FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Jesus, God’s Son

God called him ”My beloved son”.

Biologically we are all the sons or daughters of two other people; that’s the nature of life. But for most of us sonship or daughterhood means more than biological begetting as important as that is. When I say I am the daughter of Yandell and Mary Page I feel the warmth of my childhood, the expectations of my upbringing, the presence of various homes in which we lived, and the knowledge of being, love, and identity. My specific daughterhood is an important measure of who I am. Yours may be very different but you are the son or daughter of _______, a relationship that means something. Adoption, rearrangement of family ties as a result of death or divorce, absence of parents, and all the modern definitions of family, change the who, how, and impact of the sonship or daughterhood, but not its existence.

Many of us also see ourselves as children of God. The Creator created humanity in such a way that we are made in the image of and intended for communion with God. The ancient Hebrews describe their relationship with God in ways that seem similar to the ways in which children and parents relate—God encourages, God has compassion, God corrects and punishes, God is present and God is absent. Being connected with the Ground of all Being, as a child is connected to a parent, is both frightening and affirming for me. Seeing life as coming not only from the biological reality of conception and birth, but also from the loving intention and energy of the Almighty demands of me sacred living.

God called Jesus my beloved son. To hear these words from the source of all must have profoundly impacted him. His life was one that was at one with God—an at-one-ment for all.

How will you take to heart these words of God to Jesus?

Jesus, God’s beloved, let me know the one who calls you son. Amen.

SATURDAY, THIRD WEEK OF LENT

Jesus,
the Son of Man

And he called himself Son of Man.

Let the swirling skirts and hair engage you with Jesus. Fearlessly look into the face and see. In joy know the Son of Man.

How does Jesus address you?

How and where do you see him today?

With whom is he dancing?
“Dancing” New Mexico, 2000

Holy God, the Son of Man came to show us your way. Help us to understand. Forgive us for rejecting your love. Forgive us for insisting on our own view of what is right, good. Forgive us for our part in killing those who point to you. Remind us that you are one with us yet you are lord and judge of all. Keep us mindful, alert, and focused on you. Amen.

FRIDAY, THIRD WEEK OF LENT

The Son of Man feeds the Crowds

[Jesus’] disciples replied, “How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. … They ate and were filed; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Now there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. Mark 8: 4-9

Imagine:
You are hungry. You and your family have been with the Son of Man for three days. It took you two days to find him. You ran out of food last night and so did your neighbors. You soon realize that everyone is out of food. Everyone is hungry.

The crowd grows restless - then suddenly quiet.

You notice a wave of calm fanning out from where the Son of Man stands. You see disciples moving through the crowd with baskets of bread and fish. You want to run toward the basket, but you stay in the back and wait. You are amazed that the disciple’s basket is still full when he reaches your family.

The Son of Man has supplied your need and you are grateful to God. You know that from now on the bread that nourishes your body will also nourish your spirit. You know God will supply your need in spirit and in truth.

You return home, eager to spread the word.

What has the Son of Man told you about who he is? How will you share what has been given you?

Bountiful Lord, we thank you for nourishing our spirits. Guide us and show us ways to share this food with the sons of man.

THURSDAY, THIRD WEEK OF LENT

The Son of Man calls Sinners

When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that [Jesus] was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” Mark 2: 16-17

Jesus calls outcasts, the broken, sinners, us—
I invite you to spend some time with Jesus, the Son of Man.

Close your eyes, relax your body, and become aware of your breathing. Imagine you are in an empty room; there are only two chairs. The door is closed. You are waiting. Be aware of how you feel; what you are doing.

You hear a knock. You open the door. Jesus stands in the doorway. See him or her. Sense your reaction in body, mind, and spirit.

Jesus says, “Can I come in and be with you?” How will you respond?

Jesus asks, “Will you talk with me? I want to know you. I want to be with you.” Imagine the dialogue.

Finally there are no more words for now. But Jesus is not ready to leave just yet. “Can we dance?” Jesus says. What a strange request you think but maybe dancing is the way of healing, of becoming, of unity, so you agree.

Now Jesus must leave. Say your goodbyes. Close the door.

What is the meaning of this visit?
Who is the Son of Man for you?

Loving God, thank you for sending Jesus to dance with us, to be one with us, to bring us to you. Thank you Jesus for being with sinners, for seeing the good in us, for welcoming all into the kingdom. Help me to accept your forgiveness; help me to be forgiving as you are; help me to be a messenger of your spirit to all I meet. Continue to come, Lord Jesus, continue to call until the whole world is one in you. Amen.

WEDNESDAY, THIRD WEEK OF LENT

The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath

One Sabbath [Jesus] was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
Mark 2: 23-28

This story seems on first blush to have little pertinence to our lives. In our present time and culture when Sabbath adherence is honored more in the breach than in the observance, some wish that our own time were more like Jesus’ (or more like an earlier era when the blue laws existed). Some assume that there is just a quaint strangeness to the ancient Jewish world.

The book of Exodus stipulates that Sabbath observance is a sign of a perpetual covenant; in Deuteronomy there is a provision for picking grain from someone else’s field. Was picking grain work? Could it appropriately take place on the Sabbath? By Jesus’ time, the rabbis had conducted tortuous pros and cons on these questions, and it seems that some of the Pharisees might have been following Jesus just spoiling for a good argument.

They certainly conceded Jesus’ reference to the familiar story of David and his men eating grain on the Sabbath with the blessing of the priest. However, his final words were undoubtedly unbearable to them not only because they implied that his stature was equal to or greater than David, but also because they were tantamount to blasphemy. It is still something of a scandal when we proclaim that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath and of all that exists!

Who is this Son of Man? What does he reveal about the One who commanded the Sabbath?

Son of Man, Lord of the Sabbath, who are you? What do you wish me to see? … Amen.

TUESDAY, THIRD WEEK OF LENT

The Son of Man Forgives Sins

“…Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—“I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” And he stood up…
Mark 2: 9-12a

Various points in life offer themselves to us as opportunities for a fresh start: enrolling at a new school, moving, making a career change, welcoming New Year’s Day with a list of resolutions. I have had the best of intentions to get organized, have better posture, eat healthier, “seize the day,” talk more, talk less, quit stressing. And I continue to learn the truth of Alec Guinness’ wry comment, “The bad habits of a lifetime, when tackled head on, seem only to bend, not break.”

My clean-slate optimism is equally forthcoming each week in worship as we say, “In Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven.” Maybe this time I’ll go my way and sin no more. It would seem, however, that my sins are just as flexible as my bad habits. So it’s a comfort to know there’s a new second chance right around the corner. Perhaps too much of a comfort. Because what I usually fail to recognize is that there’s also a chance right now, a chance to live toward God rather than myself. Perhaps it IS easier for Jesus to say “Your sins are forgiven” than it is for us to get up and start acting like it.

Can you hear the Son of Man say, “Your sins are forgiven. Get up and go home.”? Who is he? How will you respond?

Gracious God, your forgiveness is so much more precious than I usually treat it. And it is so much more forthcoming than my own feeble attempts to show mercy. Help me to live as a human being who IS forgiven and who therefore seeks to live with greater honesty, courage and love. Amen.

MONDAY, THIRD WEEK OF LENT

The Son of Man,
a Child,
a Part of Tradition

For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
Isaiah 9:6b

Let the portrait draw you to ponder in your heart the child, the man. Imagine the man the child suggests. Imagine the child with authority resting on his shoulders.

"Baby Brother" Bowling Green, Ky., 1917

From childhood to charismatic leader—imagine one such today.

Will you recognize and follow today’s Son of Man or will you think him an imposter and a threat to our way?

Jesus, Son of Man, Lord of the earth, grow in my heart. Be the notions of my mind. Guide my feet this day. Amen.