Tuesday, June 7, 2020           (today’s lectionary)
Trust and obey
God usually uses the pronoun “we” when he’s in a good mood. But when God says “they,” you know someone is in trouble.
THEY made kings in Israel.
With THEIR silver and gold
THEY made idols for themselves
All to THEIR own destruction.
But didn’t these people wonder at first if they were doing the right thing? Don’t we?
Which brings me to the living question, “How should I pray?” Should I build this calf of silver and gold?
Jesus gives us what we call the “Lord’s Prayer,” the “Our Father.”
Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
From there Jesus’ Prayer asks God for bread, forgiveness and strength. His prayer covers everything: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication (ACTS).
Our friend Susan prays for others in presence rather than words. Silent in her own space she visualizes the person she is praying for and then watches God minister to them. Perhaps he will hold them, put them on his lap, wrap his arms around them (which is, in case you’ve forgotten, how we “hug”). She might watch God’s eyes and watch the eyes of her friend. All three sets of eyes might meet. That would be a very good praying day, I’d think.
On Monday nights, after twenty minutes of centering prayer, Mary Lou Menches continued teaching us to pray. A deep beautiful gong rings three times and we stand, bow to each other, circle up and hold hands while we pray together the Our Father, then pray for the people and problems that come to our mind. “Lord, hear our prayer.”
When they sow the wind they shall reap the whirlwind. At least one of Hosea’s metaphors has more than stood the test of time.
But we can experience the same centrifugal, exponential power in prayer, sowing seeds alongside the mind of God who quiets my mind, as I learn from the deep down core inside of me how to trust, trust, trust. Trust and obey. Of course this is not an easy thing. If ever there was a lifetime learning project, this is it.
Our God is in heaven, whatever he wills, he does.
I know my sheep, says the Lord, and they know me.
Trust and obey.
What does Jesus do?
He goes around to all the towns and villages
Teaching, proclaiming,
And curing every disease and illness
But we follow Jesus so selfishly. I want what I want, and I want it now. I will, and most any of us will, trample others to get to the front. Heal me, Jesus!
Seeing this, Jesus heart was moved with pity
You are troubled and you feel abandoned
But we are not abandoned. Because we are not wheat but men and women, when we are harvested we can become the laborers.
We can follow the shepherd and watch him reap his whirlwind.
We can trust and obey. O what mighty things will happen when we do!
           (Hosea 8, Psalm 115, John 10, Matthew 9)
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