Monday, March 13, 2006
From AscensionNYC
Monday in the Second Week of Lent
Psalm 65
Genesis 41:46-57
1 Corinthians 4:8-21
Mark 3:7-19a
The power of God is the shared focus of the four readings for today. In Psalms, we see an exuberant accounting of the abundance of earth's provisions: "...the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain..." God's power in nature richly provides for his children; for this and for all the signs of God's grace and caring presence, praise is to be our response.
And in the life of God's servant Joseph, wisdom and power expressed themselves in his careful planning and stewardship of the earth's resources -- specifically grain, plentiful "beyond measure" for seven years. The Genesis passage relates that when famine struck, Joseph was positioned to provide "all the world" with grain from his stores. His singular ability in a time of widespread need reminds us of our responsibility to care for the earth we inhabit, and for our fellow men and women.
Writing to the Corinthians, Paul describes some of the principles that guided the apostles: "...when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly." He appeals to his audience to be "imitators" of him. Noting the arrogance of some of the Corinthians, he vows to respond not to their words, but to their power: "For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power." It would seem that patience and the inclination to forgive count as powerful tools for living in this world.
The passage from Mark looks at the matter of power at a critical point in Jesus' ministry: his appointment of the twelve apostles. Mark reports that the twelve were to be with Jesus, "to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons." A tall order! But their power to fulfill the commission is understood to devolve directly from Jesus. Thus their success is assured -- as is ours when we undertake our own ministries, at church and in the world, guided by our trust in God and our confidence in God's protection and inspiring Spirit.
Genesis 41:46-57
1 Corinthians 4:8-21
Mark 3:7-19a
The power of God is the shared focus of the four readings for today. In Psalms, we see an exuberant accounting of the abundance of earth's provisions: "...the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain..." God's power in nature richly provides for his children; for this and for all the signs of God's grace and caring presence, praise is to be our response.
And in the life of God's servant Joseph, wisdom and power expressed themselves in his careful planning and stewardship of the earth's resources -- specifically grain, plentiful "beyond measure" for seven years. The Genesis passage relates that when famine struck, Joseph was positioned to provide "all the world" with grain from his stores. His singular ability in a time of widespread need reminds us of our responsibility to care for the earth we inhabit, and for our fellow men and women.
Writing to the Corinthians, Paul describes some of the principles that guided the apostles: "...when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly." He appeals to his audience to be "imitators" of him. Noting the arrogance of some of the Corinthians, he vows to respond not to their words, but to their power: "For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power." It would seem that patience and the inclination to forgive count as powerful tools for living in this world.
The passage from Mark looks at the matter of power at a critical point in Jesus' ministry: his appointment of the twelve apostles. Mark reports that the twelve were to be with Jesus, "to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons." A tall order! But their power to fulfill the commission is understood to devolve directly from Jesus. Thus their success is assured -- as is ours when we undertake our own ministries, at church and in the world, guided by our trust in God and our confidence in God's protection and inspiring Spirit.
Dori Dinsmoor
