8-4-22 - Greeting God's Promises

You can listen to this reflection here. Sunday's epistle reading is here. 

The writer of Hebrews defines faith for us in a particular way: the assurance of things hoped for; the conviction of things not seen. To illustrate his view he cites various parts of Abraham’s story, as well as a list of other biblical heroines and heroes of faith (read the whole chapter…) What makes these people exemplars of faith is not their “victories” – it is that they believed even though they never saw the full fruit of their longing manifest in their lifetimes. "All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them."

What a beautiful way of conceiving faith: seeing the promises of God in our mind and heart and spirit, and greeting those promises ahead on the road. I'm put in mind of the father of the prodigal son, “But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.” What if we personified the promises of God? Would that help us anticipate them with more hope and faith?

We do get to see and taste the goodness of God right here and now, in many ways. I am struck by how, in every place I move to, God provides a house for me with blessings I could not have anticipated, at a price I can afford. That is a small example that also exemplifies my social privilege, but it is a consistent form of blessing and a huge reminder to me that God is faithful in greater things too.

Our invitation is to believe in God’s promise of Life, here and now and then and later; in God’s promise of peace and provision and presence and power; to believe that God’s reign of justice will emerge, and more quickly as we engage in God’s work of bringing it into being; to believe that refugees will find homes and wars will cease and evildoers be converted and everyone will “sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid.” (Micah 4:1-5) That is God’s great promise.

Just as God regards us from a distance as already fully righteous in Christ, so we are invited to pray and work and believe in God’s promises in the conviction that they are approaching, close enough to call out to on the road: “Hello there! I see you coming, and I can’t wait to see you up close!” These promises are moving toward us all the time – and we can run to them and embrace them and live them.

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8-1-22 - Promises, Promises

You can listen to this reflection here. 

I believe you can find some gold in any gospel passage, but this week two of the other readings set for Sunday are calling to me instead of our appointed reading. Each in its way is a foundational text for followers of Christ.

Let’s spend a few days with the first, a reading from Genesis: After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.”

This encounter between God and Abram takes place after Abram has won a great battle and been blessed by the great Melchizedek, the King of Salem (or “peace”). He is on a personal and professional high – and here comes the word of the Lord, promising protection and reward. Is Abram grateful for this divine communication? No; he replies, “So what? You’re blessing me right and left – but the one thing I want most in the world I cannot have: a child and an heir. This schmuck Eliezer, my distant cousin, is to inherit all the wealth I’m amassing? What good are your promises?”

And God does not say, “You want a glass for that whine?” God goes on to make him a promise that changes the course of human history – more on that tomorrow. Today let’s stay with Abram’s lament. Have you ever felt that way? Able to enumerate many blessings, but bereft in the areas that mean most to you? Sometimes I wonder if too deeply wanting certain things can keep us from being open to receiving them. We’re looking too hard for blessings in certain areas and stuck in anxiety. In areas I don’t worry about, like finances, I do fine; in other aspects of life I feel God has overlooked me.

One day, as I was awaiting word on whether or not I’d been selected for a new job I really wanted, I was praying and sensed God say, “You can’t take this. It has to be given to you. Keep your hands open.” On one level, this was obvious – the decision was out of my hands. But this was a deeper word for my spirit – not to always think I have to make things happen; to let go and watch what God can do when I’m just open to blessings wherever they come. At no point did I know I was going to get the job – I only knew I would be blessed, one way or the other. After that, I was unable to locate any anxiety about it. It was the weirdest thing.

God has a timetable we cannot program or mess with, and often can only discern in hindsight. God had promises for Abram. God has promises for you. Whine all you want – and then open your hands in joyful expectation.

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