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I take great comfort in the readings to be heard on the upcoming weekend. A cynic by nature, I’m prone to believe that all is lost, that the country/world is in too corrupt a state to recover. But other Peoples have lived in dangerous times, and (by God) somehow survived. These scripture lessons contrast the Way of the World with God’s Kingdom, acknowledging the mistakes yet looking forward to their acclimation. God still loves us, I guess…

We don’t know much about the prophet Habakkuk–where he lived, what else he did, or even his dates. But he wrote at a time of desperation, probably during the reign of King Jehoakim, whose tenure was marked with a wanton disregard of Jewish Law. Besides, the Babylonians-Chaldeans were encamped around Jerusalem. Things were TOUGH. Yet in HABAKKUK 2:1-4 he says, “Be a watchman. Wait.” To which God responds, “If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay”. What do we do when the violent and wicked seem to be winning? “Why didn’t the other dogs continue the chase? They had not seen the rabbit.” (Edward Hays, as quoted by Pamela Cooper-Wright in FEASTING on the WORD, C 4:244)

Who wrote II THESSALONIANS 1:1-4–and does it matter? SOMEone on Paul’s team tells the Church there in Thessalonica that they’re doing OK, giving us a model for an alternate community to a culture driven by consumption and authoritarianism. As we orient our compasses to God’s loving way we are blessed with grace and peace. Will we withstand the fury of the world?

LUKE 19:1-10 introduces us to Zacchaeus, as we remember the kid’s song about the wee man who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus. I always liked the story, since I myself lack much stature. But the point is, that Jesus accepted this awful chief tax collector and even went to his house to eat! Who have we dissed because of who they are–or maybe who they aren’t? The extravagance of the Christ extends to the least and the lowest, doesn’t it? Is there anyone up a tree in your neighborhood?

Every Wednesday and Sunday I charge my electric car at the municipal parking lot, and walk to the Church. I pass by a smoke-shop where various street-people hang out. I always smile at them–but I rarely invite them to join me at worship. Want a job? Want to talk about the Vision? Why not spend an hour or two some morning telling these folks about Jesus, GOD’s Vision??

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

We’ve chosen to talk together about scripture assigned to the upcoming weekend by the Revised Standard Lectionary; come join us every Tuesday at horacebrownking.com

Richard Rohr has written, “God does not love any of us because we are good. God loves us because GOD is good.” (THE TEARS OF THINGS, Convergent Books, New York: page 94) Scripture passages to be heard this upcoming weekend explore and contrast the restlessness of the People with actual pursuit of righteousness. It’s not what you may think…

JOEL 2: 23-32 is given in the context of great calamity and drought. Yet the prophet tells his community that God still loves them, and will confirm this by the gift of God’s Spirit. To ALL, not just those who “deserve” it. Actually, none of us “deserve” seeing the Spirit of God: Joel’s people all turned away from Godly living, and were looking out for themselves. Will God still pour out this Spirit today? Will our toys stop us from seeing it?

TIMOTHY has been preaching the Godly life, but he’s scared. Nothing but bad happens to him. His mentor, someone writing in the spirit of Paul, encourages him to continue to exert himself just as this mentor has “poured himself out” that the thirsty may be helped. Even (II, 4:6-8) though the people may be looking death in the face, “the Lord, the righteous judge, will give” the crown to the faithful, those who persevere in faith and loving mercies.

LUKE 18:9-14 is Jesus’ parable of the two men in the Temple. One is a self-appreciative Pharisee, who congratulates himself on fasting and giving TWICE what’s expected–and is not like that awful tax-collector over there. The tax-collector, who has probably screwed over his clientele, says nothing except “God, be merciful to me, a sinner”. Jesus says that this guy is forgiven in God’s eyes, and the self-righteous Pharisee hasn’t a clue about how the Kingdom of God operates.

So, do we know our failings and our blasphemies? Do we think we’re doing good by adhering to tradition? Do we recognize the difference between being forgiven and blundering on without thought? God is God–and we’re not.

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Come bring a friend on Tuesday and we’ll examine the Scripture that examines us; readings for the upcoming weekend, courtesy of the Revised Standard Lectionary at horacebrownking.com

Admittedly, things go wrong. It wasn’t easy for the Babylonian exiles, and it’s not for us, either. The scriptural message seems to be, “Hang in there: things won’t always be so uncertain”. Readings to be explored this upcoming weekend tell us that God is still in charge, no matter how dicey things around us get to be. Calling on God from the Path of Unseeing is a matter of HOPE–there is no proof that things will be better, but we affirm that they will…

JEREMIAH 31:27-34 is a message of this Hope, a renewal of our inner being, our heart. We shall all know God, for the covenant is written within us. Some of us desperately cringe in our pews, thinking that it’s too late. It isn’t. The amazing thing is that God has initiated this newness–of attitude, of behavior–and that we can’t escape Divine Mercy. “The days are coming…” means that the future isn’t just ANY future, “It is a future of hope and meaning, brimming with promise”. (Donald W. Musser, FEASTING on the WORD, C 4:170)

We don’t know what TIMOTHY was up against, in his ministry. Most of the world around him was running after strange gods, which sounds familiar. We do know that someone (Paul?) has been his mentor, and is sharing words of encouragement in II 3:14-4:5. “Hang in There! Keep on Keeping On! And don’t forget the covenant God has written on your heart…Yes, yours!” Those trying to escape the Gospel, or at least to take a vacation from it, are yanked back: Timothy and you and I are urged to be persistent, just as God is persistent.

Most of us are a bit puzzled by Jesus’ strange story about the unjust judge, LUKE 18:1-8. This is a parable, not an analogy: the unjust judge isn’t God. However, we ARE told to pray “without ceasing”, not to wear God down, but to soldiify the process within ourselves. “Praying means hopeful trusting in God, not in ourselves.” (Margit Ernst-Habib, ibid. 190) Having hope indicates that we don’t lose heart.

Thus we’re invited to either bask in God’s glory–or to realize that we need to pray more. We also recognize that we’re in a secular society which has many gods, many toys. So we are glad for each day, whether it goes well or badly. Remember the roots of your faith, knowing that God will watch over you and ALL that is around you…

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Come join the conversation about lessons to be heard on the upcoming weekend; every Tuesday at horacebrownking.com

Just when I think I know where my edges are, just when I’m comfortable in the borders of my life, God stretches these parameters to have me go farther. But, say I, there are certain things I cannot/will not do; some things are just unacceptable. “Oh really?” says God. Scripture readings to be heard on the upcoming weekend remind us all that even though God allows “things” to happen, God neither abandons us nor refutes our “bad luck” (which may have happened as result of our neglect or apathy).

Some of the Jewish leaders have been removed from Jerusalem to Babylon. The prophet JEREMIAH sends them a strange letter, 29:4-7, encouraging them to Bloom Where You’re Planted. Yes, things are strange. No, you can’t lead worship at the Temple. But God is in Babylon, too, and needs you to keep on keeping on. Even pray for these awful people! He claims that God has sent them there for a purpose; not only have they ignored real worship (with Justice and Righteousness), but they are demonstrating to the rest of the world that God is here, too.

St. Paul is writing to TIMOTHY from prison: he doesn’t want to be there, yet “the word of God is not chained.” Here in II 2:8-15 he’s enduring a lot of unacceptable stuff, as have all those who work for God. BUT there’s no need for Timothy to be ashamed, because Christ has already walked that path and ultimately triumphed. “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, nobody knows but Jesus.”

Pollsters tell us that a 10% return is about expectable; so Jesus couldn’t have been surprised when only one of the ten lepers in LUKE 17:12-19 came back to thank him. “What else can we say to what God gives us but to stammer praise?”–C.S.Lewis, in REFLECTIONS on the PSALMS, 78. Who can explain leprosy, especially in Biblical times? Yet in all things God calls us through and beyond. YOU are God’s beloved, and the Creator extends the Grace we need to deal with life.

These are hard lessons to learn–and to preach. Why doesn’t God sit on a cloud in heaven and let us alone? But Divinity doesn’t work that way: God is always stirring history in order to make a Holy Name even more holy. Many occasions find us happily doing Our Thing–but there are other times… Has God called you beyond your comfort-zone to upholster the Kingdom?

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Every Tuesday some of us gather to look more closely at Scripture to be heard on the upcoming weekend… Invite your pals to horacebrownking.com