March 31, 2022

“From now on, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Corinthians 5:16-17)

Ernest Hemingway, the brilliant and depressed writer who finally ended his own life, said, "that terrible mood of depression of whether it’s any good or not is what is known as the Artist’s Reward." Hemingway was referring to whatever his latest creative work was, but he could have been describing everyone’s reality. The pressure to produce in life, and then to be judged as "any good or not," is enough to depress anyone.

Well, those rules just simply do not apply to you! For you are a new creation in Christ. The old human point of view has hit the road – gone forever!

“Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Fourth Sunday in Advent – BCP)

March 30, 2022

Given the current woes of the world, here is a timely word from Frederick Buechner from his 1977 “Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale.”

 “There is no less danger and darkness in the Gospel as there is in the Brothers Grimm, but beyond and above there is the joy of it, this tale of light breaking into the world that not even darkness can overcome. That is the Gospel, this meeting of darkness and light and the final victory of light…. The crucial difference from all other fairy tales…is the claim made for it that it is true, that it not only happened once upon a time but has kept on happening ever since and is happening still…. Once upon a time is this time, now….”

And this we read in John’s Prologue. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5) We walk by faith, not by sight. And prayer, too.

“Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.” (For Peace Among the Nations – BCP p. 816)

March 29, 2022

The psalmist gives us an anatomical description of confession and its cathartic release.

“When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:3-5)

Holding back, holding it in, denying the truth of our sin has physical consequences. And the consequence of confessing our sin to the God whose property is always to have mercy? “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” (Psalm 32:1)

“O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Second Sunday in Lent – BCP)

March 28, 2022

Here is snippet from Amor Towles excellent new novel, The Lincoln Highway. 

A nun at juvenile detention center says, “Boys, in your time you shall do wrong unto others and others shall do wrong unto you. And these opposing wrongs will become your chains. The wrongs you have done unto others will be bound to you in the form of guilt, and the wrongs that others have done unto you in the form of indignation. Jesus Christ our Savior is there to free you from both. To free you from guilt through (His) atonement, and to free you from indignation through (His) forgiveness.”

When Jesus read from Isaiah in the synagogue, He announced Himself as the Messiah. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” (Luke 4:18)

As Charles Wesley’s great hymn says, “My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth and followed Thee.”

“Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Fourth Sunday in Advent – BCP)

March 25, 2022

Wordle is quite the rage now – a word guessing game in which you try to guess the hidden 5 letter word in 6 tries. Correct letters are revealed with in green, and letters in the word that are right but in the wrong place are brown. There is a tiny thrill when choosing your first word. The possibilities are endless! I usually choose the first 5 letter word that pops into my head.

Prayer is like Wordle, except you always get it right on the first guess.  Here is what the Apostle Paul says about prayer. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)

God turns our wrong words into right words!

“Almighty God, to whom our needs are known before we ask: Help us to ask only what accords with your will; and those good things which we dare not, or in our blindness cannot ask, grant us for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Collect at the Prayers – BCP p. 394)

March 24, 2022

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

According to ESPN, my NCAA bracket is in 15 Millionth place. It seems unlikely that I will win. But, it feels kind of good being in 15 Millionth place. There really isn’t a whole lot of pressure and there is a whole lot of company.

Jesus says the first will be last and the last first, but it is nice being somewhere near the bottom, blending in, attracting no attention. Just to be still and know that God is God, and I am not.

“O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we will be saved, in quietness and confidence will be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (For Quiet Confidence – BCP)

March 23, 2022

I get Spring Fever. In others words, I experience it, and I understand it. Don’t you? The itch to shuck off responsibility? The urge to go somewhere warm? The desire to not do what you have to do? In the movie Parenthood, Steve Martin is asked by his wife if he “has to” go on a business trip when their son has a game. Martin responds, “I feel like my whole life is have to.”

It is true that in this world, adults have to be adults. But as far as God goes, all “ought tos” and have tos” are off! Jesus did all the haves and oughts for us. As Paul says, “For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.” (Romans 10:4)

Time to go outside.

“Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (First Sunday in Lent – BCP)

March 22, 2022

Why believe the message of Christianity? Primarily, because it is true. Here’s a conversation between Lewis and Tolkien about Myth and Truth.

“Well then, Christianity”, he said, “is exactly the same thing – with the enormous difference that the poet who invented it [the story of Christ] was God Himself, and the images He used were real men and actual history.”

“Do you mean,” asked Lewis, “that the death and resurrection of Christ is the old ‘dying god’ story all over again?” “Yes,” Tolkien answered, “except that here is a real Dying God, with a precise location in history and definite historical consequences. The old myth has become a fact. But it still retains the character of a myth.”

Here’s Jesus, famously: “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” (John 8:32)

“Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Fourth Sunday in Lent – BCP)

March 21, 2022

“O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” (2 Chronicles 2:20)

Why do we all root for the St. Peter’s Peacocks – the Cinderella team in the NCAA Tourney? Well, for one thing, who doesn’t marvel at a Peacock?  But that isn’t the answer. It is because, deep down, we know the Collect for the 3rd Sunday in Lent (see below) is gospel truth. We are powerless.

So, when the powerless peacocks stick it to the Mighty Kentucky Wildcats, then we know that there might be hope for us after all! 

Of course, our hope is a sure thing, as our hope is in the Lord.

“Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Third Sunday in Lent – BCP)

March 18, 2022

In a world that prizes autonomy, control, and the unfettered freedom to do whatever you want to do and be whomever you want to be, the bible’s message sounds odd and antiquated. And yet, here it is: your limitations, your givens, and yes, even your woes are your gifts and the means of your happiness. 

St. Paul had some sort of plaguing limitation. He begged God over and over to remove it. God’s answer? “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Cor 12:8-9)

Where you are powerless, Christ’s power rests on you.

“Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Fifth Sunday in Lent – BCP)

March 17, 2022

I know it is St. Patrick’s Day (planning on some Guinness and Irish Stew today), but I want to talk about James Brown as an example of the Incarnation. 50 years ago he left the Apollo Theater to go to Riker’s Island to put on a show for the imprisoned youth. The Godfather of Soul pulled out all the stops. 

“He had his entire troupe there, with backups and all that stuff. He was giving it 110 percent,” said one volunteer. Including Brown, the group that day featured 18 people — musicians, backup singers, dancers and even a comedian, Clay Tyson. “The inmates were totally into it. They just grooved on it and had a wonderful time.”

The bible describes us as people imprisoned by Sin and Death. In Christ, God stormed into enemy territory to rescue us. As St. Paul tells us, “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)

The prison doors remained closed after James Brown left Rickers. Jesus busted open our prison doors forever.

“O God our King, by the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, you conquered sin, put death to flight, and gave us the hope of everlasting life: Redeem all our days by this victory; forgive our sins, banish our fears,make us bold to praise you and to do your will; and steel us to wait for the consummation of your kingdom on the lastgreat Day; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (On A Sunday – BCP p. 835)

March 16, 2022

St. Dolly Parton removed herself from contention after she had been nominated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She said she was not worthy of consideration. Who does that? Almost no one, ever.

Peter did, though. “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.” (Luke 5:8) That is what he tells Jesus after witnessing a powerful miracle. Jesus doesn’t depart though; He draws Peter closer in.

Dolly and Peter have got it right. But God has it righter. Through the merits of Jesus Christ, we are all in His Hall of Fame.

This version of the Prayer of Humble Access is the best.

“We do not presume to come to this your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your abundant and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table; but you are the same Lord whose character is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us.  Amen.”

March 15, 2022

On this Ides of March, many hearts are in prayer for the people of Ukraine. As Anglican priest and NYT writer Tish Harrison Warren says, “I believe that prayer is indeed powerful, often in ways we can’t account for. War, whatever else it is, is spiritually dark, even demonic.” Believers around the world are united in prayer with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters.

The Bible Society released a poignant video of Ukrainian children, in basements and shelters, praying Psalm 31. This will be our prayer for today.

“In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.”

Amen.

March 14, 2022

“He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:11-12)

I wonder if God’s conversation with Abraham recounted in this passage is the derivation of wishing upon a star? The Disney version is “When you wish upon a star / makes no difference who you are / anything your heart desires / will come to you.” One wonders how such nonsense could so deeply permeate the American psyche.

Biblically, however, it has an even more far-fetched precedent. Abram, the childless old man, will have a child at 100 years old and his descendants will outnumber the stars. And we, just by believing (a kind of wishing, isn’t it?) will be given absolution, total immunity, and a can’t believe it till you see it kind of eternal life.

“O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Second Sunday of Lent – BCP)

March 4, 2022

Dear Almost Daily Friends – I will be in Birmingham, Alabama preaching next week at the Cathedral Church of the Advent’s Lenten Lunch Series. The Almost Daily will return to your inbox on Monday March 14th.

See you then!

“O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Second Sunday of Lent – BCP)

March 3, 2022

Began my Ash Wednesday by watching the epic version of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, performed for his 2004 posthumous induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. I won’t lie – it is an emotional moment. First – the song is incredibly powerful. But more than that, it featured Tom Petty on vocals and Prince on lead guitar. His guitar was not the only one weeping.

Petty, Prince, and Harrison – all gone.  Gone the way of the grass and the flowers of the field. Goodness, were it not for the gospel and the promise of eternal life, how could one not descend into meaninglessness? Isn’t that what Paul says? “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:19)

And even yet, still we may gently weep.

“Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (First Sunday in Lent – BCP)

March 2, 2022

On Ash Wednesday, a few lines from T.S. Eliot’s Ash Wednesday.

And pray to God to have mercy upon us
And pray that I may forget
These matters that with myself I too much discuss
Too much explain

What a prayer – to escape from, or at least momentarily silence the solipsistic echo chambers of our own minds. To be delivered from self, to be set free in the world around us, to live each day, even as we are dying.

For we are all dying: that is the message of Ash Wednesday. From dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return. Those words and the imposed ashes are especially jarring when addressed to a 2 -year old. 

Jarring, but true nonetheless. As the psalmist says, “For he himself knows whereof we are made; he remembers that we are but dust. Our days are like the grass; we flourish like a flower of the field; When the wind goes over it, it is gone, and its place shall know it no more.” (Psalm 103:14-16)

And pray to God to have mercy on us. More prayer to God and less too much discuss and too much explain in one’s own head!

“Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Ash Wednesday – BCP)

March 1, 2022

“I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13)

As people celebrate Mardi Gras today, here is an oldie but goody from Frederick Buechner about God’s quirky idea of a feast.

“God is the comic shepherd who gets more of a kick out of that one lost sheep once he finds it again than out of the ninety and nine who had the good sense not to get lost in the first place. God is the eccentric host who, when the country-club crowd all turned out to have other things more important to do than come live it up with him, goes out into the skid rows and soup kitchens and charity wards and brings home a freak show. The man with no legs who sells shoelaces at the corner. The old woman in the moth-eaten fur coat who makes her daily rounds of the garbage cans. The old wino with his pint in a brown paper bag. The pusher, the whore, the village idiot who stands at the blinker light waving his hand as the cars go by. They are seated at the damask-laid table in the great hall. The candles are all lit and the champagne glasses filled. At a sign from the host, the musicians in their gallery strike up "Amazing Grace.” 

“Give us grateful hearts, our Father, for all thy mercies and make us mindful of the needs of others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Grace at Meals – BCP p. 835)

February 28, 2022

“Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” (Genesis 2:7)

As we approach Lent, I find myself agreeing with Garrison Keillor.

“In church a couple weeks ago, someone mentioned a course to help us on our spiritual journey during Lent, and the term “spiritual journey” is one of those clichés that clicks my OFF switch. I am not on a journey, I’m simply crossing the street watching the WALK sign click off the seconds, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, as I think about being run over and killed and I arrive on the other side with two seconds to spare. The story of my life. I’m a lucky man.”

All life is an outrageous gift and we’re lucky to arrive on the other side.

O Lord our God, accept our prayers in the multitude of your mercies, and look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.” (Collect at the Prayers – BCP p. 395)

February 25, 2022

Yikes! I forgot the Almost Daily yesterday. That is no great shakes, of course, but it does remind me of the tried-and-true truism: Christianity is not about good people getting better but bad people coping with their failure to be good. From the lips of Jesus: “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.” (Mark 10:18)

That is a good reminder for a Friday, isn’t it? For we do call one Friday “good.” As T.S. Eliot tells us in his poem East Coker, “The dripping blood our only drink, / The bloody flesh our only food: / In spite of which we like to think / That we are sound, substantial flesh and blood – / Again, in spite of that, we call this Friday good.”

Time for the unsound and insubstantial to pray.

“Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.” (A Collect for Fridays – BCP p. 99)