2020 LENT DEVOTIONS February 26–April 12 How to use this Devotional These devotions really are for everyone. We hope you will use this as a guide to help you grow in faith as together we live into the call of Lent.

For Families There is no right way to use this devotional, as each family is different. Spending time together reading scripture, praying, and thinking creatively is a great way to prepare for Easter. Depending on the age of your children, you may want to consider the following: For families with young children Set aside some time each day to read the daily scripture together, keeping in mind the word for the day. If your children are old enough to read, have them read. Ask them what they remember or what stood out to them in the reading. Use the questions supplied or make up your own to help focus your reflection. Encourage kids to draw pictures that reflect the reading or the day’s word. Please post these to the Lent Photo-A-Day Facebook page. (See page 3 for more information about the Facebook page.)

For families with junior or senior high students Older children can do much of this on their own, but it is great to talk about this as a family and encourage them to join you in this daily devotion. Together, pick a time to touch base each day to review the daily devotion. If you find meeting daily is challenging, set aside a half hour a couple of times a week to review the daily devotions. If your daily schedule is a bit crazy, you might want to schedule a time before things get out of hand! You might want to take pictures that reflect each day’s word and scripture lesson and share them with each other via e-mail or post them on your favorite social media platforms.

2 For individuals If you are able, set aside the same time each day—15 to 30 minutes will give you time not only to read but to think, ponder, and pray. You are invited to do as much or as little as you find helpful. Each day there is a scripture reading, a photo, devotional thoughts, and questions. Keep in mind the theme is The Call of Lent, so as you read the daily scripture, make this the focal point of your devotional thoughts and prayers. As you read, you might choose to engage in one of the following disciplines: Meditation Quietly focus on the daily reading, perhaps reading it over and over again. Reflection Use this booklet to help focus your thoughts, answer the questions supplied, and ask new ones! Journaling You might want to have a little notebook set aside for this or go paperless and blog! Social Media Post photos, artwork, or poems that have been inspired by your devotional time. Share these devotions with family or friends and use this time to prepare your hearts and minds this Lent when we prepare to celebrate Jesus‘ resurrection.

Lent Photo-A-Day Each day will have a theme word. Focus on that word and what it means devotionally. As you go throughout your day, when something reminds you of that word or evokes a response, snap a picture and share it to your favorite social media platform. Add hashtags when you post: #(word of the day), #Lent2020, #calloflent20, and any other hashtag that says something about The Call of Lent. Find more information and daily additions on the Lent Photo-A-Day Facebook page, www.facebook.com/LentPhotoDevotional.

3 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Betray Mark 9:30-37 Being betrayed is one of the worst experiences a person In our reading we see that Jesus knows he will be can go through. Being betrayed means that someone betrayed. He knows that one of his close friends will you trusted, someone you viewed as a close friend and hand him over and will do so for money. And he knows confidant, has sought to put something or someone else that this betrayal will lead to his death. But he also above your relationship. The betrayal may be a big one, knows that his physical death will not be the end, like what we read in our lesson for today, or a financial there is something greater that is to come. The word betrayal or a relationship betrayal. Or it could be smaller, of betrayal will not be the last word. The last word will be like a little lie or going back on your word, but whatever a word of hope, a word of promise, a word of new life. kind of betrayal it is, it hurts when it is discovered. Questions 1. What are some ways you have been betrayed in your life? 2. Have you been able to restore relationships with those who betrayed you? If yes, how? If no, can you? Prayer Holy Lord, as we enter into this season of Lent, help us to slow down and reflect on our lives of faith. May our hearts be opened to hear your Word, and may we recognize our own faults and failings and bring them to you with contrite hearts. In your holy name we pray.

4 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Stumble Mark 9:42-50 The disciples were worried. They were worried about who was in and who was out. They were worried about who belonged and who didn’t. They seemed more concerned whether things—even great miraculous things—were being done in the right and proper way than they were about the work of God to heal the world in love. The disciples had been unable to cast out an evil spirit. And apparently, between that failure and this text, they had witnessed an unnamed healer cast out a spirit in Jesus’ name, even though he wasn’t a part of the disciples. But instead of approaching the healer in gratitude and celebration that someone had been healed and made whole or even that their movement of God’s kingdom was expanding beyond their tiny group, they put a stop Notice on the other hand how ridiculously low the bar to it and forbid him from doing any other miracles. is when faith is centered on acts of generosity. One cup of cold water. That’s it. One cup is enough for an It seemed the disciples had missed the point, so Jesus eternal reward. offered them two exaggerated and hyperbolic scenarios for understanding what the life of faith is really about. And maybe, just maybe, that one cup of cold water is enough to bathe the world, or at least a small part of it, Jesus is saying something profoundly important about with the perfect love of God. the way we understand faith. Notice how ridiculously high the bar is when faith is centered on the avoidance Question of punishment and sin and the pursuit of a perfect life 1. What might cause you to stumble in pursuit of without sin. You’ll have to cut off parts of your body, generous acts of faith? pluck out your eyes, and disfigure yourself. Essentially, Prayer Jesus is saying if you want a perfect life, the only way you will be able to do that is to incapacitate yourself Help us, Generous God, do nothing more and nothing completely, to go through life so mutilated and so less than offer cups of water to a thirsty world. Amen maimed you literally can’t do anything but exist.

5 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Together Mark 10:1-12 There is no way around it, this passage of scripture is supporting those of us in need of support? How can we difficult. It can be twisted to have all sorts of terrible live out the love of God in Christ Jesus through baptism implications, such as pressuring people to remain in in our lives and communities of faith? abusive and unhealthy relationships and situations. And Questions that’s tragic, because as Jesus explains these teachings on divorce, he is chastising the Pharisees for their 1. When have you noticed the togetherness that hardness of heart, admonishing them to be tender with Jesus emphasizes here in communities of faith their neighbors, and encouraging the togetherness that in your life? God intended to be their way of life. 2. When have you noticed communities of faith Make no mistake, that’s the root of what Jesus is getting in your life in need of the togetherness that at in this teaching from Mark 10. God has intended Jesus emphasizes? humanity for togetherness. God has intended for us to 3. How can you take part in bringing that be in beloved community with one another. God has togetherness about? intended us for mutual upbuilding. Prayer The call of Lent, to us the Church, is a call of togetherness. Restoring God, you call your people together in How are we sustaining one another? How are we community. Empower us to live together with one another and strengthen us to care for one another in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

6 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29 Dependence Mark 10:13-16 The other day when I was eating in a restaurant, Questions sandwiched between two young families. Behind me 1. In what ways do you value your independence? a smiling toddler peered over the booth at me waving a Why? friendly hello. Facing me was a father carefully putting on his son’s plate just the right amount of food for him 2. In what ways is it wise to be dependent on God? to eat without making a mess, replenishing as needed 3. How does being dependent of God benefit you? and helping him sip from a straw without spilling. Prayer We tend to treasure children in our culture for their Gracious God, you welcome us into your kingdom, curiosity and sense of wonder. We recognize their caring for us with a parent’s tender care. You not only innocence and try and keep them from knowing the ills give us life and provide for our needs, you guide us in of the world for as long as possible. We take pride as ways that bring abundant life. Help us to depend not on we are able to teach them new things—taking their first ourselves but you. Amen steps, tying their shoes, learning to read. It is the depen- dence of a child on his/her parent that is being lifted up in today’s text. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” We are to be like children looking to our heavenly Father to give us what we need to sustain our life and learn how to live in this world. Too often we see dependence as weakness and prize independent ways, which is really our attempt to do things our way. But the kingdom of God values dependence. Dependence on God not only for the provision of our physical needs but for purpose, direction, and the value system of the kingdom. God is God, and we are children who look to him for all things.

7 SUNDAY, MARCH 1 Place Mark 10:17-31 There is a great scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Message translation phrases verse 27: “Jesus was blunt: Crusade: both the good guy, Indy, and the bad guy, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by Donovan, who worked for the Nazis, were in a room yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it.” full of cups. An ancient knight guarded the room with a Jesus wants to be in first place in our lives. Jesus is to be warning that the cup (the holy grail) was there, but you our all in all. What must I do to inherit eternal life? Take had to choose wisely—the true grail will bring life, the the words ‘must’ and ‘I’ out of the sentence, and you will false grail will take it from you. I don’t think I will spoil see that Jesus already has made a place for you. anything if I let you know the bad guy chose poorly. He chose a fancy cup, and he died. Indiana Jones (our Questions hero) wisely chose a plain cup that was fit for anyone, 1. Have you ever been unexpectedly chosen first for and he lived. something or moved up? Have you had the opposite Now you might be thinking what gets in the way of this happen? How did that feel? rich young man is his stuff, his wealth. You might be 2. What gets in your way most often in seeking to partly right, but if we ponder more, we might find it is follow Jesus? the young man himself that gets in the way. It seems Prayer that he chose poorly—his stuff or his wealth over eternal life—but as we read further, the demands Jesus makes Jesus, your love for us knows no bounds. Enable us to seem irrational. There is no good choice. I think that is place you first in our lives so that we, too, might be your the point. Jesus is to be our all in all. I like the way the love for others. Amen

8 MONDAY, MARCH 2 Rules Psalm 19:7-10 The law, decrees, precepts, commandments, and and ultimate flourishing of all God’s children. This is ordinances are all rules. Rules, no matter our age or how and why the psalmist proclaims God’s rules are stage in life, are unavoidable structures we often bristle better and sweeter than honey, because God’s rules are at, like to bend, and try to break. Rules pen us in. They grounded in love. put a damper on our fun. They seek to curb our freedom. Questions Or so we, independently-minded people, like to think. 1. How many rules do you encounter each day? The psalmist understands rules, particularly those “of the Perhaps you’ll want to make a list. Be sure to include Lord,” differently. Rather than being restrictive, they are traffic lights—today’s focus image. What is the “so life-giving. The psalmist does not believe rules are given that” reason for each rule you are asked to follow? arbitrarily or at the sole pleasure of a puppeteer God, who enjoys the power of pulling our strings. If we look 2. What rule do you consistently uphold? What rule do at the second part of each of the psalmist’s statements, you repeatedly break? we notice the similarity with Martin Luther’s description 3. If you are in the position to make rules (as a parent, of the Ten Commandants in the Small Catechism. It’s the teacher, boss, etc.), what are your intentions for the “so that …” clause. Take the 5th Commandment, “You rules you set? shall not kill” as an example. Luther writes, “What does Prayer this mean for us? We are to fear and love God so that we do not hurt our neighbor in any way, but help them in Loving God, we are free and often times wayward all their physical needs.” spirits. Thank you for caring enough about us to give us structure and guidance. Help us to follow the many We find, in both the psalmist’s secondary statements rules in our lives so that we can be safe, productive, and and Luther’s “so that” explanations, God’s good and joyful people, and so that others with whom we share gracious intentions for rules. They are not traps set to our lives and world can also flourish. In Jesus’ name we snare us in failure. Rules are for the safety, betterment, pray. Amen 9 TUESDAY, MARCH 3 You Exodus 20:1-21 This passage begins with God speaking in the first person, “I am the Lord your God.” Then God gives the Ten Commandments, a set of laws to help God’s people live in peaceful relationships with one another and in humble relationship with God. Now, laws never provide the most scintillating reading. They seem legalistic, cold, and impersonal. But these laws, these commandments, are a bit different. These laws are incredibly personal and relational, connecting the “I” of Exodus 20:2 with “You,” found in each of the commandments. The covenant that God made with the Israelites was communal, but it was also personal. God had delivered his people from Egypt and was asking them to live in healthy relationships with God and with one another. The Ten Commandments have an element of ”y’all“ while also meaning “you” the individual. So when things go wrong, we can’t simply look at others and point a finger. The Commandments are also a mirror, showing us ourselves and our own sin, always keeping in mind the “I AM” who gave “you” everything you have. Prayer Questions O great I AM, you created, blessed, and freed us from sin. 1. Which of the 10 Commandments is most difficult for You call us to respond to your gifts through obedience you to keep? Why? and grace. Help us to reflect your love by loving one 2. How do you feel the 10 Commandments help con- another. In Jesus’ name. Amen nect you to God?

10 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 Awake Daniel 12:1-3 Lynn Luthard was a retired pastor who, along with this do not have the last word; the nightmare is not the wife Thelma, made a significant impact on me when I reality of life in God’s kingdom, awakening in hope is. was a freshly “minted” pastor. Lynn was just about the As Christians we die daily to sin and are raised—or most kind and gentle soul you could imagine, and awakened—each day to the promise of life, now and about a third my size! So the passion and enthusiasm forever, in what Jesus Christ has done for us. he exhibited about his favorite book in the bible caught me off guard. You see, Daniel was his favorite book, and Questions I think in large part due to the passage we read today 1. What is the most beautiful thing you have witnessed and its talk of resurrection. upon waking up? For Christians, the resurrection is kind of taken for 2. Why does it take us so long at times to “awake” to granted, but Daniel is one of the rare places it is what God is doing all around us? mentioned in the Old Testament. Daniel likens being 3. How can we be awake to God’s presence and hope raised from the dead to waking up. You see, for Daniel even amid troubles and sorrow? and his original audience, the present times were not pleasant. It was like living through a nightmare. There Prayer were trials and tribulations; it was a time of anguish God with us, awaken us to your will for us. May we keep such as the world has never seen. But I think Lynn loved our eyes open to see the signs of your love, grace, and the book of Daniel so much because anguish and sorrow mercy all around us, even during turbulent times. Awaken us anew each day so that we might live into your call in our lives. Amen

11 THURSDAY, MARCH 5 Tongue Psalm 52 “The tongue is like a sharp knife; it kills without drawing Unlike the words that roll so easily off human tongues, blood.”—Anne Seaton God’s words are worthy of trust and praise. God’s words lift us up, strengthen us, bless us, and send us to do “The tongue is the only instrument that gets sharper God’s work in this world, keeping in mind the power of with use.”—Washington Irvine our own tongues to bless or harm. “Before the tongue can speak, it must have lost the Questions power to wound.”—Peace Pilgrim 1. When did you experience the power of the tongue This psalm was written during one of the many times spoken against you? when David’s life was threatened by King Saul and his minions. One would think the threat of being killed 2. When did you experience the power of your own would overshadow David’s sensitivity to hurtful words. tongue spoken against another? But it seems that David has learned that the human 3. What are some ways you can make sure to use your tongue can be as violent a weapon as a sword can be. words for good over harm? Deceit, lies, treachery, and mockery can do as much— Prayer even more—damage than the physical weapons of war. God of grace, we thank you for the gift of speech. Help Yet David ends this psalm with profound faith in God us to use our tongues, our words, our intentions to build and words of trust and praise. David knows that it’s God’s others up. Use our tongues for prayer, worship, and words and God’s deeds that are the most powerful of all. affirmation, reminding us that we are your instruments of peace. Amen 12 FRIDAY, MARCH 6 Rock Psalm 62 “Be still and know that I am God...” How many times we Prayer have sung the words of this simple yet profound chorus Dear Lord, You are my rock. You are my rock! Thank at worship, at retreats or conferences, while meditating, you for your strength, for your love, for being with me or at funerals. I have no idea how many times I have everywhere. Amen sung those words, yet they never seem to fail as people’s mood changes, and suddenly—there is an awareness of God’s presence that is almost physical, touchable, real! David is reputed to have written this psalm around 980 BC, when David’s fortunes rose and fell and he had military victories, but also personal challenges and failures. “For God alone my soul waits in silence...” Somebody should write a book someday about the silences in Scripture. This is the silence of waiting and knowing, of stillness and hope. God is the steady rock in the stormy water, that which might be grabbed for a time to keep your head above the waves. This is the promise, not that the water will always be calm, but that God will be the refuge when (not if) the storm rises. Questions 1. The image of the rock may bring comfort; it may also conjure thoughts of sharp edges and unyielding surfaces. How does God fit into what we know of rocks? 2. Where do you find your footing when high waves seem to shift the sand out from under your toes?

13 SATURDAY, MARCH 7 Word Jeremiah 32:1-25 Judah is besieged by the Babylonians. They were about buying a field in my hometown of Anathoth, which to be overwhelmed, and the Lord was going to hand the is part of the area that is being taken over by the city over to them. It was a time of grief and sorrow as Babylonians. Why would Jeremiah buy this land now, their community was being destroyed. especially when they are about to lose everything to their enemies? But in the midst of this dark time, the prophet Jeremiah speaks. He is currently in prison because of his previous It is because the Lord told him to. Multiple times we hear prophecies, but this prophecy is different. He says, I am Jeremiah say “The Word of the Lord came to me.” And this word, which is telling him to buy the land, is a word of hope. The Lord, through Jeremiah, is saying that this captivity that they are about to enter into will not be the last word of the Israelites. But rather there will be a time when they will return. There will be a time when Jeremiah or his ancestors, will plant in that field. There will be a time when they can come home again. In the midst of the darkness that they are experiencing now, The Lord gives them a sliver of light; the Lord gives them hope. Questions 1. Is there a time in your life when you have needed a word of hope that has been able to help you through the difficult times? Is so, when? 2. What are some ways you can bring hope to others? Prayer Gracious God, your Word can create life. Your Word can empower and bless. Your Word can inspire and condemn. Open our ears to be open to your Word, and open our hearts to receive your grace. Amen

14 SUNDAY, MARCH 8 Wholeness Mark 10:32-52 What does it mean to be made whole? It’s a worthwhile question for us to ask ourselves as we journey through this season of Lent, a season when we, the Church, proclaim that we are renewed and restored to wholeness in the remembrance of baptism. I look at this picture, for instance. Both of the hands in this photo could be said to contain all of a dish. Only one of those dishes, however, could really be said to be whole. Wholeness consists not only of having all the parts (as it were), but also of having all those parts put together correctly. I think of Bartimaeus in this reading from Mark today. In receiving his sight, he was made whole. Now, this isn’t to say that his blindness caused him to be un-whole. I’m sure there were many blind folks there on the road that day, who did not need sight in order to be whole. For Bartimaeus, however, it was the final thing to fall into Prayer place for him to follow Jesus. I wonder what those pieces God of wholeness, you call your people to be renewed are in each of our lives. and restored. Give to us what we need for wholeness, Questions so that we might follow you with boldness. Amen 1. When do you feel whole or complete? 2. How is Jesus calling you to wholeness in this season of Lent?

15 MONDAY, MARCH 9 Good Psalm 34:11-14 In this portion of Psalm 34, the psalmists asks a question that spans culture and time: Who wants to live for a long time, enjoying the good things of life? Who doesn’t raise their hand, responding, ”me, me, me“? We all want for, hope for, pray for a long life, enjoying more days of joy than sorrow, more moments of happiness than sadness, more days of good rather than bad. Those in the advertising business count on our desire to enjoy the good things of life. We’d be hard pressed to name a product presented to us during commercial breaks, pop up ads, or on our Facebook feeds that doesn’t seek to offer us a good or better life. Remember the Cotton Dockers commercials from the late 1980s? Seinfeld had an episode critiquing the absurdity of the commercials’ quick shots of pants being worn by casual, witty men. Life certainly seemed good when wearing those pants. The message was: if we wore Cotton Dockers our lives would be good, too. Questions God has some thoughts on the matter of achieving a 1. What comprises a good life for you? good life that has nothing to do with the pants we wear, moisturizer we use, soda we drink, or car we drive. In 2. Notice the advertisements that flash across your Psalm 34, God gives us some instructions, advising us to screens today. What kind of good life do they avoid spreading evil and lies with our words. God directs offer? Do they offer a life that aligns with what us to do good and pursue peace, actually to pursue God promises? shalom, which is wholeness, completeness, soundness, Prayer health, safety, and prosperity for ourselves, others, our Creator God, you are the author and giver of life. You community, and Creation itself. created us in goodness and guide us toward lives that are fruitful for us and our neighbors. Help us to listen to your instructions for a good life and lead us not into the temptation of persuasive advertisers. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

16 TUESDAY, MARCH 10 Awesome Psalm 111 I think it’s hard to be “wowed” these days. It’s not that awesome majesty of God and praise him for all the there aren’t awesome things to see or experiences to blessings He bestows. But who can stay on vacation? Is have. I think the problem is that we are often too rushed, there a way to improve our awareness of God’s mighty too stressed, too focused on a flurry of tasks that we end works and give him praise in our everyday lives? up closed to everything but what is currently demanding It is possible to draw closer into relationship with our attention. That is why life can feel unsatisfying. That our awesome God and give Him daily praise. It takes is also why I think we feel far from God and our spirits intentionally setting aside our tangled pressures, hectic starved. It doesn’t have to be that way, but we have to be pace and narrow focus to open ourselves us to see the intentional to get out of our rut. truth of things. It takes being exposed to the ways in Have you ever noticed that it’s easier to appreciate what which we hear His word to us and contemplating its is around you when you go on vacation? Vacation takes meaning. God’s wonders are readily available to us, but us away from our big stressors and relaxes us, slowing we need to push aside what distracts us and be open to us down enough for the doors of perception to open the one who loves us beyond our wildest imaginings. up. It is then that we are awed by a stunning sunset or Questions touched by the carefree play of children. We feel the 1. What is the first image that comes to mind when you think about God? 2. What verb best describes God’s actions in that image? 3. How many ways can you describe God’s character in 15 seconds? 4. What do you need to move aside to see God more clearly on a daily basis? Prayer We praise you, Almighty God, for you are merciful and gracious, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, a keeper of promises. You are known by the wonderful works of your hands, and we are grateful for your many blessings. Enable us to push away what distracts us and draw us ever deeper into relationship with you. Amen

17 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 Table Psalm 23 We have three types of mealtime in our house. One is There really is an intimate nature when we gather the mealtime that doesn’t take place there, because around a table—when we gather with friends and occasionally (or more than occasionally) we go out to eat family— when we share food, company, and conversation. or share meals at different churches or at the homes of Today we are invited to gather around a table once family and friends. The second kind of mealtime is the again, and as we eat—as we have bread and wine “let’s just eat and be done with it” mealtime. Normally together—we are reminded of the love that God has for this is when we are too tired to get anything but leftovers all of us and the heavenly table that awaits us. or throw a pizza in the oven. So we sit in the living room Questions and gobble down what we have in front of us. Then there is the actual mealtime at the kitchen table. This is the 1. What are some of your favorite memories of times meal where we sit around the table. We talk about our you have gathered around the table? days and share in that precious time we have together. 2. Who are some people you could invite to the table This last type of mealtime is by far the most intimate. with you? It is here that we are intentional about making time Prayer together. We are intentional about sharing with each Lord, you gather us at your table and bless us with a other. This is a special time of day. It is an intimate meal that brings forgiveness, grace, and love. Help moment in being family. us to expand our tables so that all may know they are welcome and loved as they are. In your name we pray. Amen

18 THURSDAY, MARCH 12 Dove Mark 11:15-19 Years ago, after reading this story, a very faithful man Questions wondered why his church leaders allowed Christmas 1. A few possible obstructions to Sunday morning wreaths, Easter flowers, and other fundraising items to worship are listed. What are some other obstructions be sold in the Narthex. He was greatly upset, fearing his you face? church building was becoming a den of robbers.  2. What obstacles, if any, do you encounter in We wondered through the question together focusing offering worship and praise to God beyond Sunday on the doves. The doves were important for worshipers morning? in the practice of their faith. Doves were sacrificed to atone for one’s sins or to offer thanksgiving. Jesus was 3. How did Jesus’ explosion of anger in the temple angry because the money changers took advantage of courtyard convince those who wanted to kill him to the faithful coming to the temple. If doves were central continue with their plan? How might it have for worship, they should be easily available for anyone. discouraged them? Jesus was angry because the money changers were Prayer inhibiting the faithful from worshiping God and Holy Jesus, you want us to have free and open access to profiting from it. you at all times, every day. We pray for you to overturn The doves are akin to water, bread, and wine for our all obstacles standing in our way, external and internal, sacraments. These are not for sale prior to worship, so that we can gladly praise and worship you. In Jesus’ they are provided for worshipers by the congregation. name we pray. Amen Likewise, to facilitate worshipers’ ability to fully practice their faith, many congregations provide grape juice and gluten-free wafers. Anything that inhibits our access to God and/or our ability to worship God freely and joyfully, whether it be inside or outside the worship space, infuriates Jesus. In Jesus’ day, the money changers posed one glaring obstruction for God’s people. Might youth sporting events, expanded business hours for commerce and shopping, our hectic Monday through Saturday schedules, and our own priorities be similar obstructions to contemporary worshipers‘ ability to participate in worship on Sunday mornings?

19 FRIDAY, MARCH 13 Receive Mark 11:20-26 Jesus cursed a fruitless fig, and it died. What’s going Jesus, possibly ironically, offers a lesson on forgiveness. on? Maybe this means Jesus will condemn us, too, if we Whether this is foreshadowing (Jesus will be on the don’t bear fruit. Or maybe it’s about faith. If you had it, cross, life withered in him) or Jesus repenting, perhaps you could move mountains... or kill a tree. The door is the message is our momentary ”hangry“ actions toward wide open to interpretation. Jesus woke up ravenous, another do damage right down to the very roots. looked for figs, didn’t get any, got mad, and blasted Questions away. No good news in that. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to think about. People need food. They 1. Do you ever find yourself thinking, “do first; ask for do shocking things on empty stomachs. It’s hard to be forgiveness later”? rational when something so basic is arbitrarily denied. 2. Who does this impact the most? It’s rage-inducing. Sometimes rage fuels the good. But 3. Is forgiving linked with forgetting? sometimes it just rages, withering everything in sight. Fig trees are supposed to give figs. Hungry people are Prayer supposed to eat. When Jesus passes by the blighted tree Have mercy on us, O Lord, when we justify our a second time, Peter points out the tree is still withered. damaging actions with the assurance of forgiveness. Amen

20 SATURDAY, MARCH 14 Authority Mark 11:27-33 Being the oldest child with two working parents I was authority of Jesus are not actually interested in finding occasionally put in charge of my siblings. Sometimes it the truth. They are interested in entrapping him into was a straight babysitting job and other times I was told saying something which they can use against him. In to organize them and get a particular task done. One day what ways do we resist the authority of Jesus over our I was told to take everyone outside and pick up the yard, lives? Yet it is only when we recognize his authority and clearing it of stray stones, twigs, and toys so that our Dad respond in obedience that the knowledge of the things could mow the lawn. I began to direct my brother to put of God is revealed. the bikes away and my sisters to pick up the sticks while Questions I looked more closely to find the stones we had been shooting earlier from our sling shots. 1. Name authority figures in your life? No one was in the mood to perform this drudgery. We 2. What goes into your decision to accept or reject the would much rather have been inside watching cartoons. authority of another? Immediately there were objections. “Why should I put 3. What do you give up when you accept the authority your bike away? I wasn’t the one riding it,” my brother of another? complained. My little sisters whined, “we don’t want 4. What are the benefits of accepting that authority? to pick up the sticks. There are too many of them!” An argument ensued and my brother got in my face 5. How does this correspond to your relationship with exclaiming, “you’re not the boss of me!” My parents may God? have given me the authority to organize the clean-up, Prayer but my authority was not being recognized by the work crew. Lord, you created us and desire to give all people abundant life. Yet too often we want to be the authority When the chief priests, scribes, and elders question the and live according to our own self-serving rules. Help us authority of Jesus, he responds by asking them by what to acknowledge your authority, put our trust in you, and authority John the Baptist baptized. If they say John’s lead us to serve you in willing obedience. Amen authority comes from God, they condemn themselves for not heeding him or recognizing Jesus. If they say John’s authority was given by men, they risk the anger of the crowd who think otherwise. So they decide not to commit themselves either way, thus revealing their own lack of authority to examine him. As they have no standing, Jesus feels no need to answer them. We tend to be independent people who do not want to be told what to do. We are a nation of second-guessers and “googlers.” The impulse to resist the authority of another seems to stem from our desire for our own control and judgment. Those that question the 21 SUNDAY, MARCH 15 Heir Mark 12:1-12 The recent movie Knives Out is the story of a wealthy Son, God still called them children and heirs. They were family who loses their patriarch, a famous mystery writer. totally undeserving of the inheritance, but God gave The movie follows the man’s heirs, all greedy, flawed, them forgiveness and salvation anyway. Jesus didn’t die entitled individuals who have secrets that they try to and rise because we deserved it. Quite the opposite. But keep hidden from a detective who’s hired to investigate God chose us, made us heirs, and gave us an inheritance the death. As they gather to mourn and to eagerly await we could never deserve. their inheritances, it becomes quickly apparent to the Questions audience that the heirs aren’t particularly deserving of the fortune their relative had amassed. 1. Have you ever inherited anything? Do you feel you deserved it? But in such situations, it seems that American Express’ old motto, “membership has its privileges,” is the 2. What would you hope or expect from your own standard. If you’re part of the club, if you’ve paid heirs? your dues, if you’re a member of the family, you’ll 3. What “inheritance” from God is the most powerful to automatically receive the privileges members should you? Why? receive. Membership is more binding than merit. Prayer Blood is thicker than water. Loving God, you have graced us with a more priceless This parable foreshadows what Jesus is about to endure— inheritance than we could ever receive on earth. Show death at the hands of the people who he was sent to us how to let our lives be a reflection of your grace and serve and save. Yet, although these people killed God’s of our gratitude for everything you have given us. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen 22 MONDAY, MARCH 16 Heart Psalm 86:8-13 We talk about our hearts as though they were the To devote ourselves—body, mind, and, yes, heart to God. entirety of who we are. Things that are said to be close to And, we do it because of God’s great love for us. God’s our heart are things that are very important to us. If we love which delivers us from sin and death and the devil. pour our heart into something, we’ve really given that God’s love calls us to respond with all our heart. thing all of our effort and attention. If we get to the heart Questions of the matter, we have determined what is central; what is vital; what is most important. The heart of the woods is 1. How do you respond to God’s love in your life? the very middle of the forest. When the psalmist sings in 2. What does it mean to you to praise God with your our scripture today about giving thanks to God with their whole heart? whole heart, I think we can all agree that they are giving Prayer thanks with their whole being. God, our deliverer, you save and redeem us according This is the call of Lent for us today—to give thanks to to your will. Help us to respond to your love in our lives the Lord with the entirety of who we are. To jump for with our entire being; with our whole heart. Amen joy like a calf or a goat leaping through a springtime meadow. To sing out with a loud voice like an exuberant elementary school student at Vacation Bible School.

23 TUESDAY, MARCH 17 Trap Mark 12:13-17 I remember watching the Road Runner cartoons when I was a kid. Wile E. Coyote, super genius, was always seeking to trap the Road Runner somehow! He unleashed everything in the ACME catalog of goods on this little bird and still fell short, usually catching the brunt of his traps and tricks himself. I imagine the Pharisees holding their “gotcha” sign covered in dust and crumbling to the ground after Jesus was done with them. Jesus deftly answers their question without siding with the Romans or making a treasonous statement against them.

It is simply beautiful. Questions You see, this question was never really about taxes. 1. How are the things of “Caesar” still present in our When Jesus answers, “give to the emperor the things world today? that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.” What things are God’s? Well, everything, right? 2. What drives you nuts about paying taxes? Can Jesus isn’t as concerned with accounting as we are. He you see that God’s hand might be involved in this is not falling for the trap, because all things are held in as well? God’s gracious and loving hands. God’s claim on us in 3. Do you pray regularly for our elected officials and Christ Jesus is total; it isn’t a tax or a tithe, God wants members of the government? us, heart and soul, trusting in his mercy and grace for all Prayer things needful, even when we have to pay our taxes. Creator God, all there is comes from you. Out of great love, you give us all we are and have, and in Christ, the promise of eternal life. Help us live in the fullness of these gifts and use them to benefit all people in your love. Amen

24 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 Riddle Proverbs 1:1-7 Most of us have probably seen a street corner preacher. Prayer Speaking loudly and reaching out toward passersby. O, Wisdom, open our hearts and ears and eyes to your Street preachers proclaim the message they have words, frantic though they may be. Help us place received from scripture. They call people to repent. They measured consideration over expedient decisions that tell of God’s love. They offer the rewards of heaven and make life easy. Amen the punishment. Wisdom is one of those preachers, shouting the consequences that are coming to the people who have turned their backs on her. Wisdom is usually portrayed in relation to other virtues or vices. Wisdom is poised... usually. Wisdom is calm... usually. What happens if we change how wisdom looks? Frantically riddling, frantically trying to reach the people. What happens if wisdom has reached the point of despair because the people won’t listen? “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Life is filled with choices. We can heed the warnings, or we can ignore them. It is true that if we tune Wisdom out, Wisdom may cease calling out to us. Again, that is at our peril. We don’t want to wait until it’s too late to listen. Questions 1. When we are young, we are often told, “wait until you have some more life experience.” Is wisdom linked to age? 2. Is it possible to get all the facts but still not grasp the truth of a matter?

25 THURSDAY, MARCH 19 Love Isaiah 5:1-7 In 2007 the singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles released The song Love Song really puts me in mind of the love a single called Love Song. The lyrics proclaim over and song that the prophet Isaiah sings, speaking the word of over that she refuses to write a love song for the song’s the Lord to the people. “What more could I have done?” hearer. (Later, she’d go on to say that she wrote much of the Lord calls out to the people. “Why did wild grapes it out of frustration with her record label, who didn’t like come forth, when I expected full, juicy grapes?” You can any of the songs that she’d written for her upcoming hear the longing of God, the longing of the vineyard album.) Despite singing over and over that the song owner dripping through the words of Isaiah here. It is isn’t a love song, plaintive longing and desire come a longing rooted in the great love of God for all God’s through every note, every lyric. people. The call of Lent for us today is the call to respond to the great love and longing of God for us. Questions 1. What was the last thing that made you recall God’s love for you? 2. How can you respond to God’s love for you today? Prayer God of Love, you long deeply for us. Give us grace to turn to you and respond in gratitude to your love in our lives. Amen

26 FRIDAY, MARCH 20 Keep Psalm 121 The other day a song from my past came on, instantly to hang our heads, becoming self-focused, and at times I remembered the lyrics. The song Our House is by our navel can be the center of our universe. When this Madness, a Ska band from the mid-1980s, and as I happens, our vision becomes short; we bumble and sang, it jogged lose this Psalm in my mind because of stumble through life because we cannot see clearly. the lyric: “Our house was a castle and a keep.” We all I love the opening line of this Psalm “I lift up my eyes understand the word “keep” as in I keep the sabbath, to the mountains...” Knowing that God is our keep, I keep my word, or I keep the dishes in that cupboard. and has promised to keep us safe allows us to lift up But the word in the song gives depth to this Psalm. It our eyes—to see and to live more fully in God’s kingdom comes from a feature built into castles beginning in the knowing that we are loved and kept safe. middle ages. A keep was a reinforced structure in the Questions middle of a castle, meant to keep the people safe should the exterior defenses fail. 1. Where do you keep your most precious thing? The English word “keep“ in this Psalm carries with it all 2. How does God call you to lift your eyes up? senses of the word. God is our protector, God’s promises 3. What “mountains” have you seen your help are kept, and God is our safe place, a refuge from all that come from? threatens us. What happens when we feel under siege by life when we are depressed, sad, or lonely? We tend 27 SATURDAY, MARCH 21 Reflection Hebrews 1:1–4 I was flipping through the internet news one morning and came across a striking photograph of what looked at first glance, to be a spiny fossil of a prehistoric fish. But it glowed red in the center where you would imagine the heart might be, so I took a closer look. It was actually a nighttime photograph of a set of buildings skirted with a reflecting pool artistically designed to create this image—Trompe-l’oeil. This award-winning photograph was taken by Pedro Luis Ajuriaguerra Saiz of the City of Arts and Sciences build- ings in Valencia, Spain. As I read Hebrews 1:3 “He [Jesus] is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being.” I remembered how the reflection in this photograph allowed my brain to perceive more than what was physically before my eye. Jesus is the exact imprint of God’s very being. What poetry is expressed in that phrase and what truth! Jesus is God in the flesh through whom we are able to perceive not only the character of God but a vision of God himself. Questions 1. What do you see when you look at Jesus? 2. What do the actions of Jesus imply about his Prayer feelings for us? Almighty God, we have seen your power and majestic 3. What do you hope people see when they look love and faithfulness through your Son Jesus Christ. at you? Lead us to know your presence in our lives and shine 4. In what ways can you reflect the image of Jesus? through us that all may see and receive new life in you. Amen

28 SUNDAY, MARCH 22 Listen Mark 12:28-44 There are times that I just don’t listen. It often happens distractions that prevent us from hearing what the are when something is on TV or my computer that I am very saying. In this lesson, Jesus is calling all of us to listen to interested in, and then my wife asks me a question. For what are the greatest commandments—to love God and some reason, I just don’t hear it. I know the same is true love neighbor. How do you live out this calling to love? with daughters and other people I see on a regular basis. Questions In our reading today, Jesus calls us to listen—to listen to 1. What do you need to do to slow down and listen his message of love, forgiveness, and grace; to listen to to God? his calling to love God and love neighbor; to listen to all of the blessings that he has showered upon us. 2. How do you respond to this message to love God and love neighbor? How do you live it out? Listening isn’t always easy because it means we need Prayer to focus on the person speaking, and remove the Fill our hearts with your love, O Lord. Open our ears so that we hear your word of grace, and open our hands so that we may share your love with others. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep. Amen

29 MONDAY, MARCH 23 Steadfast Psalm 89:1-4 “Steadfast” is a word that we don’t use a lot in modern Questions English. To us the word means dependable, unmoving, 1. What in your life would you describe as “steadfast”? reliable. But the Hebrew word used in the reading, “hesed“ means so much more than what we’d think. 2. How does God’s “hesed” or “steadfast love” affect It has a rich variety of meanings—steadfast love, kind- you and your faith? ness, loving kindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, or Prayer love. There’s more warmth to “hesed” than “steadfast,” God of steadfast love, we give you thanks for your because it’s almost always tied together with “love.” faithfulness and fierce love for us. Help us to trust in your “Hesed” is a word often used in connection with the promises and to live our lives as people who are forever promises that God makes to God’s people. God doesn’t forgiven, loved, and saved. We pray in Jesus’ name. make short-lived, flighty promises. God’s promises are Amen grounded in commitment and fierce passion that stand the tests of time. God’s promises are rock-solid, firmly entrenched in God’s intense love for God’s people. God’s promises are so different than human promises that the word “covenant” seems more fitting. Covenants are more two-sided, where both parties make commitments, where both parties are affected if the covenant is broken. God doesn’t make shallow promises. God’s covenants are firm and lasting. In a world full of temporary arrangements, pop-up opportunities, flexible commitments, and shallow promises, God shows us that there are things that are lasting and steadfast. We can always rely on God’s “hesed;” God’s covenant; God’s steadfast love.

30 TUESDAY, MARCH 24 Compassion Psalm 102:12-17 Prayer is many things—one of them being an act of psalmist also recognizes the deep need of others and compassion. It is quite humbling to know the Creator the tremendous sorrow of Israel. Having received God’s of everything, seen and unseen, invites us to pray, to be compassion through prayer, the psalmist requests, in communication with our Creator. God wants to know through prayer, the same compassion for all God’s all about us—about our cares and concerns. God wants suffering people and the city so beloved by God. to stand beside us with an arm around our shoulders, Questions like today’s focus image, and listen as we talk, taking our words, hopes, dreams, frustrations, and requests to 1. How does today’s focus image communicate heart. compassion to you? The psalmist certainly seemed to find consolation and 2. Having received the compassion of God through assurance in prayer. The communication the psalmist prayer, who or what, beyond yourself, needs God’s had with God strengthened their relationship with one compassion today? another. Prayer also seemed to open the psalmist’s eyes Prayer to the needs of others. Blessed Jesus, you are all compassion, pure, unbounded Our focus verses in Psalm 102 are words of concern for love. Visit us with your salvation and enter every the future of Jerusalem spliced into a longer prayer of trembling heart.* In your holy name we pray. Amen one who has been hurt badly by the circumstances of *A paraphrase of Love Divine, All Loves Excelling verse 1. life. The psalmist has endured hardship, and so have God’s people. Jerusalem is destroyed and in ruins. While the psalmist prays for an end to personal troubles, the

31 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 Forget Judges 2:11-13 Ah, now, where did I put that? If I have asked myself or wash our face, we can be reminded that we are the that question once, I have asked it a thousand times. beloved children of God. Now if I can only find my keys! Ever tie a string on your finger to help you remember Questions something, then wonder why you have a piece of string on your finger? If so, welcome to being human. 1. What helps you to remember? Do you have any Elephants may never forget, but we forget many things. tricks you have picked up to jog your memory? Maybe most notably, we are prone to forget God. 2. What song or hymn brings back the most potent On one level it seems an absurd thought that the people memory for you? of Israel could forget all that God had provided. It seems 3. What daily thing do you most often to connect with nearly impossible that we could forget the God who remembering God’s presence in your life? If you made us and loves us so profoundly. But they did and don’t have one, what could be your spiritual string we do, and we do it a lot. on your finger to help you remember? The reasons for our forgetfulness are many: culture, Prayer popularity, convenience, laziness, and just the day to Forgiving God in Christ Jesus, you remember us in your day distractions of life. Most often, I don’t think people grace. Help us to live into your promises of life every day, intentionally do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, learning to trust in you and remember your love for all though some do. Most of us just wander away. It is as your children. Amen if we have removed all the support beams of life, and suddenly it comes crashing down all around us, and we wonder why. The good news is that God has sent his Son to break this cycle, to redeem us, to remind us daily of his love for us in Jesus Christ. Each time we pour a glass of water

32 THURSDAY, MARCH 26 Bounty Psalm 116:12-19 Psalm 116 is a song of thanksgiving, a celebration tests, symptoms, side effects, and medications. How of bounty. When I think of bounty, I think of the meal many times have you heard someone say, after being we gather around at the end of November—golden sick for a while, “it’s good to be back among the living”? butter-basted turkey, my sister’s delicious garlic and When health and well-being are restored, or an illness cornbread stuffing, steaming mashed potatoes... You is in remission, we feel “normal” again, alive again, and get the picture! able to participate in the daily activities of life. Having suffered the famine of isolation, health does feel While the psalmist likely understands the bounty of a abundant and bountiful. harvest, the psalmist describes bounty in a surprising way. Notice verse 16, “You have loosed my bonds.” For Questions the psalmist, bounty—abundant and plenty—is freedom 1. Can you identify with the psalmist by recalling a from a binding constraint. What was the thing that had time of recovery from an illness? Would you describe the psalmist bound? An illness. it as bountiful? At the time of this writing, the Coronavirus outbreak 2. Is there someone in your life suffering from an is creating tremendous disruption and death in illness today? How can you add bounty to their day? Wuhan City, China, and beyond. The Diamond Princess Prayer cruise ship, with around 3,700 passengers and crew members, is quarantined in a Japanese port. Talk about God of hope and healing, you provide for our every being bound by an illness! need. Thank you for carrying us through times of isolation into life of abundance and bounty. Help us The psalmist is wise. Illness, from the common cold to to gather around those who are sick and suffering to cancer to anxiety and depression, does constrain us. remind them of your presence and love. In Jesus’ name Illness isolates us physically, emotionally, and spiritually we pray. Amen from the healthy. We are bound by doctor appointments, 33 FRIDAY, MARCH 27 Melt Psalm 22:1-2, 14-21 “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” It is praise God. All generations are drawn into an expanding difficult to imagine a more wrenching prayer than these celebration. What has happened to this single person in very first words of Psalm 22. The psalmist prays saying his agony is always of significance for all human beings. not just “God,” but “my God, my God.” The contrast is No one can be excluded. Having passed through nearly unbearable. God, so close before, is now entirely suffering and having received God’s answer, the absent. The silence could not be more complete: day psalmist radiates joy and unlimited concern. He and night cries go unanswered. Will the psalmist finally embraces all the living. give up on God? At death’s door, the psalmist sees his Questions own body wasting away before him: “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart 1. What does Psalm 22 say to you about the suffering has turned to wax... All my bones are on display.” of other human beings, either those you know or those who are different from you? Does it help you If you read a bit further, however, a turnaround occurs. in some way to pay attention to them? The psalmist invites others to join him in the great assembly to praise God, and to praise God precisely 2. What does this prayer tell us about God; about because of what has happened to him. The circle of Jesus? those invited grows. First, there are the poor and those Prayer who search for God. Then in turn, the ends of the earth Sometimes, God, we can find kinship in our shared and the peoples of all nations are invited. Finally, the suffering, redemption in our common lot. We pray, even psalmist speaks of those not yet born who will also as we walk the valleys, your hand guides us to the peaks.

34 SATURDAY, MARCH 28 Command Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Earlier this year I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in nearly In our reading for today, we hear Moses reach out to the 20 years. As we were catching up, he asked about my people with a decision for them to make. One of the best cancer journey and how it was going. Then he asked, translations that I have heard is: "Choose between life “how do you do it?” I have had a couple of people in my and what’s good versus death and what’s wrong.” But family who have or had cancer and as soon as they are it is actually more than choose life or death, it is more diagnosed, they just stop. They stop and focus only on like ’how will you chose to live?’ Will you choose a life of the cancer and what it might do to them. So how do you existence or a life of truly living? And living, truly living, do it? The answer I gave him has become a mantra in involves getting out into this great creation with which my life – I am choosing to live. I am choosing to live we have been blessed. Walking with the God who has and celebrate this amazing gift of life with which we called us by name, opening our ears to hear what God is are all blessed. saying to us today, and extending our hands as we care for others. Questions 1. What are some ways you live out this life of love that you have been blessed with? 2. How can you share the love of God with others? Prayer Holy Lord, help us to see that your commands are for our benefit, and help all of us to live in a healthier community. Bless us with your strength to live out these commands. In your name we pray. Amen

35 SUNDAY, MARCH 29 Watch Mark 13:1-8, 24-37 Passages like these make us feel like we must keep alert and awake, watching for... we’re not exactly sure what. Some Christians read these passages and think they’re talking about Jesus’ return and/or the end of the world. And they spend a good deal of time looking for those signs, trying to predict the end-times. Yet here in this passage, Jesus says, “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Even Jesus doesn’t know when these things are going to take place. Yet many dare to make predictions and even scare others into keeping watch and being ready. As Christians who value Jesus’ words but don’t want to fall prey to those who try to instill end-time fear, how are we to “keep watch”? Perhaps the best advice is to live Questions authentic lives and authentic faith. Live now like you’d 1. How does this Bible passage make you feel? want to be living if Jesus were to return. In school, if you want to incorporate information for the long-term, it’s 2. In the last week, what have you noticed God doing in better to study consistently over time, rather than trying your life? to cram in all the information just before a test. Faith isn’t Prayer a test at the end of our lives. Faith isn’t a destination—it’s God of all times, to you a thousand years is like a day. a journey. Faith is an everyday adventure with ups and Help us to live authentic lives in the time we have on downs and is the best travel companion we could ask this earth. Help us to be watchful for signs of your grace for. When we look at life in that way, “keeping watch” is a and power all around us, and inspire us to share these joy—paying attention and noticing what God is doing all signs with others. Amen around us. So keep watch.

36 MONDAY, MARCH 30 Courage Mark 13:9–13 Courage is the ability to do something that you need to In Mark 13:9-13, Jesus speaks of another source of do even though it frightens you. It could be something strength, the Holy Spirit. We have the opportunity to difficult or uncomfortable, something you consider show courage every day. We show courage when we dangerous, or just plain something you are not certain admit we are wrong and apologize. We show courage you can complete. Courage is a heart word. The root of when we seek to forgive others when we really want “courage“ is ‘cor‘ which is Latin for heart. We say “take revenge. We show courage when we step out in faith heart” meaning be of good courage, but it is easier said even though we are afraid. We show courage when we than done. Most would say to move ahead with courage resist the many temptations that come our way. We is to find your heart’s level of commitment and inner show courage when speak God’s saving word when we strength. That doesn’t bring me any comfort, because I do not know how well it will be received. don’t feel very strong inside. Sometimes courage requires action and sometimes it requires waiting, growing, listening. But courage always requires trust—trust in Jesus Christ who makes all things possible. Questions 1. Describe a situation for which you exhibited courage? 2. What were your fears? 3. What made you decide to move forward? 4. Where was God in this situation? Prayer Lord, send your Holy Spirit and grant us courage, strength, and confidence to face our fears and put our trust in you. Help us to live in obedience to your will and follow wherever it leads us. Amen

37 TUESDAY, MARCH 31 Chosen Mark 13:14-23 On the sketch comedy television show Little Britain, Now, I take Jesus a lot more seriously than I take fictional there was a character named Ray McCooney. He was a Scottish innkeepers on comedy shows, but in these Scottish innkeeper with a penchant for telling riddles. dire proclamations from Mark 13, I think there is hope The only problem was that he would always embed the tucked into there as well. Jesus promises that those answer to his riddles in the telling of them, so despite whom God chooses will be saved. And, we are assured in sounding terribly mysterious and disconcerting, his this season of baptismal renewal that God has saved us. riddles were really nothing to worry about. The promise is sealed in baptism’s holy waters, and we are assured in this reading that Jesus has already told us everything. Our salvation is sure, even when the world seems disorienting and confusing, even when it seems that everything is falling apart. And, the call of Lent for us today is to trust; to trust that we are beloved and chosen of God; that we are, have been, and will be saved. Questions 1. What does it feel like to hear that God has chosen you in baptism? 2. How do you feel when you are waiting to get chosen for something? 3. How are those feelings different? Prayer Lord Jesus, you choose us and make us your own in holy baptism. Help us always to cling to you in times of trial and to place all our hope on you. Amen

38 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 Fast Esther 4:15-17 During this season of Lent, we are invited into “the Questions discipline of Lent—self-examination and repentance, 1. Have you ever fasted? If so, what was the experience prayer and fasting, sacrificial giving, and works of love— like? If not, is it something that intrigues you? strengthened by the gifts of word and sacrament.” This invitation is also a call for us to slow down, to reflect 2. What do you think of the other disciplines of Lent— on our lives of faith, and repent our sins and mistakes. repentance, prayer, and sacrificial giving? Fasting and prayer is a biblical practice that may help us Prayer grow in our relationship with God, help reveal any sin Lord, we know that one of the disciplines of Lent is we need to repent of, and help us grow in our intimacy fasting. Bless us with your Spirit as we reflect on our of God. actions and travel through this season. Amen For our reflection today, I invite you to spend some time in silence and reflection and consider ways you can grow in your relationship with God and neighbor. Take a few moments and reflect on the practice of fasting. Is this something you would be interested in trying?

39 THURSDAY, APRIL 2 Opportunity Mark 14:10-11 No one wants to dwell on Judas. In the Gospels of Luke Semitic way of saying, “a (mortal) human being.” He and John, the suggestion is made that Satan enters is also the Son of God, a title which appears in the first Judas, so he is not responsible for the betrayal of Jesus. verse of the book, as well as the centurion’s confession. In Matthew, Judas agrees to rat Jesus out only after the How we struggle with issues and people that are not— payment negotiations are done. all one thing, not all the other way. The message of the gospel is that Judas (who we still avoid) is very much like He is motivated by personal greed. In Mark, Judas offers us—or we like him. When the change is too great or the to betray Jesus before any extension of money, and his risk too costly, we will take the easy path of disruption to actions are not controlled by the demonic. It appears preserve a status quo. the deception is an “inside job,” perhaps guided by the compulsion to disrupt the path the disciples seem to be Thanks be to God, Jesus is enough like us to recognize walking. In Mark the disciples are presented in a more our careful plotting and enough like God to share our negative light than in the other gospels. At the same meals anyway. time, Mark has a greater emphasis on unconditional Question grace. Mainly because he needs to! Even though Jesus is aware that one of the twelve betray him, another will 1. Often church’s have the one individual who votes lie to him and deny him, and all will desert him; he “no” on everything, offers only criticism, and seems still shares the fellowship meal with all of them. They to have not heard of the ”Golden Rule.“ How do you all prove unfaithful to Jesus (an emphasis in Mark), but worship in the same space, promising to forgive, Jesus remains faithful to them. even when you are sure this is not the promise that individual is offering to God? Perhaps more than the other gospels, Mark has a greater Prayer sense of the two natures of Christ. He is a human being, illustrated not only by the centurion’s confession, but We are all shadow and light. May we take the time also Jesus’ repeated phrase “Son of Man,” which is a needed to search our motivations, especially when compelled to disserve another. Amen 40 FRIDAY, APRIL 3 King Mark 15:1-5 What does it mean to be a king? That’s at the center And, in just one week, on Good Friday, Jesus will prove of our scripture today. Because that’s the question us right. Jesus will do what no one of us, being vested that Pontius Pilate asks Jesus: “Are you the king of the with all earthly power would choose to do: he will die to Jews?” Now, I don’t know what sort of answer Pilate was redeem those whom he loves so much. Christ, our King, expecting to get. Maybe he expected Jesus to deny it; to with all the power that entails, will give up everything, to say “no, no, you’ve got the wrong guy,” and beg for his save God’s children. life. Surely Pilate had seen that sort of behavior before. Questions Perhaps he anticipated that Jesus would say, “of course, I am,” and stand up defiantly in the presence of the Roman 1. What images come to mind when you think of a king? governor. Surely Pilate had seen that before as well. But, 2. How does Jesus confirm some of those images? I’m guessing that whatever he was anticipating, Pilate 3. How does Jesus subvert others of those images? did not assume that Jesus would respond by saying “you say so.” Mark tells us that at Jesus’ response (and Prayer subsequent silence), Pilate was amazed. Clearly Jesus is King of Glory, remember us when you come into your not operating in the normal fashion. Clearly Jesus is not kingdom. Remind us of your great love for us, a love, the sort of king we would expect. which goes to the Cross and beyond for our salvation.

41 SATURDAY, APRIL 4 Mob Mark 15:6–15 When I think of the mob gathered before Pilate crying Jesus stood there in that courtyard listening to that out for Jesus to be crucified, I have often wondered how unruly condemning crowd. Yet Jesus did not hate them. things got so out of hand. Not even a week earlier, Jesus Jesus loved them enough to die to save them. Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem with waving branches does the same for us, offering us sweet forgiveness and and shouts of “Hosanna!” Now they shout, “crucify him!” strength to live an abundant life in his name. I like to think that I would not have been swayed by the Questions urgings of Jewish leaders and emotions that spread through the crowd. But should I be so sure? 1. Describe a time when you were tempted to go along with a crowd even though you knew it wasn’t the People in a crowd are more easily influenced by those best thing to do? around them because they want to be accepted. When many are doing or saying the same thing, it’s easier to 2. What were you feeling at the time? join in and be swept along. It is harder to listen to the 3. Did you follow the crowd or did you resist? urgings of Christ when we are surrounded by the clamor 4. How did you make that decision? of sinful influences. We are probably all guilty going along with the crowd rather than standing against it. Prayer Lord God, we, too, have been party to injustices and done what is wrong. Forgive us and enable us to hear your voice leading us above the crowd of sinful influences that surround us. Strengthen us to do what is just and right in your sight. Amen

42 SUNDAY, APRIL 5 Follow Mark 11:1-11 Oh, to be part of that crowd on that day when Jesus But there you sit in your comfy chair or at your breakfast entered Jerusalem. It was easy to follow him at that table eating your oatmeal or on a bench waiting for the time. The energy of the crowd swept people up. There kids to get done with whatever activity you have funded was something exceptional about his Nazarene. and now provide taxi service for, and you read these words because you still follow this Jesus. The shadow of the cross looms already. Those who followed Jesus would be scattered, and the fair-weather Some days it is hard. You know about the cross, and you fans, who made such a fuss with cloaks and branches of know as you follow Jesus that this is where his life will palm, will follow no longer. The path is too dangerous, end, but you follow still... you follow through the pain too lonely, too sad. The fun and excitement is gone. and anguish, because he did this for you. You will follow Why would anyone follow such a “messiah?” to the tomb that will soon come. The sorrow and heartbreak are real, yet you follow, because he promised. You follow in the midst of the unknown, the confusion and the doubt, not because you are stronger than anyone else, not because of any strength of your own. You follow because he invited you to do so. You follow because there is a promise that, despite all evidence to the contrary, rings true... so you follow. Questions 1. Have you ever jumped on a “bandwagon?” Did you become a Cubbies fan for the first time during their World Series run a couple of years back? 2. Have you ever followed someone in a separate vehicle? What made it easier/difficult to follow? 3. Where does Jesus lead you that you find it hard to follow?

43 MONDAY, APRIL 6 Ointment Mark 14:3-9 I enjoyed drawing a bath for my son when he was The ointment hit the crown of Jesus’ head, slowly sliding younger. He’d sit in the tub with his toys, and I’d sit on through his hair, to the tops of his ears, down his neck the floor while he played. We’d end bath time with me and forehead, over his closed eye lids, nose, and lips. shampooing and rinsing his hair. He never liked that He was deeply vulnerable. The tension in the house in part. He was always scared the water would be too hot or Bethany was palpable. The anxiety within Jesus’ heart too cold or soap would get in his eyes. Yet, every time he was surely great. Yet, he allowed the woman to pour let me tip his head back, pour water over him, and rinse ointment on him, to let it cascade down his precious the soap away. head, anointing him King. He allowed the ointment to trickle through his beard and land on his chest, Now that he’s much older and able to tend to his own preparing his still living body for burial. personal hygiene, I miss those days. I also reflect on them as times of deep vulnerability for my son, tests of While the ointment spilled onto Jesus, the woman was patience and kindness for me, and moments of trust patient and kind. This was a moment of trust. This was a and love for both of us.  moment of love.  Questions 1. If you could have a conversation with the woman in Bethany, what would you want to ask her? What would you want to tell her? 2. Recall a moment in your life when you were deeply vulnerable. How or where was Jesus present in that moment? Prayer Gracious God, you gave us your only son so that we would not perish but have eternal life. He was vulnerable for our sake that we might find strength and life through him. Thank you; thank you; thank you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

44 TUESDAY, APRIL 7 Testimony Mark 14:43-65 The chief priests knew what they wanted to happen, unnecessary. He heard Jesus’ words as a confession of but they had to find some evidence; a witness; some blasphemy, and immediately any previous commitment testimony to justify their desire to have Jesus killed. to “due process” was out the door. Now, the chief priests and the council were powerful Questions people who could make things happen, but in Jesus’ case they felt the need to do things “by the book,” to 1. How do you hear the word “testimony”? What does have some actual witnesses with compelling testimony it mean to you in our society and in our faith? to sentence Jesus to death. They didn’t want their actions 2. How important is truthful “testimony” in our world questioned later. And, with a little digging, they found today? several witnesses who were willing to say what the 3. Do you think more truthful testimony would’ve chief priests wanted to hear, but it was clear that their changed Jesus’ trial? testimony was false. Prayer In frustration, the high priest turned to Jesus, and not knowing what else to do, he flat-out asked Jesus if he Lord Jesus, the false testimony given at your trial didn’t was the Messiah. Jesus said, “I am;“ and “you will see reflect your ministry or your mission. Help us to embrace the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power the value of honesty and truthfulness, that we may help and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Without further justice and truth reign in your world. We pray this in questions or conversation with Jesus about what this your name. Amen could possibly mean, the high priest immediately decided further witnesses and truthful testimony were 45 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8 Weep Mark 14:66-72 Okay, I admit it. I have made mistakes in the past. Rather, Jesus is raised out of the tomb and grants us the I have hurt people and even made them cry. And, words we so often long to hear—you are forgiven. And unfortunately, I will probably do it again. It’s not because with these words, there is a new beginning, and we are I want to, it’s not because I am a mean person, but rather freed from our mistakes and tears to start again. it is because I am human. I make mistakes, even when I Questions don’t want to. 1. What are some mistakes you have made in the past In our reading for today, Peter makes a mistake. He does for which you need to be forgiven? what he said he would never do. He denies Jesus. And when he realizes what he has done, he falls down and 2. What do the words “you are forgiven” mean to you? sheds tears of shame and embarrassment. Prayer But, God doesn’t let things end with our mistakes. God God of compassion, we weep and cry out in times of doesn’t let things end with tears of shame and sorrow. sorrow and pain. Come to us during these times, wipe away our tears, and empower us to get up and try again. In your holy name we pray. Amen

46 THURSDAY, APRIL 9 Broken Mark 14:12–42 When the disciples gathered with Jesus for the Passover dinner, they had no idea it was to be their last meal together. Yes, they knew that the Jewish leaders didn’t like Jesus, but he had ended up on top in every challenging exchange so far. Yes, they had heard Jesus speak of giving his life as a ransom for many, but it just didn’t make much sense to them. They didn’t think that sounded like the role of a mighty Messiah. When Jesus told them that one of them sitting around the table would betray him, they looked at each other in denial exclaiming, “surely, not I.” Yet, even knowing he would be betrayed by one of his closest disciples sitting Questions with him at that table, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. The disciples did not know how these words and actions 1. When you hear this passage how does it make you would ring down through the centuries to us. Breaking feel? the bread: “This is my body.” Passing the cup: “This is 2. How do you think Jesus felt? my blood.” 3. What emotion was stronger than his feelings of When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to deep distress? pray, he is described as distressed, agitated, and deeply 4. What meaning does the Lord’s Supper have for you? grieved. Jesus knows that soon he will be arrested and sent to the cross. He knows what he will suffer. And from Prayer the depths of this brokenness, the heart of Christ breaks Lord, your heart broke open in love for us and pours out open with overflowing love. His is a love willing to suffer forgiveness, wholeness, and abundant life to be lived in and die to save us. A love so strong it breaks open the you. Help us every day to look to you as our Savior and bonds of sin and death. A heart of love pouring out guide. Give us a willing spirit and set us on a new course forgiveness, wholeness, and true abundant life for all so that the love you have poured into us will flow out people. into the world. Amen

47 FRIDAY, APRIL 10 Forsaken Mark 15:16-39 I cannot imagine what Jesus felt on the Cross. Sure, Questions when I went to and worked at Bible Camp, we’d do all 1. How do you think Jesus felt on the Cross? these things meant to give us some idea. Not that we ever injured ourselves, but we’d hold our arms out, 2. What good news do you cling to in this story of or we’d hold something heavy for a long period. But, Crucifixion? still I don’t know, and I can’t ever know what Jesus Prayer experienced. What I do know, however, is that the Our God, we thank you that we are not forgotten or experience of crucifixion made Christ—who himself was forsaken. We thank you for Jesus, whose death destroys God—cry out, “eloi, eloi, lema sabachtahni?” (“My God, the power of death over us. Amen my God, why have you forsaken me?“) Christ, for whom the divine presence was part of his very nature, felt isolated, cut off from God, forsaken. In the crucifixion, irrespective of any of the physical pain that he might have felt, Christ suffered the worst that this world had to offer: isolation, betrayal, and even death. And, because of that, we can know that nothing—nothing at all—can separate us from God, because God in Christ has known the very worst. And, on this Good Friday, that is good news, indeed.

48 SATURDAY, APRIL 11 Seeing Mark 15:40-47 Looking on from a distance, what did Mary Magdalene see the day of Jesus’ crucifixion? She saw the sky turn yellow and orange as the sun set and evening drew closer. She saw shadows fall over the cross and Jesus’ dying body. She saw bruises form on his body and drops of Jesus’ blood hit the hard, sandy ground. Mary Magdalene saw Joseph of Arimathea walk purposefully toward Pilate. She saw them talking, gesturing their arms, pointing to the cross and Jesus’ body. She saw a centurion join them. The helmet on his head bobbed up and down as they talked. Mary Magdalene saw Joseph drawn a large linen cloth out of bag he was carrying. She saw the cross get lowered to the ground. She saw the nails that anchored Jesus’ body to the cross removed, allowing his lifeless arms and legs to fall limp. She saw Joseph lay the linen on the ground and carefully carry Jesus’ body, placing it on the cloth. She saw him wrap Jesus’ body up tight and secure as a mother wraps her infant child in swaddling Questions clothes. 1. Pick another character in this account from Mark and imagine what he/she saw the day Jesus died. Mary Magdalene saw Joseph carry Jesus’ wrapped body to a tomb carved in the rock. She saw the place of his 2. On this Holy Saturday, what do you see in your burial. She saw the stone rolled tightly and permanently own life and/or the world around you that awaits over the entrance to the tomb. Resurrection? Mary Magdalene saw all this with her own eyes, through Prayer the tears that blurred her vision. Gracious God, may the sorrow of this day lead us more willingly into the joy you have in store for us tomorrow and all our tomorrows to come. Help us see in Jesus’ sacrifice the abundance of your love for all you created in your image. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

49 SUNDAY, APRIL 12 Raised Mark 16:1-8 It had been a weekend of fitful sleep for the women, tomb amazed and terrified, to the point where they having seen Jesus take his last breath while hanging on couldn’t imagine telling anybody the news. a cross. Grief is exhausting, but in grief, sleep is often Raised! But as the news sunk in, as the sun rose higher elusive. So in their not-sleeping, they decided to get in the sky, the women’s sagging heads, hearts, and some closure and honor Jesus’ body, which it hadn’t spirits were raised, and they realized the messenger’s been as the sabbath began on Friday. They had bought words were true! Jesus was raised from the dead! And spices and ointments, they had risen before the sun, and they were to tell the world so the heads, the hearts, as the sun came up, they walked together to properly the spirits, the voices of all people could be raised in anoint Jesus’ lifeless body. It hadn’t occurred to them thanksgiving for the resurrection of God’s Son, who that getting to Jesus’ body would be impossible until saved us all. they neared the tomb. At this realization, their heads, their hearts, their spirits hung low in grief and helpless- Questions ness. 1. How has the good news of Easter raised you? Until they heard a voice. “Don’t be alarmed. You look for 2. How does Jesus’ resurrection and the promise of Jesus, who was crucified. But he’s not here. He has been resurrection affect your life? raised.” Prayer Raised? The news was beyond the women’s Risen Lord Jesus, we give you thanks for the new life comprehension. What could this mean? They left the you have given us through your resurrection. Raise our heads, raise our hearts, raise our spirits in song to praise you for your love, now and ever. Alleluia! Amen 50 Credits, attributions, and thanks Thanks to authors and contributors Reverend Beth Voigt Reverend Amy Perron Reverend Jennifer Jelinek Reverend Erik Jelinek Reverend Dominic V. Guido Reverend Anne Christiansen Reverend David J. Glesne

Special Thanks to the Congregations they serve Faith Lutheran Church—Columbus, Wisconsin St. Paul Lutheran Church—Neenah, Wisconsin Grace Lutheran Church—Cambridge, Wisconsin Central Lutheran Church—Edgerton, Wisconsin Gloria Dei Church—Crestview Hills, Kentucky St. John’s Lutheran Church—Bloomington, Illinois

Any outside sources are noted by each author. All Photos are from the free photo site www.unsplash.com. Donations may have been accepted to defray printing costs.

51 www.facebook.com/LentPhotoDevotional #(word of the day) #Lent2020 #calloflent20

FEBRUARY 26—Betray MARCH 13—Receive MARCH 29—Watch FEBRUARY 27—Stumble MARCH 14—Authority MARCH 30—Courage FEBRUARY 28—Together MARCH 15—Heir MARCH 31—Chosen FEBRUARY 29—Dependence MARCH 16—Heart APRIL 1—Fast MARCH 1—Place MARCH 17— Trap APRIL 2—Opportunity MARCH 2—Rules MARCH 18—Riddle APRIL 3—King MARCH 3—You MARCH 19—Love APRIL 4—Mob MARCH 4—Awake MARCH 20—Keep APRIL 5—Follow MARCH 5—Tongue MARCH 21—Reflection APRIL 6—Ointment MARCH 6—Rock MARCH 22—Listen APRIL 7—Testimony MARCH 7—Word MARCH 23—Steadfast APRIL 8—Weep MARCH 8—Wholeness MARCH 24—Compassion APRIL 9—Broken MARCH 9—Good MARCH 25—Forget APRIL 10—Forsaken MARCH 10—Awesome MARCH 26—Bounty APRIL 11—Seeing MARCH 11—Table MARCH 27—Melt APRIL 12—Raised MARCH 12—Dove MARCH 28—Command