“For God So Loved The World…”
John 3:16
Lenten Meditations
Written by members of the Parish Family of
Christ Episcopal Church, Slidell, LA.
http://www.christchurchslidell.com/
2009
Copyright 2009, all rights reserved
1534 Seventh Street, Slidell, LA 70458
Telephone: (985) 643-4531
http://www.christchurchslidell.com/
The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday, April 5th
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, April 6th
5:30 pm – Evening Prayer
Tuesday in Holy Week, April 7th
5:30 pm – Evening Prayer
Wednesday in Holy Week, April 8th
5:30 pm – Holy Eucharist
Maundy Thursday, April 9th
6:00 pm – Holy Eucharist w/ Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar
Good Friday, April 10th
12:00 pm – Stations of the Cross
6:00 pm – Mass of the Presanctified w/ Veneration of the Cross
Holy Saturday / Easter Eve, April 11th
6:00 pm – The Great Vigil of Easter & the Easter Feast *
Easter Sunday, April 12th
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 Houston, Texas has written books of this nature during Lent. The purpose is to provide a short, structured process to daily prepare us for the celebration of Holy Week. Unlike my predecessors, I have chosen to include Easter Day in this book because the Lord and Savior I know did not stay in the grave.
The best research I have shows this series of books started at St. Christopher’s in Houston. Alyce Pyle brought the idea to Holy Spirit where Jane Brown took the baton she still carries by producing these books for each Advent and Lent. I wrote meditations for Jane for a number of years. When I came to Christ Episcopal Church in Slidell, Louisiana in 2006, bringing this wonderful idea with me seemed to be appropriate given the parish was celebrating 100 years of serving the Father.
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. BCP stands for Book of Common Prayer and refers to the 1979 revision unless otherwise noted.
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 25, 2009
Jonah 3:1-4:11; Hebrews 12:1-14; Luke 18:9-14
Psalms: Morning 95, 32, 143; Evening 102, 130
Our theme for our 2009 Lenten Meditation booklet, “For God So Loved The World…” provides us the opportunity to live a life dedicated to God. Often we find ourselves in the same place as Jonah in the reading for today, displeased and angry with God because He doesn’t act or react in the way that we would and do.
Remember the biblical understanding of love:
“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;”
1st Corinthians 13:4-5
This is how God loves us. Can we believe and embrace such a love? Not on our own! But we can with God’s help. We are invited to the observance of a “holy Lent” by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy word” an invitation to change our lives, our attitudes and our practices. Are we willing to make such a commitment? Are we willing to have our lives changed so that we are a mirror image of Jesus?
In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus offers us a familiar parable about someone willing to embrace such a life-style change. The tax collector knew the only way for him to become righteous, to be at one with God, was through repentance, turning from an old life of wrong doings to a new life of being forgiven and no longer doing the same old things. Such is the invitation to the observance of a Holy Lent.
Let the ashes of Ash Wednesday be the offering up of our old life to God and then come to the altar to receive His Gift to us, His Son Jesus Christ in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
Fr. Ernest Saik
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Deuteronomy 7:6-11; Titus 1:1-16; John 1:29-34
Psalms: Morning 37:1-18; Evening 37:19-42
“..the Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.”
Deuteronomy 7:6b
‘Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons.’
Titus 1:12
“He on whom you see the Spirit descend and
remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”
John 1:33
I had planned to speculate on the conversations amongst John's followers between his first two confessions of Jesus' identity. I found the musing enlightening, but I couldn't distill it into 300 words, so I looked again, and found these three passages on authentication, that is, identifying and checking credentials.
Unfortunately, God does not often provide us with such clear-cut credentials as with Jesus to John. We must observe, think, petition, and listen. Too often, we stop at step three…or two…or one…or even zero.
About two years ago, a Bible Study group I was involved with spent two or three months on discerning the will of God. A few months later, when we were looking for another topic, this was proposed again. It's that hard. While it isn't easy, it is simple.
Observe what is going on. Read related portions of the Bible and meditate upon the situation and circumstances. Ask God for help. Listen. Really Listen. On the too-few cases when I have followed this formula, taking enough time at each step, it has worked.
Now for some practice...
Gus Michel
Friday, February 27, 2009
Deuteronomy 7:12-16; Titus 2:1-15; John 1:35-42
Psalms: Morning 31; Evening 35
Lent is often defined as a time of prayer, fasting, reflection and repentance in a 40-day period not unlike the time Jesus spent in the wilderness. How can we possibly understand and apply this to our lives? In Titus, Paul wrote about doctrine. Be temperate and serious in dealing with others, display integrity and be a model for others to look up to. Although written many years before Titus, Deuteronomy 7 speaks to the Jews who had come out of Egypt about the blessings God had for them (and us today) for obedience to his laws. The writer told them that if they live by His ordinances “He will love you, bless you, and multiply you” (Deuteronomy 7:13a) and told them they would be “the most blessed of all peoples” (Deuteronomy 7:14a).
Therein lies the problem, because none of us are without sin, and as Christians we are often filled with the guilt because we have fallen short of his demands, and face the realization that we will never live up to them. Because the focus of Lent is repentance, the realization of our failures becomes more obvious to us and our successes fade into the background.
Lent is a period of spiritual preparation for Easter. For me I try to use the early morning hours when no one else is awake to give thought to the things that must be done that day, how I can be the best I can be, and how can I help others to be the best they can be. I recently read a book called How Full Is Your Bucket? which explains that each of us has a bucket filled with positive emotions. In each encounter with another person we have the opportunity to fill their bucket with our positive actions, or dip from theirs with negative ones. As I read the lessons of this day, it occurs to me that Lent is merely a door to pass through and not just a path to Easter, and if we apply the lessons of Lent throughout THIS year, then the Lenten experience next year may be more of a celebration of the lessons we learned and not the painful remembrance of what we wish we had done. How full can I make someone else’s bucket?
Jim Epperson
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Deuteronomy 7:17-26; Titus 3:1-15; John 1:43-51
Psalms: Morning 30, 32; Evening 42, 43
I grew up in a Bible thumping church. We were required to memorize Bible verses all the time. I didn’t appreciate the advantages of learning these verses until I became an adult. These passages became a part of me and they were the ones that helped us get through the hard times.
Many years ago, J. B. lost his job and couldn’t find another one. We quickly used all our resources. Fortunately, our home was paid in full. For many months, we could only depend on God. Believe it or not, ALL of our needs (not wants) were met. People we didn’t know came up and handed us money. Others invited us to their homes for a meal. Still others gave us groceries. God is there no matter what just for the asking really applied to our lives. Every day was exciting because we could not wait to see what God was going to do. God provided for us but we also ministered to those who needed to hear about what Jesus had done for them. This may sound crazy but it was a wonderful trust walk.
The lessons for today deal with God’s love and loyalty to those who believe. The Deuteronomy reading tells us that we do not have to be afraid of those who come against us. We just need to look at what He has done for others. He will do it for us. In Titus, God tells us that we are not justified by our good works but only by His grace are we made heirs and have the hope for eternal life. In the gospel reading from John, Jesus promises Nathanael that he will see greater things because he believed.
As Christians today, we too are heirs to these promises if we truly believe in Christ as our Lord and Savior. He promises forgiveness for our sins if we repent. If you keep your eyes on Jesus, the Holy Spirit will help you stay on the right tract. God will protect us if we are true to Him.
Betty Tonkel
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, March 1, 2009
Deuteronomy 8:1-10; 1st Corinthians 1:17-31; Mark 2:18-22;
Psalms: Morning 63, 98; Evening 103
St. Paul writing to the Church in Corinth makes a very bold and encouraging statement for all of us when he says:
“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
1st Corinthians 1:17 & 18.
As we move in the Lenten season I would ask, “How do we see the Cross of Christ being the power of God in our lives?”
There are many times that I catch myself wanting to prove my worthiness to God by my good works. Yes, God calls me to good works as a response to what He has done for me through the Cross of Christ. I am truly set free from the power of the world to prove my worth and free to be who God created me to be, a unique individual with gifts that are given to me by Him. These gifts of the Holy Spirit are given for the good of all and not just for me and therefore I am to use my gifts for the good of all and not just myself.
It is not easy to distinguish between what we are called to do and doing what we want to do. However, when we are committed to do God’s will and not our own we soon discover that much of what we do doesn’t need to be done by us.
“…Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
BCP page 365
Fr. Ernest Saik
Monday, March 2, 2009
Deuteronomy 8:11-20; Hebrews 2:11-18; John 2:1-12
Psalms: Morning 41, 52; Evening 44
“Like the nations that the Lord is destroying before you,
so shall you perish,
because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.”
Deuteronomy 8:20
This verse jumped out at me because Father Ernie said Christ Episcopal Church might have to close its doors at the end of 2010 if things do not change. I have encountered several unusual philosophies since coming here 2½ years ago. One is attending a function just because the priest asked them to attend. Another is to only accept an answer as having come from the Father above if the person saying it is wearing a collar. Other sayings probably fit this situation as well.
“Happy are those who consider the poor;
the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble.”
Psalms 41:1
I was not here during the aftermath of Katrina, but I have heard the stories and they are truly inspiring. I attended both of the funeral services for the murder/suicide in 2007 where 450 people lined the walls for the first service and 350 attended the second. I know because I counted them. I watched two families come together in their grief. Truly I tell you, CECS was at its best that day. Even today, I am proud when I see the poor pick up a Food Pantry bag but is this all we can do besides Christmas?
“Because he himself was tested by what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.”
Hebrews 2:18
Today, we are being tested. I have heard CECS talk the talk and even walk the walk but… Jesus honored the Father with everything he did. Are we?
Gapitpoths,
Wes McComb
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Deuteronomy 9:4-12; Hebrews 3:1-11; John 2:13-22
Psalms: Morning 45; Evening 47, 48
“Walk about Zion, go all around it, count its towers, consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever.”
Psalm 48:12-14
Most people look forward to a vacation with the kind of excitement and joy the author put into Psalm 47. We tend to pick places to go where we can relax and have fun. While I would dearly love to go “Walk about Zion…”, I have the same problem my grandmother had. While I am not terrified of airplanes the way she was, flying on an airplane at 30,000 feet is definitely hazardous to my health. I am not sure taking a ship for an extended time is any better. Like her, I have accepted the fact of visiting the Holy Land through the eyes of friends like George.
My parents talked of a strange vacation they took before children. When they got to the end of the driveway, Dad flipped a coin: Heads they turn left and tails they turn right. They did this at every major intersection until they had to start home. Talk about not knowing where you were going. As I recall, Dad loved the trip but I no longer can remember where they went.
The Israelites left Egypt on their way to the Promised Land—or so they thought. No one had any idea this several week journey would take forty years. Like my parents, they wandered until they finally got it: God loved them. All He really wanted from them was their prayerful obedience.
Each year, I try to use Lent as a way of taking a journey of faith. As I write this, I do not have a clue what my focus will be, but history has taught me I will come closer to what the Father wants me to do with my life if I simply follow the path put before me. So what will it be: Heads or tails?
Gapitpoths,
Wes McComb
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Deuteronomy 9:13-21; Hebrews 3:12-19; John 2:23-3:15
Psalms: Morning 119:49-72; Evening 49, 53
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not parish,
but have everlasting life.”
John 3.16 KJV
Most people who are raised in the Church go through some sort of crisis of faith in their late teens or very early twenties. Perhaps it's the last of that rebellious time when we all seem to be intent on finding our own way even if it kills our parents. Some people come out of that period with an even stronger and healthier Christian commitment. Many make some kind of peace with the beliefs and teachings of their youth that lies between commitment and rejection. Some go for all out rejection. Never being one for the shallow end of the pool, I chose rejection. For nearly eighteen years I said that I refused to be a hypocrite and called myself an atheist. After all of those years I was in my home having just returned from Children's Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi where the doctor had told my wife and me that our beloved daughter had a common and easily curable problem, and not systicphybrosis which had been possible given her symptoms. With tears in my eyes, and no thought except unbelievable relief, I thanked God for my little girl. At that moment God said "you're welcome", and I was, in so many ways. I had always been welcome even though I chose to be a hypocrite and pretend that the invitation did not exist. The time I spent away from God was all my choice, not God's choice.
God doesn't just go away from us. When we're in doubt and pain, when we feel alone and lost, when God seems the farthest from us, we only need to look around and he's there just where he has always been. We don't find salvation through works or keeping the "Old Testament" Law of the Jews. Thank God for grace, that makes it possible for us to attain mercy. As today's texts suggest the Children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years for their rejection of God. That was justice. Thank God for mercy.
R Lane Reynolds
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Deuteronomy 9:23-10:5; Hebrews 4:1-10; John 3:16-21
Psalms: Morning 50; Evening 59, 60, 19, 46
“Greetings, Daniel!”
Daniel checked that no one else was in earshot. “So, Nicodemus, how did your meeting with this Jesus go?”
“The only thing I know for sure is that I don't know what he's doing. He speaks of a second birth, not of flesh, but the spirit. He speaks of a son of God and of a son of man, of eternal life and saving the world, and of good and evil. The really peculiar bit is that he seemed perfectly coherent through it all, and expected me to understand it. He didn't rant or chant like most prophets. Not only doesn't he quote doctrine, he only quotes the Law and the Prophets in an offhand way, and not very often. He doesn't cite ways and means like a king. He's disturbing and charismatic; he's knowing and unknowable. He speaks what are obviously heresies, then makes them seem perfectly reasonable. Many of the people will follow him anywhere and do the wildest things at his bidding.”
Nicodemus barely suppressed a shudder, and continued. “I was tempted to leave my position and follow him, hoping to understand his mysteries. This prophet is revealing the most astounding things, Daniel.”
Daniel thought this over a bit. “Do you think he's the Anointed?”
Nicodemus wagged his head a bit. “I don't see how. He's been recruiting fishermen, tradesmen, and bureaucrats. That's no army to overthrow Rome. It's not even much of a mob.”
Gus Michel
Friday, March 6, 2009
Deuteronomy 10:12-22; Hebrews 4:11-16; John 3:22-36
Psalms: Morning 40, 54; Evening 51
“He (Jesus) must increase, but I (John) must decrease.”
John 3:30
With this statement, John tells us much about the way we should live. John reminds us that we should not live our lives for ourselves, but live our lives for Jesus.
When Jesus died to give us eternal salvation, He also burdened us with a responsibility. He showed us that it is important to live for others more than we do ourselves. So with John’s statement, not only does he advise us to live for the spirit of Jesus, but also to live for others as well. Live for those in need and those not as fortunate as we are. And that is the life style that Jesus preached to everyone. Therefore, John is restating to his people what Jesus has stated to all of us.
Andrew Finnegan
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Deuteronomy 11:18-28; Hebrews 5:1-10; John 4:1-26
Psalms: Morning 55; Evening 138, 139
In Deuteronomy, God sets out a blueprint for the families to set an example for them to follow. If these things are followed, it will give you the upper hand in dealing with any nation that comes against you.
In Hebrews, Paul speaks to the Hebrew people about the way they are living. God is always with us even though we sin. God uses Melchizedek as his priest. All God wants us to do is obey and you have salvation.
In John, He uses the story of the woman at the well to get his point across that you will receive your salvation sooner than you think. All you have to do is believe in his works. The Psalms both in the morning and evening carry out this theme.
What I got out of this which will keep me in prayer during the Lenten season is be flexible enough to accept change. It is through change that we are able to grow and prosper. We will also be able to face anything or anyone who comes against us.
J. B. Tonkel
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, March 8, 2009
Jeremiah 1:1-10; 1st Corinthians 3:11-23; Mark 3:31-4:9
Psalms: Morning 24, 29; Evening 8, 84
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you.”
Jeremiah 1:5
We are blessed to be a people who have a God that has always wanted a personal relationship with us. In the reading from Jeremiah we see an exchange between God and the prophet that gives us a glimpse of the essence of our God. Consecration is the act of making holy, setting apart for the work God has intended.
We are consecrated at our baptism, “sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever.”BCP page 307. St. Paul reminds us, that we, “belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.” As God’s holy people we are called into a personal relationship with Him and we are granted the privilege of serving Him. Many times however we try to have God serve us and our needs. This is truly the foolishness of the world coming out in us.
As Christians we are called to serve our Lord Jesus Christ and thus His father our God. So the question is, “What am I doing to further the kingdom of God?” Or looking at the Gospel reading from Mark where Jesus is teaching the crowd through the parable of the Sower and the seeds. One question to ask is, “What kind of soil am I, is my heart prepared to receive the teachings of Jesus?”; and another would be “What kind of seeds am I sowing for the kingdom of God?”
As God’s holy people we are the ministers of the church. Our ministry is “to represent Christ and His Church; to bear witness to Him wherever we may be; and according to the gifts given us, to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation…to take our place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church.” BCP page 855.
Fr. Ernest Saik
Monday, March 9, 2009
Jeremiah 1:11-19; Romans 1:1-15; John 4:27-42
Psalms: Morning 56, 57, 58; Evening 64, 65
As most of you know, I took a sabbatical of sorts during the last half of 2008 to write a book. Having studied Revelation in depth for 25 years, I knew this one was going to take some time. The amount of research involved in this kind of writing is both painstaking and enormous. Having my editor tell me I needed to rework the style to make it easier to understand in December gave me a reason to take on this meditation book to clear my mind.
I was fascinated by the Jeremiah lesson because it describes a lot of what I was doing with the book. I would have a dream and then spend the next day researching it and writing it down. Believe me, some of these dreams were not pretty.
Interestingly, I have a similar approach to these meditations. I make notes of things that stand out when I read the lessons. I try to think about what I read for the rest of the day and again at bedtime. Like this meditation, I wake up knowing what to write. With any luck, I have it finished in an hour or so.
Paul would have loved working on a PC but I suspect he would never have finished his e-mail. In his day, a scribe would often use an animal skin for paper. He would sharpen a reed, dip it in ink, and write a few letters before repeating the process. Scribes did not have backspace, delete, or insert keys so error correction and changes simply were not an option.
Dictating in an environment as Paul usually did was worse. He had to know exactly what he wanted to say before he started. The real challenge was saying a phrase and holding onto the rest of the sentence for a minute or two while the scribe wrote it down. I can forget what I was going say in mid-sentence. Given the obstacles our Biblical writers had, writing a meditation in this book is a piece of cake. Try it sometime.
Had my parents lived this long, today would be their 69th wedding anniversary. One of the true blessings of being a dreamer is the conversations I have had with them since their deaths. Strange? Maybe but I see it as a gift from the Father.
Gapitpoths,
Wes McComb
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Jeremiah 2:1-13; Romans 1:16-25; John 4:43-54;
Psalms: Morning 61, 62; Evening 68
“The word of the Lord came to me, saying” Jeremiah 2:1
You talk to God in prayer but have you ever heard Him talk to you? If you did, would you have the nerve to tell anyone about the experience? What if you kept hearing the voice of God? How long do you think it would be before the guys in the white coats came to take you to your new home with padded walls?
“Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” John 4:48b During the middle half of 2006, I observed 150 signs and wonders telling me to move to Slidell and that this move was where God wanted me. Some were as simple as seeing the new roof on the church in a shade of green like the one Dad put on my house after a storm when I was a boy. Others were as complicated as Father Brian presiding over a funeral in Indiana of someone he did not know only to discover the man was the lyrics writer for my church music director in Houston.
Psalm 68:7-8 talks about the signs given to Israel as they wandered for 40 years. The earth quaked and they were not anywhere near California. The rain poured in the desert.
Romans 1:20 talks of all the signs—seen and unseen—in nature since the creation of the world. Paul says the readers have all seen these signs. “So they are without excuse;”
“Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder.” John 12:28b-29a This lesson will surface on Wednesday of Holy Week. As a young boy, I disobeyed my mother and snuck outside to play when I thought a storm had passed. I got about halfway across our front yard when: BOOM! That scared little boy ran screaming back inside. Was it the voice of God or just thunder?
We live in a time when computer graphics artists can make our wildest dreams appear on the screen. Scientists have opened the book of knowledge to a point where we are jaded to the wonders of creation. If God were to speak to you, would you be listening?
Gapitpoths,
Wes McComb
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Jeremiah 3:6-18; Romans 1:28-2:11; John 5:1-18;
Psalms: Morning 72; Evening 119:73-96
“…I will not be angry forever,”
Jeremiah 3:12
In today’s reading from Jeremiah, God mercifully invites unfaithful Israel to repent from unfaithful ways and return from exile into the Promised Land.
In the passage from the Gospel of John, Jesus healed the lame man at the Sheep Gate, advising him to sin no more lest something worse than illness befall him. Jesus’ compassion overruled the Jews’ Sabbath laws, and He obeyed His father’s will even unto death...
In Paul’s letter to the Romans, Paul rebukes the obvious sins of the Gentiles who did not acknowledge God... He predicts that those among them who repent will come to know the kindness of God, who shows no partiality in His judgment.
Both Psalms appointed for today illustrate the power and majesty of God and his mercy on those who love and honor Him. Kindness, compassion, and forgiveness await those who turn from evil ways to follow Jesus.
Meditating on these passages reminds me of prodigal sons and forgiving fathers I’ve known. But my own experiences as the prodigal daughter are indelible. I’ve been scared and proud, indignant and humiliated, young and dumb - but always forgiven. Have I honored God at all times? I wish!!! Fear of the unknown (i.e., lack of faith) has sometimes influenced my actions, and I feel the deepest remorse. I know full well that the devil like a lion is ever ready to devour me. Again and again I promise to do the right thing, and just as often make bad choices. 20/20 hindsight and its accompanying regret cannot undo the outcome. Only God can save me, and with His help I can resist future temptation. I have every intention to trust His promise to “not be angry forever.”
Cecile Torbergsen
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Jeremiah 4:9-10, 19-28; Romans 2:12-24; John 5:19-29;
Psalms: Morning 70, 71; Evening 74
Since I arrived in Slidell, I have attended a weekly Bible study on Sunday evenings with a college buddy at his church. For the most part, the handful of people has not changed since my arrival. Two weeks ago, a newcomer asked the classic question of “How will God judge those who have never heard of Jesus Christ?” I remembered Paul discussing this in his epistles but I did not have it on the top of my head nor did a quick search reveal it the following week. I gave up, then the Father gave me these lessons.
If you are one of those who simply read the meditations but not the lessons, today needs to be an exception. I simply do not have the space to print the lessons from Romans and John that answer this question in detail. Combined, these two lessons answer most of the questions I have heard through the years on this topic. I will be taking these references with me next Sunday.
In researching my latest book, I have spent a lot (but not nearly enough) of time researching Islam. Many of their laws are found in the Mosaic Law of the Torah—the first five books of our Old Testament. Romans tells us how they will be judged. John tells us who will be their judge and why.
For years, I have said “All I want to do is get into the gate because the worst day in heaven has got to be better than the best day in Hell.” So how do we get to heaven? Those who have never heard of Jesus will have the toughest time. In my opinion, Moslems will have a tough time but Romans says it is possible. The same is true for the Jews. For God So Loved The World… He gave those who believe in His Son the easiest path.
Fox TV has a new show called Lie To Me. Recently, I had the unpleasant experience of discovering someone lying to me for many years. At the moment of truth, I heard his now ex-wife yelling “Don’t lie to the man.” Such will be the case when we are judged. Do you really believe the Nicene Creed when you say it or are you lying to yourself by trying to cheat your way into heaven? In the end, the choice is yours as to how you are judged.
Gapitpoths,
Wes McComb
Friday, March 13, 2009
Jeremiah 5:1-9; Romans 2:25-3:18; John 5:30-47;
Psalms: Morning 69; Evening 73
As I read the first few lines of Psalm 69, I am moved by the eerie metaphor to Katrina.
“Save me , O God!
For the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the mire,
Where there is no standing;
I have come into deep waters,
Where floods overflow me.
I am weary with crying;
My throat is dry;
My eyes fail while I wait for my God.”
Psalm 69:1-3 NKJV
As we sought to make sense of the physical, mental and spiritual destruction of Katrina, God was working to build us into a community to love, share, rebuild and care. Many of us rethought our lives. Many of us reprioritized our lives. And many of us changed our lives due to this humbling ‘flood’. Perhaps God didn’t abandon us, he invited us to grow.
The peace we pass in church now looks much different from 3 and 1/2 years ago. When we hear a personal need of others, we give, knowing how much others gave to us in our time of need. We are brothers and sisters in Christ and celebrate each one as God’s own. We are a fortunate community to feel Jesus’ grace and love by the outpouring of others during Katrina.
Jesus is truly a vessel by which we are fed eternally. He is the proof that God loves us, cherishes us and will never leave us.
Alice Barattini
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Jeremiah 5:20-31; Romans 3:19-31; John 7:1-13
Psalms: Morning 75, 76; Evening 23, 27
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23 KJV
Today, if he were still living, my father would be 98 years old. Happy Birthday Dad! I don't remember religion, The Bible, or one's faith being discussed at home when I was growing up. There were bedtime prayers and occasionally my sister and I would be taken to Sunday School and Church. When we lived in Germany we went to Military Chapels. The ship that we returned to the States on had a choir and I joined. It was primarily for Roman Catholic Mass and singing the responses in Latin gave me a real appreciation for "church" music.
My father rarely went to church with us until after my mother died and he remarried. My stepmother was an Episcopalian and with her guidance, he was confirmed in the Episcopal church. He helped build an altar for the church where they were members in Pinetop, AZ.
I hope that when my father was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer, he found comfort and peace in the words of The Twenty-third Psalm.
I have turned to The Twenty-third Psalm for comfort many times in my life. The words are among the most reassuring and comforting words in scripture.
It is my hope that each of you, when faced with situations too difficult to handle, will remember The Twenty-third Psalm and find peace and comfort in the words.
Shalom,
Terry Brown
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, March 15, 2009
Jeremiah 6:9-15; 1st Corinthians 6:12-20; Mark 5:1-20
Psalms: Morning 93, 96; Evening 34
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body.”
1st Corinthians 6:19-20
Have you ever thought about our bodies not being our own? It is not ours to do with what we want! This is a very powerful and soul searching statement that St. Paul is writing to the church in Corinth and to us.
Corinth was a metropolitan city, founded in the 10th century BC. It was a powerful seaport with a reputation of being filled with all types of immorality. One of the Greek words for fornicate was “korinthiazomai” is a word derived from the city’s name, Corinth. This is why St. Paul is teaching about the gift or our bodies and to be ever on guard not to misuse it.
Sins of the flesh are not to be ignored or made to appear seemingly harmless. They are very harmful not just to the individual’s body but the soul and to society. The collect for this Sunday reads, “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.” BCP page 218.
Let us remember again the words from Ash Wednesday, “And, so to make a right beginning of repentance, (turning from old ways to new ways) and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord (an act of humility), our maker and redeemer.”
BCP Page 265
Fr. Ernest Saik
Monday, March 16, 2009
Jeremiah 7:1-15; Romans 4:1-12; John 7:14-36
Psalms: Morning 80; Evening 77, 79
“Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me:
and where I am, thither ye cannot come.”
John 7:34 (KJV)
In today’s gospel lesson, the Pharisees are unable to understand the meaning of the above words. They think that Jesus is referring to a high-level game of hide-and-seek, where they will be unable to find him because he has cleverly secreted himself or has gone off to preach to the Gentiles. They do not realize the spiritual implication of his words: they will seek to find him in the tomb and he will not be there, just as they will seek a certain type of fulfillment which is not of the kind Jesus will provide.
We all know of people who seek prosperity and material wealth by appealing to God. When we lived in Los Angeles, we grew familiar with a bumper sticker from a regional televangelist, which read, “Prosperity: Your Divine Right!” The fact that this sticker always seemed to show up on a 1966 Dodge Rambler made us feel that perhaps the car’s owner had not received the expected largesse. It is a slippery slope when we begin to focus on the secular and material, when Jesus is clearly pointing us elsewhere.
Are we failing to find Jesus on his terms? It is never easy to know the true meaning of his words, but it is very easy to interpret them in ways that fit our own desires. Much harder is to try to discern their true spiritual meaning, and to live in accordance with them.
John & Deborah Pfeifer
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Jeremiah 7:21-34; Romans 4:13-25; John 7:37-52
Psalms: Morning 78:1-39; Evening 78:40-72
I once received a Hallmark birthday card that began with the words: “Friendship Is a Special Gift – The beauty of friendship is this – it cannot be made, described, or measured, for it is a precious gift of the heart.” And as I read and reread the appointed lessons, I kept revisiting Paul’s letter to the Romans. Earlier in the letter he explains the difference between “justification by works” and “justification by faith”. In Romans 4:13-25 Paul states that the true descendants of Abraham are those who have faith in Jesus, whether they are Jews or Gentiles, and this faith in Jesus allows them the benefits promised to Abraham. And who could have been a better friend to God? Even God refers to Abraham as his friend in Isaiah 41:8, and throughout the New Testament, Abraham is held up as the supreme model of faith and the prime example of faith required for the Christian believer (Romans 4:11; Galatians 3:6-9 and 4:28). And because Abraham is such an important figure in the history of God’s people that when they disobeyed and were in trouble, Israel petitioned God to remember the covenant made with Abraham. Do we have the kind of friendship with God that Abraham had? Would we question God and attempt to exact explanation from him? Would we grumble, complain, whine, doubt, and argue with God? Put yourself in Abraham’s position and imagine how you might respond.
God commands Abram, at age 75, to go with his barren wife and nephew to a strange land not even initially named to him and there he would be blessed, and God assures him that he and his descendants will be a great nation. When Abram and family arrived, Canaan was inhabited by the warlike Canaanites so Abram’s belief that God would ultimately give this land to him was an act of faith. After sojourns in Egypt, Bethel, and Hebron, and asking God for an heir, at age 86, Abram has a son with the servant Hagar, but still God promises him that he would have his own son with his wife, Sar´ai and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Finally, when Abram is 99 years old, God provides him with the land he had promised, changes Abram’s name to Abraham, Sar´ai’s name to Sarah, says that Sarah will bear a son who will be named Isaac, and establishes a covenant with him that required all males and future generations of males to be circumcised. The son Isaac is born and Abraham is rewarded and prospers. However, God’s command for Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac is the crucial test of his faith, and God intervenes before Isaac is struck. Throughout his life Abraham is obedient to the Lord and his faith in the Lord is genuine and steadfast, without complaint, without argument, and without doubt. True, he does laugh when God tells him that he and Sarah will have a son! But, Abraham UTTERLY SUBMITS TO GOD’S WILL even when it seems illogical, improbable, and impossible, even when it is heartbreaking! Truly, Abraham IS GOD’S FRIEND and a model of faith. Can we ever reach the commitment of faith demonstrated by Abraham? When rereading Abraham and Sarah’s story, I heard myself saying: “You want me to do WHAT?”; “You must be kidding!”; “Are you out of your mind?”; “NO WAY!”
Shiela MacArthur
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Jeremiah 8:18-9:6; Romans 5:1-11; John 8:12-20
Psalms: Morning 119:97-120; Evening 81, 82
“Trust Me.” How many times have you heard this and what is your reaction? Usually when I hear “Trust Me” my initial thought is “Yea, right. What’s the catch”? Living in modern society it is easy to live an isolated life, trusting no one after all; nobody’s looking out for you, kid! Watch your back. It’s all or nothing.
Think that this is a new phenomenon? Nope. Not at all. The Bible tells us that when we reject God, we get what we deserve. Just like if we go hiking in the woods without being prepared. If we get lost, who is to blame? God…no, we are. If we turn our back on Him, that is our choice.
That doesn’t mean that we aren’t loved or provided for. When a temperamental teen turns his back on a parent, he isn’t rejected. He just has a temper tantrum because he can’t have his way. (Yes, all you teens still have temper tantrums although it’s now called pouting, moping or moodiness) All the while, his parents are looking for his best interest. “Go ahead and pout but you can’t stay out until 3:00 am.” The parents are looking out for the child’s best interest just like when we trust in God and make Him a priority, our lives become easier. God changes our perspective and softens our heart.
The hard times aren’t quite as hard as they could be and the good times are much better. So go ahead, trust Him. No strings attached.
Marie Giangrosso
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Jeremiah 10:11-24; Romans 5:12-21; John 8:21-32
Psalms: Morning 83, 42, 43; Evening 85, 86
God’s power is beyond anything we can conceive or imagine. His power includes the ability to bring life where there was death, the ultimate consequence of our sins. God also tells us that giving each of us eternal life is His desire as well as His gift of grace to us, but this can only be attained by believing in His son, Jesus. Following Jesus’ ways and teachings also gives us knowledge of the truth, which will set us free. He wants us to know these things without any doubts or reservations.
Jeremiah states that God is not like any of the idols (anything that takes precedence over God) we create with our hands and minds. These idols give us no more than a false sense of security and they will perish, but God is the Maker of all things, has power over all things and He will never perish.
Paul tells the Romans that the sin of one man, Adam, brought death, but the gift that came by the grace of one man, Jesus, overcomes all sins and gives life to the many. Paul states:
“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:15 NIV
In John, Jesus states:
“I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.”
John 8:24 NIV
To those who believed in him Jesus states:
“If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32 NIV
Many all of us know, without any doubts, that God’s Word and claims are true. May our lives reveal this truth to the whole world.
Larry deQuay
Friday, March 20, 2009
Jeremiah 11:1-8, 14-20; Romans 6:1-11; John 8:33-47
Psalms: Morning 88; Evening 91, 92
“For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all;
but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin,
but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6: 10-11 NKJV
I recently received an unexpected blessing when I attended a celebration for a neighbor who has just passed away. She was a loving wife and mother who worked in a school and had two children, one of whom had special needs. My heart was heavy when I thought of her hard working husband, her grieving adolescent son, who would live without a mother and her young son, who needed both his mother and a skilled caretaker.
When I walked through the door of the church, I was welcomed by the most wonderful singing, praying and glorifying service. It happened that my neighbor was related to several ministers and had very strong roots in her faith and spirituality. Her whole family was in such celebration of this ‘sister in Christ ’ joining God to praise Him forever in heaven. We sang many beautiful songs about God’s promise to us and Jesus’ life shed for us. We gave thanks for my neighbor’s beautiful life and dutiful service as a Christian and a light to others.
These readings bring to mind Jesus’ struggle to convince the people of His day that He was created by God to die, THEN live. God’s promise to us is that we die to live also. All he wants is for us to love and bring others to know Him.
I give thanks to God for these very special people on earth who remind us of Him. Let us all be lights to others!
Alice Barattini
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Jeremiah 13:1-11; Romans 6:12-23; John 8:47-59
Psalms: Morning 87, 90; Evening 136
I once heard it said “If you love God, you can do as you please.” Why is this true? One reason is that if you love God, you want to please Him. The other and most important reason is found in Romans:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
In other words, our sins are covered by the death of Jesus if we believe and love Him.
It is like if you wash a load of clothes with stains on them without bleach, the stains may not be washed clean. If you add bleach to the water in the washer, the stains are removed. Think of Jesus as the bleach in our lives that removes the stains of our sins.
Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial portion of the Mosaic Law under which the ancient Jews lived. So if you are a Christian and make a sinful mistake, you are covered by Christ’s blood. You are not covered unless you are a believer.
Betty Tonkel
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 22, 2009
Jeremiah 14:1-9, 17-22; Galatians 4:21-5:1; Mark 8:11-21
Morning Psalms: 28, 29; Evening Psalm: 8, 84
In the passage from St. Mark we read that the Pharisees came and were arguing with Jesus asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. The Pharisees did not understand what Jesus was doing because they did not believe He was the Son of God. Jesus then gets in the boat with the Disciples and shares his own frustration and gives them a warning that they do not understand.
“Watch out – beware of the yeast of the Pharisees
and the yeast of Herod”
Mark 8:15
They thought he meant their bread was bad and yet what he was saying was the unbelief of the Pharisees and Herod about His being the Son of God. They did not remember the miracles that were signs and so Jesus once again brings these things to their minds.
“Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember?”
Mark 8:17-18
I believe that we too sometimes find ourselves in this same situation. The questions that we perhaps ought to ask ourselves should be: When do we test Jesus? When do we test God? When do we not understand?
Lent continues to be a time to dedicate time to the study of Holy Scripture, to prayer and meditation on God’s Word, and perhaps not ours. I offer the collect for this Sunday as a prayer for the rest of our Lenten season.
Fr. Ernest Saik
Editor’s note: The collect is on the previous page under the Lent Week 4 Instructions.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Jeremiah 16:10-21; Romans 7:1-12; John 6:1-15
Psalms: Morning 89:1-18; Evening 89:19-52
“For the woman which hath an husband
is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth...”
Romans 7:2 KJV
No one will believe this, because we still look like teenagers(!), but as of the date of this meditation, my wife and I will have been married 20 years. Are we deliriously happy? Well, maybe we're just delirious. But we know how lucky we are to have found each other. I recall the words of the great philosopher Kevin Costner, when he was going through a divorce from his first wife: "Marriage is a tough gig." Indeed.
Since I got married, I have spoken with several friends who were engaged and who wanted to know the secret to marital bliss.
Warning: This gets a little coarse.
I tell them the old saying which goes, “Sex is a sprint; marriage is a marathon.” I then tell them that this saying is misleading and that I have my own version that uses a better analogy: “Romance is a weekend in Las Vegas at a 5-star hotel; marriage is an endless drive on the interstate, in a small, cramped car, with no heating, no air conditioning, and no radio.”
The conditions can be difficult. The car becomes even more crowded when you have children. And you will inevitably argue about your driving or which direction you're headed. But every now and then, you should be able to look at the person next to you in that car and tell them that you're really glad to be taking this trip together.
Every day, I find an occasion to do just that. I don't always say it out loud, but I certainly feel it, and I try to show it. Some secret, huh?
John B. Pfeifer
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Jeremiah 17:19-27; Romans 7:13-25; John 6:16-27
Psalms: Morning 97, 99, 100; Evening 94, 95
As I studied the readings for today, I was most moved by the excerpt from John. I have heard this story of Jesus walking on water many times throughout my life and have been awed by the miracle of man walking on water. Reflecting further, I discovered a more symbolic meaning that can be related to our day to day lives.
The scripture says that it was dark and stormy while the disciples were in the boat. After they had rowed for a while, they looked and saw Jesus walking on the water. He told them not to be afraid and guided them back to land, with miraculous speed.
I think of trying times in my life which seemed dark and stormy. Had I only looked, would I have seen Jesus with me? Would he have been there to guide me back to the land? I know that I can look back now and see that He was in fact with me, guiding me against my stubborn will. As I grow older, I feel Him with me more frequently and turn to Him often for guidance. I have grown more aware of His presence in all aspects of my life, although I know He was always there. I now strive to listen more closely so that I may follow the path He has intended for me.
Sometimes, it can be hard to have enough faith to let go of your fears and let Jesus guide you. As I embark on a new journey as the Treasurer for Christ Episcopal Church, I will hold this reading dear to my heart. I will remember to keep watch for God and pray for guidance to do his will in this service.
Kathy Daigle
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Jeremiah 18:1-11; Romans 8:1-11; John 6:27-40
Psalms: Morning 101, 109:1-30; Evening 119:121-144
When God directed Jeremiah to walk into a potter’s home to watch the man at work, He wanted Jeremiah to grasp the concept of how God will mold and remold us in His hands, just as the potter did with his clay. God wanted Jeremiah to get the word out to Israel that if they don’t repent of their ways, then God will destroy them. God gives the people a choice and a chance, and they simply refuse to repent of their ways.
Just like the time of Jeremiah, God is still calling us to repent and to turn to Him. Thanks to Jesus, we are no longer condemned as long as we walked according to the Spirit. We cannot please God by walking in the flesh and it’s stubborn of us to continue to try doing so. His Spirit dwells in us, all we have to do is ask Him to come into our lives and guide us in every way. When we sacrifice our flesh to Him, we humble ourselves and allow Him to work His righteousness in us. His Holy Spirit will fill us, and we will no longer hunger or thirst for the things of the world but for Jesus and His ways. By simply believing, we will receive ever-lasting life. No amount of good deeds will please God if it is done without faith.
David is a perfect example of a man who goes through the motions and emotions that we ourselves may experience on and daily basis. He is determined to walk in righteousness and prays to God to be clean and free from wickedness by sacrificing his will. He knows that though he walks the way of the straight and narrow, that God will protect him from all his oppressors and will bless him abundantly for following the Lord.
Now is the time to lay down our flesh, whether it be a lifestyle of sin or simple habit that distracts you from surrendering to God completely. Simply by repenting and seeking God’s will, blessings will be poured out and prayers will be answered.
Ashley Giangrosso
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Jeremiah 22:13-23; Romans 8:12-27; John 6:41-51
Psalms: Morning 69; Evening 73
“And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph,
whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith,
I came down from heaven?”
John 6:42 (KJV)
Last year, I received an email from a high school friend announcing the birth of her first grandchild. I remember going to that friend’s baby shower when she was pregnant with the daughter who had now become a mother herself. A few months ago, John and I attended the wedding of a young woman who used to babysit for us when she was a teenager. Where had the years gone we asked ourselves as we watched Jessica swirl around the dance floor with her husband. A couple of weeks ago, my oldest daughter started Driver’s Education. How can my baby be old enough to drive?
It’s not always easy to watch as our children—and the children of our friends—become adults. As pleased as we are to see young people become mature and responsible, there’s always an awareness of the next generation gaining ground, of our own mortality staring us in the eye.
I think the people in today’s gospel experienced some of the same feelings when the adult Jesus told them he was the bread of life, the son of God, who would raise them up on the last day. They had known Jesus since he was a boy, they knew Mary and Joseph as friends and neighbors. How could he possibly be old enough to tell them something like that? The lesson for us is to stay open to the possibility of the good news coming to us, even from the very young, even from those we’ve known since they were babies.
Deborah Pfeifer
Friday, March 27, 2009
Jeremiah 23:1-8; Romans 8:28-39; John 6:52-59
Psalms: Morning 102; Evening 107:1-32
Jeremiah speaks of false prophets and how they are destroying God’s flock. The warning declares that God will come to retake that which is his.
The lesson from Romans speaks of the good that comes for those who believe. At least one passage reminds us that God loved us so much that he sent his son to die for us. We are reminded that nothing can separate us from God’s love.
The Gospel speaks of God’s communion with his people through his beloved son. Jesus declares that to eat of his flesh and drink of his blood is to commune with God. Those who do will have eternal life.
We are exposed to false prophets on a daily basis, all proclaiming the solutions to our problems, be it finance, property, health, or spiritual. Truly the day will come where God will retake that which is his. God has already shown us a sign of his love by sending his son to us for salvation. He has directed his children to be “…marked as Christ’s own forever” (BCP page 308).
Regardless of our current behavior, be it good or bad, we are all God’s children and will be loved as such. However, we are reminded that the path to our salvation is through Jesus. The route was proclaimed at the Last Supper. We must eat of his flesh and drink of his blood to commune with and praise God. We can only enter the Kingdom of Heaven through Jesus. Our communion through him will bring us to our Heavenly Father.
Jacques Walker
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Jeremiah 23:9-15; Romans 9:1-18; John 6:60-71
Psalms: Morning 107:33-108:13; Evening 33
I’ve got a picture of a young man going off to camp. The young man’s father takes him to New York to catch the train. They spent a few days in New York where they saw a play and the sights. At the train station, the father offered to get a baggage man to help with the luggage but the young man said “no.” The young man took the bags because he saw others his age carrying their own luggage. The young man had trouble getting the luggage on the train, but did not have as much trouble when he arrived at camp.
The young man was me when I was 12 or 13 years old. The inspiration for the story came from the lesson from John. In that story, Jesus asked his disciples if they wanted to desert Him. In my little story, the young man turned down his father wanting to help.
In the final analysis, I think it has taken me 74 years to figure out the answer should have been “yes”. If someone is willing to make you not have to struggle, don’t do like I did. Take the help. You will be a better person for it.
J. B. Tonkel
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 29, 2009
Jeremiah 23:16-32; 1st Corinthians 9:19-27; Mark 8:31-9:1
Psalms: Morning 118; Evening 145
“Do you renounce all sinful desires
that draw you from the love of God?”
This question is asked at every baptism to the parents and Godparents and is intended for every person there for the baptism. Renunciation is sacrificing or giving up, surrendering, or turning away from all that draws us from the love of God.
The love of God is always there but we are the ones that put other things in its place. Peter in the reading from Mark’s gospel did not want Jesus to suffer and leave him or the other disciples. In his rebuke, Peter put his own wants and desires ahead of Jesus.
In the verses just prior to this section Jesus asked Peter has confessed that Jesus is the Messiah. And yet Peter did not want to hear that the Messiah had to suffer and die. When we are asked “Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Savior?” We all respond enthusiastically, “I do!” But then comes the real question, “Do you promise to follow and obey him as your Lord?” We respond “I do.” BUT DO WE?
Do we “deny ourselves” and follow the teachings of Jesus? Do we try to make Jesus follow our teachings? How are we ashamed of Jesus and His words in our “adulterous and sinful generation?” (Mark 8:31)
Keep in mind the one who can help us in this type of predicament. It is with God’s help that we can move from such a spot. Again in our baptismal service, in the Baptismal Covenant, we are asked the question, “Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?” Notice it is not if we fall into sin, but “when we fall into sin”. God knows our hearts but he also offers us His Grace.
Fr. Ernest Saik
Editor’s Note: Unless otherwise noted, the items in italics herein are found on BCP page 302
Monday, March 30, 2009
Jeremiah 24:1-10; Romans 9:19-33; John 9:1-17
Psalms: Morning 31; Evening 35
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not parish,
but have everlasting life.”
John 3.16 KJV
I'm one of those people who love the King James Version. I enjoy the poetic flow of the Word. I take comfort in the familiar cadence of the language of the Bible of my youth. The KJV came to me with My Mother's milk so there is nothing I like more than letting that warm, safe comforting feeling wash over me as the words sooth my spirit, calm my troubled mind and wrap me in the soft swathing of true Christian armor. The first time I heard the works of William Shakespeare I wondered over the comfort that they gave me. Many years later I found out that The Bard was one of the translators of the King James Version. I guess that explains it doesn't it? Over the years I found other translations with more modern language. In many cases those translations are clearer and much more readable than the KJV. Some of my friends who read these newer translations have gone back to the KJV because when quoting scripture it just sounds more like scripture when it's in the language of the KJV. Through that same span of years I've come to the conclusion that the translation doesn't matter nearly as much as the Word matters.
What really matters is the message. All of the passages for today have something in common. They all bring comfort. Not the comfort of poetic language, but the comfort of assurance that God is with us. We have the power to be the good figs of "Jeremiah". We are the clay of "Romans" and of "John", the master making of us what we should be. God takes us through troubles and is with us through trials as we are told in Psalm 31 and 35. As we are told in “John 3:16” God loves us so much that he sent his Son so that we could have eternal life. No matter what language you read that in, it is the ultimate comfort. Read the translation that you like, but never let the language speak louder than the Word.
R Lane Reynolds
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Jeremiah 25:8-17; Romans 10:1-13; John 9:18-41
Psalms: Morning 120, 121, 122, 123;
Evening 124, 125, 126, 127
“One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
How like the angry Jews and the dismissive Pharisees I must have been in my youth...totally independent, self-reliant, self-assured and dogmatic. My mantra was “Seeing is believing!” and “Prove it” and “I can’t believe it because it’s not logical.” Fortunately, the traumas, tragedies and dilemmas of life humbled me to my knees, opening my heart to belief in what I cannot see, what I cannot fully know, and to faith that obliterates a mind that asks for proof.
In the reading from The Gospel of John, a man blind from birth is healed by Jesus on the Sabbath day, and in an effort to discredit Jesus, the Pharisees interrogate the man who steadfastly maintains that Jesus is a man from God. The anger of the Jews usurps their reason; unbelief blinds the Pharisees, but belief opens the eyes of the spirit as the blind man worships Jesus. And what assurance is JUST BELIEVING.
That assurance also comforts the speaker in Psalm 121 who asks “I lift up my eyes to the hills, From whence does my help come? My help is from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.” The remainder of the psalm enumerates the many ways that God protects his people from danger, and the key word of assurance, “guard” (shomer), occurs six times in the eight lines of the poem. As a climactic pattern of asserted trust, three of the six repetitions of “guard” occur in the last two lines of the poem: “The Lord guards you from all harm, He guards your life. The Lord guards your going and your coming, now and forevermore.” God’s protection is ETERNAL! What “Amazing Grace” that is. No wonder that “Amazing Grace” is among the most beloved of hymns:
“I once was lost but now am found,
was blind but now I see.”
The Hymnal 1982 #671
Shiela MacArthur
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Jeremiah 25:30-38; Romans 10:14-21; John 10:1-18
Psalms: Morning 119:145-176; Evening 128, 129, 130
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
Romans 10:14 (KJV)
Paul asks a question in this verse that cuts to my heart, because our church is once again seeking a permanent priest. It is natural to fear, I think, that we will struggle to present the Gospel properly without a priest who calls our parish home.
And yet, Paul tells us in verse 17 that “faith cometh by hearing” the word of God and so gives us the solution to our problem. The passage from John contains a parable in which Jesus says that when the wolf comes to attack the sheep,
“the hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling,
and careth not for the sheep.”
John 10:13 KJV
Jesus also said that whenever two or more are gathered in his name, there you will find him. Certainly on Sunday mornings we have a good number more than two gathered together, and it is this unity that should give us strength.
“There shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
John 10:16 KJV
We are the fold, and Christ is the Shepherd. If I focus on that simple lesson, I know that we will persevere through this time when we are trying to find a new leader.
John B. Pfeifer
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Jeremiah 26:1-16; Romans 11:1-12; John 10:19-42
Psalms: Morning 131, 132, 133; Evening 140, 142
“This man does not deserve the sentence of death,
for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”
Jeremiah 26:16
How hard it is to hear the truth! Hard enough to find one who will recognize it and speak it openly, then even harder to hear, and yet harder to accept and act!
In the selection from Jeremiah, the scariest part of all is that it is the priests and prophets—those who should be most attuned to God's Word, who are ready to condemn Jeremiah and his message, but it is the officials and the people—the secular society—who hear the words and recognize the truth. This pattern is repeated in John, in which Jesus is recognized and celebrated, not in Jerusalem, the holy city, but across the Jordan, where John was baptizing, and most of all in the letter to the Romans, in which it is God's chosen people, the descendants of Israel, who reject the Word, to have it accepted by Gentiles.
I am writing this shortly after our parish annual meeting, in which we heard that Christ Church cannot continue down our current path and remain viable—backed up by a deep deficit budget for 2009. It is some three years after the levees in New Orleans acted more to harbor the flood than to prevent it. It is also as global climate change, an ever present phenomenon, is being recognized by some as a disaster waiting to happen. Perhaps most damaging of all, “political correctness” and a growing subculture of victimhood has made it ever harder to speak even the plain and obvious truth. Yet, how easy it would be to ignore these things! Lord, give your people strength to hear, the wisdom to discern which are true, and the strength to act!
Gus Michel
Friday, April 3, 2009
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-13; Romans 11:13-24; John 11:1-27, 12:1-10
Psalms: Morning 22; Evening 141, 143
While traveling west one summer with my Grandparents I was singing away in the backseat of the car. Grandfather proceeded to share a story of a lad he knew way-back-when who could sing the very song I was attempting to sing and charm the birds right out of the trees. (No mention of my tremendous talent and rendition of that song) That conversation led to me mention being a fan of Barbara Streisand. I had seen the movies Hello Dolly and Funny Girl and I was impressed with her voice. I fancied myself a singer but there was no way my voice compared to the talent of Ms. Streisand. I was shocked when my Grandfather began to rant against her insisting that she could not sing. I don’t remember the exact conversation but I understood Grandfather did not like her because she was Jewish. I didn’t get it then and I don’t get it now how he could dislike her simply because she was Jewish.
As a kid I saw the movies Diary of Anne Frank and The Hiding Place. Those two movies made a lasting impression on me. I didn’t get it then and I don’t get it now how people could hate someone simply because they are Jewish.
Listening to any news report these days and we hear of the constant attacks against Israel and it seems the whole world is bent on her destruction. I don’t get it.
I’ve heard some Christians being less than loving towards the Jewish people. I don’t get it.
In Romans 11:24, we are reminded that as Christians we are the “wild olive shoot” grafted into the olive tree. It is the root that supports us. Our foundation is the Jewish faith and our Founder was a Jew.
Linda Mejias
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Jeremiah 31:27-34; Romans 11:25-36;
John 11:28-44, 12:37-50
Psalms: Morning 137, 144; Evening 42, 43
This past summer, our family evacuated to a campground just outside Monroe as Hurricane Gustav made its way toward Louisiana. Travel can be disorienting, and this trip was particularly so. An unceasing, torrential downpour required us to stay inside our small pop-up camper with the windows closed for the better part of four days. You can imagine what that camper was like after the enforced habitation of a family of five plus two dogs for 96 hours!
There were times during that unanticipated sojourn that I despaired of ever seeing the familiar sights of Slidell again. I thanked God four days later when we returned safely to an undamaged home. Still, I reminded myself that throughout history, millions have not been so fortunate. How many people—fleeing war, conflict, drought, famine, climate—have left their homes with no hope of ever seeing them again? Perhaps just faintly we can understand the cry of the Israelites in today’s Psalm—
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
Psalm 137:1, KJV
And later—
How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?
Psalm 137:4, KJV
We weep when we are away from the familiar and the comfortable. It is hard to “sing” when we don’t know or like our surroundings. Only with faith in God’s all-encompassing love can we find the sense of belonging that allows us to “sing” no matter where we are!
Deborah Pfeifer
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, April 5, 2009
Morning: Zechariah 9:9-12; Psalm 24, 29; 1st Timothy 6:12-16
Evening; Zechariah 12:9-11, 13:1, 7-9; Psalm 103;
Matthew 21:12-17
“My house shall be called a house of prayer;” (Matthew 21:13) is Jesus’ acclamation as He entered the temple on Palm Sunday. He was challenging the money changers as well as those selling doves in the temple for sacrifice. This also is the challenge today in our churches.
No, we don’t have money changers or people selling doves for sacrifice, but what do we have? A lot of talking, visiting, drinking of water, coffee, cold drinks, gossiping, running, ignoring, shunning, and other activities that really don’t belong in the place set apart as “a house of prayer”. Have you ever noticed these kinds of things going on or have you ever found yourself doing these kinds of things?
I remember one year when I was rector of Trinity Church in Marshall, Texas, that I walked into the nave of the church, the part where the congregation sits, and I was just whistling my heart out. I love to whistle and up until this time I didn’t really pay any attention as to who was in the building. All of a sudden I saw the figure of a man who had come in to pray and I had interrupted his time with God by my whistling. I have never forgotten that moment. I immediately apologized to his and left very quietly. I have never done that again. I was not paying attention or honoring the church as a “house of prayer”.
Jesus wanted His father’s house to be a holy place, remember, set aside so that people could talk with God. Part of talking is listening. I encourage all of us to spend some time listening to God and allowing Him to bend our ears as opposed to always bending his ear.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me,
bless his holy Name.”
Psalm 103:1
Fr. Ernest Saik
Monday, April 6, 2009
Jeremiah 12:1-16; Philippians 3:1-14; John 12:9-19
Psalms: Morning 51; Evening 69:1-23
These scripture passages reveal to me that the hearts of all men (and women) are frail (morally weak) and capricious; easily led astray into evil. Our only hope for attaining and maintaining an unwavering and consistent righteousness is to cleave to God through faith in Him. We cannot do this on our own; without Him.
In Jeremiah, God says to the prophet, “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses.” He also says, “If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan.” Later, God warns Jeremiah that even his brothers and family turn against him and cannot be trusted.
In Philippians, Paul tells us to put no confidence in the flesh, where he states, among other things, “I consider them (everything) rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ.”
In John, we are told of the multitudes worshipping Christ, and wanting to make him king after witnessing or hearing about Lazarus being brought back to life. Less than a week later, the people turn against him and demand his crucifixion, the ultimate and most horrible death penalty of the day, as a criminal.
Again, we cannot do this (righteousness thing) on our own, without Him, our Lord God.
Larry deQuay
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Jeremiah 15:10-21; Philippians 3:15-21; John 12:20-26
Psalms: Morning 6, 12; Evening 94
“Woe is me, my mother, that you ever bore me,
a man of strife and contention to the whole land!”
Jeremiah 15:10a
Each time I have read this verse, the line “I am going to make you wish you had never been born” comes into my head. Can you imagine anyone saying something so horrible that people in general would apply such a line to them? To make things worse, Jeremiah was right. Ah, such is the life of a prophet.
Over the past decade or so, I have traded e-mails with one of my past rectors on a wide variety of topics. As with all good natured friends, we occasionally will agree to disagree. Every once in a while, one of my doom and gloom points will prove to true. If the point was something I really did not want to happen, my response usually is “I hate it when I am right.”
While prophets are often thought to be the bearers of only bad tidings, such is not the case. In Philippians, Paul talks about Christians being transformed into citizens of heaven. Prophets are the ones who have given us truly wonderful glimpses of heaven but consider their plight for just a moment. The Biblical prophets were using languages with 1/1000th the number of words in that English. Clearly, they were viewing scenes beyond their wildest imaginations with colors the earthly eye cannot see. I can describe my cell phone but how would Jeremiah? Probably the most wondrous thing the prophets tell us about heaven is how peaceful it is. No war or conflict of any kind. No hurricanes or natural disasters. Imagine not having any worries of any kind.
At the annual meeting in January, Father Ernie asked us to “Honor God”. So what happens if we do honor the Father? Jesus answered this at the end of today’s Gospel:
“Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.”
John 12:26b
Gapitpoths,
Wes McComb
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Jeremiah 17:5-10, 14-17; Philippians 4:1-13; John 12:27-36
Psalms: Morning 55; Evening 74
Each time I read the gospel, something new grabs me. Yes, I know how it is going to end, but getting there always reveals to me new aspects of Christ and how he prepared for his final earthly days. As I read today’s gospel, this verse jumped out at me, “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour” (John 12:27, KJV). Jesus knows the earthly end is coming for him, he says that he could call upon God to save him from that ending, painful and cruel as he knows it will be.
I’m sure when Jesus spoke those words, some of his followers were quick to think, “Yes, yes, do that—appeal to God, be saved from death, stay on Earth and spread your message here.” But—immediately, in the same breath—Jesus negates that option. He continues, “but for this cause came I unto this hour.” What astounds me is how quickly Jesus embraces his destiny. In the space of one sentence, he acknowledges that he could call upon God to relieve him of the upcoming burden, but then continues to fully assume that burden.
Jesus knows that many of his followers will not understand his assumption of that burden. Many of them will be bewildered and devastated by his long, agonizing death. But he knows more than they do: Everything he has done has been leading to that moment. In one simple sentence of less than 20 words, he acknowledges this. As always, Jesus amazes me!
Deborah Pfeifer
Maundy Thursday, April 9, 2009
Jeremiah 20:7-11; 1st Corinthians 10:14-17, 11:27-32;
John 17:1-26
Psalms: Morning 102; Evening 142, 143
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.
Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another”
John 13: 34-35
In John's Gospel, the Last Supper extends through five full chapters (13-17), and these chapters are not included in the daily readings for Lent, except for Jesus foretelling his crucifixion and Peters denial on Good Fridays, so please bear with me as I expand my scope to this whole event.
John does not include the institution of the Eucharist. In fact, the only mention of bread and wine at this supper is that with which Jesus sends Judas on his final mission. Instead, the Mandatum (commandment) in John is that given above, presaged by the washing of the disciples' feet earlier in chapter 13, and repeated in 15:12. Instead, Jesus alternates among prayer for the Kingdom, prayer for his disciples, explaining the Father and the Advocate (Spirit), preaching, and this commandment. As is often the case when reading the Gospel of John, the contrast with the synoptic Gospels is striking.
Let us therefore take this day to renew our commitment to love one another. In the strength of the Holy Spirit, and in loving one another, let us come to better know the Son, and in the Son, the Father. Further, let this love compel us to service in the honor and glory of God the Father.
Gus Michel
P.S.: In writing this meditation, I was much lifted by Jeremiah 20:11, though in the space allotted, I could not tie it in properly.
Good Friday, April 10, 2009
Wisdom 1:16-2:1, 12-22; Genesis 22:1-14; 1st Peter 1:10-20;
AM: John 13:36-38; Psalm 22;
PM: John 19:38-42; Psalm 40, 54
My most memorable “Good Friday” was several years ago when on one “Good Friday” night at my sister’s farm, two foals were born simultaneously under the full moon light. As we anxiously observed the coming of life, the awesome wonder and power of God was there before us. As the Psalmist states:
“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which you have done, and your thoughts toward us. There is none to compare with you. If I would declare and speak of them,
they would be too numerous to count.”
Psalm 40:5
This Good Friday, I am reminded of the true coming of life through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
“…we are not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from our futile way of life inherited from our forefathers,
but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”
1st Peter 1:18-19
Let us accept this redeeming grace through Jesus Christ and begin our lives anew this Easter Season as newborn foals in Christ Church.
Beverly Stubblefield
Holy Saturday, April 11, 2009
Morning: Job 19:21-27a; Hebrews 4:1-16; Psalm 88
Evening: Romans 8:1-11; Psalm 27
In Romans, Paul is telling us about 2 different lifestyles. One is controlled by the Spirit of God and the other by our human nature. That is really a hard one for many of us. We are a Christian nation & we go to church some or most Sundays. But, is that all it takes to be Christ-centered?
When Paul says “in the flesh”, he is talking about our human nature and all the weaknesses that go along with it. He is talking about not being “in Christ”. Too often, isn’t it easy to let our own wants take over? Do we have to give 10% when times are tough or can’t we just listen to gossip, if we don’t repeat it? Or, what about the back-stabbing stories that no one will ever know about?
Many years ago, there was an exhibit named “The Shroud of Turin”. It was a copy of a shroud that was claimed to be Jesus’ shroud. It most likely was not, but the display made a tremendous impact on me. For the first time, Jesus’ torture and crucifixion became real to me. I could see it all happening and it changed my life. I now try very hard to think through things that I do, and ask myself if Jesus would be pleased. A successful day is the day when I feel like He would be pleased with my actions, but all too often, I know in my heart that I could have done better for Him. He is so real to me, that I cannot imagine looking at Him and knowing that He is disappointed. I cannot imagine that He went through that agony for me and I let Him down. I am working toward being Christ-centered. I am a work in progress.
Beth Gibson
Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009
Exodus 12:1-14; Isaiah 51:9-11; John 1:1-18;
Psalms: Morning 148, 149, 150; Evening 113, 114, 118
Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! Notice anything different about these beginning phrases. YES, IT IS THE EXCLAMATION MARKS. These have been left out for some reason in our prayer book. As an acclamation they should be punctuated differently to show the affect through the exclamation mark.
Now don’t get me wrong here. It’s not about saying it LOUDER than everyone else. It is about saying it from the heart, a heart that is so moved by the Resurrection of our Lord from death, that we say it with enthusiasm, not just in an everyday monotone.
EASTER DAY, THE DAY OF RESURRECTION, is for us “a day of remembrance”, and we “shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord and we shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance” (Exodus 12:14). Ordinance here means a decree from God. Easter Day is when we remember our past, the Passover meal, remembering how God led His chosen people from slavery to freedom. Easter Day when death is conquered and we are free, free from the fear of death and the grave.
I close these meditations with the words of Gregory of Nazianzus, “Yesterday I was crucified with Christ; today I am glorified in him. Yesterday I was dead with Christ; today I am sharing in his resurrection. Yesterday I was buried with him; today I am waking with him from the sleep of death.”
“The Peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.”
BCP Page 339
ALLELUIA! CHRIST IS RISEN!
THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED! ALLULIA!
Fr. Ernest Saik
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. 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. Nancy Copes found a copyright free cover design. I tip my hat to all those who contributed to making this book possible.
Second, I owe a special thanks to Jim Epperson. I elected not to take on this project last fall for the Advent books because I was busy working on a new book. After several face to face conversations and even more e-mails, Jim convinced me this was a ministry worth the time and effort. As such, I have set my book aside in order to work on this project.
Third, 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 Ernie Saik for having the faith in this crazy old man that this was a good idea. He put his full support behind this project by offering to write the Ash Wednesday and all of the Sunday meditations despite being extremely busy as Priest In Charge at Christ Episcopal Church.
Grace and peace in the power of the Holy Spirit,
Wes McComb