Lent Day 4 - Finding and being found

In today's scripture reading, there's a lot of finding going on. When Andrew meets Jesus, he goes to find his brother Simon. Then Jesus finds Philip, and Philip goes to find Nathanael. And Nathanael finds Jesus.

What's with all this finding? Part of it is just the disciples getting acquainted with Jesus. Through their relationships and networks, a community of disciples begins to form around Jesus. And of course we know that there are women disciples joining this group, too, only they aren't mentioned here.

But part of this is about "finding" on a deeper level. When we become acquainted with Jesus, we find that we are found by him. At a deep level of our soul, we found that we are already known and loved by God for who we are. I think this is what Nathanael is expressing when he asks Jesus, "When did you come to know me?" He discovered that he was already known and loved, even before he met Jesus.

As we pray in the Prayers of the People, Form II,
   I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of him. 
   Pray that they may find and be found by him.

Who have you found? And how have you been found?


Peace,
Bill

Behold the Lamb of God - Lent Day 3

Hi, all!

Today is the third day of Lent. Two days ago we received ashes on our foreheads and heard the words, "Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return," a reminder of our mortality. This afternoon we will gather for the memorial service for Adrienne Daugherty who died last Sunday.

Adrienne was an artist and a person of prayer, and I'm sure she was familiar with today's scripture passage from the Gospel of John, "Behold the Lamb of God." These are the words of John the Baptist as he sees Jesus approaching. 

I like the old-fashioned word, "Behold." It says much more than the weaker, "Look."

Behold is what we do when we pay deep attention. John tells us to behold Jesus, the Lamb of God, in a deeply attentive way.

Today we commend Adrienne into the nearer presence of God, and we think of her at last truly beholding Christ and being in his presence. 

Peace,

Bill

P.S. Today's scripture passage in John 1:29-34. Tomorrow's passage is John 1:35-42

What are you doing for Lent?

Hi, all!

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. At noon and at 7 pm, we'll gather to hear the invitation to "the observance of a holy Lent," and we'll receive the mark of ashes on our foreheads as a mark of our mortality and penitence.

Ash Wednesday is a powerful call to repentance. Whenever I make the sign of the cross with the ashes, and say, "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return," I feel the seriousness of those words.

Being reminded that we won't live forever makes us freshly aware that our relationship with God is important, and now is the time to renew that relationship. "Create in us clean hearts, O God," Psalm 51 reminds us.

Today, the day before Ash Wednesday, is a good time for us to think about what spiritual discipline we might take up for Lent. Some people give up something for Lent, others take something on. What are you doing for Lent?

If you're looking for ideas, I might suggest you join us in reading the Gospel of John during the weekdays of Lent. We'll provide the verses to be read from the Daily Lectionary in the Prayer Book, and you can look them up in your Bible. If you have the Forward Day by Day booklet, you'll find the readings in there.

Tomorrow's reading is John 1:1-28, the beginning of the Gospel of John. You might want to find a time each day when you can open your Bible and meditate briefly on the passage from John. Each day is only a short reading, less than a chapter. The Gospel of John is written to inspire belief in Jesus as the Christ, and each day our faith will grow. From time to time I'll send an email reflecting on what we've been reading.

Whatever your spiritual practice during Lent, I hope it will build you up and increase your faith in God.

Peace,
Bill