From the receding waters of The Flood,
to the baptismal waters of the Jordan, and on into the Judean wilderness, we
journey this week through the various stages of God's continuing covenant
through signs, symbols, and messengers.
God makes a covenant (promise) with
Noah and his sons and gives the rainbow as a sign by and for God as a reminder
of that promise to us all, God included. Who knew God needed a sticky note just
like the rest of us? I always marvel at rainbows and even though I know
rationally it's just a refraction of light through micro water droplets, the
fact that a full spectrum of color appears gives me a more mystical experience,
an inward sense of Presence, and my own sticky note of remembrance of the sign
given to Noah.
And when we are feeling less
than adequate in expressing our prayers, the Psalmist paves the way and reminds
us of all the ways we can ask God to help us, all the ways that God does help
us and, that All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness to
those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. It is in God’s
unfailing and unchanging Being that we may place our fragile trust.
The author of 1st Peter begins his letter
with the reason for Christ’s suffering, which is in order to bring you
to God. He goes on in the next few verses (18b-20) that seem
strangely difficult. In saying that Jesus was put to death in
the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, we stumble upon an answer to an
old and perhaps not fully formed question from our recitation of The
Apostles’ Creed. The current translation of that Creed says that after
Jesus died on the cross He descended to the dead. In earlier
times the Creed said he descended into hell…How curious, I wondered
as a child and beyond, why would Jesus descend to hell?
What the writer says in a convoluted way is
that when Jesus went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison (descended
into hell or to the dead), those drowned by the Flood, he gave them the
Good News that as they didn’t know any better in former times, they
were also now saved. The waters of the Flood prefigures Baptism, says the
writer of 1st Peter, and tells us that our baptism is an appeal to God
for a good conscience. We do the promising this time around, and it counts
even if done by others on our behalf. By the way, the Nicene Creed,
earlier and now, simply says Jesus suffered death and was buried.
Speaking of Baptism, we revisit the Baptism
of Jesus in Mark’s journalistic approach, concisely and succinctly, no frills.
After which the Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted before
returning to fulfill his mission and ministry to bring us to God. The season of
Lent mirrors the 40 days of his experience.
The wilderness in our day can be any time
that we feel lost and alone, isolated by others or even by ourselves. Of
course, in the recent times of Pandemic, many were in an imposed wilderness of
separation with decreasing hope. We also enter a sense of isolation when we
feel unworthy and/or riddled with a sense of guilt for real or imagined sins.
Lent is a designated opportunity to actively engage in a relationship with
Jesus. By intentionally entering a kind of spiritual desert to reflect and
examine our faith, we seek ways to be more dedicated to God wherever we
are in our life circumstances. It is a time to recognize and acknowledge all
those earthly enticements and everyday idols that distract us from our good
intentions and draw us away from committing ourselves to a life more
centered in Christ.
We need not take this journey alone, we can
walk the path together through individual and communal prayer, meditation, and
reflection. Instead of just giving up chocolate, alcohol, or
smoking, let's take on this wilderness journey together.
Seek out and make a covenant with others for one-on-one discussions as prayer
partners, or join a small group ~ start one yourself, there are plenty of
resources around, various means, especially through zoom or other video
chatting. The partnership can be face-to-face while online in real time,
person, or even through phone conversations, email, or texts. Let us wait on
each other as angels waited on Jesus, in our own space, in our own time, yet
together in Christ. I will make myself a rainbow-colored sticky note for my
mirror as a reminder of God's promise to all of us; the promises I've
made to God, as well as those sharpening my good intentions that have
wandered away in distractions.
Of course “repentance” is
the keystone of Lent. It is a practice, a pathway, our personal work of the 40
days. Repentance is a burdensome word yet it simply means to turn toward God as
sin is the time we turn away from God. This is the time, again, to repent,
to reach toward God each day, remembering the different ways we’ve each
turned away. Let us put colorful sticky notes on the bathroom mirror,
the dashboard of the car, inside our wallets, and on the errands lists, to
remind us that as God in Christ is always with us, we are always with Christ.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O God of our Salvation, awaken our senses to Your eternal
covenant that embraces the whole of Creation, from the very ground we live on
to all humankind and every living creature. Turn us from the pursuit of
temporary pleasure to seek Eternal Life in the Spirit, through trust and faith
in You.
Gracious, Loving Lord
RESPONSE:
We lift our souls to You
~ O God of our Salvation, grant
us the wisdom and intent to speak with Christ’s voice to every political leader
on this Earth, in this Country, and in this Community; and to join with and
encourage all who work diligently for justice, mercy, peace, and the
health of us all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Gracious, Loving Lord
We
lift our souls to You
~ O God of our Salvation, ease
the struggle for all who suffer the anguish of isolation, illness, or
desperation; and sustain the energy of those who give them care. We now
join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own
petitions
Gracious, Loving Lord
We
lift our souls to You
~ O God of our
Salvation, even as we grieve, we give praise and thanksgiving for
those we love who have now risen in glory, to life eternal in You. We pray
especially for… add your own petitions
Gracious, Loving Lord
We
lift our souls to You
~ O God of our
Salvation, we pause in this moment to offer You our other
heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add
your own petitions
Gracious, Loving Lord
We
lift our souls to You
~ O God of our Salvation, whisper Your wisdom again,
deep into the hearts of all who are anointed to lead us in Your Church and, for
the guidance to draw us ever stronger into community and communion in, with,
and through Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Gracious, Loving Lord
We
lift our souls to You
The Celebrant adds: Living Lord of Compassion and
Faithfulness, infuse us with the desire to use this season of Lent as
our own spiritual wilderness, for the cleansing of our hearts and souls through
repentance, the examination and expansion of our faith, and the renewal of good
conscience. We ask this through Christ, who suffered for the sins of us all,
and the Holy Spirit, the breath of You in our souls, who together with You,
reign as One God, over all Creation, forever and ever. Amen.
