Crucify, Crucify Him!

Luke 23:26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, "Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us'; and to the hills, "Cover us.' 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" 32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 [Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" 38 There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (NRSV)

A lot happened between the closing hymn of last night's Maundy Thursday service, and today's Good Friday service, and you've read the story. We slept comfortably, but had it been the actual night, Jesus suffered much. He was betrayed, could not pray as He wanted, was arrested, and forced to stand trial even before the sun came up this morning. The charges were made up, but the verdict was the same: Guilty. The punishment: Death by crucifixion. Though both leaders wanted Jesus released, the crowd who on Sunday welcomed Him into the city, now wanted Him dead. "Crucify, crucify Him!" they yelled.

The sounds that surrounded Jesus during all this time must have been deafening. The shouts of the crowd, followed by the wails and crying of the women who followed Jesus and believed in Him. The sound of the crowd walking behind Jesus to see this public execution. The barking of dogs along the route. The sound of the hammer as it nailed those huge nails into Jesus' flesh. More sobs and yells of anguish and pain; and even the groans from Jesus Himself over the pain that He was feeling. Then there were the shouts from that one criminal who wanted Jesus to demonstrate His power in releasing Himself along with he and the other criminal. And one scholar has said that there were truly three thieves on that hill that day, the greatest being Jesus, Who stole death from the grave and stole the things that stood between us and God.

The sights that surrounded the entire day also were varied. The lit torches during the night, the breaking light at dawn, the sight of Jesus whipped and beat; the sight of the place called the Skull where they led Jesus early in the day, some say 9 a.m. was when they nailed Him to the cross. And from noon until 3 p.m., the darkness that fell upon the earth. The sadness of God reflecting the darkness of our sin.

And given all this, we Christians call it Good Friday, for the purpose it served and serves today. God demonstrated His love in a way that is not pretty, it is painful. But the story does not end with what happened today, it simply sets the stage for the wonderful things that were to come.

You ready?

PRAYER: Lord, this day is difficult for many, for we know the pain we have caused You. Yet, we thank You for Your willingness to send Your only Son, Jesus, our Lord, to die for us. For that we remain eternally grateful. It is in the precious and powerful name of Jesus that we pray, amen.

May the true blessings of this day bring you peace.

Eradio Valverde

Holy Week: Who's Got This?

Luke 22: 7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat it." 9 They said to him, "Where will you have us prepare it?" 10 He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house which he enters, 11 and tell the householder, 'The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?' 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready." 13 And they went, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the passover. 14 And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 20 And likewise the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of man goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!" 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it was that would do this. (NRSV)

Who would you be around that table that night? Years ago, I planned a special Maundy Thursday service, where we set up two standard church tables as one, set twelve chairs around them, and printed up special baseball card-style Disciple Cards. I found symbols of each of the 12 and under that symbol placed some "stats" about each. And yes, we even had a Judas Iscariot card, carefully marked so that no children would receive one of those cards. We printed enough for each person to sit and take the card and reflect on which disciple they were that night, what the disciple went on to do, and even the tradition behind that disciple's death. You can see why we did not want a child to receive the Judas card. The reaction of the members varied from person to person but some reacted with emotion to know they were for that moment, Peter, or Andrew, or John. We never heard who was Judas from each table.

It took some work, but the disciples put together a table ready for Jesus and them to celebrate a very important and traditional feast of remembrance. This was the night when the youngest would ask, "Why is this night different from other nights?" And the oldest would answer that because on this night, God remembered Israel and set in motion their deliverance from bondage. The night was no different at Jesus' table than other tables around the city with the notable exception of what Jesus said and did, that many of us will observe tonight. Jesus declared that He desired to be at the table with His beloved disciples. Jesus loved each of them, even though He knew the heart of them all, including the one who would betray Him. Jesus also declared that He would not be at any future tables with them; the next time would be the fulfillment of God's Kingdom. He took a cup and asked them to share it amongst themselves, knowing that Jesus would not drink from it again until that time when the kingdom of God would come. Then Jesus took bread, He gave thanks to God, the provider of all things, and broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." Wait. Did He just say it was His body? The disciples did not know it was prophetic of that which would happen just some hours later. Then Jesus did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." Again, with the "MY" in it? This is His blood? And "new covenant?" What's going on here?

It is sad to know while this very important and very significant theological revelation about Jesus, there is also the reality that someone, who might have said he was just being a "realist" about the future that included Jesus, had already decided in his heart that he was going to sell Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Betrayal was on his mind while Jesus was announcing the eternal benefits of the eucharist. The disciples may have missed the power of the moment because they wondered who among them would be the one to betray Jesus. "Is it you?"

Friends, we cannot miss the moment. We should not be distracted by anything tonight or this afternoon when the bread and cup are passed to us; this is major and important for our spiritual wellbeing. To think about this or that instead of the Why behind God's love in the sacrament defeats what God desires for and with us. Do not betray Jesus again by thinking of earthly things. Your soul is on the line...

PRAYER: Loving God, I know that I have personally betrayed Jesus many times. But I do not want to today. I want to be in the moment and in the spirit that blesses those who celebrate what Jesus did, is doing, and will do, through the bread and cup. Come again today and do it for me; this I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Holy Week: What Gives You The Rights?

Luke 20: 1 One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders 2 and said to him, "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?" 3 He answered them, "I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: 4 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" 5 They discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, "From heaven,' he will say, "Why did you not believe him?' 6 But if we say, "Of human origin,' all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet." 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." 9 He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. 10 When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. 12 And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, "What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.' 14 But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, "This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.' 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "Heaven forbid!" 17 But he looked at them and said, "What then does this text mean: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." 19 When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people. (NRSV)

Jesus' work in the Temple was not complete simply because He cleared it of those who were misusing it. Jesus returns the next day to continue to share His message from God. This might have been the last place you or I would have chosen to spend our last week on earth, after all, we have just lost the popularity contest by driving out the money-changers and the flea market merchants of the Temple. But Jesus had a mission and He was faithful to it. He returns and continues to share the message of good news. It's a simple message, God loves you! Yet, it was a message that was not being shared; the message was a series of Don't Do this and Don't do that. Not a very appealing message and one that was not reaching the heart of the people. They were hurting. They knew they were sinful, but what can be done about it? How do I find my way out of this life that I'm leading, ruled and ruined by sin? Jesus' message was from God, that in God we find forgiveness and freedom; in God we find a relationship that values us and makes us worthy even though the world does not.

And those preaching the Don'ts and Don'ts come and ask Jesus, "What gives you the right to challenge our message and proclaim this God we don't seem to know?" Keep in mind that they were not asking because of yesterday's or Sunday's events; they had heard the reports of this itinerant rabbi and his miracles and his teachings, they wanted to know, where do you come from and what authority do you have to do what you're doing? Jesus answers them with a question. "Did those baptisms that John performed, were those from Heaven or did he just make them up?" Great question. The baptism of John had served to bring a lot of people answers about their uncleanness and their sins. John baptized them and shared with them the good news about sins being taken away. So, the religious leaders fretted, "If we say from Heaven, then the next question will be, since you guys are supposedly in the 'Heaven business', how come you did not believe? Yet, if we say 'He made it up', all the people will surely rise up against us and kill us because they were sure that John was a prophet sent by God." Playing it safe, they said they did not know.

Jesus then tells another of His stories that illustrate a deeper point and meaning. This one was about the owner of a vineyard and his tenants. The owner sent someone to collect the rent. The tenants beat him and sent him home with nothing. The owner sent a second one, and the same result. The owner a third time sends a third messenger and again, the same result. The owner thinks to send his own son, thinking they would respect and obey the son. The tenants killed him thinking this murder might result in their inheriting this land that was not theirs. Jesus asks, "What do you suppose the owner will do now? I'll tell you what he'll do; he'll come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyards to new tenants. Those hearing this story said, "Heaven forbid!" Jesus replies with scripture, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." And Jesus asked, "What does that mean?" It was then the religious leaders realized it was a saying against them and they way they had lived their lives, and their hatred towards Jesus increased all the more.

What a day that was, and it would get even worse. And again, it was because of God's love for you and me.

PRAYER: Loving God, Your plans for me sometimes make me wonder and tremble; yet, I accept Your love and the way Jesus expressed it for me. Help me to live my life in a way to speaks to those still ignorant of Your love; help me to reach even those who have given up on Your love and sought to live a life away from You. This I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Prayer Update: Rev. Scott Herren had a successful hip surgery yesterday and will be in the hospital four days before beginning rehab. Thank you all for your prayers.

Holy Week: Monday: Getting Things in Perspective

Luke 19:41 When the city came into view, he wept over it. 42 "If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it's too late. 43 In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. 44 They'll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn't recognize and welcome God's personal visit." 45 Going into the Temple he began to throw out everyone who had set up shop, selling everything and anything. 46 He said, "It's written in Scripture, My house is a house of prayer; You have turned it into a religious bazaar." 47 From then on he taught each day in the Temple. The high priests, religion scholars, and the leaders of the people were trying their best to find a way to get rid of him. 48 But with the people hanging on every word he spoke, they couldn't come up with anything. (The Message)

Today is Monday of Holy Week. I chose the passage that tells of what came after the Palm Sunday parade. The first verse of this passage says that Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Such was His love for this special city and for what it had been and what it had become. No longer was it truly a religious center, it was now more a commercial center and a financial center. Jesus knew that what lay ahead for this week depended on the people getting their priorities right with God. Jerusalem as a city would never be like it was during the time of David or Solomon. But things could be special for those who came to know of God's love for them. And as had been His custom since His first visit, Jesus went straight to the Temple. Jesus had seen this place change from His childhood, for He had been 12 on His first visit, to what it was now on his 30th year of life. And as we read, He was none too happy with the result; as this version reads, this was not so much a center of prayer and spiritual growth as it was a flea market. "Anything and everything was on sale." His words tell the story, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of thieves." Jesus drove out the money-changers and those who were selling everything, and wanted the place restored to what its purpose was, a place to connect with God. The rest of the passage says that Jesus spent the rest of that week teaching in the temple. While He taught about God's love and God's desire to be in relationship with the people, the religious people of the temple sought a way to kill Him. Jesus was making an impact on the people listening; the religious leaders feared to make a move with that sort of response to Jesus.

This week will pass quickly. Some churches has things planned for all week. Some will wait until Thursday to have a special Holy Communion remembrance of that special Maundy Thursday. Some will have a Good Friday service, and many will have Easter Egg events sometime this week. The question is how this week will impact you and your relationship with God. Everything about this week has your name on it. (And mine as well). Everything that Jesus said and did was done especially for you. How will you respond? Yesterday, we sat in the Easter cantata of First UMC in McAllen as we visited with our grandkids and their parents, and when they got to "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?" I wept. Yes, I thought, I was there. Not in the best role that I could think of, but I was there. I was the one whose sins nailed Him to the cross. I was the one whose sins broke His heart. I was the one who should have been nailed to that tree. I was the one Jesus loved enough to do all that for.

Be there. And let Jesus be with you. In the special places of your heart and life.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the meaningful and powerful things of this Holy Week. Speak to my heart with each act and observance, so that I can truly "be there" for You now and always. This I ask in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PS Prayers for The Rev. Scott Herren, who is undergoing hip replacement surgery this morning there in Corpus Christi. He should be out by noon and I had a chance to pray with him and visit with Melissa and with Fred, one of Odem's lay members. Pray for a victory in that surgery.

That at the Name of Jesus

Philippians 2: 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (NRSV)

It is all about Jesus, not us, as we finish our Lenten Journey. This passage underscores that for us. The writer tries to explain for us that our thinking should be like that of Christ Jesus. His mind was a humble servant mind, thinking of how best to serve God and God's people. The writer understood that Christ could have thought, "I am God and I don't need to put up with any of this!" but instead knew that His job was to be obedient and trusting in God, even to the point, the writer says, of "taking the form of a slave." Jesus' humility and love for humanity (that's you and me) took him to the cross, where He died to take away our sin. It has been interesting to hear and read accounts of conversion, of how some have struggled with the idea of sin and personal sin and how those can be removed. John Wesley's account for me remains the most personal where Wesley finally, after a faithful career of preaching, teaching and serving, came to the realization that Jesus had indeed died for his sins, "even mine" as Wesley wrote. Another wrote that as he prayed he literally heard the chains of those sins fall on the marble floor of the cathedral in which he prayed asking for his sins to be removed. All of this was the work of Jesus at the cross.

Because of Jesus' faithfulness, God highly exalted Jesus and gave Him the name above all names, with the promise that I love reading, "so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (vs. 10-11 RSV). This is a promise and it is coming one day. Paul so believed in the urgency of sharing Christ with all nations that he set out on those missionary journeys and made plans for more that were not to be. Paul's heart burned to share Jesus with all who would listen and receive so that one day, that day, the name of Jesus would be exalted by all people in all places. Our work is not done, in fact, it is far from where it should be, and it is up to you and me to share the Gospel in a way that invites, attracts, convicts, converts, and deploys those who come to know the love of God through Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Loving God, as we near the end of this Lenten Journey, make us aware of how much good we should be about as we seek to share You with others. The harvest is ready; in some places, the need is there to sow; give us wisdom to know what it is that we should do. This we ask in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God is Present in Our Suffering; Count on It!

Isaiah 50:4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6 I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7 The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. 9 It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? (NRSV)

This is the week leading to the week. The passages will reveal the suffering and passion of Jesus on our behalf. The prophet Isaiah, heard and wrote these words many years before they applied to Jesus, yet they hit the mark of all that Jesus had to endure. Is Jesus a teacher? The best the world has seen. Is Jesus an encourager? No one compares. Is Jesus present as we awaken for the day? Count on it. Did Jesus obey God? Like no one we know. Did Jesus take His blows without complaining? It's what the Bible says. Did God help Jesus? Always; as God has for you and me. Were insults hurled at Jesus? Just like a church that does not like/pray for/love their pastor. Was Jesus guilty? No, but the crowds said He was. Did Jesus have to suffer all these things? He wanted to. For you and for me.

Does our suffering compare? Sometimes it seems worse. But, in all things, God is with us.

Can we endure? If we trust God.

PRAYER: Loving God, be present in the life of this dear reader in all that s/he may face or be facing. Be especially with all who serve as Your servants in churches and places of service and ministry. May any suffering or pain they are feeling pale when Your healing touch is upon them. Be present in a healing way with those of Your servants who are sick or in ERs or ICUs needing Your deliverance; You know who they are, bless and comfort them and their loved ones. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

God's Love Endures Forever!

Psalm 118: 1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever." 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. 25 Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success! 26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you. 29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. (New Revised Standard Version)

This coming Sunday will be Palm Sunday. Always a day of great celebration and rejoicing. Churches that are blessed with children use them as part of the processional march, waving palms and recreating what we think that original entrance into Jerusalem looked like. Even churches that usually don't have children, find them somehow and do the same. This is a Psalm that sets the stage in our minds, hearts, and spirits for that coming celebration. It begins with our need to always to give thanks to God. God is good, all the time (And as we have learned, "and all the time, God is good!). God's love is steadfast, it is eternal, it never ends! We should right now, right where we are, startle someone by saying out loud, "God's steadfast love endures forever."

The psalmist also set the stage for Jesus' entry by writing what God placed on his heart; "Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord." Righteousness is not a physical location as it is a spiritual one. Being right with God is righteousness. Those who love God need to open the gates of their hearts to allow the Lord in again. As Jesus entered Jerusalem, He was not necessarily entering a righteous place, but He was entering into the place that needed Him whether they knew it then or not. The psalmist says from his heart that by answering his prayers, God has become his salvation. The "stone" that the "builders" rejected has become the chief cornerstone, referring to the place that Jesus would hold in both the hearts of those who rejected Him and those who accepted Him. The builders were the so-called righteous of His day; they rejected Jesus. There was no way Jesus could be the expected One from God. Those who accepted Him knew that Jesus was indeed, in all respects, the chief cornerstone of fruitful and abundant life. All of this, the psalmist says, was God's doing, and "it is marvelous in our eyes." That day when we realize that and accept that, becomes the day that the Lord has made, one in which we are to rejoice and be glad in it. We also realize the need continues to God to save us and so we join in the prayer of others who are asking for God's saving grace to be upon them. We need from God success as God defines it. Indeed, to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior is to receive as blessed, the One who has come in the name of the Lord. God has indeed given to us formerly in the dark light, and so we join that festive procession with branches from where God found us right to the altar of the Lord. How can we not give thanks to He who is good, whose steadfast and eternal love last forever?

Say it again, "God's steadfast love endures forever!"

PRAYER: Indeed, loving God, Your steadfast love endures forever! May we live our lives in ways that say so! Amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Voice of the Poor

John 12:1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." (NRSV)

Yesterday was the historic election of the first South American pope. Pope Francis I is the first Jesuit ever elected. As the day wore on we learned more about him. As a Jesuit he took a vow of poverty and upon becoming a Cardinal, he refused to live in the mansion provided for him as he did the limousine, choosing instead to take the bus to work and to live in a small apartment where he was able to fix his own meals. One media outlet called him, "A voice of the poor." The greatest voice of the poor was Jesus Christ, who in this passage makes reference to them. His sermons and teachings make reference to the special place the poor hold in God's heart. In this passage, we learn of the symbolic preparation for his burial that takes place in a meal hosted in His honor by Lazarus and his sisters. It must have been quite an occasion as Jesus had recently raised Lazarus from the dead. These sisters were the same who had hosted Jesus before and one of them wanted Jesus to talk to the other one because she was not concerned with the household tasks. It is Martha who then, and now, was concerned with serving. Mary took a more personal interest in Jesus' teaching and message, and in this story it is Mary who has taken a pound of very expensive perfumed oils and used it to anoint Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair. It is Judas Iscariot who is annoyed by this and he makes the comment, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred silver coins and the money used to help the poor?" And the writer is sure to note in parenthesis that Judas did not care for the poor and was indeed a thief who served as treasurer of the disciples and embezzled money. Jesus' response is that Mary was taking part in a symbolic preparation of His burial, then the statement, "You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

Jesus is not neglecting the care of the poor but rather is drawing attention to the uniqueness of the moment, a royal death is about to hit them, and she, Mary, is a special part of that touching moment. One commentary says that with her action, Mary showed that we can love both Jesus and the poor by what she modeled. In Matthew 25 as Jesus teaches about what is expected of us, He spoke of clothing the naked, quenching the thirsty, feeding the hungry, visiting the prisoner and the sick; looking beyond ourselves to the needs of others. And He's doing it in a special setting. We don't suspect that Lazarus and his sisters were rich. They were probably common folks like their neighbors. But one thing set them apart; illness and death related to that illness visited their home. They paid for a funeral and then had the unexpected joy of seeing resurrection occur in their family. They knew that even if Jesus was to die, it would not be for long, but still they, especially Mary, wanted to be a part of the preparation for that funeral that was yet to come. This family was rich, though poor; rich in faith, rich in love, rich in service and care for others; rich in hope that death is not the end.

Our Lenten journey is nearing closure. Our faith should be deeper than when we first started. Our joy at the sunrise of Resurrection Sunday should be deep and profound, as should our awareness of the needs and concerns of our neighbors.

PRAYER: Blessed Lord, for these days in which we have journeyed with You, prepare us as Mary prepared You, to understand the profound passion You experienced, so that when Easter Sunday comes, we will be among the first to joyfully say, "He is risen! He is risen indeed!" May it be so; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Best Credentials

Philippians 3:If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. (NRSV)

The most impressive title I've come across is the man in charge of Wesley's Chapel in London, The Reverend Doctor Leslie The Lord Griffiths. I have to confess that I read that title several times wondering what it could possibly mean, and as worship started the associate pastor welcomed us and explained the title to us. It is very impressive, but St. Paul would ask, What does it matter? He had come across many who bragged on their credentials and standings and driven by frustration he wrote the words of today's passage. Quite impressive; not a Lord, but still. He was thoroughly Jewish for he was circumcised on the eighth day according to the Law. He was a part of the people of Israel, more specifically, the tribe of Benjamin, his words, "A Hebrew born of Hebrews." Continuing with the explanation of the law, he was trained and received as a Pharisee. As to his enthusiasm for his calling, he was a persecutor of the Church, and if you defined righteousness by the law, then he considered himself blameless. Measured against any man of his time, there would be few with more impressive credentials on either side, the Jewish side or the Christian side; yet, Paul says, these mean nothing compared to Jesus Christ; everything I used to have and value I now consider as rubbish compared to the joy and life I have found in Jesus Christ my Lord. The things of the past are all lost, the gain that I seek is to know Jesus better, to be found in Him, and to be known as one righteous not because of the Law, but because of faith in Jesus Christ. The thing I want most is to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, and yes, even suffering as He did to become like Him even in death. Paul's hope was to attain resurrection from the dead, and this was his motivation in faith. The main thing, Paul says, is to leave the past in the past and strain forward to what lies ahead; the heavenly prize of God calling him home in Jesus Christ.

Paul's case as stated above simply says, it's not what we know, but Who we know. If we know Jesus Christ and seek to know as much as we can about Him, that should be motivation enough to keep going forward. It's not about titles, degrees, diplomas, pedigrees, or what have you; it's about faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Our motivation is not to keep looking backward at past failures or mistakes, it's about trusting God enough to move towards being faithful in our ministry here now.

PRAYER: Loving God, allow me to move toward You today. Whatever may have troubled me about yesterday should not matter today. Let me live fully in You in all that may come my way today, for I seek to be faithful to You in all things; this I pray in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Built for Praise!

Isaiah 43: 16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, 17 who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: 18 Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. 19 I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 20 The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, 21 the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise. (New Revised Standard Version)

A church with a cross in the front and a clock on the back has declared who is to be worshiped. Hint: It's not God; it's the people whose time is so important that the worship of God cannot run past twelve or an hour. This is a worship passage and it's centered on reminders, distractions and directions for praise. The reminder is this; worship is all about God, not us. Not you. Not me. It is a time to know that the God who has brought us this far is worthy to be praised. As you gather your thoughts for worship remind yourself of where you are, where you need to be, and God's special place in all that. God reminded Isaiah that it was God who made a way through the sea, an impossible feat made possible and necessary for escape and for life. The same thing may have happened in your life where God made a way through a sea of despair or addiction or habits that were leading you to your certain death; God made a way. The pursuers using chariots and horses were "extinguished like a wick," so were yours and mine. Then, be aware as you worship that in that hour or so, God is about to do a new thing; are you aware and ready for it? Even through the deserts of doubt or the rivers of worry, God is there ready to create something new. This creation of life-supporting, life-giving resources will bless all who are aware of them. And then remember that that's why we were created, to praise and thank God.

A praise such as the one Isaiah describes does not watch the clock; it watches the cross. The clock counts down your life; the cross counts up towards life. The clock measures time you can never recover; the cross shows that time when your future was made sure and eternal. The clock only counts to twelve, twenty-four if you have a military-style clock, the cross is eternal. The clock tells you where you need to be; the cross reminds you where you were when Jesus took your place. The clock is worthy of having its batteries replaced and like this past weekend, reset to mark a new time. The cross is worthy of pointing us to Jesus, Who is worthy of our praise for all He did, is doing, and will do in our lives.

Tick tock is not praise. You know what real praise is.

PRAYER: Loving God, set my time on Yours. Set my eyes not on clocks but on the reminders of Your grace and love, of the sacrifices made on my behalf. I want to be a part of the new creation coming; not one pressured by the measuring of time reminding me of were I need to be; the only place I need to be is in that place and with those people who are praising You. This I pray, with faith, in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God is Good to Us!

Psalm 126: 1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." 3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. 4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb. 5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.(NRSV)

The children who live in our area here in South Texas have two special days when they get free candy. Or I should say at least two days. Halloween and the parade kicking off the livestock show in Robstown, Texas. The scripture picture for today shows my grandson, Caleb Eradio Garcia, not doing a tribal dance, but running to where the candy has fallen. Folks on floats toss candy to children and for many that's the highlight of the parade. I thought this photo went well with verse 3 of this psalm. This psalm is both a remembrance and a prelude to rejoicing, remembering what God had done and what the writer hopes God will do again for God's people. After a time away from God and from their land, when they returned it seemed like a dream, but their mouths and tongues were filled with joy and laughter. The shout was "The Lord has done great things for them." Then it is a personal statement, "The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. Then the prayer, restore our fortunes/blessings, O Lord in a marvelous way. Turn our tears into joy and the tears of those laboring into shouts of praise as they reap the harvest of their labors.

Our God is a God of involvement in our lives. God is aware of our needs and sorrows and God has delivered us in the past from these and will do it again. God is a God who listens to and answers prayers, we are to stay connected with God in our sharing and expecting of prayers. The psalmist was a person of faith, as we should be, trusting and expecting that in all things, God will be with us and share with us just what we need. May it be so in your life.

PRAYER: Lord, may these words of the Psalm be my words of prayer for whatever it may be that I am facing. I trust in You and thank You for the times You have delivered me and blessed me; come now and bless me again. If I am crying tears of sorrow or frustration while working, share with me what I need to turn those cries into laughter and shouts of joy. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Eradio Valverde

Welcome Home, My Child!

Luke 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3So he told them this parable: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, "How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands." ' 20So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his slaves, "Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate. 25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, "Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, "Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' 31 Then the father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.' " (NRSV)

This is your story. This is my story. The word "prodigal" means "wasteful or extravagant living" but it means for a lot of people, the waywardness of that awful son from the story. It is a powerful story, perhaps one of the most well known of the parables that Jesus used to demonstrate the love of God for you and me. And speaking of you and me, that's why Jesus told the story. You and I have lived in wasteful or extravagant live, perhaps not rich in money or possessions but rich in the time we thought we had plenty of to spend as we like. It was a time when we thought we could live away from God on our own, not needing anything, but doing exactly what we wanted, when we wanted, thinking all the time we still had time... Then the harsh fingers of reality crept along our soul and made us realize we were far from where we needed to be, home. You may have thought you had nowhere else to go, but then the thought of home did enter your mind. I knew I could, but I needed to get myself ready. The difficult thing would not be the miles I had to cover to get home, but the final, painful knock on that door. If Dad/Mom saw me standing outside, would they answer? And if they did answer, what would I say? Confession, yes, confession is good for the soul, but would it be good enough for Dad/Mom? But imagine our shock when we were not allowed to talk! Instead of a slammed door in the face, we got a hug and not only a hug, a sobbing hug and a kiss! We had never seen Dad/Mom run so fast! And then instead of punishment, a party! A dress-up, fatted calf barbecue! And music! Not what we expected...

This is the story of our coming to God. It's the third of three powerful stories that Jesus told to show the awesomeness of God's love towards those who are lost. This passage does not include verse 7 where Jesus says, "I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." Joy in heaven, and joy in our heart, to turn away from sin into the loving embrace of the One who created love. What we once thought was extravagant living pales to the true extravagance of agape love, God's unconditional eternal love.

The path may seem long and hard, but it's as close as your heart and your lips to say, "Loving God, I want to come home. I have sinned against You and others, I ask forgiveness and the strength to turn away from sin and temptation, and towards You. This is my prayer, in Jesus' name, amen."

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Thought for the Day

I no longer want to be the Prodigal Child; I long for home and the peace it brings.

Fresh Start/A New Creation

2 Corinthians 5: 16 Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. 17 Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! 18All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. 19 God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. 20 We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you. 21 How? you say. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God. (The Message)

All who come to Jesus Christ are given a fresh start. A new heart, a new mind, a renewed spirit! We can't look at people the "old" or same way we used to because our new life in Jesus Christ has given to us a fresh perspective towards God and God's people. We have been given the ability to see that on the inside those who have surrendered to Jesus have received, like us, a fresh, new start. Our "old life" has left us and a new life beckons. How? God has made right the old relationship we used to have with Him. Now we have a new relationship, with orders to make right our relationships with others. And all of this was through Jesus Christ who gave us and the entire world this fresh start with all sins now forgiven. We should be happy to tell others that we have been forgiven and they can be as well. We should be glad to claim the label of "Christ's Representative" to all who will hear us. The message should be loud and clear, what do we gain in holding on to our differences? Absolutely nothing! We now enter into God's work to make things right between all people. We are God's friends now because God sought us first. All because God was willing to put our sins in Jesus Christ who was without sin, just so we can be at peace with God.

The best earthly comparison I can make with this was a recurring experience in my youth. There was a Dr. Pepper Bottling Company a little off the direct way to school. There were certain days when they would bottle the red soda that we all loved and three or four of us would rush to the plant and look longingly into the huge glass window at the endless parade of freshly bottled red sodas. With our puppy dog eyes begging for a sample, the man inside would finally motion to us to come to the door and he would hand each of us a cold bottle of red soda. We had to drink it there and return the bottle to him, but we ran home excited that such a wonderful thing had been shared with us! We would each run to our homes and tell our younger siblings about what we had experienced. Our excitement became theirs as well as their desire to share in what we had received. If soft drinks could do it then for us, why can't the greatest news in the world do the same even today? After all, in Christ Jesus, we have that which quenches our soul with a beverage that is living.

PRAYER: Loving God, for Your love we are thankful. For the newness of life that is ours through Jesus we are also thankful and ask that You give us courage and boldness to share it with others. It is too good a gift to keep for ourselves. Help us help others find the newness of life in Jesus Christ. This we pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Thought for the Day

Our old life is gone; let us enjoy the new one!

Promise Fulfilled!

Joshua 5: 9 The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt." And so that place is called Gilgal to this day. 10 While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11 On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year. (NRSV)

A new home! New to you at least, but this is the place you've been waiting for! In the case of many pastors, this is a scene repeated so many times that the sense of newness may be lost; but at least for a moment or a day or so, it is said, "This is our new home." And so it is. In the case of Israel, the people of God, upon arrival into their new home, God declared to them a great word of a promise fulfilled, "Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt." God heard their cries and they were set free from the bondage of slavery and took them on a forty year journey through the desert to form them as His people. And to reach the promised land, they had reached that which God had long ago promised. To spend the night in this new home was a fulfillment of promise. The disgrace of slavery, suffering, oppression, shame, death from harsh working conditions was now "rolled away." Notice the choice of language and remember it so that when you hear that phrase at Easter you'll be reminded of the number of times God has and will roll away from us things that separate us from Him.

The arrival also marked a day when they could celebrate the remembrance of the Passover, the event that led to their freedom. And on the day after the passover, they ate of the harvest of the land, unleavened bread and parched grain. It was a feast of celebration that indeed the new home now has all that they needed to survive. It was also on that day that the manna, the bread from heaven, ended. They were now able to produce their own food.

Look around when you can at the place you call home. God has provided it as a place for your life to be blessed. When you get a chance look at the provision of food you may have in this house and remember again, that God has provided this as well. Many of us have more than we need, and many of us know we are called to be generous with God in our worship and generous in sharing with the needs of those not as fortunate as ourselves. If your church has a food drive contribute with gladness that God's blessings to you can be the blessings of others. If you church does not have a food drive or food pantry, start one! Let your church become a blessing point for those in need, and let the story be told again and again, all that we have, has come from the loving hands of God.

PRAYER: Loving God, we are a blessed people. Your loving hands have provided for our needs and today we want to share with others. Keep my eyes always open to what You have and are doing in my life. Let my life be a blessing to others. I pray this in the precious and powerful name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Sing A Song of Joy!

Psalm 32 (New Revised Standard Version): 1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. (Selah) 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Selah) 6 Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them. 7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. (Selah) 8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you. 10 Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Most of the Psalms were written to be sung. There are no recorded melodies for these psalms, but the words themselves sing out praises and prayers towards God. And any song that begins with the word Happy can't be a bad or sad song. It's a song of celebration, elation, and joy! Compare those days in your life where you won a special victory, recognition, love, promotion, etc., and the joy that accompanied that special thing; was not your heart singing? Think back to that moment when you knew that Jesus had died for YOUR sins, and put music to that moment, you will have a number one song in your heart for yourself. John Wesley, as he sat quite reluctantly at the laity led meeting, heard the words of Martin Luther on the Paul's letter to the Romans. Here are his words from his journal: "About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." It would be his brother who would write the hymn, O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing that would include this truth: "He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me." There's the joy.

The Psalmist knew what it was to sin, and he also knew what it was to be forgiven. He knew the pain and suffering that he describes in the words of today's psalm; the feeling that one's body is wasting away through one's groaning. The heavy weight of guilt upon one's heart, the loss of strength from the heat of anguish as if from the heat of summer. Yet, it was upon confession that God brought forgiveness. His joy was to write these words so that "all who are faithful (can) offer prayer to you." God is our hiding place where nothing nor no one can reach us if we desire God's protection from sin. He even uses common comparison for us not to be like pack or riding animals "who are without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you." Ours is the steadfast love from God. Closing instructions; be glad in the Lord and rejoice, and shout for joy, all you upright (the forgiven) in heart.

PRAYER: Loving God, let it be so for me; that You remove my sins and transgressions from my heart and especially my mind. May true happiness in You be found in me because of what You have removed. Replace my sin with gratitude and love towards You. This I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Thought for the Day

May my heart sing a song of joy for what God can and has done in me!