Friday, August 30, 2013 Day 236 – Isaiah 55-57, Psalm 43, Titus 3
In the conclusion of Paul’s letter to Titus today, he states in 3:14, “And let people learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive.” Forgive my enthusiasm, but I was just blessed to conclude two days learning from the churches of our diocese dedicated to the Nehemiah Process. What exciting devotion to good works are going on in our diocese! I am humbled by the energy and enthusiasm, which reflects that which is stated in our readings for today.
Isaiah 55 begins the conclusion of this section of Isaiah, with an invitation to the heavenly banquet, and there is only one qualification given: you must be thirsty to come to the waters. There is such great energy right now with the efforts for which Daniel Ledo and Teresa Pasquale are leading the charge to reach out to the Young Adults in our community. How important it is to reach out to those who are “spiritual but not religious,” which would seem to indicate that Isaiah’s sole qualification of thirst is already there. Sometimes I can get cynical about the “spiritual but not religious” in our midst, yet it seems that Jesus was more upset with the “religious but not spiritual.” May we continue to discern the ways to provide God’s living water to those who are thirsty.
The Nehemiah presentations and discussion focused on the theme of stewardship these past days, with an opening statement from Archdeacon Hobbs that “it’s not just about the money.” Beth Shires reiterated that in her own presentation, quoting that “Stewardship is everything that we do after we say ‘I believe’.” This broader view of stewardship is echoed in Paul’s message today, as he talks about that which is “profitable” and that which is “unprofitable,” and yet he never mentions money. More than once Paul emphasizes the importance of unity. He exhorts his readers to “avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless” (Titus 3: 9), and tells us to “have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned” (Titus 3: 11).
Paul focuses on the urgency of our work in partnering with God on God’s mission. It points the stewardship emphasis towards the urgency of our work – and our working together. The Nehemiah churches these past two days gave great evidence to this. It was not stated this way, but the evidence of the churches when taken in conjunction with Paul’s message say this: “If you want their treasure, aim for the heart, not the pocket. Get them involved in who they are – get the community involved in who they are – and the rest will follow.”
Rev. Debra Maconaughey and the people of St. Columba didn’t even have a choir, so what did they do? They decided to put together a production of Handel’s Messiah. 55 choir members from the community later, and the production debuted to a crowd of 700! Holy Comforter was an aided congregation seemingly moving towards closing their doors, so what have they done? Through the urgent work of the people under the leadership of clergy like Fr. Rafael Garcia and lay people like Malcolm Briggs, they are now a thriving self-supporting congregation, serving their community with a day care center and home for seniors. And similar things are going on as shared in stewardship presentations by St. Anne’s, St. George’s, and Advent – all ways in which, as Isaiah states today, “My word shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55: 11).
Forgive the enthusiasm! Nah – better yet, pray that we all continue to catch it – and spread it – with our urgent work.
“Unless the eye catch fire, The God will not be seen. Unless the ear catch fire, The God will not be heard. Unless the tongue catch fire, The God will not be named. Unless the heart catch fire, The God will not be known. -- Thomas Merton
In the conclusion of Paul’s letter to Titus today, he states in 3:14, “And let people learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive.” Forgive my enthusiasm, but I was just blessed to conclude two days learning from the churches of our diocese dedicated to the Nehemiah Process. What exciting devotion to good works are going on in our diocese! I am humbled by the energy and enthusiasm, which reflects that which is stated in our readings for today.
Isaiah 55 begins the conclusion of this section of Isaiah, with an invitation to the heavenly banquet, and there is only one qualification given: you must be thirsty to come to the waters. There is such great energy right now with the efforts for which Daniel Ledo and Teresa Pasquale are leading the charge to reach out to the Young Adults in our community. How important it is to reach out to those who are “spiritual but not religious,” which would seem to indicate that Isaiah’s sole qualification of thirst is already there. Sometimes I can get cynical about the “spiritual but not religious” in our midst, yet it seems that Jesus was more upset with the “religious but not spiritual.” May we continue to discern the ways to provide God’s living water to those who are thirsty.
The Nehemiah presentations and discussion focused on the theme of stewardship these past days, with an opening statement from Archdeacon Hobbs that “it’s not just about the money.” Beth Shires reiterated that in her own presentation, quoting that “Stewardship is everything that we do after we say ‘I believe’.” This broader view of stewardship is echoed in Paul’s message today, as he talks about that which is “profitable” and that which is “unprofitable,” and yet he never mentions money. More than once Paul emphasizes the importance of unity. He exhorts his readers to “avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless” (Titus 3: 9), and tells us to “have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned” (Titus 3: 11).
Paul focuses on the urgency of our work in partnering with God on God’s mission. It points the stewardship emphasis towards the urgency of our work – and our working together. The Nehemiah churches these past two days gave great evidence to this. It was not stated this way, but the evidence of the churches when taken in conjunction with Paul’s message say this: “If you want their treasure, aim for the heart, not the pocket. Get them involved in who they are – get the community involved in who they are – and the rest will follow.”
Rev. Debra Maconaughey and the people of St. Columba didn’t even have a choir, so what did they do? They decided to put together a production of Handel’s Messiah. 55 choir members from the community later, and the production debuted to a crowd of 700! Holy Comforter was an aided congregation seemingly moving towards closing their doors, so what have they done? Through the urgent work of the people under the leadership of clergy like Fr. Rafael Garcia and lay people like Malcolm Briggs, they are now a thriving self-supporting congregation, serving their community with a day care center and home for seniors. And similar things are going on as shared in stewardship presentations by St. Anne’s, St. George’s, and Advent – all ways in which, as Isaiah states today, “My word shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55: 11).
Forgive the enthusiasm! Nah – better yet, pray that we all continue to catch it – and spread it – with our urgent work.
“Unless the eye catch fire, The God will not be seen. Unless the ear catch fire, The God will not be heard. Unless the tongue catch fire, The God will not be named. Unless the heart catch fire, The God will not be known. -- Thomas Merton
RSS Feed