Wednesday - June 4, 2025
Hardy Haberman
READING
Yechezkel 3:21
“Nevertheless if thou warn the tzaddik, that the tzaddik sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast saved thy nefesh.”
Orthodox Jewish Bible
WORDS OF HOPE
This is a passage from Ezekiel, one of the major prophets in the Old Testament. Like many of the prophets, he is warning the people of Israel to mind their P’s and Q’s. To stay righteous and to listen to the word of God which he believed he spoke. The Jewish Bible uses a lot of Hebrew words in its translation because they are more specific and color the language in a more authentic way.
The “tsaddik” is usually translated as a righteous person and logically if they heed the prophet's words and stay righteous they will live. And for Yechezkel by warning them he saves his “nefesh”, which translates roughly to “neck”. So, the motive for him to prophesize is to ‘“save his neck”, hardly a righteous motive.
What I find speaks to me in this passage is that idea. Sometimes the path you believe to be following God’s guidance can also save your neck. But it can also save the lives of those you interact with.
Altruistic motives are admirable but often practical ones are equally worthy.
PRAYER
May we listen for the quiet guidance of God in our lives, even though it may not be revealed in dramatic ways.
Amen
DEVOTION AUTHOR
Hardy Haberman
Need More Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions
SCRIPTURE Psalm 139. 1-6 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You surround me, behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. WORDS OF HOPE Today’s Psalm eloquently addresses the mystery of God’s omniscience, an attribute impossible for the human mind to comprehend, at least on the divine level. But do you have anyone in your life, a partner or a close friend, who sometimes seems to have that gift, too? You know the person; the one who can finish any sentence you start, the one who knows whatever ingredient to hold or add ordering for you at a restaurant, the one who knows how you’ll vote, when you’re ready to end a visit with a third person, what you think is hilarious, what could make you sad. I have a friend, my best friend, who has a favorite movie quote answer to every question I ever text to him, such as- Question: Do you think he’ll like the idea? Answer: (I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse) Question: What do you think of this place? Answer:(Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.) Question: How do you think this will turn out? Answer: (May the Force be with you.) Question: What’s taking so long? Answer:(Houston, we have a problem.) Question: Is this party boring you? Answer: (I see dead people.) In the space of this devotion, I don’t have room to continue the list but you get the idea. He knows exactly what I think is funny and knows he will not have to explain what is from The Godfather and what is from The Sixth Sense. He knows me. We sense the presence and workings of God in so many aspects of the people around us, the love and wonder in a child’s eyes, a kind word from a stranger, an act of forgiveness, an understanding nod, but the Psalmist says that God’s Omniscience is too “lofty” for us to ever understand. In its entirety, I agree. Yet, through those special people in our lives who finish our sentences or know exactly the right movie quote to lift our spirits, an all-knowing God doesn’t seem too lofty after all. PRAYER Parenting God, it is comforting to be reminded that you are not only ever-present, but ever understanding of every aspect of who we are. Through your love, may we get to know ourselves a little better, too. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dan Peeler Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
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