Blog Archives - ST. MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

February 27 - Jan Bales

2/27/2015

Friday
Matthew 16:21-28

These days I feel not much happens by coincidence. I believe in a transcendent God who loves me and is so anxious to get my scattered attention that everything in my life can be connected in a meaningful way if I just take the time to see and to listen. To just be in God's presence.

So, here I sit in my cozy chair, computer on my lap, coffee cup in hand. It is dawn. In one month you will be reading the verses given to me (at random) and my response to them. Seventy years ago, 1/27, Auschwitz was liberated. Today's verses reminded me of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the courageous Lutheran pastor hanged by the Nazis in 1945. In The Cost of Discipleship he writes of cheap grace that he feels will destroy the church. "Cheap grace is the grace we bestow upon ourselves...the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline.....grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate." (italics mine)

Eugene Peterson, The Message, translates Jesus words: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the drivers' seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?"

So, here I sit. Cozy chair. Computer. Coffee. What is my cost of discipleship to follow Jesus Christ?

Jan Bales

February 26 - Adele Davies

2/26/2015

Thursday

Matthew 13:1-23

To me what is most relevant in this parable to our 21st Century reality is that of the seed that fell among the choking thorns: "the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth".

Worry is everywhere these days, on a personal, local, national, even world level. Rather than let these things come between us and God we can give them to God, put them in his hands. Like the AA bumper sticker: "Let go. Let God"

The "deceitfulness of wealth" may not seem, at first, to apply to us. After all, who among us is a Gates or a Buffet? But as members of the richest nation on earth we all have a multitude of "things" that demand our time and attention and distract us from the stillness - the contemplation that allows communion with God.

Look now, in this season of Lent, at the fields and open spaces around our city. The land seems to sleep, brown and empty, awaiting the sower’s hand. If possible, walk the bosque trails or ditch banks and listen for God in the silence. Or sit of a morning in the stillness of sunrise. Empty yourself like the land.

Ask what are the thorns in my life that choke out the seeds the Sower has planted in me? Know that our real wealth is the seed itself. Like these seemingly barren spaces, we ourselves can be planted, tended, and harvested - "yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown."

Adele Davies

February 25 - Ann Bowler

2/25/2015

Wednesday
2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Paul tells us to “put things in order, ... agree with one another, live in peace.” Then, “the God of love and peace will be with you.” In our search for personal spirituality, we may have things in the wrong order. First, make peace with the people around us, our community. Then, our own individual spiritual fulfillment will follow.

Caw, caw, crows!
Get out of the road, guys.
I can’t stop
with that giant truck
on my tail.

Quick, out of the way!
That’s right.
Now, pass on the right,
fellow truck driver.

Now, and only now,
I feel God’s warm sun
rise over the mountain.

Ann Bowler

February 24 - Monica Cioffi

2/24/2015

Tuesday

Matthew 27:45-46 and Luke 23:44-49

This scripture leaves me dumbfounded. In his final hours, Jesus felt abandoned my God, his father, yet in his dying breath he also calls out “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”. Though Jesus FELT abandoned (and for all outward appearances he WAS abandoned, left alone to suffer in agony, unable to hear his Father’s voice or to be comforted or rescued) He still KNEW God was with him. He remained faithful, in the midst of not feeling God’s presence, even to his dying breath.

His faith caused the centurion to recognize and praise God while the disciples, family, friends stood at a distance, watching. Who are you in this story? Are you able, like Jesus, to remain faithful - to trust the promises of God even when feeling abandoned in your dark night? Are you the centurion - moved to belief by the witness of Jesus and others in your life who never waiver in their faith? Or are you those close to Jesus - who watch from afar, perhaps in fear of being recognized, or confused, or even doubting?

I was fortunate. In my dark night that I have experienced so far, I cried out to Jesus, to my God, and I heard and felt an answer. I was forever changed. Will I be able to hold on to that when I face the future challenges of my life? We are called to be believers and to act on God’s promises so that others, like the centurion, may believe and be transformed and praise God.

Monica Cioffi

February 23 - Denise Clauss

2/23/2015

Monday

Job 11:1-9 and Ephesians 1:17-19

Job is best known by the cliché “patience of Job”. Relentlessly suffering loss and enduring pain through no fault of his own. The Hebrew meaning of Job is “persecuted”; and the Greek is translated as “patience”. However, it means not so much patience as “persistence”, and “steadfastness”.

Today’s reading finds Job receiving rebuke from the third of his not so helpful friends who criticize and chastise Job for his situation. Ancient Near Eastern theology of the time believed that misfortune and illness were brought on by God who was punishing the afflicted for their sins. So Job’s friend believed that although Job appeared righteous outwardly there must be hidden sins that only God could see. It was Job’s persistence in claiming his innocence that escalated his discourse to verbosity and alienated him from his community. Questions of divine justice torture Job. Although he never forsakes God, today’s reading foreshadows his lesson to come. We are but human and stubborn. Job’s limited understanding of the nature of God illustrates that human intellect cannot be satisfied. Wisdom and its transcendent peace comes from God alone.

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians illuminates the promise of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice that tore down the temple curtain that separated us from God. Through God’s grace we are enlightened. God’s revelation invites us to come to know Jesus and the hope to which we are all called. May God teach us to open ourselves into the joys of His Kingdom.

Denise Clauss

February 22 - Daniel Borrega

2/22/2015

Sunday

Proverbs 16:9 and Psalm 25:5

I came out as gay when I was 19 years old, a sophomore in college. Coming to terms with my sexuality was incredibly difficult, for both cultural and religious reasons. Like many, I turned to prayer to help turn me away from this “sinful” lifestyle.

St. Jude, patron saint of hopeless and desperate cases, was always my favorite saint, so I obviously turned to him for intercession. I spent countless days with lit St. Jude candles, praying to him, pleading to be cured. I realized, after a long while, that my prayers were not being answered, so I changed my tactic. Rather than asking for change, I began praying for signs: “If this is sinful, show me…”; “If this is normal, show me…” Again, no answer. And definitely no signs. At least no outward signs.

At some point I stopped praying to be cured. I did, however, continue lighting my St. Jude candles. Very soon afterward, when I stopped overthinking my situation and I really stopped to listen, my heart lightened and my eyes opened. It was then that I felt God and realized He was with me the entire time. He was simply guiding me, ever so patiently and lovingly, to this point of self-realization that being gay was who I was; who I am. I know now, just like I began to realize at that point, that God made me in his image and that he loved me, unconditionally.

Daniel Borrega

February 21 - Sally Lafaver

2/21/2015

Saturday
1 Corinthians 10:13 and James 1:2-12

I love the liturgical seasons of the church year. And I love the idea of being “invited to the observance of a holy Lent” as stated in the prayers for Ash Wednesday. As I prepared this devotion, I reflected on what that might mean. A holy Lent. What does a “holy Lent” look like?

The tried and true spiritual practices suggested for this season are important and I will use them. Many are discussed in today’s readings, especially in the area of temptations. They provide helpful insights and necessary tools for our journey.

Still, I found myself wanting Lent this year to be in some way, different. I yearned for a deeper journey into the mystery of this holy time. I wondered about having a personal purpose or intention for this Lenten season.

Holding this desire in quiet prayer, over time an intention slowly emerged. Something like this: My personal intention for Lent is to embrace a deepening evolving relationship with God, of loving God more - on a daily basis. On the surface, this seems obvious. After all, it is the season of Lent. But the deep knowing that I experienced in recognizing this intention tells me it is much more. It is an attitude of and from my heart. And it is my way to live a holy Lent.

How about you? What does a holy Lent look like for you? What do you need for your journey?

May it be for you a Holy Lent.

Sally LaFaver

February 20 - Bruno Ienni

2/20/2015

Friday
Mark 15:21-28

Each of us is being carried and helped on our path; often to a place not of our own choosing, but chosen by God. Calm and trusting, allow yourself to be taken. Release the temptation to choose your course – and God will do it for you.

Let the waves of fear and doubt come – embrace them and let them go; offer no resistance. Place your mind and heart… your entire being into the care of God who loves every part of you to the uttermost depths of your soul.

You are held.

You are safe.

Beyond the seeming destruction of all you have cared for, God waits with great anticipation just for you with a love that is singular and special – just for you.

After reading this, pause and let your center sink below the chatter of your mind. All the while, allowing your mind to keep chattering – nothing you do will stop it, so let it run on and on to infinity while you drift gently down beneath it… like sinking in calm, warm waters – safe in the still, quiet depths while the waves continue above unheard.

Rest in the depths… for a moment, for a minute, for whatever time seems right. You are blessed.

Bruno Ienni

February 19 - mark freeland

2/19/2015

Thursday
Isaiah 1:11-17 and Matthew 9:9-13

Isaiah 1:11-17
Do not turn away from the Lord. For those who turn away from the Lord and commit sin will seek forgiveness. The Holy Spirit gives strength, courage, wisdom and knowledge each day. Don’t wander from the gospel and look toward evil. Evil surrounds us. Let’s remember to do right, remember the teachings and ways of the Lord, for he is the always the truth, light and life of all. His presence lives and reigns within our spirit forever.

Matthew 9:9-13
We all are called to the table of the Lord. We seek mercy not sacrifice in our lives every day. The calling of the Lord awaits us in his Kingdom.

Mark Freeland

February 18 - Chuck Jones

2/18/2015

Ash Wednesday
Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12
There was good and bad to growing up in a small southern town in the 1960’s. One thing that made a positive impression on me was the deep spirituality of the music that rang out from the African Methodist Episcopal church. When I read the “Suffering Servant” passage from Isaiah, I recalled the old Gospel hymn “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone.”

Must Jesus bear the cross alone,

And all the world go free?

No, there’s a cross for everyone,

And there’s a cross for me.

I’m struck by the fact that Christ knew he was going to be persecuted, but he continued his ministry of healing and teaching while consciously walking toward his own crucifixion. During Lent I try to remove some of the complexities of my life through fasting and prayer. My spirit deepens when I’m consistent with that discipline; when I’m not, and I’m not always, I feel the weight of my cross. For me, the foundation of our story is that the cross necessarily comes before the resurrection. Light can’t shine into a tomb that isn’t first dark. This gives meaning and hope to my suffering.
Isaiah says, “…upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” There’s the good news.
And the old Gospel song echoes,

The consecrated cross I’ll bear

Till death shall set me free;

And then go home my crown to wear,

For there’s a crown for me.

A holy Lent to all.
Chuck Jones