Friday, March 02, 2007
From AscensionNYC
Friday in the First Week of Lent
Psalm 130
Ezekiel 18:21-28
Matthew 5:20-26
Lent is not only a time for reflection, penance, and preparation, but also a time of discovery; discovery of ourselves; discovery of God; discovery of our path towards God. I see Lent as a twofer. On one hand, we get to see the humanness of Jesus. We see his struggles, temptations, and anguish. On the other hand, we see how he gets through it all — with the help of God. At the risk of sounding cliché, we can take this as a guide of how to think of the struggles within our own lives.
What has been most remarkable to me about the Lenten Devotional is its usefulness, not just during Lent, but for those times when it just feels like Lent. Occasionally you will hear someone say, "Gosh, it just doesn't feel like Lent." To which I want to respond, "Then rejoice, there are certainly many other times of the year when it does!"
The reading from Matthew deals with a common occurrence in our lives: anger. Living inNew York City New Haven Park Ave
Deadlysins.com defines anger thus: "Anger is manifest in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury." To spurn love, eh? I think we might be on to something. Perhaps it is simply not enough to be just, or enough to be right. To truly love, one must go beyond these things, perhaps one must have mercy. One must — how does the phrase go? — not sweat the small stuff?
When I get angry, though, and I mean, really angry, it is most often at those I love most. I'll spare you tales of my mother, but I am sure you can relate. Perhaps it is this type of anger that does us the most damage. And, just perhaps, the delivery guy or the taxi driver provides us an opportunity to practice patience and mercy. So the next time your taxi makes a wrong turn, think about giving him an extra tip — as thanks!
This, taken with the words of Ezekiel seem to strike a theme. It's hard work to enter thekingdom of God
Sometimes all we need is a reminder that we're not in this alone. And no matter when your Lent happens, remember it is always followed by Easter.
Amen.
Ezekiel 18:21-28
Matthew 5:20-26
Lent is not only a time for reflection, penance, and preparation, but also a time of discovery; discovery of ourselves; discovery of God; discovery of our path towards God. I see Lent as a twofer. On one hand, we get to see the humanness of Jesus. We see his struggles, temptations, and anguish. On the other hand, we see how he gets through it all — with the help of God. At the risk of sounding cliché, we can take this as a guide of how to think of the struggles within our own lives.
What has been most remarkable to me about the Lenten Devotional is its usefulness, not just during Lent, but for those times when it just feels like Lent. Occasionally you will hear someone say, "Gosh, it just doesn't feel like Lent." To which I want to respond, "Then rejoice, there are certainly many other times of the year when it does!"
The reading from Matthew deals with a common occurrence in our lives: anger. Living in
Deadlysins.com defines anger thus: "Anger is manifest in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury." To spurn love, eh? I think we might be on to something. Perhaps it is simply not enough to be just, or enough to be right. To truly love, one must go beyond these things, perhaps one must have mercy. One must — how does the phrase go? — not sweat the small stuff?
When I get angry, though, and I mean, really angry, it is most often at those I love most. I'll spare you tales of my mother, but I am sure you can relate. Perhaps it is this type of anger that does us the most damage. And, just perhaps, the delivery guy or the taxi driver provides us an opportunity to practice patience and mercy. So the next time your taxi makes a wrong turn, think about giving him an extra tip — as thanks!
This, taken with the words of Ezekiel seem to strike a theme. It's hard work to enter the
Sometimes all we need is a reminder that we're not in this alone. And no matter when your Lent happens, remember it is always followed by Easter.
Amen.
Robert Brown
