October 18, 2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1.27)

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you ….” (Matthew 5.21-22a)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

The simplest answer to the question is “Believe in the Word of God revealed in Jesus Christ and let it be lived out in you.”

What is the question? Well, it would be inspired by James’ description of the true and authentic religion. James said that one’s true religion is to care for the widows and orphans (the outcasts and destitute of broken relationships) and to keep one’s self from being polluted by the world. We can more easily understand how to support widows and orphans. There have been help agencies, both sectarian and non-sectarian, to accomplish that task. It is tremendously sad that such people have to exist. No, I don’t mean we should eliminate them. I am bemoaning the reality which created widows and orphans. Are we, or have we, truly addressing the real issues of life in all of these conflicts, distresses and unfortunate circumstances? To ignore those real issues lends itself to being polluted by the world. Instead of being proactive, we invest a great deal of time, energy and resources to be reactive. We have to be reactive. This I understand unequivocally. Even God had a “reactive” plan for when Adam and Eve would most likely and probably inevitably fail to make the right choice about being God’s people. His “foreshadowing” reaction was to sacrifice an animal, I assume a pure and unblemished lamb, and provide coverings of substance to hide their shame. They called it shame. We call it nakedness. For the first time in their short lives, Adam and Eve saw differences in each other and between themselves and God. Innocence died that day and guilt was born. I say it was a foreshadowing because God knew in that moment, the time would come when because of His so great a love for His people He would sacrifice His only begotten Son and offer His life for ours. To repeat the words of Paul with this interpretation, “For all have been polluted by the world, and fallen short of God’s glorious purpose and hope made known in humankind.” So, the question is, “How do we keep ourselves from being polluted by the world?” That is a good question for us.

It was not a question which would have been inspired by James at the time of Jesus’ teaching. James, at that time, wasn’t even a believer. He operated under the veil of world pollution far more toxic than the pollution we hear so much about in these days of air, water and land. Those are merely the consequences of the real pollution of which James spoke. It is the spiritual pollution issue that should be of greatest concern to us all. Why, even yesterday, I heard the praise of a city who had spent millions of dollars (and I am not against the project at all) for helping the welfare of body and mind of first responders. They are, especially in the current culture and climate, greatly at risk to the stresses of the job of providing a sense of justice and well-being. There isn’t enough pay in the world to absolve them of those stresses. We all know that for ourselves or I would like to think that is true but wonder as I watch employees of automakers and automakers themselves “strike” each other. Dare I remind us of the word of God which said, and says, “Money is not evil; rather it is the love of/for money that is the root of all evil.” While the project and service is needed, I shook my head in realized disbelief, that the most important element of healing and survival was left out. We can take care of the body and mind but have we truly “taken care” if we are not also addressing the deep underlying problem of sin. Sin is the pollution of the world. It manufactures the pollution of the body, mind, heart and soul. It tempts us to believe there is a better way that “we” can do something “on our own” without regard to or need for God. Most would say that aspect of spiritual healing is necessary but not the provence of secular institutions as most would identify “government entities” and non-religious or “church” institutions. In other words, let someone else do it. Are they saying they are unqualified or that it is not actually as necessary as meeting the needs of the body and mind. I would remind them and us, that without the spiritual aspect, the body and mind become “lifeless.” Maybe what we are seeing now in our homes, neighborhoods, communities and the world is the “lifelessness” such attitudes foster or foment. What we need is a true respect for life as it was created by God and to make our greatest stand against the greatest polluter of the world who is Satan!

It is there I see Jesus taking His stand against such pollution as He wades knee-deep into His Sermon on the Mount(ainside). He wanted to stop the embracing of pollution by the world around Him, including that which was created by the Temple leadership, and knew the truth had to be told. He began, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not pollute the world with the blood of others (murder), and anyone who pollutes the ground with the blood of others (murders) will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you….” And it is that very last phrase which is offered as the solution to pollution. I want to leave us at that point today to ponder what Jesus offered, “I know what has been said to you…but I SAY to you….” Jesus takes us further, deeper and more truthfully down the road of righteousness than we had ever been before. We must take up our cross and follow Him!

PRAYER IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD:

Father, You have revealed to us best in Jesus the Christ. By Him and Him alone shall we gain the eternal life and our place in eternal rest, living for You always. Show us more and by Your Holy Spirit instruct us in the way we should go, the truth we should reveal and the life we shall live with you forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.