light and darkness

Good morning brothers and sisters,
We're closing in on the homestretch of our Ash Wednesday prayer vigil. It's been a blessing to share prayer with many of you in the sanctuary. I found our Ash Wednesday services a great way to begin the reflective season of Lent. Today's reading comes to us from John's first letter. The letters of John take a little getting used to as the writing style is quite different from the Gospels and from Paul's letters. Once we get used to the writing, they are a real treasure of comfort and challenge to make God's love real in our lives.

In this opening section, John reminds his readers that he knows what he's talking about because he saw Jesus with his own eyes. He also emphasizes that following Jesus isn't just a matter of what we say, it's about what we do as well. I hope John's words are a blessing to you as you continue your lenten journey.

God bless,
Sam

1 John 1:1-7

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— ²this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— ³we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

⁵This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; ⁷but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

kings shall come

Good morning friends (it's morning in California anyway),
First I want to remind you of an important worship opportunity in our presbytery. On Thursday, January 6 at 6 pm First Presbyterian Church of Caledonia (3080 main Street Caledonia 14423) is hosting a prayer vigil for the people of Sudan. The struggles of the people of Darfur have been in the news in the last couple of years, but the southern section of the nation has faced amazing hardship and oppression as well. As part of a ceasefire agreement ending (or maybe only pausing) the civil war between northern and southern Sudan, the nation is holding a referendum vote on independence for the southern part of the country. There is a great deal at stake here, and apart from the political complexities involved we are called to hold our Sudanese brothers and sisters in prayer.

Like the prayer vigil, our reading for today comes from the lectionary readings for Epiphany (Thursday). Epiphany is when we celebrate the arrival of the three wise men to worship Jesus. Our reading for today looks to Isaiah's prophecy of renewal for Israel. That renewal of faithfulness doesn't just mean freedom for Israel but also light from God for the whole world. That new light of God's love for the world has always been part of God's plan, and it comes to fruition in Christ. The wise men from the east symbolize this because they come from a far away land and recognize that God is doing a new thing in the birth of Christ. May the nations continue to see and recognize the light of God's peace, and may that peace grow strong in each of us.

God bless,
Sam

Isaiah 60:1-6

1Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. 3Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

4Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms. 5Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 6A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.

this little light of mine

Good morning all,
This parable may say more than it seems to if we sit with it for a while. On the surface it reminds us that the light we're given, the message Jesus teaches isn't to be kept to ourselves. Light is meant to give light to the whole room, not just to the lamp. Sometimes we Presbyterians are afraid to let others see the light Christ has given us. This parable also points to the end of time when everything that's hidden now will be revealed by Christ's light. Our little light is part of the light that will one day fill the world.

Jesus has some challenging things to say about family, and this passage is no exception. The word of God makes a new family of those who hear and do it, but that also means it challenges the bonds of the natural family when some believe and others do not. The family is expanded infinitely; old ties aren't cut, but they also don't have a monopoly on the bonds of family. We have thousands, millions of brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, not just the few relatives we are born with. That family isn't just limited to the church either; there are plenty of people who belong to a different faith, or to no faith who still hear the word of God and do it. I know I have lots of room to grow when it comes to really treating that world-wide community as my family. I pray God would keep opening us up to our brothers and sisters around the world and right next door.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 8:16-25
16“No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. 18Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.” 19Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 21But he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

22One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they put out, 23and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. 24They went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. 25He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”