Psalm 25:1-10

“Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.” vs. 6

The psalmist wanted more than anything to have a solid relationship with God. He wanted to walk in the way of truth and righteousness–but he was wondering if he was going to be undone by past transgressions. Would God ultimately remember the sins of his youth and hold them against him? He’d like God to forget about those things and instead look in the mirror. His prayer goes like this, “Remember what you’re like, O Lord! Be mindful of your mercy and steadfast love! That’s how you’ve always been and I really need for you to be that way in dealing with me!” Some of us can relate to that. We have been taught and have come to believe that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. That refrain is a regular part of our liturgy, especially in the season of Lent. And as we consider the tendencies of our hearts and number the ways in which we miss the mark in our daily living, we need God to be the God who was revealed in Jesus. And really, that’s the step of faith that we take in confessing our sins. We’re assuming that God isn’t going to get us for what we’ve done, but will instead bring healing and restoration. And even though there are days when that’s hard to believe, Jesus assures us again and again, that’s the way God really is!

Thought for the Day: At what times am I reminded of my sin?

Genesis 9:8-17

“When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” vs. 16

Humans have a hard time wrapping their heads around the notion that all living creatures have a divine connection. Generally we understand ourselves as being the center of the universe and give little thought to the thousands of other species that also inhabit this beautiful blue planet and that are loved by God. Our ancestors in faith, those whose creation stories we read in Genesis had a much more inclusive understanding of our relationship to other living creatures. Even in the story of the flood it is made clear that God’s rainbow connection includes Siberian tigers, whales, and burrowing owls. No animal is exempted! It’s therefore natural for people of faith to be energetically involved in the environmental efforts to preserve habitat for endangered species. Our human tendency to exploit the natural resources of the earth for the sake of our own pleasure and gain goes counter to our responsibility to look out for our animal companions, especially the ones most severely impacted by the changing climate. The face of the earth has changed drastically in the last couple of hundred years, and much of the so-called progress has been at the expense of those less numerous species with whom we share living space. Some would say that it’s past time for us to be concerned about our stewardship!

Thought for the Day: How do humans cause species extinctions?

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” vs. 1

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, traditionally the time for followers of Jesus to receive the imposition of ashes at worship as a sign of repentance. In most congregations the ashes are imposed on the forehead in the shape of a cross with the words, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” Believers are then encouraged to leave the ashes on their foreheads through the day as a public expression of their faith. It’s a worthy ancient tradition, though some wonder if it isn’t a violation of Jesus’ warning against “practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them.” It may be that for some it is a way of showing off, though in our secular times that usually isn’t something for us to worry about. Most of us are so careful about practicing our piety in public that our friends and neighbors don’t even know that we are people of faith. On this one day, the cross on our forehead, retracing the mark etched there at our baptisms, is a powerful reminder of our connection to the suffering and death of Jesus. We are people of the cross, familiar with suffering, and doing all we can to bring the message of redemption and grace to a guilt-wracked and hurting world–and we’re called to do that every day, not just Ash Wednesday.

Thought for the Day: What does the imposition of ashes mean for me?

Psalm 51:1-17

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.” vs. 1

Through the years we’ve come up with some creative ways to deal with the problem of sin in our lives. Most recently a sizable number of folks have decided that there’s been too much talk of sin in the church, and that we deserve a break. Some congregations have consequently eliminated the confession from the order of worship–it’s too negative, their leaders say, and people don’t want to be reminded of their faults and failings. They want to sing praise songs and raise holy hands–and so that’s what they do. The psalmist would have had a tough time with such a notion. He was constantly aware of his transgressions and knew that his spirit needed a major restoration. So he poured out his heart to God, confessing his sin and crying out for mercy. It’s hard to believe that people in our time are that much different from the psalmist. Oh, we can deny our sin and guilt and say we’re just fine as we are–but in our heart of hearts we know that our denials are one big lie. In truth we are sinners to the core! But that doesn’t mean that we are without hope! The psalmist never forgot that God is gracious and merciful, and full of steadfast love. Our sin can be forgiven–if we confess it! And our guilt can be lifted. Praise God!

Thought for the Day: Why is confession good for the soul?

Isaiah 58:1-12

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them…? vss. 6a-7

The prophet imagines a conversation between God and Israelites who are wondering why their prayers aren’t being heard when they have been so faithful in making their temple sacrifices and keeping their ritual fasts. In the prophet’s estimation, God has a different agenda for them–they’ve missed the point of faith. We’re coming up on the season of Lent, a time in the church year that has been set aside for reflection on the suffering of Jesus and a commitment to spiritual disciplines. Often there are mid-week services and a call to “give something up for Lent.” Some see it as a time to model discipleship, to consider what it means to take up the cross and follow the Way. When these forty days are used for such reflection and for serious meditation on the meaning of repentance they can have real value in the life of a believer. A few might even choose to reflect on the challenges of Isaiah 58 and make serious commitments to seeking justice for the oppressed and the eradication of hunger. Such things are not just planks in a progressive political platform–they issue directly from the teaching of Jesus and the prophets. In this season of COVID there is so much we can do for the poor–perhaps this is the Lent when we actually do something!

Thought for the Day: What fast is God choosing for me this Lent?

Mark 9:7-9

“Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.” vs. 8

Most people have a variety of spiritual and religious experiences as they search for a unitary expression of faith, one that will stand the test of time and withstand the doubts that stalk them. There are days that our faith is strong, buttressed by internal certainties rising from what we perceive to be divine encounters. On those days there’s a bounce to our step and we feel confident that God is real and readily accessible. There is within us an overwhelming sense of awe–it’s wonderful to feel so close to the Lord. But then time passes. The cloud of God’s awesome presence dissipates and we’re left on our own and doubts gain the upper hand. We start wondering about our experiences and begin to think they might just have been wishful thinking. It may seem that there is nothing left–but then, as we look around we realize that not all has gone away. Jesus remains! And he is enough! He’s real and not a product of our imagination, and he beckons us to come follow him on the path of love. And so, along with millions of others, including the patron saint of this day, St. Valentine, a third century martyred Roman priest, we keep our focus on Jesus and spend our lives loving others. And it’s not just a Hallmark love either. The love Jesus inspires extends even to our enemies and it’s been enough to change the world.

Thought for the Day: Why is Valentine’s Day so popular?

Mark 9:2-6

“Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’” vs. 5

When Peter was at a loss for words he usually said something–it was his way of dealing with anxiety, and as an extrovert, it was more comfortable for him to talk than think. So on the mountain of transfiguration, after a powerful vision of Jesus as the Christ, he blurts out the first thing that came to mind, “Rabbi, let’s build something!” His inclination meshes with what we sometimes like to do after life-changing experiences. Because time is never static, we know that the priceless moments can’t possibly last and feelings quickly dissipate. That’s why we take pictures, dozens of them, store them in the cloud, and hope that when we next retrieve them, the feelings of the moment will return. Now it’s a good thing to take pictures, and they are a sometimes shocking aid to our memories, but the past can never be repeated and experiences can only be remembered. Peter caught a glimpse of the resurrected Jesus on the mountain, but a season of suffering remained before he would know the full glory of Easter. We too will have our share of mountain top experiences, and sometimes those memories can sustain us as we move through the shadowy valleys. But even if we forget, the promise is sure–on the other side of suffering resurrection and transformation await.

Thought for the Day: A moment in my life I’d like to return to.

2 Corinthians 4:5-6

“For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” vs. 5

Sometimes we encounter people who have a bit of a glow about them, and not because they’ve been drinking. It’s the radiant look in their eyes, a light that we sense comes from deep within them, a light accompanied by unconditional love and a zest for life. And it’s not because everything has always gone well for them–sometimes we can see from the lines in their faces that they’ve known pain and suffering. But still the light shines and we are warmed by their presence in our lives. Paul is talking about that light in today’s passage and he says that it comes from the God who spoke light into the world in the very beginning. That light resides in every human heart, but in some folks it’s not being blocked by self-interest or greed, those things Paul calls “unbelief.” What a blessing it is, when in the course of our lives, the Spirit of Christ breaks through our defenses and awakens that dormant light. When that happens life itself changes and we are transformed. People will notice the difference–they’ll see the glow and the radiance, and the love in our hearts will be unmistakable!

Thought for the Day: When is the light most likely to shine in my eyes?

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” vs. 4

Paul uses dualistic language here to describe those forces present in the world that contrive to keep us from recognizing the presence of Christ, either in ourselves or in the world. While we might not call those powers the “god of this world,” or even “demons,” we do know what he’s talking about. We all experience the religious, political, and economic garbage that is constantly fermenting in our lives in the course of daily living. And in this age of social media it seems to have gotten even worse. We’re constantly besieged with rumors and gossip on every hand, and bit by bit our consciousness is filled with “stuff” that neither edifies or enriches our relationships with God or our neighbor. We are blinded to the light in the lives of others and fail to allow our own lights to shine before them. Those things which bedevil us are not evil in themselves, but together they form an impenetrable barrier to the exchange of love and goodness. We become quick to judge and assess blame, and can be overcome by feelings of paranoia and resentment. Fortunately God does not abandon us to unbelief but keeps chipping away at our blinders from both inside and out–and one day we will see clearly once more!

Thought for the Day: What keeps me from seeing the light in others?

Psalm 50:1-6

“Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.” vs. 2

For the psalmist God was anything but hidden. He believed that the Lord daily summoned the people of Israel, from the rising of the sun to its setting, to acts of worship and sacrifice. And more than that, he was convinced that Jerusalem itself, holy Zion, home to the temple of Solomon, was the dwelling place of God on earth. True worship took place there, and the light of God shone forth and enlightened the people. Now that the temple is gone, totally destroyed over two thousand years ago, some say that it’s pointless to think of God’s presence as being localized in a particular place. God is everywhere present they say, and worship can take place anywhere. Of course such a statement is true–we can worship anywhere, and at any time. But we shouldn’t be so quick to discount the value of holy places, those spots where we feel the presence of God with particular intensity. It could be on a mountain, or out in the wilderness, or maybe in the sanctuary of a church, a place dedicated to the worship of God. Some even have a special place in their homes where they take time daily to bask in the presence of the light that shines forth from God. Such worship will be an opportunity, not only to offer prayer and praise, but to listen. God has established a covenant of love with us, and in our quiet times will offer both compassion and direction. Blessed are those who hear and obey!

Thought for the Day: Where’s my holy place?