Sunday Stretch: Vol. 55

Start off your week with a grounded take on Bible, prayer, the world, and your life ...

Hi Readers,

And a special welcome to new subscribers joining from my event in Minnesota last week!

It is the season of “special” Sundays. Two weeks ago, we celebrated the anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Last week was All Saints Sunday. And this Sunday is the Sunday that follows Veterans Day, which we remember on Nov. 11 in the U.S.

As I write to you, I’m running on less than 3 hours sleep last night - but for a very good reason - I just returned from a research trip to Charleston and Columbia, S.C., conducting interviews for my forthcoming book, Our Boys. I am filled with humility, gratitude, hope, and also grief surrounding my time in South Carolina. I was overwhelmed by hospitality and openness and willingness to share stories from so many folks who I talked to this past weekend - on some really tough subjects, including remembering and honoring of the victims of the racially-motivated mass shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston in 2015.

I truly haven’t had a chance to fully process all I experienced yet, but I felt so powerfully the presence of the Holy Spirit. I’ll have a full post coming in a few weeks to share more about the new book and what I’ve been up to as I begin to write and report.

With the weightiness of this past weekend for me personally, and the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Israel/Gaza, I feel a hunger to return to our tradition this week of dwelling in the texts.

That being said, a word of honor and remembrance and solemnity for all of the veterans among us, and for the veterans who we have loved and lost. I wrote more about the military veterans in my life here, and I also hold a special place in my life for the veterans who I got to minister to at the Veteran’s Hospital in Minneapolis during my clinical pastoral education in 2010. Caring for our nation’s military veterans is a sacred and important honor.

Let’s get to the texts …

Bible Stories

Amos 5:18-24

Amos 5:18    Alas for you who desire the day of the LORD!

Why do you want the day of the LORD?

It is darkness, not light;

¹⁹ as if someone fled from a lion,

and was met by a bear;

or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall,

and was bitten by a snake.

²⁰ Is not the day of the LORD darkness, not light,

and gloom with no brightness in it?

Amos 5:21    I hate, I despise your festivals,

and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

²² Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals

I will not look upon.

²³ Take away from me the noise of your songs;

I will not listen to the melody of your harps.

²⁴ But let justice roll down like waters,

and righteousness like an everflowing stream.

I’ve been getting asked more frequently about the “End Times,” especially when I present to groups to talk about Christian Nationalism. This article traces some of the recent trends of apocalypticism in American politics, and I also wrote about these trends in my chapter on Guns in Red State Christians (fittingly enough). Much popular Christian literature and material about the Rapture emphasizes American Christians as the chosen few, who will get to gather with Jesus as he comes in glory, and thus the “End Times” are something to look forward to and plan for with expectation. But the Prophet Amos warns against this kind of thinking. He says those who “desire the day of the LORD” should beware, and should be less certain of their own righteousness.

Questions to Ponder

What kind of religious festivals in his time do you think the Prophet Amos was referencing? How about in our time?

We don’t often think of God as “hating” something, especially religious offerings. Why do you think Amos spoke so forcefully in the voice of God here?

What might it look like for “justice to flow down like waters” in our world today?

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1Th. 4:13   But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters,^a about those who have died,^b so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.^{a  15} For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died.^{a  16} For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Interestingly, after reading the passage from Amos warning us about romanticizing the Day of the Lord, we have a passage from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, an apocalyptic letter that often discusses the “coming of the Lord.” How can we follow Paul’s advice to encourage one another about Jesus’ return to the world without falling into the traps that Amos warns about?

Who do you think Paul is talking about in the first two verses of this section? Who might fit these definitions today?

Why is it so dangerous to be without hope?

How does this vision of the Day of the Lord differ from popular conceptions of the Rapture?

Matthew 25:1-13

Matt. 25:1   “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids^a took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.^{b  2} Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³ When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; ⁴ but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵ As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. ⁶ But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ Then all those bridesmaids^a got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. ¹¹ Later the other bridesmaids^a came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ¹² But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ ¹³ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.^a

I always check to see historical artwork relating to Jesus’ parables, so I was looking for artwork with this parable and was surprised to find that I couldn’t get much when I searched for the Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids, which is what it’s called in the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, traditionally used in most mainline congregations. Instead, Google autocorrected my search from “bridesmaids” to “virgins.” Upon looking at the original Greek of this text, it’s true that the word used, “παρθένος” does not seem to quite fit either the word “bridesmaid” or the word “virgin.” BDAG’s lexicon (my go-to source for biblical Greek help) says that the word most precisely means “young woman of marriageable age” with or without a focus on virginity.

Well, we can’t claim to be surprised that generations of male Bible scholars and theologians thought it important to focus on the young women’s sexual status in this parable. Unfortunately, much of Western Christianity has long tended to view women (think of Eve, Mary) in terms of the Madonna/whore dichotomy. But strip that away for a moment, and think about the fact that Jesus was telling a parable through the eyes of young women. Clearly, he thought these young, unmarried women had influence, power, and some level of gravitas. I think that’s pretty cool.

Much like the unofficial title of this parable, the content within it also can lend itself to troublesome interpretations. Was Jesus shaming those who weren’t prepared? Should we use this parable to shame our loved ones when they forget to pack something on a trip or forget the important ingredients at the grocery store? Probably not … and we shouldn’t use it to shame ourselves, either. Instead, on theme with the other two texts that bring to light different interpretations of the apocalypse/end of the world/Day of the Lord, Jesus reminds us not to be overconfident about our own role in making things happen. Neither, though, should we not be mindful at all of the consequences for the world of our actions.

Each time I read this parable, it makes me think of a new allusion to something in our modern world. This time, I thought about climate change. Can you see a warning about our treatment of creation in this parable? Why or why not?

What does Jesus mean when he suggests to “keep awake”?

Why is it so hard to stay prepared for everything in our modern world? How can we do a better job of helping each other and sharing with one another when it comes time to “be prepared?”

PRAYER

Dear God,

With all the calamities around the world, close to home, and even in our own families and personal lives - sometimes it seems like the end must be coming soon. Other times we wonder why we don’t feel your presence more powerfully among us. Please grant us clarity and hope, to continue to care for creation, for one another, and to work for justice that flows down like a mighty water.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

AMEN

An Invitation

A Community that prays for one another is transformed by the power of the Spirit. We’ve been praying for and with each other now for over a year! For the new year, and about once a quarter, I will re-start this space for prayer requests and praises. Please email with your own requests and I will share here with your permission!

Thank you to those of you who shared requests last week. I am going to mention your requests at the top of our list today.

1. For all churches and church leaders who recognized All Saints Sunday last week, and for all those today who remain in deep grief over the loss of a loved one, especially all those who have died violently and suddenly.

2. For Bishop Paride Taban of South Sudan, who died on All Saints Day. Bishop Taban led the Catholic Church and the South Sudan Council of Churches through decades of civil war, as a lamp on the hill of peace, despite many threats on his life and imprisonments. In his retirement he founded Kuron Holy Trinity Peace Village as a place where all the nomadic peoples of Eastern Equatoria in South Sudan, the Karimojong of NE Uganda and the Pokot and Turkana in NW Kenya can safely send their children for education, and their wounded and sick for treatment, as well as come to learn skills such as plowing, planting, conservation, and conflict resolution. (Thank you to Gann Herman for sharing this request and sharing Bishop Taban’s story with us).

3. For Wendy Heath, who died unexpectedly in March of 2023 at the age of 32.

4. For Gary, Robert, Janet, Mary, Alison, Barb, and so many more loved ones and friends.

5. For all those who lack clean drinking water in the U.S. and around the world. Grant them access to clean water, and help promote policies of access and health for all people, regardless of income or status.

6. For all in the Holy Land facing violence and war, especially in Israel and Gaza, and for protection of human lives in the midst of terrorism and state violence. Help people turn away from terrorism and violence and war.

7. For Jewish people around the world, who have been reminded again of the powerful sway of anti-Semitism and past pogroms and hate-filled violence against Jews, including in the Holocaust. Bring solidarity and protection and peace in their midst, especially for Jewish faith leaders who are seeking peace and protection for Palestinians in Gaza as well as for Jews in Israel.

8. For all in Afghanistan who lost loved ones and suffered tragedy in recent earthquakes.

9. For Armenian refugees and all those who have been torn away from their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh, and for a cessation of violence in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

10. For farmers and farmworkers who are working on the harvest: for safety and a bountiful crop as they work in the fields.

11. For the people of Morocco, and the lands and towns surrounding the historic city of Marrakech, as they rebuild and mourn the destruction of a devastating earthquake last month. And for the people of Derna, Libya, and all those who lost their lives, their homes, loved ones, and everything they had in flooding there last month.

12. For victims of gun violence across America over the past year, and especially God for your justice to ring out against all those who continue to lend support and credence to white supremacy, especially in the Church. Help us to speak clearly for the call to justice and an intolerance of racist actions and policies in America.

13. We continue to pray for a cessation of violence and war in Ukraine, and for refugees and migrants around the world who are without a safe place to call home.

14. We pray for all people experiencing extreme weather, and those without safe shelter or a warm/cool place to sleep at night. For all those in need of food. For all those looking for work. For those injured in travel on the roads and on the sea and on the rails, especially migrants who travel dangerous routes with their families seeking safety and freedom, both on the Mediterranean Sea and at the U.S./Mexico border. For people in the South, in Mexico and Central America, and California - and all those living in the midst of extreme heat, that they would have access to cool places to sleep and live, and that rain would come. We also pray for those experiencing flooding, and those living in the midst of wildfires and wildfire smoke, especially in Canada and the Northwest Territories - also for those experiencing extreme heat and without enough shade and water in the midst of grueling outdoor work, especially farmworkers and construction workers across the United States, India, China, and the Middle East.

15. We pray for the people of Holy Land, for Israelis and Palestinians, Christians, Jews, and Muslims - that all will be treated with justice and be given equal rights before the government, to live, work, and practice their faith. We pray for an end to violence and protection of the vulnerable, especially children and the elderly.

16. We pray for all churches, church leaders, and volunteers as they lead congregations in this season after Pentecost. May religious leaders step aside to make way for the creativity of the Holy Spirit, and not resist the blowing winds of change and disruption.

17. We pray for the people of Iran, where protesters’ lives are being threatened and women are being arrested simply for advocating for their lives and criticizing an abusive government. We also pray for women and girls in Afghanistan, whose right to education and employment has been taken away by the ruling Taliban.

18. We pray for the victims of gun violence across America, and for brave legislators who are seeking to change overly permissive gun laws. Bring justice, resolution, truth, and mercy, dear God, and culpability to those who profit from the sale and manufacture of guns.

19. We pray for all those living and existing at the U.S./Mexico borderlands, and for migrants around the world who are seeking safety and a better life for their families. Protect and keep safe all those who travel far from home, risking their lives, especially parents, children, and seniors - and people from countries at war and under political strife, especially people from El Salvador, Haiti, Venezuela, Honduras, Colombia, Peru, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, Sudan, and many other countries around the world. Grant mercy and open hearts to those who work in border enforcement, and prevent violence and death at the border.

20. We pray for all students, teachers, staff, administrators, families, coaches, bus drivers - and all those involved with kids heading back to school. God bring peace, safety, joy and laughter to classrooms across our world this school year, and help kids to have a safe and productive environment to learn and to love the world.

21. On this post-Labor Day month, we pray for all those who work hard to advocate for better conditions for workers across the world, especially those who work in dangerous conditions each and every day for low pay, especially farmworkers and caregivers and factory workers and nurses and first responders. Be with all those who are striking for fair pay and conditions, from autoworkers to hotel workers and restaurant workers.

22. I ask for prayers especially for a colleague and friend of mine who is going through cancer treatment and was diagnosed with another chronic illness earlier this year.

23. For those who serve in leadership positions in American politics and government, and for media members who report on American politics - may they all be guided by respect for truth and honor for the people they serve, to move past internal disputes or social media attention and to governing and reporting with attention to those in need and those suffering in the US. and around the world.

24. For protection for members of the media and journalists around the world who put themselves at great risk to report the news and share stories.

Dear God, we pray for renewal and hope and change in the power of the Holy Spirit, and in the Creating, Redeeming, and Sustaining God!

AMEN

This was a special FREE edition of the Sunday Stretch so that new readers could see what we do here every Sunday morning. Thanks so much to all readers and subscribers who keep this community alive, with the help of the Holy Spirit!

P.S. …

A Few Notes:

First, a huge THANK YOU to all subscribers. I get a little email notification every time someone signs up, and every time I get one, I feel joyful and honored that you want to spend part of your day with this community. I mean it when I say: “I’m listening,” to you as well, and please don’t hesitate to share with me your thoughts + ideas for what you’d like to read in this space.

To PAID SUBSCRIBERS: I am humbled and honored that you’ve chosen to spend part of your limited budget on this newsletter. To borrow words from another newsletter I love, you are directly funding freelance journalism with your subscription, and I have to thank you more than ever for your continued support. Our world’s media and journalism is in a state of crisis, with fewer and fewer billionaires in control of global news outlets, and journalists being either laid off or threatened with violence for their work every single day; with fewer and fewer newsroom positions paying a living wage. I pledge to you to steward your paid subscription faithfully + use it to support honest, hard-working, and LOCAL journalism. One of my goals in this first year is to open this newsletter to other journalists, and pay them a fair wage for their work.

THANK YOU for your support. If you’re not a paid subscriber, please consider becoming one.

On free vs. paid-subscriber posts only: My plan right now is that the Friday + Sunday posts, focusing on news + spirituality, in that order, are available for subscribers only (I am going to continue sharing a sample, with a line where the paywall cuts off for our paid subscriber community). My plan is that the Tuesday blog-style posts will always be free, to enable as much access as possible, while creating a smaller and more intimate experience for paid subscribers, who are also able to comment and share in community in fuller ways.

Free Trial: Substack always offers a free week-long trial subscription to this newsletter, so you can get a taste of the Friday + Sunday posts and see if you’d like to subscribe!

If a paid subscription is a hardship for you, but you’d like access to the Friday + Sunday posts: PLEASE do not hesitate to reach out. I will be happy to provide a complimentary subscription for you.