God Pause

Harvey Nelson, M.Div. 71
Retired, Newport News, Virginia

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
In verses 18-23 of the gospel reading Jesus goes back to interpret his parable of the sower. Now he uses analogies to explain the parable so it becomes the parable of the soils. In the verses between the parable and this explanation Jesus talks to different people. In verses 1-9 he addresses the crowd; now he talks to his disciples telling them how their words and his will be received. Different soils receive the word differently: for some it is snatched away quickly, others receive it temporarily, still others give it momentary home, and others let it be crowded out by other words—but there are some who receive it and produce abundantly. That pretty much describes what people did with his word, and what people yet today do with the gospel word. But neither Jesus nor the disciples forced or manipulated people to hear, nor did they let different receptions stop them from sharing God’s news. Neither should we.

Oh, Christ, God’s living Word, thank you for sharing God’s word. May your Holy Spirit inspire our words and actions that through them your news may enter other people’s hearts and minds, and all of us may be fertile soil for your creative grace. Amen.

Harvey Nelson, M.Div. 71
Retired, Newport News, Virginia

Romans 8:1-11
At seven, while living in my original home, I was able to stay with my grandma for a week on a farm in central Nebraska. When I returned home, for the first time I realized that our house was dirty. That insight stayed with me and helped change me into being something of a “neatnik”.

Paul had a similar revelation in Romans. In chapter seven he came to the realization that he did not do the good he wanted because sin dwelt in him. He found solace in the news that Jesus overcame sin in the cross and resurrection, and that the Holy Spirit was nearby leading him in the ways of God. He (we) no longer had to be bound by visible, social systems and worldly realities; he (we) could instead live from the perspective and values of the Spirit. Even if flesh realities are close by, the Spirit is near us.

Lord, thank you for your wonderful creation. May your Holy Spirit guide us so that we live from your values even while worldly values and systems are all around us. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Judy Bullock, BCC, M.Div., 2020
Pastor, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Knoxville, TN

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Jesus acknowledging the Father had hidden things from the wise and revealed them to little children is a real wake-up call that reminds us that God leans toward the humble and open-hearted rather than those who think they have it all figured out. We spend so much time trying to manage everything ourselves—worries about the future, overcoming mistakes from the past, or just the daily grind that leaves us exhausted. The truth is, regardless of how hard we try, we will never figure it all out.

The good news is that Jesus doesn’t ask us to earn our way to peace. He simply says to the weary, “Come.” When we surrender those burdens, even the ones we’ve been gripping tightly, he steps in and gives us rest—not the kind that ignores problems, but the kind that carries us through them knowing we don’t have to carry them alone.

Sustaining Lord, we praise your steadfast love and gentle strength. We thank you for the invitation to come, weary and burdened, to be yoked with you and find rest for our souls. Amen.