March 7 -- Spiritual Food and Drink

This week's lectionary texts: Isaiah 55:1-9, Psalm 63:1-8, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, and Luke 13:1-9.

Human beings, wherever they might live, whatever culture they might inhabit, whichever beliefs they espouse, all share the same basic needs, including shelter, clothing, and sanitation. Perhaps the most salient of these needs, however, are food and drink. We can survive just weeks without food, and only days without water.

And beyond fulfilling simple biological needs, food and drink serve important social functions. We share meals with those we love. We bring gifts of food to people celebrating achievements, or grieving losses. We toast special occasions and swap favorite recipes.

As food and drink are such an important part of human life, it seems no surprise that they have a key role to play in our religious lives. In Christianity, one of the central rituals of our faith is the sharing of bread and wine or juice at communion, symbolizing or transforming into the body and blood of Christ, depending upon one's beliefs. Communion serves to nourish us both physically and spiritually, as the food and drink we rely on every day reminds us of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

In this week's lectionary texts, we read of the ways in which we are nourished by God's spiritual food. The authors offer intriguing reflections on the ways in which our relationship with God can have resonances with our need for food and drink.

As the psalmist writes in Psalm 63, "O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you...My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed" (Psalm 63:1, 5). God is portrayed as that which quenches one's thirst and feeds one's spirit -- a source of "steadfast love" that is "better than life" (Psalm 63:3).

Meanwhile, we read in Isaiah the prophet's invitation to Israel to come share in the abundant life offered by God. "Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters," exhorts Isaiah," and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!" (Isaiah 55:1). In the prophet's vision, God offers a bountiful feast that is free for all God's people, and which will be far more satisfying than anything the Israelites have ever known:

"Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live" (Isaiah 55:1-3).

Isaiah wants his listeners to understand that ways of life that do not honor God are unsustainable and unsatisfying, but that God has something even better to offer. God wants what is good for God's children -- God invites us to "delight" in delicious food, after all. We are called to the banquet of God's goodness, invited to find the joy that comes with sharing in the endless bounty that is God's love for us.

Paul, for his part, writes in First Corinthians about the importance of learning from the mistakes of our ancestors, cautioning the Corinthians not to fall into the sins of idolatry, sexual immorality, or grumbling. Promising that God will be faithful to the Corinthians, he reminds them that they share a common ancestry with the Israelites: men and women who "all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank that same spiritual drink" (First Corinthians 10:3-4). Paul is mainly writing to remind the Corinthians that God was not pleased with many of the actions of the Israelites, but his message also serves as a reminder that we share in a powerful spiritual lineage, one marked by our common understanding of God as someone who fills all our needs.

Indeed, throughout both the Old and New Testaments, we see examples of God's goodness represented through the means of food and drink. From the manna given to the Israelites in the wilderness, to the feeding of the five thousand with two fish and five loaves, to the transformation of the water into wine at Cana, we can read numerous stories of the ways in which God uses food and drink to demonstrate God's power and love. And Christ, "the bread of life," shows us that God is intimately connected with our daily lives, linking our need for physical sustenance with our need for spiritual nourishment.

Most of us are lucky enough to have never gone hungry or thirsty -- but even in our society of overconsumption, there are many who lack enough food or clean water to make it through the day. For these people, hearing God's love and goodness compared to food and drink can be a hard message to accept -- all the more reason for those of us who have more than enough to continue working for a world in which no woman, man, or child ever has to go to bed hungry.

Photo credit here.

February 28 -- Going for the Gold

This week's lectionary texts: Genesis 15:1-12 and 17-18, Psalm 27, Philippians 3:17-4:1, and Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-36.

From February 12th through the 28th, the 21st Winter Olympics are being held in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over 80 countries have sent over 2,000 men and women to compete for their chance at gold, silver, or bronze. While never free from controversy, the Olympics offer a chance for countries around the world to come together in a spirit of friendship and friendly competition, showcasing some of the most talented and inspiring athletes the world has ever seen.

Every competitor at the Games has a unique story. Many have practiced their sport since childhood. Some have come out of retirement to make one more attempt to earn a medal. All have made sacrifices to compete at such a high level, enduring injuries and lost time with family and friends. And all have demonstrated their desire to keep practicing, keep pushing, keep overcoming obstacles, so that they can honestly say at the end of the competition that, whatever the result, they gave it their best effort.

This week's lectionary texts encourage all of us, Olympic athletes and regular folks alike, to persevere. We are called to seek God, to ask God to show us the way we ought to follow, and to remember that God will give us the courage to make our way forward.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul encourages the community not to forget what they are striving for. He writes, "Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us" (Philippians 3:17). Paul walks the talk -- his letter has come to the Philippians from prison, where presumably he has been jailed for his unwelcome efforts to spread the gospel.

The Olympics, while characterized by competition among nations, also have the power to make us realize that we are all part of one global community. Paul takes things a step further, however. He warns against keeping one's mind on "earthly things," but rather urges the Philippians to remember that "our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:19-20).

Paul, explaining that Christ will transform his people, finally notes, "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved" (Philippians 4:1). Paul's deep affection for the Philippians is unmistakable in this epistle. He knows that following Christ can bring serious hardships, but also incredible joy, and he wants the community to be strengthened and encouraged in its walk with God.

In this week's reading from Luke, meanwhile, we read the story of Jesus' lament over Jerusalem. Just as Jesus finishes preaching that the last shall be first and the first shall be last, he is approached by Pharisees who warn him that Herod is out to kill him. Jesus instructs the Pharisees to tell Herod, "Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem" (Luke 13:32-33).

Jesus knows that he has work to do before his ministry is over; he also knows that everything will come to an end -- and a new beginning -- in Jerusalem. He is saddened over the state of the city: "How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" (Luke 13:34). But he still presses on, knowing that he has a job to do and that God will help him do it.

Indeed, perhaps one of the most powerful biblical reflections on persevering with God's help can be found in Psalm 27. As the psalmist writes,

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?...Though an enemy encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident." (Psalm 27:1, 3)

In this psalm, the psalmist expresses his confidence that God will come through for him, offering protection and strength. He knows that he will face adversaries and struggles, but implores God, "Be gracious to me and answer me!" (Psalm 27:7). In the concluding verses, he exhorts his listeners to similarly rely on the power of God: "I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" (Psalm 27:13-14).

Even if we are not Olympic athletes, we all face challenges and difficulties in our lives. We all have goals we would like to achieve, but sometimes are held back by fear, or indecision, or uncertainty that our goals are even the right goals at all. But this week, we hear of the rewards to be gained by striving for God -- pushing ourselves to go farther than we ever thought we could go, pressing on through pain, and counting on God to help lift us up when we fall and cheer us on toward the finish line. Truly, as the psalmist writes, we have nothing to fear.

Photo credit here.

February 21 -- Into the Wilderness

This week's lectionary texts: Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Psalm 91:1-2 and 9-16, Romans 10:8b-13, and Luke 4:1-13.



This Sunday marks the first Sunday of Lent, the period of forty days leading up to the celebration of Easter. Many Christians have a complicated relationship with this portion of the liturgical year. For some, Lent feels like a dreary season, a time filled with deprivation and gloom. For others, Lent is a welcome season of renewal, a period in which to deepen one's relationship with God and reevaluate the ways in which we live out our faith. And for still others, Lent is both: a time of frustration and a time of peace, a time of discomfort and a time of refreshment.

In our lectionary texts this week, we read the story of the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness before beginning his ministry. (Incidentally, Lent is forty days long to reflect this sojourn of Christ.) As Luke writes, "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil" (Luke 4:1-2).

Luke says that Jesus fasted for the entire forty days, and, unsurprisingly, "was famished" (Luke 4:2). So the devil said to Jesus, "If [in this construction, "if" means "since"] you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread" (Luke 4:3). But Jesus, despite his hunger, replies, "It is written [in Deuteronomy 8:3], 'One does not live by bread alone'" (Luke 4:4).

Having seen that he could not get Jesus to budge when it came to his physical needs, the devil shifts his attention to power. He shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, saying, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority...if you, then, will worship me" (Luke 4:6-7). But citing Deuteronomy 6:13, Jesus answers that people are supposed to "worship the Lord your God, and serve only him" (Luke 4:8).

Finally, the devil tries one last temptation. He whisks Jesus away to Jerusalem, brings him to the top of the temple, and declares, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone'" (Luke 4:9-11). But Jesus answers him, "It is said [in Deuteronomy 6:16], 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test'" (Luke 4:12). And with that, the devil departs.

The devil, to be sure, demonstrates that he can quote scripture just like Jesus can; his last effort cites Psalm 91. But Christ knows that God's word asks us to trust God, not test God: "You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust'" (Psalm 91:1-2).

The texts this week emphasize the idea that no matter what temptations or struggles we face, God has promised to be there for us. In Romans, Paul explains, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). And as the psalmist lyrically writes,

"Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation." (Psalm 91:14-16)

We are not promised easy lives -- indeed, most of us have experienced our share of sorrows and pains, temptations and trials. But as the season of Lent begins, we are called to remember that such experiences need not have the final say. We can choose to trust and bless God, much as the Israelites do in this week's passage from Deuteronomy, thanking God for their deliverance from exile and celebrating God's goodness with their neighbors.

Trusting God is sometimes easy; other times, it feels nearly impossible. But when we are wandering through the wilderness, we can remember that as Christians, we worship a God who, through the person of Christ, has wandered that wilderness too, and a God who has promised to answer us when we call for help. Lent can sometimes feel like a wilderness: a strange and unfamiliar place. As this new season begins, let us give ourselves permission to reflectively wander, trusting that even if we get lost, God walks with us and will deliver us.


Photo credit here.

February 14 -- The Mountaintop

This week's lectionary texts: Exodus 34:29-35, Psalm 99, Second Corinthians 3:12-4:2, and Luke 9:28-43.

"Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy." (Psalm 99:9)

During my recent trip to Ecuador, I had the opportunity to hike part of Chimborazo, the highest mountain in the country. Our group drove up a good part of the way, and then made it up to about 16,500 feet on foot. The landscape was strange and unfamiliar -- virtually no plant or animal life, just rocks and dust and wafting mist as far as we could see. At such a high altitude, breathing was difficult; every couple of minutes I would have to stop walking and just pause to catch my breath. It wasn't an easy trek, but making it to our goal -- the second refuge hut up the mountain -- was incredibly rewarding and exhilarating.

This week's lectionary texts offer powerful examples of "mountaintop experiences." They invite us to consider what it might mean to meet God on the mountain, and how our experiences of God can transform us in ways both visible and invisible.

In Exodus, we read of Moses's 40-day stay with God on Mount Sinai, recording God's message to God's people. As he finally makes his way back down the mountain, Moses does not realize that "the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God" (Exodus 34:29). In fact, so striking was Moses's transformation that "when Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him" (Exodus 34:30).

Moses, of course, eventually discovers that speaking with God has had a profound effect on him. He ultimately decides to wear a veil after such encounters, presumably to prevent his fellow Israelites from being afraid. But "whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out" (Exodus 34:34). In the presence of God, Moses felt free to be exactly who he was.

In Luke, we hear another story of mountaintop transformation, as we learn about the transfiguration of Jesus. Bringing Peter and John with him, Jesus goes up to pray on a mountain. "And while he was praying," writes Luke, "the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white" (Luke 9:29). Not only did Jesus's appearance change, but Moses and Elijah also appeared on the mountain, speaking with Jesus.

Peter, likely confused but trying to figure out what to do, says to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" (Luke 9:33). But no sooner does Peter say this, than a cloud covers the mountain, and a voice inside proclaims, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" (Luke 9:35). And suddenly, Elijah and Moses disappear, leaving Jesus and his disciples silent and alone on the mountain.

What are we to make of these experiences of Moses and Jesus? Paul, in Second Corinthians, suggests that we can read such texts to indicate the transformative power that God can have in our own lives. We no longer need veils, he writes, because God has freed us to be exactly who God made us to be:

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

It is important to remember that not everyone will have a "mountaintop experience," an unambiguous and transformational experience of God. God may speak to us in quieter ways: through other people or through the reading of scripture, for example.

At the same time, it's likely that many of us have either had such an experience or know someone else who has. Such experiences can be frightening or awe-inspiring, life-changing and surprising. Let us be on the lookout for what we can learn about God and God's life-affirming, unbelievably powerful love from such experiences, whether our own or those of others.

Traveling up Chimborazo was sometimes frightening. At some points along the road, the mist and clouds were so thick that we could hardly see more than a few feet in front of us. In the same way, we don't always know what lies ahead when God invites us to travel up the mountain. We can only keep walking, trusting that God will take us as far as God wants us to go, and knowing that we will go back down the mountain transformed, free to be ourselves and to be shining examples of God's light and love for others.

Photos by the author.