Lent 2014 - Saturday, March 15th

Scripture Reading for Saturday, March 15

Reading: Mark 2:23 - 28, Mark 3:1-6

Is it Legal

Sabbath for Christians has probably undergone more change over the centuries than many other aspects of Christian practice. I read to my son the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls-Wilder and within those she describes a solemn day in which they would listen to the Bible, they were required to sit still and quiet. Pa didn't play the fiddle except for some hymns on Sundays and only did the minimal work needed to care for their livestock.

As a child there were some rules for my Sundays as well. Sunday mornings meant no television for instance and I spent the afternoon doing things that were 'quiet'. Sundays meant I wore specific clothes, that I took a bath on Saturday nights (something Laura had to do too!), and we ate a sit-down meal after worshipping on Sunday morning.

These things I have mentioned here about how I or Laura's family observerd the Sabbath, are largely culturally driven. The Sabbath laws of the Pharisees, while rooted in the concept of God's commandments to honor the sabbath and to rest on the sabbath, were taken to extents within their cultural that weren't part of God's original command.

Within his actions of the taking of the wheat and the healing of the hand Jesus is signifying to the pharisees that their rules about the sabbath rather than enhancing God's command were inhibiting its practice. “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?"

Jesus challenged the authority that the pharisees had apportioned for themselves away from God, and for this they wished to kill him.

Questions for Reflection or Journaling

• What were/are some of the ways you observe the sabbath?
• What among those are cultural expectations vs. obedience to God?
• How can you 'do what is good' on the Sabbath?

Prayer

Father we thank you today for that seventh day, the day of rest. We ask today or clarity as we seek to honor you and the gift you have given us in a sabbath day. We ask that you remind us of the example of your son, and that you would remind us of how to 'do good' on the sabbath so that we would honor you.

Amen

Lent 2014 - Friday, March 14th

Scripture Reading for Friday, March 14

Reading: Matthew 5:21-26

Murder:

As long as humans have sinned, we have known murder. As we look ahead to Good Friday there is a darkness that can hang over the whole Lent season; certainly while the outcome of that Friday was good what was done to Jesus on that day was nothing less than a wicked thing. On that day humanity rose up against our God and to put it bluntly murdered him in an act of defiance. Surely, as Jesus said, we did not know what we were doing.

The Fridays before easter then are days in which we can begin to prepare ourselves for this somber occasion of Jesus' death on the cross.

Our reading today comes out of Jesus' sermon on the mount; a section of which is Jesus' 'you have heard it said... but I say' admonitions. Jesus is taking the law of Moses and bringing it into himself (as the fulfiller of the law). The key here though is that Jesus is not laying down another and greater law; rather he is bringing the reasoning behind the law into greater focus, and that deeper meaning is relationship.

When someone murders, the person being killed has been judged by the killer to be unworthy of living, or less-than-human. Jesus admonishes us that even to hate another is to have killed them in that we have judged them to be sub-human. Jesus makes it known that his followers are those that not only do not murder others, we go out of our way to reconcile with others.

The reason for reconciliation and forgiveness of others often has less to do with them then it does to do with us. Certainly to hold a grudge can feel good for a time but the reality is that it leads us towards Gods judgment; 'as you judge others, so will you be judged.' The hell we experience then, is the one of our own choosing. When we learn to forgive, to work for peace, to own up to our own mistakes we are making room for God to work in our lives.

As we prepare our hearts for Easter, what better thing can we do than to seek out reconciliation and peace?

Questions for Reflection or Journaling

• Have you treated someone as less-than-human this week? If so, can you make amends today?
• In what ways can you make steps in your life that promote reconciliation and peace with those around you ahead of Easter, and beyond?

Prayer

Lord, we call on you today out of a sense of repentance. You are holy, and because of that holiness you burn away that which is unjust and sinful. Take a look at our hearts God and let your holiness consume our sin as we confess it to you. This is all through the power of your sacrifice on the cross.

Amen

Lent 2014 - Thursday, March 13th

Scipture Reading for Thursday March, 13th

Reading: Mark 2:1-12

You are Forgiven

Think back in your lives to those moments in which something was brand new to you, not brand new in a scary way, but in an exciting way. Maybe the first time you held hands or kissed someone you liked, or perhaps the experience when you rode your bike without assistance and felt a rushing sense of freedom. These moments of newness hit us at various points in our lives and in many ways we try and capture those moments whether through video, pictures, or by doing those same things again because of their impact in defining who we are.

What do you think it would feel like to walk for the first time? I am betting there were a lot of emotions running through the paralyzed man in that first moment he rose to his feet; Joy, excitement, and gratitude to name a few. This man had been living his whole life in a horizontal position, utterly dependent upon others for his well-being, and in an instant that all changed. Just like that...

However that wasn't the end of the story! "But wait, there's more!"

Your sins are forgiven!

The most amazing thing about this story isn't just that the man is healed and goes on his way; it was that Jesus pronounced his forgiveness over the man. Not only was he made well, he was made whole.

This story from the gospel really messes with those of us who have any religious lawyering in our blood and we are left a little slack-jawed here. The paralytic didn't even ask for Jesus to forgive his sins. Certainly he was hoping Jesus might heal him; and yet the initial pronouncement of Jesus had nothing to do with his legs or back. Even further, it was because of the faith of his friends.

However if we can set aside our legalistic posturing we can begin to tease out some application for us today.

Certainly on the Cross Jesus effected the forgiveness of sins for all (whether we accept that gift is something else!) but none-the-less it was not up to the paralytic to ask for God's forgiveness as much as it was necessary that he should accept God's forgiveness that was waiting for him. Regarding the faith of the friends; not many come to Jesus on their own, the key her is that the paralytic man was brought to meet Jesus.

What this means for us today, and (Easter is a great opportunity to do this) is that we are the friends, meant to bring those around us who are paralyzed in their own sinfulness before a God who is eager to forgive. Within that action of service to others there is the opportunity that those we bring to God might experience that same sense of newness of life that the paralytic felt as he rose to his feet, forgiven, life made whole.

Questions for Reflection or Journaling

• Reflect on a moment of newness in your life? What was it like?
• God has forgiven you, how is that made real in your life today?
• What opportunities do you have over the next few weeks to bring your friends before Jesus this coming Easter?

Prayer

Father, thank you for the newness of life that you bring to us, and the restoration of our souls to you. Guide us today towards those whom you would have us bring to you during this season of Lent and to celebrate your resurrection. Awaken us to your presence daily.

Amen

Lent 2014 - Wednesday March, 12th

Scripture Reading for Wednesay, March 12th

Reading: Luke 11:27-35

Blessed Like the Ninevites?

What does it mean to live a blessed life? Our first inclinations go towards the material and worldly things; wealth, social standing, lack of stress. As a whole our culture associates blessing with 'good things'. Some versions translate the root word used here as 'happiness' which, if we read it out of context, can be taken to mean that our existence is somewhat carefree.

But what does it mean that Jesus lived a blessed life and ended up tortured, and executed on a Roman cross around the age of 33? What does it mean that Mary was herself blessed by God and ended up seeing her son die on that cross? I would argue that there is a profound disconnect between how our culture defines blessing and happiness as compared to what is communicated in our scripture reading.

Blessing does not mean a carefree existence; rather it is a 'reconciled' existence. To be reconciled with our God is to be a blessed/happy person. Obedience is the key word that Jesus highlights here. Our obedience to God, and to the message brought to us in Jesus Christ, is essential to understanding what God's blessing means for our lives.

Throughout the New Testament we see multiple examples where blessing is the direct result of suffering. The distinguishing key here is that the suffering that brings blessing is the result of obedience to God, rather than disobedience. In 1 Peter 2, we are reminded that if we suffer because we have sinned that is not a blessing; rather it is a blessing to suffer when we have not sinned because it shows our obedience to God.

Suffering is unfortuneately part of the world we inhabit; the type of suffering and its outcome though depends on our obedience to what God has asked us to do; namely, repent. Jesus's suffering on the cross has been transformed by God into the greatest blessing this world has, and will ever, know. If we heed God's warnings and turn to him we may not escape the sufferings our fallen world; however we will experience the blessing that is God's everlasting salvation.

Questions for Reflection or Journaling

• How do blessing and obedience go hand in hand?
• What suffering has brought about blessing in your life?

Prayer

Father we ask today that you would continue to reveal to us what is right and just. Show us the way of repentance and give us grace to choose what is right. Our lives are held in your hands for you to do with as you wish, use us for the fulfillment of your Kingdom.

Amen

Lent 2014 - Tuesday, March 11th

Scripture Reading for Tuesday, March 11th

Reading: Matthew 6:7-15

On Prayer

We have talked about fasting during the season of Lent. Another spiritual discipline that we focus on during this season is prayer. Just as we have learned how we should fast Jesus also speaks to us about how we should pray.

The scripture reading for today comes from inside of Jesus' sermon on the Mount, and he has just given an example of how not to pray; namely in an extremely visible, repetitious, and self-aggrandizing way. Just as the visible faster receives his reward here and now (rather than heaven) so to does Jesus admonish the self-important prayer.

Rather than long and drawn out, with tones of self-sacrifice and holier-than-thou speeches the prayer Jesus lists is short, simple, and gets at the heart of what it means to spend time with our Father. Certainly we must remember that God already knows what we need even before we come before him. Knowing that God has already heard and seen our needs lets us start by focusing first (and this is the Lenten theme here) who he is.

• Our Father reigns from heaven
• We are to honor him
• We ask how we can help as...
  • He is building his Kingdom through..
  • His perfect will...
  • For the redemption of His creation

Certainly beyond this introduction Jesus reminds us that we can go to our Father with our needs, it is just that prayer is first about connecting with God and showing him our love and appreciation and seeking His will first. Remember the verse, "Seek first God's Kingdom, and all these things shall be added..."

Questions for Reflection or Journaling

• How do you usually pray when you pray?
• Is your prayer time focused on listening for God's will?
• What happens to our own needs as we put God's will first?

Prayer

Father in Heaven; We honor your name above all others. We ask that you reveal to us your will for this moment in time so that we can have the opportunity to obey your good and saving command. As you remember us, give us what we need to live and honor you.

Amen