THURSDAY, April 29 (Catherine of Siena)

1 Thessalonians 2:13-20. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? Yes, you are our glory and joy!

Paul is so often cranky that it is easy to forget how much he loves the people he served. The Thessalonians were particularly dear to his heart, and he told them so. When he presented the fruits of his labor to the Lord Jesus, Paul did not produce a list of the miles he had traveled or the jail terms he had served, but of people like the Thessalonians, who were Paul's glory and joy, the crown of his boasting.

These grace-filled verses remind us that we do not always grieve the heart of God. Yes, we have fresh sins to confess each week, and yes, we fall short in our imitation of Christ. But we also manage to participate in moments of generosity, forgiveness, and genuine love that surprise even us. This raises the possibility that we too might bring some hope and joy to God's heart, as we grow in our understanding of what it means to be faithful.

If you have never tried it, spend one minute today--just sixty seconds--letting God love you. While you sit there quietly, listen to your mind tell you all the reasons why you are not worthy. Then tell it to hush. You are God's glory and joy. You are God's beloved child. (1999)

PRAY for the Diocese of Central Solomons (Melanesia)

Ps 50 * [59, 60] or 114, 115; Exodus 34:1-17; Matt 5:21-26

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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Apr 29, 2010 at 8:40 am

Written by Mike Patterson,

Yes, we are sinful. Yes, we confess. Yes, we are unworthy. And yes, we are saved by God's grace, rather than our deeds alone. But I wonder if we dwell too much on our faults at the expense of the good things we do. Are we like the child who never feels he gets anything right? What we constantly hear is how sinful we are and how we need God to forgive us. Yet is it ever wrong to tell God we've done something that might please him -- not for praise, but to let God know that we're trying. Maybe something like, "Dear God, I helped a little old lady across the street today. I think that's what Christ would have done. I'm trying to improve my behavior by following his teachings. In year's past, I would have ignored her." (Mind you, I'm speaking hypothetically!) What I'm talking about is not the "good job" self-esteem movement, but rather a way to chart our progress toward being the type of person God wants us to be.

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Editor, Forward Day by Day

Apr 29, 2010 at 9:21 am

Written by Richard H Schmidt,

In the back of my mind is a tape that keeps playing the words "You're not worthy!" I don't know how that tape got into my head, but it plays all the time. A more accurate tape would probably say, "You're not worthy, but I am worthy and I include you in my party. Please be seated and let me serve you." There's a wonderful poem by George Herbert about that, called "Love (III)."

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Apr 29, 2010 at 9:29 am

Written by Tim Holsonback,

The last sentence in the meditation is an excellent reminder....

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75th anniversary format

Apr 29, 2010 at 9:58 am

Written by judy kirk,

I am not liking the chosen format, and I am so disappointed that the whole year will be spent on past entries. My favorite part of "Forward" over other meditation collections, is getting comfortable with one writer for three months, connecting, so to speak. When I don't necessarily connect well, I can always look forward to a new writer for the next three month period. The experience of getting inside one person's head for days on end and thus building a kind of relationship and understanding of that person's words and approach, is totally missing from the present format. Please return to the regular format and don't revisit the one presently used again. I'm missing my favorite part of the day.

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Apr 29, 2010 at 10:44 am

Written by Mary kier,

As a child with low esteem, the word "sinner" used to make me feel bad about myself. Revisiting my religion as a mature adult and hearing the word sinner had a different response. It was explained to me that sin is anything that separates me from the grace of God either through an action done, or by ommission.

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amen!

Apr 29, 2010 at 11:17 am

Written by Bill Albritton,

I loved this---not a normal exercise for me to dwell on the fact that God loves me and I had a grand moment awash with this thought.

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Apr 29, 2010 at 12:58 pm

Written by Karen Rice,

Many years ago a dear friend was thrown into prison for carrying a Bible. She was dragged down into a room on occassion and promised freedom if she renounced her belief. Refusing, she was beat up by a guard, then dragged back to her cell. After a month, when a guard called her by name, she'd ask the guard's name. As he beat her, she prayed out loud, not that he stop, only that God forgive him. Released two years later, she and her family moved to the USA. She met the guard at a Romanian Wedding.

I heard this story, not from her, but a third party. This is the ulitimate love, not of boasting. When I asked her why? "God knew his name. He needed to hear Him"

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God's Grace

Apr 29, 2010 at 2:43 pm

Written by Sheri Christi,

Thank you for this lovely passage and mediation. Last night I saw a video on an atheist's near death/flatline experience. Like Paul, he had been a persecutor of the Christian faith during his life. He reported seeing himself in his hospital bed and hearing people call him from the hall. When he joined them they took him down a long hallway, which got more dark and grotesque and abusive as he progressed. At some point he realized what was happening and thought, "Pray to God." He didn't know how, so he started reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. It didn't help his situation. Finall, in desperation, he just yelled, "Jesus help me!" He said a being of tremendous light intercepted him from the demons and took him back down the hall to life. He became a passionate minister of God's word - a modern day, Paul.

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Apr 29, 2010 at 5:01 pm

Written by Philip M. McGhee,

I liked the meditation. But I am wondering if some of you noticed verses 15-16,some of the more troublesome verses of the New Testament. Believe it or not, I actually learned most of my Hebrew in the Synagogue of Thessaloniki, Greece, compliments of the Rabbi Moses,who was a famous survivor of the Holocaust. I also gave my Hebrew teachers Hebrew versions of the New Testament,for which they were most grateful. My reception by the Jewish community in Thessaloniki was much more positive than Saint Paul's. I never attempted to "convert" anyone, and I think I learned a lot. Hardly a day goes by without my reading the Bible in the original languages,due to part to the Jewish community in Thessaloniki. Racism and anti-semitism make my blood boil.

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Unworthy

Apr 30, 2010 at 9:21 am

Written by Wendy,

I had a moment of insight a few Sunday's ago praying during the service, "...we thy unworthy servants do give Thee most humble and hearty thanks..." and wondering about the word "unworthy" for the umpteenth time.
What came to me was that I/we don't have to be worthy as we understand that word to inorder to have God love and forgive us. It's not that we have no worth and have to do something/many things in order to become worthy. All we have to do/be is desiring of God's love and forgiveness. God considers us worthy; God's creation that God calls "very good".

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