February 19th - Reflection

Reading
Acts 7:35-42 (NRSV)
The people complain to Moses

"It was this Moses whom they rejected when they said, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?' and whom God now sent as both ruler and liberator through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He led them out, having performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up a prophet for you from your own people as he raised me up.' He is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living oracles to give to us. Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him; instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, saying to Aaron, 'Make gods for us who will lead the way for us; as for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.' At that time they made a calf, offered a sacrifice to the idol, and reveled in the works of their hands. But God turned away from them and handed them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:
'Did you offer to me slain victims and sacrifices
forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

Reflection
Jesus has been around for a long time. A prophet raised up. Raised up in so many ways. Raised up to restore. Living right here among us, in the congregation and in the world. Jesus, raised up by us and placed on a cross to die.

We couldn't stand it. We want to be our own savior. We want to take care of things ourselves. But what do we raise up? We raise up idols of metal and precious gold. Things we think will save us, but actually things that only disappoint us.

But God lowered Jesus to us and we raised him up and killed him. Lord, forgive our sinfulness. Lord, teach us the living oracles we need to hear. Show us Jesus and make us pause to hear and understand. Lord, forgive our sinfulness!

Prayer
As I face my sin, I turn to you, Lord. For only through you can I receive forgiveness and salvation. I can't do this on my own. Forgive me...as I listen to you...teach me...lead me...call me...gift me...and send me to do your will and way this day. --- Amen