Musings for Lent 2

Midweek Musings
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Second Sunday in Lent
Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION
Though we sometimes doubt and often resist God's desire to protect and save us, our God persists. In holy baptism, God's people have been called and gathered into a God-initiated relationship that will endure. Lent provides the church with a time and a tradition in which to seek the face of the Lord again. Lent provides another occasion to behold the God of our salvation in the face of the Blessed One who "comes in the name of the Lord."

Prayer of the Day
God of the covenant, in the mystery of the cross you promise everlasting life to the world.
Gather all peoples into your arms, and shelter us with your mercy, that we may rejoice in the life we share in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading Genesis 15:1–12, 17–18
God promises a childless and doubting Abram that he will have a son, that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars, and that the land of Canaan will be their inheritance. Abram's trust in God is sealed with a covenant-making ceremony, a sign of God's promise.

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." 2But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir." 4But the word of the LORD came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir." 5He brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness. 7Then he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess." 8But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?" 9He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. 17When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.

Psalm Psalm 27
In the day of trouble, God will give me shelter. (Ps. 27:5)
1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then | shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I | be afraid?
2When evildoers close in against me to de- | vour my flesh,
they, my foes and my enemies, will stum- | ble and fall.
3Though an army encamp against me, my heart | will not fear.
Though war rise up against me, my trust will | not be shaken.
4One thing I ask of the LORD; one | thing I seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life; to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek God | in the temple.
5For in the day of trouble God will | give me shelter,
hide me in the hidden places of the sanctuary, and raise me high up- | on a rock.
6Even now my head is lifted up above my enemies | who surround me.
Therefore I will offer sacrifice in the sanctuary, sacrifices of rejoicing; I will sing and make music | to the LORD.
7Hear my voice, O LORD, | when I call;
have mercy on me and | answer me.
8My heart speaks your message— | "Seek my face."
Your face, O LORD, | I will seek.
9Hide not your face from me, turn not away from your ser- | vant in anger.
Cast me not away—you have been my helper; forsake me not, O God of | my salvation.
10Though my father and my moth- | er forsake me,
the LORD will | take me in.
11Teach me your | way, O LORD;
lead me on a level path, because of | my oppressors.
12Subject me not to the will | of my foes,
for they rise up against me, false witnesses | breathing violence.
13This I believe—that I will see the goodness | of the LORD
in the land | of the living!
14Wait for the LORD | and be strong.
Take heart and wait | for the LORD!


Second Reading Philippians 3:17—4:1
Although Paul's devotion to Christ has caused him to be persecuted, he does not regret the course he has taken. Writing from prison, he expresses confidence in a glorious future and encourages other Christians to follow in his footsteps.
Chapter 3
17Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.
Chapter 4
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

Gospel Luke 13:31–35
Neither Herod's plotting nor Jerusalem's resistance to maternal love will deter Jesus from his sacrificial mission.

31At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." 32He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' 34Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

REFLECTION
When I encounter Abram in scripture I often tend to be too hard on him. After all, here’s a giant of the faith, a patriarch of Israel and one whose name quickly became know and remains know to this day by the three major faiths. He seems from time to time to whine a bit and maybe I’m too hard on him because he reminds me of me.

Yet, as I read again the section of Genesis assigned for this Sunday I gained a new respect for him all over again. Not once but twice in what appears to be fearless fashion, he confronts God on the reality in which he finds himself after God has made promises that Abram does not see fully realized. I admire someone who is able to stand up for what they believe is right and due them and I’m not sure I could have stood up to God as Abram did.

Why, when I was growing up I had such a fear of God I was afraid at times that God was going to strike me down for what I said or did or thought; not a healthy way to grow in the faith. Abram reminds me again that God is open to and in fact invites us into conversation, even if it is of a confrontational nature.

Lent seems to me to be such a time; to confront God in honesty and openness and engage in the conversations about our understanding of faith and life and God’s work in the world. I know that from time to time we all ask God what the heck God is doing and why and what for and while we don’t get answers we perhaps begin to see within ourselves the discernment we seek.

I encourage people to be honest and open and direct with me, do we think God asks for anything less? Abram is a good model, I want to grow up and be just like him (in some ways).

LET US PRAY
• For those seeking healing and hope
• For a way to find bipartisan support in Congress for those issues that affect the populace of this country
• For the leaders of this congregation, that they might be bold and visionary in their leading.
• For visitors to worship with us and for ourselves, that we might welcome them with open arms, hearts and minds
• That we might be open to growth and change in our ministry and lives

QUOTE
Faith is better understood as a verb than as a noun, as a process than as a possession. It is no-again-off-again rather than once-and-for-all. Faith is not being sure where you’re going but going anyway. A journey without maps. Tillich said that doubt isn’t the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith.

Musings for Lent 1

Sunday, February 21, 2010 First Sunday in Lent

Reflection by Gary Lazenby

INTRODUCTION These forty days called Lent are like no other. It is our opportune time to return to the God who rescues; to receive the gifts of God's grace; to believe with the heart and confess with the mouth the wonder of God's love in Jesus; and to resist temptation at every turn. This is no small pilgrimage on which we have just embarked. It is a struggle Jesus knew. It is a struggle Jesus shares. The nearness of the Lord, in bread and wine, water and word, will uphold and sustain us.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)
O Lord God, you led your people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide us now, so that, following your Son, we may walk safely through the wilderness of this world toward the life you alone can give, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading
Deuteronomy 26:1–11
The annual harvest festival, called the feast of Weeks, provides the setting for this reading. This festival celebrates the first fruits of the produce of the land offered back to God in thanks. In this text, worshipers announce God's gracious acts on behalf of Israel.
When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, 2you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. 3You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, "Today I declare to the LORD your God that I have come into the land that the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us." 4When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the LORD your God, 5you shall make this response before the LORD your God: "A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. 6When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, 7we cried to the LORD, the God of our ancestors; the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. 8The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; 9and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O LORD, have given me." You shall set it down before the LORD your God and bow down before the LORD your God. 11Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house.

Psalm 91:1–2, 9–16
God will give the angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways. (Ps. 91:11)
1You who dwell in the shelter of | the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of | the Almighty--
2you will say to the LORD, "My refuge | and my stronghold,
my God in whom I | put my trust."
9Because you have made the | LORD your refuge,
and the Most High your | habitation,
10no evil | will befall you,
nor shall affliction come | near your dwelling.
11For God will give the angels charge | over you,
to guard you in | all your ways.
12Upon their hands they will | bear you up,
lest you strike your foot a- | gainst a stone.
13You will tread upon the lion | cub and viper;
you will trample down the lion | and the serpent.
14I will deliver those who | cling to me;
I will uphold them, because they | know my name.
15They will call me, and I will | answer them;
I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue and | honor them.
16With long life will I | satisfy them,
and show them | my salvation.

Second Reading
Romans 10:8b–13
Paul reminds the Christians at Rome of the foundation of their creed, the confession of faith in the risen Christ as Lord.
8b "The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Gospel
Luke 4:1–13
After being filled with the Holy Spirit at his baptism, Jesus is led in the wilderness. Through his responses to the temptations of the devil he defines what it means to be called "the Son of God."
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the
wilderness, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." 4Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'" 5Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." 8Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" 9Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' 11and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" 12Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 13When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Reflection
By definition temptation is something that appeals to us. Was Jesus truly tempted? How could the Son of God be tempted by something that is potentially sinful? How can good Christians of today still be subjected to temptation? All of us have certain desires, wants, and needs just like Jesus. These are legitimate and not sinful. How then do they become sinful? The temptation was that Jesus used his miraculous powers to provide for himself. Jesus chose a pattern of life where he would always use his God-given powers for others, never for himself. That tells us something profound about the Spirit-filled life. Do we seek our own advantage? Do we want things for ourselves that others cannot have? Do we use the powers that God has given us – physical, financial, mental, spiritual – for ourselves or for the well-being of others in the community? That is the struggle (the temptation) of today at Atonement. Do we take care of ourselves before others? The direction of the Congregation is clear. Our gifts are to be shared with others. We will not be tempted!

Let us pray for:
People rebuilding Haiti
People who give freely of their time and talents to help others in need
Atonement’s leadership
Leaders of our local, state and national communities
Leaders of the ELCA

Quote:
“I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it.” Mae West