For
Sunday, March 17, 2019, Sunday in Lent, Yr C, Readings: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27, Philippians
3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35
The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be
afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
[Genesis 15:1]
The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom
then should I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life, of whom then should I
be afraid? [Psalm
27:1]
Brothers and sisters, join in imitating
me...For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ...Their end is
destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is their shame; their
minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven... stand firm
in the Lord...
[Philippians 3:18a, 19-20a, 4:1b]
Jerusalem, Jerusalem...How often I have
desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her
wings and you were not willing! [Luke
13:34b]
Before he is Abraham, the childless Abram, even with his substantial
wealth, bemoans to God that his only heir is a slave born in his house. We
remember where this story goes as God gives to the faithful Abraham the
children he desires and the descendants that number as the stars. The message
we are to receive is that through our own faithfulness and sacrifice, God speaks
to us also when he says, Do not be afraid…I
am your shield; your reward shall be very great.
The Psalmist echoes the
confidence we can have in God and the comfort we can take in not being fearful
in either the ordinary moments or in the extraordinary. God is the light in our
darkness, our strength and our salvation in all parts of this life.
Paul is chiding the Philippians in this
letter and warning them about their attachments to earthly things. He harshly reminds them, and us, that we must learn
to recognize our own inconsistencies, divided loyalties, and complacency that
results in them, and us, being enemies of
the cross of Christ. For those who are not living as Christ would have them
live, their god is the belly. Paul’s true and heartfelt intention
is for us to imitate his example and model our lives ~ as much as we are able ~
on Christ. We who are faithful will be transformed by the commitment to
Jesus and, therefore, our primary citizenship is in heaven, rather than in this
brief human sojourn.
Jesus speaks bluntly to the unusually
well-intentioned Pharisees in a foreshadowing of the three days to come. The Pharisees
were no fans of the Herod family and Jesus took their warning as sincere. He
then gives them a message for that fox
that lets them know that he has no fear of Herod, fully understands what is to
come, and is deliberately walking into it all. Jesus scolds Jerusalem for her
unwillingness to be gathered as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, as he
would gather us. Yet the hope of things to come remains in his cryptic telling
that he will not be seen until…
These readings tell us, in this renewing season of Lent, to be less
fearful in our everyday life and not to seek God in the stuff of earth. It is
clear, however, that while we are in this mortal moment, we have much to do. We
are charged with being faithful, as Paul tells us, to live in, with, and as
Christ did; we also are to speak truth to power as Jesus with the Pharisees. Rather
than chickening out, let us begin this week by chickening in to whatever comes
in turning our lives to Jesus, willing to gather under his wings, and be a holy,
busy, and faith-filled brood awaiting the Blessed…one who comes in the name of the Lord.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~
Lord of Light and Salvation, we
look to You for the courage to release ourselves from the earthly traps and tinsel
that beguile us into complacency of faith. Free us of the fear to conform our
lives to Christ, standing firm in Him in this life, so to attain our place in
the next.
O
Christ, hear us
RESPONSE: Have mercy upon us
~ Lord of Light and Salvation, steady our
hearts and minds amidst unsettling times in our World, in our Country, and in
our Community. Guide us to boldly bear witness to the Gospel, upholding Your
message of peace, justice, and humanity. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O
Christ, hear us
Have mercy upon us
~
Lord of Light and Salvation, comfort
all who are in distress from chronic pain, serious addiction, and mental
illness; and sustain the hope of all who give them care. We now join our voices
to pray aloud for those in need…
O
Christ, hear us
Have mercy upon us
~ Lord of Light and Salvation, lift the
weight from grieving hearts, as those we send ahead to Heaven’s eternal
splendor, now live again where tears and trials are no more. We pray especially for:
O
Christ, hear us
Have mercy upon us
~ Lord of Light and Salvation, we pause in this moment to offer You our
other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud
or silently…
O
Christ, hear us
Have mercy upon us
~ Lord of Light and Salvation, grant extra
strength and wisdom in mind, heart, and spirit to all who are ordained to the
yoke of Christ as our pastoral guides in triumph and tribulation. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
O
Christ, hear us
Have mercy upon us
The
Celebrant adds:
Jesus Christ, blessed are You who comes to gather us as Your own brood, not as
enemies of Your Cross, but with willing, faithful, and trusting acceptance in our
citizenship of heaven, today and always. We ask through the Holy Spirit, our
Advocate; and our Creator, Most High; who together with You are One God, forever
and ever. Amen.
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