April 4th - Reflection

Isaiah 59:9-19 (NRSV)
The blindness of injustice

Therefore justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not reach us;
we wait for light, and lo! there is darkness;
and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
We grope like the blind along a wall,
groping like those who have no eyes;
we stumble at noon as in the twilight,
among the vigorous as though we were dead.
We all growl like bears;
like doves we moan mournfully.
We wait for justice, but there is none;
for salvation, but it is far from us.
For our transgressions before you are many,
and our sins testify against us.
Our transgressions indeed are with us,
and we know our iniquities:
transgressing, and denying the Lord,
and turning away from following our God,

talking oppression and revolt,
conceiving lying words and uttering them from the heart.
Justice is turned back,
and righteousness stands at a distance;
for truth stumbles in the public square,
and uprightness cannot enter.
Truth is lacking,
and whoever turns from evil is despoiled.

The Lord saw it, and it displeased him
that there was no justice.
He saw that there was no one,
and was appalled that there was no one to intervene;
so his own arm brought him victory,
and his righteousness upheld him.
He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and wrapped himself in fury as in a mantle.
According to their deeds, so will he repay;
wrath to his adversaries, requital to his enemies;
to the coastlands he will render requital.
So those in the west shall fear the name of the Lord,
and those in the east, his glory;
for he will come like a pent-up stream
that the wind of the Lord drives on.

Reflection
We can get ourselves so separated from God. We are in such darkness of sin the best we can do is to grope for the wall and follow the wall. We stumble in our sin and bump into one another. Complete confusion. All our own doing, this was not the intentions of God when we were created. We did this to ourselves and can't get out of it.

God saw us and with a loving and compassionate heart, God sent Jesus as flesh and blood into the midst of our darkness and chaos. Jesus came to all of us and each of us and gave us the Light to follow and the way to salvation from sin, death, and our sinful selves.

Oh, how God came! Like a pent-up stream and a driven wind. Came like a warrior ready for battle. Came to our rescue. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, thanks for giving your Light and you Way for me to follow out of this darkness I have gotten myself into. I want to be your disciple and follow in your way. Show me how. Teach me. Walk with me. --- Amen

April 3rd - Reflection

Fourth Sunday in Lent John 9:1-41 (NRSV)
The man born blind

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man." But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet."

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."


So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.

Reflection
Groupings of three come to mind when I read this Gospel. We have Jesus, the blind man, and the Pharisees. We have all sight both physical and spiritual in Jesus. We have no sight in the blind man, physical and spiritual at first. We have partial site, physical and not spiritual in the Pharisees. Finally we have relationship, both personal and corporate with Jesus. The blind man at first has no relationships, either personal or corporate. The Pharisees have corporate but not personal relationship.

The blind man is the one who accepts all the change in this passage. Jesus is the element of that change for the blind man. And the Pharisees are those that resist the change.

Jesus comes to the blind man and gives him something to do so that he can regain his sight. At first the blind man was regaining physical sight with the seed planted by Jesus for spiritual sight. The blind man takes a chance and takes the steps necessary to gain physical sight. In this chance the blind man regains his sight and has established a personal relationship with Jesus, even though he hasn't seen Jesus, he knows Jesus healed him somehow.

The Pharisees issue was with Jesus. This blind man was a problem to them. Through their study of the law they had a relationship with God and the law through Moses. They were followers of Moses. The Pharisees had a corporate relationship with the "church" but not a personal relationship with God as Jesus could provide. The Pharisees had physical sight but not spiritual sight to see that Jesus was sent from God.

Finally we have Jesus. Jesus with physical and spiritual sight. Jesus with personal and corporate relationships. Jesus shows the blind man the way to all sight and relationship.

Jesus comes to each one of us. Jesus knows each one of us. He knows our every sin. We are in a personal relationship with Jesus. This relationship given through God's action in becoming human in Jesus gives us relationship and sight. Even if we live our life without physical sight, the importance of spiritual site and relationship with God are all that is needed. Physical sight will come in time through God. Healing comes through God some time or another. Sin is dissolved through Jesus and we live in the hope and faith that God loves us so much, both individually and as his Church, that we will be saved.

What a comforting thought. To be without that relationship with God would be death. To live in that relationship both personal and corporate is eternal life! All through the saving acts of Jesus our Savior. Live life as if you are now living your eternal life. Think of all the purpose that God has in store for you in this moment, in this life, in this place. Just think of the relationships you have been given. Live that life of compassion and love and follow the Savior. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, I give you thanks for the moment. I give you thanks for coming so close to me. Open my eyes to that spiritual realm and bring me into relationship with those you give to me this day. May they see Jesus in me, my actions and my words. Shine through me this day in love that your will and your way is proclaimed. --- Amen

April 2nd - Reflection

Psalm 23 (NRSV)
My head anointed with oil
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;

he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff --
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.

Reflection
I couldn't help this reflection after reading the Psalm. In 2006 I gave a series of sermons at my friend's church while he and his wife went on an extended vacation. It's a wonderful Presbyterian Church in a very small town just outside of Hueston Woods State Park. It was wonderful to prepare this sermon and rereading it has been a great reflection today for me.

Here is that sermon as my reflection for this day.

Listen to the Shepherd's Voice

Sermon 7/23/2006Theme: Listen to the Shepherd’s Voice
Prayer for Illumination
Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Readings

Psalm-Psalm 23
1^st Reading-Jeremiah 23.1-6
2^nd Reading-Ephesians 2.11-22
Gospel-Mark 6.30-34, 54-56
Psalm 23

The 23^rd Psalm. One of many favorites of all time. But what is it about this Psalm that appeals to such a large percentage of Christians throughout all time?
The early church sang Psalm 23 as the baptized person emerged from the font and proceeded into the newly illumined church for Eucharist.
Today many a funeral has the 23^rd Psalm read. This Psalm is like a walk through life with our Shepherd taking care of all of our needs. This Psalm is like a prayer of worship to God before a sermon that our Pastor would tell us of a Lord whose name is Christ and make him known to us. That during this sermon I would be attentive to listen to the words of the message as I am led to this Master and Teacher who is the Son of God.
So let’s take that journey here and now through Psalm 23. Feel Jesus’ presence; Once again hear him walking close by. Walking once again as we heard him walk in that Garden years ago. Walking with you and me through life. Our Shepherd. Our Lord – Our Savior.
The practice of Eastern shepherds was to have various flocks sheltering together in a common fold. The shepherd of a particular flock would approach the fold, come to the gate and call.
Groups of two or three sheep would know his voice and turn and follow the shepherd.
The shepherd knew each one of his sheep.
In the church we must remember that we need to exist in the fold of the sheep. If we think we as sheep can go it on our own—we deceive ourselves.
Jesus calls the flock- the flock – even though he knows each one of us- he calls us as a flock to follow him. In this we see that Christ must remain the head of the church. There is strength in membership of the flock.

Want

Jesus has called us – we hear our Shepherd’s voice. I am called through the gift of my baptism. I am called by Jesus as a Child of God. I am called unique. I am called peculiar in a wonderful way. But all the same, I am called. You are called. And we begin to move towards Jesus voice. In pairs- maybe two or three. We join together in our walk towards our Shepherds voice. We get up and walk. And we find a Lord who is a wonderful Shepherd taking care of all our wants and needs.
"I shall not want." – come on – I will want! – But who is I?
If I think of myself as a body—I will without a doubt want! – Who here hasn’t been hungry or thirsty – need rest – the body has needs and wants. As a body – as human flesh – I will want.
Let’s look at this from a different perspective though- Who is I? – How about – Do I have a Soul?—No! – I have no soul! – I have no soul! – This is a surprising and bold statement to make. An early preacher made this point years ago. I have no soul--- I am a soul and I have a body. This is the change in perspective of thinking here on "Who is I?"
I am a soul that has a body.
So when I think of myself as "Soul" – I can see that with this perspective – with Christ as my Shepherd – "I shall not want." – With Christ there is nothing- absolutely nothing else I will ever need- In Christ I shall not want. Thanks be to God.
Listen to the Shepherds Voice- "I shall not want."

Make

My Shepherd makes me lie down. He makes me. No request here. Christ makes me lie down. Just as in our reading from Mark. Jesus knows when we need rest. And he will make us lie down. He will make it happen. In command we see renewal and restoration. God throughout all time has told of us this need. Even in and through the creation story and the Ten Commandments. A rest happens. A Sabbath of renewal takes place. And as Sheep – Jesus our Shepherd makes us rest.
Listen to the Shepherds Voice. "He makes me lie down."

Restore

So at the beginning we hear his voice. Rise and slowly join together – one to two, two to three and more to follow our call together as Chosen children of God. Following our Shepherd who takes care of all our wants and makes us rest in life. Then he restores us. He restores our soul. That different perspective. I am soul – which happens to have a body. Rest-
Remember the times of rest- real rest—Life is like this – we start on a journey – then God gives us rest- rest in green pastures.
Green- green becomes green with Light and Water- Green – those refreshing baptismal waters of life- that warmth and Light of the Son our Savior- Jesus who provides that everliving water of life- that continual renewal in our baptism – day after day we relive our baptism and feel the water of life entering our souls- each morning giving thanks for those baptismal waters that restore us- combine those waters with the warmth of the Son – the Light of the world- the Word that became flesh and dwelt amongst us- God’s Water- God’s Light in a Savior for each of us and for all of us. Green with Life- Light and Water. Showers as well as sunshine-
But rest and restoration is not an end. He restores my soul- there is that soul again- I am soul that has a body--- in the restoration we see our life as movement—not stagnation- we move on by the lead of our Shepherd—after restoration the journey is not haphazard- it leads somewhere- there is spiritual gain to be found in all that God permits to happen to us.
Listen to the Shepherds Voice. "He restores my soul."

Guide

He guides me in paths of righteousness.
Purpose in my life- I have been restored now it’s time to get up and go. Begin the journey God has called me to through my baptism. Seek to discover the gain God has for my soul. This path will not always be easy. Jesus my Shepherd will guide me but that doesn’t mean this will be a cakewalk. The path may be hard. The path may be narrow. I may have to squeeze through a gate or two. I can expect to feel some pain.
We are being led back to the main flock. That flock of saints in glory. Those souls who have taken this journey. Or a journey unique to their lives that led them by the Savior back to the fold. Back to the host of saints in heaven where we will once again gather in glory. But for now- for you- for I – we follow the lead We trust in our guide and follow in faith.
Listen to the Shepherd’s Voice. "He guides me in paths of righteousness for his names sake."

Walk

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death"---
Notice how we were refreshed by the still waters – before the hardest part of our journey- then while in the dark there is illumination- the Light of Christ. Even though we walk through the shadow of death- journey into the dark corners of life- we have our Light- our Shepherd as our guide. Walking there once again as always -–at our side.
Do you hear his walk? Do you hear him walking in the Garden? That Tree of Life- Can you hear the walk? – He is walking with you in the darkness of your life—hear the walk- feel Christ with you by your side- with you from the beginning and even now.
Listen to the Shepherd’s Voice. "Even though you will walk in the darkness I need not fear because Jesus is there with me to guide and protect me.

Comfort

Jesus there to protect and comfort me. Comfort me with his rod and his staff. I can’t defeat evil on my own. Christ defeats evil on the cross for me. He has defeated evil with his rod and I must depend on this and this alone. I can't depend on my own strength. Only through Jesus -–and he will use his rod and staff on me also- to lead me- to guide me- to discipline me as a loving Shepherd will always do to his sheep. That’s comfort! – Yea I may be disciplined- I will know my sin – but in the knowing of my sin- Jesus will guide me and redirect my path.
Listen to the Shepherd’s Voice- your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

Prepare

We’re going back to the fold where a table is prepared. A table spread before me. A communion table along the way in the dark valley. That table where we can take in the body and blood of Christ. Remember once again the price Jesus paid for us. Even in the dark valley. Jesus our Shepherd leads us back to this table – time and time again to remind us of what a price he paid for each one of us- and for all of us together as his Church – Jesus is our Shepherd preparing that table now and in the future and showing us the price he paid for our lives.
Listen to the Shepherd’s Voice-He prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies.

Anoint

He anoints my head with oil. Remember that baptism? He anoints you too! – Anoints our heads with oil. Treats us so kindly. Loves us so much. A deep deep love that we can’t understand. A love that anoints us even though we don’t deserve it. Feel the Love of the Shepherd in your life. Feel his deep love and be so gracious for it. Give him thanks day after day all your life.
Listen to the Shepherd’s Voice- He anoints your head with oil.

Overflow

And my cup overflows. What a wonderful Shepherd. As we walk through the valley we begin to come out. We get closer and closer to the fold – to that wonderful flock of saints in heaven and we see that in this journey – this tough and painful journey – this calling in Christ – that our cup overflows-
Now that’s Grace—a cup that overflows- that love of Christ freely given that overflows our cup- that blood at the table- beyond belief- overflowing the cup- more than we ever need- may our cups overflow with the love of Christ that his love will overflow in us to be given to the world we live in. – May Christ’s love overflow in us and spill out into each one of our worlds. Spill to every person we meet this week that they too may know and see Christ –active in our life – Christ – real and alive in and through us.
Listen to the Shepherd’s Voice- my cup of love overflows

Follow

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life- Our journey continues- Called- baptized- fed with the body and blood- the bread and the wine- given his love to overflowing – we now see the goodness and love God has freely given to us through our Savior. Wow! – I will follow!
Listen to the Shepherd’s Voice- Goodness and Love will follow you all the days of your life.

Dwell

Then there it is – and even here it is. – Now we know – now we see- that through this journey – through this walk with the Shepherd- all along- we have already begun the journey of eternal life- We being baptized –saved- followers of the Shepherd have already begun the gracious gift of eternal life- it’s already started- right here and now we have eternal life through our Shepherd- And we already dwell with the fold- We just didn’t know it all this time- we are living our eternal life through the grace of God and right now are dwelling with God – dwelling with and in God and in his temple- We have walked to the heart of God – and in this walk we find along the way that we were already with our Shepherd.
Listen to the Shepherd’s Voice- You will dwell in and with God- in his house forever.

Listen

Listen to the Shepherd’s Voice.
Feel Jesus walking by your side in life.
Feel his presence.
Touch his cloak. It’s real!
Hear his voice and follow his lead.
Don’t be fooled by any other voice- follow the Shepherd’s Voice.
Listen to the Shepherd’s Voice!

Amen

April 1st - Reflection

Ephesians 5:1-9 (NRSV)
Now in the Lord you are light
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.


Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them. For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.

Reflection
We have something very precious in common. We have our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in common. Therefore we are created in the image of God, saved by God in Jesus, gifted by God through the Spirit and sent into this world to praise and honor God and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people through Word and Action.

With this in mind we should respond to one another in like love and compassion and respect and understanding.

But the forces of sin creep in and we tease to the contrary or we compete unnecessarily. Instead of building one another up we tear one another down so that the other looks good. Stop it! Stop it and change the talk.

It's time to unite and live a life in love and respect of one another, both saved and the lost. All are children of God. God's good creation. Walk with all peoples and join in with your own hymn of salvation through Christ. Give the respect to work side by side with those in need. Understand that we all have some life situation that is a struggle and help one another. Celebrate those life situations, we all have, that are blessings, and love and understand each other.

"Live as children of light for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true."

Prayer
Lord, I hear your Word which, for me, sometimes is so hard to live. Teach me, guide me and change me, to live a life of love and respect for all people and all creation...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen

March 31st - Reflection

Ephesians 4:25-32 (NRSV)
Called to honesty and forbearance

So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Reflection
Anger that simmers can be used to bring forth sin and hate and all sorts of evil intentions against the neighbor. We need to deal with our anger and forgive. If the world were all made of forgiveness, just think of how things would be. That forgiveness started in Christ and continues in him through us to our friends, neighbors and even our enemies.

In the forgiveness comes the compassion and tender heart and Christ. It's certainly not the easy first step. But that first step has already been taken in that step of Jesus towards me. So, I step out in forgiveness towards those Jesus gives to me day by day with a compassionate and loving heart forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave me. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord you first came to me. You love me and show me your way. As I step out this day and approach those you give to me, may I step towards them with a heart of compassion, love, blessing and forgiveness. --- Amen

March 30th - Reflection

John 7:14-31, 37-39 (NRSV)
Drink of Jesus, the Messiah

About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. The Jews were astonished at it, saying, "How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?" Then Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.

"Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?" The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?" Jesus answered them, "I performed one work, and all of you are astonished. Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man's whole body on the sabbath? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."

Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, "Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from." Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me." Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come. Yet many in the crowd believed in him and were saying, "When the Messiah comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?" ...

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, 'Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.'" Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Reflection
Sometimes Christ reveals himself to us and we don't want to see him. We don't want to see him or admit that he sees our sin. So we pretend a little. We pretend we don't know that Jesus is the Messiah. We pretend we don't know where he comes from. We pretend that Jesus presence with us is not the same as the presence of God. We pretend that our sin is hidden. We pretend that Jesus can't be God.

But then Jesus looks right past all of our false imaginations and comes to us with the Spirit of God. Jesus shows us rivers of living water. Jesus reveals his grace of forgiveness, only if we stop pretending that we have not sinned and come to him and repent.

When we see Jesus as God, the God that knows us completely, we drop our guards and run to him. Run to Jesus, humbly repenting and asking for deliverance from sin, death, the devil and our sinful self. Jesus responds with an outflow of rivers of living water from the believers heart. Receive the Spirit and live! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, the source of living waters; I come to you this day and repent. Forgive my sin and fill me with that living water that I may go out in your name and gladly do your will, your way, this day. --- Amen

March 29th - Reflection

Genesis 29:1-14 (NRSV)
Rachel at the well

Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east. As he looked, he saw a well in the field and three flocks of sheep lying there beside it; for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well's mouth was large, and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well.

Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where do you come from?" They said, "We are from Haran." He said to them, "Do you know Laban son of Nahor?" They said, "We do." He said to them, "Is it well with him?" "Yes," they replied, "and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with the sheep." He said, "Look, it is still broad daylight; it is not time for the animals to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them." But they said, "We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep."

While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them. Now when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother's brother Laban, and the sheep of his mother's brother Laban, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of his mother's brother Laban. Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and wept aloud. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's kinsman, and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father.

When Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he ran to meet him; he embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, and Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!" And he stayed with him a month.

Reflection
In marriage we begin a new life. A new life with a new partner. At the well we uncover water that sustains life. With the meeting at the well of new life we uncover and drink from the water to sustain life.

God leads us to living water at the well. In this living water we meet Father, Son and Spirit and are claimed as a Child of God. A marriage of sorts begins and grows. We are covered with this living water and brought into a marriage with the Church.

As newly baptized children, it's no wonder that those in the Church gladly run in love to a new Child of God. We proclaim, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!" We are one in our baptism in God. And at the well we all live faithfully, having been given a drink of that living water.

What a wonderful place is the well of God. What a wonderful gift God gives! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as I come once again to the well today, give me that living water. Show me the way you would have me go, the people you want me to meet, and the way you want me to live. Cover me with living water this day. --- Amen

March 28th - Reflection

Genesis 24:1-27 (NRSV)
Rebekah at the well

Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his house, who had charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, but will go to my country and to my kindred and get a wife for my son Isaac." The servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land; must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?" Abraham said to him, "See to it that you do not take my son back there. The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and swore to me, 'To your offspring I will give this land,' he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there." So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.

Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all kinds of choice gifts from his master; and he set out and went to Aram naharaim, to the city of Nahor. He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water; it was toward evening, the time when women go out to draw water. And he said, "O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. I am standing here by the spring of water, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. Let the girl to whom I shall say, 'Please offer your jar that I may drink,' and who shall say, 'Drink, and I will water your camels' let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master."


Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, coming out with her water jar on her shoulder. The girl was very fair to look upon, a virgin, whom no man had known. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up. Then the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me sip a little water from your jar." "Drink, my lord," she said, and quickly lowered her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw for your camels also, until they have finished drinking." So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels. The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.

When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold nose ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels, and said, "Tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?" She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor." She added, "We have plenty of straw and fodder and a place to spend the night." The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord and said, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the way to the house of my master's kin."

Reflection
Abraham was led by God to places unknown to him and times unknown. Abraham walked in faith with God and followed God's lead. Likewise, in Abraham's last recorded words in the Bible, he sends his servant to bring back an unknown wife for his son Isaac.

So Abraham's faith was an example for this servant who now walks in faith back to the land from which Abraham came.

As we walk in faith with God, we become examples to family, friends and neighbors, of people that love, trust and are faithful to God. We walk into situations unknown. Sometimes we live through happy times and sometimes through sad and even tough times. The walk we take is not always easy. However, we can always rest assured that God will lead and guide us along the way.

Jesus, being God in human form, knows how this walk of faith takes place. Jesus walks with us as he walked in faith and love with Father. So as we too walk, we can always know that Jesus is closer than could ever be imagined. Jesus is closer than you think and knows you deeper than you can imagine. In this I give all thanks and praise to God.

Prayer
Lord, as I walk this day into the unknown; I know that I can look to my left or right, front or back, and you will be with me. Lead me and guide me this day. --- Amen

March 27th - Reflection

Third Sunday in Lent
John 4:5-42 (NRSV)
The woman at the well
So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.


A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?" Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water."

Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come back." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!" The woman said to him, "Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us." Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who is speaking to you."

Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you want?" or, "Why are you speaking with her?" Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, "Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?" They left the city and were on their way to him.

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, eat something." But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." So the disciples said to one another, "Surely no one has brought him something to eat?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more, then comes the harvest'? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."


Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I have ever done." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world."

Reflection
Jesus bond and relationship with us is so close that he knows all that we do. He knows me and still comes to me. Comes to me even and especially in my sin. He comes and tells me of those actions I have taken that are sinful. If I listen to his words I will act. If I believe in him as the Messiah and Savior, I will humbly confess my sin and change.

God is so wonderful that Jesus comes to us even when we are running away from him in sin. God comes and spells out the way to go that leads to eternal life. Believe in God. Listen and take in the depth of the close relationship God has formed with you and make the changes. God is with you as you change. God is in you as you change. And God is changing you as you change. It's God's first action that brings on an abundance of first actions of change in your life. You simply must believe and proclaim the glory of God in your life.

We all sin. In this sin is Jesus connection to us and God's means of salvation. We deserve death. But Jesus creates life through death and gives us new life. An exciting life. A redeemed life. What a wonderful life to live! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, you know me and still love me. You know me and still forgive me. You know me and come to me and help me live a new life in your love. Thanks. --- Amen

March 26th - Reflection

Psalm 95 (NRSV)

The rock of our salvation

O come, let us sing to the Lord;

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.

O come, let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.

O that today you would listen to his voice!
Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
when your ancestors tested me,
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
For forty years I loathed that generation
and said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray,

and they do not regard my ways."
Therefore in my anger I swore,
"They shall not enter my rest."

Reflection
What a great and awesome God we have. A God who sends Jesus into our flesh to save us from the punishment of sin that we fully deserve. A God that you just want to kneel before or fall prostrate in front of because of our utter wonder of the grace we have been shown.

But, we still sin, and must watch our rebellousness in God's presence and return to God from the wilderness of our sin. God is the one and only God of the universe. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, you are indeed awesome. Awesome in your creative life giving power of all that I can see. Awesome in the realm of glory that as of yet I am unable to see. You are awesome and gracious in the lives of all. Hear my priase dear Lord and guide me this day in your will and your way. --- Amen

March 25th - Reflection

Ephesians 2:11-22 (NRSV)
Christ, the reconciliation of Jew and Gentile

So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called "the uncircumcision" by those who are called "the circumcision" a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands -- remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

Reflection
It's interesting the people God calls. When you look back through the Old Testament and the New and even today, the people God calls aren't all that different from you or I. Noah did a wonderful job building the ark, but went and got drunk afterwards. Saul was a hansom and powerful king, but brought the spirit of Samuel up later in life. David was one of God's favorites, but he committed adultery and murder. Peter was a wonderful and inquisitive disciple, but denied Jesus when Jesus needed him most. Paul was on fire with the gospel, but stood by in the death and persecution of so many early Christians. You can go on and on with this. Even beyond the pages of scripture and throughout the history of religious leaders and lay people.

In spite of all these flaws, God calls us through Jesus Christ to be one Church. With the power of the Holy Spirit, flawed people are enlightened, gifted and called to action in the one Universal Church. Leaders and lay come together to form a priesthood of believers.

Jesus came and united the Jews and the Gentiles. Jesus took on the sin of the world and abolished the differences. In this the Church was opened to all. Jesus death and resurrection was for all flawed people, and that's all of us. We are all united in the gift of Jesus. We are all one in Christ. And in our oneness, we come together in that love that builds and grows through Jesus and the movement of the Holy Spirit through space and time.

What a wonderful gift! What a wonderful unity! All people and all Children of God! Will you accept the gift? Thanks be to God for all those different, unique, creations of God who gladly, humbly, and lovingly unite under Jesus!

Prayer
Lord, I give you thanks for the diversity of people who have been in my life, all created and loved by you. Bring us together as one in your name, your mission, and under your head, Jesus Christ. --- Amen

March 24th - Reflection

Colossians 1:15-23 (NRSV)
Christ, the reconciliation of all things

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.

Reflection
What a connection God has made in Jesus with us and the created.

In our fall, Jesus came in our form, to make the creation acceptable once again.

And how all things include what is invisible now to my eyes is beyond my thoughts.

But I can have faith in what God has done.
I can believe and account for Jesus birth, life, ministry, suffering, death and resurrection.
I can look to the words of the Bible and see evidence recorded years ago that attest to this very account.
I can believe in those words.
I can choose to live by the Word made flesh.
I can be a disciple of Jesus and choose to take his hand while in my lifetime and follow his lead.
I can do this because God builds faith and increases hope and chose to be involved in my life through a close relationship with Jesus.
Finally, I can continue in hope the the gospel I have heard proclaimed and become a servant of this gospel.
What great things I can do, all because of what God chose to do for me through Jesus.
Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, your way is beyond my imagination. But that's what I love about you. You are the great I AM. You are my God. You are my Savior. And because You are --- I can be your child. --- Amen

March 23rd - Reflection

John 7:53-8:11 (NRSV)
Jesus does not condemn the sinner Then each of them went home, while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, sir." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again."

Reflection
There is an underlying issue in this story. Mosaic law stated that the woman was to be stoned to death, but the Pharisees knew that the local authorities would not permit a sentence to be executed. Jesus takes this issue and turns it inward for each one of us.

We all have sinned and fall short of the law. Who is there that could carry out the sentence of death for this woman? The only one who could carry out the sentence in this case was Jesus himself. And Jesus granted life from death. Life from death with a stern command. Jesus does not condemn the woman, but sends her away with the command to not sin again. Forgiveness from the sinless one. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
I am dust and to dust I will return. Out of that dust, Lord, you created me. I have become dirty and have sinned. Forgive my sinfulness and stir up once again that dust that your breath of life may enter in to me again. Send me Lord with the purpose you have in store for me. Send me to bring your message of life from death and joy from dust today. --- Amen

March 22nd - Reflection

Isaiah 65:17-25 (NRSV)
God promises a new creation
For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord
and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent its food shall be dust!

They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,

says the Lord.

Reflection
This is the way things are supposed to be it seems. People live together in love and harmony with one another and with God. It seems that a picture of the creation God intended is given in this passage.

As this vision is described and the words pop to life, we see what God has in store for us. Sure, our sinfulness messed the reality of this living up, but in this vision God gives us the hope of new living to come.

And that living won't come through our good intentions or good efforts. This vision will be made reality through the birth, life, ministry, suffering, death and resurrection of God's Son, Jesus Christ. As Jesus comes into this world to make things right with God in the place of sinful humans.

And in this, is the awe of the story. In this is the love of God. In this act is salvation. What hope we have been given. What a Savior we have seen! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, you have given us a Savior. You have shown us the vision. Use me and my fellow disciples to move this vision towards reality today in the love that you have placed in our hearts this day. --- Amen

March 21st - Reflection

Numbers 21:4-9 (NRSV)
Moses lifts up the serpent

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food." Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Reflection
Look and live. Look at the serpent on the pole from God and live. Look at Jesus, Moses, and Elijah and the Light of God and live. Look at the cross of Jesus and live. Look at the body, the bread and the blood, the wine and live. Look and live.

God teaches us that salvation only comes through him. Salvation is not something we come upon or stumble upon with our own effort or work. Salvation comes from God and God alone. Look and live...only in God do we receive deliverance.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as I open the Word in the pages of the Bible, I see so many examples of "look and live." You reveal yourself and save me and your people. This day may I "look and live" as I encounter you in the world you send me into. --- Amen

March 20th - Reflection

Second Sunday in Lent
Matthew 17:1-9 (NRSV)
Christ revealed as God's beloved Son

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
Reflection
Here we see a combination of the appearance of the Law, the Prophets, and the Messiah. The entirety of God's Word is now flesh and comes to be with us and shed his great Light now upon our faces, face to face. In Jesus there is nothing hidden. God makes himself known through flesh and spirit. Our own creation can now sense God, feel, touch, smell, hear and know that God is real. Our own creation can now know the Spirit of God. Our own creation can now spring forth to new life under the warmth and the power of Jesus' Light.

God comes to us and reveals himself to us and we are awestruck! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, I wish to dwell with you and you come to dwell with me. It's all topsy turvey! It's all wonderful! --- Amen

March 19th - Reflection

Psalm 121 (NRSV)
The Lord watches over you
I lift up my eyes to the hills --
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.
Reflection
When we place all of our trust in God, we begin to see the God of creation. As we lift our eyes to the hills, we see the vastness of all that God has created. We stand in awe of the hand work or God and the precision of life. Then life brings forth thoughts of God working throughout history with this people. And God works not only with his people but works on a personal level with you and with me. Once again we are brought full cycle, as we recall that God is the God of eternity.

This Psalm leaves me in awe of God's power, love and might. It takes me out and then close in to feel the breath of God on my cheek. We have a wonderful loving God in our midst, day by day. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as I climb on your lap this day, comfort me, teach me, encourage me, hear my worship and send me to do your will in your way this day. --- Amen

March 18th - Reflection

Romans 3:21-31 (NRSV)
Paul relates law and faith
But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.


Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Reflection
When we witness the bright light of the Savior, Jesus Christ, we begin to see just the beginnings of the greatness of God. We can't fathom how far God reaches out in love to his people. So, when we witness just a peek at this light we know that it's not all about us. In fact we feel awed that there is anything about us. We feel the love of God for each one of us. God is so big and we are so small, that it is amazing that we could even be cared for. What a wonderful feeling this becomes. How loved and important we are in the eyes of God.

And we also begin to learn about salvation through this great Light of Jesus. We could never achieve salvation. Never through obedience to the law or by good works. God's salvation is so far beyond all this. The Law and good works are now responses to the realization that the Light and love of Christ is our way to salvation. Jesus gave us salvation through his love for us.

And back to the beginning thought. How vast and how wide is the love of God. This Light of the mountain became the light of the valley, of the world, of the universe, of all. And in this Light of Christ shines salvation for all. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Awestruck by your Holiness, I can only say thanks! Thanks be to God! --- Amen

March 17th - Reflection

2 Timothy 1:3-7 (NRSV)
Faith handed down from faithful mothers
I am grateful to God -- whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self discipline.

Reflection
Just think of the examples my Mom and Dad have set in my life. I remember seeing Mom in quiet moments daily reading her Bible. Her Bible even had small devotionals within it. I remember seeing this and then in later years I emulated her actions and found out the depth of the Word in the Bible and how Jesus comes to life in those words, Old and New Testament both. The gospel message springs forth even from the law.

And then hearing my Dad give a talk from the pulpit. The example Dad set of taking a chance and doing something outside the norm. This inspiration active in Dad gave me the strength to be willing to give sermons and speak in public. God took action with Dad's faith and Dad was an example of Jesus love for those in need.

Paul's passage brings back memories that have been taking place throughout time. Memories that God is alive and working and in our midst. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as I live each moment with you, may I see you in the other and may you work in and through me. Help us to teach one another the message of the Cross and Salvation through Jesus amid your life and ours. --- Amen

March 16th - Reflection

Matthew 18:10-14 (NRSV)
Not one of these little ones should be lost
"Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.

What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

Reflection
God doesn't want anyone to perish. God cares about each of us so much that in heaven we have angels that are continually in the face of the Father. We're talking about God here! The God of the universe, beyond as big as we can think and beyond as small as we can think, before and after time, that God.

God wants to save each one of us and never let us stray. Yet this same God created us so that we could stray if we choose to. That's a God of love! And this God rejoices when we return to him. Rejoices when he tracks us down and finds us and leads us back. That's a great and awesome thought. That's our God and he wants us.

God wants and loves you and me and the person next to you and her, his little ones. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
I love you Lord! Teach me to love others as well. Show me and teach me your passion in love. --- Amen