June 16, 2019 - Trinity Sunday and Father’s Day
Psalm 8, John 16:12-15, Romans 5:1-5
Romans 5:1-5
“ Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I love it when Paul starts a sentence with therefore.
He has cleared the brush away. Stand back, we are about to hear something: We are justified by faith (we don’t have to prove anything or explain), just accept the pure unbounded love of God—peace will follow. Here is the Word that God’s love has been poured out, lavished upon us. Wind of the spirit, holy breath is given indeed, breathe on us breath of God, fill us with life anew! My goodness—what more need we say regarding the Trinity?
Photo by Fran Walsh, United Methodist Communications
John Wesley Bust
John Wesley laid out three rules of Methodism, the first of which is "Do No Harm."
Well, it is also Father’s Day. As I age, I catch myself imitating my Dad. The way he walked, sat in a chair, the things he said—I am bone of his bone. Once it bothered me to be told that I was just like my father. These days I see him as a gift. My dad was a “yellow dog Democrat” (meaning he'd vote for a yellow dog before he'd vote for a Republican). I am moving in that direction and it feels good. Lord, have mercy!
After my mother died, “Pop,” as we called him, lived alone until he was 91. He never gave in to the old-age bias. He remained interested in life. After his eyes failed, he listened to the Bible on tape, and when I would visit he always had a number of things to check out. He liked to say, “When I read the Bible, somehow it seems to be reading me. Do you understand what I’m talking about?” I did and I do. And he would have some questions about our Church. I can hear him now, “Son, why are they picking on the queers?” Then he would tell me about Sam’s boy who was different, and how my mother would lecture her friends if they disapproved. My Dad was an old-fashioned Methodist. He did no harm.
The Gospel for Father’s Day is John 16:12-15
At verse 16:12 the writer has Jesus saying to us: "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” Does he mean we can’t bear the truthiness? Do we need to take a break and wait for the spirit to move this old Church in a new direction? Why not just go home from Annual Conference and welcome “Sam’s boy;” be faithful witnesses to the truth; seek some new wisdom; and make Psalm 8 part of your daily meditation? All of this is not rocket science—but it seems to be what we can do. Know this, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he/she will guide us all into the truth” (John 16:13) – if we are open to the truth! Love without power is sentimentality; power without love is brutality; love and power together provide the hope for peace and justice.
Dear God, Open our eyes that we may see; open our hearts to receive your truth, convict us when we stray, hound us when we avoid the truth, deliver us from selective brotherhood/sisterhood. In thy name we pray. Amen.
The Rev. Bill Cotton of Des Moines, Iowa, is a retired clergy member of the Iowa Annual Conference. He and colleagues produce the weekly MEMO for Those Who Preach, which is delivered by email. Subscribe.