Wednesday, March 25, 2026 – Lent Six

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15: 16 -17, New Living Translation)

                 Last night was our annual, fantasy baseball draft. If you are not familiar with what that is, let me try to explain as briefly as possible. A group of family and friends sit at our computers for an hour and a half and we take turns choosing MLB baseball players to be on our respective teams, a total of 18 players per team. Then, as the baseball season rolls along, each week, two teams go head-to-head. Scoring is based on several statistics that each player accrues during that week. If my players, The Whiskeyjacks, have better results than the other team’s players, I win the week. Nerdy stuff for us baseball fanatics.

                The draft has many, many rounds. At the beginning, players are flying off the board. If you snooze, you lose. Everyone is trying to choose the best players who are available. The all-star calibre players are always the first to be chosen. We are a large league and it doesn’t take all that long for the cream of the crop to be chosen. Sometimes, I had a player whom I really hoped to choose but he was gone by my turn.  After the mid-stages, we’re scrounging around for the next best who are still available. Even so, everyone ends up with a really good team. We can make trades or add and delete players as the season goes on.  For a baseball nut like me, it is a lot of fun.

                In the Gospels, we can read about how Jesus chose his twelve disciples. They came from different backgrounds, occupations and upbringings.  There were fishermen (Peter and John), a tax collector (Matthew), among them. As we follow their development, they ae very different in their personalities and character traits. Peter was brash. Thomas was cautious and careful. Judas became a political opportunist. They argued amongst themselves about who was the greatest. They could be curious, loyal, confused, disobedient, and yet protective of Jesus. They didn’t have theological degrees from a seminary. They were very ordinary. Certainly not all-stars.  But Jesus chose them to be his disciples, to teach them, to guide then, to empower them – it was a labour of love. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)

                Perhaps, that is the point – Jesus chooses regular people to follow him. We don’t all have to be super-stars. We all don’t have to be gifted and spectacular Christians although as Paul pointed out we’re all gifted in some way. “Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.”  1 Corinthians 12: 29 -31) Paul then gives us his beautiful description of Love as “the better way” (1 Corinthians 13) which is in line with our words from John’s Jesus. “This is my command: Love each other.”

                It can be both awesome and a little challenging that Jesus has chosen you and me to be one of his followers. We may not feel adequate, prepared, equipped, mature enough, wise enough, good enough. Or too old, too busy, too wordily, too sinful, too broken, too lost. Some may claim that they don’t know how to pray; they don’t read their Bible much; they don’t go to church much. Others may say that thy have no time for God or that God feels distant. Some feel unloved, alienated, angry, confused, hopeless and helpless.

                Good New, people. Jesus has called you and named you as one of his Own. Jesus’ invitation breaks through our inadequacies, doubts, fears and reluctance and affirms that he believes that you are just the one he wants to be his friend, his companion and his disciple to further his work and presence in the world. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise that you are not worthy of Jesus’ Love and Invitation. He has chosen you and me. Crazy as that may sound, it is true. We are part of his undertaking to bring God’s Love into the whole world.

                “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

Prayer;

Our Creator God, we thank you that, no matter who we are, or what we are going through or what we have done or failed to do, you still reach out to us and choose us to be a part of your Great Vision. We confess that there are times when we would rather hide from that calling. But we are thankful that Jesus’ Love is so encompassing that it embraces us all. May we take op our cr9os and follow him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 – Lent Five

“And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?” Esau asked. Jacob replied, “They are a gift, my lord, to ensure your friendship.” “My brother, I have plenty,” Esau answered. “Keep what you have for yourself.” But Jacob insisted, “No, if I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God!” (Genesis 33: 8 -10, New Living Translation)

                I’m late starting my annual Winter’s hobby project.  I guess it’s a Spring project now. Not Lego, although it’s related somewhat.  This week, I opened a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle. Here’s the thing. The picture is that of 340 tiny faces of Lego characters, row after row of them. Every face is different. Smiling, frowning, laughing, squinting, angry, surprised, some with glasses or goggles, some with clown faces, bearded faces, male and female faces, and so on and so on.  Every face is different. All the pieces are shades of yellow and orange. This may take a while…

                Faces tell a story, don’t they? Our faces reflect our moods and demeanor. I can think of several times when someone told me to smile, that I was looking too grim or serious. It was not how I was feeling at all, but my face is “set” that way, so that I guess that I don’t always look friendly or happy. Even so, faces can be a natural indication of the person inside. When we greet someone, our faces are the first impression that another person has of us.  A warm, friendly smile says more than any number of words.

                There was a recent article in the Globe and Mail by Nolan Bryant which celebrates a genuine smile as an important quality of life to have. “In a world of unceasing bad news, there is something quite revolutionary about an authentic smile.” He claims that “the smile has become countercultural.” It got me to thinking that a smile is a bridge towards someone else. A smile needs to be shared.  Receiving a smile makes us feel better, welcome, safe, connected. Our smiles do the same for others. Think of the efforts we go through to make a baby smile, all sorts of silly sounds and noises, and what utter pleasure and gift it is when the child responds accordingly.

                One of my favourite songs is Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile,” either the Nat King Cole version or the Gregory Porter one. “Smile though your heart is aching, Smile even though it's breaking When there are clouds in the sky You'll get by.” I am not advocating that we hide our problems behind a false bravado.  Faking happiness is no road to true happiness. When life has wiped the smiles off our faces, it is time to seek help and counsel.  But I also think there is a benefit to dig deep and find the significant joys and blessings that put a smile on our faces. Not forced, not phoney, not coerced, not smarmy, not sneering, but a smile that comes from the heart and perhaps, from the heart of God. “Let your face smile on us, Lord.” (Psalm 4:6)

                The brothers, Jacob and Esau, had a very broken relationship. In fact, Esau was ready to kill his brother for stealing his birthright. Jacob had fled as far away as possible. But now, after many years, and building up his personal wealth, Jacob decided to return home and see if he can make amends with his brother. He hopes that his wealth can buy Esau’s favour as he offers his brother all sorts of gifts. Like the prodigal son, Jacob laments his unworthiness: “I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant.” (Genesis 32:10) When the two men met, each accompanied by a large force of people with them, it looked ominous.  But instead, “Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.” (Genesis 33:4)

                Like the father of the prodigal son, Esau embraced his long, lost brother. Jacob realized his exorbitant gifts had no use in the act of reconciliation. His finds his redemption solely in the smile of his brother. “It is like seeing the face of God!” A true, sincere, authentic smile reunites the brothers.  Helping to erase the bitterness, the animosity and the resentment. A smile reaches across the abyss of their brokenness and brings new beginnings.

                That's the time you must keep on trying
                Smile, what's the use of crying?
                You'll find that life is still worthwhile
                If you'll just smile            

Prayer:

                Our loving God, there is indeed much sorrow and hardship in right now. We confess we find it is hard to find good reason to smile. Yet, help us to understand that we are also surrounded by your creative grace and wondrous blessing that invite us to find true joy in our living. May we then share our smiles with each other readily and sincerely so that we build bridges of compassion and forgiveness between brothers and sisters in family and in our communities.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 -Lent Four

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.” (Matthew 13:44, New Living Translation)

             Go, get your shovel! There’s gold in them, thar hills!

There was a recent news story about a French home owner, who discovered $800,000 worth of gold while digging up his back yard to put in a swimming pool. He found five gold bars and several gold coins. After examination by the authorities, it was determined that the man would be allowed to keep the gold.  I have had fantasies about something like this – finding a Mickey Mantle rookie card in a junk pile or a first issue Superman comic in a discard pile. They are extremely valuable. I would buy the piles of junk so that I could own those treasures.  I might not even sell them, but keep them for their specialness.

                My first thought is about who might have buried this treasure to begin with. The article never said. This leads me to think about the man in Jesus’ parable of the talents and the servant who buried what the owner had given him rather than invest it. “‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’” (Matthew 24:24 -25) The servant was afraid to take any risks whatsoever and was proud that he could return the master’s money untouched, “every cent.”

But as Paul once wrote, we have been given these treasures of life and are sent out into the world to put them to good and profitable use, to invest God’s Grace and Love with interest. “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”  (2 Corinthians 4:7) Light needs to shine, not be hidden. Thus, we are also reminded by another of Jesus’ teachings: “No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5: 15 -16) God has generously given all of us gifts, talents and treasures to liberally (“liberal” really isn’t a swear word as some may argue) spread the Good News near and close, far and wide. “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”  (Matthew 24: 21)

So it is that the man who discovered a treasure in the field goes out of his way to purchase the whole field. Not to overthink this short parable, yet some might think that this was a brash and even foolish action to take. There may not likely be any more treasure to be found if indeed that was what he was hoping. More likely though, he believed that plot of land now had intrinsic value and a purpose. He obviously was not the original owner, but wished to authenticate his find by buying the whole plot of land. The analogy is that when we discover the Good News of God’s Love in Jesus Christ, we take complete “ownership” of its valuable contents. We buy in totally to the wealth of Grace, Hope, Joy, Peace, Love and Salvation which we discover in its rich offerings.

These two parables are two sides of the same coin, both about the responsibility of being good stewards of all that God gives us. Perhaps, “responsibility” sounds like a tedious, laborious, duty-filled word, lacking much joy or pleasure.  But in Gospel terms, it has its rich rewards, its satisfactions, its gratifications, its joy-making. “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (Luke 6:38, The Message Bible)

Now get out there, people, and start digging.

 Prayer:

                Our generous God, we ask, first, that you lead us to look in the right places for your life-giving Kingdom. Then, help us to stop at nothing to take ownership of the prize of this upward calling. Show us all the ways that we, too, can be generous, faithful, sharing, compassionate and full of forgiveness and love. In this Lenten season, the true treasure is Jesus Christ who died for us. May we strive to be worthy of such a cost he paid for us to live in your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 – Lent Three

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4: 8)

               So, how are your New Year’s resolutions going? Not so good, eh? Then what about your Lenten aspirations? What did you give up for Lent? O wait, is that chocolate I see smeared on your face?

                It is not easy to keep the promises we make for ourselves. But take heart. I recently read an article by a psychologist, Dr. Jennifer Aspari, with the provocative title: “Forget Willpower: Let Your Values Drive Helpful Habits Instead.” Basically, she was using research that “supported the idea  that habits formed by personal values are more durable than ones formed by guilt or an attempt at self- control. Willpower is a finite resource that burns out.”

She offers scientific reasons for this, about how our brains are wired to create conflict between doing what might good for us and succumbing to the impulse to give up.  The apostle Paul was way ahead of her when he wrote: “But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.” (Romans 7: 18 -20, The Message Bible)

Just because we know we should do something doesn’t make it any easier to do. “Should seems innocent, yet focusing on what you should do fuels internalized pressure and a sense of guilt…”  Not that honest self-examination is a bad thing, I would counter, but if all it does is make one feel like a loser, a failure or  incompetent, then it has failed it purpose. Confession is good for the soul but so is grace and forgiveness.

The doctor wants us to focus on our values. “Values are like a compass. They point us in the direction we want to go and allow us take steps to get there over time, rather than having to reach a target immediately.”  She asserts that we should (?) “focus on the qualities you want to exhibit and your sense of identity.” Who are you; not what are you. What are your intrinsic values for living? What motivates you from within? I would think that if your core values are strong, then they will support your goals and purposes, maybe even your resolutions and Lenten promises.

But again, Jesus is way ahead of her: “It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” (Luke 6: 48 -49)

Our text from Philippians speaks to paying serious attention to the values we gain from following Jesus Christ. They are empowering values, a solid bedrock of faith, thought, action and conviction. The Message Bible restates this encouragement as doing one’s best “by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”  It will take some willpower, I would think, to help us stay on course in the pursuit of following Jesus Christ. Values need to be cultivated, nurtured, shaped, refined. It takes prayer. It takes the support of the Holy Spirit. “Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Better, yet, is to take positive action on your thinking.

 Prayer:

                O God of Grace and Love, motivate us with your Love to follow Jesus Christ. May we fill our minds and thoughts with the qualities which mirror Christ’s relationship with us.  Help us to persevere in our faith, both in word and deed.  Lead us not into temptation to fail, but to keep our eyes on Jesus, in whose name, we pray. Amen.