To love mercy

…O people, the LORD has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.
--Micah 6:8 (New Living Translation)

It’s hard to fathom. In the news as I write this is the report of the deaths of 7 people in Cambodia, three of them young teens. They all suffocated at the bottom of a 16-foot water well trying to retrieve the equivalent of 75 cents that had been accidently dropped into it. It’s hard to grasp the level of poverty that would drive people to make such an attempt. Heartbreaking poverty is real and it exists in every corner of the world, even in our own state and city.

The prophet Micah was speaking to Israelites who were enjoying a relatively comfortable life. Israel was prosperous and strong. Their prosperity came at the expense of their morals and integrity. Shady business deals were commonplace. The poor were neglected. They had become complacent in their worship. They brought their offerings to the temple, but their hearts were not into the way of God. Micah reminded them that God sought their full commitment. In God’s economy, God’s people have at the core of their faith a requirement to show God’s mercy to others.

Jesus emphasized this as well. Jesus’ parting words to Peter in the Gospel of John were to “feed my sheep” (John 21: 15-17). In other words, take care of the people I give you. That’s a pretty big flock! Jesus called his followers to make disciples of all nations. Jesus basically gave us the world to look after. This includes God special concern for the poor and brokenhearted. Bring the poor justice. Show mercy to the brokenhearted.

With God’s requirement comes God’s empowerment. God’s Spirit gives us the energy and the sensitivity to serve the Lord and serve others. This is truly good news. God helps us live out the life to which we are called. The Lord is always
with us!

To me, there is nothing more satisfying than helping out someone who is in need. It’s a great feeling to make a tangible difference in the life of another person! Perhaps this makes it possible to, as Micah says, “love mercy.” Love the chances to make a difference in the life of others. Embrace the opportunities to serve others that God puts in your path. Cherish your God-given role to extend God’s mercy and help. This is the way of God that brings you fulfillment.

Only the Creator can recreate humankind

Before technology was really booming (1978) Billy Graham observed that humankind's moral capacities lagged far behind our technological skills and discoveries. Because of that, he said that "the greatest need in the world is to bring about the transformation of human nature." A lot a folks, especially preachers and politicians, have looked to social justice avenues to bring about such transformation. Working for a just society is indeed important, but Billy Graham reminded that there is one central reality:

...there is only one ultimate answer to the need of [humankind] to be changed. Science and technology cannot change [humankind's] basic nature. Economic restructuring cannot change[humankind's] basic nature. No amount of self-improvement or wishful thinking can change [humankind's] basic nature. Only God--the One who created us--can recreate us [through faith in Christ].

(Billy Graham, The Holy Spirit. Dallas: Word, 1978: 74)

My observation is that the social justice ministries of many denominations and congregations lose sight of this central reality.

God's Crazy Mercy

Mark 12:1-12

The drama of our rebellion is recounted by Jesus in the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. Jesus’ authority for teaching and healing had been challenged by the leaders of the Jews. More and more Jesus had confronted their injustices and hypocrisy. At the time he is telling this story he has entered Jerusalem to the shouts of people’s praise for what will be the last week of his life. The Jewish leaders are jealous and don’t appreciate the disruption of their orderly observance of their most important religious holiday…Passover.

So Jesus tells the parable of the Wicked Vineyard Tenant Farmers who treat the owners slaves horribly and won’t give the owner his due. Their rebellion is so great that they are willing to kill the owner’s son in a futile attempt to gain the vineyard for themselves. All this is because they are unwilling to give the owner his due.

Jesus’ use of the vineyard for this story he told to the Chief priests and temple leaders was very intentional. Several times in the Jewish scriptures we call the Old Testament, the people of Israel were refered to as a vineyard. The Jewish leaders would have made that connection immediately. The wicked tenants of the story were God’s people, who over and over again, rejected God’s prophets who called God’s people to give God his due. The prophets, God’s servants, called God’s people to be faithful to God as God had been so graciously generous and faithful to them. In spite of God’s patience with us, rarely has God been given his due.

Are you ever blown away by the patience of God? In the parable, the owner looks incompetent, doesn’t he? Sending servant after servant to be reconciled with his tenants…each one treated horribly, some killed. Then to send his son…believing that he would get a different response? What are you called when you keep doing the same thing, expecting different results? That’s right…crazy! Let’s be grateful for a God of crazy mercy, who never tires in efforts to redeem us…to bring us back into a right relationship with him.

Call to Worship for Luke 7:11-17

I was struck by the reaction of the crowd following Jesus after he raised from death the only son of the widow woman from Nain. I wrote this call to worship for Sunday.

L: We give God glory for God’s unmerited favor.
P: God has looked favorably on his people!
L: We give God glory for God’s unending compassion.
P: God has looked favorably on his people!
All: Let our worship spread the word of God’s love, grace and compassion!

I don't write my own liturgy stuff often enough. I'd like to explore this creative edge a litte further in the future.

To Sophia--Angel of mercy

Sophia, at A T & T technical support, you were a Godsend yesterday . . . I hope you could tell. The internet problem at my church had been a thorn in the side of my sabbatical. Previous calls to tech support had not helped resolve the problem . . . until you. You were able to diagnose the problem and help me through the solution. It only took one try! You showed great patience and good humor (I've never had a tech support person laugh before). Sophia, judging from your accent, you live far, far away. You blessed me and aided the growth of God's kingdom. You were an instrument of God's mercy. Grace and peace to you. Namaste.