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 August 31, 2017 Camrose Canadian Clergy Comment column.

   In both Testaments of the Bible, hospitality is viewed as an important practice among people of faith.

   For example, in Genesis chapter eighteen God appears to Abraham and Sarah in human form, along with two other strangers. The elderly couple offers hospitality to the LORD and his two companions by giving them a resting place, as well as food and drink. The LORD then promises Abraham and Sarah that they shall have a son.

   In Matthew chapter ten, Jesus teaches that whenever hospitality is offered to strangers, as well as to Jesus’ followers, prophets, and righteous persons—it is the same thing as offering hospitality to Jesus himself.

   Hospitality, especially to strangers, is highly valued among both Jews and Christians. In Hebrews chapter thirteen, the writer exhorts the faithful with these words: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

   The majority of Canadians either have family members who were at one time immigrants, or who themselves are immigrants. In the past, these immigrants relied on the hospitality of others to help them feel at home in their new land. The same is true for immigrants today.

   Earlier this year, my wife and I travelled to Norway. We were both impressed by the hospitality of Norwegians whom we met. In one case, we were in a conversation with a store clerk. We told him that we were renting a car and making a day trip to where my grandfather was raised. He was most helpful, he found Google maps and instructions and printed them off for us free of charge, and wished us well. In another case, we were visiting a museum, and a staff person told us that our tickets gave us access to all of the museums in the city. We had a great day exploring the other museums.

   As a chaplain with the Bethany Group, offering hospitality to new residents is of vital importance in contributing to their well-being and enhancing their ability to settle into their new environment.

   Rather than viewing strangers among us with suspicion or as a threat, may we come to see them as fellow human beings who, like us, are created in the image of God, and therefore respond by offering them hospitality.  They, like us, have the same needs. In offering them hospitality, we may very well be surprised at the blessings we receive, like Abraham and Sarah, our ancestors of faith.   

Clergy Comment column

Here is my article published in the May 4, 2017 Camrose Canadian Clergy Comment column.

   Last Sunday was the third Sunday of Easter. The gospel reading was Luke 24:13-35, the story of two followers of Jesus, Cleopas and an unnamed one. They are journeying from Jerusalem to a village named Emmaus, walking and talking about the passion and death of Jesus, looking sad and trying to process their grief.

   Suddenly the risen Jesus appears and engages them in a conversation. Yet, ironically, they don’t realize it’s Jesus. In their conversation with Jesus there are words of sorrow, disappointment, and uncertainty. Jesus then provides them with a brilliant interpretation of the scriptures, fulfilled prophecies concerning himself and the recent events. They arrive at Emmaus and invite Jesus in to eat with them. As they share a meal together, Luke tells us that “their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.” Afterwards they reflect on their encounter with Jesus, recalling how their hearts were burning within them as Jesus opened up the scriptures to them.

   Each one of us is also on an Emmaus road journey. We, like those two followers of Jesus, travel through all of the different stages of the journey. As life events unfold, we move from adventure, joy and contentment through to sorrow, grief, doubt, despair and disappointment. Our eyes are kept from recognizing Jesus—even though he walks with us on our Emmaus road.

   We, like the two followers of Jesus, miss him as we journey through the daily events of our lives. Yet he is there with us, speaking through the people we encounter and the activities of each day. Sometimes our fears, doubts and disappointments prevent us from understanding the scriptures. Even then, Christ is with us and leads us through every stage of our Emmaus road journey.

   No matter how hopeless, hurt and uncertain we may feel, Jesus refuses to give up on us. His love is always there for us. We, like those two followers of Jesus on the road to Emmaus have much to learn as we journey on. We, like they, need his word and his meal, the Lord’s Supper, to open our hearts, minds and lives so that we see him with us in our life and faith journeys.

   As the events of the world and the church continue to unfold, our calling as followers of Jesus is clear. We, like Christians throughout the centuries are called to proclaim and live the words: “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!” For we are a resurrection people, even in the most hopeless situations individually, as well as in the church and the world can become hopeful—thanks to the risen Christ!