What is the “norm”?

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S (Scripture): Luke 1 [Mary proclaims]:

49b

“Holy is his name.

50 

    He shows mercy to everyone,

        from one generation to the next,

        who honors him as God.

51 

He has shown strength with his arm.

    He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.

52 

    He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones

        and lifted up the lowly.

53 

He has filled the hungry with good things

    and sent the rich away empty-handed.

54 

He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,

        remembering his mercy,

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    just as he promised to our ancestors,

        to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”

O (Observation): Mary proclaims what God has already accomplished, but in a way that points to the fact that God will continue to act in this way – to bring down the haughty, and to lift the lowly.

Mary says these things, even as she is living into her own understanding of what God has done / is doing / will do. She speaks like God has already won a great victory, and continues to win – even despite our failings to create a distance between strong and weak, rich and poor.

A (Application): God has a tendency to reverse what we have done. We lift up class, race, socio-economic status as indicators of the victors and losers.

White. Male. Heterosexual. Many consider this the norm. Someone in these categories doesn’t think of race, gender or sexual orientation as categories. Rather, these are considered the norm. When NOT in these categories, we consider anything else a deviation from the norm.

That offends people in “my category,” for that is a part of who I am: white, male, heterosexual. This country was founded mostly by folks in this category. Also, those who founded this country came from areas where domination and submission of the “other” was considered a show of strength and success. No wonder we continued down this road as a nation, beginning with the domination and submission of American Indians, as well as building much of this country on the backs of black and brown enslaved people.

What does God consider good or right? I’m not sure. But we do know how God acts: brings down the haughty, raises up the lowly.

These are the words of hope for me today. I am the haughty, the proud, the powerful. I am becoming one who is being lowered, that I might know better how to walk alongside my siblings of color. My status is becoming less a concern, so that I can walk hand in hand with others this society still considers less.

God afflicts the comfortable, and comforts the afflicted. Thank you, God, for this.

P (Prayer): Gracious God, remind me and all who struggle with power and control: we are all made precious in your sight. Amen.

Laying Our Burdens Down

S (Scripture): Luke 8:40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, because they were all waiting for him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue, came up. Falling at Jesus’ feet, he pleaded with him to come to his house, 42 because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying…

49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone from the synagogue ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.” 50 But when Jesus heard this, he told him, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” 51 Now when he came to the house, Jesus did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Now they were all wailing and mourning for her, but he said, “Stop your weeping; she is not dead but asleep.” 53 And they began making fun of him, because they knew that she was dead. 54 But Jesus gently took her by the hand and said, “Child, get up.” 55 Her spirit returned, and she got up immediately. Then he told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

O (Observation):  One of Jesus’ most miraculous healings happens here.  Life itself has been extinguished. Distance grows between this girl and her father, her mother, the rest of her family, her friends, and God.  The great chasm has been fixed by this girl’s death.  

But not so, thinks Jesus.  He brings some disciples along and brings this girl back to life.  

Once again, Jesus brings about a glimpse of the kingdom of God.  

A (Application):  Quite often, we believe that we are beyond help.  Quite often, we believe that all hope is lost.  Yet, we see here that God can transform even the most fearsome of opponents.   

What fears do you have this day?  

I have plenty:  Will I do my job well, today?  Will I show love to my wife and daughter, today?  Will our older two children learn from and respect their counsellors at Lutheridge?

The list goes on and on.   And yet, we have Jesus, who can even raise the dead.   Let us lay our worries on Him.  

P (Prayer):  Lord, help me to trust in you this day, knowing that you can handle my fears and worries.  Amen.