August 27, 2022 – Matthew 6:13, The Funny Shape of Faith

“And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.” –Matthew 6:13

“Why did Jesus even mention evil when he taught his followers to pray? We know that bad, even evil, things happen to all kinds of people in all kinds of places. But we don’t want to think about this any more than we have to, especially in a prayer. Jesus lived on this earth. He knew evil is real. Maybe we don’t need to be reminded of that. But we do need a reminder that God is our deliverer. God is working in our lives and gives us hope in the face of evil.” Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Locations 223-224). Kindle Edition.

A Dark Mirror

We all wish we could see ourselves as others see us – I least I know I do. I would like to know which version of myself people see – the one I hope they see, or the one I truly am.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:11-12: “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

His point, I believe is that the older we get the more truthful we see ourselves – or at least we should see ourselves in a more mature manner. That is the dark mirror – our lives are spent trying to understand ourselves, and often we are not perceiving ourselves as we should. But G-d has known us from the beginning, and in our faith in Jesus G-d sees us through the lens of our baptismal identity – as beloved children of G-d.

When life gets you believing that your only true reflection is in a “clown mirror”, remember your baptism – and remember your “true” identity – as a loved child of the Lord above.

Let us pray,

Lord of our true reflection, when evil wants to make me into a clown, lead me and guide me in my “true” identity. Fill me with hope in the face of evil. Amen.

Pastor Dave