Clergy Comment column

Here is my article published in the August 2, 2018 Camrose Canadian Clergy Comment column. PLEASE NOTE: This is my last Clergy Comment column, since sadly, the Camrose Canadian will publish its last issue next Thursday, August 9, 2018. L

   Justice. It’s been said that justice is not for just us, which reminds me of the song “Justice” by Canadian singer-songwriter, Bruce Cockburn: “Everybody loves to see justice done on somebody else.” If justice is only for just us, then the question arises does everybody else live with injustice? Bruce Cockburn’s lyrics may have the nuance of dreading justice because it might involve something we don’t want.

   What is justice? Can we live without it? If we observe and analyze the news from around the world, it appears that there are far too many nations that justice is denied to way too many people.

   According to biblical scholars, the Hebrew word tsedeq is mentioned some 119 times; and the feminine form tsedaqah is mentioned some 159 times in the Old Testament. The two words have a variety of meanings: moral uprightness, righteousness, holiness, honesty, integrity, legal rights, good government, fairness, equality-including economic equality, innocence, prosperity and salvation. In the New Testament, the Greek word dikaiosune is mentioned some 92 times. It has a similar meaning as the Old Testament words.

   There are, of course, at least two kinds of justice. God’s justice, which reflects God’s nature, and is usually impartial, all-inclusive, and very concerned about the poor and vulnerable, widows, orphans, and foreigners. Human justice, at its best, endeavours to strive for a justice that reflects God’s justice, however it shall always be influenced by our sinful condition and hence be imperfect, proximate, and provisional—determined by socio-economic-political and ideological agendas. 

   As a people of faith, in response to God’s grace, and the just ways that God and other humans have treated us, we are given our mission: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) “Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’” (Matthew 25:34-36)

   Justice is not for just us, it is for everyone. It involves the practical living out of our lives with compassion towards all; seeing every human being as a brother and a sister created in the image of God.

Clergy Comment column

Here is my article published in the February 8, 2018 Camrose Canadian Clergy Comment column.

   The ‘D’ word. A word most unpopular in our society. The ‘D’ word I’m referring to is, of course, death.

   Over the wide sweep of human history, death and dying have been treated in a host of ways.

Death has been, and for many still is something to be avoided and feared. For example, we soften our language by employing euphemisms like: ‘he or she passed away, fell asleep and never woke up, has left us, shed this veil of tears, is at rest’—and the list goes on. 

   Another way humans deal with death and dying is by speaking of death as the enemy. One wages war against death, one battles the enemy. Ingmar Bergman’s film The Seventh Seal illustrates this well, picturing a medieval knight in a classic struggle against death. According to both the Jewish and Christian faiths, death occurs because it is the result of sin—hence it is not only our enemy, but also God’s enemy because it causes suffering for God and for all creation.

   Another way human beings have regarded death is by referring to it as a friend. In this view of death, nothing is to be feared. Rather, death is to be accepted as a natural end to this life. For people of faith, it is something to look forward to with hope, since it is viewed as a release from the sin and sufferings of this world.

   Another metaphor that some employ to describe death is that of a door. For many people of faith, they speak of death as a door that opens for them and then closes behind them at God’s appointed time. Death as a door leads to a better life and is not to be feared.

   Then there is, as Psalm twenty-three describes it, “the valley of the shadow of death,” or “the darkest valley.” It is a great unknown, and too dark to see clearly. Yet, the psalmist remains confident, and not afraid of evil, since the LORD walks with us through this darkest valley, hence it is not a permanent state or place of residence.

   The season of Lent is an appropriate time to focus on the ‘D’ word. Lent assists us all as we focus on the suffering, dying and death of Jesus; we are better able to focus on and prepare for our own suffering, dying and death.

   It is very instructive that the Hebrew word for sacrifice means to draw close. Jesus by willingly, lovingly, unconditionally choosing to die on the cross as a sacrifice for the sin of the world has drawn everyone closer to God.

Clergy Comment column

Here is my article published in the December 14, 2017 Camrose Canadian Clergy Comment column.

Advent and the “R” word

We are now in the season of Advent, the season traditionally observed as a time of preparation for celebrating the coming of Jesus the Messiah.

   One way of preparing is by focusing on the “R” word—repentance. Last Sunday, Christians who follow the Revised Common Lectionary, heard the Gospel of Mark, chapter one, verses one to eight—John the baptizer’s preaching of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John comes across as a rather eccentric wilderness prophet, dressing like I did back in my hippie days of the 1960s and early 70s, and following a rather strange diet of locusts and wild honey. However, he takes his call seriously as a second Elijah, preparing folks for the Messiah’s coming, like a broken record, wearing out the “R” word.

   What is repentance anyway, and why is it so necessary? The Bible describes repentance in several ways, including: to regret one’s mistakes and harmful thoughts, words and actions, to change one’s mind and behaviour, to turn around, to return. Repentance is necessary since whether we want to admit it or not, we are all sinners—we think and say and do things that are harmful to others, ourselves, God’s creation, and all of this can and often does cause us to drift further away from God.

   The following story is one example of what it means to repent. Some years ago, CBC’s “Fifth Estate” program aired a documentary on “the Squamish Five.” You may remember that they were a group who bombed the Litton plant, which was involved in the production of nuclear weapons. They also bombed other political targets.

   Eventually the police caught them and they were then convicted and sent to prison.

   In the interview with Juliet Caroline Belmas, she admitted that the group’s actions were wrong. She also discouraged others from following their example. Juliet Caroline Belmas’s change of heart was a public expression of repentance—realizing her sins and genuinely wishing to clean up her act. Those who sincerely repent are like Juliet; showing remorse for the sins committed, and sorry enough to quit the destructive behaviours; and helping to prevent others from making the same mistakes.

   This Advent, as we prepare to celebrate Jesus our Messiah’s coming at Christmas do you and I need to reorient, return, change our thinking and behaviours?

   May the grace of God help us so to do as we share the love and joy that Jesus gives us with the world this Christmas! 

Clergy Comment column

Here is my article published in the February 16, 2017 Camrose Canadian Clergy Comment column.

We human beings mark the passing of time and seasons with calendars. In the life of Christians, some churches follow a liturgical calendar year. In Western Christendom, we are now well into the season of Epiphany. Epiphany often spans anywhere from six to nine weeks, depending on the date of Easter, which is a moveable festival.

   The word Epiphany comes from the Greek and means, “to show, to reveal, to make manifest.” Four of the classic, Epiphany New Testament texts that highlight the showing, revealing, and making Jesus manifest are: the magi visitation (Matthew 2:1-12); Jesus’ Baptism (Mark 1:9-11); the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11); and the Transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9:28-36).

   The magi, who were Gentiles, underscore God calling and extending his grace to all nations. Jesus’ Baptism and Transfiguration emphasize his divinity, and the description of the Transfigured Jesus is similar to the Resurrected Jesus. The turning of water into wine at Cana symbolizes the Church’s two sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. The sign at Cana reminds us that Jesus comes to bring us joy and the abundant life.

   Another Epiphany theme is light. Jesus, speaking of himself said: “I am the light of the world.” In John’s Gospel, Jesus is: “The true light, which enlightens everyone.”

   Light shows, reveals, makes manifest what the darkness distorts or hides. This is true in many areas of life.

   For example, it is interesting that the symbol of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization, Amnesty International, is a lit candle, which is surrounded by barbed wire. The barbed wire is symbolic of injustice and evil forces. In a lot of cases, the injustice and evil is related to tyrannical nations, which arrest, imprison and torture innocent citizens—usually based on false, trumped-up charges and lies. The candle’s flame is symbolic of hope and truth as forces within each person who speaks out; serving as an advocate, by writing letters and contacting the powers-that-be—by defending human rights around the world.

   In this way, we as Christians can be a light in the darkness of the world. Our letters of encouragement to prisoners and letters of appeal to leaders can and do make a difference. Many innocent people have been freed from prison and were given a new hope-filled beginning in life because of the letters and appeals of others letting their lights shine.

   So, the season of Epiphany is a reminder that, in the words of the Gospel of John: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5)  

Clergy Comment column

Here is my article published in the December 22, 2016 Camrose Canadian Clergy Comment column.

The greatest Christmas gift

In our part of the world, giving gifts at Christmastime is a big deal. Businesses love it, since it gives a boost to the economy—especially when some folks get so caught up in consumerism that it may take them many months after Christmas to pay off their gifts.

   Although some may lament the secularism and materialism of the season; one thing that always causes me to ponder is the piped-in music of Christmas carols in the stores. I wonder if the gospel message of Christmas through these piped-in Christmas carols actually does reach the hearts, minds and lives of some frantic shoppers.

   That too causes me to ponder God’s greatest gift to humankind, Jesus. The word becoming flesh, pitching his tent and dwelling among us. The same Jesus who went into unexpected places in the world; befriending men, women and children whom other religious folk would not even think of going near. Jesus who loved and accepted the outcasts of his day; the poor, the blind, the lame, the lepers, a woman almost ready to be stoned to death because of the sin of adultery, and yes, even tax collectors who were regarded as betrayers of their fellow citizens and colluders with the occupying Roman authorities.

   Maybe we should be grateful for the piped-in music of Christmas carols in stores; as shoppers frantically buy their gifts they hear the gospel message of Jesus’s birth, God’s greatest gift.

   When I think back to Christmases past, I recall as a young boy I would go into a small corner store with my parents to purchase a few items. Each Christmas the storeowner, who loved children, would often delight in giving me some candy along with a Mandarin orange. Nothing seemed to make him happier than the opportunity to give this small gift to the children who came into his store. The joyful generosity of that storeowner made an impression on me and many other children.

   This Christmas, instead of giving or in addition to giving your loved ones gifts, I encourage you to give a gift to the poor and all-too-often forgotten ones in the world. There are many charities doing excellent work with the world’s poor and forgotten in our city, province, country and globally. One organization I would highly recommend is Canadian Lutheran World Relief, to learn more visit their website at the following address: http://clwr.donorshops.com/products/giftsfromtheheart.php.  In response to Jesus our greatest gift may you be inspired to give with joy and peace, hope and love not only at Christmastime, but every day of the year.