George Love, Pastor of Hebron Presbyterian Church, continues sharing his thoughts on the Daily Lectionary Series of Bible readings. You will find his most recent comments at the top, with earlier ones below. See earlier ones in previous months by following this link.
We have also added daily links to Presbyterian Church (USA) website where you will find the Scripture readings for that day. We hope you will find this a helpful way to join us in seeking God's message for our daily lives.
March 21: Lent Day 28
First Reading:
Exodus 2:23-3:15
Psalm: Psalm 43
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Gospel: Mark 9:14-29
"Love never ends." - 1 Corinthians 13:8
"'I believe; help my unbelief.'" - Mark 9:26
Love never ends, writes Paul. He's describing the qualities of love, but we could well understand him to be describing God. The love Paul describes is aspirational for us - something for which we can strive. The love Paul describes is perfect love, which is what God is; perfect love. The three small words, when understood as a description of God, become a faith statement. Love does not end. God is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end.
The father who wants so much for his suffering son to be healed comes to Jesus, because it seems in him, if the stories are true, there may be hope where he thought there was no hope. Now when he asks Jesus to cast the demon out of his son, Jesus responds that anything is possible when belief is present. The man acknowledges he will need Jesus' help in getting to that kind of belief. "I believe; help my unbelief."
These two short statements can help us to understand the fundamental work of being a follower of Jesus. When it feels like life is desperately broken, when the curtain is falling on love, we cling to the knowledge - the belief - that in Christ, the curtain never falls on love. When our belief seems to be slipping through our fingers, when our capacity to hold fast to the love of God is tested, we echo the words of the father in this story - help our unbelief.
March 20: Lent Day 27
First Reading:
Exodus 2:1-22
Psalm: Psalm 130
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 12:27-13:3
Gospel: Mark 9:2-13
"He did not know what to say, for they were terrified." - Mark 9:6
"So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean." - Mark 9:10
It must have been amazing to be among the twelve disciples who followed him during his earthly ministry. It was probably a long list of incredible things. But I feel pretty confident that it was not easy. And not just in the sense that Jesus asked them to do difficult things. While that was surely the case as well, I believe it was likely not easy because sometimes things happened and you just did not know what to do with them in real time. Case in point, today's Gospel story, the Transfiguration.
The three disciples with Jesus that day are gobsmacked by what they witness. Peter blurts out the first thing that comes to mind, offering maybe they could build some booths for Jesus and his guests. Scripture whispers an aside to us - Peter doesn't know what to say - he's terrified and so are his companions. After the moment has passed, Jesus asks them to not tell anyone about what they have seen "until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead." (9:9) What might it have been like to listen in on their conversation as they puzzled out what Jesus could mean. I imagine they felt it was important and that they felt pretty clueless. And I think we'd have been in that same space with them.
Following Jesus continues to be both amazing and at times not terribly easy. Yes, Jesus is still asking us to do challenging things, but as with the original twelve, it's more than that. Follow Jesus around and we'll wind up being exposed to things we can't explain and maybe can't understand. As pastor Mark Batterson writes, "Follow Jesus. And if you follow Jesus long enough and far enough, you'll find yourself in the middle of some miracles." Miracles and more. And in the midst of all that wonder it will be many things, but easy to process or explain may not be among them.
March 19: Lent Day 26
First Reading:
Exodus 1:6-22
Psalm: Psalm 27
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
Gospel: Mark 8:27-9:1
"If the foot would say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body." - 1 Corinthians 12:15
"For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?" - Mark 8:36
Both the 1 Corinthians passage and the Gospel passage from Mark are about the subject of reality. The foot is a foot and as a part of the body, the foot has a role to play, a job to do. The foot cannot announce that it is not a part of the body and have it be so. The fundamental truth of things is that, like it or not, the foot is part of the body. That is the reality.
God made the world. God made us. God knows what is of value - what is useful and what is damaging for us and for all of the creation. We cannot change the priorities of God's creation. But we try. Rather than discern who God is calling us to be, we sometimes decide that though we are a foot, we'd rather be a hand. Jesus teaches the disciples that they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. There are times when we are not much into the idea of denial and cross carrying. Without following these instructions of Jesus, the following becomes difficult. It is hard to partially follow someone.
The unifying message of these texts is that there are simply some things in life that are true to their core and they have to do with God's creation and our role in it. The more we try to go our own way, the more we will struggle, trying to reshape reality to be what we imagine it should be. The more we truly aim to follow Jesus with all of our being, the more we discern and embrace the part of the body God has created us to be, the more fulfilling we will find our life.
March 18: Lent Day 25
First Reading:
Genesis 50:15-26
Psalm: Psalm 5
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Gospel: Mark 8:11-26
"To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." - 1 Corinthians 12:7
Lenten dinners and programs are a tradition at Hebron. Tonight was our second of three for this year. It was personally a lot of fun for me as I was able to share from a trip this past fall that my wife Julie and I took to Greece and Turkey. Tonight's presentation focused on several places where Paul was active during his ministry: Ephesus, Athens, and Corinth. And now here is a reading from 1 Corinthians, a letter from Paul to the people of Corinth.
The passage from 1 Corinthians 12 features a beautiful section on the gifts of the Spirit. Paul teaches that the gifts of the Spirit are in each person and that those gifts find expression when they benefit the common good. I can close my eyes and think about the people present in the room this evening. A great group of folks who must be manifesting the Spirit because they each do so much that benefits the common good.
One of the best things about people who sincerely work for the common good is the lack of interest in credit or reward for their work. The work is its own reward. We talked at choir tonight about what heaven might be like. I stuck with my usual answer - I can't tell you what it will be like; what I know is that I hope to be there. At the same time, I do think we can catch glimpses of what heaven might be like. It would not be a surprise if it is a place where gifts are always shared in a way that makes all of heaven celebrate. And perhaps there will be potlucks.
March 17: Lent Day 24
First Reading:
Genesis 49:29-50:14
Psalm: Psalm 34
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 11:2-34
Gospel: Mark 8:1-10
"Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup." - 1 Corinthians 11:28
The Winter Olympics were recently held in Italy and captured the attention of many of us around the world. The actual sporting events were interesting. There is often a grace and beauty to watching highly skilled athletes and the competition is thrilling. But there is always more to it than that. Stories always emerge. Real human beings who have encountered hardship along the way, but persevered. People who have lived through challenges, griefs, devastating circumstances beyond their control, and still manage to show up and give their all.
There are the celebrations. The tears on the podium. Think for a moment what motivates those celebrations and those tears. In some instances, perhaps it is simply the victory, but I think it is often more than that. In most cases I think those newly minted champions are remembering. They are reflecting back and examining all the moments that happened out of sight of the world to bring them to this very public moment of glory.
Examine. That is what Paul invites us to do here as we come to the table. Examine ourselves, and then partake. Examine. Unlike Olympic champions we may not love all that we see when we examine our lives, but that is Paul's point I think. When we examine ourselves, we recognize again our need of the table. We recognize that we did not and could not set that table, and we became still more thankful that Christ did. And as we examine we are inspired to be fed by Christ and to respond with lives more closely aligned with God's will, to be more the people God made us to be. The table is not to be rushed as though we are collecting just another thing we believe we deserve. The table is a gift and we are invited to examine our need of that gift and the great love of God in providing it.
March 16: Lent Day 23
First Reading:
Genesis 49:1-28
Psalm: Psalm 145
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1
Gospel: Mark 7:24-37
"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 10:16
Communion is a regular feature in the life of Hebron Presbyterian Church. I don't know how long it has been their pattern historically, but it has been this way since before I became the pastor which was more than twenty years ago. The Lord's Supper is observed on the first Sunday of each month, and can happen at other times as well. Hebron is the first church I've been a part of that has a pattern of monthly communion. I have come to love the rhythm of beginning each month at the Lord's Table.
In our passage from 1 Corinthians Paul teaches that the table is a great equalizer for the church. We, each one, come to the table in need of what we will find there. There is no hierarchy, we all come alike, with our hands open, ready to receive the blood and the body of our Lord.
Considering how near Paul was to the life of Christ it is inspiring to think of the truth of Paul's teaching across two thousand years. The sacrament has fed Christians over that whole amount of time. Christians from all parts of the world, from all walks of life, young and old, rich and poor; however you can think of ways that we are divided up, communion looks past them as though they are not there and brings us together.
March 15: Fourth Sunday of Lent
First Reading:
Genesis 48:8-22
Psalm: Psalm 84
Second Reading:
Romans 8:11-25
Gospel: John 6:27-40
"Joseph said to his father, 'Not so, my father! Since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.'" - Genesis 48:18
From Genesis 12 through the end of the book we largely have a series of story cycles relating to the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Hebrew people. Abraham and Sarah moves forward to Isaac and Rebecca, and then to Jacob, Rachel, and Leah. All of these precede the Joseph cycle of stories where we have been for multiple days now. In each generation the characters take center stage and then eventually recede. Jacob, one of the most prominent of these characters, has a great series of stories, and then plays a supporting role in the Joseph cycle.
The fun thing about today's story from Genesis 48 is that we get a glimpse of Jacob pushing his personality back to the center of the stage for a moment. Joseph brings his two sons to Jacob to receive a blessing. Manasseh is the older son and is in line for the first blessing. Jacob instead places his right hand on the head of the younger son, Ephraim. Joseph sees this happening, and goes to correct his father, but it's not that Jacob is confused. It's that he's being Jacob.
It was Jacob in his young, trickster days, who with the help of his mother confused his own father Isaac into blessing him rather than his very slightly older twin, Esau, who should have received the blessing. Jacob, perhaps, is remembering that moment and shows affection for his grandson, who like him, was born second, but will be blessed first.
March 14: Lent Day 22
First Reading:
Genesis 47:27-48:7
Psalm: Psalm 43
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Gospel: Mark 7:1-23
"'Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders but eat with defiled hands?'" - Mark 7:5
This passage from Mark's gospel is a couple of lessons from Jesus. A lesson for the scribes and Pharisees he's interacting with, and a lesson for us in how to deal with people who ask problematic questions. First there is the lesson for the questioners in the passage. Feel free to ask Jesus whatever question you want. Understand that, once you've asked, you don't get to dictate what question Jesus is actually going to answer.
Jesus goes on the offensive immediately. He's not interested in defending his followers and however they are perceived in relation to the tradition of the elders. He's just not. His answer calls out the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites and he's ready with examples. After countering their question with his own observations, he turns the whole thing into a teaching moment for the crowd that is on hand. That is not the end result the folks asking the questions were looking for.
What about that lesson for us in dealing with problematic questions? Simply this: here is a place where we can do what Jesus does. Just as we don't have to attend every fight we are invited to, we don't have to honor every question that comes our way with the same level of earnest concern. First, it is wise to discern what is the nature of the question being asked. There are times where the questions are not questions. Or at best they are questions designed to waste our energy taking seriously things that are not serious and possibly not true. Jesus wasn't concerned about his disciples dishonoring tradition because I feel confident that Jesus didn't feel his disciples were dishonoring tradition. To begin to answer the question gives legitimacy to a question that does not deserve the time of day. So Jesus goes a different direction. If we feel we are being manipulated or bated it could be in our best interest to also listen closely for what we feel is really being asked and not be drawn into something that will sap our energy and not lead to honest dialogue.
March 13: Lent Day 21
First Reading:
Genesis 47:1-26
Psalm: Psalm 22
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 9:16-27
Gospel: Mark 6:47-56
"When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about the whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed." - Mark 6:53-56
How exciting it must have been to be a disciple of Jesus in those years of his public ministry. Who knows what you might see today? A feeding miracle? What experiences might the day hold? Perhaps a late night/early morning crossing of the Sea of Galilee, complete with Jesus walking on the water to where you are - is that a ghost? No, it's Jesus! And then there are all the people tracking your every move, on the lookout for Jesus to show up and then gathering up everyone in need of healing to bring to him. Sometimes just hoping to get close enough to touch his clothes. Believing that would be enough.
I love worship and I love participating in the life of a congregation, but it feels important to think about these early days of the Jesus movement when it was just that, a movement. Not a gathering of people for a service where you can anticipate what everything will be like. Unpredictable. Late night boat rides. Miracles beyond the imagination. People in need of hope and so ready to invest their hope in Jesus simply at the sight of him. Take a moment and consider what it was like to be in the midst of all that energy and excitement.
The living Jesus is still impacting lives in exactly the same way we read about in the Gospels. Jesus is showing up in places and doing things we could not have imagined on our own. The body of Christ, the church, can draw energy from remembering that before we were an institution we were a movement. And we are called still today to be a people on the move, following our Lord, who is still a source of hope to all. A source of hope to us. And calling us, his followers to share him and extend that hope to our communities and to our world.
March 12: Lent Day 20
First Reading:
Genesis 46:1-7, 28-34
Psalm: Psalm 126
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 9:1-15
Gospel: Mark 6:30-46
"After saying farewell to them he went up on the mountain to pray." - Mark 6:46
Jesus tells the disciples they need a break. They should get away to a deserted place. Off they all go to rest and renew. Someone sees them, everybody is wanting something from Jesus at this moment in time, so once they are spotted a crowd follows. Now, it's Jesus, the disciples and a crowd – in the deserted place.
What follows is the story of the feeding of the five thousand. It's a great story and there is so much in it to consider. Jesus' interaction with his followers as they decide how to address the problem of feeding everyone. The miracle itself. The leftovers and the symbolism involved. It's all interesting. But we are going to move past that to the end of the story. The people are fed. Jesus sends the disciples on ahead; they get in boats and head to the other side of the lake, to Bethsaida. Eventually all of the crowd are dispersed. And Jesus is left alone. So after all of this – all the seeking out of a place to be away from the crowd, the foiling of that plan and a busy day of teaching culminating in a miracle we are still talking about regularly today – after all of this, what does Jesus do?
In a way, he kind of does what he set out to do with the disciples in the first place. He heads to a mountain to pray. This is the secret sauce of this story, except, it's not all that secret. Jesus is regularly finding time to be in conversation with God. He could have chosen to give way to exhaustion, but instead he heads off to a mountain to engage in prayer. Was he walking through all that had happened that day, looking for deeper meanings and future teaching opportunities with his followers?
Was he simply giving thanks for God's provision, for folks anxious to learn, and for enough food for all of them? It's not something we can know, but we can absolutely know that Jesus placed great value on going to that mountain to pray, which could be a clue to us to look for whatever mountain or deserted place is available to us and go there to spend some time with our God.
March 11: Lent Day 19
First Reading:
Genesis 45:16-28
Psalm: Psalm 27
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Gospel : Mark 6:13-29
"Israel said, "Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die." - Genesis 45:28
The Joseph cycle of stories in the latter portion of the book of Genesis is full of so many plot twists and turns. It feels appropriate that the stories of a dreamer and interpreter of dreams should speak a word to us about our dreams. Let's begin with the dream of Jacob/Israel. It's a dream that he's left behind. It's a dream that cannot come to pass. He has spent years longing for his son Joseph, knowing that Joseph is dead. His other sons all reported that to him many years earlier. In the meantime he has mourned what happened and dreamed an impossible dream of wishing to see his son alive.
Here today we begin the unfolding of the end of the Joseph drama. Joseph has revealed himself to his brothers. He has loaded them up with goods and sent them home to retrieve their father to come to Egypt and experience the comfortable life that Joseph can provide. One can imagine how Jacob felt when they told him that Joseph was alive and not only alive, but very nearly the ruler of Egypt. His dream is realized. His impossible dream has come true and now he is ready to travel to Egypt and experience the fulfillment of that dream before he dies.
A story like this invites us in. It's a story about people who lived a long time ago, yes. But it's also a story about a dreamer who thinks the dream has no chance only to find out it does. Is there a dream that you very nearly ache for and have perhaps given up on. The time has passed you by. The ship has sailed. This story of Jacob and the news delivered by his sons cautions us to hold up a moment on walking away from our dreams. Particularly walking away from dreams where we believe God may somehow be involved. It is not for us to determine how the impossible may become reality. It is for us to trust God on the journey, knowing that as long as we draw breath, there are wonders yet to behold.
March 10: Lent Day 18
First Reading:
Genesis 45:1-15
Psalm: Psalm 91
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Gospel: Mark 6:1-13
"And he was amazed at their unbelief." - Mark 6:6
On the one hand it's interesting to know that people can amaze Jesus. On the other, it's unfortunate that the thing he finds amazing is our unbelief. So, slow your roll, you might be saying, Jesus is talking about the people in his hometown, not everyone, not us. And yes, that is true, at least at first blush. Jesus has gone to his hometown and at first it sounds like folks are pretty impressed with Jesus, but in the midst of a sentence or two, their opinion evolves into questioning if maybe Jesus of Nazareth hasn't gotten above his raising.
I think we see Jesus' humanity on full display here. Who doesn't want to be well received back in your hometown once you've begun to pursue your life's work. Jesus finds himself amazed that his hometown folks, of all the people, can't find it within themselves to believe. At one point, when Jesus is meeting Nathaniel, the future apostle asks him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46) Apparently the people of Nazareth have the same question.
Back though, for a moment, to who this story is about. This is a story about people who are close to Jesus and, if anyone was going to get him, you would imagine it would be them. And yet they don't. This should be a cautionary tale for Christians. Christianity at its best is all about following Jesus. As Christians it feels like it should follow that we are close to Jesus, and if anyone is going to get him it should be us. How often do we fall short of listening intently to all that Jesus asks of us? How much does my life look like the life Jesus is calling me to live? Might Jesus at times be amazed at my unbelief? I want that not to be the case, but I also hear this story and see that I must work daily to not take for granted the gift of being invited to follow Jesus.
March 9: Lent Day 17
First Reading:
Genesis 44:18-34
Psalm: Psalm 121
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 7:25-31
Gospel: Mark 5:21-43
"For the present form of this world is passing away." - 1 Corinthians 7:31
"'Do not be afraid; only believe.'" - Mark 5:36
The two snippets of verses featured above occur in two different passages from two different books. Each of them has a particular context. Paul is writing in Corinthians about not getting too comfortable with anything, because the world is preparing to change. Jesus is talking to parents who believe their daughter has died. Very different circumstances.
And yet. They seem to speak well together. Jesus' words to the heartbroken parents are intended to fortify them and ultimately bring them hope. He heals their daughter. Where they see much to fear, Jesus counsels belief. Paul is working to impart how dramatically different the future world he envisions will be, the things that have value now may be little more than afterthoughts, or at least completely rethought as we move forward with God.
As a pastor, I sometimes talk to people who have very good reasons to be frightened by what is happening in their world. They feel in their bones that the present form of the world is passing away and in many instances that is the problem. The present is a pleasant place perhaps. A place where illness is not threatening them or their loved one. A place they felt that until one piece of news broke was comfortable and reliable. There are times when we can feel the pain of the girl's parents, because there are days that is what life brings. Jesus knows what that is like and does not offer frivolous comfort. When fear overwhelms us, what Jesus longs to bring us is assurance that our faith can meet whatever the challenge before us may be. Our God, who is ever moving forward, invites us to trust, particularly when the present form of the world is passing away and we cannot clearly see what the future holds.
March 8: Third Sunday of Lent
First Reading:
Genesis 44:1-17
Psalm: Psalm 42
Second Reading:
Romans 8:1-10
Gospel: John 5:25-29
"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." - Romans 8:5
Romans 8 is my favorite chapter of the Bible. It's no surprise that I found myself drawn to Romans 8 from this group of readings. I will be participating in a Zoom study this evening built around Luke 9:1-6. In that passage Jesus sends out the disciples, empowering them to do mission in the places they go and with the people they encounter. He instructs them to take nothing with them for the journey. The authors of the study titled this chapter "Traveling Unattached."
The idea of traveling unattached is very compatible with what Paul is teaching in Romans 8:1-10. I don't believe Paul is condemning our physical nature, our bodies, the things that are essential in life, gifts that God has provided to nurture us, sustain us, and bring us joy. Jesus did not come to us as a disembodied spirit, but as a human being, walking around just as we do. The reality of the incarnation, God choosing to take on human flesh, should push us to give a deeper consideration to what Paul is doing in this passage.
Rather than throwing out all tangible, physical things of life, Paul is aiming to help the Romans put those things in the right alignment, to give them the right priority. Jesus instructed his followers to leave everything behind, not because they wouldn't need to care for themselves, but because it would push them to connect with others on their journey and to put their energy into building those relationships rather than into caring for their stuff. Paul wants this prioritization for the Romans and for us as well. We are physical beings and there is a necessary and pleasant physicality to life. Our goal, however, is not to be guided by our body and its needs (both real and imagined), but by Jesus who we follow.
March 7: Lent Day 16
First Reading:
Genesis 43:16-34
Psalm: Psalm 143
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 7:10-24
Gospel: Mark 5:1-20
"Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood." - Mark 5:17
We are presently at our church doing a Sunday School class based on a book and video lesson called The Third Day. The idea of The Third Day is to look at people who knew Jesus before the events of Holy Week and also after and to see the ways in which lives are transformed by the resurrected Christ. To this point in this Lenten season we've looked at Mary Magdalene, Peter, and tomorrow morning, Thomas. In looking at these people from the biblical story we are invited to see how our own interaction with the risen Christ can be transformative.
A catch for us at times is our conflicted desire to change. We may both want to change and at the same time hold fast to everything as it is. This is clearly impossible. But it's not impossible for us to want it, and hard to break free of if we aren't aware of the tension in which we find ourselves. The season of Lent can be a gift for many reasons, one of them being that it offers space for us to give close consideration to our lives and to have honest conversations with God about where we are living within God's will and where we are struggling to know or even resisting God's will.
The story from Mark's gospel is illustrative of the dilemma in which we can find ourselves. Likely, no one was wanting the demoniac to have to live out his days chained up outside of town for fear of hurting himself or others. Still, when Jesus casts the demon out of the man, the whole circumstance upsets the people to the point where they pointedly invite Jesus to leave. Change, even change for good, can require work and may make life uncomfortable. Are we ready for transformation?
March 6: Lent Day 15
First Reading:
Genesis 43:1-15
Psalm: Psalm 105
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 7:1-9
Gospel: Mark 4:35-41
"A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat so that the boat was already being swamped." - Mark 4:37
Jesus and his disciples get into a boat and cross the Sea of Galilee. A windstorm comes and it's rough. The boat is taking on water. In the midst of the storm and the great concern of those on the boat, Jesus sleeps. When they finally see this, they wake him and Jesus calms the storm. Everyone is impressed with Jesus' mastery of the weather, and probably a bit in awe of his capacity to sleep when everyone is losing their minds.
This is often a story about Jesus calming the storm. That makes sense, because it's a powerful action for Jesus to take. It's a relief to the people in the boat with Jesus, and Christians throughout history have taken solace in it as well. When the storms come we can turn to Jesus and Jesus has mastery over the storms. That's good news.
Here is a thing that is also true. Jesus is in the boat. Right along with them. The whole time. And it's Jesus' idea to get in the boat and go to the other side. They are at sea because Jesus directed them to set sail and it's because of Jesus' direction they are on the water when the storm comes. Yes, Jesus can calm the storm, but Jesus can also lead you into the storm. Jesus can be with you and the storm can still come. Storms are not designed flaws. Storms are not an indication, necessarily, that we have drifted away from Jesus. Sometimes storms are part of the journey. The good news is both that Jesus does have mastery of the storms, and that Jesus is with us even as the storm rolls in and we are in its midst.
March 5: Lent Day 14
First Reading:
Genesis 42:29-38
Psalm: Psalm 102
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Gospel: Mark 4:21-34
"'All things are permitted for me,' but not all things are beneficial." - 1 Corinthians 6:12
In Disney's The Little Mermaid, the sea witch, Ursula, tempts Ariel to make the exchange of her voice for feet so that the mermaid can walk around. Ariel knows what she wants, but also senses this choice comes with compromises and the potential for problematic outcomes. "Life's full of tough choices," says Ursula. Ariel chooses to experience life on land and the story gets complicated.
Paul's instruction to the Corinthians continues to be the theme that actions have consequences. If we make a poor choice, a painful outcome is less about divine punishment and more about living with the result of a poor choice. Often, like Ariel, we have that sense of ambivalence - we know better - and we rush on ahead anyway. We know what we want and we hope to dodge the consequences.
Paul's teaching here goes another step in giving constructive reasons for making better choices. When we make decisions that abuse our bodies we are acting in ways that harm God's temple. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?" (6:19). Our call is to care for God's temple, by caring for the body God has gifted us with and to do this by working hard to follow God's will and instruction when we encounter life's tough choices.
March 4: Lent Day 13
First Reading:
Genesis 42:18-28
Psalm: Psalm 147:1-11
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 5:9-6:11
Gospel: Mark 4:1-20
"At this they lost heart and turned trembling to one another, saying, 'What is this that God has done to us?'" - Genesis 42:28
Joseph's brothers, back in the past, dug a hole for Joseph. Now they are realizing the hole they have dug for themselves. Sort of. At one point as they are planning for the journey home that Joseph is forcing them to make, they recall their actions from the past. "Alas we are paying the penalty for what we did to our brother..." (42:21) But things get worse. Sent on their way, they travel a distance only to find that money they had paid is on top of what they had purchased. They know it will appear that they have stolen this money. "What is this that God has done to us," they ask themselves.
Actions have consequences. They have made a series of poor choices over a number of years and those choices have led them to that moment. They did not know that it was Joseph, who they had wronged, who has been watching them throughout this whole interaction and has orchestrated the money being in their bag. This is not a mystery to be explained by divine action. This is the chickens coming home to roost.
The caution here for us may be to realize that we sometimes are in the position of the brothers. Our actions have consequences. Sometimes the difficulties of today are not a mysterious punishment exacted by God, but instead are the logical next steps of poor choices we have made. God is not out to get us, but sometimes our own regrettable actions are.
March 3: Lent Day 12
First Reading:
Genesis 42:1-17
Psalm: Psalm 25
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 5:1-8
Gospel: 3:20-35
"A crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, 'Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you." - Mark 3:32
Families and their difficulties are featured today. We have read recently how Joseph was first thrown into a pit to be left to die and then sold into slavery in Egypt instead. Today Joseph's dreams begin to come true, not in the sense of this is what Joseph had always hoped for, but as in this is exactly what Joseph dreamed all those years ago. Here are his brothers, traveling to Egypt, a land not their own, to come and buy food to survive during the famine years. As the Westminster Study Bible suggests there is a moment of reversal for the brothers in today's passage. Earlier they had to lie to convince their father that Joseph had died. Now, standing before Joseph (they don't know it's him, but he knows it's them), they must tell the truth to convince Joseph their story is true and they are not the spies he accuses them of being.
In the 1 Corinthians passage Paul is reacting to immoral behavior in the family of faith in Corinth. He questions them as to how, knowing what he has taught them of the faith, they could wind up doing the things that they are doing and, to make matters worse, they are not ashamed, but seem to brag about it. It's not good for the individuals and it's not good for the community as a whole.
The complicated family theme continues on even into the Matthew passage and into the family of Jesus. Jesus' mother and brothers appear to have heard reports of Jesus' activities that have been relayed in ways that suggest that Jesus is casting out demons because he himself is possessed by a demon. At the very least they seem to have come to him out of concern and are seeking to speak with him. The people Jesus is in conversation with inform him his family is outside looking for him. Jesus responds, "Who are my mothers and brothers?"(3:32) He looks around at the group before him and tells them, "Here are my mothers and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."(3:35). Jesus is making a point about what it means to be a part of the family of faith that places its trust in him. Still, it is interesting to wonder what the conversation that evening and at other times was between Jesus, his mother and his family members.
March 2: Lent Day 11
First Reading:
Genesis 41:46-57
Psalm: Psalm 119:73-89
Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 4:8-20
Gospel: Mark 3:7-19
"Moreover, all the world came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain because the famine became severe throughout the world." - Genesis 41:57
"Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; hearing all that he was doing they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region of Tyre and Sidon." - Mark 3:7-8
As we follow along with the story of Joseph, we have reached the point where Joseph is the second most powerful person in Egypt. A Hebrew, who comes to understand that he was placed there by God to do work that would result in life-saving food for countless people from Egypt and beyond. Joseph oversees the storing of grain during the seven years of bumper crops. When the seven years of famine arrives, Joseph, and because of him, Egypt is ready to supply the necessary grain to the people. The famine is so great that it reaches beyond the borders of Egypt and we are told that "all the world" eventually comes "to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain."
In Mark, Jesus has become known throughout the region for the miracles he has performed. He is providing something people can find in no other place and so they come, from his immediate area and also from the larger region around him. Jesus anticipates the crowd that is following him and tells the disciples they are going to need a boat - the crowd will be so great on the shore that Jesus will need it to preach and teach from.
Christian readers may read the Old Testament story of Joseph and see parallels to the story of Christ. Joseph is one person, sent by God, who is uniquely able to prepare the Egyptians for the famine, helping ultimately not just them, but the world. Jesus, is one person, sent by God, who is uniquely able to heal not simply his fellow Jews, but ultimately people around his region, and now as we look back through history and understand his saving work, the world.
March 1: Second Sunday of Lent
First Reading:
Genesis 41:14-45
Psalm: Psalm 84
Second Reading:
Romans 6:3-14
Gospel: John 5:19-24
"So you must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." - Romans 6:11
There is a lot of talk in the Romans passage of things that must necessarily die and things that will live following those deaths. So, one could say, lots of conversation about death and resurrection. As we think on these things it feels important to recognize the connectedness of the dying and the new life.
The new life sounds like a wonderful destination. It is with Christ and is the life we want to share. That connectedness reminds us that there are old ways that need to die so that new ways can come into being. Living with Christ means allowing Christ to be at work in us, transforming us, changing us for the life that really is life.
The call I feel in passages like those today from Romans and John is not to become too legalistic about what is being shared. The goal is not to decipher how we get where we want to go. The goal is to live this day, this moment, in a way that is responsive to what God through Christ has made possible simply because God has made it possible, God offers it, and God offers good gifts. We don't live in joyful response to God to make God give us something. We live in joyful response to God because God is good and trust that a present lived well with God leads to a future lived well with God.