For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. – 2 Timothy 1:7, ESV
I have seen a number of memes today which play of the idea of “Thank God it’s Friday! Oh wait, it is Friday, the 13th, in 2020!” You are likely to see many articles today relating to the question of “Why is 13 unlucky?” and “Why is Friday the 13th so scary?”
One explanation which always gives me a chuckle is that Friday the 13th is unlucky because Jesus was betrayed on Good Friday, right after He and the twelve disciples – for a total of 13 people – had shared a meal. As if there is no other time recorded in Scripture that Jesus was alone with the twelve. Spoiler: there is! It was a common occurrence for Jesus and his close circle to eat together. And as Friday at sundown is the beginning of the Sabbath, chances are good that this company of thirteen regularly ate together on a Friday night.
But this is the nature of superstition. We want an explanation for why bad things happen. We want to control as much as possible so bad things don’t happen. So we look for patterns or for major one-time events and try to avoid the settings and actions where bad or “unlucky” things happen. It might not make sense, but over time and repetition, these settings and groupings become generally uncomfortable for us.
But it can work for the positive as well. We have good luck charms, lucky numbers, lucky articles of clothing. Sometimes these are culturally encouraged, but often they arise out of perceived experience. “I was wearing that sweater when I was promoted. That’s my lucky sweater!” I had on mismatched socks when he said yes! So I wear mismatched socks when I want to get a yes!” And in the same way, these places, items, numbers and so on get invested with good feelings.
Yes it is all irrational. And yet there is something to these. When we use these, we gain confidence. Sometimes this confidence helps us achieve what we seek. If we feel “jinxed” we are tentative, and more likely to fail. Yes, in some strange way, we make our own luck.
This is why prayer is so valuable. It isn’t that prayer makes us lucky, or is a magic way to get what we want. Instead, when we go to God in prayer, we remember all that God has done in our lives. We remember that God is with us. In that way we have the confidence to boldly act for what is right and just. This is why reading the Bible (not simply wielding it as a weapon or shield) is so important: in this we remember what God has done and will do through people just like us.
In these difficult times it is important to count our blessings. It is important to remember the good that God has done in our lives. On that Friday when 13 were together, Jesus washed the Disciples’ feet and said, “do as I have done.” When he broke the bread and raised the cup he said, “…Do this remembering me…”
Ever loving God, we thank you for this space you make for us to be with you. Thank for being with us in the ups and downs of our lives. Help us to hold fast to the good, to give us strength in the days of challenge. We seek not earned luck, but the unearned gift of your love at work in us. Grant us this grace, that we might have confidence as your children to do your will. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
There are no questions for this Sunday’s message as the invitation to meditate and act upon the Word will be an invitation to renew your covenant for the coming year.
Correction to November 13 Blessing
Friends,
The members of this congregation are faithful, smart, and know the Bible!
Lee McKlenshaw just pointed out that of course fear of Friday the 13th couldn’t have come out of the Last Supper, because the Last Supper was on a Thursday!
I got so into pointing out the absurdity of this explanation that I forgot the facts and missed this biggest absurdity of all!
Jesus washed the feet of the twelve disciples on a Thursday, and gave them a new commandment. The Latin for commandment or mandate is mandatum, whence comes the name Maundy Thursday. He then shared the meal which instituted Holy Communion. He was betrayed later that night and crucified on Friday.
Perhaps there is a lesson here about smugness and arrogance leading to humiliation, or pride going before the fall.
I apologize for my error. The final sentence should read:
“On that day when 13 were together, Jesus washed the Disciples’ feet and said, “do as I have done.” When he broke the bread and raised the cup he said, “…Do this remembering me…”
Thank you Lee; it is nice to know that people do read and take seriously what we write in the Daily Blessing!
Pastor George