Thursday, March 17: Ed Flinchem

A sabbath rest still remains for the people of God.

- Hebrews 4:1-10

The Creator rested on the seventh day; contemplating creation, God knew it to be good. When we keep the sabbath, we are invited, among other things, to contemplate our works of the preceding days. We may ask ourselves, “What have I done? What have I left undone?” If I am to grow in harmony with my fellow beings, I know I must ask myself those questions over and over again. I must rest from my labors to make space in my mind to frame the questions.

Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness, the desert. What is the desert but a space physically empty of the food and comforts and companionship, so near at hand in the inhabited places of the earth? In that vast physical wilderness, I see a metaphor of psychic empty space, a mindful space uncrowded by the pressing concerns of the day and society, a necessary open space for The Word to enter in. In the vastness of the desert, Jesus answered questions put to him by the tempter, such as, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Forgoing something precious to me for 40 days creates an opening in my personal time and space to contemplate large questions.

Lent I can see in one way as the sabbath writ large, one a metaphor for the other, each an essential time and space to be open, to be quiet and to listen for the eternal calling of The Word.

—Ed Flinchem

Wednesday, March 16: Harriett Gill

"Except a man be born again he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." - John 2:23-3:15

When a child is born, that child’s main interest is its own comfort and well-being. Infants get into a literal rage when their needs are not met. So what does Jesus really mean when he tells Nicodemus that he must be born again? Does that mean kneeling at the altar and confessing what a sinner we may be and praying for our guilt to be removed?

Perhaps, but it could also mean that we are to put God first in our lives and look at our fellow human beings and all the world we live in with a more compassionate attitude. This doesn’t mean only feeling the compassion, but acting on it. To live in a more unselfish and less self-centered way and to serve others as we would like to be served.

The hymn we sometimes sing before communion says it very well. “All to you I now surrender, all to you I freely give. I surrender all.”

—Harriett Gill

What are people looking for in church?

The Alban Institute is a think tank and consultancy that has lots to offer. Take a look at this article on the beginning of the decline of the mega-church movement and an increasing return to those things which the traditional denominations offer.

I was particularly attentive to this:

There is a deep spiritual yearning pervasive across generations, yet we know people will no longer settle for one-way preaching and entertaining services. They want meaningful worship, an empowered lay leadership, and a spirituality that leads to action. Again, people are longing for the very things that many denominational churches have been cultivating for decades. 

How are we doing in these three areas, do you think?

Faithfully,
 

 

Lex

Tuesday, March 15: Sunni Bannon

"In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple." - John 2:13-22

When I picture Jesus, the image that first comes to mind is not one of him clearing out the temple with an angry whip. He looks more like “Hippie Jesus.” You know the one – long hair, white robe, surrounded by children, sharing stories of love and peace with a gentle smile.

However, the Gospels show us a Christ who was complex, counter-cultural, unpredictable and, at times, explosive. How do I meld this Jesus with the one who brought sight to the blind with his touch, ate with the outcasts, and put his hands on the unclean and made them well?

The truth is that there are times I am like those who sought healing from Jesus and there are times that I am more like those who got an earful from Jesus. He had tough words for people who took pride in attending temple regularly, studying scripture and following the rules. He rebuked those who made reputation and financial success their top priority.

When I look honestly at myself, I know I’ve stumbled with the same. My focus is not on making a profit, exchanging currency in the Great Hall, but I often lose sight of my own heart as a temple. I focus on church obligations and commitments and forget to foster of a spirit of charity. I establish roles and expectations for myself (and others) that clutter my ability to receive and follow God’s will. I forget that Jesus called the temple a “house of prayer” and allow myself to be overcome and distracted by my worries, my children and my to-do list.

Thankfully, I can allow today’s scripture to remind me to let the One who created the universe be in command.

Almighty God, I invite you into my heart to do some temple clearing. Chase out the concerns, pour out my need for control, and tip over the lure of possessions, Lord. Create a sacred space inside me so I can receive the healing touch of Christ the Savior. Amen.

—Sunni Bannon

Monday, March 14: Beverly Breckinridge

"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth." - Psalm 100:1

In Jubilate Deo, this lovely song, I hear Mother Earth affirming our faith. She tells her children the story of who they are, who their Father is, and what they were put on this earth to do. In serving others they make this the beautiful life he planned for them. So Mother Earth gently encourages them to enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise, and rediscover day after day that the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth from generation to generation.

- Beverly Breckinridge

Sunday, March 13: The First Sunday in Lent

"The tempter came to him." - Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus’ experience in the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry was crucial to the formation of his character. It was there that Satan tempted him with promises of:

1) Safety and security,
2) Power and control,
3) Affection and esteem.

All that was required of Jesus to obtain these deeply human wants was to acknowledge Satan’s lordship. How tempting! Isn’t that what we desire? To be safe, to be in control, to be well-regarded? Yet, it is the pursuit of these ego-driven goals that drives us straight into the arms of the Father of Lies.

Jesus spent his entire ministry living into his Father’s will for him as he understood it. In turning away from the pull to self-satisfaction and turning towards surrender to God, he models for us the journey towards liberation of our true selves from the illusory need to be our own saviors.

Lent is an occasion to reflect on the temptations in our own lives. It is likely that whatever we come up with will be a version of one or more of Satan’s seductive promises to Jesus. Name it and write it on a piece of paper. God is always inviting us to surrender whatever wants underly our particular temptation. Allow God’s healing grace to flow. It is the path to genuine wholeness.

— The Rev Lex Breckinridge

Saturday, March 12: Margaret Chorlton

"Come and see." - John 1:43-51

How many times a day do I hear, “Come and see”? It might be “come and see my Lego creation,” “come and see how clean my room is” (yeah, right!), “come and watch my pirouette.” It is usually the invitation of someone who wants to share their enthusiasm and joy. When a loved one is excited to share their experience, it’s hard not get caught up in the action. Or, as my kids put it: “Dude! Check it out!”

I talked to my kids about this passage, and as usual, they had an insightful perspective. We were talking about seeing something rather than just hearing about it. My 12-year-old, Stone, said, “Sometimes you have to see something to believe it, but sometimes you have to believe something to see it.” Or, put another way, once you believe in God, you see Him everywhere. Lent is a good time of looking inward, reflecting on who we are and who we want to be. I think this Lent I’ll be asking myself this question: am I believing what I see, or seeing what I believe?

- Margaret Chorlton