Friday February 19 Lent
Click here for simplified daily office prayers
Psalm 31
I am being attacked from all sides but trust that God will rescue me. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus quotes from this psalm as he is dying. Appropriate for Friday as the weekly mini-anniversary of the crucifixion.
Deuteronomy 7: 12-16
As the people are about to enter the land God promised them, Moses proclaims to them that the result of enacting justice will be a life full of joy. At the time this was written, the joy would be understood as huge flocks and herds—we can imagine that joy and then apply it in our own lives in ways we have joy. Because we are preparing to enter into the promised land of the resurrection, we read through this section of Deuteronomy at the beginning of Lent.
“…You shall devour all the peoples that the Lord your God is giving over to you, showing them no pity…” For the ancient Israelites it meant that God would remove the evil cultures to make room for the people of the covenant, and that the Israelites were not to compromise with the evil ways. For us, the image is barbaric especially in light of our experience of suppressing First Nations. But we can read passages like this as a call to replace the culture of oppression and violence which characterizes our own country with a culture of generosity.
That’s the Lenten journey, because it will involve self-sacrifice of giving up priorities that now exploit other people and nations.
John 1: 35-42
John’s gospel explores the significance of Jesus. At the start of the gospel John the Baptist graciously enables his own disciples to leave him and follow Jesus. These new disciples ask where Jesus is staying, but the deeper meaning is they want to know who Jesus is at his core. One of these disciples brings his brother Peter, whom Jesus nicknames “The Rock.”
John the gospel writer is describing how he thinks we all respond to Jesus—it will involve changing loyalties, asking what is Jesus’ importance, and discovering within ourselves a new character. Lent can be a time in which we go more deeply into those experiences.
This week’s collect:
Almighty and everlasting God,
you despise nothing you have made
and forgive the sins of all who are penitent.
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts,
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our brokenness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Click here to share a comment on the web site.