Wednesday, March 13

Jeremiah 18:1-11

Psalms 101, 109, 119:121-144

Romans 8:1-11

John 6:27-40

Psalm 101 of David

I will sing of your love and justice

To you, O Lord, I will sing praise

I will be careful to lead a blameless life

When will you come to me?

I will walk in my house with a blameless heart

I will set before my eyes, no vile thing

A blameless life?  How difficult is that?  In the time of David with wars and trials and tribulations, life was very complicated. Territories were fought over and claimed mainly through bloodshed.  The righteous life was just forming.

This psalm emphasizes the need for integrity in our lives.  To take personal responsibility for our own actions.

We are living in a culture where personal responsibility is disappearing. Everything is someone else's fault.  People complain about everything, from taxes to traffic.  Lawsuits are commonplace.  Many continue to blame others for their own weaknesses.  Do you?

So how can we live a blameless life and keep evil at a distance, as God demands?  I think it's not easy.  But with prayer and a clear focus on the really important things in life, like God and family, we can achieve it.

"Walk in my house with a blameless heart" is possible. We just have to try....

Prayerfully submitted,

Pat McDowell

Tuesday, March 12

Jeremiah 17:19-27
Psalms 94, 95, 97, 99, 100
Romans 7:13-25
John 6:16-27  

Another stop on our visit, on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, was Capernaum, said to be the home of Peter, where an ancient church site marks the spot.  John tells us that the disciples, heading to Capernaum from Tiberias, were rowing in the dark across the sea (really a lake about 8 miles wide, often with big squalls).  When they were about half way across, a storm came up, the sea rose and a strong wind blew.  Then the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, coming near to their boat.  Of course, they were afraid, but Jesus told them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”  They were then reassured and were glad, taking Jesus into their boat.

Here we see Jesus mastering the forces of nature.  The disciples had never seen anyone walking on water – naturally they’re afraid – plus the storm was great and that must have added to the fear.  It’s the same when we’re afraid – when we face uncertainly, pain, or any sort of trouble in our lives.  Jesus is as near to us as he was to the disciples on the dark, stormy sea.  We have only to let him into our boat, our lives, so that we can feel the calmness that His nearness brings.

Elizabeth and Ian Bremner

Monday, March 11

Jeremiah 16:10-21

Psalm 89

Romans 7:1-12

John 6:1-15

Several years ago, we visited Tiberias on the western shore of Galilee, which is the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes, recounted in John’s story.  John related that on the Jewish feast of Passover, 5,000 hungry people gathered.  Then Jesus took 5 loaves of barley bread and two fish, gave thanks, and distributed them to the people.  John says that “When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!’”  Of course, the Jews were expecting a Messiah, but Jesus knew that he was not to be an earthly king.

Jesus clearly shows his power in this miracle.  The Jews outwardly acknowledge him, yet don’t understand what kind of king he really is or what kind of power he really stands for.  It’s interesting how we too can outwardly acknowledge Jesus, but we can inwardly turn away from who he really is.

In Jesus’ love for the people that he fed, we can see our love for us – something to remember when we feel alone or in need.  His love is always there for us.

Elizabeth and Ian Bremner

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Sunday, March 10

Jeremiah 14:1-9, 17-22

Psalms 19, 46, 66, 67

Galatians 4:21-5:1

Mark 8:11-21

 Mark 8:11-21

People haven’t changed much in 2000 years.  When I read Mark 8:11-21, I can picture Jesus as he “sighed deeply” and once again tried to explain his teachings to people who just didn’t get it.  First we find him dealing with the Pharisees, clever lot that they are, who are badgering him for a sign from heaven, another miracle.  Jesus refuses saying, “Why does this generation ask for a sign?”  Can’t you just hear him saying that to us today?  He then gets into a boat with his disciples, the trusted followers who have supported him every step of his ministry.  And what are they concerned about at this moment?  They are quarreling amongst themselves trying to figure out which one of them forgot to bring enough bread for the group to eat.  Jesus promises them the bread of eternal life, and they can’t see past their next meal.  Jesus reminds them that there has always been enough bread to go around.  He even gives concrete examples of past miracles he has performed illustrating this fact and asks, “Do you still not understand?”  They did not and neither do we.

Fasting during Lent was something that was taken very seriously when I was a child.  In my childlike mind, denying oneself food in order to actually feel that hungry feeling seemed important.  Giving up food you loved, like chocolate, made it all the more meaningful.  It felt like a real sacrifice.  As I got older, I recognized the parallels between physical hunger and spiritual hunger, a hunger only God can satisfy.

Often when we’re hungry, physically or spiritually, we reach for things that are not healthy.  Jesus understands this all too well.  In Mark 8, he warns his disciples to be careful about the contaminating yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.  Of course, they miss the point again.  They’re still too busy bickering over whom to blame for forgetting that extra bread.

In 1 Corinthians 5:8-9, Paul also reminds us, “Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch — as you really are.  For Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.  Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (NIV)

Evelyn Snow

Saturday, March 9

Jeremiah 13:1-11

Psalms 87, 90, 136

Romans 6:12-23

John 8:47-59

“We’ve got some diem to carpe!” is one of my favorite lines from a children’s movie called, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.”  I love the twisting around of the aphorism, which we typically translate as “Seize the day!”  Our one precious life on this earth is so short, and when taking seriously the path of a Christian, it is even more cherished.

I paused to read through the thirty to forty scriptures selected for the day’s reading, and perhaps it is the educator in me, the years of note taking and lesson planning to break things down in parts, but I learn from seeing them in a culminating poem:

You may choose to refuse to listen

Do what your stubborn heart wants

Chase after other gods

And worse yet, serve and worship them

Useless

~

Pray as Moses:

“Make us glad for as many days as you have made us suffer, give us joy

for as many years as we’ve had trouble.  Show us mighty acts.”

All blessings come from Zion

His faithful love continues forever

A slave to right living is being holy

The reason you may not hear is that you do not belong to God

Everyone who belongs to God hears what God says

As Head of Holy Spirit Episcopal School, I watch children grow before my very eyes.  Too often, they see us making choices to get involved in things that are unimportant—things that take our mind off of God.  Dysfunction and breakdowns in communication lead to mistrust.  Our way to truly “belong” is to meet the challenge of listening, opening up our hearts and focusing on doing what is right in His eyes.  In this very moment in time, while our young ones are watching us, join me in shouting, “Let our children see His glorious power!”

Lori A. Preston

Head of School, Holy Spirit Episcopal School