Lent

Jan 08 2025

Called to Be True

In the fourth century A.D., Christianity became legal and then mandatory. To “follow Jesus” grew to be a soft way of life. Anybody and everybody could (and then should) be a Christian. Within one lifetime, the faith that had required its followers to be willing to be torn apart by lions now became “good for business.” What happened as a result? Men and women, turned off to a tamed Christianity, flocked to the Egyptian desert. In the desert, they shed the “fat” of mainstream acceptance. They strove to be pure and obedient and true in their faith. Desert monasticism flourished.

Jesus also was led into the desert. The Judean desert is stark. No trees offer shade. The sun beats down mercilessly. Ninety-five degrees is a cool day in May. For forty days, Jesus’ hunger intensified. If he had any fat on his body, it shriveled up. Three times he was tempted to take the easier path. Three times he stayed true to his mission and to his God: I will love the Lord alone!

Adam and Eve didn’t think that they needed to do what God told them. When found out, they tried to evade the One who sought them in love, like a guilty toddler hiding behind the couch crying out, “Don’t look at me!” They squirmed away from right and wrong.

As you and I move into this season of Lent, what does it mean for us to be true to God? The world around us may tempt us to be soft: lies and posturing and deceit proliferate in our culture and even in our Church. Lent is the season to grow more holy, our time to go to the desert. This is our ascetic season. This is our opportunity to strip away the fat that weighs down our spiritual and moral life.

Consider/Discuss

King David is called to truth by the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 11—13). He cries out, “O God, create a pure heart in me. Give me a new and steadfast spirit!” What does it mean to you to be true? What tempts you to take a “softer” path?
As we come before God in prayer, is there some part within us that wants to hide behind the couch and not be seen?

Living and Praying with the Word

Lord, sometimes we squirm away from obedience. You call us to look you straight in the eye and remain steadfast in following you, no matter the cost. But sometimes it is more comfortable to go the softer way. When we are tempted to disregard what our conscience tells us is right, fill us with the strength to stand fast. As we enter into this Lenten season, strip away the fat that encases our spiritual and moral life. Give us the grace to follow you more purely.

Jan 08 2025

Scripture Study for

The Genesis reading relates how an original intimacy between humans and God was damaged by distrust. The serpent’s question to the woman implies that God has placed an unreasonable limitation on the couple. Although Eve does not take the bait, she does note that God said they would die if they ate from the tree. Knowing that they will not physically die, the serpent tells a half-truth, suggesting that God does not have their best interest at heart. But once the couple has eaten of the tree, they do experience death in the form of estrangement from God, the source of life. Exile from the Garden, where God and the tree of life reside, symbolizes this rupture of the divine-human relationship, the devastating consequences of sin.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul articulates the problem to which Christ is the solution—human captivity to sin. He develops this theme by drawing a contrast between the actions of Adam and their consequences and those of Christ. Adam’s disobedience brought judgment and death, not only for himself but for all his descendants, such that “death reigned” in the world. Christ’s obedience reversed all of this: sinners are made righteous, the condemned are “acquitted,” and the reign of death comes to an end. Through the “abundance of grace,” a sheer gift of God, the acquitted now “reign in life” through Christ.

In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus, who represents all of Israel (2:15), recapitulates and perfects Israel’s history with God. Now Jesus is led into the wilderness and tested, as Israel was after the Exodus. Whereas in the desert Israel lacked trust and was unfaithful to God, Jesus resists the temptation to use his powers for his own needs, to put God to the test, or to worship anyone other than God. The rest of the Gospel will show Jesus, as Son of God, serving others rather than himself and, even to the Cross, trusting and remaining faithful to the Father.

Dec 16 2024

Serving Till His Last Breath

That last night could not have been easy. At supper, Jesus knows his end is approaching, with much suffering, after being betrayed by someone he has loved, now sitting at the table. He knows Simon will deny him three times. And he has to face an argument that breaks out among the disciples—again!—over who is the greatest. But Jesus patiently reminds them that service will win them a place in the kingdom. It will take a visit from the Spirit for this message to sink in.

From the cross we see how faithful Jesus himself is to this call to serve all. Only in Luke’s Passion does Jesus speak these words we hear this Palm Sunday. His first word is a prayer of forgiveness. Looking around at those mocking him and jeering at him, he prays: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” His second word comforts, responding to the request of the thief on his right: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” And his final word, addressed to God, serves us: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,” teaching us how to die trusting God.

Three times Pilate declares Jesus innocent. This judgment is further reinforced by the Roman centurion saying: “This man was innocent beyond doubt.” The word innocent literally means one who does no harm. More than that, until his last breath, Jesus is the savior who does only good, who serves, bringing forgiveness, replacing fear with the promise of paradise, and showing all that God can truly be trusted.

Consider/Discuss

Which of the three “words” that Jesus speaks from the cross serve you most?
Does the Passion of Luke call you to serve in any way?

Responding to the Word

Lord, even in your last hours, you teach us to serve those whom God brings into our lives, even those who do not treat us well. May we be quick to forgive, quick to respond to those in great need, and quick to entrust our lives to the Father. May your prayers be ours.

Dec 16 2024

Scripture Study for

A heavy price is exacted of the servant spoken of by Isaiah. He suffers both personal insult and physical attack. In the face of his affliction, he maintains that God is his strength. Such maltreatment was usually interpreted as punishment. However, that is not the case here. This is an innocent victim. Much of the content of this passage resonates with that found in many of the laments. However, there is really no complaint here, just a description of the sufferings that accrue from faithfully carrying out the mission assigned by God. If anything, this passage resembles a declaration of confidence in God’s sustaining presence.

Being in the form of God, Christ enjoys a Godlike manner of being. Nonetheless, he did not cling to this or use his exalted status for his own ends. Furthermore, though in the form of God, he chose the form of a servant or slave. This does not mean that he only resembled a human being; he really was one. Having taken on the form of a slave, he made himself obedient. Finally, the exaltation of Christ is as glorious as his humiliation was debasing. Consequently, every knee shall do him homage and every tongue shall proclaim his sovereignty.

The narrative of the Lord’s Supper is a classic farewell scene. Its connection with the Passover underscores the supper’s end-time significance; mention of “covenant in blood” points to its sacrificial character. The events that take place on the Mount of Olives are the prelude to the rejection and the agony in store for Jesus. Faced with the terrors, he accepts them as the will of God. Throughout this narrative, Jesus is portrayed as the non-violent, innocent victim of the unwarranted hatred and bloodthirsty desires of major sections of both the Jewish and the Roman populations. The execution is reported in a matter-of-fact manner. The culminating event of the redemption of the world is accomplished with dispatch.

Dec 16 2024

Back to Life

For God who spoke through the prophet Ezekiel, the people of Israel, carried off into Babylon, had become dead inside. They had lost hope during the decades spent in exile. So God raised up a prophet, Ezekiel—one of the strangest of the prophets—who not only had strange visions but did strange things. Ezekiel certainly got their attention. In this vision of dry bones lying in the valley, returning to life is a gradual process: first the sinews, then the flesh, then the skin, and, finally, the breath that is the spirit of life. God will bring the people back to life and bring them back home.

The promise of Lent is that God’s spirit can bring us back to life, to fullness of life that is available to us because of the saving death and resurrection of Jesus. Addressing her hurt and loss, Jesus says to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” Then, the challenging question: “Do you believe this?”

Lent leads us to professing a faith that is life-giving. Do you believe in God the Father almighty? Do you believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit? Are you ready to answer? The good thing is that we answer as a community, as a body, supporting each other in faith. We hold each other up by our faith.

Consider/Discuss

Have you ever experienced a time where you felt dried up, all inner life gone, all spirit sapped?
What does it mean to say: I believe that you, Lord Jesus, are the resurrection and the life? How does it make a difference in your life?

Responding to the Word

Lord Jesus Christ, we approach the end of Lent, preparing to celebrate the new life you will pour into those being baptized. Stir up in them and in all of your people the fire of faith that we might proclaim you as our resurrection and our life at the Easter feast.