Lent (Page 25)

Monday of Holy Week Readings: IS 42:1-7; JN 12:1-11 The first reading from Isaiah 42 tells the story of the “suffering servant” – the one who suffers so the victory of justice may come about.  These are the passages that the Jews who were followers of Jesus reread after his death and saw the life and work of Jesus in them.  We even hear echoes of Jesus’ ministry in this passage when it says that this chosen one will “open…

Palm Sunday Readings: LK 19:28-40; IS 50:4-7; PHIL 2:6-11; LK 22:14—23:56 And so we start the “high holy days” of the Christian calendar culminating in what is called the Triduum which starts on Holy Thursday and ends on Easter Sunday.  This week is the microcosm of the faith and encapsulates the wide range of human emotion. One of my favorite lines of scripture comes today from the book of Isaiah and I think of it often in my profession as…

Saturday, April 13 Readings: EZ 37:21-28; JN 11:45-56 In the first reading, we hear Ezekiel prophesy about a future when Israel would be unified under a leader and would enjoy peace and prosperity on their own soil.  For a nation that has been conquered, split and dispossessed, this is a deep longing. And in the gospel, we hear that the fame of Jesus was spreading but not just in the “Wow, he does some amazing stuff” sense.  People began to…

Friday, April 12 Readings: JER 20:10-13; JN 10:31-42 Jeremiah’s words probably describe how Jesus was feeling as the net began to close around him and his enemies and detractors gained momentum, “All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine.” We might feel like this at times as well – when people turn against us, speak behind our backs, betray us or delight in our failures and missteps.  It’s a terrible feeling. Jesus tries…

Thursday, April 11 Readings: GN 17:3-9; JN 8:51-59 Today’s readings are setting the stage for the big confrontations that will emerge during Holy Week, and you can see from the gospel that what Jesus is saying is infuriating the religious authorities as well as some of the regular religious folk as well. Most of us know that Abraham was one of the most revered figures in the Jewish faith.  It’s actually hard to state just how important he was to…

Wednesday, April 10 Readings: DN 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; JN 8:31-42 The first reading tells the dramatic story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who refuse to worship the golden statue of King Nebuchadnezzar.   So he throws them in the furnace where they are joined by a mysterious stranger and miraculously survive!  Nebuchadnezzar has a conversion moment (I mean, who wouldn’t!) and praises the God of Israel. In the gospel we continue to hear the sometimes obscure monologues from Jesus.  This time…

Tuesday, April 9 Readings: NM 21:4-9; JN 8:21-30 The reading from the book of Numbers is one of my favorites.  The Israelites are tired.  Yes, they were saved from slavery in Egypt, but now they’re wandering in the desert.  Their feet hurt.  They’re thirsty.  The food is stale and wretched. And so they start complaining.  God’s not pleased at this and sends snakes their way to bite them.  Many died from this and so they repent.  God tells Moses to…

Monday, April 8 Readings: DN 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62; JN 8:12-20 The very long first reading from Daniel tells a tale of male power and abuse against Susanna.  Two of the respected elders intend to sexually assault her and when their plan is interrupted, they accuse her of a moral crime.  Susanna is found guilty based on their testimony, and they are willing to watch her die for their evil intentions.  If Daniel had not spoken up, her death would…

Sunday, April 7 Readings: IS 43:16-21; PHIL 3:8-14; JN 8:1-11 It just so happens that I am preaching on these readings at church, so I have had a little extra time to reflect on them (but I’ll keep my thoughts here a bit briefer!). In the gospel a nameless woman is brought before Jesus.  The Pharisees who bring her claim that she has been “caught in adultery” and “according to the law” she should be stoned.  They seek to trap…

Saturday, April 6 Readings: JER 11:18-20; JN 7:40-53 The theme continues today of the persecuted one.  As we enter into these last few weeks of Lent, this theme starts to come forward a little more. I am especially thinking today of people who are persecuted just for being who they are.  The dominant systems of the world make it so hard for some people just to be. I think of people in the queer and trans communities. I think of…

Friday, April 5 Readings: WIS 2:1A, 12-22; JN 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 In modern lingo, today’s readings are about “haters” but also about truthtellers.  It all depends on what side of the equation you think you’re on. Back in the time when the scriptures were written and now, there are people who go against the grain of the dominant narrative, and there are people who are very bothered by this. If we are somehow affiliated with the dominant narrative, we might…

Thursday, April 4 Readings: EX 32:7-14; JN 5:31-47 In the first reading, God tells Moses that the Israelites are a “stiff necked people” and that God intends to send wrath upon the people.  Instead of fidelity to God, the people have made a calf of molten gold and now look to it for help and guidance.  God is not pleased.  Moses bargains with God and reminds God that the Israelites were not brought out of Egypt only to be exterminated…