Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Philemon 1 -21
Luke 14:25-33

September 7, 2025   Abbey Church   Abraham

There are a lot of seemingly arbitrary rules and laws in the Old Testament, but if one looks closely enough, it seems that the bulk of them are trying to get the point across that the universe works a certain way, and if we choose to fit in with the way it works, all is well; if we choose to resist fitting in with the way the universe works, disaster ensues (for us and for the people around us.) The disasters caused by our refusal to follow the way of the universe is sometimes referred to as “wrath”, and it is often wrongly referred to as “the wrath of God,” but blaming it on God is wrong.

 Our gospel reading ties into this in its last sentence, because one of the universal laws is the fact that we really have no possessions; everything is merely loaned to us for a short time. Our job is to be good stewards of the things given to us, and then let them go at the appropriate time. We have nothing by right: physical, intellectual, or spiritual. The truth is: “Everything is a gift.” So, to be a disciple of Jesus (who is the way, the truth, and the life), we must give up living with the dangerous falsehood that we possess anything (even those dearest to us.)

The reading from Paul’s letter to Philemon which we heard today also ties into the truth of possession leading to wrath. The entire letter is about a runaway slave, and nothing is more wrathful than slavery. However, people were so used to it, Paul did not even say anything about it being wrong.

One aspect of the delusion of possession that can be particularly wrathful is our tendency to think we possess the correct way of doing things and thinking about things (mostly religious and political.) We get worked up when we hear of others doing or thinking things differently than we do. It is true that some ways of acting and thinking are in fact bad and dangerous, and we should do what we can to change them, but if we are so inhibited by our anger that we can not work on changing the actions or attitudes, wrath ensues (often it is visited upon the people around us, having to endure our angry but ineffective ranting.) We get so focused on belittling or mocking the person who is wrong, that we don’t have the time or energy to find solutions to the incorrect behavior, and worse, we fail to see our own incorrect thoughts and actions.

We have a choice: to calmly and objectively steward our relationships with those around us (those who agree with us, and those who don’t) and so to build peace and solve problems, or to deludedly try to control others (showing our mistaken and often unwitting attempt to possess them and make them behave) and so to produce wrath and make problems worse. Our wrath is silly, puny, and sad. If we let or cause problems to get worse because we are so busy ranting at others, the wrath that will build up will be horrific.

The world is designed to work by certain laws, and they are not arbitrary, because they all hinge on the greatest law of Love. God is Love. God does not possess; God lets us go and do as we choose, even if it causes wrath. May we choose love and stewardship, rather than possession and wrath. We know we don’t always choose wisely, but we also know we are trying to do better. That is evidenced by the fact that we are here. We want to follow Jesus, and he will help us slowly give up our false sense of possession. It might seem difficult at times (even wrathful), but we will make it. Jesus will see to it.   AMEN

Deuteronomy 30:9-14
Colossians 1:1-14
Luke 10:25-37

July 13, 2025   Abbey Church   Abraham

Sometimes small words can add a lot to whatever is being said. Our scripture readings today have talked about: obeying God so that our lives may be blessed (that’s from Moses), and about patiently living lives of hope so that we bear good fruit (that’s from Paul), and about the fact that strangers are really our neighbors who deserve our care (that’s from Jesus.)

But maybe the most important word that holds the whole thing together is from Paul’s introduction to his letter to Colossae that we just heard: “Grace” – “Grace to you and peace from God our Father.” Everything is a gift, graciously given to us by God. God gives us the world and the people in it, and if we treat our world and our neighbors as wonderful gifts, then we will all have abundant lives. If we choose rather to exploit our world and the people around us as commodities we have earned and can therefore abuse, then we will all have horrible lives – ourselves, the people around us, and the entire world.

If we don’t see everything as a gift from a gracious God, then we live in fear, because we mistakenly think that we need to push other people down so that we can steal their stuff in order to have what we need. But all the while, God is desperately trying to freely give us everything, including eternal life. We can’t accept it if our hands are made into fists, instead of being stretched out with our palms up in order to receive everything from God.

“Grace” – “Grace to us and peace from God our Father.” It is scary to open up and receive. It is scary because we have all been hurt by others, and we have all hurt ourselves and others. So, we shouldn’t feel bad about ourselves when we are too afraid to open up and receive. At some point, we will. God can wait an eternity if needed. God’s grace is eternal, and brings healing, joy, and peace to all. AMEN

John 14:23-29

May 25, 2025   Abbey Church   Abraham

Jesus gives us His peace, but he says that he does not give it as the world gives it. That is good, because we know that when “the world” gives us peace, it does not last, because it is peace achieved through suppression of whatever is causing agitation. Whenever more agitants pop up, the peace is gone.

Jesus gives us peace by healing our relationship with the universe, so that we need not be agitated. He also heals our relationship with ourselves, and we all know that our biggest lack of peace comes from our inner turmoil (our biggest source of agitation is our own selves.)

So. Jesus gives us this supreme peace, but we sure do not seem to experience it very often. Maybe we do not receive it because we are not receptive. Maybe we are waiting for Jesus to suppress our agitants. Maybe we are mistaken about what should agitate us.

We need to spend more time with the promised Holy Spirit who will teach us how to receive the peace of Jesus. We have an eternity in which to learn, and an infinity to learn about. We can start by listening to the Holy Spirit in scripture and silence, and by being fed by Jesus as we gather around this table.

We do not need to worry about lacking faith whenever we are not in peace. Peace is a gift, not a test. And it is a big Jesus-sized gift, so there should be no surprise that it takes so long for us to unpack and learn how to use it. The Holy Spirit is with us to show us how it works. May we be open to instruction.   AMEN