Lent (Page 25)

Wednesday March 27 Readings: DT 4:1, 5-9; MT 5:17-19 Moses is instructing the Israelites to heed the decrees and statues that God has given to them.  He counsels them to “not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live.”  This is the generation that witnessed the escape from Egypt, survived in the desert and received the commandments. And Jesus speaks to how he has come not…

Tuesday, March 26 Readings: DN 3:25, 34-43; MT 18:21-35 We hear a beautiful line spoken in Daniel today, “And now we follow you with our whole heart.”  This is likely an aspirational statement yet a great one for Lent where we strive every day to give more and more of ourselves to God. One way to bring our whole heart to God is elaborated in the gospel.  Jesus is telling his disciples about forgiveness and of course they want to…

Monday March 25 Readings: IS 7:10-14; 8:10; HEB 10:4-10; LK 1:26-38 Today the church celebrates the feast of the Annunciation where Mary receives the invitation from the angel Gabriel to bear Jesus.  And she accepts! I have always loved this “feast” because, for me, it celebrates all of the many ways – big and small – that we say, “Yes,” to God with no promise that anything is going to work out.  I think it honors the risks we take,…

Sunday, March 24 Readings: EX 3:1-8A, 13-15; 1 COR 10:1-6, 10-12; LK 13:1-9 We have a powerful set of readings in front of us today In Exodus, Moses meets God through the burning bush.  One of my favorite lines from this reading is, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”  In my mind, God could say that about EVERY place we find ourselves.  This may be the ultimate call to an environmental…

Saturday, March 23 Readings: MI 7:14-15, 18-20; LK 15:1-3, 11-32 If you had to pick one reading that summarized Jesus’ teachings, today’s gospel reading might be a great one to pick.  It’s the story of the “prodigal son” and is one of his most famous stories.  Because most of us have heard this story so often and we can’t help but read it from a North American context, it may be important to review some of the key elements of…

Friday March 22 Readings: GN 37:3-4, 12-13A, 17B-28A; MT 21:33-43, 45-46 In the first reading we hear the story of “Joseph the Dreamer” who out of jealousy for his giftedness is beaten and sold by his brothers to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver.   Joseph then comes to play a very important role in their lives at a later point in their story. This idea of that which is rejected coming to play a crucial role at a later…

Thursday, March 21 Readings: JER 17:5-10; LK 16:19-31 “More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it?” says the prophet Jeremiah.  I certainly hope it’s not beyond remedy, but the story Jesus tells today suggests that we have a lot of work to do. Jesus tells the famous story of “The Rich Man and Lazarus” which is his tale about inequality and what happens when we have such wealth in the face of such…

Wednesday, March 20 Readings: JER 18:18-20; MT 20:17-28 As we move deeper into Lent, the readings begin to give us glimpses of what is coming.  Today we read of people plotting against the “faithful one” in both readings. In the gospel, Jesus pulls aside his close friends and tells them trouble is coming and that he’s going to have to suffer.  Ironically, that’s when the mother of two of his disciples comes up and asks Jesus for special places for…

Tuesday March 19 Readings 2 SM 7:4-5A, 12-14A, 16; ROM 4:13, 16-18, 22; MT 1:16, 18-21, 24A Today is the feat of St. Joseph.  Joseph is celebrated as the spouse of Mary and the father of Jesus.  In scripture he has no speaking lines, basically does what is asked of him and plays a supporting role.   He is a laborer whose life is distinguished by no apparent great deeds, wealth or works.  He just lives a faithful life. I love…

Monday March 18 Readings: DN 9:4B-10; LK 6:36-38 I am struck by the reading from Daniel.  It is a stark admission that we have sinned (and we all do) and represents an attempt at telling the truth about what happened so that we can move on. Imagine if we could individually and collectively do more of this?  Just admit to people that we have hurt that we did, in fact, hurt them and want to make amends.  Imagine if we…

Second Sunday of Lent Readings: GN 15:5-12, 17-18; PHIL 3:17—4:1; LK 9:28B-36 Two of today’s readings contain what might be considered supernatural encounters when God is revealed in new ways.  This is particularly true of the gospel reading – traditionally referred to as the Transfiguration. The disciples who are there witness a mystical experience where they see Jesus with Moses and Elijah and everyone is enveloped by a cloud (which makes the disciples afraid).  When it all fades, it’s just…

Saturday March 16 Readings: DT 26:16-19; MT 5:43-48 Deuteronomy cautions the hearer today to observe the decrees of God with all your heart and your soul and to remember the agreement that you made with God. Some of us might be thinking, “Wait, what agreement?” While Deuteronomy is speaking to the collective group, I did find it interesting to think about what “agreements” we have made with God.  Did we promise to be a follower?  Did we agree to try…