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8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
1/35
Meditations for Lent
Christ ChurchRochester
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
2/35
Preface
TheparishionersofChristChurchofferthesereflectionsforourLentenjourney. Theyrangefromthoughts
aboutgivingsomethingupversustakingsomethingon,thoughtsaboutthedayscelebratedsaint,thoughtsaboutthe
daysreadings,
and
thoughts
about
atheme
in
the
readings.
The
guidelines
were
purposefully
loose
to
invite
many
voices,styles,andperspectives.
ThisisthefirstyearChristChurchhasdonethis;westartedrecruitingwritersabitlaterthanweshouldhave,so
wedonthavemeditationsforeveryday. Readersareinvitedtosupplementthesereflectionswithreadingsfromthe
onlinesite(http://www.lectionarypage.net/CalndrsIndexes/Calendar2012.html)andreadingsfromtheDailyOffice
Year2intheBookofCommonPrayer.ShirleyRicke
Edito
Thankstothecontributorswhoare:
Contributor Meditation Contributor Meditation
Alonzo,Lucy April7 Liddell,Kyle March24
Anstey,Jennifer March16 McCutchon,Joe April2
Barnes,Bob February23 Pedersen,Jean March7
Bement,Jim March19 Reynolds,Beau February29
CollinsBohrer,Padriac March17 Ricker,Shirley March13
Collins,Sarah March3 Schultz,Mary March14
Cushman,Laura March9 Sconfitto,Joe March12
Fields,Noah March2 Sconfitto,Margaret April4
Henshaw,Richard February22 SweetPage,Marilyle April5
Hilton,Ron February27 Talley,Claire March21
Hilton,Sharon March6 Tompkins,Christine March23
Kristoffersen,Peg March31 Urban,John March10
Least,Wayne March27 Vukman,Mary March26
Lechman,Theodore March9 Vanderbilt,Deborah March20
Liddell,Kristy March1 Wiersma,John March5
SpecialthankstoNoahFieldsforhisphotographs
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
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Wednesday,February22,2012AshWednesday
Joel2:12,1217orIsaiah58:112*2Corinthians5:20b6:10*Matthew6:16,1621*Psalm103
Ilike
the
season
of
Lent,
and
look
forward
to
it
every
year.
It
gives
me
something
Ilong
for,
some
discipline
in
mylife,adirectiontogo,andachancetoconfrontthistopsyturveyworldheadonbydoingsomethingaboutit!We
needallthehelpwecanget!
FormanyyearsIhavefollowed,alongwithothersofmystudents,aselfimposedRULEOFLIFEtoguideme
duringLent,givingmeadailyrhythm.Itisverysimpleandgoessomewhatlikethis:
1) GiveprayerfulthankstothegoodLordeveryday,foraddingonemoredaytoyourlife,saideitheratthe
beginningorat theendoftheday.
2) ReadaselectionoftheBibleeveryday,followingthelectionaryorapassageofyourownchoosing,and
pauseafterwardsandmeditateforsometimeonapassagethattouchesyou.Listen,listentowhatitsays.
3)Do
agood
deed
every
day:
ahandout,
asmile,
ahello,
atelephone
call,
avisit,
aletter
or
email,
to
someone
youmeet,someoneyoulove,orsomeoneyoudontlove.
4) AttendchurchatleasteverySunday.
ThisRULEwillhopefullyputintoyourlifethespiritofLent,daybyday.Itwillmakeyoumorewhole. Itwillgive
youawaytodealwiththecontradictionsyoumeetateverycrossroad.Somenewdecisionmustbemadewiththese
differingdemands.Whatisittobe?
TheRULEwillallowyoutoact,toconfronttheforceswhicharepullingyouthiswayandthat,sometimes(you
laterfindout)nottotheyouthatyouwishdeeplytobe.(ThanksforsomeoftheseideastoEstherdeWaal,world
renownedBenedictine
layperson.)
ReverendRichardHenshaw
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
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Thursday,February23,2012FeastofPolycarp,BishopandMartyr
Revelation
2:8
11
*
Matthew
20:20
23
*
Psalm
116:10
17
or
34:1
8
or
121
Godis
everythingthatisgood
andthegoodness
thateverythingpossesses
isGod
JulianofNorwich
Bibliography
MeditationswithJulianofNorwich
LentwithSt.Francis
LentwithEvelynUnderhill
TheabovebooksgivethoughtfulmeditationsforeachdayinLent
BobBarnes
PhotographbyNoahFields
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
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Monday,February27,2012FeastofGeorgeHerbert,Priest
1Peter5:14*Matthew5:110*Psalm23or1
Matthew5:8 Blessedarethepureinheart,fortheyshallseeGod.
TodaywehonorGeorgeHerbertpriestandpoetwholivedtobeonly40yearsold. BornwhenShakespeare
hadjustbegunhisactingandwritingcareer,Fr.Herbertbringsreadersupshortwithhisimages,hisferventfaith,and
thesometimesoddshapeofhispoems. ThosewhoattendedChristChurchFridaynightsuppers20yearsagoorsowill
rememberthelateJosephSommersintroductiontoHerbertswork. HerbertwasoneofJoesseveralspecialtiesasa
UniversityofRochesterEnglishprofessor.
Herbertsfaith
was
his
passion,
and
he
wrote
passionately
about
it.
Never,
it
seems,
uncertain
about
Gods
placeintheworld,hesoughtinhispoetrytoworkouthisplaceinrelationshiptoGod.
Someofhismostintriguingpoemsattempttoreplicatethesubjectmatterintheformofthepoem. Hence,one
titledTheAltarleapsoffthepageintheshapeofanaltar,andEasterWingsappearsintheshapeofwings. Then,
rightinthemiddleofTheAltar,arelittleshortcoupletswhosepungencyknowsnoequal:
Aheartalone
Issuchastone,
Asnothingbut
Thypowerdothcut.
Whereforeeachpart
Ofmy
hard
heart
Meetsinthisframe,
Topraisethyname.
LetusthisLentreachacrossthecenturiestojoinwithHerbertinpraisingGodsholyname.
RonHilton
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
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Wednesday,February29,2012Deuteronomy9:1321*Hebrews3:1219*John2:233:15*Psalm119:4972
Psalm119:45
Ishallwalkatliberty,forIhavesoughtyourprecepts.NRSV
TheseasonofLent,tomany,isquicklyequatedwithaperiodofsolemnpenance,abstinencefromexcess,and
hymnssunginaminorkey.Lenthascommonlybeenapproachedwithasighofresignation.
ThePsalmistgivesusacontrastingviewofthelifegovernedbynotonlythemoralprinciples,butalsothemore
challengingandambiguousidealsofspiritualpovertyandhumility,presentedtousthroughthewordsofChrist.
Blessedarethepoorinspirit:fortheirsisthekingdomofheaven(Matt5:3).Fromthisperspective,thepracticesof
spiritualpenitenceandreflectiondonotleadtoamiserableexistencecharacterizedbysorrowandrestriction,buta
libertyof
being
that
extends
to
all
aspects
of
our
existence.
This
liberty
is
the
direct
result
of
the
resurrection
effected
on
Eastermorning,thatwhichwearepreparedforduringthefortydaysofLent.Ourinwardpreparation,whichsome
mightviewaslimiting,freesustoexperiencetheliberationofEaster.
Duringthisnightofthesoul,thisseasonofLent,letusalwayskeepthefreedombroughttousbyChristinour
viewaswereflectonourlives,repentofourtransgressions,andamendourwaysforourgoodandthegoodofthose
aroundus.
BeauReynolds
PhotographbyShirleyRicker
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
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Thursday,March1,2012
FeastofDavidofWales1Thessalonians2:2b12*Mark4:2629*Psalm16:511or96:17
DavidofWaleslivedduringthemidtolatesixthcentury.Inhisyouth,hefoundedamonastery,wherehe
intendedtolivebyastrictruleofquietmeditation,selfdenial,andhardworkfortherestofhislife.Thisdidn'tworkout
exactly.
Hewasdragged(IquoteHolyWomen,HolyMen)toanassemblyofbishopstofightPelagianism,amovementthatchallengedthedoctrineoforiginalsinandarguedthathumansarecapableoffreelychoosingbetweengoodand
evilwithoutdivineaid.DavidspokesowellthattheArchbishopchosehimashissuccessorasPrimateofWales.He
foundedelevenothermonasteries,madeapilgrimagetoJerusalem,andwasmentortoseveralIrishsaints.
Hebecamelegend,hislife'sstoryembellishedinaneleventhcenturyhagiographywrittenbyRhygyfarch,ason
ofthebishopofSt.David's(thismaterialisnotinHolyWomen,HolyMen).Inthisimaginativebiography,Davidissonofanunwhowasforcedtomarryaprince,possiblyarelativeofKingArthur,fulfillingaprophecySt.Patrickhadheard
fromanangel.StoriestellthatDavidadvisedWelshsoldierstowearleeksintheirhatsinbattlesagainsttheSaxonsso
theycouldtelltheirfriendsfromtheirenemies.Theysaythathismonkstriedtopoisonhim,butanIrishsaintrodeto
Walesovernightonthebackofaseamonsterandblessedthepoisonedbread,whichtheyatetogetherwithnoill
effects.And,inmyfavoritestory,whenDavidgoes(orisdragged)totheSynodofBrefitodebatethePelagians,sucha
crowdgathersthatGodraisesupahillunderhisfeetsothateveryonecanseeandhearhimandknowforwhomhe
speaks.
Ifthat
change
doesn't
illustrate
deep
anti
Pelagianism,
Idon't
know
what
does.
Five
hundred
years
later,
people
wantedasaintwho,regardlessofhowwellhecommunicatedorhowothersrespondedtohismessage,hadtobe
revealedastheagentofdivinetruthbythegroundmiraculouslyrisingunderhisfeet.Itissohardtotrustourselves(or
others?)tobeconfidentinwhatwe'vediscoveredthroughsomequietinteriorprocess,orasacommunityweneed
ourtruthstobeselfevident.
Ican'tuntangledoctrinesoforiginalsin,grace,andfreewillatthemoment,andIwon'tvouchforthehistoricity
ofRhygyfarch'saccount.Butthishillstoryspeakstomeanyway.Itspeakstoourhumanhopethat,regardlessofour
innerstateorthecrowdsaroundus,truthwillappear,miraculousandindisputable,inthemiddleofcontroversy.Ilike
thiskindofthing.Wecelebratethosetruthsweimmediatelyrecognize,theonesthatareatourcorebecauseweare
madein
God's
image:
Love
one
another;
do
justice;
love
mercy.
ThisiswhyIneedthereminderintoday'sreadingfromthegospelofMark:[Jesus]alsosaid,Thekingdomof
Godisasifsomeonewouldscatterseedontheground,andwouldsleepandrisenightandday,andtheseedwould
sproutandgrow,hedoesnotknowhow.Theearthproducesofitself,firstthestalk,thenthehead,thenthefullgrainin
thehead.Butwhenthegrainisripe,atoncehegoesinwithhissickle,becausetheharvesthascome.
Epiphanypasses.Assoonaswestarttotrytoliveoutthosetruths,there'saLentenwildernesstowanderin,
andwhoknowswhatgrowsinit,orhow.WefindothermountaintopexperiencesinourLentandPassiongospel
readings,buttheyarenotplaceswhereconflictdissolves. TheyareplaceswhereJesusislonely,tempted,afraid,
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
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sorrowful,dying.Theyareplaceswhereproverbsandeasyanswersfalldeadtotheground,andGodwithusaskswhy
Godhasforsakenhim.
I'mtwentyseven.DearGod,I'dlovejustoneplainhill,withaprophetorsaintwiththeHolySpiritmanifestedas
adoveonhisshoulder,andI'dwearaleekinmyhateverydayifhe'djusthandmesomestonetabletsthatsketchout
somemajorlifeeventsandtellmewhereIshouldfocusmyenergyandwhatIshouldjustletbe.Instead,Iusuallyfeel
likeI'minamountainrangewithamillionpeopleshouting,Lookatthiswar,lookatthesefamines,lookatthis
oppression,lookatthisgreed,lookatthiscycleofviolence,lookatourprisons,lookjustacrossourborders,lookaround
thecity,lookthroughthesidedoorofthechurchaftercoffeehourormindyourownbusiness,beanadult,lookat
morejoblistingsanddon'taskwhytherearesomanyopeningsfordebtcollectors.Thewholeworldseemstoecho
withgroansofinjustice,suffering,anddivisionandtohavealwaysgroanedinwaysthatI'veonlyjustnoticed.InLent,
thattruthhasitsownhill,andwestandwhenitisnamedinthePalmSundayreadingofthePassion.
Sowegofromhilltohill,scatteringthoseselfevidenttruthsintoreality(thatrocky,thornyplace),andwesleep
andrise,nightandday,waitingforwhathasdiedtosproutandgrowwedonotknowhow.Butwearepromisedwe'll
recognizetheripeharvest,thekingdomcome.
KristyLiddel
PhotographbyShirleyRicker
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
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Friday,March2,2012FeastofChad,BishopofLichfield
Philippians4:1013*Luke14:1,714*Psalm84:712or23
butwhenyougiveabanquet,invitethepoor,thecrippled,thelame,andtheblind.Andyouwillbe
blessed,becausetheycannotrepayyou,foryouwillberepaidattheresurrectionoftherighteous... Luke
14:1314
WefindJesusteachingataplaceoffood,ataplaceofthesharingoffood.Atthisbanquet,Jesustellsthehost
toexpectblessedness,toexpectrepaymentintheresurrectionoftherighteous,werethehosttoinvitethedestitute,
diseased,anddisabledintothebanquetandforegotheusualguestlist:friends,family,neighbors.
Jesusinjunctionposesaradicalexchange:giveupthefamiliarity,connection,andsafetyoffamilyandfriends,
andsupplantitwithpeoplewhomonedoesnotknow,whocarrydiseasethatstillfrightenstoday,whoinsomecases
cannotwalk,eat,orsee,andwhowillalmostcertainlyneverhosttheirowncommunalmeals.Thisradicalexchangeof
guests,however,
also
promises
areward
to
the
host:
repayment
in
the
resurrection.
Itgetsmeonedgewhenanactofselflessnessiscondonedandencouragedthroughappealtoselfishness.I
worryaboutthepsychologyofsuchanethicaltransaction.IfIgiveupsomethingIdesireinthepresentforapresumably
muchgreaterrewardintheresurrectionoftherighteouswhateverthatmaybeisntthegoodofmysacrifice
merelyacommodifiedgoodinatransactionofworldlydivineeconomy,destinedtoreapareward,andtherefore
actuallybereftofethicalsignificance?IknowthatIstandtobenefitbysacrificingsafetyandfamiliarity,sowhy
wouldntIbeawillingtradingpartner?Jesussetsupamutuallybeneficialeconomyofreception;thehostwalksaway
withblessednessandtheforgottenvagrantsoftheworldfeastatabanquet.
Ontheotherhand,thewelcomingoftheunfamiliar,thediseased,andthepossiblyharmfuloverthethresholdofadoorwayseemssorifewithimplicationsforourexperienceandthemeaningofexistencethatitalmostprecludesunderstanding.Therefore,
Iwilljustconclude:
PerhapsJesusdoesntgiveahootaboutthepsychologyofethics,normaybeevenselflessness,norselfishness.
Inthisteaching,atleast,hejustcramstheeternal,vague,andmajesticrighteousnessoftheresurrectionrightdowninto
aroomabouttobechockfulloflepers,theblind,andtheirfrazzledhost.Jesusaffirmsthataninvitationto
participation,extendedtotheneedy,toHim,willberewardedintheresurrectionoftherighteous,whichtomedenotes
ataminimumtheincredibleideathattheactionswetakehaveimmediateandultimatesignificancebothtoourfellow
beings
and
to
God.
Moreover,
it
is
action,
and
not
the
baroque
ethical
tumult
of
the
mind,
that
reaps
blessedness
and
righteousnessintheresurrection.Ourmotivations,fears,andthefearsofourmotivationspaleinsignificancetothe
crossingofnewthresholds,andtothewelcomingofstrangersacrossthresholds.
NoahFields
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
10/35
Saturday,March3,2012FeastofJohnandCharlesWesley
Isaiah49:56*Luke9:26*Psalm98:14or103:14,1318
FromtheCollectfortheday:
LordGod,youinspiredyourservantsJohnandCharlesWesleywithburningzeal,andendowedthemwith
eloquenceinspeechandsong.KindleinyourChurch,weentreatyou,suchfervor,thatthosewhosefaithhas
cooledmaybewarmed.
ThehymnsofCharlesWesley(17071788)havewarmedtheheartsofmillionsofworshippersforthreehundred
years.Overhislifetime,Charleswroteovereightthousandhymns.SomeofthebestlovedhymnsincludeChristthe
LordisRisenToday,Christ,WhoseGloryFillstheSkies,ComeThouLongExpectedJesus,Hark,theHeraldAngels
Sing,Jesus,LoverofMySoul,Lo!HeComeswithCloudsDescending,LoveDivine,AllLovesExcelling,Ofora
ThousandTongues
to
Sing,
and
Ye
Servants
of
God.
OftheGreatFourAnglicanHymns(alistingbasedonasurveyin1885ofthehymnalsofallthechurchesinthe
AnglicanCommuniontheGreatFourhymnsappearedinallofthehymnals),twowerewrittenbyCharles:Harkthe
HeraldAngelsSingandLo!HeComeswithCloudsDescending.
Thepowerofhispoetrytokindlethefiresoffaithinthebreastsofmenandwomeninourcynicaltwentyfirst
centuryunitesuswithfellowworshippersacrossthreecenturies.WhenwesingChristtheLordisRisenToday,
Alleluia,weparticipateinanexperiencethatunitesusinspiteofdifferencesincenturyandinlanguage,culture,and
finerpointsofbelief.TogetherwewilljoinonEastertoSingyeheavns,andearthreply,Alleluia!Thenletussaya
prayerofthanksgivingforthelifeofCharlesWesleyandthepowerofhishymnstokindlethefervorthatwillwarmthe
faiththat
has
cooled.
SarahCollins
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
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Monday,March5,2012Genesis41:4657*1Corinthians4:820*Mark3:719a*Psalm64or65
AwisepriestoncetoldmethatLentisnotaboutgivingsomethingup;itisabouttakingthingson.
Thatmademefeelbetteraboutnotgivingupchocolate,butthenleftmestymiedastowhatIshouldtakeon.
Aftersomethoughtandreflection,IrealizedIamnotapatientperson,andmytoleranceforother
people'sdissentingopinionsisalmostnil. Iknow,thiscomesasashocktothosethatknowme. SoforthisLenten
season,Iammakinganefforttotrytounderstandthatpeoplearewhotheyareduetothejourneythattheyhavemade
throughthislife. PerhapsapersonfindsMTV's"TheJerseyShore"tobeaqualityprogrambecausetheywereraisedby
wolves.ItcouldbethatthepersonwhofindsthemusicofKe$hainspirationalsufferedahearinglossasachild.Maybe
thepeoplewhodon'trealizethesuperiorityofdarkchocolatetomilkchocolatewerebefriendedbyacowearlyinlife
andarejusttryingtoremainloyaltothedairyindustry.Youjustneverknowthesethings.
JohnWiersma
PhotographbyNoahFields
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
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Tuesday,March6,2012Genesis42:17*1Corinthians5:18*Mark3:19b35*Psalm68:120,2436
Jesussfamilytookchargeofhimbecausepeopleweresaying,hesgonemad. GoodNewsBible
CharlesMenninger18621952andsons,andWilliamMayo18611939andsonsarehonoredtoday.
Episcopalianscelebratethosewholivedalifeofpietyandpurpose,thoughnotcanonized(intheusualsense)byany
otherchurch.
Drs.MayoandMenningerfoundedongoinginstitutionstoassisthealingandhealth. Dr.Mayoandhissonswere
responsiblefor
founding
the
Mayo
Clinic
which
at
the
outset
was
anot
for
profit
hospital
and
clinic,
and
Dr.
Menninger
foundedtheclinicwhichbearshisnameandwasthefirstgrouppracticeofpsychiatry.
Dr.Mayocametotheaidofvictimsofan1883tornado,andduringit,workedwithsistersofSt.Franciswho
weretrainedasteachersandnotasnurses. WeareremindedinMarkthataradicallydifferentwayoflivingisrequired
inHiswayoflifeandisoftennotunderstoodbyothers. Drs.MenningerandMayofollowedthisinspirationalwayto
helplivesofordinarypeopletohealthandhealing. LetusrededicateourselvestotheseaimsduringthisseasonofLent.
SharonHilton
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
13/35
Wednesday,March7,2012FeastofPerpetuaandhercompanions
Hebrews10:3239*Matthew24:924*Psalm34:18or124
PerpetuawasayoungRomanmotherwhowenttoherdeathinthearenaattheageoftwentytwobecauseshe
wouldnotoffersacrificestoEmperorSeptimiusSeverus. Sheleftherinfantson,resistedtheappealsofherloving
father,andriskedherentirefamily'sreputationbecauseshewouldnotrenounceherbeliefthattherewasonlyone
God,themakerofheavenandearth,creatorofallthingsvisibleandinvisible. Theprisonmemoirthatshewroteasshe
wasfacingjudgmentandexecutionrecountsthevividdreamsthatcametoliftherspirits:agoldenladderreachingto
heaven,avastexpanseofgarden,acakeofcheese,agobletofwater,agreenbranchwithgoldenapples. Shediedwith
hercompanionsonthisdayintheyear203.
IhopethatIwillneverhavetofacePerpetua'schoices lifeordeath,mycountryormyconscience,myfamilyor
myfriends. IdonotknowifIwouldhavehercourage.
ThecontemporaryspiritualwriterNoraGallaghertellsastoryaboutadinnerconversationwiththegreatactivist
bishopDanielCorriganthathasgivenmeadifferentwayofthinkingaboutwhatitmightmeantogiveyourlifeforyour
faith. "Whatwouldyoudiefor?"ayoungpriestaskedthebishopataretreat. "Waterrights,"heanswered. "Theboy
satbackinhischair,"Gallagherwrites. "Dansmiled. 'Whynot?'heasked. ... 'Youdon'tactuallygetuponemorning
anddecidetodieforsomething. Youputyourfootonapathandwalk. Onedayyoulookback,maybefiftyyears,and
say'That'swhatIgavemylifefor.'" (NoraGallagher,ThingsSeenandUnseen:AYearLivedinFaith[NewYork:Vintage
Books,1998],pp.1314).
Wedonotalwaysknowwhereourpathswillleadusatthestart,butweknowthatGodwillbewithusevery
stepoftheway. Lentgivesusthechanceeveryyeartoreviewourlives,toseeifwehavecomewherewewanted,to
reflectonGod'sgrace,todecidewhereweshouldcontinueonourcurrentwayandwherewemightwanttoheadoutin
anewdirection. Thisyear,IamlearningthatthesewordsfromtheBookofCommonPrayercanbegoodtravelingcompanions:
OGOD,bywhomthemeekareguidedinjudgment,andlightrisethupindarknessforthegodly;Grantus,inall
ourdoubtsanduncertainties,thegracetoaskwhatthouwouldesthaveustodo,thattheSpiritofWisdommay
saveusfromallfalsechoices,andthatinthylightwemayseelight,andinthystraightpathmaynotstumble;
throughJesusChristourLord.Amen.
JeanPedersen
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Friday,March9,2012FeastofGregory,BishopofNyssa
Wisdom7:2428*John5:1924orJohn14:2326*Psalm19:714orPsalm119:97104
"HewhoseestheChurchlooksdirectlyatChrist Christbuildingandincreasingbytheadditionoftheelect."
GregoryofNyssa,CommentaryontheSongofSongs,Sermon13.
ThisfamousquotationofGregoryofNyssa'sclearlyshowsushowsalvationthroughChristhappensthroughtheChurch,
throughthegiftsoftheHolySpirit.Asthe"CommunionofSaints"(thenintharticleoftheApostles'Creed),Christ
HimselfbecomesrevealedastruthnotINacommunity,butASacommunity.[1]Withinthisunderstanding,theliturgy
mustbeviewedinthesenseofmakingpresentoreventhecontinuationofChrist'ssalvificlife.Christ'slifemustbeseen
asliturgicalandthechurchasparticipatinginthisverylifethroughtheliturgicalprocess.Throughtheliturgyofthe
churchweareinfusedwithanewsharinginthedivinelifebyChrist,theGodman,conjoininghisownbodywiththe
bodyofthechurch.[2]
Humankindwascreatedforcommunion,buteverywhereisdivided.[3]Wearealldivided,atomizedandmonetarizedby
socialandsecularconcerns which,weareconstantlytaughttopresume,aretheactual,realandpragmaticconcernsof
humankind withchurchandliturgybeingrelegatedtothestrictlyprivateconcernsofindividualsontheirownfree
time.Asaconsequence,wefeelalienatedfromeachother,wenolongerfeel"athome"intheworld,andseethevery
foundationsofsocialdemocracy(laborunions,socialsecurity,healthcare,pensions,education,socialintegration,
humanrightsandworldpeace,etc)beingdissolvedinthenameofmarketefficiency.
InthistimeoftheLent,maywekeepGregoryofNyssa'steachingsinmindasweparticipateintheSignofPeaceandthe
LiturgyoftheEucharist,tohelpuscometoagreaterappreciationofourhomewithinthecommunionofthechurchand
thesalvificrolethechurchcanandmustplayintheworld.
GregoryofNyssa(c.335c.395) wasbishopofNyssa,insouthcentralpresentdayTurkey,from372to376,andfrom
378untilhisdeath.HeisveneratedasasaintinAnglicanism,RomanCatholicism,EasternOrthodoxy,Oriental
OrthodoxyandLutheranism.Gregory,hisbrotherBasilofCaesareaandGregoryofNazianzusarecollectivelyknownas
theCappadocianFathers.GregoryisknownforhiscontributionstothedoctrineoftheTrinity,hiscontributionstothe
NiceneCreed,hisOrigeniandoctrineofUniversalSalvationandhisneoPlatonicphilosophicalorientation particularly
ofthatofPlotinus.Hehasbeentreatedasaminortheologanuntilabout1950whenhiseschatologyaswellashis
prefigurementofpostmodernismgainedwidespreadattention.[4]
LauraA.Cushman
TheodoreW.Lechman
References
[1] BeingasCommunion:StudiesinPersonhoodandtheChurch,JohnD.Zizioulas,St.Vladimir'sSeminaryPress,1985,p.115.
[2]"LiturgyandtheSenses",CatherinePickstock,fromPaul'sNewMoment:ContinentalPhilosophyandtheFutureofChristianTheology,JohnMilbank,SlavojZizekandCrestonDavis,editors.,2010BrazosPress,p.128.[3]"TheCity:BeyondSecularParodies",WilliamT.Cavanaugh,fromRadicalOrthodoxy:ANewTheology,JohnMilbank,CatherinePickstockandGrahamWard,editors,1999Routledge,p.182.
[4]GregoryofNyssa,WikipediaEntry,"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_of_Nyssa",Feb15,2012.
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
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Saturday,March10,2012Genesis43:1634*1Corinthians7:1024*Psalm23or27
Psalm27
PsalmistDavid,
WhyareyousoconfidentthatGodwillprotectyou,
OpenHishousetoyou,
Shelteryou,
Liftyouaboveyourenemies,
Hearyouwhenyoucall,
Offeranunconditionalhome,
AndshowHERgoodnesstoyouwhileyoulive?
Or,
ShouldYOUbeseeking
Howtoserve
God?
DoesS/HEliveforyou
or
YouforHIM?
JohnUrban
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
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Monday,March12,2012FeastofGregorytheGreat,Bishop
1Chronicles25:1a,68*Mark10:4245*Psalm57:611orPsalm33:15,2021
Mark10:4245
ButJesuscalledthemtoHimselfandsaidtothem,Youknowthat
thosewhoareconsideredrulersovertheGentileslorditoverthem,
andtheirgreatonesexerciseauthorityoverthem.
Yetitshallnotbesoamongyou;butwhoeverdesirestobecome
greatamong
you
shall
be
your
servant.
Andwhoeverofyoudesirestobefirstshallbeslaveofall.
ForeventheSonofMandidnotcometobeserved,buttoserve,
andtogiveHislifearansomformany."
Jesushadthisthingaboutexpectingtheimpossiblefromus. ItsironicthattheOneWhocreatedallthings,
includingus,wouldseeminglynotunderstandhumannature. Wehaveanobsessionwithauthority. Wemodelour
societies,ourgovernment,evenourfamilystructureswithauthorityinmind. Wecraveit,withallitstrappingsoffame,
powerandwealth. Anditdoesntneedtobeinthebigthingseither. Ihavearighttoexerciseauthorityovermytime
whichismyown;mymoneywhichIhaveearned. ButtheugliestrightistheauthorityIexerciseoverwhoIthink
deservesmytimeandresources. Ithinkthatsagoodexampleoflordingitoversomeone.
Iwasshamed intorealizinghowshort IcomebyanewscommentaryaboutElenaDelleDonne. Anextraordinary
athlete,shemostlikelycouldhavenamedherpriceatanycollege. Alreadythebesthighschoolbasketballplayerinthe
country,herroadwaspavedwithpromisesoffameandglory. Sheleftitalltobewithheroldersisterborndeaf,blind
andwithcerebralpalsy,andinthewordsofthecommentator,onlyknowsherkidsisterbythespecialwayshetouches
her,byherhugsandkisses,andbyherscent.
Yetitshallnotbesoamongyou;butwhoeverdesirestobecomegreatamongyoushallbeyourservant. Itseems
tome
that
Elena
Delle
Donne
is
destined
for
greatness.
http://www.npr.org/2012/02/08/146514859/forloveandthegameastarshinesindelaware
JoeSconfitto
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
17/35
Tuesday,March13,2012
FeastofJamesTheodoreHolly,Bishop
Deuteronomy6:2025*Acts8:2639*John4:3138*Psalm86:1117
Whatdoesbeingadisciplemean? Whatdoesbeingadisciplepromise? Discipleshipandtherelatedideaof
selfdiscipline
are
themes
in
todays
scripture
.
Ifrequently
think
about
self
discipline
when,
for
example,
Ive
said
somethingIregret. ButIveneverthoughtmuchaboutdiscipleshipexceptinitsacademicsense. Ibecameadisciplein
collegewhenIfinallydiscoveredwhatIwantedtomajorinandsettleddowntoreadHomerinGreekwithaprofessor
whobecamemymentor. Forme,thisprofessordidntjustteachGreekhetaughtlife. WhenIstudiedwithhim,doing
theworkseemedajoyratherthananythingthatrequiredalotofselfdiscipline. InafirstcenturyChristiancontext,I
thinkofdisciplesasmenandwomen1pouncingonJesusseveryword,askingwhatdoesitmean,teacher? Them
tryingtounderstand,sometimesgettingitright,sometimesgettingitwoefullywrong.
InDeuteronomywehearmuchabouttheIsraelitesgettingitwrong.Sobadly,infact,thattheyalmostlose
Israel. ThepromiseheldouttothemliesjustacrosstheRiverJordanwhich,inverses6:2025,theyhavenotyet
crossed.
There
Moses
reminds
them
that
there
are
conditions
for
inhabiting
this
new
land:
to
keep
their
Covenant
with
GodandtokeeptheTenCommandments. ThisnewlandrequiresfollowingGodsplan. Onesoldwayoflifewont
workhere. TheIsraelitesfinallydocross,butthejoyonefeelsforthiswanderingpeopleismitigatedbythegriefof
realizingthatMosesisnotallowedtojointhem:
theLordspoketoMosesandsaid,GoupthismountandlookoutoverthelandofCanaanthatIam
givingtotheIsraelitesfortheirpossession. Onthismountainyoushalldieandbegatheredtoyour
fatherskin,justasAaronyourbrotherdiedonMountHor. Thisisbecausebothofyouwere
unfaithfultomeatthewatersofMeribahbyKadeshwhereyoudidnotupholdmyholinessamongthe
Israelites.YoushallseethelandfromadistancebutyoumaynotenterthelandIamgivingtothe
Israelites. (Deut.32:5052)
Thisendingtemptsamodernreaderatleastthisonetoattributeitsharshnesstoacultureinwhich
retribution,ratherthancompassion,wastheexpectedresponsetofailedfaith. Iseeamessagethatyourmentorcan
onlytakeyousofar. Atsometimeitwillbetimeforyou,thedisciple,totaketheleadthus, forme, theresgreat
poignancyinthecontinuationofleadershipbyJoshua. JustasMosesreluctantlypickeduptheyoke,sotoomustJacob.
So,too,mustwe.
CertainlythemenandwomenwhofollowedBishopJamesTheodoreHolly(18291911),thefirstAfrican
Americanbishop,totheirpromisedlandofHaitiweredisciples. Thiswasin1861 atimewhensomeAmericansofboth
racesbelievedthatthebesthopeoffreedomforAfricanAmericanswasinthecreationofablacknationinAfricaorthe
Caribbean.In
his
first
years
in
Haiti,
Holly
lost
his
wife
and
four
children
to
the
plague.
Nonetheless
he
continued
his
ministrywhilecaringforhistwosmallsons. 2
IthinkaboutmyownnewfoundjoyworshippingwiththecongregationofChristChurchafterfortyplusyearsof
absencefrombothChristChurchandfromanyworshipatall. Ifoundmyoldwayoflivinglackedsomething. Perhaps
thatmakesmeadisciple,aswell. ShirleyRicker
1 Im thinking here of Lukes 70 disciples rather than just the 12. After these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent
them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was to come. (Luke 10:1)2 Holly, James Theodore. Facts about the Churchs mission in Haiti: a concise statement.
(http://anglicanhistory.org/usa.jholly/facts1897.html).
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
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Wednesday,March14,2012
Genesis45:1628*1Corinthians8:113*Mark6:1329*Psalm81or82
WhenIreadtoday'slessons,Ifoundstrongthemesoffood,somethingIlove. Itmademethinkabouthowwe
observedLentathomeandatChristChurchwhenIwasachildinthe1950s. Athome,myparentsalwayswentona
diet,andweneverhadanythingfordessertexceptgrapefruit. Mypoormotherhadtocutaroundeachsectionineach
half,andthenwekidswouldjustcomplain,"Oh,no,grapefruitagain?" AthomeandatSundayschoolchildrenwere
instructedto"giveup"somethingforLent. Ishouldhavegivenupgrapefruit,butIdidasIwasurgedandgaveupcandy
Mymotheralwayssaid,"JustthinkhowgooditwilltasteonEaster,"anditdid, eventhoseyears,asIwasgettingolder,
whenIcheatedabit. Later,IlearnedthatwhatIamdoingforLentmaybemorerewardingthanwhatIamgivingup.
ThisyearIhavetheChristChurchLentmediationbooklettoenhancemyLenten"doing."
InanyEpiscopalChurchchoirthereisatleastonesingerwhosays"Ugh,Lentenhymnsaresuchadrag,theyare
sominor." You'llhavetocometochurchtoheartheminorkey,butIleaveyouwithverses3 5ofHymn142.
Asthoudidsthungerbearandthirst,soteachusgraciousLord,
todietoselfandchieflylivebythymostholyword.
Andthroughthesedaysofpenitence,andthroughthyPassiontide,
yea,evermore,inlifeanddeath,Jesus!withusabide.
Abidewithus,thatso,thislifeofsufferingoverpast,
anEasterofunendingjoywemayattainatlast.
Claudia
Frances
Hernaman
(1838
1898
MarySchultz
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
19/35
March16,2012Genesis47:126*1Corinthians9:1627*Mark6:4756
SomeofyoumayknowofmyinterestintheOldTestament,soIlloffersomethoughtsIhavehadonChapter47
ofGenesis.Josephintroduceshisfather,JacobIsrael,tohisboss,Pharaoh,andcontinueshisjobofkeepingEgypt
functioningat
atime
of
potential
economic
collapse.
JosephsfamilyhasmovedtoEgypt.Itsonlyforalittlewhile,theywontbeintheway,andtheyrenotreally
bloodthirstycannibals.FromPharaohspointofview,hecanaffordtobeniceaboutit,since,afterall,Whatarethese
Asiaticstoyou,OAmun,thewretchesignorantofgod?1Pharaohgenerouslyofferedpostsofresponsibilitytothe
cowboys,astheyseemedtohim. HeleftittoJosephtodecide,sincehealwayslefteverythingtoJoseph. Asitwas
before,inthehouseofhisownerPotiphar,everythingprosperedunderJosephshand,fromourpointofviewbecause
hewasnotignorantofGod,andexceedinglyblessedbyGod.Theirconversationalsofollowedtheadviceofthe
millenniumorsoprevious(IthinkJosephisaround2100BC),fromTheInstructionAddressedtoKingMerikare: Enrich
theyoungmenwhofollowyou,Providewithgoods,endowwithfields,Rewardthemwithherds.2
JacobIsraelwastherulerofthefirstpartofJosephslife,butPharaohruledoftherestofit. Pharaohaskeda
questionthatweonlyasklittlechildren,Howoldareyou? Whetheritwasrudeornot,Jacob,beingveryold,tookthe
opportunitytocomplainabouthisage,insteadofboasting. TheGreekstootendedtodespairoveroldageratherthan
revereit. Intermsofnumerology,JacobIsraelsage,atthispoint(130)orathisdeath(147),wasnotaperfect
number,andthatmayhavebeenwhathewasupsetabout.
Josephstillhadabigjobtodo. Thedreamoraclehadpredictedafamineofsevenyears,andearlierwewere
toldthatonlytwohadpassed.Uptillaround2200BC,theFertileCrescentregionhadbeenexperiencingwhatgeologists
calltheClimaticOptimum,sinceabout5200BC,withwarmweatherandsteady,seasonalrains.Withtheclimate
disrupted,thegreatmigrationshadbegun.3 PharaohwascountingonJosephsadministrativeskillstopullthewhole
countrythrough.
Joseph
ended
up
with
all
the
peoples
herds
of
all
kinds
of
cattle.
For
both
the
Hebrews
and
the
Indo
Europeans,thewordforcattlewassynonymouswithwealth,or,property.4
Weshouldnotlookasthisstoryassomeprecisehistoricalnotebutreaditmoremetaphorically. Hereweare
toldwhythelandbelongstotheking,becauseJosephwangledit. EveninAmerica,wetalkaboutrealestate. Thereal
isderivedfromthewordroyal,assumingthatthelandbelongstothecrown. Thisisnotalwaysthecase,however,as
canbeseenbytheresistanceputupbytheIcelanders,5andintheBiblicalprophecieswarningtheIsraelitesagainstthe
formationofamonarchy.Josephalsomovedpeoplearound,adivideandconquerstrategy,foreshadowingthestory
oftheBabyloniancaptivity,andinstitutedapercentagetaxsystem,foreshadowingthetitheandpropertyexceptions
madefortheLevites.
JenniferAnstey
1 Lichtheim, Miriam, Ancient Egyptian Literature: A Book of Readings, Volume II, University of California Press, Berkeley, 1976, p.
652 Lichtheim, Miriam, Ancient Egyptian Literature: A Book of Readings, Volume 1, University of California Press, Berkeley, 1975, p.
1013 Winkless, Nels III and Iben Browning, Climate and the Affairs of Men, Harper's Magazine Press, New York, 19754 The Hebrew word for cow also means wealth; The Rig Vedas hymns constantly ask for wealth in numbers of cattle, horses and
children5 The Sagas of the Icelanders: A Selection, Penguin Books, New York, 1997, throughout (no authors, many translators)
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
20/35
Saturday,March17,2012FeastofSt.Patrick
1Thessalonians2:2b12*Matthew28:1620*Psalm97:12,712or96:17
AsaPadraic,SaintPatricksDayhasalwaysbeenspecialdayforme. Eachyear,mySaintPatricksDayisfilled
withgreattraditionalIrishmusicandtimewithmyfamilyandfriends. Whilegrowingupitwascommontoarrivehome
fromgradeschoolandfromhighschoolduringtheweekssurroundingMarch17thtofindseveralofRochestersfinest
traditionalIrishmusiciansplayingliveinmylivingroom. Thesemusicianswouldbepracticingtuneswithmymother,a
hammereddulcimerplayer,andhavingasplendidtime. TheywouldbepreparingfortheannualIrishmusicconcertthat
mymotherandfatherproducedinDowntownRochesterfrom1988to2008. Whileitmademehappytolistentothe
brightsoundsoffiddles,banjos,guitars,andaccordions,Ifeltthemostjoyinwatchingthesmilesofthehundredsof
Irishmusicfanswhocametotheconcertstohearandseethesemusicians,alongwithIrishdancers,eachyear. These
concertswereagiftofloveandmusicfrommyparentstotheRochestercommunity.
MyfavoriteSaintPatricksDayhymnisSt.PatricksBreastplatewithwordsattributedtoSt.Patrick. AsaboyIfirst
fell
in
love
with
this
hymn
because
of
its
majestic
melody
and
each
of
its
seven
long
verses.
As
Igrew
Ibegan
to
listenmorecloselytothewordsandlearnedmoreaboutSt.PatricksloveofGodandofJesusChrist.
TheverseofSt.PatricksBreastplate:Christbewithme,Christwithinme,Christbehindme,Christbeforeme,
Christbesideme,Christtowinme,Christtocomfortandrestoreme,
Christbeneathme,Christaboveme,Christinquiet,Christindanger,
Christinheartsofallthatloveme,Christinmouthoffriendandstranger,
hasbecomethemostimportanttomeasIdailydiscernmycalltobeapriestintheEpiscopalChurch. LikeSt.Patrick,
whofaithfullyprayedandsangthesewordsduringhistravelswhileintroducingChristianitytotheIrishpeopleca.428
CE,IamalsocomfortedtorememberthatJesusChristisalwayswithinmeandisalwaysallaroundmealongmy
journey.
PadraicMichaelCollinsBohre
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
21/35
Monday,March19,2012FeastofSt.Joseph
2Samuel7:4,816*Romans4:1318*Luke2:4152*Psalm89:129or89:14,2629
He
always
seems
to
be
in
the
background,
and
scripture
doesnt
record
a
single
word
of
Jesus
foster
father,hisearthlyfather,hishumanfather,thismanJosephborninBethlehem,c.90BCE1.
LukesGospel[1:2638]tellsusofMarysvisitbytheangelGabrielandherresponseBehold,Iamthe
handmaidoftheLord;letitbetomeaccordingtoyourword. Andlater[1:4655]theGospelrecordsthat
beautifulCanticleweknowastheMagnificat,MysoulmagnifiestheLord,
andmyspiritrejoicesinGodmySavior,.
MatthewsGospel[1:1825]tellsusthatwhenJoseph,whowasbetrothedtoMary,foundoutthatshewas
withchild,hewantedtoresolvethesituationquietly. ButJosephwasalsovisitedbyanangeloftheLordwho
appearedtohiminadreamandtoldhimthatthechildwasconceivedoftheHolySpirit;sohetookMaryashis
wife. Butnotasinglewordisrecorded!
BothMaryandJosephsubmittedtothewillofGodbuttheonlyspokenwordsscripturerecordsare
thoseofMary. Why?
Forthatmatter,whydidJesusneedanearthlyfather? Ifwearewillingtoacceptthethoughtsof
ThomasAquinas2itwasanecessarypartoftheplanfortheincarnationbecauseifMarywereunmarried,the
Lawwouldhavesubjectedhertostoning. Also,theinfantJesuswouldneedthecare,nurturing,and
protectionofahumanfather.
Jesusheavenly
father
wanted
his
son
to
have
the
support,
the
nurturing,
and
the
protection
that
a
humanfamilycouldprovidetakingintoconsiderationthemoresofthetime.
Josephcarriesouthisresponsibilitiesasafosterfatherprovidingforhisfamily,protectinghisfamily,
teachingJesusthefamilytrade,andworryingaseveryparentdoesuntilhisdeathinNazareth,20July18CE.
JosephwasapiousJew,adescendantofDavid,andacarpenterbytrade. AsJosephtheCarpenter,
heisconsideredthepatronsaintoftheworkingperson,onewhonotonlyworkedwithhishands,buttaught
histradetoJesus. ThelittlethatistoldofhimistestimonytothetrustinGodwhichvaluessimpleeveryday
duties,andgivesanexampleofalovinghusbandandfather.3
JimBement
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Joseph2The childhood of Christby Thomas Aquinas, Roland Potter (transl.), 2006 ISBN 0521029600, pgs. 110-1203Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2006, pg. 200
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
22/35
Tuesday,March20,2012FeastofCuthbert,Bishop
2Corinthians6:110*Matthew6:2433*Psalm23or1
IchosethisdatebecauseitwasthefeastdayofSt.CuthbertofNorthumbria,oneofthemedievalsaintswitha
coolfact:whilehewaslivingasahermitontheFarneislands,hegotlawspassedtoprotecttheducksthatnestedonthe
island. Anearlyconservationist! Anyway,hewasashepherdbeforehejoinedthemonasteryandbecameamonk,so
the23rdPsalmisperfectforthedayofSt.Cuthbert.
JustlastweekIshowedmyBibleasLiteratureclassthefilmKingDavid. ThefilmshowsDavidasaboy,fresh
fromtakingcareofhisfamilysflocks,playinghisharpandsingingthispsalmtosootheKingSaul.Itsabeautifulsetting
forthepsalm,allowingmetoseetheshepherdDavidtalkingaboutthingsheknowswell:thegreenpastures,thestill
waters,thepathsthesheepfollow,therodandstaffthatheusestoguideandhelphissheep.
WearemadeintheimageofGod,sowhowearecanalsohelpusunderstandGod.Davidisagoodshepherd,
andthereforehepicturesGodtakingcareofhiminthesamewaythatDavidtakespleasureincaringforhissheep. This
ideathattheloveofGodcanbeglimpsedthroughwaysinwhichweveexperiencedhumanlovehascomfortedme
sooftenintimesofsadnessorwhenIamfocusingonmyownfailings. Icanlookatwhatisbestinme,forexample,the
deeploveIhaveformychildren,andbeassuredthatitisexactlythatkindoflove,andmore,thatGodfeelsforme.IfGodisthegoodshepherdtoDavid,Godisthegoodmothertome.IfIcancontinuewiththeparentanalogy,Ive
preparedatableplentyoftimesforthekids;Iveanointedtheirheads(OK,withshampoo,notoil,butstill...)andIve
certainlyfilledtheircupsmany,manytimes.Iwantedtodoit;itwaspartofhowIshowedhowmuchIcherishedthem.
ForDavid,theseareprobablyactsofhospitality,notthoseofaparent,butIstillhearDavidbaskinginthecare,the
physical
care,
God
provides.
They
are
acts
of
love.
This
psalm
encourages
me
to
trust
that
God
has
that
kind
of
love
for
me,andIshouldbaskinit.
DebVanderbilt
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
23/35
Wednesday,March21,2012FeastofThomasKen,Bishop
Philippians4:49*Luke6:1723*Psalm34:18or145:813
ThomasKen,BishopofBathandWells(16371711)
WhenIwasapproachedlastweektoparticipatewithaMeditation,IagreedtodosomethingonThomasKen.
Atthattime,hisnamewasnotfamiliartome. BishopKenisrememberedonthe21stofMarchintheLiturgical
Calendar. TheprayerassociatedwithKen,speaksofhimasonewhohadthegraceandcouragetobearwitnesstothe
truthbeforerulersandkings. SometimesthiscourageorsayingwhathethoughttobetruemeantthatKenfelloutof
favorinthecourt. Kenwasordainedin1662. HelosthispostasRoyalChaplaintoPrincessMarywhenhepublicly
disagreedwithherhusband,WilliamofOrange. Perhaps,hisbestknownactofdissentwaswhenherefusedtosupport
KingJamestheSecondsDeclarationofIndulgence. Kenwasoneofthesevenbishopswhorefusedtopublishthe
Kingsdecree
which
would
have
opened
up
various
public
offices
to
non
Anglicans.
Ken
and
six
other
bishops
were
imprisonedintheTowerofLondonandthenfreedbyanoutragedmob. JamestheSecondendedupfleeingintoexile.
WilliamofOrange,thenewKingofEnglandandhiswife,Marythencameintopower. Hereagain,Kenchose
nottotakethepathwhichwouldhavemadehislifeeasier. SincehehadalreadyswornanoathofallegiancetoJames
theSecond;underthecircumstances,heclaimedhecouldnotswearanotheronetoWilliamandMary. In1691,
becauseofthisdecision,KenlosthispositionasBishopofBathandWells. Hethensteppedoutofthepublicrealmand
atage54wentintoretirement. HeiscelebratedinhisFeastdayprayerasonewhoconstantlydefendedwhatisright
andwhowaswillingtosufferfortruthssake.
Today,wearemorefamiliarwithBishopKenthroughthepresenceofhismusicintheliturgy. Iwillclosewith
hisdoxology
or
song
of
praise.
It
is
the
final
stanza
of
three
of
his
most
well
known
hymns.
PraiseGodfromWhomallblessingsflow.
PraiseHim,allcreaturesherebelow.
Praisehim,above,yeheavenlyhost.
PraiseFather,SonandHolyGhost.
ClaireTalley
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
24/35
Friday,March23,2012FeastofGregory,theIlluminator
Acts17:2231*Matthew5:1116*Psalm33:611or98:14
Gregory,theIlluminator
AsPaulwandersthroughthestreetsofAthens,confrontedwithpagangods,heistakenabackbytheinscription
ToanunknownGod. AlthoughPaulmayhavehadverydifferentintentionswhenintroducingthisunknownGod,
thesewordsremindmeoftimeswhenGodhasfeltunknowntome. DoyourecognizethisGod?TheOnethatseems
absentduringdifficulttimes,theOneweseekinmomentsoflonelinessanddarkness.
Ourfaithcanbeuniquelychallengedinmomentsofsufferingandhopelessness. Whetherconfrontedwiththe
lossofalovedone,sufferingofothers,orourownhealthissues,ourfaithcanbecalledintoquestion. Inthese
momentsweareremindedthatourfaithcantfixthepainweareexperiencingorremovethesenseofabandonment
thatbesetsus.
HowshockingwasittolearnthatevensomeoneassaintlyasMotherTeresa,aniconofcharityandselflessness,
felttheabsenceofGodinherlifeandherwork. InletterswrittenwhileperforminghumanitarianworksinCalcutta,
India,thefounderoftheMissionariesofCharityandrecipientoftheNobelPeacePrizeexpresseddoubtsaboutthe
presenceofGod. Writinginconfidence,sheshared:Asforme thesilenceandtheemptinessissogreat,thatIlook
anddonotsee,listenanddonothear. Thetonguemoves[inprayer]butdoesnotspeak...1
Imustadmit,therehavedefinitelybeentimeswhenIwonderedhowGodcanallowinjusticestoexist. Ihave
questionedhowasupremebeingcanpermitextraordinarysufferingandtragediestoexistintheworld,andinmyown
life.To
read
the
sobering
confessions
of
Mother
Teresa
reminds
me
of
her
complete
humanness.
AsIbecomemoreintrospectiveovertime,Inowrecognizethatthosetimesofprofoundspiritualcrisiswere
indeedtimesofgreatestspiritualawakening. IrecognizenowthattheunknownGodwasalwaysbesideme. Itwas
mewhohadclosedmyhearttotheMercyofGod.
Onthisday,wecelebrateSaintGregory,theIlluminator,whobroughtChristianitytotheArmenians,makingit
thefirstnationtoadoptChristianityasanofficialreligionin301AD. Inhishonor,wearereminded,asweareinthe
Acts,toremainopentotheSpiritwhoignitesthelightwithinus. KnowingthatGodistheauthorofnewbeginnings,of
orderoutofchaosandlightoutofdarkness,wecanremainconfidentthatthisGodofhopeandgracewillnever
abandonus,evenwhenourpathseemstotakeusintotheveryheartofdifficultyanddespair.
Christine Tompkins
1BrianKolodiejchuk,MotherTeresa:ComebemyLight.(NewYork:CrownPublishing,2007),288.
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
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Saturday,March24,2012FeastofOscarRomero,ArchbishopandMartyrsRevelation7:1317*John12:2332*Psalm31:1524
OscarRomero,ArchbishopofSanSalvador,1980,andtheMartyrsofElSalvador
ThosewhosurrendertotheserviceofthepoorthroughloveofChristwilllivelikethegrainofwheatthatdies. Itonly
apparentlydies. Ifitwerenottodie,itwouldremainasolitarygrain. Theharvestcomesbecauseofthegrainthatdies.
Weknowthateveryefforttoimprovesociety,aboveallwhensocietyissofullofinjusticeandsin,isaneffortthatGod
blesses,thatGodwants,thatGoddemandsofus. OscarRomero,March24,1980
OscarRomerowasbornin1917toapoorfamilyinElSalvador. Whenhewas13,helefthometoattenda
seminary,firstinElSalvador,andlaterinRome. Hewasordainedin1942,andremainedinRometobegindoctoral
work,butwassenttoSanMiguelinElSalvadortoserveasapriest. Duringhisserviceasapriest,hewasfairly
conservative,andsometimeshadpoorrelationshipswithotherclergy. Hewasparticularlyconcernedwithpersonal
pietyand,
in
his
notes
from
discussions
with
his
psychiatrist,
felt
that
he
was
never
quite
dedicated
as
he
should
be.
In
1970,hewasconsecratedastheauxiliarybishopofthearchdioceseofSanSalvador. Inthisposition,hefeltquite
unsureofhimself,andataretreathewrote(translatedinJamesBrockman'sbiographyofRomero)Imustbemore
naturalandspontaneousinaffection.Imustovercomemyselfandexpressmyopinions.Especially,Imustdefendthe
faithandthechurch'steachingwithcourage. In1974hebecamethebishopofSantiagodeMaria,aruraldiocesethat
includedhisbirthplace. Finally,onFebruary23,1977hewasappointedasarchbishopofSanSalvador. Hewas
consideredtobethesafe,uncontroversialchoiceasarchbishop,ashewassupportedbythegovernmentandthemore
conservativevoicesofthechurch. Theantigovernmentorganizationsandthoseintheliberationtheologymovement
weredisappointedinthischoice.
Atthis
time,
the
situation
in
El
Salvador
was
very
tense,
due
to
class
inequality
issues
and
apoor
economy.
Mostofthecountrywasextremelypoor,andalmosthalfofthelandwasownedbyjustthirteenorfourteenfamilies.
Themainexportinthe1900swascoffee;in1931,therewasacrashincoffeeprices,leadingtounemploymentand
poverty. Inlate1931,therewasamilitarycoup,whichpromotedthefascistvicepresidentofthecountrytothe
presidency. In1932,leftwingandcommunistgroupsjoinedwithsomeoftheindigenouspeopletoattemptto
overthrowthenewgovernment. Theystartedanuprising,killingaboutahundredpeople,buttheywerequickly
defeatedbythearmy. Thegovernmentannouncedameetinginapublicsquaretodiscusstheissuesandinvited
membersoftheinsurrectiontoattend;whentheyarrived,thearmyopenedfireandkilledtensofthousands(estimates
rangefrom10,000to40,000)ofpeople.Thegovernmentthenbeganemployingdeathsquadstohuntdownanyone
suspectedofbeingpartofthemovement,andanyonewholookedlikeanindigenousperson. Theconflictwounddown
overthe
next
few
decades,
until
more
economic
trouble
arrived
in
1970.
The
government
used
the
army
and
special
police,andsupporteddeathsquads,inordertokeepthepopulationundercontrol. ThegovernmentsofElSalvadorand
theUnitedStateswereconcernedthatacommunistrevolutionwouldtakeholdthroughoutallofLatinAmerica. Clergy
andotherreligiousleaders,unionmembersandorganizers,andsuspectedcommunistswerekilledforyears. Outofits
fearofcommunism,theUnitedStatessupportedthegovernmentwithmilitaryadvisors,militarytrainingintheUnited
States,andmoney. In1978,about700werekilledbythegovernmentalignedforces;thenextyearalmost1800were
killed. Finally,inOctober1979,amilitaryjuntaoverthrewthegovernment,promisingtoworkforlandreformandother
popularpolicies. However,theymadeverylimitedchanges,andsufferedseveralchangesinleadership,beforefinally
dissolvingin1982. Bythistime,thecountrywasinacivilwarthatwouldclaim75,000lives.
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Asarchbishop,Romeroseemedtointendtocontinuetheexistingpoliciesofthechurch:advocateforunity,and
workwiththepoor,whilemaintaininggoodrelationshipswiththegovernment. However,onlyafewweeksafterhe
wasinstalledasarchbishop,hisclosefriend,apriestnamedRutilioGrande,wasridingwithacoupleofpeasantfarmers
whentheywereattackedandkilledbyadeathsquad. AfewweeksbeforeGrandewaskilled,oneofGrande'sfriends,
anotherpriest,waskidnappedandthenexpelledfromthecountry. Grandegaveasermonwherehesaid:
IamfullyawarethatverysoontheBibleandtheGospelswillnotbeallowedtocrosstheborder.Allthatwill
reachuswillbethecovers,sinceallthepagesaresubversiveagainstsin,itissaid.SothatifJesuscrossestheborderat
Chalatenango,theywillnotallowhimtoenter.Theywouldaccusehim,themanGod...ofbeinganagitator,ofbeinga
Jewishforeigner,whoconfusesthepeoplewithexoticandforeignideas,antidemocraticideas,andi.e.,againstthe
minorities.IdeasagainstGod,becausethisisaclanofCains.Brothers,theywouldundoubtedlycrucifyhimagain.And
theyhavesaidso.
RomerowenttocelebrateafuneralmassforGrande. Romerosaid:"WhenIlookedatRutiliolyingtheredead,I
thought:iftheykilledhimfordoingwhathedid,thenItoohavetowalkthesamepath". ThepeoplethatGrandewas
tryingtovisittoldRomerotheywerecertainthatGodwouldsendsomebodytotakeupGrande'swork. WhenRomero
returnedtothecapital,hebegantobreakwiththegovernment. Heannouncedthathewouldnottakepartinany
governmentfunctionuntilGrande'sdeathhadbeeninvestigated. (Thisneverhappened.) Hecanceledallservicesat
churchesthroughoutthecountrythenextSunday,exceptforasingleserviceinthecapital,where100,000people
attended. Hespokethroughhissermonsandwritingsandradioshows,callingforpeaceandencouragingpeopleto
worktogetherandstoptheviolence. Theconflictstillcontinuedtoworsen. Hereceiveddeath threats;theseseemed
tobotherhimgreatly. AtaretreatattheendofFebruary1980,hewrote
...Iaskhimtomakehislove,hisjustice,histruthshinethroughmemoreeasily.Iamafraidofviolenceto
myself.Ihavebeennotifiedofseriousthreatsforthisveryweek.Ifearbecauseoftheweaknessofmyflesh,but
IpraytheLordtogivemeserenityandperseverance andalsohumility,becauseIalsofeeltemptedtovanity.
Healso
wrote,
ThusdoIexpressmyconsecrationtotheheartofJesus,whowaseverasourceofinspirationandjoyinmy
life.ThusalsoIplaceunderhislovingprovidenceallmylife,andIacceptwithfaithinhimmydeath,however
harditbe.Idonotwanttoexpressanintentiontohim,suchasthatmydeathbeformycountry'speaceorour
church'sflourishing.Christ'sheartwillknowhowtodirectittothepurposehewishes.Formetobehappyand
confident,itissufficienttoknowwithassurancethatinhimismylifeandmydeath,thatinspiteofmysinsI
haveplacedmytrustinhimandIshallnotbeconfounded,andotherswillcarryonwithgreaterwisdomand
holinesstheworksofthechurchandthenation.
Hereturnedtohisworkandreadinghissermonsontheradio. OnMarch23,1980,inhissermon,heaskedthe
armytostopkillingcivilians:
Brothers,youarefromthesamepeople;youkillyourfellowpeasants...Nosoldierisobligedtoobeyanorder
thatiscontrarytothewillofGod...InthenameofGod,inthenameofthissufferingpeople,IaskyouIimplore
youIcommandyouinthenameofGod:stoptherepression!
Onthe24th,hewasatahospitalchapel,celebratingamassforthefuneralofafriend'smother. Whilehewaselevating
thechalice,hewasshotandkilled.
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Hissermonthatdaywasontoday'sgospelreadingtheopeningquotationcamefromthatsermon. ElSalvador
didnotseepeaceafterRomero'sdeath. Acivilwarensuedthatlasted12years. Thousandsofpeoplewerekilled,
includingRomero,religiousworkersandpriestsbeforehim,andafterhim,eventhoseworkingtonegotiatewiththe
antigovernmentgroups. WhiletodaythereisnocivilwarinElSalvador,thereisstillmuchpovertyandhighcrime.
Mostofthepartiesinvolvedintheviolencethegovernmentforces,andtherevolutionaryforcescametogetherfor
peace. Butmanyofthoseresponsiblefortheviolencehavecertainlynotbeenputtoshameinsteadtheyhaveheld
positionsinthenewgovernment.
SomeofthemweretrainedintheUnitedStates,attheSchooloftheAmericas,wheretheywereinstructedthat,
inordertopreservethenationalgovernment,theyshouldtargetforcounterintelligenceactivitiesthoseteamsor
hostileorganizationswhoseobjectiveistocreatedissensionorcauserestlessnessamongthecivilianpopulationinthe
areaofoperations. Isupposetalklikelyinglipsandletthewickedbeputtoshame;letthembesilentinthe
gravecouldcauserestlessness. WhileIknowIshouldfindtoday'sreadingstobecomfortingandencouragingwhich
Icertainlydotheyaresometimeshaunting. Thisisperhapsmywayofobsessingoverpersonalpiety(maybetheonly
thingIcancountonhavingincommonwithRomero). It'shardtoread
...theonewhoisseatedonthethronewillshelterthem.
Theywillhungernomore,andthirstnomore;
thesunwillnotstrikethem,
noranyscorchingheat;
fortheLambatthecenterofthethronewillbetheirshepherd,
andhewillguidethemtospringsofthewateroflife
whilealsoknowingthatmygovernmentprintedamanualfortheSchooloftheAmericaswhichstatedthatindicators
ofinsurgentscarryingoutpsychologicaloperationsinclude
(a)Clergyembracingliberationtheology
(b)Clergyinvolvedinactivitiesconcerningpolitical,ruralorlabordiscontent.
(c)Adultmenreceivingrefugeorfoodfromclergyorhelpfromthem.
WhatcanIdotokeepthisfromhappeningagain? WhatmeaningfulactionscanItaketomakesureI'mnothelpingto
speakagainsttherighteous?
KyleLiddel
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Monday,March26,2012FeastofTheAnnunciation
Isaiah7:1014*Hebrews10:410*Luke1:2638*Psalm45or40orCanticle3or15
March26,theFeastoftheAnnunciation,transferred
Inthe1970's,IwasamemberofTheTreesCommunity. Bygooglingit,youcanlistentoourrenditionofPsalm
45(butbepreparedforsomethingunusual). WealsosanganAnnunciationsongwrittenbyoneofourmembers,(I
cannotfinditonlineatpresent),whichbegins,
"Cameanangelinthenight,
Asuddenbrightandfierylight,
Likeastarthrownfromthesky
To
the
place
where
Mary
prayed.
'Allhail,sweetMary,whydoyouweep?
Godhaslookeduponyouwithfavor
Hispromisestokeep.'"
Psalm45isaweddingsong. Thecastisalittlehardtofollow,buttherearedefinitelybridesmaids. Ithasbeen
readasametaphorforChristandHisBride,theChurch. In"TheChristTree,"amusicalmeditationbeginningwiththe
soul'sthirstforGodinPsalm42,weusedPsalm45torepresentthesoul's"marriage"orcommitmenttoGod. Theline
thatkeepscomingbacktomeinthinkingaboutthisLentenmeditationisverse11,"Listendaughter,forgetyournation,
yourancestralhome. Thekingdesiresyourbeauty. Heisyourlord;bowdownbeforehim."
Thatis
what
Mary
did
when
she
said,
"Here
am
I,the
servant
of
the
Lord;
let
it
be
with
me
according
to
your
word." IntheMagnificat,weseeherfullofhopesforhernation,butshedidnotrealizethatwiththischild,Godwas
startinganewnation. WearepartofthatnewKingdom,broughtintoitbyourbaptism. AsweprepareinLenttorenew
ourbaptismalcommitment,letusrememberthatGodhaslookeduponuswithfavorhasdesiredthebeautyofour
souls;letusbowdownbeforeHimand,continuallyseekingtheunionofourwillwithHis,say,"Letitbewithme
accordingtoyourword."
ChristmasinLent?
MaryVukman
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Tuesday,March27,2012
FeastofCharlesHenryBrent,BishopEphesians4:17,1112*Matthew9:3538*Psalm122or133
FromthelettertotheChurchatEphesus:
... EachofuswasgivengraceaccordingtothemeasureofChristsgift.
Thegiftshegavewere...toequipthesaintsfortheworkofministry,forbuildingupthebody
ofChrist...
Havewethoughtrecentlyaboutthegiftswehaveallbeengiven,tobuildupthebodyofChrist(theChurch)?
Perhapswehavebeengiventhegiftofteachingormaybethegiftsofacraftspersonorartist. Letusrememberthatwe
arenotonlycalledtobepresentatworshipontheLordsday,buttotakeactiontobuilduptheChurch. Duringthe
Lentenperiod,
let
us
all
consider
how
we
might
use
these
gifts
more
purposefully
to
enrich
the
life
of
the
Church
and
alsohowwemightreachouttootherswithgenuinehospitality.
WayneLeast
Photograph
by
Noah
Fields
8/2/2019 Book of Lenten Meditations Christ Church RochesterNY
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Saturday,March31,2012FeastofJohnDonne,Priest
Wisdom7:248:1*John5:1924*Psalm27:511or16:511
TodayisthelastSaturdaybeforeHolyWeekbegins.WehavebeeninvitedtoexperienceaHolyLent,atimeof
reflectionandpenitence,preparationforthenewlifewhichburstsforthinEaster.Thereadingstodaytakeustoaplace
ofdarkness.ThePsalmistinPsalm42expressesadeepyearningforGodandasenseofGodsabsence:
Asthedeerlongsforstreamsofwater,
somysoullongsforyou,OGod.
MysoulthirstsforGod,thelivingGod.
WhencanIenterandseethefaceofGod?
Mytearshavebeenmybreaddayandnight,
astheyaskmeeveryday,WhereisyourGod?
ThepsalmistdesiresanencounterwiththelivingGod,notareligiousroutine.Herememberstimesinhispast
thatheexperiencedGodspresence,butthattimeisnotnow.Heisinaplaceofsorrow,isolation,emptiness,and
thosearoundhimarenothelpingastheyquestionhisfaith.Inthemidstofthisspiritualdarkness,thewritercries
outtoGod,expressinghisfrustrationandneed:
Iwill
say
to
God,
my
rock:
Whydoyouforgetme?
WhymustIgoaboutmourning
withtheenemyoppressingme?
Itshattersmybones,whenmyadversariesreproachme,
whentheysaytomeeveryday:WhereisyourGod?
Whyareyoudowncast,mysoul,
whydoyougroanwithinme?
WaitforGod,forIshallagainpraisehim,
mysaviorandmyGod.
The
psalmists
words
resonate
with
our
own
experiences
of
confusion
and
spiritual
dryness.
TheGospelstorytellsoftheencounterofBartimaeuswithJesus.Bartimaeusisblind,inphysicaldarknessasopposed
tothepsalmistsemotionalandspiritualdarkness.Heisisolatedbyhisinfirmityandforcedtobeginordertosurvive.
WhenhehearsthatJesusisnearby,hecriesouttohim:Jesus,SonofDavid,havemercyonme!!Thosearoundhim
trytosilencehim,topreventhisdisturbingtheRabbiwhoissurroundedbyalargecrowd.Perhapsthey
thought blindnessapunishmentorhislotinlife;eitherwaynotimportantenoughtodisturbthemaster.Bartimeas
isnotdeterredbythecrowdsresistanceandcontinuestocryout.Jesus,inthemidstofthechatterandconfusion,
hearsBartimaeuscall.Helooksattheblindmanwithwhatmusthavebeengreattendernessandasks:Bartimaeus,
whatdoyouwantmetodoforyou....andBartimaeusaskstoreceivehissight.Jesushealsthisblindman,and
BartimaeusresponseistofollowJesus.
InthecomingweekwewillberememberingtheeventsofChristspassionandresurrection.Thedaysleading
upto
Holy
Saturday
are
days
of
darkness,
when
we
are
invited
to
remember
the
frailty
of
those
walking
with
Jesus
andwithitourownvulnerability.Whatarethesourcesofdarknessinourlives?Whatcircumstances,relationships,
losses,threatsinviteustoreflectonourfrailtyandneedforGod? IsthereafeltabsenceofGodinour
suffering? Whataretheyearningsinsidethatcompelus?
ThomasMertonsaid:
This,then,isourdesert:tolivefacingdespairbutnottoconsent.Totrampleitdownunderhopeinthe
Cross.Towagewaragainstdespairunceasingly.Thatwarisourwilderness.Ifwewageitcourageously,we
willfindChristatourside.Ifwecannotfaceit,wewillneverfindhim.
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OutofthisfeltneedcomesadeeperthirstforthelivingGod,thedesireexpressedbythePsalmistand
Bartimaeus. Ritualisnotenough.Theologyisnotenough.Evenservicetoothersisnotenough.WeapproachEaster
knowingthatwewillmeettheretheChristwhoisasnearasourownheart. AndwhatthenwillweanswertoHis
question: Whatdoyouwantmetodoforyou??
PegKristoffersen
PhotographbyShirleyRicker
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MondayApril2,2012Isaiah42:19*Hebrews9:1115*John12:111*Psalm36:511
InthewaywelistentoGod,wemustlearnanewway.Wemustnottrytolistenforhiswordasthepersonwe
aretoday;
arrogant,
righteous,
and
wealthy.
We
have
to
listen
for
Gods
call
as
aservant;
humble,
willing
and
poor
in
spirit.ForGodcallsnotthemightyandpowerful,whomhewillreadilystrikedown,butcallsthelowlytobehis
presenters.
Looknottoourlawsforredemption,buttothebloodoftheSonofGodwhowassacrificedforoursins.Theold
wayshavemeritintheirownright,butwillnotbringsalvation.
BemindfulofplacingvalueontheeffortofthosewhoserveGod,becarefulnottojudgeharshlythosewho
spendtheirenergyandmoneyinpraisingJesus.Dowhatyoucaninyourownway.LoveGodthewayheteachesus.
TreatothersasthoughtheyhavetheHolySpiritwithinthem.
Seekonly
the
protection
of
God.
Go
about
your
way
without
regard
to
the
judgment
of
others
and
the
risk
of
losingourworldlythings.PraiseGodforhisprovidinguswitheverythingweneed,andprotectingusfromthe
temptationsofourownsinfulways.
Listen.Pray.Do.LetthepowerofthewayJesusteachesusfillourears,ourmuscles,andourwill.Tobetterlive
onthisEarthinpreparationforbeingwelcomedtohisFathersHeavenlyKingdom.
JoeMcCutchon
PhotographbyShirleyRicker
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April4,2012Isaiah50:49a*Hebrews1:13*John13:2132*Psalm70
CanyouplaceyourselfintothetimeofJesus,thelatespringlikedaysofPassover? Smellthelasttracesofnard
thatMaryofBethanyhadpouredintoJesushair,notallthatlongago? FeeltheexhilarationofwatchingLazaruscome
outofthetomb,thensitdownandeatwithyou,likenothinghadeverhappenedtohim. Knowinyourheartthat
Passoverisaparty,GodhadcertainlycausedatriumphoverEgyptandwewalkedoutwithalltheirstuffandweare
celebrating. Itstomorrowafterall. AndJesusisexcited! Hecantwaittocelebratewithus(Luke15:22)beforeHe
suffers.
Wait,beforeHesuffers.Theonewhostillsmellslikeperfume,whoraisesdeadpeople,isplanningonpartying
withus,celebratingthelambwhosebloodwas/isonthatdoorpost. WhatisitliketositatthattablewithJudas,tohear
thewordsgoquickly,dowhatyouhavetodo? WhatisitliketosipthatcuptheonecalledRedemption,justafter
youvestuffedyourselfwithroastlamb. Ah,butthatstomorrow. Andthesufferingcomesaftertomorrow.
Butitstoday,andJesusisstillcloseby,thereisstilltimeforthingstobedone. Althoughwestillcansmellthe
perfume,feelthejoy,revelinthemerriment,weknowthedarkdaysareahead. Andweknowtheroadgetsrougher,
steeper,andmoredifficult. Likeoneoftheapostles,drawclosetohimtoday. Afterall,todayisthedayofsalvation!
Drawnearwhileyoustillrecognizehim becausetomorrowwearegoingtotheparty,andthesufferingcomesafter
tomorrow.
MargaretSconfitto
PhotographbyShirleyRicker
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April5,2012MaundyThursday
Exodus12:110,1114*1Corinthians11:2326*John13:17,31b35*Psalm116:1,1017
MaundyThursday
is
the
day
before
the
crucifixion.
In
other
traditions
this
day
is
called
Holy
Thursday
or
Great
Thursday. MaundyisfromtheLatinwordmandatumwhichmeanscommandment.
IntheEpistleappointedforMaundyThursdaySt.Paulrecalls:
Jesus,onthenightbeforehedied,tookbread,gavethanks,brokeitandsaid,
"Thisismybodygivenforyou. Dothisinremembranceofme. Inthesamewayalsohetookthecup,andsaidDothis,asoftenasyoudrinkit,inremembranceofme.
AndfromtheGospelofJohn:
Atamealwithhisclosestfriends,Jesusgotupfromthetable,tookoffhisouterrobe,tiedatowel
aroundhimself. ThenJesuspouredwaterintoabasin,begantowashthedisciples'feetand,finally,wipedtheir
feetwithatowelthatwastiedaroundhim. ForIhavesetyouanexample,thatyoualsoshoulddoasIhave
donetoyou...Igiveyouanewcommandmentthatyouloveoneanother. JustasIhavelovedyou,youalso
shouldloveoneanother.
Jesusisgivinganewcommandment...thatweloveoneanother. JesusdoesntsayIthinkitwouldbeniceifyou
loved
one
another.
He
doesnt
say,
You
might
want
to
think
about
loving
one
another.
His
words
are
firm
and
imperative. DOTHIStoremembermeandLoveoneanotherasIhavelovedyou.
Christianshavedonethisbrokenbreadandsharedwinesincetheverybeginning. Sharingthebreadand
wineoftheEucharistiscommanded,butso,also,iswashingothersfeetandservingothersafterJesusexample. These
arebothsacramentalactionswhichpointbeyondthemselvestothesacrificewhichJesusmadeonthecrossand
continuestomakeforus. Asoftenasyoueatthisbreadanddrinkthecup,youproclaimtheLordsdeathuntilhe
comes. And,lestweforget,thatlovecostJesushislife.
Reverend MarilyleSweetPage
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April7,2012HolySaturday
Job14:114orLamentations3:19,1924*1Peter4:18*John19:3842
Whatdoyoudowhenyourworldfallsapart? OnHolySaturday,thedisciplesmusthavebeeninastateof
shock.
Their
beloved
teacher
who
had
healed
so
many,
their
Messiah,
who
had
been
greeted
with
palms
as
the
Son
of
DavidonhisentryintoJerusalemlessthanaweekearlier,hadbeenexecutedasacriminal! Whatshouldtheydonow?
Andwhatshouldwedowhencopingwithdisasterslikethelossofajob,thedeathofalovedone,oranyothertimewe
feelthatourworldhascrumbled?Thereadingsfortodayshowussomepossibleresponses.
Jobwasapiousanduprightman,butsuddencalamitieshadkilledallhischildren,strippedhimcompletelyofhis
considerablewealth,andruinedhishealth.IntodaysreadinghecomplainstoGod anunderstandableresponse,
thoughnotparticularlyhelpfulexceptasaventforhisemotions.
IntheGospelreading,JosephofArimatheaandNicodemuscareforthebodyofJesus,wrappingitwithcostly
spicesandplacingitJosephsownnewtomb. Theirchoicewastodowhattheycouldtohelp,inthemidstoftheirown
sorrow
anappropriate
choice
for
followers
of
the
One
who
had
commanded
us
to
love
our
neighbors
as
ourselves.
Petersletteragreeswiththisapproach,remindingus,Aboveall,maintainconstantloveforoneanother,forlove
coversamultitudeofsins.
ForallofuswhowishtofollowJesus,IthinkthatanextremelyimportantexampleisthechoiceHemadeinthe
GardenofGethsemane: Notmywillbutyoursbedone. Thisisdifficulttosayinthemidstofadisaster,butinmy
experienceitisaveryhelpfulwaytopray. LukesGospelsaysthatafterJesusprayedthiswayinthegarden,anangel
fromheavenappearedtohimandgavehimstrength(Luke22:43). AnexampleIlikeisalittlechildcryingabouta
brokentoywhileholdingontoitwithallhismight;hisfathercanfixitforhimonlywhenheiswillingtohanditoverto
him. IttakesfaithtoentrustourproblemstoourHeavenlyFather,butitdoesmakeitmuchmorepossibleforHimto
helpus. Ilearnedsomethingaboutthisasafreshmanincollege. Ihadahugecrushonaveryniceboy,afriendofmy
cousin,andhadbeenhopinghewouldwritetome.Butinsteadhesentmeaninvitationtohisengagementparty,and
allmycastlesintheaircamecrashingdown. (Yearslater,hebecameastategovernor,andIrealizedthatIcouldneverhavebeenthepoliticalhostessheneeded!) AnyhowIwenttothechapelandpartofmyprayerwasapproximately,
Lord,obviouslyyoudidnotwantwhatIwanted,butImsureyouhaveabetterplanforme,sopleasetakechargeof
mylifeandhelpmetodowhatyouwant. Well,Godansweredmyprayerbytouchingmewithhislove; Icannotreally
describeit,butforweeksafterwardsIwasridingmybikearoundcampussingingtheGloria.Ofcoursesurrenderingour
willtoGodisanongoingprocess,butIbelieveeachstepalongthatpathbringshelpwhenweneeditmost.
ThereadingfromLamentationsistheonethatIfindmosthelpfulfordesperatesituations. Jeremiahhadbeen
persecutedforprophesyingtoJerusalemabouttheapproachingdisaster;whenthecitywasdestroyeditwouldbe
understandableifhehadfeltitservedthemright.InsteadhewroteinLamentations,Myeyesflowwithriversoftears
becauseofthedestructionofmypeople.Howeverhealsowrote,ButthisIcalltomind,andthereforeIhavehope:
ThesteadfastloveoftheLORDneverceases,hismerciesnevercometoanend;theyareneweverymorning;greatis
Yourfaithfulness.
Sowhenourworldseemstohavefallenapart,letusdowhatwecantobehelpfulandloving,askourLordto
takechargeofthewholesituationandsaywithJeremiah,ThesteadfastloveoftheLORDneverceases.
Theresurrectioniscoming! ThanksbetoGod.