For Sunday, March
8, 2020, Readings:
Genesis 12:1-4a, Psalm 121, Romans
4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17
So Abram went, as the
LORD had told him... [Genesis
12:4a]
I lift my eyes to the
hills; from where is my help to come? My help comes from the LORD; the maker of
heaven and earth. [Psalm 121:1-2]
Abraham believed God, and
it was reckoned to him as righteousness...For the promise that he would inherit
the world did not come to Abraham...through the law but through the
righteousness of faith. [Romans 4:3b]
If I
have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe
if I tell you about heavenly things?...For God so loved the world that he gave
his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have
eternal life. [John 3:12, 16]
Faith takes center
stage in the readings for this week. God commands Abram to leave all he knows
behind and go to a new land where God will make of him a great nation. Abram went.
Later in Genesis, God commands Abraham – formerly Abram – to sacrifice his son
Isaac, and he prepares to do just that before the reprieve. Abraham had faith;
righteous faith, that is, he was right with God. He trusted God and that
trust was demonstrated by his obedience. Some of the stories of Abram/Abraham are
overwhelming in terms of the magnitude of his willingness to just obey God,
seemingly without question. Farther along in Genesis, we discover that neither Abraham nor
his wife, Sarah, were perfect in all ways.
Paul helps us along by opening us up to
the understanding that anyone/all of us can be in right relationship with God even in our less-than-perfect ways. Righteousness
of faith and obedience are less about the defined commandments given
to Noah and more about commitment and attitude.
Nicodemus engages Jesus for the first of
three times in John’s Gospel in this reading. A high-status member of the Great
Sanhedrin, the governing council of the Jews at that time, Nicodemus stands firm
in and for Jewish orthodoxy/the Law. Yet something about Jesus and his
unconventional path as a religious teacher draws Nicodemus to seek Jesus out, although only at
night. It is in this passage that the famous John 3:16, seen on placards
at sporting events, For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so
that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life is found. Martin
Luther describes this passage as “the Gospel in miniature.” We aren’t deserving
but God is giving us every opportunity to bring our penitent hearts and imperfect
faith to this relationship.
Following on in John 3:17, Jesus tells Nicodemus that God did
not send the Son…to condemn the world, but…that the world might be saved
through him. Coming to Jesus begins when we take stock of the earthly “values”
that separate us from God and one another and opens us to the realization of
the Spirit already shining within us. That awakening is as a new birth and the
brilliance within begins to show through us. It deepens our faith and commitment and strengthens us to attempt more obedience, have more trust, and be more
faithful to the life that Christ is teaching us to follow. We leave behind the
notion of a vengeful god only wanting us to be punished and draw near to the love
of God who never leaves us behind.
Faith can
be shaken and still endure. Faith can be sought even if not understood. Thomas
Aquinas, 13th century theologian/philosopher, whose influence still
pervades Christian thought today, said, “To one who has faith, no explanation
is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” To move deeper
into faith and commitment is to journey as Abraham – new land, new language,
new life. With the baptism of the Spirit we are reborn, we take new steps in
faith, and follow Christ.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE,
PRAY
Leader: ~ O
LORD, our Maker and our Help, sustain us in our flawed and uncertain attempts with
faith as we seek to know the grace of new birth through Your Holy Spirit. Guide
our efforts to be earnest in the desire to live this life as preparation for
eternal life with You.
God of All that
is
RESPONSE:
Deliver us from doubt
~ O LORD, our Maker and
our Help, we lift our eyes to You, in these confusing and unsettled times, to
guide us and the leaders of all governments across this Earth, this Nation, and
this Community to genuine clarity of judgment and charity of heart. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
God of All that is
Deliver
us from doubt
~ O LORD, our Maker and
our Help, calm the distress of those who are ailing in body, mind, or spirit,
and grant stamina to those who give care. We now join our voices to pray aloud
for those in need…
God of All that is
Deliver
us from doubt
~ O LORD, our Maker and
our Help, comfort those who grieve with a foretaste of the joy and
celebration enfolding all who now live forever with You. We pray
especially for…
God of All that is
Deliver
us from doubt
~ O LORD, our Maker and our
Help, we
pause in this moment to offer You our
other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud
or silently…
God of All that is
Deliver
us from doubt
~ O LORD, our Maker and our Help, fortify the souls of all who
are anointed to lead Your Church as they strive to impart to us the faith of
Abraham and the willingness to seek only the heavenly things of salvation through
Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
God of All that is
Deliver
us from doubt
The Celebrant adds: Living
and Eternal God, for the mere price of our enduring faith, You promise us life
unending and love without limit. May these reflective days of Lent turn our hearts
to repentance as we examine and deepen our commitment to You. We ask this
through Your Only Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ; and Your Holy Spirit, our
Sanctifier; who live and reign with You, as One God, now and for
evermore. Amen.
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