Jane Youtz Riecke

All Saints Musings

As clergy, Brian and I have the honor of being present at the most sacred moments of life.  One of those moments is the moment of death.  I remember one family….

Thelma’s brother had died.  Suddenly, without notice, in his sleep. There were arrangements to be made.  People to tell. There was food to be prepared.  Like Martha, there would be time for grief later.  As she reached down to touch her brother….his hands were cold. His face composed peacefully in death.  But that wasn’t her brother. She remembered his vibrant laugh, his beautiful singing voice, the way he kidded her out of her darker moods…but there wasn’t time for tears, not now, later there would be tears.  Later that night, when minds tend to wander, to reveal our darkest thoughts, our doubts and our fears that is when she would feel very alone. When the grief came, it was not for him, but for herself, for all she had lost in the past and for all she would not have in the future.  Her brother had just died and with him the last living part of herself, her faith. And so she insulated herself against her pain.  She allowed herself to feel nothing.  The next day she greeted me with a blank face, a calm voice. I was one more part of the arrangements. My words did not comfort or console. As I left her home, I wondered if perhaps two people, not one, had died that day.

I sometimes come into contact with people I can only classify as the "walking wounded" or in other words "the living dead."  I'm not talking about a supernatural phenomenon.  I have no faith in "horror stories."  I'm talking about people whose spirits are so broken, so wounded, that they have closed themselves off from feeling--feeling good or feeling bad.

With the death of loved one, we often realize how fragile life is, how temporary. As they say, "life is for the living." Life is a gift. Everyday should be spent in loving, working, playing, dancing and knowing we have lived that day to its fullest. Living does not mean we forget our loved one....that is what All Saints Day is all about...the joy of remembrance. Today, as you celebrate All Saints, remember your loved one...and remember to LIVE.

 

Introducing Deuteronomy

An Introduction to Deuteronomy

At the end of Numbers, the people of Israel are camped out in the plains of Moab, preparing to assault Canaan from the east.  Moses gives them his parting words.  To many people, "Deuteronomy" may be a very old cat in Andrew Lloyd Weber's musical.  But the biblical title comes from the Greek words, deuteros (second) and nomos (law); the book does not present new laws so much as reiterates earlier ones.

Modern biblical scholars view most of the contents of this book as material that was passed down orally until it was recorded in the seventh century BCE, lost, then rediscovered, as reported later in the book of Kings.  

Deuteronomy is essentially Moses farewell address -- actually three farewell addresses -- in which he remembers the acts of God.  Solemnly warning of the temptation of the ways of Canaan.  Moses pleads for loyalty to and love of God as the main condition for life in the Promised Land.  A distinctive teaching of Deuteronomy is that the worship of God is to be centralized in one place, so that paganism might be eliminated.  When Deuteronomy was composed, the Jerusalem Temple was regarded as the central sanctuary.  

Famous of all the laws in Deuteronomy is the shema, "Hear, O Israel!  The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."  (Deut. 6: 4-5)  This one law is not only the most famous but the foundation for all the laws and the prophets...as Jesus taught.  We will return to this later.

Enough Already!

Numbers 32 - 36

I'm feeling like the poor women who've been setting up and tearing down tents for forty years...enough already!  I'm ready to get to the promised land.  Forty years on the road is enough. But Moses has got to have his last word...his valedictory speeches before he leaves center stage. Joshua must marshall his forces to face the "heathen" Canaanites.  The land must be divided although it is yet to be conquered.  And oddly enough, "Cities of Refuge" must be established for those who had committed a crime or who were awaiting a trial.  These nomadic tribes were becoming civilized and much would change in coming years as they move into Canaan.

Tomorrow:  Deuteronomy Is NOT a very old cat in a musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber.... 

Balaam and His Donkey Prove their Faithfulness

Numbers 22-31

Good intentions get you nowhere.  I've been so consumed with church reports, a final paper for one of my doctor of ministry classes and just getting through the snow storm these past few days I didn't write.  I wanted to, but I didn't.  I'm sorry. It's been a battle of will to make the time to get back to our study, but here I am.

Numbers 22-31 gives an account of the Israelites second approach to the promised and.  The old generation has died and a new generation stands poised at the border, ready to enter the promised land.  Neighboring nations, however, have other ideas.  That is where Balaam comes in.  Balaam was one of those noteworthy character of the Old Testament who, though not one of the chosen people was willing to acknowledge Jehovah (Yahweh) was indeed a powerful God. And like myself, Balaam had good intentions but couldn't seem to follow through until his donkey turned aside on the road.  Even then, Balaam could not understand what was right before him.  How funny it is that when Balaam did not have eyes to see or the wisdom to follow but Balaam's donkey did!  The angel of the Lord made it clear what Balaam had to do.

Balaam finds himself before Balak, but he has sworn only to speak the words Jehovah gives him. Balaam then proceeds to bless the Israelites.  This, of course, frustrates Balak. He wants Balaam to curse his enemies not to bless them. In the end, Balaam will not go against God, despite the promise of great wealth.  Finally, Balak and Balaam part ways.

The greater danger for the Israelites is not this curse by Balaam but the worship of Baal.  The temptation to compromise their faith and participate in Canaanite cultic practice was great.  At first Israelite men were only interested in the cultic prostitutes, but soon they began worshipping their idols and participating in their feasts. They were easily led astray, just as we can be today.

Note:  Baal was the most popular God in Canaan, the land Israel was about to enter.  Represented by a bull, a symbol of strength and fertility, he was the god of the rains and the harvest.   The Israelites were continually attracted to Baal worship, in which prostitution was a large part, throughout their years in Canaan.  The use of Baal prostitutes was considered part of the religious ritual for fertility. Later, the name of Baal is used as a generic title for all other gods but Yahweh.

The second great census of the people is the beginning of the end of the Israelites sojourn in the wilderness.  Soon the will enter the Promised land and take possession.  It will not come easily though. There will be many battles.  Some they will win and some they will lose.  Joshua will lead them where Moses can not go.  It will be a new beginning for the chosen people of God.

The Variety of Psalms

Numbers 19, 20, 21  Psalms 43, 44, 45, 46

Today I want to concentrate on the Psalms. 

Psalm 43 asks God to send his light and truth to guide the psalmist to the temple (your holy hill).  This psalm is paired with psalm 42 as an expression of hope in the face of discouragement.  It's interesting after reading about Korah in Numbers that this psalm is authored by the sons of Korah or the temple assistants. If we read it with a eye for spiritual guidance, we might ask ourselves what truth and light mean to us in our own post-modern context and how they guide us in time of despair.

Psalm 44 

This psalm may have been sung at occasions when the faithful community was surrounded by enemies and seeking God's deliverance. It is a prayer of rescue, a remembrance of God's past deliverances and an encouragement to trust in God now. We might be encouraged as we read this psalm to see how God does respond when called upon. You might take a moment and look back upon your own life and times when you felt alone and defeated and see if you can find signs of God's presence and help in those times of trouble.

Psalm 45

Psalm 45 is a royal wedding psalm. In it we see the bridegroom who has everything -- power, position, wealth and now a beautiful bride. But this is not why the king is being lifted up in this psalm. He is being lauded as a king because he defends truth, meekness and righteousness. He loves righteousness and hates wickedness. Because of these values he is praised by many nations  If someone were to write a song about you, what qualities would they include? Could they say the same?  Does your life reflect your faith enough for others to see?

Psalm 46

This is the first of three psalms in a row that are considered hymns of praise. The theme in Psalm 46 is the idea that God is always there to help, providing refuge, security and peace. The psalmist truly believed that God would not fail to rescue those who love him.  One of my favorite verses of scripture is contained in verse 10, "Be still and know that I am God!"  If we all took regular time to be still and know God perhaps the world would be a more peaceful place. 

We might ask ourselves how these psalms fit with the reading of Numbers. They don't.  They are only for our own enjoyment.  Read.  Reflect.  Enjoy.   

 

All the Pain and None of the Gain

Numbers 19, 20 Psalm 43, 44

It had been 37 years since Israel's first spy mission into the promised land and 40 years since the Exodus from Egypt.  The Bible is almost silent about the 37 years of wandering.  The generation that had been slaves in Egypt had almost died off. A new generation would enter the land.  Moses, Aaron, Caleb and Joshua were among the few who remained.  

Now we find them camping at Kadesh, where their first mission into the promised land ended in disaster. What a surprise....the people are frustrated with Moses. They have forgotten why they are wandering in the wilderness. They seem incapable of taking responsibility for their own problems and the nagging begins. Poor Moses. Hasn't he been through enough? Now he won't be permitted to enter the promised land. It seems Moses has had all the pain and none of the gain.

Leadership is never easy. There are always those who will murmur against you.  There are always negotiations with other leaders that take your time and then come to no avail (Moses and the King of Edom).  There are always those sacrifices that have to be made to be a good example. When Moses first stepped aside to see the burning bush...the journey began....now it is almost at an end. The promised land is within sight.  Moses will pay the ultimate price...and not see the culmination of all his efforts.  Others will take the people on into the "land of milk and honey."

The Allure of Power

Numbers 16, 17, 18

Some famous historical figures might have remained anonymous if they hadn't tried to grab more power than they could handle.  But by refusing to be content with what they had and by trying to get more than they deserved, they ended up with nothing.  The allure of power can betray even the most amibitious. Korah, one of the Israelite leaders, was such a person.

Korah was a Levite who assisted in the daily functions of the tabernacle. Shortly after Israel's great rebellion against God (Numbers 13, 14). Korah tried his own mini-rebellion. He recruited a group to go with to confront Moses and Aaron. Their long list of complaints boiled down to:  1)  you aren't any better than anyone else; 2) everyone in Israel has been chosen of the Lord; 3) we don't need to obey you.  It's amazing how Korah twisted the first two statements to reach such a wrong conclusion.

Korah felt he had as much a right to lead as anyone. His error cost him not only his position, but his life. Envy, jealousy, ego, low esteem are a dangerous mix.  They often combine to hurt and destroy. And instead of gaining the power we seek, we are usually the one destroyed. Instead of envying the power or position others have, we need to seek our own purposes where we are.  

We move then from the story of Korah to Aaron and the position he and his family had in the sanctuary. God begins by saying, "I give your priesthood as gift."  It is a special charge, a special responsibility Aaron has been given.  He and his family will receive the tithes of the people.  Even Aaron will be expected to tithe. Though the Levites owned no land and operated no businesses, they were expected to treat their incomes the same as everyone else by giving a portion to care for the needs of the other Levites and the tabernacle.  All were expected to tithe.  Respect was to be shown to the tithes given. To mishandle them is to "profane the holy gifts." Although Aaron had great power and position, he was just as responsible to God as the lowliest shepherd. Power isn't always as alluring as it seems.

This is an interesting lesson to read on the eve of our annual commitment campaign!

Doubting God...and Paying the Price

Numbers 13, 14, 15

The Israelites doubted God -- they believed victory was impossible. In their doubt, their decision made sense. But they failed to realize that God doesn't always operate from a human perspective.  A promise from God is a sure thing, no matter how unlikely it seems. God's action isn't subject to majority opinion. God had plainly said that he would help the people conquer the promised land. But the people forgot what they knew about God.  They forgot the many signs of God's presence, God's saving action on their behalf and made their decision on the basis of what they knew about themselves. 

We trust God to handle the little stuff, but we often doubt God's ability to take care of the big problems, the tough decisions, the frightening situations. We try to go it alone, trusting only in ourselves. That, my friends, is functional atheism. Trusting in God fully is the only answer. We can't say we'll follow God and then take it back when the going gets tough or the way doesn't seem as clear or sure as we thought it would be.  

The Israelites had failed ten different times to trust and obey God and now they would pay the price. God's judgement was harsh. Since they were afraid of dying in the wilderness, that was exactly what would happen. They would wander in the wilderness for 40 years. It would be a new generation that would take the people into the promised land. 

Participation Heightens Our Experience of the Holy

Numbers tells us with great detail how all the tribes of Israel brought their gifts for the tabernacle forward to be dedicated. Lamp stands, silver trays, golden dishes, silver basins graced the tabernacle of Israel.  Each was a gift of the leader of the tribe.  It's interesting that no one tribe had ownership of the tabernacle.  No one tribe gave more than another. They all contributed and had a part in making it their place of worship.

I sometimes think that perhaps we'd all have a much better experience of worship if we all felt we were contributing by our participation. In one of the small towns I served, many years ago, there was a gracious gardener who always supplied the flowers for our altar throughout the summer. She took special pride in bringing the best of her blooms to create something beautiful for everyone to enjoy. It gave meaning to her to contribute and it gave meaning to others to know that those flowers were her contribution. 

Just as the pews had been bought sacrificially by families generations before. The organ had been gifted by another family.  And the stained glass windows designed and contributed by others. While yet another member of the church actually made the windows. The sanctuary of the United Methodist Church of Wiley, CO was a representation of the families of that church. And because of their love for God and their contributions, it was a place soaked in the presence of the Holy. Like the tribes of Numbers, they all contributed in making their place of worship their own and in turn God blessed their modern tabernacle with God's presence. 

Our modern sanctuaries or worship centers are often so impersonal.  Stadium seating has replaced pews. Lovely stained glass has been replaced with sound and light equipment that sets the mood. In many churches, the altar is gone.  Gone too is the altar rail. Supposedly we are moving with the times, but I often wonder if we have also moved so far afield that we've forgotten the beauty of the holy in our midst and our role in participating in God's holy presence by our contributions to worship. The fact is that its not the setting so much as it is whether people who come to worship feel as if they have contributed and are participating. This is the kind of worship we all long for... worship that touches the heart and feeds the soul. The key is understanding that what we bring to worship brings a blessing that goes beyond any gift we could ever give.

Numbers 9, 10, 11, 12 Psalm 40, 41, 42

Numbers 4,5,6

I loved camping with my parents. We had a little Coleman tent camper - a "pop-up." We went from one end of the United State to the other with that little trailer. Since the days were usually long and we sometimes got to our campsite after dark my father and I got pretty good about setting up the campsite in the dark. I knew the routine very well.  I knew where each block went for the wheels, what pin went where in the tent poles, what was set up first.  Once, in the dark of a very rainy night, my father and I got that little trailer up in record time - less than 10 minutes.

I'm sure that is much as it was for the tribes as they camped from place to place.  Each had their duty to do, their routine...it was a matter of survival.  But then there were the Levites.  What would they do? They had to maintain the tabernacle.  Each had a role to play and here in the fourth chapter that role is set up in great detail. Dull, boring, but necessary.  

Moving into chapter 5 we see the fruits of a very male dominated society. No matter who commits the sin of adultery, according to Numbers, the woman shall bear the sin. Since I believe in personal responsibility for actions, I don't find this to be fair or right, but I'm sure it had come kind of logic for its time.

When we read chapter 6, we read a detailed description of the nazirite vow.  This doesn't seem that important to us now but the information grows in importance as we read later about Samson, Samuel and John the Baptist.  There were three main restrictions:  the hair should not be cut and the beard could not be shaved; wine and strong drink could never be tasted; and touching a dead body was prohibited.  These vows were usually taken for life.

Today's readings close with a very familiar blessing often used by pastors as a benediction at the close of worship:  "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace."