Lent Resource 2020
www.discipleshomemissions.org
1 The Season of Lent
The season of Lent is the period prior to Easter. The period, which lasts from Ash Wednesday to Easter, extends for 40 days (excluding Sundays). The observance of Lent varies greatly among Christians, both in denominational participation, and according to personal practice. It is most prominent in the life of the Catholic Church, but it is valued by members of most denominations as well as non-denominational churches. Lent is regarded as an opportunity for reflection, as the time approaches to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The contrast of experience and emotion, in recalling these two events is to be expected. It would not be exaggeration to think of Good Friday and Easter as the best and worst events in history. This tension affects the nature of the reflection that believers engage in. Many believe that the compelling theme of Lent should be remorse. We should, according to this school of thought, be considering our collective guilt, which required Christ to lose his life. Others celebrate the coming of Christ as a divine gift, for which they are grateful. Additionally, the theology of redemption and the new covenant between God and humanity occupy much of the consideration of this season. Ultimately, persons will determine for themselves how involved they will be in Lenten observation and how to conduct their observance. Congregations, regions, and special shared gatherings will offer opportunities to choose from. These writings seek to be among the resources from which our members and friends can draw.
2 Daily Readings for Lent 2020 Ash Wednesday, February 26 – Easter, April 12
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday February 26, 2020 February 27, 2020 February 28, 2020 February 29, 2020 Ash Wednesday Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12 Psalm 51 Psalm 51 Psalm 51 Psalm 51:1-17 Jonah 3:1-10 Jonah 4:1-11 Isaiah 58:1-12 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Romans 1:1-7 Romans 1:8-17 Matthew 18:1-7 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday March 1, 2020 March 2, 2020 March 3, 2020 March 4, 2020 March 5, 2020 March 6, 2020 March 7, 2020 Genesis 2:15-17; Psalm 32 Psalm 32 Psalm 32 Psalm 121 Psalm 121 Psalm 121 3:1-7 Psalm 32 1 Kings Genesis 4:1-16 Exodus 34:1-9, Isaiah 51:1-3 Micah Isaiah 51:4-8 19:1-8 27-28 7:18-20 Romans 5:12-19 Hebrews Hebrews Matthew 18:10- 2 Timothy 1:3-7 Romans 3:21-31 Luke 7:1-10 2:10-18 4:14-5:10 14 Matthew 4:1-11
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday March 8, 2020 March 9, 2020 March 10, 2020 March 11, 2020 March 12, 2020 March 13, 2020 March 14, 2020 Genesis 12:1-4a Psalm 128 Psalm 128 Psalm 128 Psalm 95 Psalm 95 Psalm 95 Psalm 121 Numbers Isaiah Ezekiel Exodus 16:1-8 Exodus 16:9-21 Exodus 16:27- 21:4-9 65:17-25 36:22-32; 35 John 3:1-17 Hebrews 3:1-6 Romans John 7:53-8:11 Colossians 1:15-23 Ephesians 2:11-22 John 4:1-6 4:6-13 Matthew 17:1-9
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday March 15, 2020 March 16, 2020 March 17, 2020 March 18, 2020 March 19, 2020 March 20, 2020 March 21, 2020 Exodus 17:1-7 Psalm 81 Psalm 81 Psalm 81 Psalm 23 Psalm 23 Psalm 23 Psalm 95 Genesis 24:1-27 Genesis 29:1-14 Jeremiah 2:4-13 1 Samuel 1 Samuel 1 Samuel 15:10-21 15:22-31 15:32-34 Romans 5:1-11 2 John 1:1-13 1 Corinthians John 7:14-31, Ephesians Ephesians John 1:1-9 10:1-4 37-39 4:25-32 5:1-9 John 4:5-42
3 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday March 22, 2020 March 23, 2020 March 24, March 25, 2020 March 26, 2020 March 27, 2020 March 28, 2020 2020 1 Samuel 16:1- Psalm 146 Psalm 146 Psalm 146 Psalm 130 Psalm 130 Psalm 130 13 Psalm 23 Isaiah 59:9-19 Isaiah Isaiah Ezekiel 1:1-3, Ezekiel 33:10-16 Ezekiel 42:14-21 60:17-22; 2:8-3:3 36:8-15 Ephesians 5:8- Acts 9:1-29 Colossians Matthew 9:27- Revelation 10:1- Revelation 11:15-19 Luke 24:44-53 14 1:9-14 34 11 John 9:1-41
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday March 29, 2020 March 30, 2020 March 31, 2020 April 1, 2020 April 2, 2020 April 3, 2020 April 4, 2020 Ezekiel 37:1-14 Psalm 143 Psalm 143 Psalm 143 Psalm 31:9-16 Psalm 31:9-16 Psalm 31:9-16 Psalm 130 1 Kings 2 Kings 4:18- Jeremiah 1 Samuel 16:11- Job 13:13-19 Lamentations 17:17-24 37 32:1-9, 36-41 13 3:55-66 Romans 8:6-11 Acts 20:7-12 Ephesians Matthew Philippians Philippians 1:21-30 Mark 10:32-34 2:1-10 22:23-33 1:1-11 John 11:1-45
Passion or Palm Monday Tuesday Wednesday Maundy Thursday Good Friday Holy Saturday Sunday April 6, 2020 April 7, 2020 April 8, 2020 April 9, 2020 April 10, 2020 April 11, 2020 April 5, 2020 Isaiah 50:4-9a Isaiah 42:1-9 Isaiah 49:1-7 Isaiah 50:4-9a Exodus 12:1-4, Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Job 14:1-14 or (5-10), 11-14 Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24 Psalm 31:9-16 Psalm 36:5-11 Psalm 71:1- Psalm 70 Psalm 116:1-2, Psalm 22 Psalm 31:1-4, 14 12-19 15-16 Philippians Hebrews 9:11-15 1 Corinthians Hebrews 12:1-3 1 Corinthians Hebrews 10:16-25 1 Peter 4:1-8 2:5-11 1:18-31 11:23-26 or 4:14-16, 5:7-9 Matthew John 12:1-11 John 12:20-36 John 13:1-17, John 13:1-17, John 18:1-19:42 Matthew 26:14-27:66 or 31b-35 31b-35 27:57-66 or 27:11-54 John 19:38-42
Easter Sunday April 12, 2020 Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43 John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10
4 Daily Meditations
Wednesday with Lenten practices. God of Deliverance, February 26, 2020 For many of us, Christian Ash Wednesday practice is what happened We thank you for your in the church that we grew sacrificial actions. Help us to Yet even now, Says the Lord, up in. What we did there is discover the new life that is return to me with all your heart, what Christians ought to do. delivered to those of us who with fasting, with weeping, and If it was not included in the yoke ourselves with Christ. with mourning; rend your hearts practice of our faith, it is either and not your clothing. Return not needed, or even wrong In Gratitude, to the Lord, your God, for he is to do. We are not formed Amen gracious and merciful, slow to by denominational polity, anger, and abounding in steadfast the history of the Church, Thursday love, and relents from punishing. or theological study. We are February 27, 2020 Joel 2:12-13 NRSV formed by the teachings of Have mercy on me, O God, Today is both Ash our childhood pastors. Lenten practices, for such believers, according to your steadfast love; Wednesday and the first according to your abundant mercy day of the season of Lent. coincide with what happened back home. blot out my transgressions, Wash Throughout the world, many me thoroughly from my iniquity, Christians will spend at least Other believers may appear to be “collectors” of liturgical and cleanse me from my sin. For I a portion of this day with a know my transgressions, and my conspicuous display of ashes practices. They engage in an expansive variety of sin is ever before me. Against you, on their foreheads. Throughout you alone, have I sinned and done this season, many Christians observances that they have formed, learned, or heard what is evil in your sight so that will engage in Lenten you are justified in your sentence meditations, readings, meals, about. The apparent conviction is that more practices will make and blameless when you pass and the practice of “giving judgment. up” something personal for us more Christian. Even if that Lent. During this same period, is not the case, more liturgical Psalm 51:1-4 NRSV practices will at least increase many Christians will do none Like the psalmist, most our chances of getting it right. of these things, either judging of us know when we have Joel seems to have them to be unnecessary in their misstepped and need to anticipated that either of celebration of the resurrection repent. However, unlike the these approaches to our faith of Christ or being unfamiliar psalmist, we are not ready practices could find us more to be chastised or as some focused on our practices than people would say “called to on God’s practices. Every the carpet.” We walk around day of Lent, we can grow in denial, hiding or at least in our understanding and attempting to hide the truth appreciation of the actions of from other people and even Jesus. Joel invites us to “rend from ourselves. We even try to our hearts” instead of our hide from God. clothing, so that the weight of In our efforts to deny the our symbolic actions does not truth, we find excuses. We even supplant the actual actions, try to rationalize what we have on the part of our Savior, that done or not done. After all, we have redeemed us. are all human and it is not easy 5 to face the truth. It is also not easy to confess our weaknesses and failures, especially to others. God's correction is not always as harsh as we think it will be, but it is necessary. God waits patiently for us, in order to correct our missteps. We often judge ourselves more harshly than God. Other people often do the same. They judge us and others by their personal standards and values. Loving and gracious God, us that punishment would Thank you for your loving Saturday have been a better outcome February 29, 2020 guidance and correction. than for God to reconcile with You alone, know how much those at Niniveh. It has clearly Create in me a clean heart, O God, correction we need. been a huge waste of time for and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away In Your Care, Jonah to deliver all these threats concerning God’s judgement from your presence, and do not take Amen only to end up with a peaceful your holy spirit from me. Restore resolution. Why travel all this to me the joy of your salvation and Friday way with no fireworks? grant me a willing spirit to sustain February 28, 2020 I vote for God. Although me. Jonah was furious. He lost his there are plenty of people that Psalm 51:10-12 NIV I might be inclined to direct temper. He yelled at God, “God! I The psalmist pours out his God’s wrath upon, I know that knew it – when I was back home, heart to be cleansed, changed, someone would include me on I knew this was going to happen! and made right. He sounds as if their list of recipients of such That’s why I ran off to Tarshish! he is ready for the change that wrath. God was right during I knew you were sheer grace and is about to take place within the days of Jonah and remains mercy, not easily angered, rich in him. He is prepared to be right in these days. Those who love, and ready at the drop of a hat cleansed of his sins and made favor continuously escalating to turn your plans of punishment right in the presence of God. hostilities are working in the into a program of forgiveness. His spirit appears to be willing. interest of ultimate destruction. This passage sounds too Jonah 4:1-2 The Message Only those of us who live up to ideal, especially when we The revisionist claims made Jonah’s self-assessment could realize how difficult it is to let by Jonah are among the most afford that result. go of what we are comfortable outrageous dialogs that anyone with and go full speed ahead in scripture had with God. Lord of Foresight, with the change. Change Instead of admitting that he You knew best with Jonah means moving away from our was afraid to go obediently to and you continue to know comfort zone and embracing Niniveh (instead fleeing toward best. May we cease in our the unknown. Changing is not Tarshish), Jonah asserts that he arrogant claims that seek to a pleasant thought for many knew better than God, in the assess your divine wisdom. of us. We like the familiar. It is first place. He “knew” that God Reconcile us to your ways. what we are most comfortable would forgive the Ninivites, with. The unknown stirs up instead of inflicting punishment By Your Grace, conflictual feelings of anxiety upon them. and fear. The wisdom of Jonah assures Amen
6 Diligent God, Because we are created in your image, we realize that we are to be productive. Forgive us when we seek to escape the particular tasks to which we are assigned. Bless us with the means to carry out our callings with gratitude and joy. In Jesus’ Name, We, being human, will humans in the garden prior Amen confess with our lips that we to their fall. Apart from the are comfortable; but quickly guidance about which trees Monday say stop when the process of to eat from or to leave alone, March 2, 2020 change begins. Never get too generations have claimed that You are my hiding place; you comfortable with where you are we had no responsibilities will protect me from trouble on your journey of faith, as God until they were assigned as and surround me with songs of may have other plans for your punishment. deliverance. I will instruct you life. Cultivating a willing spirit Each ensuing generation and and teach you in the way you takes time. If we are to grow members of every occupational should go; I will counsel you with spiritually, even when we know or demographic population my loving eye on you, do not be change is good, it may take have continued to invent like the horse or the mule, which some time for us to adjust and ways of believing that we have no understanding but must become comfortable with that have no responsibilities. In be controlled by bit and bridle or change. "congregational worship" most they will not come to you. Many of us observe the preacher, are the woes of the wicked, but the Creator God, listen to the choir, and trust LORDS unfailing love surrounds Help me to be more willing the worship leader to read the the one who trusts in him. Rejoice and open to change, even right scripture. Participation in the LORD and be glad, you when it feels uncomfortable. of congregants has diminished righteous; sing all you who are even with praise teams to upright in heart! Amen urge them, large print to accommodate them, and prayer Psalm 32:7-11 NIV request forms to facilitate them. The words spoken by the Sunday psalmist in this passage of March 1, 2020 We sit and "watch" worship happen. scripture provide comfort to The LORD God took the man and It would serve us well to many. You are not in a place put him in the Garden of Eden to rediscover that God has had of respite when you know that till it and keep it. expectations of every person your enemies surround you. Fearful and shaken are better Genesis 2:15 NRSV who was born or created. Many things are provided words to describe how we may It seems that one of the for each of us, but nobody feel when the enemy traps us. regretable, yet sometimes was granted immunity from The word enemy brings very comical, attributes of our being a contributing citizen of unpleasant feelings within us. humanity is the tendency to creation. Rather than resenting Sometimes a person or group of claim entitlements. In the case everything that is required of people have a negative attitude of the creation narrative, we us, we should count it a blessing against certain people. They have spread the false claim that to be included in God's plans can make the targeted persons God required nothing of the for the world. feel rejected or cause them 7 significant discomfort. How, Help us, oh Lord, to see and it's burdens. when, or where can anyone the beauty in others and When we allow our earthly find the ability to sing in the withhold judgment. Help us expectations to impact our face of trouble and opposition. to lead with love and not reception of God's forgiveness, The world, even the church, with negativity. we are unimpressed. We live can be a very hostile place. our lives awaiting the next When two women began Amen reference to our sins or the next attending our church service occasion of having our past regularly, it was noticed by Tuesday to limit our future. We simply regular church attendees March 3, 2020 doubt, based on experience, that their clothing was dirty actual forgiveness. and ragged. They stood out, Oh, what joy for those whose God does actually forgive. as the congregation was disobedience is forgiven, whose sin There are no probation officers considered middle class. is put out of sight! Yes, what joy to check in with. There are no Eventually, someone took for those whose record the Lord forms to submit periodically. it upon themselves to tell has cleared of guilt, whose lives The record has been expunged them their clothing choices are lived in complete honesty! and the news has been hand were inappropriate for the Psalm 32:1-2 NLT delivered by Jesus. "O what joy church. This action was not a for those whose disobedience is wise choice as they stopped Forgiveness is not usually forgiven, whose sin is put out coming to church. When asked experienced as having much of sight!". why they stopped attending significance. Even children in church, it was reported by school realize that the fact that Lord of Renewal, they were not punished for a parishioner that they felt We joyfully embrace your infractions does not change the ashamed and rejected. forgiveness, once we move increased scrutiny to which Eventually, someone at the beyond our doubt. Help us they are accorded. Ex-offenders church, with whom they had to move beyond our efforts are treated as if they are in developed a relationship, with to understand or to quantify the process of committing got them to return. They stayed your blessings. and got more involved and whatever crime that they eventually, joined the church. served time for. Our experience In Gratitude, As other people in the church with being "forgiven" is not one got to know them, they began of being finished with the deed Amen to form new relationships. They were experienced bakers. The church began to receive the benefits of their skills when they provided baked goods for church fundraisers! These two women could have become so disappointed or angry that they never returned to the church. This would have been a significant loss. God knows, loves, and accepts the flaws, but people do not. God also has a plan for you and everyone else on this earth, even with our flaws and imperfections.
8 Wednesday We give thanks to you Lord, nurturers in Timothy's life. March 4, 2020 for your mercy and goodness It is not uncommon for endures forever! We thank parents, relatives, and friends I lift up my eyes to the hills—from you, Lord, for your grace and to regard newborn babies as where my help comes? My help your compassion. It is by that blessings. We give thanks to comes from the Lord, who made grace that we survive. God for so endowing us as to heaven and earth. He will not let provide a child for us to love your foot be moved; he who keeps Amen. and to nurture. Even those who you will not slumber. He who keeps seldom speak the language of Israel will neither slumber not Thursday faith are moved to approach the sleep. March 5, 2020 role of child raising as divinely Psalm 121:2-4 NRSV ordained. We celebrate each I thank God, whom I serve, as On days when I have not had “bundle of joy,” while often my ancestors did, with a clear a good night's sleep the night overlooking those who are conscience, as night and day I before, a nap seems like a good given to care for these bundles. constantly remember you in my idea. Unfortunately, there are We should all continue to prayers. Recalling your tears, I days when the opportunity adore the babies that come long to see you, so that I may be to take such a break is not into our lives, even those filled with joy. I am reminded of convenient. Although I try, I that capture our attention in your sincere faith, which first lived cannot stay awake. restaurants and grocery stores. in your grandmother Lois and Many people have found They bring out the best in us. in your mother Eunice and, I am themselves in this predicament. We should also thank God for persuaded, now lives in you also. A new mother has to care for those who work to bring out her baby and can only snooze 2 Timothy 1:3-5 NIV the best in the children that when her baby takes a nap. God has placed in our hands. The writer of 2 Timothy Her baby is dependent on her. Each of us should make a list of (believed to be Paul) realizes A soldier, who is assigned to those who contributed to our that Timothy has attributes that stand guard over the camp, has formation. Having done so, we have not emerged as matters been given much responsibility. should find each of them who of course. He is a dear friend He fully knows the magnitude can be found, and express our of Timothy and has witnessed of the task that he is given. One gratitude to them. maturity and sensitivity that slip-up could cost the lives of has clearly resulted from his many. God, Our Parent, upbringing, particularly as Those who are true believers conveyed by his mother and We have been blessed by the understand this scripture grandmother. Timothy has personalized narratives that passage well. God is always displayed deeper and more formed each of us. We thank watchful and in control. God profound faith than that of most you for all who have been cares for us even when we young men. Paul credits the used by you to reveal our misstep! possibilities to us. Empower us to pass this blessing on to those that we influence or form. By Your Grace, Amen
9 Friday our way to be directed by God. March 6, 2020 Just like sheep, we stray from the pasture. God gently guides I will instruct you and teach us to the right path. you in the way you should go, I will counsel you with my loving Gracious and Loving God, eye on you, do not be like the Gently nudge us when we horse or the mule, which have seek worldly things that do no understanding but must be not satisfy. Direct our steps controlled by bit and bridle or they and our thoughts toward you. will not come to you. Many are the Open our hearts and minds to woes of the wicked, but the LORDS building a relationship with unfailing love surrounds the one you. who trusts in him. Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; Amen sing all you who are upright in heart! Saturday If you fail to pray, no prayer March 7, 2020 goes forth. All that God reveals Psalm 32:8-11 NIV to each of us is revealed for a And Jesus went with them, but divine purpose. God is always available to when he was not far from the The centurion was right to guide us in the right way, but house, the centurion sent friends to see himself as unworthy of sometimes we are not ready or say to him, “Lord, do not trouble the response that Jesus would willing to be guided. We want yourself, for I am not worthy to render. We are all unworthy to be in charge. We may even have you come under my roof; of the blessings of God. Every think we can do a better job therefore I did not presume to come blessing is a gift, not a payment. than God. Why, we might ask, to you. But only speak the word, It is more reflective of who God should we turn over anything and let my servant be healed. is than who we are. to a God who we cannot Luke 7:6-7 NRSV physically see. Healing Lord, To some, fast living and fancy Most of us miss out on many clothes and cars look exciting. opportunities in life, believing Hear us when we call upon They want lives and seek higher ourselves to be unworthy of you and give us voice when paying jobs that will afford that which is made available to you implant the need to speak them that life. Unfortunately, us. In our humility, we avoid in us. We are unworthy, but they are never satisfied with situations that represent us thoroughly loved. what they have and continue to as deserving of attention or With Boldness, want more. They find that they recognition. The centurion are never happy or satisfied in the text cared enough to Amen with what they have. They desire the healing of his valued continue to feel empty. When servant, yet thought it to be an Sunday they lose their high profile job, imposition to approach Jesus March 8, 2020 and everything comes crashing with his request. Those who He who keeps Israel will neither down on them, their life spins came to Jesus described him as slumber nor sleep. The LORD is out of control. Sometimes they worthy. your keeper; the LORD is your realize that the life they have It could be seen as unfaithful shade at your right hand. built is not what they thought it for us to keep silent when the would be. knowledge of the needs of Psalm 121:4-5 NRSV God will not judge them or those around us is revealed to their immature way of thinking. us. There are times when you Too often, we try to do things are the only one who knows our way first before allowing of a particular prayer concern.
10 It is late afternoon. I sit you brought us up out of Egypt typographical errors or reading this passage of to die in the wilderness? For there administrative glitches. He scripture. I recall days when I is no food and no water, and we came to overcome and atone had little or no sleep the night detest this miserable food.” Then for sin. The sin is ours. We have before. I chuckle, with the the Lord sent poisonous serpents not always walked with the awareness that I have drifted among the people, and they bit Lord. into sleep several times, yet I the people, so that many Israelites push on. died. The people came to Moses Lord, Our Companion, and said, “We have sinned by Rest is needed to refresh our Walk with us and let us speaking against the Lord and bodies. Eventually, the need walk with you. Only then, against you; pray to the Lord to for more sleep will become a can we repent of our selfish take away the serpents from us.” demand and not a suggestion. sinfulness. Lead us to the So Moses prayed for the people. You will either drift off before cross with you. you realize it or you will plan Numbers 21:4-7 NRSV to take a nap. The human need By Your Stripes, for sleep is undeniable. Unfortunately, the Amen consequences of sleep Tuesday deprivation are too often March 10, 2020 realized after the fact. Then, we must live with the results. Blessed are all who fear the Lord, We can accidentally hurt who walk in obedience to him. You ourselves or someone else. The will eat the fruit of your labor; implications and risks are too blessings and prosperity will be high. yours. God is always looking out We approach the cross Psalm 128:1-2 NIV for us, even when we do not with a sense that we are realize that we need keeping. faithfully walking with Jesus. It has always amazed me God surrounds us with a light We have often failed to do how different people interpret of love. God’s love is a promise so. We sometimes walk with what it means to walk upright that will not be broken, even the Israelites. When Moses and in obedience to God. Even when we mess things up. has come to rescue us from my family and closest friends Egyptian captivity, we have understand how to “walk in Gracious and Loving God, doubted his leadership. obedience” differently. When I Let us continually be open to We have even craved the observe their walk with God I your wisdom and guidance. "comforts" of Pharaoh’s see differences. Let us learn to lovingly care enslavement. When asked to verbalize for ourselves and others as When Jesus has come their understanding of what it you model for us. into our midst, healing, means to “walk in obedience,” teaching, and blessing, we their response may not match Amen have subjected him to our what I have observed. What analysis and critique. We have we all need to remember Monday questioned him concerning is that each person's walk March 9, 2020 what day of the week that is between them and God. he has blessed us. We have They do not have to satisfy From Mount Hor they set out by challenged his authority to us. My best answer is to say the way to the Red Sea,[a] to go bless those who he chose to that “observing their walk” around the land of Edom; but the bless. We have not always sometimes helps me to define people became impatient on the walked with Jesus. my own. Therefore, it is better way. The people spoke against God We should know that to try to understand them, and against Moses, “Why have Jesus did not come to correct rather than judge them. 11 I have concluded that In the Ezekiel reading, it is Thursday anyone who wants to “walk in not the beauty of Israel that March 12, 2020 obedience,” must remain open is of note. The clean-up is not to change. As we grow in faith a fashion makeover. It is a The Israelites said to them, “If only and experience God's love, the correction. God has observed, we had died by the Lord’s hand in change will happen naturally. through the prophet, that the Egypt! There we sat around pots We can not form ourselves people of God have behaved of meat and ate all the food we around a set of rigid values and in such ways as to dishonor wanted, but you have brought us beliefs and expect to change. God's name. It is necessary for out into this desert to starve this them to be redirected, so to curb Awesome God, entire assembly to death.” the misrepresentation of the Exodus 16:3 NIV You love us unconditionally. identity of our creator of which We thank you, Lord, for we are guilty. We are not being The words “If only” allowing us to grow and cleaned up or dressed up to are generally associated experience all the blessings reveal our beauty, but to restore with complaints or regrets. you have stored up for us. for all the understanding of Whenever I say these words God's beauty. or hear others say these Amen We could all benefit from words, I know it is grieving periodic reminders that we are for something they feel was Wednesday representatives of our God. My lost. These words verbalize a March 11, 2020 words are those of a child of complaint against one's self for God. Your actions reflect on the making poor choices. “For here’s what I’m going to do: one who sent you. While we We are sometimes too quick I’m going to take you out of these grow to understand our own to complain and not see what countries, gather you from all names, and what glory they we have gained or achieved. over, and bring you back to your call us to, let us endeavor to Sometimes we need to look own land. I’ll pour pure water preserve the name of God. forward and not backward. over you and scrub you clean. I’ll The God we serve always has a give you a new heart, put a new Lord God, blessing for us and is aware of spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone our needs. The God we serve heart from your body and replace We are yours and all that comes from us points to you. loves enough to keep us from it with a heart that’s God-willed, perishing. not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in May we bring well deserved glory and honor to your name. Little did the Israelites know you and make it possible for you to that God had a plan to bless do what I tell you and live by my In Faithfulness, them more than they could commands. You’ll once again live ever imagine. If we were to in the land I gave your ancestors. Amen continue reading this passage You’ll be my people! I’ll be your God! Ezekiel 36:24-28 MSG Many of us have received it as a compliment when someone has observed about one of us, "you clean up well." The understanding has been that we have proven to be more presentable or attractive than was previously realized. The observation praises the recipient for the discovered beauty. 12 of scripture, we would quickly members experience as a result Omnipotent Lord, see that God fed them and they of arthritis or other physical to had more than enough. the inadequacy of the pulpit Before your name, we area. These are legitimate must all bow. Enable us You, oh Lord, are a God of the explanations, but a larger issue to experience our greatest impossible. When we yield to may be our collective resistance capacity by embracing and your way, you make a way to "Lordship." celebrating your Lordship. out of no way. It is you that It is a common practice Through you, we are at our delivers us when we can not for ships that represent the best. deliver ourselves. nations of the world to dip their flags, as a sign of respect In Humility, Amen and courtesy, when they are Amen approached by another nation's Friday ships. Some nations refuse this Saturday March 13, 2020 act of deference, believing that March 14, 2020 the dipping of their flag is the Come, let us bow down in equivalent of bowing before The people of Israel called the bread worship, let us kneel before the another nation. The United manna. It was white like coriander Lord our Maker; for he is our States is one such nation. seed and tasted like wafers made God and we are the people of his It is observable that many with honey. Moses said this is pasture, the flock under his care. people, in the context of what the Lord has commanded. Psalm 95:6-7 NIV worship or prayer, resist any “Take an omer of manna and keep In most of our stated or implied directives in it for the generation to come, so congregations, an invitation public worship. The request they can see the bread I gave you to bow at the altar results in can be as small "close your to eat in the wilderness when I few, if any, coming forward eyes." We are simply unable brought you out of Egypt.” to kneel. In fact, most to "dip our flags" even before Exodus 16:31-32 NIV congregants do not respond the Lord. Clearly, it is common to the opportunity to share to wrongly believe that God's Moses did not realize the prayer requests. Common greatness diminishes us. Jesus significance of passing on explanations of these two assures us that lifting him up manna. For Israel, manna was realities range from the will result in our being lifted considered bread. Bread is food. potential pain that some with him. Passing on the manna was an act of love and consideration that others would be fed. The eating of food helps to sustain the body, therefore helping maintain life. The tradition which began centuries ago still exists today. It has become a common tradition among women to pass on a piece of dough to begin when someone makes yeast rolls or bread from scratch. Some have called this “friendship bread.” If a person receives a portion of dough, they prepare yeast rolls or bread for their household. They continue the tradition by passing it on to someone else. It 13 is expected that the tradition of passing the mixture will never stop. Today bread has become a common staple and comfort food in many cultures and households. Fresh bread is part of many meals. The breaking of bread with friends and family is a ritual many of us look forward to having. Warm thoughts of love are felt when someone smells fresh bread baking. As we break bread, whether at a family table or during In each of our lives, there Rabbi, communion, we should be are valuable lessons learned reminded of how God always because of the many things that We encounter daily lessons provides for us. The manna for go wrong for us. Whether the that result from our the Israelites came just when result of our own errors or of tribulations. For the growth it was needed. It was also just unavoidable circumstances, life and learning, we give you enough for what they needed. teaches at the "graduate level." thanks. For the struggles, we Loving God, We have discovered "one by seek your mercy. one" that fire is hot. Thoughtless Thank you for providing and words from our mouths have In Faith, sustaining us. Thank you invited prompt and thorough Amen for helping us find ways of instruction from a host of being together as friends or volunteer educators. Eating family. May love always be wrong things at right times has Monday March 16, 2020 the central theme as we gather enhanced our understanding of together. the human digestive tract. “I removed the burden from their Spiritual lessons have also shoulders; their hands were set Amen. come to us in serendipitous free from the basket. In your ways. As we have fumbled distress you called and I rescued Sunday around the locations and you, I answered you out of a March 15, 2020 situations to which we thundercloud; I tested you at the Therefore being justified by faith, have been exposed we have waters of Meribah. Hear me, my we have peace with God through discovered God's grace and people, and I will warn you— if our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom God's sense of humor. Each you would only listen to me, Israel! also we have access by faith into of the attributes described Psalm 81: 6-8 NIV this grace wherein we stand, and in the text is discovered and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. employed as we journey from Why is it that we wait until And not only so, but we glory in spiritual oblivion to a knowing we are in distress to call to tribulations also: knowing that relationship with God. the Lord for help. It is likely tribulation worketh patience; Jesus was often called because we continue to think And patience, experience; and "Rabbi," though he was that we can do everything experience, hope: And hope maketh never employed by a local and anything under our own, not ashamed; because the love of congregation. His identity as power, and strength. God God is shed abroad in our hearts by such was descriptive of his works best when we realize the Holy Ghost which is given unto recurring role in unveiling the that we can not do everything. us. lessons that were contained Whenever we think all options in the imperfections and Romans 5:1-5 KJV have been exhausted, God inadequacies of people. 14 works miracles. We listen carefully to what Wednesday I recall a story of two men name people call God by. We March 18, 2020 playing chess. One player had note which scriptures they assured himself that he had the quote (or if they fail to quote This is what the Lord says: “What game locked up and that his scriptures). One of the ultimate fault did your ancestors find in opponent did not have another signs of “true” Christianity is me, that they strayed so far from move. His opponent refused that you view baptism the way me? They followed worthless idols to give in and studied the that I do. Central to this concern and became worthless themselves. chessboard for over an hour. He are the questions: They did not ask, ‘Where is the refused to give in. He studied • Was it your decision to be Lord, who brought us up out of the board carefully. Then, with baptized or your parents’? Egypt and led us through the confidence, he loudly declared” • How wet did you get barren wilderness, through a land I have another move.” He made (immersion or sprinkled)? of deserts and ravines, a land of his move and won the game. • What words were spoken drought and utter darkness, a ”God always has another (in what name)? land where no one travels and no move.” We have to trust that In a very real sense, we have one lives?’ I brought you into a God's move is in our best engaged in a legalistic approach fertile land to eat its fruit and rich interest. With God all things are that has devolved into a series produce. But you came and defiled possible. of human “litmus tests,” rather my land and made my inheritance than the beginning of a lifelong detestable. God of Miracles, journey of faith. Jeremiah 2:5-7 NIV In the 1 Corinthians text, Your possibilities are far Whenever we experience the writer seeks to guide the beyond what we can imagine. difficult periods in life, it is hard readers back to the recognition We trust that you will never to imagine how and even when that all spiritual practices and fail us. things will get better. Those of sacraments are intended to us who are Christian pray to facilitate our relationship with Amen God to help us during these God. Every sacrament, each trials. God gives us hope and prophet or teacher, and all of Tuesday courage to hang in there. our special events and holidays March 17, 2020 Unfortunately, we too should be for the purpose quickly forget the difficulty we I do not want you to be unaware, of deepening our faith. For have been through, with God's brothers and sisters, that our those of us who profess to be help. Forgotten are the lessons ancestors were all under the cloud, Christian, all that we do points we learned. The Israelites were and all passed through the sea, and to Jesus. appreciative at first, but, they all were baptized into Moses in the God of Truth, also promptly forgot what cloud and in the sea, and all ate the was provided for them. With same spiritual food, and all drank You have instituted various the help of God, their leader the same spiritual drink. For they ordinances and practices, in made great sacrifices for them. drank from the spiritual rock that order to guide us into your The Israelites, according to followed them, and the rock was presence. Let us not become this passage, showed little Christ. so enraptured with the appreciation and began to defile 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 NRSV paths that we travel that we their inheritance. worship the path. Bless us We too can take the blessings When people embrace to persevere until we reside afforded to us for granted. something that they believe to safely in your kingdom. We must be mindful, not only be special they want to believe In Love, to show appreciation at the that it is unique. In the case of moment, but to continue to religious beliefs, there are key Amen show gratitude. God gives indicators that one is seriously without expectation and engaged and on the right track. demand for us to give back. But 15 God is praised when we give battle plan in a clearly defined Lord of Clarity, thanks and appreciate what has manner. No captives, human or been freely given. animal, were to be taken. The Forgive us for the many king and his soldiers could not times that we lie to you and We thank you, God, for the bring themselves to bypass the ourselves. Although you blessings you provide to us sheep and cattle that was, in can never be fully known, as we travel through life’s their sight, there for the taking. your guidance is not beyond deserted and barren places. One way of understanding our comprehension. Protect Help us Lord, to remember to the occasions when we fall short us from the destructive show appreciation for your of full compliance is to claim consequences of our egocentric continued love and attention to not understand. We need to faithfulness. to our needs. support such claims with some In Obedience, Amen indication that the instructions are unclear or that the hearer is Amen not capable of understanding. Thursday Because both Saul and Samuel March 19, 2020 were anointed by God for their Friday March 20, 2020 unique callings it is not the case Samuel said, “Although you were that capacity or comprehension The Lord is my shepherd, I lack once small in your own eyes, did was inadequate. nothing. He makes me lie down in you not become the head of the Like Saul, we are inclined green pastures, he leads me beside tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed to "sample the grapes." We quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. you king over Israel. And he sent convince ourselves that there is He guides me along the right paths you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and no harm in seeing if the grapes for his name’s sake. Even though I completely destroy those wicked in the store are sweet before walk through the darkest valley, I people, the Amalekites; wage war purchasing them. We embellish will fear no evil, for you are with against them until you have wiped upon God's clear directives me; your rod and your staff, they them out.’ Why did you not obey to the point that what we are comfort me. You prepare a table the Lord? Why did you pounce on pursuing is no longer clear or of before me in the presence of my the plunder and do evil in the eyes God. Like Saul, we will be held enemies. You anoint my head with of the Lord?” responsible for doing what God oil; my cup overflows. Surely your “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul actually calls upon from us. goodness and love will follow me all said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” 1 Samuel 15:17-21 NRSV I am very much like Saul. I suspect that most of you, who read this meditation, are like Saul too. In the text, it appears that Saul genuinely believes that he has carried out God's instructions. He has been directed by Samuel, who was sent by God, to accomplish a
16 the days of my life, and I will dwell Soldiers have reported Saturday in the house of the Lord forever. that this passage of scripture March 21, 2020 Psalm 23 NIV brought them through many In the beginning was the Word, nights during combat. Prisoners and the Word was with God, and The 23rd Psalm is genuinely in solitary confinement have the Word was God. He was in the the most beloved passage of made similar confessions. This beginning with God. All things scripture in the Bible. Children passage provides and fills us came into being through him, and and adults quiet down to with hope. It also assures us without him not one thing came listen when it is recited. Most of God’s love. For some, it is a into being. What has come into people can recognize and recite beacon of light that will break being in him was life, and the life it from memory, even if they through the darkness. was the light of all people. The light don’t consider themselves to be shines in the darkness, and the Christian. darkness did not overcome it. Have you ever thought about why it is so popular? John 1:1-5 NRSV Maybe because it brings so Thank you, Lord, for the Jesus is the Light! Darkness much comfort and assurance provision of hope. Continue to sought to, and continues to of God’s Love. It is the “go to” send us beacons of light that seek to, extinguish the light. scripture that reminds us of serve as hope in the darkness Darkness is the enemy of how important we are to God. that surrounds us. Light. It seeks to hide truth It assures us that we are worthy and substitute falsehoods. The Amen. of God’s Love and attention, light presents, exposes, and even in our brokenness and our empowers truth. Darkness is imperfections. unable to accomplish deceit when the Light is brightly shining. These spiritual observations should be understood apart from deceptive and confusing claims about the optics of the text. In confusion or with malicious intent, these scriptural claims have been extended to speak of dark skin or white hats. The false notion has been set forth that God prefers light colors over dark ones, in people or apparel. Such thinking resides in the darkness which the light has come to dispel. God’s creation contains and utilizes every color and every shade. The darkness which is to be overcome is the darkness that views truth as an enemy. This enmity is resultant from the reality that spiritual darkness is determined to defeat God’s Light. The Light shines in darkness and will never be overcome by it. 17 Lord of Light, Shine on us so that we can shine for you. Guide us to accept and celebrate the full spectrum of your creation and to view all that is of you to be good. Let truth prevail in spite of us and then in us. By Your Illumination, Amen of moving beyond the failures saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why Sunday March 22, 2020 of humanity. Saul was not do you persecute me?” He asked, removed prematurely, but the “Who are you, Lord?” The reply The Lord said to Samuel, “How next king was identified. David came, “I am Jesus, whom you are long will you grieve over Saul, I might never have been king, persecuting. have rejected him from being king except for Saul's failure. God Acts 9:1-5 NRSV over Israel. Fill your horn with oil always has a way to move on. and set out, I will send you to Jesse Among the amazing things the Bethlehemite, for I have for God of Progress, about the man who came to myself a king among his sons.” be known as Paul is that he We continue to fail, yet was at one point as opposed 1 Samuel 16:1 (NIV) you bring victory from our to the Christian movement as When Saul failed to live up faltering. Certainly, if you he eventually was for it. This is to the potential that was seen can deliver creation from the demonstrative of a frightening in him, by God and Samuel, void, you can redeem your reality that we all get to witness Samuel took it personally. world and its kingdoms from regularly. That reality is that we He grieved so deeply over our downfalls. Bless us, to are capable of being completely the disappointment that it learn how and when to move and sincerely wrong. We would impaired his ability to do what on. all like to believe that God needed to be done. It must would prevent us from ever In Victory, have seemed like the end of being that wrong, but we have the road if the one who was Amen all believed that which bears no anointed by God could not do semblance of truth. the job. Monday The awareness that we can be We often place too much March 23, 2020 so lost should give us patience promise in the performance as we engage with those who Meanwhile Saul, still breathing of mortals. Whether our we believe to be presently threats and murder against the political leaders, our pastors, lost. The reality that God can disciples of the Lord, went to or members of our families, redeem any of us, regardless the high priest and asked him humans fail. Samuel had, in of the depth of our “lostness,, for letters to the synagogues at behalf of God, warned the should actually be a source Damascus, so that if he found any Israelites of the likelihood of of encouragement. Although who belonged to the Way, men failure, when they insisted on nobody knows God’s timetable, or women, he might bring them having a king. Most of Saul's any who continue to seek God’s bound to Jerusalem. Now as he failures were among those that face will find it. was going along and approaching Samuel had named. The Damascus encounter Damascus, suddenly a light from In this case and in others, finds Saul, who is called by heaven flashed around him. He fell God knows to move on. Each name, asking “who are you to the ground and heard a voice of us keeps God in practice Lord?” Whether he realized it
18 consciously or not, Saul knew in his spirit that this encounter was with the one true God. Ultimately, we all know the voice of God. If we persist, we can find our way to our God.
Knowing Creator, Shine your light, so that we who seek you can come to you. Direct us to be ready to zealously engage the new challenges and assignments that you have for us. Thank you, for entrusting your Gospel work to us. but their vision is minimal. Unlike many of us, we see but In Faith, They depend on visual aid often refuse to seek help and devices to help them function. support, even when needed. Amen They challenge themselves Ask yourself, “How has God to try new things. They are led me today?” Tuesday constant learners. It is because March 24, 2020 of how they rise up to meet Gracious and Loving God I will lead the blind by ways they challenges that they live full Help us to remember that we have not known, along unfamiliar and productive lives. are yours. We can count on paths I will guide them; I will turn My brothers’ limitations you, without being limited by the darkness into light before them impacts their lives and false pride. Guide us and keep and make the rough places smooth. others who are close to them. us. These are the things I will do; I Sometimes it means leading and walking with them. will not forsake them. In the precious name of your Sometimes fixing their plates son Jesus, Isaiah 42:16 NIV at meals, along with describing This verse is critical in the locations of things on the Amen understanding the scriptural table. Even the youngest of the children in our family knows passage; it serves as a reminder Wednesday that God is still working in how to support their uncles! March 25, 2020 our lives and has more in store Each of my brothers is very Annunciation of the Lord for us than we can ever ask independent and confident In the sixth month the angel or imagine. Most of us tend in their ability to function. Gabriel was sent by God to a town to limit ourselves and stay in They all have had specialized in Galilee called Nazareth, to a our “comfort zone.” We resist training to manage their virgin engaged to a man whose change and challenges. We condition. Two of my brothers name was Joseph, of the house of even resist God’s guidance and returned to school and now use David. The virgin’s name was instruction. their disability to help others Mary. And he came to her and I have three brothers. One who have the same disabling said, “Greetings, favored one! The of them is blind. He was born condition. Lord is with you.” But she was sighted but had an accident Neither of them sits around much perplexed by his words and mid-life that left him blind. and have “pity parties” pondered what sort of greeting The other two are legally regarding what they can and this might be. The angel said to blind because of a hereditary cannot do. They accept and ask her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for condition. They are sighted, for support when they need it. 19 you have found favor with God. was told that her son would be his voice, but most of all he And now, you will conceive in the King of Kings, an identity wants God to listen to his pain. your womb and bear a son, and that nobody had ever assumed He wants God to hear and you will name him Jesus. or ever would again. understand the depth of his Luke 1:26-31 NRSV The announcement to Mary misery. was for all of us. Even centuries Only God can know the after the birth of our Savior, depth of the pain as the Although the announcement we are overwhelmed and psalmist is experiencing it. that she would bear the child blessed by the baby who was Human emotion is real. Even who would change the world announced that night. so, it also can be confusing. We, came to Mary through the as human beings, tend to look angel Gabriel, rather than Loving God, only on the outside. We look directly from God, this is for physical signs that we can certainly an epiphany. Nobody You sure know how to make see visually. The truth is the could ever have had a more an entrance. Everything did pain on the inside scares us to dramatic encounter with the not stop when Jesus came, death. We don’t want to deal Lord. The knowledge that God but everything and everybody with the emotional pain within was preparing to intervene into was made new. We give us, let alone that of others. human history was impactful thanks for the very first Pain and suffering are things enough, but Mary was Christmas present. we all deal with at some point informed that she would play a in our lives. God is saying in role in this miracle. In Blessedness, this passage, “bring it here to Imagine being presented Amen me.” God says, “I can handle with the eventual resume’ for this, trust me!” When we can your child even before the lay our burdens down, God birth of the child. You might be Thursday March 26, 2020 can perform miracles! impressed to discover that your Am I really able to give it child was to become a doctor Out of the depths I cry to you, all to God? Can God hear the or a lawyer. Mary’s revelation Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let depth of my pain? exceeded that scenario. your ears be attentive to my cry Suppose you were told that for mercy. Hear my cry Oh Lord. Attend your baby would grow up to Psalm 130:1-2 NIV to my concerns. Forgive my be the President of the United sins and cleanse me of my States. Nope, bigger than that! The writer of this Psalm inadequacies. Have mercy on How about an emperor or a appears to be in lament and me in my time of need. king? Look beyond all known woe as he cries out to the occupational identities. Mary Lord. He wants God to hear Amen.
Friday March 27, 2020
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness
20 with thee, that thou mayest be the psalmist, God is the only weak and can not do it alone. feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul hope available, but the only He is overwhelmed by his sins. doth wait, and in his word do I hope needed. Even as he cries for help, he hope. doubts that anything could Psalm 130:1-5 KJV deliver him. Lord God, There is a tension on display, between the despair of the This Psalm is like many In times of trouble, we can psalmist and his awareness others in that it is a cry for trust in you. You alone of God’s ability to handle any help. The psalmist is in fear of know when we have paid challenge. Grace and mercy impending danger. Calling on our penalties. You alone can are extended because of God’s the Lord is a reasonable choice choose to extend premature goodwill for us. God loves us except for one thing. It is the forgiveness. Thank you for and wants the best for us. God Lord that the psalmist needs grace and for mercy. wants us to succeed. Our words to be rescued from. Due to In Awe, and cries for mercy are often some unnamed offenses, the said out of desperation. But too punishment of the Lord is at Amen often, living in the grace that hand. has been extended is easier said The decision to call on the Saturday than done. Lord may seem like an obvious March 28, 2020 The Christian walk does not one. Who could deliver the come easily for many of us. psalmist or anyone else from Out of the depths, I cry to you, Having a church home and God’s wrath? Because there is Lord; Lord hear my voice. Let having people around us to no avenue or source capable of your ear be attentive to my cry for model and guide us is helpful. such deliverance, the psalmist mercy. Lord, if you kept a record Maturing in your faith is a must realize that the only of sins who could stand? But with journey. Asking for forgiveness choice is to call on God. you, there is forgiveness, so that is only the first step. Even though relief can only we can, with reverence, serve you. come from God, there has to Psalm 130:1-4 NIV Loving God, be some hope. If the psalmist In this passage, there is a cry did not know the Lord to be a for mercy from the psalmist. I pray and ask forgiveness forgiving God, even the only He realizes that he has done for my sins. Guide me, great hope may not have led to this something wrong. It is a cry Jehovah, and I will praise psalm being offered. In times for mercy; a plea for a second your name. such as those experienced by chance. He realizes that he is Amen
Sunday March 29, 2020
The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” Ezekiel 37:1-3 NRSV 21 As pastors, many of us Lord of Life, power of his faith as a testimony are too quick to read most that he was truly a man of God. scriptures from the perspective Hydrate and activate us. We Upon witness and being the of the local church. We often do want to be and need to be recipient of this miracle, she so in light of the struggles that more than a past-time for gladly acknowledged Elijah’s many of our congregations have our people. Call us to vitality identity. faced in recent times. We are and speak through us. not at fault because we desire Healing Lord, stronger congregations. We In Jesus’ Name, We thank you for all of the are guilty of failing to see the Amen authentic help that you health of communities, nations, provide for us. For each businesses, and households Monday messenger of your grace, as being necessary for our March 30, 2020 we are grateful. Bless us to churches to be whole. discern who is truly a man or We have preached the Some time later the son of the woman of yours. Ezekiel text as one about woman who owned the house restoring our churches. There became ill. He grew worse and In Hope, is an obligatory shift from worse, and finally stopped Amen speaking of Israel to speaking breathing. She said to Elijah, about congregations. We have “What do you have against me, been sloppy in this transition. Tuesday man of God? Did you come to March 31, 2020 Israel was a people, a nation, remind me of my sin and kill my and a religion. All of the son?” As for you, you were dead in your institutions named above were 1 Kings 17:17-18 NIV transgressions and sins, in which impacted by and dependent you used to live when you followed upon Israel. Our local churches There are many miraculous the ways of this world and of the too often accept little more than healings in the Bible done by ruler of the kingdom of the air, weekly worship, as their place Jesus. This healing was done the spirit who is now at work in among the people. by Elijah. Elijah had been those who are disobedient. All of Our congregations do not presenting himself as a man of us also lived among them at one have the option of becoming God. The mother had no way of time, gratifying the cravings of our nations or religions. There actually testing this claim. All flesh and following its desires and would be no reason to want to. she knew was that she needed thoughts. Like the rest, we were We can invest ourselves more more help than any mortal by nature deserving of wrath. But in the lives of families. We can could offer. She was desperate because of his great love for us, speak to the safety and well to believe, but understandably God, who is rich in mercy, made being of our communities. We sceptical. us alive with Christ even when we can champion the concerns of After the woman’s son died were dead in transgressions—it is our people, in communication during Elijah’s stay, she began by grace you have been saved. with agencies and businesses. to doubt and question Elijah’s Ephesians 2:1-5 NIV When our bones are put to intent. She demanded to know better use, they will seldom be if he had come to harm her or Most of us have made it our found to be dry. her beloved son. There was practice to avoid any words or nothing that she could have actions that implicate ourselves. done, if the worst of her fears We may admit our faults if proved themselves to be true, someone inquires directly but she wanted to know what about them, but we tend to she was facing. not volunteer the information. Elijah, after assessing the The problem that this behavior situation, was able to bring this creates in our faith walk is that boy back to life. He presents the we need to confess, but Jesus is
22 blessing us anyway. In Old Testament scripture, Thursday We need to be confessional God punishes those who live in April 2, 2020 in order to understand our sin. He banished the Israelites place at the cross. An innocent from their land. Even though Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all man died in my place on that he was angry, he had mercy your sons here?” And he said, cross. Sin is the human guilt on them and then bought “There remains yet the youngest, that required Jesus to come them back together again. God but he is keeping the sheep.” And into the world. We offered continually takes care of us, Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and but should be appreciative even when we grumble or sin. bring him; for we will not sit for the sacrifice, but can never God is a compassionate and down until he comes here.” He appreciate what we fail to forgiving God. sent and brought him in. Now acknowledge. I need to confess, Unfortunately, we, as he was ruddy, and had beautiful even if Jesus never demands it. humans, are less inclined to be eyes, and was handsome. The Lord The instructions offered compassionate and forgiving. said, “Rise and anoint him; for by prophets, judges, rabbis, When we feel we have been this is the one.” Then Samuel took and apostles join with those wronged by someone else, we the horn of oil, and anointed him of Jesus, in calling us to be hold that grudge forever. We in the presence of his brothers; confessional. God does not stop can not get past our hurt. Yet, and the spirit of the Lord came blessing us while awaiting our we are quick to want others to mightily upon David from that acknowledgement of guilt. Our forgive us. day forward. Samuel then set out way of doing things treats the We may mouth words of and went to Ramah. continuation of blessings as if forgiveness, but there is little 1 Samuel 16:11-13 NRSV we have “gotten away” with action to show our forgiveness. our sins. Even if we could, I suspect that most of us don’t David was so unlikely a Jesus deserves our confession know what forgiveness is. candidate to be annointed as and gratitude. We don’t understand it or the future king of Israel that know what it feels or looks his own father overlooked Knowing God, like. Unfortunately, it is not him. Samuel had come to the modeled well by many of home of Jesse, David’s father, Our guilt is not unknown those around us. To achieve declaring that God had sent to you. May we confess and grow to the point of being him to this home to identify our sinfulness, as an act of able to forgive, we must learn the one who would be king. truth speaking. May this through the study of the Bible Jesse, knowing what was at acknowledgement free us to and use Jesus as our role stake, paraded seven sons grow in your grace. model. before Samuel, presuming that In Truth, the future king must be one Holy and Righteous God, of them. Each was apparently Amen most suited in some way. Only Create in us clean forgiving when asked specifically if there Wednesday hearts. Do not let our was another son did Jesse send April 1, 2020 spiritual feet slip. Help us to for David. learn to be more loving and Jesus was also an unlikely I will surely gather them from all patient toward others. candidate. His family was the lands where I banish them in Amen not wealthy. He was not a my furious anger and great wrath; preacher’s kid (or a rabbi’s I will bring them back to this place kid). Nobody in his family and let them live in safety. They had standing within the will be my people, and I will be Roman empire, or even lesser their God. kingdoms. He was a product Jeremiah 32:37-38 NIV of modest means and offered hope to others of such lowly
23 estate. If Jesus was born of royalty, I would not think him available to us commoners. If he were the child of a great general, those with no military connection might not feel themselves included. If his mother was a university professor, we might believe redemption to be the product of intellect. Only by sending an unlikely candidate could it be so clear that God’s love is available to all.
Mighty God, but also to suffer for him, since mean that we maintain our you are going through the same Christian values, as our values We join with the mighty and struggle you saw I had, and now are the core of who we are. the meek, in celebrating your hear that I still have. Taking our cues from athletes, abiding love. Because you Philippians 1: 27-29 NIV we should invest ourselves have included the rich and in our Christian walk. This the poor, we can all trust Our walk as followers of approach will present us as our inheritance. Because you Christ has never been easy, nor champions for the Lord. include the young and the old, will it ever be. Even when we we know that we will not try hard, we are not perfect. Lord, outgrow or have to grow into When we fail, we must find You promised to walk with your inner circle. You have the courage to get back up me when I turned my life over embraced and blessed all of and try again. We would serve to you. Grant me the wisdom our particularities. For this, ourselves and God better if we and courage to hear and obey we give you thanks. had a plan and set some goals. your teachings. Athletes are good role models By Your Power, of how to achieve their best Amen Amen results. Athletes work with very Saturday Friday rigorous schedules. They April 4, 2020 April 3, 2020 work hard in order to be and give their very best. Yet, they I called on your name, O Lord, Whatever happens, conduct individualize their needs and from the depths of the pit; you yourselves in a manner worthy of set priorities. Many athletes heard my plea, “Do not close your the gospel of Christ. Then, whether condition themselves to re- ear to my cry for help, but give I come and see you or only hear evaluate and make changes me relief!” You came near when I about you in my absence, I will as needed. They value and called on you; you said, “Do not know that you stand firm in the invest in themselves. They hire fear!” one Spirit, striving together as one the best coaches. They don’t Lamentations 3:55-57 NRSV for the faith of the gospel without spare expenses on equipment. being frightened in any way by They even have a plan for those who oppose you. This is eating. They often carry their a sign to them that they will be disciplines into retirement. destroyed, but that you will be When we say yes to God, saved—and that by God. For it has there is no retirement plan, been granted to you on behalf of how we choose to live out our Christ not only to believe in him, lives as we grow older should 24 Sun-Tzu, was a Chinese general who has been credited with saying, “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” The people closest to you can hurt you the most. They know your secrets, and they know your strengths and weaknesses. The world is full of people who are intent on elevating themselves at your expense. Many people lack discipline, values, and are insecure, immature, and weak. They have not taken the time to build discipline; they are jealous and We have come to know Great Physician, want what you have without that depression is a clinical the work to get to where All healing comes from you, condition, that can impair you are. Instead of building whether directly or through persons both physically and character and discipline, some those that you have blessed emotionally. Without treatment, of those people closest to you to render service. Continue to a person can linger indefinitely invest their time into being hear us when we cry out for in this impaired state. This sneaky and manipulative health. Because you know us appears to be the situation that Jesus knew that there was and love us, we have hope. the writer of Lamentations a traitor among those who has been in. It is a situation In Search of Wholeness, were celebrating with him. He described in the past tense was able to discipline himself because the Lord has rendered Amen enough to deal with each relief. individual gracefully. He kept It is unfortunate that so many his focus. Jesus did not go people in the present would Sunday April 5, 2020 running and hiding in fear. Are never see calling on the Lord, you prepared to deal with the when in distress. There is no When evening came, Jesus was Judases in your life? real need to choose between reclining at the table with the help offered by a physician Twelve. And while they were Lord, or therapist and help granted eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, Help me to keep my focus by God. The writer had no one of you will betray me.” They on becoming the person you such choice. Before Medicare, were very sad and began to say to have called me to be. Teach Obamacare, HMO’s, PPO’s, or him one after the other, “Surely me to be more patient and country doctors there was God. you don’t mean me, Lord?” Jesus disciplined; so that I may live Now that we have all of these replied, “The one who has dipped a life worthy of your calling. relatively new options, there is his hand into the bowl with me will no need to reject that which has betray me. The Son of Man will go Amen served us throughout time. just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” Matthew 26:20-24 NIV
25 Monday his body in a ritual manner. In this passage, Jesus April 6, 2020 Most of us respond to every acknowledges that his purpose situation, regardless of it’s for being on earth is about Six days before the Passover importance, with our usual to be fulfilled. Jesus shares Jesus came to Bethany, the home response. It may be time for this purpose as fact, with no of Lazarus, whom he had raised some of us to consider the emotion. There are no attempts from the dead. There they gave a prosecution and execution of to bargain for more time. It dinner for him. Martha served, God to be a special occasion. is the appointed time, and he and Lazarus was one of those at knows it. the table with him. Mary took a Atoning Lord, If it were me, I believe I pound of costly perfume made of would be on my knees, begging pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, You saw what we needed and for more time with every bit of and wiped them with her hair. The did what you alone could emotion that I could muster. house was filled with the fragrance do. On too many occasions, But, that is the human side of of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, nobody but Mary appreciated me. Being human makes me one of his disciples (the one who your actions. Instill in us the weak and vulnerable to human was about to betray him), said, insight needed to see what emotions. Seldom, are there “Why was this perfume not sold you are doing for us. May we times when I would be willing for three hundred denarii and the no longer take you or your to sacrifice my life for the sake money given to the poor?” (He said blessings for granted. of someone else. I would not this not because he cared about the In Blessedness, hesitate to sacrifice my life poor, but because he was a thief; he for that of my child or my kept the common purse and used to Amen grandchildren. As I write this steal what was put into it.) devotion, I realize that I would John 12:1-5 NRSV Tuesday likely make the sacrifice for any April 7, 2020 child. This passage includes Most people love someone as several key figures. It is not “Now my soul is troubled, and much as I love children. Each of about Martha, who served the what shall I say? ‘Father, save us have a limited circle of love. dinner meal. That was what me from this hour’? No, it was The difference with Jesus is that Martha would be expected to for this very reason I came to this his circle encompasses every do. It is not about Judas, who hour. Father, glorify your name!” one of us. found a profit motive even in Then a voice came from heaven, “I his expectations of how Mary have glorified it, and will glorify it Good and Gracious God, would use her own perfume. again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; Help us to broaden our circles Jesus is the most important of love. Help us also to person present, but the story others said an angel had spoken to him. recognize and to accept what is about Mary. She is the each day and each moment John 12:27-29 NIV one who, in response to the demands of us. Whatever you moment, acts in a manner that is call forth in us, is and must be uncharacteristic. acceptable to us. Mary anointed the feet of Jesus. This occasion was too In Jesus, important to be focused on the market value of the perfume. Amen It was too distinctive to be focused on menus or meal preparation. Mary recognized the significance of the life that had been lived and the appropriateness of preparing
26 Wednesday My Lord, When I got older, I would April 8, 2020 wonder even more every time You died for me. You forgave I met a boy. Was it love, or did After saying this Jesus was my sins. You were betrayed I just like him. When I was troubled in spirit, and declared, by me. You have blessed me in the 8th grade, there was a “Very truly, I tell you, one of you because you love me. This boy in my class that I was so will betray me.” The disciples is a time to take things consumed with that I could not looked at one another, uncertain of personally. think straight. I realized years whom he was speaking. later that it was his looks that I As One, John 13:21-22 NRSV was fascinated with, not him! Amen That was not real love! The disciples looked at one The kind of love Jesus spoke another, even though this is an Thursday about is not easy to achieve. occasion where Jesus indicated April 9, 2020 As I matured, I realized that a single betrayer. Most of MaundayThursday more and more. The kind of us tend to look for only one love Jesus wants us to have is A new command I give you: Love person to name as responsible pure and not based on outward one another. As I have loved you, for whatever happens. In appearances, social status, what so you must love one another. By scriptural references, one son type of car the person drives, this everyone will know that you was a prodigal, one woman or any of our human values. are my disciples, if you love one was adulterous, and one The kind of love that does not another.” Samaritan was kind. While it is change even when the person true that many individuals are John 13:34-35 NIV performs poorly in school, has a distinctive in their actions, most When I was a child, my baby out of wedlock, develops deeds are replicated by many grandmother and every elderly a drug problem, or breaks the others. woman in my life would tease law. It is loving when others The disciples each looked me and say, “you don’t know feel they are unloveable. You at the others. They each what love is!” They would may not like or love what they excused themselves, as possible always laugh when they said it. did, but you still love them, no suspects. They looked away, I, of course, didn’t appreciate matter what. That kind of love trusting that it had to be this teasing as I was struggling is deep, and that bond can not someone else to betray Jesus. to understand the meaning of be shaken or broken. It was love In reality, they each could what they were saying about that caused Jesus to go willingly have found reason to name love. to the cross to die for us. themselves. Every disciple betrayed Jesus. We look at others too. We tell the Gospel story as being one in which “somebody” betrayed Jesus. We see Jesus on the cross because “somebody” sinned. When the welcome of the palms begins to wear off, we will leave it to “somebody” to walk with Jesus. We need to look in the mirror and see who Jesus was speaking of.
27 We give thanks to you, Lord, for your mercy and grace endure forever and ever. Amen
Friday April 10, 2020 Good Friday Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?” John 18:10-11 NRSV how big, at what cost, and is my portion,” says my soul, It is frightening to realize under whose leadership we are “therefore I will hope in him.” that, if Peter had his way, the all guilty of taking charge when Lamentations 3:19-24 NRSV chosen course of Jesus would God has things in hand. How have been altered. Without can we be called disciples if we The writer of this passage consulting with Jesus, or anyone fail to follow? seems to be troubled by many else, Peter drew his sword and things. His soul is not at peace. sought to initiate a battle. He Guiding Lord, Thinking about whatever is must have believed that the Forgive us for our attempts going on in his life, leaves him other disciples would join in. to lead you. Call us to true in deep despair. At this pivotal Otherwise, he would have to discipleship, that trusts you moment, he is able to recognize know that the Roman soldiers to guide us even when we do the remedial capacities of the could have killed him without not understand or agree. Your Lord. bringing him to trial. record justifies such faith in Many of us struggle with The most disturbing aspect you, conflicting situations from day of this scene is that Peter sought to day. Sometimes there are to lead, even with Jesus present. In Compliance, so many; our souls are not at The soldiers came in search of peace. The peace we seek and Jesus. Jesus was talking with Amen need just does not come. It may them about letting the disciples sometimes feel like our troubles alone, since it was Jesus who Saturday are like worms eating away they came for. The actions of April 11, 2020 Holy Saturday at our spirits, keeping us in Peter are in disregard of the turmoil. At those times, there is preferred plan of Jesus. The next The thought of my affliction and no peace. words attributed to Peter are the my homelessness is wormwood and We must remember that denial that he was one of Jesus’ gall! My soul continually thinks God is there with us, especially disciples, or that he even knew of it and is bowed down within during those times when our him. me. But this I call to mind, and troubles overwhelm us. God I would be afraid to view the therefore I have hope: The steadfast is our fortress and our hope. record of the number of times love of the LORD never ceases, Though the outlook is bleak, that I sought to substitute my his mercies never come to an end; God is a God of possibilities, plan in place of Jesus’ plan. they are new every morning; great especially during our darkest When we consider how soon, is your faithfulness. “The LORD nights. God is still at work. 28 With God, our breakthrough At last! The day that we have accomplished on this morning. is coming. It is God that makes long awaited has arrived. The With all the preparing that Jesus the sun rise in the morning and season of Lent has come to an provided, nobody was ready for refreshes our spirits and gives end. Jesus has risen. We are free. Easter. us hope. Our sins have been paid for, in Are we ready for Easter? full. Did we find Lent too long or Morning by morning, new The statements above are too demanding? Are we now mercies you provide. Great is representative of what we joining the women at the tomb, your faithfulness. Thank you, should expect to hear from one in asking “where have they Lord. another. Instead, we are hearing laid him?” We will not receive Amen about new suits and fancy hats. an answer. Our question is the Great care has gone into baking wrong one. The question for us hams and concocting green to ask and the answer is “where Sunday bean casseroles. Our pancake have WE laid him?” April 12, 2020 breakfast will likely attract Easter Sunday (Resurrection Day) more attendees than our sunrise service. Were we awaiting a Redeeming God, Early on the first day of the week, festival of activities or salvation You have spent eternity doing while it was still dark, Mary through our savior? what you do for us. We will Magdalene came to the tomb On the day that the tomb and must spend our lives and saw that the stone had been was found empty, it seems doing what we do, in your removed from the tomb. So she ran that everybody was caught name. Jesus has taught us and and went to Simon Peter and the off guard. The women went equipped us. Let us now hear other disciple, the one whom Jesus to pay tribute to the dead. your call and heed it. Nothing loved, and said to them, “They have The disciples were moving can stop us but us. taken the Lord out of the tomb, and on with their lives. They had we do not know where they have to be located. Nobody seems In Your Glory, laid him.” to recall the several ways that Jesus told them what would be Amen John 20:1-2 NRSV
29 About the Authors
The Lenten mediations for 2020 are again provided by the Rev. Dr. Betty M. Green and the Rev. Dr. Irvin W. Green. They have had many occasions during more than 47 years of marriage and 32 years of ministry to collaborate on projects. They have presented workshops, participated in worship services, and on multiple occasions, offered Lenten or Advent resources for Disciples Home Missions. The opportunity to offer these reflections continues to be a profound honor.
Betty Miller Green is the founder and executive director of Beyond Sunday Morning Inc., a ministry formed to help to prepare congregations and their leaders to provide better pastoral care to those who have been abused. She also serves as the Associate Pastor of Woodland Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Columbus, Ohio. She has been called upon to preach or present for congregations in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Kansas, Illinois, and others. She has also presented for the Capital Region, at their annual Salt and Light conference.
Irvin W. Green is the pastor of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Kettering, Ohio. He has served 11 congregations in five regions. Three of his pastorates were as an Interim Pastor, for which he was trained by the Interim Ministry Network. Dr. Green has mentored dozens of ministers and ministry students and continues to regard offering guidance and encouragement to be central to his own calling.
30 The Rev. Sheila P. Spencer Director of Christian Education and Faith Formation; Phone: (317) 713-2634 [email protected]
Wilma Shuffitt Ministry Associate Phone: (317) 713-2639 [email protected]
Disciples Home Missions is a hands-on General Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). DHM lives into the Gospel of Jesus Christ by strengthening and developing partnerships, supporting congregational transformation, resourcing leadership development, sustaining faith formation, providing mission opportunities and advocating for justice, fairness, and equality for all of God’s children and creation. Mission Statement Disciples Home Missions, in relationships with its partners, equips Disciples for Christ and connects people to the life-changing love of God while facilitating faithful and effective ministry.
Follow us at www.facebook.com/discipleshomemissions for resources and news that support your mission and ministries. www.discipleshomemissions.org 31