"Putting things to right – with mercy and love"
This week’s theme: “Freedom Bound: The Path of Mercy”
This week’s Scriptures:
Malachi 3:1 “Look! I am sending my messenger
to clear the way before me;
and the Lord, whom you seek,
will suddenly come to his temple.
Yes, the messenger of the covenant,
in whom you take such delight —
look! Here he comes,”
says Adonai-Tzva’ot.
2 But who can endure the day when he comes?
Who can stand when he appears?
For he will be like a refiner’s fire,
like the soapmaker’s lye.
3 He will sit, testing and purifying the silver;
he will purify the sons of Levi,
refining them like gold and silver,
so that they can bring offerings to Adonai uprightly.
4 Then the offering of Y’hudah and Yerushalayim
will be pleasing to Adonai,
as it was in the days of old,
as in years gone by.
Luke 1:68 “Praised be Adonai, the God of Isra’el,[Luke 1:68 Psalms 41:14(13); 72:18; 106:48]
because he has visited and made a ransom to liberate his people
69 by raising up for us a mighty Deliverer
who is a descendant of his servant David.
70 It is just as he has spoken
through the mouth of the prophets from the very beginning —
71 that we should be delivered from our enemies
and from the power of all who hate us.
72 “This has happened so that he might show
the mercy promised to our fathers —
that he would remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath he swore before Avraham avinu
74 to grant us that we, freed from our enemies,
would serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
76 You, child, will be called a prophet of Ha‘Elyon;
you will go before the Lord to prepare his way[Luke 1:76 Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3]
77 by spreading the knowledge among his people
that deliverance comes by having sins forgiven
78 through our God’s most tender mercy,
which causes the Sunrise to visit us from Heaven,
79 to shine on those in darkness, living in the shadow of death,[Luke 1:79 Isaiah 9:1(2)]
and to guide our feet into the paths of peace.”
Philippians 1:3 I thank my God every time I think of you. 4 Whenever I pray for all of you I always pray with joy, 5 because you have shared in proclaiming the Good News from the very first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this: that the One who began a good work among you will keep it growing until it is completed on the Day of the Messiah Yeshua. 7 It is right for me to think this way about you all, because I have you on my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and establishing the Good News, you are all sharing with me in this privileged work. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the deep affection of the Messiah Yeshua.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may more and more overflow in fullness of knowledge and depth of discernment, 10 so that you will be able to determine what is best and thus be pure and without blame for the Day of the Messiah, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Yeshua the Messiah — to the glory and praise of God.
Luke 3:1 In the fifteenth year of Emperor Tiberius’ rule; when Pontius Pilate was governor of Y’hudah, Herod ruler of the Galil, his brother Philip ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 with ‘Anan and Kayafa being the cohanim g’dolim; the word of God came to Yochanan Ben-Z’kharyah in the desert. 3 He went all through the Yarden region proclaiming an immersion involving turning to God from sin in order to be forgiven. 4 It was just as had been written in the book of the sayings of the prophet Yesha‘yahu,
“The voice of someone crying out:
‘In the desert prepare the way for Adonai!
Make straight paths for him!
5 Every valley must be filled in,
every mountain and hill leveled off;
the winding roads must be straightened
and the rough ways made smooth.
6 Then all humanity will see God’s deliverance.’”[Luke 3:6 Isaiah 40:3–5]
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Things are out of sorts. Following regional, national and global news is a reminder that there is much brokenness in the world. Fragmentation comes into our personal lives too. We wonder how love can overflow in a time when there are such pervasive issues? Can mending occur?I step back from this reality and reflect on a different construct. I remember that the universe was called into being as an expression of God’s love and mercy. This is a statement that raises awe and wonder in my spirit – and reminds me that every part of God’s creation declares the very mercy and love that comes from God. When mercy and love are not evident, I seek to understand how restorative acts might bring love into expression again. A first step is to re-member that which has been dis-membered.
The texts for this week refer to a vision for righteousness. I often found righteousness to be an off-putting word until I started to see it as the concept of making things right. As N.T. Wright frequently states, righteousness is “putting things to rights.” This is a process that God pursues passionately – and invites us to join in that same action.
The prophetic call for John the Baptist was to “prepare of way.” I am inspired by the concept of re-creative actions in the landscapes of the world. As a messenger, he fostered the way to peace, which is truly a “putting things to rights.” This is a remaking of the channels for mercy and love to flow freely again.
Like John the Baptist, I am committed to putting God’s creation right. I am grateful to be a participant with God in these actions. Restoration processes take time, but at the same time are amazing. A year ago I planted native prairie seed in a strip along my new gardens and orchard in Goshen. The seed fell on quality prairie soil – soil that had only supported grass and weeds for more than 50 years. I was inspired to see the native flowers and grasses begin to emerge this summer. Life was returning to this strip of land – a grand showing of mercy and love. The selected flowers will attract native pollinators, which will add to the diversity and health of my small landscape.
My planting story is representative of many other restorative actions I take in my life, the community and the world. God’s mercy and love are what brings life to my actions. As the texts for the week note so clearly – change is afoot. Commit to being on the path of “putting the world to rights” and anticipate the harvest of righteousness.» Leave a comment
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Campus Ministries
1700 South Main Street
Campus Ministries
1700 South Main Street
Goshen, Indiana 46526, United States
info@goshen.edu
info@goshen.edu
(574) 535-7000
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