Finally said goodbye to my colleagues yesterday after 19 years of service at the university. Here I am sitting in a quiet Tim Horton's sipping my morning tea in Drummondville, Quebec, on my way to Matapedia for a week long cycling trip along the beautiful North Shore of New Brunswick. How blessed I am!
The scripture reading this morning was from Job 1-2 and Acts 7. The title of this blog came from Job 1:10 when Job answered his wife's critique in response to the calamities that has fallen on him and the family. His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 1:9) No doubt there was great anguish as she experienced not only the lost of her 10 children and all the wealth that once belonged to the family, and now having to watch her husband suffer such severe physical pain. What she was saying was essentially blaming God for all that had happened. She couldn't understand why her husband was still maintaining his integrity - in this case, his utter respect and trust in God's faithfulness and provision. She couldn't quite accept the apparent discrepancy between what he believed and evidence that suggested otherwise. She demanded that he should curse God and die. That's such a typical response from human! Get even with God! If we are not more powerful than He we can at least show God the one power we have - our ability to tell God how we feel about Him, and the choice to control our own life, and death.
Job's response was profound and it will take me a whole lifetime to learn. He believed that both good and trouble could not happen without God's sovereign control. He chose to continue to trust God with his life, believing that all he knew about God (His wonderful love and provision) would one day be revealed. That gave him the strength to endure the suffering.
My wife has been encouraging me to look into the Theology of Suffering. We talked about how important it is to understand not only the certainty of our future suffering, but also how potentially blessed we will be and to others when that happens. She found these videos which have been very helpful: "'Offer it Up': Opportunities to Grow in Holiness" and "When You Suffer: Biblical Keys for Hope and Understanding" both by Jeff Cavins
In Acts 7, St. Stephen presented his defense to the Sanhedrin. He basically summarized God's redemptive plan for the Jewish people but pointed out that they had consistently rebelled against Him and finally nailed Jesus on the cross: “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” (Acts 7:51-53)
Such boldness! The Sanhedrin represented the religious authority of his day. Most people would worry even to be excluded by such an authoritative group. Stephen knew the cost of telling the truth. He knew some suffering would be involved (physical as well as social) but he was martyred because of it! Just before he was stoned to death he said/prayed these two remarkable things:
(1) “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” - Stephen looked to who and what was ahead and was able to endure the pain. This is exactly what Jesus did: " fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)
(2) “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”- before he breathed his last, Stephen asked for God's forgiveness for his enemies. Wasn't this exactly what Jesus said before He breathed His last? "Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”" (Luke 23:34)
Oh Jesus, you have taught us many things but suffering is one you not only taught us, but you demonstrated it to us. Help me see your glory! Help me learn from you (and St. Stephen, St. Paul, and so many others throughout history)!
" I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner (fellowship) in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it." (Philippians 3:9-11 MSG)
Friday 24 June 2016
Friday 17 June 2016
The Joy of the Lord is our Strength
This famous quote is from Nehemiah 8:10, found in today's scripture reading (Nehemiah 7-9 and Acts 3). The context is that God's people, who was released from captivity in Babylon, had finally finished rebuilding the walls surrounding Jerusalem. Ezra had earlier rebuilt the Temple (known as the Second Temple) in Jerusalem. Both of these mammoth projects were done under extreme hardship and danger (I had previously written a reflection on the books of Ezra and Nehemiah). So it called for a big memorial event, where all the returned exiles gathered together at the Water Gate (some 50,000 people, a remnant compared to the peak population during King David's time) and Ezra the teacher of the law was asked to read from the Book of the Law of Moses. When the people heard God's Word afresh, they recognized how their disobedience to the Lord had led to the demise of their great kingdom. They couldn't help but wept. So Ezra and Nehemiah admonished them:
“Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
The reason for their joy? "Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them." (Nehemiah 8:12)
It is worth noting that "From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great." (Nehemiah 8:17) - this is in reference to the time when Joshua took Israel into the promised land (after wandering in the desert for 40 years!). They conquered their enemies and took possession of a land flowing with milk and honey. Yet even their joy could not be compared with the joy of this remnant who had now once again heard God's Word and understood it!
Following such a joyful celebration they gathered together again to remind themselves the story of God's great redemption and their rebellion (Nehemiah 9) and concluded: "But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress." (Nehemiah 9:36-37)
Likewise, St Paul also reminded us from Israel's history (1 Corinthians 10): "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come." (1 Corinthians 10:11)
Now moving on to Acts 3. St Peter met a lame beggar at the temple gate called Beautiful (this is still the Second Temple which Ezra rebuilt and King Herod the Great greatly enlarged some 400 years later). When the beggar asked Peter for money he said these famous words: “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6) and he instantly healed the man who had been lame for likely a long time (the bible did not say how long except that he was over 40 years old and had been known to a lot of people who saw him begging at that temple gate). What was shocking was the way Peter spoke up for Jesus so courageously when he had to explain to the astonished spectators (at the Solomon's Porch) what had just happened. Wasn't this the same Peter who denied Jesus 3 times? Once again St Peter reminded the people the great redemptive story of the same God, who delivered them from slavery in Egypt and gave them the Promised Land, had given them His own Son Jesus, whom they rejected and killed:
"The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see." (Acts 3:13-16)
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. " (Acts 3:19-20)
And this is the link between the Old and New testament passages read today, and the lesson learned:
The Joy of the Lord is our Strength - comes through (1) accepting the salvation from God through His Son Jesus; (2) repenting of my sin - sin of rejecting Him and deliberate rebellion to follow after idols (the lust of the eyes and the pride of life - 1 John 2:16). The joy and refreshing comes from Jesus, knowing Him and His love for me. And the strength will make a lame man walk and a blind man see. Praise the Lord! Amen! Amen! (Nehemiah 8:5)
“Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
The reason for their joy? "Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them." (Nehemiah 8:12)
It is worth noting that "From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great." (Nehemiah 8:17) - this is in reference to the time when Joshua took Israel into the promised land (after wandering in the desert for 40 years!). They conquered their enemies and took possession of a land flowing with milk and honey. Yet even their joy could not be compared with the joy of this remnant who had now once again heard God's Word and understood it!
Following such a joyful celebration they gathered together again to remind themselves the story of God's great redemption and their rebellion (Nehemiah 9) and concluded: "But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress." (Nehemiah 9:36-37)
Likewise, St Paul also reminded us from Israel's history (1 Corinthians 10): "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come." (1 Corinthians 10:11)
Now moving on to Acts 3. St Peter met a lame beggar at the temple gate called Beautiful (this is still the Second Temple which Ezra rebuilt and King Herod the Great greatly enlarged some 400 years later). When the beggar asked Peter for money he said these famous words: “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6) and he instantly healed the man who had been lame for likely a long time (the bible did not say how long except that he was over 40 years old and had been known to a lot of people who saw him begging at that temple gate). What was shocking was the way Peter spoke up for Jesus so courageously when he had to explain to the astonished spectators (at the Solomon's Porch) what had just happened. Wasn't this the same Peter who denied Jesus 3 times? Once again St Peter reminded the people the great redemptive story of the same God, who delivered them from slavery in Egypt and gave them the Promised Land, had given them His own Son Jesus, whom they rejected and killed:
"The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see." (Acts 3:13-16)
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. " (Acts 3:19-20)
And this is the link between the Old and New testament passages read today, and the lesson learned:
The Joy of the Lord is our Strength - comes through (1) accepting the salvation from God through His Son Jesus; (2) repenting of my sin - sin of rejecting Him and deliberate rebellion to follow after idols (the lust of the eyes and the pride of life - 1 John 2:16). The joy and refreshing comes from Jesus, knowing Him and His love for me. And the strength will make a lame man walk and a blind man see. Praise the Lord! Amen! Amen! (Nehemiah 8:5)
Friday 10 June 2016
End of Life debate - learning from two men who died
I missed my blog last Friday as I spent the weekend attending a very good and timely conference. "In Harmony with Human Dignity" was put on by the Canadian Federation of Catholic Physicians' Societies. The highlight of the conference included the two public lectures delivered by Peter Kreeft. His first lecture titled "Two Philosophies of Human Dignity in Western Culture” and the second lecture titled “Grappling with the Meaning of Suffering Amidst Calls for Euthanasia" underlined the two important biblical teaching essential to the End of Life debate. These lectures should be available in a couple of weeks on the Federation's website.
In today's scripture reading, two men died. Josiah was the last good king of Judah. Wikipedia has a good write up on him. A few points about this man's life and death are worth noting:
(1) "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left." (2 Chronicles 34:2) David was many generations before him but a record of his devotion to the Lord was passed on from generation to generation. Josiah clearly had good teachers and mentors to remind him of who the Lord was and how he was to behave in the eyes of the Lord. He did so without turning to the right or to the left - totally uncompromising! I too have the scripture and the church to guide me. Help me to live an uncompromising life before the Lord!
(2) "In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols." (2 Chronicles 34:3) So even in his youth (he was eight when he became king so do the math) he began to remove all of means of idol worship in his kingdom. Now many kings had tried to do the same before but he successfully purged his country of high places. The significance of these "high places" was that they were very much ingrained into the culture of his days. There are a lot of similar "high places" in our time - worship of success, beauty, power, comfort and pleasure, and of course autonomy and self-determination, which are the basis of the Euthanasia movement. Oh may God give me the courage to witness against the idols of my time!
(3) "When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. " (2 Chronicles 34:19) Josiah was struck with remorse when he discovered that God's Law had been hidden, not read, and not obeyed for such a long time. The kings before him had ignored the importance of God's absolute guidance for His people. We are witnessing a drop in attendance in most main line churches. The teachings of Scripture are being ridiculed and ignored. Secular laws are being instituted. May God give me the zeal to speak on His absolute and unchanging Law!
(4) "So at that time the entire service of the Lord was carried out for the celebration of the Passover and the offering of burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord, as King Josiah had ordered. The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time and observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. This Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign." (2 Chronicles 35:16-19) The Passover was the single most important event in the history of God's chosen people. It recalled the deliverance of Israel from bondage by God's mighty hand. I must never forget to celebrate God's deliverance in my life. Each Holy Eucharist brings to mind what Jesus had done for me. Celebrate! Celebrate! God is our Redeemer!
(5) Josiah died in battle. I know we peace loving people don't like to think of battles. But there are real spiritual battles happening around us. "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12) Will I be brave to take on the full armor of God to go to battle? "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." (Ephesians 6:10-11)
John 19 tells the story of Jesus on trial by Pilate and His crucifixion. Verses 10 and 11 jumped out at me:
"Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”"
Jesus died willingly for my sin and the sin of the world. Our culture says we don't need His salvation. Our culture says we don't need God! Our culture says we have the power (the Physician Assisted Death law!) to free you or to crucify you! I am thankful that Jesus reminded me that they have no power over me if it weren't given to them from above. I must do my part NOT to hand over the control. Life is precious. We are made in the image of God. We may be called to suffer for Christ's sake. May I learn from Paul:
"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11)
In today's scripture reading, two men died. Josiah was the last good king of Judah. Wikipedia has a good write up on him. A few points about this man's life and death are worth noting:
(1) "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left." (2 Chronicles 34:2) David was many generations before him but a record of his devotion to the Lord was passed on from generation to generation. Josiah clearly had good teachers and mentors to remind him of who the Lord was and how he was to behave in the eyes of the Lord. He did so without turning to the right or to the left - totally uncompromising! I too have the scripture and the church to guide me. Help me to live an uncompromising life before the Lord!
(2) "In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols." (2 Chronicles 34:3) So even in his youth (he was eight when he became king so do the math) he began to remove all of means of idol worship in his kingdom. Now many kings had tried to do the same before but he successfully purged his country of high places. The significance of these "high places" was that they were very much ingrained into the culture of his days. There are a lot of similar "high places" in our time - worship of success, beauty, power, comfort and pleasure, and of course autonomy and self-determination, which are the basis of the Euthanasia movement. Oh may God give me the courage to witness against the idols of my time!
(3) "When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. " (2 Chronicles 34:19) Josiah was struck with remorse when he discovered that God's Law had been hidden, not read, and not obeyed for such a long time. The kings before him had ignored the importance of God's absolute guidance for His people. We are witnessing a drop in attendance in most main line churches. The teachings of Scripture are being ridiculed and ignored. Secular laws are being instituted. May God give me the zeal to speak on His absolute and unchanging Law!
(4) "So at that time the entire service of the Lord was carried out for the celebration of the Passover and the offering of burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord, as King Josiah had ordered. The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time and observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. This Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign." (2 Chronicles 35:16-19) The Passover was the single most important event in the history of God's chosen people. It recalled the deliverance of Israel from bondage by God's mighty hand. I must never forget to celebrate God's deliverance in my life. Each Holy Eucharist brings to mind what Jesus had done for me. Celebrate! Celebrate! God is our Redeemer!
(5) Josiah died in battle. I know we peace loving people don't like to think of battles. But there are real spiritual battles happening around us. "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12) Will I be brave to take on the full armor of God to go to battle? "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." (Ephesians 6:10-11)
John 19 tells the story of Jesus on trial by Pilate and His crucifixion. Verses 10 and 11 jumped out at me:
"Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”"
Jesus died willingly for my sin and the sin of the world. Our culture says we don't need His salvation. Our culture says we don't need God! Our culture says we have the power (the Physician Assisted Death law!) to free you or to crucify you! I am thankful that Jesus reminded me that they have no power over me if it weren't given to them from above. I must do my part NOT to hand over the control. Life is precious. We are made in the image of God. We may be called to suffer for Christ's sake. May I learn from Paul:
"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11)
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