Welcome to March Meditations
Our ‘liturgy,’ or ‘set pattern’ of worship and scripture reading, began with Advent, the four weeks of anticipation before Christ’s birth. The season of
Christmas lasted twelve days through the Epiphany when the Magi met Jesus. This ‘season’ of discovery, ‘aha’ experiences in which we discovered new insights through Jesus parables, ushered in this penitential season which begins with Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent.
The day before Ash Wednesday we begin to change modes as we “shrove” (past tense for ‘shrive’) or obtained absolution for our sins by way of confession and contemplating penance for our sins. This “Shrove Tuesday” practice changed after the Protestant Reformation and is now a ‘festive celebration’ before Lent begins, in which many enjoy festivities and pancake suppers to dispose of luxury foods like animal fats, eggs, meat or ‘rich’ foods.
The original Shrove Tuesday practice of confession now takes place on Ash Wednesday as the faithful receive ashes on the forehead as a sign of repentance in preparation for fasting through Holy Week. As we receive ashes, the words of scripture, “You are but dust and to dust you shall return,” are spoken to remind us of our humble beginning with God.
So what about LENT?
For centuries our Church Fathers instilled in every
Christian the practice of a weekly fast on Fridays, to remember the death of Christ, followed by the weekly celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Sundays.
Converts to Christianity also followed a strict period of instruction (catechism) to prepare for baptism on the Eve of Easter.
This two-year period of preparation was shortened to six weeks (not including Sundays). Three hour daily classes three were shortened to a couple hours a week that ends with confession and baptism on the Eve of Easter.
At the same time, the LENT (which means ‘spring time’) fast and practices of self denial are expected of all Christians. This is for the baptized Christians’ own spiritual benefit as well as to show solidarity with the catechumens.
This thirty-six days of prayer and fasting was later lengthened to forty days to remind us of several great moments in Biblical history.
Two traditions remain prevalent: Reflection upon our ‘walk with Jesus’ during His forty days in the wilderness and reflection on the forty hours Jesus was in the tomb before His resurrection. This forty days of fasting from foods and festivities takes us through Holy Week.
Traditionally, the three Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and alms-giving help us to focus on the great commandment that Jesus gave us. As we clear away excess and take extra time to seek ways to “Love the Lord, thy God with all our heart, soul and mind,” we are better able to seek new ways to “love our neighbor as ourselves.”
May we gain new insights in our personal walk with our Lord, Jesus Christ, during this season of Lent.
This prayer by St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) might be useful during these forty days of reflection and contemplation:
“O Lord, The house of my soul is narrow;
enlarge it that you may enter in.
It is ruinous, O repair it!
It displeases Your sight.
I confess it, I know.
But who shall cleanse it,
to whom shall I cry but to You?
Cleanse me from my secret faults, O Lord,
and spare Your servant from strange sins."Sunday, March 1, 2020 First Sunday of Lent
Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11
Matthew 4:1-11 “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’”
and serve only him.’”
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.”
Perhaps one might choose to linger just a little longer with others’ traditions in order to seek understanding of our greater Christian community.
After all, no matter what we ‘practice’ we are all One in Christ.
We all identify with the temptations set before Jesus by the devil.
We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
We all, who have professed faith in Christ Jesus, are redeemed of our sin by His blood shed on the Cross, by Jesus’ very life, given for us.
Therefore, I will not provide discourse on these temptations but invite you to Think about this passage.
Read each phrase carefully.
Then read it again slowly as you chew on God’s Word.
Picture yourself right there with Jesus.
Picture yourself moving into desert space, alone yet surrounded by angels guarding your every move, just like Jesus.
Picture yourself half starved after forty days, weak and, perhaps, not in the best mood to be fighting the devil’s harassment.
Picture yourself with Jesus, being transported from the desert to the tower in Jerusalem in a mega-instant as the devil tempts you to prove you are beyond gravity. Even Jesus, in His humanity, could not defy the laws of physics, much less the law of God.
Picture yourself in Jesus’ shoes as the devil prompts
Jesus to worship this pesky little fiend, the angel of darkness.
Picture your stamina being tested at every turn.
Picture your ability to shoo this dark pest away with God’s word, with scripture passages.
Picture yourself filled with the power of the Holy Spirit you received at baptism.
Picture yourself as an overcomer, a winner, triumphant against the wily ways of the devil.
Picture yourself and Jesus as One.
Picture you and Jesus entwined together as our Lord wraps His arms around you and holds you tight to protect you against temptation.
Say AMEN, Praise the Lord, breathe deep and go about your day with renewed joy in your heart that you, too, are an overcomer.
March 2 Genesis 37:1-11; Psalm 41,44,52; 1 Corinthians 1:1-19; Mark 1:1-13
Genesis 37:3-4 “Now Israel loved Joseph more than
any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.”
First, we have to recall the other stories to understand the name, ‘Israel.’ If you have not yet read the February meditations, you may choose to refer to the story of Jacob at the Jabbok river, fighting with the angel of God. After Jacob, which means deceit, finally understood his responsibility and turned to God, he was given the mantel of his fathers, to carry the Covenant relationship with God forward to the next generation. Thus, he became a new man with a new name, Israel, which means, “striving with God."
The new nation, Israel, would be led by the sons of Jacob. As we recall from our reading, Jacob was deceived for many years before he was able to marry his beloved Rachel. He already had Leah as a wife, through whom most of his sons were born. Rachel bore Joseph and, much later, Benjamin. Therefore, Jacob’s beloved, Rachel, bore the one who was ‘Israel’s’ current prize, Joseph.
Joseph is only seventeen, an age when humility has not yet entered into his life. One would think it would be enough for him to receive this grand coat. Some scholars translate the description of the coat as, “with many colors.” Others translate it saying, “with sleeves.” It would be historically more accurate to say, “with sleeves,” for coats with sleeve were highly prized. One could carry much in those sleeves. It was an instant sign of wealth and superiority.
Yet, Joseph was gifted with a closeness to God. One might think this gift would teach him humility but, not
yet. He had grand visions that burst forth as stories of pride when he told his brothers. Read today’s passage to for yourself to see what Joseph saw in his dreams.
His visions did indeed come true.
His father told Joseph to keep quiet about his visions but it was too late. Joseph already unloaded these prideful scenes onto his brothers.
Not good.
Jealousy manifested among his brothers and the long story about Joseph and the dastardly deeds of his brothers begins to unwind.
Think about it: Think of the time you were jealous.
Was it a long time ago or was it yesterday?
Ask yourself why you became jealous. You might have good reason.
Was it because that other person was boasting of a talent they had that you did not possess?
Were you jealous of a story a friend shared that was pretty nifty . . . a vacation trip or a new home or perhaps an expensive purchase?
Perhaps it was the way that person sauntered past you or flirted with one you like?
Jealousy must be dealt with immediately or it will fester into a deep wound. Ask yourself why you are jealous. Is there family history that stirs up your soul? It is important to write in your journal at this moment, if possible.
As you write, ask the Lord to reveal to you the source of that jealousy.
Make a list of goals that you wish to achieve and pray through those goals daily. Prayerfully, your goals will focus on seeking the Lord’s will in all things.
I’m reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13-14 “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
If we find others ‘jealous’ of our wonder-filled Christian life, invite them in to see for themselves. All are welcome. No one should be jealous of our love for Christ Jesus. He has enough love to envelope every single one of us, even Joseph.
Think about it: We also might be ‘Corinthians.’
Stop, rest, breathe deep, eliminate one item that may be a bit overwhelming.
Jesus, in his spirit, knew exactly what was going on. Purposely, He allowed this mess on the roof and the lowering of the paralytic down to him.
1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you know you are a Temple of God and the Spirit dwells in you? :17 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him for the temple of God is holy and you are that temple. :23 For you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.”
Therefore, just as we do in the abodes where we live, the dustballs must be swept away. It is best to cleanse our temple daily. “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” Just as Paul taught the Corinthians, so this passage teaches us to keep our temple spic and span clean.
One can only imagine the swirl going on in his mind and soul.
3-3 Genesis 37:12-24; Psalm 45,47,48; 1 Corinthians 1:20-31; Mark 1:14-28
1 Corinthians 1:20 . . . Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? :22-:25 Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and
Greeks, Christ is the power of God and wisdom of God. The foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. :31 Let him who boasts, boast in God.
The Corinthians are a challenge for the apostle Paul. Each city he entered in his missionary journeys found him drawing people to Christ. They were eager to learn from the leaders Paul had trained to remain with them as Paul traveled to the next city. Corinth was different. It was sophisticated and vibrant with commerce. Great wealth and poverty accompanied those who came to know Jesus as Lord through Paul and those leaders he mentored. Yet, pride of knowledge, especially that of the heavy Greek influence, became a stumbling block to many who chose faith in Christ Jesus.
Some Corinthians made rules and set themselves apart as ‘better,’ ‘smarter.’ The sophisticated Greek influence of the time affected Jews, Greeks and anyone else who passed through Corinth. To simply trust, have faith in, believe in the resurrected Christ was difficult. The pride and boastful ‘knowledge’ of many who said they had faith in Christ almost negated the Gospel. It’s as if they were playing god and knew more than God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They became like jewish pharisees, making rules and setting themselves apart in ways that would not be acceptable to our Lord.
Paul could not return to Corinth immediately so he wrote a couple long letters to be read to all who professed Jesus as Lord. Paul did not mince words. He was highly educated as well so could slam words at these people who did not practice what they learned about Jesus, the Christ, the anointed one, the one who died a bloody death on the cross so our sin would be forgiven.
Those in Corinth missed the point.
They were not dying for anyone, much less to their selfish motives.
Do we pride ourselves on how much we pray and read and study?
Do we spew out scripture when we might do best as a listener?
Do we pray long and hard and, perhaps in circles, as we pray for another because we think long, hard prayers are better than short ones this make a point immediately?
Do we say we pray privately when we simply gloss over a list of names and throw them at the Lord?
Do we complete our bible study the night before class and hope we have digested enough to participate with a couple of wise observations?
Let’s step back.
Breathe a bit.
Take a moment to digest what we are ‘doing’ for the Lord, or is it for us?
Ask yourself why you chose to do what you do for Lent.
Ask yourself why you ‘gave up’ whatever it is.
Do you now have time to quietly linger with the Lord a little longer each day?
Did you choose to add something to your already long ‘Jesus’ list?
Is it too much?
Did you choose to give away more of your time or funds to a special cause for Lent? Is this a satisfying choice?
Are your Lenten choices meant to last just for this six weeks or do you intend to make them daily habits for the rest of your life?
Much to think about.
Step back, assess the condition of your soul.
Are you ‘doing’ too much?
Stop, rest, breathe deep, eliminate one item that may be a bit overwhelming.
Rest in the presence of the Lord.
Think about adopting this Lenten practice for the rest of your life.
That’s the whole point so that we continue to grow and embrace His presence.
Let the Lord wrap His arms around you and give you peace as you reflect.
tore his cloak. They took Joseph’s coat and dipped it in goat blood and showed it to Israel. He saw the cloak and heard that Joseph was torn to pieces by wild animals. :34 And Jacob tore his clothes and refused to be comforted and mourned. Joseph was sold in Egypt to Potipher, captain of Pharaoh’s body guard.
much disfunction in this family. Notice how the writer used the title, “Israel” to address the father of the territory in Canaan that would be named after him? When Israel heard that his most favorite son was killed by wild animals he was totally deflated into a heap of nothingness. This father of the tribes of Israel, with an immovable mountain of a soul was splintered with arrows of wrenching pain and crumbled.
of our inner self is also known by our Lord.
3-4 Genesis 37:25-36; Psalm 49, 119:49-72; 1 Corinthians 2:1-13; Mark 1:29-45
Genesis 37: The brothers were eating and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites taking goods from Gilead to Egypt. :27 Judah said, “Let’s not shed Joseph’s blood but sell him to the Ishmaelites. :28 The Midianite traders sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for 20 shekels of silver. :29 Ruben returned to find Joseph gone and
And the story continues. Joseph’s journey is pivotal to our own journey so we will follow his story every few days. As was said before, jealousy can lead to dastardly deeds. Yet, some of the ‘sons of Israel’ have compassion and want no harm for their brother.
Judah kept his brothers from going too far with Joseph’s life. Ruben was the first to be sensitive to what was happening and hoped to hide Joseph until the dark of night when he would return to rescue his brother . . . to no avail as his brothers were one step ahead of him.
The most heart-wrenching moment was when the sons lied to Israel, their father, the patriarch of the family. To lie to their father, who had learned to love the Lord, thy God, with his whole heart, meant there was
“Jacob” grieved hard, deep and long. He would have to find a new reason to live, a new purpose, a new vision from God. This would not be easy.
Think about it: It’s one thing to have to live through the tragedy of the loss of a child but to be lied to, told his favorite child was gone forever, can suck the life out of the strongest person.
Loosing a beloved child changes our lives but raising sons who are so filled with deceit is much worse. These sons are groomed to be the twelve tribes of Israel?
What was God thinking?
Would Jacob every trust his sons’ words again?
Who knows. None of the family of Israel would know the outcome of this tragic lie for about twenty years.
We know the story but Jacob and his sons, did not.
Perhaps we cannot walk in Israel’s shoes, the father of the future twelve tribes of Israel. But we might want to think about the last time we deceived our Father in heaven.
We may talk as if we are devoted to Him but are we really?
Could we endure competition from a ‘brother or sister in Christ?’
Could we step back from that ministry we thought we should lead so that another can take our place?
Would we lie to the Lord by hiding a painful truth and not confessing it before Him?
Our Lord knows every hair on our head so every part
We may choose to ‘stuff’ the discord we feel with someone close to us or with a ministry leader at church.
We may choose not to address our feelings to the Lord.
Yet, by not doing so, we hide from the very person who could help us let go of our personal feelings and forgive.
Jesus Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit, our advocate, is within us and ready to do the ‘work’ to maintain our grace-filled lives.
Assess the condition of your heart.
Are you holding back from pouring your soul out to the Lord?
Do you stay so busy that you do not take time to quiet your body and soul and wait for that tiny whisper that will direct your path into the arms of Jesus?
Is silence and waiting and empty space too hard for you to embrace?
Hand these concerns over to the One who died a gruesome death on the cross for you. He did not hide his shame but gave Himself, as sacrifice, for us.
Hide nothing.
Live Truth.
Feel a new freedom as you journey with Christ and release all your dark spots to our Lord.
3-5 Genesis 39:1-23; Psalm 50 [59,60] or 19,46; 1 Corinthians 2:14—3:15,
Mark 2:1-12
Mark 2:5-9 “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to
the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ‘Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ At once Jesus perceived in His spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves and he said to them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?’”
“You had to have been there!”
Read it and wonder.
Who would have the audacity to rip open someone’s thatched roof?
And the scribes are worrying about the healing?
The house Jesus called ‘home’ was not his but one he used when in his ‘base’ town of Capernaum. Here is a bunch of scribes, those who study and know the Law, ‘sitting’ in the midst of the crowded space.
I wonder if they were blocking the doorway.
Jesus preached right through them knowing their hearts were closed to His words that would change most hearts.
The crowd outside listened intently.
In the mean time, four ambitious men were determined to have Jesus touch and heal their paralyzed friend. A roof could be fixed in return for ‘fixing’ their friend. This process of digging through the thatched roof must have taken a bit of time as pitch may have fallen into the room.
Oh, to have a camera to record it all.
The next best is to read Mark’s words. Jesus did not need to touch the paralyzed man to heal him.
All that drama for whom?
For the scribes!
Drama!
Jesus made his point dramatically by saying, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
He knew these words would ignite the scribes’ ire.
“Blasphemy! Only God can say these words!”
Indeed. Jesus, so early in this book, reveals his divinity as he heals the paralytic simply by saying, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Amazing.
In essence, Jesus may have been playing with the scribes' narrow minds. “OK,” says Jesus, “I’ll just say, ‘Stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ Is that better?”
So the man ‘immediately got up and walked!
He walked through the crowd that the four men could not budge.
He walked through those scribes sitting on the floor.
He walked through immovable hearts and hearts that were open to every word Jesus spoke.
Of course one would hear the crowd say, “We have never seen anything like this!” This phrase is heard often as Jesus’ healing miracles prevailed everywhere He went, preaching to hungry crowds.
Of course one would hear the crowd say, “We have never seen anything like this!” This phrase is heard often as Jesus’ healing miracles prevailed everywhere He went, preaching to hungry crowds.
In those days, in the midst of Jesus’ healing power, this must have been a humorous comedy that was passed from one community to the next.
Think about it: Read this passage slowly.
Picture yourself in the crowd, or as a scribe sitting on the floor.
Perhaps you are the one who was paralyzed and now is healed.
Perhaps you are one of the four who were so filled with faith and compassion that you, also, would tear a roof off a home to have your friend healed.
Picture yourself reacting to the scribes’ words and then Jesus’ words.
What is going on inside your mind, soul, heart, body?
Are you excited by what Jesus is saying and doing?
Reading scripture can be a form of prayer.
Ignatius reveled in this kind of prayer.
It’s called, “Praying through the scriptures.”
The process is more complex than I state here but it is a way of ‘chewing’ on God’s words, of being present with the Lord in such a way that He can heal us as we present ourselves before Him in the story.
Look up Ignatius and prayer.
See what you find.
In the mean time, feel free to ‘Take up your mat and walk’ into the parables of Jesus.
Read slowly.
Digest the scene.
Be healed, in the name of Jesus.
Be healed, in the name of Jesus.
3-6 Genesis 40:1-23; Psalm 40,51,54,95; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Mark 2:13-22
The Corinthian Christians were growing into their faith. They grasped the basic tenants of the faith but the details needed ironing out. Much like any of us, there was much to learn. Their brains grasped the concept of salvation through the shed blood of Christ Jesus, His crucifixion and resurrection. Yet, the idea of giving our entire self, our body, mind and soul to the Lord, seemed a bit difficult to embrace.
Most religions have rules that one follows, rituals to observe, words to say, goals to achieve. It’s through the ‘work’ that one receives whatever that religion offers. Christianity offers a relationship between us and God. Not any relationship but a covenant relationship. God so loves us that HE died for us. HE comes to us and beckons us to be ‘one’ with Him. All we have to do is say, “yes.” But, that’s the rub.
When we say, “Yes,” we affirm that we, by receiving all of the love and grace and abundance of the treasures the Lord has for us, give our whole selves in the bargain. It’s not just our mind but our body, our soul, our very being that we offer to God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in return for the full inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. Pretty good deal if we think about it.
Therefore, when baptized, when the Holy Spirit is drawn into us and we are ‘sealed as Christ’s own forever,’ our body becomes the residence, the tabernacle, the temple, that houses the Holy Spirit. Indeed, if we ‘house’ the
Holy Spirit within our soul, we ‘house’ our triune God because God is One and cannot be separated. Therefore, we are called to take care of our ‘temple’ and the ‘holy of holies’ within us which is our soul, the place where God resides.
We cannot defile the place within us that houses the Holy Spirit, who is called to lead us in righteousness, to lead us into the presence of our Lord 24/7/365, if we choose to call ourselves ‘Christians.’ Jesus, the anointed one, the Christ, gave His life for us so that we would live forever with Him. He walked this earth to show us how to live in this world yet regard ourselves as ‘separated’ from the world.
We are in the world but not of the world. The Apostle Paul spent extra time instructing the Corinthians, and us, how to live daily in the world while protecting the treasure of God’s presence planted within us.
Think about it: Jesus trained leaders to ‘disciple’ or teach others how to live a grace-filled life that honors our ‘temple’ and does nothing to defile that temple. Nothing.
Tall order.
That’s why, when we do defile our temple, sin against God, allow error to override Truth, throw the precepts in scripture aside for our own selfish needs, we need to take time to cleanse our temple.
We must sweep away the ashes of our sin so that the Lord can continue to reside within us in all His glory.
During this time of Lent we might create a new discipline: confession.
It’s simple.
Just before you go to bed, while you are lying there, relaxing, ready to go into your deep sleep, ask the Lord what needs cleansing from your temple.
Wait.
Hopefully you will remain awake long enough to hear what the Spirit within you reveals.
If something comes forward, carefully drop it at the foot of the Cross.
Imagine Jesus’ blood, shed for you, dripping on the sin you just dropped at His feet.
Jesus’ blood ‘covers’ that sin.
The sin dissolves.
All gone.
Now do not dig that sin up again and allow it to defile your temple.
Keep moving forward while you chew on God’s words daily.
Keep digesting the glory of the Lord as you devour
scripture, pray, worship, give thanks and linger in the Lord’s presence each day.
That’s the best way to keep our temple glistening with the glory of our Lord.
Try it.
After about a week, ask yourself if your physical body, your temple, feels better than it has in a very long time . . . all spic and span . . . all clean.
Wonder-FULL
And the Story continues. By this time the Cup Bearer remembered that he was suppose to tell Pharaoh that Joseph was still in jail. Here was a perfect opportunity to offer Joseph’s gift of interpreting dreams. On the one hand, this would get the Cup Bearer off the hook just in case he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream wrong. He used this opportunity to remind Pharaoh that Joseph, still in jail, could interpret dreams. It was a win-win for the Cup Bearer.
Give thanks for those who continue to guide you through your own journey with Christ.
Being let out of the jail of sin and into eternal life with the Lord is a happy beginning that leads to a happy ending.
3-7 Genesis 41:1-13; Psalm 55,138,139:1-23; 1 Corinthians 4:1-7; Mark 2:23—3:6
Genesis 41:1-4 After two years Pharaoh had a dream. He was standing in the Nile and seven fat cows came from the Nile to the meadow. Then seven ugly, think cows came out of the Nile after them. The ugly cows ate the fat cows. Pharaoh had a second dream. Seven plump ears of grain were growing on one stalk and seven scorched ears grew afterward and ate the seven plump ears. :9-:13 The Cup bearer told pharaoh of Joseph’s gift of revealing dreams when no one could interpret these dreams.
To reveal the rest of the story, Joseph, indeed interpreted the dream correctly. He told Pharaoh both dreams tell the same story. There will be seven years of great plenty in the land and seven years of famine which will consume the land.
The doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means it is fixed by God and God will shortly bring it about.
Joseph continued with a solution. Let the overseer that Pharaoh picks take 1/5 of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plenteous years. The stored food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine so that the land shall not perish through the famine. Pharaoh chose Joseph to be that overseer. Thus, Joseph gained authority over the land of Egypt.
Think about it: Put yourself in the shoes of the Cup Bearer. He was jailed for good reason and, because he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream with a happy ending, was let out of jail and lived to tell his story. He was ‘saved’
because he gave the right answer. Yet, he completely forgot about the one who helped him get out of jail.
Is there a moment in our lives where we forgot about the one who saved our life?
Think about how you came to your salvation experience, when you actually understood the majesty and awe of God’s grace through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Did you arrive in the place you are today all my yourself?
Perhaps there are people, whom you have forgotten, who paved the way for you to come into the presence of God.
Take a moment: stop, step back in time and recall your journey. Were you in a ‘jail’ of condemnation and then released to the ‘freedom’ of God’s love and eternal life because of someone’s prayer or guidance?
Ask the Lord to show you faces or give you names of those who may have helped direct your journey, through prayer or discipleship or by sharing openly about Jesus Christ before you made your faith-step into the arms of the Lord.
Give those names and faces as a ‘thank’ offering to the Lord, for all those who brought you safely to where you are today.
Joseph gave thanks each day he was in jail, not because
of his circumstances but because he knew God was working out some path for his ‘salvation’, payment for his freedom.
Because Joseph was faithful throughout his arduous journey, the Lord paved a new path that was beyond his wildest dreams . . . and then some.
As you continue to read Genesis over the next several days, enjoy the heart-felt conclusion of this part of Joseph’s story as it is revealed to his father, Israel.
Give thanks for those who continue to guide you through your own journey with Christ.
Being let out of the jail of sin and into eternal life with the Lord is a happy beginning that leads to a happy ending.
I love happy endings.
Don’t you?
Don’t you?
3-8 Second Sunday of Lent
Genesis 12:1-4a, Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17
John 3: Nicodemus said, “What must I do to be born
again? :5-:6 Jesus said, “Unless you are born of water and Spirit you cannot be born again. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. :16-:17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but will have everlasting life. God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world but that the world might be saved through Him.
Notice, once again, that our scripture sequence changes somewhat on Sundays.
Especially during the austere time of lenten fasting, Sundays give us a bit of a break. We always celebrate the resurrected life of Christ Jesus on Sunday, no matter the season. It’s our ‘sabbath’ day, a day to celebrate resurrection no matter the time of year. And so, we change pace each Sunday to reflect the joy of our salvation.
I love the honesty and wisdom of Nicodemus, a Pharisee who must be careful not to reveal his deep thoughts to his peers.
He has heard Jesus preach, seen Jesus heal, is awed by how God is drawing his soul into deep contemplation, even . . . heaven forbid . . . change?
Nicodemus knew his scriptures well.
He knew prophecy that anticipated the coming of the Messiah.
Could this be the One?
“Could God be gifting me, a Pharisee, with the reality of this revelation?”
“Born again? I was already born once. What must I do to be born again?”
Jesus tells him nothing about following the Law or about circumcision, the basic tenants of being a good Jew. Instead, Jesus tells Nicodemus about a second birth, not of body but of the soul.
One must not only repent of sin and be bathed in the waters of repentance, but that same water, touched by Jesus, is filled with the Holy Spirit.
This is what Nicodemus needed to digest.
It’s the touch of God that empowers a new birth, a new baptism, a new cleansing, a new righteousness.
Later Nicodemus would learn of the price this person, Jesus, would pay.
He might be awed that Jesus, the one he met in the middle of the night, the one who cared enough to dialogue with him, the one who seemed to speak with great authority, was indeed, the “only begotten son of God.”
Much later, Nicodemus would understand the incredible gift from God who stood before him, who spent time with him. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him, even Nicodemus, a pharisee, shall not perish but will have everlasting life.”
Think about it: Can you see yourself as Nicodemus?
You are well-studied?
Have you spent years digesting scripture and discussing God’s promises with others.
You have lived the ‘rules’ well and stand tall among your peers.
You are revered, honorable, a person who is respected by all who know you.
Yet, do you wonder if you truly understand your baptism
and the power of the Holy Spirit working within you daily to help you remain focused on God’s presence in your life?
Do you feel assured that, when the time comes for you to leave this earth, all you have to do is take Jesus’ hand and let him draw you into His kingdom?
Do you wrestle with “truth” that was spoken to you that may not be the Truth?
Rest assured that your continued desire to spend time with the Lord in studying scripture, in prayer, in worship and as you receive His presence through Holy Communion, will only draw you more deeply into His loving arms.
It’s in our seeking, asking, clarifying, daily assessing the condition of our soul, that the Lord comes to us and assures us that He is forever with us and will never leave us nor forsake us.
All we have to do is be like Nicodemus and come to Jesus with our questions.
Keep asking, keep seeking, maintain that desire to go deeper into the presence of God, through His Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Lord loves our questions.
Our Soul loves God’s answers.
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