steps: First, in a world where we are expected to reply “fine” when asked how we are, “we must learn to name and acknowledge our suffering to ourself and others,” to become vulnerable. And we need to find companions who can witness to our pain and not try to “fix us.” Second, once we have named and claimed our suffering, “we must move to the heart of it, feeling the pain of it fully rather than following cultural practices of numbing, fleeing it by distractions, or blaming externals.” May we never underestimate the daily courage it requires to take this path to learn what our grief has to teach us and come out on the other side. “Third, if we are to learn from our suffering, we must create a micro-climate of quietude around ourselves, allowing the turmoil to settle and an inner quietude to emerge, so ‘that of God within us’ can help us find our way through. Nurtured by silence, we can stop taking our leads from the voices of ego and world and start listening to the still, small voice of all that is Holy.” Our spiritual communities can become key places of support in our death-denying culture. May we, as in all else, follow Jesus, the man of sorrows acquainted with our grief, in this counter-cultural healing practice. PRAYER God of the broken hearted, draw near in the pain of our own personal losses and the pain from the death blows to dignity, freedom, and peace that have been let loose on the world. Teach us how to grieve well and in compassion seek justice. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dr. Pat Saxon
SCRIPTURE Matthew 19:13-15 Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” And he laid his hands on them and went on his way. WORDS OF HOPE Last year, as I indulged in some holiday shopping, I observed parents struggling to shop with children. While that can be an absolutely delightful experience, it is often not. My heart went out to the crying toddlers and their stressed-out parents. Today I want to share a story on behalf of all the children in our community and their parents who would love to parent more peacefully. I was teaching a two-day parenting course when I stressed the importance of being a friend to their child's excitement. (Listen up. This applies to the child within each of us as well as our offspring). I described entering a store with a toddler who spots a display of balloons. "Balloon!" cries the child with hands outstretched. Now, the parent has to make a choice. Some will start a lecture on why the child cannot have everything they see or want. Others will try to ignore the child. Some will respond with a stern "No!" The wise parent will choose none of the above things, as those options fail to befriend the child's excitement. Rather the parent can join the child's delight in the balloons and say, "Oh yes, look at all the pretty colors! Perhaps name some of the colors. (Keep pushing the cart.) If the child expresses a wish to have one, the parent can say, "Oh, wouldn't it be fun to have a whole bunch of them? How about a room full, or a house full? How about a sky full?" The cart keeps moving. Something else will no doubt catch the child's attention and the game can start all over. If the child insists they actually want something, the parent can take out a handy little book containing the child's Wish List, and dutifully record the wish. These wishes can be reviewed often to see which ones remain to be fulfilled on birthdays or other special occasions. One doubting couple assured me I had not met their four-year-old, if I thought such a thing would work. Before the next day's session they took the child to a store they knew had just such a display of balloons. They returned the next day to report. Their daughter had cried, "Balloon!" just as expected. The mother responded by saying yes, they were pretty. Then she said oh, wouldn't it be fun to have a whole bunch, etc. The little girl agreed then said, "I wanted you to see them." The mother thanked the child for showing her the balloons. The parents learned that their child was not as demanding as they had thought, and they all enjoyed their shopping experience with no tantrums. I wish for all children and their parents such happy times, filled with excitement and loving moments. PRAYER Loving God, help us to be mindful of the "least" among us. Help us to value every moment we spend with each other. Help us to notice the parents who struggle, and the children who are hurting and sad. May we take every opportunity to support them and offer our love even as you have loved us. Grant us peace on earth and in each of our homes. We love you, God. We appreciate all the loving moments that you have given us. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Carole Anne Sarah