Friday, February 15

Deuteronomy 7:12-16

Psalms 31, 35, 95

Titus 2:1-15

John 1:35-42

In today’s gospel reading, John tells of how John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Messiah.  I have to believe his excitement was palatable.  This man, Jesus, was the manifestation of his entire ministry.  “Look, the Lamb of God.”  What an incredible declaration.  John the Baptist wanted not only his friends to know who this was, he wanted everyone, present and future, to know who he was.  And, he wanted us to follow him.  Those first disciples even called him, “Rabbi, which means teacher.”  They knew right off that Jesus had come to teach them something incredibly important.

In Paul’s letter to Titus, he is instructing Titus on what to teach the people of Crete.  Paul specifically lists older women, (my favorite part), older men, younger men and younger women and how they should act, and, most importantly, how they should act towards one another.

Jesus is still trying to teach us.  He wants us to follow his example.  Be good to one another and also continually be willing to declare that, “He is the Messiah.”  Paul takes great pains to teach Titus that everyone is included.  None of us is off the hook.

Figuring out the details is always the hard part. 

But, that is what Lent is all about.

Thanks be to God,

Jennie Perry