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June 25: Battle of Little Big Horn

On this day in 1876, Chiefs Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull defeated U.S Army troops lead by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer.  Despite treaties promising that Native Americans would own their sacred Pahá Sápa (called the Black Hills) “as long as the rivers run and grass grows and the trees bear leaves,” once gold was discovered the army began a violent campaign to take the land back.

Have you ever had someone break an agreement with you?

More than 10,000 Native Americans gathered at Little Bighorn, disobeying the US War Department’s orders to return to their reservations. Despite being outnumbered and losing earlier battles, Custer pressed on to the camp without waiting for reinforcements.

Custer had only 600 men when he tried to take on 3,000 Lakota, Dakota and Cheyenne warriors.  Custer and every soldier with him was killed in the battle.  Also called Custer’s Last Stand by some, this battle fed into the stereotypes that Native Americans were wild, uncontrollable killers.  As a result, the US government would increase their efforts to force the tribes onto reservations and seize the land promised to them without remuneration.

Have you ever felt the government was being unfair or breaking its own rules?

Jesus and the gospel writers believed that the Romans were hypocritical and named their writings “Good News.” More than a pithy title, the Good News was also the name of Ceasar’s newspaper.  By using the title, Jesus and the gospel writers are implying that real good news comes from God.

If God came to earth to bring justice, what do you think God should do first?

Our history is full of stories of betrayal and racist actions.  Today, spend some time “talking story” (as they say in Hawaii).  Ask an older relative to tell you stories about what their life was like when they were younger, read about history through the eyes of a minority group or share your memories with a loved one.

Prayer of the Day: God of wind and rain, help us to remember the stories that have shaped our ancestors.  Bless those who experience your sacredness in the rhythms of the earth and help us to make amends for the hypocrisies of our government.  Amen.

Biblical Text of the Day: Deuteronomy 30:1-5

When all these things have happened to you, the blessings and the curses that I have set before you, if you call them to mind among all the nations where the God most high, your God has driven you, ²and return to the God most high, your God, and you and your children obey God with all your heart and with all your soul, just as I am commanding you today, ³then the God most high, your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, gathering you again from all the peoples among whom the God most high, your God has scattered you.

⁴Even if you are exiled to the ends of the world, from there the God most high, your God will gather you, and from there God will bring you back. ⁵The God most high, your God will bring you into the land that your ancestors possessed, and you will possess it; God will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors.

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Excerpt from: With a Day Like Yours Couldn't You Use a Little Grace

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June 23: Feast Day of St. Joseph Cafasso

Ordained a priest in 1833, St. Joseph Cafasso was known as a social saint.  Convinced that public hangings were wrong, Cafasso ensured that more than 60 prisoners left his world remembering that they had received a heavenly pardon and were loved by God.

Would you be able to assure those deemed fit to be killed by a jury of their peers, that God loves and forgives them?

Cafasso was particularly interested in reminding people that the grace of God was stronger than the angst and guilt that overwhelmed them.  And, despite all the death he witnessed, Cafasso continued to preach love: “We are born to love, we live to love, and we will die to love still more.”

How has love shaped your life?

Some people believe that people in prison can be reformed if they have time to think about their mistakes and perhaps find something to believe in or someone who believes in them.  Others think they are always going to be up to no good and are in prison to be locked away from others they might potentially do harm to.

Do you think love is powerful enough to reform those who have gone astray?

Unlike the worldly justice system, God never judges us based on our worst moments.  Unfairly, God greets us with love and forgiveness.  It’s called grace, precisely because we don’t deserve - and never will.

In the real world, this kind of love and forgiveness makes no sense.  But still, those who go to church try to live into this godly ideal of compassion and love and seek to unlearn the cynicism of the world around us. 

You don’t have to go to church to learn to love or to receive forgiveness.  The blessings of God are true, even when there isn’t a pastor around to proclaim them.  Lutherans believe that everyone is a pastor in their own way.  Today, take a moment to share God’s love by forgiving someone who doesn’t deserve it and loving someone beyond their expectations. 

Prayer of the Day:  God of compassion, help us learn to love and to be loved.  Thank you for forgiving our regrets, doubts and debts.  Bless those who are in prison and support the families and loved ones who long for their return.  Amen.

Biblical Text of the Day: Luke 6:35-38

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for God is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Parent is merciful. 

³⁸“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; ³⁸give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

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