From thirdway.com and http://www.emu.edu/soulspace/:
A Sip of Scripture
Daily Scripture:
NON-VIOLENCE
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Reference: Romans 12:12
Romans 12:12 (King James Version)
12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
A Sip of Scripture
Pondering at the Well
As Jesus was in conversation with the woman at the well, let us also be in conversation about faith and spirituality. Ponder with me ...
Advent I: From the Stump of Jesse
Nature often foils the plans of gardeners and farmers by creating new life where ax or clippers have decreed that growth should be cut down. I have often seen it in my childhood: a tree has been cut down, and from the stump of that tree new growth springs up. I wish I could show you a picture of it. It is amazing. From the middle of a large stump a tender young sapling rises up—a pale imitation of the strong and mighty trees that once stood there.
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD— and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:1-3a
I think of that visual picture when I read the first verse of Isaiah 11. The lineage of Jesse had been sorely tested, as had many of the tribes of Israel and Judah, and had been lost in the ebb and flow of kings and kingdoms. Other nations and other kings had ruled first over the Hebrews, then the Israelites and the kingdom of Judah, and finally over the Jews who lived in Jerusalem and were scattered over Judah and Samaria. What was once a kingly line was reduced to mere history and genealogy.
The book of Matthew traces the lineage of Abraham through the years to Joseph, who is named as the earthly father of Jesus. The book of Luke confirms this when it says that Joseph returned to Bethlehem the city of King David in order to be counted. Joseph came to Bethlehem not as the descendant of kings but just a man leading a donkey upon whom his pregnant wife rode. There was no place for them at a palace as returning royalty. They could not even get a room at an inn.
Yes, Joseph was just a young sapling sprouting up from the stump of Jesse. And even nature could not restore the young sapling to the former glory that King David's tree once was. But nature is not the only force that comes into play in the stories of Advent. The verses that follow tell of a different influence; not of nature but of God, Spirit and Divinity.
God had established David as a king, calling him out from his brothers and setting him apart to rule over God's chosen people. But as mighty as David was, and as much as he was devoted to God, David was still a man, fallible and imperfect. And each of David's descendants inherited not only the crown but the failings that are a part of all humanity. Something different was needed to truly lead God's people. Something more than just human determination and devotion to God was called for. Not just a branch from Jesse, but a branch that would bear Divine Fruit.
Let us pick up again our metaphor of nature and see what more it can teach us. New growth that comes from a tree stump is not able to bear fruit quickly or readily. It takes time, years and years of growth, and the overcoming of adverse weather and other conditions that will test its growth. Even then there is no guarantee that the new growth will grow straight and tall, or that the roots can adequately nourish the growing tree.
Human beings grow like that. We need time to grow and develop. We need adequate nourishment to grow strong and tall. Although we can develop new growth where there has been disappointment and failure, there is no guarantee the new growth will be as good, viable and durable, as the old. However, new growth can surprise us, and at times the new growth may surpass the old.
Advent is a time of growth and development. It is the beginning of a new church year, and especially in this year, Year A, the beginning of the lectionary cycle. The lectionary passages of Year A are those that focus on new life, new Christians and first coming to faith. It is appropriate that one of the images that arises from the scriptures is that of a new shoot coming from an old stump. Mature Christians nurture those young in the faith, and that new faith gives new life to long held beliefs.
We are ever mindful that this new and renewed faith is not just dependent on nature and human nature. It gets its inspiration from the work of the Spirit. Mary was touched by God and brought forth new life. Joseph was visited by the Spirit and was emboldened to follow through on God's plan for this new branch that would bear fruit. And the coming of the Son of God was a new and different way for God to reach out to humanity through the presence of Jesus Christ. Jesus came from God's established precepts but held the promise of new growth in faith and understanding.
May you, this Advent season, be touched and inspired by God and the Spirit to grow new and renewed faith.
Shalom, Carole
Posted 12/1/2010 7:00:00 AM
a simple desireShort commentary on “A Sip of Scripture” from Third Way Cafe
Being joyful, patient, and faithful when it is hard
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“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” ( Romans 12:12 )
Menno Simons said, “True Christians do not know vengeance, no matter how they are mistreated. In patience they possess their souls.”
It was starting to try my patience figuring out what Simons might have meant by this portion of his statement. But it intrigued me that our Anabaptist ancestors would not take vengeance and would be patient and content in the face of persecution. I knew this from the year I spent blogging on Reading the Anabaptist Bible [See A Simple Desire 2009]
Being presented with it again within the context of shalom takes it beyond simply being at peace with and within one’s self to commanding and commending one’s spirit to be at peace. We know from our own existence it is easy to be at peace with one’s self when peace is for the most part the milieu you are living in. But when there is no peace but active persecution, oppression, and torture to maintain the presence of peace within you is much more difficult. Unfortunately we have more examples of people not keeping peace and calm within themselves than people have peace and the presence of mind to act always in peace.
Gentle reader, the more this year passes where we are thinking of shalom, the heavier it weighs on me the lack of peace in the world. I cannot and will not “own” what actions the nation I live in has taken. It was not on my behalf or for my good. But how can I protest it if I am committed to ways of peace? It does not good to yell, scream, stop my feet and generally be disruptive so as to insist on peace.
But neither am I the sort to stand in silence with signs and banners. So I am left to write and blog. But consider, for all of 2010 I have written about peace and each day have sent my thoughts into the cyber-world where, if anyone is interested, they can be read and my sentiments clearly set out and exposed. It is like a time capsule that is continually re-opened. And even with the posting of this I have once more stated clearly that I am opposed to all and any military and/or policing action that the United States as embarked on, especially post 9/11/01.
I stood in horror when I came to work that morning in the seminary bookstore; and that horror was surpassed only when I heard what actions that were taken against the country labeled as the instigators. Nothing I have said or done has retracted that position; if anything it has grown stronger.
Now let me say, at times I am not a patient person. Nor, to my shame, am I immune to wanting vengeance for the petty things that I wrongly take offense at. But I am working on coming closer to Simons’ ideal. Are you?
May you gentlest of readers be joyful, patient, and faithful in all things. And may our Lord God give you what you need to do so. Selah!
Written by Carole
December 8, 2010 at 1:26 am
Posted in commentary
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Morning- Week Four
Opening the day with prayer.
As darkness fades and dawn awakens
Lord, give me the joy of your saving help
And sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
In the tender light of morning
Help me as I pray.
In the name of Jesus, bright and morning star. Amen.
Morning by morning God wakens–
wakens my ear
to listen
as those who are taught. Isaiah 50:5
Coming
Dear God,
The season is noisy
The world busy
Its voices insistent
I get caught
In the noise
The busyness
The lure of its voices.
Draw my soul into the hospitality of your inn
Still my anxious feet
Quiet my heart.
Help me to hear the call
which comes from the front desk of your heavenly inn.
Waken my heart,
Help me wait.
I want to be ready for Jesus’ coming.
Silence
Be still.
Open your awareness to God’s presence
Within and all around.
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Responding
The third movement within Soul Space is Responding. Here we shift our focus towards outward engagement.
Wednesday
Pray for the coming day. Be attentive to what you struggle with, where you face challenge, difficulty, experience weakness, darkness, uncertainty—how it affects you personally, and your ministry. Bring your struggle to God. Pray for God’s servants who are serving in challenging and difficult places this day, especially for _____________________.
Lord Christ,
You see us sometimes strangers on the earth, taken aback by the violence, by the harshness of oppositions.
You are with us, sending out a gentle breeze on the dry ground of our doubts, shining your light in the dark corners of our clay vessels where fear and weakness rob us of faith and peace.
Help us to know your presence in all our struggle. Continue to make us bearers of peace and reconciliation.
*based on a prayer by Brother Roger of Taize. Life from Within. Geoffrey Chapman Mowbray, 1990. 22.
INTERCESSION
Pray for the coming day, and for your neighbor.
Loving God,
Help me to hear your wake-up call,
To listen deeply to your voice.
Awaken my mind and soul to your work
Within and among us through the Holy Spirit.
Help me not to run into busy avoidance,
Not to be caught in the trappings of this world.
Bend my heart to stay . . . to love . . . to wait
To embrace your coming in Jesus.
Amen.
CLOSING PRAYER
Loving God,
Help me to hear your guidance
To listen deeply to your voice.
Awaken my mind and soul to your work
Within and among us through the Holy Spirit.
Help me not to run into busy avoidance.
Bend my heart to stay . . . and to love
To walk your gracious ways in this world.
Amen
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