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Rejoicing with the Cornerstone

Apr 11
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Psalm 118:19–24

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

I was wondering why this was one of the texts for the days following Easter Sunday.  As I read it, I saw familiar verses.  First was, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”  That certainly describes the events of Jesus’ last week on this earth.  He was rejected by the chief priests and the elders, and even by the people.  Second was, “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  It is the LORD, our Father and Jesus’ father in heaven, who raised him up from the dead on that first Easter.  We are always rejoicing in that day. (more…)

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Resurrection and the Imperishable Body

Apr 10
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

1 Corinthians 15:50–53

50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

My wife was called out this morning at 6 am to Three Links.  A person had died at the Reflections unit, the unit which is dedicated to “end of life” care.  A woman had died.  This was a special woman to my wife.  She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Northfield, and my wife served there as her pastor for four years.  This woman had lived at Millstream Commons, an assisted living facility of Three Links, where my wife is the chaplain.  This woman has been part of my wife’s life for the last 10+ years. (more…)

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Telling the Truth

Apr 09
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Matthew 28:11–15

11 While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 telling them, “You must say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.

This is not a familiar passage to most people, and it is only in the gospel of Matthew.  It tells of a conspiracy to hide the fact of the resurrection.  Jesus was a threat to the establishment while he was alive because of all the people he was gathering to him.  He was an even bigger threat because of his resurrection.  In the 2,000 years since his death and resurrection, millions of people have become his followers. (more…)

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Christmas and Easter

Dec 14
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Mark 9:9–13

9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean. 11 Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12 He said to them, “Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.”

This is a confusing passage of scripture that raises many questions for even the smartest biblical scholars.  For us, there is an easy question to ask and answer:  “Why is this an appointed reading for the Advent/Christmas season?”  The answer is that Easter was celebrated by the church before Christmas ever was.  Easter is the more important holiday.  Jesus’ resurrection is the greatest gift of God to us.  Jesus was born to live and die for us.  While the Christmas story brings us joy, it is the Easter story that brings eternal joy and life. (more…)

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One of the Best Gospel Readings

Dec 09
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

John 14:1-7

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Today I have the privilege of leading a memorial service for the mother of one of Trondhjem’s members.  I cannot think of a better scripture passage to read than this one from John’s gospel.  It speaks of God’s intention and God’s graciousness.  Jesus is preparing a place for us, a place for you and for me.  He promises to come again and take us to himself.  I am counting on that. (more…)

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Death and Resurrection

Jun 01
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

John 16:19–22

19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’? 20 Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. 22 So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

It was very hard for Jesus to explain his upcoming resurrection to his disciples.  This verbal exchange between them and him occurred before his arrest and before his crucifixion.  He was telling them that their pain would be replaced by joy. (more…)

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Messianic Banquet and our Banquets

May 05
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Luke 14:12–14

12 He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

This is not a command of Jesus that I have truly followed in my life.  Usually our luncheons or dinners have been for the family.  Sometimes we will invite a family friend to join us, but they are not the poor, the crippled, the lame, or the blind.  They may be a little bit lonely in life, but they do not possess those other characteristics.  While the wedding dinners for our daughters were large banquets with lots of people from diverse backgrounds, they also were not the people Jesus is describing. (more…)

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Death and Dying

May 04
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

John 14:1–3

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.

I don’t know if this will be the text for the funeral I will be attending today.  I have no role at this funeral, but will simply be part of the congregation.  I am among a large group of friends that will be in attendance.  This text has been chosen by me for many of the funerals at which I have presided.  It will please me if it is chosen for my funeral, whenever that occurs. (more…)

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Resurrection and Daily Life

May 03
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

1 Corinthians 15:19–21

19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.  20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.  21 For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being.

Jesus was a great teacher, offering helpful advice for how to live.  Yet, that was not the focus for St. Paul in this passage from the first letter to the Corinthians.  The focus was on resurrection and the victory over death.  Paul’s focus was also on the Cross and Jesus’ sacrifice of his life for us. (more…)

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Resurrection and My Friend

Apr 20
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Hebrews 12:1–3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.

The email that I had been expecting came this morning.  A good friend is now in hospice care.  This text is the one “assigned” for Wednesday of Holy Week, but it is so appropriate for my friend. (more…)

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