Back in the days when people traveled by horse and buggy, there was a bishop who had two horses named Pride and Prejudice. People often told him that they thought it was awful that a bishop should be drawn hither and thither by pride and prejudice. But he would reassure them that actually, it was a wonderful thing that a Bishop would have Pride and Prejudice under control.

That would be a wonderful thing for any of us! Think about how pride can damage a relationship: when it always has to be my way or no way; when I won’t give an inch, or even listen to another point of view. Or even on the other side of this, when I am too proud to ask for help. And then think about how prejudice can harm our very souls.

Jesus once said in Matthew 16, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

Jesus was getting at this very thing. If we cling too tightly to ego, to self, and our own wants at the expense of others, life becomes small and skewed. On the other hand, when we get beyond ourselves, when we’re able to let go of our pride, our prejudice, and ego, there is a deep and abundant life awaiting.

Let us pray: God of hope, we all struggle with pride and prejudice at one level or another. We need your help. And so we ask you to show us today any areas in our lives that we need to surrender to you. Help us let go of anything that hurts our relationships with others or with you. We ask in Jesus’s name. Amen.

When I was right out of seminary in my first call, a wise elder from my church came by my study to help me unpack. As we got underway, he asked about my prayer life. I was a brand new pastor, and I didn’t even know everyone’s names yet. I would be leading our community in mission and outreach, and there were many new responsibilities to learn. On top of that, I had a daughter who was under a year old. Life was crazy.

I was honest, and I told our elder that I just tried to fit prayer at the edges – whenever I could. He challenged me and said, “Joe, there are many people in this congregation and in this community who are desperately seeking a sense of God’s peace, healing, and hope. God wants to use you. But, Joe, you can’t give what you don’t have.” This elder went on to say, “I know you are busy, Joe, with a young family and a career. But I’m not talking about adding one more thing to your life. I’m talking about a center or ground for all of it.”

At first, I was kind of mad. I thought who are you to come in here and tell me how to organize my life? But ultimately I realized I was mostly angry because he was right.

Do we want to hear God’s voice in our lives? Do we want to have God’s peace and guidance at the heart of who we are? Do you want a sense of integrity between your faith and our work; our faith and our life? Then we need to make time to be still and to listen.

In Psalm 46 we read, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Let us pray: God of Hope, in this busy holiday season, so often we find ourselves racing through life and our souls are just starved. We find that we can go and go and go – but yet we miss so much of life that way. Help us to carve out time to stop and pray and sit in your presence. Through this time, draw us closer to you. Even now, may we live out of a deep experience of your grace and love. Amen.

There is a great story in the book of 2Kings (6:20-23) where the enemy Arameans have been captured and brought into the city of Samaria. The King of Israel asks the prophet Elisha whether he should kill them. Elisha says no. Instead, he says, “Set food and water before them so they may eat and drink; and let them go to their master.” So, the king prepared for them a great feast. After they ate and drank, he sent them on their way… And then, the Bible says, “the Arameans no longer came raiding into the land of Israel.”

In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Toward the end of the Civil War, President Lincoln reportedly began speaking kindly of the rebel soldiers – as fellow human beings. One of his associates upbraided him and told him flat out, “Mr. President, you should not speak kindly of your enemies. You should destroy them.” Mr. Lincoln’s response was this: “Do I not destroy my enemies by making them my friends?”

Let us pray: Merciful God, We remember that Jesus taught us to love our enemies. And, we admit that sometimes that feels near impossible. We begin today simply by praying for those who have hurt us deeply. We lift them up to you – to your care – to your love. We also recognize that there may be some people who will continue to hurt us, and in those cases, give us the courage to get away, and stay away from them.

Today, Lord God, set us free from any anger, or bitterness, or hatred we may be carrying. And as we let go, wash us with your grace and fill us with your peace. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

Today’s message was written by Rev. Dr. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

Scientific research is now confirming what many of us have suspected all along – that love plays a big part in the healing of a hurting body. The poet Elizabeth Barrett was an invalid for many years, unable to lift her head from her pillow. But one day she was visited by a man named Robert Browning. It was love at first sight, and in just one visit, he brought her so much joy and happiness that she lifted her head. On the second visit, she sat up. On the third visit, they eloped! Love has the power to heal both physically and emotionally. No wonder people were healed by coming into physical contact with Jesus. He was love incarnate, and that’s what he is calling us to be today – love made flesh, love personified, love lived out. Think of it – love heals!

Let us pray: God of love and hope, when we are weak, you are like a rock to us. When we are befitted or endangered by life’s events, you are our fortress. Open our eyes to the beauty of the world you have created; open our ears to your still small voice that seeks to influence us; open our hearts to your amazing grace and forgiving love. Now melt us, mold us, fill us, use us, so that our lives will more closely reflect the life of Jesus, the Christ, whose we are and whom we seek to serve. In his name. Amen.

There’s an old story that even made its way into a song. It is a story about a man who was headed home in the crowded coach of a train. The man noticed that the young man sitting next looked tired and a little anxious, and trying to be friendly, he struck up a conversation with the boy. In slow hesitant words, the story came out.

Seems the boy had wanted to join the army against his father’s wishes. Although underage, he ran away from home and tried to enlist in a city miles away. However, when he was turned down because of his age, the boy became heartsick. Too proud to return home in defeat, he wandered about in despair. His few dollars were soon gone. Hunger overcame his pride, and he wrote home for money. He received no answer. He sent another letter, but still no answer.

In desperation, the boy wrote to his father one last time. In his letter, he stated that on a given day he was going to be on a certain train which ran nearby the home place. He asked that if they would receive him at home, to please put a white rag on the crab apple tree in the back yard near the train track. If he saw the rag, he would know to get off at the station and come home. If no rag were there, he’d just stay on the train.

The boy grew restless as the train rumbled on toward his hometown. A lump caught in his throat, and his eyes filled with tears. “I can’t look,” he said. “I’m afraid.” The man put his arm about the boy’s shoulders. “It’s alright,” he said, “I’ll look and let you know.” The train whistled for the approaching station and slowed down. Suddenly the man slapped the boy on the knee and said, “There’s not one white rag on that tree… But look, son, look! There is a white rag on every limb!”

You may recognize the story. It is a story that Jesus told. We often refer to it as the story of Prodigal Son. But really it is more of a story about undeserved grace and the Father who welcomes us home.

Let us pray: Merciful God, we thank you that there is nothing in life or in death that can separate us from your love. We give you our hearts again this day. Amen.