2020 Lent Daily Devotions

2020

February 25 2020 Lenten Daily Devotions Historically Lent was a time of instruction, when converts to the Christian faith learned about the basic beliefs of the faith, learned what a faithful life looked like, and committed themselves to following Christ and living a Christ-like life. It was a time of transformation from an old way of living to a new way of living. Our Lenten devotions this year are going to touch on that theme of transformation, both as individuals, and as a church. We are in a time of reflection, learning once again to listen to God’s voice calling us to a transformed life. Our devotions are also going to connect with our Sunday worship experience. They will be sent out Monday – Saturday. The scriptures we will explore during the week will be the same scriptures preached on the following Sunday. It is our hope that you will spend time with these readings and questions, and explore how God is calling you and our church to listen, to trust, to have courage, and to live boldly as people of faith, who are given the gift of new life. Pastor Sue

Ash Wednesday – February 26 Isaiah 43:18-19 Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. 19 I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah talks about not considering the “things of old.” As a church that values tradition, that is a hard thing to do! Isaiah isn’t talking about disregarding the past; after all, one of the refrains throughout scripture is “remember what God has done.” Remember those who helped shape our faith. Remember experiences that brought community to life. Remember how God was active among us. Those “rememberings” weren’t about re-creating the “good ‘ol days,” but about using that past as a jumping off point for the future. God isn’t in the business of recreating the past, God is in the business of celebrating the past and then taking one more step into the future – a future that is only possible because of the past.  How has someone in the past laid the foundation for what you have been able to do in your life?  How are you laying a foundation for someone else to grow and mature? God of our past and our future, thank you for all those without whom we would not be who we are. Thank you for those faithful people who have contributed to the life and strength of this church. Even as we celebrate what they have made possible for us, we look with anticipation to what will come next, as you lead us into the future. Amen.

February 27 Isaiah 43:18-19 Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. 19 I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. I’ll admit it – I love new things, and yet my brain often goes first to why this “new thing” isn’t a good idea – even if it was my idea! At least I know that about myself! So instead of fighting it, I allow myself to think of all the reasons some change isn’t a good idea, and then I can set that aside and think of all the positives. It’s like I need to get that out of the way, so I have space to think creatively and courageously. It’s not uncommon at all for me to discover that the positives outweigh the negatives, and that this “new thing” has the possibility of bringing about growth and opening exciting new doors to the future.  What is your first instinct when you hear of “change” or “doing a new thing?”  Do you learn toward the negative or the positive?  If the negative, what helps you move beyond that so you can hear and see what God is doing?  If the positive, what helps you ground yourself so you don’t chase after 100 “new things” and what helps you discern which “new thing” may be from God? Ever-creating God, give us eyes to see the future you see for us. Amen.

February 28 Mark 4:35-41 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” “Why are you afraid, have you still no faith?” That’s a dangerous question! It seems to assume that if we had faith, we would not be afraid. Maybe for some it works that way – for others of us, we can have faith, and still be afraid! Someone once defined courage as doing what needs to be done even when you are afraid. That works for me. I may not always have confidence that I know the right answers, or am making the best decision, but I try to have the courage to move forward anyway, trusting Christ to be with me. The reality is, rarely will we have all the information we need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that things will work out the way we want. We can even paralyze ourselves into inaction, because we “don’t have enough information.” Courage is the ability to move forward anyway. I am able to have courage because I know I am not alone. The disciples may have been dismayed that Jesus was asleep in the boat, but don’t miss the point: Jesus was with them in the boat! And he wasn’t concerned. So no matter how anxious I may be, no matter how unsure I am of the future, I can still have the courage to move confidently into an unknown future, because I know Christ is with me.  What holds you back from moving forward without a guarantee?  When have you felt empowered by your faith to go into a future that you could not quite see? God who is more powerful than the storm, give us courage to go with you into a future we cannot see. Amen.

February 29 Mark 4:35-41 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” It’s tempting to focus in Jesus’ power to still the storm, however I am caught on the first sentence – Jesus calls his disciples to “go across to the other side.” That’s powerful, for Jesus and his disciples were in a Jewish area of the Sea of Galilee, and “the other side” was the area of the Gerasenes, an area populated by Romans and others from non-Jewish backgrounds. It is so much safer to stay among our own, where we know the people, we know the customs, we know the language. To willingly leave that behind to go among a people “not like us” is risky, and scary. In many ways, that is where the church is today. It is so much more comfortable to stay in our churches, among people “like us,” then it is to go out into the world. In our neighborhood we are surrounded by people who are at the same time “like us” – they are beloved children of God – and “unlike us” – they speak languages we don’t know, have cultural traditions that are unfamiliar to us, and in many cases, their economic place in the world is as far away from us as we can imagine. And yet we follow a savior who says “let us go across to the other side.” Are we willing to go with him?  What does “going across to the other side” look like in your life?  Would that change anything for you? Where you eat? Who you talk to? How you spend your time?  How would “going across to the other side” stretch your faith? Ever-reaching God, stretch our faith and our practice, until we are at home on the other side, so we can join you where you are at. Amen.

March 2 Psalm 96:1-3 O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of God’s salvation from day to day. 3 Declare God’s glory among the nations, God’s marvelous works among all the peoples Psalm 96 invites us to remember God’s past deeds; you know, all those times God’s people messed up, and yet still God loved them and forgave them and guided them to a new future? Yeah, that’s us! On the one hand, who wants to remember all the times we needed God to step in and save us? All the times we needed to be forgiven for worshipping gods of our own making? All the times we trampled, knowingly or unknowingly, those on the margins, so that we could have what we wanted? God’s marvelous glory, God’s marvelous works, God’s salvation, is all about how God looked beyond those things, and let love triumph, never holding our sins against us, and continuing to open doors to new future filled with light and hope.  How have you experienced God’s salvation? God’s forgiveness? God’s guidance?  What in your past has God “dealt” with so that you could move forward with hope?  How has God set you free from your past?  Psalm 96 is actually about the community of God’s people not individuals. So how has our church experienced God’s forgiveness?  What in our past have we been set free from so we can move into a new future?  What new song do we have to sing? Glorious God, you have constantly looked beyond the sins of your people with a love that is deeper than their sin. Thank you. Amen.

March 3 Psalm 96:1-3 O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of God’s salvation from day to day. 3 Declare God’s glory among the nations, God’s marvelous works among all the peoples OK – I’m a dog person – you all know that! I had a dog – Jas – who was afraid of the world. It was a terrifying place for her. Her fears kept her from living a peaceful, joyful life. And I confess, because of her fears, which often showed up as aggression, I was always alert and on edge in public with her, so that no situation would turn ugly. Because of my high level of alertness (maybe better called anxiety), she would pick upon that, and that would raise her level of alertness, and put us at even greater risk for a bad situation. In reading Psalm 96, I wondered – how often do we do that to ourselves and others? We are so focused on what might go wrong, and what has gone wrong, that we telegraph that to others, and begin to infect those around us, and thus, the world. What would happen if instead we declared God’s marvelous works of forgiveness and guidance? What if we told stories about how God has been with us? At the very least it would probably lighten our own spirit to focus on that, but could it possibly give hope to others? Psalm 96 is all about the future – declare God’s marvelous deeds among all peoples, so they can see a future filled with God’s justice, mercy and peace. What if we focused on God’s gracious power to free us, rather than the things that worry us and frighten us? God of light and hope, remind us of your marvelous works. Shine light into our darkness, so that the light can go out from us into the world. Amen.

March 4. Mark 6:34-37 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35 When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; 36 send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” Whew! Aren’t you glad you weren’t one of those disciples! YOU give them something to eat! I’m not sure what I would have done in that moment – probably felt a bit overwhelmed and out of my depth. The reality is, Jesus wasn’t asking them to do it on their own. He was inviting them to think beyond simply sending them away, to explore the power of God to work with them, and through them. How often do we think we have to do it all ourselves? Or have all the answers? Jesus reminds us that we are a part of a community – first a community of people (don’t just send them away – feed them!) – and also a community with Christ. We can’t just snap our fingers and bring Christ’s power to bear to multiply loaves (or at least I can’t!), but there is still a power at work in us when we are working in partnership with Christ. What if instead of fretting over what we are unable to do, we gather as a community of faith and ask what we can do? O Christ who has promised to always be with us, work through us as we seek do be your servants in this world, to the world. Amen.

March 5 Mark 6:34-37 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35 When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; 36 send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” The very first thing we read is Jesus saw, he had compassion, and he taught. He saw, he had compassion, and he offered them food for the soul ... and eventually, the body. Contrast that to his disciples – they saw – and they did have some compassion – they saw the crowd was hungry – and then they wanted to send them away. We have a choice when we see a need – we can respond by giving of ourselves, or we can respond by distancing ourselves. Distancing is by far easier – it asks very little of us. Giving of ourselves demands so much more – our time, our energy, our resources, our imagination. Jesus was inviting his disciples to use their imagination. How might you possibly go feed a large crowd with very little food? As we look to the future, it’s easy to think of all the things we can’t do, and all the things we don’t have. I can guarantee the disciples were thinking they don’t have enough money or food to make a difference. It’s easy to say “we can’t do that!” and quickly turn away, or pass the buck to someone else. At those times, maybe we should be prepared for Jesus to say to us: “do something!” When Jesus says “do something,” more often than not that requires not just our time, our energy, and our resources, but also our imaginations, for the normal ways of doing things don’t always work. Our church is in one of the poorest sections of Lincoln. Hunger is a real thing. Lack of access to child care, which allows people the freedom to work, is a real thing. Lack of access to mental health services is a real thing. Lack of transportation is a real thing. Lack of safe housing is a real thing. Several years ago we made a conscious choice to stay in this area, and be the presence of Christ in this neighborhood.  What do you see when you look around us?  What moves your heart?  Will you use your imagination to do as Jesus told those first disciples: “give them something to eat” ?

Compassionate Lord, awaken in us a heart that hurts for those on the margins and for those in need. Stir up our imaginations, so that with you, we won’t send them away, but invite them to a great feast where hearts are healed and needs are met. Amen.

March 6 Mark 6:34-37 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35 When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; 36 send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” OK – so this word may not make much sense with this text, but I keep coming back to the word “Entitlement.” Yep, the idea that we are entitled to certain privileges and others are not. It’s probably a little unfair to apply that term to the disciples, however I wonder, if for some disciples, they felt like it wasn’t their responsibility to care for the physical needs of the crowd. Let them take care of themselves. Why should we (the disciples) dig into our meager savings to feed all these people? Yes, I know that sounds extreme, and there’s no evidence at all that the disciples had that attitude, but I guess I’ve run across it enough in today’s world that I wouldn’t be surprised that if this event were to happen today, there WOULD be disciples who would feel like they shouldn’t have to care for others. One of the themes that runs throughout both the Old and New Testaments, is “remember” … care for the alien because you were once an alien in Egypt. Forgive others, as you have been forgiven. Many of us are fortunate to have resources of time, energy, or money, and rather than take credit for it all, we are asked to consider those gifts, for it is the one who gave us our life, who has made all things possible. Even if you didn’t believe in God, none of us would be where we are if it were not for the contributions of others. We are called to remember what we have received, so we can share generously with others. For nothing we have been given, was meant for us alone, but to build up others in love. Generous God, thank you for all those gifts we don’t acknowledge. May that awareness of your generosity toward us spill over, until we are generous toward others. Amen.

March 7 Mark 6:34-37 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35 When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; 36 send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” OK – let’s talk about the crowd! So far we’ve focused on the disciples, but what about all those who gathered to hear Jesus, who received the unexpected gift of food? They didn’t come for a meal. They came to see Jesus, to hear him, maybe to touch him, maybe even to be healed by him. I doubt any were expecting an abundant meal!  When was the last time you received a totally unexpected, generous gift?  How did that make you feel?  What did that tell you about the giver? When I’ve received something totally unexpected and generous, it fills my heart – and then it is often followed by a feeling or desire to reciprocate. The beauty of God’s gifts, is that they are completely without strings. They are freely and completely given in love. What if we simply said “thank you”? Giving God, thank you for the unexpected and surprising ways you have touched us. Amen.

March 9 Psalm 143: 5-8 I remember the days of old, I think about all your deeds, I meditate on the works of your hands. 6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. 7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me, or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit. 8 Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. In a time of change it’s easy to default to remembering “the days of old.” There is a comfort there in times of uncertainty, and a sureness of what we knew. It’s not uncommon for leaders to chastise people for focusing on “the good ol’ days,” however there is something important about that remembering too. We remember how God has been with us in the past. We remember how God has guided us in the past. Even for myself, as I look to the future I don’t do it in a vacuum. I am reminded of all the ways God has been with me in uncertain times, and especially in times when I wasn’t sure what the future would hold. Looking back, I can see how God was with me every step of the way. So yes, let us “remember the days of old” and take strength from them, for those will be sources of faith and confidence for us as we go into the future.  How have you seen God with you in a difficult time in your past?  As you look to the future, what have you learned about God that gives you courage for tomorrow? Gracious God, thank you for eyes that can see the past that our faith may be strengthened as we look to the future. Amen.

March 10 Psalm 143: 5-8 I remember the days of old, I think about all your deeds, I meditate on the works of your hands. 6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. 7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me, or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit. 8 Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 51: “look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.” I think about that whenever I read about the “pit” in scripture. We often interpret a “pit” as a place we don’t want to be. After all, Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers. Jeremiah was thrown into a pit by his enemies. Even in Psalm 143, the pit doesn’t sound very enticing. It is a place where the psalmist feels separated, or hidden from God. Yet Isaiah reminds us that the pit is also where we connect to the source of our being. It is where God is at work. It is where God forms us. Whether we feel God’s presence or not, God sees, God is present, and God is at work. Psalm 143 may sound like the prayer of someone who is fearful, however nothing is further from the truth. It is the prayer of someone who knows that no matter what, God sees and God is listening. It is the prayer of someone connecting with the source of their life. It is the prayer of someone who places their trust in God, no matter what.  Has there been a time in your past when you didn’t have much hope?  What enabled you to emerge from that and still have faith? God of the Pit, thank you for being with us even when we don’t see you. May you continue to shape us and mold us so that whenever we find ourselves in pits, we may emerge stronger in faith, ready to follow where you lead us. Amen.

March 11 Mark 8:22-25 They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” 24 And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Did you notice that the first thing Jesus did with the blind man was to take him out of the city? We know the goal wasn’t to take him to a quiet place, because he talks about seeing people around him (the crowds apparently followed). I wonder if there is something about change (which is what healing is) that is fostered when we step away from our routine, and get away from what we do and “see” every day. Stepping out of the city can be a metaphor for stepping out of our habits and mindsets so that those things that hold us back from embracing something new can be shed. When I want to focus on learning something new, something that would require significant change of attitude or habit, it helps me to do it someplace other than home or work, where I do find it easy to get distracted or fall back into comfortable habits. Going to a different place helps put me into a different, more open mindset. Without the usual distractions of my daily routine, I find it easier to listen and to learn, and I have space to figure out how to work this change into my life when I return home. That doesn’t mean I’m always successful when I get home! Distractions will always be there; others still expect the same routine and habits I had before; however I have a better chance of success if I go “out of the city.”  What habits get in the way of you making healthy changes you want in your life?  What attitudes or thoughts makes it hard for you to embrace something new?  What helps you grow in living out your discipleship? Transforming God, remove the fog from our eyes, so we can clearly see, and embrace, the ways you are calling us to grow. Amen.

March 12 Mark 8:22-25 They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” 24 And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. So some of the most overlooked words in this story: “Some people brought .. and begged Jesus to touch him.” Think about the faith of those friends! No doubt they had heard of Jesus’ miracles before, nevertheless, there was no guarantee Jesus would touch the blind man. No guarantee Jesus would heal his sight. And yet they hoped, and they acted on that hope: they came and begged Jesus to touch their friend. Note they did not hope, and wait for Jesus to magically discern their friend’s need from wherever he was – the acted on their hope and brought their friend to Jesus. I have heard ... and no doubt you have as well … people say “I hope …” something will happen. But that hope never goes beyond a wish. It is like it is just tossed out into the wind, in the vain hope that just saying it will cause it to land in fertile ground, take root, and grow strong. But is that really hope, or wishful thinking? More than once we are encouraged through scripture to act on our hopes, and we realize when we do that God seeks a partner in bringing that hope alive. God seeks people who have the courage to act on their hopes.  Do you spend more time hoping, or wishing?  Do you act on your hope? If not, what holds you back?  What would help you have the courage to act on your hopes? God of Hope, may we have the faith to hope, and the courage to act. Amen.

March 13 Mark 8:22-25 They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” 24 And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. “Can you see anything? Then Jesus said his hands on his eyes again…” Sometimes things don’t happen right away. An illness takes time to heal, and sometimes trial and error to find the right combination of treatments. New developments go through stages, until the final product is achieved. Guess what – even in churches, things often don’t happen immediately! It’s not news that our church membership has been declining for many decades. We’re in good company – this is happening all over the church, regardless of denomination, style, or theology. With that decline, comes a decline in the amount of resources available for ministry – not just dollars, but energy as well. We’d love to turn that around so we can continue to be in ministry and to be a source of hope for others. Unfortunately, that takes time, and it takes a willingness to try and try again. Not everything we do will be successful, and some things will only be partially successful, and we’ll have to try again. It’s the same thing in your life. I know you haven’t been successful at everything you’ve done! None of us have. The best of us don’t give up after one failure, we learn from it, and we try again, and we try different things. That is why I love this story about Jesus and the blind man. Jesus had a redo! It didn’t work perfectly the first time, but he didn’t give up, he tried again, and this time, it worked.  Think of a time when you failed – what did you learn from that experience?  Think of a time when you had a “redo.” Why did you try a second time? Or a third time? Or a fourth time?  What did you hope to gain?  How did it go?  What part did your faith play in trying again? God of Second Chances, thank you for telling us that one failure is nothing more than one failure. It is not the defining moment of our lives, nor is it the end of the line. Give us courage and faith to keep trying when it is important, and do it with you as our partner. Amen.

March 14 Mark 8:22-25 They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” 24 And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. There is healing power in touch. Through multiple studies, doctors have found that healing touch (and by that I mean touch by people who truly care about the person, whether they know them or not, a pat on the hand, a hand on a shoulder, a hug, etc.,) releases endorphins in the brain that combat stress hormones, and that result in a 60% greater rate of healing of wounds. Jesus didn’t need any studies – he knew the power of touch, and of course he had the extra benefit of being the great healer. He didn’t just speed up healing – he healed, both physically and spiritually. This man lived his life in darkness, and in that day, his blindness kept him captive to the a life dependent on others, limited in his ability to go new places and try new things. And then came Jesus, and he touched him, and a whole new life was open to him.  What in your life would benefit from Jesus’ touch? What holds you back from living fully?  What about our church? What in our church needs healing? What holds us back from growing? Great Healer, touch us with your power. Remove the blindness that keeps us where we are, that we might see a new future and be empowered to go into it with faith and hope. Amen.

March 16 Philippians 2:5-8 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. “Let the same mind be found in you that was in Christ Jesus…” That seems like a high standard! Who am I to say that I have the mind of Christ? Like many, I like to think I know what Christ would think about all sorts of things! However Philippians isn’t talking about thinking the same thoughts, but about having the same attitude. Christ Jesus embraced humility in everything he did. His goal was never to point people to himself, but to God, never to become a cult leader, but to introduce people to the lover of their souls. Think about today’s religious leaders – which ones show you a glimpse of God’s heart? Which ones turn you off? The ones that show me God are those who don’t seek attention for their own sake, and who have a spirit of gentleness about them that never seeks to harm another. Those who put service above self. Those who by their humbleness, awaken in me a desire to know the one who gives them such a strong grounding that they are confident in who they are and don’t have to draw attention to themselves. Humility born of a relationship with the God who loves us more than life itself (for that is exactly what Christ did!), is a light in the darkness, and Christ calls all of us to embrace his humility, knowing that we belong to God, and are sent into the world to give hope to others.  Is humility easy or difficult to you? Why or why not?  Who, by their humility, helps you see God? Christ who did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited, give us such a sure sense of your love, your presence, and your purpose, that humility becomes second nature to us, and simply the way we move through the world. May the light that then shines through us, show others your heart. Amen.

March 17 Philippians 2:5-8 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. We have such a complicated history with the abhorrent practice of owning another human being, taking away their freedom, demeaning their humanity, and forcing them to do our bidding, that “taking the form of a slave” may not sit well with us. One of the differences between the slavery Philippians talks about, and the practice of slavery as we know it, is that one is freely embraced, the other is not. One is life-giving, the other is not. One is done out of love, the other is not. We’re not talking about the kind of slavery that “is not.” It sometimes helps to recognize that “slave” and “servant” is the same word in Greek. In taking the form of a slave, Jesus willingly embraced a call to serve others, so that they might know God. Serving others is how we are invited to share in Christ’s work of sharing God with the world. Serving others is how we reflect God to the world. How do I know that? Because I have seen God through the service of others – including you. When you give joyfully of yourself for others, God shines through. I have seen that give hope to others. I have seen that encourage others. I have seen that deepen joy in others. I have seen that cause love to burst forth. The service we are called to is not a slavery that lessens us, it is an offering that expands our hearts, and overflows with love onto others.  How have you seen God through the service of others?  How have you experienced a deeper joy, or love, or hope, because of someone else’s service?  How have you felt God at work through you, when you have given of yourself to others? Servant Christ, thank you for taking the form of a slave, so that we might know you better. Amen.

March 18 Philippians 2:5-8 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. There is one word in this text that doesn’t sit well with me – obedience. Obedience for me often carries an implied threat – obey or else! In reality, Paul was contrasting Christ with Adam, the first human being, whose disobedience toward God we are told led to death for all. Christ’s obedience with God’s will opens the door to life for all. Paul is sharing the good news that Christ’s unity with God removes all barriers between us and God. But it’s also more than that. We see in Christ’s “obedience” with God’s will that we are invited, not to follow a set of rules, but into a way of life characterized by love, generosity, mercy, and compassion.  How would you describe your “way of life?”  What characterizes your relationships with others?  As you reflect on Christ’s obedience, even to death, how might that challenge your understanding of what it means to follow Christ? Self-giving God, you gave up everything for us, that we might know God. May we be grateful recipients of your love, and may that same self-giving love shape our lives until we are more and more like Christ in every moment and every encounter. Amen.

March 19 Mark 10:35-45 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” James and John had ambition! It sound like they pulled Jesus aside to make the “ask” for seats of power when Jesus comes into his glory. Jesus’ response shows that they had no idea what they were really asking for. They sought power and honor. Jesus says that in his world, honor and power don’t look like they think it does. Such is found on the road with him, a road that leads to service, suffering and sacrifice on behalf of others. Jesus challenges his disciples to pour their ambitions into the crucible of his passion, to love others so much that they would joyfully give their very lives.  What ambitions do you have?  What would that ambition look like in Jesus’ world?  What holds you back from embracing a life of service, suffering and sacrifice for others? Christ who came not to be served but to serve, help us to see the joy of walking that path with you. Transform us into your image that we might bring glory and honor to you. Amen.

March 20 Mark 10:35-45 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Whoever wishes to be great … Isn’t that all of us, to a degree? Don’t we want our church to be known for how great it is? We brag about our music program. We brag about our community garden. We brag about our food distribution. We brag about our service at McPhee Elementary. We brag about our staff, our members, and our programs. I know I certainly brag to others about all of that! What’s the problem? It’s all about us! Only it’s supposed to be all about God in Christ. We are called to shine the light of God’s love into the world, not our own. What if our bragging looked like this: “Let me tell you about someone whose life was touched by the music in worship.” “Let me tell you about someone who came to the food distribution on Saturday, and what God is doing in their life.” “Let me tell you how I saw hope in the eyes of a child at McPhee Elementary.” See the difference? Sometimes we have to remind ourselves to brag about the right things! Then we truly see what is great. God of hope and light, in everything we say and do, may we keep the focus on you. Amen.

March 21 Mark 10:35-45 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Admit – How many of us would be with the 10 – a little put out that James and John got to Jesus first! Jesus quickly reminds them that his way is not the world’s way. His way is not built on a pyramid of power, but around a table of fellowship and mutual service. Imagine what this world would be like if everyone put the needs of others before their own? We would *all* have our needs met, because someone else would be attending to them, even as we attended to the needs of others. Of course, we all know the world doesn’t work that way. Nevertheless, Jesus dares to call us to a life of serving others.  What does a life of service look like to you?  When do you find it difficult to serve others? (Circumstances? Attitudes?)  What would help you embrace more of a life of service? Servant God, serving is not always easy for us. Sometimes we don’t have the time, the energy, or the patience to do it well. Help us learn to embrace a life of service works in our own lives. Amen.

March 23 Revelation 21:1-5a 1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’ 5And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Revelation may be an odd book, but this is a beautiful scripture. All creation is renewed, and in a gracious nod to Eden, when God created the first human beings and walked among them as friend, God once more walks among all peoples of the earth – no one is left out. We are so busy in this life drawing lines – who is in, and who is out, who is acceptable, and who is not, who is worthy, and who is not. Even who we are comfortable with, and who we are not. I love this scripture, because it lifts up a vision of a world where there are no lines. The promise of death and mourning and crying being no more – that means that all those things that lead to death and mourning and crying are no more. No more poverty. No more war. No more hunger. No more discrimination. No more racism. We are restored to the world as God originally intended it – a world where all are loved and live in harmony. I know sometimes in this world, this vision seems an impossibility. But with God, nothing is impossible. I dare to believe that we can live together as God intended, and I know that no matter what separates us, God is with each and every person, even now. We have on the wall in our East Entrance a phrase: Welcome to First Presbyterian Church … where ALL are LOVED. We hold that out as an aspiration, and as one of our core values. We are not perfect, we know that, and there are times when we fail to put love into action. Yet we still claim that value, and strive to do better, for one thing above all God calls us to: a life of practicing love.  Who do you find difficult to love?  Love doesn’t always mean agreeing with someone – what would help you love those with whom you disagree, or those who have done something you have a

hard time forgiving?  Jesus loves you when you are at your worst. What does that look like in real life?  How can you practice that kind of love toward others? Loving God, loving can be so difficult, in a world where there is still war, hatred, greed, and death. Help us to not be discouraged by the world, or by our failures. Keep before us the vision of what can and will be, so that we might be a vessel through with the light of that promise shines. Amen.

March 24 Revelation 21:1-5a 1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’ 5And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Have you found Jesus? It’s a question that gets asked often by one family of the Christian Church. I’ve always thought it was funny – does it mean Jesus was lost? Do I have to hunt for Jesus? The reality is, he is with us – he is and always will be. God is with us – God is and always will be. And no, we don’t have to go hunting for God/Jesus – God/Jesus comes to us. We hear it first in the Christmas story, when God comes to us in the messiness we call life, loving and desiring unity with us so much that Jesus went to a cross for us. Here in Revelation, in this picture of the redeemed world, once more, God comes to us as one who loves us and desires us. During this season of Lent, we’ve focused a lot on how we are living out our faith. I want to step back for a moment, and ask a simple yet deep question:  Do you love and desire God?  If your answer is yes, what does that look like in your life? What shape does your love and desire take?  If your answer is no, what do you desire most in life? Is that enough for you? God-with-us, may our hearts always desire you first and foremost, so that all we say and do, all we dream and hope for, can be found in you. Amen.

March 25 Revelation 21:1-5a 1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’ 5And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ I often read this scripture at graveside services, a word of promise that the pain and sorrow we feel now will one day be healed. In a different way, Psalm 30:5 reminds us of the same, that “weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” That joy comes from God, who has the power to transform death into life, and mourning into joy. At times that seems impossible. Death is too permanent. The forces against us too powerful. And yet, Jesus Christ rose from the dead! Sometimes we all need to be reminded that God can bring life out of death and joy out of mourning. Sometimes we need to remember that we worship a God who has great plans for our future. Sometimes we need to remember that we worship a God who promises us a future that is better than anything we could possibly imagine. In the life of our church, we are in a time of transition and looking to the future. For some, that will bring sadness and mourning. Even for those who look forward to a change, there will still be loss, even if it is just loss of what was, as imperfect as it may have been. May we remember that we worship a God who brings life out of death and joy out of mourning, and who promises us a future that is greater than our past.  What losses do you grieve?  What hopes do you have? God of the future, you know better than we do what the future holds. Sometimes it is hard to let go of the past, for we fear that we will lose something important. Give us the faith to believe your promises, that the future holds joy and light for all, and most importantly, you. Amen.

March 26 Mark 11:11; 15-19 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. 15Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves; 16and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17He was teaching and saying, ‘Is it not written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations”? But you have made it a den of robbers.’ 18And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. 19And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. I bet Jesus saw what was happening, left to formulate a plan, and then came back to enact it. In that kind of a setting, it would take something drastic to get people’s attention. The chaos of crowds would have drowned out just about everything else. What got Jesus’ ire up? The focus on commerce (and probably profit) instead of worship. Because the temple tax could not be paid with a coin that had Caesar’s image on it, people had to exchange their imperial coins for religious ones, and it came at a price. In order to perform sacrifices, the animals needed to be pure – and that too, cost money. If you were rich, no problem! But if you were poor, the simple act of coming to the temple for the sacrifices could be economically challenging. Jesus lived on the margins, and yet the very people he came to be with were effectively barred from the community worship, because they simply could not afford to come.  What kind of barriers to we put up, that stop people from coming to worship, or participating in the life of the community?  Do any of our activities require a certain amount of disposable income? Or a flexibility in schedule that not everyone has?  How do we respond when someone walks through our door who may be homeless?  How well do we welcome people into our existing groups? When was the last time you invited someone to join you? God who tears down walls, help us tear down the walls that keep people at a distance, that bar them from entering our fellowship, and thus from experiencing the love you would have us embody. Amen.

March 27 Mark 11:11; 15-19 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. 15Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves; 16and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17He was teaching and saying, ‘Is it not written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations”? But you have made it a den of robbers.’ 18And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. 19And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. So what happened to the meek inheriting the earth? This is not our usual image of Jesus – angry, lashing out, and upsetting the rituals of faith. Or is it? More than once Jesus challenged the social norms of his day. More than once he challenged the religious people’s interpretation of God’s intent. More than once he threatened the establishment, to the point that the establishment put him to death. We begin with Jesus taking stock of the situation. Then he goes away, makes his plans, and then comes back to take action. This scripture reminds us that to follow Jesus sometimes means taking bold action on behalf of others. It means challenging the status quo. It means standing up for what is right and just. Jesus takes on the role of prophet here, on behalf of the poor and outcasts. Would we have done the same?  Where today are we being called to stand up for and with those with less means?  Where is injustice looking for a champion?  Where is Jesus? And will you go with him? Angry God, at times anger is called for. May we have the courage to embrace a holy anger, and to join you on behalf of others. Amen.

March 28 Mark 11:11; 15-19 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. 15Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves; 16and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17He was teaching and saying, ‘Is it not written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations”? But you have made it a den of robbers.’ 18And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. 19And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. The whole crowd was spellbound … It could be because Jesus had done miracles – after all, healing is no small matter! Or could it be because they had never seen anyone stand up to the religious establishment on their behalf before? The system worked for the rich, who could afford the cost of the sacrifices and the cost of changing money. It did not work for the poor. As out of character as this scene seems to be, what we’re seeing is the absolute conviction of Jesus that we don’t have to wait until some magical “end time” for, as the prophet Amos said, “justice to roll down like a river and righteousness like a never-failing stream.” The kingdom of God that we pray for is near whenever justice and equity are for all people, whenever the poor are empowered, whenever “the least of these” are cared for, whenever love for others equals love for God. We can start living now as the people of God in God’s new world. It won’t always be well received, but we aren’t after the praise of people, we are striving to bring glory to God. When we choose to act in concert with God’s realm, we become a light shining into the darkness, and a beacon of hope for all those who long for more than this world has to offer.  Where do you see the world at odds with the world God promises?  How can you shine a light of hope into that darkness? God who overturns tables and drives out moneychangers, give us the courage to live as your faithful people in a world that doesn’t understand, and doesn’t want to understand. By our living, may be a beacon of hope to others and a vision of what is possible in your realm. Amen.

March 30 Matthew 21:1-5 1When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ 4This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, 5 ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ So today we take a turn in our daily devotions. Today we join Jesus on the march to Jerusalem and the cross. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, where we traditionally look at the sweep of stories from Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem up to the cross, recognizing that the next Sunday when we would normally gather (“normally” being the operative word, as we are still doing worship online for Easter and not in person). This week we will look at the stories in the Gospel of Matthew from Palm Sunday up to the cross. Next week we will spend some time in the Gospel of John. Palm Sunday is traditionally a fun time in church. We waive palm branches, sing “Hosanna”, the kids often sing (thanks to the wonders of recorded technology we’ll enjoy that this Sunday), and we tell the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. I always got a kick out of Jesus’ directions – “find a donkey with her colt, untie them, and bring them to me.” The snarky side of me says “that’s stealing!” Or at least borrowing without asking. But then we hear how Jesus knows that the owner, once he realizes who needs them, will gladly loan them to Jesus. As I think about that owner, I wonder .. did he know Jesus personally? Did he just hear of him? Did he know prophet’s words and believe Jesus was the promised king? The reality is we know none of the answers to those question. What we do know is that when he heard Jesus needed them, he gave them, and when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on them, it awoke hope. What does Jesus need from us? What does he need from us so that others may have hope? Will we share what we have? God of Palms and Crosses, Jesus went to the cross and gave up his life, so that we might

know the height and depth and width of your love. He was willing to give everything. Inspire us to give of ourselves, so that the hope we have might be shared with others. Amen.

March 31 Matthew 21:6-11 6The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ 10When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ 11The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’ “The whole city was in turmoil…” This was the time of the Passover – the population of Jerusalem was maybe 30-40,000. During the lead up to Passover, which was when this story took place, that population swelled to 3-4 times that number. So whether Jesus was coming or not, the whole city was a mass of people. Now add to that Jesus’ entry on one side of the city, to a crowd that recognized the significance of Jesus on a donkey. What isn’t well known is that about the same time that Jesus entered the city, Pilate was entering Jerusalem in his own parade on the other side of the city on a warhorse. I can imagine that part of the turmoil was the conflict between the arrival of the Prince of Peace who sacrifices his own self for the sake of others, and a warrior, whose life was focused on domination and power. The people of Jerusalem had a question to answer – what parade would they join? The one of love, or the one of control? The one for the Son of God, or the one for the representative of the Empire? This is the question we have to wrestle with daily – whose parade will we join? Will we join the parade of the one who opens doors to the least of these, or the parade of the one who uses military might to squash threats of upheaval? Will we join the parade that opens arms to all, gay or straight, male or female, young or old, immigrant or native, rich or poor, or will we join the parade of the one who courts the rich and powerful? Who will we follow, and who will we align ourselves with? God of Palms and Crosses, you call us to join our parade, to put the needs of the least of these first, to open our hearts to those chronically on the outside, to stand with the powerless, and the ones whose voices are often silenced. May we answer that call, and join you in your work. Amen.

April 1 Matthew 27:11-14 11Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus said, ‘You say so.’ 12But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. 13Then Pilate said to him, ‘Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?’ 14But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Has anyone ever accused you of being a follower of Jesus Christ? Do you stand out in a crowd because of your love? Your compassion? Your generosity? Your passion for lifting others up? Your willingness to stand up to abuses of power? Your welcome of those others reject? Your willingness to forgive? Jesus answered Pilate the way he did because Pilate, and those accusing him, didn’t understand how Jesus as King of the Jews was vastly different then their understanding. I believe he also answered the way he did because he didn’t feel the need to defend himself. He was, in a sense, guilty as charged – but again, in a different way than Pilate understood the charge. I wonder – if I were accused of NOT being a follower of Jesus – how would I defend myself? What in my life would stand out as a witness on my behalf? This isn’t about bragging. It’s about taking honest stock of our lives, and our living, and asking if we reflect Christ in all that we say and do. God of power and might, your power is shown not in power over, but power for. May we join you in your work of exercising power for others, and in doing so, show people by our words and our actions that the Kingdom of God has come near. Amen.

April 2 Matthew 27:15-23 15Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. 17So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ 18For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19While he was sitting on the judgement seat, his wife sent word to him, ‘Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.’ 20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21The governor again said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?’ And they said, ‘Barabbas.’ 22Pilate said to them, ‘Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ All of them said, ‘Let him be crucified!’ 23Then he asked, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Let him be crucified!’ This reminds me of the joke about a church seeking a pastor, and they get this resume from Jesus.  Qualifications: Walks on water. Multiples food. Turns water into wine. Raises the dead.  Passions: Touching lepers. Eating with sinners.  Goal: Die on a Cross and Rise from the Dead.  Leadership Style: Teaches others to do what he does, then expects them to actually do it. Touch lepers. Eat with sinners. Welcome outcasts. Give hope to the hopeless. Feed the hungry. Pick up a cross. And of course the response of the search committee is “NEXT!” The reality is, if we really embrace the way of Christ, it asks a lot of us. Most of us, and I include myself in this, find ways to tone down what it means to follow Christ. Because it does ask a lot of us, and it is scary, and calls for sacrifice, and most of us are willing to sacrifice to a point, but beyond that, we aren’t so sure. So whether we want to admit it or not, sometimes it’s easier to ask for Barabbas than Jesus. Where do you find it most challenging to follow Christ’s example? What do you feel Christ is calling you to do, that you are resisting? What would help you embrace that calling? Servant Christ, you do ask a lot from us, but then again, you gave a lot to us and for us. Following you can be uncomfortable, and scary, and inconvenient, and costly. Shape our hearts so that we are better able to faithfully follow. Amen.

April 3 Matthew 27:24-26 24So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’ 25Then the people as a whole answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’ 26So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. How often do we want to wash our hands of things! Pilate was quick to do so – trying to have it both ways – say it wasn’t him who called for Jesus’ death, while at the same time ordering Jesus’ death, so as not to cause political upheaval in Jerusalem. I believe Pilate knew Jesus was somehow different – not what others made him out to be. There’s no way at that time that Pilate could have fully understood that Jesus was God incarnate, but he knew something. And he still gave in. He still washed his hands. The political cost of challenging the unjust claims against Jesus were higher than he wanted to pay, so he tried to wash his hands of any responsibility. When it counted, Pilate washed his hands. Only it doesn’t work that way.  Is the cost of following Jesus, and standing with Jesus, higher than we want to pay?  Do we want to wash our hands of any responsibility for caring for the poor?  Do we stay silent when friends say inappropriate things, or when someone is being attacked?  Do we “go with the crowd” even though the crowd is engaged in things that go against the ethics and heart or Christ, because to go against the crowd would have us stand out? God who considered no cost too great to reach us, give us the courage to do what is right in the moment when it counts the most. Amen.

April 4 Matthew 27:32-37 32As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. 33And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; 36then they sat down there and kept watch over him. 37Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, ‘This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.’ Jesus was not a person to those soldiers. He was an object. The solders could care less about Jesus and the other men on crosses next to him. They were all sources of ridicule. Heck, they were all sources of clothing too – for the soldiers, an opportunity to enrich themselves. This is an uncomfortable scripture, because it prompts a question – how often do we see God/Jesus as an object, a tool to be used for our purposes? Have we ever used Jesus to shame someone? “Jesus would not approve of what you’re doing!” Or to justify our actions? “God told me to …” Or even expected God to do our bidding? Faith isn’t about using God for our own purposes, even noble ones, but about a relationship. Seeing and experiencing God as the one who is the lover of our souls, who sometimes challenges us, sometimes encourage us, and sometimes even humbles us, because we are not objects to God. We are beloved children of the God who desires abundant life for us. Kind of makes us think twice about “pulling God out” to make a point, or hammering someone over the head with God, doesn’t it? The solders saw Jesus as an object. Jesus is not an object, for objects can’t see. Jesus/God sees us as fully human, beloved children and siblings. That’s why he was hanging on that cross in the first place. Lover of our souls, thank you for embracing us as your children. May we have your same vision as we walk through this world, to see the humanity in all people, and to see them as your children, our siblings in Christ. Amen.

April 6 John 12:1 12Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. We begin this week with a reminder that Jesus has already shown power over death when he raised Lazarus from the dead in chapter 11. Jesus has already talked about how he must suffer and die, and now as we enter this last week, the author of the Gospel of John gives a hint that maybe we should expect the unexpected with what is to come. Of course it really isn’t that unexpected – just as we know the end of the story, John’s readers also knew that Jesus rose from the dead. We retell these stories to remind ourselves of what we already know. This is a good time for a reminder – we are all anxious about the coronavirus pandemic, wondering how long the limits on gatherings and social distancing will continue, worried about our businesses, income and investments, worried about getting COVID-19, or our elderly parents getting it, wondering how long it will take before things are back to normal – and what will the new normal look like? I was reading an article by Dr. Sophia Lin Ott, who rightly named what we are going through: Trauma. I would add another word in front of that – Community Trauma, for we truly all are in this together. There are ways to help cope with trauma that are not for this devotion, such as talking with counselors and adopting practices for deceasing stress, but one thing we can do is remind ourselves: there is life after death there is life after COVID-19 there is hope in the midst of trauma and fear and we are not alone. As the disciples later reflected on their own fears and uncertainty during those last days, they realized that while fear and uncertainty may be normal, the end of the story had not been written yet, and the end of the story was and always will be, life over death. God of life and death, these are uncertain times. Remind us that no matter what comes during these uncertain and fearful times, the end of the story has not yet been written. Remind us that the end of the story will be filled with hope and life, for we worship you, who can and does bring life out of death. Amen.

April 7 John 12:24-25 24Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Preacher and scholar Eugene Lowry said that the only way we can survive is if we are willing to lose what is essential to us. Give up those things that we absolutely need - whatever they may be - power, authority, control, training, knowledge, even our own lives. And not just things that are valuable to us, but things that are vital to who we are and what we do. The moment we make them absolutely essential, say we can’t live without them, we can’t change them, or we can’t let them go, we make them into gods. We sometimes fool ourselves into thinking those things keep us safe, or that they need us to keep them safe, but in reality they simply become a prison, and instead of living life freely and joyfully, we live on guard for any hint of danger to that which we have become so protective of. We ourselves become the prisoners, and even though we may not see it, those very things that are so important to us cease to give us life. Out of death comes life. A grain of wheat, the church, ourselves, even life itself, can be unfruitful as long as it is safe and secure. It is only when we spend our lives by living fully, and by risking the things that are important to us, by being willing to let the past, old dreams, hopes, fears, etc., die, that we flourish. It is only then that God can do God’s best work. Just think of Easter – only through Jesus’ death did God bring about resurrection. Only after Jesus’ death did God set the Holy Spirit free to empower the disciples. Only after Jesus’ death did the full power of God’s blessings fall upon the disciples. Is death fun? No! It can be painful, heartbreaking, fearful, and debilitating. But it is not the end – not if we are willing to risk letting go, letting those deaths bless us, and embrace the new reality of the resurrected life that is before us.  What do you need to let go of, that you can’t imagine living without?  What do you consider more important than life itself?  What would happen if you were to set them free, and see what God makes of them?  What are you holding on to, that is holding back God’s blessings? God of grains of wheat and harvests, help us to identify those things which we need to let go of, so that you can do your best work in us and in the world. Amen.

April 8 John 13:21-30 21After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, ‘Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ 22The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ 26Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ‘Do quickly what you are going to do.’ 28Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night. Every time I read this, I am amazed at the same thing: Jesus knew who would betray him – and yet he welcomed them to the table anyway. Yes, I did say “them,” for it wasn’t just Judas who betrayed Jesus. He may have been the one who went to the authorities and set Jesus up to be arrested, but he wasn’t the only one who betrayed Jesus’ trust and love. They all eventually did. For me this story is the ultimate story of Grace. I know I have not always been the most faithful follower of Christ. I know there have been times when I should have shown up, spoken up, stood up, and didn’t. Yet I am grateful that I am welcomed at the table by Christ. There has been, is, and always will be, a place for me. Another thing about this story – when Jesus served Judas, he said “do quickly what you are going to do.” And it occurs to me that Judas always had a choice. That was one more moment when he could have made a different choice. (I don’t believe as some scholars do that Judas had no free will at that point.) He could have changed his mind. But he didn’t. Every time I receive communion, I am reminded that I have choice about how I will live. I can choose faith, or not. I can choose to stand up, show up, and speak up, or not. I can choose love, grace, and mercy, or not. And even if I choose the unfaithful path, I know I am still welcome at the table, and as long as I am still breathing, I will always have another chance to make a different choice. That’s Grace. My own caution to myself is that I don’t want to use the excuse that I will have a 2nd, 3rd, or 100th chance, to excuse myself from making more faithful choices in how I live. Because if I don’t at least try, then I am making a mockery of the sacrifice Christ made for me.

 When do you wish you had stood up, shown up, or spoken up as part of your Christian walk?  What choices have you made that reflect on your faith that you wish you could go back and change?  What will cause you to pause, the next time you receive communion? Graceful and Grace-filled God, you are always giving us new chances to make more faithful choices in how we live. The consequences of our unfaithful choices may not always be as drastic as Judas’, but sometime they are. Forgive us. Guide us in your way, so that we may give you joy, and be a conduit of your grace to the world. And lest we forget our own unfaithfulness, may we extend to others the grace you have extended to us. Amen.

April 9 John 13:3-8 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ 7Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ 8Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ I’ve no doubt that what Jesus did the night he was arrested focused on what was for him the most important things. It was, in a way, his last chance to teach his disciples about what it meant to belong to him and to be one with him. That night, the central act Jesus shared was not the Passover meal, but foot washing. As it was typically a servant who would was the feet of guests, it should not be surprising that Peter resisted letting Jesus wash his feet. Peter had Jesus on a pedestal, and the thought of Jesus serving him was just not to be! Jesus goes on to speak about the example he has set of serving others. This is not new information to us, but there is something new in this story. The example of Jesus goes both ways – we are called to serve others in the name of Christ. We are also to allow others to serve us – as they are doing it in the name of Christ as well. This is part of what it means to be a community of faith. We acknowledge our need, as well as see the needs of others, we accept the gift of service from others, even as we offer it to others. In other words, we are Christ to each other. When we let our pride, or our embarrassment, get in the way of allowing others to serve us, we’ve missed that opportunity to be part of the community.  We are called to be Christ to each other. How do you allow others to be Christ to you?  When is it hard for you to accept help? What holds you back?  How might the humility to acknowledge that you need Christ, be a source of hope to others? Washing God, you tell us that if we do not allow you to wash us, then we will not be clean. If we do not allow you to serve us, then we have turned a blind eye to our need. Cultivate in us the humility to acknowledge our need, and the wisdom to accept help from those who would be Christ to us. Amen.

April 10 John 19:17-18 So they took Jesus; 17and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 18There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Jesus’ life ended as it began and as he lived it – among the outcasts, the ones looked down on by “respectable people,” among those who needed forgiveness, healing, and resurrection. Among those who need hope and saw none. On this day when we remember Jesus’ death, let us not forget his life, and thus the life we are called to follow him into. Remember the stories about touching the untouchables and feeding the hungry, casting out demons and raising the dead to life. Let us remember the lessons he taught about forgiveness, trust, prayer, and service. Jesus’ didn’t come to die – he came so that we might live – and live abundantly and generously, with a servant’s heart.  How are you living your life with generosity, and a servant’s heart?  Among whom are you living your life?  Where is Christ calling you to go – who is Christ prompting you to encounter?  If those questions are hard to answer – where are the needs?  How will you respond? Living God, we thank you for your life. We thank you for living among us, for showing us what an abundant life looks like, and for calling forth the best from us, so that we might touch others as you have touched us. Amen.

April 11 Jesus died on a Friday. He rose on a Sunday. On Saturday there was silence. Today I have no scripture for you to read, no prayer to pray, just two questions for you as you sit in the silence of this pause between life and death.  What does Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection mean to you?  What will you do with that? Easter Sunday