Devotions Week of May 13

Mother’s Day holds a lot of power, whether our mothers are living or not. . Few holidays show the continuing bonds of love beyond death as does this one. Forgive the faults of your mother. Stand in awe at her virtues. If she is gone, honor her memory. If she lives, make sure she is acknowledged and appreciated. No gift can capture all of that, but joined with words and a hug, we are a good way down that road. Monday-We’ve been using some confessional material in worship, and I will lift some for this week’s devotions. The Scots Confession has some of the force and candor of the Reformation there. “The chosen departed…are delivered from all fear and torment, and all the temptations… to which we are subject tin this life.” this is the militant language of early reformers, ready and willing to draw lines. Tuesday- the Heidelberg Catechism was the Reformed material brought to the U.S. with the Dutch in New York. It was set up to fit 52 Sundays of material from which to preach and teach. Q. 58-what comfort does the life everlasting give you? A. “since I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, I shall possess, after this life, perfect blessedness, which no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of moral ones conceived, and thereby praise God forever.” Wednesday-The Second Helvetic confession is a much more prolix document that reflects the elaboration of basic Reformed notions. My professor Edward Dowey would tear up a bit at the thought of the author of the confession, Bullinger. He saw him being faithful to God in the shadow of the great generation of the first reformers. It’s a more irenic confession than others.5.031 sees a benefit in the doctrine of providence in that we do not have to worry about the great impact of our actions. After all, the world is in god’s hands in the end. It is a salve for anxiety. Thursday-Ascension Day is rarely a big day in the Protestant traditions, even as it continues to be a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics. For forty days the disciples had contact with the risen Jesus, but now, no more. They were now in our situation. Jesus was not physically present to them any longer. Yet, the selfsame Jesus is untied with us through the Spirit, still out advocate, still on our side, and now his works are extended through the body of Christ, the church catholic, global, universal. Friday-The Barmen declaration was written at the start of a church state battle when the German State Church adopted Nazi policy in the name of being patriotic. A brave group of people formed a new church to counter this action and would soon be exiles or martyrs. Yes, the “state provides justice and peace….we reject the false doctrine that the state could order human life singly…but the church should not appropriate the characteristics, tasks and dignity fo the state, thus becoming an organ of the state. Saturday-In days gone by, Westminster was the confession of the Presbyterian Church and young people memorized its catechism. Many regard its first question as a classic. Q1. What is the chief end of humanity? A. our chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy God forever.” How do we seek today to glorify god? More critically perhaps in our time, how do we enjoy God?