#thedisciplesway — Public Fediverse posts

The “place of unknowing” is how the Rt. Rev. Deon Johnson (Bishop of Missouri) describes #HolySaturday in his #TheDisciplesWay reflection. I’ve never heard it put quite that way, however, I know the feeling very well. The place of unknowing or of uncertainty is the shoreline we walk when things feel the darkest—where earth & sea & sky are indistinguishable— & we feel as if we are alone in the universe. We struggle to get our bearings, to know which way to go. The silence is deafening & we struggle to hear anything else. Sometimes the wind steals our breath & pushes us around while the sea crashes, the sky threatens, & the ground beneath our feet is soft & sinks beneath us. This is a night of loneliness like the one the disciples faced after the crucifixion or Jesus’ felt in the garden of Gethsemane when he asked for this cup to pass from him. Yet, when we wake on Easter morning, he is risen & we look back on this night we see #Footprints in the sand where he carried us to new life.

On #GoodFriday my Lenten devotional #TheDisciplesWay from #ForwardMovement encourages attending worship services rather than providing a verse of Scripture to reflect on. This seems like an excellent opportunity to remind (or inform) everyone that funds collected today as part of the #Episcopal Church’s #GoodFridayOffering benefit the #Anglican Province of #Jerusalem & the #MiddleEast You can learn more about this historic partnership, now in it’s 103rd year! or make a donation online at: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/good-friday-offering/

“No matter how we understand the causes of violence in the #HolyLand we can surely agree that we must support our fellow Anglicans in alleviating the devastating #humanitariancrisis now unfolding in #Gaza ,” [Presiding Bishop Sean] Rowe said [in a recent statement regarding last week’s missile attack on the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem]

On #MaundyThursday #TheDisciplesWay is reflecting on #TheLordsSupper (Matthew 26:26-29) Rev. Troy Menendez shares a few of the wonder-full #HolyCommunion experiences he has had & I admit, I envy him these experiences. My own have been far more pedestrian & quiet, quite probably because they have all been part of regular #Episcopal worship services.

Both share characteristics with the #LastSupper Matthew describes, particularly in that they occur in community of shared faith. The disciples must have felt something significant was afoot, as Rev. Menendez’ community seems to. At the same time, with the exception of Jesus’ words, it was just another meal like those celebrated weekly in my churches. This week, especially, we know what momentous changes are coming for the disciples. That is not usually the case when someone dies. Those gathered with Jesus could not have known what lay ahead for them anymore than we do today. We just trust in God that we will be together again.

Today’s verse (1 Peter 2:11a-25) in #TheDisciplesWay & the reflection by Rev. Hillary Raining strike a major chord with me. I’ve always read the story of Peter’s denials as a call to courage. Courage he lacked in the moment (as many of us do when confronted/put on the spot) but overcame his fears & established what became the #Christian church.

I never looked at it quite the way that Rev. Raining does. She sees it as an example of Peter abandoning his call & his #faith which is something many of us do. Peter did it during a time of great trial. Not everyone does. For many it seems less a time of persecution & more a time of selfishness (& perhaps age). Fortunately for the church, Peter returns relatively quickly. Not everyone does. I wandered far (& near) for decades before recommitting to my #Episcopal roots & I am still #discerning my call. Many childhood friends have wandered & not yet returned. Perhaps we all must go through such denial & separation in order to find our faith.

The theme of #HolyWeek in #TheDisciplesWay is #sharing & today’s verse (I John 3:14, 16-18) talks about how sharing with everyone is central to eternal life. The most pertinent verse is 17 which asks how God’s love abides in anyone possessing the world’s goods who refuses to help those in need. That is a potent question for the modern world where the wealth divide seems to be increasing with each passing day & so many justify their stinginess by citing the “prosperity Bible” It’s interesting that the reading omits verse 15 which states that those who hate do not have eternal life because so much of the selfishness I see around me & the world seems based on hate. “Those people” do not deserve my help, “I deserve to keep what I have because no one helped me” or “I want to be sure I’m only helping people who really need it” are common justifications for not sharing & hate underpins all of them. Answering the call to share today is an act of radical love few seem capable of.

Nunc dimittis means “now you are dismissing” in Latin & is often used in referring to today’s scripture reading: Luke 2:27-32 in #TheDisciplesWay Along with the reflection by Rev. Tyler Richards it calls readers to consider how faith & religious tradition are communicated & shared through generations. It is important to share our faith with others, however, it is not something many of us, especially #Episcopalians are comfortable doing. This week, #HolyWeek will see an influx of people into our churches, some of whom we only see this week, at Christmas, & maybe a wedding, baptism, or funeral. We celebrate their presence. What we don’t seem to do is really give them any reason to remain among us. This week is the heavy lifting of #Christianity culminating in Jesus’ resurrection on #Easter. And yet, I can’t help comparing regular church-goers to the disciples who fall asleep while Jesus struggles with his fate in the garden. We are not dismissed but called to share the wait with others.

Today’s verse (Psalm 84:1-3, 7-10) in #TheDisciplesWay is a song of Zion for one who makes a pilgrimage to the temple. In many ways these verses also express how I feel when I go to church. It doesn’t matter if I am going to church to worship, for a class, or a meeting. It doesn’t matter if I am alone or joining others. It doesn’t even matter if I am attending “my” church or going into a church I do not know. The feeling, the emotions, are very similar. I find peace in places of worship. The cool, dim, quiet is a balm to my spirit. Sometimes I think I could just stay there forever, thinking or reading about God & praying. I am not called to a life religious, yet the sense of being fulfilled in God’s house is always with me when I am at church. I have no idea what it means or whether anyone besides the Psalmist & I feel that way. I do know that in this time of tumult & confusion, I am called more & more to my #Episcopal churches where I find the peace, sustenance, & inspiration of God.

Today’s verse (Psalm 122:1-2, 6-9) in #TheDisciplesWay is about Jerusalem. I confess, I struggle a bit with biblical references to Jerusalem. They get all tangled up with my concept of modern city with the same name. Rev. Tyler Richards seems to have a similar problem because his reflection points to Jerusalem as an ideal as much as the physical place. Which works, to a degree, for both of us although today I find it vaguely unsatisfying. My NRSVUE study Bible indicates this is a Psalm about pilgrimage & something of a rhyming wordplay which got me wondering whether the journey isn’t to Jerusalem as much as Jerusalem is the pilgrim. My perception of this Psalm changes profoundly if the center of the 3 Abrahamic faiths is actually a journey in search of peace & understanding God’s presence in our lives & world. Jerusalem then is a metaphor for us & the manifestation of who we are in this moment. We are in desperate need of God’s help & love, if that is the case (& even if it’s not).

Is #StarTrek communist? That was the first question that popped into my head upon reading today’s reflection on (Acts 2:42, 44-46) in #TheDisciplesWay I’ve heard anecdotally that many of #Jesus teachings are being labeled as #liberal & #socialist I thought it was an exaggeration. To see such an anecdote in print is startling. I don’t know why, but I always felt like money not being a big thing in the future because we managed to find a way to ensure that everyone’s basic needs, including education & healthcare, were met was an obvious goal, especially for #Christians After all, our earliest community models, from Jesus & the Apostles/Disciples to current/historic religious orders to the pre-Deuteronomy tribes of Israel, all seem to exist this way. These communities are the ideal. Communities where people care for each other & share what they have good & bad. Isn’t that what we are called to? How did this basic concept get so twisted that we now see it as something to scorn & avoid?

This has been a rough year for me. I’ve managed to keep putting one foot in front of the other through it primarily because I was afraid that if I didn’t, I’d just disappear as though I never existed. Today’s verse (Psalm 43:3-5) in #TheDisciplesWay reminds me that simply enduring is not what God wants for me or for anyone. For months, I’ve sought solace (& honestly, just to stay busy) at church. This psalm calls me to seek joy. I’m not sure how, particularly when we’re heading into Holy Week, which is probably the most stressful time of the year for parish administrators who dabble with A/V. I’m also afraid to even look for joy because it doesn’t seem to last for me. And losing it hurts. And yet…the call persists. To find & experience joy in worship when I am working the service not just attending it. How? I know I’ve carried a lot of luggage into this season. I know I need to put it down. It doesn’t seem not define me. I no longer need it. #Joy calls. I’ve forgotten how to answer.

“God will lead us through times of anxiety.” Is the point of Rev. Everett Lees reflection on Isaiah 6:1b-7 which is today’s verse in #TheDisciplesWay It’s a point I totally believe in yet also one I struggle to live out. Trusting God is an absolutely essential part of my faith & being. At the same time, and perhaps because this week’s reading for #EfM is the gospel of #Matthew I am aware that I fall woefully short of actually doing it. Although I am not a rich man, I struggle with sharing the material things that I have, particularly with strangers, & despite being positive that God will provide for me. I think the disconnect occurs because I think I need more than I actually do & the only way to be sure I will have what I need when I need it is to personally possess it before I need it. I’m not just talking about things, either. I struggle to share my faith as well. Faith, however, is not food. It is not consumed by being shared. In fact, it grows. If we let it.

Today #TheDisciplesWay is reflecting on 2 verses: Ephesians 4:25, 31-32 and Colossians 3:14-15. Combined, these verses offer a radical call to action: telling us to put away bittterness, anger, wrath, noise, & lying, while putting on charity & peace. That sounds almost impossible in this day & age. Yet, as Rev. Stephen Smith reminds us, the height of the Roman Empire, when these epistles were written, was not that much different. One might even argue those days were more dangerous (& potentially fatal for #Christians ) than our own. That doesn’t make the call easier to hear or to practice. The call for peace, charity, mercy, & forgiveness, however, is not unique to these verses. So it is an important call to heed. Perhaps especially so right now when so many are struggling with hurt & anger. We need to focus on treating ourselves & each other with radical kindness. As Nadia Bolz Weber pointed out the call to share forgiveness with our enemies & ourselves is the worst #GoodNews ever

Treasure is the theme of today’s #TheDisciplesWay verse (Mathew 6:19-21). Although it’s tempting to apply it to the current politico-economic situation in the U.S., what I’m really reflecting on is my late family, especially my #brother. I learned long ago that valuing things meant they would inevitably be taken away from me. Such losses always hurt but I tended to try to have the attitude that at least I have the memories & those are what really count which is most definitely true. Yesterday, however, I inherited my brother’s watch & immediately put it on. It’s quite possibly the most expensive piece of jewelry I own & looks rather silly on my wrist. What matters most, however, is that at last I have a tangible link to my brother. I held onto my wrist all day because it felt like hugging him. Is the watch a treasure? Yes, but not because of its resale value. It’s treasure because it gave me my brother’s hugs back. And I am profoundly grateful for that.

According to #TheDisciplesWay the #FourthWeekofLent is about #Service This is a tricky one. #Christianity is primarily about serving others, at least that’s what the gospels, including today’s lesson (Matthew 20:26b-28) tells us. It’s not something many of us, who call ourselves #Christians do very well. Instead of looking into the souls of others & celebrating the image of the Divine in them, we seem to be turning away from anyone who does not show us God exactly as we perceive God to be & we are totally willing to force everyone, including God, to be what we think He should be. The problem is: that’s not God, nor is it what we are called to be as Christians. Jesus changed the world by emptying himself for the sake of others. We, in contrast, are trying to hold onto everything we have & grab ever more. We will succeed in changing the world, but not in a good way, because we want to be at the center of everything. We have forgotten, or never learned, how to be selfless like God is.

I’ve never prayed in a closet as today’s #TheDisciplesWay verse (Matthew 6:5-6) suggests. In fact, I often pray in public although not in ways that draw attention. Praying in community, especially as #prayer is practiced in the rites and liturgies of the #EpiscopalChurch speaks to my soul & is the language of my spirit as well as my faith. That doesn’t mean the only time I pray is at church. I frequently pray while taking a walk, at work, when I am alone, at home, before undertaking a new adventure, while reading or writing, when I sing, at the beginning of meetings, & as I fall asleep. I pray in silence more often than not, unless I’m attending a service. For me, prayer is about connecting with God. It’s also about connecting with community & giving voice to the wants & needs we all share. Praying by myself & for myself feels selfish & egotistical. Praying together with others reminds me that we are all part of God’s plan & need to strive together to manifest heaven on Earth.

Today’s #TheDisciplesWay verse (Mark 14:35-38) is not one I like to think about. Not only do I try not to add energy to negative things, I hate the thought of anyone being alone in such emotional pain even though I, personally, do my best not to reveal my feelings in public. I was raised to have a stiff upper lip & made never letting them see they got to me to an art form. It never occurred to me that my stoicism would have a negative effect on my #prayerlife Avoiding these verses also means I was avoiding the lesson & wisdom they hold. As Rev. Chris Corbin points out in his reflection, Jesus’ prayer teaches that there is no request we need to hold back when praying so long as we frame it with “nevertheless, not what I will but what thou wilt”. It’s a terrifying proposition for me because, while I firmly believe God knows my heart, voicing my feelings in prayer means I have to know it as well. And it means I can’t keep turning away from unpleasantness. Instead I need to trust God.

Today’s #Bible verse (Philippians 4:6-8) in #TheDisciplesWay begins “Be careful for nothing…” which reads like an adrenaline junkie’s dream. Here, it seems, is God giving permission, indeed telling us, to do whatever we want without worrying about repercussions or caring about any impacts our actions may have. It’s only after reading the rest of the verse “but in every thing by #prayer & supplication with thanksgiving make your requests be known unto God,” that we realize it should be read as “care full” instead. This isn’t a verse about rushing in where angels fear to tread. Rather it’s about worrying, being anxious, & overthinking too much. It’s about turning our concerns & fears over to God by turning them into prayers. Which, if you overthink things to the point of paralysis like I do, is easier said than done. It is, however, worth the effort because when we turn worry/fear over to God we become less angry, defensive, & reactionary. We open ourselves to beauty, joy, & love.

The third week in #Lent is all about #Prayers according to #TheDisciplesWay Its going to be a challenging week for me. My #PrayerLife leaves much to be desired. Today’s verse (Luke 11:1-4) teaches us how to say the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father, who art in heaven…) This is probably the most widely recognized, known, & said prayers in all Christiandom. It is part of every #Episcopal service I have been part of from Daily Offices to Eucharists to funerals to weddings to ordinations to prayer services. It is also the prayer we spend the least amount of time thinking about once we have it memorized. Which is why I regularly lobby for teaching the congregation to say the prayer in languages other than English. The idea being that if we are praying in a language which is not native to someone, they will need to be more aware of & pay more attention to each word. It also acknowledges that English is not the only, or perhaps even the first language spoken by members of the congregation.

On #InternationalDay for the Elimination of #RacialDiscrimination its more than appropriate that #TheDisciplesWay is reflecting on Mark 3:31-34 This is the story of where Jesus declares “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, & my sister, & mother.” This verse rings a bit different for adopted people like me. The parents who raised me, my siblings & other relatives are my family [hard stop] I have no desire to know whether or not we are blood relatives or if I have unknown blood relatives out there somewhere. It doesn’t really matter to me. That is both liberating & a burden because while I can choose what aspects of family I wish carry forward, I am also aware that everyone I encounter is a potential relative which colors (or should) how I treat & interact with them. I strive to be authentic (although I am a private person) & meet people where they are, without expectations, because that’s what family does/is. I’m not always kind but I don’t wish anyone ill.

What stands out to me in today’s #ForwardDaybyDay verse (Luke 2:45-46) & #TheDisciplesWay verse (Luke 12:16e-21) is that God is asking #questions of human individuals even though God has/is all the answers. It would be easy to see this as God wanting humanity to explain & justify their actions, & possibly square them with their beliefs or God’s laws. I don’t quite see it that way. God is clearly engaged in teaching moments in both these verses. What strikes me is that God is not dictating what we should do or think or say. Instead, God’s helping us discover that on our own & where we will go from that point on. For instance, the young Jesus leaves the temple with his parents after spending 3 days among the teachers. Presumably, his questions (& their answers) gave them much to reflect on. OTOH God’s questions expose the futility of the rich man’s selfishness & demonstrate that there are more important things in life (beyond protecting our wealth) that we are called to do, think, & say.

This is one of those mornings when neither #TheDisciplesWay nor #ForwardDaybyDay is speaking to me. Probably means I’m willfully ignoring what they are trying to say or am stubbornly hanging on to something I need to let go of (I’m pretty sure I know what that is, I just can’t seem to loosen my grip because I know it’s not coming back once it goes). So, rather than force something with Scripture, I’m going to focus on a different verse: Psalm 62:1 “For God alone my soul in silence waits;* from God comes my salvation.” I may not be able to turn loose that which is no longer good for me (if it ever was), but God can & will separate me from it, according to God’s desire. I don’t even doubt that letting go is the thing God is telling me to do. I just lack the ability to do it alone. So I will sit silently in God’s presence, trying to just breathe & get out of the way of God working in & through me. Prayers are always welcome. 🙏

Routines are useful things, although I’ve never thought of my daily reading of #ForwardDaybyDay as “marinating ourselves daily in the stories of our Savior’s life & ministry” as #TheDisciplesWay puts it today. Honestly, I’m not sure I think of it, or saying the hours, as #BibleStudy either. Bible study is what I do on Tuesdays at #EfM The rest is just…IDK what I think it is but it’s not Bible study. This week in #Lent is about #learning & the suggested approach is the #LectioDivina it’s interesting that, as I read the descriptions of the movements, I already do 2 — meditation & contemplation. I try to pray (oratio) though I don’t think I have a great #PrayerLife And Lectio, or reading aloud, you can forget. IDK if I don’t want people knowing that I am reading the Bible or if I just dislike the sound of my own voice. Either way, I don’t do it & perhaps I should. Maybe it’s time I change my perspective on Bible study. Maybe it’s time to change my #routine.

The world seems so angry & full of hate lately. It’s hard to know what to do that doesn’t add fuel to those fires. Fortunately, God gave us that answer in Jesus who was a living example of what true humanity is/looks like. #TheDisciplesWay reflection on Luke 23:32-35 (where Jesus is stripped, crucified, & mocked along with 2 criminals) explains “Christ reveals the character of true humanity is love, an openness to what is outside ourselves, an alignment with God’s will & union with God.” As hard as it is for us not to meet anger & hate with our own, I can’t imagine how hard it was for Jesus not to rain down destruction on a world & people who were killing him slowly & with maximum pain & humiliation. Comparatively, social media trolls, fascist politicians, bigots, & Christian nationalists are nothing. True humanity overcame them before & restored our humanity. Now we just need to live the life God wants us to live by loving each other, being open to relationships, & holding on to hope.

I’ve often said you can’t legislate stupidity. Things like seatbelt laws annoy me. If people don’t believe the evidence supporting their wear, I’m not convinced making it a legal requirement helps. (That said, if it wasn’t a legal requirement I doubt many manufacturers would include seatbelts except as a pricey option.) In fact, I wore seatbelts more before it was required. Now, going without feels like an assertion of independence, not foolishness. I think that is what the reflection in today’s #TheDisciplesWay (John 13:4-5,12-15) & #ForwardDaybyDay (Deuteronomy 10:13) are about this exact dichotomy. Hugo Olaiz talks about the difference between example (evidence) & commandment (law) while Rev. Tyler Richards points out that, sometimes at least, the law is given/made for our own good rather than forcing us to do things we don’t necessarily want to do. Perhaps this is just human nature. Today’s reflections have me seeing them a bit differently. Whether my actions change is debatable

Today is a study of contrasts. #TheDisciplesWay is reflecting on #disruption (Mark 11:15-18a) while #ForwardDaybyDay reflects on #rest & the Sabbath (Hebrews 4:8). There are so many things in the world today that distract us from our #faith & the #WayofLove It’s easy to lose sight of what we are called to do & be by God. Both of these reflections remind us that we regularly need take a step back, to rest & refocus our attention on God. It sounds simple. Sometimes it is. Often, however, resting is complicated as we navigate the many things (jobs, family, media, etc.) vying for our attention. Stepping away (a news or social media fast, vacation, just going for a walk) can feel incredibly, frighteningly, overwhelmingly disruptive to our daily lives. And yet, that is what God asks us to do. Importantly, we are told to rest regularly. Perhaps, if we did, it would seem less disruptive…or maybe it would be more disruptive. Today is a study of contrasts. Or is it?

As my bio states, I am not a fan of the status quo so today’s reflection in #TheDisciplesWay hits home for me. The verse (Mark 3:1-5) talks about Jesus’ healing/performing miracles on the Sabbath. Like many contemporary (& possibly Christian) readers, I wonder why any #healing is controversial. The author (Anna Olsen) points out that the act of (nonemergency) healing disrupts the status quo. Jesus, however, isn’t being disruptive just for disruption’s sake. He is demonstrating an important lesson: #kindness (love) is more important than anything. Shouldn’t kindness always be permissible? Shouldn’t we always choose to be & do what is kind over adhering to social/religious norms (or even the law)? Unfortunately, #disruption often manifests today as harm, not kindness. We want to smash things not heal them. We are acting out of hurt & fear, not kindness, empathy, or love. We read these verses as permission to be disruptive without understanding the heart of the teaching. Be kind. Always.

My time alone is important to me. Solitude doesn’t scare me as I often feel I need more of it than most people. I’m also a very early bird, so today’s verse (Mark 1:35-38) resonates with me. I just never thought of sitting around (or, more commonly walking) & thinking as #prayer In fact, I’ve always felt as though my prayer life, well, sucks. I don’t really pray at all in the sense of poetic elocution. I sometimes manage a quick Thank You, God or a list of names of people I hope God will touch with grace but honestly, most of the time, I’m just thinking random stuff or making up stories/scenarios in my head. To me, that’s not prayer. But…what if it is? #TheDisciplesWay raises the questions of what did Jesus do in his solitary place? & how did he pray? I’ve never really thought about it. Part of me wants to think his prayers were more like what I see in the #BCP or just conversations with God where God talked back. What if they weren’t? What if they were more like mine? (Edit: SP)

“And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” Matt. 11:6 (NRSVue) The Greek word skandalizein has here been translated as take offense although elsewhere it has been translated as stumble so this verse could also be read as “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble over me.” Either way it is an interesting message for Jesus to send to John the Baptist & to share early in his ministry. #TheDisciplesWay sees it as a reassurance for John, letting him know that the proof of Jesus’ divinity is in the works he has already done & John has witnessed. Although it is not one of today’s #ForwardDaybyDay verses it does suit Rev Tyler Richard’s reflection on the day dedicated to #HarrietTubman which notes that prophets are more than just disruptive. The path to a deeper relationship with God is not an easy one. Much is taken on #faith because we fail to recognize the proof of God that Jesus shows us, or, if we do we are afraid to trust it. Blessed are those who see, trust, & believe.

“Be good news” is the phrase that stuck out to me in today’s #devotion from #TheDisciplesWay I’ve never heard it put that way. Honestly, it rings more true than the common “share the Good News” which always conjures up 20-somethings dressed like waiters lecturing strangers about how the only way to heaven is to believe exactly what they believe in the way they believe it. The problem is that I’ve always suspected they didn’t believe their lectures either, it was just mass manipulation by an organization masquerading as a church. For me, sharing the #GoodNews is meaningless. Being Good News, OTOH, is very meaningful. It’s also empowering, loving, & intrinsic. I can’t be good news if I don’t believe Good News. My faith is who I am. It’s how I see the world & hopefully how the world sees me (whether we name it or not). Being Good News is not something I put on or go out & do, then leave on the floor when I get home. It’s how I live, how I exist, each & every day. #Lent #Christian

My daily spiritual practices ebb & flow inconsistently. Lately, they’ve ebbed more than flowed as I’ve been caught up the the “news” and anger at the actions of 🍊 & SpaceBaby. In #Lent I am trying to stop that & and turn away from the anger. In addition to the #ForwardDaybyDay I have taken praying the hours back up using #DailyPrayerforAllSeasons & I am reading #TheDisciplesWay with my sisters. My hope is that diving into the deep end of my faith pool (I’m also doing #EfM & a course on #PauliMurray while reading #NadiabolzWeber ) will help me discern the path God has set me on. I’m not sure what that path is. I certainly don’t know where it leads. What I do know is that I need to be receptive to it. It would be nice if I could recognize it when I see it too. That, however, requires clearer sight & far less anger than I have right now. So I’m diving into study, not as a solution, but as a means of changing my focus & growing my awareness of God in my life & the world.