George Back: February 17. 2021

❤ Matthew 6:1-6,16-1

Give...pray...fast...in secret...God gives heavenly treasures to earthly humanity from inside out!

The pharmacist handing-over a prescription said, “If you feel the heart-pounding rush of first love, call your doctor”. This pharmacist was not behind a counter at Walgreens— but she was speaking with the authority of a New Yorker cartoon.

As a tween, coming of age, I began thinking about girl-boy stuff. I asked my mother, ‘How will I know when I'm in love?’ She said, ‘You’re in love when you want to be with someone more than with anyone else.’ Sure enough, emotions emerged, and powerful inner messages sounded forth, making it obvious that I should call a girl and not a doctor.

I remember as a child being bored in church and wanting to stay in bed on Sundays. But that changed when God became my secret love. I got up early to go to church, long before the service began. I memorized entire sections of the Gospels and Prayer Book. My romantic feelings and religious life were entwined like precious hidden-givens, to be kept secretly, here-inside.

Life has moved on from those first immature heart stirrings a long time ago — but not my joy at being with my bride or at my church. This year Valentine's Day has occurred a few days before Ash Wednesday and the heart ❤centeredness of Ash Wednesday returned to my soul with the old words ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a right spirit within me.’ — proving Mom true again.

Lent is God’s continuing invitation to be in Divine love with God and one another.

Mike Lincoln: February 18, 2021

Mark 1: 1-13

In the first line of the passage you will find the words “good news.” After the past year, it feels like the only thing getting airtime in the media is the bad news; death counts, contagion, meteorological disasters, financial woes, etc.… Tragedy sells. So, where is the Good News?

Well, look no further than John the Baptist. Accredited by Isaiah’s prediction that preceded John by, oh, close to 700 years, John brings us the story of forgiveness through repentance and baptism. From out in the wilderness we hear about the arrival of Jesus, who then takes John’s baptism practice to an entirely new level. Who needs water when the Holy Spirit is at hand? Famously, John shunned the religious elite and silken robes to don a camel hair coat and deliver his message of preparation with authenticity and humility.

And then in verse 10 - 11 there is that visual image of Jesus emerging from the River Jordan and the voice from God above exclaiming,

“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

It is not surprising to me that this declaration from God is done in the name of Love. God. Love. One and the same. Perhaps take a moment during this Lenten season, each day, and reflect on this phrase. What would it feel like if you (or someone you know) heard that declaration of love from God each day?

Now that would be Good News.

Liz Richmond: February 19, 2021

Mark 1:16-23

What was it about Jesus that attracted those he called to drop everything and follow him? Did he exude grace and peace? A new way of life? Just what did he have that attracted such unquestioning followers? How did he know what he knew? How did he know what to teach in the synagogue or which people to call? Why did he heal with such authority, no matter unclean spirits, fevers, blindness, paralysis? Jesus, son of God, God incarnate, Jesus, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, still calls us today to follow him.

Jesus exuded authority, confidence, healing and hope by observing and listening with his heart, guided by the promptings of the Holy Spirit. People confronted him, people came to him, people followed him because their spirits were stirred. Jesus remains with us today, in our hearts to teach us by example, to heal and provide hope so long as we are willing to do the work of reading, marking and inwardly digesting what scripture teaches and follow his teachings. The dictionary definition of follow means to come or go after, proceed behind, to move along in the course, to be guided. That takes a certain amount of discipline and more importantly, making time and space to reflect and listen to what the scripture is teaching each day. We study and reflect on his teachings and try to live out the gospel in our lives. The attraction for me is his simplicity and challenge to live authentically, to put the needs and desires of others before my own, to trust, to have faith to follow our Lord. As I ponder the passage cited, and reflect on the times we are living in, I pray to have the faith and courage to continue to follow him. Above all else, I am called to slow down, breathe deeply, and experience the love, grace and healing the gift of Jesus.