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“…thou art no thy lane, in proving foresight may be vain; The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft a-gley…”–Robbie Burns. “Murphy was an optimist”–my Mother. Ain’t it the truth? Just when we think we’ve got things figured out, a Greater Power comes along to change our minds and to tell us what’s REALLY going on. Scripture lessons for the upcoming weekend acknowledge this Greater Power, and remind us that the Spirit of God is always present…

We begin this Trinity Sunday with a reading from GENESIS 1:1-4, “…while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters…” Even in the earliest campfire tales, humans needed to speak of a Creative Force which organized chaos into creation. “Genesis looks into the heart of darkness and sees something beautiful and hopeful: a creative force, a hovering spirit, and a penetrating light that cannot be overcome.” (Carole A. Crumley, FEASTING on the WORD, A 3:28) This all-encompassing Wind blows over ALL, and existed ab origine.

We turn past Psalm 8–a most important piece of wisdom–to the very end of II CORINTHIANS, vv.13:11-13. The Church in Corinth floundered a bit from its diversity, and Paul’s team was trying to reclaim its centrality in Christ. The letter reminds the Corinthians that God perseveres in holiness, and that the Spirit (ONLY the Spirit?) is the author of communion/community. It’s almost as if the writer(s) said, “I’m outa here: but God is always present.”

The final words in MATTHEW, 28:16-20, are often called the Great Commission. Jesus is sending his troops into all the world–all nations now and yet to be–to show the markings of Grace which he has imparted. Importantly, he groups the Trinity into the Godhead, signifying that the Whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This commission seems an impossibility, of course, without full reliance on God and an admission that by ourselves we are nothing. There’s Something Greater out there.

Robert Louis Stevenson observes, “Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I–but when the trees bow down their heads the wind is passing by.” I’m not gonna try to explain the mystery of the Trinity; I can’t, it’s a mystery! But I will try to allow the Wind of God to blow through my words in order that others may glimpse Divine Power.

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

PS–I have an excess of three Rose of Sharon bushes, if anyone is interested. The mother bush flowers in a sort of pink-lavender. Please ask!

You are invited to join us in exploring the Scriptures to be read on the upcoming weekend; every Tuesday, at horacebrownking.com

Sounds like something NYSEG would say after a heavy storm. Actually, compared to my childhood home, our power rarely goes out. It’s a terrible thing, to feel powerless. In our digitalized age, we feel helpless and frustrated when things don’t come on, or when our clocks flash, or when there’s no reassuring light when we flick the switch. Did the Apostles feel this way when Jesus was crucified? Do folks sitting in the pews feel powerless when the storms of life are raging? Scriptures to be heard this weekend explore our perceived lack of power–and may hopefully result in its restoration, strength to live this week, this year.

The passage from ACTS 1;6-11 is a fairly familiar story of the post-resurrection Jesus, as he ascended into heaven among his friends. The Apostles are all agog, yet Jesus says to them, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth”. Just you wait and see what you’ll be doing! I particularly like the part about the two angels who tell the wide-eyed disciples to stop staring into the heavens, to go and DO something! Or do we really expect God’s power to be shared by an invisible Spirit?

The literal conclusion of I PETER 5:6-11is the “last word” to reassure those being persecuted for their Christian lives that God is still in charge. “And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of fall grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever.” So the power really isn’t ours, except by Grace and an extension of the Godhead. When we of this century say, “It’s too much: I’m at the end of my rope!” we can be reassured that God’s still sharing Power, which is Good News indeed!

How important the Last Supper in the Upper Room is to JOHN! Nearly a third of his Gospel remembers this occasion and the words of Jesus. Chapter 17:1-5 continues this understanding as John ascribes the beginning of a holy community to the sacrament Jesus makes of himself. The “oneness” described here speaks not only of the mystery of Jesus being one with the Father, but also of the way in which the disciples have become one with each other. This is one basis of the Church: that any relationship we might have with God includes a relationship with God’s People! As Jesus is empowered by the Father, so are we empowered by each other…

Our lives are buffeted by many competing powers. The concepts and names may change, but the devilish power is still the same, lying at the heart of the matter. Some of these may even have virtue, although they end up not bringing satisfaction. You know what your vices are! But the bottom-line is God, the only Power we can trust…

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Please come join us every Tuesday at horacebrownking.com as we explore sacred texts to be read on the upcoming weekend. (‘cept for next Tuesday, May 23, since I’ll be away in New England)

So what’s Plan B? What? There’s no Plan B!? But today’s culture is so insecure, we’ve gotta have something to fall back on, don’t we? Can we really trust that Life is controlled by only one in charge? How many times did our grandmothers tell us not to put all our eggs in one basket? Scriptures to be read this weekend address these problems which natter at us in the wee hours. Perhaps I’m all alone in this–but I doubt it.

Here we are in Athens, and Paul is walking around waiting for the rest of his team to show up. ACTS 17:22-32 is the message Paul brought to the Athenians, gathered in the main square, hungry for spiritual knowledge. “For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To An Unknown God’. What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you…” These Athenians weren’t taking a chance of missing anything! Talk about diversity…. Paul’s skills included sensing the need for completeness within the prevailing culture, including US. God’s final answer to our seeking is found here: in Trust that holiness can be known through Jesus, the Eternal Christ.

The Epistle is that of I PETER 3:13-22. This is a letter of encouragement to those who “suffer” persecution for putting their trust in God–and talking about it. “Do not fear what THEY fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.” But we of this time and place have been trained to be sensitive to those who differ in their belief and lifestyle; thus we ARE intimidated! Too often I find my external self going with the “norm”, while simultaneously inwardly gritting my teeth and decrying such weakness…

The Gospel reading is short but pithy, JOHN 14:15-19. Try to remember that this is a PRE-crucifixion speech, offered at the Upper Room during the Last Supper. Jesus introduces the Holy Spirit as the Advocate who will guide the disciples into all the Truth, reminding them that they won’t be without a Godly presence. Many of them, like us, are probably craving someone with skin & bone; yet we/they’ve been called beyond the Unknown God to be touched by that Spirit which puts words into the mouth and fire into the heart.

I have a savings account. My vehicles are insured against breakdown. I like the idea of having a safe sanctuary to which to retreat after a long and busy day. My parents shoulda named me “Justin”–Justin Case. I’m afraid that I’ll always embrace Plan B. Still Paul and his team insert their message of Trust in even The Unknown, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide me, even beyond the hedge.

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Careful friends, you’re invited to explore text lessons to be read on the upcoming weekend; every Tuesday at horacebrownking.com

A good question. To many, the Gospel stories are only history, how things were 200 years ago. To others, these are good tales, morality exercises which help us to keep our communities safe and sane. Scriptures to be read on this upcoming weekend challenge the hearers to know that these accounts are more than idle tales, and that the Christ permeates and exceeds more than the dates of Jesus! Church leaders across generations have attempted with various success to locate belief in a proactive God in the workings of Jesus then and now.

During the Season of Easter, the first readings are from Luke’s ACTS of the APOSTLES. Today we hear about the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian to be martyred for his faith and accompanying good works (7:55-60). Some will rightly see this text as an introduction to Saul/Paul–but it stands alone really well, reporting Stephen’s speech: “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God”. Seems as if he could see where Jesus was before he died. Be assured that those of us who adopt an alternative lifestyle will continue to be stoned by those other folks who march to the drumbeat of money, muskets and malice. Be also assured that this Gospel of justice and mercy, kindness and worship, will survive when other gods crumble.

We then turn to I PETER 2:2-10, words of encouragement to those feeling rejected. The text that springs out at me tells the Church that “like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…” Sounds to me as though JESUS is doing the work, and our role is to give him a place and permission to do so. The eternal Jesus thus becomes the architect for our lives’ direction and solace. “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people…”

JOHN 14:1-7 is often used at funerals to assure the mourners of the care of Jesus, who prepares a place for us. It speaks of the holy role of not only Jesus, but of the many who have/will follow him. My friend Thomas–a good man–speaks the question we’ve all wondered about: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus’ answer gives us comfort: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life…” His disciples are now to enter a time of uncertainty: where is the Kingdom, where is Wholeness as the Crucifixion dashes all their dreams? “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.”

It’s fairly easy to affirm these things from my cozy post-Easter study. Yet these readings remind us that Jesus is most often found on the front lines, right in the thick of being merciful to the needy and storm-tossed.

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

You’re invited to explore and be challenged by lessons to be read on the upcoming weekend–every Tuesday at horacebrownking.com