By Brandon Beck

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness,and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect, Proper 6, Year A, RCL)

In the daily devotional of The Oriental Orthodox Order in the West, “Witnesses to Truth,” dated Friday, June 16, 2023, Abbot Lynn Bauman opened with quotes from playwright Tennessee Williams and theo-philosopher David Price:

No one is ever free until they tell the truth about themselves and the life into which they’ve been cast…. We are all here to be a witness to something, to be of some aid and direction to other people. – Tennessee Williams

The first truth we have to tell is the truth of the culture of outrageous violation we find ourselves in. Our essential self is violated from early days in our lives. There’s no other word for it. We have to heal ourselves with truth. This is work, and it often goes slowly. – David Price

Abbot Lynn goes on to say, “We are here as witnesses – to both be in and watch the world from our vantage point, and speak its truth no matter how difficult that may be for us, but also more importantly to be of aid and direction for other people. That is a divine calling – a higher purpose, and it gives direction and meaning for our lives. Obviously, the stakes are high as we perform this task (duty or vocation) as we feel it.”

I read “Witnesses to Truth” on Friday, June 16, then turned to the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) to prepare for Sunday, June 18.

God winked. Abbot Lynn, RCL year A, and I were thinking alike, it seemed.

The collect for Proper 6 (Sunday closest to June 16 and printed at the beginning of this article) prays for our steadfastness in proclaiming the truth and ministering in justice and compassion. And the selected scriptures for Proper 6 weave into this truth-telling-tapestry, too.

Personally, I find that balancing my bold proclamations of truth with my ministering with justice and compassion requires continual awareness, patience, practice, and prayer. I require a full team of support to keep my balance. I am grateful to my accountability partner, my family, my community, and God’s voice and presence for reminding me moment-by-moment to shift my weight a little this way or that in order that I don’t fall. I shout for joy when I see old things in new ways and new things from different perspectives, and I am learning that part of staying centered is accepting help and hearing God’s voice when it comes out of the mouths of others.

In Track 2 of Proper 6, Year A, the appointed Psalm is 100. It is a joyful shout to God – a great, bold proclamation of truth. “Give thanks to [God] and call upon [God’s] name,” says the psalmist. Listen to this psalm set to music by Adam Wright of The Corner Room. “Sometimes, we unknowingly stumble upon a life-long pursuit and don’t immediately realize its impact. For Adam Wright, that life-long pursuit is setting Scripture to music, a resource to help God’s people engage and treasure the Bible more deeply. [Adam] arrang[es] each piece into a singable work that makes memorization and meditation a joy.” (https://www.cornerroommusic.com/ )

Yet, boldly proclaiming God’s name is not our only call; we are also called to minister with justice and compassion. Our Psalm 100 shout of joy is tempered, this week, by our Gospel instruction from Jesus, from which we hear:

…proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons…I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matthew 9:35-10:23)

We are called to proclaim with boldness and minister with justice and compassion, and, by the Spirit, with boldness and shouts, we can.

Jesus did; the apostles did; through the generations our abbas and immas have, and now we do.

To adapt the words of Henri-Frederic Amiel to this writing: Life in this space-time is short, and we have too little time to journey this way together, so gladden each other’s hearts whenever you can by being swift to love and make kindness. Be bold to proclaim the name of God, and minister with justice and compassion…and may the blessing of God – Father and Mother, Incarnate in Jesus, and Holy Spirit – be with you now and always.

Amen.

by Pam Tinsley

^{Photo by Karolina Grabowska;   Photo by cottonbro studio;  Photo by RODNAE Productions}

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’” (John 20:21). This verse, from the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Easter, has been my earworm this past week. Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection as they huddle together in fear behind locked doors and speaks these comforting – and challenging – words to his disciples.

Jesus’ words are also for us, his 21^st-century disciples. Our baptismal promise to “proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ” calls us to leave the shelter of our churches and homes. We are called to go forth into the world as ministers of the resurrection – ministers of hope.

This message is echoed in a timely blog by Prince Rivers for the Alban Institute, Go beyond the sanctuary. Rivers reminds us that the number of those worshiping in church is not an indication of church health. Instead, health is reflected in the ministry that takes place outside of the church building and in the wider community. This is lay ministry. This is ministry in daily life. And, as Rivers writes, “The post-resurrection narratives in the Gospels clearly point us to ministry beyond the sanctuary.”

When Jesus sends us into our broken world to be ministers of love, compassion, justice, reconciliation, we are also sent to serve as ministers of hope. And where we are sent is as individual as each of us is.

Yet, we may wonder whether we have the tools to proclaim the Good News by word and example. We may doubt whether we are sufficiently prepared to do so. Here’s where regular worship and Christian community support us. Worship and Christian fellowship offer means for easing those doubts. And, as we learn from Thomas’s experience in the upper room, doubt nourished by curiosity can lead to revelation, transformation, and empowerment.

So, during this Eastertide, I invite you to consider how you might serve as a minister of the resurrection, offering hope through your love, care, and concern to those you encounter in your daily life. 

by Demi Prentiss

We’re about to enter Holy Week, an opportunity to feel the power and the poignancy of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. We can choose to walk through those eight days as a memorial, a tradition, a liturgical banquet, a personal sacrifice. For me, this Lent, I’m drawn to reflect deeply on how each day’s drama is challenging me to live differently, starting now. How might my daily life be transformed?

My prayer is for God to change my heart. This song, “Last Words” by Karl Kohlhase has offered me a framework to press into opening my heart more fully. It calls me to see the habits I must let go to allow my heart to be – every day – more tender, trusting, thankful, holy, loving, perfect, and faithful.

May you listen and be challenged as I have been:

"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do,”
I hear you pray for those who torture you.
These are the words that tear my grudges all apart.
Create in me a tender heart.
 
You turn your head to address a dying thief.
“Today you’ll be in paradise with me.”
These are the words where every hopeless soul must start.
Create in me a trusting heart.
 
Your darkest hour you cried out from the tree,
“My god, my god, why have you forsaken me?”
These words of anguish pierce me through just like a dart.
Create in me a thankful heart.
 
Then unto Mary, “Woman behold your son,
Behold your mother,” your dying words to John.
These words begin a family of which I’m part.
Create in me a holy heart.
 
You said, “I thirst,” yet it was not for wine.
You thirst for love from desert souls like mine.
And with these words a flowing river you impart.
Create in me a loving heart.
 
Then “It is finished!” Your work on earth was done.
For in three days your battle would be won.
These are the words with which you crown your works of art.
Create in me a perfect heart.
 
“Into your hands, Father, I commend my breath.”
Your final prayer as you close your eyes in death.
And with these words one day I’ll fly to where you are.
Create in me, create in me, create in me a faithful heart.
                                                   “Last Words” by Karl Kohlhase

by Edward L. Lee, Jr.

Thomas Mousin, an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Maine, has created daily Keeping Advent reflections for many years. Using scriptural passages he finds Advent themes and elaborates on them with apt insight and relevance. As a subscriber I have found them consistently evocative and pertinent in my baptismal journey to Christmas.

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” 

Luke 10:25-28

Be strong.

We can spend a lot of time thinking about the life to come. Such was the question asked by the lawyer who was testing Jesus. In one sense, Jesus answered clearly, saying these are the things you need to do. He also knew that the lawyer, having asked the question, already knew the answer.

But the truth of that answer has not to do with what ensures our eternal fate, but what it means to live each moment of each day. What does it mean to love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our strength, and all our mind? And what does it mean to love our neighbor as ourselves?  These are the questions we work out in the everydayness of our lives.

When Jesus commended the lawyer on his response, he did not say, “You have given the right answer; you will do this and you will have eternal life.” Instead, he said, “You have given the right answer; you will do this and you will live.” We are meant to live, today in this moment and every moment, as we love God and our neighbor as ourselves for the life we are given today.

by Fletcher Lowe

I meet once a month with a small group of friends to discuss their experiences as Christians in their places of work. The discussion-starter is usually an article related to some aspect of the workplace.  Recently we talked about an article entitled “5 Ways to Bless Others with Your Words at Work,” published by the Theology of Work.  The underlying scripture was Numbers 6:24-26: The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.  The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.  I added James 3:10: From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.

As we discussed each one of the five ways of blessing, we saw how it related not only to the workplace but to all other aspects of daily life.  For your own reflection let me share them:

1. Express Welcome.  We felt that being approachable was at the heart of welcome.
2. Eliminate Blame Shifting. It does involve holding people accountable, but focusing on the fault, not the person; the “sin, not the sinner.”  Also acknowledging that risk-taking is an asset that leads to some failures.  And that failures often lead to growth, more than successes.
3. Reconciling Broken Relationship. This we really struggled with, for often people bring outside baggage into the workplace that triggers brokenness. And even within an organization/community/family it can be difficult to resolve, but try we must.
4. Be Careful Not to Judge.  We found this to be connected with Blaming, looking to the fault, not the person.
5. Show Appreciation: How important is this!!  Expressing gratitude – especially to those whose work is less glamorous or visible – is so very valuable and affirming.

The article concludes with these words:

Empowered by Christ

When we use our words to bless others, we do so knowing that we’ve been blessed in the same ways through our relationship with Jesus. Jesus welcomes us just as we are; makes us blameless – and therefore unafraid and unashamed – before himself and God; reconciles us to himself; and even describes us as “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Because we enjoy his kindness and friendship, we are empowered to extend blessing to those around us.