The Lenten Journey: Shaped by Wilderness

Morning: Psalm 26, 28; Deuteronomy 6:16-25; Hebrews 2:1-10

Evening: Psalm 36, 39; John 1:19-28

‘Wilderness experiences’ can bring us to wisdom. In wilderness, we suffer and come face to face with ourselves, in all our vulnerability and weakness.  In wilderness, we learn it is better to accept our plight than to pretend we do not need help; for we learn that everyone suffers, everyone struggles.  In the wilderness, John pointed to Jesus as the help we need: Jesus endured suffering on our behalf, to show us a way of compassion. Com-passion means ‘suffering with’. We ourselves may at times suffer with others and in that way we offer God’s compassionate help in the world.

Graham

Grace and Truth

Morning: Psalm 25; Deuteronomy 6:10-15; Hebrews 1:1-14

Evening: Psalm 9, 15; John 1:1-18

Truth is, we humans are learning lots, but we don’t know much yet! We still live with a myriad of marvelous mysteries about life and death. Frequently, perhaps futilely, we offer explanations. Deuteronomy (around 622 BC) thought trouble and death came from God’s jealous anger because we betrayed him!?  Ouch! When Jesus appeared, Hebrews found ‘evidence’ that he was in fact the eternal God in human form. John’s Gospel agreed.  Interesting, though, that this God-in-the-flesh showed no signs of jealousy; Jesus was “full of grace and truth.”

Graham

Graham BLand

Rector

St. George’s Anglican Church

The Lord our God, the Lord is One

Morning: Psalm 148, 149, 150; Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Hebrews 12:18-29

Evening: Psalm 114, 115; John 12:24-32

Listen to the earthshaking realization of an ancient people – Israel – who used to worship idols. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” Jesus, son of Mary, learned to “keep these words … in (his) heart.” He himself would become one more earthshaking sign that God’s unshakeable Love still guards the creation, in spite of the messes we humans make. “Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous to be understood.” (Mary Oliver)

Graham

Graham Bland

Rector

St. George’s Anglican Church

We walk by faith, not by sight

Morning: Psalm 137:1-6; Ruth 4:1-17; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10

Evening: Psalm 104; Matthew 6:1-6

Some dreams (fortunately) are unrealizable. But dreams conceived in Love are assured. The faithfulness of Ruth and Boaz gave Naomi hope, a grandson. Quietly generous and prayerful lives produce good fruit. Our inner natures are strong when we walk by faith in the Love of God. We cannot see or touch Love, but it is part of us. So we do not lose heart. Muslim poet, Rumi, taught: “Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.”

Graham

Graham Bland

Rector

St. George’s Anglican Church

Unexpected treasure … in serving the stranger

Morning: Psalm 140, 142; Ruth 3:1-18; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12

Evening: Psalms 141, 143:1-11; Matthew 5:38-48

I choke at some Hollywood caricatures, especially predictable religious leaders, mouthing pious platitudes!  Lord, help me be authentic! But the characters who unpredictably and unexpectedly serve strangers who cannot repay them … Now, they always touch my heart - Superman, the Lone Ranger, Robin Hood!  God fills our human ‘clay vessels’ with the great treasure of Love.  Lavishing love only on those closest to us is a miserly caricature of humanity.  But when, unexpectedly, I serve a stranger, I release a treasure of Love I did not know was in me - or in them.

Graham

Graham Bland

Rector

St. George’s Anglican Church

Where the Spirit is, there is freedom

Morning: Psalm 131, 132; Ruth 2:14-23; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

Evening: Psalm 134, 135; Matthew 5:27-37

The Ten Commandments (Moses’ Law) were written on stone; but the Spirit writes on our hearts, so we know the truth within.  While the Law condemns, the Spirit frees. Jesus challenged those who used laws about adultery and divorce to justify mistreating women. They observed the Law, but ignored the Spirit. Living well is never just about following rules; people bend rules to suit their needs.  Living well, true freedom, is a matter of the heart. When the Spirit is at work there, we are free to obey the truth. Marvelous paradox!

Graham

Graham Bland

Rector

St. George’s Anglican Church

Faith heals our common life, not just me.

Morning: Psalm 119:145-176; Ruth 2:1-13; 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:17

Evening: Psalms 128, 129, 130; Matthew 5:21-26

If we think faith is about personal satisfaction (as many religious leaders teach), we’re not talking about faith. Boaz offered Ruth, a foreigner, the protection and solace of community.  Paul knew faith as a ‘fragrance’ that wafts through communities to heal, to bring forgiveness and life.  Jesus made it our responsibility to heal broken relationships, whether or not we caused the problem. Faith is not about ‘me’; it’s about ‘us’. If faith does not move us to reconciliation in our common life, it is not worthy of us.

Graham

Graham Bland

Rector

St. George’s Anglican Church