Sunday, March 08, 2020

Old Testament: Genesis 12: 1-4a

New Testament: Romans 4: 1-5, 13-17

Gospel: John 3: 1-17

Psalm 121

“For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) —in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”  Romans 4:13-17

“God Keeps His Promise.” I always love reading these headings in the Bible: they kind of tell you the direction you will be going while reading the verses. And these verses make it very clear, or at least for me, that faith has more weight than the law. These lines are about Abraham, but down through the ages, it seems that the battle between “The Law” and “Faith” never ceases, and it was a plague even unto Jesus. How often did he have to address issues concerning the law during his ministry? Well, we know it was a lot. And Jesus was not shy when addressing the lawyers of his time, the Pharisees. They were way more concerned with following the law than with faith.  

I like rules and laws, and I am sure they are comforting for most of us when they are not scaring us! So I am joyful when I get to be reminded that my faith rules and trumps The Law. Our Faith is a Journey, and Jesus said, “Your Faith Has Saved You!” Whew! What a relief!!!! Thanks Be To God!

Ty Walling

Saturday, March 07, 2020

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 26:16–19

Gospel: Matthew 5:43–48

Psalm 119:1–8

The theme for today’s lections is the law. The Old Testament lection recognizes the covenant established between the Lord and his people Israel who are commanded to observe the law. The psalm also carries forth this theme. This is the initial portion of Psalm 119, the longest psalm in scripture. It is an acrostic psalm. Each of its twenty-two stanzas of eight verses each begins with a Hebrew letter (here seen at the beginning of the Latin incipit for the psalm, in this case the Hebrew letter, aleph). According to tradition, David used this psalm to teach young Solomon the Hebrew alphabet, both a literal alphabet and the alphabet of walking spiritually.

I fondly recall this psalm’s use in Orthodox liturgy. It is used at every orthodox burial liturgy, and, more importantly, at the burial liturgy used for Christ himself at Holy Saturday Matins observed on Holy Friday Evening (the odd time used for this monastic hour reflects the universe tossed into chaos by the Passion of Our Savior). It is chanted as the body of the church stands around in adoration of the epitaphion (burial shroud) draped over his catafalque. Additionally, between each psalm verse is chanted the Lamentations of Mary. These poetic lines, with soul wrenching tones to match in Russian churches, profoundly express her anguish over the loss of her son. This is for me the most powerful liturgy of the Orthodox liturgical year.

Thus Christ in his self-emptying (kenosis), even in death, participates fully with the humanity he came to know in its flesh and save. Humanity, reciprocally, is elevated, in sharing its earthly burial liturgy with this Person of the Trinity. Thus the choice of the this lection in Lent is apropos as we journey toward the great events of Holy Week and The Resurrection.

Both the psalm and the Old Testament lection make use of the phrase, “with all their hearts.” The proper collect repeats this phrase which fits the theme of the law here. This also has meaning for me particularly this year. I am engaged in a new prayer practice in anticipation of the discernment process, and as a consequence of thinking theologically as a part of my EfM ministry. I feel most blessed to have been called to EfM and Catechumenate ministries. With a full heart I have embraced this process. And I have been wonderfully embraced by all at our EfM table as we journey through the year. With a full heart, just the other week, I drove home, using the newly opened decks of Interstate 20/59. The wideness of these new constructions astounded me. I also thought how astounded I was at the wideness of God’s mercy, as the hymn proclaims. This mercy has enfolded me since the time of my father’s passing. The new life begun since then, with new vocation, new ministries, and new companionship, continues.

A full heart. And one that is thankful. Near the close of the psalm, the psalmist speaks of an unfeigned heart. I recall this same redolent term in the General Thanksgiving near the end of Rite One Morning and Evening Prayer. This is one of my favorite prayers in the Book of Common Prayer. I pray I continue in these prayers and thankfulness through Lent and beyond.

Ken Floyd

Friday, March 06, 2020

Old Testament: Ezekiel 18:21–28

Gospel: Matthew 5:20–26

Psalm 130

As I was sitting down to read the scriptures for today, the noise in the background was the impeachment trial of our current president. Themes of truth, judgment, justice and values have been present during the past few months. When I read some Biblical commentaries on this passage from Ezekiel, I was struck by the themes mentioned which are timely. Lamar Eugene Cooper mentioned the sinfulness of humanity, the inevitability of judgment, individual responsibility, hope of restoration. Another commentary from Dr. Douglas Stuart mentioned individual responsibility, and the power of national leadership for good or bad, and God’s transcendence.  

In times of discordance especially of late, how can we focus on those positive aspects of restoration and God’s transcendence? Ezekiel was full of hope. Commentaries point out that this book was written in a dark time of exile for the Israelites and even as Ezekiel was in exile, he remained hopeful. Dr. Thomas Constable (2019) writes: “His perspective is the key to anyone remaining hopeful in the midst of very discouraging circumstances, even us.”    

This one phrase spoke to me in a powerful way. For several years, many of us have been discouraged over all the political turmoil of our nation. Many of us feel that our nation is in a dark place with tensions boiling over, racism and prejudice raging, and a political system that is broken. So, how can we remain hopeful like Ezekiel? 

Constable writes: “understanding God is the very foundation for hope. Where there is hope, there is joy, there is peace, there is love, there is faith, and there is ministry. In the times in which we live, a commitment to ministry by itself will not preserve a Christian from all the pitfalls that surround us. Only ministry grounded in and growing out of our personal understanding and appreciation of the character of God will do that.”

I specifically asked for this date because my husband and I celebrate 38 years of marriage today. Serendipity that understanding is a key word for today. How can we work together as a loving church community to grow our understanding of God with the goal of growing our hope?  Let’s work together to help understand God in our lives, grow our hope and restore our souls. 

Linda Foster

Thursday, March 05, 2020

Esther (Apocrypha) 14:1–6,12–14

Gospel: Matthew 7:7–12

Psalm 138

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”  Matthew 7:7-12

This passage always reminds me of working at the bag lunch program at the Advent years ago. One of the volunteers shared a problem with the Canon. The volunteer wrestled with giving money to a homeless person. “If that person takes that dollar and buys cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs, I can’t do it.”  The Canon simply replied, “If a brother needs a dollar and you can help give.”

It’s not our business where that dollar goes. At some point, we all are in need. God gave us the most precious gift. Sometimes, we let light shine to be a beacon in the dark and sometimes we are in need. As we travel through this Season of Lent, kindle the flame in your heart. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

God’s peace,

Scott Martin