Reading for Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: James 5:13-20

Peace be with you!

Erin M Diericx with ladies at Shepherd of the Hill
© Copyright 2015 Original Photo take by Margaret Schrantz

I am blessed with a close-knit congregation. During announcements, individuals are welcomed to voice their prayer requests, such as for God’s strength and healing in illness or difficult life experiences. One lady periodically gives us updates regarding her granddaughter who was born with a heart defect and other health issues. Over the past three years, we have shared in rejoicing and lamenting as the granddaughter has grown stronger as well as experienced a few setbacks. People ask the grandmother how the little girl is doing before and after the church service when they have not been informed for a few weeks.

James opens this section with three questions: 1) “Are any among you suffering?” 2) “Are any cheerful?” and 3) “Are any among you sick?” (James 5:13-14a NRSV). These questions highlight the human experience, because at any given time there is always someone who is suffering, someone who is cheerful, and someone who is sick. It is not always the same people who are suffering, cheerful, and sick each time—the roles rotate among the members of the community. James asks these questions to direct our attention to the needs within the community and away from our own personal dilemmas. In my Episcopal church, we give thanks for the individuals who have birthdays in the coming week, and during the prayers the deacon or priest names the people who are sick or who have died the previous week. This weekly practice emphasizes the important role each person has in the community and helps each of us focus on the needs of the community.

After each question, James encourages Christians to do something. James asks, “Are any among you suffering?” (James 5:13a NRSV). The question requires us to name the individuals who are experiencing difficult situations. The members of the community have to look beyond themselves and look into the eyes of those who are suffering. And when you are the one who is suffering, the question allows you room to share your story and to ask for help. James directs us to pray when we are suffering individually and as a community (James 5:13b). The simple act of praying gives us the chance to lift up and support one another. One of amazing things about asking for prayers is that it welcomes a conversation with and support from others who have had similar past experiences. The community becomes a resource and a support group for individuals who are suffering.

James asks, “Are any cheerful?” (James 5:13c NRSV). James encourages such people to rejoice and praise God” (James 5:13d). Everyone does not suffer at the same time, and those who are cheerful should rejoice and praise God for blessing them. As a community, James invites us to share in the life experiences that get us excited and in the many ways God blesses us. By celebrating others’ happiness, people who are suffering are reminded that [whatever “it” is] they are struggling with will eventually pass.[i] It also breathes life into the community where there would otherwise be despair and bitterness. Rejoicing and praising God shines his light into the world and reminds us there is hope in the Lord.

James asks, “Are any among you sick?” (James 5:14a NRSV). James tells us to have the elders to pray over the sick and to anoint them with oil (James 5:14b). When someone has a physical ailment, they are often times isolated from others for a number of reasons, including germ control, being physically too weak to be out and about, or being hospitalized. Being isolated causes depression and anxiety and can even lead a person to be suicidal. Surrounding someone, physically or spiritually, lifts them up and lets them know they are not alone in their struggle. Even if you cannot physically be with the person who is sick, letting them know you are thinking and praying for them gives them comfort in knowing they are not alone and are being missed. This helps the person to focus on getting better, resting in the assurance that he or she is a valuable member of the community.

James continues by saying we need to confess our sins and to pray for and with one another as a community (James 5:16). Confessing our sins is intimating, especially when we as community have to admit [whatever “it” is] we did was wrong. Yet if we admit our faults, we are able to seek forgiveness from others and to repair relationships with other communities. When different communities have mutual respect for one another, a corporative healing happens in which they work together to make the world a better place. When communities unite to spread the good news, they mend the brokenness of and in the world, lifting up each person and their call in God’s greater plan. By forgiving one another, communities extend the power of the resurrection and the invitation into the kingdom of God. What an extraordinary gift!

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for bringing us together as a community. Unite us in your name to spread your forgiveness, grace, and love in the world. Comfort the sick and the suffering, forgive the sinner, and lift us up to new life. Thank you for inviting us into your kingdom. Amen.

[i] However, it should be noted the individuals who are rejoicing need to allow those who are suffering the room they need to work through their current situation and vice-versa. A mutual respect should be kept.

Reading for Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: James 4:1-17

Peace be with you!

The devil and the Lord have been at odds with each other shortly after the beginning of time when the devil fell from God’s graces.[i] Unfortunately we get caught up in the middle of their battle. The devil wants us to fulfill our desires by living according to our own plans, while the Lord wants us to live according to his plans in order to be in a relationship with him and to receive his forgiveness, grace, and love. Both the devil and the Lord want what they think is best for us, but the devil has evil motives and does not have our best interests at heart.

The devil stirs up the conflicts and disputes that we then fuel among ourselves. When we want what is not ours to have, the devil tempts us with actions that go against God’s wishes, like committing murder and causing conflicts (James 4:2). We may be tempted to ask God for [whatever “it” is] that we do not really need, but it only satisfies a desire of the moment. Or we may be tempted to take what we have no rights to, because again it satisfies a desire of the moment (James 4:3). The devil does not care that fulfilling these desires will wrongfully ultimately cause more pain and suffering. The devil asks, “Why do you want pain and suffering now when you can be rich and happy instead? It makes no sense, right? If you can satisfy your desires in the here and now, why shouldn’t you take the opportunity? Why should you care about the welfare of others? Do others care about you?” The devil is only concerned about the here and now and providing a way for us to obtain our present desires, even if it comes at the expense of others. If we go after our desires for the wrong reasons, we are giving into the ways (envy, jealously, murder, fighting, and war) of the devil.[ii]

However, satisfying the desires of the moment does not satisfy our desire to be in a relationship with the Triune God, to know the love of Jesus Christ, and to have eternal life in order to enter the Kingdom of God. God answers, “It is not about you as individuals getting what you want in the moment. It is not about what others can do for you. It is about living in community and taking care of one another. It is about a bigger plan that I will fulfill in time with your help, but you have to be patient and put your trust in me.”

God wants us to allow his Spirit to dwell within us (James 4:5b). God’s presence is all around us; he goes wherever we go; he feels our pain, fear, sadness, joy, happiness, and contentment. By always being present, God shares his wisdom and understanding with us regarding his plan for us. If we allow God’s Spirit to lead us, we will see our riches in heaven when we come to understand his prefect plan.

God asks us to resist the devil (James 4:7) by washing our hands and purifying our hearts (James 4:8b). When we remorseful and repent our sins (James 4:9a), we can draw God close to us and he can draw us close to him (James 4:8a), which is how he shares his wisdom with us. Therefore, God asks us to speak with love, not hate, by not judging one another one or enforcing the law according to our ways of thinking (James 4:11). There can only be one Judge: God who is the only one with the authority to “save and destroy” by carrying out the sanctions of the divine law.[iii] God alone is the judge. Our job is to love and care for one another.

Furthermore, James says, “Stop leading double lives, and starting living for God—the one who created you and has the power to forgive when you humbly repent. Give your life back to him. God is a gracious God who offers his love, mercy, and grace. God will provide you with what you need as long as you live for him—and only him.”

It is a message of grace in the face of fear, of love in the face of hate, of joy in the face of pain, and of forgiveness and mercy in the face of confusion. God sends us to the places and people who need us the most. Sometimes God gives us a job description, but most of the time we just have to trust God will reveal his plan over time. Even if we do not understand where we are heading or why we must go to places we have never been to before, we can go in confidence that God will always be with us.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for calling upon us to do your work in the world. Help us to only want what you deem we need. Lead us to the places where we are needed the most. Remind us it is your will, not our will, to be done. Forgive us when we get sidetracked, and redeem us as your children. Thank you for always being with us. Amen.

[i] God created the devil as an angel who fall from God’s grace and fell to earth as a subordinate to God.

[ii] Dan G. McCartney, James, vol. of Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009), 208-209.

[iii] Ibid., 221.

Reading for Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost: James 3:1-18

Peace be with you!

You have probably heard the quote: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”[i] We might claim this is true, but James understood the true effect words can have on their audience. Words can be a blessing or a curse. Individuals who have been mentally abused often battle depression and low self-esteem, because someone said they were not good enough. A positive role model can lift people up and lead them to have great success, because someone saw something in them and gave them the courage to achieve their dreams.

James says, “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. … With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so” (James 3:5a, 9-10 NRSV).

The way you speak to others says a lot about who you are as a person and as a Christian. If you have negative views about yourself and/or the world, you will complain and bring others down with you. Someone who mentally abuse others are depressed and have low self-esteem of their own, and they need to feel like they have power someone or something. As an individual who was mentally abused, I know how helpless you feel when you under someone’s thumb and how exploitative the person who mentally abuses another person can be. The person who is mentally abusive will use their words to be in control of someone. This is one example of what James means when he says, “the tongue is a fire” (James 3:6a NRSV). Words can tear people down and make them feel unworthy of forgiveness, grace, and love. They can lead people astray from what is most important—God and his love for them.

With cyberbullying on the rise, we have begun to understand the effect words have on individuals—and words do hurt. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics in their 2007 “Indicators of School Crime and Safety Report,” 28% of youth between twelve and eighteen report being bullied in the last six months at their school, with about one-fifth of the 28% reporting that the bullying occurred once or twice a week.[ii] A study done by Yale University reported 7% to 9% of the individuals who are bullied are more likely to think about suicide. About 69% of teenagers have regular access to their own computer and cell phone and use social media, and 42% of these teenagers reported being cyberbullied.[iii] Words have just as much effect as being physically attacked.

Bullying and cyberbullying can even lead individuals who have been bullied to kill themselves—to end the very life God gave them. James warns us against speaking out of envy and selfish ambition by being boastful or lying, because it results in disorder and wickedness, which are the work of the devil (James 3:14-16). James appeals to us to speak with wisdom and mercy (James 3:17).

Like a horse with a bridle, you can control what you say and do (James 3:2-3). A handler can control the whole body of a horse with a bridle. What you say controls what the rest of your body says. If you speak words of anger, you may yell, turn red in the face, and stomp off. If you speak happy words, you may shout with joy, be giggly, and jump up and down. When we control our words, we speak with wisdom and love, which yields mercy and good fruits without partiality and hypocrisy (James 3:17).

In his interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on September 14, 2015 (minute 15:28), Vice President Joe Biden said, “My mom always said, ‘Remember no one is better than you, and you are better than no one. Remember everyone is equal.’” When we speak with wisdom, we are forced to treat everyone with love and as an equal, because Jesus commands us to love our God with our whole being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. By doing this, we bring heaven into the world. God’s grace and love can then spread in the world, and our words become a blessing to whoever hears them.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving us your wisdom. Help us to speak with wisdom and love to bring heaven to earth. Lead us to be your disciples and to do your will in the world. Thank you for giving us your love and grace. Amen.

[i] The earliest citation was in The Christian Recorder in March of 1862, though it was coined before that according to The Phrase Finder.

[ii] Sameer Hinduja and Justin W. Patchin, “Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Suicide,” Suicide Research: Official Journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research 14 (July 2010): 206-221, http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin_Patchin/publication/45289246_Bullying_cyberbullying_and_suicide/links/55098f1f0cf26ff55f85eaa2.pdf.

[iii] “Bullying Suicide Statistics,” http://nobullying.com/bullying-suicide-statistics/.

Reading for Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: James 2:1-17

Peace be with you!

Photo Credit: Amber Sue Photography, www.ambersuephotography.com

Think of all of your friends—the people who you associate yourself with on a regular basis. Are your friends your colleagues who you grab a beer after work with? Are your friends the same race and/or in the same social class? Do you share a similar life experience, such as a specific disability or a tragedy? Do you share the same belief system with your friends? Do your friends dress and act like you? Who you include in your network says a lot about you as a person and as a Christian according to James.

Everyone has a few people they connect with and share their every move with. The titles of these individuals vary: best friends, favorite people, “besties,” sisters and brothers, and husband and wife. You call them when something exciting happens as well as when something upsetting happens. As a group, you act like a gatekeeper by deciding who will be included in your group. If someone dresses, acts, or talks differently than the your group they are not allowed into the inner circle. As a group, you judge others for not being like you.

On the other hand, people are attracted to others who appear similar to them. A few days ago I was leaving a restaurant when an older lady asked my personal caregiver if we were associated with Crest, a local school for kids with cognitive disabilities and behavioral issues. She went on to say her nine-year-old grandson goes there, and her daughter is very involved in the fundraising. My personal caregiver said no as we continued getting into my car. The old lady saw me as someone who had similar movements and speech patterns as her grandson and assumed I must have the same disability.

As a society, we judge others by their appearance—by how they groom and dress themselves before we even meet them. Based on their appearance, we decide if we will approach them or how close we will allow them to get. We stick up our noses at individuals who dress, act, and talk differently than us.

One day I was in the mall’s parking lot with a friend when I asked, “Why are they doing [whatever “it” was we disapproved of]?” My friend quickly answered, “They are not us,” as we drove away.

This interaction with my friend demonstrates society’s us-versus-them mentality. We continually judge people based on how they appear to be similar to or different from us.

James writes, “Stop it. Stop choosing favorites. Stop favoring one group of people over another. When Jesus said, ‘love your neighbor,’ he did not say you could pick and choose your neighbors. Jesus just said, ‘love your neighbor.’ So when you favor one group over another, you dishonor the other group and God” (see James 2:1-8).

James is not saying we have to be best friends with everyone we meet. However, we need to have respect and honor for everyone we come into contact with. We need to care about those less fortunate than us just as much as we care about those who are just like us, because even they are equal in God’s eyes. No one should be put in a corner, because they are different. As Christians, we are called to share God’s forgiveness, grace, and love with everyone we meet, not just a select few.

James goes on to write, “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:12-13 NRSV). We must show mercy to those who sin against us in order to receive mercy ourselves from God the Father. We are not without sin; therefore, we have no right to judge or to pick favorites. Dan G. McCartney writes, “Since both justice and mercy are traits of God, the one who has faith in Jesus (2:1) must also evince both justice (by showing no favoritism) and mercy (by refraining from judgment [4:11-12], by restoring a wandering [5:19-20], and by providing for the needy [1:26-27]).”[i] Therefore, we are called to fight for justice by not judging each other and by treating each other as equals.

With that said, James challenges us to live out our faith through our actions and not just with our words. James explains you would not tell the hungry to go have a nice meal without first making sure they had access to food (2:15-16), because faith without works is dead (2:17). James is not contradicting Paul by saying we have to do works to enter the Kingdom of God, but rather he is saying that our faith should be the reason we do good works. Instead of relating to those who appear to be similar to us, James challenges us to relate to those who appear to be different than us and to have a conversation—to find what struggles they face and how we can work together.

God’s love shows no partiality or favoritism. God’s love is for everyone, not a select few. Therefore, God calls us to go out and share the good news with anyone who will listen, even those different from us, because the Kingdom of God is for everyone.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for forgiving us and showing us mercy when we fall. Help us to have open conversation with each other, even those different from us. Create ways for social justice to be possible in the world. Lead us to love our neighbor as you love us. Give us mercy when we fall and forgiveness when we stand and repent. Thank you for having no favorites but for loving us all as we are. Amen.

[i] Dan G. McCartney, James, vol. of Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009), 151.

Reading for Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost: James 1:17-27

Peace be with you!

Do you know anyone who says they are a Christian but does not act like one? Some people go to church and say the right things, but they do things contrary to God’s love. Maybe you have met people who say “love your neighbors,” but will spread hate in the church. Maybe you have gone to a new church and felt like an outcast.

We begin a five-week series in the book of James, which is attributed to Jesus’s brother, James, an early church leader in Jerusalem. Unlike Paul, James is more concerned with practical theology than theological theories. The main goal for James is to have people examine their lives and to seek to live out their faith in Jesus Christ.

James has witnessed people act contrary to their faith. In the opening chapter, James answers two questions:

• Who is God?
• Who are we supposed to be?

As he engages these questions, James challenges his readers to examine their actions through the lens of their faith.

Who is God? God is the creator of earth and heaven (Genesis 1) and the Father of the lights (James 1:17b; cf Genesis 1:3, 14-17) who gives us life through the true word (James 1:18). Unlike the devil, God does not live in the shadows. Instead God is the light of the world who gives life to all things. Every time God creates living and non-living things he says, “It is good” (Genesis 1:4, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). After God created part of creation, he said, “It is good.” God does not have two sides to him—good and evil—like the Force in Star Wars. God is just good, and therefore we are good as his creation.

God is so good that he shows us the truth and gives us the good news through Jesus Christ. God makes it possible for us to be in a relationship with him by sending Jesus Christ into the world to die for our sins and be raised to new life. Because he is the light of the world, Jesus gives us the word of truth. He gives us new life with God the Father when we are born again through our baptism. Jesus invites us to walk in the light and to be the light in the world to share his good news (John 12:36a).

When we see all the darkness in the world and battle with our own sinful nature, it’s easy to forget that God has made us children of light. It’s easy to forget to live into that reality that God has created for us. We get consumed by the busyness of the world. We forget to pause and to look for the light. We forget to thank God for the gift he gives us for free. Instead we keep working toward the empty promises of the devil—wealth, power and authority, and envy. We are never happy with what we are given and always want more—bigger houses, better cars, latest technology, and the next promotion. We speak and act against our neighbor. We judge people based on gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, age, economical standing, and more. However, when we walk in the light, we express God’s love in the world. The light makes it possible to look pass people’s differences and to care and love them for who they are and where they are. We can then care for people’s needs. God’s light and love knows no boundaries.

James says, “Stop saying you are a Christian and acting otherwise. If you are going to say you are a Christian, love your God, love your neighbor, care for the needy, and feed and clothe the poor. Stop serving the devil, and start truly serving the Lord.” When we speak out of anger, we go against God’s righteousness (James 1:19-20). Wickedness does not serve God’s purpose for us as his creation.

James challenges us to really look at ourselves in a mirror (James 1:23, 25). Do you act like a Christian? Do you speak with care and love? Do you lend a hand to the needy? Do you advocate for social justice? Do you feed and clothe the poor? Some people forget who they are as soon as they leave church and go back to doing things their way. These people turn their backs to God, even when they claim to be Christians. However, when you live out your faith, you bring God’s righteousness and light into the world. God commissions us to care for his creation—to care for orphans and widows.

When we share God’s forgiveness, grace, and love, we bring a little bit of heaven to earth. This allows us to strengthen our relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (James 1:18). God brings us to new life with Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for being in a relationship with us. Help us to cast away wickedness and to walk in your light and ways. Lead us to care for the needy, the poor, and the widows. Thank you for giving us new life through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Reading for Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Ephesians 6:10-20

Peace be with you!

Surviving in a world where there are cosmic powers of darkness can be difficult for us as Christians. We are daily surrounded by messages that try to persuade us to turn away from are Lord and into the darkness. There is no way to avoid these messages; people who choose to live in the darkness and who try to pull us in with them surround us. These individuals work as advertisers, journalists, news anchors, authors, movie directors, etc. They control what we see and do not see.

In the modern world, we have gadgets too help us to get the messages we want to see and to block or minimize the messages we do not want to see. We can follow certain news outlets and bloggers on Twitter and Facebook. We can surround ourselves with people who value the same things as we do. We choose which businesses, organizations, and movements to support and not to support. However, no matter how much we try to avoid the powers of darkness, they will always manage to infiltrate our reality. We cannot avoid the pain, injustice, and suffering in the world.

As Christians, what can we do to fight against the cosmic powers of darkness? What gadget can zap it out of the world once and for all? Where can we go to escape the darkness?

Unfortunately, there is no gadget to use against the powers of darkness or place we can go to hide from it. As long as God and the cosmic powers of darkness are at odds with each other, we as Christians will have to learn to protect ourselves and work toward bringing heaven to earth. How do we work toward such a lofty goal?

The author of Ephesians gives us survival strategy to follow when we are fighting against the cosmic powers of darkness. The author uses the metaphor of the armor worn by the Roman soldiers in battle. First, the “belt of truth” strengthens the individuals within the group to trust each other and to fight against others who are speaking against the Lord (Ephesians 6:14). Second, the “helmet of salvation” protects us from ourselves and gives us what we earn on our own merit (Ephesians 6:14, 17). God the Father gives us the gift of salvation through the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—a debt we cannot repay. Third, the “shield of faith” gives us the willpower to stand against the powers of darkness and to spread the word of God (Ephesians 6:16). Because we have faith, we have the power to stand together and to rally against the injustice in the world. Finally, the “sword of the Spirit” allows the Holy Spirit to go out into the world and share the good news through us (Ephesians 6:17). With the Holy Spirit to guide us, we are able to read the scriptures and open our minds and hearts to the good news.[i]

Yet the Roman soldiers could not rely on their armor alone, because it only protected their front sides. Roman soldiers had to walk side by side into battle to protect each other’s backs. In the same way, we as Christians need to stand together against social injustice. We need to make our voices heard and work to get new policies and laws passed that protect the oppressed and minorities. We discussed how people with various disabilities protested Congress together and how that brought about the Americans with Disabilities Act. In recent times, we have seen how social injustice is fought through social media hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter and #DontShoot, which have sparked a nationwide discussion on the injustice shown toward the black community. After many years of Congressional testimonies, we have witnessed LGBT couples be granted the same rights as married heterosexual couples. During our lifetime, we have seen the power of groups coming together to make changes and end social injustice.

In the same matter, we, as Christians, come together in a united front against the cosmic power of darkness. We can open and read the scriptures together and share the good news with others. Together with the Holy Spirit we can bring about God’s will on earth as in heaven.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving us a survival strategy to fight against the cosmic powers of darkness. Help us to come together as a united front to share the good news with the world. Lead us with the Holy Spirit to do your work to protect the oppressed. Thank you for giving us a community to belong to. Amen.

[i] “Paul’s Product Proposal: The Bible Gives us Some Ideas for ‘Wearable Tech,’” Homiletics 27 (2015): 62-64.

Reading for Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: Ephesians 5:15-20

© Copyright 2015 Erin M Diericx

Peace be with you!

My activities are often planned out a week in advance, so I can schedule my personal caregivers accordingly. My caregivers know what to do as soon as they get to my house in the morning: feed the pups and prepare my breakfast. After I come out of my room, my personal caregiver makes my coffee and feeds me my breakfast. Depending on what day of the week, my helpers know which chores to do and where I need to be normally. I like my routine, though some days there are unexpected schedule changes. Most of my personal caregivers can be flexible and go with the flow, but individuals who are employed through an agency are not able to change their schedule with such ease.

Scheduling personal caregivers does require knowing and communicating what I need done and when. It also requires planning ahead and acknowledging my personal caregivers’ strengthens and weaknesses as well as their needs, such as time off. Managing your own care means managing both your time and the time of others, which requires discipline and care.

The author of Ephesians gives us guidelines as to what to do with our time. There are two types of time: chronos and kairos. Chronos refers to the timing we live by on earth, which dictates an exact hour and minute, whereas kairos is God’s perfect timing. The author writes, “Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15 NRSV). As Christians, we are to live according to chronos by listening to what God has planned.

However, our society has us programmed to chronos—the rush and to pack as much as we can into twenty-four hours in order to be successful. Our time is divided among school, work, family and friends, and other activities. Our society also has an ideal timeline for our lives: obtain your college degree by 22, land a job in your field soon after, married by 30, kids by 35, retired by 62, and so on. We are defined by our ability to keep up with the Jones and the Smiths.

But what happens when you cannot keep up with the Jones and the Smiths? What if you take longer to get your college degree and land a successful career? What if your life does not follow the ideal timeline?

Unfortunately, my life does not follow society’s ideal timeline. Sure, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree by 23 and my master’s degree by 26. I was even married by 25 and divorced by 29. Yet at 32 I am living in a retirement area in Florida and helping take care of my stepfather who has Parkinson’s. My time is spent managing both of our cares, especially as my stepfather’s physical abilities are declining slowly but more quickly than expected. My calendar looks a rainbow, because each personal caregiver, my stepfather, my mother, and I all have our own color. Some people wonder how we keep it all straight, but it is just our normal.

I often wonder how I got here. Living in Florida was not in my ten-year plan back in college and was not even a thought for my mom. When my stepfather could no longer handle the bitter winters of Wisconsin, Florida was ideal. Over the course of two years, we all moved down for one reason or another. My mom moved down when she found a job, and I moved down with my then husband, so he could golf all year round. My stepfather moved to Florida when he retired early. Now four years later my mom and I look at each other and wonder where the time has gone. My stepfather’s physical condition continues to decline, and we keep saying, “not yet,” as he is no longer able to do the things he once did.

Then I remember God’s perfect timing, his kairos timing. God’s timetable is vastly different than the one we live by on earth with no worldly standards or checklists. We don’t get to have input, and when we try to interject, God just laughs. In order to live by kairos, we must quiet the world around us and let God intervene on our behalf. We must be willing to be led by the Holy Spirit and to go where we did not plan. When we do, we are led to amazing places and do amazing things.

Sure, I never planned on living in Florida, but I am where God wants me to be. God knew my mom and my stepfather would need my support during this time. God knew my stepfather would need someone to keep him company when my mom was working. God knew my mom would need someone to talk to when things got overwhelming. God knew I could handle the task and would need my family after my divorce. Things may not be the way we planned, but it is God’s perfect plan.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your perfect timing. Help us to quiet our lives and slow down, so we can listen to your will. Lead us by the Holy Spirit to carry out your perfect plan in your timing. Thank you for intervening on our behalf. Amen.

Reading for Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost: Ephesians 4:25-5:2



A small light can spark a revolution. Photograph: William Fernando Martinez/AP

Peace be with you!

Part of carrying out God’s plan is keeping his commandments and loving one other as he loves us. The author of Ephesians gives us a list of examples. Some commands are simple and straightforward, such as not stealing but instead doing a honest day’s work (Ephesians 4:28). But some of the commands are more complex. The author adds that we should share with the needy, but leaves us to clarify how we define who is and is not needy. When we add the human element into anything, the system often breaks down; it is easy to justify our personal opinions. We call to mind past negative experiences or imagine complicated logistics.

The author makes the argument that it is okay to get angry, if it does not cause you to sin (Ephesians 4:26). It seems impossible to get upset without hurting another person and therefore breaking a commandment. When a boyfriend cheats on you with your best friend, you may spread nasty rumors about them. When your mother does not allow you to go out with your friends, you may sneak out. When your friend spreads rumors about your family, you may spread rumors about their family. It is easy to let your anger lead you down a path that you would not otherwise go down. It is difficult to think of ways anger could be separate from sin.

However, what happens when we direct our anger to injustice in the world? What if we directed our anger to racial profiling? What if we directed our anger toward inaccessible buildings? What if we did not allow others to judge people based on their abilities? What if we did not allow anyone to sleep outside? What if we did not allow teachers to choose favorites? What if we taught students based on their learning styles? What would our world look like then?

Recently, I experienced discrimination based on my disability at my gym. One day my personal caregiver opened the door when she dropped me off at the gym. The front desk manager blocked the doorway and informed us that the gym requires me to show my gym membership card every time I come. She went on to lecture me that I should have my card out before I enter the door (meaning, my personal caregiver should get it out for me). Although I was allowed to enter the gym, I felt humiliated and disrespected.

I could have written a nasty letter to her boss, lamenting how she failed to treat me with dignity or respect. However, I decided to instead discuss the incident with the front-desk manager first. I explained how I felt violated when she physically blocked me from entering the gym. I explained how she could have taken me aside and said they were starting to enforce the policy more stringently. The front desk manager apologized for making me feel humiliated and understood how she could have approached me differently. By calmly and directly talking with the manager, I made my concerns and feelings known without being disrespectful, which showed her I could be approached like any other adult.

In recent times we have seen peaceful protests against racial profiling across the nation. People have held up their hands and chanted, “Black lives matter! Hands up, don’t shoot!” Church leaders have led prayer groups in the streets in Ferguson, and others have sung “Amazing Grace” in Charleston. The protesters got attention online with the hashtags #BlackLivesMatter and #DontShoot, and their peaceful, productive protest sparked a nationwide discussion on the injustice shown toward minorities.

This is what the author of Ephesians means not letting anger lead you to “bitterness, wrath, anger, wrangling, and slander.” Instead, “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, and forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31-32). Responding to anger with love and tenderness allows for healthy and constructive conversation to happen that help to end injustice towards the weak and vulnerable. When we do that, we start creating the world that God had in mind all along. We come closer to doing God’s will on earth as it is in heaven.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for showing us your forgiveness, grace, and love. Help us to respond to anger with kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness. Lead us to direct our anger to the fight against injustice in the world. Thank you for your wisdom. Amen.

Reading for Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: Ephesians 4:1-16

Photo of the Capitol Crawl in March 1990 to protest for the ADA. Photo credit: Tom Olin

Peace be with you!

During the suffrage movement, woman wanted to be equal with men. During the civil rights movement, the African Americans fought to end segregation and have the same rights as white Americans. In the 1980s, disability activists fought for the Americans with Disabilities Act, so people with disabilities could enjoy life to its fullest. Most recently the LGBT community fought for the same rights granted to married heterosexual couples. All of the civil rights movements work toward legal equality for a group of people who have been oppressed by society.

The focus of Ephesians turns to ethical questions of how Christians should live out their lives. In the fourth chapter, the author makes an appeal for unity in the Christian community (Ephesians 4:3). As Christians, we are united in “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father” (Ephesians 4:5-6a NRSV). We are all connected to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit through the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nothing can separate us from each other or from the Triune God.

Through grace we are given different gifts from Jesus (Ephesians 4:7), who sends us out into the world to spread the good news. Jesus calls different people to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Ephesians 4:11). We are all equipped with the gifts to do our different calls through the same Spirit. Our unique gifts add to the well-being of the community as a whole as we use them to support and strengthen one another.

Each civil rights movement focuses on a group of oppressed people about whom it raises public awareness. Each movement has its own rhetoric as to how its community has been treated unfairly in the past and would like to see social changes. Women fought to obtain equal pay compared to their male counterparts as well as the right to vote. It is difficult to imagine not being able to voice my opinions and thoughts just because I was a woman. African Americans fought to be able to use any bathroom or water foundation, to sit anywhere in a theater or on a bus, and to go to school anywhere. They fought to end segregation. Disability activists fought against having individuals who have disabilities put into facilities and separated from the rest of society. Disability activists fought the government to mandate public buildings be accessible to individuals in wheelchairs and to those using other assistance devices, which meant buildings needed to have ramps and elevators. The LGBT community fought for the rights of same-sex couples to be able to legally marry and have the same legal protections as straight couples. They fought to be able to legally recognize their union with whomever they fell in love with. Each civil rights movement fights to end injustice towards a certain group, though they all have striven for equality and to be heard and supported in society.

The author of Ephesians explains how Jesus gives his followers different gifts, which all strengthen the group as a whole (Ephesians 4:7, 16). Each individual is given a unique gift to help the body work toward sharing God’s love with the whole world. Jesus recognizes no one person has the responsibility of doing all of his work, so he splits it up among all of his followers. Each of his followers has the responsibility of lifting up the next person and giving them the support they need to do their job, which strengthens the community.

Disability activists modeled their movement after feminists and African Americans who led peaceful but direct demonstrations. Martin Luther King led marches and gave speeches in Washington DC to bring together the American-African community. In 1989-90, disability activists took part in the “Capitol crawl” by abandoning their wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, and other assistance devices to crawl up the eighty-nine steps of the Capitol building. All civil rights movements make a commitment to bring about social change in a society in the pursuit of equality in the community. No one movement could bring about equality for everyone, but each group builds upon the one before it to strengthen the community at large. In the same way, we, as Christians, build upon each other’s work to spread God’s love in the world. Jesus gives us the tools we need to do his work in the world. By doing his work, we build on the community with other followers and with new believers. Our work furthers the work of Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving us each gifts to do your work in the world. Help us to understand our individualized roles in your master plan. Lead us to go out into the world to spread your love and to build a community. Thank you for your love for us. Amen.

Reading for Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Ephesians 3:14-21

© Copyright 2015 The ADA Legacy Project

Peace be with you!

As we celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities come together to share stories of trials and triumphs. In the 1980s, people with disabilities did not have the rights as we have today. Children with disabilities were not mainstreamed in regular education classes. Buildings were not accessible to people in wheelchairs, because they had stairs and not ramps and elevators. People in wheelchairs were not able to ride buses because buses were not equipped with lifts and ramps.

People with disabilities and supporters spent years lobbying Congress and writing letters to representatives in the 1980s. Several protests were organized in which people in wheelchairs would chain themselves to buses. People with disabilities went to hearings to tell about physical obstacles and discrimination in their daily lives. For the first time, people with disabilities were seen as a minority who had been discriminated against. On March 12, 1990, people abandoned their wheelchairs and mobility devices to crawl up the eighty-three steps to the US Capitol Building while chanting:

“What do we want?”

“ADA!”

“When do we want it?”

“NOW!”

People with disabilities were willing to fight for what they believed in—rights for all people. The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed on July 26, 1990; it gives people with disabilities four categories of fundamental rights: equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.[i] Advocates continue to work toward making the ADA a reality for all people with disabilities.

In the third chapter of Ephesians, Paul prays for the church. He prays the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts to strengthen their relationship with God the Father and will give them the strength to do his work in the world (Ephesians 3:16-17). The author prays the church will recognize the Holy Spirit working in their daily lives to strengthen them.

Likewise, the ADA strengthens the voices of people with disabilities, because it recognizes their past struggles and gives them the right to live independently. Before the ADA, people with disabilities could not go shopping for shoes alone, as fourteen-year-old Danette Crawford told Senator Tom Harkin in 1990.[ii] For people with disabilities, the ADA meant access and the ability to do ordinary things, just like everyone else—a game changer.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a game charger because it evened the playing field between the Jews and the Gentiles. Jesus allows the Gentiles to be in a relationship with God the Father; before they were considered to be unclean. No longer was circumcision a requirement in order to know God (Ephesians 2:11). Jesus abolished the dividing wall—the law—between the Jews and the Gentiles and allowed them to live together in harmony (Ephesians 2:14-15).

Now, Jesus Christ dwells in our hearts to ground us in his love (Ephesians 3:17). With Christ we know God’s unconditional love for us, which he shows us through Jesus’s crucifixion, death, and resurrection. The more we allow Jesus to dwell in our hearts, the more we are able to live out our faith and be led by the Holy Spirit. We are able to change the world with Jesus by our side.

When we allow Jesus to lead us, he leads us to be in community with others who believe (Ephesians 3:18-19). We can share our stories with one another and work together to do God’s work. We become a part of the community of saints working together in the world. As we share our individual stories, we become a part of God’s bigger story.

In order to get the Americans with Disabilities Act passed, people with disabilities and other advocates came together in Washington DC to give endless hours of taped testimony in Congressional hearings. Their testimonies told stories of how obstacles kept them from entering public places and how they were discriminated against at school and in the workforce. Their individual stories put the bigger picture together. Their stories made it possible for future generations to be able live ordinary lives in community with one another. Just like Jesus’s death and resurrection, that was a game changer.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for allowing us the live in community with one another. Help us to come together to do your work in the world. Dwell in our hearts as we go into the world. Be with us as we gather together to share stories of your awesome power. Thank you for sharing your bigger story with us. Amen.

[i] Senator Tom Harkin, “Americans with Disabilities Act at 20: A Nation Transformed,” Huffington Post, 30 July 2015, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-tom-harkin/ada-at-20-a-nation-transf_b_659001.html.

[ii] Ibid.