Sunday, July 30, 2017

Reflection for July 25, 2017

"Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors, while mischief is in their hearts."(Psalm 28:3)

There are lots of ways to be wicked. And I try to avoid doing them.  In this case it is to basically talk out of both sides of the mouth so to speak.  Where you will talk all nice to someone, but in reality you're thinking the exact opposite.  Setting up that other person for a huge let down.

There is also a warning to not be caught hanging around people like that, because there will come a time when that association could be problematic.  Where you are judged by the company you keep.

Blessings,
Ed

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Reflection for July 24, 2017

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"(Psalm 27:14)

One of the things that often happens when we are waiting for something to happen or to arrive is that we get nervous.  That idea of waiting for the other shoe to drop, or waiting for news or results from tests, it is hard to be strong and courageous.

When things are not going right waiting for the Lord can get dicey. And yet when I wait for the Lord, when I wait to see how things turn out, the dread that could take hold lessens because I tap into that strength and courage that comes from God.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for July 23, 2017

"But as for me, I walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me."(Psalm 26:11)

Integrity is an interesting word. It certainly is personal because it is about how you behave.  So you would walk in your own integrity not someone else's.  As I was thinking of this I read an article called "The True Meaning of Integrity by So-Young Kang. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/soyoung-kang/the-true-meaning-of-integ_b_11273420.html  I recommend reading the whole article.

In it Kang wrote the following that I found helpful.
"Integrity stems from the Latin word ‘integer’ which means whole and complete. So integrity requires an inner sense of ‘wholeness’ and consistency of character. When you are in integrity, people should be able to visibly see it through your actions, words, decisions, methods, and outcomes. When you are ‘whole’ and consistent, there is only one you. You bring that same you wherever you are, regardless of the circumstance. You don’t leave parts of yourself behind. You don’t have a ‘work you,’ a ‘family you,’ and a ‘social you.’ You are YOU all the time.
Given the real definition of integrity, we recognize that it is actually extremely difficult to be in integrity 100% of the time. We aspire to be in integrity with what we believe but sometimes, we mess up. Sometimes, our emotions get the best of us and we are unable to intentionally manage our behavior and actions. Sometimes, we don’t give ourselves permission to be our true selves out of fear of what others may think or due to an inability to truly ‘integrate’ the various parts of ourselves into ONE, complete WHOLE person."
I'd like to believe that the Ed you meet is the same Ed regardless of who I am around. And while I strive to do this, as the quote says I don't always achieve it. But I know it is worth striving for and is probably a lot less stressful than putting on a different mask all the time.
Blessings,
Ed

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Reflection for July 22, 2017

"Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous."(Psalm 25:3)

I'm not a big fan of shaming.  Don't do it to others and don't appreciate when it happens to me.  I'm willing to feel shame when I acknowledge having done something foolish, but I need it to come from within.  I really respect when I see others able to do the same to themselves.

But there are times in our world where I wonder is there no shame anymore. People seem to feel free to do or say whatever they feel like.  There is almost an bizarre pride in being "wantonly treacherous," as long as someone notices them.

I'd rather continue to try to do the right thing even if that doesn't get immediate results and may even lead to ridicule.  As a person of faith waiting for God to work things out is the way to go. No shame in that.

Blessings,
Ed

Friday, July 21, 2017

Reflection for July 21, 2017

"Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully."(Psalm 24:4)

In many things in life there are standards which have to be met. There may be a dress code.  Employees in restaurants must wash hands before returning to work after using the bathroom. Those things are obvious and external.  But the inner workings, the "heart, the soul, the mind," how do you check if those standards are met?

Of course it is a self examination.  And we have to be willing to be honest with ourselves.  We certainly live in a time where the standards listed above seem to be in short supply. Many might have a hard time coming into God's presence.

But I can only control me.  So I will strive to keep clean hands and heart.  To keep focused on the truth, and not go around swearing falsely.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for July 20, 2017

" For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him."(Psalm 22:24)

I rarely feel afflicted, saddened from time to time, annoyed occasionally, but I certainly believe that God hears my cries, I do not feel ignored.

I also believe that God certainly pays great attention to those who are afflicted. And actually expects folks like me to also engage them on His behalf. As people of faith we have an obligation not to ignore those who are afflicted, whether that be affliction through illness, or circumstances.  We are not given the choice to tune out their cries.

Blessings,
Ed

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Reflection for July 18, 2017

"May he grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your plans."(Psalm 20:4)

Prayer is a funny thing.  We will pray for things to be received or plans to work out.  But I'm always a little hesitant to say if it doesn't happen that is somehow God's will.

The best in life is when we get what we desire and feel fulfilled in our plans.  And prayer should be a part of that, not only in the asking but also in the discernment of what it is we really desire and what our plans really are.

When we've done this in a prayerful way, we often find that it works out.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for July 19, 2017

"On you I was cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me you have been my God."(Psalm 22:10)

I have had a constant relationship with God for as long as I can remember. Being born to a priest and a devout Episcopalian mother, this verse would seem to be applicable to me.

I've known no other God, but have studied enough to know that there are other gods that people acknowledge and worship. 

I am thankful for a lifetime relationship which has grown stronger each year. Thank you to my parents for casting me in that direction 51.5 years ago.

Blessings,
Ed

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Reflection for July 17, 2017

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer."(Psalm 19:14)

Before beginning my sermon I always recite this verse.  I like the idea that what I'm about to say and what I've thought about through the week in preparation will be acceptable to God.  I feel like that is the best I can hope for and I strive to hit the mark.

What would happen if everyone used this principle in our daily interaction with others.  What if we strived to make our words worthy of God, our thoughts worthy and acceptable to God.  Given the current state of communication this seems like and impossible dream.  And yet my sense is that if we all took a moment to make sure what we are about to let fly out of our mouth is worth saying, and if we turn our thoughts to things that are positive, what a difference it could make.

Blessings,
Ed

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Reflection for July 16, 2017

"the God who girded me with strength, and made my way safe."(Psalm 18:32)

Strength can be measured in a lot of ways. There is of course physical strength. I try to work on this by going to the gym Monday through Friday.  There is also mental strength, which I work on by reading and attempting to stay focused.  And there is strength of will, which is harder to work on and perhaps is where God does the girding.

That strength of will is the ability to keep going when the odds seem against you.  Strength of will is courage based in faith and hope.  Strength of will comes from my belief that God is walking with me clearing my path and keeping me safe.

I would have to say that for the most part my life has been safe and I thank God for making it possible to use my other strengths in a positive way.

Blessings,
Ed

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Reflection for July 15, 2017

"For you deliver a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down."(Psalm 18:27)

There are some adjectives in the English language that when you hear them even if you didn't know the definition you can picture what it means.  I think haughty has to be one of them.

The dictionary definition is disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant; supercilious:  I have no problem picturing someone with haughty eyes. The type of person who looks down on others.  And may be proud but probably with nothing to base that pride on.

I hope I'm not haughty. I can be flip and sarcastic from time to time, but I don't think more highly of myself than I ought to.

I won't boast of being humble, because that seems to me to be an oxymoron.  But I will strive to have eyes that see the beauty in others and the dignity in them.

Blessings,
Ed

Friday, July 14, 2017

Reflection for July 14, 2017

"They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly."(Psalm 17:10)

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that we live in a time where this verse is really being lived out.  There is a certain arrogance in public discourse. There is a lack of compassion or pity for others.

We seem to have permission to just say whatever we think.  We don't need to consider our words because everybody is entitled to their opinion and to have others here it as well.

What would the world be like with a little more humility and compassion?  Humility is not humiliation is it?  

Blessings,
Ed

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Reflection for July 13, 2017

"You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore."(Psalm 16:11)

I'm generally a joy filled person. I tend to see the glass half full.  I attribute this in part to my faith. Since I believe that I am always in God's presence, I have this joy.  The things that I enjoy in life, "pleasures" if you will, I view as gifts from God.

I also know that the direction my life has gone, and the choices I try to make are because that "path of life" has been shown to me.  When I choose to stay on that path there comes the fullness of joy and the pleasure forevermore.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for July 12, 2017

"They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse; there is no one who does good, no, not one."(Psalm 14:3)

I'd like to think that most people try to do good.  That we seek the welfare of others and want to help in any way we can.  But part of me knows that this is an ideal and in fact the psalmist is closer to being correct.  Even the best intentioned of us fall short.  Our own self-interests often blocking our ability to do good outside of ourselves, often because we are trying to do well.

I don't know that I'm ready to say we are all perverse, but certainly we do go astray from time to time.

But when I allow myself to acknowledge my short comings, to work to improve and reorient myself, then I get closer to achieving that ability to do the good I want.

Blessings,
Ed

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Reflection for July 11, 2017

"Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; we will say no more, ‘Our God,’  to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.”(Hosea 14:3)

Idolatry is one of the big no-no's with our God.  While the notion of making graven images is not really a huge problem for us 21st century Christians, we have gotten a different type of idolatry infecting our lives.

We still place our hope and trust in human institutions, the government, big business, the military etc.  We look at what we produce and find our value in it. And we often neglect or ignore those less fortunate than ourselves.

When we come to the realization that faith can save, not necessarily in the way we might think, but in a different way.  When we choose not to live in fear but in the light of the Lord, we don't need those other idols. And we begin to see that God through us and others extends his mercy outward.

Blessings,
Ed

Monday, July 10, 2017

Reflection for July 10, 2017

"But as for you, return to your God, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God."(Hosea 12:6)

Tom Petty once sang that the waiting is the hardest part.  I think that is true.  Really doesn't matter what we are waiting for.  And it is especially hard when it is something we long for.

To wait for God is hard. God's time is not measured the way we measure time.  We can't say for certain time or date, but in hope we wait none the less.  It is what we hold onto while we are waiting that is important.  We can hold onto love and justice or we can get impatient and grasp for something more like straws.  But in order to hold fast to what is actually profitable, we need to first return our affections to the source.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for July 9, 2017

"Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground;for it is time to seek the Lordthat he may come and rain righteousness upon you."(Hosea 10:12)

You reap what you sow is an old saying but still true. While we may not always see immediate results from our positive actions ultimately things have a way of working themselves out. I also know that I would rather act a certain way because it actually benefits me.  When I'm doing the right thing, I will have nothing to feel sorry for.

But sometimes we do let our lives get fallow.  We don't tap into the goodness that lies deep within ourselves.  Faith can often be that fallow ground.  But when we tend to that field amazing things can flourish within ourselves and in all whom we encounter.

Blessings,
Ed

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Reflection for July 8, 2017

"For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads, it shall yield no meal; if it were to yield, foreigners would devour it."(Hosea 8:7)

There are things in life that seem trivial.  An action or word just carelessly cast about.  You might think much of it. And yet it suddenly takes on a life of its own.  It keeps growing and growing until it comes back at you with such an unexpected force that you are really blown away.

That to me is what this verse from Hosea points to.  We live in a time when people think they can just say anything that comes to their minds and that there will be no repercussions.  While the truth is the opposite.  And often what seems like a small, stupid comment, starts to have effects that you could not have anticipated and are shocked by.

Reaping a whirlwind is an effort in futility.  You will be knocked over, so best to consider where you cast your seed.

Blessings,
Ed

Friday, July 7, 2017

Reflection for July 7, 2017

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."(Hosea 4:6)

Ignorance is bliss or so the saying goes. But I'm not convinced of this. For me knowledge is the key to everything. We may have some innate abilities, but most of what we are good at comes from studying, listening and engaging. 

It is also true that when we have knowledge we are called to share it with others.  And when we keep what we know to ourselves or if we choose to be willfully ignorant we begin our own slow demise and take others down with us.
As a priest, there is knowledge that I have. I'm called to be a spiritual guide to others. In order to continue to do this well, I need to know my Scripture and my tradion

I want to continue to be a faithful priest to God's people.  So I better keep on top of the ongoing revelation of God.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for July 6, 2017

" I will make for you a covenant on that day with the wild animals, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; and I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land; and I will make you lie down in safety."(Hosea 2:18)

It is hard to imagine living in a time when everyone felt safe. I'm not saying that our time is more dangerous than any other, but with access to news 24/7, it is hard to not feel scared. There is an undercurrent of danger lurking everywhere.  We lock our doors, we have security procedures and fire walls.  We know that there are nuclear weapons being developed by nations that we are not on good terms with.  Add to all of that the usual fear of climate disasters, and contaminated or at least not real healthy stuff in our food and water.

But God promised a covenant to which we would again be his people and be able to go to sleep not afraid of every little thing.  And how much better would our thinking and feeling be if we could lie down in safety and not toss and turn all night long.

Blessings,
Ed


Thursday, July 6, 2017

Reflection for July 5, 2017

"Then the Lord said, “Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not my people and I am not your God.”(Hosea 1:9)

I have never had someone deny me. I can't even begin to imagine the level of hurt one would experience if a parent or a child decided they wanted nothing to do with you. That you were essentially dead to them.

The prophet Hosea pronounced the ending of the relationship between God and his people. Basically voiding a covenant that said I will be your God and you will be my people.

While I certainly know people who say that's not my God, pretty much they don't believe in any God, I still hold fast to the belief that we are all God's people.

Blessings,
Ed

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Reflection for July 4, 2017

"Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land,saying, “When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain;
and the sabbath,   so that we may offer wheat for sale?
We will make the ephah small and the shekel great,  and practice deceit with false balances, buying the poor for silver   and the needy for a pair of sandals,
    and selling the sweepings of the wheat.”(Amos 8:4-6)

Today we celebrate the birth of our nation.  There will be parades, patriotic ceremonies, back yard barbecues and fireworks!  All of this as we recognize the greatest country in the world.  One built on the premise of a new start for the tired and the oppressed in other lands.  Where everyone is supposed to have an opportunity to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

And while our ideals our strong, they are not always lived out.  And the words that the prophet Amos reports that those with economic power said in his day, are still true today.  We as a country can and should do better.  We need to expose greed and dishonesty that takes advantage of the less fortunate in our midst.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for July 3, 2017

" Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was[a] no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs."(Amos 7:14)

From time to time we hear of someone in the news doing something "heroic."  They will of course deny that they are a hero, they were just happy to be able to help.  

Most of us will from time to time fall into a roll that we do not believe suits us.  We don't see ourselves in that way and do not wish the title.  Yet in that moment it may be that was exactly what we are.

Amos didn't see himself as a prophet, yet that was exactly what he was doing.  He might have rather been seen as just a dresser of sycamore trees.  We might say I'm just an average guy or gal on the street.

But we shouldn't be afraid to accept the credit when we've done something extraordinary that isn't our usual day to day way of being.

Blessings,
Ed

Sunday, July 2, 2017

Reflection for July 2, 2017

"Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them;
you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine."(Amos 5:11)

When I lived in South Jersey, there were times when I went into the city of Camden.  Camden is one of the poorest cities in America.  There was a time when it was a manufacturing place with plenty of jobs and some very lovely homes in them.  The same is true in Trenton when I drive to the Cathedral I can see what once were lovely homes.

I do not blame the people that have to live there now, but what happens when we begin to neglect the less fortunate among us.  When we relax in our own comfort while just around the corner the exact opposite is happening.

The prophet Amos warned the people that living in the lap of luxury was not guaranteed to last forever, especially when we ignore the less fortunate in our midst.

Blessings,
Ed

Saturday, July 1, 2017

Reflection for July 1, 2017

"They do not know how to do right, says the Lord, those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds."(Amos 3:10)

I don't know if we live in a more violent time than any other. Maybe, but we certainly are more aware of the violence in our world and sometimes in our own neighborhoods. People seem more edgy than I remember and they are certainly stressed and in this country we love our guns. 

There are of course many peaceful sane people that own guns, but sadly there are also really heinous humans that own them, literally crazy people and then those randomly normal people who just snap.  Because we don't know how to healthily deal with our anger and disappointment, the violence gets stored up.
We can also feel robbed of our own dignity sometimes in a world that just seems to chew us up and spit us out.

And because of all this we begin to lose sight of knowing how to do right.  And yet that is what we as Christians are called to do.  But our society does not make our task easy.

Blessings,
Ed

Friday, June 30, 2017

Reflection for June 30, 2017

"Thus says the LordFor three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;because they sell the righteous for silver,and the needy for a pair of sandals"(Amos 2:6)

One of the things I remember being taught in Seminary was the concept of preferential option for the poor. The basic idea is that God cares very much about how the poor are treated. It isn't that he hates rich people, but he surely pays attention to how they treat those much less fortunate than themselves.

The Bible is full of examples of this, the above is just one.  But are we in our day beginning to sell out the poor to get something for ourselves. We are part of the whole human family and when others suffer so that we can have something, then we might want to consider whether God is actually pleased with that.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for June 29, 2017

"Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe."(Acts 28:24)

What convinces you of something? Perhaps it was an effective teacher.  Maybe a great speaker. Some people read and are convinced. When it comes to faith for me, I can't say that it was any one thing, but a combination of things that has over the years nurtured that growing faith.  

It may be different for me because I've been nurtured in the faith from the moment I came out of the womb.  So I've heard good preaching but that didn't convince me, I've read the Bible and other writings but that's not what convinced me.  I've had good teachers but that is not what convinced me.  As I wrote all of those have played a part. So what does convince me?

Living out my faith every day in community, that's what convinces me.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for June 28, 2017

"  When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” (Acts 28:4)

The eternal question has always been why do bad things happen to good people. For so long bad things happening were usually seen as a punishment for doing something bad. Then of course we began to notice that bad things happen to people who are actually good. And from there comes the question.

The presence of a large military force guarding Paul probably added to the original conclusion that he was a murderer. But then when the usual reaction to a viper bite didn't occur, they had to come up with a different answer.

The term being snake bit usually means having unexpected bad luck. But the question becomes how do we take that momentary affliction and turn it around so that it doesn't destroy us.  Maybe like Paul did, we need to shake it off.

Blessings,
Ed