Lent 2003
Dear Friends,
The season of repentance is upon us. It is our time in the Church calendar to place particular emphasis upon our relationship with God, and the ways in which it is in need of repair. It is a time when we are perhaps more aware of our need for God’s grace if we are to continue to grow into Christ. It is a time of examination that we might see the ways in which we have broken our covenant with God and are in need of forgiveness from God, each other, and ourselves.
This book of reflections is meant to be a resource for you in your walk through Lent, Holy Week, and into the season of new life, Easter. The reflections captured here are from the prayers and meditations of your sisters and brothers here at Grace. Given the state of our world, bent so directly upon fear and hatred, it is hard to hear God’s pleas for peace. Given the number of people who go to bed hungry each night, both here and abroad, our prayers and our reaching out to help are essential. Given the divisions among us throughout the world, forgiveness and repentance and reconciliation are necessities of life.
May these reflections stimulate your meditations and your prayers. I pray that your walk with God this Lenten season will provide you the grace you need to endure, and that the discipline you chose will strengthen your reliance upon God’s unceasing love for you.
The contents of this Lenten Reflection section is also available as a PDF file so that you may create a printable verison to take with you wherever you may go.
Table of Contents
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Week of March 2, 2003
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First Week of Lent
- Sunday, March 9
- Monday, March 10
- Tuesday, March 11
- Wednesday, March 12
- Thursday, March 13
- Friday, March 14
- Saturday, March 15
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Second Week of Lent
- Sunday, March 16
- Monday, March 17
- Tuesday, March 18
- Wednesday, March 19
- Thursday, March 20
- Friday, March 21
- Saturday, March 22
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Third Week of Lent
- Sunday, March 23
- Monday, March 24
- Tuesday, March 25
- Wednesday, March 26
- Thursday, March 27
- Friday, March 28
- Saturday, March 29
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Fourth Week of Lent
- Sunday, March 30
- Monday, March 31
- Tuesday, April 1
- Wednesday, April 2
- Thursday, April 3
- Friday, April 4
- Saturday, April 5
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Fifth Week of Lent
- Sunday, April 6
- Monday, April 7
- Tuesday, April 8
- Wednesday, April 9
- Thursday, April 10
- Friday, April 11
- Saturday, April 12
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Holy Week
- Sunday, April 13
- Monday, April 14
- Tuesday, April 15
- Wednesday, April 16
- Maundy Thursday
- Good Friday
- Holy Saturday
Week of March 2, 2003
Psalms 95, 32,143; 102,130; Jonah 3:1-4:11; Hebrews 12:1-14; Luke 18:9-14
The beginning of Lent. How to slow down, listen to someone we care about, take another look at ourselves? What enables us to let go of our most tightly held conceptions of ourselves, both individually and as a church? What can renew us, reconstitute our wholeness? Is a story capable of showing us who we are in a surprising new way? Or is the story dull and hollow?
Listen to Psalm 103: Bless that which forms me; forget not forgiveness, healing, redemption, loving kindness; tender mercies; we are renewed; that which Blesses me is slow to anger; full of mercy; not chiding and retaining anger; from a stiff-necked people, joy and gladness.
Isaiah 58: The prophet's voice calls like a trumpet for justice; fast to end your strife; bring the poor into your house, cover the naked, and light, health, and righteousness will break forth, the Lord will say: "I am here." You will be like a watered garden; you will be the repairer of the breach.
Joel 2: Listen: hear the trumpet, an alarm; let each of us tremble. Tear our heart, fast, weep, mourn; gather our congregation, and help us see that our lives are shaped by thin and shallow values, ignoring the values instilled in us from birth: Who is our God?
2 Corinthians 5: Become the one standing in for Christ, reconciling others to God; here is your Grace from God, you carry the Blessing, God's righteousness, establishing a day of salvation. Now is the time, the day of salvation. Give no offense, even in afflictions, distress, tumult, staying awake all night; be ministers of God, by living and knowing a love unfeigning. Follow righteousness in spite of doubt and ambiguity: dying, we live; sorrowful, rejoicing; poor, yet rich; open your hearts to God. Listen.
Psalm 37:1-42; Deut. 7:6-11; Titus 1:1-16; John 1:29-34
As I prepared to write this reflection, I had a little trepidation about how to share my thoughts. I believe that as I read the Bible the words speak to me at the place where I am at that moment, so I share my thoughts from the place where I am now.
The words of the Psalm of David jumped off the page to me, and I was overjoyed (not exactly how I thought I was supposed to feel during Lent). “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will dwell in the land and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord, and the Lord will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in the Lord, and the Lord will act. The Lord will bring forth your vindication as the light, and your right as the noonday. Be still for the Lord and wait patiently for the Lord; fret not yourself over him who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.” I was excited about this and the entirety of this psalm—they speak to me of righteousness and patience, and I strive mightily for both.
I finished this psalm thinking that the last three readings would be anticlimactic. I turned to the passage from the Book of Deuteronomy, and I got blown away all over again. “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for God’s own possession, out of all the peoples that are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number…, but it is because the Lord loves you.” Here was this same theme, “commit your way to the Lord, trust in the Lord, wait for the Lord, for the Lord loves you.” This spoke to me directly, and then I turned in anticipation to Paul’s letter to Titus.
This passage, it seems to me, is a charge for all of us to be elders, because it calls for Titus to “appoint elders in every town”. Of the many requirements for elders, the following are included: “For a Bishop [an elder for me], as God’s steward, must be…hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself [herself], upright, holy and self-controlled.” Here is the challenge for me—to meet these requirements in the best way that I can. Now I wondered what the closing reading would bring.
This final passage, taken from the first chapter of the Book of John, begins, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” It ends, “I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
To summarize this all quickly, we are all called to trust in the Lord, to know that the Lord loves us, to conduct ourselves as God calls us to do, and to know that God indeed takes away the sin of the world when we fail in what we are called to do.
Psalms 95, 31, 35; Deut. 7:12-16; Titus 2:1-15; John 1:35-42
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble;
My eye is consumed with sorrow, and also my throat and my belly. Psalm 31:9
The earthiness of this verse simply jumps out at me. How many times have we experienced the physical reactions brought on by stress and anxiety? Sometimes our very bodies respond to the things we see. Yes, troubles can literally bring a tear to our eyes, a lump to our throats, and a knot in our stomachs. Often the trouble or sorrow that moves us so is to be found on the news or in the papers. Just as often it may be in the lives of those around us at work or at home. What shall we do when trouble or sorrow threatens to consume us? Unlike our minds, our bodies cannot lie to us. We need to listen to them. And we need to pray with the psalmist: “I have trusted in you, O Lord… My times are in your hand… Make your face to shine upon your servant and in your loving-kindness save me.” (Psalm 31:14-16)
Psalms 30, 32, 42, 43; Deut. 7:17-26; Titus 3:1-15; John 1:43-51
Scripture tells us that when we come to the throne of grace, acknowledging our need, we will receive God’s grace and mercy. To be strong in God’s grace, we must abide in the Word of God’s grace. God’s word can build us up and give us strength. On many occasions I find myself struggling to complete a task or find an answer to a problem, and after much frustration I pause and reflect upon God’s promise, to be strong in God’s grace we must come to the throne of grace. To view our trials as a means of experiencing more deeply the power of Christ is to understand that God is enough. If by faith we know Christ as our personal Savior, then we are recipients of God’s grace. It is because we love God and understand God’s marvelous grace that we journey toward God’s heart and please God in all that we do. As we go about our daily routine, we have the privilege of experiencing God’s grace every day, which is always commensurate with our need. Because we have received grace, we can now give grace. We are privileged to be on a journey toward the heart of an amazingly gracious God.
Week One of Lent
Psalms 63:1-11, 98, 103; Deut. 8:1-10; 1 Cor. 1:17-31; Mark 2:18-22
We work hard in this society to not be dependent. We are encouraged to be independent, to be able to take care of ourselves no matter the circumstances. When we find ourselves in situations in which we feel confused or afraid, we have a hard time acknowledging it to ourselves or others. It is as if we think being dependent is a mortal sin. Our fierce independence can lead to a sense of not being answerable to anyone but ourselves.
Fasting, often associated with the season of Lent, began as an act of piety that reminded the individual of their dependence on God and their need to submit to God’s will. By the standards of our society, it is foolishness to allow anyone to have authority over us other than our employer—that circumstance allows us to have the purchasing power to get the things we need and/or desire. It provides gratification for our efforts.
Fasting is a discipline that is meant not for our material needs but our spiritual ones. It can help us to gain control over our appetites, which is necessary to our spiritual growth. Exercising a new discipline entails some failure and often brings us face to face with the knowledge that we need help. Should we choose to ask God for help, we open ourselves to an opportunity to learn of God’s dependability. Paul tells us that God chose those who appear foolish by this world’s standards to shame the wise; chose the weak to shame the strong; chose the “nobodies” of this world to nullify the “somebodies.” Our boasting can only be about Christ, the Wisdom of God, our Redeemer, Sanctifier, and Helper.
It would seem then that dependence upon the compassion and mercies of God is the true wisdom. Moses reminds Israel, on the eve of entering the Promised Land, that she should depend upon God and live by all that proceeds from the mouth of God. God’s Law and will are that we live into being God’s children, working for justice and being compassionate; speaking the truth with love; walking humbly with God.
Taking on a discipline brings changes in our lives. Continuation of the discipline reinforces the changes, helping to shape our lives so that we can, like Paul, boast in our dependence upon God and revel in God’s will for our lives.
Psalms 41, 52, 44; Deut. 8:11-20; Heb. 2:11-18; John 2:1-12
To me, it seems like these are all prayers of people who pray to God only if they are in need of something. Like if they're sick, for instance, or poor, or homeless. This doesn't seem right to me. I think that people need not only to realize that God is present in everyone's life every second of every day, but to be thankful for it too.
Psalms 45, 47, 48; Deut. 9:4-12; Heb. 3:1-11; John 2:13-22
What kind of idols have I built in my life that symbolize my rebellion against God? (My car, my clothes, my cell phone?) Do my actions make God angry? Do I believe in a God that gets so angry that he would make his chosen people wander in the desert for forty years? Have we filled God’s temple with our own idols of “doves,” “sheep,” and other items to buy? If Jesus walked into our church would he feel a sudden urge to throw us out and to tell us we were dishonoring his Father?
If God has decided that the Iraqis are a wicked people and should be destroyed, could God be talking through our President? Did he not say to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s? Is it not Caesar’s right to make war? Could God be calling us to war to destroy an evil people? On the other hand, could God be allowing us to be tempted into a just war where we ourselves could be destroyed? Are we a wicked, idolatrous, rebellious, stubborn people? Could this start our "forty years in the desert"?
Psalms 119:49-72, 49, [53]; Deut. 9:13-21; Heb. 3:12-19; John 2: 23-3:15
Faith, confidence, "first confidence," "our original faith." The author of Hebrews exhorts us to hold onto our original confidence, our first faith, to ensure our partnership with Christ. How long has it been since I felt that "first faith," since I knew with confidence that I was partnered with Christ? It is interesting how he juxtaposes this thought with references to rebellion and stubbornness. Isn't it my stubborn insistence that "I'll do it myself, thank you very much," my willful resistance to accepting help, that keeps me from an innocent acceptance that God is with me?
Psalms 50, [59, 60], or 19, 46; Deut. 9:23-10:5; Heb. 4:1-10; John 3:16-21
As war with Iraq looks quite imminent, we hear the psalmist say:
“Come now and look upon the works of the LORD,
what awesome things he has done on earth.
It is he who makes war to cease in all the world;
He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
And burns the shields with fire.” (Psalm 46:9-10)
World peace would indeed be awesome, LORD…
Your will be done. Your will be done.
Psalms 95, 40, 54, 51; Deut. 10:12-22; Heb. 4:11-16; John 3:22-36
When we think of David, we think of a great king, the slayer of Goliath, not of a weak person who blames others for his own problems. But in Psalm 51 David shows his failings as a man. He has committed adultery with Bathsheba and is wracked with guilt. Rather than taking responsibility for his action, he chooses to blame it on the iniquity of his mother.
Yet, in Psalm 40 David says that God lifted him out of a slimy pit. He says that his sins had overtaken him, that he tried burnt offerings, but that didn't work. Still, David kept his faith in God and eventually it worked out. (This isn’t to say that David became a perfect man. In the end of this Psalm he hopes God will bring his enemies shame and disgrace. Obviously David was no Jesus.)
Another theme in these passages is an appreciation of nature. In Psalm 95 it says, "in his hand are the depths of the earth and the mountain peaks belong to him, the sea is his for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come let us...kneel before our Maker." In John 3:22-36, Jesus goes out into the countryside, and John the Baptist is baptizing people in the river.
Relating these passages to Lent, they convey the following: Lent doesn’t need to be taken as a sacrifice to God: God doesn't need sacrifices; everything is God’s already. Lent is an opportunity to walk in God’s ways. Take some time during Lent to observe nature and see the beauty of God's hand that we are part of.
Here's the meditation:
Consider the other creations that God made—the rocks, the trees.
Now ask the question: Are we really God's only imperfect creation?
Psalms 55, 138, 139:1-23; Deut. 11: 18-28; Heb. 5:1-10; John 4:1-26
You are invited to read the Scripture for today, meditate on what you read, and listen for God’s voice.
Week 2 of Lent
Psalms 24, 29, 8, 84; Jer. 1:1-10; 1 Cor. 3:11-23; Mark 3:31-4:9
I found in these readings a recurring theme of God’s glory, might, and majesty. When we observe the vastness and beauty of our universe, ponder the wonders and intricacies of our planet, appreciate the beauty in the change of seasons, a piece of music, or the look of wonder on a child’s face, we witness God’s power and glory.
A second theme is that human beings are essential to God’s overall plan. God designed our planet to provide a place where we can share God’s will and love. Although physically we are a minute part of the universe, our spiritual significance reflects God’s glory and our importance to God.
How do we discharge the responsibility to live as people worthy of God’s love and trust? One way is by making God our home. Just as our physical homes are havens of comfort, relaxation, and rest, so we "must live, move and have our being" in God.
Another way is through praise and worship. The act of worship brings us closer to God by helping us focus on God’s promises, to listen to and be instructed in God’s word. As we rest in God’s strength, presence, and glory and continue to walk with God, we will find it easier to adopt God’s principles and thoughts, and become more like God.
Let us thank and praise God for the wonderful gifts of creation and immeasurable love for us. Let us pray that God’s presence becomes so much a part of our lives that all our actions and words are worthy reflections of our relationship as God’s children.
Psalms 56, 57, 58, 64, 65; Jer. 1:11-19; Rom. 1:1-15; John 4:27-42
While meditating on the words of God for today’s readings, I could not help but notice the recurring theme of how the righteous are rewarded when facing the injustice of evildoers. In the Psalms, when David feels the whole world closing in on him, he puts his trust in the hands of God. He asks God to take note of his troubles and to punish the evil so that they will run. Then David proclaims his devotion to God and vows to spread the word. Oftentimes in my own life, when I feel I have nowhere else to turn, I know I can turn to God as David did. But I also feel ashamed about that. It is not that I feel ashamed about putting my trust in God, but I feel ashamed that I only recognize his power when I am faced with a problem. After meditating on these readings, I have set a goal for myself; to love and serve God always, and not just when obstacles are put in my way. David realized that by praising God, doing God’s will, and spreading God’s word, there is nothing that evil can do to overcome the righteous.
Psalms 61, 62, 68:1-36; Jer. 2:1-13; Rom. 1:16-25; John 4:43-54
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.” Rom. 1:17
When I read this my first question is not "Who is righteous?" but rather, "Who is not righteous?" During the American Civil War, both sides believed that their cause was righteous, both believed that God was on their side and would help them to overcome their enemy. The Union and the Confederacy believed in God. In fact, clergy fought in both armies because their cause was righteous. How can this be? Opposing sides used their understanding of righteousness to inflict untold horror on the other side. The American Civil War was not an isolated incident. This sense of righteousness on all sides of a conflict continues to the present day in many situations.
How can righteousness cause so much pain and suffering while according to Romans, righteousness of God is revealed through faith? I believe that the answer to this question can be found in Rom. 1:25, "because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator." So as I cloak myself in my mantle of righteousness I must ask myself whether I worship the creator or the creature.
Psalms 72, 119:73-96; Jer. 3:6-18; Rom. 1:28-2:11; John 5:1-18
Propelling through the air at 25,000 feet, gently rocking from side to side, I could feel the vibrations of the engines. It was 8:30 a.m., the beginning of a six-hour flight. All of this conspired to lull me to sleep. But I had work to do. They were starting the beverage service. “Good,” I thought, “tea is on the way.” As the flight attendant handed me my drink, a large splash of hot water spilled onto my outstretched forearm. More concerned about defending herself than me, the attendant announced, “Oh, that won’t burn.” But I was in no mood to be brushed aside. There was a brief but intense debate about whether the water was hot enough to burn, which was really beside the point. I was angry because she had not allowed me the reality of my pain, and so had compounded it. Apologies were later exchanged, but they were not sincere. It took five hours for my arm to stop hurting.
This experience helped me to better appreciate the wisdom of God’s loving kindness and patience. Our God, who wants only the best for us, knows that it is our nature to hide from our mistakes and from things that we do not like about ourselves. We can be very defensive, especially when we do not feel sufficiently loved or secure. He/She knows how fragile we are! But by patiently forbearing our weaknesses, God gives us the time and space we need to repent, experience forgiveness, and be truly healed.
Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” Romans 2:4
Psalms 70, 71, 74; Jer. 4:9-10, 19-28; Rom. 2:12-24; John 5:19-29
It seems that the theme in these psalms is clearly stating that God is only there for you to crawl to him when you are in need. I find that unbelievable. God, in my eyes, is not there just for us to use him to get out of tight spots and then ignore him. To me, we should always acknowledge God's presence and be grateful for it every day of our lives.
Psalms 95, 69:1-38, 73; Jer. 5:1-9; Rom. 2:25-3:18; John 5:30-47
I am comfortable with the merciful, compassionate, forgiving face of God—these attributes easily reveal God’s love for me. But I find it difficult to reflect upon other aspects of God—a God of anger, a God who judges and punishes the faithless.
In reflecting on today’s readings, I began to see a God who struggles with the unfaithful—seeking ways to get our attention and gain our praise of God as our creator and provider. When those who have heard God’s word refuse to live by it, God asks whether it is appropriate to punish and avenge. I see this as God’s last resort; having tried to move us toward God and God’s word by providing, forgiving, loving, God still finds many who do not follow. In Jeremiah, God indicates an entire city will be forgiven if one person who deals honestly and seeks truth can be found—yet this search is in vain. Could it be that punishing and taking away gifts is a way of saying that God will not give up on us? In some strange way, are judgment and punishment acts of profound love?
In Romans, God tells us that, while the outward attributes of faith are a good start, they make us no better than the faithless if we don’t seek to internalize God’s teaching and laws. How do we stray away from God’s “requirement of faith” to actively engage in an inward journey with God? I have strayed when I am “fat and comfortable”—life is good and things are going my way. I have also strayed when I am at my most vulnerable and my brokenness is deep. Then the glare of God’s love can be too bright.
Perhaps we can use the Lenten season to turn to God, giving thanks for all God’s blessings or asking God to help us discern the bases for our brokenness. God won’t give up on us, but show us great mercy and compassion or judge and become angry with us—anything to get our attention.
It doesn’t make my “angry” God any easier to think about.
Psalms 75, 76, 23, 27; Her. 5:20-31; Rom. 3:19-31; John 7: 1-13
But what will you do when the end comes? Jeremiah 5:31
I like Jeremiah. He didn’t mince words. He was a prophet who told it like it was. The Judeans were worshiping others gods and living high on the hog! They had forgotten about the God of Israel and had strayed far away from the God of their ancestors. But just like Jeremiah, God knew them before he “formed them in the womb,” and he sent Jeremiah to remind them that they needed to think about what would happen at the end—of time, of their lives, of plenty. Many times I get so caught up in the busyness of the world around me and my day-to-day efforts to keep all the balls in the air that I forget about God, too. I need someone like Jeremiah to remind me that God doesn’t forget me, that God made the supreme sacrifice for me by sending a Son to experience the world and its distractions as we do, and to redeem us through his death on the cross and the resurrection. Even though we forget, God is always there and will be there when the end comes.
Week 3 of Lent
Psalms 93, 96, 34; Jer. 6:9-15; 1 Cor. 6:12-20; Mark 5:1-20
We often think of Advent as the time of preparation and Lent as the time of repentance, but for me Lent is also a time of preparation, a "spring cleaning," whereby we put out of our lives the old, unworking things and prepare for a new life in Christ.
I did "Lent Give Ups" as a child and still do as an adult. For the past several years I have been "meat-free for Lent" as my commemoration of Christ's time in the desert. Several friends have told me that they prefer "Lent Take Ons," but I like the idea of giving something up and then being glad to get it back.
The texts for today's reflection discuss sweeping bad things out of one's life: the verses from Corinthians are a remembrance that one's actions with one's body are part of one's spiritual choices. The verses from Mark, the description of the casting out the demons, talk about the power of God to cast out the things we are finished with, to prepare for our new lives.
By leaving behind the things we no longer need in our lives, we make room for new, better, happier things.
Psalms 80, 77, 79; Jer. 7:1-15; Rom. 4:1-12; John 7:14-36
What would you think if someone like Jeremiah stood in front of Grace as we gathered for worship, telling us to, "Change the way you are living and stop doing the things you are doing"? A crackpot? Someone in need of counseling? Would any of us stop and listen; would any of us think this is the voice of God?
We can wonder now, with hindsight, why the people did not listen to Jeremiah and Christ, God's chosen servants. But when someone out of the norm confronts us, it's easy to brush them off or judge them as incompetent.
I recently saw the movie I Am Sam. Sam was mentally challenged, a single father with a daughter the authorities wanted to take away. They felt a man with his mental limitations couldn't possibly raise a child. But Sam changed minds. His simple message was that he loved his daughter, and it was clear that she loved her daddy.
In this period of Lent, take time to do something we often put aside: Listen. Listen to others. Listen to that inner voice—not yours, God's. Lent seems like a good time to bring the discipline of listening into our lives.
Psalms 78:1-72; Jer. 7:21-34; Rom. 4:13-25; John 7:37-52
Today’s readings speak to the weakness and sinfulness of humanity and God’s unlimited capacity to forgive. Despite all the signs of God’s power, capacity to deliver abundance, and occasional vengeance, humanity keeps betraying God and not abiding God’s word. And God keeps forgiving us, knowing that we are ‘but flesh.’ God sends prophets, but we don’t listen. Greater still was God’s offering and sacrifice of a Son—all the greater a sacrifice because God knew that humanity’s weakness would lead to Jesus’ death. That it was the high priests that judged Jesus speaks to humanity’s ability to be inhuman when power is at stake. Perhaps more telling still is that the high priests judged Jesus not to be the Messiah because he was supposedly from Galilee, rather than Bethlehem—showing that people can both get the facts wrong, particularly when it suits their interests, and suffer from our weakness for looking down on others. Love thy neighbor as thyself?
Like God, Jesus’ word is that faith is what is required. When has God spoken to us this day or this week and we have not listened?
Psalms 119:97-120; 81, 82; Jer. 8:18-9:6; Rom. 5:1-11; John 8:12-20
In my youth, my Sunday School teacher (Ms. Brooks) taught that the season of Lent is very serious because it demands a lot of our attention, attention that is directed toward recognizing the presence of God, reflecting on God’s word, with less focus on ourselves. I asked myself then, what did all the fasting and sacrificing mean?
I never understood why it was important to give up the things I liked for a brief time then return to my old ways. It was hard to change my behavior and redirect my vision during Lent so that I could get a better understanding of the Lord’s presence in everything that I did. But with time I learned that when I gave something up, my sacrifice helped me recognize the blessings that I had taken for granted. I found that self-denial made it easier for me to recognize the presence and wonders of God.
When we willingly deprive ourselves of something special, we are reminded that the blessings we enjoy do not come from our own hands, but from the Lord whose generosity is the source of all kindness.
During this period of Lent, make an effort to see the Lord, whether it is through fasting, prayer, almsgiving, penance, or self-denial. This is the opportunity to come back to the Lord by recognizing the sacrifices of Jesus Christ and the thanksgivings bestowed upon us that we all too often take credit for.
Psalms 83 or 42, 43; 85, 86; Jer. 10: 11-24; Rom. 5:12-21; John 8:21-32
Meditation: John 8:31-32: Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Does the truth of knowing that our Silver Spring children go to bed hungry make us free? Does the truth of knowing that children worldwide die of starvation make us free? Does the truth of knowing that our mothers bury their children because they are victims of the drug war in our inner cities make us free? Does the truth of knowing that Middle Eastern parents bury their children because they are military war casualties make us free? Does the truth of knowing that our places of worship are burned or vandalized make us free? Does the truth of knowing that mosques, synagogues, and churches are bombed make us free? Does the truth of knowing that God's heaven and earth is the ceiling and the floor for our homeless and our poor make us free?
Visions of hungry children, grieving parents, and seeded hatred surely do not make me free. Such earthly truths are uncomfortable and disturbing. Acknowledgment of these truths leaves me with emotions of despair, pain, and sorrow. Yet, as a Disciple of Christ, I am somehow comforted by the spiritual truth that is found in this biblical verse. I can only pray that others may know of the truth Jesus speaks of and be comforted as well. Amen.
Psalms 95, 88, 91, 92; Jer. 11: 1-8; 14-20; Rom. 6:1-11; John 8:33-47
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8: 31-32
How often have we heard these rather mystical words of wisdom? They seem to have more punch and authority in the King James Version, but in any version, Jesus' followers protest, how shall he make them free? They are not slaves! "Everyone who commits a sin is a slave to sin," he answers. So many of the ordinary ways we sin seem to us Americans to be expressions of our freedom: the anger we express without thinking is our FREE expression—we are not inhibited, we speak our minds! With that extra bowl of ice cream we are living in the moment, FREELY.
Is it possible, I wonder, to be enslaved to small freedoms? Small freedoms allow us to overlook the absence in our lives of a Greater Freedom. We no longer honor puritanical self-denial in our culture, and we rightly honor, it seems to me, liberty and self-expression. But Jesus, whom we say we love and serve, speaks simply about the way to freedom: "Continue in my word."
Psalms 87, 90, 136; Jer. 13:1-11; Rom. 6:12-23; John 8:47-59
You are invited to meditate on Psalm 136 and then write your own psalm that mirrors this one: the history of a group of people with whom you identify in relationship to God (national, familial, women, men, people of color, gay or straight, etc.) using the same response as the psalmist to each of your remembrances: "For God's steadfast love endures for ever."
Save your psalm for the days when the circumstances of life may cause you to wonder where God is, or perhaps for a time when it seems right to share with another.
Week 4 of Lent
Psalms 66, 67, 19, 46; Jer. 14:1-9, 17-22; Gal. 4:21-5:1; Mark 8:11-21
Mark 8:21 And [Jesus] said to them: "Do you not yet understand?" This is one of the stories in scripture in which Jesus encourages us to consider a deeper meaning in the scriptures, to not be satisfied with what is on the surface, to not take them too literally. He urges us to look beyond what is in front of us to remember a time when our needs were more than met by a generous God of abundance.
God of love and abundance, when have I been so deeply entrenched in fear or pain that I missed the abundance of your love that is right in front of me? Have I been grateful for days of health, or taken them for granted? Have I seen my children as pure gift at the times when they are inviting me to stretch beyond my comfort zone? Do I invite your healing or try to cut people out of my life because they have wounded me? On the days when I forget that love is more powerful than fear and pain, and even evil, please send me a friend who will love me into remembering that no matter how hard life can be, your love is always available to me in greater measure than my grief or pain or troubles. Amen.
Psalms 89:1-52; Jer. 16:10-21; Rom. 7:1-12; John 6:1-15
Consider today's readings and as you silently reflect upon them, listen deeply for God's voice, speaking to you in the silence of your heart, perhaps to us as a nation.
How might self-examination be beneficial?
What do you think God desires from you?
Psalms 97, 99, [100], 94, [95]; Jer. 17:19-27; Rom. 7:13-25; John 6:16-27
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We, who believe in doing what is right, constantly struggle with our natural desire to sin.
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Those who do not believe in doing what is right do not share this struggle—lacking the desire to do good, they sin against others and against God with no remorse.
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It helps to have faith in a just God who holds people accountable for their actions.
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We must concentrate on our responsibilities to God, ourselves, and other people as our goals; then we must try to do good in our own lives, attempting to thwart our natural desires for sinning.
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God is there. God is greater than all of our problems. We often forget that.
Psalms 101, 109:1-30, 119:121-144; Jer. 18: 1-11; Rom. 8:1-11; John 6:27-40
John 6:27-40 is full of memorable words of comfort.
It is striking to me how few conditions Jesus’ words lay upon us. The work of God we are called to perform is simply to believe in the one God has sent. For that alone, God promises us eternal life and the fulfillment signified by an end to hunger or thirst. This is not conditional on our ability to live up to some demanding code of law or set of duties. We are asked only to recognize God through God’s Son.
Jeremiah, Paul, and the psalmist make it seem a little more complicated. Jesus saw how difficult it was even for his disciples: “You have seen me and still you do not believe.” The text from Jeremiah asks if we will turn from evil and let God mold us. The choice is ours, but it will have consequences. Paul stresses the difficulty we, as sinful humans, may have in claiming that simple promise. We have to accept the Spirit to receive that gift: without the Spirit we may not even be able to “just believe.”
Finally, the psalmist sounds like such a Washingtonian, so busy taking sides! He himself is so just and yet is so put upon by those wicked people of evil motives who oppose him, and, he assumes, oppose God. If we heed this gospel, we shouldn’t be as quick as the psalmist to judge our neighbors on God’s behalf.
Psalms 69:1-38; 73; Jer. 22:13-23; Rom. 8:12-27; John 6: 41-51
Romans 8:12-28 speaks to us powerfully as we struggle through our earthly existence. Paul’s vibrantly expressive language captures our imaginations and creates a vision of God’s purpose for us. We are continuously reminded of our highest calling as human beings: God’s adopted children, heirs of God, and joint heir with Christ. We are people whom God has predestined, called, justified, and glorified. In this light, the sufferings we endure in our flesh are overshadowed by the gift of our future redemption. While we wait for our spirits to be set free and our earthly bodies to change, we are assisted by God’s own Holy Spirit. We cling to the Spirit of God who intercedes for us, counsels, strengthens, and renews us.
Perhaps Lent is a good time to reflect on the hope of our resurrection. I believe it will facilitate our efforts to repent and put to death the “deeds of the body” if we concentrate on the image of our own immortality.
Psalms 95, 102, 107:1-32; Jer. 23:1-8; Rom. 8:28-39; John 6:52-59
Hear these words:
O come, Let us sing to the Lord;
Let us make a joyful noise
To the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving. (Psalm 95:1,2)
Hear my prayer, O Lord;
let my cry come to you.
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call. (Psalm 102:1,7)
Do not harden your hearts. (Psalm 95:8)
He will regard the prayer of the destitute,
and will not despise their prayer. (Psalm 102:17)
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress. (Psalm 107:6)
We know that all things work together for good
for those who love God.
Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness or peril or sword? (Romans 8:28…34,35)
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood
Abide in me, and I in them. (John 6:56)
Let us remember:
The Lord is with us
If we are with him.
The Lord is with us.
In times of trial, lean on the Lord.
In times of plenty, praise the Lord.
Lean on him and praise him always.
Psalms 107:33-43, 108:1-13; 33; Jer. 23:9-15; Rom. 9:1-18; John 6: 60-71
Romans 10 and Me
During the last year, and quite unexpectedly, I gained certain insights that explained me to me. The excitement of it all was heady, producing a spirit of buoyancy, and I danced on air.
The cerebral me went into gear. Why is this so late in the day? It would have been nice to have this epiphany at—say, 40—instead of in my seventh decade of life. The irony of it stained my golden glow.
I was assigned by Rev. Ann to explore Romans 9 for Lent. It didn’t contain much cheer for me. God as Potter turns some of us into works of art to be hung in a gallery. Others—clay cooking pots!
Take the twins. When Esau and Isaac were yet in the womb, it was already decided that the elder would serve the younger. I read on. Something about a magic stone? No, a stumbling stone:
See, I am laying in Zion a stone
That will make people stumble, a rock
That will make them fall.
And whoever believes in him
Will not be put to shame.
Explanation: those who strive for righteousness through faith will attain it. Those who strive for righteousness that is based on the law (such as “earlier would have been better than later” in my case) have stumbled over the stumbling stone.
I pick myself up having learned my lesson.
Week 5 of Lent
Psalms 118, 145; Jer. 23: 16-32; 1 Cor. 9:19-27; Mark 8:31-9:1
Reading Mark’s Gospel reminded me about this school year in 8th grade. I figured that I could get good grades, but I didn’t want to work for them. I was also a little concerned about how I would do in the 8th grade because I’d skipped 7th when I changed schools. First quarter I did fine. Second quarter was different. What happened was that I ended up failing three subjects on my interim. My parents were not pleased with my interim (to put it mildly), and I realized, with their input, that in order to get good grades I needed to also do the work (like I had before) to get the good grades. That meant that I had give up slacking and putting off doing my homework. By realizing that doing homework first can bring up my grades and acting on that, I found out that slacking and putting things off and being afraid is not the way to live. This reminds me in Mark where Jesus said, "For those who want to save their life will lose it and those who lose their life for my sake and the sake of the Gospel will save it."
Psalms 31, 35; Jer. 24:1-10; Rom. 9:19-33; John 9:1-17
Lent is a wonderful season. For me it is a season of miracles, a time when God's strength and love are revealed. A time when I crawl in God’s lap and feel the comfort of God’s presence and deepen my relationship with God’s Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
This year, especially, I crawl into God's lap with a heart filled with fear and confusion, looking for a safe haven from the realities of life. Like the psalmist, I look to God to "be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me." But in my humanity, I get down from God’s lap and pace the floor thinking that my pleas have fallen on deaf ears. They have not. God knows my adversities and has seen my afflictions. God reminds me of that in Psalm 31. God is my champion and protector, the navigator in turbulent waters. God brings comfort when the tears seem endless.
During times of struggle we are to "Love the Lord…be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord." However, waiting is not my strong suit. But with Lent, I will wait in God's lap like a child and find comfort in God’s arms as God whispers, "I have everything under control."
Psalms 120–127; Jer. 25: 8-17; Rom. 10:1-13; John 9:18-41
Years ago, the summer before I was about to turn seven, my sister and I went to Moose’s Day Camp. Everyone else in the camp was either a cousin or a friend of the family. That made it really special. We went swimming at the YMCA three mornings a week. Gregory and Bryant Gumble were our swim instructors. They were nice. (They were just regular people then.) I believed them when they said I could learn how to float. They showed me how to hang onto the side of the pool and just let the water lift me up. I soon realized that if I didn’t fight the water, it would keep me from sinking. If I just remained calm and still, I would stay up. Floating was easy. The water did all the work. All I had to do was relax and let go.
Learning to trust in Christ is something like learning how to float. We begin by having a relationship with Christ, our teacher. As we learn to become more still in that relationship, we sense that something much greater than ourselves is sustaining us—the love of God. We let go of our fears. Salvation is within easy reach. It is as available as it can possibly be. Yet it will not be forced. We need only relax and let go.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil, for he gives sleep to his beloved. Psalm 127:2
Psalms 119:145-176; 128-130; Jer. 25:30-38; Rom. 10:14-21; John 10:1-18
I like reading the Book of Psalms. There is always such good advice or comfort (e.g. Psalm 23), but sometimes it is so harsh and bitter, and it emphasizes to me that you will be punished for every misstep.
We all have problems, some are small everyday ones, others are major. We worry if our country is going to war again. Are people we know deliberately trying to hurt us? Are our coworkers setting us up to fail? It has been a long process but I think I am finally at the point where I worry about them for a short time, pray for direction and guidance, and then move on. Now my struggle becomes whether I should just leave the problem with God or continuously go back and ask for guidance, and do I hear and recognize the response?
The Psalmist reminds us that persons who would hurt us are near, but closer still is God whose commands are true, and if we put our hope in God and God’s word we could have full redemption. Romans 10:12 says the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.
In the end my life is grounded in the faith that despite all my questions and fears and problems I will have the best resolution. Where do I get this faith? Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Psalms 131-133; 140, 142; Jer. 26;1-16; Rom. 11:1-12; John 10:19-42
God, I’m not trying to rule the roost, I don’t want to be king of the mountain. I haven’t meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. Psalm 131.1
This translation comes from The Message, a contemporary Biblical translation by Eugene Peterson. The psalmist’s voice, as Peterson hears it, leaps from ancient Israel into our midst this Lenten season. We are reminded in the Psalms for today that God will keep good on God’s promises. Psalm 132 recalls the promises to Jacob and David, and Psalm 133 strengthens Israel’s hope in their home on Zion. God’s promises will strengthen, renew, and sustain us, but only if we heed Psalm 131.
The psalmist speaks to my greatest temptation, which is too put more stock in my ability than in God’s promises. I so desperately want to control my life and the outcome. I am too attached to the results to trust God. Lent calls us to a time of reflective living, which is a time of deliberate detachment from habits, practices, and behaviors that place our self-important agendas ahead of God’s incarnate redemption in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Can I, can you, hold back just a little longer? Holy Week approaches, and the Biblical narrative will remind us of God’s promise of eternal love and life in Jesus Christ. In that promise, we can wait and have hope.
Psalms 95, 22, 141, 143:1-12; Jer. 29:1, 4-13; Rom. 11:13-24; John 11:1-27 or 12:1-10
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope…. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart. Jer. 29:11, 13
In the church we sometimes experience the pain of conflicted views about what God’s will is. Instead of “Thy will” becoming my will, we fool ourselves into believing that it is supposed to be the opposite—why can’t my will be yours, God? I’m bright, capable, and creative—if I have these ideas, they must have come from you, Lord! And God reminds us that unless our will is moved by deeply listening to God, our “doing” is often about ego and avoiding pain. Seeking God with our whole hearts demands that we risk the pain of going into our deepest places—where our fears reside. Babylon was a place of exile that Israel didn’t want to go to. Yet God said, “Make this your home for now…” Can you and I trust God enough to spend time in what feels like a foreign land within ourselves? Do we believe that God has a future of hope for us? Instead of frenetically doing, are we willing to risk listening deeply for a voice that may disagree with our desires? May our hearts be turned only toward you, God, only toward you…
Psalms 137:1-9, 144, 42, 43; Jer. 31;27-34; Rom. 11:25-36; John 11:28-44 or 12:37-50
These Scripture readings have a few things in common, namely, covenant, hope, and love. Covenant is defined as a promise, a pledge, to enter into an agreement. According to Jeremiah 31:27-34, a covenant was a new arrangement with God in which God said, “I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts, and I will be their God and they shall be my people.” In Romans 11:27: “…and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
John 11:28-44: Jesus was called to Bethany by Mary and Martha, whose brother Lazarus was ill. When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had died and was buried in a cave with a stone placed at the entrance. (Familiar?)
As Jesus and Martha talked, Jesus said those beautiful words in John 11:25-26. Jesus assured Martha that her brother would rise again, and Lazarus did so at the command of Jesus.
I am reminded by these readings of how much we are loved and what gifts we receive. Several I received were learning more about Jeremiah and a reminder to be aware of the Holy Spirit in those we meet. Maybe we all can make a covenant with God to worship; pray daily; read the Bible; study; telephone and visit the sick, shut-in, and bereaved; teach; feed the homeless and hungry… The list can go on and on, but think how wonderful it would be if we could remember to share our gifts.
Holy Week
Psalms 24, 29, 103; Zech. 9:9-12 or 12:9-11; 13:1, 7-9; 1 Tim. 6:12-16; Matt. 21:12-17
Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. Zechariah 9:12
It seems so incongruous, this phrase "prisoners of hope"—the idea of being somehow constrained, coupled with the idea of looking forward with confidence of fulfillment. Clearly Zechariah is referring to God's faithful, but ... "prisoners"? Perhaps this is an error of translation, I think, discomforted at the thought. Then I consider the alternatives. How easily we find ourselves throughout our lives—and even in a single day!—prisoners of fear, of doubt, of arrogance, of pride, of hatred, of greed, and of all those things large and small that keep us from knowing Christ's presence among us. In those moments, like the crowd in Jerusalem we switch effortlessly and almost willfully from cries of "Hosanna!" to "Crucify him!" Patiently, again and again, God calls us to return to the stronghold that is God's abundant love. There, like prisoners of hope, we surrender to confidence in the fulfillment of God's Kingdom now and always. And we come to know that our true reward is not even that, a reward, but a gift: our redemption through Jesus Christ.
Psalms 51,69:1-23; Jer. 12:1-16, Phil. 3: 1-14; John 12:9-19
At the end of the readings from the Psalms, Jeremiah, Philippians, and John, I felt like I am on a joyful path to join the world in following Christ.
The Psalmist conversed with God about his sins, chastised God for loving the wicked, but joyfully asked that God "creates in him a pure heart and put a new and loyal spirit within him." With such a spirit we can usually handle the unfortunate situations we run into, but how about the pleasant situations?
I must tell you of my recent encounter. I had printed the passages for this reflection so I could carry them around with me as I went about my routines. I sat on a bench one evening, waiting for the classroom door to open. Another student came by and sat beside me. He greeted me with excitement, and as he introduced himself, he laid a small book on top of my paper. "I'm a Christian too," he said. I was astonished (not knowing that he had browsed at my paper and noticed what I was reading). The book he laid on my papers was his Bible, and with the same excitement, I responded to him.
There is so much joy in following Christ. With exhilaration, the people waited for him to arrive at the Passover festival and watched him performed the miracle on Lazarus. The crowd grew larger, convincing the Pharisees that they had lost to Jesus. "The whole world has joined with him," they said.
Psalms 6, 12, 94; Jer. 15:10-21; Phil. 3:15-21; John 12:20-26
Evildoer. That word stopped me cold when reading Psalm 94—perhaps because of its political currency these days. Yet this is an ancient prayer written before the time of Christ when battles against evildoers were fought by legendary heroes, young David and Goliath for example. The psalmist implores God, “how long shall the wicked exult?” and then prays that God avenge his people. He asks God to “…shine forth! Rise up…and give [them]…what they deserve.”
After these strong words, the psalm assures us that God sees and hears the wicked, and God provides refuge and strength for the righteous. Perhaps most important, it tells us that vengeance belongs to the Lord.
But what of us today? When many call themselves people of God, who are the evildoers and who are the righteous? The psalm does not tell us; it simply affirms that God perceives what is in the hearts and the minds of all people and that God will settle up with the wicked. For those of us who profess Christianity, this leaves the question of what we will do in the interim. What can each of us do to nurture good even when we see evil in the world?
Psalms 55, 74; Jer. 17:5-10, 14-17; Phil. 4:1-13; John 12:27-36
Silence!
Psalms 102, 142, 143; Jer. 20:7-11; 1 Cor. 10:14-17;11:27-32; John 17:1-26
John 17:1-26: When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted his eyes and said, “Father the hour has come, glorify thy son that he may glorify thee.”
I’m mindful to enrich, daily, my spiritual devotion in fasting while communicating with God in prayer. Prayer is a stabilizing influence that enables me to cope with life miseries, nuances and rumors of war, and threats of terrorism.
Through prayer, my physical self functions in concert with God and God’s objectives. To journey with God, I pray for a strong body and mind that I can listen and hear what God is saying to me, my fellow parishioners, and neighbors in the greater community. My neighbors are the living and the unborn who will inherit all that we have prepared for them.
Prior to his ascension, Jesus made certain of his readiness. Therefore, when the final hour came, he prayed three times: He prayed for himself, one for the disciples, and one for the universal church including all of us who have been with him and heard the message.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Amen.
Psalms 95, 22, 40, 54; Wod. 1:16-2:1, 12-22 or Gen. 22:1-14; 1 Peter 1:10-20; John 13:36-38 or 19:38-42
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? Psalm 22:1
These passages contain powerful stories of being tested in one's faith. Abraham is asked to sacrifice his son to the Lord. The agony of Christ on the cross is anticipated in Psalm 22. The Gospel of John speaks of Peter's test of faith, of denying Christ three times after offering to lay down his life for Jesus. The feeling that comes to me are the times’ difficulty; strain and doubt afflict my life, where there seems only darkness and trouble around me. Nothing works as planned; unexpected problems surprise me. I have to act, with no visible likelihood of success other than the support of my faith. The message here for me to focus on is that others have undergone great trials, greater than my own, and have prevailed through their faith in the Lord. I can rest in the Lord, who will not ask me to sacrifice more than I can bear.
Psalms 95: O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psalms 95, 88, 27; Job 19:21-27a; Heb. 4:1-16; Rom. 8:1-11
Holy Saturday is often called Holy Sabbath or Great Sabbath. It is considered an empty day when Christ rested in his tomb while Creation awaited his resurrection, a reminder of the seventh-day rest that our Creator took in the beginning of our world.
In the readings of the day, we see the climax of God’s revelation to the human race in Jesus. The divine communication was initiated and maintained through the Prophets, including Abraham and Moses. God’s revelation of a saving purpose is achieved through a Son, whose role is redeemer and mediator of Creation. He was made heir of all things, through death and exaltation to glory, and through him, God created the universe.
Also, through Hebrews, the author refers to Jesus as a great High Priest and says that the confident access to God was made possible by the priestly work of Jesus.
Romans teaches us that through the redemptive works of Christ, Christians are liberated from the forces of sin and death at his cross. God broke the power of sin. Christians will retain the flesh, but it is alien to their new being, which is the life of the spirit.
So, a Christian’s life is the experience of a constant challenge to put to death the evil deeds of the body through life of the spirit, and through the spirit’s presence, enjoy not only new life, but also a new relationship to God, that of adopted children through Christ. Amen.