Dr. George Sweeting tells a story about an event that took place in Russia in the 1920’s. Communist leader Nikolai Bukharin was sent from Moscow to address an anti-God rally in Kyiv. For an hour he took apart the Christian faith – ridiculed it. He spoke until it seemed as though the whole structure of belief was in ruins. When questions were invited, an Orthodox priest rose as if to make a query, but then turned, faced the people, and gave the Easter greeting, “He is risen.” Instantly the assembly rose to its feet and the reply came back perfectly loud and clear, “He is risen indeed!”

This story resonates with me because it reminds me that even when we can’t believe – or won’t believe – even in the face of the abyss – faith lives on. It lives on because God lives on. Century upon century, generation to generation – God’s love never fails.

I pray today that when you find yourself in those dark places – when faith seems to be far from you – may you remember that even there other people hold the faith for you – and even then God is faithful.

Let us pray: Eternal God, we remember today the words of the psalms… that your steadfast love endures forever! And, we claim the promise from the book of Romans that nothing can separate us from your love – not persecution, not atheism, not secularism, not corruption or disbelief. Nothing. Thank you, Lord. Thank you for the way your love has brought comfort and strength to so many people over the course of the centuries.

Today, we hold the faith for those who cannot hold it for themselves. We pray especially for those who are unable to believe for whatever reason. Draw near to them, and grant them your peace. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today is Independence Day. Many of you will celebrate with pool parties, cookouts, and fireworks. I hope you will pause to give thanks to God that we live in a country where we are free to worship God, free to choose where we live, free to choose the type of work we will do, etc, etc. What a gift!

Freedom is one of the central themes of the gospel. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Galatia, “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

In Christ we are free from the bondage of guilt, free from our past mistakes, free from our failures, free from legalism, free from having to earn God’s love.

Again, this freedom from is a tremendous blessing. However, Paul tells us, most importantly, we have the freedom to…. We are free to love and to serve other people. A natural expression of our freedom should be love.

Let us pray: You have blessed us so richly, Lord. We live in a time and place of great abundance, and great freedom. Yet we still see the need. Remind us that we are blessed to be a blessing. Show us everyday ways in which we can use our freedom and our resources to bless others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In the Gospel of Mark chapter 6 (30-34), we read: “As Jesus went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them… and he began to teach them many things.” And then, not that long after, Mark tells us that when Jesus and the disciples crossed over the sea of Galilee: “When they got out of the boat there, people at once recognized him and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick… to wherever they heard he was” (6:53-56).

As we look at these two stories together, we get this picture of tremendous need – maybe even desperation. People were obviously drawn to Jesus. And I have to wonder: Did they know he was the Savior? Or were they simply moved by his teaching? Had they heard of others being healed by his hands? Could they sense his compassion? Did they know God was at work within him?

What did they see in him?

What do you see in him? Why are you drawn to him?

Over the years, I’ve seen people drawn to him for many different reasons. And drawn closer to him at different times in their lives.

I know I’ve shared with you all before about my friend who battled addiction in high school – and finally hit rock bottom while on the street – with nowhere to go. And in a state of desperation, he fell to his knees and began to pray…

I can’t do this on my own…

And then, I also remember early one December morning, I was down on the beach in Saint Augustine. It was one of those foggy cool mornings, just before low tide. And I noticed something written in the wet sand, right above the tide line. It was a prayer that read, “Jesus, please, please fix our marriage.”

I’ve known what it is like to have that level of need… And you probably have too… whether it was worrying about a child, or you struggled with an illness or physical impairment, or whether you felt the weight of some other burden on your shoulders, or whether you were desperate for forgiveness…

One of my favorite images of Jesus is Jesus the Redeemer – with open arms. As if he is saying: “Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy ladened…”

Mark tells us that when Jesus saw the crowds he had compassion on them. He has compassion for you as well.

Let us pray: Loving God, thank you for your love and compassion for us. We ask for your healing grace to fall afresh on our lives, even now. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today reflect for a moment on the turning points, or stepping stones, in your Christian life that has brought you from birth to this moment. These may be fairly few in number, five to eight, probably not more than twelve. Examples maybe – I was born, I faced an illness, a friend nurtured me, etc. List your turning points with a sentence or phrase saying what each turning point represents to you.

The exciting thing is, you do not have to wait for a turning point! We should not sit around hoping for a change, a break, a winning lottery ticket, for something to happen. We really have it in our power to turn that corner, to make the change, to start things going in a different direction. We should never think we are too old to make a change that it is too late to begin again. We do not have to go along with unhappy conditions nor accept ill-health as our lot. The turning point comes first of all, “in us” not in some outer circumstances. Base this Christ confidence on Philippians 4:13, “l can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Winston Churchill went back to his old public school when he was old and famous, to give the graduation address. All the names were called. Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” was no doubt murdered by the high school band. Sir Winston rose to give his speech about what he had learned in eighty years of public service. He cleared his throat and gave the shortest commencement address on record. He said, “Never give up! Never give up! I say, Never give up!”

Let us pray: God of love, we thank you for turning points that enable us to move ahead and become more like Jesus. Fill us with hope and joy that we may never give up. Bless us so we may be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This week, we’ve been reflecting on the Lord’s Prayer as a beautiful resource. As I mentioned on Tuesday, years ago, a spiritual director invited me to look at the Lord’s Prayer from a slightly different angle, and to use it as a pattern or a model for my own prayers, praying it one phrase at a time, amplifying it as I go along. 

So today, I’m going to try to bring all of this together by using this guide for our closing prayer.

Let us pray:  Our Father, who is in heaven – and who is also on war-torn battlefields, in refugee camps, in the midst of joyful celebrations, in homes that are broken and homes that are full, and who art even right with us, even now. 

Hallowed, holy, sacred, beautiful be thy name and thy ways.  

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in my life, in our lives, in our community, and in the world around us – even as it is in heaven. 

We pray for people who need you most now – especially we lift up those who lost loved ones, and those who are struggling. And we lift up too, O God, other people, and situations that are on our hearts… They need you. We need you.

Give us this day our daily bread. Give us eyes to notice your providence for our basic needs. Help us not to take too much, to share when we can, and to receive everything with deep gratitude. 

Forgive us now our debts, our sins, they are many. Grant us time and courage to amend our ways, and to make amends as needed. And then, Lord, as you have forgiven us, help us to forgive those who have sinned against us. There are many too. We turn them over to you now. As we let go, may we feel free.

Lead us not into temptation. But, grant us the ability to recognize it and the strength not yield to it. 

Deliver us from evil. Watch over us,  guide us, and protect us. 

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. With you all things are possible. Amen.