Lenten Devotional 2014

LENY DAY 1 -- ASH WEDNESDAY
Good Morning, Beloved. Today is the beginning of Lent -- a 40 day period of fasting, not counting Sundays, which are always feast days, celebrating the Lord's Resurrection. In the Christian liturgical calendar, we remember that Jesus turned his face toward Jerusalem to fulfill the most important prophecies about him -- that He would be the sacrifice that redeemed Creation from brokenness and save all humanity from slavery to sin and death.
Here are the scripture passages for today from Lectionary Year 2, the season of Lent:
Psalter
Morning
Psalm 92 Psalm 32 Psalm 143
Evening
Psalm 102 Psalm 130
Hebrew Bible
Amos 5:6-15
Epistle
Hebrews 12:1-14
Gospel
Luke 18:9-14
May the Lord bless you, Beloved, with a holy observance as you journey with Him in Spirit toward Jerusalem.

LENT DAY 2 – March 6, 2014

Good morning, Beloved.  One way to join Jesus in Spirit as He makes His way to Jerusalem and the Cross is to take a closer look at His life.  First of all, we may ask the question, "Who is Jesus?"  The Apostle St. John answers this in a metaphysical way at the beginning of his Gospel:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." [ John 1:1-5 (NRSV)]

The Greek word LOGOS is "Word."  Its meaning is more than  a word on a page or a word we speak.  LOGOS is the creative spark, the active power that is both the essence and the instrument that makes a thought or an idea  into a material reality.

The first five verses of John's Gospel connect us back to the beginning of the Bible, when God spoke creation into being:

"In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light." [Genesis 1:1-3 (NRSV)]

If you feel led to think about this today, you might ask your self what you really know about Jesus. 

What are your earliest memories about Him?

Is He just a character in a story or so you know Him in Spirit?

Who is He in your life?

As you continue to accompany Jesus to Jerusalem, maybe you can take this opportunity to get to know Him better.  That is my pray for you today, Beloved.

Here are the scripture passages for today from Lectionary Year 2, Lent:

Psalter

Morning

Psalm 37:1-18

Evening

Psalm 37:19-42

Hebrew Bible

Habbakkuk 3:1=18

Epistle

Philippians 3:12-21

Gospel

John 17:1-8

May the Lord continue to bless you and inspire you today and always, Beloved.

LENT DAY 3 – March 7, 2014

LENT DAY 3

Good morning, Beloved.  This is the third day of Lent.  As we continue on our way to Jerusalem with Jesus and his disciples, it might be helpful to continue to explore who Jesus is.  This is what St. John the Apostle wrote, continuing on from the passage we looked at yesterday:

"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.  He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.  The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.  He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.  But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,  who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God." [John 1:6-13 (NRSV)]

In the passage from the very first verses in the first chapter of John's Gospel, we saw that Jesus Christ is the LOGOS -- the Word that is the instrument that brought forth the existence of everything that has been created.  At the same time, this Word is with God and is God.  Moving on to explain in metaphysical terms who Jesus is, John writes that He is the Light.

He continues on to explain that there was a man named John who we know as St. John the Baptist.  Just so that no one is confused, St. John the Apostle makes it clear that St. John the Baptist is not the light, but that he came to testify to the Light -- Jesus Christ.

Beyond St. John the Apostle's explanation of who Jesus is, he describes Jesus' purpose: "to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the power to become the children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or the will of man, but of God."

So that begs the questions, "Do you believe that Jesus is God?

"Have you received Him and believed in who He is as the Son of God?"

"Have you accepted the offer to become a child of God?"

If you answered, "No," to any of these questions, you might ask the Holy Spirit to help you.  He will answer any question you sincerely put to Him in the way you need to have it answered.

If you answered, "Yes," to any or all of the questions, do you know that there is always a deeper level of faith that the Lord draws us to so that we can come closer to His heart?  If you ask the Holy SPirit, He will show you and guide you.

Please don't delay.  Start right now.  The more you open your heart to the Lord, the wider is the channel for you to receive His love and blessings.

May the Lord continue to surprise you with His love and grace today and always. 

Today's Lectionary Passage for Lent Day 3, Year 2 are as follows:

Psalter

Morning

Psalm 95

Psalm 31

Evening

Psalm 35

Hebrew Bible

Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32

Epistle

Philippians 4:1-9

Gospel

John 17:9-19