Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Psalm 61, 62 

Jeremiah 2: 1-13 

Romans 1: 16-25 

John 4: 43-54

O God, you willed to redeem us from all iniquity by your Son: Deliver us when we are tempted to regard sin without abhorrence, and let the virtue of his passion come between us and our mortal enemy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Psalmist writes in Psalm 62, "For God alone my soul in silence waits." This line opens up the yearning for God that we feel deep in our hearts. There is an element of time and quiet that is absolute and undisturbed despite all that goes on in the world. Have you ever thought about what your soul is doing right now? Is your soul waiting? Not just the body for the resurrection. Not just the mind, or the heart or all the questions that are waiting for answers from the only one who knows. The soul waits. In silence. Because nothing else is good enough to comfort the soul when it wants God. We may be able to distract our minds, our bodies, and our hearts. But our souls know. They wait, in silence, for God. Because God is where our hope is founded. Even the sibilance of the line feels open. The s's creating a soft space in which the soul in silence waits. For eternity it waits and it will not be shaken because it knows, with great conviction, that God is the foundation of all hope and love and joy. The yearning here goes beyond all time. It stretches time like workday afternoons. It is hard work, all the waiting. We have a hard time waiting through all of Lent for Easter. Yet, we only learn how to hope while waiting.

The Reverend Elizabeth Yale 

Friday, February 27, 2015

Psalm 40, 54 

Deuteronomy 10: 12-22 

Hebrews 4: 11-16

John 3: 22-36

As I write this, our Holy Spirit family is in the midst of tragedy. It’s hard to concentrate, hard to focus and hard to write thoughtful words. As I read the scripture from today’s assignment, I am reminded of God’s simple promises. It’s the stone that David refers to in Psalm 40:2, “(He) set my feet upon a rock”, that I’m clinging to. In my uncertainty about worldly circumstance, it’s good to know certain truths on which I can stand. It brings to mind the words and hand motions to the children’s song “The wise man built his house upon the rock”, in which you pound your one fist into the flat palm of the other. It’s with that hand-pounding urgency that I recall certain truths of which I am certain...

God is love, the great I AM and Jesus loves me (“this I know”).

He so loved the world that he sent his only son to die for us.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. His love transcends time.

God forgives...“forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others” and will cast our sins as far as the      east is from the west.

His mercies are new every morning.

God hears our prayers and knows the longings of our heart. God has plans for us.

God promises everlasting life to all who believe.

We are Easter people, living on this side of the empty tomb imagining new life for friends we’ve lost on the other side of those light-filled heavenly gates. It’s faith that we are left with in the “in between”. For these truths, I am grateful, for they help me regain my footing on that solid rock of Jesus.

Melissa Peter 

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Psalm 50, 59, 60 

Deuteronomy 9: 23– 10:5 

Hebrews 4: 1-10

John 3: 16-21

Strengthen us, O Lord, by your grace, that in your might we may overcome all spiritual enemies, and with pure hearts serve you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The forty years in the desert for the Israelites. The forty days Jesus spent being tempted in the wilderness. No matter what time measurement we give, forty is simply a long time. Moses lays prostrate, face to the ground for forty days, praying to God to save the Israelites rather than destroy them in anger. Forty days with his face in the dirt on top of a mountain praying? Moses shows how much he cares for the people. We spend forty days in Lent, traveling through the spiritual wildernesses of fasting, praying, grieving, and reading. Such travels, either literally or figuratively, wear on us. Who doesn’t get grumpy or doubtful after a long time in the wilderness? Yet Moses prays for God to save us in our wildernesses. Jesus also prays for us in this wilderness. Maybe today, we can pray for our own and other’s journeys through the wilderness and the steadfastness of faith to come in strength to salvation.

The Reverend Elizabeth Yale 

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Psalm 119: 49-72 

Deuteronomy 9: 13-21 

Hebrews 3: 12-19 

John 2: 23– 3:15

In John 3:5-7, we hear Jesus tell the Pharisee Nicodemus, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” Nicodemus takes what Jesus says literally and it does not make sense to him. Jesus reiterates, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” (NIV)

I believe all human beings yearn for a spiritual connection to something greater than themselves, whether they realize it or not. This human longing crosses all cultures and exists without regard for any particular religious affiliation (or lack thereof). For Christians, religious observances guide us in our spiritual journey, but so often we miss the point. We sometimes get so preoccupied with going through the motions of our rituals, especially during a season such as Lent, that we forget the reason we are engaging in the practice in the first place.

Jesus talks about being born again, about allowing the Holy Spirit to give new birth to our spiritual selves. This can happen if one is open to it. I’m not talking about being “born again” in the sense that we have achieved some goal or have had some specific revelation and then we’re done. To me it’s a continuous, life-long process through which we are open to the Holy Spirit in all aspects of our lives at every given moment. It is a state of awareness that ebbs and flows. As Jesus says, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8, NIV)

Evelyn Snow 

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Psalm 45 

Deuteronomy 9: 4-12 

Hebrews 3: 1-11 

John 2: 13-22

In today's readings we see Jesus cleaning the temple. As a child this story both scared and excited me. Jesus was described as making a whip of cords, driving "them" out of the temple, pouring out coins and overturning tables. This certainly wasn't the Jesus my Sunday School teachers wanted me to model my life after, was it? It scared me to think that adults wanted me to follow someone who could "lose it" in public, and then go back to Jesus meek and mild. It was all a bit confusing.

But have you ever tried to herd cattle and sheep? There is a lot of arm waving and prodding that looks crazy from the sidelines - it's when you are in the pen that things like oversize gestures and loud voices make sense.

I can see that Jesus was making way for TRUTH. The whip he brandished to drive "them" out most likely referred to moving sheep and cattle, not people. (I think as a child I thought Jesus got a little crazy and hit people - but it doesn't really say that, does it?) Sheep and cattle can be re-gathered. Coins can be picked up and tables set right again. But if God's people didn't clear out their temples and make room for TRUTH... then what?

I think Jesus was saying, "You've got to make way for the Lamb of God, and I AM that lamb! Make room in your hearts, that sacred space, your temple."

The question is, do you think Jesus is telling the Girl Scouts to get out of the parish hall with their cookies (which by the way, I don't think is the point of this story) or is he asking each of us to make space for his TRUTH to abide in our hearts?

Kari Ann Lessner 

Monday, February 23, 2015

Psalm 41, 52 

Deuteronomy 8: 11-18 

Hebrews 2: 11-18 

John 2: 1-12

Deut 8:17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

I remember Fr. Israel saying that churches were always full when people were in need or in trouble, people resetting their relationships with God. When we are not in need, do we forget that it is God who got us to that point? We should, as the verse says, remember that it is God who give us our gifts and thank Him.

And why don’t we? Do we have too much so that we don’t have time to list it all out for God? Do we think we will bother God with our constant thanks? Or do we truly believe that we created our own gifts and wealth?

Lent is a time to reset our relationship with God, to acknowledge and accept the gifts He has given us, to use those gifts to His purpose, and to thank Him at least as often as we request additional things from Him.

Mary DiFiore Crowe 

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Psalm 63, 98 

Deuteronomy 8: 1-10 

1 Corinthians 1: 17-31 

Mark 2: 18-22

The Old Testament readings for today are filled with references to praising the Lord--with lips, with song, with mouth, with a “new song.”

That means the promise to “lift up my hands and call on your name” (Psalm 63:4) and to “break forth into joyous song and sing praises” (Psalm 98:4) has been taken care of in our worship service, right? Well, read on...

               Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 

                     the world and those who live in it.

               Let the floods clap their hands;

                    let the hills sing together for joy

               at the presence of the Lord, (Psalm 98:7-8)

The whole world is sounding the Lord’s presence! The Big Show of praise and joy is breaking out of the tent and heading on the road. The New Testament readings confirm that the old order has been turned on its head by none other than Jesus Christ. This is, after all, a “new song.”

And it’s not about us and our personal development. Self-righteousness and hypocritical piety (see Pharisees) are perishable. Privilege and power are useless. Paul tells us:

God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.....Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:27-29, 31)

In the Gospel reading for today, Jesus says “one puts new wine into fresh wine- skins.” (Mark 2:22),--again, an emphasis on new.

There are plenty of other “takeaways” from today’s readings, but I’m going to concentrate on just one: renewal. Self-promotion, self-satisfaction: out. Singing to the Lord a new song: in. So, what new way will you “boast in the Lord” today?

Treanor Baring 

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Psalm 30, 32 

Deuteronomy 7: 17-26 

Titus 3: 1-15

John 1: 43-51

“Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man.” - John 1:51

Lent is a time of looking at our daily lives and searching beyond our circumstances for the ultimate truth of God’s presence. We move through Lent in hopes of finding a way to see sin for what it is in ourselves, our lives, and the world around us. In seeing clearly and honestly we can name it for what it is. There is power in such honesty and the result of such powerful honesty is a clarity of what lies beyond the limitations of our broken world.

When Jesus spoke these words to Nathaniel, he had already accepted the call to follow Jesus. They had already proclaimed him the son of God and the king of Israel. Yet, Jesus still wanted to make sure that they knew that there was a deeper truth that they had entered into.

Friends, we are on the path. This Lenten journey is a chance for us to be honest about who we are so that we can know that we need Jesus. And that honesty allows us to know that there is something greater, something more amazing. We have Jesus who has died for our sin. Very truly I tell you, at Easter we will proclaim that heaven has been opened and death has been defeated because of the love of our God.

The Reverend Joshua Condon 

Friday, February 20, 2015

Psalm 95, 31 

Deuteronomy 7: 12-16 

Titus 2: 1-15

John 1: 35-42

Support us, O Lord, with your gracious favor through the fast we have begun; that as we observe it by bodily self-denial, so we may fulfill it with inner sincerity of heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I marvel at the inner knowledge of the disciples in the Gospel passage for today. They know. “We have found the Messiah.” They are so sure. “We have found the Messiah.” Some of the disciples have questions about Jesus’s identity later on, but we cannot deny them at this moment. John says, “Here is the Lamb of God.” And they believe. Later, when Jesus questions them about who they think he is, they try to defer to what others say. How often are we swayed by what other people say? We take the opportunities to follow what other people think and not our own hearts. Lent is a good time to stop and examine why we do some of our habits. Do we do this for our own motivations or because other people think it is a good idea? The passage from Deuteronomy reminds us of all the blessings that God promises the people of Israel if they follow his way. We pray for the inner sincerity of heart to be able to say for ourselves, “We have found the Messiah.”

The Reverend Elizabeth Yale 

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Psalm 37: 1-18 

Deuteronomy 7: 6-11 

Titus 1: 1-16

John 1:29-34

It wasn’t too many years ago that I really struggled with the Psalms. I found so many of them to be whiney and filled with pleas for God’s vengeance against enemies; often bloody vengeance. It made me wonder who my enemies were. I certainly couldn’t think of anyone I wanted death and destruction for.

I know the Psalms were a comfort to many and I wanted to search that out. Our Psalm today, #37, is certainly one of those. Its message of Godly wisdom is profound. The first words, “Do not fret” bring a sigh of relief for whatever may be troubling us.

Typically my bible of choice is one of the more traditional translations. My NIV study bible happens to be filled with highlighter markings and notes in the margin. Well I want you to see what I found when I read Psalm 37 in The Message, particularly the 4th verse.

                RSV, NIV and NASB: Delight yourself in the Lord
                                                     and he will give you his hearts desire.

               The Message: Keep company with God                                                                                                                                                                                   -                                     get in on the best.

I love that! This for me sums up all I yearn for in life and it is what I feel when I am in the company of this church family. We are at our best when we are in company with God, collectively and individually.

I highly recommend Psalm 37, in any version.

Jennie Perry 

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Psalm 95, 32, 143 

Jonah 3: 1-4:11 

Hebrews 12: 1-14 

Luke 18: 9-14

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you’...When God saw...how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened...But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry.” Jonah 3:1-2, 10; 4:1

Many years ago my brother gave me a beautiful blown glass whale, just a little thing about three inches long, with a little tiny Jonah in it. To be honest, it escapes me what was going on in my life at the time that made the gift appropriate but it was undoubtedly a justified reminder that perhaps something was out of balance in my life; certainly not the first time, or the last...

The Jonah reading for this day, beginning at Ch. 3:1 to the end of the book, 4:11, focuses on Jonah’s reluctant obedience to prophesize to the Ninevites after his “time out” in the belly of the whale, and then his subsequent and rather perplexing anger with God because they believed him and changed their ways! Jonah was angry with God because the Ninevites were enemies of Isra- el, and why was God concerned with Gentiles...and animals?! Do we sometimes get angry when we feel that God is not responding the way we feel He should, or it feels like God has turned His back on us? This OT story is not just another example of foreshadowing for Jesus’ coming, but a message to us that God’s concern is for all of His children (and animals!), where ever they may be.

May we all have a Holy Lent!

Vicki Cravens