July 1, Matthew 6:25-34

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus says: "Do not worry about your life.  Seek first God's kingdom and saving justice and all other things will be given to you as well." 

This passage from the gospel of Matthew is famous for its reference to the lilies of the field, which grow without toiling or spinning.  Jesus says that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like these beautiful flowers.  "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?" (v. 30)  Jesus is speaking to his disciples.  They are apparently worried about food to eat and clothing to wear.  They have given up everything to follow him.  They are anxious.

This teaching from the Sermon on the Mount reminds us of the poverty of the disciples and the extraordinary faith that Jesus demanded of them.  We are anxious with far less reason.  Let us pray that we may seek God's kingdom and not simply our own success and privilege.  

July 2, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15

July 3, John 20:24-29

Risen from the dead, Jesus said to Thomas who doubted, "Put your finger here and see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it in my side.  Do not doubt but believe."  Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

The Thomas passages in the gospel of John are not verified anywhere else in the New Testament.  In fact, Thomas does not have a speaking role in the first three gospels.  In the gospel of John, however, Thomas gives voice to the doubts that are certainly present among many Christians.  It is hard to see this account as history, because it seems so clearly directed at the doubters of the early church.  In verse 29 Jesus says, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."  The story seems to have been told for the next generation of Christians.

The church is unanimous in its witness to the resurrection of Jesus, but doubts about what the resurrection means are expressed in the gospel stories.  Paul verifies that Jesus appeared to Peter, then to the disciples, then to a large group, and finally to him.  Paul does not, however, mention an empty tomb.  Paul argues that resurrection means a new body, but this does not mean a resuscitation of the old body.  Paul looks for a new, spiritual body.  We need not take this story of Thomas literally to be convinced of the resurrection of Jesus.  We can embrace the faith of Paul.

July 4, Isaiah2:2-5

Isaiah said: "The peoples of the earth will say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD so that we may learn God's ways.'"

July 5, Luke 10:25-37

Having told the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus asks, in the gospel of Luke: "Who showed themselves to be a good neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"  They answered him, "The one who had mercy on him."  Jesus said, "Go and do likewise."

July 6, Matthew 13:31-32

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus says: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which someone took and sowed in their field.  Of all seeds it is the smallest, yet once it has grown it is the biggest of plants."

In the first three gospels of the New Testament Jesus tells parables as a way of announcing the kingdom of God.  It is startling that there are no parables in the gospel of John, which is why it seems likely that the fourth gospel is the least historical of the four gospels in the New Testament.  

The parable of the mustard seed may be taken to mean simply that the kingdom of God will start small but grow large.  Yet, those who know about mustard plants are aware that it is a weed in a garden.  Moreover, the parable says birds will come and nest in the branches of the mustard tree.  Birds in a garden?  Think of the scarecrows that farmers put in their field, and you will realize no farmer wants birds in his garden.  Does this mean the mustard plant, and by implication the kingdom of God, is a way of subverting our best laid plans.  Ponder notion of the kingdom of God!

July 7, Galatians 6:1-10

Bear each other's burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Paul is advising members of the church to help each other and to be forgiving.  The phrase "the law of Christ" is unusual.  Given Paul's argument that the gospel frees us from the law that God r revealed to Moses, the meaning of the phrase "law of Christ" cannot be taken literally.  surely Paul is referring to the commandments of Jesus, but the sum of all the commandments is love for God and for one another.

This passage in Galatians has the famous text: "you reap what you sow." (v. 7)  Paul reminds the members of the church in Galatia: "If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.  Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.  So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith." (vs. 9-10)

July 8, Luke 18:18-23

In the gospel of Luke,. Jesus tells an affluent man: "You still lack one thing.  Sell everything you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come and follow me."

This story appears in the first three gospels in almost identical words (Mt. 19:16-30, Mk. 10:17-31, Lk. 18:18-23).  A man asks Jesus what he needs to do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus replies that he knows the commandments, and then he refers to the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20.  When the man says he has kept these, Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions, to give his money to the poor, and to follow him.

Those who read the Bible literally tend to interpret this text figuratively.  St. Francis gave away all his possessions to the poor, but few other Christians have done so.  We know from Paul's letters that the first churches he was serving did not even pool their resources, as was done at least in the beginning in the church in Jerusalem.  In fact, Paul collects funds from these churches to aid the church in Jerusalem.  We might say that the man's pride in keeping the law triggers the response by Jesus.  And certainly the story reminds us that material goods are an enormous temptation.

July 9, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Paul writes: "God said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.'"

In this passage Paul refers to an ecstatic experience that he cannot adequately describe in words.  He then suggests that God gave him a thorn in his flesh to check his pride.  When he appealed to the Lord to relieve him of this burden, God replied that his grace would be sufficient.  "So," Paul says, "I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." (v. 9)

Grace is a very uncommon word in the Old Testament, but is central to the writings of Paul.  This passage reminds us that Paul is an educated Jew who reads and speaks Greek fluently.  His notion of "grace and peace" combines Greek and Jewish religious language and bridges these two cultures.  

July 10, Luke 1:46-55

In the gospel of Luke, Mary says: "My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant."

The gospel of Luke is the only gospel in the New Testament that records this song by Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Known traditionally as the Magnificat, because in Latin the first verse begins with this word, this song of Mary appears to be based largely on Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 in thanksgiving for the birth of her son, Samuel.  It seems likely that Mary did not literally sing these words, but that this song was put on her lips by the author of the gospel of Luke.  Perhaps it was a tradition that grew up on the early church, which he recorded.  Or, he may have composed it.

The song thanks and praises God.  It also conveys the gospel message of good news for the poor, which is very central to the gospel of Luke.  Mary prays, "God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; God has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty." (vs. 52-3)  

July 11, Ezekiel 3:10-11

Ezekiel hears God saying to him: "Son of man, listen carefully to all my words and take them to heart, then go to your compatriots and speak to them."

The Old Testament contains writings by a number of men who experienced the call of God to speak on behalf of God to their people.  These men are known as prophets, not because they are able to predict the future, but because they spoke for God.  Ezekiel was a priest among the exiles from Judah, who had been forced into exile by the Babylonians.  Ezekiel wrote on behalf of God between 593 and about 563 BC, and thus was a prophet as well as a priest.

All the prophets spoke words of judgment against Israel for not keeping the law and for oppressing the poor, but some of the later prophets also proclaimed a return of the exiles to Jerusalem and the restoration of the nation.  Ezekiel speaks forcefully to the exiles, judging the people for their wickedness but also encouraging them with words of promise.  In the New Testament the words of Ezekiel are understood in the light of Christ, who is proclaimed to be the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Old Testament.

July 12, James 1:17-27

Humbly accept the word planted in you, which can give you life.

This letter is attributed to James the Just, the brother of Jesus who became the leader of the church in Jerusalem.  We do not hear in the gospels that James followed his brother, but in Acts and in Paul's letter to the Galatians James is acknowledged as first among the apostles in Jerusalem.  This letter is not addressed to a particular congregation but to "the twelve tribes in the Dispersion," which suggests that the letter was written after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, because Christians as well as Jews were driven out of Jerusalem by the Romans who broke the back of the Jewish rebellion.

"Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves," the letter says. (v. 22)  More specifically, "If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless." (v. 26)  And, the letter asserts, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (v. 27)  Faith must be lived in order to be true.  That is not merely the teaching of this letter, but of the church throughout the centuries.

July 13, Luke 24:13-35

While two disciples were on their way to Emmaus, talking together about all that had happened, Jesus himself came up and walked with them.

This story of an appearance by Jesus to two disciples is not confirmed in any of the other gospels.  In his letters Paul also does not mention it.  The story says that the disciples do not recognize Jesus as he walked with them and talked to them, but only know him when they stop to eat and he blesses and breaks bread with them.  Perhaps this event occurred, but the story implies that we know the presence of Jesus in the breaking of the bread, in the sacrament of communion that is celebrated by the church.  It seems very much to be a story from within the life of the early church about the experience of the risen Christ during worship.

Christians are divided about the meaning of communion over whether of not Christ is really present in the elements or only symbolically present.  Whatever belief we may have, surely the point of communion and this story is that our lives are transformed by the Christ we know in scripture and in worship.  Our witness in the life of the church is to the transforming power of Christ that makes all things new, even our lives.

July 14, Luke 14:27-33

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus says: "Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciples."

The passage for today begins with this verse.  But what does it mean to "carry" our cross and to follow Jesus?  In this section of chapter 14, Jesus gives several concrete examples.  A man who intends to build a tower first will estimate the cost.  A king considering war will first assess the strength of his army.  So, Jesus concludes, "none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions." (v. 33)  That is not what we were expecting!

I argue that the New Testament is not to be taken literally as the word of God, but that argument cannot be used to conclude that every statement of the New Testament is figurative.  What about this commandment to give up all possessions?  In the context of the gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles (a sequel by the same author), this commandment might well be literal, because at the beginning of Acts the disciples do give up their possessions and live together holding their property in common.  But in the New Testament as a whole, this commandment is not taken literally, as we see in Acts and in the letters of Paul. Its figurative meaning, that we must sacrifice in order to follow Jesus, is affirmed throughout the New Testament.

July 15, John 14:1-3

In the gospel of John, Jesus says: "Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, trust also in me."

This is a marvelous affirmation of faith.  In most translations we read, "Believe in God, believe also in me." (v. 1)  But I've used the word "trust" to remind us that the passage in Greek refers to faith, as trust, and not to holding various beliefs about God and Jesus.  (The verb "believe in" is about faith, rather than belief, which uses the construction "believe that.")  Then Jesus says, "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places." (v. 2)  Jesus says he is going ahead to prepare a place for his disciples and, by implication, to secure a place for all who are faithful.  "I will come again," he says, "and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also." (v. 3)

This prayer by Jesus is not recorded in the other gospels of the New Testament, and it reflects a style of speech that Jesus does not use in the other three gospels.  Most likely, therefore, these are not the historical words of Jesus.  Yet, we may assert that they are true, because those who trust in God and in Jesus will find God.  That is the good news of the gospel, and its truth is verified by all those who have faith.

The gospel of Mark says that Jesus called the twelve disciples to him, and then sent them out two by two.  They went, preaching the need to repent, and they drove out many evil spirits.

The commissioning of the disciples is also reported in the gospels of Matthew (Mt. 10:1, 9-11) and Luke (Lk. 9:1-6).  In the gospel of Mark the disciples are told to take a staff and wear sandals, but in the gospels of Matthew they are told not to take a staff or sandals.  Such factual discrepancies in the New Testament imply human authorship rather than divine dictation.  The account in the gospel of Matthew also records Jesus as saying that they are not to go to Samaritans or Gentiles but only to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Mt. 10:6)  But the gospels of Mark and Luke do not contain this admonition.

This last difference is evidence that the gospel of Matthew was written for a largely Jewish Christian congregation, whereas the gospels of Mark and Luke were written for congregations dominated by Gentile Christians.  In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus is presented as a rabbi who exhorts the Jews to live up to the Law of Moses.  In the gospels of Mark and Luke, Jesus is a healer and teacher who seeks to foster healing and repentance among Gentiles as well as Jews.

July 17, Deuteronomy 7:7-8

Moses told the people: "God chose you, not because you are more numerous than other peoples, but it was out of love for you that the Lord delivered you from the land of slavery."

This is an important passage in the Old Testament for Christians to read and ponder.  There is a tendency to characterize the faith of Israel and Jewish faith today as legalistic and judgmental.  But here Moses asserts that God chose the Israelites out of love.  The "steadfast love" of God for Israel is affirmed over and over again in the Hebrew scriptures, and this helps to explain why Paul in Romans 9-11 could not conceive that God was rejecting the Jews despite their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.  Paul came to believe that the church would never have reached out to the Gentiles, if Jews has simply embraced Jesus as their Messiah.  It was for love of the Gentiles, Paul wrote, that God hardened the hearts of the Jews, but God continued to love them and thus would surely save both Jews and Christians.

Jews and Christians have struggled with what it means to be chosen by God.  For Jews, it has at times meant sacrifice and suffering.  Perhaps for Christians it may also mean the cross.  We call the day of the death of Jesus Good Friday, because we see in his death an astounding and mysterious act of God's love for all humanity.  Can we see in our own suffering the love of God, for us and perhaps for others as well?  This is the challenge of faith.

July 18, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Paul writes: "From now on those who buy something should live as if they did not possess and those who use the things of the world should do so without being engrossed in them.  Because this world as we know it is passing away."

The early church believed that the world would soon end, at least the world as they knew it.  They looked for the kingdom of God to come in some radical way, which would put an end to the rule of the Romans and bring about a new heaven and a new earth.  Paul saw the resurrection of Jesus as the beginning of the end, as the initiation of the general resurrection that would bring everyone with faith into a new life with God and Christ.

One of the difficulties with reading the scriptures literally is that this obviously did not happen.  The church may initially have taken at face value these sayings about the end of the world, but in the second century Christian leaders began to understand this language in a more figurative sense.  The "world as we know it" is not literally passing away, but the world has been transformed by the presence of the church, the body of Christ.  We should take Paul's words to mean that we must live differently, so the present world of selfishness and injustice will pass away.

July 19, Luke 19:1-10

The gospel of Luke tells a story of Zacchaeus climbing a tree to see Jesus as he passed.  Jesus says to him: "Come down.  Hurry, because I am to stay at your house today."  And he hurries down and welcomes him joyfully.

The story of Zacchaeus is familiar to most of us, because it is a favorite in children's Bibles.  Zacchaeus is a tax-collector, who was curious about Jesus.  Suddenly, he finds himself invited to give hospitality to the teacher and his disciples.  He responds by giving half of his wealth away and pledging to refund to anyone he had cheated four times what he had stolen.  The story ends with Jesus saying that salvation has come to the house of Zacchaeus and reaffirming that he has come to save the lost.

What is striking to me about the story is that it does not contain any report of the faith of Zacchaeus.  We assume he has faith in Jesus, otherwise why would he act as he does.  But the story does not tell us that Zacchaeus fell on his knees and confessed in Jesus as his Lord.  Not at all.  It is a very Jewish story, because deeds matter more than words.  Zacchaeus is saved not because he confesses that Jesus is his Savior, but because he repents and pledges to care for the poor and provide restitution to those he has cheated.  Faith is not belief, but love.  

July 20 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 

May there be no divisions among you.  Be closely united in mind and thought.

There are conflicts within the church at Corinth, or Paul would not have to urge the Corinthians to put aside their quarrels.  Some Christians are claiming higher status than others by identifying with Paul or Apollos or Cephas.  "Has Christ been divided?" Paul asks. "Was Paul crucified for you?  Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (v. 13)  It is much to Paul's credit that he discourages devotion toward him and directs the Corinthians to think only of Christ.

The answer, Paul says, to the divisions among Christians is faith in Christ.  Of course, different beliefs about Christ are divisive, and these beliefs will not simply fade away.  But faith in Christ manifested in love and forgiveness will make a difference.  It is up to us. 

July 21 Colossians 1:15-20

In Christ all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to be reconciled to all the world.

Prior to this passage Paul writes that God "has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Col. 1:13-14)  Then Paul proclaims that in Christ, in whom "the fullness of God was pleased to dwell," all the diverse elements of creation, "whether or earth or in heaven," have been reconciled.  In the great cosmic struggle between God and the forces of darkness, Jesus Christ has brought peace "through the blood of his cross." (vs. 19-20)

This is the gospel that Paul proclaims, and he tells the Colossians that they may have hope in the reconciling love of God if they have steadfast faith.  The church throughout the ages teaches that the great battle against evil has been won, if we trust in the God we know in Jesus the Christ.  Our challenge is to witness to this good news in our own time.

July 22, Matthew 13:44-46

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus says: "The kingdom of heaven is like a trader looking for precious pearls, who on finding one of great value, goes, sells everything he has and buys it."

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus generally speaks of the kingdom of heaven, whereas in the gospels of Mark and Luke he speaks of the kingdom of God.  Most likely the reason for this difference is the audience for whom the gospel of Matthew is written.  Jews did not speak the name of God, so the gospel of Matthew was probably written for a church primarily made up of Jewish Christians who continued to observe the Law of Moses.  This would also explain why in the gospel of Matthew Jesus is reported to have taught: "Do not think I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill." (Mt. 5:17)  

The kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God is not a place, but a reality.  The phrase refers to the rule of God.  In that space-time we notice what is really important.  The parable of finding a treasure in a field and selling everything to buy the field, and the parable of finding a precious pearl and selling everything to buy it, point to the special character of this relationship to God.  It is more important, the parables tell us, than anything else. 

July 23, Mark 6:30-34

There is a slip in the first verse of this passage.  Verse 30 reads: "The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught."  Do you see it?  The disciples do not become apostles until after the resurrection of Jesus.  Perhaps this is not a slip of the tongue, but a clue for the reader that the gospel is not merely about the past but more importantly addresses the present.  The teaching of the apostles and those who stand in their succession marks the life of the church to this day.  This passage connects the church to the life of Jesus and his disciples.

This means that we are the crowd, the sheep without a shepherd.  But if we heed the good news, then we will discover the way.  God in Christ has compassion on us and is trying to show us how to live and how to love.  Pay attention and you will hear the gospel.

July 24, 1 John 2:24-28

John wrote to the first Christians: "Let what you heard in the beginning remain in you.  Thus you also will remain in the Son and in the Father."

The author of this letter has warned against "antichrists" who deny that Jesus is the Christ.  As an antidote to this false teaching, the author tells Christians to cling to what they know to be true.  If they remain or abide in Christ, they will also remain or abide in God.  God has promised eternal life, and this seems to come through an experience of unity with God and Christ, as Father and Son.  Later in this letter the author affirms that "God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God in them." (1 Jn. 4:16)  It is the love of God that offers us life in the Son and the Father.

Love is the greatest mystery of life.  We have all known love, and we all know that at times we are not very lovable.  The unconditional love that we know, the forgiving love that heals our broken hearts, is God's greatest gift.  We know that in Jesus the Christ, who died so we might know that we are not alone, this love of God is fully manifested.  That is why living in faith in the Son allows us to know the love of the Father.

July 25, Matthew 20:24-28

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus says: "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life for the forgiveness of many."

The mother of James and John has asked Jesus to give her sons privileged positions when he comes into his kingdom.  This is the occasion for the verse quoted for today.  Jesus contrasts the way the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over their subjects by telling his disciples, "whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave." (vs. 26-27)  The mark of leadership in the kingdom of heaven is service to others, not having power over them.

What a marvelous teaching!  But if we are honest, we will admit that we do not want to believe it.  We all want power and privilege, so that we can have others do for us what we would rather not do for ourselves.  Who can blame the mother of James and John for wanting the best for her sons?  Don't we all want the best for our children and for ourselves as well?  

The mission of the church is to call us to serve others, not merely ourselves and our families.  Will we hear and respond?

July 26, Romans 12:14-21

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who are rejoicing, weep with those who weep.

July 27, Hebrews 10:19-25

Without wavering, let us hold fast to the hope we have, for the one who has promised is faithful.  And let us seek to stimulate one another in love and goodness.

July 28, Luke 21:5-19

in the gospel of Luke, Jesus says to his disciples: "You will be persecuted because of my name.  But make up your mind not to worry about how to defend yourselves, for I shall give you words and wisdom."

July 29, John 1:9-18

The Word became flesh and lived among us.  From God's fullness we have all received.

July 30, John 6:1-15

The LORD says: "Look and see the joy that is coming to you from God."