Psalm 9.1-8, Genesis 2.4-25, Mark 1.29-45 - Lectionary for 3/11/11

Today's readings are Psalm 9.1-8, Genesis 2.4-25, and Mark 1.29-45.

We continue our theme of penitence in our Lenten readings today. See in Mark the work of Jesus to cleanse the leper. He could have healed this poor ill man by his word. But Jesus did what nobody else would do. He touched the leper, bringing his own clean healthy flesh into contact with the diseased flesh which could infect him and kill him. The Law was quite strict that nobody should have to touch a leper, so as to prevent the spread of the disease. But Jesus, the holy and pure one, laid his hand on the unclean man. Likewise, the pure and holy God grants repentance and forgiveness to sinners who are still in their unbelief. On the cross, Jesus died for the sin of the world. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, the righteous for the unrighteous. 

What we would not touch, what we would shun, Jesus, God the Son, cleanses and makes whole by his touch. May our Lord grant us repentance and faith in Him.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 8.1-6, 9, Genesis 1.20-2.3, Mark 1.14-28 - Lectionary for 3/10/11

Today's readings are Psalm 8.1-6, 9, Genesis 1.20-2.3, and Mark 1.14-28.

See the care our God has for humans. We are portrayed in the Scripture as the crown of creation - the last thing to be made, brought to life in a different manner from the other creatures. And in the New Testament we see Jesus lovingly coming to and calling his disciples, healing and cleansing people who would have been outcasts, showing his care by calling people to himself. Surely God is good to people.

During this season of penitence, may we see how much greater God's care for us is than our care for him. May our Lord grant us repentance, forgiveness, and hope.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Sermon for 3/9/11 Ash Wednesday

Sermon "Days of Mourning" - Matthew 6.1-6, 16-21

Lord, purify my lips. Purify our hearts. Wash us with your word, that joy may come in the morning. Amen.

We like to show our righteousness to others, don't we? Really, sometimes we seem to think that we're wasting our obedience to God if it isn't obvious to other people. We want to be seen, we try to be seen, and we do seek a reward for our faithfulness. That's just the way we are. But we have to ask ourselves just what we are treasuring. What is our desire? Do we want to be seen by others as people of prayer? Or do we want our Father in heaven to hear our prayers and bless those other people? Do we want to have others feel sorry for us when we humble ourselves to pray? Or do we want to see God exalted through our prayers? Do we want other people to benefit through our acts of service, or do we want them to praise us? Do we want poor people to thank us for our generosity, or do we want the poor to be fed and clothed? Do we want people to see that we are holy when we engage in a fast or do we want to leave others ignorant of the fact we are fasting and praying?

Our answers to those questions show a fundamental difference in our attitudes. Do we want to please man and get the praise of man? Or do we want to please God and get the praise of God? We can't have it both ways. While our life of praise to the Lord may be noticed and receive the praise of our neighbors, at least on some levels, our life bowing down and fawning for our neighbors will never receive the praise of the Lord, though he will always notice it.

As we move into these days of mourning, the forty days of Lent, we are called to repentance. We see our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ going to the cross on our behalf. We remember the calls we have in today's readings and throughout Scripture to humble ourselves before the Lord. We see time and time again that we are not worthy to be called least in the kingdom of heaven, that we are not worthy to wash the feet of our Lord. And again and again we see that our Lord has lifted us up into the heavenly realms, has proclaimed us to be his brothers and sisters, has given his life on our behalf so we may be partakers of his righteousness. Our Father who sees us will reward us.

Do we have days of mourning? Certainly we do. We have plenty of sin to mourn about. But what does Jesus tell us to do? He tells us to wash our face, comb our hair, put on a cheerful face, and live in our community, loving and serving our neighbors, even while we fast, weep, mourn for our our sinfulness, and pray that the Lord will have mercy on us and the neighbors we are loving and serving.

In so doing, we lay up treasures in heaven. We show that we are servants of our Lord and Savior. We look to God, not to ourselves, for our provision, for our reward. And we realize that, no matter our sin, no matter our shame, no matter our unfaithfulness, he is there healing us, forgiving us our sins, and nourishing us to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, just as he promised us.

We have days of mourning. And in those days, let us look to the joy to be revealed. In the name ┼ of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

-- 

Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 136.1-9, Genesis 1.1-19, Mark 1.1-13 - Lectionary for 3/9/11 - Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the penitential season of Lent.

Today's readings are Psalm 136.1-9, Genesis 1.1-19, and Mark 1.1-13.

The refrain in our Psalm for today is, "his steadfast love endures forever" (ESV). How do we see God's steadfast love? We see numerous specific examples in Psalm 136. We see God's loving care and creation of the world in Genesis 1. And we see the beginning of the Gospel in Mark chapter 1. God has taken all the steps necessary to redeem this world which he created and sustains. It is all his handiwork from beginning to end. And this redemption is something God brings about by Jesus, the Son of God, who has been prophesied since Genesis chapter 3. He is the one in whom God the Father is well peased. He is the one upon whom the Spirit of God dwells. And he is the one who overcomes all the temptations of Satan. Indeed, in Christ, God's steadfast love endures for ever.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 41.1-2, 7-13, Job 41.1-20, 31-34, John 13.1-20 - Lectionary for 3/8/11

Today's readings are Psalm 41.1-2, 7-13, Job 41.1-20, and John 13.1-20.

Do we wonder whether the God of power and might cares for us? Like the Psalmist, do we cry out in fear, trusting in God to save us but still wondering if he really will? Are we confronted by God's incredible power when we read in Job about the way God plays with the great sea monster the way I would play with a little kitten? Then let us look at our reading from John today, where we see that our Lord Jesus Christ, even though he knows he is going to be betrayed, rises from the dinner table to wash the feet of all his disciples, even the one who would betray him. He loves his people, and loves them to the end - his own end.

Lord, give us a trust in you that is as great as your love for us.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 121, Job 40.1-24, John 12.36b-50 - Lectionary for 3/7/11 - Perpetua and Felicitas

Today's readings are Psalm 121, job 40.1-24, and John 12.36b-50.

Today is the commemoration of Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs

We often hear Psalm 121 quoted, suggesting that we should go to the hills where we will find help. This idea would actually be foreign to the original audience of the Psalms. The hills are the dangerous place where all sorts of evil people are lurking, just waiting to rob and kill you. You lift your eyes to the hills, watching and hoping nobody comes from the hills to hurt you. We don't find help in the hills, or, for that matter, from the people in the valleys or on the plains. We find help from the Lord, who will guard his people from all harm. We get the idea that our Lord is trustworthy in this regard as we read our selection from Job and see that God lovingly knows what all sorts of wild creatures, deadly to people, might be doing. He is able to care for them. He is also able to care for us. Yet once again we are left asking how this can happen. Looking at our reading from John's Gospel we see that God's mercy is poured out on those who look to him in faith and hope. We believe the Lord, looking for his glory, and we see God the Father. And this is God's good pleasure. Jesus came into the world for this very reason, that he might save the world. Let us therefore look to our Lord, receiving the eternal life which he delights to pour out upon us.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 110, Job 38.1-18, John 12.20-36a - Lectionary for 3/6/11

Today's readings are Psalm 110, Job 38.1-18, and John 12.20-36a.

Today, Sunday of the Transfiguration, our daily readings emphasize God's sovereign power. Our Lord is the one who has set the world in motion and has lovingly prepared all its characteristics. He is the one who establishes what we call "natural law." He is the one who establishes kingdoms and a priesthood. And he is the one who, in the person of Jesus, God the Son, is glorified as the judge of heaven and earth, who will draw all people to himself by giving his life for this world.

How do we rightly respond to this mighty God? We look to him in faith, knowing that he is the one who can guide our paths and give us true life. May the Lord transfigure our lives into the image of God the Son.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com