1. family and parenting
2. children

Listening
to the Lord
A Devotional for Lent
2015
New Hope Lutheran Church
Columbia, Maryland
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Easter Sunday commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus
and it was the major celebration among the early Christians.
Easter, however, required a period of preparation, and the 40
days plus Sundays leading up to Easter became known as Lent,
from the Latin word for “spring.” In the early church, candidates for baptism were examined during Lent in preparation
for their baptism at Easter Vigil. Lent was a time for inner purification, penance for past sins, breaking away from sinful habits, laying aside anger and hatred, almsgiving, and reconciliation with God.
For us today, in the midst of our hectic days, we need to
pause and take stock of our lives the same way our Christian
sisters and brothers did so many years ago. We need to tune
in to God again. As ashes mark our foreheads, as we fast, as
we pray, we relive Christ’s suffering and death — his sacrifice
for us. We also remember that we have been reconciled, we
have been purified by the grace of God the Father and by the
sacrifice of his son.
This devotional booklet can be a guide to help us focus on
the true meaning of the season. As we read each passage,
prepared by our friends at New Hope, we share in their deepest expressions of faith and we become closer to God. As we
express repentance and as we reflect on our own faith journey, we will also hear God speak to us of the treasures of his
grace: rebirth, hope, love, peace, and forgiveness.
With thanks to all those who have participated in the preparation of this booklet and to all those who will keep it with
them during this Lenten season, peace….
Jim Rossi
Chair, Education Ministry
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18
ISAIAH 40: 27-31
Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the
Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God?” Have you not known? Have
you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the
earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will
faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for
the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Many years ago in a land far far away, I experienced in
many ways the worst year of my life and the best year of my
life. Within a few months time, I got a divorce, lost my home
because of that divorce, changed jobs, and lost my father. It
was a time of heartache, devastation, and loneliness. I felt as
though the weight of the world was on my shoulders and it
would never go away. I started to feel pretty numb. Kind of
felt abandoned by God. I still went to church; in fact I changed
churches and went back to the church where I grew up, but it
was not the same that I remembered.
Eventually, I started to get feeling back in my life. The divorce was finalized, I bought a new home, the new job was going well, and my mother was learning to adjust without Dad in
her life.
Looking back, I’m kind of amazed that I was able to get
through this period in my life as well as I did. Then I realize
that it had very little to do with me and everything to do with
God. I had turned my back on God and tried to go it alone instead of turning it all over to him. Dragging all that baggage
behind me and feeling sorry for myself, it never occurred to
me that God was there all along – carrying me when I couldn’t
go it on my own, a “Footprints In The Sand” kind of thing.
I think that’s what Isaiah is telling the people of Israel. As
captives in Babylon they’re complaining that they have been
forgotten by God. Isaiah reminds them that although God is
the creator of the entire universe, he “…does not faint or
grow weary…”, and “He gives power to the faint, and
strengthens the powerless.”
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Oh, and why was this in a way the best year of my life?
Well, I met Cyndy.
God, we thank you for always being there when we are weary
and faint and in times of heartaches. We thank you for being
there when we mistakenly think we have been abandoned.
Please help us to hear your word in both the best and worst of
times. Amen.
Perry Anderson
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19
PSALM 25:1-10
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be
put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. Do not let those who wait
for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your
truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day
long. Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they
have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake,
O Lord! Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the
paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his
covenant and his decrees.
This psalm is attributed to King David. As I read it, verses 6
and 7 stood out as most applicable to the Lenten season, although the entire passage certainly applies as well. David asks
God to remember His mercy and steadfast love, and to forget
David’s sins. During Lent, we focus on preparing for Jesus’
crucifixion and resurrection. This preparation includes examining our thoughts and intentions for anything that falls short of
what God wants for us. When we turn away from these attitudes and ask God to help us improve and be more like Him,
He will lead us in what is right, if we humble ourselves to Him
(as seen in verses 4, 5, and 8 through 10.)
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Many people think of “sin” as “the big stuff” – murder or
theft or adultery – but there are so many small ways that we
sin each day: angrily cutting people off in traffic, or being too
proud to admit we were wrong, or envying others for what
they own. Jesus died just as much for our “little” sins as for
the big ones. His mercy and steadfast love were offered for us
on the cross – the answer to King David’s prayer.
Merciful God, You have redeemed our sins by sending Your Son
to the cross. You have forgotten our transgressions. Help us to
remember Your steadfast love and to walk in the paths You
have laid out for us. Amen.
Liz Bowman
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20
ISAIAH 58:6-9A
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo
the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into
your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself
from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your
healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of
the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.
Fast – a sacred time when Christians abstain from food and
take time to focus on God. We need to humble ourselves before Him. Prayer and confession become major components
of fasting - humbling ourselves to ask forgiveness from God
and forgiving those who have hurt us are all intricate parts of
fasting. Meditation on the Gospel will strengthen our awareness of how God acts and reacts in our lives.
You may feel that the Holy Spirit calls you to a specific type
of fast. Customs have changed and now we have more options. It was a custom to give up something important for the
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time of Lent. It has been a custom for me to add a special
stitching project during the forty days of Lent. This takes time
away from my daily routine and makes me aware of the talent
I have been given and to use it to His Glory. The project is
worked on during Lent and then stored away till the next year.
I just finished “The Beatitudes,” which took me three years to
do. I have found that adding something for my Lenten journey
makes me more aware of the place God – Father, Son and Holy
Spirit – plays in my life.
We each need to evaluate what role Lent plays in our lives
and then select an appropriate sacrifice to pursue during our
Lenten journey. We need to remember that in time of trouble
and celebration we just need to cry for help. And He will answer, “Here I am.”
Gracious God, our Lenten journey is underway and we have you
in the center of it. Lead us these next forty days to worship and
praise you by reading your word and meditating on how it
works in our lives. Help us to gain understanding of the world
around us. We pray for God’s will to be done and for guidance
from the Holy Spirit. We ask you to lead us in spreading Your
Glory into the world we live in. We thank you for all you have
created. We pray that your guidance will lead us to be a blessing to those we meet. We ask all this in the name of Your Son,
Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Patricia Ploeger
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21
GENESIS 9:8-13
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ‘As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every
living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every
animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my
covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a
flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’ God said,
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‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every
living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in
the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
When we think of Noah’s ark, we think of cute little animals, a dive and the joyful moment when Noah and his family
get to leave the ark. It’s a story we tell to kids so it’s supposed
to have a clean, happy ending. But the truth is that the world
after a flood is messy. It’s covered in mud. And for Noah and
his family, walking off that ark meant walking into a world
where everything they knew and trusted had been washed
away.
In that moment God speaks his words from Genesis. When
there was nothing left, God spoke about a covenant - a solemn
promise that the waters would never consume the world
again. God promised to hold back the waters from destroying
all life.
At the church I served for internship, whenever the pastor
prayed over the waters before a baptism, he spoke the words,
“The floods will not overwhelm us and the deep shall not swallow us up, for Christ has brought us over the land of promise.”
The promise that God gives to Noah comes to us again in baptism. Our God promises that no matter what struggles and
pain we face in this life, Jesus has a grip on us that is stronger
than death. And there are times when this promise from the
one who is desperately faithful to us is all we have to hold onto. Thanks be to God they are the words of One whose promise we can trust.
Faithful God, as Julian of Norwich wrote, “We are not promised
that we will never be distressed or never troubled; but we have
been promised that we will never be overcome.” Give us the
strength to rest in this promise so that we have the strength to
follow you without fear. Amen.
Laura Sinche, campus pastor at UMBC and Towson University.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22
JOB 5: 8-16
As for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause. He
does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number. He
gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; he sets on high those
who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. He frustrates the
devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He takes the wise
in their own craftiness; and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick
end. They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope at noonday as in the
night. But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth, from the hand of
the mighty. So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
I think that this verse means that you can find God all over
the world and he will answer your prayers regardless of how
big or small your needs are. It also means that he will serve justice to everyone and demolish injustice. He will help those
who are suffering and annoy those who try to deceive people.
It means he will punish those who are scheming and twist
their plots so that it backfires on them and he will make sure
that people who are suffering will suffer no more and get the
ultimate justice, for today is the day of justice.
Glorious Lord, thank you for giving me all that I need and thank
you, for helping those that are less fortunate than me. Amen.
Lani Boschulte
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23
GENESIS 15:1-6
After these things happened, the Lord spoke his word to Abram in a vision: “Abram, don’t be afraid. I will defend you, and I will give you a great reward.” But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me? I have no son, so
my slave Eliezer from Damascus will get everything I own after I die.” Abram
said, “Look, you have given me no son, so a slave born in my house will inherit
everything I have.” Then the Lord spoke his word to Abram: “He will not be the
one to inherit what you have. You will have a son of your own who will inherit
what you have.” Then God led Abram outside and said, “Look at the sky.
There are so many stars you cannot count them. Your descendants also will be
too many to count.” Abram believed the Lord. And the Lord accepted Abram’s
faith, and that faith made him right with God.
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Abram believed the Lord, and so his faith makes God’s
promise a source of real expectation for an heir. As we know,
God kept His promise to Abram in the gift of a son named
Isaac who would legitimately inherit all of Abram’s property.
The fact that Abram had to choose faith in God’s promise of a
son over his natural fear of surrendering all his lands to his
slave Eliezer is a reminder to all of us that faith is in many cases
a matter of choice as much as it is an indication of God’s grace
operating in our lives. To overcome fear of disappointment
and wait patiently for God’s promises to be kept is no easy
task. All of us succumb to fear, anxiety, and doubt when circumstances and obstacles cloud our deepest hopes for our
dreams to come true. Staying steady in our faith while waiting
for God to keep His promises takes real belief in God’s goodness and generosity. Such faith can only be maintained with
daily prayer and confession for our shortcomings as impatient
and selfish mortals.
Dear Jesus, may God bless us with the faith of Abram so that
we may live to see that God’s promises are always kept for
those who believe that nothing is impossible for Him. Amen.
Sangeetha Struck
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24
GENESIS 17:1-7
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram,
and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I
will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly
numerous.” Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, “As for me, this
is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations.
No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I
have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I
will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you
throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you
and to your offspring after you.”
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As I read this text today, it shows that God is establishing a
covenant, which became necessary because of the sin that occurred in the Garden of Eden. I envision an authoritative and
angry God because he tells Abram that he will now be called
Abraham and God makes it clear what He expects. God is not
pleased, but, being a loving God, he provides guidance for his
expectations. Later in the chapter God introduces the covenant of circumcision and informs Abraham about his future life
with Sarah.
As I think about how this covenant applies to our current
lives, I believe we are very fortunate that God was patient then
so we could have a chance to honor His wishes now, and that
God allowed us to be saved by sacrificing His only Son.
Loving God, thank you for your covenant in Abraham’s day and
thank you for allowing us to love You now and for your generous love in return. Amen.
Lance Ernst
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25
ROMANS 4:20-25
No distrust made him [Abraham] waver concerning the promise of God,
but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced
that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,”
were written not for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us
who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was handed
over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.
The beginning of this passage reminds us that, despite any
struggles and doubts that Abraham may have experienced in
his life, his faith in God never failed. His faith was beyond just
optimism and positive thinking. He didn’t just think God would
fulfill His promise, he knew God would fulfill His promise. His
faith actually grew stronger!
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Paul tells us that this message of faith is for all of us. How
can we take this message and make it our own? How can we
live Abraham’s model of faith in our lives today? The season of
Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect on our spiritual
life. We can strengthen our practice of prayer, serve others, or
sacrifice some of the ‘first world’ comforts we enjoy. It’s no
mistake that New Hope’s monthly GIFT event stands for Growing in Faith Together. It’s a wonderful venue for learning and
growing with others in our faith community. I consider those
Friday nights as part of my journey to grow closer to God.
What can you do today to grow your faith?
Dear God, help us to know a faith as strong as Abraham’s.
Guide us in our lives and we strive to grow closer to You. Amen.
Lois Bailey
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26
MARK 1: 9-11, 14&15
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by
John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the
heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice
came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good
news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has
come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
Thinking about Jesus calling the people of Galilee saying,
“The time is fulfilled,” I had an image of a mother calling to her
children, “Dinner is ready, come and get it!” Just like the
mother who calls her children to the table reminds them to
wash their hands, Jesus asks us to prepare to take in this gift.
But unlike the mother calling her children, it is Jesus who is doing the washing. He tells us to prepare by repenting, taking
note of the ways in which we are unclean and broken and in
need of being made pure and whole. Why? I suspect it is be-
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cause it is only through our recognition of our failings that we
can recognize the feast before us. This is no ordinary meal. It
is a great feast. Christ is serving forgiveness of sins, acceptance and love. We can come just as we are - unclean. Such
accept-ance is truly an amazing gift, made all the more amazing when we realize just how broken we are. Most people we
know want us to wash up, clean our hands, and dust off the
dirt from our shoes to be accepted. But Jesus is willing to truly
accept us.
Christ is also serving God’s word at the feast. He invites
the people of Galilee to follow him on an incredible journey
where he guides them to recognize what fruits they should be
tasting and what temptations to avoid. Despite what we
might think, our needs for food, water, shelter, and other
worldly things are not the most basic. Our need for connection is in fact more basic and much stronger. Jesus’ teachings
help us to understand that we will be more satisfied if we
avoid the earthly treasures of money, power, and prestige and
instead seek a diet of love, connection and relatedness. He
helps us see that by loving God with all our heart and loving
our neighbors as ourselves, we are invited into delectable
sweetness: communion with others, a life of meaning and purpose, and a way to maintain our wholeness.
During this time of Lent, let us prepare for this wondrous
feast that is ready and waiting so that we may truly enjoy its
splendidness.
Heavenly Father, help us to prepare for your wondrous feast
that we may truly know its goodness. Guide us in the
knowledge of your word, so that we may learn how to grant
the blessing of acceptance to others. Amen.
Kathy Glyshaw
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27
MATTHEW 4: 1-11
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by
the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was
famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written,
“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the
mouth of God.” ‘
Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of
the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for
it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you”, and “On their
hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a
stone.” ’ Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God
to the test.” ‘
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, ‘All these I will
give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with
you, Satan! for it is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” ’
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
This passage relates a pivotal moment in the life and ministry of Jesus as he faces one of his first great trials. Matthew
purposefully places this passage directly after Christ’s baptism
and immediately before the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. The
story clearly illustrates the humanity of Jesus. Like us, he could
be tempted; and like us, those temptations came when he was
at his most vulnerable. He was led into the wilderness by the
Spirit to be tempted by Satan. During those 40 days and 40
nights, he was tired, hungry, and weak, prompting the devil to
use that time to take advantage of Jesus’ mortal weaknesses.
But unlike us, Jesus was also divine. At his baptism, God said
“This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased.” So we could
believe that anything Jesus may have wanted, he could have
had.
To tempt Jesus, Satan took verses out of the Bible to serve
his agenda. However, when Satan offered Jesus bread, Jesus
showed that we instead live by the Word. When Satan asked
him to prove God’s love, Jesus showed that it’s not through
testing God that we show our love for him but through our
faith. When Satan offered him earthly riches, Jesus showed
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that we are not put on Earth to serve ourselves, but God
alone.
During this period of Lent, we must remember Jesus’ ability to remain faithful in weakness and seek to do the same.
Just as Jesus did, we can use the scripture as a weapon to defeat temptation in our daily lives.
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son as an example
of faithfulness in times of temptation. Help us to remember
that especially in our times of weakness, you are always with
us. In those times, send us the Spirit to guide us with your
Word. Amen.
The Young Adult Bible Study Group
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
MARK 8:27-30
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on
the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist”; and others, “Elijah”; and still others, “One of
the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell
anyone about him.
“Who do you say that I am?” For too many years, I defined
myself by who others thought I was. I let their opinions, positive or negative, influence my own sense of who I was, what I
deserved, and what I was capable of. I think many people can
relate to this, including (and maybe especially) those who are
young. Sadly, that holds us back from being who God created
us to be.
Guess what? They don’t get to do that!
It took me more years than I care to admit to realize that I
can define myself differently. What matters is who God says I
am. As I have matured in my faith, I have come to realize that I
have absolutely no doubt “who I am and whose I am”…
I am a beloved child of God!
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While Jesus wanted to keep his identity quiet, for obvious
reasons, we, as his followers, should be displaying our Christian identity through our actions and attitudes. Matthew 5:15
tells us: 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a
bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify
your Father in heaven.
In this Lenten season, instead of giving up things like chocolate or cookies, let’s give up some of the things that hold us
back from being the true people God created us to be! “Who
do you say I am?” A beloved child of God!
Dear Lord, thank you for making each one of us a spectacular,
shining light in your world. Please help us to give up what
holds us back from doing Your work in the world, and to confidently embrace our identity as your children. Amen.
Marla Stahl
SUNDAY, MARCH 1
MARK 8:34-37
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to
become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and
follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who
lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what
will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what
can they give in return for their life?
Sigh... this is generally my first reaction upon reading or
hearing these verses. It just sounds like such a burden, and
one I'm not really feeling up to right now, thank you very
much. Here is Jesus saying, deny yourself and take up your
cross if you want to follow me. My mind jumps to the idiom of
having “a cross to bear” which is generally understood to
mean an unpleasant situation or responsibility that you must
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accept because you cannot change it. Wonderful, yet another
necessary duty, one that responsible Christians must accept
because we are Christians and this is what we do.
So, is Jesus offering us a chance to sign up for a lifetime of
suffering and denial of worldly comforts? Perhaps instead,
when I step back a bit and really listen to the words, I can hear
something else. I can hear Jesus inviting us just as we are, our
imperfect and unique selves, to join him in serving others, to
share the gospel and the good news that Christ brings. This is
an invitation to serve, not a call to suffer. If we devote our energies and place value solely on worldly things, we miss out on
what is important, what really matters. We have an opportunity to be a witness to the truth, to the love and eternal salvation that God offers each and every one of us.
Jesus does not tell us that following him is all fun and
games; indeed there probably will be suffering along the way this isn't easy stuff. Jesus doesn't promise easy. Instead, he
gives us complete love, joy and eternal life. Surely that is a gift
worth sharing.
Dear Lord, thank you for your patient love and gentle teaching.
Help us to be open to your words, to hear and share the truth of
the gospel and recognize the gift of grace. Amen.
Kara O’Ryan
MONDAY, MARCH 2
1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-25
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will
destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will
thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For
since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God
decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim
Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to
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those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and
the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and
God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
While researching this passage, I came across a quote from
Richard Carlson, a professor at Lutheran Theological Seminary
in Gettysburg, which I just love. He says, “The cross is a lousy
marketing tool.”
When you think about it, he’s completely right! The cross
was a punishment, and the people who were crucified on it
were bad, weak and shamed. Yet Paul used the story of Jesus
crucified on the cross, calling it the power of God, as a selling
point to convert people to Christianity. Why would anyone
decide to convert after hearing this ridiculous story?
Because the people who have received the Spirit of God
can recognize that this story is an example of God’s working in
the world, which is the opposite of human working.
We sinful humans had created a world of social classes, hierarchy, injustice and mistreatment of neighbors, and while
we were at it, we also decided upon certain ways that we
would get to know God - Jews through signs and Greeks
through their own reasoning - and God decided to destroy all
of that.
Coming to us in a manger and being crucified on the cross
demonstrates that God considers human divisions of Jew vs.
Greek, Free vs. Slave, and all the rest as foolishness. He embarrasses our efforts by using what we think of as weakness to
show his strength. Those of us who can recognize this point
are truly called to be disciples and proclaim the true wisdom.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us your Spirit, that
we may recognize the wisdom of your work on the cross. Help
us to recognize our own foolishness and send us to the cross. In
Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.
Erin Myers
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TUESDAY, MARCH 3
HEBREWS 11:1-3
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things
not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen
was made from things that are not visible.
Having devoted much of my life to the science of Medicine,
my thinking has been governed by the five senses. I know
there is an infection since I see the wound. I hear the heart
murmur. I feel the enlarged spleen. I smell acetone on the
breath. But…I have not seen God and yet I know he is there.
How can that be? So many people say that if they can’t see it
they can’t believe it. How, then, can I believe without proof?
Ah…so this is faith - the connector that ties the truth of
what we can see with what we cannot. I have faith. Though I
have not seen God, all of his creation that I can see offers
proof of his existence. Faith involves assurance and conviction
concerning things not visible; in other words, it gives substance to and proof of those things. The things that are the
objects of our hope are the objects of our faith. The passage
goes on in later verses to cite many examples.
Faith is taking a step into the unknown. Faith is trust. Faith
is a power, a power that brings miracles and joy into one’s life.
Something mysterious happens to us when we find something
to believe in. Faith brings about and replaces feelings of inadequacy, confusion, and pain. Faith is the opposite of fear. The
more we strengthen our faith, the closer we feel to God, the
more he speaks to us, and the more we are cleansed.
How can we “get” faith? We can draw closer to God, get
to know God, surrender to him, and do his will. We can pray and
get to know him in prayer. We can study. We can look for God
in the woods and mountains and at the ocean, and in the wind
and sunset. We can recognize the many blessings and gifts he
has given each one of us. We Christians profess that we have
been saved by faith; now that faith can be what we live by every day.
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Dear God, we thank you for all the gifts you have poured on us.
Through your Spirit please continue to show us the way, giving
us hope, and through your Word guiding us in strengthening
our faith each day. Amen.
Jim Rossi
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
MATTHEW 9: 9-13
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the
tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed
him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners
came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this,
they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and
sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of
a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire
mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’
Once again Jesus throws the Scriptures right back at the
Pharisees, quoting the prophet Hosea (6:6). When I read passages like this, I revel in Jesus’ zingers at the expense of the
(self-) righteous Pharisees. Take that!
And yet, how often do I also judge the “otherness” of others? How often do I prejudge based on a person’s appearance,
occupation or status? What is the modern equivalent of the
Roman tax collector? Slumlord? Payday lender? Drug dealer?
Or something much more understated? People who hold
different beliefs, ideologies?
And what’s wrong with being righteous? Don’t we all
strive to be “morally upright” and “virtuous”? Don’t those
who keep their minds and bodies “healthy” - and don’t need
the physician - deserve even a “good job” or “way to go”? Jesus is a master at knocking us off our pedestals - essentially
saying that we can always do better; that we need to maintain
humility in the face of praise, a “can-do-more” spirit in the face
of complacency.
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Dear Lord, give me the strength to keep an open mind and an
open heart; to accept others even when they seem unacceptable; to strive for inclusion over exclusion; to remain humble in
your service; and to adhere to the spirit of Jesus’ teachings. I
ask for this in your name. Amen.
Dave Riddler
THURSDAY, MARCH 5
JOHN 12:36-43
“While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become
children of light.” After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.
Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “Lord,
who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been
revealed?” And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said, “He has
blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not look with
their eyes, and understand with their heart and turn—and I would heal them.”
Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him. Nevertheless
many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees
they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue;
for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God.
Faith is a gift from God; you cannot learn to believe. You
must seek the light or belief when it becomes apparent to you.
It is easy to see the stupidity and the pure egoism that the
Pharisees show, particularly in John’s Gospel, toward Jesus
and his message. They are too worried about retaining their
power, and others are too worried about what people will
think. I sometimes wonder if I would have believed if I heard
Jesus or would I have sided with the Jewish authorities and
hold my tongue? Would I have been one to call for him to be
put to death a little later in the week because he threatened
my station in life? I hope and pray that I would not be that
man.
It is easy to be in church on Sunday and be in a group of
believers and say I have faith, but what is my faith like when I
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am in the world? Do I always look for the light and become a
child of the light? No, I struggle on a daily basis with faith, and
sometimes I fall into darkness, but I pray to be brought back
into the light and have a little faith for this day. I pray on a daily basis to improve my conscious contact with God - through
Christ. He has given us the gifts of faith and grace so that I am
able to continue to grow daily in faith, for without him I believe the world would be dark, but through him I can have light
and hope. Thanks be to God!
Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of your Son and his magnificent grace and forgiveness that allows me to follow his light,
even when distracted by the world. Thank you for allowing me
to recognize the Light working in my life and the promise of life
eternal with you. Amen.
Bill Thomas
FRIDAY, MARCH 6
REVELATION 21: 3-4
And 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; 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.”
This passage from the book of Revelation is mainly symbolic, as is most of the book of Revelation. It depicts God’s grace
flowing from heaven, which is the fulfillment of God’s love, so
that only the things that we cherish: love, friendship, joy,
hope, will remain.
The first part of this reading is meant to show the fact that
God is the Alpha and the Omega, and all of the power resides
with God, hence the “voice from the throne,” a common depiction of God’s power. The next section explains how much
God loves us, for we are truly God’s chosen people, and “he
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will dwell with them; and they will be his peoples, and God
himself will be with them.” The final section shows that in
God, all things will be made good, so that grief, misery, and
death shall fade away, for the love of us! As explained in verse
four, “he will wipe away every tear… death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more.”
As you go through Lent, think about how this passage
shows God’s love for you. And instead of the tradition to give
something up, do something extra to show God’s love to others.
A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis
From The Lutheran Book of Worship
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there
is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is
despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is
sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be
loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are
born to eternal life. Amen.
Erik Mechtel
SATURDAY, MARCH 7
MARK 9: 2-8
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led
them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth
could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were
talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here;
let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ He
did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed
them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved;
listen to him!’ Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them
anymore, but only Jesus.
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Little did I know when I was invited to write a Lenten Devotional that the assigned Bible verse would remind me about a
powerful experience that I had about 12 years ago at a New
Hope function.
While researching Mark 9: 2-8, I learned that the Transfiguration of Jesus is an episode in the New Testament narrative
in which Jesus is transfigured. The Transfiguration is one of
the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels, and it is one of the 5 major milestones in the gospel narrative of the life of Jesus - the
others being Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension.
In Christian teachings the Transfiguration is a pivotal moment,
and this verse refers to when human nature meets God.
Several years ago New Hope had a Parish Nurse and she
arranged a meeting for people who were interested in walking
a Labyrinth. At this meeting she provided a template that was
printed on a lightweight rug as well as instructions. About 20
people were in attendance. The Labyrinth was large enough
for 3 or 4 people to walk at the same time. While walking the
Labyrinth, you could pray a prayer of your selection or one
that was targeted to a particular intention. During my walk I
was silently reciting The Lord's Prayer.
About halfway through my walk I started feeling a little unusual, almost like I was not present in a room with others or in
any room at all. It is difficult to describe, but an overwhelming
sense of peacefulness came over me. And then...Jesus spoke
to me. He said quite clearly, “Have No Fear, My Child.” He
continued to speak these words until I finished my walk.
It was an awesomely powerful experience and for a long
time I felt like I was in a state of grace. When this happened I
think I told the Parish Nurse, but until this writing I have not
shared this experience with anyone else.
Oh Lord, please help me to walk in your way, hold to your truth,
live with your power and always remember to "Have No Fear."
Amen.
Sandra Payne
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SUNDAY, MARCH 8
PSALM 51:1-12:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to
your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from
my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and
my sin is ever before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what
is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless
when you pass judgment. Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother
conceived me. You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me,
and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones
that you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my
iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit
within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your
holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me
a willing spirit.
Life is a journey, not a destination. We are always growing
and changing, making mistakes and learning. We are never
‘finished.’ Part of our journey as Christians is continuing to reflect on our actions and continuing to ask forgiveness. All of
our sins are ultimately against God, and only God’s forgiveness
is great enough to not only wipe the slate clean, but to give us
a brand new slate. Jesus loved us enough to forfeit his life. All
we need is to humble ourselves enough to ask for that which
has already been given.
Lord Jesus, every day is a brand new chance to walk more closely with you. Forgive my mistakes from yesterday, and help me
take full advantage of the opportunities today brings. Amen.
Colleen Vernon
MONDAY, MARCH 9
EZEKIEL 37:27
My dwelling-place shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they
shall be my people.
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When God states “My dwelling-place also shall be with
them,” he is stating that we are His followers and part of His
tribe, gang, club, and, more importantly, a part of his family.
When He states “they shall be my people” He is accepting us
as His followers and Him as our leader. He is claiming us as
part of His family, which is extraordinary since He knows how
bad we can be as followers. This is God’s way of accepting us
even with all our flaws. When a brigade listens to and follows
the example of an exemplary leader, they tend to stay strong,
safe, and successful.
God is the greatest leader of all time! He leads by example
through His grace, forgiveness, love, and sacrifice. This is how
God wants us to act. He wants us to be able to forgive someone who stole our car and left it on the side of the road
stripped for parts. He wants us to love our neighbors as ourselves even if they leave their dog’s poop in our yard. He
wants us to love our sister even when she verbally abuses our
parents and uses them as an ATM well into her 40’s. These are
very common issues prevalent in our blessed lives. These examples of how we are wronged every day are not important in
the whole scheme of things.
A lot of the times we forget that God is our leader and that
we should follow His example. However, we tend to hold
grudges, gossip, and think about revenge for how we have
been done wrong. We need to take a step back and look at
the big picture. As most people do, I tend to forget the real
purpose of life and get caught up in the daily grind of life. I put
too much attention on the little details and forget that God
has accepted us through His pure grace and love. I know that I
need to be more appreciative of all the blessings He has given
all of us. God filled us with power and a sound mind; not with
fear and confusion. God gave us life so that we can experience love, peace, happiness, friendship, success, fulfillment,
laughter, praise, knowledge, beauty, appreciation, individuality, creativity, strength, optimism, forgiveness, and so much
more. We tend to let our ego and pride drive us to resent-
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ment, anger, selfishness, and self-pity. Let’s put down the ego
and gather up all the life experiences God has to offer!
Dear God, please allow me to put down my pride and listen to
my heart. I want to follow you through thought, word, and
deed. Thank you so much for all you have given me and thank
you for allowing me to be a member of your tribe. I would be
nothing without your grace and love. Thank you for being my
leader in life! Amen.
Shelly Walrath
TUESDAY, MARCH 10
PSALM 84:1-4
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed
it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the
living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my
God. Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.
So many of us judge each other by our houses and possessions - who has the biggest house, nicest yard, best man-cave,
etc. I have to admit that I am one of those people, too. I take
great pride in the home we have built for our family. After all,
home is the one place where you can truly be yourself and feel
safe. Psalm 84 tells us that Home is God’s house and the comfort and acceptance found there is unmatched. “Happy are
those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.” We
are all so blessed to be invited to God’s house, a place that
brings comfort right down to your bones. I would rather
spend one day in God’s house, praising him, than any amount
of time anywhere else.
As we contemplate and pray during this Lenten season, let
us all try to make our homes more like God’s house, where all
are accepted and made comfortable and safe.
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Dear Lord, during this season of Lent, we thank you for opening
your house to all. Help us to prepare our hearts and our homes
so that we may be like Christ in our acceptance of others. In
Your name, we pray. Amen.
Josie Zayac
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11
NUMBERS 21:4-9
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the
land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke
against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to
die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this
miserable food.” Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people,
and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you;
pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the
people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on
a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a
serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
As you read this passage today,
What word or phrase strikes you, and where does it take you?
What touched your heart with hope or fear?
What is God calling us to be, to do, and to tell?
Gracious God, thank you for your Word. Help us to have open
minds and open hearts so that we may be guided by the Holy
Spirit. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 12
MARK 11:15-19
Then 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; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the
temple. He 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.” And 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. And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
Jesus is undeniably angry when he sees the temple full of
merchants, buyers and moneychangers. It’s a reminder to not
have the church operate like a business and to not let the
church be unduly influenced by the forces of money, advertising and powerful corporations. It’s also reminder to keep a
special place in our lives set aside for worship and prayer, and
to maintain a safe place for our spiritual lives to grow and
thrive. That means having a comfortable physical space that
limits distractions and facilitates prayer, worship, contemplation and the type of discernment that our congregation is focusing on in this Lenten season. That’s one of the reasons
New Hope started its BERT committee to explore ways to best
use our building.
This lesson also reminds us to reserve time in our busy
schedules for the things that are most important to us, including God and faith. It’s very easy for everyday tasks and less
important things to soak up almost all of our time and attention. When we consciously and deliberately allocate our time,
attention and physical space in a way that aligns with our priories, it can make us happier and strengthen our relationship
with God.
Dear Lord, thank you for the many blessings of our church
building, including running water, heat, a clean and beautiful
sanctuary, and the fellowship that fills these rooms. Help us to
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always remember to reserve space and time to nurture our
faith and worship you, free from the distractions of commerce
and materialism. In Jesus name, we praise you and trust you.
Amen.
Leah and Scott Shepherd
FRIDAY, MARCH 13
EPHESIANS 1: 7 -14
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will,
according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an
administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of
all things in Christ’s things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also,
we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His
purpose, who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we
who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him
you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—
having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of
God’s own possession to the praise of His glory.
In this letter to the Ephesians, and to us as Christians, we
are reminded of the sacrifice that Christ made for us. Through
his blood, our forgiveness was and is granted. We don’t like to
think about bloody sacrifices. Thinking about horrific beatings
and murders make us cringe. Hearing about beheadings, or
seeing news footage of torture, can be nauseating. We cannot modify the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, however, even when
we dress it up on Sunday mornings. Christ suffered and died
because of us. It was a bloody beating and an excruciating
death. The horror that it was all done to an innocent man
makes us shiver and shudder. God’s plan, as mysterious as it
was and is, had a long-term view. Our insurance policy has
been paid because of it, and our inheritance is now secure.
We are able to draw on this account wherever and whenever
we want it. We don’t need a notary or a lawyer to check out
our identity, or a witness to check our worthiness. All we need
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is to go for it, to believe in it, to use it and to give God the glory.
Our Lord Jesus Christ does not want us to wallow in his
death, but to believe in his life. No matter what sins we have
committed that brought Jesus to his knees, we know that God
believes that His life, suffering and death was worth it. Talk
about a love that passes all human understanding. Wow!
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me,
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.”
Dear Father in Heaven, We may not ever understand why you
would commit your only son to die for us, but we thank you for
this gift. It is a gift beyond all gifts. It is a gift that you promised
from the beginning of time. It is a gift that we can never repay,
but we give you thanks and glory for it. Amen.
Darleen Butler
SATURDAY, MARCH 14
EPHESIANS 2:4-10
But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us
even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with
Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated
us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come
he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in
Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not
your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one
may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good
works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
“It’s all about that grace, that grace…. You know it’s all
about that grace…”
You can hear it, can’t you?
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My apologies for putting that refrain in your head (we’ve
all had a song play on a loop in our brains, welcome or not).
But, it really is all about that grace. By grace we have been
saved. It is not our doing; it is the most generous, irrational,
amazing gift ever given to us. As Lutherans, by upbringing or
by recent decision, we speak the language that began the
Protestant Reformation, and know that we are saved by this
gift of grace. It’s not anything we’ve done; it’s God’s gift to us.
Amazing grace, indeed.
The grammarian in me would say that there’s a matter of
verb tense here: It’s not what we have done, but what we are
to do. We don’t earn grace because we have done things
which make us worthy or good enough. Rather, we’re saved
by God’s gift of grace, and we are to act through faith in Jesus
Christ to do good things, simply as our way of life.
Perhaps a different refrain should be on that loop we hear
in our heads, from Richard Mullins’ “Screen Door.”
“Faith without works is like a song you can’t sing
It’s about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.”
Lord, help us remember that all that we are, have, and can be is
a gift from you. Help us to remember the good works to which
we have been called, and to act in the fullness of our faith in
you. Amen!
Diane Batchik
SUNDAY, MARCH 15
JOHN 3: 14-17
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son
of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not
send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world
might be saved through him.
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The bronze serpent on a staff fashioned by Moses in the
Book of Numbers was an instrument of healing. When God
sent poisonous serpents among the Israelites in the wilderness, those who were bitten were saved through their faith by
looking up to the symbol that God provided.
Jesus indicates that his sacrifice will serve a similar purpose, bringing salvation to those who look to him in faith. But
whereas the Israelites were saved in body alone, those who
look to Christ are assured of a spiritual and eternal salvation.
The image of the symbol employed by Moses, later used in
Greek mythology to represent healing and the medical arts,
survived through the ages and continues to carry the same
meaning in its association with medicine in our own culture
today. Called the Rod of Asclepius by the Greeks, it’s interesting to consider the effect it had on Hades, lord of the underworld in Greek myth. Annoyed that those expected to enter
his realm through death could no longer be counted on to do
so, he sought the intervention of Zeus to restore his power.
Jesus’s sacrifice presents the same threat to the power of
darkness in our lives, with one significant difference: God’s
promise – the gift of His love and the gift of his only Son – is
eternal and irrevocable.
Lord, we thank you for the promise of salvation made possible
through the sacrifice of your Son. Help us recognize that the
gift of your love and grace becomes more valuable when we
share it with others. Amen.
Berkheimer Family
MONDAY, MARCH 16
EXODUS 15: 22 – 27
Then Moses ordered Israel to set out from the Red Sea, and they went into
the wilderness of Shur. They went for three days in the wilderness and found
no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah
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because it was bitter. That is why it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’ He cried out to the
Lord; and the Lord showed him a piece of wood; he threw it into the water,
and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and an
ordinance and there he put them to the test. He said, ‘If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and give
heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will not bring upon you
any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who
heals you.’ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water
and seventy palm trees; and they camped there by the water.
During Lent we think about Jesus’ time in the wilderness
seeking the path God prepared for him. Wilderness is a theme
throughout the Bible. Often it is a period of deprivation making humans realize how much we need to depend on the power of God and not ourselves to extract us from a situation and
move our lives forward. In this passage we see the Israelites
who have escaped from Pharaoh in a harrowing adventure.
They are elated (think of Miriam’s song) by the Exodus but
now find they must enter the wilderness of Shur to move forward in their journey to the Promised Land. After three days
with no new source of water, the Israelites panic and complain
to Moses. Then Moses appeals to God for help. When they do
find water at Marah, it is undrinkable! Again, Moses looks to
God and is shown a solution to restore the water as refreshment to the people and animals.
Then, as a foreshadowing of Moses’ Mt. Sinai experience
and the gift of the Ten Commandments, God proffers the Israelites a proposal: if they “will listen carefully to the voice of
The Lord your God” and develop a way of life following God’s
statutes, the Israelites will not be subjected to the same miseries the Egyptians experienced. “For I am The Lord who heals
you."
I have come to the realization that “heal” and “cure” are
not the same thing. And note when God promises not to inflict the same plagues as the Egyptians endured, there is no
promise of lives free from hardship! In fact in their sojourn in
the wilderness many difficulties will occur. And their escape
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from Egypt and journeying to places of no water indicates immediately that God will not prevent the Israelites from enduring scary, painful experiences. What is promised is that in
those times we can be drawn into the heart of God. And
through these sufferings we can move forward into a better
life.
During Lent we can, like Jesus, meditate on where God
wants us to be. We can look for the ways God has already relieved us from the bitter springs in our lives. We could change
our “murmurs” and whining into a practice of appealing to
God in a faithful prayer life. We can choose to commit ourselves again to covenant with God. In the wilderness is where
we realize that God is the Power, the only way we can be
“healed” and move our lives forward with deeper faith and
joy.
God demonstrates his power and Love by leading the Israelites out of the wilderness to an oasis. At the conclusion of
Lent, we are promised Easter.
Oh God, Source of all Creation, you are the only true Power to
help humanity. We give deep thanks that Jesus was sent to
show us how to live in Your Will. Help each of us to utilize the
Lenten season as a time to reflect on Your blessings to us.
Speak to each of us who find ourselves in a wilderness of pain,
loss, grief, despair. Help us to be that voice for others when
needed. Lead us out of the dry places to the Oasis and ultimately to Easter. Amen.
Suzonne Sage
TUESDAY, MARCH 17
PSALM 107: 1-9
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures
forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, those he redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the
north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to
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an inhabited town; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then
they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; he led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town. Let
them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.
Although the Lutheran Study Bible is just fine, in this case I
chose to consult the Jewish Study Bible. According to the rabbis, this psalm speaks to those whom God has delivered from
some sort of peril, be it release from prison, safe return from a
trip through the desert or across the sea, or recovery from a
serious illness. Such people were urged to offer special blessing to God for their deliverance. Let them thank the Lord!
Of course these words are for all of us, not just those who
have survived some type of ordeal. Lent is a time to remember that Jesus suffered and died for all of us, and all of humanity. We are all redeemed of the Lord, whether we come from
the north, south, east or west, and we can all bask in the light
of his steadfast love. Let us all thank the Lord!
Heavenly Father, teach us through your words, and let us never
forget your steadfast love. Amen.
Charles Nicholas
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18
ISAIAH 60: 19-22
The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the
moon give light to you by night; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and
your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, or your moon
withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of
mourning shall be ended. Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess
the land forever. They are the shoot that I planted, the work of my hands, so
that I might be glorified. The least of them shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the Lord; in its time I will accomplish it quickly.
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Easter is about God having his son die for our sins on the
cross and then rising from the dead and joining God in Heaven.
These few verses describe that Judgment day will come – and
God will quickly end what we know as Earth. God will be our
light and we will all be perfect as God’s children, and God will
be glorified! What magnificent things he will have accomplished when that day comes!
In the Lenten season, we are in a time of reflection, contemplating what Jesus means to us – and what He did by giving up his life for us. He turns our Mourning into Dancing. In
today’s troubled world, I see joy in church, at Christmas time,
in children’s faces, with music, and wherever there is happiness. What we read here is the ultimate joy – Heaven!
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us everlasting light, in
our darkest times and in our happiest times. We reflect on you
giving us life - and yet Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us
and our sins to show your Glory. Please come and save us Lord
from this troubled world - so that we can be with you and your
Glory for evermore. Amen.
Alan Madden
THURSDAY, MARCH 19
JOHN 8: 12-15
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Then the
Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony
is not valid.” Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but
you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I judge no one.
My grandsons are all afraid of the dark. When they want to
enter a dark room they appear at my side and ask me to come
with them to turn on the light. Once I turn on the light they
can see there is nothing to scare them in the room and they go
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in without fear. My simple act is powerful to them and enables them to feel safe.
In this passage Jesus identifies himself as the light of the
world so that anyone who follows him will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. This is far more powerful
than turning on a light. Jesus lights up the whole world with
his presence and enlightens his followers with the mysteries of
faith. When he describes himself as the light he calls on an image of God who is the light whose brightness is so blinding we
cannot look on him. Jesus is the incarnation of that light sent
to us from his Father. This is not an allegory, Jesus truly is the
light that is God. To further emphasize this, think of how he
declares himself: “I AM the light.” I remember that when God
declares his name to the Israelites in the Book of Exodus, he
says his name is “I AM.” When Jesus answers the Chief
Priest’s question, “Are you the son of God?” he simply says, “I
AM.” He was asserting himself and declaring that he is now
taking over and redeeming the world and reconciling us to his
Father.
Heavenly Father, please help us to remember that we do not
have to fear the darkness of this world, because we walk in
your light forever and ever. Amen.
Chris Phillips
FRIDAY, MARCH 20
HEBREWS 4: 14-16
Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the
heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do
not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but
we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
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Though there is debate over who is the author of the book
of Hebrews, there is consensus that it was written to a group
of Jewish converts to Christianity who were being persecuted
for their faith in Jesus as the Messiah and who were thus
tempted to return to Judaism. In this passage, the writer identifies Jesus as a high priest, someone who is appointed to
“deal with” humans in relation to God. Some might make the
analogy of Jesus as a “defense attorney” or “mediator” who is
appointed as the advocate for us with God since Jesus understands the human condition even though Jesus Himself is free
from sin.
During Jesus’ time on earth, he identified with human
need, not only the needs of the people around him, but his
own needs. For example, in the wilderness Jesus endured 40
days of human suffering; He was physically hungry and worn
down by the unrelenting temptations of the Devil. Each time
he was tempted, Jesus turned to God, His Father, through
prayer. He was not embarrassed or too proud to ask for help,
as we may feel sometimes. To get through these human
temptations, Jesus “defended” himself with The Word of God
using prayer as his source of strength as he fully submitted to
His Father’s will. Jesus shows us by example that we can
“approach the throne” to lean on God at all times, particularly
in our times of temptation and need and we will receive grace
and mercy.
Blessed Jesus, our Great High Priest who intercedes for us, who
loves, cares, and is more than kind to us, thank you for your
mercy and compassion. Help us to remember to go to You with
confidence of faith, leaving behind what hurts and tempts us.
Amen.
Marcia Patchan
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SATURDAY, MARCH 21
HEBREWS 5:5-10
So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was
appointed by the one who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten
you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, according to
the order of Melchizedek.”
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with
loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he
was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he
learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect,
he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been
designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
As you read this passage today:
What insights from history would be helpful to know in order
to hear, read, study, or understand this passage more accurately?
What are important themes in this passage?
In what ways do we hear this passage as law?
In what ways do we hear this passage as gospel?
Lord, we thank you for your continued guidance during this
time of Lent. Help us to discover the many ways in which you
speak to us every day. In your name we pray, Amen.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 22
JEREMIAH 31:31- 34
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the
covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to
bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was
their husband, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with
the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within
them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall
be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other,
“Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the
greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin
no more.
Reading the Bible is always fun for me. But when I was
told to read this passage it stumped me. So by reading it over
I figure it talks to us about a New Covenant. The one covenant
that we need to remember. This one is about how we learn
about God as one God. The people will know him as their savior who brought up their ancestors from Egypt. And God is
always forgiving our sin. He will purify our spirits. He will be
our savior!
Please pray with me: Dear God you purify our spirits with your
mighty hand. Please help us to learn your ways like you helped
our ancestors out of Egypt. Amen.
Julie Howser-Doty
MONDAY, MARCH 23
1 PETER 2: 9-10
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own
people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you
out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people but now
you are God’s people. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have
received mercy.
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Political parties wave banners and cheer for their candidates. Sports fans wear team jerseys and watch and hope for
winning seasons. These are just two ways that people declare
their identities - as political affiliates and sports fans. There are
many other ways as well. We may identify with a family
(mother, father, child, an oldest child, a middle child, or a
youngest child), an ethnicity, a country, a profession, or a skill.
But, as everyone knows, these identities do not keep us from
being hurt, and these identities do not necessarily bring peace.
We may get close to a “win,” and may even win the “primary”
or the “play-off,” but the BIG WIN is usually elusive, and the
feeling does not last. The Super Bowl Win of Life comes in another way.
In 1 Peter, we are given a glorious identity, and the ultimate
assurance of “the” win. We are told that we are “a chosen
race, a royal priesthood.” These were the Old Testament titles
for the Israelites, who knew they were loved by God, and who
proudly proclaimed this identity. Because of Jesus Christ, we
too can claim the title of “God’s own people.” We have been
forgiven for the darkness of our sins, because Jesus has
claimed us as sons and daughters of the Heavenly Father, and
redeemed us through his life, death and resurrection. This is
the identity that always wins. It brings sure peace. It does not
depend on appearance, or skill, or financial backing. It is an
identity we can claim by simply saying, “Yes” - yes to God, yes
to his mighty acts, yes to the light, yes to mercy through Jesus
Christ. This is an identity that always wins.
We are “chosen” winners for eternity!
Heavenly Father, thank you for making us a holy nation
through the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Help us to remember to proclaim this mighty act, and claim our identities as your
winning sons and daughters. Amen.
Darleen Butler
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TUESDAY, MARCH 24
JOHN 12: 44-50
Then Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in
him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come
as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain
in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep
them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who
rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word
that I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on my own, but
the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to
say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life.
What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.”
In this passage, Jesus says that he has “come as light into
the world.” Jesus was not on this earth to judge and condemn
others, but to be a shining light to all who are lost in the thick
of darkness.
This is especially comforting to me because I have heard
and seen fellow Christians put down others because of their
mistakes or beliefs. Those people who put down others tend
to pardon themselves because they are “followers of Christ.”
What a contradicting thing to say! Here is a passage of Jesus
telling others that he was specifically placed on this earth to
save humanity, not to judge and condemn it. All throughout
his ministry, Jesus has instructed us to not only love God and
our friends and family, but to also love strangers and enemies.
Jesus came to be the light of the world and to reach out to
those who have been condemned.
As followers of God through Christ, Jesus calls us to not
only be the light for others, but to let others be your light.
Help and be helped by others. Love and be loved by others.
Heavenly Father, shine your light upon us, so that we may be
encouraged to do your will. Teach us to shine our lights upon
those around us, so that others may learn of your love. Amen.
Ina O’Ryan
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25
PHILIPPIANS 2: 1-11
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love,
any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of
one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard
others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in
Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality
with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form
of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he
humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on
a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is
above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Within the first verse of the second book of Philippians
Paul makes the safe assumption that there is encouragement
in Christ, consolation from love, sharing in the spirit, compassion, and sympathy. This shows us that everyone is capable to
pattern his or her life after the way Christ lived. We will never
be able to become like Christ, but we can take a very humble
approach to living Christ-Like. Humility is central to this passage from Paul, just as Christ took the form of a slave, born in
human form, humbled himself, became obedient, and suffered
death on the cross.
“Look not to your own interests, but to the interests of
others.” We are capable of living this way today…in our
homes, jobs, groups, or circle of friends! “Do nothing from
selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as
better than yourselves.” Imagine what is possible if we would
all take more interest in the success of family members,
coworkers, and friends than we do in our own successes.
When we are able to “get outside” of ourselves and start living for others, it is truly then we realize just how blessed we
really are.
Heavenly Father, please help us to approach this season of Lent
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with a humble attitude, ready and willing to make others more
important than ourselves. Please grant us the patience to truly
realize others in our lives, understand them with a caring heart,
take action to help, and continue with a humble heart all year
long. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jeff Bernet
THURSDAY, MARCH 26
PSALM 118: 19-24
Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall
enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my
salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that
the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
When was the last time you marveled at something …
something that stopped you from doing anything else, took all
your attention, befuddled your brain’s ability to take it all in,
made your jaw drop, and changed the way you looked at
things forever? The psalmist is having a moment in the passage today – marveling at what God has done for him. He can
hardly believe it … he asked God for help, and God not only
helped him but became his very salvation. His status (or the
status of Israel) … rejected, attacked, scattered, reviled, persecuted … has been completely, miraculously, unexpectedly
changed. “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our
eyes.” This new day … this changed status … was made possible solely by God, and the psalmist revels in it, “This is the
day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
I think we sometimes miss marveling at the things God
does in our everyday lives because God’s answers to us about
the “small” questions of life don’t often look like the answers
we expect or desire. In fact, sometimes the “answers” only
seem to create more questions! But He has already answered
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the only question that really, truly matters – He has become
our salvation. He has opened the gates of righteousness that
we may enter in. It’s all God’s doing through Jesus, not ours.
And it’s here for us, now, in the midst of all our “small questions,” not just in eternity. When we let Jesus into our lives
today, everything about today can be changed … everything
we think is a hopeless failure is up for redemption. We should
marvel at that. We can hardly begin to understand it. This day
of salvation and restoration … today … has been made for us
by God; let’s savor the joy of that truth … revel in it … “splash
in the bath of it,” and give thanks!
Dear Jesus, we marvel at your love for us, that you gave yourself to become our salvation and give us your righteousness.
Help us to let the joy of that truth seep into every corner of our
hearts and every minute of our day today, so that we can give
You thanks, regardless of the circumstances we encounter.
Amen.
Sondra Ailinger
FRIDAY, MARCH 27
MARK 10: 32-34
They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking
ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He
took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to
him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be
handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to
death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and
spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise
again.”
The passage for this devotional is pretty familiar to us. Jesus and his disciples are headed to Jerusalem, and we know
how the story will play out. Jesus tells his disciples what will
happen to him in the upcoming week. What struck me as I
read these verses was verse 32. Back on the road they set out
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for Jerusalem, Jesus had a head start on them, and they were
following, puzzled and not just a little afraid. Jesus’ telling of
his death is a main point, of course, but the idea of following
even when you have questions or fears seems worth looking
at.
The disciples were puzzled and afraid but they followed
Jesus. He had a head start on them. From the beginning of
their journey together he had a head start, he called and they
followed. Now he told them that he was going to die and then
rise from the dead. I can imagine their confusion and fear. If
you know that you are going to be killed, why go to Jerusalem? Who rises from the dead? Maybe being in your company
isn’t such a great idea. But they followed anyway.
We have questions about following Jesus in our time. The
disciples physically followed him but we have to navigate in
2015 as Jesus’ followers. What do we do in everyday life to follow? How do we treat each other? How do we care for those
who are struggling? These questions don’t have simple answers.
Jesus leads the way for us to follow. Even when we are
puzzled and afraid, we follow in faith.
Dear Lord, you know we want to follow you but we can be confused and fearful. Remind us that you have died and risen so
we can really follow you. Amen.
Sue Biermann
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
JOHN 12:1-8
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus,
whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha
served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a
pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped
them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him),
said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money
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given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but
because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was
put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep
it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not
always have me.”
These verses of the Gospel of John tell the story of a banquet given by Martha and Mary to honor Jesus for bringing
Lazarus back to life after he died. Martha served the dinner to
Jesus, Lazarus, and the other guests. Mary anointed Jesus’
feet with perfume and dried them with her hair to express
deep gratitude and devotion. Interestingly, the sisters’ roles in
this story follow the commonly cited Martha and Mary parable
– Martha (begrudgingly) does the hard labor while Mary assumes the easy and glamorous position.
After Mary anoints Jesus, Judas (the traitor) complains
loudly that it would have been better to sell the perfume to
give money to the poor rather than honoring Jesus. However,
Judas intentions are not pure, as he would have stolen the
money – an easy thing for him to do since he served as treasurer for the group. Jesus responds by saying that while the poor
will always be present, he himself will not always be present.
With these words Jesus deliberately begins to prepare the disciples for his upcoming death.
The themes of this passage remind me to:
 Be mindful of life’s many blessings – just as the banquet
celebrated Lazarus’ life. My thoughts seem to flow
downstream to a sea of negativity; instead I have to work
to push against that current and instead focus on the
innumerable things in my life for which I should give
thanks.
 Show gratitude – just as Martha and Mary gave thanks to
Jesus. I must not forget to show appreciation to those
people who give me so much - love, care, joy, and time.
 Think of others in times of pain – just as Jesus did by
gently preparing his disciples for his death.
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Dear Jesus, please help and guide me to focus on life’s many
blessings and to look forward and prepare for tomorrow instead of wallowing in yesterday. Remind me to show my gratitude to all the people who bring so much to my life – family,
friends, co-workers, even strangers. Please give me the courage to prepare my loved-ones for the time of my death and to
think of them and their well-being instead of my own fears and
regrets. Amen.
Laura C Rose
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
MARK 11: 1-10
Palm/Passion Sunday
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near
the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the
village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a
colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you,
“Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back
immediately.” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in
the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them,
“What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said;
and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and
threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on
the road, and other spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then
those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming
kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
The familiar Palm Sunday story is told with the special emphasis of the writer of Mark. Mark takes seven verses to describe in exact detail the process of how the two disciples are
to find the special colt that had never been ridden and bring it
for Jesus’ triumphal ride into Jerusalem. The triumphal entry
itself is described in only three verses.
Mark demonstrates Jesus fulfilling the Old Testament
prophecy regarding how the new king would arrive. Zechariah
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9: 9 describes a king humble and riding on a colt, the foal of a
donkey. In 2 Kings 9: 13, the king enters while people spread
their cloaks on the ground before him.
Why does Mark emphasize the process of finding a colt
more than the hosannas from the people? This passage indicates that Jesus knew all the details of what was happening in
his life and in the lives of those around him. He knew the Old
Testament prophecy. Jesus knew that the people would
shout joyful hosannas as he entered Jerusalem, but by the end
of the week these same people would shout “Crucify Him!”
He knew that his disciples would run away or deny him. Imagine how he felt knowing that everyone would reject him in his
hour of need! Yet he was still willing to die for us. He knows
the details of our lives today. He knows we still reject him today, but he is still always there for us now, just as he has been
through the ages.
Dear God, you know us so well. Forgive our human weakness
as we reject you so many times in our life. Help us to remember
that you are always there for us. Amen.
Linda Yergey
MONDAY, MARCH 30
ISAIAH 42: 5-9
Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them
out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to
the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord, I have
called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have
given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes
that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison
those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no
other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and
new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
God calls Israel as a light to the nations to open eyes and
release captives. Everything is now opened up. He also bland50
ly states that in His glory, God does not give his grace to any
idols or false prophets, as well as stating that he has given visions of the future to the good and righteous people of Israel.
The LORD is essentially saying that he has sent prophets to Israel to speak of events to come that either do, or do not, have
ties to biblical relations.
The Lord calls “you” to do the liberating work of God in the
world. Who is meant by “you?” The text does not specifically
say. Certainly this could be the servant introduced in the previous verses (42:1-4). It could be Cyrus, who will be called later
to break open the bars of Babylon’s prisons (compare 42:7 and
45:2). It could be the prophet, who seems to receive a similar
commission in 61:1-3. Perhaps the ambiguity is deliberate: God
uses all these agents - Israel, servant, prophet, Cyrus - to accomplish the work of liberation that God intends. God also
employs you as an agent to fulfill his good word as well as all
of the agents listed above.
Heavenly Father, in this season of Lent, thank you for reminding
us that you are calling us into righteousness. Let us humbly follow you as your sheep, for you are our great shepherd, Lord.
Amen.
Gary Burke
TUESDAY, MARCH 31
JOHN 12: 27-36A
Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say - ‘Father, save me from
this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify
your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will
glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice
has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world: now
the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the
earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death
he was to die. The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that
the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be
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lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” Jesus said to them,” The light is with you
for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not
overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become
children of the light.
We first see that Jesus is troubled, he knows why he has to
face death. The next thing is when the voice from Heaven and
says “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” It is an interesting notion that another time God previously had the angels
sing at Jesus birth, “Glory to God in the highest heaven.” The
voice was for our sake, that Jesus was born for us and was to
die for us.
Verse 36 says, “While you have the light, believe in the
light, so that you may become children of the light.” This is
not a statement of judgment by Jesus, but an invitation to believe and become sons and daughters of the light.
Sometimes we struggle with our actions or what is demanded of us. It can require deep faith in Jesus to be children
of the light. That light is Jesus; we need to follow in Jesus’
footsteps. I am a child of the light. I stray to the darkness at
times. For example, I am a middle-schooler. We do things to
merge and blend in with the “in-crowd.” How many times in
your life do you hear somebody saying that Jesus was trying to
get with the “in-crowd?” Not many, I bet. He friended those
others would not. There will be and are certainly other circumstances in life when it is troubling to know if we are doing
what is right in the light of Christ. We won’t necessarily hear a
voice from heaven reassuring us, but we can pray about it, and
we can discuss what troubles us with others. We can refer to
the Bible where Jesus teaches how he wants us to treat others
through his commandments and his actions.
Dear God, we pray that we will be children of the light and follow Jesus. Sometimes we too will have a troubled soul and will
turn to you when in need. In the Glory of God’s name. Amen.
Sara Moore
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1
MARK 14: 22-25
While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he
broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” Then he took a cup,
and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He
said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day
when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
In Mark 14:22-25 Jesus is preparing the disciples for his
death and instituting the Lord’s Supper. He speaks regarding
the blood of the covenant, the alliance which brings about a
relationship of commitment between God and humanity. In
the last sentence of this text Jesus says that it is really his last
supper and that he will not drink wine again until he drinks it
with his disciples in the realm of God.
As we hear the words of the Lord’s Supper we are reminded that the body of Christ was given for us and the blood of
Christ was shed for us. This stands at the center of our lives as
Christians. We are given God’s gifts of forgiveness of sin, new
life and salvation. The Lord’s Supper is a time of remembrance
of the love God has for us, a time for self-assessment and repentance and a time of unity.
As Christians we believe that God has, through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ, made us one people. We are a community of members to be people of substance in a world filled
with superficiality. Having received God’s gifts, we are sent to
take joy, love and compassion out into the world to the lonely,
oppressed, the poor, the hungry, the imprisoned, the angry,
and those suffering in mind, body and spirit.
Gracious and loving God, we give thanks for your many gifts to
us and ask that you open our hearts to hear your voice. Help us
to be people of joy, love and compassion in the world in which
we find ourselves, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hedy Schaedel
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THURSDAY, APRIL 2
MARK 14: 32-42
Maundy Thursday
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit
here while I pray.” He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to
be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to
death; remain here, and keep awake.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass
from him. He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this
cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” He came and found
them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not
keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the
time of trial;the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again he
went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and
found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know
what to say to him. He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still
sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is
betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is
at hand.”
Have you ever said or at least thought that, “if you want
something done right you have to do it yourself?” I sure have
and reading this Gospel passage again this afternoon that’s
what came to mind. Jesus is described as “distressed and agitated” in this passage, and he was asking his three friends for
their support at the most difficult, stressful, and significant
crossroads of his life. I remember a prior seminarian student
at New Hope who described the book of Mark as being written from a reporter’s point of view. Mark clearly reports that
Peter, James and John were unable to provide support to Jesus despite his repeated requests for such. Jesus wanted
them to stay awake with him, be there with him and pray with
him. That sounds like a very reasonable request to me.
Most people facing death want their friends and loved
ones at their side. But, the three disciples were tired and probably overwhelmed by what Jesus had shared with them at the
Passover Seder meal they had just completed (The Last Supper). Jesus told them that they would soon scatter, and he
specifically spoke of being denied and betrayed by those closest to him. Mark focuses on Jesus’ announcement of his com-
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ing death. Perhaps, the three men did not know what to say
to him after hearing this news. The three disciples repeatedly
fall asleep and aren’t able to provide Jesus with the support he
asks for. Jesus prays for his life to be spared, but accepts that
the cup, death by crucifixion, cannot pass him by. He alone
has a job to do. He accepts God’s plan. He then awakens the
three and announces that his time has come.
Risen Jesus, help us to not fall asleep when you ask us to pray
with you and to not let you down when you ask something of
us. Help us to share the good news of your sacrifice and the
miracle of your resurrection that is Easter. You alone saved us
and nothing we can do alone will ever be able to top that.
Amen.
Jean Rossi
FRIDAY, APRIL 3
MARK 15: 33-39
Good Friday
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the
afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema
sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and
gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to
take him down.” Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the
curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he
said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
When I read this passage, I am struck by how many of
these verses engage our human senses: the darkness over the
land, Jesus crying out, a sponge filled with vinegar, the curtain
of the temple torn in two, bystanders’ conversations, the centurion’s verbal confession, and finally Jesus’ last breath. We
are put in the middle of this chaotic and horrific scene.
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How could this be happening? How could we be in the
middle of a death scene when just a few days ago we read that
people were cheering, “Hosanna in the highest!”? I can only
imagine what Jesus’ followers were feeling that day: confusion, abandonment, fear, anger, grief. Unfortunately they didn’t know what was yet to come.
We, however, have the advantage of hindsight. We know
there is no Easter if there isn’t a Good Friday. We know death
did not have the last word. Instead, we know that Jesus,
through his death and resurrection, in ways I can’t fully explain
or understand, defeated death, sin and evil.
And so I know that when we are in our darkest days, when
there seems to be no hope, when our lives are in utter chaos,
it is not the end of the story. I know Easter comes. I know the
light of Jesus Christ shines through the darkness; there is
hope.
Gracious God, thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to be with
us and to show us how much you love us. Help us to remember
that even in our darkest hours, you walk alongside us. Give us
strength, peace and hope. In your name we pray, Amen.
Cindy Ranker
SATURDAY, APRIL 4
MARK 15: 42-47
When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is,
the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the
council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God,
went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if
he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether
he had been dead for some time. When he learned from the centurion that he
was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth,
and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb
that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of
the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the
body was laid.
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Joseph of Arimathea was possibly a priest, and definitely a
member of the Sanhedrin, the court which sentenced Jesus to
death. Imagine one of those men being a follower of Jesus!
Joseph was well-known, respected by all, and probably
wealthy. Not only did he take his life in his hands by becoming
associated with Jesus, but he also took on the risk of losing his
livelihood, respect, and safety and comfort for his family. No
wonder he had been quiet about his beliefs!
He had planned ahead and bought his grave, which must
have been expensive since it was cut into the rock. Now he
had given it away and would have to buy another.
Going to Pilate was something he must have thought
about carefully. He became unclean by entering the house of
a pagan (Pilate), and would have to go through strict cleansing
rituals before returning to the temple or interacting with other
Jews. The same was true of being around Jesus’ dead body.
His acquaintances must have been very curious about what
was so important that he would do such a thing. No one
would have guessed Joseph was a follower of Jesus. It’s even
hard for us to imagine now. When he did make his very public
pronouncement, he surely knew how much he was giving up.
Yet he chose to do it anyway. How many people do we assume are not Christians?
How many people know you are a Christian? Are you a secret follower like Joseph of Arimathea? His story shows us
that there may come a time when we need to decide whether
to do something that makes us very public followers of Christ.
When that time comes, I hope I will be strong enough to make
the right decision.
Lord, lead us as we do our best to follow you. When we stumble, pick us up. When we are afraid, give us courage. When we
judge others, remind us that we don’t know what is in their
hearts. Amen.
Cindy Patterson
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SUNDAY, APRIL 5
MARK 16:1-8
Easter
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of
James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And
very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to
the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone
for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that
the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the
right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed;
you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised;
he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples
and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just
as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and
amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were
afraid.
There was a lot of talking going on between the women as
they approached the tombs that morning. You have the impression from Mark’s story, they are somewhat accustomed to
tending bodies, but this time it’s different. This is their Lord.
Their main concern is the size of the stone. It’s so large.
What are they going to do with this huge obstacle? They have
no real plan. They are just showing up. I can picture the women in the predawn darkness nervously chatting with each other. Their nerves were shot as it was with all of the events that
had taken place in the last 72 hours, their grief, the intensity of
it all. So they worry together about the size of the stone at
the tomb’s entrance.
When they see the stone had been rolled away, all talking
ceases. In the tomb, a young man (an angel?) picks up the
conversation where they left off. With the tombstone issue
solved, he starts, ‘Don’t worry’ and proceeds to tell them the
Gospel in miniature with powerful verbs: look, crucified,
raised, go, tell, see. Petrified and awestruck without words,
the women run away as fast as they can, presumably not saying anything to anyone about what happened (later they share
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the story)! The good news of the resurrection blows them
away.
These first witnesses are incredible models of faith; in the
face of huge obstacles, not waiting until they had the perfect
plan, or when they felt ready, they showed up, to do what
needed to be done.
Thank you, Lord, for the mind-blowing power of the resurrection and for these ancestors in faith.
Life-giving God, your love never ceases to amaze us. Overwhelm us to do what needs to be done. Amen.
Pastor Ginny
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LENT AND EASTER SCHEDULE
Mid-Week Vespers
Wednesdays February 25 - March 25 @ 7:30 pm
Palm/Passion Sunday
Sunday
March 29 @ 10:00 am
(followed by Potluck Lunch)
Maundy Thursday Service
Thursday
April 2 @ 6:30 pm (with meal)
Good Friday Service
Friday
April 3 @ 7:30 pm
Easter Vigil
Saturday
April 4 @ 7:30 pm
Easter Morning
Sunday
April 5
8:30 & 10:00 am - Band led
10:00 & 11:30 am - Organ led
New Hope Lutheran Church
8575 Guilford Road
Columbia, Maryland 21046-3301
www.NewHopeLutheran.org + [email protected]
410.381.HOPE (4673)
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