The Trail Ends At The Empty Tomb
Lenten Meditations
Written by members of the Parish Family of
Christ Episcopal
Church,
http://www.christchurchslidell.com/
2008
Copyright 2007, all rights reserved
Telephone:
(985) 643-4531
http://www.christchurchslidell.com/
The Sunday of the Passion:
Palm Sunday, March 16th
8:00
am – The Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Eucharist *
10:30
am – The Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Eucharist *
Monday in Holy Week, March 17th
5:30
pm – Evening Prayer
Tuesday in Holy Week, March
18th
5:30
pm – Evening Prayer
Wednesday in Holy Week, March
19th
5:30
pm – Holy Eucharist
Maundy Thursday, March 20th
6:00
pm – Holy Eucharist w/ Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar
Good Friday, March 21st
12:00
pm – Stations of the Cross
6:00
pm – Mass of the Presanctified w/ Veneration of the Cross
Holy Saturday / Easter Eve, March
22nd
8:00
pm – The Great Vigil of Easter & the Easter Feast *
Easter Sunday, March 23rd
10:00
am – Festal Eucharist *
* Nursery available at these services
A Note from the Editor
Grace and peace in the power of
the Holy Spirit. For many years, Holy
Spirit Episcopal Church in
The best research I have shows
this series of books started at St. Christopher’s in
Inside, you will find those members who were brave enough to share their thoughts about the lessons for the day. Most take a verse or two out of one lesson but occasionally an author will take on the challenge of tying multiple lessons together. Each is special in its own way. After all, the goal is to bring us closer to Jesus.
The first page of each week has simple instructions for each day that week. Each day, read the collect for the week before turning to the current day’s page. Close with the Lord’s Prayer.
Gapitpoths,
J. Wesley McComb
Acknowledments:
The Biblical references use the New Revised Standard Version unless otherwise stated.
Ash Wednesday Week Instructions
Say the following
collect:
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCP, page 217.
Turn to the page for
today.
Read the Old Testament
lesson.
Read the morning
Psalms.
Read the Epistle.
Read the evening
Psalms.
Read the Gospel.
Read the Meditation.
Say the Lord’s Prayer.
Ash Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Amos 5:6-15; Hebrews
12:1-14; Luke 18:9-14
Psalms: Morning 95, 32, 143; Evening 102, 130
I never have been good at Lent. I do not give up things very well. I did give up listening to the radio in my car but took several Lents before I reached this point. While I may not have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina, I do know what it is like to lose a home, financial security, and even miss a meal because I had no way to get food.
I prefer to add things during Lent. Last year was one of my better years as I read 3 different Lenten Meditation books every day. Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets taught fans that Moslems pray 5 times a day so I tried to pray at least 5 times a day. Yes, I know we are suppose to “pray without ceasing” (1st Thessalonians 5:17 KJV) but I had a set of 5 different prayers plus the ones I said for meals. If a Moslem can do it, so can I. Indeed the tax collector in the gospel provides the opening for most of my prayers: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13e)
One Lent, I researched the Star of Bethlehem after seeing a show citing it as the triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the constellation Pisces throughout the year we call 7BC. A co-worker gave me some software that illustrated how the stars and planets were configured that year. The first conjunction was on May 27th when shepherds would indeed have been “keeping watch over their flocks by night” (Luke 2:8b KJV). The most incredible discovery was to find the third conjunction occurring in the southwestern sky near the horizon in the early evening on December 25th. That Lent, I kept hearing “Where is he who is born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2a KJV).
As I sit here, I cannot tell you what I will do for Lent this year. I know my sons found keeping their Lenten commitments easier when I told them Sundays are not counted in the 40 days of Lent because they are days of celebration. Still, I truly enjoy creating a journey during Lent. Where are you going for Lent?
Wes McComb
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Habakkuk 3:1-18; Philippians.
3:12-21; John 17:1-8
Psalms: Morning 37:1-18; Evening 37:19-42
Philippians 3:12-21 is an especially encouraging passage for me because of a number of reasons. Firstly, it helps me to understand that each of us is yet to be made perfect, no matter how old or what stage of life we are in. Even the great evangelist Paul stated that he had not attained perfection and had to continually strive for the same, even as the end of his life was approaching. Wow, that means that each of us has hope, no matter what problems or faults we now possess. Secondly, Paul tells us to put the past behind us and strive for the goal that is in front of us. While we should learn from past mistakes, we should never let the past hold us back from what God wants us to be, the best version of ourselves. Paul further states that all mature Christians should take the same view.
Larry deQuay
Friday, February 8, 2008
Ezekiel
18:1-4,25-32; Philippians. 4:1-9; John 17:9-19
Psalms: Morning 31; Evening 35
Terrorists!
Floods!
Fires!
Crime!
Plagues!
Woe! Woe! Woe!
But…
Doctors.
Policemen.
Firefighters.
The Red Cross.
Peacekeepers.
Whatever things are
True,
Noble,
Just,
Pure,
Lovely,
Of good report,
Virtuous or praiseworthy-
Meditate on these things.
Linda Mejias
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Ezekiel 39:21-29; Philippians.
4:10-20; John 17:20-26
Psalms: Morning 30, 32; Evening 42, 43
Until I was in my forties, I had never had a serious illness requiring hospitalization. In that I think I am probably like the majority of people who sail through their early-to-mid-adult life only going to the hospital in the case of accidents or (for us women) to have babies. We develop the idea that nothing of consequence will happen to our health; even as family members and friends become ill, it can’t happen to us.
Then one day the doctor looks at an x-ray or a test result and says, “You’re going to have to be admitted to the hospital.” And we are faced with the reality that we are frail, susceptible, and—gasp!—mortal.
When I was hospitalized a couple of years ago, I found Psalm 30 (among many other Biblical passages) to be very comforting. After surgery, when the doctor told me the tests were negative, I expressed my thankfulness using the words of the Psalm’s second verse:
O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
Psalm 30:2, KJV
Will there be other illnesses? Of course. Will they always have as happy an outcome? Probably not. Will I always have the comfort and security of God’s love and God’s word to support me? Of that, there is never a doubt!
Deborah Pfeifer
Lent Week 1 Instructions
Say the following
collect:
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. BCP, page 218.
Turn to the page for
today.
Read the Old Testament
lesson.
Read the morning Psalms.
Read the Epistle.
Read the evening
Psalms.
Read the Gospel.
Read the Meditation.
Say the Lord’s Prayer.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Daniel 9:3-10; Hebrews
2:10-18; John 12:44-50;
Psalms: Morning 63, 98; Evening 103
“Then I turned to the Lord God,
to seek an answer by prayer and supplication
with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.”
Daniel 9:3
Sometimes the greatest danger to our faithfulness is the very familiarity of the Good News. Jesus has bought us back from our sins, so that we are sons and daughters, his heirs -- equals but for a bit of seniority. In this season of Lent, it is appropriate that we remember that by our own means, we are unthinkably smaller than God -- it is only by his will that we came to be and continue to be.
Remember this, not to be crushed by the futility of our insignificance, but to be buoyed up by the incredible love and trust that the Almighty God has shown us. Repent not only from the sins you have committed; but turn also from ingratitude Do not place this priceless gift on a shelf, but wear it close to your heart, treasure it, share it with others. Express your gratitude by proclaiming His News, and doing His works.
Gus Michel
Monday, February 11, 2008
Genesis 37:1-11; 1st
Corinthians 1:1-19; Mark 1:1-13
Psalms: Morning 41, 52; Evening 44
In 1st Corinthians 1 we are reminded that there are times when disagreements happen in the church. There are times when certain leaders disagree, and quarrel with one another. Nevertheless Paul says, how can any of us divide the body of Christ? The body of Christ is one. We are all of one Lord, one faith, and one Baptism. There are issues in the church today that hold the potential threat to damage the church's unity. However, we must remember that Christ is the head of his body. No person can truly break the body of Christ apart. Even with all these different denominational churches, the body of Christ is still one. Father Brian was saying in sermon one morning how different denominations worship God differently. Despite their difference in denomination they all have one thing in common. They are worshipping God and reaching out to him.
In the Episcopal Church we worship God in the ancient style of liturgy. We read and reflect on scripture, we sing hymns, and we receive our spiritual food and drink in the Eucharist. Despite this, we are truly bonded with the brothers and sisters in other churches. No person can break the body of Christ apart, despite our disagreements. I thank God, that all it truly knows to know him, is to reach out to him through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Joseph Crowe
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Genesis 37:12-24; 1st
Corinthians 1:20-31; Mark 1:14-28
Psalms: Morning 45; Evening 47, 48
“Follow me and I will make you fish for
people.”
Mark 1:17b
The fact that immediately the brothers left their livelihood and families to follow Jesus has always been astounding to me. This particular story has always made me brood over my own faith and makes me question could I do the same?
I have seen this kind of faith on the face of only one person in my life. During an Easter service several years ago a woman sat behind me. I turned to acknowledge her and she leaned forward touching my shoulder and with sheer joy on her face and said “isn't it exciting?” I said “yes” not really understanding her meaning. During the service I puzzled over what she had said and her obvious joyful demeanor during such a solemn service. I began to realize that her joy came from the knowledge that Jesus rose from the dead for her and for all of us. That He was not dead. I was moved and still am moved by her honest and sincere demonstration of faith. I aspire to have and feel that kind of faith that same faith that moved the fishermen brothers to leave their homes and follow Jesus without hesitation.
Aldie Jacobs
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Genesis 37:25-36; 1st
Corinthians 2:1-13; Mark 1:29-45
Psalms: Morning 119:49-72; Evening 49, 53
When I was in college there was a popular bit of graffiti which read:
“God is dead.” –Nietzsche
“Nietzsche is dead.” –God
(This may give you an idea of how long ago I was in college!) But when I finally read some of Nietzsche’s work, I discovered that, contrary to the tone of that piece of graffiti, Nietzsche did not write “God is dead” in an admiring or positive way. In fact, Nietzsche deplored what he saw as a world that felt it did not need God. He said that a society without God has no way to assuage its guilt or to perform acts of true contrition and penance. Therefore guilt continual builds up with no way of being expunged and forgiven. He predicted that the 20th and 21st centuries would be ones of unimaginable bloodshed and carnage, in part because of this lack of belief in a way that allows for forgiveness and a release of guilt. Sadly, he was right about the carnage—whatever its underlying cause.
Of course, what it took Nietzsche several books to explain is neatly summed in only one sentence in Psalm 53 of today’s reading: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” (Psalm 53:1, KJV.) It is beyond foolish to think we have no need of God. It is also comforting beyond measure to know that regardless of what we think, God is there ready to comfort us, support us, forgive us, and love us. Like Nietzsche, all of us will one day be dead, but in the love of God and the sacrifice of his only son, we can live forever.
Deborah Pfeifer
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Genesis 39:1-23; 1st
Corinthians 2:14-3:15; Mark 2:1-12
Psalms: Morning 50; Evening 59, 60, 19, 46
Let the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord,
my rock and my redeemer.
Psalms 19:14
You would think a meditation for Valentine’s Day would be easy. After all, my Mother and Dad celebrated 46 weddings anniversaries before Dad died. Within our parish, a number of couples have celebrated more years of marriage than theirs. I look around and see widows who, even now, truly cherish their late husbands. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee,” I am truly envious.
Both of my grandmothers were born on May 27th. Nancy and I married on May 27th because it was a date I would never forget. For years, my wife joked about “renewing” my contract for another year. Ironically, my divorce was finalized exactly one week after my 25th wedding anniversary.
My maternal grandmother, Mom, lived next door to me until the day she died. I always assumed her husband had died because my other grandfather had died before I was born. Imagine my surprise while filling out the death certificate my mother said Mom was divorced. Mom lived in an age when divorce was frowned on but was necessary for her given my grandfather’s tendency to drink and gamble—so the story goes.
Last year, I told Father Brian I was willing to teach all but one of the sacraments for Growing in Grace. That, of course, was the sacrament of marriage. According to the Pastoral letters of Paul to Timothy and Titus, leaders should be beyond reproach and I clearly did not have the example of marriage I wanted others to follow.
Imagine my dismay to find the heartbreaking mess with Joseph in our Genesis lesson for today. Joseph is caught between his ethics and his livelihood. If he commits adultery, the wife might keep quiet until they are caught. As we see, maintaining his ethics had a price as well but the Father took care of Joseph in the end. Where do you draw the line?
Gapitpoths,
Wes McComb
Friday, February 15, 2008
Genesis 40:1-23; 1st
Corinthians 3:16-23; Mark 2:13-22
Psalms: Morning 40, 54; Evening 51
“And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus
sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him,
‘Follow me’. And he rose and followed him.”
Mark 2:14 (ESV)
Matthew (Levi) was a hated man. Even today, we do not like tax collectors very much, but it isn’t the people themselves … it is the agency that we do not like. But in Jesus’ day, they were hated and considered unclean and dishonest. You see, they not only collected the taxes, but they also got as much as they could over and above. That was their compensation.
It seems odd to us that Jesus would call such a man to follow Him, doesn’t it? Why would He? The Pharisees or Sadducees would never have had anything to do with a tax collector. But Jesus seemed to have a knack for finding the people who needed Him the most and those were the ones He called. When we look at times in the Bible when people were called to follow, it was usually the most unlikely people. I think today Jesus still calls the most unlikely. I certainly never imagined myself working in an inner city ministry.
And, look what happened with Matthew. Whether Matthew wrote his story or if someone else wrote it in his name, it is still the gospel according to Matthew. What would have happened if he had not answered the way he did? Just think what the Lord could do in our lives if we just listen and follow!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Genesis 41:1-13; 1st
Corinthians 4:1-7; Mark 2:23-3:6
Psalms: Morning 55; Evening 138, 139
"I
remember my faults today"
Genesis 41:9
Repent, and trust in God to redeem you from the pawn shop of sin to which you have hocked yourself. The cupbearer's offense is not revealed in the scripture, but it is of note that Pharaoh’s baker gave the same offense, for which he was hanged; apart from their dreams, there is no reason given why one was spared and the other given to death. The cupbearer has been saved by undeserved grace, and only two years later does he recall and bear the witness he has promised. It has been nearly two THOUSAND years since the world has been saved, and, in most cases, practically our whole lives since we have individually been saved. Is it not high time that we give thanks and bear witness that we have been spared judgment? Proclaim the good news to all who may listen! Yes, avoid being the randomly clanging bell or daily wailing alarm that people come to ignore in time, but don't fail to sound off when the time is right. Never in my life have there been two whole years when I have not had opportunity to bear witness to grace, but there have been several when I have ignored the call. God, grant me the strength and the words to speak when the time is right.
Gus Michel
Lent Week 2 Instructions
Say the following
collect:
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCP, page 218.
Turn to the page for
today.
Read the Old Testament
lesson.
Read the morning
Psalms.
Read the Epistle.
Read the evening
Psalms.
Read the Gospel.
Read the Meditation.
Say the Lord’s Prayer.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Genesis 41:14-45; Romans
6:3-14; John 5:19-24
Psalms: Morning 24, 29; Evening 8, 84
“Take up the fifth part of the
in the seven plenteous years.”
Genesis 41:34 (KJV)
My parents were children of the
blitz of
To my parents, and those of their generation, the action advocated by Joseph in today’s Old Testament reading is simple common sense: Of course you should save when times are good...bad times may be just around the corner. I worry that my own “Baby Boomer” generation, and those who have followed, have failed to heed this important message. We spend every available penny, use every available resource, charge our credit cards to the max—buying ever larger houses, wider TV screens, bigger vehicles. Where will it end? What will sustain us when the lean years arrive?
“Famine” generally means lack of food, but it could also mean lack of resources, lack of funds, or lack of spiritual support. Are we storing up our faith, our belief, and our trust in God during these “plenteous years”? Will we be ready when lack—of whatever variety—comes to us?
In today’s reading, Joseph is interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, but the advice he gives is of great value to all of us. The Bible not only gives us spiritual sustenance but the practical advice we need to make our way in a world that is full of uncertainty. Are we listening? Lent is a good place to start storing up for the difficult times ahead.
Deborah Pfeifer
Monday, February 18, 2008
Genesis 41:46-57; 1st
Corinthians 4:8-21; Mark 3:7-19a
Psalms: Morning 56, 57, 58; Evening 64, 65
Moreover, all the world came to Joseph in
Genesis 41:57
“Build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door.” In my college marketing class, we talked about the guy who actually built a better mouse trap before going bankrupt. The mouse entered the enclosed trap to meet his fate. Testing showed it lured mice better than spring traps with better success. Consumers were supposed to throw the trapped mouse away but people found it hard to throw away the shiny black plastic trap. The man simply did not understand people like shiny things.
Joseph had
a clear understanding of what needed to be done.
When ships
began to sail around the world, one brought rabbits to
“Give us this day our daily bread”. Sound familiar? Most Americans do not have a clue as to what
a real famine is like. They simply do
not understand people all over the world will go to bed hungry tonight because
they simply cannot get food. With over 6
billion people in this world, at what point do we become the rabbits of
Today is my
54th birthday. I tip my hat
to
Wes McComb
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Genesis 42:1-17; 1st
Corinthians 5:1-8; Mark 3:19b-35;
Psalms: Morning 61, 62; Evening 68
I have found this passage in Mark to be troubling at times. It begins by saying that Jesus’ own people thought he had “taken leave of His senses”. I couldn’t understand the purpose of such a thing in scripture. But as I prayed and really thought about this, it became much clearer.
When we think about all of the things in people’s lives that are important, Jesus had pretty much walked away from them all. I think that today His family would think the same as then. Mostly back then, the sons learned their father’s trade and became a part of that. He left Joseph’s trade (carpentry) to become a wandering preacher. Most likely it was a good business or at least a “comfortable living”. So, basically, He left His earthly family’s security and totally depended on His heavenly Father to provide for Him
He also left safety behind. Being separated from family and a secure environment is one thing, but He was “bucking the system” so to speak. He was in direct conflict with the “powers of the day” and these were people who could make or break a person in Jewish life. That is rather like poking a stick in city officials’ eyes today. He did not care what society or the “powers of the day” thought. His only concern was doing God’s will.
There are times in our lives that people may think that we’ve lost our senses for trying to do God’s work. And, I admit that there are times I think that myself. But we can’t worry about it. We just have to keep praying to discern God’s will, because it is only God’s approval that matters.
Beth Gibson
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Genesis 42:18-28; 1st
Corinthians 5:9-6:8; Mark 4:1-20;
Psalms: Morning 72; Evening 119:73-96
“For he delivers the needy when they
call,
the poor and those who have no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
From oppression and violence he redeems their life;
and precious is their blood in his
sight.”
Psalm 72:12-14
A young boy—dirty, barefoot, and in only a pair of shorts—eating a filthy piece of fruit found in a landfill . . . homes built with cardboard, blankets, and scraps of metal and wood . . . children begging for money by beating sticks, topped with open milk jugs, against the rails of a bridge connecting the U.S. to Mexico. When I saw the extreme poverty of those living along the Tex-Mex border while on a mission trip, it gripped my heart.
That trip was seven years ago and I find it very easy to become so immersed in my own life that I can push these memories to the back of my mind. Jesus, however, never forgot the poor, needy, and helpless. He ate with them, prayed with them, and loved them unconditionally.
As we look to Christ as our example of ultimate self-sacrifice, how can we look outside of ourselves and give of ourselves to the weak, needy, and oppressed that are all around us? Think about it.
Rebecca Byers
Thursday,
February 21, 2008
Genesis 42:29-38; 1st
Corinthians 6:12-30; Mark 4:21-34;
Psalms: Morning 70, 71; Evening 74
Many years ago, I listened to a sermon which called each of us to become storytellers. He pointed out that Jesus was a master at telling parables. Christ hid the truth in plain sight for anyone who understood the parable but could easily have denied its meaning had he chosen to do so. The apocalyptic writings in the prophecies of the Old Testament and The Revelation To John in the New Testament are full of messages hidden in plain sight.
Throughout history, writers have found ways to take current events and reset them into a deniable environment. Many of the MASH television episodes took current Viet Nam War events and recast them into the Korean War. I once listened to Leonard Nimoy discuss how the original Star Trek television series also did this extensively. He actually took an article out of the local paper for that day and developed an entire story line around it. He explained what would happen if he took the thought out a ridiculous extreme and put it on a planet where this was the norm.
This book is full of just such stories. Many of our writers find something in the lessons that relates to their lives and expand the thought into a meditation. Early today, I had lunch with a friend where we discussed this. I explained how the Valentine meditation in this book took me three weeks to write but I wrote two others in a single day.
Going back to Mark, consider the discussion about the light. I remember an incident on Sabine Lake were the difference between being in a deep channel and running aground with the tide out was simply a matter of knowing how to use the range lights. At closing time last night, my son lost a plug where he works and could not find it in the dark but he found it immediately this morning with the sun shining into the shop. I can easily turn either of these into a full meditation. Do your stories shine light on who you are?
Gapitpoths,
Wes McComb
Friday, February 22, 2008
Genesis 43:1-15; 1st
Corinthians 7:1-9; Mark 4:35-41;
Psalms: Morning 70, 71; Evening 74
PEACE, BE STILL
I’m sitting at my desk looking out the window watching the rain fall and I’m reminded of the time our family was on vacation in the Ozarks and it started to rain while driving through the mountains. As a junior high student from the flat Mississippi Delta, I was afraid and began to say a brief, simple prayer asking God to make the rain stop. Before I could say “Amen”, the rain stopped! That was when I realized the power of prayer.
In today’s Gospel reading, the disciples were afraid and asked Jesus to calm the storm. After so doing, he admonished them, “Why are you frightened? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40b) The whole point of Christ’s birth, death, burial, and resurrection was to restore our faith. We must not be afraid of what life brings. We must exercise our faith daily even in simple little ways so as to weather the bigger storms of life without fear.
“May all who come to you be glad and joyful.
May all who are thankful for your salvation always say,
‘How great is God!’”
Psalms 70:4 (Good News Bible)
(Footnote: Before writing this, our cat Tiger was missing and I prayed for his safe return. Tiger came home just as I finished the devotional! What a wonderful God!)
Beverly Stubblefield
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Genesis 43:16-34; 1st
Corinthians 7:10-24; Mark 5:1-20
Psalms: Morning 75, 76; Evening 23, 27
“And he went away and began to proclaim”
Mark 5:20
As I move slowly into my new role
in the welcome quadrant of our mission statement, I find that Jesus’ calls to
evangelism speak to me more and more. I have my quirks and demons, though
I don’t think anyone would confuse me with the demoniac of Gerasenes, so I dug
a little further. This incident is the first time in Mark’s Gospel that
Jesus is on the “other side of the sea”.
The first four chapters of Mark take place entirely on the western side of the
Sea of Galilee (modern day
“And
now”, as Paul Harvey would say, “the
rest of the story:” when Jesus next crosses the
May we at
Gus Michel
Lent Week 3 Instructions
Say the following
collect:
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCP, page 218.
Turn to the page for
today.
Read the Old Testament
lesson.
Read the morning
Psalms.
Read the Epistle.
Read the evening
Psalms.
Read the Gospel.
Read the Meditation.
Say the Lord’s Prayer.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Genesis 44:1-17; Romans
8:1-10; John 5:25-29
Psalms: Morning 93, 96; Evening 34
Do you have peace in your life? In your walk with God? Or are you frustrated? Do you have peace with the people in your life? Or conflict?
Do you have a vision, a plan, or a ministry you believe you are called to? Do your plans seem to be thwarted by the people around you that just don’t see ‘the call on your life’ as you do? Try as you may you just can’t push forward your ministry and you don’t have the Peace of God.
Romans gives us a clue on what may be our problem. We’re in the flesh. We are desiring things of the flesh and not things of the Spirit.
“For to be carnally minded is death,
to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
Romans 8:6 NKJV
“So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Romans 8:8 NKJV
Are we miserable and making the people around us miserable and we are not pleasing to God? Or do we have life and peace and are pleasing to God? Let’s try our best to make Daddy smile and He will give us His life and peace.
Linda Mejias
Monday, February 25, 2008
Genesis 44:18-34; 1st
Corinthians 7:25-31; Mark 5:21-43
Psalms: Morning 80; Evening 77, 79
Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue,
“Do not fear, only believe.”
Mark 5:36b
The gospel reading today has 2 stories of healing and both tell us of Jesus’ miracles. Today we have a tendency to “explain away” healings as coincidences. But there are many healing miracles happening everyday. Why do we not see them? Maybe it is because we are too eager to find a logical explanation or maybe we are just too sophisticated to believe.
The first story tells of a synagogue leader whose daughter is near death and he comes to Jesus for help. First of all, he is a leader in the synagogue, which means he is highly respected member of the community and he had a lot to lose by even approaching Jesus. Yet he not only humbles himself by asking for help, he threw himself at Jesus’ feet. It took great faith and courage to do that. And Jesus told him, “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:36b) Often, we allow fear of what someone else will think to rule our behavior.
The second story, tucked in the middle of the first, tells of a woman whose condition made her (by law) unclean and was not to even come close to others. She risked punishment to just be in that crowd, much less to touch a rabbi. But Jesus didn’t rebuke her as many would have. He simply told her to “go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mark 5:36b)
I do believe that our Lord heals today as in Biblical times. I know of several people in the last couple of years who have either been used as instruments of the Lord’s healing or were themselves healed. So, I know that miracles are still happening today. We just have to open our hearts to be able to see the possibility. As our Lenten journey leads us to the empty tomb, let us all open our hearts to see His miracles.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Genesis 45:1-15; 1st
Corinthians 7:32-40; Mark 6:1-13
Psalms: Morning 78:1-39; Evening 78:40-72
LOST AND FOUND
“God sent me
before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by
a great deliverance.”
Genesis 45:7
Today's Old Testament reading of
Joseph's reunion with his brothers reminds me of the time I became separated
from my parents at Sears Department Store in
Joseph's story reminds me of how God
can use our "lost" condition to restore and preserve life. This Old Testament story parallel's the
coming of Christ to deliver us from spiritual impoverishment. As Joseph was sent ahead to prepare a place
in
Beverly Stubblefield
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Genesis 45:16-28; 1st
Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 6:13-29
Psalms: Morning 119:97-120; Evening 81, 82
In today’s gospel reading, Mark
employs a literary device beloved of mystery authors and
In twelve brief verses, Mark imparts the circumstances of the death. It’s a story made famous, and elaborated on, by the popular culture. We’ve all heard of Salome who performed the “Dance of the Seven Veils” for her step-father Herod and, as a promised reward, demanded the head of John the Baptist on a platter. The actual story isn’t quite as salacious as opera and movies have led us to believe—although the outcome is equally gory. Herod’s step-daughter (her name is not given) agrees to dance for him for his birthday. Whereupon he says, “Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee” (Mark 6:22, KJV). The step-daughter asks her mother what she wants, and it is Herod’s wife who demands the head of John the Baptist—because John has criticized her marriage to Herod as being unlawful.
Whatever else Herod was, he was pretty stupid for promising his step-daughter anything she wanted and for going through with that promise when it was obvious that what was being asked was immoral. How many times do we make promises (hopefully not of such an egregious nature) that we know we should not fulfill? How often do we pledge to do something and then wish we could snatch it back, realizing in hindsight that we’re going to do something we know to be wrong? Take a lesson from Herod: Don’t write checks that you know you can’t (or shouldn’t) cash!
Deborah Pfeifer
Thursday,
February 28, 2008
Genesis
46:1-7,28-34; 1st Corinthians 9:1-15; Mark 6:30-46
Psalms: Morning 83, 42, 43; Evening 85, 86
I have read the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand many times. It was a great story but to me it happened many years ago. I thought miracles only happened in the past.
As a child, I grew up going to church. When the church doors opened, my family was there. I was taught about Jesus but I really did not know Him.
I grew up,
married and had children. We moved to
One evening we were having dinner when several of our friends appeared at our front door. I had only prepared enough food for the five of us but we invited them to stay for dinner. Somehow the eleven of us ate and there was food left over. Was it a miracle? You must decide.
A friend of mine bought twelve baby chicks. I was with her when she returned home. I counted the chicks and there were indeed only twelve. The next day there were thirteen chicks. Was it a miracle? You must decide.
Several years ago, I needed surgery. I was given too many fluids during the procedure, went into cardiac arrest and suffered significant heart damage. Future tests revealed that my heart was ninety-nine percent healed. The doctor told my family and friends that my healing was a miracle because it was impossible for my heart to have healed spontaneously.
Jesus is still multiplying food, baby chicks, and healing hearts today in our lives. He is a here and now God that is yours for the asking.
Betty Tonkel
Friday, February 29, 2008
Genesis 47:1-26; 1st
Corinthians 9:16-27; Mark 6:47-56
Psalms: Morning 88; Evening 91, 92
Psalm 88 struck me as one of
despair. This reading is a cry for help
from someone who feels like there is no hope – no light at the end of the
tunnel – and no one on his side. I have
certainly felt this way at various times in my life as I am sure you have as
well. Probably the most desperate time
was after my divorce from my first husband.
I was left alone to care for
As I reflect on where I have been and look at where I am now with a wonderful, loving husband and three precious children, I know that God is with us and will always guide us to a better place.
Kathy Daigle
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Genesis 47:27-48:7;
1st Corinthians 10:1-13; Mark 7:1-23
Psalms: Morning 87, 90; Evening 136
Millions and Billions are really big numbers,
right? Did you know it would take 3 weeks
to count to a million and 50 years to count to a billion?
They are BIG numbers! Now think about
this: More than one million Earths could fit inside of
the sun. The sun is huge! But, even larger is Antares, a super sized
star, which could hold fifty
million
suns! Then there’s Our galaxy, the Milky
Way, which is made up of Antares and billions of other stars! And, biggest of
all is the Universe, which is made up of billions of galaxies!
When I think of the enormity of our Universe, I feel really tiny and insignificant. It’s so hard for me to grasp that God made this colossal universe, yet He knows how many hairs are on my head. It’s even harder to understand that I am so important to God that He sent his Son to die for me.
Today’s Psalms are beautiful songs and prayers that we can use in praise, adoration, and thanksgiving as we contemplate the amazing, unimaginable love of a God who is the creator of every speck of dust and every galaxy in our infinite universe.
Rebecca Byers
Lent Week 4 Instructions
Say the following
collect:
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. BCP, page 219.
Turn to the page for
today.
Read the Old Testament
lesson.
Read the morning
Psalms.
Read the Epistle.
Read the evening
Psalms.
Read the Gospel.
Read the Meditation.
Say the Lord’s Prayer.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Genesis 48:8-22; Romans
8:11-25; John 6:27-40
Morning Psalms: 28,
29 Evening Psalm: 8, 84
God’s love for us never fails; it provides hope in hopeless situations and it leads God to do things far beyond our human limitations and expectations. God only requires and asks us to believe in Him, call on Him in times of trouble, and allow His Holy Spirit to dwell within and lead us. These give us the ability to live in full accordance with His will.
In Genesis
48:8-22,
Roman 8:11-25 tells us that God will not only give life to our mortal bodies, He will also adopt us as sons (and daughters) and co-heirs with Christ if we are led by the Spirit of God.
Jesus declares in John 6:27-40 that he is the bread of life to all who look to and believe in him. He further states that he will not lose nor drive away anyone who seeks him.
Larry deQuay
Monday,
March 3, 2008
Genesis 49:1-28; 1st
Corinthians 10:14-11:1; Mark 7:24-37
Psalms: Morning 89:1-18; Evening 89:19-52
Family. Now, this is a topic I could write on for a long time, but, alas, I only have a few paragraphs. Chances are you could write this meditation about your family as well as me. Family is something everyone has in one form or another.
In Genesis, Jacob tells us his final blessing for each of his 12 sons. He probably had daughters, but nothing was said of them as was the custom of the day. In the lesson for tomorrow, we find what we refer to as final affairs.
Before I go further, do you have a living will? How about a durable power of attorney? Does your family know your funeral wishes? Do you have a last will and testament? Do they use the current forms? I ask these questions because it was a priest once made it his standing practice to ask these questions every Ash Wednesday in the hope that everyone would set their affairs in order during Lent. In my experience, nothing can tear a family apart faster or more permanently than how we care for our elderly. Having these documents in place tends ease these tensions in what is always a tense time.
Still, I knew one priest who was truly beloved by his parish. He accepted a call to a parish close to both sets of parents who were up in years and needed more attention than he could give them from afar. His old parish was very upset and wanted to know what they could do to get him to stay. Puzzled by their reaction, he said in his next sermon “Have I not always told you that family comes first? I am merely practicing what I have always preached.”
In a recent study of Timothy and Titus, the author talked about parents teaching their children what is right. Grandparents were to set an example for their grandchildren to follow. Take a couple of minutes and consider: What are you teaching your children? What kind of example are you setting?
Gapitpoths,
Wes McComb
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Genesis
49:29-50:14; 1st Corinthians 11:17-34; Mark 8:1-10
Psalms: Morning 97, 99, 100; Evening 94, 95
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord…”
Psalm 100:1a
Psalm 100 – the “Jubilate Deo” – is a part of Holy Scripture that has been imbedded in my memory since my earliest worship experiences, specifically Morning Prayer, the principal Sunday service in the Episcopal church of my childhood (when Holy Communion was celebrated only once a month). Psalm 100, sung every Sunday, helped to inform and shape my faith and theology, reinforcing my understanding that God has made us for Himself, and tends us as sheep of His flock. My confidence in His steadfast love has rescued me often, so I continually give Him thanks and praise.
Today’s
Genesis passage is about the death of Jacob – the end of his trail - and the
mourning and subsequent burial with his ancestral flock in
The passage from the Gospel of Mark recalls Jesus feeding 4,000 followers with seven loaves and a few fish; afterwards, seven baskets of broken pieces were left over. Jesus tends his flock as His Father does, and we who live in His Kingdom today can follow His example through such as our church’s Food Pantry.
In the passage from the First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul gives directions concerning the Lord’s Supper, hoping participants would preserve the sacred ritual as living witness to their faith in Christ. The Lord’s Supper is the remembering of Christ’s bodily death and resurrection in a sacrament to be taken reverently, not inappropriately. We know our Lord loved and cared for us until death, and will do so throughout eternity.
Our Lenten journey reminds us of Christ in His final earthly days, exhorting His followers and fulfilling His destiny. As we share in the communion of His body and blood, we are to be disciples of His new Way, and to “make a joyful noise to the Lord” who makes all things possible.
Cecile Torbergsen
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Genesis 50:15-26; 1st
Corinthians 12:1-11; Mark 8:11-26
Psalms: Morning 101, 109:1-30; Evening 119:121-144
When
I was in my mid-twenties, I was a supervisor in a bank. My manager was only a few years older than I
was. With the benefit of hindsight, I
can see that we were both far too young and inexperienced to be in the
positions we held, especially when supervising the “old timers” who had worked
at the company since we were in kindergarten and “didn’t need two young gals”
telling them how to do their jobs.
Long story short, the situation eventually became
untenable and I requested a transfer to another department, where, about a year
after I transferred in, a fellow named John Pfeifer was hired.
For many years I could not forgive my former manager for
failing to confront the employees who gave both of us such a hard time. Finally, long after John and I were married
with three children, the light bulb went on:
I would never have had the family I have today had I not been so
discouraged in one job that I transferred to another. I was able to let go of my resentment and
forgive my manager for being the same as I was:
young, inexperienced, and overwhelmed.
In today’s Old Testament reading from Genesis, Joseph
forgives the brothers who sold him into slavery thusly:
“But as for you, ye thought evil against
me,
but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass,
as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
Genesis 50:20 (KJV)
It
is a tremendous act of forgiveness, one I know I’d be hard-pressed to
make. The phrase “but God meant it unto good” rings in my head. How could selling a brother into slavery be
conceived as good? But, as Joseph
rightly points out, it was that betrayal which eventually placed him in a
position to save many people during a terrible famine.
I am thankful that in my life, I have had no betrayal
similar to that Joseph endured. But my
own experience tells me that wonderful things can grow out of difficult
situations, and I continue to put all my faith in God meaning everything “unto good”.
Deborah Pfeifer
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Exodus 1:6-22; 1st
Corinthians 12:12-26; Mark 8:27-9:1
Psalms: Morning 69; Evening 73
The Other Side of Lent
I thought writing a Lenten Message before Christmas would be a mental and emotional impossibility because I truly wanted to experience the joy and anticipation of the birth of Christ. No way could I change my focus for a few days, or even a few hours to get in a “Lenten frame of mind.” Then came a tragedy, the magnitude of which changed everything. Just 12 days before Christmas and on consecutive days, one friend took his own life at age 45 and another died unexpectedly of a heart attack after getting a clean bill of health from his doctor the previous day.
Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance, reflecting on our lives and taking stock of the things that are truly important to us. These two events caused me to immediately examine my relationship with these two friends and, more importantly, my relationship with God. I can’t do anything for my friends except pray for their families and pray that God has safely tucked away their souls in Heaven. What I can do, however, is look at my life more with an attitude of gratitude, focusing on the blessings that I have been given instead of being angry with God for taking these two lives from us in a season of such joy and happiness.
In 1st Corinthians 12, Paul writes about Christ’s early church as being one body with many members, none of which is least among the others. That same thing can be said for our CECS family as we strive to move forward in His will; and as I learned from the loss of two friends, it also applies to each of us and the relationships (or members) that make up our world. Alone we are nothing, yet it is through all those who touch our lives that we are made whole. I pray that I will emerge on the other side of Lent a more spiritual and loving person, being fully aware that life is short, the blessings are many, and the end can come at any time. That, too, is my prayer for all of you as well.
Jim Epperson
Friday, March 7, 2008
Exodus 2:1-22; 1st
Corinthians 12:27-13:3; Mark 9:2-13
Psalms: Morning 102; Evening 107:1-32
Laundry. I really begin to
think of this as a “dirty” word in April of 2005. That’s when I became a mother. Before this time doing laundry was a simple,
one-time-a-week chore. Now….well it’s
certainly no longer a “simple” chore. In
fact, it’s pretty tedious—checking every single item of clothing for stains,
treating the stains, checking each item again, and so on. And, when I realize
all my hard work will be erased with one small accident of some sort or when I
just cannot get a piece of clothing stain free, this chore almost seems meaningless.
Thank goodness we, as Christians, do not have to work this hard to be made clean or have to worry about the fate of being “soiled” for good. In Mark 9, when Jesus was on top a mountain with Peter, James, and John, we read that Jesus’ “…clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them” (v. 3). “Dazzling white”, “whiter than white”. That’s how clean Jesus made us when he died on the cross. It’s simple and one-time. We are stain free through the blood of Jesus Christ, and there is no accident that can erase this cleaning!
Rebecca Byers
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Exodus 2:23-3:15; 1st
Corinthians 13:1-13; Mark 9:14-29
Psalms: Morning 107:33-108:13; Evening 33
Have you ever said, “Lord I just can’t take any more?” Have your burdens been too heavy for you to carry or too seemingly impossible to see any solution? Or have you wondered if the answer to your prayers would ever arrive? Or if God even has heard your prayers?
Be encouraged
my Brother, my Sister! The children of
“And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the
oppression of My people who are in
Exodus 3:7-8b NKJ
Be encouraged my Brother, my Sister!
God hears our cries and HE will deliver us and bring us into a good land; a land flowing with milk and honey.
Linda Mejias
Lent Week 5 Instructions
Say the following
collect:
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. BCP, page 219.
Turn to the page for
today.
Read the Old Testament
lesson.
Read the morning
Psalms.
Read the Epistle.
Read the evening
Psalms.
Read the Gospel.
Read the Meditation.
Say the Lord’s Prayer.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Exodus 3:16-4:12; Romans
12:1-21; John 8:46-59
Psalms: Morning 118; Evening 145
“Why Me?”
Richard is a very simple man. He is afraid to return to
On several occasions, I have been privileged to listen to his ravings. Richard knows beyond a shadow of a doubt God is active in his life, but he really struggles with “Why me?” Richard claims most of his life is nothing special and yet he tells some amazing stories. Once he saw an angel appear in his neighbor’s back yard, walk into his neighbor’s house, and return to the same spot where he disappeared. The mother of the woman living next door had just died. He has several other similar stories that are hard to explain, but humanity has been trying to explain heavenly things without a lot of success for a long time.
In Exodus, Moses feels unworthy and ill equipped for the impossible mission God wants him to perform. In Romans, Paul describes many gifts of the spirit and how each of us receives different gifts at different levels. In John 8:47a, Jesus says “Whoever is from God hears the words of God”.
When I think about Richard, I see all of these things in what appears to be a confused mess, but then aren’t we all? If you listen carefully Richard will talk about lying in bed telling God over and over “I love you”. When was the last time you told God you love him? Did you mean it? I mean REALLY MEAN IT?
Gapitpoths,
Wes McComb
Monday, March 10, 2008
Exodus 4:10-31; 1st
Corinthians 14:1-19; Mark 9:30-41
Psalms: Morning 31; Evening 35
Because I am both British and a “cradle Anglican,” it will perhaps not be necessary for me to explain that I have always been uncomfortable with those elements of Christianity that seem to emphasize physical manifestations of the spirit, such as speaking in tongues. When I was in high school, some of my Pentecostal classmates spoke in tongues during their high-intensity church services. I never could comprehend what happened to them during these possessions of the spirit despite their earnest attempts to explain it to me. Many years had passed since I had even thought about this element of Christian worship.
So my first response upon looking at today’s epistle reading was, “Speaking in tongues? No thank you.” But, I must admit, I was a bit curious about the passage from 1st Corinthians that explains speaking “in an unknown tongue” (14:2). And, as I read Paul’s words, I was struck by his even-handed discussion of this phenomenon. He neither discounts it, nor gives it undue prominence. Paul acknowledges that, for some, speaking in tongues is a vital part of a relationship with God; for others, this will not be the case. It’s all part of God’s divine plan that no mortal can fully understand or appreciate. Paul does caution, however, that speaking in words that everyone can understand is of prime importance:
“Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding,
that by my voice I might teach others also,
than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”
1st Corinthians, 14:19, KJV
Although I still feel sure that speaking in tongues will not be part of my voyage to spiritual awareness, after reading today’s epistle, I now know that it can be a valid part of someone else’s.
Deborah Pfeifer
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Exodus 5:1-6:1; 1st
Corinthians 14:20-33a,39-40; Mark 9:42-50
Psalms: AM 120, 121, 122, 123; PM 124, 125, 126, 127
The scriptures, for today, were difficult for me. I have struggled with this meditation. In Exodus, Moses and Aaron request permission from Pharaoh to celebrate a festival to God. Pharaoh doesn’t know God so he refuses. In refusing, Pharaoh seems to set the Israelites up for failure. Apparently, the Israelites had been making bricks with straw supplied by the taskmasters. Pharaoh ordered that the Israelites not be given the straw but instead have to supply the straw themselves and still have to make the same number of bricks. It seems to me that if you have to provide your own material and still make the same number of items, it would be virtually impossible.
How many times do we set ourselves or our friends up for failure? Do we withhold some of the information needed in order to make an informed decision. Sometime I think that I have given my husband all of the information he needs but find I left out some vital information. Do we deliberately leave out necessary information or is it accidental? I think it is probably a little of both. If we leave information out, then we “know” more than the other person. How can a person fulfill the task or make a decision without the required information.
Do we, as Christians, omit vital information that could help someone complete a task or make an informed decision? We should do our best to make sure all of the information required is given to the appropriate people.
Was Jesus seen, by his followers and authorities, as a failure? Clearly, death by crucifixion was considered to be the worst form of death for the people of Jesus’ time and beyond.
Has God left out vital information that would help us make informed decisions? Absolutely NOT. He has given us all the information we need in the form of His Son.
I thank God for the life, death and resurrection of His only Son that we might gain eternal life.
Terry Brown
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Exodus 7:8-24; 2nd
Corinthians 2:14-3:6; Mark 10:1-16
Psalms: Morning 119:145-176; Evening 128, 129, 130
When I was growing up, my parents gave me a trick baseball for Christmas. Being significantly younger than my brothers and living in the country where neighbors with boys my age were a 5 minute bike ride away at best, I spent a lot of time playing outside by myself. During baseball season, I would throw into a “pitch back”. Since I did not have the arm strength for a decent fastball, I experimented around with a lot of “junk” pitches. The trick baseball enhanced these solitary times as it danced to the pitch back and provided even stranger returns. I was never able to use the trick baseball on my friends because it was a hollow rubber ball with quarter size hard spot on one side.
The lesson from Exodus put Moses in a similar situation. In front of Pharaoh, Moses was to perform a miracle God had told him to do only to have the court magicians duplicate the miracle on a smaller scale. Pharaoh ignores Moses and his parlor tricks.
Throughout
my life, I have had a number of co-incidences.
The wife of one Rector called them God-incidences. For example, I was seeking my next contract
as a very well paid business consultant.
Nationwide, I found 4 opportunities in
I had more
than 150 signs and wonders telling me to come to
Gapitpoths,
Wes McComb
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Exodus 7:25-8:19; 2nd
Corinthians 3:7-18; Mark 10:17-31
Psalms: Morning 131, 132, 133; Evening 140, 142
Frogs and Lice and Flies, Oh My!
God
made Moses “as God to Pharaoh” (Exodus
7:1). But Pharaoh—a god unto
himself—considered himself greater than the God of the Hebrews. So, God sent a series of plagues upon Pharaoh
and his country. But Pharaoh refused to
obey God; hardening his heart towards God after each plague was lifted.
How often are we gods unto ourselves? We set our own wills and go our own ways;
never once asking God to show us what His will is for our lives. And God is gracious enough to let us go our
own way. But, when our lives are
suddenly toppled, we wail and rail against God because He has not honored our
little fiefdom—our “
How often do we make promises to God that we do not keep? We get what we want and then do as we
please. With each occurrence our hearts
are more hardened; we become more cynical; our perspectives more jaded. With willful disobedience we heap suffering
upon our own heads; the consequences of which spill onto others. Much like the stench of dead frogs
everywhere, we foul our own air and the air around us.
Instead of praises and thanksgiving wafting to the
heavens in a sweet aroma to God, we fill His nostrils with the stench of our
own rebelliousness, self-centeredness, stubbornness, and
self-righteousness. We become a reproach
to God. In the deceitfulness of our own
hearts, we only deceive ourselves.
Only Christ can remove the veil that lies over our
hardened hearts. “…but whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2nd Corinthians 3:16-17)
Lord, may I diminish in my own eyes so as to see only
Your glory dwelling within me.
“…, Let My people go, that they may
serve Me.”
Exodus 8:1
Karen Roberts
Friday, March 14, 2008
Exodus 9:13-35; 2nd
Corinthians 4:1-12; Mark 10:32-45
Psalms: Morning 22; Evening 141, 143
“For we who are
alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life
may be revealed in our mortal body. So
then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”
2nd Corinthians
4:11-12
I
lost my dad at the age of 16 and he was only 48. He is one of the most powerful and
compassionate role models in my life to date.
I live among loved ones who have never laid eyes on my precious father,
heard his voice or felt his amazing embrace.
Yet I have spent a great deal of life instilling upon and sharing with
my loved ones, my father’s wonderful attributes- honesty, adventure, charity, service, humor, love of a challenge
and security. I venture to say that my children would say they ‘know’ their
grandfather because of the stories and values impressed upon them.
This is such an important part of our family heritage and culture to share about people who have gone before us, yet still live with us daily in our hearts. We all have people we emulate and strive to carry on their wisdom. In their passing we take on a quest to ‘pass down’ their wisdom so we can live a better more fulfilled life.
These readings remind us that God asks us to do this everyday- to honor Him in sharing, studying and serving others. He asks that we remember Jesus’ wonderful attributes and apply them to our lives. We share His stories to propagate a loving and benevolent culture. And we love Him as a model to love people in our lives. We are His advocates to share His truth. He is constantly with us, even though we can no longer touch Him with our hands and see Him with our eyes. And, of course, in His passing He allows us to live a better more fulfilled life eternally.
How awesome it is that thousands of years post Jesus’ death and rising we are loving, sharing and caring for others using His model of compassion, grace, hope, strength, service and justice. He who died, lives within us to give us life.
Alice Barattini
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Exodus 10:21-11:8;
2nd Corinthians 4:13-18; Mark 10:46-52
Psalms: Morning 137, 144; Evening 42, 43
Pharaoh did not want to let God’s
people,
At the
LORD’s prompting Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven and there was thick
darkness in all the
Today there is no question about it-there is great darkness in the land. Many people do not fear the LORD. But in the homes and hearts of the People of God there is a Great Light-Jesus, the Son of the Living God. Just as God made a difference between the Egyptians and the Israelites, HE is the difference in us from the darkness in the world today.
“Happy are the people whose God is the
LORD.”
Psalm 144:15b
Linda Mejias
Holy Week Instructions
Say the following collect on Palm Sunday: Almighty and everliving God, in your
tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to
take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the
example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of
his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen. BCP,
page 219.
Say the following collect on Monday:
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first
he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified:
Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none
other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen. BCP,
page 220.
Say the following collect on Tuesday:
O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument
of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ,
that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior
Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever. Amen. BCP,
page 220.
Say the following collect on Wednesday: Lord God, whose blessed Son our
Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace
to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory
that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCP, page 220.
Say the following collect on Maundy Thursday: Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on
the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and
Blood: Mercifully grant that we may
receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these
holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCP, page 221.
Say the following collect on Good Friday: Almighty God, we pray you graciously
to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be
betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the
cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. BCP,
page 221.
Say the following collect on Holy Saturday: O God, Creator of heaven and earth:
Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and
rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third
day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCP, page 221.
Say one of the following collects on Easter Day:
O God, who for our redemption gave your only‑begotten
Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us
from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may
evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ
your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen. BCP,
page 222.
or this
O God, who made this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord’s resurrection: Stir up in your Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. BCP, page 222.
or this
Almighty God, who through your only‑begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life‑giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. BCP, page 222.
Turn to the page for
today.
Read the Old Testament
lesson.
Read the morning
Psalms.
Read the Epistle.
Read the evening
Psalms.
Read the Gospel.
Read the Meditation.
Say the Lord’s Prayer.
Palm Sunday, March 16, 2008
Morning: Zechariah
9:9-12; Psalm 24, 29; 1st Timothy 6:12-16
Evening Zechariah 12:9-11, 13:1, 7-9; Psalm 103; Luke
19:41-48
“…they will not leave within you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God…”
Luke 19:44
In today’s reading from Luke, Jesus
has just arrived in
I am reminded
of the night of September 2, 2005, when I drove at midnight from
It’s been
two-and-a-half years, but that night is as clear in my memory as if it happened
last night. Like so many others in
John B. Pfeifer
Monday, March 17, 2008
Lamentations
1:1-2,6-12; 2nd Corinthians 1:1-7; Mark 11:12-25
Psalms: Morning 51; Evening 69:1-23
In the Gospel, we see Jesus in a
really rotten mood on the day after his magnificent entrance to
Without
going into a four page dissertation of the yearly cycle of the fig tree, we
realize that this story is what is called an “enacted parable”. The story deals
with promise without fulfillment and that is what ties all three of the
readings together. It is about the people of God and all that God has done for
them, yet they have never lived up to their potential. This is the thread that runs through all the
lessons. The lamentation of the prophets
in the first reading, Paul’s lamentation of his church that he started in
As we each go through this period of Lent and reflection, let is all bring to mind all that God has done for us and especially what Jesus has given for us. Let us never fail to thank him at every opportunity.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Lamentations
1:17-22; 2nd Corinthians 1:8-22; Mark 11:27-33
Psalms: Morning 6, 12; Evening 94
Pain and suffering are an integral part of being a Christian; these cannot be avoided. These occur for a number of reasons, which include:
- Our human fallibility and need to continually repent from past sins and to mature in our walk with God,
- Often being at odds (in conflict) with the world’s or humanity’s standards,
- The oppression of powerful, proud, and evil people of the world,
- Being reminded about our need for God and His power in our lives.
Whoever claims that pain and suffering is or should not be a part of following Jesus is either naïve or a liar. There are people in the world who, like Job’s “friends,” tell their suffering friends and acquaintances that the suffering is due to disobedience or falling away from God. In some cases this may be true, but very often this thinking is “dead wrong.”
Each of us must learn to understand and differentiate between the various reasons and causes of our inevitable suffering and pain. While some is due to evil and rebellious acts against God’s will, much is due to being righteous (taking up Jesus’ cross and following him).
In all cases, we need to cleave tightly to God through good and bad times and search diligently for His guidance and direction in all matters. This is accomplished by sincere and humble prayer, feeding our minds with His word, and consciously choosing to do what is right, regardless of the circumstances or cost.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Lamentations
2:1-9, 14-17; 2nd Corinthians 1:23-2:11;
Mark 12:1-11; Psalms: Morning 55; Evening 74
On the Wednesday before Easter
Sunday, why do all of the scriptures appointed for today talk about anger,
vengeance, friends betraying friends and murder for personal gain?
I guess I’ve always viewed the day
before Maundy Thursday as the calm before the events that led to the
crucifixion. The scripture appointed for today portrays an angry God, people
who have been hurt by their friends and people who seek personal gain at the
expense of others.
How do we respond to anger,
bitterness and betrayal by friends? My hope is that we would respond with love.
In my life, however, that is not usually my response. Sometimes I want
vengeance, or at least retribution for the “alleged” sins of others who have
hurt me or my family and friends.
I am grateful that God, in His
mercy, loves us regardless of our imperfections.
Maundy Thursday, March 20, 2008
Lamentations
2:10-18; 1st Corinthians 10:14-17, 11:27-32;
Mark 14:12-25; Psalms: Morning 102; Evening 142, 143
In one of last year’s Lenten meditations, I wrote about how much I enjoy mysteries and how, when I read the Bible, my mind often pursues elements that are not explained or developed further in the text. Today’s reading from Mark is another one of those where I want to know more about the background of the story.
In preparation for the Passover meal, Jesus instructs two of his disciples to “Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water; follow him. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the Goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples. And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.” (Mark 14:13-15, KJV)
That’s it. The disciples prepare the room and we hear no more about the man with the pitcher of water or the owner of the house. We do not read of them again, but both of them play significant parts in the story. We might almost say that the last supper could not have proceeded without them. My mind is full of questions: Who were these men? How did they know Jesus? How did the one with the water (presumably a servant) know that he should bring the two disciples to the house? How did the owner of the house know to have a chamber ready?
I would love to know more of their stories, but it is enough to know that they knew what was expected of them and were ready when they received the call. Let us also be ready to receive the call whenever it may come!
Deborah Pfeifer
Good Friday, March 21, 2008
Lamentations 3:1-9,19-33;
1st Peter 1:10-20;
AM: John 13:36-38;
Psalm 22; PM: John 19:38-42; Psalm 40,
54
Jesus answered, 'Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow me afterwards.'
John 13:36
Christianity is hard. It was so hard for Simon Peter that he stumbled three times on the eve of the Crucifixion; it as so hard for Joseph of Arimathea that he kept his discipleship of Jesus a secret; it is hard enough that Peter later told us to discipline ourselves, abandoning our own desires. In these days, and in this place, there is no difficulty in being listed a disciple of Christ, but it is hard for us to actually be one. Sure, we can go to church every Sunday, but there are always other bits of business pleading for Sunday morning, too, and we might get a rebuke for giving worship a priority, ranging from a strange look up to losing a job. Sure, we give to the church, and we keep the amount a secret, but these days it is not to avoid the praise of mankind as described in the sixth chapter of Matthew, but to avoid the scorn of being thought a fool. A recent advice column dealt with a co-worker who phrased every decision in terms of her relationship with Christ. The columnist advised the writer to ignore the overtones. Remember how hard Jesus' sacrifice for you was, that you may continue his work despite the oppression the world may bring -- whether martyrdom, or just being laughed at.
Gus Michel
Holy Saturday, March 22, 2008
Morning: Lamentations
3:37-58; Hebrews 4:1-16; Psalm 88
Evening: Romans 8:1-11; Psalm 27
Today is a very strange day in the life of Christians. Technically, Lent ends today. No Gospel lesson is appointed for today. If you walk into our church, you may observe several oddities. The first thing to catch your eye will be the black veil on the cross. The altar is bare. Even the normal white linen tablecloth is missing. If you are observant, you will notice the candle over the tabernacle where the reserve sacraments are kept is not lit because none are there. According to the rubrics in the Book of Common Prayer, the last time the bread and wine were consecrated was on Maundy Thursday. On Good Friday, you can only use the reserve sacraments before they are removed. Today, you do not celebrate the Eucharist at all. According to the Apostles Creed, Jesus spent this time visiting the dead.
Somehow, I find it appropriate to be writing this on the 88th anniversary of the day my Dad was born—a few days before Halloween. Only a few weeks have passed since Tamisyn lost her father. If I ever met the man, I do not remember it but for some strange reason her loss has revived some very vivid memories of when Dad died. I was there when he died over 21 years ago. The last words he heard in this world were mine: “Don’t be afraid. It is going to be alright.” Finally, the incredible pain of his cancer was at an end.
Later that night, I was the first to go to bed. In the room above the one where he died, I felt Dad’s presence. Somehow, we were able to communicate. The pain was gone and Dad was like a kid with a new toy. He told me everything was indeed alright.
In the past week, both of my late parents have been in my dreams. The dreams never happened in real life but it was nice to see and talk to them again. Somehow, I am comforted in knowing I need not be afraid because Jesus really is waiting for me, but not today. Now, maybe I can get some sleep.
Wes McComb
Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008
Exodus 12:1-14;
Isaiah 51:9-11; John 1:1-18;
Psalms: Morning 148, 149, 150; Evening 113, 114, 118
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is
sacrificed for us.
In
the context of the Eucharist, this is called the Fraction Anthem. These words
from Scripture (1st Corinthians 5:7-8) are said or sung immediately
following the breaking of the bread (ergo, fraction)
as a way of punctuating what is happening in our worship and, by sacramental
extension, in our lives and in the story of God and humanity. The first line of
the fraction anthem connects the story of the Exodus with Jesus, connects the
sacrificial lambs whose blood on the doorposts spared the lives of the
firstborn of
Therefore let us keep the feast.
Alleluia.
The
second line of the fraction anthem is the people’s response, both in worship
and in life. Moses and Aaron are instructed by God that, after spreading the
blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintels, the lamb is to be roasted whole
and completely consumed. The sacrifice is not wasted, but used to strengthen and
sustain the people for the coming journey. They are to eat in their traveling
clothes, ready to leave at a moments notice. In other words, after generations
of enslavement, the Israelites are asked to trust that, on this night, God will
act, they will be set free, and they need to be ready to go when it happens.
And, of course, it does happen.
And so… the road may end at an empty tomb, but the fact
that the tomb is empty means that the journey is just beginning. Christ our
Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore
let us keep the feast, taking Christ himself within us to strengthen and
sustain us. Death has passed us by. We have been set free. It is time to move
forward in faith to the place where God is leading us.
Rev. Brian Grantz
My Thanks
First and foremost, I have to thank all of those who shared a part of themselves in writing this book. Several did not have a clue as to what they were getting into when they agreed to write a meditation for me. I never in my wildest dreams expected the quality, the purity of thought, and the incredible healing in this book. I tip my hat to you, the writers of this book.
Second, I need to thank those who thought this project was so important they gave of their time to make it happen. Several writers accepted the challenge of writing multiple meditations to insure all the days were covered. Gus Michel did double duty as he put this book on the Christ Episcopal Church website.
Third, I owe a special thanks to Deborah Pfeifer. Ash Wednesday is almost as early as it can be this year. Given the one month lead time for printing, I was forced to ask my writers to submit their meditations to me before Christmas. When the first deadline came and only ¼ of the meditations were written and ¼ had not even been assigned, I was ready to throw in the towel. Multiple people provided their support but Deb is the one who convinced me to finish the project.
Fourth, I need to thank all of those who underwrote the cost of these books. These anonymous benefactors know who they are. Without them, these books would never have gotten to print.
Finally, I
need to thank Father
Grace and peace in the power of the Holy Spirit,
Wes McComb