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I’m really not whining:  I’ve got a good life, more than anyone could expect.  Yet…there are so many castles and cannons and pirate ships that I haven’t visited–and there’s little likelyhood  that I ever will…  I suppose that we all have unseen mountains to climb; I have no reason to be disappointed.  Scriptures for the weekend describe God’s disappointment–impatience?–with Creatures in the Garden.  The comfort may lie in that we’re all under grace together; the challenge is more obvious, that is, to make ready as if the Kingdom of Heaven were right here.

Isaiah’s Song of the Vineyard, 5:1-7, is masterful poetry standing alone:  God has planted the finest of vineyards, expecting the finest harvest.  But when the harvest comes, only SOUR grapes result!   “What more can I do?  I’m gonna break it down and turn it back to nature.”  Well, the people of Israel & Judah are the vineyard:  God expected justice & righteousness, but saw bloodshed and heard a cry!  We, of course, are the current vineyard; and God is just as disappointed to find even now the sour grapes of injustice and neglect of Godliness.

God’s love evidently comes with expectations.  The writer “to the Hebrews” lists a roster of the Faithful in Chapter 11:   besides the obvious, she mentions Rahab, Gideon, Barack, Samson…and many others “who through faith conquered kingdoms, administrated justice” and escaped all sorts of tribulations.  Yet many of these also met gruesome ends, or wandered homeless in primitive situations.  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every [training] weight and the [outer garments] of sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…”  I recall from High School track team that part way into each race I asked myself, “Why am I doing this??”  But I finally crossed the finish-line, fully expecting Coach to be there with a stop-watch and a pat on the back.

Luke’s Gospel, 12:49-56, brings us a tough and perhaps impatient Jesus with a pointed message–“Things aren’t always what you expect!”  “These words assert that Jesus has not come to validate human institutions and their values but to initiate God’s radical will….This imagery of household divisions carries with it the notion of the complete collapse of current structures.”  (Richard P. Carlson in FEASTING on the WORD, C 3:359-361)  Jesus upbraids the general populace for being so obtuse:  we can see signs of the changing weather, why can’t we see the Kingdom knocking at our door?

Part of the current malaise is that we’ve imaged God as a comfortable Rich Uncle who indulges our every whim.  We’ve given little thought to the idea that there might be rules.  It’s not all about us, thanks be to God!

God Bless Us, Every One                           Horace Brown King

My wrestling with lessons for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

Long before Jonathan Edwards scared the bejeebers out of us with “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” in the 1600’s, earthlings have tried to bribe God with their CORRECTNESS to defer God’s supposed grumpiness and to get into the Kingdom of Heaven.  We’ve tried all sorts of spiritual acrobatics:  windy prayers, correct posture, sacrifices & high holy days, obligatory worship…  The concept of God being untouchable and disdainful of Incarnation yields two results:  either we move the earth to reveal The Secret Code (gnosticism); or we merely give up, saying “God can’t possibly love the likes of ME!”  Scripture texts this weekend will possibly dispel the rumor that God doesn’t like us, and hopefully will allow us to live in more freedom.

The people of Isaiah’s time “feared” the Lord, and this lesson (1:10-20) could support that fear:  is the prophet speaking to all people, or those outside the community, as allegorized by “Sodom & Gomorrah”?  I think this is God’s indignation to everyone– “I have HAD ENOUGH of burnt offerings…I do NOT delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats…..Who asked THIS?”  And besides, stop trampling my yard!  But here’s an alternative, some real signs of devotion:  “cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”  If we’re willing and obedient, we’ll “eat the good of the land”.

Hebrews 11 affirms our hope in the first three verses:  “the conviction of things not seen”.  We believe that God’s Kingdom is really here, despite the evils around us.  It’s hard to maintain hope in the shadow of White Supremacy, hate crimes, and the abuse of immigrants.  We shout in pain as Big Interests savage our environment for their own profit.  Yet this reminds us to keep our belief in that which is not yet seen!  We believe that God is still in charge, and that this God is not rejoicing in our despair but delighting in giving us holy things.  The long list of the saints reminds us that none of these could say for sure where they were going–but if God says so, it’s gotta be good!

The Gospel, Luke 12:32-40,  tells us to override our fears, “for it is your Father’s GOOD PLEASURE to GIVE you the Kingdom”.  It goes on to encourage us to give away our stuff, for we already have “treasure in heaven”.  Stay awake and ready, ’cause you just never know when the Master comes in.  Not just in the Final Coming, but Today (Tomorrow at the latest).  David J. Shlafer, writing in FEASTING on the WORD:  “What Jesus enjoins, rather, is an orientation toward the whole of life as abundant gift from a generous God–a gift that can, therefore, be given away with abandon.” (C 3:337)

Isaiah’s contemporaries were surprised when God gave them an alternative to fear.  The saintly sojourners listed in Hebrews were surprised when God called them beyond the horizon to new environs of promise.  Jesus’ hearers were surprised that he spoke of his Abba as a generous parent.  Walter Brueggemann writes in SOJOURNERS That “Hope is the refusal to let our lives be defined by that present world arrangement.” (July ’19, p.36)  Fear is the watchword of Today; join me in doing something Hopeful?

God Bless Us, Every One                         Horace Brown King

My encounter with Bible passages to be read at services on the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

This won’t be my most popular blog:  we’re too rich!  Worse, we want even more!  The Greeks had a word for it:  PLEONEXIA.  (The desire for more, especially if it’s YOURS.)  Sounds like a medicine advertized on late TV, the ones with terrible disclaimers of sudden blindness, diarroeha or death.  Pleonexia could lead to all these things, and will, if given the chance.  So if you’re into the American Dream, don’t go to church this weekend…  These scriptures probably won’t comfort the afflicted, but they sure will afflict the comfortable!

There’s lots of imagery in Hosea 11:1-11–unresponsive children, raging swords, exiles to Assyria & Egypt, a roaring lion and trembling birds–all held in the hands of a loving Parent who can’t bear the thought of abandoning Israel.  Even though “My people are bent on turning away from me”.  The prophet is cajoling the NATION, not just the individuals therein.  Smart nations could hear this as a warning and turn from their devotion to the Baal of Materialism.   Even though YHWH is depicted as an old softy, history tells us that Israel was overrun and “lost” in 721 BC.

The Letter to the Colossian Church includes this weekend’s reading, 3:1-11.  And there v. 5 jumps out at me:  “Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry)”.  Most translations agree that these ALL are idolatry, i.e., they deflect worship from Christ to the gods of Today.  These things are un-Godly because they yearn for things which belong to others:  money, prestige, spouses, fancy cars & yachts–surface distractions and empty, ultimately boring, accumulations.

Jesus cautioned against materialism in Luke 12:13-21:  “Take care!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”  Then he told a parable about the farmer who exulted over his abundance:  “You fool!  This very night your life is being demanded of you.  And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”  Yet we persist in hoarding stuff, small potatoes when seen against the resources of holiness.

O my country!  When will you wake up?  Or is it impossible for the Nations of This World to approximate the Kingdom of God?

God Bless Us, Every One.                     Horace Brown King

My wrestles with scripture lessons for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

Many years ago, in the black ‘n’ white era, I saw a movie called “491” about a group-home for socially maladjusted teens.  Whatever pranks they pulled on their adult counselor, he forgave them.  Again and again.  Their big goal that bonded them was to come up with an affront he couldn’t forgive, and their mischief grew more and more malicious.  The final straw was when they set fire to his library, an act he just couldn’t overlook– “seventy times seven plus one”.  It all ended badly.  Lectionary passages for this weekend address the idea of forgiveness–and BEING forgiven.  Am I ever too naughty for God’s mercy?

The Old Testament, Hosea 1:2-10, tells how God directed the prophet to marry a prostitute.  She continued in The Life, evidently, and bore three children, probably none of which were biologically  Hosea’s.  It’s a timeless  allegory, of course, picturing how God feels when Israel runs off to other lovers.  The covenant has been broken by the nation’s unfaithfulness, and God has been dishonored. Israel’s lovers are other gods, as are our own:  material gain, intimidation of world powers, injustice against the poor…  God, as a cuckold husband, is both angry yet longing for reconciliation.

Colossians 2:6-19 deals with God’s deliverance of humanity through the intercession of Christ, especially as seen in the crucifixion.  I especially am drawn to v. 13: “And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh [rejection of their role as Chosen People], God made you alive together with [Jesus], when he forgave us all our trespasses…”   Here Christ is presented not as a governor of our temptations and failures, but as redeemer of our slips.  Nevertheless, some will cling onto their old sins and categorize them:  Yosemite Sam arrives in Hell and the Devil gleefully says, “My!  You HAVE been a bad boy, haven’t you?!”

The Gospel, Luke 11:1-13, is certainly about prayer:  our boldness and assurance in our asking, plus the model prayer which Jesus gave us.  Verses 11 to 13 add to our understanding that it’s OK to approach God with our hungers:  like a good parent, God will give even the Holy Spirit to those who ask.  Douglas John Hall writes in FEASTING on the WORD, “The object of prayer…is not so much to LOSE oneself in the contemplation of the Divine as to FIND oneself  [there]. (C 3:290)  Forgiveness is a matter of moving on, not wallowing in the shadows of yesterday, but dancing in the sunlight of today!

A good bit of the contemporary malaise is because so few recognize that God is in the restoration business.  Many, even good churchgoers, feel that their sin is so enormous that God can’t possibly take them back.  My dream is that these people– all people–will ascribe the unreasonable to God, will accept God’s mercy.

God Bless Us, Every One                                    Horace Brown King

My encounter with lessons to be read on the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this space on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

I hate to make choices.  Large menus throw me into states of despair.  I remember that Mom would say, “Take what they give you–and be glad you got it!”  Shopping is out, for me:  compare prices?  Check ingredients? Nah!!  So this weekend’s scriptures are a reminder to fellow settlers that there IS a Better Part for all, not just the rich and privileged.  Listen up, Mom.

Amos, enigmatic non-prophet from the South, says some harsh stuff to the complacency of the North (8:1-12).  He’s addressing crooked merchants and all who profit from ripping off their customers–and others of us who collect our toys and polish our trophies while the world around us cries out for help.  “I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation…”  The ensuing famine of divine instruction will wilt down the nation into a mob of seekers, willing to follow any old direction.  The “pride of Jacob” refers to the national arrogance which says, “We can do as we please, God’ll never know!”   Amos is a man for all seasons:  can America still choose?  More directly, can I?

The text from the Colossian Letter (1:15-28) has a year’s worth of spiritual commentary, beginning with a Christology which will curl the hair of our non-Creedal friends.  For today, I especially like vv.21-22, “And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body…”  The choice is still open?  Wm. Barclay opines, “So Jesus Christ is the guiding spirit of the Church; it is at his bidding that the Church must live and move.  Without him, the Church cannot think the truth, cannot act correctly, cannot decide its direction.”   (THE NEW DAILY STUDY BIBLE, p.140)  Evidently there’s still opportunity to choose between the prevalent evil and becoming “saints in the light”.

What can we glean from the familiar Mary-Martha story, Luke 10:38-42?  Martha’s hospitality obsession is to be commended; yet Mary seized the present virtue, which Jesus described as “the better part”.  Some will project this dichotomy onto those  “worried and distracted” congregations whose perpetual motion leaves very little space for actually listening to Jesus.  Today’s choice is to give Jesus our undivided attention, which is very difficult in our 24/7 world.

Maybe this thing about choosing means that I’ve gotta THINK, always painful at this advanced state of life.   Life was easier when Somebody said, “Here it is, take it or leave it”.  Alas, now that I’ve reached the boundary of the Land of Discernment, I can never return again.  With God’s help, I can choose the Better Part.  Only with God’s help.

God Bless Us Every One                             Horace Brown King

My encounter with scripture passages assigned to the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

I was lucky as a little boy to have two fine next-door neighbors.  Sterle Drake was a man of the soil:  never employed, yet had a huge garden and puttered about the property.  The Drake’s owned a Jersey cow named Dorothy, and raised a succession of goats, calves & pigs–and ducks & chickens, too.  Mr. Drake smoked a green-yellow stemmed pipe, which matched his teeth; he rarely shaved and sometimes he wasn’t available for my visits as he was “sleeping it off”.  George Davidson lived on the other side, and would let me “help” him roof his porch or extend his garage.  Both these men seemed to encourage my company, and listened well to my dreams and plans.  They also reprimanded me, when necessary, and gave me life-orientation for my journey.  I often look back on their care with thanks!   Those who sit in church pews this weekend will celebrate neighborly care from unexpected sources, and will be encouraged to see holy things in their neighbors.

Amos didn’t consider himself a prophet, but was a shepherd from Tekoa, a village of Judah (Southern Kingdom).  God called him to go to Bethel, the “King’s Chapel”, the holiest place in Israel (Northern Kingdom), and to announce that unless the people straightened up their injustices and crooked immorality, all sorts of calamity would fall on them.  “See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel…” (Amos 7:8) Built on visions, Amos’ prophecy referred at least four times to “What God showed me”, or “what God has caused me to see”.  The message of this”alien” was not well received–yet it was the observation of God sent through the guy next door.

When Paul wrote to the Colossians (1:1-14), he also was a foreigner tapped by God to bring a holy message.  “… we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may live lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.”  These Children of God also needed neighborly affirmations and corrections on their path.

The Gospel tells the famous story of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37.  Modern usage has glorified the word “Samaritan”, but in Jesus’ time it indicated a thoroughly repugnant and vilified society.  Teaching in hyperbole, Jesus contrasted the non-action of the Good Guys to the immediate care given by this (ugh!) Samaritan.  Once again the fella from the other side of the fence came through, much to the grudging astonishment of the Establishment.  “Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”  The scribe replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”  Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”  On his way to Death, Jesus brought a message of Life…

These three readings help us to see more clearly that God often comes to us in the guise of a stranger.  Are there those nearby who surprise us from time to time with their insight and compassion?  Even warnings of impending crises can be seen as Grace; perhaps we can yet adjust our course away from the rocks.  God evidently provides Gents Next Door so that we’re not left to our own devices…

God Bless Us, Every One                                 Horace Brown King

My encounter with scripture assigned to the upcoming  weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

I gotta admit that I feel very overwhelmed by the weight of the world.  There are so many BIG problems that bring my despair:  climate change; materialism; might-makes-right; me-first at any cost…  I mean, what can I do?–I’m little and powerless.  Scripture readings for the upcoming weekend celebrate the unknown folks who were in a position to speak up–and they DID!  We know only a few of them by name, and they appeared but once and moved on…BUT they were integral to the God-story.  This service is dedicated to those others who may feel inconsequential.

The story of  Naaman the Aramean general (II Kings 5:1-14) is loaded with good stuff: the expectations of Naaman, the paranoia of the king of Israel, the ultimate obedience of washing in the Jordan.  And, of course, God’s rich providence for even those “beyond the boundary”.  But who is this unnamed slave-girl who set the whole process into motion?  Who was the Prophet’s messenger?  and who were Naaman’s assistants who finally convinced him to give it a try?  God uses everyday people, even “aliens”, to introduce holy activity.

Paul urges the Christians of Galatia (6:1-16) to take care of the wounded with gentleness.  “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  Annie Vallotin, the Swiss artist who illustrated the American Bible Society’s TEV, has a remarkable drawing of a line of unnamed people–kids, seniors, men & women–all reaching forward to help hold the baggage of the one preceding.  These folks are all carrying heavy stuff, but they’re all going in the same direction.  How many generations of unknown saints are in this line?

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, but on his way he would be stopping at many villages.  In Luke 10 we read of how he sent 70 or 72 anonymous disciples ahead of him to announce that the kingdom of God has come near.  There was a bit of urgency: the “harvest is plentiful”, so don’t get bogged down with possessions or idle chit-chat.  As with Naaman, God will provide for all their needs or afflictions.  Risky as the assignment was, Jesus was optimistic about its outcome:  the Lord of the Harvest would attend to the attending demons and the power of Evil.  We don’t know their names, but Eternity does.  Isn’t that better than a plaque or a memorial window?

Kenyatta R. Gilbert writes, “Through scripture’s unnamed actors, communal restoration comes in the form  of healing leprosy, soul rescue from formidable foes, gentleness and burden-bearing after transgression, and victory of
Satan and other principalities that block God’s mission to save not only Israel but the entire world.”  (SOJOURNERS, July 2019, p.49)  God bless the anonymous!

God Bless US, Every One                 Horace Brown King

My reactions to being struck by lectionary readings for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook;’ or at horacebrownking.com

Medieval mystics talked about The Cloud of Unknowing, that instance when our spiritual perception gets murky, so much even that we can’t find the pathway forward.  This, said they, is a great opportunity for the pilgrim to put her hand in God’s hand in order to navigate the journey even in perilous times.  Scriptures for the upcoming weekend acknowledge these occasions when we become paralyzed and afraid of plunging into the chasm nearby.  Saints are called to welcome such times as an exercise in trust.

In the Hebrew Scriptures we read the story of Elijah’s fiery transportation to heaven, II Kings 2:1-14.  Yet it’s really ELISHA’s story:  his persistence in staying with his mentor even ’til the Sweet Chariot swung low to separate them; his ultimate request for what gives Elijah power; and his breath-stopping question of, “Can I too part the Jordan?”  Here we relate–have there been recent times when we’ve realized that any power we wield is not our own?  Have we asked The Question, “Am I good/sincere/faithful enough to accomplish wonderful things?”  The Cloud is present for Elisha, who wonders “What Now?”

Paul’s letter to the Galatians severely contrasts the “works of the flesh”–fornication, strife, anger, quarrels and more–to the “fruit of the Spirit”, i.e., love, joy, peace, kindness…  If we try to walk through the Cloud by ourselves, we’re bound to trip over our own bad habits and lie wounded on the pathway.  Our hand in God’s will not necessarily eliminate our moments of worldliness, but will help us to name and avoid their perils.  The problem of these hazards is that they distort our humanness into caricature:  we crave intimacy, but fornication is a poor substitute; we naturally worship the holy beyond us, but idolatry falls flat in two-way prayer; personhood provides for passionate attachment to a cause, yet dissensions and quarrels are self-defeating.

Some will say that the Gospel, Luke  9:51-62, is too harsh.  Jesus does rebuke his disciples for even thinking about zapping some Samaritans; and he seems gruff when he told a would-be follower to “let the dead bury their own dead”, and when he made a caustic comment about “no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God”.  What he’s insisting upon here is URGENCY:  no dilly-dallying is acceptable.  Then are we expected to drop everything for discipleship?  The answer here is YES!  Here we go, on to Jerusalem and world-changing events; there’ll be no “next time, next year”.   Here’s that Cloud, again:  do those who would be disciples have the fortitude to reach up and hang on??

Sometimes when it’s cloudy I’d just as soon hunker down in my meager shelter.  Two songs sustain me on the way:  “I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now…I really don’t know clouds at all.”–and “Through the storm, through the night, lead my on to the light, Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.”

God Bless Us, Every One                             Horace Brown King

My encounter with scripture passages for the upcoming weekend can be seen every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

I saw a tee-shirt which read, “THE HOKEY POKEY SHELTER: a Great Place to Turn Yourself  Around”.  Scriptures for the upcoming weekend are about those who try hiding, but God finds them anyway and sends them on their path.  I feel like hiding, sometimes.  Fatigued by daily instances of inhumanity and selfishness, I try to travel to the desert where there’s none of that…yet some hope keeps bringing me back.  I’m not an optimist by any reason;  I’m surprised that some small spark of my soul has survived to yearn for tomorrow.  F. Scott Fitzgerald writes that “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function….[to] be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.”  (quoted in SIERRA, Jan/Feb 2019)

The Old Testament lesson comes through I Kings 19:  the Prophet Elijah has just shown up the prophets of Baal–and slaughtered them all!  Queen Jezebel was livid, and put a price on Elijah’s head.  Figuring that all was lost, he headed for the desert to die.  But YHWH evidently wasn’t done with him:  food & water was miraculously provided, and Elijah traveled “forty days & forty nights” (i.e., a long time) to Mt. Horeb/Sinai where he intended to shelter in the Lord.  But God, after some volcanic fireworks followed by the Sound of Silence, sent him back into the fray.  (But Lord, I’m TIRED with all this prophesying; you want me to WHAT?)

Paul reminds the Christians of Galatia that “we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed.”(3:23)  But now we are no longer in need of a governor or “disciplinarian”.  Our encounter with God has released us from the constraints of old fears and worries and social distinctions, and we can resume our rightful activity of people created in the reflection of God.  The mountains of Galatia (think central Turkey) would be good places to hide…still there’s the restorative voice of God which calls them/us to once again validate a holy community.

The Gospel is that of Luke 8:26-39, probably a familiar story of Jesus and the demon-filled man of Gerasa (see also Matthew 8 and Mark 5).  Besides the Hebrew-delighting story about the demons and the pigs–one of whose descendants moved to Amityville, LI–it’s a tale of the reclamation of a recluse which touches me.  The whole town thought him hopeless.  He himself thought he was hopeless.  But an encounter with God when he least expected it turned his life around!  Jesus sent him home to pick up the pieces and get on with his life.  Martin L. Smith describes him as an “unlikely hero” who his family and neighbors “must come to know…in his simple humanity and goodness, now that Jesus has set him free from the misguided need to perform as the ghastly icon of their downtrodden community…”  (SOJOURNERS, June 2019)

I expect that there’re many both inside and outside the Church who feel exhausted by the avalanches of distress, and who’ve considered some form of escape.  Perhaps these scriptures will extend some hope to the hopeless, and encourage me/them to still carry light into the darkness even though “winded by the chase”.  “Once more, dear friends–into the breach!”

God Bless Us, Every One                        Horace Brown King

My wrestling with the lessons for the upcoming weekend may be observed every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

At the outset, I have to say that much of my thought today has been advised by Steve Shusset’s essay in HUNGRYHEARTS of Spring 2007.  He writes, “On the road of life there are innumerable occasions for us to stand at the corner of ‘Mystery’ and ‘Mundane’ and see God at work in the course of an an ordinary day.”  Trinity Sunday finds us at such an intersection:  the Spirit has been overflowing, and now we’re ready to plunge into Ordinary Time as we look at how the Church responds to Jesus’ call to free the captives, heal the sick and proclaim the Day of the Lord.

Proverbs 8 recognizes the constant presence of the Spirit of Wisdom “at the crossroads…beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals”.  “Wisdom’s fingerprints are allover God’s creation because Wisdom was there when everything in this world began.” (Richard Boyce, in FEASTING on the WORD, C 3:28)  There’s comfort for me in this reading:  it confirms that there IS a plan which is unfolding, a delight in the human race.

Romans 5:1-5 is typically Pauline in that it’s hard to digest without picking out the wonders contained in each phrase.  Verse 5,”God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us”, quantifies all that has gone before:  peace with God, hope of sharing God’s glory, strength for even the most severe trials…  In the Spirit there’s no “disappointment”–disgrace of shamefulness– but a merry anticipation of completeness as we await God’s next move.

The Gospel (John 16:12-15) is our final encounter for now with the benedictory words of Jesus at the Last Supper.  He speaks of “the Spirit of Truth” which will guide the still-raw disciples along the holy way.  This Spirit is not a loose-cannon (canon?), but declares a genuine direction as an integral part of God.  Even though we faithful followers can’t “bear” the fullness which the Resurrection brings to the unfolding Creation, the Spirit of Truth will help us to keep intact despite news of tariffs, shootings and munitions.

Any Mystery should be approached with a sense of humble reverence.  Yet today’s readings bring a bubbling buoyancy about being alive in the holiness of Today!  If there’s an antidote to society’s current sourness, it’s the Church-message that God is happily in charge.  Reuben P. Jobs concludes it well:  “No day can be ordinary when God dwells within.  Every day is seen as blessed and holy, filled with opportunity and grace for all who put their trust in God.”  (A GUIDE TO PRAYER FOR ALL WHO SEEK GOD. Upper Room Books, Nashville:2003)

God Bless Us Every One                   Horace Brown King

My thoughts about lectionary passages assigned to the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com