Lenten Reading

Today’s Lenten Reading is from Priest Joseph Langford. You can read his biography here on the occasion of his death in 2010. Langford’s contribution to “Bread and Wine” is his meditation entitled “I Thirst for You.” It is written from the perspective of Christ talking to each one of us. Personally, I would probably be more comfortable with more Scripture citation but nothing in the meditation contradict the Christ described in Scripture and in fact brings it to light in a fresh and intimate way. I will just include the following excerpt and forego any comment as it (in a manner Jesus) speaks for itself:

I know you through and through- I know everything about you. The very hairs of your head I have numbered. Nothing in your life is unimportant to me, I have followed you through the years, and I have always loved you- even in your wanderings.

Grace and Peace

Lenten Reading

The Lenten reading today is written by Henri Nouwen and comes from a ministry visit and his resulting reflection. The individual that Nouwen went to visit had been an active participant in social activism and had expended his energies in serving others. At the age of 50 this man finds himself battling cancer and dependent on the care of medical staff. Nouwen recounts that the man struggled with his identity now that his activity virtually stopped. The essay then pivots on Nouwens reflection on Christ and His activity versus inactivity. Nouwen goes to the scene in the garden where Jesus is “handed over” by Jesus and then pairs that with Romans 5:8 where it says God “handed over” His own son. The pivot in the essay makes Nouwen’s point that passion is as much a part of our identity as is action. The following excerpt illustrates the point well,

All action ends in passion because the response to our action is out of our hands. That is the mystery of work, the mystery of love, the mystery of friendship, the mystery of community- they always involve waiting. And that is the mystery of Jesus’ love. God reveals himself in Jesus as the one who waits for our response. Precisely in that waiting the intensity of God’s love is revealed to us. If God forced us to love, we would not really be lovers.

When our activity is stilled for whatever reason, we question our identity and maybe even worth. But we learn from Jesus that there is a time to act and a time to wait. When we are in those times of waiting we identify with Christ, who in His passion was obedient even in His “inactivity.” We are at a time this very day where many of us are struggling with being still. While we wait may our strength be renewed and our passion for Christ be fueled.

Lenten Reading

In full disclosure., I have messed up. The 40 days of lent should be counted, omitting the Sundays. I have failed to omit the Sundays and so it is not really Day 32,. But we’ll just keep going with the readings without numbering the days.

Today’s Lenten reading is from Dorothy Soelle a German theologian who focused much of her work and writing on the strife and suffering of the Holocaust. This essay, “On This Gallows,” relies very much on an excerpt from Night by Elie Weisel. In examining Christ’s place among all suffering, Soelle makes a thought provoking quote on resurrection. “A person’s resurrection is no personal privilege for himself alone- even if he is called Jesus of Nazareth. It contains within itself hope for all, for everything.” The life , death, and resurrection of Christ has implications for all people. This is not a revolutionary statement, it is a simple statement of orthodoxy and the Christian understanding of salvation. Yet, its profundity is in the fact that it displays unknown love and the pervasive plan of God in Christ. The challenge for us is to know that as we are changed, challenged, and encouraged by the presence of Christ, we do the same for others. Christ in us is on display to impact the world around us. When we have trials, the world sees and when we come through the world sees. May they see Christ in us through it all.

Thanks to Nick Noble for the new cross in the courtyard.

Lenten Reading Day 31

Today’s reading in “Bread and Wine” comes from Wenedell Berry’s novel, Jayber Crow, and is Crow’s reflection on the suffering of Christ on the cross. Jayber, a barber from the fictional town of Port William, Kentucky, questions why Christ bled on a cross and died instead of showing the full extent of his Divine power. Crow knows the answer, admittedly most of us do. Christ’s power rest in His sacrifice, His purchase of our salvation, and His identity with the lowliest of people. Therefore, in Jayber’s words, “Those who wish to see him must see him in the poor, the hungry, the hurt, the wordless creatures, the groaning and travailing beautiful world.” That’s the line the gets me, “the groaning and travailing beautiful world.” The book of Romans speaks of the groaning of a waiting world and our own groans that only the Holy Spirit can translate. In the midst of those groans both corporate and personal, in the midst of a deplorable death, there is magnificent beauty. We know that to find God we have to look in the lowly, helpless places of this world yet we are not always willing to really look. May today be different.

GREAT MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY

The Chaplaincy office at SSM health (Saint Anthonys) in Shawnee is inviting churches and individuals to be a part of a great effort to support the hospital staff. This flyer details what they are doing. There is a drop-off place at the hospital but you can drop it off at the church opposite the mobile food pantry outside the glass doors. Also if you will call/text Justin he will come and get your items off your porch. Thank You.