North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church

. . . he used to eat with the Gentiles. (Galatians 2:12b)

Unfortunately, other-ism is alive and well in this country today and, in fact, it is the hypocrisy of Peter’s other-ist tendencies that Paul is confronting here in his letter to the Galatian community. Before the arrival of James and his fundamentalist faction (v. 12), Peter broke bread with Gentiles, extending to them the hand of friendship, but after James’ arrival, Peter (afraid of what people might think) withdrew, condemning the practice of eating with non-Jews. And Paul will have none of it. Paul knows of God’s love for all people and Paul calls us to break bread with the other . . . following the very model of Christ. Therefore, let us not have people say of us, “[they] used to eat with [others].” Instead, let us be people who simply eat with anyone and everyone because we are all welcome at the table.   – rc

But again, this also was vanity. (Ecclesiastes 2:1b)

I think Ecclesiastes is the single most important biblical text for our time. The book is largely about Qoheleth’s (the main character and presumed author) quest to find meaning and purpose in world, to find the good life for himself and his community. He tries pleasure; he tries wine; he tries establishing a kingdom; he tries amassing wealth; he tries building a reputation for himself – all to no avail. None of it works; all of these are vanity: fleeting, empty, absurd. They are like grasping at mist – this is the root meaning of the term we traditionally translate “vanity.” “Vanity of vanities,” says Qoheleth, “vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Eccl. 1:2; see also 12:8) – it’s how he begins his book; it’s how he ends his book; and for those of us living in a world in which we are trying to find meaning and purpose, where we are trying to find the good life for ourselves and our communities, Qoheleth’s view of the world may resonate with our own experience of the humdrum of everyday life, leaving us frustrated and confused . . .

. . . Which is where I leave us today. But the good news is that Qoheleth has an answer to the question; he understands where to find meaning and purpose; he knows where to find the good life. So tune in tomorrow to find out just where Qoheleth directs us . . . and until then, peace to you all in this mixed up world. – rc

The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as one is wakened from sleep. He said to me, “What do you see?” (Zechariah 4:1–2a)

Sometimes, we need to be awakened from the slumber of our everyday lives. Sometimes, we need to be roused from the numbing humdrum of ordinary time. Sometimes, we need someone to wake us up so that we might open our eyes and start seeing the world as God sees the world. “What do you see?” (v. 2a) the messenger asks Zechariah – it’s a question that God repeatedly asks a number of his prophets and it is an important question – for it is what Zechariah sees that guides his ministry. And for you and me, what do we see? In light of the recent (and senseless) deaths of two more black men (Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Ga and George Floyd in Minneapolis, Mn), I hope we would start seeing one another as human and living with one another as family. – rc

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

the world and those who live in it.

Let the floods clap their hands;

let the hills sing together for joy

at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming

to judge the earth. (Psalm 98:7–9)

Today the psalmist calls the congregation of creation – anything and everything – to roar and clap and sing together for joy for God is coming to judge the earth (v. 9). According to the psalmist, judgment is a good thing; it is God’s judgment that establishes righteousness and equity and peace upon the earth. This is the true essence of God’s justice: that everything is set right. True justice is perfect harmony, perfect peace, perfect shalom for all of creation: the seas and all that fills them, the lands and all that creeps upon them, the skies and all that wings through them, and people – you and me and we. – rc

“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Today, the Church celebrates the Ascension of the Lord, the day when Jesus was taken into the heavenly realm to take his rightful seat upon the throne. For the disciples, this was an intimidating day. They were given the call to go out into the world and make disciples and baptize and teach – all without Jesus physically present with them, seemingly left alone.

But ours is a call with a promise. “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (v. 20). “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (v. 20). “I am with you always” (v. 20). Even now, Christ is with us . . . always. – rc