WELCOME

Hello! I am Pastor Pat Harris of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Claremont NH. I welcome you to join with me in musings about the church year season, daily texts or meditations. I will share my thoughts and invite you to share yours with me as well. I look forward to sharing internet time with you, and if you are ever in the Claremont NH area, please feel free to drop in and visit in person. Our regular worship service times are Sundays at 9:30 AM

You can also visit us on the web at http://www.poplutheranchurchnh.org
Or find us on Facebook at
Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Lent Day 40: April 23--Easter Saturday

This morning brings us to our last Lenten devotion. I thank guest blogger Susan Van Abs for her reflection on "Who do you say that I am?"

Lenten Reflection for Day 40

Date: Saturday April 23, 2011 (Easter Saturday)

Author: Susan Van Abs

Bible Passage:

Matthew 16:13–16 (NRSV)

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Reflection:

Who is Jesus to you? This passage asks this question of us as well as of the disciples. Do you believe in “the Messiah, the Son of the living God?”

In this passage, Jesus is giving his disciples a quiz. He asks them two very pointed questions. The disciples give him a variety of answers to the first question: John the Baptists, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets. If we asked some of our friends this question, we might very well get a varied answer about who Jesus is.

I often think about the life of the disciples and what life was like for them to be followers of Jesus. It was not easy. They witnessed Jesus’ life on earth by seeing him perform miracles, preach and teach using parables. They were mocked and even though they loved Jesus, Peter denied Christ, one betrayed Christ, and the rest abandoned him. Their faith waivered, just like ours does when we feel God is not with us.

Simon Peter answered the question, “You (Jesus) are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Note Peter answered “the Messiah” – not “a Messiah” or “Messiah.” Jesus is “the Messiah” who is written about in the Old Testament.

On Easter Saturday, we know the outcome and the joy of victory following on Easter Sunday. We know that Christ was raised from the dead. The disciples, however, had to rely on their faith and belief in Jesus. We prepare for Easter Sunday during the Easter Vigil service this evening as we wait for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The sanctuary will come alive with beautiful music, flowers, and lights symbolizing Jesus, the Light of the World. Tonight, there will be readings of the faithful who came before Jesus – Moses and the Burning Bush, Jonah and the whale, to name a couple of them.

Who is Jesus to you? As a disciple of Christ, how will you answer? Tomorrow we will be joyful and will proclaim your resurrection.

Prayer: Gracious Lord, we eagerly await the joy of Easter. We prepare ourselves for your glorious resurrection where we will sing with rejoicing! We thank you for the gift of your son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. We will sing with all our being –“You are the Light of the World”. Amen

Friday, April 22, 2011

Lent Day 39: April 22--Good Friday

I welcome guest bloggers Lorraine Blanchfield and Barbara McKinley this morning and thank them for their reflection on the meaning of loving our enemies.

Lenten Reflection for Day 39

Date: Friday April 22, 2011 (Good Friday)

Author: Lorraine Blanchfield and Barbara McKinley

Bible Passage:

Matthew 5:44 (NRSV)

44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Reflection:

When I first read this verse I thought the request that Christ is asking of us as humans is not only impossible but absurd. It is only natural for man to react to any wrong doing with hostility and resentment. Yet this one command from God is what separates us as Christians from the human world. Instead of flattering ourselves and giving in to our pride and selfishness, we are to return love to those that want to cause us harm and have nothing good to say about our reputation.

By our actions, they will know that we are Christians! It is only through Christ in our heart that this is possible, for us to return love for evil. Loving our enemies does not mean that we have to like their conduct or even find it acceptable, but it does mean that we are to forgive them and to pray for them the same blessings on their life that we would also desire on our own. This then puts us "right" with God and we can let go of the outcome.

It has often been said that we do not forgive others for their sake but for our own, so that we may heal and let go of any resentments towards one another. By praying for our enemies, we are putting them in Gods hands and interceding for them. We are doing for our enemies what they cannot do for themselves, bringing them to Christ for reconciliation though Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Prayer:

Lord of peace and justice, let me not so much want victory over my enemies but true and mutual reconciliation with them. Amen


Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Lent Day 38: April 21--Maundy Thursday

For this Maundy Thursday devotion, we welcome guest blogger John Harris, who is also my husband! John reflects on what it means to" love our enemies."

Lenten Reflection for Day 38

Date: Thursday April 21, 2011 (Maundy Thursday)

Author: John Harris

Bible Passage:

Luke 6:27–28 (NRSV)

27 “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Reflection:

“Love your enemies...!!!” In his humorous tale, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis relates how two devils, an uncle and his vastly inexperienced nephew, go about tempting Christians to turn their backs on God. In one amusing example, Uncle Screwtape admonishes his nephew that despite his “patient’s” Christianity being tested by being drafted into the World War II British Army, beware of trying to inflame hatred of the Germans in this particular Christian.

Screwtape writes, “The results of such fearful hatred are often most disappointing, and of all humans the English are in this respect the most deplorable milksops. They are creatures of that miserable sort who loudly proclaim that torture is too good for their enemies and then give tea and cigarettes to the first wounded German pilot who turns up at the back door.”

“Blessed are the ‘milksops,’ for they will be called children of God.” Blessing those who curse or abuse us is hard doctrine, particularly for American Christians who historically have not suffered tyrants gracefully. After all, we hold in contempt world leaders like Neville Chamberlain who refused to draw a line in the sand to monsters like Adolph Hitler. Chamberlain’s name has become a synonym for appeasement.

So what is a Christian “milksop” to do? Do we become conscientious objectors, pacifists who refuse to take part in just causes and watch innocent people succumb to evil. Bonhoeffer, himself, was executed for taking part in a failed attempt to assassinate Hitler. Do we turn the other cheek and watch 6,000,000 Europeans go up in smoke?

I do not believe that Jesus is asking us to ignore evil in the world. He wants us to stop the evil and then offer our enemies “tea and cigarettes.” He is asking us, to paraphrase President Lincoln after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, to let our enemies “up easy.” We need always to listen to our enemies and let them “up easy.”

Prayer: Jesus, it is hard to let our enemies “up easy.” It is too easy to repay evil with evil. Open our hearts to listen to our enemies and to repay them with kindness. Amen.


Lent Day 37: April 20

This morning we welcome guest blogger Rosemary Affeldt who shares her thoughts about what it means to be sent out to the lost sheep.

Lenten Reflection for Day 37

Date: Wednesday April 20, 2011 (Wednesday in Holy Week)

Author: Rosemary Affeldt


Bible Passage:

Matthew 10:16 (NRSV)

16 “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Reflection:

God our Father sent his beloved Son like a sheep out into the midst of wolves. Likewise Jesus sent out his followers with instructions to go to the lost sheep of the House of Israel and proclaim the Good News - that the Kingdom of Heaven has come. His followers were asked to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons. They were to go and take nothing: and receive no payment. They were told to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Times have changed today but the mandate remains the same - go out to the lost sheep and be wise. The riches and distractions of today's world will distract you from your mission; friends and family might dissuade you; the sheep may be less visible and found in places where most of us don't go: homeless shelters, HIV/AIDS orphanages, safe houses, street corners, jails. You may not be welcome!

Be wise as serpents in your ability to see Jesus in the sheep of the 21st century. Let your innocence, presence and love proclaim the Good News that in Christ there is always Hope and Salvation.

Prayer:

Father, help me to know through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, how I am to speak without being distracted, and what I am to say to your sheep today to bring them the "Good News of Salvation" through Jesus Christ your Son. Amen

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Lent Day 36: April 19

This morning we welcome guest blogger Mike Michaels, who reflects on what it means to restore others in a "spirit of gentleness.

Lenten Reflection for Day 36

Date: Tuesday April 19, 2011 (Tuesday in Holy Week)

Author: Mike Michaels

Bible Passage:

Galatians 6:1 (NRSV)

1My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.

Reflection:

Some of us have partners and close friends who may serve as that “second conscience” at times when we may be leaning away from the behaviors that God expects of His people.

Because of their support and examples we find it’s easier to maintain Christian behavior, surrounded by others who share our faith, rather than going it alone.

Dietrich Bonhoffer states that we do a terrible disservice to our partners, or brothers and sisters in the faith, when we just clam up and do not point out when they are doing something that Jesus has warned us as “despicable to the Lord.” While I still have a difficult time figuring out how to talk to a fellow Christian regarding sinful behavior, I understand my responsibility to do so, and so I now pray that if the time comes along, I will have the Holy Spirit speak through me, for the right words and not my own clumsy attempts.

Now if I could just reconcile this feeling that I myself am loaded down with all manner of grievous sin, and that I have no right in God’s eyes, to counsel anyone else who may be transgressing as well…I could do the job much more efficiently, I’m sure!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, please help me to know when to speak and when to change my own behavior. Give me a caring heart and loving words to use in gentleness, whenever I do have to speak, in a helpful way, about You and Your righteous principles. Also, if it isn’t too much to ask, help me remove the logs from my own eyes before even attempting to help someone remove a speck of dust from theirs. In Jesus name, Amen.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Lenten Devotion Day 35: April 18

For the Monday in Holy Week, we welcome guest blogger Susan Van Abs, who shares her thoughts with us on what it means to be in relationship with God and neighbor.

Lenten Reflection for Day 35

Date: Monday April 18, 2011 (Monday in Holy Week)

Author: Susan Van Abs

Bible Passage:

Matthew 5:23–24 (NRSV)

23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

Reflection:

I remember being told as a child “Do not end your day angry with someone. Make amends with them because you might never get a chance.” As a child, I probably was not thinking in terms of relationships and their importance, nor was I worrying about making things right with them.

This passage from Matthew 5 is all about relationships and forgiveness. It has to do with our relationship with God and with one another. It is about asking for forgiveness for ourselves of anything we have done to another person to make them feel bad or ill-willed towards us. It is the ultimate forgiveness that we were given when Christ died on the cross for our sins.

We cannot love our neighbors if we do not love God. We cannot love God, if we do not love our neighbor. When we bring an offering to God and we have a strained relationship with another person, then our offering is not being given to honor God. When we make our relationship right with the person whom we offended or who offended us, we are making our relationship right with God.

In the Old Testament there are numerous accounts of offerings and sacrifices to God. I am reminded of the story in Genesis of Abraham and Isaac. God tells Abraham to offer his son Isaac as an offering to him. Abraham obeys and prepares wood for the fire, builds an altar, ties Isaac on to the altar and gets ready to kill him. Abraham has such faith and love for God, he was willing to sacrifice his son. Because Abraham did what God told him to do, Isaac was spared. Abraham was blessed. Abraham’s relationship was right with God.

Fast track to the Gospels. God made the ultimate sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ, who bore pain and suffering upon the cross to save us from our sins. Forgiveness - freely given.

When we bring an offering to God and we take the painful steps to make peace with our neighbors, our relationship is made right with God. We are bringing our offering to honor God in joy, praise and thanksgiving for all he has given us, especially forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Gracious God, thank you for the gift of relationships. Help me to reconcile and heal any wounds I have inflicted on others and to graciously accept your gift of forgiveness. Thank you for the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ. Amen

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Lenten Devotion Days 30-34, April 12--16

This morning we welcome guest bloggers: Elaine Day, Howard Shaffer, Mike Michaels, Dan Affeldt and John Harris for their devotions for today and the following four days of Lent

Lenten Reflection for Day 30

Date: Tuesday April 12, 2011

Author: Elaine Day

Bible Passage:

Ephesians 6:18 (NRSV)

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.

Reflection:

In the verses preceding 6:18, God’s people are told to be ready to stand against the wiles of the devil by putting on the “armor of God” which is truth, righteousness, a willingness to announce the Good News of peace, faith and salvation. In order to do this we must pray continually for God’s help.

One of my favorite hymns is “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. It is such a comfort to have the privilege to take my burdens to God in prayer. I frequently find myself praying for my personal needs and the needs of loved ones and friends. Less frequently, do I find myself praying for the attributes described in Ephesians which would make me a more faithful disciple who is able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Yet Ephesians 6:18 says to do so not only for myself but for all God’s people and at all times.

It is not easy to “walk the walk” but by seeking help from God through prayer, I can strive to do better.

Prayer:

Lord, God, thank you for your precious Word. Help us to seek truth and righteousness. Help us to announce the Good News of Peace. Increase our faith and acceptance of our salvation. These things we pray for ourselves and for all God’s people. Amen

-----------------------------------

Lenten Reflection for Day 31

Date: Wednesday April 13, 2011

Author: Howard Shaffer

Bible Passage:

James 5:15–16 (NRSV)

15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

Reflection:

I've always liked the book of James, because of his directness and common sense. James saying we must have good works has caused difficulty in understanding. At first, some see it as meaning we are saved by works, not by faith. The opposite is true. We are saved by faith in God's grace alone. But James, Paul, Jesus and Martin Luther all mean the same thing. God and your fellow human beings know what you really believe; its what you do! Jesus said "They will know you are my disciples by how you love one another." Martin Luther said "You are saved by faith alone, but if faith is alone, it is not faith."

James reemphasizes Jesus command to pray in all things.

Prayer:

God help us to remember to pray about all things, at all times, in all places, having faith that you are always there for us.

---------------------------------------

Lenten Reflection for Day 32

Date: Thursday April 14, 2011

Author: Mike Michaels

Bible Passage:

1 Samuel 12:23 (NRSV)

23 Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.

Reflection:

Although this passage was written way before Jesus came to us to teach us “to forgive and forgive and forgive yet again,” it seems that our Father in heaven, the Lord God Almighty, had been doing just this same thing for his chosen people, Israel, for a long, long time. When the people of Israel turned away from God, to join in worshiping golden calves or other false idols, the true God would always warn them by means of a prophet; then when they were sufficiently convinced of the error of their ways, and begged God’s forgiveness, He would do so, again and again.

At this point in their history, the people of Israel had once again gone soft in their faith in the Almighty God (who had delivered them countless times past) and had now asked for a human King to lead them. It was Samuel’s job to address them and to warn them, as he was stepping aside for their new King to take control, that they and their new king had better stay on the straight and narrow path of God’s law.

Samuel promised to continue to pray for them, but in the same breath he admonished them that if they strayed again, The True God would certainly punish both them and their new king with destruction.

As much as God wanted His people to live up to His expectations and His righteous laws for them, and as much as He continued to discipline them severely when they strayed, it remains clear throughout the history of Israel, that God would much rather forgive them over and over, than to forsake and destroy his people forever.

Maybe it was a foreshadowing of the love that His Son, Jesus, would show to us who follow Him…forgiving us over and over again, no matter how many times we seem to screw up and then beg His forgiveness once more. He always seems to be able to do this, and go forward with us, rather than forsake us to eternal destruction. What an incredible gift we have in this.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for your unending forgiveness. We thank you for the provisions you have made for everything we have, ever have had, or ever will have. In Jesus’ name; Amen.

----------------------------------

Lenten Reflection for Day 33

Date: Friday April 15, 2011

Author: Dan Affeldt

Bible Passage:

Romans 12:4–5 (NRSV)

4 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.

Reflection:

Bonhoeffer’s insight to this passage is powerful and at the same time daunting. He considers the physical body as;

“. . the appropriate metaphor for the Christian community. Every member serves the whole body, contributing either to its health or to its ruin, for we are members of one body not only when we want to be, but in our whole existence.”

Think about how we express the state our own bodies. We do not say my back is sick, nor do we say that only one isolated part of my body has the flu. We say “I am sick”, or “I do not feel well” or “I feel awful”. Conversely if we feel good, healthy, energized, and focused this is a statement about our whole being.

So it follows that if we, the community as the one body in Christ, have a member [a part of our “body”] who has shared freely the love of Christ so have we all in some regard since we are a part of the same Body in Christ. The same is true if any have sinned, are ailing spiritually or physically, are desperate or lonely, or are holding desperate and painful secrets that in some way this is shared by all of us.

Thus each of us with so many different “functions” as cited in Paul’s letter to the Romans, has the potential to be a part of healing and restoring our shared “Body” back to health through our individual acts of sharing, kindness and compassion. All of this is made possible through the freely given love of Christ and our willingness to act as His Disciple.

Prayer:

Lord, we look to the past with complete gratitude for the profound gift of your Grace, which allows us to look to the future with hope. The gift of our community is so evident, with friends all about us with so many special gifts to share.

We know nothing does itself, hunger doesn’t stop itself, healing treatments don’t administer themselves, projects for service don’t plan themselves, our forgiveness and compassion for others don’t offer themselves on their own. Someone has to do everything that is done, make everything that is made, and think everything that is thought.

We know the next move is always up to us.

Let us be fair and kind to those in our life’s path this and every day. Inspire us so that we may labor for things beyond ourselves, so that our lives may be dedicated to you. Make us unafraid of hopes and dreams; release us from cynicism and despair. Teach us to be realistic about our limitations but never to lose trust in our potential to transcend them.

Keep clear to us the blessings of the past and the promise of the future. Grant us courage for today and tomorrow.


--------------------------------------------------
Lenten Reflection for Day 34

Date: Saturday April 16, 2011

Author: John Harris

Bible Passage:

Ephesians 4:29 (NRSV)

29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.

Reflection:

The great wartime British prime minister, Winston Churchill, was a man of strong opinions and a great letter writer. When he was angry at fellow politicians, often times it was our own President Roosevelt, he would fire off an angry missive telling the offending leader just what he thought of him. Sir Winston would then proceed to throw that letter in the trash and write a more conciliatory and “diplomatic” letter.

Locally, in the past few days, we have seen some of our state representatives lash out at opponents in some “graceless” and ill advised Facebook comments that definitely did not “give grace to those who hear.” Later, if the newspapers are to be believed, these individuals have appeared to be apologetic for their harsh words. Of course, as Christians, Paul holds us to a higher standard. His advice is never ever talk or write about a fellow believer to another believer or a third party. If a Christian has an issue with a fellow Christian, you speak to them personally and in private. The Church is no place for secrecy and gossip. Rather, the Christian Community is a place were we build each other up, affirm one another, and when our sinful natures come into conflict, we listen to each other first, and then seek solutions.

Perhaps we all should emulate Sir Winston. Next time you find yourself in conflict with a member of the Christian Community, write down your feelings in a letter or an e-mail. Then, throw the letter in the trash or hit the delete button on the computer. Grab the phone, call the person up and invite them out for coffee. Most importantly, listen to what they have to say and be conscious of any “evil talk” emanating from our own mouths.

Prayer:

Lord, we live in a world that thrives on secrecy, rumor and gossip. Through your abundant grace, you have given us the means to listen and to respond to the needs of our neighbors, both within our Christian Community and in the greater world. Help us to be agents fro building up and affirming all our neighbors. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Lent Day 29: April 11

This morning we welcome guest blogger Susan Van Abs, who shares her thoughts about service in the context of Christian faith.

Lenten Reflection for Day 29

Date: Monday April 11, 2011

Author: Susan Van Abs

Bible Passage:

Galatians 6:9–10 (NRSV)

9 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

Reflection:

Have you ever done something for someone that went unappreciated? Have you ever felt weary serving others and maybe even about serving and worshipping God?

Galatians 6:9 gives us hope! If we stay the course by relying on faith and do not give up, we will reap a harvest. That harvest is the Kingdom of God! It is easy to feel down when we get involved in the community and church work and we feel unappreciated or even alone. Yet if we remember our faith in God and the reasons we are helping others, we might go about what we do with a less weary heart. Our works alone will not get us to heaven, but having faith in God and worshipping and glorifying him, will help us to reap the harvest, our final reward with our Lord Jesus.

Does Galatians 6:10 imply that “charity begins at home?” Absolutely not! Our family of faith is our team. As a Christian, faith-based community, we are stronger with a team of faith-equipped members going out and sharing the Good News about Jesus Christ than doing it solely by ourselves. With this faith-based community, our works multiply and we are able to share the goodness and love of Christ to those with no faith. Lifting those in our faith-based community helps us to reach out together to “work for the good of all.”

Martin Luther wrote “But works, being inanimate things, cannot glorify God, although they can if faith is present, be done to the Glory of God.” [1]

So the next time you feel “weary” or “unappreciated”, lean on your faith in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Dear God, my Lord and Savior, help me to remember that any works I do for others is in vain if I do not have faith in you. Please help me to keep faith when things do not seem to be going well, so that I do not get weary and lose sight of your will. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord. AMEN

[1] p. 398 Martin Luther’s Theological Writings, Second Edition. Martin Luther, Timothy Lull, and William Russell. Fortress Press, 2005.


Saturday, April 9, 2011

Lent Day 28: April 9

This morning we welcome guest blogger Phil Cronenwett who shares his thoughts on the challenges of servant leadership.

Lenten Reflection for Day 28

Date: Saturday April 9, 2011

Author: Phil Cronenwett

Bible Passage:

Matthew 23:11 (NRSV)

11 The greatest among you will be your servant.

Reflection:

This passage, repeated twice in both Mark and Luke to give it emphasis, is one that is often difficult to reconcile with our modern lives. We have been taught to work hard, to be a success, to earn as much as possible, and to strive to be the best. This is the complete opposite of what Jesus says in this verse. He turns the late 20th, early 21st century view of what is important in our lives completely upside down. We are not to do anything and everything we can in order to be at the top of the heap; we are to be individuals who live godly lives and work in a community to help each other and, in fact to be servants to our community.

Becoming a servant, even conceiving of becoming a servant, is hard. When I was working full time, it was fun being the boss. I liked being able to tell colleagues what to do and when to do it. I enjoyed having everyone do what I told them to do. But in the long run, what really matters is not being the boss. What matters is my relationship to God, my relationship to members of my church family, and to the wider community. It is in this sense that Jesus tells us that we must be servants of all. We cannot begin to think that we are behaving in a manner appropriate to the Christian life if we cannot think of every other person as worthy of our concern, our compassion, our help, our love. This is what I believe Jesus was telling us in this passage.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me to understand the needs and wants of others so that I can be a servant within the community of faith. Amen.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Lent Day 27: April 8

Lenten Reflection for Day 27

Date: Friday April 8, 2011

Author: Pastor Pat Harris

Bible Passage:

Job 13:17 (NRSV)

17 Listen carefully to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.

Reflection:

This passage from the book of Job, is part of Job’s plea to both his so-called friends and to God, asking them to really listen to him. Job has suffered terribly, and his friends assume that he must have done something incredibly wrong for God to have punished him in this way. Job declares his innocence to both his former friends and to God. However, these so-called friends are so invested in their view of God and their belief that God only sends bad things to people who have been bad, that they simply can’t believe that Job could be innocent. Job is pleading for his words to penetrate into their ears and their hearts.

Sometimes we believe something so strongly that we simply cannot hear another person’s point of view. When the person with the opposing view speaks, sometimes we simply shut down, or we think about what we want to say while the other person is speaking. Listening is hard work which takes both self-discipline and care for the other person. Sometimes it helps to re-phrase what the other person has said and ask him or her if you have correctly understood the point they were trying to make. “I think I heard you say…” The mere act of repeating the other person’s thought and speaking it from your own lips has a way of helping the brain and heart digest what that person was saying.

In a Christian community, true listening is a sign of respect for your Christian brothers and sisters. Listening promotes harmony and is a step toward peaceful resolution of differences.

Prayer:

God grant me listening ears and an open heart. Amen