Lent 2 Year C

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Psalm 27:1,5-13, Philippians 3:17-4:1, Luke 13:31-35

When I first looked at the lectionary readings for today, I thought to myself, “really God...really?”  At first glance, it made no sense to me why this story would be in the lectionary on its own. I struggled with where the good news can be found in this story.  As I struggled with this it became clear to me that this passage from Luke is part of a larger narrative which culminates in this story and sets the stage for the Passion later in the gospel.  So, before we dive into the gospel reading for today, I would like to back up a little bit to see what was happening in the gospel narrative that builds up to today, where we find Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem.

In the verses preceding today's reading Jesus tells a series of parables about the Kingdom of God. To be specific, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed that grows into a large bush where many birds live. He also says that the Kingdom of God is like yeast that a woman makes into leavened bread. And finally Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a narrow door in which those who are last will be first and those who are first will be last. Jesus does not explain these parables in detail, he does not walk us through them step by step.  However, I believe his point is made clear.  The Kingdom of God that Jesus speaks of is something that was unheard of before.  

These were parables that pointed to a message, an idea, a deeper understanding of God that was not taught in the synagogues or in the home.  It was revolutionary idea for that time and place.  It is a message that the disciples were not expecting and it’s still different than we expect.

Reflection from Family Ministry e-news

Lent Madness is here!

Hopefully by now you have seen the large bracket in the narthex (lobby of the church) that looks similar to the one in the picture above. This bracket is in the narthex to help remind each of us about a fun educational opportunity that happens daily during Lent. Lent Madness is like basketball's March Madness, except it's with saints instead of basketball teams. Each day two saints are placed in competition with one another and by the end of Lent one saint is crowned with the Golden Halo.  

I hope you are thinking, "Yes this sounds amazingly fun but where is the educational part?" The educational part is found at www.lentmadness.org where descriptions of both saints' life, death, and importance to the church are given. There will be some saints that you probably know a good deal about, such as John the Baptist or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. There are also many saints that you have probably never heard of before, such as Frances Perkins or Anne. Regardless if you know all about them or not, participating in Lent Madness is a fun way to learn more about the saints who have gone before us.

This video (http://vimeo.com/59327571)explains where to go and how to vote. It's sort of silly because it is in the form of a public service announcement, but it is a great way to introduce Lent Madness to your kids.

Peace,

Lauren+

Lent 1 Year C

Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13

One cannot live on bread alone.

We’ve all heard this before, and know it to be true. Literally speaking we cannot live on bread because our bodies cannot get enough nutrients to be healthy from eating only bread.  The complex nature of our bodies requires that we take in more than just flour and yeast.  We require much more to sustain us.  Metaphorically speaking, we cannot live on bread alone because that would mean we are relying only on what we can create to live.  

By relying on ourselves we are under the illusion that we are in control.  This illusion provides us with the comfort that we can dictate situations, manipulate outcomes, and that ultimately our fates rest in our own hands.  While to a degree we are indeed in control of the choices we make there are larger forces at work.  We are but a small piece of a much larger puzzle. We must look beyond ourselves to find the sustenance needed to live and thrive in this world.  

We need God. We need to be sustained by the spirit and fed by the body of Christ.

The gospel story this evening says that Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” when he went into the desert.  From the beginning of this narrative we know that while Jesus is in the wilderness, he is not alone.  Jesus did get hungry.  Jesus was thirsty.  He experienced the same human needs and desires as we would if we found ourselves in the wilderness.  But “the Spirit did not just ‘drop him off’ in the wilderness to fend for himself; the Spirit continued to abide with him, enabling him to grow stronger.”[1] Jesus continued to be filled by the Spirit which helped him to continue to trust in God and not be misled by the devil’s lies.